Tag: features

Hi!

This is the second Tapatia awards, designed to honor the best in lucha libre over the past year. We encourage all fans to vote, and let their voice be heard on the previous twelve months of Mexican lucha libre. This year of voting will cover the calendar year 2005. Due to Galavision’s enarmous delay in airing CMLL and AAA episodes, matches which were taped in 2004 but only aired in the United States in 2005 are eligible, and also can be used in consideration for other awards.

This year, we’ve expanded the award to twelve categories. We’re also going to offically start collection comments with awards, to be reposted together.

Voting will be held from January 17th to Feburary 17th, subject to change. One ballot per person. Send completed ballots to (and only to) luchaawards@thecubsfan.com. Ballots sent to other addresses or posted may not be counted.

Scoring: Categories with first thru third voting will give 5 points for first, 3 points for second, 2 points for third. Categories with first thru fifth voting will give 12 points for first, 8 points for second, 5 points for third, 3 points for fourth, and 2 points for fifth. Tie and split votes will be thrown out. There will be a quiz on this later.

Any match in any location using the Mexican lucha libre style are eligible to be included. Shows in the US and elsewhere using this style are included. Japanese lucha libre promotions such as Michinoku Pro are not included, but Japanese tours by Mexican lucha libre promotions are included. Female and mini wrestlers are eligible for all categories, unless otherwise specified.

Quick descriptions of the awards:
1) Best Wrestler – top wrestler over the last year.
2) Best Match – please include dates, location where possible
3) Best Singles Match – one on one matches only
4) Best Non-Singles Match – everything that’s not one on one
5) Best Tecnico – greatest good guy
6) Best Rudo – for the entertaining evil-doers
7) Best Female – women only. Sorry, no exoticos.
8) Best Promotion – treat each arena as it’s own group (except Coliseo/Mexico)
9) Best Rivalry – most interesting/exciting/entertaining feud. Can be person vs person, or people vs people.
10) Best Legend – wrestler over the age of 40.
11) Most Improved – wrestler who stepped up their game the highest from 2004
12) Most Underrated – wrestler who’s deserving of more attention from both the promotion and the fans

I (thecubsfan) am the sole dictator of the awards, and my decisions will be final.

Please cut and paste the following ballot to luchaawards@thecubsfan.com.. Do not post your ballot in this thread.

Schedule of Discussion:
Monday: Best Wrestler
Tuesday: Best Promotion, Best Rivalary
Wednesday: Best Tecnico, Best Rudo
Thursday: Best Legend, Best Female, Most Improved, Most Underutilized
Friday: Best Match, Best Singles Match, Best Non-Singles match
Next Monday: Who won in other awards (perhaps – if the WO ones make the ‘net by then)
Next Monday: VOTING OPENS!

Best Matches

We’re breaking this down into three categories:
– Best Trios Match (Top 3)
– Best Non-Trios Match (Top 3)
– Best Match (Top 5)

You already know I’m well behind on watching, so I’m greateful for the help I’ve gotten from these review threads:

DVDVR: Ryan Faulconer Review Thread, April – July ’05
DVDVR: Robert Bihari, August – October ’05
LuchaWorld: Robert Bihari, April – July ’05

Matches from 2004 which aired in 2005 on Galavision

As long as GALA continues it’s massive delay, I’ll continue allow voting for shows which didn’t make US TV until 2005. It makes for somewhat goofy voting – some matches will get votes in two year – but I rather over reward great matches than exclude or hurt their chances because the calendar just happened ot fall that way.

2004.03.19 LA Park & Shocker vs Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero [CMLL TAG], Arena Mexico
2004.09.17 Ultimo Guerrero vs LA Park [CMLL LH], Arena Mexico
2004.09.17 Hector Garza, Perro Aguayo Jr., Terrible vs Negro Casas, Santo, Shocker, Arena Mexico
2004.10.22 Averno vs Hijo del Santo [WWA WELTER], Arena Mexico
2004.12.17 Safari, Felino, Volador Jr. vs Nitro, Dr. X, Hooligan [MEX TRIOS], Arena Mexico
2004.12.17 Universo 2000 vs Perro Aguayo Jr., Arena Mexico

The first three all are from the Best Of End of year show.

Mexico City matches from ’05 that someone’s seen and liked a lot
2005.02.04 Dr. Wagner vs Shocker [Copa Jr], Arena Mexico
2005.02.11 Averno vs Mistico [NWA MW], Arena Mexico
2005.02.25 Mistico vs Ultimo Guerrero, Arena Mexico
2005.03.11 Dr. Wagner & Mistico vs Ultimo Guerrero and Rey Bucanero
2005.04.01 Atlantis & Blue Panther vs. Averno & Mephisto [CMLL TAG], Arena Mexico
2005.04.15 Apolo Dantes & Mascara Ano 2000 & Universo 2000 vs Perro Aguayo Jr. & Hector Garza & Terrible, Arena Mexico
2005.04.29 Universo 2000 & Negro Casas & Mistico vs Perro Aguayo Jr. & Hector Garza & Damian 666, Arena Mexico
2005.05.13 Negro Casas & Heavy Metal & Mascara Magica vs Hector Garza & Halloween & Damian 666, Arena Mexico
2005.05.13 Mistico vs Perro Aguayo Jr., Arena Mexico
2005.05.20 Dos Caras Jr. vs Ultimo Guerrero, Arena Mexico
2005.06.10 Leono & Misterioso Jr. & Ricky Marvin & Tigre Blanco & Virus vs Alan Stone & La Mascara & Tigre Metallico & Stuka Jr. & Volador Jr. [Reyes Del Aire Torneo Cibernetico], Arena Mexico
2005.06.21 Stuka & Tigre Blanco & Tigre Metalco vs Hooligan & Super Comando & Koreano, Arena Coliseo
2005.06.25 Dr. Wagner Jr. & Ultimo Dragon & Mistico vs Averno & Mephisto & Mascara Magica, Arena Mexico
2005.08.06 Negro Casas/Heavy Metal/Felino vs. Ultimo Guerrero/Rey Bucanero/Olimpico, Arena Mexico
2005.08.13 Safari/Chamaco Valaguez Jr. vs. Doctor X/Nitro, Arena Mexico
2005.08.20 Mistico/Hijo del Perro Aguayo/Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Atlantis/Universo 2000/Ultimo Guerrero, Arena Mexico
2005.08.27 El Hijo del Santo/Mistico/Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero/Averno/Mephisto, Arena Mexico
2005.10.15 Apolo/MA2K/U2K/Pierroth vs Perrito/Damian 666/Halloween/Aguila, Arena Mexico
2005.10.15 Mistico vs Atlantis, Arena Mexico

Mistco vs Perro and Misitco vs Ultimo have gotten a lot of talk thru the year. As Shocker’s Last Great TV Match for the time being, the La Copa Jr. was very fun, or at least I thought. Not at lot of great Coliseo action.

From what I’ve seen of GdR, there’s been nothing that really belongs here. Good stuff, but not great MOTY stuff. I wonder about that Tarzan/Hector match I never saw, though.

AAA Matches from ’05

Absolutely NOTHING.

Okay, if I have to, I’ll suggest:

2005.01.28 Black Family (Cueveo, Scoria, Ozz) vs Barrio Boys (Alan, Decnnis, Billy Boy), Korakuen Hall

Non-Mexico City matches from ’05

Uh…haven’t actually seen much. Desperately need suggestions here. There’s still plenty of time to seek out this matches if people are pointed in the right direction.

I’m tempted to vote for the LA Park/Tinieblas Jr. vs Dr. Wagner Jr./Electroshock match I saw in Chicago, and if you’ve seen anything in person you thought was worthy of a vote, please go ahead and vote for it.

Schedule of Discussion:
Monday: Best Wrestler
Tuesday: Best Promotion, Best Rivalary
Wednesday: Best Tecnico, Best Rudo
Thursday: Best Legend, Best Female, Most Improved, Most Underutilized
Friday: Best Match, Best Singles Match, Best Non-Singles match
Next Monday: Who won in other awards (perhaps)
Next Monday: VOTING OPENS!

Best Legend

This is a nice way of saying Best “Old” Wrestler, with old being defined as 40. It’s an age that typically few professional athletes last past – except Lucha Libre.

Here’s the full list, as taken from elsewhere on this page (and next to be added to the Wrestler Info Cards.) Ages are as of 12/31/05

Olimpico  		12/06/65	40.1
LA Park 		11/14/65	40.2
Dr. Wagner Jr.		08/12/65	40.4
Safari/HSN	  	06/10/65	40.6
Mascarita Sagrada 	01/11/65	41.0
Felino  		03/22/64	41.8
Pantera  		02/03/64	41.9
Hijo del Santo		08/02/63	42.4
Universo 2000 		04/18/63	42.7
Super Porky 		03/19/63	42.8
Atlantis  		09/28/62	43.3
Bestia Salvaje 		02/11/62	43.9
Blue Panther 		09/18/60	45.3
Negro Casas 		01/10/60	46.0
Rayo de Jalisco		01/01/60	46.0
Mascara Sagrada		11/06/59	46.2
Mascara Ano 2K		03/10/58	47.8
Pierroth  		03/10/58	47.8
Emilio Charles Jr.	10/12/56	49.3
Canek  			06/19/52	53.6
Satanico  		11/26/49	56.1
Cien Caras 		10/18/49	56.2

(FWIW, next year: Ultimo Dragon, Scorpio Jr., Nitro, Arkangel, Blue Demon, Misterioso Sr. I’m surely missing plenty of ages and I’m never 100% about the birthdates; I’ve got Veneno listed as 33, and have trouble beliving it, for instance.)

Best Female

Again, this is basically a list, in three parts.

Famous Women (this year)
* Lady Apache
* Princea Sujei
* Fabi Apache
* Marcela
* Tiffany
* Amapola
* Dark Angel

Semi-Famous Women (this year)
* La Diabolica
* Cinthia Moreno
* Esterllita
* Martha Villalobos
* La Nazi
* Diana La Cazadora
* India Sioux
* Miss Janeth
* Princesa Blanca

Other Women (this year)
* Sahori
* La Chola
* La Hechicera
* Medusa
* Linda Star
* Hiroka

Most Improved

I’m lost on this award. I can only think of one person who makes sense as a candidate, and he was such a non-factor before it’s a still a bit of a stretch. I’d really to hear candidates from other people, because I’ve got no idea who I’m going to vote for right now.

The one name I want to throw out with confidence is Maximo. He was utterly forgettable as Brazo de Plata Jr., and ‘s now he’s a rising star as a gay Roman. I didn’t see that one coming – but I’m sure Porky did; remember the angle was he forced Brazo de Plata Jr. (and Oro Jr.) into signing up for the Guapos 2004 contest? Maximo would’ve been the quite the bizarro Guapo.

Most Underutilized

This is so close to Most Favorite, that’s why both aren’t here. In my mind, the critera for this award is “guy I like much more than management seems to – and I have proof he deserves that extra attention.” Lucha being lucha, this is going to be the same guys year after year. Someday, they’ll break thru. Partial list of obvious ideas, excluding those who I feel are too utilized to make the list.

* Ricky Marvin (based on his non-push in Mexico)
* Sangre Azteca (ditto!)
* Volador Jr.
* Rey Bucanero
* Terrible (who I like more than you do)
* Hooligan
* Misterioso II (see Terrible comment)
* Virus
* Ultimo Dragoncito
* Barrio Boys

If Ryan F doesn’t vote a straight cat ballot here, I will be disappointed in the world.

Schedule of Discussion:
Monday: Best Wrestler
Tuesday: Best Promotion, Best Rivalary
Wednesday: Best Tecnico, Best Rudo
Thursday: Best Legend, Best Female, Most Improved, Most Underutilized
Friday: Best Match, Best Singles Match, Best Non-Singles match
Next Monday: Who won in other awards (perhaps)

Today’s nominees are a lot easier to isolate, I believe. It’s seems like repetition of Best Wrestler, but because you have to distinguish yourself as either a tecnico or a rudo, those who wrestled as a tweener (Shocker) and those who switched back and forth depending on the match (Universo) are non-factors here, while those who connected with the crowd despite not being in an important role (PorkY) might get a few votes.

Everything can be broke into groups. Everything!

Best Tecnico

recent DVDMB thread on this topic

The Idols Of The Year: Mistico was compared to Rey Mysterio Jr., and Dr. Wagner was compared to Steve Austin in terms of popularity. That’s like, really really good. It’s a debate who’s 1, but it’s tough to see either being left off.

Novelty Acts: Groon, until he actually wrestled. Dark Angel, possibly.

Eternal crowd favorites: Negro Casas, Santo, LA Park, La Parka, Latin Lover, Brazo de Plata, Maximo (new addition), Mascarita Sagrada, Vampiro

Near Misses: Dos Caras Jr. will probably scoot up to the next level soon, Texano Jr. and La Mascara were guys they hope move up levels, and there’s plenty of juniors who didn’t get much attention from the promoters.

Best Rudos

recent DVDMB thread on this topic

No need to look past the leaders of the two strong factions

Perros Del Mal: Perro Aguayo Jr. and Hector Garza were top threats to tecnicos. Not so strong on the others; Halloween and Damian’s biggest moments were in a rudo/rudo feud, so it didn’t really depend strong on their rudoness. Terrible seemed to disappear during the year, and Blue Demon wasn’t around much.

Guerreros del Infernal/Atlantis: Ultimo Guerrero is a rudo’s rudo. Rey Bucanero and Tarzan Boy were the usual selves. Atlantis finally committed to the turn a bit too late to consider here.

Aren’t fun to watch, but apparently fun to boo: Canek, Pierroth

Eternal AAA crowd favorites (by rudo fans): Cibernetico, Chessman, Abismo Negro (didn’t turn till late), Mini Abismo Negro

Schedule of Discussion:
Monday: Best Wrestler
Tuesday: Best Promotion, Best Rivalary
Wednesday: Best Tecnico, Best Rudo
Thursday: Best Legend, Best Female, Most Improved, Most Underutilized
Friday: Best Match, Best Singles Match, Best Non-Singles match

Best Promotion
2005 Winner: CMLL

Just to make this much more confusing, yet slightly more useful; instead of just making this an obvious parade of votes where everyone votes CMLL first and AAA second, it’s not going to be that simple.

I group promotions under CMLL or AAA banners because that’s where the top wrestlers are contracted out from, and it may be the banner the show runs under. In reality, most every different arena is a seperate promotion’s kingdom. Some strike deals to get major promotion talent (usually in exchange for not completely counteracting their storylines) and some go it out on their own, bringing in whoever they can afford and who’s available that week. Within their means, each arena is it’s own little world, and I figure they ought to be treated that way.

This year, we’re (and by we, I mean ME) are treating each arena as it’s own promotion, even the CMLL weekly spot shows buildings. If you want to place your three votes for CMLL-Mexico City, CMLL-Guadalajara and Arena Coliseo Monterrey, that’s perfectly acceptable. (The notable exception is Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo counting as the same prmomotion.)

Once again, you can sort these into groups:

Places with TV shows (which actually made the internet)

If you’re watching CMLL, you’re probably watching the lucha from Mexico City. It is the hub, and has the advantage of doing the biggest matches (and doing the less big matches first). The downside is the sometimes limited amount of wrestlers you’re sell; there’s a lot more local flavor outside of the big city.

Guadalajara had a few very well recieved matches, including a really good Averno/Mistico match I need to watch already. Apolo Dantes and Mascara Magica were credited as bookers, and seemed to push away from trios matches and towards a lot more undercard singles, giving the lineups a look unlike others in Mexico.

Matches from Monterrey arena’s Gimansio Nuevo Leon & Arena Solidaridad made tapes under the name Lucha Libre Azteca, though I’m not sure if I’m making a mistake by grouping them as one. The shows seemed to fall from interest as the year went on, but hey, at least they were out there.

Someone somewhere likes AAA, and I hope they can make a case for votes. I really can’t without blatant and obvious lies. They did draw well, which seems to be a smart strategy of running big shows where CMLL doesn’t run big shows. If only everything else made as much sense.

US Lucha Promotions You May Have Seen In Person

FMLL and it’s twisted sister Lucha Va Voom were pretty fun when I saw them in Chicago and sounded pretty good when they were in Los Angeles. Of course, that’s two places, so those of you who werne’t there might not feel the same.

Promotions Which Existed In Name Only, Seemingly

I don’t think any IWRG got out of Mexico this year; I don’t see it where I’m looking.

Events at Arena Neza and Arena Aficion may or may not have been booked by people who comment on this board. I can neither confirm nor deny.

Best Rivalary
2004: El Hijo Del Santo vs Perro Jr.

I’m so sure I’ll miss plenty of smaller neat ones, but the biggies:

Atlantis vs Dr. Wagner Jr.
Perro Aguayo (and PdM) vs Universo 2000 (and Capos)
Perro Aguayo vs Mistico
Casas Family vs Perros
Ultimo Guerrero vs Mistico
Averno vs Mistico
Konnan (and LLL) vs Vampiro (and AAA)

The 2005 Tapatia Awards are – still not underway. This week, in a blatant attempt to fill space, we’re just previewing some of the deserving candidates for each award. Voting has not yet begun; this is just an occasion for discussion. I’m not trying to say who you should vote for; the idea is to give some names/events as possibilities, and everyone else discusses them.

Tentative Schedule of discussion:
Monday: Best Wrestler
Tuesday: Best Promotion, Best Rivalary
Wednesday: Best Tecnico, Best Rudo
Thursday: Best Legend, Best Female, Most Improved, Most Underutilized
Friday: Best Match, Best Singles Match, Best Non-Singles match

Best Wrestler (choose your top five)
2004 Winner: LA Park

I believe this category is wide open in terms of possibilities; you could with a few different wrestlers as #1, and I think lists 1-5 could vary. The candidates break down into a few different categories:

The No Doubters

If Mistico and Perro Aguayo Jr. aren’t on everyone’s ballots, I’d be shocked. I think they’re so obvious, it’s not even worth stating the cases of why they should be in your top 5; the only debate for me is which guy is better. I lean towards the guy who had to work in in more varying circumstances. Mistico was an underdog tecnico constantly, while Perro worked rudo and tecnico depending on who he was feuding with the second. Mistico was more spectacular, so I could see a case the other way.

The Almost No Doubters

If Atlantis and Dr. Wagner Jr. had The Match, one of them would be unanimous wrestler of the year, I believe. It probably would’ve been Wagner, and it probably would’ve been despite losing his mask. It was an unexpected year for both of them – Dr. Wagner had turned tecnico last year, but I’m not sure you could’ve predicted how over he’d get, and anyone who saw the Atlantis rudo stuff coming probably should’ve tipped off CMLL management earlier and saved everyone a lot of heartache. The fact that they didn’t have The Match, leaving a big void where a meaningful match should be (though Atlantis picked up quite a few trophies), might be a strike enough to leave them off a crowded list.

The Drawing Freaks

There’s no great internet groundswell for Konnan, Vamprio, or Groon; they probably won’t get a match of the year vote, and would be far more likely to appear in Worst Of The Year votes. Still, Gronda drew while in AAA and in the months just after he left, and Konnan and Vampiro were the big names on the biggest drawing shows of the year. If what the ticket paying fan gravitated to is a factor in your decision (and it could be! and it could not be! it’s your vote), you’d have to strongly consider these three because fans did want to see them.

I’m not exactly confident, but I think you could add Latin Lover (who may be more important, but is also wrestling less and didn’t have a big year) and La Parka Jr. (who won Rey de Reyes, and I still don’t know how) to this category.

Notable Mentions For The Year

It’s impossible to consider Perro Aguayo without considering his normal rival, Universo 2000. Given a better opponent then better years, it seems like he’s had a better year, not to mention big headline wins over Garza and Halloween. Universo’s in this category rather than the next because he’s an old man who conserves his energy by making the run of the mill matches feel very much so; I’m not confident that he just won’t start seeing everything as run of the mill sooner or later.

In my mind, Dark Angel is less important as an in-ring wrestler than as a symbol of the boom/bubble for women’s wrestling in 2005. There are probably more talented and likely more beautiful, but she was the eye of the hurricane, and her popularity (however it came) affected the composition of wrestling cards she wasn’t on, and gave opportunities to women she had no more than an indirect relationship. It wasn’t just Dark Angel (and next year, maybe it won’t be her, or maybe it won’t last), but as a 2005 symbol of the rise of women’s wrestling, Dark Angel perfectly fits the picture.

The perennials

Until they suffer an injury, or fall off greatly, or just vanish, there’s a group of people you can pencil in for great years before the year even starts. You know they’ll get an opportunity and they’ll make the most of it, even if they don’t have a particularly noteworthy moment during the year. This group currently includes Ultimo Guerrero, Hector Garza, Negro Casas, Shocker and, with a slight stretch, Rey Bucanero. Santo has wrestled enough to throw himself in this list, this year. These are the guys who you look forward to watching, but may get slighted in a Best Of list, because it wasn’t particularly their year.

Who did I miss? What arguments am I missing? What do you think? Add your thoughts in the comments!