luchablog

CMLL (MON) 05/14/2012 Arena Puebla [Porra Fresa]
1) Akron & Siki Osama b Black Tiger & Dinámiko
Rudos took 1/3.
2) Artillero, Disturbio, Súper Comando b Molotov, Robin, Super Halcon Jr.
Rudos took 2/3. Said to be a bad match.
3) Espiritu Maligno, Karisma, Lestat DQ Dragon Lee, Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso
The DF tecnicos told Lestat that he should be on their side, but he was conflicted. Rudo Poblanos did not get along with him, and attacked him by the end of the first fall, getting themselves DQed. Puebla guys got it together in the second fall to tie it up. Lestat had Dragon Lee beat in the third, but Super Comando ran in for the DQ. Stigma rushed in for the save. Karissma and Espiritu were going to stay out of it, but then Bala and Lee helped Comando, they pitched it for the Puebla team. Super Comando got the microphone to declare the DF guys were the best. Stigma disagreed, and challenged the non-present Skandalo with the rest of the DF team. Pegasso notably did not get involved in the fight on either side…
4) Ephesto, Euforia, Mephisto b Ángel de Oro, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr.
Rudos took 1/3.
5) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Shocker DQ Kráneo, Psicosis, Volador Jr.
Volador attacked Atlantis early, but the tecnicso still got it together took take fall one. They also took fall three, when Volador broke up an Atlantis pin on Psicosis and fouled him for a DQ. Atlantis demanded a singles match next week with no Tirantes.

The joy of CMLL is sometimes you get storylines about which side the 19th most important tecnico is on.

(photo by Black Terry Jr.)

CMLL (TUE) 05/15/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, RB]
1) Camaleón & Höruz b Camorra & Ramstein
Tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Aereo, Pequeño Halcón, Último Dragoncito DQ Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Universo 2000
Straight falls for the tecnicos. Nitro fouled Aereo.
3) Dragon Lee, Rey Cometa, Sagrado b Namajague, Shigeo Okumura, Virus
Sagrado pinning Okumura for the win. Kaiser-Sports thinks they’re setting up Dragon Lee vs Virus.
4) Titán b Pólvora [En Busca de Un Idolo]
Titan won in ~4:00. Titan scored 27 (8/6/7/6) and Polvora scored 25 (8/5/7/5).
5) Diamante b Puma King [En Busca de Un Idolo]
Diamante won in 5:20. Diamante scored 25 (8/7/9/1 from Tirantes). Puma scored 30 (9/7/8/6).
6) Blue Panther, Máximo, Valiente b Averno, Felino, Niebla Roja
Tecnicos took 1/3.
7) Psicosis, Rey Bucanero, Terrible b Marco Corleone, Máscara Dorada, Rush
Rudos took 2/3, Psicosis cleanly beating Dorada in the third. The two agreed to a title match, though Dorada also wanted a mask match.

CMLL (TUE) 05/15/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) El Divino & Sky Kid b Demonio Maya & Thunder Boy
2) Sensei & Soberano Jr. b Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno
3) Smaker, Stuka Jr., Triton b Arkángel de la Muerte, Hooligan, Malefico
Stuka replaced Titan, who was double booked in Mexico City.
4) Estrellita b Amapola
Estrellita asked for the hair vs hair match.
5) Mr. Niebla & Volador Jr. b Atlantis & La Máscara
Niebla slipped in a foul in the third, setting up a singles match for next week.

Rey Escorpion and Black Warrior signed the hair match contract, and will face off on June 1st.

Lluvia, who did not lo0k like her old self last Tuesday, says her injury is to her left knee, suffered two weeks before she return from Japan. Lluvia is not sure if she’ll end up needing surgery or if she’ll just be able to fix it thru therapy, but right now it hurts every time she moves. Lluvia says she plans to go back to Japan again, but keep reading on that.

Averno, via CMLL press release, wants you to know he’s not had discussions with the WWE. I guess he just happened to be in LA one day, peeked into a sound stage, saw his old friend Mistico doing tricks in the ring and demanded to be filmed taking headscissors with ever knowing what promotion it was for. A miracle!

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news recap, and Halloween and Electrico on the top 100.

Rob has highlights of 05/27/11 CMLL.

Bill has highlights of IWRG from 05/19/11, 06/02/11, and 06/07/11.

Links

• AAA luchadors visited a children’s hospital.
• DJ Spectro has more odd stories of the end of the UWA LH championship.
• Adam Cole promo for LuchaPOP.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 05/22/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Bengala & Freesbe vs Apocalipsis & Zayco
2) Metálico, Sensei, Super Halcon Jr. vs Artillero, Disturbio, Súper Comando
3) Fuego, Rey Cometa, Titán vs Hooligan, Loco Max, Skándalo
4) Triton vs Euforia [En Busca de un Idolo]
5) Dragon Lee vs Niebla Roja [En Busca de un Idolo]
6) Diamante Azul, Máximo, Rush vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Yujiro
7) Máscara Dorada vs Psicosis [CMLL WELTER]

As noted last night, Psicosis is the lowest guy on the CMLL totem pole. Not because he doesn’t get chances, but because he loses every singles match he’s in. Psicosis would need to beat Dorada for the title twice for people to see them on the same level, and then it’d be a bit of Dorada sinking to Psicosis’ level. At the same time, CMLL must have some thought of doing a Psicosis mask match at some point (or he’d be Morphosis/Kraneo), and he’s got to actually win something at some point if that’s going to be meaningful. Psicosis has been entertaining since coming to CMLL, but he’s also apparently someone the CMLL fans feel they can easily miss. The last two Tuesdays have had horrible turnouts, looking as bad as the shows last Fall that had everyone freaking out.

CMLL (TUE) 05/22/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Virgo vs Thunder Boy
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Metatrón, Starman vs Demonio Maya, Magnum, Rey Trueno
3) Gallo, Sagrado, Stuka Jr. vs Espectrum, Misterioso Jr., Rey Escorpion
4) La Máscara & La Sombra vs Dragón Rojo Jr. & Volador Jr.
5) Atlantis vs Mr. Niebla

Back to back singles matches for Atlantis. This should probably be a little easier than the Volador one, but Niebla can be difficult in other ways.

Who is the best luchador in CMLL? A question that everyone wonders about, except maybe CMLL. It’s fun to do rankings to determine the top guy, but you know what’s even more fun that? Math. Record was doing a crazy intrict system to rate US and Mexico wrestlers based on a whole bunch of different criteras, but didn’t get to finish out it’s planned year of tracking. I’m looking for something a bit simplier.

To that aim, I’ve come up with CMLL rankings based on the ELO rating system, developed for ranking chess players. Chess and lucha libre have so much in common (the chess has the little piece shaped as a horse, CMLL has Bronco, both move oddly), it just seemed like a natural choice.

(I later found out MookieGhana had done the same bit.)

Critera
- only matches in the last two years are counted. Statue of limitations, really.
- only singles matches count. This is trying to mimic reality (and it was easiest.)
- all singles matches count the same. Blue Panther vs Negro Casas counts exactly as much as a rookie opening match in GDL. This turns out to be hilarious.
- only matches in Mexico, Coliseo, Puebla, and Guadalajara count. Again, trying to mimic reality.
- only matches with results count, which leaves out some GDL stuff I haven’t figured out.
- Draws are half wins.

The part I barely understand
Everyone starts at 1200. I’ve settled on a K-Factor of 50, which the most points you can pick up in a win, but only if you’re the very worst and they’re the very best. This rating system means you gain a lot by beating someone very ahead of you, and little by losing to someone already close to you. 50 is a much larger swing than you’d find in Chess, or what Mookie used in his survey, but CMLL singles matches are generally rare and important things.

What do we come up with?

(as of May 10th)
Místico: 1354
Rush: 1347
Dragón Rojo Jr.: 1341
Pólvora: 1326
Amapola: 1312
Virus: 1310
Tondar: 1302
Shigeo Okumura: 1300
Fuego: 1299
Leo (GDL): 1296
Princesa Blanca: 1292
Volador Jr.: 1288
Gallo: 1285
Averno: 1285
Marcela: 1280
Máscara Dorada: 1278
Silueta: 1275
Pequeño Olímpico: 1273
La Sombra: 1272
La Máscara: 1268

CMLL’s problems in a nutshell: Mistico is still the best, and he hasn’t been here in 16 months. Otherwise, this is a more intersting set of results than the year end win/loss tables I do, with more of a rudo/tecnico mix. Rudos tend to lose 2/3rds of the match overall, but they do better in singles blow offs to feuds. Tecnicos do especially well in opening card rookies matches, which is how Tondar(!) finishes six. I thought those who have been in single match heavy situations (tournaments, Forjando de un Idolo) might finish higher, but that doens’t seem to be the case. Okumura has not lost a singles match in two years (he’s won four) and would be higher if I could bring myself to enter the Valiente result.

On the other side, the bottom 10:

Niebla Roja: 1114
Princesa Maya: 1114
Infierno: 1114
Templario: 1110
Raziel: 1099
Quca: 1097
Puma King: 1096
Mephisto: 1088
In Memoriam: 1065
Psicosis II: 1006

Psicosis’ number is amazing. It takes some great effort to be 59 points away from the next closest person under the system. That’s what happens when you’re 0-12 in singles matches. The first one was May 10th 2 years ago, so he’s better if I reran it now, because some of those are cleared off. No chance of him actually winning something. In related news, no one pays to see the Invasors. Mephisto is good enough to be in title match, not good enough to win them. Puma’s poor performance in tournaments hurts him. Lots of GDL novato rudos. Guerrero Maya almost made this list, which caught me off guard. I guess he’s a trios specialist!

One more try: let’s throw out Guadalajara & Puebla because they don’t actually count either. (Sorry, Porra Fresa & Fuego en el Ring.) What does it look like now?

Top 10:

Dragón Rojo Jr.: 1354 La Sombra: 1344
La Máscara: 1317
Pólvora: 1306
Amapola: 1295
Virus: 1289
Averno: 1287
Marcela: 1270
Último Guerrero: 1269
Rush: 1265

(Mistico falls to 11)

Dragon Rojo is random, but that’s what winning single elimination tournaments will do for you. Polvora’s helped by that as well. Virus is just great.

Bottom 10:

Loco Max: 1134
Niebla Roja: 1130
Cancerbero: 1127
Bam Bam: 1126
Princesa Sugheit: 1126
Puma King: 1125
Máximo: 1123
Triton: 1111
Raziel: 1102
Psicosis II: 1099

Psicosis, still poor. Rey Cometa actually tied with Loco Max, but I left him off.

If I were to do this again, and do it a bit seriously, I’d obviously have to change the valuation for wins. All wins are not created equal, especially the wins that come in 3 minutes in the quartefinals of a soon to be forgetton tournament. I do think this might be amusing as a something to keep track of monthly, though it seems mostly just confirm what we already know.

LyC (SUN) 05/13/2012 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [LMdLL]
1) Rey Orion b Xtreme Boy, Angelus, Dark Fenix
2) Golden Boy & Rey Demonio Jr. b Hijo Del Mongol Chino & Misionero
3) Lady Puma, Ninja Jr., Silencio b Gemelo Muerte I, Gemelo Muerte II, Sexy Star
4) Rico Rodriguez & Zorro b Neurosis & Simbolo
5) Hijo del Ninja b Héctor Garza, El Elegido, Toscano
Ninja snuck in a foul on Garza.

Attendance was better than the typical ACM show but seems disappointing for Ninja’s first unmasked match and the AAA wrestlers being in. There’s only a couple pictures up, but it looks like the bleachers were empty and the floor seats were moderately filled.

Today is the 20th Anniversary of the first AAA show. AAA was announced as forming on May 7th, 1992, then ran it’s first show in Veracruz this day 20 years ago. (There’s a spot show there today.) The first show led off with one of Antonio Pena’s innovations, a high energy minis match, and the second match featured the debut of Winners, the future Abismo Negro.

It’s also the 20th anniversary of the La Parka character. Principe Island was most recently a notable indy wrestler but not part of CMLL or UWA when AAA scooped him up for one of their most iconic characters. Parka teamed with Fuerza Guerrera (still around, not on good terms with AAA) and Ice Killer (who’s reapperaed in the last few years as a small time promoter) took take on Angel Azteca (deceased), Justiciero (promoter of Coliseo Coacalco), and Octagon (still around, now much more round.) The main event was Hermanos Dinamitas vs Fantasma, Mascara Sagrada and Perro Aguayo Sr., all of who are still around, though none with AAA. The two referees on that show, Pepe Casas & Tirantes, are still refereeing on opposite sides, but in opposite promotions. Konnan (prohibited from wrestling due to CMLL holding up his visa), Juvi (who had just debuted), Hijo del Santo, and Blue Panther are active names who appeared at that initial press conference and appeared on later shows. It took a few months of securing arenas and local promoters before they could run enough shows to get everyone working.

The whole thing was incredible risk for everyone involved; if AAA had failed, all those who left CMLL would face a lot of resistance returning there, and the ringleaders (Octagon, Konnan and Pena) are still blackballed from the promotion. Some people might have made it into UWA, but those three had their careers on the line.

As much as Televisa has maligned AAA in recent years, the promotion still owes the media company a huge debt of gratitude. AAA never exists, much less last 20 years, had Televisa not agreed to fund the promotion and give it a TV slot. AAA was treated by Televisa as equal or more important than CMLL, which must’ve been a big help in getting the promotion accepted as a major deal right away. Antonio Pena capitalized on the opportunity, and AAA launched into one of the hottest periods any wrestling company has ever had.

Rob has highlights of 05/1 CMLL.

Links

• AAA has highlights of the Leon taping.
• Mr. Cacao shows off a Mascara Dorada mask he’ll be wearing shortly. Cacao is making a special mask for a CMLL wrestler each month this year.
• Cronicas Y Leyendas has an interview with Sangre Chicana from 1982.
• Zombie Blood Fights – a great name – has pictures and a recap from the Lucha Libre USA show in San Antonio.
• Los Bastardos are having a children’s drawing contest.

Lucha Libre in Japan

The Lucha Libre Fan Fest will air on Samurai TV, between June 18th and June 24th.

Angel de Oro’s Best of Super Juniors match versus Prince Devitt, Taichi, and Rocky Romero will take place on TV tapings. Not sure if any of the others will surface; two years ago, NJPW uploaded all of the matches to their YouTube channel, but only showed highlights last year.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 05/21/2012 Arena Puebla
1) Tigre Rojo & Tigre Rojo Jr. vs King Jaguar & Sauron
2) Estrellita, Luna Mágica, Marcela vs Amapola, Princesa Sugheit, Tiffany
3) Arissma, Asturiano, Espiritu Maligno, Lestat, Milenium, Stigma vs Dragon Lee, Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso, Puma King, Skándalo, Súper Comando [cibernetico]
4) Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., La Sombra vs Mr. Águila, Olímpico, Psicosis
5) Atlantis vs Volador Jr.

The cibernetico is a rematch of a really great one back in 2010, though the DF team doesn’t have Raziel this time. Puebla team might be able to take this.

IWRG (SUN) 05/13/2012 Arena Naucalpan [DJ Spectro, Estrellas del Ring, The Gladiatores]
1) Imposible & Pacto Negro b Crosby & Johnny Rivera
Impossible replaced Comando Negro.
2) Chicano & Freelance b Alan Extreme & Suicida
Suicida replaced Imposible. Money was thrown in the ring after the match.
3) Argenis, Fenix (AAA), Súper Fly b 14K, Douki, Secret Sasuke
Super Fly german suplexed Sasuke for the win.
4) Angelico, Negro Navarro, Trauma I b Bestia 666, Eterno, Súper Nova
Team Navarro took 2/3. Damian 666 tried to interfere, but Trauma I shrugged him off and defeated Bestia.
5) Damián 666, Head Hunter I, X-Fly b Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown
Crowd was behind the Psycho Circus. FdT took 1/3. Both refs were taken out in the last fall. Trauma I ran in to help the Clowns, but fouled Psycho by mistake, and Head Hunter splashed him for the pin. Clowns did not accept Trauma’s apology and they set up a Clowns vs Navarros trios.

DJ Spectro was very down on the top two matches, saying the semifinal went way too long and the Psycho Circus only know three moves.

CMLL (SUN) 05/13/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Virgo b Relampago Azul
2) El Caudillo & Halcon de Plata b Exterminador & Infierno
Tecnicos won two straight.
3) Black Metal, Javier Cruz Jr., Leo DQ Barbaro Cavernario, Espectrum, Sádico
Javier Cruz Sr. was watching his son’s match. Rudos were DQed for excessive violence and kept going, so Cruz Sr. hit the ring for the saev. Evola ran out to help the rudos, and Evola and Cruz Sr. made hair match challenges.
4) Amapola & Tiffany b Marcela & Silueta
Tiffany must’ve cheated to beat Silueta, because Silueta demanded a singles match for next week.
5) Máscara Dorada b Mephisto [CMLL WELTER]
Dorada took 2/3 to keep the title. Said to be a very good match – Apolo Dantes called it one of the best matches in the arena in many years.

Rob has highlights of the 09/08/09 CMLL, 04/24/12 CMLL and Pequeno Reyes del Aires.

Links

• Zumbi is back in Mexico! That didn’t take long.
• Arena Lopez Mateos turns 45 today.
• Cronicas Y Leyendas looks back at Francisco Flores being honored for 50 years of promoter.

Lucha Libre in Japan

REINA announced they were stripping Mima Shimoda & Zeuxis of the REINA tag team titles and canceling their next show on May 27th. The new tag champions are to be determined on June 9th.

Lineups

Tuesday’s CMLL card has Niebla Roja replacing Euforia in the semimain, and Virus takes Niebla Roja’s place in the tercera.

Friday’s CMLL card has Sombra in Diamante Azul’s place,

CMLL (SUN) 05/20/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Leono & Tigre Blanco vs Cholo & Inquisidor
2) Bam Bam, Eléctrico, Fantasy vs Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Warrior
3) Fuego, Sagrado, Stuka Jr. vs Misterioso Jr., Pólvora, Sangre Azteca
4) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush vs Terrible, Último Guerrero, Yujiro
5) Dragón Rojo Jr. vs La Sombra [CMLL MIDDLE]
Dragon Rojo is the champion

Sombra just got, and lost, this title match in Puebla a month ago. CMLL does like to repeat title matches in different locations, but I can’t believe Sombra is actually going to lose this twice in a row. That’s very un-Sombra.

Sangre Azteca is back on the rudo side, teaming with the exact two guys who turned on him (Misterioso & Polvora.) I really wish CMLL was still a company that did promos, skits and interviews, because you probably could get some good ones of that. Who do we want as a new third of Poder Mexica? Is this Puma King’s spot? Signo?

CMLL (SUN) 05/20/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Caudillo & Esfinge vs Acertijo & Metalik
2) Smaker vs Malefico
3) Javier Cruz Jr., Javier Cruz Sr., Leo vs Barbaro Cavernario, Èvola, Sádico
4) Silueta vs Tiffany
5) León Blanco, Rush, Valiente vs Exterminador, Felino, Mr. Niebla

3/4 are set up by last week. Leon Blanco and Exterminador in the main event makes sense, might as well make the local guys seem equal to the top ones.

(photo by Black Terry Jr.)

Toryumon Mexico (SAT) 05/12/2012 Arena Mexico

 [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), The Gladiatores]
***DragonMania VII***
1) Kato Kung Lee, Rock Star, Rolling Boy, Tetsuki b Akuma 3:16, Tornado, Voraz, Zuma
2) Negro Navarro & Solar I b Trauma I & Trauma II
3) Hanaoka, Hiasamaru, Masao Orihara b Aarón Alexander, Alex Diangelo, Amenaza
4) Kana b Syuri
5) Astral & Eléctrico b Demus 3:16 & Pequeño Nitro
6) Akebono & Brazo de Plata b Arkángel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Rey Bucanero
two on three, though the Akebono & Plata team probably outweighed Loco Max’s team.
7) Último Dragón b Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Ohara, Último Guerrero, Hijo del Fantasma, Magnus, Durango Kid, Skándalo, Angelico, Nitro, Taurus [NWA IJ, Dragon Scramble, #1 Contenders]
Ultimo Dragon is the current champion, but put up his title on his show, with the last two squaring off for it. Magnus was first one out. Takaiwa destroyed Angelico & Durango Kid with martinetes. Durango never actually made it into the ring. Ultimo Guerrero eliminated Dragon & Ohara at the same time. Instead of just giving UG the win, they declared a three way match.
8) Último Dragón b Último Guerrero, Ohara [NWA IJ]
Takaiwa, now wearing a Tiger Dragon mask, ran in to attack Dragon and took his mask. UG ended up with the mask and was DQed. Referee turned on Dragon during the match, but he still beat Ohara to keep his title.

Hayabusa came to the ring after the match.

CMLL (SUN) 05/13/2012 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Aereo & Pequeño Halcón b Mercurio & Pequeño Universo 2000
tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Metálico, Molotov, Starman b Artillero, Inquisidor, Súper Comando
tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Fuego, Pegasso, Titán b Arkángel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Skándalo
4) Namajague, Pólvora, Shigeo Okumura b Diamante, Sangre Azteca, Stuka Jr.
Straight falls for the rudos, because Sangre Azteca failed to get along with his teammates. Sangre accepted a handshake from Polvora and indicated he wants to return to the rudo side!
5) Diamante Azul, La Sombra, Shocker b Dragón Rojo Jr., Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
Sombra beat Dragon Rojo, and asked for another title shot. Dragon Rojo accepted.

Sangre Azteca is not listed on any cards next week yet. Perhaps he can go straight to the rudo side?

I don’t know who decided we needed all the Dragon Rojo title matches possible, but I’m fairly certain they decided wrong.

Friday night’s Wrestling Observer Radio show mention WWE wants to create a lucha libre show to sell to a Spanish language network, as a way of increasing their TV licensing fees. (WWE previously had a similar aimed show, Super Astros, that ran for 18 months between 1998-1999.) A recent Observer mentioned WWE was interested in luchadors, but that seemed just a repetition of what’s been said every few weeks since Rey Misterio Jr. first started to break down. The comments on Friday suggested more immediate action. Getting US work visa has seemed to take a long period of time, so it’s something where they’d have to start signing people quickly even if a pilot taping wouldn’t be for months. We know WWE looked a lot of luchadors last time thru, and this news means they’ll surely be doing the same when they come thru Mexico in a couple weeks.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update and a podcast with Super Boy!

Links

• SuperLuchas #462 has an interview with Canek.
• the next Lucha POP main event is Black Terry & Terremoto Negro vs Adam Cole & Samurai del Sol.
• Segunda Caida has more Pirata Morgan and CMLL on Galavision 04/14/12.
• XMW is bringing Necro Butcher back on June 2nd.

Lucha Libre in Japan
05/13 REINA – at Korakeun Hall
3) Mima Shimora [O], Tomoka Nakagawa, Ray b Goya Kong, Zeuxis [X], Dalis la Caribena
4) Princesa Blanca b Lady Apache [MEX WOMEN]
- seventh defense for Blanca
6) Yumiko Hotta b La Comandante [street fight, hair]
- both women bled. Comandate tried to leave without getting her hair cut, but was pulled back and shaved.

The news happened after the main event. Hotta celebrated her win by declaring REINA was now dissolved. This was greatly walked back after the show, with the people in charge saying REINA would go on, but Hotta would now be a freelancer and only appear occasionly. Hotta has been the centerpeice of the group in their one year of existance. Leaving wouldn’t seem to affact how much they draw (because they still won’t), but obviously suggests great internal turmoil. Eventually, spending a lot more than you’re making catches up to you. The promotion does mention the whole thing in their recap of the event, so maybe there’s something more going on here.

It could be that Hotta is just running before Comandate can bring in TRT to help her get revenge. Let’s go with that.

Lineups

IWRG (THU) 05/17/2012 Arena Naucalpan
1) Dragón Celestial vs Matrix Jr.
2) Johnny Rivera & Templario vs Star Boy Jr. & The Mummy
3) Centvrión, Charly Madrid, Freelance vs Carta Brava Jr., Comando Negro, Pacto Negro
4) Chicano, Dinamic Black, Dr. Cerebro, Golden Magic, Imposible, Saruman, Trauma II, Veneno vs 14K, Douki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kensuske Sasaki, Kento Miyahara, Nosawa, Sasuke Secret,Satoshi Kajiwara [Copa High Power]
5) Angelico, Shadow Phoenix, Trauma I vs Head Hunter I, Súper Nova, X-Fly

This semimain is great, because I always thought I couldn’t vote for Kensuske Sasaki to a hall of fame unless he proved he could beat Chicano. Now I’ll have that settled!

The IWRG column in Super Luchas confirms what appears here:  Douki is not Shadow Phoenix or anyone else around masquerading as a novato, but a new random Japanese guy.

(photo by CMLL)

CMLL (FRI) 05/11/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Bobby Zavala & Disturbio b Hombre Bala Jr. & Super Halcon Jr.
Rudos took 2/3.
2) Astral, Fantasy, Último Dragoncito b Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
Astral replaced Shockercito. Tecnicos took 1/3, Dragoncito over Violencia.
3) Black Warrior, Sagrado, Stuka Jr. DQ Misterioso Jr., Rey Escorpion, Shigeo Okumura
straight falls, Escorpion fouling Warrior in the second. Warrior demanded a hair match, and Escorpion actually agreed.
4) Niebla Roja b Triton [En Busca de un Idolo]
Triton scored a 21.
5) Dragon Lee DQ Euforia [En Busca de un Idolo]
Euforia may have refused to remove a submission. Judges scored him highly anyway.
6) Atlantis, Blue Panther, La Máscara b Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Último Guerrero
tecnicos took 2/3. Panther beat UG. Said to be a good match.
7) Psicosis, Volador Jr., Yujiro b Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush
Volador pinned Maximo for the win.

Show included a Bucanero, Sensei, Mascara and Puma King dance show as a Mother’s Day treat.

CMLL has run a major show in June the last two years.
2011-06-17: La Mascara vs Averno
2010-06-06: Maximo vs Taichi

If they follow the same pattern, Escorpion vs Warrior is 3-5 weeks away, which makes this an especially early announcement. Perhaps there’s an already secretly scheduled press conference this week they needed to get out in front of? Priorities! There’s also the matter of Rey Escorpion vs Black Warrior not really being a drawing main event. They need another match, and there’s nothing else they’re building right now. The En Busca de un Idolo final looks to be 06/08 (if they’re still doing the trios match), but that’s not important enough to help. CMLL rarely does three important matches on the show, so Escorpion/Warrior is either the week before (06/01) or the week after (06/15).

Psicosis explains he’s definitely not defrauding the public by returning to his old mask. He’s just horribly burned by Joe Lider’s red flame of death from Neza and AAA gave him permission to wear his old mask while he recovers – and he may never heal! I guess that’s why he’s wearing the Psicsois gear too, since Lider torched him mostly on the shoulder and back, he must need something to cover those up as well. I’m not sure why the facial burns require him to be announced and billed as Psicosis instead of Nicho el Millionario; perhaps the emotional trauma is just too much for poor Psicosis! Anyway, Psicosis says he surely will not be wagering his mask in any battle with Joe Lider, but would like to have a career vs career match to end him forever. Psicosis also says he has no grudge or issue with anyone else who used this name, but they were never the star he was.

Rob has highlights of the 2012 Pequeno Reyes del Aire. That match was crazy. Pretty sure Bam Bam sat down and thought about what way he could break his tailbone, then went out there to do it.

Bill has highlights of 03/28/12 Arena Coliseo Monterrey, with Battman.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 05/14/2012 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Dinámiko vs Akron & Siki Osama
2) Molotov, Robin, Super Halcon Jr. vs Artillero, Disturbio, Súper Comando
3) Dragon Lee, Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso vs Espiritu Maligno, Karisma, Lestat
4) Ángel de Oro, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Ephesto, Euforia, Mephisto
5) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Shocker vs Kráneo, Psicosis, Volador Jr.

Lineup via Porra Fresa. Feud here appears to be Atlantis vs Volador.

Tercera is Puebla rudos and tecnicos teaming up to face the CMLL regular tecnicos. Dragon Lee & Bala better hope Pegasso doesn’t turn on them.

CMLL (FRI) 05/18/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Bengala & Starman vs Apocalipsis & Bobby Zavala
2) Ángel Azteca Jr., Fuego, Pegasso vs Hooligan, Nitro, Skándalo
3) Dark Angel, Estrellita, Goya Kong vs La Seductora, Princesa Sugheit, Tiffany
4) Titán vs Puma King [En Busca de Un Idolo]
5) Diamante vs Pólvora [En Busca de Un Idolo]
6) Black Warrior, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Olímpico, Psicosis, Rey Escorpion
7) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, La Máscara vs Negro Casas, Volador Jr., Yujiro

The Diamante Azul vs Yujiro match. Warrior and Escorpion keep fighting until someone drops. Estrellita without Amapola

No IWRG show last night. Not much to talk about.

CMLL’s Arena Mexico show is highlights by the return of NJPW’s Yujiro. Though we’ve expected a match with Diamante Azul or Rush, Yujiro mentioned Marco Corleone as someone he’d like to defeat in his re-introduction interview. He’s teaming with Invasor Psicosis and loose cannon Volador to take on the Bufete del Amor tonight. Marco, Maximo and Rush will also be available for pictures as part of a Mother’s Day Special. The two En Busca de un Idolo matches are Triton vs Niebla Roja, Dragon Lee vs Euforia. Euforia seems to have Dragon Lee’s number in tag matches, but this is their first singles encounter. The Warrior/Escorpion feud continues elsewhere on the card.

The latest En Busca de un Idolo standings are update with this week’s poll results.

1. Titan 136
2. Euforia 130
3. Diamante 113
4. Polvora 109
5. Triton 100
6. Dragon Lee 94
7. Puma King 86
8. Niebla Roja 78

Titan’s won the poll both times, which is 80 of his 136 points. He has not won a match. If Titan had an average amount of poll points (35.575, a weird average number), he’d be in sixth place. No one else has even gotten 30 points in a single week.

As far as I can tell, the top four move onto a single elimination stage, so the real battle is beginning to look between the Diamante, Polvora, Triton, Dragon Lee foursome.

Konnan has joined twitter as @konnan5150.

Rob has highlights of 05/20/11 CMLL and ranks the CMLL minis and women.

LuchaWorld has Olimpico and Bam Bam on the top 100 countdown.

Links

• Violento Jack says Mad Man Pondo is an overrated wrestler with no skills. That’ll sell tickets.
• Shadow Phoenix vs Epidemia for the GALLI championship has been added to the Lucha Fan Fest show next weekend.
• La Comandante feels she’s more prepared for Japan this time.
• Looks like DDD’s next show is 05/27.
• Cronicas Y Legends looks back at Gran Hamada winning a title match without actually winning a fall and the only show in Estadio Azteca
• GALLI’s running shows Saturday and Sunday.