CMLL & Luchas de Apuesta

#thingsthatwillnotdisprovethetheorythatCubsfan&Iarethesameperson

Here's a quickly put together post outlining the last 11 years of stip matches CMLL has run @ Arena Mexico/Coliseo. Have the amount of big matches gone down or has the amount stayed the same but just less big names are being involved?

(* = Major Match)

2000

3/5 (Arena Coliseo): Mascarita Magica vs Vaquerito - Hair vs Hair
3/17 (Arena Mexico): Atlantis vs Villano III - Mask vs Mask*
3/21 (Arena Coliseo): Tony Rivera vs Mr. Mexico - Hair vs Hair
4/14 (Arena Mexico): Perro Aguayo vs Bestia Salvaje - Hair vs Hair*
5/1 (Arena Coliseo: Brazo De Oro vs Valentin Mayo - Hair vs Hair
5/28 (Arena Coliseo: Tony Rivera/Fugaz vs Ricky Marvin/Super Cacao - Relevos Incriebles -> Hair vs Hair
5/30 (Arena Coliseo): Ricky Marvin vs El Fiero - Hair vs Hair
8/4 (Arena Mexico): Torneo Cibernetico De La Muerte (Masks)*
8/4 (Arena Mexico): Perro Aguayo vs Pierroth Jr. vs Mascara Ano 2000 vs Villano III - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
12/15 (Arena Mexico): Perro Aguayo vs Cien Caras - Hair vs Hair*

Mask Losses: 2
Hair Losses: 8
Major Matches: 5

2001

3/4 (Arena Coliseo): Mano Negra vs Mr. Mexico - Hair vs Hair
3/31 (Arena Mexico): Perro Aguayo vs Universo 2000 - Hair vs Mask*
4/15 (Arena Coliseo): Ringo Mendoza vs Emilio Charles Jr. - Hair vs Hair
5/27 (Arena Coliseo): Ricky Marvin vs Americo Rocca - Hair vs Hair
7/29 (Arena Mexico): Villano III vs El Signo - Hair vs Hair*
7/31 (Arena Coliseo): Alan Stone vs Damian El Guerrero - Hair vs Hair
9/16 (Arena Coliseo): Chris Stone vs Guerrero Del Futuro - Hair vs Hair
9/28 (Arena Mexico): Infernales vs Nuevos Infernales - Cage -> Hair vs Mask*
10/14 (Arena Coliseo): Ricky Marvin vs El Hijo Del Gladiador - Hair vs Hair
10/28 (Arena Coliseo): Alan Stone vs Guerrero Del Futuro - Hair vs Hair
11/23 (Arena Mexico): Apolo Dantes vs Emilio Charles Jr. - Hair vs Hair*
12/14 (Arena Mexico): Brazo De Plata vs Tarzan Boy - Hair vs Hair*
12/14 (Arena Mexico): Shocker vs Emilio Charles Jr. - Hair vs Hair*

Mask Losses: 1
Hair Losses: 12
Major Matches: 6

2002

3/17 (Arena Mexico): Gran Markus Jr. vs El Veneno - Hair vs Mask*
5/31 (Arena Mexico): Shocker & Mascara Magica vs Mazada & Takemura - Hairs vs Hairs*
6/16 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask*
7/14 (Arena Mexico): Mr. Mexico & Poder Mexica vs El Veneno & Violencia - Hairs vs Hairs*
8/11 (Arena Coliseo): Brazo De Platino vs Rey Bucanero - Hair vs Hair
9/13 (Arena Mexico): Negro Casas vs Tarzan Boy - Hair vs Hair*
9/16 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask*
9/27 (Arena Mexico): Mascara Ano 2000 vs Pierroth Jr. - Hair vs Hair*
10/25 (Arena Mexico): Satanico vs Damian 666 - Hair vs Hair*
11/20 (Arena Mexico): Gran Markus Jr. vs El Veneno - Hair vs Hair*
12/13 (Arena Mexico): Vampiro vs Rey Bucanero - Hair vs Hair*

Mask Losses: 3
Hair Losses: 8
Major Matches: 10

2003

2/14 (Arena Mexico): Ricky Marvin vs Zumbido - Hair vs Hair*
2/18 (Arena Coliseo): Apolo Dantes vs Pierroth Jr. - Hair vs Hair*
3/21 (Arena Mexico): Gran Markus Jr. vs Pierroth Jr. - Hair vs Hair*
4/4 (Arena Mexico): Vampiro vs Shocker - Hair vs Hair*
4/30 (Arena Mexico): Pequeno Olimpico vs Pequeno Violencia - Mask vs Mask*
5/16 (Arena Mexico): Negro Casas & Satanico vs Mazada & Nozawa - Hairs vs Hairs*
6/15 (Arena Coliseo): Mr. Mexico vs Takemura - Hair vs Hair
8/1 (Arena Mexico): Guapos vs Talibanes - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
9/19 (Arena Mexico): Violencia vs Pierroth Jr. - Mask vs Hair*
9/19 (Arena Mexico): Shocker vs Tarzan Boy - Hair vs Hair*
11/30 (Arena Coliseo): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
12/5 (Arena Mexico): Angel Azteca vs Arkangel - Mask vs Mask*
12/5 (Arena Mexico): Universo 2000 vs Pierroth Jr. - Mask vs Hair*

Mask Losses: 3
Hair Losses: 10
Major Matches: 12

2004

3/19 (Arena Mexico): Perro Aguayo Jr. & Damian El Terrible vs Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 - Hairs vs Hairs*
4/30 (Arena Mexico): Zumbido vs Super Crazy - Hair vs Hair*
4/30 (Arena Mexico): Mascara Magica vs Damian El Terrible - Hair vs Hair*
6/18 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
6/20 (Arena Coliseo): Tony Rivera vs El Veneno - Hair vs Hair
9/17 (Arena Mexico): Rayo De Jalisco Jr. vs Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Canek vs Universo 2000 - Mask vs Mask vs Mask vs Mask*
11/19 (Arena Mexico): Alan Stone & Zumbido vs Loco Max & Mr. Mexico - Hairs vs Hairs
12/5 (Arena Coliseo): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
12/17 (Arena Mexico): Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 vs Pierroth Jr. & Vampiro - Hairs vs Hairs*

Mask Losses: 1
Hair Losses: 8
Major Matches: 7

2005

3/18 (Arena Mexico): Perro Aguayo & Perro Aguayo Jr. vs Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 - Hairs vs Hairs*
6/17 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
8/19 (Arena Mexico): Pierroth Jr. vs Hector Garza - Hair vs Hair*
9/16 (Arena Mexico): Perro Aguayo Jr. vs Hector Garza vs Universo 2000 - Hair vs Hair vs Hair*
12/2 (Arena Mexico): Universo 2000 vs Halloween - Hair vs Hair*

Mask Losses: 0
Hair Losses: 5
Major Matches: 5

2006

3/17 (Arena Mexico): Universo 2000 vs Perro Aguayo Jr. - Hair vs Hair*
4/2 (Arena Coliseo): Stuka Jr. vs La Flecha - Mask vs Mask
4/14 (Arena Mexico): Dark Angel vs La Amapola - Hair vs Mask*
4/28 (Arena Mexico): Rey Bucanero & Tarzan Boy vs Damian 666 & Mr. Aguila - Hairs vs Hairs*
6/4 (Arena Coliseo): Maximo vs Loco Max - Hair vs Hair
6/18 (Arena Coliseo): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
7/14 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask*
8/13 (Arena Coliseo): India Sioux vs La Medusa - Mask vs Mask
9/29 (Arena Mexico): Mistico vs Black Warrior - Mask vs Mask*
10/13 (Arena Mexico): Lady Apache vs Hiroka - Hair vs Hair*
10/29 (Arena Coliseo): Maximo vs Emilio Charles Jr. - Hair vs Hair
12/15 (Arena Mexico): Shocker & Universo 2000 vs Kenzo Suzuki & Marco Corleone - Hairs vs Hairs*

Mask Losses: 4
Hair Losses: 8
Major Matches: 8

2007

3/18 (Arena Coliseo): Leono vs Mogur - Hair vs Hair
3/30 (Arena Mexico): Marco Corleone vs Universo 2000 - Hair vs Hair*
4/15 (Arena Coliseo): Stuka Jr. vs Jeque - Mask vs Mask
6/17 (Arena Mexico): Diana La Cazadora vs La Amapola - Hair vs Hair
7/17 (Arena Coliseo): Bam Bam vs Pequeno Damian 666 vs Pequeno Halloween - Hair vs Hair vs Hair
7/24 (Arena Coliseo): Bam Bam vs Pequeno Damian 666 - Hair vs Hair
8/5 (Arena Coliseo): Tony Rivera vs Virus - Hair vs Hair
9/16 (Arena Mexico): Mascara Purpura vs Emilio Charles Jr. - Mask vs Hair*
9/28 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask*
10/16 (Arena Coliseo): Bam Bam vs Pequeno Violencia - Hair vs Hair
12/2 (Arena Mexico): Leono vs Mr. Mexico - Hair vs Hair
12/7 (Arena Mexico): Shocker & Lizmark Jr. vs Black Warrior & Rey Bucanero - Hairs vs Hairs*

Mask Losses: 2
Hair Losses: 10
Major Matches: 4

2008

3/21 (Arena Mexico): Hector Garza vs Perro Aguayo Jr. - Hair vs Hair*
5/23 (Arena Mexico): Tarzan Boy vs Perro Aguayo Jr. vs Heavy Metal - Hair vs Hair vs Hair*
6/13 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
8/17 (Arena Coliseo): Bam Bam vs Pequeno Damian 666 - Hair vs Hair
8/29 (Arena Mexico): Lady Apache & La Amapola vs Marcela & Princesa Sujei - Relevos Suicidas -> Hair vs Hair*
8/29 (Arena Mexico): Mictlan vs Dragon Rojo Jr. - Mask vs Mask*
9/19 (Arena Mexico): Blue Panther vs Villano V - Mask vs Mask*
10/5 (Arena Coliseo): Tony Rivera vs Loco Max - Hair vs Hair
10/7 (Arena Mexico): Goddess vs Princesa Sujei - Mask vs Mask
10/17 (Arena Mexico): Marco Corleone vs Lizmark Jr. - Hair vs Hair*
12/2 (Arena Mexico): Mictlan vs Loco Max - Hair vs Hair

Mask Losses: 3
Hair Losses: 8
Major Matches: 7

2009

1/11 (Arena Mexico): Mini's Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask*
3/20 (Arena Mexico): Villano V vs Ultimo Guerrero - Mask vs Mask*
3/31 (Arena Mexico): Shockercito vs Fire - Hair vs Hair
4/12 (Arena Mexico): Marcela vs Rosa Negra - Hair vs Mask
6/2 (Arena Mexico): Shockercito vs Pequeno Damian 666 - Hair vs Hair
7/31 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*
9/18 (Arena Mexico): Mistico vs Negro Casas - Mask vs Hair*
10/16 (Arena Mexico): Black Warrior vs Yujiro - Hair vs Hair*
10/18 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask
11/15 (Arena Coliseo): Maximo vs Okumura - Hair vs Hair
12/4 (Arena Mexico): Texano Jr. & Terrible vs Naito & Yujiro - Hairs vs Hairs*

Mask Losses: 4
Hair Losses: 7
Major Matches: 6

2010

3/19 (Arena Mexico): Mistico vs Felino vs La Sombra vs Volador Jr. - Mask vs Mask vs Mask vs Mask*
4/30 (Arena Mexico): Bracito De Oro vs Pequeno Warrior - Mask vs Mask
6/6 (Arena Mexico): Maximo vs Taichi - Hair vs Hair*
7/6 (Arena Mexico): Bam Bam vs Demus 3:16 - Hair vs Hair
7/18 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask*
8/15 (Arena Mexico): Rush vs Loco Max - Hair vs Hair
9/3 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Mask vs Mask*
10/15 (Arena Mexico): Negro Casas vs Charly Manson - Hair vs Hair*
10/17 (Arena Mexico): Luna Magica vs Princesa Blanca - Hair vs Hair
12/3 (Arena Mexico): Electrico vs Pequeno Warrior - Mask vs Mask
12/3 (Arena Mexico): Rey Bucanero vs Mr. Aguila - Hair vs Hair*

Mask Losses: 5
Hair Losses: 6
Major Matches: 6

2011 (so far)

3/11 (Arena Mexico): Virus vs Demus 3:16 - Hair vs Hair
3/18 (Arena Mexico): Maximo & Brazo De Plata vs Texano Jr. & Terrible - Hairs vs Hairs*
6/17 (Arena Mexico): La Mascara vs El Averno - Mask vs Mask*
8/21 (Arena Mexico): Bam Bam vs Pierrothito - Hair vs Mask
9/30 (Arena Mexico): Infierno en el Ring - Cage -> Hair vs Hair*

Mask Losses: 1
Hair Losses: 3, soon to be 4
Major Matches: 2, soon to be 3

What do we learn from all this?

- January & February mean nothing to CMLL. It's all about building to what will happen in March or doing nothing to make whatever they do in March seem important since nothing has happened in the year up until that point.

- Stipulation matches used to build. Gran Markus would beat a Boricua, then another Boricua and then get beat by Pierroth to set up Pierroth losing at the year-end show. Another example would be Tarzan Boy beating Negro Casas, Shocker beating two Japanese guys and both having big wins heading into their hair match to make it feel important. This shows long-term planning and the company having a direction in mind even more than a year in advance a times. Starting in 2007 this appears to be completely thrown out the window in favor of random matches thrown together just to do a match. The only notable exception would be Panther vs Villano V leading to Ultimo Guerrero vs Villano V a 6 months later.

- Major shows from CMLL often used to mean a major match and a lesser major match. In recent times the focus has clearly been on just one major match.

- This one even surprised me: When business is hot... CMLL does as few apuestas matches as possible. I assume the theory is if people are coming to our shows that don't include any major matches why should we pay someone for their hair or mask if it will draw the same # of fans? Makes sense from a business standpoint. On the other hand when business was at it's worst from mid-2002 until late 2004 CMLL would constantly throw out major matches hoping to draw bigger crowds. Business is just as bad (if not worse) these days but CMLL has not yet gone back to this formula. Makes you ask yourself: Why?

- CMLL has always relied on their Infierno en el Ring cage matches but in the earlier part of the decade they used to include only big names and the match wouldn't be overdone. These days CMLL cage matches include tons of random mid-carders (Histeria, Olimpico, Psicosis, Polvora, etc.) and the mini's + mid-carders get their own cage match every year which makes it less special when the main eventers are put in the same type of match.

- CMLL used to do way more hair matches than they do these days. The reason for this is quite simple: There are very few unmasked guys working in CMLL and even moreso... there are very few unmasked guys in CMLL who can grow hair back quickly allowing them to be in hair matches constantly. This explains why Loco Max drops his hair so often. He's the only expendable wrestler they've got for that role.

- Unless you want to bury your head in the sand you have to agree the quality of the Anniversary main event has plummeted in the last two years. Both cage matches were put together only a few weeks before the show, included mid-carders and last year's loser was a wrestler who had only been back in CMLL for a short time and who's mask meant almost nothing. Unless CMLL throws out a surprise and has Blue Panther, Negro Casas, Hector Garza or Terrible lose - this year will fit the same requirements as last year.

- The main thing I take from all this is how the philosophy of CMLL has clearly changed throughout the years. The goal over the past couple of years seems to be: How To Get The Most From Doing The Least. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But long gone are the days of CMLL running three major matches within a 10 week span like in fall of 2003. The idea over the past couple of years clearly seems to be one major match per half year with another somewhat but clearly not as important major match tossed in if the promotion feels it's neccessary. It definitely works to make the big matches really seem important (Mascara vs Averno, Ultimo vs Villano, Panther vs Villano, Garza vs Perro). However on the flip side it means when the promotion puts together a last minute cage match nobody is interested in (9/3/10, 6/13/08, 7/31/09, etc.) or a hair match with an obvious result (3/18/11, 12/3/10, 12/4/09, etc.) it leaves their fans very disappointed because they know they only have a couple of chances to see CMLL do something major during the year and they will have to wait months just to HOPE CMLL puts together something more interesting next time. As a CMLL fan you can never be sure you are going to get the best match possible which is why so many CMLL fans are always frustrated with the product. Too many times they are teased with the promise of a nice steak dinner (Mistico vs Perro Jr. & Atlantis vs Ultimo Guerrero) only to be served with last night's leftovers instead (cage match ending with Panther vs Lizmark Jr. & a cage match with only 75% unimportant hairs on the line).