CMLL Reportedly Dealing with Major Work Visa Issues for Their Talents in the United States

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre reportedly is currently dealing with a major work visa-related legal issues that could end up preventing many CMLL talents from being able to work in the United States, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that work visas for around twenty CMLL talents in Mexico are currently in the process of being cancelled by the United States government. Johnson reported that should this process be completed, it could take several months for those talents affect to be able to get new approved and issued work visas.

Johnson reported that those known to be affected by this issue are Volador Jr., Hechicero, Mascara Dorada, Blue Panther, Dulce Gardenia, El Sagrado, El Suicida, Electrico, Espiritu Negro, Euforia, Fugaz, Gemelo Diablo 1 and 2, Magico, Robin, Sangre Imperial, Soberano, Templario, and CMLL referee Sagaz.

Those close to the situation reportedly stated that the cause of this legal issue revolves around a Texas indie promotion named Full Blown Pro Wrestling running into issues with CMLL management over the course of the visa process. Johnson reported that this indie promotion had been the sponsor of the group visas for the CMLL talent affected. Johnson also reported that making this situation worse was the person who had been heading up CMLL’s legal department and had been in charge of the visa process on the company’s end had recently left the promotion.

Johnson reported that the United States Department of Homeland Security had recently contacted Full Blown Pro Wrestling promoter Jerry Cadena over their questions regarding the status of the visas for CMLL talents. Cadena reportedly was informed that he could be accused of fraud if the visas were to be flagged due to their issues. Cadena reportedly then contacted CMLL officials about working together to resolve the problem but CMLL’s side claimed that they would take care of it via the United States Embassy in Mexico and would not respond beyond that statement.

Johnson reported that the Department of Homeland Security and not an embassy for a specific country is the one who actually issues work visas for the United States. One source spoken to reportedly stated that CMLL officials had been under the belief that they would be able to hand the situation due to having a family member who works for the U.S. embassy in Mexico.

Johnson also reported that making the situation worse for CMLL talents is that Cadena recently informed the U.S. government that he no longer has any intentions of working with CMLL going forward and any agreements he signed to work with their talents were being officially terminated as of February 28th.

In regards to the potential fallout, Johnson reported that unless there is some sort of miracle, the affected CMLL talents will not be able to travel into the U.S. and be legally allowed to work in the country until new work visas are issued to them. Johnson reported that the best case scenario would be a few months of waiting if everyone involved pays expensive fees to expedite everything and if everything goes as smoothly as possible. The worst case scenario reportedly would be a process lasting as long as six to twelve months.

Johnson reported that this currently means that all of the CMLL talent who have been booked and advertised for indie events during WrestleMania 40 weekend in Philadelphia and other events elsewhere may not be able to make those dates and perform until this situation is resolved.