,
novato winner in
2017. Starting in 1994 the Mexican
professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) created a special tournament concept where they would team up a
novato, or rookie, with a veteran for a single-elimination
tag team tournament.
En Busca de un Ídolo ("In Search of an Idol"),
Torneo Sangre Nueva ("New Blood Tournament"), and
Forjando un Ídolo ("Forging an Idol"), although all of those tournaments focuses on singles competition. The "
Novato/Veteran" team competition has been adopted by other Mexican wrestling companies, including
International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) who held the
Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas tournament in
2010 and
2011, and from
2012, on has held a
novato/veteran tag team tournament in January each year under the name
El Protector. As of the 2017 tournament, 187 wrestlers competed in one or more of the tournaments held, with Atlantis holding tor record for most tournaments, a total of 15. He is also the wrestler to have worked most tournament as a veteran as all his appearances were on the veteran side.
Sangre Azteca and Astro Rey Jr. (now known as
Mephisto) are tied for most tournaments as a
novato, with five each.
Raziel is the
novato that has gone the longest between his first and most recent appearance as a
novato, seven years between the 2010 tournament and the 2017 tournament.
Último Guerrero and
Místico/Carístic are the only wrestlers to win the tournament three times, once as a
novato and twice as a veteran each.
Héctor Garza and
Rey Escorpión are the only other wrestlers to have won the tournament as both a
novato and a veteran.
Silver King has appeared under three different ring names, Silver King, Bronco and Black Tiger. Several others have worked different tournaments under different names/masks, usually without CMLL officially acknowledging the connection;
El Sagrado as both Genetico and Sagrado,
Fuego as Flash and Fuego,
Máscara Dorada as Metalik and Máscara Dorada,
Tritón as Metal Blanco and Tritón,
Ramstein as Fugaz and Ramstein,
Titán as Palacio Negro and Titán. ==References==