Schedule of Discussion:
Monday: Best Wrestler
Tuesday: Best Promotion, Best Rivalary
Wednesday: Best Tecnico, Best Rudo
Thursday: Best Legend, Best Female, Most Improved, Most Underutilized
Friday: Best Match, Best Singles Match, Best Non-Singles match
Best Promotion
2005 Winner: CMLL
Just to make this much more confusing, yet slightly more useful; instead of just making this an obvious parade of votes where everyone votes CMLL first and AAA second, it’s not going to be that simple.
I group promotions under CMLL or AAA banners because that’s where the top wrestlers are contracted out from, and it may be the banner the show runs under. In reality, most every different arena is a seperate promotion’s kingdom. Some strike deals to get major promotion talent (usually in exchange for not completely counteracting their storylines) and some go it out on their own, bringing in whoever they can afford and who’s available that week. Within their means, each arena is it’s own little world, and I figure they ought to be treated that way.
This year, we’re (and by we, I mean ME) are treating each arena as it’s own promotion, even the CMLL weekly spot shows buildings. If you want to place your three votes for CMLL-Mexico City, CMLL-Guadalajara and Arena Coliseo Monterrey, that’s perfectly acceptable. (The notable exception is Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo counting as the same prmomotion.)
Once again, you can sort these into groups:
Places with TV shows (which actually made the internet)
If you’re watching CMLL, you’re probably watching the lucha from Mexico City. It is the hub, and has the advantage of doing the biggest matches (and doing the less big matches first). The downside is the sometimes limited amount of wrestlers you’re sell; there’s a lot more local flavor outside of the big city.
Guadalajara had a few very well recieved matches, including a really good Averno/Mistico match I need to watch already. Apolo Dantes and Mascara Magica were credited as bookers, and seemed to push away from trios matches and towards a lot more undercard singles, giving the lineups a look unlike others in Mexico.
Matches from Monterrey arena’s Gimansio Nuevo Leon & Arena Solidaridad made tapes under the name Lucha Libre Azteca, though I’m not sure if I’m making a mistake by grouping them as one. The shows seemed to fall from interest as the year went on, but hey, at least they were out there.
Someone somewhere likes AAA, and I hope they can make a case for votes. I really can’t without blatant and obvious lies. They did draw well, which seems to be a smart strategy of running big shows where CMLL doesn’t run big shows. If only everything else made as much sense.
US Lucha Promotions You May Have Seen In Person
FMLL and it’s twisted sister Lucha Va Voom were pretty fun when I saw them in Chicago and sounded pretty good when they were in Los Angeles. Of course, that’s two places, so those of you who werne’t there might not feel the same.
Promotions Which Existed In Name Only, Seemingly
I don’t think any IWRG got out of Mexico this year; I don’t see it where I’m looking.
Events at Arena Neza and Arena Aficion may or may not have been booked by people who comment on this board. I can neither confirm nor deny.
Best Rivalary
2004: El Hijo Del Santo vs Perro Jr.
I’m so sure I’ll miss plenty of smaller neat ones, but the biggies:
Atlantis vs Dr. Wagner Jr.
Perro Aguayo (and PdM) vs Universo 2000 (and Capos)
Perro Aguayo vs Mistico
Casas Family vs Perros
Ultimo Guerrero vs Mistico
Averno vs Mistico
Konnan (and LLL) vs Vampiro (and AAA)
