12/15 CMLL PPV

CMLL (FRI) 12/15 Arena Mexico

1) Flash, Super Nova vs Artillero, Super Comando

2) Dark Angel, Marcela, Sahori vs Amapola, Hiroka, Princesa Sujei

3) Dos Caras Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., Rey Bucanero vs Eclipse, LA Park, Olimpico

4) Mistico, Ultimo Dragon, Volador Jr. vs Averno, Efesto, Mephisto

5) Atlantis, Tarzan Boy, Ultimo Guerrero vs Damian 666, Halloween, Hector Garza [CMLL TRIOS]

6) Shocker, Universo 2000 vs Kenzo Suzuki, Marco Corleone [hair]

What I need are big belt and hair graphics, I think.

So this is your PPV lineup. With just as obvious main event outcome – Mexicans always beat the foreigners – and almost the same semi event, this show lacks a bit of drama. Quick thoughts

1: This is Flash’s debut in Arena Mexico (at least under that name), and they’ve made a point of bringing it up. It’d have a chance at being a show stealer, but I can’t imagine it getting much time. (Pick: tecnicos)

2: The women should get a little more time than last time thru, but I don’t expect much more to come of it. If they’re actually going to go with Dark Angel vs Hiroka (which, the more think about it, even as over Dark Angel is, that’s still a foreigner vs foreigner feud and might be a tough sell – I’m just trying to think of reasons why they haven’t) in ’07, they may want to hint that way already. No Lady Apache, so this has a total disconnect from the Sunday title match. (Pick: tecnicas)

3: It’s the Get A Whole Bunch Of Names On The Card match. Yay for paydays. Technically, it’s people versus their theortical arch rivals: Wagner/Park works, Rey/Olimpico and Eclipse/Dos only do so in theory (Pick: rudos, I guess.)

4: I love Averno & Mephisto. I dislike HSN Safari, so of course he’s Efesto and partners with Averno & Mephisto. Life is unfair. Hopefully he listens to his not-brother Ultimo and brings it to a new level. I think this match will go the longest of the night (though with 6 matches, I’m betting none go over 16 minutes), because it seems like one that – without Dragon – will be repeated in spot shows for a while next year. Efesto’s gotta get the win in his first night as a new man.

5: You know, if it was Mr. Aguila instead of Garza, it’d be a step down in star power but a lot more believable a win and would make me like the idea of a title change that much more – it’d be neat to have trios champions who actually have trios matches outside of the rare title program. It seems as though the Perros are due a win back already – the Guerreros have pretty much rolled over them the whole year – so I’m expecting title change. It’s not a big deal, because these belts still have no momentum. How they work the match is more interesting than the finish – they’ve been trying to do the Guerreros as the Home Team Tecnicos in this encounters, and the fans are more on the Perros side. Maybe they’ll catch up?

6: My guess Universo/Corelone will be downplayed, and I don’t think we’re going to see much publicly between them. I’m guessing both of them will be eliminated going into the finish, Marco will sneak back in to low blow Shocker, and Universo will sneak back in to Black Hammer Kenzo and put Shocker on top for the win.

There’s another viewpoint here; Chui briefly mentioned it in the comments, and he expands on the “Shocker is MIA” story over on DVDVR. If this is all true, I hope Shocker can get his life together.

This will not be a MOTYC.

I will not be around this evening, so no live PPV updates. I recommend checking the Box Y Lucha forum or other message boards, because someone will surely be posting their own notes. Feel free to discuss the show here in the comments.

I’ll post the results probably late tonight, but there won’t be any GdR lineups until late Saturday.