PWI 500 ’08: lucha libre wrestlers

Pro Wrestling Illustrated, a long running US wrestling magazines, has published their annual list of The Best 500 wrestlers in the world. It seems to have been posted first here (drownedinsound) and I saw it cross posted here (the-w)

This list is for entertainment purposes only. If you find yourself being legitimately upset about a ranking, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re mildly amused, you’re doing better.

12.Ultimo Guerrero
17.Mistico
22.Perro Aguayo Jr.
26.Mesias
28.Dr. Wagner Jr.
32.Cibernetico
59.Rey Mysterio Jr.
68.Averno
71.Zorro
73.Dos Caras Jr.
77.Alan Stone
85.El Hijo del Santo
98.Charly Manson
102.Chessman
105.Mephisto
108.Rocky Romero (wait, why would I put him on the list?)
109.Atlantis
112.Negro Casas
113.Halloween
115.Rey Bucanero
121.Blue Demon Jr.
123.Hector Garza
128.Black Warrior
133.Sangre Azteca
138.Mr.Niebla
142.Juventud Guerrera
145. Jack Evans
146.Mr.Aguila
172.Marco Corleone
191.Volador Jr.
192.La Sombra
194.Super Crazy
209.El Sagrado
212.L.A.Park
233.Kenzo Suzuki
236.Teddy Hart
238.La Mascara
240.Heavy Metal
249.La Parka (Jr.)
254.Olimpico
257.Damian 666
259.Ephesto
263.Shocker
269.Alex Koslov
276.Intocable
282.Lizmark Jr.
286.Maximo
291.Brazo de Plata
297.Felino
301.Ricky Marvin
312.Abismo Negro
313.Blue Panther
315.Ultimo Dragon
325.Crazy Boy
328.Incognito
333.Jorge Rivera
344.El Pantera
367.El Gran Apache
389.Sean Waltman
480.Chris Stone
489.Leono
493.Super Calo

Let me wait a couple days to be reminded which people I missed or should remove (Waltman?) to do a comparision with previous years – you can find last year’s version here

08/09: Mexico, lineups, AAA video

CMLL (FRI) 08/08 Arena Mexico [Ovaciones, ESTO, superluchas]
1) Metálico & Tigre Blanco b Apocalipsis & Inquisidor
2) Arkangel de la Muerte, Hooligan, Skandalo b Fabián el Gitano, Metalik, Tony Rivera
3) Alex Koslov, Felino, Mictlán b Dragon Rojo Jr., Ephesto, Misterioso II
4) Blue Panther, Marco Corelone, Volador Jr. b Heavy Metal, Terrible, Villano V
5) Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero b Dr. Wagner Jr., Héctor Garza, Shocker

Main and semimain had some intermixing of rudos from the three main groups (Guerreros, Perros and Pesta Negra.) It worked well in the main event, where a combined Pesta Negra/Guerreros team once again defeated the tecnicos. This was a two fall sweep, Niebla again pinning Wagner to end it (with a little help from the ropes) and agian demanding a shot at Wagner’s UWA Heavyweight title.

The Perros/Pesta Negra team didn’t go as well in the semimain. Miscommunication helped the tecnicos win. After the match, Terrible & Villano V turned on Heavy Metal and beat him until the rudos from the main event made the save. This allowed CMLL to have Ultimo Guerrero going after Villano V (tease!) and perhaps we’re on the way to a full Pesta Negra/Guerreros merger.

Once again, Mictlan and Dragon Rojo were ripping masks. They appear close to a mask match.

If I had to put my money on it, I think the current plan is

08/15: Niebla vs Wagner for the UWA Title
08/29: Mictlan vs Dragon Rojo Jr. for masks, one of the Casas brothers in a hair match
sounds like Dragon Rojo confirms his match in Super Luchas this week
09/19: Panther vs Villano V
09/26: Niebla vs Wagner in a mask match

but then, plans change. I’m pretty sure I’m safe on the first one (though I did write that out before checking CMLL’s site.)

CMLL (TUE) 08/12 Arena Mexico
1) Angel de Oro & Sombra de Plata vs Apocalipsis & Ramstein
2) Goddess, Marcela, Princesa Blanca vs La Seductora, Medussa, Princesa Sujei
3) Hijo del Faraon, Leono, Máscara Púrpura vs Bronco, Dr. X, Skandalo
4) Axxel, Mictlán, Sagrado vs Dragon Rojo Jr., Ephesto, Sangre Azteca
5) La Sombra, Marco Corelone, Volador Jr. vs Mephisto, Terrible, Texano Jr.

I think that’s the first Leono match since June. If you’re wondering how we get a main event rudo side of Mephisto, Terrible and Texano Jr., everyone on the Spain tour should be on the way or there by this show.

CMLL (FRI) 08/15 Arena Mexico
1) Ángel Azteca Jr., Angel de Oro, Trueno vs Calígula, Méssala, Pólvora
2) Lady Apache, Marcela, Sahori vs Amapola, Hiroka, Princesa Sujei
3) La Sombra, Mictlán, Sagrado vs Averno, Dragon Rojo Jr., Mephisto
4) Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero vs Terrible, Texano Jr., Villano V
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Mr. Niebla [UWA HEAVY]

Naturally, they schedule the title match when they have less people around.

indy () 08/10 Salon Emilano Zapata Lineup
1) Gotica, Traliero, Rey Aguila vs La Guerrillera, Ecoloco Jr., Desconcido
2) Indio Korak, Creace Clack vs Mr. Clon, Eivan Roca
3) Nino Asesino, Changoleon, Conde Negro vs Slayer, Malaga, Maveric
4) Meni Sanchez Jr. vs Rafagae [Zacatecas ?]
5) Trueno, Centella, Destello vs Viento Negro, Angel de la Muerte, Mr. Mega

More new videos on AAA’s site:

Acapulco
Hermandad beating the Hart Foundation

Queretaro
Octagoncito and Atomico Boy advanced in the minis tournament
chain match and FdT vs HBs
Vampiro & Mesias draw. Again. Perhaps by the end of this, they’ll figure out the spot where one guy throws both of them thru a table so it actually looks good.

Other
Morenos vs Apaches
Hart Foundation II discuss what they hate about Mexico. Jack is confused if there’s supposed to be some Legion/Hermandad alliance, and now so am I.
Hermanad promo to build up that match with the Hart Foundation. Note that X-Fly doesn’t appear at all in backstage promo. He’s a MYTH.
Cibernetico is sad about the breakup of the Hell Brothers. Not sad enough to do his promo in under five minutes, but sad. There’s also a Chessman promo at the end, and they tease Charly Manson getting involved in the title match. He’s got to be at Verano de Escandalo.