Month: August 2008

No full Coliseo results yet. Ovaciones has the same bit on the hair match and the main event that was out yesterday.

Wagnermania posted this week’s Ras de Lona in two parts. You can see Villano V’s injury at about 8:05 of the second video. Ultimo Guerrero was giving him the front superplex (which, seriously, bad idea to start with) and V5 decided he didn’t want to take the normal face first bump, turning on to his side before impact. Protecting this face got his collarbone broke. From the way everyone reacted, I’d wager UG just improvised the finish of pulling V5’s mask off because Villano was done.

In el Manana, Arturo Rivera rips the Nuevo Laredo CMLL promoter, Miguel Linares, Leobrado Magadan, and Julio Cesar Rivera for promoting the local (CMLL vs ex-WWE) show as being on Televisa. Arturo says this simply isn’t true, everyone involved is a liar, and he’s going to go tattle to Televisa. I just had presumed the show was meant to be shown on the local Televisa affiliate, but I guess Arturo feels they’re implying differently. Arturo may be ever so slightly biased here.

El Porvenir talks to Lee Demarbe, the director of the Vampiro documentary. It cost $60,000 to be made, and that’s with many people apparently not actually being paid.

AAA (MON) 09/01 Gimnasio Luis Estrada Medina [noroeste]
1) Cholo Cris vs Mascara Maligna (local)
2) El Relampago & Mr. Humo vs Terremoto King Jr. & Tony Golden
3) Athos & Black Metal vs Americanista & Renegado
4) Gronda & Terry max vs Black Abyss & Kenzo Suzuki
5) El Alebrije & Octagón vs El Brazo & the Cruices

I would presume this means these guys aren’t working the TV Taping.

Ohtani’s Jacket writes about
– the minis tag match from 03/30
– Perro Sr. vs Villano from ’84
– Blue Panther & Shu el Guerrero vs Black Terry/Villano 3

Robert writes about random matches over on luchaworld

(Sololuchas, and Superluchas) Mini Damian took Bam Bam’s hair. Title rematch coming up soon.

CMLL (THU) 08/14 Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Spain [ESTO]
1) Astro Boy & Molotov b Artillero & Súper Comando
2) La Máscara b Virus, Flash, Hijo del Fantasma, Stuka Jr., Nosferatu, Nitro, Euforia [ciber]
3) Arkangel de la Muerte, Damián 666, Mr. Águila b Fabián el Gitano, Máximo, Metalik
4) Dos Caras Jr., Felino, Heavy Metal b Atlantis, Lizmark Jr., Olímpico

Heavy Metal worked as a tecnico here. Next show is Monday.

Televisa (SAT) 08/09 Bar Caribe Salsa, Bejing, China [SuperLuchas]
1) Místico b Averno

Mistico’s interviewed in the magazine and is fantastic. Besides the learning Kung Fu parts, he also explains the fact that he was going to do a match in China came to a total surprise to him, and he figured it’d just be something where he showed one of the announcers some holds and such. Instead, and much to Mistico’s total shock and surprise, Averno was his opponent. Mistico explains that Averno flew thousands of miles to China on orders of Perro Aguayo Jr., who demanded revenge for Mistico putting him out of action.

The match itself was held in a bar with about 250 people. They wanted more, but the bar couldn’t fit it and there were security concerns (including having masked men walking around – Mistico was issued security badges for him wearing his mask and him not wearing his mask.) They actually had ropes and corners, but the ‘ring’ was basically a blanket covering the floor. No dives (no room), but Mistico said he improvised and was able to climb the ropes for moves. Referee was a local. It’s Mistico & Averno, so you know the finish. Match was said to be about 25 minutes and Mistico mocks Averno for having to fly all the way back to Mexico as a loser.

Mistico says he was flying back just for the drink show on Saturday, then flying back to China for the rest of the games. Doesn’t sound like he knew he was on the 08/29 card. SuperLuchas lists Mistico as working on Tuesday in Queretaro and Sunday in GDL, so who knows. I’m presuming Mistico does not and does not find that circumstance unusual.

Mistico addresses the boos, saying he’s not going to turn rudo because then people will say he only did it becuase of the reaction. He loves that people appluad, or boo or shout at him and doesn’t want to change. He feels the most booed wrestler in Arena Mexico and the only one who doesn’t make mistakes in his dives. Mistico would only turn rudo if God wanted him to and if Perro Aguayo was turning tecnico, because he wants that match. In fact, since Mistico’s not getting Perro in a hair match this September, he’d rather not main event the Anniversary show.

Go buy the magazine and read the whole thing.

Ohtani’s Jacket writes about Mano Negra & Negro Navarro vs Solar I & Super Astro and the Kids Day trios title match

Links
– Luchaworld has revamped their webpage. It looks quite nice, and you get plenty of Rob and KrisZ stuff I should be linking to. They’d like you to check out Lucha Libre Racing, a racing team raising money for school supplies. Go buy a shirt.
– RFC says AAA tapes in Nuevo Laredo on 09/01. There was already a 08/31 Monterrey taping announced, and AAA never runs back to back tapings, so I believe the 08/31 is probably off.
– an article about indy lucha libre in Florida includes a wrestler named “Diez Mascaras”. That’s so great, he can’t be the first one to do that.
– “Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero” premiered at a film festival in Monterrey this weekend.
– ESTO recaps Friday’s AAA Mexico City taping and thinks Zorro’s going to end up main evening Verano de Escandlo against Cibernetico.
– They’re still promoting Perro Aguayo Jr. in the 09/17 SLP main event. Perhaps they’ll figure it out in the next month.

Lineup

CMLL (SUN) 08/24 Arena Coliseo
1) Angel de Oro & Trueno vs Apocalipsis & Inquisidor
2) Ángel Azteca Jr., Sensei, Tigre Blanco vs Calígula, Dr. X, Méssala
3) Lady Apache, Luna Mágica, Princesa Blanca vs Amapola, Hiroka, Mima Shimoda
4) Averno, Mephisto, Villano V vs Heavy Metal, Sangre Azteca, Universo 2000
5) Alex Koslov, Blue Panther, Volador Jr. vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero

Is Blue Panther facing Ultimo Guerrero or Villano V at anniversary? Actually, maybe they don’t know right now, haven’t heard about V5 except he wants to wrestle naturally. SuperLuchas says UG again demanded to be included into the mask match after yanking off Blue Panther’s mask tonight, so this is follow up to that.

Universo is in because he’s working IWRG on Thursday, I presume.

CMLL (SUN) 08/24 Arena Coliseo Gudalajara
1) Virgo vs Ebola
2) Idolo & Oro II vs Rafaga & Super Maquina
3) Axel, Casanova, Sagrado vs Malefico, Máscara Mágica, Toxico
4) Misterioso II & Shocker vs el Gallo & Rey Bucanero
5) Héctor Garza & Místico vs Black Warrior & Terrible

IWRG (SUN) 08/24 Arena Naucalpan
1) Eragon & Jack vs Abisman & Venom
2) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II vs Epidemia & Heavy Boy
3) Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Fantasma de la Ópera vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
4) Centauro, Multifacético, Ultramán Jr. vs Emilio Charles Jr., Septiembre el Terrorista, Veneno
5) Pantera, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Tinieblas Jr. vs Ciclon Negro, Máscara Año 2000, Mascara Ano 2000 Jr.

CMLL (FRI) 08/15 Arena Mexico [superluchas, ESTO, Ovaciones , wagnerdesdel92 @ el Maritnete]
1) Ángel Azteca Jr., Starman, Trueno DQ Calígula, Méssala, Pólvora
2) Lady Apache, Marcela, Sahori DQ Amapola, Hiroka, Princesa Sujei
3) La Sombra, Mictlán, Sagrado DQ Dragon Rojo Jr., Mephisto, Misterioso II
4) Terrible, Texano Jr., Villano V DQ Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. b Mr. Niebla [UWA HEAVY]

A lot of DQs, but the story of the night was key injuries. Early on in the main event, Ovaciones reports Niebla fractured his left hand ring finger when taking a slam from Dr. Wagner. Niebla wrestled thru the match in pain and was taken to the hospital after the show. (Wagner retained the title clean with the Wagner Driver.) Finger fractures usually take six to eight weeks to heal, so Niebla will be dealing with this for a while

The semimain ended with Ultimo yanking off Villano 5’s mask, but the bigger story is V5 heading to the hospital with a possible fractured right collarbone. Collarbones typically take four to six weeks to heal, and the anniversary show is five weeks away. Between the finish and the injury, it’s more likely they’re headed back to a multi-man match.

CMLL hasn’t confirmed either injury, so perhaps they won’t be as bad.

Misterioso replaced Averno. Usual Dragon Rojo ripping off Mictlan’s mask bit.

Lady Apache pulled Sujei’s mask for the DQ in the women’s match and almost got away with the pin before being caught.

Starman replaced Angel de Oro, and Caligula yanked Angel Azteca Jr.’s mask to continue that opening feud.

The report on el Martiente says the building was half full.

Dr. Wagner will replace Perro Aguayo Jr. in the Gladiator Drink main event today. This means Wagner’s working as a rudo against Mistico in a trios.

There’s lots of Mistico in Beijing footage up on YouTUbe

–Day 2
–Day 3
–Day 4 (kung fu)

CMLL (SUN) 08/17 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Novato vs Relampago
2) Diosa Maya & Silueta vs Atenea & Magnifica
3) Metal Blanco & Metatron vs Depredador & Exterminador
4) Axel, Casanova, Neutrón vs Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno, Satánico

That can not possibly be the real main event.

CMLL (TUE) 08/19 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Quazar vs Valentin Mayo
2) Palacio Negro vs Ebola
3) Samurai vs Rafaga
4) Leon Blanco vs Infierno
5) Último Dragoncito vs Pierrothito
6) Gallo & Sagrado vs Máscara Mágica & Satánico
7) Blue Panther & Héctor Garza vs Mr. Niebla & Negro Casas

Hope Dragoncito doesn’t end up in a pool of his own blood this time.

CMLL (TUE) 08/19 Arena Mexico
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Trueno vs Pólvora & Zayco
2) Bam Bam, Mascarita Dorada, Pequeño Olímpico vs Pequeno Universo 2000, Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Warrior
3) Ángel Azteca Jr., Axel, Hijo del Faraon vs Bronco III, Dr. X, Skandalo
4) Grey Shadow, Máscara Púrpura, Volador Jr. vs Ephesto, Misterioso II, Vangelis
5) Black Warrior, Sangre Azteca, Último Guerrero vs Averno, Mephisto, Villano V

This would be Bam Bam’s first appearance post-hair cut if he loses on Friday.

CMLL (THU) 08/21 Arena Mexico
CMLL (FRI) 08/22 Arena Mexico
1) Puma King & Tiger Kid vs Hijo del Faraon & Trueno
2) Lady Apache, Marcela, Sahori vs Amapola, Hiroka, Princesa Sujei
3) Dragon Rojo Jr., Ephesto, Misterioso II vs La Sombra, Mictlán, Volador Jr.
4) Dr. Wagner Jr., Marco Corelone, Shocker vs Terrible, Texano Jr., Villano V
5) Blue Panther, Héctor Garza, Místico vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero

Mistico returns again here. UG takes a break to feud with Panther instead of Villano (and instead of those guys feuding against each other). Obviously, cards are subject to change depending on injury status.

CMLL held a press conference yesterday to hype the 08/29 show. Besides Mictlan/Dragon Rojo in a mask match, they also announced

– AJ Styles, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelly vs Ultimo Guerrero, Negro Casas, Atlantis
– Lady Apache & Amapola vs Princesa Sujei & Marcela [relevos increibles, losers meet in an apuesta match directly after)
– Mistico, Dr. Wagner Jr., Shocker vs Rey Bucanero, Black Warrior, Mr. Niebla

Styles being back here plays off UG fouling him to eliminate him during the Gran Prix. The trios titles are not on the line, though they hinted at the press conference they could be added. I would presume it depends on who’s available to do what in September.

SuperLuchas notes none of the women were thrilled with their match, preferring a direct singles encounter. LuchandoLibre says many of the extra press there didn’t understand the rules. SuperLuchas appears to have the teams wrong – the way I’ve got it up there is based on how the rivalries have been going and what CMLL.com has listed. It really doesn’t make sense for Lady Apache to take Amapola’s hair or Sujei to take Marcela’s, since that’d mean they won the apuesta before they actually got the title. My hunch is Sujei’s losing her mask, but I’m not sure. Reforma also places Sujei as the underdog.

Over the last couple of months, Mistico been said to be
– staying in China for the whole Olympics
– staying in China for the whole Olympics, as long as Mexicans do well
– returning on August 29th for this show
– returning on August 17th for a Gladiatores Drink show (both this and the previous came out of this press conference)
– returning yesterday for a show in Leon

So, I dunno. It’s worth noting the drink show was announced well before Mistico left for China. Someone probably knew when he was coming and going and didn’t do the best job of explaining it. Or perhaps Mistico is flying all the way back for just a weekend and then heading back to China.

Card order should be interesting. It’ll be a six match show, and I’d presume the women’s match is third and the mask match is fifth. Which ever trios match is on top might be an indication of what plans they have, or maybe it’ll just be completely random.

SoloLuchas has quotes from the press conference and asks Mictlan in a fight, how would it be possible for a snake to beat a dragon?

SoloLuchas and SuperLuchas each say CMLL may be pre-empted this week. Televisa never put the listing on their own website, so who knows. If it is pre-empted, they aired it on CTres’ show last time and would probably do it again.

How do people in Mexico normally find out what’s on TV? I think the biggest polarity in the US are using on screen listings, but there still some who look it up online or buy TVGuide or use whatever supplement comes with their newspaper. (My cable company sends me a guide I never asked for and charges me $3 a month for it.)

(SuperLuchas) Juvi held his own press conference yesterday, and it sounds like everything you could hope for.
– Juvi complained AAA didn’t use a man of his international stature to the fullest. I guess they should’ve scheduled TripleMania for a more convenient date.

– Juvi said he’d like to talk to CMLL about working there, and also would like to face Perro Aguayo Jr. in a match. It doesn’t sound like Juvi knew Perro is hurt.

– Lizzy Valentine, who’s a valet in NWE was announced as Juvi’s offical valet. Lizzy would like to face Dark Angel in a match. It doesn’t sound like Lizzy knew Angel is hurt.

– Juvi announced a new factions called the SexiCools. Do you think he’ll just wear the Mexicool gear with a big S covering the M? It’ll be him, Intocable (also there) and another person that they haven’t figured out yet. You think if they knew, they would announce it when there was press called there to specifically record it, so they probably don’t know.

– Juvi also says he’s going back to Spain from mid-September to the end of the November, so this group seems to have all the momentum of Garza’s Guardian Angels.

– Fuerza Guerrera was there to support his son and kill off his feud with Juvi. Fuerza likes Juvi being a tecnico and vows never to face him in a match again. Fuerza’s a smart guy.

– Martha Villalobos was there. I’m not sure why, but I presume Juvi’s working her shows at some point. She took the opportunity to say the Royal Air Force were leaving AAA next. She actual means Rey Cometa and Pegasso, who have left already and are working her shows.

– Juvi said he’s the offical NWE contact for Mexico, and you have to talk to (kiss up/help) him to get booked there. I guess that means Tzuki and Super Nova are actually Japanesse?

CMLL (SUN) 08/10 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Idolo & Imposter b Egipcio & Frayle de la Muerte
2) Neutrón & Virgo b Depredador & Güero Loco
3) Mr. Niebla b Stuka Jr., Olímpico, Máscara Púrpura, Hijo del Fantasma, Satánico, Axxel, Euforia, Máscara Púrpura, Flash [ciber]
4) Sangre Azteca b La Sombra [NWA WELTER]

Final three was Niebla, Stuka and Olimpico. Stuka beat Olimpico, but Niebla got him with Nelbina. Pretty good showing for Stuka anyway. Sangre won the first fall of the title match with the counter dropkick, but Sombra took the second and third to retain the title.

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

Sombra KOed Texano with a dive, and he was stretchered out. Dragon fouled Mictlan for the DQ, then took his mask after the match. Sujei pinned Marcela while grabbing the bottom rope.

AAA posted more videos: Alas de Oro pre-match promo, Chessman and Cibernetico not getting along, Mini Charly advancing, Apaches vs Morenos and the new look Gronda winning the main event. BTW, I’ve worked on a solution for AAA’s RSS not working if anyone’s interested, but I want to wait a couple more days to see if it keeps working.

There’s a lucha libre exhibit at New Mexico’s National Hispanic Cultural Center. It’ll be there from August 8 to January 11.

ESTO previews the Arena Mexico show tonight, with Wagner vs Niebla for the UWA belt on top. Back when this feud was LA Park vs Dr. Wagner, it collapsed when Park was told he was losing the plan was for him to lose UWA title match and the mask match. Wonder if the same plan is in effect here.

Meanwhile, AAA also tapes in Mexico City.

CMLL overseas:
– SuperLuchas has a photo of Mistico and Averno battling in China with more coming in this week’s magazine.
– They also say less than 2,000 turned out for the first CMLL Spain show in Valencia. There’s news video of the show here.

Box Y Lucha 2883 has Blue Panther vs Villano V. They’re at boxylucha.net for some reason. Meanwhile, Record Lucha #4 has Los Perros as Reservoir Dogs. I know everyone thinks that movie is cool, but everyone ends up dead or hauled off to jail, and it’s kinda a testament to why being a bad guy in a group can turn out be better. This is why I prefer to be the solo criminal who gets away clean.

CMLL (MON) 08/18 Arena Puebla [hugo999]
1) Asturiano, SWAT, Toro Bill Jr. vs Aguila Guerrera, Espiritu Maligno, Karisma
2) Bronco III, Semental, Siki Ozama vs Ángel Azteca Jr., Black Tiger, Hijo del Faraon
3) Grey Shadow, Mictlán, Sagrado vs Ephesto, Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca
4) Dr. Wagner Jr., Marco Corelone, Shocker vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero
5) Último Guerrero vs Blue Panther

I don’t know that what it means, but it’s interesting that CMLL is sending even the opening card guys onto the road lately. Sensei working in Guadalajara, Semental working here.

No Coliseo results

Toryumon Mexico (SUN) 08/10 Arena Coliseo [Gladiatores]
1) Disturbio & Mayiguara b Trauma I & Trauma II
2) Bam Bam & Pequeno Ninja b Pequeño Damian 666 & Pequeño Halloween
3) Alex Koslov, Marco Corelone, Último Dragón b Loco Max, Negro Navarro, Ohara [Copa Suzuki, torneo, semifinal]
4) Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero b Arkangel de la Muerte, Nitro, Skandalo [semifinal, Copa Suzuki, torneo]
5) Luna Mágica & Marcela b Hiroka & Mima Shimoda
6) Alex Koslov, Marco Corelone, Último Dragón b Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero [Copa Suzuki, final, torneo]

Main event had UG (& Atlantis) vs Ultimo Dragon build. Tecnicos won a bike.

IWRG (SUN) 08/10 Arena Naucalpan [the Gladiatores]
1) Eragon & Heavy Boy b Eragon & Jack
2) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II b Trauma I & Trauma II
3) La Chola & Rossy Moreno b Lady Rabbit & Linda Star
4) Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro b Aeroman, Fenix, Freelance
5) Multifacético, Super Astro, Ultramán Jr. b Fuerza Guerrera, Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., Monsther
6) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Rayo de Jalisco Jr. DQ Hijo del Cien Caras & Máscara Año 2000

Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. ran in to save the rudos from a certain loss. Despite the loss, the tecnicos in the fourth match want a title match.

Trauma I was mentioned as hurt after a Gemelo dive here. He was also mentioned hurt after taking the German Suplex finish on the Toryumon show, which took place earlier in the day.

CMLL held their opening press conference in Spain either Tuesday or Wednesday; lots of articles started to pop up yesterday afternoon about it. They’ll be handing out programs at the shows to explain who the wrestlers and what the moves are. If they have extras, I know some announcers who could use a copy. Tigre Hispano is getting a lot of attention, because he was actual born in Spain before moving to Mexico at 13. Loco Max vowed the streets of Spain will fill with tecncio’s blood. Maybe the blood ban doesn’t carry over an ocean.

Weird: There’s a post on Lo Mejor de Lucha Libre inviting want to be AAA wrestlers to come try out at Arena Solidaridad. Shouldn’t someone in AAA know which guys they’d like to get? You usually don’t have to put up an d to get people who are interested, either.

AAA posted news about Octagoncito vs Mini Kenzo, Silver King’s return, Ricky Marvin’s return, the main event trios on Friday (they say Konnan may replace Zorro), Chessman on the cover of Dos y Tres. That magazine teases Oriental joining the Vipers.

indy (TUE) 08/12 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Mini Black Dragon b Cowboy
2) Ultratumba b Rey Fuego
3) Cowboy Jr. b Coyote
4) Vendeta b Piwi
5) Bam-Bam, El Divo, Fomer Love b Chica de Arabia, Corazon Adicto, Divino, Principe Guerrero
6) Rey Demonio Jr. b Angel Dorado Jr. [FILL LIGHT]
7) El Hijo del Solitario, La Kalaka, Simbolo b Gnostico, Golden Boy, Tigre Universitario

CMLL (THU) 08/14 Arena Isabel de Cuervanaca [La Union Online]
1) Carta Brava & Eddy Cruz vs Cirio I & Cirio II
2) Ángel Azteca Jr. & Mictlan vs Dr. X & La Mosco
3) La Sombra, Máscara Púrpura, Turbo vs Black Thunder, Misterioso II, Skandalo
4) Mr. Niebla & Rey Bucanero vs Dr. Wagner Jr. & Héctor Garza

I think Turbo’s working here as a extra guy with others in Spain. Wish he could make Coliseo the same ay.

There’s other stuff discussed in the comments of the last news post from this week’s Wrestling Observer, but the most interesting bit to me was the rumor the entire Perros del Mal might go independent. They would still work CMLL shows, but they’d run their own office and handle working with promoters themselves. it wouldn’t neccesarily be exclusively the current members of the Perros – they’re talking with others. The upside for the Perros is they’d be getting paid more per show, because CMLL wouldn’t be taking a cut. The downside is they’d have to deal with the promoters and CMLL might prefer to push other guys (Guerreros?) ahead of them, since CMLL would want the guys their getting paid for to be in the highest demand. It seems to be more talk than reality at this point, but worth keeping an eye on.

Last Friday’s show drew 13,750 fans. Not 13760, not 13740. Dave lists the 08/08 TV ratings as 6.48 for AAA and 3.28 for CMLL.

The most discussed story is the story of unrest in AAA’s locker room. To me, this is a good sign, because it indicated people are still left inside AAA’s locker room. Actually, I try to be funny, and this line beats me:

The undercard wrestlers complained about not getting enough storylines and never knowing what they are going to do next as they are now booking on the fly and nobody knows what they are doing until they get to TV.

Is he referring to AAA at the moment? Is he referring to AAA five years ago? Who can say, they’re the exact same complaints as ever. Antonio Pena was notorious for not having anything planned and keeping people in the dark until the moment they went out for the match (presumably because he didn’t yet have a plan for them), and this all seems like business as usual for AAA.

“The lack of upward mobility” isn’t totally new, but it is a by product of the new booking philosophy. When you center your promotion around a major singles champion, that means that guy and the people involved with him will continually be at the top of the card. The title’s only a draw if people believe it’s the biggest thing, and you can’t cycle the champion down to a lower down in the card to push another big feud because it diminishes the important of the title. That’s different than how lucha has normally run.

It’s still no excuse for not doing more. The philosophy of building everything to four major shows a year in itself doesn’t restrict talent, but the practice of deciding the lineup two months up and doing nothing but variations of the same matches until that time freezes out everyone who doesn’t have a big match. As much as we all love the Apaches, there’s no reason to run an angle with them on Week 1, and then put them on TV for 9 more straight weeks without advancing it while other people get no TV time and no storylines. There’s no good reason to do a multi team tag feud, including the tag team champions, and never doing anything with the titles. There’s no good reason that guys like the Sect have been marginalized or that they’ve put so much time and effort into Billy Boy and now he’s back in the openers without a particular reason.

I’d like to think Super Fly and Aero Star being moved up into higher positions is an indication of a change, but waiting and seeing seems like a better idea.

Meltzer says the mystery man who attacked Konnan was Mascara Divina. Based on the pictures, he may have yet another new gimmick because it didn’t look much like him and it wouldn’t make much sense.