Visa issues could impact WrestleMania weekend and beyond.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports that the United States government is in the process of canceling United States work visas for nearly 20 CMLL stars in Mexico. If that happens, getting new visas could take months. Johnson writes that Volador Jr., Hechicero, and Mascara Dorada, who have appeared on AEW programming recently, are expected to be impacted by the issue. 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 referee Sagaz are expected to be impacted as well, and they would unable to perform in the United States until they get new visas.
Johnson cites sources who note that the situation comes after Full Blown Pro Wrestling, an independent company in Texas that effectively sponsored the group visas, had issues with CMLL management. over the process. The report notes that CMLL head Salvador Lutteroth had put other employees in charge of the visa process for the company's talent.
Additionally, Johnson writes that the United States Department of Homeland Security contacted Full Blown Pro Wrestling promoter Jerry Cadena about the visas, and Cadena was told that he could be accused of fraud if the vias were flagged. Cadena was said to have reached out to CMLL about the problem, and CMLL said they would handle it through the United States Embassy in Mexico, though the Department of Homeland Security issues work visas in the United States.
Johnson cites a source who noted that there is a family member on the CMLL side who works for the Embassy, so they believed they would be able to handle the issue. However, CMLL is no longer communicating with Cadena, and the story is that he told the United States Government that he did not intend to work with CMLL anymore, so any of the agreements he had signed to work with their talent were being terminated as of February 28.
Per Johnson, this would mean that, barring a miracle, the impacted talents would not be able to travel to the United States legally until they acquired new visas. This process could take multiple months, even if those involved pay fines to speed up the process and there are no issues. The work visa process can take from six to twelve months.
These issues would mean that the CMLL talent advertised for WrestleMania weekend, as well as NJPW Windy City Riot, would not be able to make those dates, barring a resolution of some sort.
Fightful will provide more information as it becomes available.
Blackpool Combat Club is set to compete at a CMLL show in March. More information is available here.
