Guerra del Golfo is both the name of a major show series promoted by the Mexican Lucha Libre, or professional wrestling promotionInternational Wrestling Revolution Group as well as the name of the tournament match that is the focal point of the show. The tournament consists of two first-round steel cage matches where the last person in the cage advances to the final match of the night. In the finals the two losers face off in a cage match where the loser of that match is either unmasked or forced to have their hair shaved off under Luchas de Apuestas rules. There have been a total of 10 shows since the first show in 2005. So far three wrestlers have lost their masks and seven have been shaved bald.
Event history
Starting as far back as at least 2000, the Mexican wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group 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, IWRG Guerra de Sexos or IWRG Prison Fatal 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.
