Santo vs LA Park, Infierno en el Ring

The coverage of El Hijo del Santo’s press conference mostly skips over the announcer of next weekend’s card to hype Hijo del Santo vs Dr. Wagner vs LA Park possible match for 09/01. Santo told a story that he and Park’s grudge goes back to 1988, when they had a fight in a locker room and had to be pulled part. Santo says he told Park he had no grudge against him, jut wanted to be treated with respects but figures LA Park must’ve held a grudge for 25 years and just waited for the moment to strike. Santo also explains the martinete is banned in Mexico because the rings are so harder in other places, making the move even more devastating. Santo says he will retire from lucha libre if he doesn’t feel he can return in good condition, he doesn’t want to risk his life! Santo also said he would’ve been in the semimain if he had not been hurt, and Rayman is taking his spot. That’s the hardest part to believe.

Santo was very careful to say the three way mask match could happen, suggesting the date could change or the match could fall apart. Still, he’s going to need something to blame if it doesn’t work out. Perhaps his injury recover will take too long to return for such a match if it looks like the match won’t happen?

Santo and Emiliano Cruz, listed as the legal representative of TxT, say the Lady Apache vs Esther Moreno vs Rossy Moreno match in July could lead to an apuesta match between the three headlining an August show. Santo is not high on the idea of cage matches, but something else could be figured out.

I’m with Santo, I am not particularly enthusiastic about cage matches. I really like some of the rivalries going into this. Rush is good versus everyone for different reasons, but Rush versus  Negro Casas (where Negro might not be able to trick his way out of this one) is great, and the interplay with Maximo as Rush’s last defender is good. Blue Panther versus cowardly Averno is fun too, and I’d love to see them in the singles match they’ve thrown out. A cage match just isn’t that – it’s teasers of the possible exciting matches (which are often dropped with no explanation as soon as the cage match is over), and guys wandering around brawling with each other. There will definitely be a minute or two of really fun action between those guys, but not a lot, and not more than you might get in a trios match or you saw in the cibernetico this past week. Cage matches are suited to doing some big spots – everyone’s going to attack Rush at some point, and Mr. Aguila or someone is jumping off the top of the cage early on – but they’re not great for the long battles I’d like to see, and they’re going to be compromised by everyone bumping into each other unless the feuds make it to the end.

And that’s sort of the deal with the cage matches: there’s a lot of feuds you’d like to see settled, and you’re never going to actually see them settled. This cage match isn’t that different. There are guys and issues who have been built up, and there are people who just seem assigned to make up the numbers. Rey Escorpion isn’t really feuding with anyone here (Rush has made that clear repeatedly), but he’s vaguely not getting along with people. Mr. Aguila is a bit more of a stretch. Rey Bucanero seems to be in this match only because they forgot Terrible was headed to Japan this month. There’s plenty of history (Shocker, Aguila) to explain why Bucanero should want to be in this match, but there’s no effort have been made. I can’t think of a reason why Porky is here at all. All those guys are in the match, and all of them are the most likely losers.

This is better than the usual CMLL cage match where names are pulled out of hat, given one week build, and thrown in a cage as if it’s supposed to be an impressive things. (See: the minis cage match one month ago.) CMLL either tried to create some compelling issues, or just stumbled into them when they throw good luchadors at each other. It still doesn’t change that they all end in a cage, and everyone has struggled to make a cage match interesting once they all get inside.

Blue Panther says he got in the cage match to get to Averno, so he’d prefer to take his hair, but would be okay with Rey Escorpion or Negro Casas.

Fusion aired this afternoon with Argenis & Super Fly vs Dizzy & Argos & Perros vs Mirreyes from Ecatepec. Everything else should end up on Sin Limite and UTDN. This week’s Tercera Caida is also up, where Espiritu Maligno is maybe angry with me and you for doubting him. Probably mostly me. (I haven’t seen it yet.) There’s also a behind the scenes video interview with Porky and Villano V and Jose visits to Arena Puebla and interview with the cage match participants.

CMLL on Galavision is again moved to 4pm CT this week.

La Catedral theorizes Vangelis won En Busca de Un Idolo because most of the people who voted are people who watch the cable shows where he’s got a stronger presence.  He also credits Vangelis being the one strong rudo in the group while tecnicos split their votes.

Rob has highlights of 06/14/13 CMLL.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

• Links
• Great lucha libre photography.
• Cibernetico & Electroshock beat Perro Aguayo Jr. & Silver King in Arena Aficion, in a three fall full of fouls.
• Hijo del Santo’s column is mostly a reprint of an old Box Y Lucha interview with the original Espectro.
• Hijo del Fantamsa is still in CMLL. You remain allowed to talk to whoever you’d like on Twitter.

Lucha Libre in Japan
07/18 NOAH: Pesdailla [O] & Dual Force b Genba Hirayanagi & Maybach SUWA Jr. [X]

Surprised the Pesadilla/Dual Force team got a win in this tournament. They’re 1-1 in this very slow progressing tour. Their next match is on 07/20 versus the Mexitosos.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 07/21/2013 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cristal, Seiya, Sky Ángel vs Araña de Plata, Fulgor I, Kimera
2) Astro Rey Jr., Golden Magic, Miss Gaviota vs Dagora, Imposible, Saruman
3) Chico Che, Emo Extreme, Hijo de Pirata Morgan vs Eterno, Súper Nova, X-Fly
4) Black Terry, Extreme Tiger, Veneno vs Fuerza Guerrera, Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Scorpio Jr.
5) Dinamic Black vs Decnnis [IWRG Rey del Ring]
Dinamic Black’s first defense

Main event should be fun.

Dagora was on the June FILL show. Kimera is a new name.