Last night, Hector Garza wrestled on a CMLL show in Arena Aficion. It will be his last show with the company for the time being. Dr. Landru of the Gladiatores, Enrique Yniesta of Box Y Lucha and Tercera Caida are all reporting Garza has left CMLL effective immediately. Hector will rejoin the Perros del Mal faction he helped start, both in AAA and the Perros promotion itself. Perros del Mal tapes their TVC Deportes show Sunday, and AAA’s next taping is Monday. Either (or both) of those might be debut days in his new role.
Garza started his major league career in CMLL, but previously spent 1999 to 2004 as a part of AAA and grew as a personality here. Garza rejoined CMLL just as suddenly as he’s leaving, showing up a surprise wrestler in his 2004 return. Perro Jr. was an opponent in that match, but soon after turned rudo to start the Perros del Mal faction, still going to this day. Garza surprisingly didn’t join his friend in leaving CMLL to form the Perros promotion in 2008. It was said then that Perro and Garza were no longer the friends they had been. Perhaps that has changed again, though CMLL’s poor attendance (and resulting poor paydays) probably also have an effect.
Hector Garza is the current CMLL World Heavyweight Champion, having won the title three months ago from Ultimo Guerrero. Despite the title win and a related change to the tecnico side, Garza had no particular momentum or feuds. He was another man in the Anniversario cage match, seemingly just thrown in because he had no mask and was of high enough stature. Garza’s been a constant in the main events, often facing TRT, but with no real focus.
CMLL’s practice of having two dozen championships all valued at about the same level means losing their reigning heavyweight champion does not nearly hurt nearly as much as it would for any other major promotion. It is still vastly embarrassing and as strong a sign you can get about the internal troubles in the company.
Garza’s next scheduled CMLL match was to be Saturday in Oaxaca. Mascarita Dorada, also gone, is still listed on that card. Garza is also on Sunday’s Arena Mexico card; his replacement on the show will probably be CMLL’s first indication that Hector has left the company.
Champion vs champion is a natural storyline to tell, but AAA doesn’t seem greatly set up for it at the moment. Jeff Jarrett and Hector Garza appear to be part of the great La Sociedad alliance, unless Garza’s going to be working the Perros shows as opposition to the main group (which they actually could use.) Garza vs Dr. Wagner might be a better fit for Guerra de Titanes.