Mistico
(the original story can be found here)
CMLL’s press officer Sandra Granados told Televisa Deportes there’s nothing to the Mistico to WWE news. Her actual quote seems to be in response to the last iteration of this rumor, when there was a story in the Wrestling Observer, and not in relation to SuperLuchas story.
Meanwhile, most (though not all) mentions and pictures of Mistico were purged from the CMLL.com website around 2pm today. The front page animation now has Mascara Dorada in Mistico’s place, the article about Mistico and Averno’s recent issue has been removed from the news page, and you can no longer vote for Mistico in the 2010 CMLL.com Awards. Mistico’s always been on Ras de Lona when there’s anything to talk to him about, but he didn’t make an appearance to talk about the NJPW shows and Averno managed to talk about his experiences on the tour without mention Mistico’s name. Mistico was not shown in any of the many clips of the tour.
Every thing I’ve heard and seen today, except for Gonzalez’s quote, indicates Mistico has left the company. She’s a great representative for the company, but I think she’s just out of the loop on this one.
I do not think CMLL will try to pass off someone new in the outfit. It’s too easy to find out in 2011, and the crowd will instantly turn on the new Mistico and be angry with the promotion. CMLL already has their new Mistico’s in Sombra, Mascara Dorada and others. It’s a big reason they don’t have the original Mistico.
Mask Mania has photos of Mistico/Tanahashi/Devitt vs Averno/Nakamura/Naito from the first NJPW/CMLL show. Averno vs Mistico was part of night two and appears to be the end of the “CMLL is Mistico” era. That same match was the one that started this era, which is a nice coincidence, but also might say something about CMLL’s problems.
Cesar wishes Mistico good luck – so do I! – and hopes this doesn’t lead to a certain doctor returning to Arena Mexico. Nikita says the WWE domination over the rest of the world sucks.
Everything else
CMLL (SUN) 01/30/2011 Arena Coliseo [Cesar, CMLL]
1) Bengala & Robin b Disturbio & Zayco
Robin had new gear with a Brazo mask and Bengala had a more Tiger-ish mask. Rudos screwed up, leading to the tecnico win
2) Fabián el Gitano, Metálico, Metatrón b Bronco, Demus 3:16, Inquisidor
Fabian has short hair!
3) Bam Bam, Mascarita Dorada, Shockercito b Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Warrior, Pierrothito
This looks great. World Champ Bam Bam beat National Champ Pierrothito.
4) Metro, Rush, Toscano b Ephesto, Shigeo Okumura, Yoshihashi
Yoshihashi appears to be brought back for Rush to kill – Cesar notes a lot of hard hitting. Toscano landed short of Okumura on a tope con giro in the third.
5) Atlantis, Negro Casas, Volador Jr. b Blue Panther, Brazo de Plata, La Máscara
Volador snuck in a foul on Blue Panther for the pin, then vowed to not rest until he retired Panther! Volador wants to be a legend killer, more or less. Perico was all over this one.
Remember how Ultimo Gladiador explained AAA gave him his mask because they didn’t think he had a mean enough face to be a rudo? Seems like the same is going on with Volador; they’re trying to come up with a predator image to match the character they want him to be. I think AAA might actually be having more luck with Super Fly doing the same bit (but then, they had a longer setup.)
Dr. Landru posted video of the Torneo de Maestros from Saturday’s Arena Neza show. Links, with no spoilers: semifinal 1, semifinal 2, final tag match, final singles match for the winners. Full report over on the Gladiatores.
The real big news wrestler movement news from this week’s SuperLuchas: Gringo Loco is due back in IWRG in March.
LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update
Links
- AAA gamely tries to explain the Zorro Iron Mask angle. This of course involves glossing over many things.
- AAA hypes Rey de Reyes by talking to last year’s winner (still playing the video game!) plus a list of everyone ever to be in the tournament and the one to win the most.
- Ultimo Guerrero wants to unmask Mistico this year. Maybe I should’ve link to that one sooner.
- Arena Aficion in Hidalgo turns 59 on Monday. The IWL/Perros show on Tuesday doubles as their anniversary show.
- Blue Demon Jr. explains he’s been trying to get a Blue Demon movie made for three years, but couldn’t get it picked up because Batman came out at the same time, and the film people said it was too similar. Uh huh.
- Box Y Lucha interviews Dama X
- Nikita reviews Psicosis/Mascara, Ultimo Guerrero/Mistico, and Apaches vs Trauma
Lineups
Cesar has his thoughts on the CMLL Tue/Fri lineups, noting a lot of time killing when they should be building.
IWRG (SUN) 02/06/2011 Arena Naucalpan
1) Guizmo vs Guerrero 2000
2) Alan Extreme & Dinamic Black vs Imposible & Keshin Black
3) Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Multifacético vs Bombero Infernal, Comando Negro, Hammer
4) Black Terry, El Brazo, Negro Navarro vs ?, Ángel Mortal, Gran Apache
5) Hijo de LA Park vs Bobby Lee Jr., Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Bestia 666, Kung Fu Jr., Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Carta Brava Jr., el Hijo del Canek, Trauma I, Ultramán Jr. [Junior de Juniors]
Main event is a 10 man tournament to determine the best junior. Not sure of the format.
Semimain was set up by the Terry/Angel Mortal hair match.
I posted it last week, but just a reminder that there’s a IWRG trainee show this Tuesday. And Thursday’s show is off for Friday’s AAA TV taping.
CMLL (SUN) 02/06/2011 Arena Coliseo
1) Camaleón & Höruz vs Ramstein & Semental
2) Goya Kong, Lluvia, Marcela vs La Comandante, Mima Shimoda, Princesa Sujei
3) Mascarita Dorada vs Eléctrico, Pequeño Maximo, Astral, Fantasy, Pierrothito, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Mercurio [cibernetico]
4) Hijo del Fantasma, Sagrado, Valiente vs Ephesto, Felino, Rey Bucanero
5) Blue Panther, Brazo de Plata, Toscano vs Héctor Garza, Negro Casas, Volador Jr.
Volador/Panther continues in the main event. Minis cibernetico should be fun.
Opener would be Ramstein’s first match in CMLL since October.
CMLL (SUN) 02/06/2011 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Thunder Boy & Virgo vs Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Guerrero Maya Jr. & Rey Cometa vs Drago & Ráfaga
3) Delta & Stuka Jr. vs Cancerbero & Pólvora
4) La Máscara, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada vs Atlantis, Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero
That main event would be trios champions versus logical top contenders. The UG interview linked up there notes Dragon Rojo has won a singles title (Copa Jr.) and the tag team titles, so he just needs a trios title to complete the set. Dorada looks to be around until Dos Leyendas (end of March), but after that, no one can be sure.
DF regulars are intermixed with locals again, and that seems to be the new pattern here.