CMLL have released the poster for next friday’s show already. Which will include the first round matches for the CMLL Universal Championship Tournament!

Who do you think will journey onto the 2nd round?

The match ups happening this Friday are :

Volador Jr(CMLL Trios & NWA World Historic Welterweight) vs Negro Casas(CMLL Tag Champion)

These two are like many of the champions, carried over from last year’s which happened in December. Last year Negro Casas was knocked out in the first round by the eventual winner Valiente, who took out Volador Jr as well in the finals.

This year based on how much Dragon Lee and Negro Casas have been clashing in the weeks leading up to this tournament… I’d be very surprised not to see them clash again in the next round. They might be doing a program after this tournament, but it would be a waste not to also fight here. It would only add fuel to an already raging fire.

Dragon Lee(CMLL World Lightweight Champion) vs Shocker(CMLL Tag Champion)

Like the last two both carry over from last years tournament still holding their titles. Both made it into the 2nd round last year.

Shocker being Negro Casas tag partner, I don’t think Shocker is going to win over Dragon Lee. It could happen, since Negro/Dragon Lee are feuding we could see Negro be the corner man for Shocker and cost Dragon his fight thus forwarding their feud.

However, I think Dragon Lee wins here. Continuing his feud with Negro Casas by fighting him in round 2, rather than being screwed by him in the first round.

Angel de Oro(CMLL World Middleweight Champion) vs Luciferno(Mexican National Trios Champion)

This one is a hard pick for me personally. Last year Luciferno was knocked out in the first round. I could see that happening here again and Angel de Oro could really use a win to prove him as champion. Since he was given this belt and has yet to defend it. Mephisto is the leader of Los Hijos del Infierno, has this trio’s belt and his own singles title. So he is certainly in the tournament and will likely be the one to go to round two if even he does(both Luciderno and Mephisto were 1st round eliminations in 2016).

El Valiente(CMLL Trios Champion) vs Hechicero(NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Champion)

Last years winner Valiente, vs someone who was champion last year for the tournament, but wasn’t included. I’m not sure if he was injured or what, because they included Luciferno who was a Mexican National Trios champions(secondary trios champions).

This one seems easy, the choice being Hechicero. I think Valiente is great, but he just won this tournament a few months ago. They could want him to not seem so weak as to get knocked out in round 1, but I think if he isn’t going to win or make it to the finals then he doesn’t really need the win here.

Edit : *FACEPALM* I didn’t realize that CMLL is likely going to have a seeding battle royal for who of these first 8 takes on whomever else of this block. So these 4 matches aren’t made. These 8 will compete in singles matches, just not for certain these singles matches.

Still, which 4 do you think will advance to the quarter finals?

Who do you think is going to move into round 2? Once the poster for the 7th show is released or CMLL shows the rest of the bracket I’ll put up a pick’ems page for that too.