IWRG mask match upset, final live Puebla for a few weeks

IWRG (SUN) 12/17/2017 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, DJ Spectro, The Gladiatores]
Arena Naucalpan 40th Anniversary
1) Ludark Shaitan b Fandango, Shadow Boy, Lili Dark, Demonio Infernal
Ludark won, but Demonio Infernal attacked her after the match.
2) Alas de Acero, Aramis, Freelance b Leroy, Lunatic Xtreme, Ovett
3) Dr. Cerebro b Imposible
Cerebro is still looking for a title match against Imposible.
4) Emperador Azteca & Hijo del Alebrije b Fly Warrior & Séptimo Rayo
5) Capo Del Norte, Capo Del Sur, Máscara Año 2000 Jr. b Eterno, Karaoui, Veneno
6) Ray Mendoza Jr., Rocambole Jr., Villano IV, Villano V Jr. b Mr. Electro, Sharly Rockstar, Trauma I, Trauma II
Tramuas and the Luna Brothers fought each other after the match.
7) Spector b Black Dragón [mask]
Rayan suffered a fracture in his foot during the week and was in a cast here. He was allowed to choose between his partners Liderk & Spector for who would defend his mask for him, and picked Spector. It was a good pick: Spector pulled the shocking upset. Black Dragon is Jared Anciniega Lopez from Mexico City, 18 years old, and 4 years a wrestler. Finished may have been screwed up.

Attendance was up for the mask match, but I’d guess most of the people in attendance thought they were seeing the young guy defeat the midcard IWRG centric masked character that has been totally forgotten until getting brought back for a run leading to this match. That’s what happens 99% of the time – this is the 1% of the time where the super rookie gets beat to keep people guessing. It’ll probably take more than one time to change people’s minds, and someone more promising than Rayan would’ve probably been better served getting the win.

DJ Spectro says the match was poor, with the finish being messed up and Spector not look good. That doesn’t come thru in the other recaps but would not be a surprise.

Do we give Spector the credit for the mask win or Rayan?

Tonight’s Puebla show is probably the last Puebla streaming until 01/08. Arena Puebla will still be running shows on Monday nights (though earlier than usual), CMLL will still be streaming shows on Monday (though also earlier than usual), but CMLL will be airing Arena Mexico shows instead. CMLL hasn’t said they won’t be airing Puebla as well, but that seems like a safe bet.

Also a safe bet: tonight’s main event will be a mess. Gran Guerrero, Ultimo Guerrero and Mephisto should get the easiest win of their lives tonight, as they face the totally dysfunctional trio of Caristico, Mistico and Volador. It’ll probably stretch out for about eight minutes because that’s the way Puebla main events work, but the Sky Team buddies are going to cost Caristico the match one way or another.

The semimain doesn’t make a great deal of sense either. Sam Adonis teaming with Pierroth & Rush has been a regular team, but they usually don’t face Sam’s new friend Johnny Idol. Idol teams with Terrible and Valiente in a match sure to go nowhere.

The third mach is the only hope on the card, with Tiger, Sagrado & Puma taking on Stuka Jr., Stigma and mystery man Pantera Blanca Junior. I have no idea what he, or the Gemlo Panteras in the second match will have to offer, so at least that’s something a bit interesting. That second match has Asturaino and Espiritu on opposite sides after they feuded last week, with Espanto and Hijo del Signo on the rudo side. The opener is Arkalis, Black Tiger, Paris vs Arez, Fuerza Chicana and Rey Apocalipsis. It’s not a strong way for Puebla to go out for a while, but it is airing on CMLL’s YouTube at 9pm.

Generacion XXI has a Rey Mysterio, LA Park, and HIjo de LA Park against Penta, Fenix and Blue Demon main event tonight in Irapuato.

AAA has a vote up for lucahdor of the year. Hijo del Fantasma, Dr. Wagner, Pagano, Psycho Clown and La Parka are choices. Johnny Mundo, who was heavyweight champion for most of the year and held three different titles during a lot of it, is not an option. He is also probably wisely not included because we’d all mess with the voting so much to troll AAA.

LuchaWorld has this latest news update, including a recap of the always entertaining post show interviews. You really should read the Volador, Mistico and Caristico comments. NJPW’s gotten their characters over by including those post show interviews in their comments, and you could see how it might work with CMLL.

Lineups

CMLL (SAT) 12/23/2017 Arena Coliseo
1) Retro & Sangre Imperial vs Cholo & Yago
2) Flyer, Magia Blanca, Robin vs Metálico, Nitro, Sangre Azteca
3) El Gallito & Microman vs Mije & Perico Zakarías
4) Blue Panther Jr., The Panther, Titán vs Felino, Hechicero, Pólvora
5) Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Mephisto

Micros are back. Valiente will have to play main event mediator.

CMLL (MON) 12/25/2017 Arena México
1) Fantasy & Shockercito vs Pequeño Nitro & Pierrothito
2) La Jarochita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Dalys, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther Jr., Niebla Roja vs Hechicero, Rey Bucanero, Terrible
4) Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas vs Kráneo, Pierroth, Sam Adonis
5) Star Jr. vs Nitro, Oro Jr., Templario, Starman, Cancerbero, Fiero, Hijo del Signo, Pegasso, Raziel [cage, mask]

Not much helping the cage match. Negro Casas and Sam Adonis do meet one more time before their own apuesta match, but it’s a regular show otherwise. We still have no idea if this will be streamed like normal, available to watch on demand after the fact, or some sort of pay option. Maybe they’ll explain before the show.