So, unless you're a tool like me, you've been hearing about CMLL's 69th Anniversary Show, El Juicio Final coming up this weekend.  Seems to be a pretty solid show, headlined by Negro Casas vs. Tarzan Boy in a hair vs. hair match.  Seeing as how I've been missing the recent shows, I thought I check with some of the other members of the online lucha community to get their opinions.

I was able to catch up with rudo extraordinaire Black Metal at a recent SPW show in Sacramento.  Black Metal has wrestled in IWRG and CMLL (often seen hamming it up with Dr. Wagner Jr), and is reportedly good friends with regular Highspots poster, JakeInDF.  He was quick to downplay Casas' reputation for having himself booked favorably.  "I don't see them letting Tarzan lose his hair," he added.
Fellow Highspots poster, and one of the key contributors to the energetic LuchaLibre4Life, Carmelo Cisneros, has been watching the shows, and was glad to lend his two cents to this discussion.  Carmelo is of the opinion that Negro Casas' backstage attitude may be a determining factor in the outcome of the match, "I think when Felino won the (Leyenda de Plata) tourney, Casas demanded a push, and he got it."  With that said, he also hopes that the CMLL booking staff makes the right decision, " My prediction is Tarzan Boy will win, but if Casas sneaks into Paco (Alonso, CMLL Head Booker's) ears, I'd say that Tarzan will be bald."

My pick, just for the sake of bad fashion choices, would be Tarzan Boy.  On any given show, Negro Casas will trot to the ring wearing wrestling trunks that are two sizes too small, and god-awfulest short white wrestling boots.  And to top it off, he has the nerve to still sport Gheri Curls!  Ugh.

 

The shows' semi-main will see my man Ultimo Guerrero and Rey Bucanero defend their tag team championship against the combined forces of Shocker and Vampiro.  I figured I'd get the inside scoop on this one, and pestered Vamp's homey, Bob Barnett about his thoughts on the match.  The always outspoken Barnett checked with Vampiro directly, and said that even he doesn't know the outcome yet.  He adds, "...those guys don't seem to care about the results."

I checked with my good buddy, The RoseCity Rudo, about his thoughts on the match.  The rudo actually runs a Lucha Breakfast at the bar he works in, but admits that between the nachos, waffles, and many, many 22s of Pabst Blue Ribbon, he and the bars' patrons are more likely to notice the ridiculousness of Rayo De Jalisco tricking rudos with those stupid little spins than the booking psychology.  He'd like to add that Dr. Wagner Jr is, "...sooo bad he makes medicine sick!!!"

Me?  I think that the Guerreros del Infierno are a lock, as Shocker seems to be too involved in his Third Guapo angle to begin a run as a tag champion.  Regardless, this one is sure to be one of the best matches of the night.

 

The rest of the show is rounded out by a meaningless brawl between Pierroth Jr. and Mascara Año 2000, Wagner Jr being wasted in a trios match that will appeal to the mainstream Mexican audience, and a recently turned Virus (fear the mullet) teaming with Volador Jr and Hombre Sin Nombre against Los Infernales.

A few years ago, lucha libre's popularity surged when some of Mexico's finest began appearing on WCW programming.  With Rey Mysterio Jr's recent impact on the WWE, it wouldn't be surprising if for a similar surge to occur with today's wrestling fans.  To help add to the cause, Kids WB (The WB channel's Saturday morning cartoon showcase) recently debuted their lucha-themed toon, Mucha Lucha!  Created by Eddie Mort and Lili Chin, who also blessed us with their Rudo By Night animated web series, the show follows the hardships of three grade school enmascarados.  Rikochet, Buena Girl, and the devious Flea are still paying their dues in lucha school, tackling subjects like signature moves, has been lucha instructors, and the temptation to turn rudo.

The shows' stylish animation plays somewhere between Ren & Stimpy and the PowerPuff Girls, and does a good job of explaining the dynamics of lucha and professional wrestling in general.  While maintaining a level of silliness that appeals to the youngsters, Mucha Lucha also rewards hardcore lucha fans with many visual references to real world of Mexican wrestling.  In short, watch the show.  Recommend it to cartoon enthusiasts of all ages, as there is finally a reason to wake up before noon on Saturdays. 

As a token of my appreciation towards the shows creators, this week, and this week only, there will be TWO featured sites of the week (or month, the way things have been going).  You can also download the show's catchy lucha-inspired theme song in the Music section.  And with that...Viva La Lucha Libre!