Torneo Gran Alternativa (2001)

The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2001) (Spanish for "Great Alternative Tournament") was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; Spanish for "World Wrestling Council"). The tournament was held on August 14, 2001, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. CMLL made the Torneo Gran Alternativa an annual event in 1995, only skipping it four times between 1994 and 2017. since it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.^[1]

The 2001 Gran Alternativa was held on August 14, 2001, and was the first tournament to feature a Battle Royal between the eight rookies to determine the seeding for the first round of the tournament. Virus won the battle royal, getting the number one seed for himself and Blue Panther. Order of elimination in the battle royal: #1 Alan Stone, #2 Sicodelico Jr., #3 Enemigo Publico, #4 Sangre Azteca, #5 Tigre Blanco, #6 Volador Jr. and #7 Doctor X. The final saw Olímpico and Sicodelico Jr. defeat Black Warrior and Sangre Azteca to win the Gran Alternativa tournament.^[2] Sicodelico worked for CMLL until 2003, not achieving much of note with the promotion.