Homenaje a Dos Leyendas (2017)

Since 1996 the Mexican wrestling company Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (Spanish for "World Wrestling Council"; CMLL) has held a show in March each year to commemorate the passing of CMLL founder Salvador Lutteroth who died in March 1987.[3] For the first three years the show paid homage to Lutteroth himself, from 1999 through 2004 the show paid homage to Lutteroth and El Santo, Mexico's most famous wrestler ever[4] and from 2005 forward the show has paid homage to Lutteroth and a different leyenda ("Legend") each year, celebrating the career and accomplishments of past CMLL stars. Originally billed as Homenaje a Salvador Lutteroth, it has been held under the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas ("Homage to two legends") since 1999 and is the only show outside of CMLL's Anniversary shows that CMLL has presented every year since its inception. All Homenaje a Dos Leyendas shows have been held in Arena México in Mexico City, Mexico which is CMLL's main venue, its "home".[5] Traditionally CMLL holds their major events on Friday Nights, which means the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas shows replace their regularly scheduled Super Viernes show.[5] The 2017 show was the 23rd overall Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show produced by CMLL.

The Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show featured six professional wrestling matches with different wrestlers involved in pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines. Wrestlers were portrayed as either heels (referred to as rudos in Mexico, those that portray the "bad guys") or faces (técnicos in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) as they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[6]

In September 1933 Salvador Lutteroth González founded Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), which would later be renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Over time Lutteroth would become responsible for building both Arena Coliseo in Mexico City and Arena Mexico, which became known as "The Cathedral of Lucha Libre".[3][5] Over time EMLL became the oldest wrestling promotion in the world, with 2018 marking the 85th year of its existence.[7] Lutteroth has often been credited with being the "father of Lucha Libre" introducing the concept of masked wrestlers to Mexico as well as the Luchas de Apuestas match. Lutteroth died on September 5, 1987.[3] EMLL, late CMLL, remained under the ownership and control of the Lutteroth family as first Salvador's son Chavo Lutteroth and later his grandson Paco Alonso took over ownership of the company.[8]

The life and achievements of Salvador Lutteroth is always honored at the annual Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show, since 1999 CMLL has also honored a second person, a Leyenda of lucha libre, in some ways CMLL's version of their Hall of Fame. In 2017 CMLL chose to honor Arturo Díaz Mendoza, best known under the ring name Villano III ("Villain 3") for his life and career in Lucha Libre. Arturo Mendoza was the middle son of wrestler/promoter Ray Mendoza, following José de Jesús Díaz Mendoza (aka. Villano I) and José Alfredo Díaz Mendoz (Villano II) and younger brothers Raymundo Díaz Mendoza Jr. (Villano V) and Tomas Díaz Mendoza (Villano V). His career really took off when Ray Mendoza, Francisco Flores and Benjamin Mora Jr. broke away from CMLL to form the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) where Arturo became one of the stars of their lighter weight divisions holding the UWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship,[9] the UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship,[10] the UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship twice,[11] the UWA World Welterweight Championship[12] and the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship 7 times.[13][Note 1] Over the years Villano III defended his mask in a multitude of Luchas de Apuestas matches, with more than 30 mask wins on his record, including unmasking Super Astro and Pegasus Kid.[14] In late-1999/early-2000 Villano III started a storyline feud with Atlantis that led to both wrestlers putting their mask on the line at the 2000 Juicio Final. Villano III lost the match and his mask in what was voted as the Wrestling Observer Match of the Year for 2001. In subsequent years Arturo's career slowed down as age and injuries took a toll on him. He finally retired in 2015 due to diminishing eyesight and deteriorating knees.[15]