Máximo takes Máscara Año 2000’s hair, Pirata Morgan Jr. unmasked, Fenix bests Volador & Flamita

a gif of a man getting a hair cut

CMLL (SUN) 01/01/2017 Arena México [CMLL, Pro Wrestling Super Blog, thecubsfan]
1) Demus 3:16, Mercurio, Pierrothito b Acero, Astral, Último Dragóncito
14:22. Rudos took 1/3. Acero replaced Stukita (probably back in Laguna)
2) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr. b Bobby Z, Pólvora, Ripper
15:52. Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Stuka Jr. b Felino, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero
7:38. Tecnicos took 2/3. Rey Bucanero replaced Mr. Niebla on Tuesday.
4) Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. b Ephesto, Hechicero, Mephisto
10:42. Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Máximo b Máscara Año 2000 [hair]
11:04. Maximo took 2/3.

This show was a bit like Friday’s show, with a lot of playing to the crowd and positive finishes, but not the same level of quality. There’s nothing you need to go see from this match, especially including the main event. The turnout seemed better than last Sunday, maybe approaching a usual Friday, but not so much that they ever dared give us long shots of the seats. New Year’s Day seems like it was a good drawing day all around: AAA shows in Arena Neza and Arena Lopez Mateos sold out and CaraLucha looks it did well.

Mascara 2000’s return ends up a lot like Super Parka’s return a year ago: a veteran name from multiple generations in the past back around to lose an apuesta match to a regular CMLL luchador. Super Parka lost to Negro Casas to set up him up for the Volador match at H2L. I can’t imagine CMLL will do a Maximo hair match loss at H2L two straight years (or twice in a year’s time, which they almost did here), but Maximo defending his title against various Sanson & Cuatrero would be entertaining uses of time. Seems unlikely.

Mascara kicking out the finish seems totally unprofessional to me, but it’s consistent with how he’s acted thru the whole way of this feud and it’ll likely be unremarked on beyond the English language lucha fans. That sort of thing just doesn’t seem to get traction elsewhere. There’s no indication Mascara is actually done now, just I have no idea what else you’d do with him. Not sure what you could do with him anyway.

Cara Lucha (SUN) 01/01/2017 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México [+LuchaTV]
1) Samael, Torito Negro, Yin Sang b Arceus, Atomic Fly, Príncipe Aéreo
Torito Negro’s debut. Samael replaced Imperio Negro
2) Flama Roja, Toro Negro III, Toro Negro Jr. b Alas de Acero, Alas De Plata, Pegazus
3) Látigo & Trauma I b Corsario Negro & Gallego [Juventud y Gloria, quarterfinal]
Latigo & Trauma moved onto the final.
4) Demus 3:16 & Yoruba b Sky Man & Solar I [Juventud y Gloria, quarterfinal]
former rivals Demus & Yoruba won, but still aren’t friends. Skyman replaced Bandido (in Torreon instead).
5) Templario & Último Guerrero b Látigo & Trauma I [Juventud y Gloria, semifinal]
Guerrero & Templario advance to the final. Templario was eliminated, but of course UG beat both Latigo and Trauma I by himself.
6) Fénix El Rey b Volador Jr., Flamita
money thrown in.

There’s already some (low quality) fan cams of the main event, though that one is missing the fininsh. I’m sure more are coming.

Templario & Ultimo Guerrero advance to the final, where for sure Demus & Yoruba aren’t beating them. We don’t know the last quarter final, which is probably going to need an Atlantis or a Caristico to pull that off.

IWRG (SUN) 01/01/2017 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV]
1) Black Dragón & Cadillac b Adrenalina & Keshin Black
Cadillac replaced Fireman. Keshin Black replaced Skanda.
2) Araña de Plata & Demonio Infernal b Alfa & Omega
Alfa’s first match in IWRG since 2015 (though his sometimes alternate personality Barba Roja Jr. showed up on a recent FILL show.)
3) Dr. Cerebro, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro b Danny Casas, Dragón Fly, Veneno
Rudos took 2/3. Dr. Cerbero replaced Killer Jr. (moved up.) Danny Casas & Veneno had problems leading them fighting each other after the match.
4) Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Mr. Electro, Tinieblas Jr. b Killer Jr., Negro Navarro, Pirata Morgan
No Hijo de Dos Caras again, with Killer Jr. replacing him. Despite being on the losing side, Pirata challenged Electroshock to a title match, which was accepted. First Tinieblas match in IWRG since 2013.
5) Pirata Morgan Jr. L Imposible, Relámpago, Golden Magic [cage, mask, prison fatal]
Imposible beats Pirata Morgan Jr., who was unmasked. Pirata Morgan Jr. was announced as Pedro Ortiz Soto, 35 years old, 15 years f a wrestler, from Mexico City.

Pirata losing was obvious as soon as they announced the match – he probably only got a few extra days with it because Killer Jr. showed back up to lose his mask first – but Imposible getting the win was a bit of a surprise. Pirata was feuding with Golden Magic, so they did a cross feud win. IWRG fans probably would’ve still booed Golden Magic.

Joe Lider lost his hair to Pagano in Neza. It was either going to be Lider or Hijo del Pirata, so the Morgans barely escaped losing two apuesta matches in a matter of hours. Joe Lider is in an apuesta match on the 17th, so I’m not sure how that’s going to work.

AAA posted the second of the holiday special today. That one has Lucha World Cup and TripleMania, so they’re on track to finish up next week.

Ohtani’s Jacket returns to write about Black Terry vs Aeroboy.

Lineup

CMLL (SAT) 01/07/2017 Arena Coliseo
1) Bengala & Leono vs Akuma & Artillero
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Stukita vs Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
3) Estrellita, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely vs Amapola, La Comandante, Zeuxis
4) Drone, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Bobby Z, Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja
5) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Mistico vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto

They’re back running these shows. Everyone but Caristico & Luciferno is headed to Japan next week and I don’t think we’re lucky enough to get that match. Black Terry & Negro Navarro being on Sabado Retro shows when they restarted was not meant to be taken literally – though maybe they’ll be around the following week when all those people are gone.

CMLL (SUN) 01/08/2017 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Violencia
2) Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, The Panther vs Nitro, Okumura, Virus
3) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Stuka Jr. vs Felino, Pólvora, Rey Bucanero
4) Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy, Titán vs La Máscara, Pierroth, Shocker
5) Atlantis, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero

Same deal with this main event, though they might do Valiente/Gran Guerrero. CMLL is crazy like that. Not crazy enough to do any more cards like the Friday show. I’m fine with this not being on YouTube this week.

CMLL (SUN) 01/08/2017 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Micro vs Destructor
2) Black Sugar & Fugaz vs Gitano & Relámpago
3) El Yaqui & Reycko vs Évola & Thunder Boy
4) El Divino, Explosivo, Javier Cruz Jr. vs Espectrúm, Infierno, Rey Trueno
5) Frezzer, Furia Roja, Omar Brunetti vs Joker, Sádico, Vaquero Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

Main event doesn’t seem to be set up by anything in particular.