Mini-Estrella
Encyclopedia
The term Mini-Estrella is used in lucha libre
to describe a division of short professional wrestlers
or luchadors, some of whom have dwarfism
. The Mexican Mini-Estrellas is comparable to Midget professional wrestling practiced around the world, but with the notable exception that some of the Mini-Estrellas do not have dwarfism but are simply short. Some Mini-Estrellas have later on moved on to work as regular sized competitors. The Mini-Estrellas have been featured in several promotions outside Mexico, most notably the World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
(TNA).
Originally the limit for the Mini division was but in recent years wrestlers such as Pequeño Olímpico
have worked the Minis division despite being tall. In the formative years of the Mini-Estrellas history they were also referred to as "Micro Luchadors", or "Micro Wrestlers".
The origins of the Mini-Estrella division lies in Midget professional wrestling, which in Mexico was popularized in the 1970s when promoters used the American concept and had a number of Mexican little people
perform 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 by R2-D2
), especially with the children. By the 1980s midget wrestling was less popular in Mexico, especially since few new wrestlers had joined the division.
In the early 1990s Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
(CMLL), Mexico's oldest wrestling promotion, created a new concept, the Mini-Estrella division. The division was created by Antonio Peña
who worked for CMLL at the time, who came up with the idea of using both little people and short wrestlers together and to have the Mini-Estrellas work as smaller versions of popular wrestlers of the time. Peña and CMLL created the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship
in 1992, which is considered the official birth of the division. CMLL's Mini-Estrellas division featured a number of skilled, high flying wrestlers which helped make the concept an immediate success. Original Mini-Estrellas division consisted of Mascarita Sagrada
(the first CMLL Mini-Estrella champion), Aguilata Solitaria, Octagóncito, Espectrito
, Mazakrito, Pierrothito
, Pequeño Tritón, Mascarita Mágica
, Ultimo Dragoncito
, Cicloncito Ramírez
, Pequeño Jaque Mate, Platita and Gargolita
.
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 the Mini-Estrellas left with Peña. Among those that left CMLL were the division's two main stars, the champion Mascarita Sagrada and his rival Espectrito. Peña later created the Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship
as AAA's Mini-Estrella championship. Due to the success of both the CMLL and AAA Mini-Estrella division other promotions such as the Universal Wrestling Association
(UWA) and the World Wrestling Association
(WWA) briefly promoted Mini-Estrella championships, but neither promotion gained the success of CMLL and AAA. AAA would later create two other Mini-Estrella, the IWC and the LLL Mini-Estrellas championships, but both were later abandoned. The success of the Mini-Estrella division was evident as AAA put them in the main event of TripleMania III-A
, one of AAA's biggest shows of the years. The match was a 13-Minis Steel 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 TripleMania match was one of the first ever Luchas de Apuestas matches in the Mini-Estrella division. AAA would later create another "first" in the Mini-Estrellas division as they created Los Mini Vipers, a Mini version of Los Vipers
.
In 2002 AAA created the AAA Mascot Tag Team Championship
, the first and so far only tag team championship for teams consisting of a Mini-Estrella and the regular sized wrestler he is based on. In 2007, then reigning Mexican National Mini-Estrellas Champion, Mascarita Sagrada 2000
left 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. Following the loss of the Mexican National title AAA decided to create a new title, the AAA World Mini-Estrellas Championship as the centerpiece of their Mini-Estrellas division, won by Mini Charly Manson
. On January 11, 2009 CMLL promoted their first Pay-per-view
(PPV) show with the Minis division in the main event. At La Hora Cero
13 minis competed in CMLL's first ever Infierno en el Ring
for Mini-Estrellas. The match saw Pierrothito
defeat and unmask Shockercito
after Cosmico, Eléctrico
, Niño de Acero, Fantasy, Mascarita Dorada
, Pequeño Ninja, Pequeno Olimpico
, Pequeño Warrior, Tzuki
, Ultimo Dragoncito
and Universito 2000 all had escaped the cage. Later on in 2009 CMLL would hold another "all Minis" cage match as well as a match that saw Minis and regular sized wrestlers compete against each other. AAA's Mascota tag team title was abandoned in 2009 when the then reigning champions El Alebrije
and Cuije left AAA.
's 19th and 22nd anniversary shows that featured Mascarita Sagrada and other Minis. World Championship Wrestling
(WCW) also invited the Mini-Estrellas to appear on one of their shows, a pre-PPV match at the 1996 Starrcade
where Mascarita Sagrada and Octagóncito defeated Jerrito Estrada and Piratita Morgan. Southern California based Pro Wrestling Revolution is the only US based promotion to have created a specific Mini-Estrella championship, created in 2009.
In 1997 the World Wrestling Federation
(WWF) and AAA began a talent sharing program, which allowed several ;Mini-Estrellas wrestlers to compete on WWF television. These wrestlers included Mascarita Sagrada, La Parkita and several AAA Mini-Estrellas that were given new gimmicks for their WWF appearances including Max Mini
(formerly Máscarita Sagrada, Jr.), El Torito (Espectrito), Mini Goldust
(Mini Karis La Momia) and Mini Vader (Piratita Morgan). Mascarita Sagrada originally wrestled under his normal name but was soon repackaged as "Mini Nova", a mini version of Super Nova
, a Luchador that worked for the WWF at the time. Mini Nova made his in ring debut in a match at Bad Blood in 1997 where he teamed with Max Mini against Tarantula
and Mosaic
. The Minis appeared on WWF Shotgun Saturday Night
and WWF Monday Night Raw
as well as in matches at the Royal Rumble
in 1997 and the Royal Rumble
in 1998. In 1999 the WWF/AAA talent sharing agreement ended and all Mini-Estrellas stopped working in the United States. In October 2005 the WWE created a "Juniors division" exclusive to their Smackdown brand. the division featured a number of minis from Mexico that mainly appeared in backstage skits of a comedic nature. Minis included Mascarita Sagrada, Tsuki
, Octagoncito and Pequeño Violencia
, the division also included Super Porky, who had never worked in the Mini-Estrella division in Mexico. Super Porky only appeared in backstage skits but did not wrestle. By March 2006 the WWE gave up on the Juniors division and released all the mini wrestlers.
The US based Lucha Libre USA
began promoting in 2010 and featured several Mini-Estrellas, unlike in Mexican promotions, Mini-Estrellas such as Mascarita Dorada
and Pequeño Halloween compete against regular sized competitors instead of in a separate division.
originally worked as Orito (a mini version of Oro
) in CMLL, but when he began working for AAA he began working in the regular sized division as Super Nova. 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-man torneo cibernetico
elimination match where the winner would earn the right to work in the "regular sized" division. Damiancito El Guerrero
defeated Cicloncito Ramírez, Tritoncito, Pequeño Cochisse, Platita, Guerreroito del Future, Pequeño Sayama and Fierito
to earn the right to work with "regular sized" wrestlers. 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 for over a year. Instead of making Virus return to the Minis division to lose the title CMLL decided to give the championship to Ultimo Dragoncito
and then subsequently announce that Ultimo Dragoncito had "won" the title on an undisclosed day in October, 1999.
CMLL is currently holding a "Bicentennial tournament" in August, 2010 to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Mini-Estrellas division, where the winner will "graduate" to the regular sized division. The tournament consists of two torneo cibernetico elimination matches with the winner of each facing off in a singles match on August 24. Demus 3:16
won the first cibernetico, defeating Eléctrico
, Saturno, Fantasy, Pequeño Olímpico
, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Violencia
and Cisne to earn a place in the finals. The second torneo cibernetico took 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 the Mini-Estrella division. 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 the minis division.
it lends to a high-flying
wrestling style for a number of the Mini-Estrellas, especially in recent years. Some wrestlers such as Mascarita Dorada are able to perform moves that his regular sized counterpart would have a hard time executing. Not all performers in the Mini-Estrella division are able to work a high flying style, especially those with more severe forms of dwarfism work a more grounded style.
as a secondary title for the Mini-Estrellas division. Up until that point the Lightweight title had not been considered a Mini-Estrellas championship.
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
to describe a division of short professional wrestlers
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
or luchadors, some of whom have dwarfism
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
. The Mexican Mini-Estrellas is comparable to Midget professional wrestling practiced around the world, but with the notable exception that some of the Mini-Estrellas do not have dwarfism but are simply short. Some Mini-Estrellas have later on moved on to work as regular sized competitors. The Mini-Estrellas have been featured in several promotions outside Mexico, most notably the World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
(TNA).
Originally the limit for the Mini division was but in recent years wrestlers such as Pequeño Olímpico
Pequeño Olímpico
Pequeño Olímpico is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pequeño Olímpico is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and holds the record for the longest CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship reign, 1,442 days...
have worked the Minis division despite being tall. In the formative years of the Mini-Estrellas history they were also referred to as "Micro Luchadors", or "Micro Wrestlers".
History
Little people
Little people have been part of the folklore of many cultures in human history, including Ireland, Greece, the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands, Flores Island, Indonesia, and Native Americans.-Native American folklore:...
perform 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 by R2-D2
R2-D2
R2-D2 , is a character in the Star Wars universe. An astromech droid, R2-D2 is a major character throughout all six Star Wars films. Along with his droid companion C-3PO, he joins or supports Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi in various points in the saga...
), especially with the children. By the 1980s midget wrestling was less popular in Mexico, especially since few new wrestlers had joined the division.
In the early 1990s Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(CMLL), Mexico's oldest wrestling promotion, created a new concept, the Mini-Estrella division. The division was created by Antonio Peña
Antonio Peña
Antonio Hipolito Peña Herrada was the founder of the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración in 1992, which today is the largest wrestling promotion in Mexico. Peña's promotion reached its height of popularity in the early 1990s before the downturn of the...
who worked for CMLL at the time, who came up with the idea of using both little people and short wrestlers together and to have the Mini-Estrellas work as smaller versions of popular wrestlers of the time. Peña and CMLL created the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship
CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship
The CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha libre wrestling-based promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The championship is exclusively competed for in the Mini-Estrellas, or Minis, division...
in 1992, which is considered the official birth of the division. CMLL's Mini-Estrellas division featured a number of skilled, high flying wrestlers which helped make the concept an immediate success. Original Mini-Estrellas division consisted of Mascarita Sagrada
Mascarita Sagrada
Mascarita Sagrada is a Mexican Mini Luchador enmascarado and one of the most well known Mexican Minis of the modern era. He is the original Mascarita Sagrada although there have been several wrestlers who have used the same gimmick through the years...
(the first CMLL Mini-Estrella champion), Aguilata Solitaria, Octagóncito, Espectrito
Espectrito
Mario Mejia Jiminez is a Mexican Mini-Estrella luchador , or Mini professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Espectrito. Jiminez worked for the World Wrestling Federation as "Mini Vader" and "El Torito" between 1997 and 1999. Jiminez was the first ever Mexican National Mini-Estrella...
, Mazakrito, Pierrothito
Pierrothito
Pierrothito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pierrothito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is a former CMLL World Mini-Estrella Champion. He is also the first Mini to hold the Mexican National Lightweight...
, Pequeño Tritón, Mascarita Mágica
Fire (wrestler)
Vicente Serrano is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler, best known under the ring name "Fire", a Mini-Estrella, or "Mini". Since his debut in 1992 Serrano has worked mainly for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , in their Minis division, having held the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship...
, Ultimo Dragoncito
Ultimo Dragoncito
Ultimo Dragoncito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Ultimo Dragoncito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is the only wrestler to hold the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship two times...
, Cicloncito Ramírez
Pequeño Olímpico
Pequeño Olímpico is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pequeño Olímpico is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and holds the record for the longest CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship reign, 1,442 days...
, Pequeño Jaque Mate, Platita and Gargolita
Bracito de Oro
Roberto Rodrgiuez Aguirrre is a Mexican Luchador , or professional wrestler who works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in their Mini-Estrella division under the name Bracito de Oro . Aguirrre's real name was not a matter of public record until he was unmasked by Pequeño Black Warrior on April...
.
In 1993 Peña decided to leave CMLL and create his own wrestling promotion, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración is a lucha libre professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico...
(AAA), and in the process a number of the Mini-Estrellas left with Peña. Among those that left CMLL were the division's two main stars, the champion Mascarita Sagrada and his rival Espectrito. Peña later created the Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship
Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship
The Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship endorsed by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. . The championship is exclusively for Mini-Estrellas or Minis, in Mexico...
as AAA's Mini-Estrella championship. Due to the success of both the CMLL and AAA Mini-Estrella division other promotions such as the Universal Wrestling Association
Universal Wrestling Association
The Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
(UWA) and the World Wrestling Association
World Wrestling Association
The World Wrestling Association is a lucha libre promotion based in the Tijuana-area of Mexico. It was founded in 1986 by Benjamin Mora, Jr....
(WWA) briefly promoted Mini-Estrella championships, but neither promotion gained the success of CMLL and AAA. AAA would later create two other Mini-Estrella, the IWC and the LLL Mini-Estrellas championships, but both were later abandoned. The success of the Mini-Estrella division was evident as AAA put them in the main event of TripleMania III-A
TripleMania III-A
TripleManía III-A was the fifth overall TripleManía wrestling show promoted by Asistencia Asesoría y Administración . 1995 was second year to feature the "TripleManía Series" of shows with 3, referred to as III-A, III-B and III-C, where this was the first of the series. The show took place on June...
, one of AAA's biggest shows of the years. The match was a 13-Minis Steel Cage Elimination match
Professional wrestling match types
Many types of matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, can be found in the form of performing art that is professional wrestling....
, 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
Mini Psicosis
Enrique Del Rio is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler who has worked for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración's Mini-Estrella division since AAA was founded in 1992. Del Rio currently works under the ring name Mini Psicosis, a smaller version of Psicosis II, and is...
, Fuercita Guerrera, Mascarita Sagrada, Mini Calo, Octagóncito, La Parkita
La Parkita
Alberto Perez Jiménez was a Mexican Luchador enmascarado who worked in the Mini-Estrella division from 1990 until his death in 2009. Jiménez was best known under the ring name La Parkita, having used the name in Asistencia Asesoría y Administración , the Mexican Independent circuit and Chikara in...
, Payasito Azul, Super Muñequito, and Torerito had all left the cage. The TripleMania match was one of the first ever Luchas de Apuestas matches in the Mini-Estrella division. AAA would later create another "first" in the Mini-Estrellas division as they created Los Mini Vipers, a Mini version of Los Vipers
Los Vipers
Los Vipers is a professional wrestling group, called a stable, which has existed in various incarnations in the Mexican wrestling promotions Asistencia Asesoría y Administración since 1997. The group has consistently been presented as a Rudo stable. The group was originally founded by Cibernético...
.
In 2002 AAA created the AAA Mascot Tag Team Championship
AAA Mascot Tag Team Championship
The AAA Mascot Tag Team Championship is a tag team title contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración . The title is for teams of a regular-sized wrestler and a second miniature version, or mascot, of himself...
, the first and so far only tag team championship for teams consisting of a Mini-Estrella and the regular sized wrestler he is based on. In 2007, then reigning Mexican National Mini-Estrellas Champion, Mascarita Sagrada 2000
Mascarita Dorada
Mascarita Dorada is the ring name of a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who works in the Mini-Estrella division, comparable to the U.S. Midget professional wrestling division. From 2000 until 2007 he worked under the name Mascarita Sagrada in Asistencia Asesoría y...
left 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. Following the loss of the Mexican National title AAA decided to create a new title, the AAA World Mini-Estrellas Championship as the centerpiece of their Mini-Estrellas division, won by Mini Charly Manson
Mini Charly Manson
Arturo Santos Hernandez better known as the ring name of Mexican Luchador Mini Charly Manson who works in the Mini-Estrella division for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración . Santos, as Mini Charly Manson was the first ever holder of the AAA World Mini-Estrella Championship. Not to be confused...
. On January 11, 2009 CMLL promoted their first Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
(PPV) show with the Minis division in the main event. At La Hora Cero
La Hora Cero
La Hora Cero was a professional wrestling major show event produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , which took place on January 11, 2009 in Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. Six matches took place at La Hora Cero, with the main event being a multi-man Steel Cage where the last man in the cage...
13 minis competed in CMLL's first ever Infierno en el Ring
Infierno en el Ring
Infierno en el Ring is the name of an annual professional wrestling super show or pay-per-view event held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre since 2008...
for Mini-Estrellas. The match saw Pierrothito
Pierrothito
Pierrothito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pierrothito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is a former CMLL World Mini-Estrella Champion. He is also the first Mini to hold the Mexican National Lightweight...
defeat and unmask Shockercito
Shockercito
Javier Cortes Sánchez is a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler who works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in their Mini-Estrella division. Cortés is better known under the ring name Shockercito, a mascota version of wrestler Shocker...
after Cosmico, Eléctrico
Electrico (wrestler)
Eléctrico is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado or masked professional wrestler who currently works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in their Mini-Estrella division. Eléctrico's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private...
, Niño de Acero, Fantasy, Mascarita Dorada
Mascarita Dorada
Mascarita Dorada is the ring name of a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who works in the Mini-Estrella division, comparable to the U.S. Midget professional wrestling division. From 2000 until 2007 he worked under the name Mascarita Sagrada in Asistencia Asesoría y...
, Pequeño Ninja, Pequeno Olimpico
Pequeño Olímpico
Pequeño Olímpico is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pequeño Olímpico is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and holds the record for the longest CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship reign, 1,442 days...
, Pequeño Warrior, Tzuki
Tzuki
Tzuki is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who works as a Mini-Estrella or "Mini" division in Mexico. Throughout his career Tzuki has worked under various ring names, most notably Máscarita Sagrada, Jr., Mini Rey Misterio Jr. and Max Mini...
, Ultimo Dragoncito
Ultimo Dragoncito
Ultimo Dragoncito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Ultimo Dragoncito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is the only wrestler to hold the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship two times...
and Universito 2000 all had escaped the cage. Later on in 2009 CMLL would hold another "all Minis" cage match as well as a match that saw Minis and regular sized wrestlers compete against each other. AAA's Mascota tag team title was abandoned in 2009 when the then reigning champions El Alebrije
El Alebrije (wrestler)
El Alebrije is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre as part of the group called Los Invasores. He best known for his work in Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, where he worked for 12 years as El Alebrije, along with his...
and Cuije left AAA.
Mini-Estrellas outside of Mexico
The Mini-Estrellas have not been restricted to working outside of Mexico, although Mexico is the only country to regularly promote the Mini-Estrellas as a specific division. Often the Mini-Estrellas are brought in for a "special attraction" match such the World Wrestling CouncilWorld Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
's 19th and 22nd anniversary shows that featured Mascarita Sagrada and other Minis. World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) also invited the Mini-Estrellas to appear on one of their shows, a pre-PPV match at the 1996 Starrcade
Starrcade (1996)
Starrcade was the fourteenth annual Starrcade professional wrestling pay-per-view event. It was the ninth Starrcade event produced by World Championship Wrestling , and it took place on December 29, 1996 from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee...
where Mascarita Sagrada and Octagóncito defeated Jerrito Estrada and Piratita Morgan. Southern California based Pro Wrestling Revolution is the only US based promotion to have created a specific Mini-Estrella championship, created in 2009.
In 1997 the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF) and AAA began a talent sharing program, which allowed several ;Mini-Estrellas wrestlers to compete on WWF television. These wrestlers included Mascarita Sagrada, La Parkita and several AAA Mini-Estrellas that were given new gimmicks for their WWF appearances including Max Mini
Tsuki
, is the Japanese word for "thrust", coming from the verb , meaning "to thrust". It sounds the same as the Japanese word for "moon"/"month" .-Kendo:...
(formerly Máscarita Sagrada, Jr.), El Torito (Espectrito), Mini Goldust
Mini Abismo Negro
Mini Abismo Negro is the ring name of a Mexican Luchador enmascarado who works in the Mini-Estrella division for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración . Mini Abismo Negro is a former, two time Mexican National Mini-Estrellas Champion and the current AAA World Mini-Estrella Champion, the only...
(Mini Karis La Momia) and Mini Vader (Piratita Morgan). Mascarita Sagrada originally wrestled under his normal name but was soon repackaged as "Mini Nova", a mini version of Super Nova
Mike Segura
Miguel Angel Nava is a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler best known under the ring name, Mike Segura. North American fans knows Nava under the name Super Nova from his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation...
, a Luchador that worked for the WWF at the time. Mini Nova made his in ring debut in a match at Bad Blood in 1997 where he teamed with Max Mini against Tarantula
Espectrito II
"Mini Mankind" redirects here, this is about the wrestler who played "Mini Mankind" in 1997 and 1998- not 2008Alejandro Jiminez was a Mexican Mini-Estrella Luchador, or midget professional wrestler who worked mainly under the name Espectro II...
and Mosaic
Octagóncito (AAA)
Octagóncito is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler who works for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración's Mini-Estrella division...
. The Minis appeared on WWF Shotgun Saturday Night
WWF Shotgun Saturday Night
WWF Shotgun Saturday Night is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It aired from January 4, 1997 through August 21, 1999 as a syndicated broadcast...
and WWF Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
as well as in matches at the Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble (1997)
Royal Rumble was the tenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 19, 1997 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas....
in 1997 and the Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble (1998)
Royal Rumble was the eleventh annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 18, 1998 at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California....
in 1998. In 1999 the WWF/AAA talent sharing agreement ended and all Mini-Estrellas stopped working in the United States. In October 2005 the WWE created a "Juniors division" exclusive to their Smackdown brand. the division featured a number of minis from Mexico that mainly appeared in backstage skits of a comedic nature. Minis included Mascarita Sagrada, Tsuki
Tsuki
, is the Japanese word for "thrust", coming from the verb , meaning "to thrust". It sounds the same as the Japanese word for "moon"/"month" .-Kendo:...
, Octagoncito and Pequeño Violencia
Pequeño Violencia
Pequeño Violencia is a Mexican Luchador who has worked in the Mexican Mini-Estrella division since his debut in 1990. As Pequeño Violencia he wrestles as a smaller version of professional wrestler Violencia. He previously wrestled under the ring name El Fierito, a smaller version of wrestler La...
, the division also included Super Porky, who had never worked in the Mini-Estrella division in Mexico. Super Porky only appeared in backstage skits but did not wrestle. By March 2006 the WWE gave up on the Juniors division and released all the mini wrestlers.
The US based Lucha Libre USA
Lucha Libre USA
Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors was a television program on the MTV2 broadcast channel, chronicling the rise of Mexican-style wrestling, or lucha libre, in the United States. The first episode was aired on July 16, 2010. The second season premiered October 1, 2011. However, after only four...
began promoting in 2010 and featured several Mini-Estrellas, unlike in Mexican promotions, Mini-Estrellas such as Mascarita Dorada
Mascarita Dorada
Mascarita Dorada is the ring name of a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who works in the Mini-Estrella division, comparable to the U.S. Midget professional wrestling division. From 2000 until 2007 he worked under the name Mascarita Sagrada in Asistencia Asesoría y...
and Pequeño Halloween compete against regular sized competitors instead of in a separate division.
From Mini-Estrella to regular competitors
Since the Mini-Estrella division is not restricted only to people with Dwarfism some wrestlers have moved on from the Mini-Estrellas division to the regular sized division, especially some of the competitors over the height limit the division originally had. Mike SeguraMike Segura
Miguel Angel Nava is a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler best known under the ring name, Mike Segura. North American fans knows Nava under the name Super Nova from his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation...
originally worked as Orito (a mini version of Oro
Oro (wrestler)
Jesús Javier Hernández Silva , better known as Oro , was an influential Mexican professional wrestler who died inside the ring.-Wrestling career:...
) in CMLL, but when he began working for AAA he began working in the regular sized division as Super Nova. 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-man torneo cibernetico
Torneo cibernetico
A Torneo Cibernetico is a type of elimination tag-team match that frequently appears in Lucha Libre promotions.The match is a 16-man elimination tag team match consisting of 2 teams of 8. It uses standard Lucha Libre tag-team rules with elimination occurring with a pinfall, submission,...
elimination match where the winner would earn the right to work in the "regular sized" division. Damiancito El Guerrero
Virus (wrestler)
Ricardo Amezquita Cardeño is a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler best known under the ring name, Virus. Amezquita originally worked in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Minis division and held the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship under the name Damiancito El Guerrero, but was later...
defeated Cicloncito Ramírez, Tritoncito, Pequeño Cochisse, Platita, Guerreroito del Future, Pequeño Sayama and Fierito
Pequeño Violencia
Pequeño Violencia is a Mexican Luchador who has worked in the Mexican Mini-Estrella division since his debut in 1990. As Pequeño Violencia he wrestles as a smaller version of professional wrestler Violencia. He previously wrestled under the ring name El Fierito, a smaller version of wrestler La...
to earn the right to work with "regular sized" wrestlers. 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 for over a year. Instead of making Virus return to the Minis division to lose the title CMLL decided to give the championship to Ultimo Dragoncito
Ultimo Dragoncito
Ultimo Dragoncito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Ultimo Dragoncito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is the only wrestler to hold the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship two times...
and then subsequently announce that Ultimo Dragoncito had "won" the title on an undisclosed day in October, 1999.
CMLL is currently holding a "Bicentennial tournament" in August, 2010 to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Mini-Estrellas division, where the winner will "graduate" to the regular sized division. The tournament consists of two torneo cibernetico elimination matches with the winner of each facing off in a singles match on August 24. Demus 3:16
Pequeño Damián 666
Pequeño Damián 666 is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler. Pequeño Damián 666 is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini". Pequeño Damián 666 ring character is a Mini-version of wrestler Damián 666...
won the first cibernetico, defeating Eléctrico
Electrico (wrestler)
Eléctrico is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado or masked professional wrestler who currently works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in their Mini-Estrella division. Eléctrico's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private...
, Saturno, Fantasy, Pequeño Olímpico
Pequeño Olímpico
Pequeño Olímpico is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pequeño Olímpico is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and holds the record for the longest CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship reign, 1,442 days...
, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Violencia
Pequeño Violencia
Pequeño Violencia is a Mexican Luchador who has worked in the Mexican Mini-Estrella division since his debut in 1990. As Pequeño Violencia he wrestles as a smaller version of professional wrestler Violencia. He previously wrestled under the ring name El Fierito, a smaller version of wrestler La...
and Cisne to earn a place in the finals. The second torneo cibernetico took 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 the Mini-Estrella division. 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 the minis division.
Wrestling style
Since Mini-Estrella wrestlers are smaller and possess less muscle bulk than heavyweights or even CruisewereightCruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
it lends to a high-flying
Professional wrestling aerial techniques
Aerial techniques are maneuvers, using the ring and its posts and ropes as aids, used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. These moves are mainly done by smaller, quicker wrestlers who are unable to do most of the power moves. There is a wide variety of aerial...
wrestling style for a number of the Mini-Estrellas, especially in recent years. Some wrestlers such as Mascarita Dorada are able to perform moves that his regular sized counterpart would have a hard time executing. Not all performers in the Mini-Estrella division are able to work a high flying style, especially those with more severe forms of dwarfism work a more grounded style.
Championships
The first Mini-Estrellas championship was created in 1992 when CMLL created the CMLL Mini-Estrellas World Championship. Since then rivals AAA, UWA and WWA all created a Mini-Estrellas championship, although only AAA's championship sustained any longevity. In 2008 CMLL decided to use the Mexican National Lightweight ChampionshipMexican National Lightweight Championship
The Mexican National Lightweight Championship is a Mexican professional wrestling singles championship created and sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F....
as a secondary title for the Mini-Estrellas division. Up until that point the Lightweight title had not been considered a Mini-Estrellas championship.
Active championships
- AAA World Mini-Estrellas Championship
- CMLL World Mini-Estrella ChampionshipCMLL World Mini-Estrella ChampionshipThe CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha libre wrestling-based promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The championship is exclusively competed for in the Mini-Estrellas, or Minis, division...
- Mexican National Lightweight ChampionshipMexican National Lightweight ChampionshipThe Mexican National Lightweight Championship is a Mexican professional wrestling singles championship created and sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F....
- PWR World Mini-Estrella Championship
Inactive championships
- AAA Mascot Tag Team ChampionshipAAA Mascot Tag Team ChampionshipThe AAA Mascot Tag Team Championship is a tag team title contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración . The title is for teams of a regular-sized wrestler and a second miniature version, or mascot, of himself...
- IWC Mini-Estrellas Championship
- LLL Mini-Estrellas Championship
- Mexican National Mini-Estrella ChampionshipMexican National Mini-Estrella ChampionshipThe Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship endorsed by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. . The championship is exclusively for Mini-Estrellas or Minis, in Mexico...
- UWA World Mini-Estrella Championship
- WWA World Mini-Estrellas Championship