The Máscara contra Cabellera match between Místico and Averno, held at the 93rd Anniversary show of CMLL, sparked an unusual reaction at Arena México. Far from supporting the most popular técnico of the company, a significant portion of the audience sided with Averno and greeted Místico with boos, a situation that reportedly surprised the company's management.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio, the explanation behind this reaction had less to do with a real rejection of Místico and more to do with the profile of the audience present at one of CMLL's major calendar dates. Unlike a regular Friday show, where there is usually a significant presence of tourists and casual fans, the Anniversary show gathers followers who buy their tickets months in advance and closely follow the company's news.
This more knowledgeable and traditional base of Mexican wrestling fans traditionally tends to support the rudos and go against the técnicos. However, in this case, there was also a decisive factor: many spectators already seemed to have a clear idea of the outcome of the hair vs. mask match. When Místico and Averno won the four corners elimination match and the Mask vs. Hair match was confirmed, the feeling inside the arena was that Averno was destined to lose his hair.
With that outcome in mind, attendees reportedly chose to cheer for the rudo during the main event. More than a show of support for Averno over Místico, the reaction could have been a way to back the wrestler that the audience believed was doomed before the bell rang. In lucha libre, and especially in important CMLL shows, it is not uncommon for a knowledgeable fan base to play with established roles when they believe they know the outcome in advance.
The source indicates that CMLL's management did not expect this response. Therefore, the atmosphere broke the usual dynamic sought in a técnico vs. rudo rivalry: Místico came in as the main figure to defend his mask, but Averno ended up receiving a good portion of the emotional support from the audience due to the perception that he would be the one leaving Arena México without his hair.
This episode once again demonstrates a particularity of big nights in Mexican wrestling. In events like the Anniversary or Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, the audience does not always react according to the roles set by the storyline. When the most loyal fans believe they have figured out the ending, they may decide to support the announced loser and completely transform the atmosphere of the main event.
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