AAA & CMLL previews, Mistico, links

No IWRG show last night due to the AAA taping today. Not a lot of current events to talk about.

Last Friday night’s CMLL show was the first show of the post-Mistico era, but this week is the first one where we all know about it. The main event is Sombra, Dorada, Porky versus Averno, Mephisto and Ultimo Guerrero. It’d odd match for Porky to be in, perhaps Mistico was originally scheduled in that spot (and they figured out this card a while back.) Semimain is Sangre Azteca’s first match on the tecnico side. He’s been with CMLL about 13 1/2 years, always a rudo, and more naturally fits that style, but all his current rivals are also rudos. Lightning match is Fantasma vs Olimpico, which should be Fantasma winning. There’s still 6 or 7 weeks until Dos Leyendas, enough time for a detour before hand.

Just outside of Mexico City, AAA is taping two weeks worth of television in Arena Naucalpan. The Rey de Reyes tournament kicks off with last year’s winner Chessman, Extreme Tiger, Joe Lider and Cuervo in a four way with no clear favorite. Heavy Metal and Electroshock have their first singles match – first ever, as far I can tell – in a feud that goes back to last August. Metal & Electroshock seemed like they were headed to a hair match at Guerra de Titanes before Metal got hurt. Electroshock seems to have switched to the tecnico side in the meantime, and we may have a better idea of where that leaves Metal after tonight. LA Park returns to face Mesias in trios. The main event is another AAA vs Bizarros trios, with Nicho in Extreme Tiger’s usual spot. Opener features AAA highflyers and IWRG locals, and Sugi is expected to return to AAA TV in a mixed tag match.

Since I plan to be around to keep track of both these shows, we’re doing a chat. Both shows kick off around 8:30pm Central Time, so we’ll start somewhere around there. RadioCMLL.com will have live coverage of their show, and AAA has posted links to streaming handheld video of their last couple tapings.

(Those of us with birthdays should totally go out. You’re not missing much.)

The biggest story still looming over everything is Mistico leaving CMLL. If CMLL found out last Tuesday, management will have had 13 or 14 days to process it and prepare a response. (Still not clear if it’s Monday or Tuesday.) Cesar theorizes the four different ways CMLL could react at the press conference. My sense is CMLL is going to lash out for Mistico for walking out on them.

Steve Austin walked out on WWE in June of 2002. There had been problems between him and the people in charge of the creative direction for months, and one last argument about losing to Brock Lesnar caused perhaps the biggest earned in the history of WWE to quit the company.WWE responded by trashing him on that night’s episode TV, with even his close friend Jim Ross burying him on commentary. It seemed like Austin would be gone forever on that day. He was back about seven months later, but his drawing power was never the same after the burial.

Hulk Hogan left the WWF, was mocked on TV, and eventually came back. Ric Flair left WCW (with their belt!), came back after management changed, then was sent home forever and brought back many times over the next few years. The Rock has been said to be committed to acting forever and never to appear on WWE TV again, only to return for appearances (and he’s planing another one.) Almost everyone who jumped from CMLL to AAA ended up coming back to CMLL at one point or another. Konnan would’ve come back to CMLL if they let him. I’m fairly certain everyone who left CMLL to form the UWA ended up back in the Arena Mexico ring at some point too.

Unless something tragic happens, Mistico will be available to return to CMLL someday in the future. It may be ten years down the road. It may be a year down the road. We just have guesses on how it’ll turn out, but it will come to an end just like everything comes to an end and he’ll have options for their future. CMLL may be angry today, justifiably so, and is totally entitled to that feeling. They’ve still got to separate their emotions from what’s best for their business. Acting out on bitter impulses may feel great (I know!) but it doesn’t change what’s happened and it only hurts them in the future. CMLL should thank Mistico for his work, wish him well in the future, and position themselves best to get him back when he’s available again.

Links

• El Hijo del Santo unveiled the El Santo wax statue.
• La Parka’s son got his cast off. They taped it for TV.
• Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. is wrestling with a spine injury that will eventually keep him out of action for a year.
• Averno, Mephisto and Atlantis took part in a campaign to give glasses to children.
• Villanos want a shot at the winner of the UWE Tag Team Tournament
• Mi Lucha Libre talked to Hijo del Climax about his struggle just to find a trainer who wouldn’t vanish after six months
• Estrellas del Ring has interviews with Lolita, Chica Tormenta, and Master Galaxy
• Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of Shadito Cruz’s death.
• Mask Mania writes about the non-CMLL matches on Day 2 of the NJPW/CMLL shows.
• Marco Corleone appears on the Unplugged internet radio show tonight at 10:30pm Eastern/9:30 pm Central.
• My appearance on the Riley Matthews Show is available for download.