Gran Alternativa preview, Sin Cara/WWL

Table are good ways to fill up blank spaces on slow days. A look back at the history of tonight’s Gran Alternativa particpants

Those numbers don’t include the 1998 missing tournament (but do include the not totally clear 2003 one.) Rencor Latino had to be in that 1998 one, just because it’s crazy to believe Averno wasn’t in any part of Gran Alternativa until 2009. Also, the Palacio Negro/Averno team made no sense at the time and looks even weirder now. They really had no idea what they had in that novato.

Tonight’s field seems very unbalanced – the four tecnico teams all look to have better chances than the rudo teams. Guerrero Negro Jr. has much more experience than most of the guys involved and would fit in on a higher level, but remains a great candidate for a new character and there’s no sense in using him a lot until they come up with one. Rebelde is making an unheralded debut and Espanto and Akuma are struggling in the openers in many senses of the word. I think Akuma’s passed Espanto at this point but neither seems ready for more right now.

Hombre Bala Jr. seems like the on paper favorite; he almost won last year, is steadily moving up the card anyway and seems the most ready of the people involved. He’s almost over qualified; it would be a bigger deal win for someone else, so someone else might get it. (He’s also stuck with the wrong partner.) Oro Jr. & Soberano Jr. are very young but very talented and in need of something to break them out. (Those two feel like they’re two guys fighting for one spot – though maybe they’d be better as a team at the moment.) Cachorro has looked good in his first few matches, but it’d be a big surprise if he won this tournament that quickly. I have a weird feeling Sombra & Oro are winning this block, but have nothing to back it up.

The entire tournament should air on Terra; that’s how they handled the last tournament. There’s not a lot of consistency in these things but there’s no reason to skip it. I have no idea how it’ll work on TV, since they can’t quite fit an elimination tournament and two trios in an hour. They’d be better off with highlights and the block final.

Fuego en el Ring has posted an interview with this block’s rudos.

The actual main event of tonight’s Arena Mexico show has Shocker on the rudo side, teaming with Mr. Niebla & Ultimo Guerrero of all people, facing Atlantis, La Mascara and Rush. That should include a tease for Shocker/Rush at Gran Alternativa. There’s a women’s match (which should follow up on Dalys/Marcela) and the debut of Kamaitachi. Stukita makes an appearance in the opener.

Sin Cara will work WWL shows. No dates are announced; it’s not clear if it’s the March tour or some other time. This seemed obvious once Sin Cara was free to work other shows; WWL will pay lots of money to bring in the wrestlers they want to see, and Sin Cara will gladly take money. Also in WWL news, X-Fly talks about Sabu.

Diario Irapuato writes about the biggest matches in the history of Arena Mexico. (This may be a repeat.)

Today’s the last day of the 80 Years of Lucha Libre exhibit. It’ll be moved to different venues starting in February.