Since 1996 the Mexican wrestling company Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre has held a show in March each year to commemorate the passing of CMLL founder Salvador Lutteroth who died in March 1987. For the first three years the show paid homage to Lutteroth himself, from 1999 through 2004 the show paid homage to Lutteroth and El Santo, Mexico's most famous wrestler ever and from 2005 forward the show has paid homage to Lutteroth and a different leyenda each year, celebrating the career and accomplishments of past CMLL stars. Originally billed as Homenaje a Salvador Lutteroth, it has been held under the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas since 1999 and is the only show outside of CMLL's Anniversary shows that CMLL has presented every year since its inception. All Homenaje a Dos Leyendas shows have been held in Arena México in Mexico City, Mexico which is CMLL's main venue, its "home". Traditionally CMLL holds their major events on Friday Nights, which means the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas shows replace their regularly scheduled Super Viernes show. The 2018 show was the 24th overall Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show produced by CMLL.
Storylines
The Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show featured six professional wrestling matches with different wrestlers involved in pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines. Wrestlers were portrayed as either heels or faces as they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
Homage to Salvador Lutteroth and Mil Máscaras
In September 1933 Salvador Lutteroth González founded Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre, which would later be renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Over time Lutteroth would become responsible for building both Arena Coliseo in Mexico City and Arena Mexico, which became known as "The Cathedral of Lucha Libre". Over time EMLL became the oldest wrestling promotion in the world, with 2018 marking the 85th year of its existence. Lutteroth has often been credited with being the "father of Lucha Libre" introducing the concept of masked wrestlers to Mexico as well as the Luchas de Apuestas match. Lutteroth died on September 5, 1987. EMLL, late CMLL, remained under the ownership and control of the Lutteroth family as first Salvador's son Chavo Lutteroth and later his grandson Paco Alonso took over ownership of the company. The life and achievements of Salvador Lutteroth is always honored at the annual Homenaje a Dos Leyenda' show, since 1999 CMLL has also honored a second person, a Leyenda of lucha libre, in some ways CMLL's version of their Hall of Fame. For the 2018 show CMLL honored the life and career of Mil Máscaras who, despite being 76 years old, was still a semi-active wrestler at the time of the event. Mil Máscaras made his wrestling debut in 1964 for what was then EMLL, quickly gaining attention as a very physically imposing but fast heavyweight wrestler in an era where most heavyweights were slower and often not Mexican. While other lucha libre legends like El Santo or Blue Demon worked most of their careers in Mexico, Mil Máscaras worked extensively in both the United States and Japan, leading to his high international exposure. His popularity led to several matches at Madison Square Garden for the World Wide Wrestling Federation. At the time wrestlers were not allowed to wear masks that fully covered their face when working in New York, but the popularity of Mil Máscaras and his refusal to work unmasked led to that rule being abandoned after overwhelming pressure from promoters and fans alike. He is also a lucha film star, having appeared in over 20 films since the eponymous Mil Máscaras in 1966, the latest being the 2015 film Aztec Revenge. After the conclusion of the third match of the evening, Mil Máscaras was honored by CMLL in the ring. As part of the ceremony Sofia Alonso, great-granddaughter of Salvador Lutteroth presented Mil Máscaras with a special Commemorative plaque for his career achievements. Mil Máscaras thanked Sofia Alonso specifically for bringing him back to Arena México for the first time since 2010.
