Today is the start of CMLL’s Gran Alternativa, their longest running and currently most important rookies tournament. CMLL’s heavily promoted the tournament – or, more accurately, they’ve heavily promoted this block of the tournament and not said a word about the other half. It’s strange planning; Templario & Audaz are the two obvious stars of the current group, but we don’t know if they’re actually in this after they were skipped in the Torneo Nuevo Valores. If they weren’t in this tournament, for whatever reason, tonight’s bracket would seem more meaningful. Since they might, it feels like it’s a tournament just to figure out who loses to one of them in the final.
With that in mind, it opens up more possibilities to win this blocked. It’s a lot lower bar to be in the final than to win the thing. Hijo del Signo (w/Terrible), Espanto Jr. (w/Hechicero), and Robin (w/Angel de Oro) still seem like long shots, since people who’ve been around forever don’t usually do well in this. Maquialvelo (w/Ephesto) has the opposite problem, too new to really get this chance. Yago (w/Mephisto) really isn’t much different, but some rudo has to go far.
Magia Blanca (w/Atlantis), Flyer (w/Volador) and Mistico (w/Electrico) are the most lilkely block winners tonight. Blanca & Flyer just were in the finals of a tournament. Electrico is a national champion, though CMLL may have forgotten it. All three veterans would fit as opponents against a theoretical Templario/Ultimo Guerrero opposition team. Magia Blanca winning this block to follow up the last week’s tournament fits recent patterns.
Rush has a chance to finally pick up a singles win in Arena Mexico tonight against Ultimo Guerrero in a lightning match. It’ll definitely end with a foul, one way or another. NGD will appear in Arena Mexico for the first time after the death of mentor Universo 2000, taking on Valiente, Kraneo and Blue Panther. Amapola, La Seductora and Tiffany face Lady Maravilla, Marcela and Princesa Sugehit in the obligatory apuesta match. The show starts with a trios minis match: Fantasy, Shockercito, Ultimo Dragoncito vs Mercurio, Pequeno Violencia, and Pierroth. This only the second time Fantasy has appeared on a Friday show this year, and the last was during FantasticaMania.
CultIcon previews this show. It’ll air at 8:30pm on Marca and Facebook, and will be up later on YouTube.
Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo talked about the tournament. They both have a “now or never” attitude about it.
CMLL writes about Chicago Express winning the 1996 Gran Alternativa and Rey Bucanero winning the 1996 Gran Alternativa. That’s not a typo, that was CMLL running the same tournament twice in the same year.
CMLL has not yet announced a card for Tuesday, but has announced Soberano and Negro Casas will have a no time limit one fall match next week. They went to a time limit draw on April 13th. This is a rare moment of CMLL actually following up a lightning match at all.
In an interview with +LuchaTV, La Llave the la Gloria winner the Tiger said is he no longer with AAA. He says it just wasn’t his time. I think AAA probably wanted all the winners to move to Mexico City and it never seems like he did, so that might have something to do with it. He is based in Mexico City for the moment, so it’s not impossible he could end up back with AAA, but there’s a lot of finalists from that contest who don’t seem to be working much.
A Heroes of Lucha Libre video says they’re running LA Park versus Dr. Wagner Jr. on 06/02 in Los Angeles. That should do well and will be a lot of fun, but doesn’t seem like the kind of match that’ll sell out a building. Wagner will be working that main event and then heading to Monterrey the next day for the Verano de Escandalo main event.
+LuchaTV also has a new edition of Aqui esta la Lucha.
LuchaMemes posted a Mr. Iguana video to build up his team with Fresero Jr.
A new documentary on Casandro will premiere later this month as part of the Cannes film festival.
Lineups
IWRG (WED) 05/09/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Canival vs Puma de Oro
2) Dulce Luna, Lady Cat, Lady Pink vs Chica Pantera, Lili Dark, Star Fire
3) Arquero, Fly Tiger, Mexica vs Carnicero, Chicanito, Dinámico
4) Ángel Oriental, Dranzer, Toto vs Guerrero 2000, Leroy, Picudo Jr.
5) Atomic Star, Lunatic Xtreme, Shadow Boy vs Dragón Bane, El Divino, Hausser and Ángel Estrella Jr., Cremosito, Death Metal
FILL (Eterno/Atomic Star) vs Lucha Libre Boom (Fantasma de la Opera/Dragon bane) vs Gym Zeuz (Oficial 911/Death Metal)
The main event is listed as three way hair match, but it’s unclear if it’s the maestros or someone in the match putting up their hair.