Starting as far back as at least 2000, the Mexican
wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG; Sometimes referred to as
Grupo Internacional Revolución in
Spanish) has held several annual events where the main event was a multi-man
steel cage match where the last wrestler left in the cage would be forced to either remove their
wrestling mask or have their hair shaved off under
Luchas de Apuestas, or "bet match", rules. From 2005 IWRG has promoted a spring time show promoting the steel cage match concept under the name
Guerra del Golfo, or "Gulf War", referring to the
Gulf of Mexico, not the
Gulf War in the middle east. The
Gurerra del Golfo shows always featured two "qualifying" steel cage matches where the loser would later be forced to face off against each other in the main event of the show, a final cage match where the loser would be forced to either unmask or have his/her hair shaved off. The use of the steel cage in three matches distinguishes the
Guerra del Golfo event from other Steel cage matches held throughout the year such as the
IWRG El Castillo del Terror ("The Tower of Terror"),
IWRG Guerra de Sexos ("War of the Sexes") or
IWRG Prison Fatal ("Deadly Prison") shows. The
Guerra del Golfo shows, as well as the majority of the IWRG shows in general, are held in "Arena Naucalpan", owned by the promoters of IWRG and their main arena. Starting in 2008 IWRG has held at least one
Guerra del Golfo match each year, with the 2015 edition being the tenth over all show. A total of 69 wrestlers have participated in one or more
Guerra del Golfo cage matches including two women,
Ludark Shartain and Sexy Lady.
Oficial AK-47 and
Veneno are tied for the most tournaments, six each. No one has won the
Guerra del Golfo twice, but
Chicho Che has been on the losing side twice, losing his hair in both
2010 and
2013.
Ultra Mega was the first to lose his mask in the
Guerra del Golfo match and later participated in several additional matches under the name
Oficial Fierro, including winning the
2008 tournament. Guillermo Martinez Ci has worked the
Guerra del Golfo tournament under three different
ring names;
Bombero Infernal, Capitán Muerte and Matrix. The winner of the first tournament, Némesis, later became better known as
El Hijo del Pirata Morgan and Arlequín Rojo would later return as
Oficial Spartan. The finals of
2008, set to be
Oficial 911 against
Oficial Factor, but during the match Oficial AK-47, Oficial Fierro, Oficial Spartan and
Oficial Rayan climbed in the cage and became official participants. In the end Oficial AK-47 lost the match even though he was not originally a finalist. ==Guerra del Golfo winners==