Rey Mysterio free agency, Niebla Roja/Ultimo Guerrero in Puebla, IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 07/16/2017 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flicker)]
1) Power Bull b Shaolin
Shaolin replaced Kesier Drago
2) Demonio Infernal & Lunatik Xtreme b Aramis & Black Warrior Jr.
3) Máquina Infernal, Power Bull, Tackle, Taylor Wolf b Leo, Mike, Rafy, Teelo
Power Bull replaced Tyson La Bestia
4) Black Dragón b Pantera del Japon
Pantera del Japan was listed as losing here but also as being in Guadalajara at the same time???
5) Argos, Cerebro Negro, Internacional Pantera b Dinamic Black, Emperador Azteca, Pantera I
Argos wants a title match against Emperador Azteca
6) Villano III Jr., Villano IV, Villano V Jr. b Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II 
Villanos wan a trios title match
7) Mr. Electro © b Black Warrior [IWRG IC HEAVY]
First defense. Lots of messiness, with the seconds fighting (Trauma II & Dinamic Black) and unmasking each other. Electro gave up, Warrior got his arm raised as the winner, then was DQed for hitting a ref earlier.

I have no interest in any of the matches they’re setting up. The Traumas have a rep for working very brutal against younger wrestlers and it appeared they did that bit against the Villanos. Here’s the mention of Pantera del Japon in Arena Jalisco. The photos aren’t good there, and it looks like the actual Pantera del Japon in Naucalpan. Too many Panteras!

Niebla Roja has a big match tonight. It’s not just because a title is on the line – Roja’s already champion so he’s unlikely to take Ultimo Guerrero’s title – but he really needs to prove something in a big singles match if he’s going to make it as the top tecnico they want (and not just the new tecnico La Mascara.) A great match in Puebla isn’t alone going to change impressions, but it’d at least show Niebla Roja has that in him as a tecnico. He hasn’t shown that so far.

It’s already five thirty so I’m not going to match by match for tonight’s Arena Puebla card, but it’s worth remembering they did a Caristico/Rush finish last week and they’re matched up again this week. That might be something. The minis match might be good but the first half of the card looks typically dire beside it. The fourth match might be good.

SI reported Rey Mysterio has been listening to offers from WWE and GFW. Mysterio signed a two year deal with Lucha Underground before Season 2, and so would be a free agent three months after this current season ends. The article has that in September, which isn’t current unless they start double airing episodes – it’s October 18th on current pace, making Rey a free agent in mid January. The article says both companies are still looking for a latin star – GFW perhaps wanting to move away from Alberto, and WWE not having success replacing Rey – and so he’d be of value from both.

LU probably will or has already Rey a new deal. He was thought to be the highest paid guy on the roster and had additional perks from the El Rey Network itself. WWE probably can easily outbid anyone else, but it’s probably going to be as much about dates as money. LU used Rey in the ring on a more limited basis than anyone else – he’d seem to wrestle no more than once a weekend, when someone people were doing two or three matches – and any return to the WWE would probably require a similar reduced schedule.  That might be something he could get easier from GFW or LU, but WWE could offer it too if they’re interested.

It would be a star power hit to lose both Prince Puma and Rey Mysterio going into a Lucha Underground Season 4 (even before whatever else happens in talent shake up.) LU’s never pushed Rey as much of the center of the promotion as Puma has been, but the idea of signing Rey was to put a familiar face in the room when selling the show to television networks and merchandisers. It’s not clear how well that’s actually worked, but there’s no one out there who can easily replace him, and he’s valuable to LU for the same reasons he’d be valuable to the other promotions.

WWE’s Royal Rumble is January 28th, 10 days after Rey would be clear to work, in case you’re wondering.

Garza Jr. took Samurai VIP’s hair in Juarez. The photo has Samurai VIP still with plenty of hair so who knows what happened.

The Crash announced La Mascara vs Penta 0M super libre match for 08/05 in Tijuana. Those two just had a super libre match in Arena Lopez Mateos on Sunday that ended in DQ. Do not do that.

The Crash is also advertising La Mascara, Penta, Carlito and Rey Mysterio for an undated show in Mazatlan.

The ROH UK show on 08/19 will be an iPPV. CMLL wrestlers will be on the show, though nothing’s been announced.

Hispano Post has a video story on Misterioso Jr.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 07/23/2017 Arena Naucalpan
1) Demonio Infernal vs Lunatik Xtreme
2) Dragón Yuki & Warrior Jr. vs Máquina Infernal & Tackle
3) Eterno vs Bombero Infernal
4) Black Dragón & Dinamic Black vs Kempo Jr. & Monaguillo
5) Emperador Azteca vs Hijo del Pantera
6) Villano III Jr., Villano V Jr., Zorro vs Imposible, Internacional Pantera, Sharly Rockstar
7) Carístico vs Trauma II, Black Warrior, Mr. Electro [prison fatal, hair, mask]

This is the annual cage match where everyone is chained to the ropes, has to fight for ten minutes, then fight to unlock themselves and escape. Black Warrior or Mr. Electro is losing; Warrior would make the most sense for Caristico to get his win back.

Zorro’s wrestled here a dozen times, but never on a straight IWRG show (or he did so over a decade ago when our records are pretty spotty.)