Mistico/Averno and Gran Alternativa final tomorrow, Best of 2021 CMLL lineup, LB/FTR

CMLL

CMLL (SAT) 12/25/2021 Arena México
1) El Gallito, Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo, Chamuel, Perico Zacarías
2) Dalys, Princesa Sugehit, Stephanie Vaquer vs La Jarochita, Marcela, Reyna Isis [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Fugaz, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Negro Casas, Templario
4) El Coyote & Euforia vs Atlantis Jr. & Sangre Imperial [Gran Alternativa]
5) Místico © vs Averno [NWA MIDDLE]

In media interviews leading into Saturday’s show, Gran Alternativa finalist Sangre Imperial said he believed he might not be in the tournament at all this year after he wasn’t included in the first bracket. It was a realistic impression; Sangre Imperial just never has been important until this year’s tournament, would’ve been an easy name to skip over if CMLL had more “young guys” to choose from. He’ll be just as easy to ignore if this final doesn’t work out for him. Same for Coyote. This is one of dozens of tournaments Eufora & Atlantis Jr. will be in, but it’s also definitely the most important match in both Coyote and Sangre Imperial’s life. I don’t think they should be in this match and it doesn’t say much for CMLL to put them there, but these guys are unknown to most of CMLL’s audience. They’ve got a chance to make a big impression if they can find something we haven’t seen from them so far.

A very narrow change: CMLL’s poster removed the “NWA” name from Averno/Mistico match. It’s just the Historic Middleweight Championship on the poster as of Wednesday afternoon. Over in Arena Neza, “NWA Mexico” is starting their tag team title tournament on Christmas, and maybe there’s a new round of arguing about who owns the NWA name in Mexico.

CMLL’s big Christmas Eve surprise is a KeMonito video. I still suspect the Christmas Day show will be a surprise stream, though I would plan your day around it. If they’re not airing it for free and they’re not doing it on PPV, CMLL’s giving away money. Can’t put it past them.

CMLL (MON) 12/27/2021 Arena Puebla
1) Astro vs Rencor
2) Asturiano & Oro Jr. vs Espíritu Maligno & Toro Bill Jr.
3) Pegasso & Valiente Jr. vs Dark Magic & Okumura
4) Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa, Stigma vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
5) Místico, Negro Casas, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Soberano Jr., Templario [Relevos Increíbles]

An “old” versus young feud is not the worst idea – it’s better than the constant nostalgia. But that’s probably not what it is.

Valiente hasn’t wrestled since getting hurt on a missed armdrag to the floor back in November. He underwent surgery late Wednesday according to his daughter. I didn’t find words as to his exact injury. Valiente Jr. showing up on CMLL cards may be connected; not exactly getting his father’s bookings but getting some work to help out the family.

CMLL (FRI) 01/07/2022 Arena México
1) Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Eléctrico
2) Dalys, La Jarochita, Lluvia vs Dark Silueta, Marcela, Stephanie Vaquer [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Hechicero vs Bárbaro Cavernario
4) Atlantis Jr. vs Terrible
5) Místico, Titán, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Templario, Último Guerrero

This is the best of 2021 show. Panteitra/Electrico look good in the highlights but no one’s seen it unless they were there. Hechicero/Cavernario might be the best CMLL singles match among the people who are still working in CMLL. Atlantis/Terrible was good but not particularly memorable, that and the trios are what they have to reach for this year. It should be a good card. It’ll also be the fourth of five straight Friday/Saturdays as a Ticketmaster Live PPV.

CMLL Guadalajara Facebook page advertised Travis Banks for next Tuesday’s card on Friday morning around 10 CT central. The post was up for a few hours, deleted, and then reposted with Black Warrior in Banks’ spot. (You can see both posters here.) There’s no explanation as to the change.

There’s a hard-to-explain nuance here: it doesn’t mean CMLL’s main office is booking Banks at this point. The Guadalajara group seems to have the freedom to bring in a few indie wrestlers each show, maybe to make up for fewer being sent from Mexico City. It’s how Averno was working in Guadalajara for months before he came back on the main roster, and Warrior replacing Banks suggests it’s that sort of spot. It does seem like CMLL Mexico City may have some veto power over which indie wrestlers are allowed to work, and perhaps that’s why Banks isn’t on the show, though it could be plenty of other reasons. Warrior’s going to mean a lot more to that match, even if he’s basically a retired wrestler right now.

It didn’t feel shocking to see Banks listed on the Guadalajara show, it felt like a thing that inevitably was going to happen. I think that if we get through 2022 with no Travis Banks on a AAA or CMLL card, it would be a pleasant surprise.

Felino Jr. & Polvora retained the Mexican National Tag Team championships in Puebla on Monday. It remains incredible that CMLL doesn’t care about reporting the results of their title matches.

CMLL is selling some match worn masks through the MatchWornShirt website. Masks were worn in the first couple of Fridays of December. I’ve never bought worn masks. People have definitely told me how much they have paid and I’ve been unable to retain any of the information, but my impression is that’s a little bit on the high side. The idea of the site is this merchandise is being sold for charity; CMLL’s pages don’t list a charity.

Heraldo Mexico has an interview with the Atlantis family. Atlantis Sr. noted he got simple gifts while his son was asking for presents from the US and Japan. Atlantis Jr. finished his digital art degree during the pandemic and wants to launch comics or photos in 2022.

AAA

AAA (SUN) 01/30/2022 Polifrum Zamna, Mérida, Yucatan
1) Drago Kid & Komander vs Chik Tormenta & Látigo
2) Big Mami, Lady Shani, Sexy Star vs Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla
3) Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa, Octagón Jr. vs DMT Azul, Puma King, Sam Adonis
4) Dulce Canela, Faby Apache, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Diva Salvaje, Jessy, Mamba
5) Laredo Kid © vs Willie Mack, Aramis, Dragón Lee [AAA CRUISER]
11th defense, first since May
6) Rey Escorpión, Taurus, Villano III Jr. © vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón and Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana [AAA TRIOS]
third defense
7) Fénix & Pentagón Jr. vs Cash Wheeler & Dax Hardwood © [AAA TAG]

This is not officially announced; Sam Adonis posted it on his Twitter and others have mentioned they’re on the show. This is probably going to be a busy show; all three titles could change hands.

My guess is the Lucha Brothers win the tag titles back here and the Rey de Reyes match with Dragon Lee & Dralistico is made a tag title match. This is mostly fueled by my belief there’s nothing else to do with the FTR in AAA beyond face the Lucha Brothers, and I may be mistaken since AAA seems much higher on the idea.

NGD won a trios title shot back at TripleMania Regia. Poder del Norte did not, but it’s AAA so they’re getting a match anyway. NGD should win the trios titles at this point, Los Mercenarios barely exist as a unit and haven’t done much since TripleMania, and NGD are completely treated like the unbeatable team in the booking. It’s possible this leads to their trios match at Rey de Reyes also being for the trios titles.

There’s not as a great reason for Laredo Kid to lose, but every promotion likes loading Dragon Lee up with belts and that fourway is ripe for Aramis or Mack to get pinned to set up the one-on-one between Dragon Lee & Laredo Kid later on. AAA actually booking a 1v1 match is a risky proposition but they do like acting as if one might happen.

Mamba’s team may be a re-working of the dropped El Imperio stable idea, using Las Shotas this time since they got over in Naucalpan. Empresa probably pick up another win, the destination remains unknown. AAA previously mentioned the surprise woman in the Rey de Reyes match will appear here, so that’s likely the climax of the women’s match. There’s a good chance Drago Kid getting over in GCW got him brought back to AAA TV after not being used for a while, though that’s a strange thing to think about.

It’s possible this is the first AAA TV taping of the year; AAA would normally have a show around the 16th, but we’d should’ve heard about it by now. It’s unclear if AAA will return to airing these shows live in 2022 or keep these as taped. AAA airs three matches a week so something’s getting left out if it’s just TV, though it could turn up on YouTube as a bonus. That’s the same situation as Rey de Reyes. I’m not entirely confident AAA’s thought about that yet.

Other Notes

The 01/16 Terminus (Atlanta) debut show will include Baron Black vs Bandido for the ROH World Championship. Black and Jonathan Gresham are running Terminus, Gresham’s apparently calling his version of the ROH World Pure Championship but he’s obviously ok with Bandido still calling himself champion too since it’s happening on his show. (Bandido had teased this on Twitter the day before.) Everyone assumed there’d be a big Bandido/Gresham match to make up for Bandido missing Final Battle at some point and this seemed like the logical place, but I guess it’s not happening quite yet.

RIOT’s 02/11-12 La Rina participants

1. Blake Christian
2. Demonio del Aire
3. El Mago
4. Jimmy
5. Mr. Iguana
6. Erik Ortiz
7. Aeroboy
8. King Rex
9. Komander
10. Tromba – new

Rey Horus was announced for the Battle of Los Angeles.

Tijuana’s EMW says they’ll return in February.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.