Mistico/Cavernario headlines CMLL show tonight

Mistico is frequently treated as one of the most important tecnicos in CMLL. They make a point of having him enter after Volador and Caristico in matches. Mistico always is in a big spot at FantasticaMania and rarely loses singles matches. He just rarely has singles matches to lose. Tonight’s Arena Mexico singles match is his first three fall one since 2017. (He only had a lightning match in 2018.) It makes for a weird dichotomy where Mistico is treated like a tope guy in CMLL but rarely has those big match moments. Part of that might be due to the crowd reaction. The more vocal parts of CMLL’s fanbase have never warmed to the second Mistico, booing him loudly on every big show no matter how big or small his role. I wonder if another part of it is CMLL just not having the faith in Mistico to deliver in a big match after his motorcycle accident of 2014; he’s never been pushed the same way since coming back. This match seems like it more fell in place than anything – maybe it was Taven/Volador, and maybe it still would’ve been Volador/Cavernario given CMLL’s love of Volador’s match. Mistico got the chance he doesn’t usually get, and maybe he can do well enough to get more chances.

Mistico’s beaten Barbaro Cavernario in the two previous matches they’ve had, including one in Puebla in back in 2016. He probably will again tonight, though how they get there will be the interesting part. In another year where there’s still no obvious Anniversario match late into May, Mistico vs Cavernario for September is as reasonable as a dozen other options. Cavernario’s been asked about this week and said he’d be willing to do it, and Cavernario’s last year of wins would give some doubt to the finish. A surprise Cavernario win tonight would point in that direction as well.

The two big Juicio Final matches have some build up tonight. Ultimo Guerrero and Mascara 2000 meet in the semi-final. Guerrero teams Negro Casas & Felino while Mascara teams with his nephews Cuatrero and Forastero. Kaho and Amapola wrestle in the third match of the card, with Estrellita (first Friday night match this year), Princesa Sugehit, Dalys and Metalica involved.

The lesser two Juicio Final matches are also referenced. Gran Guerrero & Euforia challenge for the tag titles on that show next week. This week, they get one half of the tag champions, Valiente, in the fourth match. (Diamante Azul may have been planned to be in that match; he was said to be injured when he missed the Kaoz show Sunday in Monterrey; Azul hasn’t wrestled in CMLL itself in a month.) Valiente teams with Soberano & Stuka against Gran Guerrero, Euforia and Templario in the best looking undercard. One week before he puts his career on the line, Virus teams with Misterioso & Kawato against Blue Panther Jr., Fuego, and Black Panther. The one match with nothing going on is the opener, Magnus & Robin against Raziel & Cancerbero, though perhaps it’ll continue Magnus’ new Twitter character of complaining about crazy things indie wrestlers do somehow.

The show will stream on Marca & Facebook (no link yet.) It’ll probably stream on YouTube as well, though not in the US. I’ll likely stream it.

Lucha Central has a preview of the show.

Hype for Metalico & Virus doesn’t have anything new but does allow me to correct something from yesterday. The “hair” part of that stipulation match seems to have been dropped sometime between Sunday and Wednesday. It is now only a retirement match.

Blue Panther received a recognition of sports merit from the sports committee of Mexico City.

On this week’s Keepin’ It 100, Disco Inferno quizzed Konnan on the top AAA storyline.s Here is what Konnan came up with

  • Blue Demon vs Dr. Wagner Jr.
  • Lucha Brothers vs the Young Bucks
  • Jinete del Aire & La Parka vs Los Mercenarios
    • Konnan explains they’ve been feuding for three months following Los Mercenarios attacking La Parka’s brother and this will culminate at Verano de Escandalo
  • Nino Hamburguesa & Lady Maravilla & Big Mami
  • Faby Apache vs Hijo del Tirantes

Konnan also is high on the Killer Kross/Puma King feud and explained the in-ring segment from this past week was to set up Kross as his hired gun going against Pentagon when he returns in June. Kross vs Pentagon is a match Kross has talked about wanting for a long time. Konnan seemed to indicate Pentagon would be around more at that point. (Verano de Escandalo looks like the last AAA taping in June right now, so maybe Konnan meant July? Though, at this point, I’ll believe the Lucha Brothers will be in AAA for a non-AEW match when I see it.)

RIOT announced the format for the tournament on their 08/23-24 Reina en el Cerro de la Silla shows. It’ll be a 12 person tournament, with six first-round matches on Friday night, then semi-finals and finals on night two. The winner will become the first RIOT champion. Night two will also have non-tournament matches which won’t be determined until after the first round.

Pro Wrestling Revolution seems to indicate the mystery people on the CMLL Sunday Guadalajara show are their wrestlers. Perhaps under different names than usual?

LuchaWorld has the new Lucha Report.

Lineup

CMLL (TUE) 05/28/2019 Arena México
1) Bengala & Sonic vs Inquisidor & Yago
2) Águila Blanca, Magia Blanca, Oro Jr. vs Akuma, Dick Riviere, Nitro
3) Drone, Fuego, Star Jr. vs Sagrado, Tiger, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Audaz, Blue Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Hechicero, Pólvora, Vangellys
5) Atlantis, Flyer, Kráneo vs Felino, La Bestia Del Ring, Templario
6) Rush vs Ángel de Oro

That main event is first time ever. Templario working semi-mains is good for him but I’d rather see him and Vangellys swapped to increase a chance for a good match. Star Jr. & Sagrado follow up from their lightning match in a trios match. Dick Riviere and Aguila Blanca are the French wrestlers in for the weekend.