CMLL’s Strict No-Fan-Contact Policy Explained After Drunken Arena México Incident

Fans never know what can happen at a pro wrestling event. That is 100% true, especially if that fan jumps the barricade. However, that doesn’t mean wrestlers can do whatever they like.

The January 18 main event at Arena México was briefly thrown into chaos when a drunken fan jumped into the ring during the CMLL World Middleweight Championship match between Bandido and Templario. The fan climbed the ropes mid-match, forcing the action to stop as security rushed in to regain control.

Bandido’s reaction stood out immediately. Instead of striking the fan, he positioned himself to block the intrusion and waited for security to handle it. There could have been a reason why he did this.

While discussing the incident on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained why wrestlers in CMLL are never allowed to retaliate against fans, even when provoked, like when someone jumps into the ring during a match.

“There’s a rule at Arena Mexico — I mean, it’s a steadfast rule — that, like, if a fan does anything to a wrestler, the wrestler never can hit the fan. Because they do not want any evidence that could be edited or whatever and go viral of a CMLL wrestler hitting a fan. Because, you know, these shows are family shows. These shows are tourist shows. And tourists don’t want to go and see the idea of drunk fans brawling with wrestlers like LA Park would do or something.”

Dave Meltzer added that while the responsibility falls entirely on security, that system is not always perfect, which can leave talent exposed in the moment.

“So, you know, you're not allowed to hit back. Security has to take care of it. Sometimes they’re slow…”

That reality explains why Bandido stayed hands-off as the fan was eventually restrained and removed, even as security appeared aggressive in dragging him out. Once order was restored, the match continued, and Templario successfully retained the championship.

In the end, no one was seriously injured, but the disruption highlighted the risks wrestlers face from untrained fans entering the ring. It also shows how different CMLL’s philosophy is compared to companies, where talent is almost encouraged to handle themselves to protect the business.

What’s your take on CMLL’s policy about fans jumping the guardrail like this? Let us know what you think in the comments section!