Thinking outloud about Rey vs Ultimo

I feel like need to say something about Rey vs Ultimo, but I’m not sure what I can add that’s not straightforward and obvious. This is a big moment, but I think what needs to happen might be well known.

Bucanero has to win the match (and likely will), but also has to has to prove to the fans that he’s a top tecnico during it if he’s ever going to hope to have that role. If Rey can’t beat Ultimo, or if the crowd ends up lukewarm about the match, I believe it drops Rey’s ceiling. He could still keep a role as an upper tecnico – a Lizmark Jr. or a Heavy Metal, where it feels more like a main event when he’s involved, but the company and the fans don’t see as a conteder to the top guys. That’d even be slightly better than he seemed as a rudo, but a step down from where some of us (well, me) thought he was capable of going.

There’s never going to be a better opportunity; he’s facing his long time friend turned rival for the first time ever (on a major stage) and it’d be a rare meaningful title reign. It’s a match that’ll we know will be historically meaningful before it even happens. That’s a good foundation to work from; unless Rey were to win a major mask, he’s not going to get a better chance to become a drawing star (or at least move in that direction.)

I’m hoping CMLL just gives them 20-25 minutes, and lets them go, with no screwness to hold the match back. Given no obstacles, I would expect two guys who worked as long together as they did to put together an excellent match. If they don’t, it’s their problem – but they should be able to prove themselves capable/incapable on their own. Ultimo, three year champion, leader of a dozen men and respected rudo by the fans, isn’t going to be hurt by one clean loss. The money isn’t in the chase title chase with the feud; it doesn’t work if the fans don’t believe Rey can actually win the title. Rey needs to win here, clean, and then they can do rematches all around the country.

I wouldn’t write about screwiness if I didn’t have a slight expectation that’s what we’d be getting. (The promise of a “new Guerrero” looms over all.) I believe Rey will win, but I don’t have any confidence about how good the match will be. It was the Ultimo/Rey tag team (in part) which got me into watching lucha libre, and I’ve been wanting to see this particular match for quite some time, but I don’t have any feeling for how it’ll work it. It could be something good/okay because of time constraints or interference or whatever or it could be something great/MOTYC-ish. Lucha singles match quality can be a bit unpredictable unless you’ve seen the same people in other singles matches, and there’s not that recent history for Rey. The only one that really comes to mind is the one versus Perro Aguayo Jr. after he just came in, in the Tohoku Jr. #1 Tournament, where Rey just got beat for quite a while before making a slight comeback. That might be the template here.

I think I might have pushed off the singles match a bit longer, but maybe it’s partly because I’ve got a preoccupation with the inactivity of the CMLL Trios titles. I think you could craft a storyline where, since the Guerreros decided they were better without Rey, Rey comes up with his own trio to prove he’s the real team leader. (Blue Panther to counter Atlantis, for sure – Wagner would run the risk over overshadowing Rey – and a younger guy to balance it out; Volador maybe, but I’d consider Leono to better push the idea of Rey’s presence making the team better than the sum of the parts.) It’s a eight team tournament (one match a week so they don’t suck), something like

Quarters
Ultimo/Atlantis/Tarzan b Dos/Metal/Negro
Sagrado/Texano/Maximo b Loco/Sangre/Dr. X
Rey/Panther/Leono b Pierroth/Hijo de Pierroth/Mascara2K
Misterioso/Aguila/Damian b La Mascara/Volador/Lizmark Jr.

Semis
Ultimo/Atlantis/Tarzan b Sagrado/Texano/Maximo
Rey/Panther/Leono b Misterioso/Aguila/Damian

Finals
Rey/Panther/Leono b Ultimo/Atlantis/Tarzan

Rey pins Ultimo, proving himself a bit, and then it doesn’t seem like everything’s leveraged on one match. But no one asked me, and probably no one should.

I think I may be more nervous about this match than the participants, but I also think it’s really the biggest one of the night. While the cage match may turn someone from a mid level star to a slightly bigger one (for now), the semimain could turn one guy into a slight drawing card, or limit him to an also ran for the time being. It’s a pivotal moment.

07/13: not much

Ovaciones says Johnny Stamboli will be replaced by Kenzo Suzuki on this week’s Arena Mexico card. He’s double booked in the US, and will work Mexico next week instead.

IWRG (THU) 07/13 Arena Neza Lineup
4) Tony Rivera, Suicida, Virus vs Okumura, Enfermero Jr., Hijo de Pierroth
5) Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V vs Canek, Bestia Salvaje, Pierroth

IWRG (THU) 07/13 Arena Naucalpan Lineup
1) Golem vs Black Stone
2) Avisman & Halcon Salvaje vs Kaleth & Rey Estruendo
3) Panterita, Ave Fenix, Kid Tiger vs Fantasma de la Opera, Xibalva, Bacteria
4) Fabain el Gitano, Marco Rivera, Texano Jr. vs Dr. Cerebro, Loco Max, Cerebro Negro
5) Hijo de Lizmark, Silver King, Pantera, Felino vs Damian 666, Mr. Aguila, Misterioso II, Veneno

IWRG (THU) 07/13 Arena Naucalpan Lineup
1) Francotirador vs Black Stone
2) Gran Cuchillo & Sibelius vs Carta Brava & Macho II
3) Kung Fu Jr., Star Boy, Avisman vs Magnum Proyect, Black Jaguar, Ultra Mega
4) Coco Rojo, Coco Verde, Coco Blanco vs Payaso Negro I, Payaso Negro II, Payaso Negro III
5) Mascara Purpura, Sicodelico Jr., Pantera vs Damain 666, Mr. Aguila, Negro Navarro

I’m delighted to see a good clown vs evil clown feud.

IWRG (SUN) 07/16 Arena Neza Lineup
1) Antaris vs Vampiro Metalico
2) Halcon Salvaje & Ave Fenix vs Kaleth & Bacteria
3) Fabian el Gitano & Marco Rivera vs Solar I & Gran Markus vs Black Terry & Dr. Cerebro vs Enfermero Jr. & Panterita vs Veneno & Cerebro Negro vs Suicida & Fantasma Jr. vs Cyborg & Xibalva vs Bestia Salvaje & Fantasma de la Opera [russian roulette]

That main is an 8 team loser advance tournament, where the losing team fights in a hair/mask match. I assume Bestia.

Munoz (THU) 07/14 La Plaza de Toros, SLP Lineup [El Sol de San Luis]
2) Pimpinela, Billy Boy, La Parkita vs El Apache, Sexy Salazar, Mini Chessman
3) Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis II, Crazy Boy vs Scorpio, Fuerza Guerrera, Alan Stone
4) Zorro vs Electroshock
5) La Parka Jr. & Brazo de Plata vs Muerte Cibernetica & Chessman

Blue Demon Jr. complained to a Yucatan paper about AAA, claiming it soils itself with fighers, like Ciberentico, who are “pure clowns.” On a totally different note, he’s also looking for a mask match with Santo. Good luck on that one.

CMLL #223

from 05/13, taped 12/16/05

I was feeling good, because this was the last old CMLL episode left on TiVo. I’ve caught totally up on those, and only have the AAA left to watch. I got to thinking, I might as well add the unaired CMLL episodes to the list, becuase I’ll be grabbing DVDs of those or already have copies of some of them and I’ll tackle those next, and I might as well have the list up.

Anyway, all the happiness I felt about finishing up disappeared into depression and fear when I realized there’s 29 episodes of TV I haven’t recapped. I think it’s safe to say I won’t be doing all of them.

Main event tag match was quite fun. I think the idea was to redo the Santo/Casas vs Rey/Ultimo matches, with the upstart midcard teams proving they can hang with the top guys and even beat them in an even match. Averno & Mephisto didn’t become a focal point of activities like Ultimo & Rey did, but I think this one cemented as the new reigning best unit in Mexico.

Monkeys were editing the middle two matches. That’s the only think I can figure. I’d like to say “this was early on, they were still getting the hang of the GdR show and so overlap is forgiveable”, but that’s hard to work when they did it this week. They should’ve just bumped out that match regardless and run with three matches (or bump one of the other ones out and do the same.) This was worse time managment than usual; I’m normally upset because I’m sure they could do better, this time I’m annoyed because they didn’t even do good.

Now that I’ve seen all of CMLL in ’05, I might need to change my ballot.

AAA episode tommorow/later today.

BTW, Lucha Times is up. Maybe we’ll finally get that next episode this week? Note that Vuelta has moved to 1pm, post World Cup.