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The termMini-Estrella(Spanishfor "Mini-Star" ) is used inlucha libreto describe a division of shortprofessional wrestlersorluchadors,some of whom havedwarfism.The MexicanMini-Estrellasare comparable tomidget wrestlerswho compete internationally, but with the notable exception that some of theMini-Estrellasdo not have dwarfism but are simply short. SomeMini-Estrellashave later on moved on to work as regular sized competitors. TheMini-Estrellashave been featured in several promotions outside Mexico, most notablyWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE) andTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling(TNA).

Originally the height limit for theMinisdivision as set by Mexican lucha commissions was 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in) but in recent years wrestlers such asPequeño Olímpicohave worked theMinisdivision despite being as much as1.59 m (5 ft2+1⁄2in) tall.[1]In the formative years ofMini-Estrellawrestling, theMini-Estrellaswere also referred to asMicro Luchadors,or "Micro Wrestlers".

History[edit]

The origins of theMini-Estrelladivision lies inmidget wrestling,which in Mexico was popularized in the 1970s when promoters used theAmericanconcept and had a number of Mexicanlittle peopleperform as a "special attraction" on lucha libre shows. In the early days saw the popularity of wrestlers such as Gran Nikolai, Pequeno Goliath and Arturito (inspired byR2-D2), especially with the children.[2]By the 1980s midget wrestling was less popular in Mexico, especially since few new wrestlers had joined the division.[1]

In the early 1990sConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre(CMLL), Mexico's oldest wrestling promotion, created a new concept, theMini-Estrelladivision. The division was created byAntonio Peñawho worked for CMLL at the time, who came up with the idea of using both little people and short wrestlers together and to have theMini-Estrellaswork as smaller versions of popular wrestlers of the time. Peña and CMLL created theCMLL World Mini-Estrella Championshipin 1992, which is considered the official birth of the division.[3]CMLL'sMini-Estrellasdivision featured a number of skilled, high flying wrestlers which helped make the concept an immediate success. OriginalMini-Estrellasdivision consisted ofMascarita Sagrada(the first CMLL Mini-Estrella champion),Aguilita Solitaria,Octagoncito,Espectrito,Mazakrito,Pierrothito,Pequeño Tritón,Mascarita Mágica,Ultimo Dragoncito,Cicloncito Ramírez,Pequeño Jaque Mate, Platita andGargolita.

In 1993 Peña decided to leave CMLL and create his own wrestling promotion,Asistencia Asesoría y Administración(AAA), and in the process a number of theMini-Estrellasleft with Peña. Among those that left CMLL were the division's two main stars, the champion Mascarita Sagrada and his rival Espectrito.[3]Peña later created theMexican National Mini-Estrella Championshipas AAA'sMini-Estrellachampionship.[4]Due to the success of both the CMLL and AAAMini-Estrelladivision other promotions such as theUniversal Wrestling Associationand theWorld Wrestling Association(WWA) briefly promotedMini-Estrelladivisions, but neither promotion gained the success of CMLL and AAA. AAA would later promote two otherMini-Estrellachampionships, the IWC and the LLL Mini-Estrellas championships, but both were later abandoned. The success of theMini-Estrelladivision was evident as AAA put them in the main event ofTriplemanía III-A,one of AAA's biggest shows of the years. The match was a 13-MinisSteel Cage Elimination match,Lucha de Apuesta,"Mask vs. Mask" match. In the end Payasito Rojo was the last man in the cage after Bandita, Espectrito, Espectrito II,Jerrito Estrada,Fuercita Guerrera,Mascarita Sagrada, Mini Calo, Octagóncito,La Parkita,Payasito Azul,Super Muñequito,and Torerito had all left the cage. The Triplemanía match was one of the first everLuchas de Apuestasmatches in theMini-Estrelladivision.[5]AAA would later create another "first" in theMini-Estrellasdivision as they createdLos Mini Vipers,a Mini version of theLos Vipersstable.[6]

In 2002 AAA created theAAA Mascot Tag Team Championship,the first and so far only tag team championship for teams consisting of aMini-Estrellaand the regular sized wrestler he is based on.[7]In 2007, then reigning Mexican National Mini-Estrellas Champion,Mascarita Sagrada 2000left AAA while still holding the championship; he later appeared in CMLL, repackaged as "Mascarita Dorada" but the announcers still mentioned the fact that he was the Mexican National Mini-Estrella Champion. Since his initial appearance as Mascarita Dorada the Mexican National Mini-Estrellas Championship has not been mentioned and is considered inactive.[8]Following the loss of the Mexican National title AAA decided to create a new title, theAAA World Mini-Estrellas Championshipas the centerpiece of theirMini-Estrellasdivision, won byMini Charly Manson.[9]On January 11, 2009, CMLL promoted their firstpay-per-view(PPV) show with theMinisdivision in the main event. AtLa Hora Cero13miniscompeted in CMLL's first everInfierno en el RingforMini-Estrellas.The match sawPierrothitodefeat and unmaskShockercitoafterCosmico,Eléctrico,Niño de Acero,Fantasy,Mascarita Dorada,Pequeño Ninja,Pequeno Olimpico,Pequeño Warrior,Tzuki,Ultimo DragoncitoandPequeño Universo 2000all had escaped the cage.[10]Later on in 2009 CMLL would hold another "allMinis"cage match as well as a match that sawMinisand regular sized wrestlers compete against each other.[11]AAA's Mascota tag team title was abandoned in 2009 when the then reigning championsEl AlebrijeandCuijeleft AAA.[12]

Mini-Estrellasoutside Mexico[edit]

PierrothitoliftingTzukiduring a match in the United States

TheMini-Estrellashave not been restricted to working outside Mexico, although Mexico is the only country to regularly promote theMini-Estrellasas a specific division. Often theMini-Estrellasare brought in for a "special attraction" match such theWorld Wrestling Council's 19th and 22nd anniversary shows that featured Mascarita Sagrada and otherMinis.[13][14]World Championship Wrestling(WCW) also invited theMini-Estrellasto appear on one of their shows, a pre-PPV match at the1996 Starrcadewhere Mascarita Sagrada and Octagóncito defeated Jerrito Estrada andPiratita Morgan.[15]Northern California based Pro Wrestling Revolution (PWR) is the only US based promotion to have created a specificMini-Estrellachampionship, created in 2009.

In 1997 theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF, later WWE) and AAA began a talent sharing program, which allowed severalMini-Estrellaswrestlers to compete on WWF television.[16]These wrestlers included Mascarita Sagrada, La Parkita and several AAAMini-Estrellasthat were given new gimmicks for their WWF appearances includingMax Mini(formerly Máscarita Sagrada Jr.), El Torito (Espectrito),Mini Goldust(Mini Karis La Momia) and Mini Vader (Piratita Morgan).[16]Mascarita Sagrada originally wrestled under his normal name but was soon repackaged as "Mini Nova", a mini version ofSuper Nova,aluchadorthat worked for the WWF at the time. Mini Nova made his in-ring debut in a match atBad Bloodin 1997 where he teamed with Max Mini againstTarantulaandMosaic.TheMinisappeared onWWF Shotgun Saturday NightandWWF Monday Night Rawas well as in matches at theRoyal Rumblein 1997 and theRoyal Rumblein 1998.[17]In 1999 the WWF/AAA talent sharing agreement ended and allMini-Estrellasstopped working in the United States. In October 2005 WWE created a "Juniors division" exclusive to theirSmackDown!brand. The division featured a number ofMinisfrom Mexico that mainly appeared in backstage skits of a comedic nature but would also occasionally wrestle. The Juniors division included Mascarita Sagrada, Tsuki, Octagoncito andPequeño Violencia;the division also includedSuper Porky,who had never worked in theMini-Estrelladivision in Mexico. Super Porky only appeared in backstage skits but did not wrestle.[18]By March 2006 WWE gave up on the Juniors division and released all theMinis.[19]

The US-basedLucha Libre USAbegan promoting in 2010 and featured severalMini-Estrellas,unlike in Mexican promotions,Mini-Estrellassuch asMascarita DoradaandPequeño Halloweencompete against regular sized competitors instead of in a separate division.

From Mini-Estrella to regular competitors[edit]

Cuijeheld theAAA Mascot Tag Team ChampionshipwithEl Alebrije.

Since theMini-Estrelladivision is not restricted only to people with Dwarfism some wrestlers have moved on from theMini-Estrellasdivision to the regular sized division, especially some of the competitors over the 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in) height limit the division originally had.Mike Seguraoriginally worked as Orito (a mini version ofOro) in CMLL, but when he began working for AAA he began working in the regular sized division as Super Nova.[1]Similarly Felinito wrestled in CMLL as a mini but when jumped to AAA he began wrestling in the regular sized division as Mach 1. Freelance became a regular sized wrestler after losing his mask as Panterita.

In late 1997 CMLL booked an eight-mantorneo ciberneticoelimination match where the winner would earn the right to work in the "regular sized" division.Damiancito El Guerrerodefeated Cicloncito Ramírez, Tritoncito, Pequeño Cochisse, Platita,Guerrerito del Future,Pequeño Sayama andFieritoto earn the right to work with "regular sized" wrestlers.[20]In early 1998 he made his debut as part of the regular sized division under the name "Virus", no mention was made that Virus used to work as Damiancito El Guerrero or the fact that he still held the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship. By 1999 CMLL decided that it was time to crown a new CMLL World Mini-Estrella Champion as Virus was still technically the champion despite not having worked as a Mini-Estrella for over a year. Instead of making Virus return to theMinisdivision to lose the title CMLL decided to give the championship toUltimo Dragoncitoand then subsequently announce that Ultimo Dragoncito had "won" the title on an undisclosed day in October 1999.[21]

CMLL held a "Bicentennial tournament" in August 2010 to commemorate the 18th anniversary of theMini-Estrellasdivision, with the winner "graduating" to the regular sized division. The tournament consisted of twotorneo ciberneticoelimination matches with the winner of each facing off in a singles match on August 24.[22][23]Demus 3:16won the firstcibernetico,defeatingEléctrico,Saturno,Fantasy,Pequeño Olímpico,Pequeño Nitro,Pequeño ViolenciaandCisneto earn a place in the finals.[24]The secondtorneo ciberneticotook place on August 17, 2010, and was won by Pierrothito. On August 24, 2010, Demus 3:16 defeated Pierrothito in the finals of the tournament to earn his way out of theMini-Estrelladivision.[25]In March 2011, Demus 3:16 wrestled Virus in a hair vs. hair mask. Demus 3:16 lost the match and after that he returned to theminisdivision.

Wrestling style[edit]

SinceMini-Estrellawrestlers are smaller and possess less muscle bulk than heavyweights or evencruiserweightsit lends to ahigh-flyingwrestling style for a number of theMini-Estrellas,especially in recent years.[1]Some wrestlers such as Mascarita Dorada are able to perform moves that his regular sized counterpart would have a hard time executing.[1]Not all performers in theMini-Estrelladivision are able to work a high flying style, especially those with more severe forms of dwarfism work a more grounded style.[2]

Championships[edit]

The firstMini-Estrellaschampionship was created in 1992 when CMLL created the CMLL Mini-Estrellas World Championship. Since then rivals AAA and WWA both created aMini-Estrellaschampionship, although only AAA's championship sustained any longevity. In 2008 CMLL decided to use theMexican National Lightweight Championshipas a secondary title for theMini-Estrellasdivision. Up until that point the Lightweight title had not been considered aMini-Estrellaschampionship.[26]

Octagoncito,a formerAAA World Mini-Estrella Champion
Active championships
Inactive championships

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdeMadigan, Dan (2007). "You ain't seen nothing yet: the minis".Mondo Lucha a Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling.HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 209–212.ISBN978-0-06-085583-3.
  2. ^ab"La Pequeña Escala/ On a small scale ".Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling.Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. 2005. pp. 80–86.ISBN968-6842-48-9.
  3. ^abOcampo, Ernesto (October 7, 2006)."El fin de una era: Adiós a Antonio Peña".Súper Luchas(in Spanish). issue 182.RetrievedOctober 14,2009.
  4. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: Mexican National Midget (Miniestrella) Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. p. 401.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  5. ^"Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion TripleMania".Pro Wrestling History. June 10, 1995.RetrievedFebruary 19,2009.
  6. ^Flores, Manuel (March 30, 2009). "Abismo Negro Adiós al rey de marinete".Súper Luchas(in Spanish).Mexico City,D.F.pp. 24–26. 308.
  7. ^"AAA Luchadores – Minis – Mini Abismo Negro".LuchalibreAAA.com. Archived fromthe originalon March 28, 2009.RetrievedMarch 28,2009.
  8. ^"2007 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana".Súper Luchas(in Spanish). December 26, 2007. 244.RetrievedJuly 11,2009.
  9. ^"Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion Verano de Escandalo".Pro Wrestling History.Retrieved2009-02-19.
  10. ^Ocampo, Jorge (January 11, 2009)."Resultados Arena México: La Hora Cero – Shockercito pierde la máscara dice llamarse Javier Cortes Sánchez".Súper Luchas(in Spanish).RetrievedJuly 28,2009.
  11. ^Huganster (August 19, 2009)."Noche triste para los poblanos... cayó el Misterio de Mr. Rafaga Pequeño Pierroth el culpable"(in Spanish). El Pancracio.com.mx. Archived fromthe originalon August 26, 2009.RetrievedAugust 20,2009.
  12. ^Arturo Rosas Plata (2009-04-07)."Alebrije fuera de Triple A".Ovaciones(in Spanish).Mexico,D.F.:Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V. p. 18. Número 21550 Año LXII. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-21.Retrieved2009-04-07.
  13. ^"WWC Anniversary Shows: #17".Pro Wrestling History.RetrievedMarch 2,2009.
  14. ^"WWC Anniversary Shows: #22".Pro Wrestling History.RetrievedMarch 2,2009.
  15. ^Cawthon, Graham (December 29, 1996)."WCW Ring Results: 1996".thehistoryofwwe.com.RetrievedMarch 3,2009.Mascarita Sagrada & Octagoncito defeated Jerrito Estrada & Piratita Morgan
  16. ^abWaldman, Jon (October 16, 2005)."New division added to Smackdown".Slam! Wrestling.Canadian Online Explorer.Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.RetrievedApril 13,2009.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^Powell, John (January 19, 1998)."Austin wins predictable Rumble".Slam! Wrestling.Canadian Online Explorer.Archived from the original on July 21, 2012.RetrievedApril 14,2009.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^Cawthon, Graham (2006-02-07)."WWF Ring Results: 2006".thehistoryofwwe.com.Retrieved2009-03-02.Octagoncito & Pequeno Violencia fought Mascarita Sagrada & Tsuki to a no contest at 2:37 when Finlay came out and assaulted several of the participants and dropped Tsuki with the Emerald Fusion; after the bout, Finlay cut a promo saying he came to fight and didn't care about how big or small everyone else was
  19. ^"Juniors released".World Wrestling Entertainment.March 9, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon December 19, 2008.RetrievedNovember 12,2008.
  20. ^Manuel Rivera (January 12, 2007). "Entrevista por Virus".Súper Luchas(in Spanish). p. 25. 301.
  21. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: EMLL CMLL Midget (miniestrella) Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. p. 396.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  22. ^Ruiz Glez, Alex (August 10, 2010)."Arena México (martes 10 de agosto) – 18 Aniversario de los luchadores minis con el Torneo Bicentenario".Súper Luchas(in Spanish).RetrievedAugust 12,2010.
  23. ^Oculto, Rostro (August 10, 2010)."CMLL- El sueño de un mini estrella se convierte realidad".Súper Luchas(in Spanish).RetrievedAugust 12,2010.
  24. ^Ruiz Glez, Alex (August 11, 2010)."Arena México (resultados 10 de agosto): Demus 3:16, gana la primera eliminatoria del Torneo de Minis Bicentenario".Súper Luchas(in Spanish).RetrievedAugust 12,2010.
  25. ^Ruiz Glez, Alex (August 25, 2010)."Arena México (Resultados martes 24 de agosto) – Demus 3:16 gana el torneo bicentenario de minis y se une con los" grandes "".Súper Luchas(in Spanish).RetrievedMarch 12,2011.
  26. ^Alfredo Ascencio (September 24, 2008)."En honor a Panther"(in Spanish). ESTO, OEM Online.RetrievedJuly 12,2009.
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