Electro/Mascara2K, Mistico vs Mephisto tonight in Puebla

IWRG (SUN) 07/10/2016 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, The Gladiatores]
1) Atomic Star & Demonio Infernal b Black Dragón & Dragón Fly
straight falls
2) Leo, Mike, Rafy, Teelo b Killer Jr., Skanda, Spartan, Violencia Jr.
Spartan replaced Hip Hop man
3) Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Dr. Karonte Jr. b Diablo Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Imposible
Cerbero Negro was eliminated, but still helped Dr. Cerebro beat Hijo de Cerebro. Challenges followed. Karonte Jr.’s first match here since December 2015.
4) Herodes Jr., Negro Navarro, Toscano b Danny Casas, Hijo De Dos Caras, Súper Nova
Rudos won in straight falls. Hijo de Dos & Danny Casas broke down into a fight, setting up a title match. It appears Hijo de Dos Caras is the one turning rudo.
5) Mr. Electro b Máscara Año 2000 Jr.
Bloody crowd brawl. Mr. Electro put Mascara thru a table with light tubes. Hair match was set for next week.

Dos turning rudo is a surprise; they’ve pushed him so strong over the last year that turning him rudo seems likes an admittance of failure (and his father never wrestled much as a rudo.) Maybe Mr. Electro took his spot, though I’m not sure Electro is winning next week.

Tonight’s Arena Puebla is a busy show. Mistico challenges Mephisto for the CMLL Welterweight Championship in the main event, where a title change is a good possibility. This is the title Mistico never lost, but had to forfeit after his 2014 motorcycle accident, and it’s his first attempt at regaining it. Mistico’s been in his best form not just since that accident, but at any point during his career. It’s probably the right time for him to become singles champion again, but Mephisto’s had a lot of big wins this year already. Mephisto’s big matches tend to be big spot showcases and Mistico’s made for that style, so this should be some sort of fireworks show.

The bulk of the show is an eight team tag tournament with some strange teams: Michael Elgin teams with Ripper in Elgin’s last CMLL appearance, and Kushida forms a strange team with Kraneo (and Mije) in what’s somewhat a relevos increibles tournament. The other six teams are Caristico & Ultimo Guerrero, Rush & Volador Jr., Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa, La Mascara & Sharlie Rockstar, Diamante Azul & Rey Escorpion and Shocker & Negro Casas (if Casas is back wrestling, which is not a certainty.) The second match is a trios match with Ares and King Jaguar, who are believed to be having a mask versus hair match next week. The opener is a minis showcase, including an increasingly rare appearance by local Asturiano. It’s rare for a Puebla show to have something interesting in every match; I’m less than convinced the tag team tournament will be any good, but it as least different.

The Puebla show will air on CMLL.com & YouTube at 9pm.

CMLL has a note on their show streaming on NJPW World. NJPW’s said they’re doing a test run, CMLL is more like it’s a deal forever. The CMLL article mentions it’s only for fans in Japan. It’s possible to get to the video from elsewhere if you work at it and have the right tools. I’ve been thinking it’s region blocked because Clarosports has the existing deal (and is paying CMLL for it), but I did notice NJPW is not muting out the entrance music on that feed, as they do when the CMLL guys are on their normal shows.

TKD reviews the CaraLucha 1st anniversary show.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 07/17/2016 Arena México
1) Bengala & Sensei vs Apocalipsis & Cholo
2) Flyer, Metatrón, Star Jr. vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Sangre Azteca
3) Blue Panther Jr., Fuego, Pegasso vs Disturbio, Puma, Tiger
4) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Johnny Idol vs Bobby Z, Sam Adonis, Vangellys
5) Diamante Azul, Mistico, Valiente vs Euforia, Negro Casas, Terrible

Negro Casas is booked in this main event too, and eventually he’ll be read to make one of these shows. Idol & Adonis do stick around after the NJPW guys have left and seem to be at a good position.

CMLL (SUN) 07/17/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Tapatío vs Quca
2) Sky Kid & Smaker vs Diplomático & Relámpago
3) Johnny Dinamo, León Blanco, Randy vs Carlo Roggi, Exterminador, Gran Kenut
4) Frezzer, Neutrón, Reyko vs El Chakal, Mr. Apolo, Sádico
5) Flash II, Magnum, Nautilius vs Maléfico, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno

Flash II is suddenly main eventing a lot of Sunday shows for a guy who hadn’t been booked much here lately.

Sky Kid & Smaker are back in the second. They were strongly pushed locals for a couple years (when Guadalajara was airing on 52MX), and seemed unready for the spot. They’ve been wrestling in indie arenas after leaving this arena in early 2015 after one of the management changes, but hadn’t been seen anywhere since February.

XMW (SUN) 07/31/2016 Salón Citlalli, Ecatepec, Estado de México
1) Dollar & Obscuro vs ? & Ancla
2) Fly Metalik, Fly Star, Fly Warrior, Wasson vs Albuquerque, Douki, Orión, Taylor Wolf
3) Centvrión & Látigo vs Cancerbero & Sangre Azteca
4) Metaleón & Mr. Leo vs Puma King & Tiger
5) Arez vs XL vs ? [XNL CHAMP]
surprise is from TNA
6) Chuey Martinez vs Wotan vs Demoledor © [XMW EXTREMO]

First XMW show in Mexico City since last October. XL hasn’t been in Mexico for a few years, but is returning against a surprise TNA wrestler (Extreme Tiger? DJZ? someone else?) Fourth match should be superb. Cancerbero & Sangre Azteca are weird inclusions. 2nd match is another Mexico vs the World match – Orion’s listed from US, Albuquerque and Taylor Wolf (who’s been around the last few weeks) are also from Chile.