Maximo/Vangellys next week, Maximo/Ripper tonight

CMLL (MON) 01/11/2016 Arena Puebla [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Asturiano & Zaeta Roja b Ares & El Malayo
12:49. Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Nitro, Rey Apocalipsis, Toro Bill Jr. b Black Tiger, Starman, Tigre Rojo Jr.
14:08. Rudos took 1/2.
3) Puma, Sangre Azteca, Tiger b Blue Panther Jr., Stigma, The Panther
21:37. Rudos took 2/3.
4) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Valiente DQ Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
9:29. Tecnicos took 2/3. Mr. Niebla, looking in no condition to wrestle, fouled Atlantis.
5) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys b La Máscara, Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy
8:41. Rudos took 2/3. Vangellys beat Maximo to set up a title match next week.

Mr. Niebla needing the ropes to be able to stand (and the undercard going very long to wait him out?) were the most notable things on the show.

Batillon del Muerte might be the only act that tries to have something new every time they enter. It’s obviously because they’re hungry – they’d like to be on CMLL main shows as much as we’d like them to be on CMLL main shows – but I was thinking about that back before the iPPVs, when edecan Erika mentioned they were planning two new dance numbers for Christmas and New Years. They did have two new dances! None of the lucahdors, outside the key matches, were thinking “it’s Christmas, we need to have a special new match!” It was the usual match, maybe a little longer, maybe a little shorter, but the no extra special effort into it. That’s kind of what I got out of the third match: it was much longer than usual, but they didn’t (or couldn’t) put any extra thought about how to make it different than usual. They just did about 85% of their regular spots instead of 65% and told no story. You’d hope Rey Apocalipsis and Toro Bill would be rewarded for the sort of creativity to try to make every appeaance a little bit different, trying to come up with something new they could do that time, when that seems in short supply.

CMLL tonight has a main event of Dragon Lee, Marco Corleone, and Atlantis vs Ultimo Guerrero, Mephisto and Cavernario. It’s the last major show for those going to Japan for FantastiacMania, which includes almost everyone in the main event. Both Dragon Lee & Cavernario have been theorized to be the guy going to Japan, and so this would be the last show for 2016 for the person who is leaving. (I’m skeptical anyone is going now, more on that in a little bit.)

The big match on the show of course involves Maximo, since the same luchador is wrestling every big match in CMLL this month due to lack of internal creativity. Tonight’s opponent is Ripper, based off Ripper cheating Maximo the last couple of weeks.

The show also has the second half of the Copa Junior, with Tiger, Canelo Casas, Sanson, Espanto Jr., the Panther, Esfinge, Super Halcon Jr., and Soberano. Puma won last week, which rules out the rudos (though most of those guys rule themselves out.) Super Halcon won over a weaker field last year, got nothing out of it and no one remembers, so he’s not going to win again. The Panther is headed to Japan, won’t be around for the final for next week, and CMLL can’t be bothered to pretend this might be a realistic issue, so it’s not happening. It’s either Esfinge or Soberano, so Esfinge is the favorite based on how CMLL’s used them.

Artillero is supposed to wrestle the opener here. Artillero is supposed to wrestle the main event in Arena Aficion. I don’t think he can do both.

NJPW put out their lineups for their post-FantasticaMania tour. There’s no TBA space where a new CMLL loanee would fit. It’s possible they could add another match to the shows for someone they bring in from CMLL or even have them just sit out the first few shows, but since both CMLL or NJPW have stopped mentioning the concept of bringing a CMLL luchador over for a year, I think this is a strong sign that it’s no longer happening and no one’s going to Japan for the year.

(NJPW didn’t announce the lineups until after the FantasticaMania tour last year, and Dorada was immediately on the cards to set up his title shot)

A free show with AAA luchadors in San Andres Tuxtla, Veracruz was said to draw around 7,000.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update and this week’s Poster-Mania.

Cometa Jr. took Alex Romano’s hair in Arena Jalisco.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 01/18/2016 Arena Puebla
1) Millenium, Rey Samuray, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Policeman, Rey Apocalipsis, Toro Bill Jr.
2) Estrellita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit vs Dalys, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Ángel de Oro, Super Porky, Valiente vs Kráneo, Morphosis, Ripper
4) Máximo Sexy © vs Vangellys [CMLL HEAVY]
Maximo 5th defense
5) La Máscara, Marco Corleone, Rush vs Euforia, Mr. Niebla, Thunder

Rush got a 3 star-ish match out of Vangellys in this arena; Vangellys is older and slower now, but it’s still an interesting test of super worker Maximo. Best match otherwise is the opener. Rush actually teams with his partners in the main event and I have no problem with that match going very short.

IWRG (SUN) 01/17/2016 Arena Naucalpan
1) Galaxy & Kanon vs Acero & Vortize
2) Leo, Mike, Rafy vs Diablo Jr. I, El Hijo del Diablo, Imposible
3) Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Canis Lupus, Eterno
4) Herodes Jr., Hijo De Dos Caras, Veneno vs Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Mosco X Fly, Toscano
5) Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Hijo del Pantera, Pantera, Pantera I [IWRG IC TRIOS]
second defense

No midweek show again. Main could be good.