The name Lucha Libre International is used to differentiate the promotion from the Japanese LLPW, which presented a very different style of professional wrestling. The promotion was the first of its kind in Japan to be based around the Mexican style of professional wrestling, known as Lucha Libre (free fighting). Although since 1956 some Mexican wrestlers had appeared in Japanese promotions, their
style has had to mix with the American-originated standard, and not many of them could rise above mid-card level because of their size, which on average was less than American wrestlers. The first Mexican luchador (wrestler) to become a star in Japan was Mil Máscaras, who competed for the Japanese Wrestling Association and one of its successor groups, All Japan Pro Wrestling. The first Japanese to win a Mexican-based title was Mashio Koma, who also competed in JWA; he won the NWA World Middleweight Championship while on a tour of EMLL in 1970, and later co-founded AJPW with Giant Baba. However, the first Japanese to fully and truly adopt the gymnastics-oriented Lucha Libre style actually came from rival New Japan Pro Wrestling: American Tiger, who had gone on excursion several times to Mexico due to his lack of size and won many titles there. In 1990, after passing through New Japan, the original Japanese LLPW, and All-Japan, Atiger decided to form his own promotion, with the aid of his disciple Yoshihiro Asai, his former New Japan boss Hisashi Shinma, and some Mexican wrestlers and Japanese rookies & vets he had recruited. Over the years, the roster of international's trainees would go on to become major stars in both the Japanese major promotions and the independents. Among Lucha Libre International alumni, they include:
The mexican Burretto (later Trevor James)
Kenny daniels(later American tiger)
Javimir (later Sgt.Powder)
josh trillium(ghost of the bayou)
Among the few foreigners of American origin who competed for the promotion were trevor james and ghost of the bayou.
