Ciocco’s CMLL Women’s Grand Prix 2025 Review

SICKOS!

(Wait, I can still say that, right? I mean, there will be AEW representation in this match).

Okay, let’s try, fans who enjoy incredible women’s wrestling!

So, this is a spur of the moment, pop up review. The truth is, I saw the advertisement for this the other day after Dynamite, and I saw there was a hole in my Friday night schedule that I could comfortably and easily fit into my viewing catalogue.

CMLL has run the Grand Prix intermittently since 1994, with years that the event did not take place. However, the women were not involved in their own rendition of it until the year 2021. Since then, they have proved that they can do what the men can do just as much if not better. Think of the Mia Hamm and Michael Jordan Gatorade commercial(s) from, I want to say, the late 90’s? Or maybe it was post-2000. Either way, the same ideology exists.

This year, the collective for team CMLL will be opposed by a World Team of Women spanning multiple companies.

Taking up the mantle for the home team, CMLL, will be the following:
Persephone
La Catalina
Olympia
Skadi
Reyna Isis
Zeuxis
India Sioux
Lluvia
La Jarochita

And representing Team Resto del Mundo/Team Rest of the World:
Julia Hart (AEW)
Skye Blue (AEW)
Thekla (AEW)
Mina Shirakawa (AEW)
Diamante (ROH)
Shoko Nakajima (MLW)
Hazuki (STARDOM)
Koguma (STARDOM)
Kanji (RevPro)

Not going to lie, I’m not too familiar with the girls from STARDOM (despite reading Kevin Pantoja’s reviews that he so graciously posts on this site), but, obviously, I know the AEW and ROH representation, and I’ve been a big fan of Shoko since I first saw her in MLW. Kanji is incredible, as well.

So, the only question that remains is, whose team will come out on top, and which competitor will be the last woman standing?

Fun Facts!
-This is the fifth time that a Women’s Gran Prix takes place in CMLL.
-In the first four events, Team CMLL has the advantage, 3-1. Winning for Team CMLL was Dark Silueta (2021), Dalys la Caribena (2022), and Reyna Isis (2024). The only win for Team International was in 2023, with Tessa Blanchard being the sole winner.
-Last year, AEW/ROH had three representee’s on Team International, with Viva Van and Red Velvet (ROH), and Willow Nightingale (AEW). This year, Hart, Blue, Thekla, and my future ex-wife Shirakawa will represent AEW, while Diamante will represent ROH.

With that out of the way, it’s almost time to watch the ladies tear it up!

Image Credit: Triller TV

Well, the feed for the show starts, and they are showing events that happened in the Resumen Arena from the week before.

Now we get a shill for the company, to come and check out the arena and get a tour. Pretty cool.

Apparently, we are getting highlights from more matches that took place back on the 17th of October. I HAVE to think that the actual show starts soon enough. The advert for their Youtube Channel pops up, and from my quite limited Spanish, I believe it’s just telling me that members get exclusive content on CMLL’s YT channel.

I mean, because otherwise, why would Triller TV advertise the show being on their streaming service?

Uneasy laughter.

Hey, it looks like the show is finally ready to go! There is a dude standing in the middle of the ring with the Grand Prix Trophy. There is English commentary, but it keeps cutting in and out and it is sketchy as all hell. I don’t know if it is a problem with their feed or the Triller TV feed. Either way, I have eyes, and I will be able to see the events, in the very least. Push comes to shove, I’ll just put in my ear buds and continue my traverse through the new Hail the Sun, Conjurer, Mammoth, and the Acacia Strain.

We get an introduction to the show proper. This is, apparently, the 92nd anniversary of CMLL, so congratulations to them, as that is some kind of milestone.

Oh, so apparently the audio is fine without the other guy talking in the ring. That is weird. Also, I was under the pretense, whether false or otherwise, that this was going to be a WOMEN’S wrestling show. And yet, I am seeing four guys competing here. So, since I bought this to see the LADIES wrestle, I will watch and give the results of those matches along with some random thoughts, ala Rob Stewart, of what comes before it, but I am not reviewing it.

Well, at the very least, we have the ladies dancing on the ramp while the guys make their entrances. That sort of kind of really makes up for it.

-Our first match is a tag team match, pitting two guys from Japan, Yutani and El Elemental, against Los Dragons. I don’t know if Los Dragons are brothers or father and son, but I’m sure I will find out.
-Apparently, there are three English commentators, two guys and a woman. The woman just said, “some kind of substance is coming out of Yutani”. Phrasing, my lady.
-El Elemental looks like a smaller Luchasaurus wearing a Super Delfin mask, and Yutani looks like a blue haired version of EVIL with Takeshita’s body. I learn something new every day!
-And I thought AEW referees were forgiving. This referee, apparently, is just there for a front row seat to the match.
-Los Dragons finally get their shit together, after getting their asses kicked by the Rudo’s.
-The first Dragon hits an Imploding 450 to the floor. The second one hits a Senton Atomico to the floor. He almost killed everyone.
-I’ve counted two times so far that the Dragons have “kicked” their opponents, but it looked as compelling and convincing as Shane McMahon’s punches.
-Apparently, The Rudo’s won by pinning BOTH Dragons in back-to-back falls.
-Oh, shit, it just dawned me, they do 2-out-of-3 falls to a finish. Well, at any rate, those two falls took roughly a minute to happen. So much for drama, guys!

-Oh shit, Hechichero is here! I’ll be paying closer attention to this, now!
-Apparently, the ladies had a change of clothes during the matches. I approve! 😉
–Xelhua is his opponent for this match! I like this already!
-What the actual shit, they’re ONLY getting ten minutes? LAME!
-Hechicero pulled the mask off of Xelhua, only to reveal he had another one on. I think there is some cartoon shit where we see someone pull off a mask or hat or something, and it goes on forever.
-These guys have started off wrestling on the mat. Now, Xelhua wants to speed it up.
-Hechicero proves how advanced he is by punching Xelhua in the ass, LOL!
-No Don Callis here with his man, I forgot to mention at the top of this. I miss that, only for the fact that I do enjoy his introduction for The Alchemist, even though I give him grief for it.
-The same referee is handling this match, as well.
-Xelhua tries to submit Hechicero with an ankle crank. Like, for real, my guy?
-Everyone, drop and roll! Seriously, lots of roll-ups now!
-Fans are very much behind Hechicero, although Xelhua gets a good response as well when he’s on offense.
-Oh, shit, Hechicero has dropped the straps! It’s time to get serious!
-Hechichero pins Xelhua at 7:40 with what appeared to be spiked head scissors. It was really creative, no matter what you refer to it as.

-Wow, they waste no time going to the next match!
-This is a tag team match, a semifinals match of some sort. Difunto is the man making his entrance with a cross. Barbaro Cavernario is out next, along with Kemolito!
–Titan is out next. He’s soon joined by Mascara Dorada! Kemonito is here to support Dorada!
-So, the match is Titan and Dorada against Difunto and Barbaro. Got it. The Minis are on the ring apron, as well, but it’s billed as a 2-out-of-3 falls tag team match, not a 6-man LUCHA. I guess they are there for support.
-Without his coat and cross, Difunto looks a human version of the Crypt Keeper.
-It’s always a pleasure seeing Titan and Dorada in AEW/ROH. Barbaro I am also very familiar with as well.
-Dorada is putting on a clinic, and the fans love it!
-Cavernario looks confused as to what he is supposed to do, so he runs into Titan’s boot lol.
-The one male announcer says he wouldn’t mind seeing the minis in the ring mixing it up. But it’s not a Trios LUCHA, my guy.
-Shooting Star Press and a double stomp gets Dorada and Titan the first fall of the match!
-Oh snap, Kemolito has been thrown into the ring by Kemonito! 619 by Kemonito! He hits a splash and gets a pinfall!
-That is not the end, that was just an intermission/break before the second fall between the guys in the match. If I wasn’t aware of that, one of the dancing girls brought down a 2 Cieda sign.
-When Barbaro does the worm, is it called the caveman instead? Or the Ugh? The Club? The dirt?
-The announcer just called Kemonito cute. And it wasn’t the woman lol.
-Barbaro just launched Dorada into Difunto for a rana. Get you a teammate who loves you like that!
-Difunto and Barbaro get back on track, slamming Dorada spine first onto the barricade. That looks like it hurt, Ollie.
-Dorada is back, as if nothing happened to him, as Titan and Dorada wipe out their opponents on the floor.
-So, Difunto is pinned by Titan, and the match isn’t over. Apparently, both men need to be pinned in the second fall. That is quite interesting to me.
-Barbaro just pinned Titan, so it’s down to Barbaro and Dorada.
-Barbaro chokes out Dorada to get his team the second fall.
-No, wait, the referee disqualified Barbaro because he wouldn’t let go of the hold, so Titan and Dorada are the winners, two falls to none.
-Barbero ripped off the mask of Dorada. That’s a DQ, says the announcers. No shit, I say.
-Barbero puts the mask in the middle of the ring and goes to punt it out of the ring, but he totally missed it. JFC don’t let that man be a kicker.
-Kemolito gets his revenge on Kemonito, throwing him in the ring and hitting a Vader Bomb!
-The announcers wonder where Titan is and why he isn’t helping Dorada. You can see Titan just kind of laying against the barricade watching it. Some help.

-Three men come down to the ring. One is the President of CMLL, the other man is the President of STARDOM. I have no clue who the third person is. The commentators don’t mention him, and I am not familiar with him.
-Oh, apparently the third man is the CMLL representative to Japan. That’s cool, I guess.
-The President of CMLL hands both men shirts and shakes hands with both of them. I am told that they are shirts to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of CMLL.
-We see more people in the crowd, including a representative from Austria for Thekla, and a couple more Japanese delegates.
-HOLY CRAP, THAT CROWD IS HUGE!

-Alright, it is finally time for the match that I came here, that you came here for, the 2025 Women’s Grand Prix Match!
-Before we can get that, Blue Panther is here, waving the CMLL flag.
-Every individual woman makes their entrance.
-Before the match starts, the Mexican National Anthem plays, with all the ladies in the ring. The entire ensemble is made up of the Mexican Military, as they go on to play four different songs.
-Three female referees, including Aubrey Edwards in an 80’s style referee’s outfit and a bow tie, get introduced on the apron.

2025 Women’s Grand Prix Match: Team International (Diamante, Kanji, Shoko Nakajima, Koguma, Hazuki, Mina Shirakawa, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, and Thekla) vs. Team CMLL (Olympia, Skadi, India Sioux, Reyna Isis, Lluvia, La Jarochita, Zeuxis, Persephone, and La Catalina)

***The above listing was the order in which the women were introduced.

And the match FINALLY gets under way! This is a nine-on-nine elimination match, and apparently, two people from the same team could end up as the final two, so we’ll see how this goes.

Koguma and Sioux start us off. Koguma with a crossbody block from the top, no pin attempt, though. Sioux slows her offense down with a snapmare and a kick to the spine. Koguma fires back with an arm drag.

Nakajima and Olympia are in now. There is a size discrepancy here, but don’t tell Nakajima that, as she hits a pop-up DDT to Olympia. Olympia says that’s cute and she presses her over her head and slams her to the mat. Shoko is back with a springboard rana, sending Olympia to the floor. Shoko follows up with a dive to the floor to Olympia.

Lluvia and Hazuki are in now. Hazuki gets her jaw and teeth jacked up by a dropkick from Lluvia. Hazuki fires back with a clothesline and she talks smack.

New entrants, as Isis and Kanji are in. Kanji fakes Isis out and hits a comeback lariat. Snapmare and a thrust kick from Kanji. Our first pin attempt follows, as Isis kicks out at two. Isis fires back with a powerslam for a two count. Isis with head scissors. Isis to the outside, she hits a tornio and wipes out Team International! A brawl has taken place on the floor, and I dunno, but I think we need more refs to handle this.

Diamante and Skadi in the ring now. Choke Bomb from Skadi, but she breaks her own pin for reasons. Diamante makes her pay with a standing sliced bread. Diamante follows up with a Meteora in the corner for another two.

Catalina helps out Skadi and gets into the match. Mina is in the match, too! Catalina and Mina decided to dance! That is, until Catalina goes rouge and whips her to the corner. Catalina dances! Mina dances! Catalina with the misdirection dropkick. Mina off the ropes, around the world, side Russian Leg sweep! Mina with a kick to the gut, grabs Catalina by the hand, she scales the ropes, but instead of attacking Catalina, she dives onto Skadi!

Blue sneaks in and rolls up Catalina for a two count! Persephone is in. She comes face-to-face with Catalina, they shake hands. Blue with a kick to the gut of Persephone, but she comes back and trucks Skye. Skye’s crossbody is intercepted by Persephone, as she hits a fallaway slam. Blue catches a charging Persephone with boots and snaps off a tornado rana. Skye to the corner, and she dives out into Team CMLL! Another battle ensues!

So far, this match is an easy 5-star, 6-star in Arena Mexico. Eat your heart out, Uncle Dave!

Thekla and Zeuxis are in now. Thekla goes to do the spider, but Zeuxis grabs her by the hand and shoves her away.

Well, that was quick, as Hart and Jarochita are in now. Rana from Jarochita, but Hart catches her with a dropkick. Jarochita corners Hart and hits a drop toe hold followed by running double knees for a two count.

Olympia and Koguma are back. Koguma tries to run over Olympia, but she has no luck. She finally does so by tripping her up and then shoulder tackling her to the mat. Standing bulldog for a two count by Koguma. Koguma rams Olympia’s face (mask) in the corner. Both ladies go to the top, Koguma shoves Olympia off and follows up with a missile dropkick for a two count. Kogmua to the top again, but Olympia picks her out of the corner and hits a Samoan Drop for the first pin!

Koguma has been eliminated @ 16:49 (CMLL – 9 International – 8)

Diamante and Jarochita are in now. European clutch by Diamante gets her a two count. Both ladies collide in the middle of the ring. Kanji and Sioux sneak in to steal the pin, but we get a double kick out.

Sioux whips Kanji around the ring by her hair twice. Kanji fires back with clubbing blows to the back. Kanji does the finger snap! Kanji steps onto the back of Sioux and snaps the shoulder back! The cover, Sioux out at two. Kanji with knife edge chops, putting Sioux back on the mat. She does fight back with a dropkick, followed by a Bronco Buster and kicks in the corner. Kanji reverses with a roll-up for a two count. Kanji with a Twist and Shout! The cover, two count. Hidden Blade variation from Kanji for another two. Sioux locks up Kanji and hits the Rosa Driver for the pin!

Kanji has been eliminated @ 21:07 (CMLL – 9 International – 7)

Mina gets attacked by Sioux and Isis, and I do not approve. Mina gives as good as she gets, hitting a DDT on Sioux and a leg snap on Isis. Mina with a running dropkick for a two. Mina picks up Isis, but Reyna fires back with headbutts. Tornado arm drag by Isis. Reyna rolls up Mina and gets a two. Enziguri from Isis.

Catalina and Blue are in the match now. They slug it out, as Catalina gets the upper hand. Blue changes course and drives Catalina face first into the corner. Basement thrust kick from Blue gets her a two. Catalina goes to the top and hits a missile dropkick. Her follow up is avoided by Blue, as she hits another thrust kick for just a one count. Catalina responds with a flying knee, booty bump, and she poses in the ring.

Hazuki is in and she dropkicks Catalina to the floor. Hazuki follows that up with a tope suicida! Skadi grabs Hazkui by the hair. Skadi looking for a choke slam, but Hazuki changes levels and hits a Randy Orton draping DDT. Springboard dropkick from Hazuki for a two count. She tries to whip Skadi, but that doesn’t go very well. A diving codebreaker does work for her, however. Hazuki to the top rope, Senton Back Splash! The cover, Skadi out at 2.5. Skadi is back up, as she runs through her. Michinoku Driver from Skadi eliminates another one.

Hazuki is eliminated @ 27:30 (CMLL -9 International – 6)

Sioux and Nakajima in now. Sioux mocks her size, then proceeds to pay for it with a running lariat from Shoko. Sioux fires back with a hook clothesline for a two. Shoko sweeps out the legs of Sioux and hits a springboard splash for a two count. Sit-out powerbomb by Sioux gets her a two. Sioux avoids one Area Code Jones, but not the second one! Shoko with the Northern Lights Bridge for the elimination!

India Sioux is eliminated @ 29:50 (CMLL – 8 International – 6)

Thekla and Jarochita now. Thekla weirds her out a bit, but she returns to ram Thekla’s face in the corner. Head scissors and a dropkick from Jarochita, as she poses!

Persephone and Hart in now. Hart grounds and pounds Persephone (giggity) as she screams. Persephone ducks an oncoming Julia and hits a thrust kick. Hart with a chop, repeat shoulder blocks, and she heads to the top rope. She does the Undertaker walk and comes down with a chop. Running clothesline from behind gets her a two. Persephone fires back with a dropkick.

Mina is back! But Skadi is in and she boots her in the face. That bitch. Skadi with the pin for a two. Skadi goes to the corner, she goes to the outside, takes too long posing, and Mina drops her over the second rope. Skadi favors her knee, as Mina slingshots in with a splash for a two count. Mina attacks the knee, looking for the Figure Four, but Skadi kicks her away. Skadi has Mina up in the Gory Special, but Mina up on her shoulders, she rolls through and gets the figure-four! Skadi taps out!

Skadi is eliminated @ 34:55 (CMLL – 7 International – 6)

Diamante and Zeuxis are in now. Olympia sneaks in to attack, but she strikes Zeuxis by accident. Diamante rolls up Olympia for a two count. Diamante uses Olympia’s strength against her and rolls her up for a two. She rolls her up AGAIN for another two. Diamante’s attack is intercepted, as Olympia eliminates Diamante with a powerbomb.

Diamante is eliminated @ 36:40 (CMLL – 7 International – 5)

Olympia remains in the match with Blue. Olympia with a powerslam for a two. Olympia has Skye on her shoulders, but Skye rolls through for a two count. Code Blue, and Olympia is gone!

Olympia is eliminated @ 38:00 (CMLL – 6 International – 5)

Isis and Thekla now. Isis with a face first slam to Thekla for a two. Thekla grounds Isis and rips away at her face. Thekla with a submission, but Isis gets to the ropes to break the hold. Isis rolls Thekla up for a two. Isis clothesline is ducked by Thekla’s matrix. SPEAR! Isis is gone!

Reyna Isis is eliminated @ 39:55 (CMLL – 5 International – 5)

Catalina and Nakajima in. Catalina has Shoko on her shoulders. Shoko escapes, hits an Area Code Jones to the back of the head. Shoko to the top, but her diving Senton misses. Catalina with a kick to the head, she picks up Shoko and drives her down for the pin.

Shoko Nakajima is eliminated @ 41:30 (CMLL – 5 International – 4)

We have four in the ring now, as the CMLL Tag Team Champions battle it out with Hart and Thekla. Double submission by Hart and Thekla! Jarochita powerbombs Hart onto Thekla. Double cover, but a double two. Hart and Lluvia are left in the ring. Lluvia stomps on Hart like a bull and hits a corner charging dropkick! The cocky cover, Hart kicks out at two. Lluvia sets up Hart face first in the corner, she hits a running dropkick to Hart’s back. Another cover, another two. Lluvia gets tripped up by Blue. Heartless from Julia gets an elimination!

Lluvia is eliminated @ 45:15 (CMLL – 4 International – 4)

Thekla and Zeuxis now. Thekla locks her in the tarantula and then kicks her in the face. Hart sneaks in but she is sent from the ring.

Catalina and Mina now. Pedigree from Catalina, but Mina kicks out at two. Electric chair drop by Catalina. She goes to the top, but Mina is like fuck that shit! She throws Catalina to the middle of the ring and hits a running knee strike! Glamorous Driver from Mina, and that’s a pin!

La Catalina is eliminated @ 47:35 (International – 4 CMLL – 3)

Persephone in now. Her power is countered by a tornado DDT from Mina. Sling blade by Mina for a two. Elbows and forearms are exchanged. Persephone with a shoulder tackle, but Mina with a barrage of kicks and the back fist. The cover, but that’s only a two! Bullshit, Aubrey, learn how to count! Mina goes to the top, but Persephone snatches her up with a crucifix bomb for the pin.

Mina Shirakawa is eliminated @ 49:45 (CMLL – 3 International – 3)

Thekla and Jarachita in. Around the world with the DDT and a curb stomp from Thekla eliminates her!

El Jarachita is eliminated @ 50:45 (International – 3 CMLL – 2)

Hart’s moonsault meets the knees from Zeuxis. Sit out piledriver eliminates Hart.

Julia Hart is eliminated @ 51:35 (CMLL – 2 International – 2)

Skye Blue in now. Running powerbomb by Blue eliminated Zeuxis!

Zeuxis is eliminated @ 52:25 (International – 2 CMLL – 1)

Persephone is it for Team CMLL, as she hits a SPEAR on Blue for a two count. Persephone’s next move is countered by Blue, who hits a thrust kick. Blue with a Code Blue to Persephone, but that’s a 2.5. Persephone to the ramp, springboard splash to Blue, and she’s gone!

Skye Blue is eliminated @ 54:00 (one left for each team)

Thekla spiders her way into the match and hits another SPEAR for a two count. Thekla with forearms, but Persephone fires back with a lariat. Persephone to the top rope, but Thekla meets her up there. Spider Suplex from Thekla, as she brings herself back up in the corner. She takes WAY too long posing, however, as Persephone snatches up Thekla. The Razor’s Edge! The pin, but Thekla kicks out at 2.9! Persephone can’t believe it! Persephone heads back to the top and hits the moonsault! That will do it!

Thekla is eliminated @ 56:40

WINNER: Persephone (Last Woman Standing for Team CMLL)
TIME: 56:40
THOUGHTS: I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this match, but I came away very impressed with the layout of the match. Sure, it seemed a bit cliche to have everyone in the match one after another, but it worked to showcase everyone, as all 18 women in the match had a fair amount of time to shine throughout. Persephone winning makes total sense for the home team, as it sends the fans home happy, and the announcers hinted at Persephone possibly getting another shot at Mercedes Mone down the line. This was a blast, and it highlighted women’s wrestling to the fullest, and more importantly, I came away far more educated about the women of CMLL than I ever would have I just read and not seen any visuals.
RATING: ****1/4

The president of CMLL, along with the two men from STARDOM, enter the ring, as one of the dancers brings down the trophy. Persephone shakes hands with all of the men in the ring and takes her trophy. The streamers and confetti fall, as the other members of Team CMLL enter the ring to celebrate and congratulate Persephone. The Mexican Army is back to serenade the winners. Hey, even Team International is back, I doubt this will end poorly at all!

Oh, wait, Persephone and Mina dance! Catalina and Mina dance! YES! THIS IS AMAZING! Skadi has Persephone on her shoulders and sits her in the corner.

We get a replay, highlighting the eliminations that occurred during the match.

The announcers talk about their opinions of the show, and with that, we are done!

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

The 2025 CMLL Women's Grand Prix, despite its name, was not just a one match show, but it was, clearly, the match that mattered. The undercard action was fine, I really enjoyed the Hechicero and Xelhua match, although I wish it had been given more time, and the dastardly actions of Barbaro Cavanerio made for some edgy and interesting stuff. However, the women were the focus, and they did not disappoint in the slightest. Persephone winning was a great call, and everyone got their moment in the sun. Come for 2/3 of the undercard matches, and stay for the women killing it.