Tonight’s CMLL’s celebration of Arena Mexico’s 62th Anniversary. The match with the most stakes is Princesa Sugehit versus La Seductora, with both women’s hair on the line. Here is a list of every La Seductora singles match in CMLL to this point:
2012-06-25 (Puebla): Marcela defeats La Seductora to keep the CMLL’s Women Championship
2015-04-11 (Coliseo): La Vaquerita defeats La Seductora
2015-06-27 (Coliseo): Princesa Sugehit defeats La Seductora
That’s the list. La Seductora been in CMLL since 2006 and has never won a singles match. She may not have even had had a televised singles match; if that Puebla match aired on TVC Depotes, it’s not on YouTube. La Seductora is also not a tag or trios expert who’s getting a singles break; her only high profile team match was losing her mask to Princesa Sugehit & Marcela while teaming with Princesa Blanca. La Seductora is not experiencing some new wave of popularity, or a sudden uptick in interest for outside the ring reasons. It’s not impossible that this is her last big match, or last match at all, but that’s not been brought up the feud. The feud has simply been an anonymous ruda occasionally cheating to defeat someone one of the top tecnicas.
Today’s Arena Mexico 62nd Anniversary show is referendum on how much CMLL simply announcing something as “the 62nd Arena Mexico Anniversary show” actually means. The idea of a hair match will means something, Kraneo/Rush means something, CMLL not raising prices all that much definitely means something. The real draw is CMLL stating this is a bigger than usual show, even though the matches don’t really reflect it. It’s about CMLL’s ability to do the minimal amount to make people care about feud and convince people it’s important because it’s a birthday celebration. This show is happening the way it is because CMLL believes this strategy has worked and will continue work. As a fan, I’m stuck hoping they fail tonight, just to stop the “big” shows from getting even more minor. But even one show may not stop the trend.
It’s not a terrible card. It actually has some good matches, or matches CMLL believes are good matches. The main event has Atlantis, Mistico and Volador versus Cavernario, Negro Casas and Ultimo Guerrero, with lots of traditional rivalries. The fourth match of Angel de Oro, DIamante Azul and Niebla Roja versus Hechicero, Rey Bucanero and Terrible isn’t as promising, but both opening trios should be worth watching. Soberano, Stuka and Titan take on NGD, and Drone, Audaz & Triton meet Okumura, Tiger and Virus in the opener.
You know who else could use a singles win? Rush could use a singles win. He’s Rush, so winning and losing isn’t exactly the most important thing to him, but he hasn’t won a singles match in Arena Mexico in a while. He’s not got a singles win since October 2016 over Diamante Azul. He’s since lost to Ultimo Guerrero, Matt Taven, Diamante Azul, Diamante Azul again, Ultimo Guerrero again, and Volador by DQ just about a month ago. Rush still gets among the biggest reactions of the any one the show, but they could be doing a lot more for him. Maybe this match is it. Kraneo’s the one actually coming off a win – his win over Hechicero might not be seen as an actual long term plan – and really doesn’t need to beat Rush to get over in his new role. Rush holds a 1-0 edge over Kraneo all time.
I presume La Seductora is losing to Princesa Sugehit tonight for the obvious reasons. It probably wouldn’t matter all that much the other way. Both women will likely remain in the same roles going forward. CMLL undercard apuesta outcomes often seems more about who CMLL wants to reward with a bigger than usual payoff than who needs a win (see Cholo/Canelo Casas), which is a reason why it’s hard to get people to care about the undercard. This seems like Seductora is getting a bonus for being an employee so long, but it’s not impossible it’ll go the other way. I’m sure the effort will be there, and it’ll be a better match than normal. The problem is most everyone else’s better than usual match will still be a lot better than this.
CMLL’s show airs at 8:30 on Marca’s website and Facebook for free. I couldn’t imagine recommending watching this if it was a paid show. It’ll go up on YouTube later tonight.
CultIcon has a preview of the show.
Zorro says his new KAOZ Lucha Libre group will have a press conference on May 4th. Zorro started talking about this promotion in early April, which makes me wonder if that’s when he found out about the Konnan/MAD situation around then, that he wasn’t going to be part of it (either his decision or theirs) and decided it was time to strike out on his own. Zorro headlines the MDA show with Mesias & LA Park, and they haven’t talked much about MAD leading into it.
LA Park was on Monterrey TV to hype his appearance on that MDA show this weekend. On the show, he told a story of being paid 400 pesos per match and asking Antonio Pena for a raise. Pena said ok, but only after the matches he’s already been booked for. Park’s first match under the “new” deal was in a pizzeria in Tijuana, and he was told to ask the owner for his raise after the match. He did, and he was given his raise – two pizzas and two cokes. Park says this inspired him to go to WCW. Also, LA Park chopped the host.
Espartaco talks about his career, including being trios champions with Nitro & Loco Max for years and beating Ultimo Guerrero for the CMLL world title. I believe those were actually local titles.
Simbolo Azteca talks about winning the Hidalgo Welterweight Championship.
Lineups
CMLL (TUE) 05/01/2018 Arena México
1) Bengala & Leono vs Grako & Príncipe Odín Jr.
2) Angelito, Shockercito, Stukita vs Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Universo 2000
3) Blue Panther Jr., Drone, The Panther vs Puma, Tiger, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Okumura, Pólvora
5) Soberano Jr. © vs Magia Blanca [MEX WELTER]
3rd defense
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Niebla Roja vs Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero
Terrible being out of the trio and Shocker being MIA again has caused Bucanero to be teaming with Ultimo Guerrero more often lately.
Soberano is actually the veteran leading rookie Magia Blanca thru a match. We’re getting old quicker and quicker. This could be a pretty big week for Soberano. This BOSJ field should be announced by Friday morning, and Soberano’s the most likely CMLL person to join CMLL in the tournament.
