I feel like need to say something about Rey vs Ultimo, but I’m not sure what I can add that’s not straightforward and obvious. This is a big moment, but I think what needs to happen might be well known.
Bucanero has to win the match (and likely will), but also has to has to prove to the fans that he’s a top tecnico during it if he’s ever going to hope to have that role. If Rey can’t beat Ultimo, or if the crowd ends up lukewarm about the match, I believe it drops Rey’s ceiling. He could still keep a role as an upper tecnico – a Lizmark Jr. or a Heavy Metal, where it feels more like a main event when he’s involved, but the company and the fans don’t see as a conteder to the top guys. That’d even be slightly better than he seemed as a rudo, but a step down from where some of us (well, me) thought he was capable of going.
There’s never going to be a better opportunity; he’s facing his long time friend turned rival for the first time ever (on a major stage) and it’d be a rare meaningful title reign. It’s a match that’ll we know will be historically meaningful before it even happens. That’s a good foundation to work from; unless Rey were to win a major mask, he’s not going to get a better chance to become a drawing star (or at least move in that direction.)
I’m hoping CMLL just gives them 20-25 minutes, and lets them go, with no screwness to hold the match back. Given no obstacles, I would expect two guys who worked as long together as they did to put together an excellent match. If they don’t, it’s their problem – but they should be able to prove themselves capable/incapable on their own. Ultimo, three year champion, leader of a dozen men and respected rudo by the fans, isn’t going to be hurt by one clean loss. The money isn’t in the chase title chase with the feud; it doesn’t work if the fans don’t believe Rey can actually win the title. Rey needs to win here, clean, and then they can do rematches all around the country.
I wouldn’t write about screwiness if I didn’t have a slight expectation that’s what we’d be getting. (The promise of a “new Guerrero” looms over all.) I believe Rey will win, but I don’t have any confidence about how good the match will be. It was the Ultimo/Rey tag team (in part) which got me into watching lucha libre, and I’ve been wanting to see this particular match for quite some time, but I don’t have any feeling for how it’ll work it. It could be something good/okay because of time constraints or interference or whatever or it could be something great/MOTYC-ish. Lucha singles match quality can be a bit unpredictable unless you’ve seen the same people in other singles matches, and there’s not that recent history for Rey. The only one that really comes to mind is the one versus Perro Aguayo Jr. after he just came in, in the Tohoku Jr. #1 Tournament, where Rey just got beat for quite a while before making a slight comeback. That might be the template here.
I think I might have pushed off the singles match a bit longer, but maybe it’s partly because I’ve got a preoccupation with the inactivity of the CMLL Trios titles. I think you could craft a storyline where, since the Guerreros decided they were better without Rey, Rey comes up with his own trio to prove he’s the real team leader. (Blue Panther to counter Atlantis, for sure – Wagner would run the risk over overshadowing Rey – and a younger guy to balance it out; Volador maybe, but I’d consider Leono to better push the idea of Rey’s presence making the team better than the sum of the parts.) It’s a eight team tournament (one match a week so they don’t suck), something like
Quarters
Ultimo/Atlantis/Tarzan b Dos/Metal/Negro
Sagrado/Texano/Maximo b Loco/Sangre/Dr. X
Rey/Panther/Leono b Pierroth/Hijo de Pierroth/Mascara2K
Misterioso/Aguila/Damian b La Mascara/Volador/Lizmark Jr.
Semis
Ultimo/Atlantis/Tarzan b Sagrado/Texano/Maximo
Rey/Panther/Leono b Misterioso/Aguila/Damian
Finals
Rey/Panther/Leono b Ultimo/Atlantis/Tarzan
Rey pins Ultimo, proving himself a bit, and then it doesn’t seem like everything’s leveraged on one match. But no one asked me, and probably no one should.
I think I may be more nervous about this match than the participants, but I also think it’s really the biggest one of the night. While the cage match may turn someone from a mid level star to a slightly bigger one (for now), the semimain could turn one guy into a slight drawing card, or limit him to an also ran for the time being. It’s a pivotal moment.