Stigma unmasks Espiritu Maligno, Sombra to return even earlier

Stigma defeated Espiritu Maligno in Arena Puebla last night. That match was really well covered last night on Twitter, but I can’t find a single newspaper article with full results today. (They’re out there, they’re just not on the internet.)

Stigma and Espiritu had issues with Tirantes thru the match. Espiritu submitted Stigma in the first. Espiritu caused Stigma to run into Tirantes in the second, thought Tirantes was hurt, fouled Stigma, and put him back in the submission again. Tirantes was not bumped, and signaled the fall was over – but DQed Espiritu. Stigma won the third fall clean with a huracarana. Espiritu was unmasked as Alejandro Pérez Pérez, 36 years old, 23 years a luchador.

Post match photos are here. There’s six and half minutes of video of the match (and also the post match) up already, which is pretty neat. Match seems good and building was either sold out or close to it by the time of the mask match.

Arena Puebla locals who lose their mask tend to do it as a retirement match, but Espiritu is about a decade or so younger than those who usually lose, so I’m not so certain it’s the end for him.  It is a memorable three weeks.

La Sombra has gone from being out three weeks, to being out two weeks, to being out for just a few days and returning on Friday. There’s three things that could be going down here

1. The ankle wasn’t as bad as they first thought and he doesn’t need to sit out as long.
2. The ankle is still screwed up, but he’s working thru it for no reason because he’s young and luchadors are crazy
3. The ankle is still screwed up, but he’s working thru it for a reason – CMLL has something planned from Friday with him (and probably Volador) and can’t push it off.

We really shouldn’t discount the first two possibilities, but the signals seem to point to the third one, which would also means there are big time sensitive plans for Volador vs Sombra. It’s possible they’re heading to a relevos suicidas with Atlantis, Ultimo Guerrero, Volador and Sombra, or something else along those lines.

I’m far from sure this is the actual outcome, but Sombra/Volador is the only other thing they’ve started to push towards the anniversary show. Blue Panther vs Averno still continues, but is not treated as a big match. Negro Casas vs Rush (vs Shocker) has been ignored since Infierno en el Ring. There’s still time, but if they’re setting up a second big feud for the show, and the prices indicate they need to, it’s just Sombra and Volador being very definite about wanting a mask match.

Something other than Atlantis versus Ultimo Guerrero as the anniversary match will get a negative reaction from the fans. They’ve been very direct about that match all year, specifically and with no one else, as the match we’re supposed to want to see.  CMLL’s also allowed Atlantis and Ultimo Guerrero do interviews where they definitely say they only want to face each other and want no one else in the match. Same really for Volador & Sombra – the people who would be in a four way are pushing about how a four way is a bad outcome. (This hasn’t exactly stopped CMLL from doing those matches in the past.) It’s also too late to be crossing over the feuds. Sombra vs Ultimo Guerrero or Atlantis vs Volador could’ve been better for long term plans if they started them in March, but either of those outcomes now would be seen as a disappointment.

It still would be four big names and someone important losing their mask on the Anniversary show. A four way or relevos suicidas would cause far more online complaining than hurt ticket sales, but it will distract from the build. Not excited about the idea of two separate singles matches – either mask should be a super main event, and one would just be relegated to a semimain – but it’s the preferable outcome.

Today’s Arena Mexico show has the first part of the Mexican National Lightweight tournament. Angel de Oro has his first main event since coming back, teaming with Mascara Dorada & Mistico versus Vangelis, Volador and Mr. Niebla. I wonder if Angel de Oro would’ve been considered for the Estetas del Aire if he had been healthy at the right time.

On the De Bote en Bote lucha radio show, Olimpico acknowledged he is Guadalajara’s Super Popular. That’s super lame. It looks like he mentioned it back this weekend and then was back on today to defend the decision as not an attempt to defraud people. He’s wearing a mask modeled after a mask he lost, that’s kind of exactly what people mean when they think of as a fraud. (Also, I should just go with whatever ringo says from now own.)

Correction on Sunday’s IWRG results; Dragon Celestial was bumped to the opener, and Punker (of the Bizarros) returned from oblivion to wrestle in the segunda.

Bill has highlights of 06/23 CMLL.

Black Terry Jr. has video of a backstage fight between Los Dinamitas and Rayo de Jalisco (for the cameras; Canek makes the save) and Horuz talking about being independent.

Links

• It appears CMLL is not on the United States version of Netflix, but is on the Mexico version.
• Tercera Caida turned 7 years old today.
• Cibernetico feels he owes a victory over Perro Aguayo Jr. to the Mexico City people and will deliver it Friday.
• Familia de Tijuana hype up Thursday’s RCH show at Arena Naucalpan. That’s the show with a five team/ten luchador cage match of death and it’s possible the FdT/Traumas feud might have a big outcome on a sort-of-no-IWRG show.
• Los Colisenos is critical of how CMLL’s promoted Niebla Roja and thinks the promotion would best off Announcing a main event now and letting all the other wrestlers know they can still earn a spot on the card.
• Pesadilla and Super Crazy are on the next NOAH tour. Looks like Ricky Marvin is headed home.
• There’s a benefit show this Sunday for Monterrey luchador Black Soul, who has a blood clot in his head.
• Black Metal and Barbaro Cavernario have another title match this Thursday.
• There’s a tag team tournament in Mexico City with the Traumas, Cerebros, FdT and Belial and Tornado in a couple weekends. Random CMLL main event again.
• Rush is not on Facebook, so there’s no real point to Facebook.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 08/04/2013 Arena Coliseo
1) Camaleón & Leono vs Espanto Jr. & Ramstein
2) Sagrado, Stigma, Tritón vs Camorra, Cancerbero, Raziel
3) Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., Hijo del Fantasma vs Misterioso Jr., Sangre Azteca, Virus
4) Ángel de Oro vs Puma [lightning]
rematch from last week
5) La Máscara, Rush, Titán vs Taichi, Terrible, Vangellys
6) Marco Corleone, Shocker, Thunder vs Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas

They actually booked the lightning match rematch! Hooray for small miracles. The Avernos/Estetas title match is probably still happening, but not until they go to Arena Mexico again and they seem not to feel the need to do a rematch again this week.  Fantasma in Arena Coliseo = doom for Fantasma. Camorra being in the same match as Triton is weird.

CMLL (SUN) 08/04/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Ídolo & Javier Cruz vs El Yaki & Satara
2) Esfinge & Virgo vs Évola & Infierno
3) Black Metal & Gallo vs Bárbaro Cavernario & Sádico and Halcón de Plata & Leo and Demonio Rojo & Maléfico [Copa Express]
4) Diamante Azul, Máximo, Valiente vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión

No tag titles, Copa instead.

CMLL (MON) 08/05/2013 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Meyer vs Centauro de Fuego & Espanto Jr.
2) Milenium & Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Inquisidor & Siki Ozama Jr.
3) Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso, Soberano Jr. vs Espíritu Maligno, Hijo del Signo, Nosferatu
4) Marcela vs Amapola [lightning]
5) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión
6) Mistico vs Averno [Copa Arena Puebla 60 Anniversario]

Revolucionarios vs Guerreros feud back here. More Puebla luchadors than have been here of late. This looks like another good show.