Wrestling Summit
Encyclopedia
The Wrestling Summit or La Copa de Lucha was a professional wrestling
event held on September 22, 2006 at the Orleans Arena
in Paradise, Nevada
. Promoted by NWA Pro Wrestling, the event was a ground-breaking attempt to mix the American
professional wrestling style with the Mexican
lucha libre
style. The event was a huge success and spurred the NWA to tour across the nation with the hybrid combination.
In the first round, Team Mexico was able to outlast the technically superior Team Japan while Team U.S.A. easily handled the relatively unknown Team Canada. On their way to the ring for the finals, Team U.S.A. enraged the mostly Latino crowd by calling for immigration and throwing flour tortillas into the stands. The crowd responded by throwing back not only the tortillas, but also everything they could get their hands on. The entire match was fought amid a downpour of popcorn and beer. In the end, Team Mexico capitalized on a mistake by Team U.S.A. and captured the Copa de Lucha trophy. This match sparked a near two-year feud between “Los Luchas” (Phoenix Star and Zokre) and “The Real American Heroes” (Ryan and Anderson).
Sean “Syxx-Pac” Waltman
defeated
Cuba
’s Rocky Romero
Konnan
and
Human Tornado
defeated Aaron Aguilera
and Al Katrazz
Brazil
’s Kafu
and Babi Slymm defeated Colt Cabana and 
Kazakhstan
’s The Plague
Derek Sanders and
Durango Kid def. NWA British Commonwealth Champion
Ireland
’s Paul Tracey and Zarco
“Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce
and “The Future” Frankie Kazarian
. Kazarian took the early advantage, but a low kick behind the referee’s back helped Pearce secure the victory.
In the event’s finale, Mexican legends El Hijo del Santo
and Rey Misterio, Sr.
took on the team of L.A. Park and Fobia in a traditional 2 out of 3 falls Lucha Libre match. In the end, the technico
team of Santo and Misterio outwrestled the rudo
team to the crowd’s delight to pick up the win.
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...
event held on September 22, 2006 at the Orleans Arena
Orleans Arena
The Orleans Arena is a 9,500 seat multi-purpose arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is home to the Las Vegas Wranglers ice hockey team, Las Vegas Sin lingerie football team and was the home of the Las Vegas Gladiators arena football team in 2007, and is also an occasional home for the UNLV Rebels...
in Paradise, Nevada
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
. Promoted by NWA Pro Wrestling, the event was a ground-breaking attempt to mix the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestling style with the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
lucha libre
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...
style. The event was a huge success and spurred the NWA to tour across the nation with the hybrid combination.
La Copa de Lucha
The Wrestling Summit featured a 4-team international tag team tournament called La Copa de Lucha. The four countries represented were:- Team
CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
: Canadian Spymaster A and Canadian Spymaster B - Team
JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
: Black Tiger IVRocky RomeroJohn R. Rivera is a Cuban American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rocky Romero and as the fourth incarnation of Black Tiger. As Romero he was one half of the tag team The Havana Pitbulls , along with Ricky Reyes...
and Puma - Team MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
: Phoenix Star and Zokre - Team U.S.A.: Joey Ryan and Karl AndersonKarl AndersonChad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by his stage name Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently one half of the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champions with partner Giant Bernard.-Personal life:Allegra grew up in Asheville,...
In the first round, Team Mexico was able to outlast the technically superior Team Japan while Team U.S.A. easily handled the relatively unknown Team Canada. On their way to the ring for the finals, Team U.S.A. enraged the mostly Latino crowd by calling for immigration and throwing flour tortillas into the stands. The crowd responded by throwing back not only the tortillas, but also everything they could get their hands on. The entire match was fought amid a downpour of popcorn and beer. In the end, Team Mexico capitalized on a mistake by Team U.S.A. and captured the Copa de Lucha trophy. This match sparked a near two-year feud between “Los Luchas” (Phoenix Star and Zokre) and “The Real American Heroes” (Ryan and Anderson).
Other Matches
In addition to the tournament and the double main event, The Wrestling Summit featured matches with top caliber wrestlers from around the word. Those matches included:Sean “Syxx-Pac” Waltman
Sean Waltman
Sean Michael Waltman is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE in their developmental program. He wrestled there under the ring names 1–2–3 Kid and X-Pac off and on from 1993–2002, World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Syxx, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ...
defeated
CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
’s Rocky Romero
Rocky Romero
John R. Rivera is a Cuban American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rocky Romero and as the fourth incarnation of Black Tiger. As Romero he was one half of the tag team The Havana Pitbulls , along with Ricky Reyes...
Konnan
Konnan
Carlos Santiago Espada Moises , also known as Charles Ashenoff and better known by his ring name, Konnan, is a Cuban professional wrestler and rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
and
Human TornadoHuman Tornado
Craig Williams , better known by his ring name, Human Tornado, is an American retired professional wrestler. His character was that of a stereotypical 1970s blaxploitation street pimp. He performed primarily on the Californian independent circuit, most prominently for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, the...
defeated
Aaron AguileraAaron Aguilera
Aaron Aguilera , is a Mexican American professional wrestler and actor best known as Jesús and Uno on World Wrestling Entertainment and MTV's Wrestling Society X...
and
Al KatrazzBrazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
’s Kafu
Kafu
Victor Ceron is a Brazilian professional wrestler, better known under his ring name, Kafu. Kafu has worked for All Pro Wrestling , Inoki Dojo, International Wrestling Association, Big Time Wrestling, LLX World 1, PCW, NWA Pro, Portugal Wrestling, and the WWE development territory Florida...
and
Babi Slymm defeated Colt Cabana and KazakhstanKazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
’s The Plague
Derek Sanders and
Durango Kid def. NWA British Commonwealth ChampionNWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship
The NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship that serves as the major title in the NWA UK Hammerlock promotion...
IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
’s Paul Tracey and
ZarcoDouble Main Event
The first half of the double Main Event saw a rekindling of a classic SoCal wrestling feud between “Scrap Iron” Adam PearceAdam Pearce
Adam Pearce is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is the current NWA World Heavyweight Champion in his fourth reign and the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is also a former PWG Champion....
and
“The Future” Frankie KazarianFrankie Kazarian
Frank B. Gerdelman is an Armenian-American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Frankie Kazarian or simply Kazarian. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
. Kazarian took the early advantage, but a low kick behind the referee’s back helped Pearce secure the victory.
In the event’s finale, Mexican legends
El Hijo del SantoEl Hijo del Santo
Jorge Guzmán Rodríguez , better known as El Hijo del Santo , is a Mexican professional wrestler, political activist and one of the most successful stars in Lucha Libre...
and
Rey Misterio, Sr.Rey Misterio, Sr.
Miguel Ángel López Díaz, better known as his ring name Rey Misterio, Sr. is a Mexican professional wrestler, trainer and actor. He is the uncle of well-known luchador Rey Mysterio, Jr. His name directly translates to "Mystery King" in English...
took on the team of
L.A. Park and Fobia in a traditional 2 out of 3 falls Lucha Libre match. In the end, the technicoFace (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
team of Santo and Misterio outwrestled the rudo
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
team to the crowd’s delight to pick up the win.