luchablog

A thread on Box Y Lucha says Apolo Dantes is out as administrator of Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. If I’m remembering account names right, el Makabre is an ex-Arena Coliseo Guadalajara luchador, so he would know. No word on a replacement.

AAA (WED) 07/01 Cancha German Evers
2) Joe Lider & Kempo Dragon b Aerostar & Relampago
3) Alex Koslov & Chris Stone b Alan Stone & Rocky Romero [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Jack Evans, Marco Corleone, Mesias, Relampago b Konnan, Nicho el Millionario, Teddy Hart

Usual bit of local angles in this arena. Joe Lider ended up as specia ref in the main event, but Kempo Dragon – who’d join the Legion on a previous show – turned on the Legion to help the tecnicos win. Lider was here as a fill in for Billy. Semifinal was switched to partners versus partners, and Alex beat Rocky. Clearly, there’s interest in doing more Rocky Romero/Alex Koslov matches after their well received match in the cruiserweight tournament, which may be one reason to turn Alex.

CMLL (WED) 07/01 Gimnasio Marcelino Gonzalez [El Sol de Zacatecas]
5) Hector Garza, Mistico, Toscano b Ephesto, Lizmark Jr., Mephisto

Article mistakes Toscano for Marco Corleone. That seems unlikely. Unsurprising that half the main event (not just Dos, but the non-Lizmark rudos) were different from what was billed the day before.

Friday Arena Mexico preview: ESTO, Record, Ovaciones (who notes this is Guerrero Maya’s Friday debut.) Not much to say about this one.

ESTO also previews tonight’s Arena Neza show, with a Super Crazy/Juvi vs Psicosis/Histeria main event. Ovaciones says Juvi beat Dr. Cerebro last night for his hair, and Dr. Landru notes that it was followed by Juvi’s Super X promotion hitting the ring after the match, so it looks like they’re be feuding with IWRG.

Only note from the Costa Rica tour is Octagon needed six stitches after Zorro cracked him in the head with the cane.

My Tlaltenango has a couple photos of the (postponed) Kid’s Day show there. Doesn’t look like they got a big turnout, but I like how that look of the interior building.

Perros are running Arena Solidaridad on 07/12.

Kcidis draws Cibernetico’s return to AAA

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

indy (SUN) 07/05/2009 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Mini Hator vs Mini Rey Sagitario
2) Black Poison vs Lobo Rojo
3) Black Mamba, Oscuridad, Violento vs Golden Boy, Rey Demonio Jr., Simbolo
4) Hijo del Ninja, Mascara Purpura, Ninja vs Black Fenix, Kendor Jr., Sobredosis
5) Hombre sin Miedo vs Pierko el Boriuca

I think I had this lineup a couple days ago, but it didn’t click that this was the indy guys on Sunday, taking the spot of the normal AAA show. AAA’s pulled out of this building, once again. Perhaps that Ovaciones remark about CMLL running Arena Coliseo Monterrey is closer to being correct…

CMLL (TUE) 07/21 Monumental Plaza de Toros Monterrey [SML]
1) Black Warrior, Dragon Rojo Jr., Sangre Azteca vs La Sombra, Maximo, Valiente
2) Naito, Negro Casas, Yujiro vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Misterioso II
3) Mistico, Shocker, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Mr. Niebla, Ultimo Guerrero

…or maybe they meant this show?

Back with more in a little bit.

indy (TUE) 06/23 Arena Aficion [Proyeccion Luchistica]
1) Atena & Guerrera Cephei b Flor de Luna & Princesa Legna
2) Lady Rabbit & Zeuxis vs Dark Magic & Xena
3) Judas el Traidor, Pandemonium, Zakura b Exotico, Maldito Jr., Metro
4) Silencioso b Ricochet [mask]

A local doing the Mucha Lucha gimmick, as a rudo. No name mentioned.

indy (TUE) 06/30 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Angel Negro b Trivial
2) Mini Gato Volador & Mini Ninja b Coquito Amarillo & Mini Hator
3) Pancho Tequila & Street Boy b Principe Guerrero & Saiko
4) Black Mamba, Rey Demonio Jr., Simbolo b Angel Dorado Jr., Angelus, Golden Boy
5) Kaientai, Pierko el Boricua, the Beast b Hombre sin Miedo, Humbero Garza Jr., Ninja

Worth pointing out for the picture alone. Puerto Rico has annexed Monterrey.

CMLL (TUE) 06/30 Arena Mexico
1) As Jr. & Super Camaleon b Inquisidor & Semental
2) Astro Boy, Guerrero Maya Jr., Tony Rivera b Caligula, Messala, Polvora
3) Euforia, Hooligan, Nosferatu b Fabian el Gitano, Flash, Horus
4) Dragon Rojo Jr., Lizmark Jr., Misterioso II b Blue Panther, Mictlan, Valiente
5) Hector Garza, Hijo del Fantasma, La Mascara DQ Averno, Terrible, Texano Jr.

CMLL put up the results for the opening two. So now you know.

Arena Mexico will be host to a MMA show on July 11. This is the first show; the first show I’ve heard of, I’m sure. It’s a show by Total Combat, which I’ve never head of but surely have seen flipping thru WON. Tickets are going from 100 to 1100 ($7.60 to $83.58). The article the Gladiatores points to says the DF Box Y Lucha commission will be regulating the show.

Tonight’s the big Juvi vs Dr. Cerebro hair vs hair match in IWRG.

AAA says they’re still taping on the 12th. Hooray. I’m really running the Hooray thing straight into the ground.

The Gladiatores talks to Dr. Wagner Jr. about not making that Perros show. As usual, when not standing next to someone from AAA, Wagner says he’s free to work with anyone he wants. They also have a video interview with Chico Che.

Villano IV wants to take the masks of Ultimo Guerrero and Atlantis in revenge for his brothers. He’s surprised CMLL hasn’t booked him to team with Villano V of late and isn’t sure why – though he guesses Ultimo and Atlantis may be scared of him. Outside of wrestling, the Villanos have been running their new gym, which has been open for a month.

LuchandoLibre previews tomorrow’s Arena Neza show

The Wild Weird World of Sports has lots of high quality photos from the Rey Misterio Sr. benefit show.

Box Y Lucha has a video interview with Mohicano I & II

LuchaWorld has Robert on CMLL TV from 04/26, 05/03, CadenaTres from 04/19, 04/26, plus KrisZ’s news update.

Lineups:

CMLL (SUN) 07/05 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Bengala & Principe Valiente vs Camorra & Cholo
2) Astro Boy, Metalico, Starman vs Inquisidor, Polvora, Semental
3) Fabian el Gitano, Flash, Mictlan vs Bronco, Hooligan, Loco Max
4) La Sombra, Mascara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Naito, Shigeo Okumura, Yujiro
5) Hijo del Fantasma, La Mascara, Mistico vs Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas

I think everyone was under the impression Mistico and Felino had a title match Sunday. Perhaps someone later decided Fan Appreciation Day was next week?

CMLL (MON) 07/06 Arena Puebla
1) Centella de Oro & SWAT vs Ares & Policeman
2) As Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr., Starman vs Inquisidor, Puma King, Tiger Kid
3) Pegasso, Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Dr. X, Virus
4) Sagrado, Shocker, Toscano vs Atlantis, Heavy Metal, Lizmark Jr.
5) Hector Garza, Mistico, Shocker vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Terrible

Besides the opener, the change here is the rudo sides got switched in the semimain and main.

CMLL (TUE) 07/07 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Skaxy vs Angel del Mal
2) Samurai vs Fraile de la Muerte
3) Drago vs Palacio Negro
4) Mr. Trueno vs Asesino Negro
5) Neutron vs Infierno
6) Flash & Mictlan vs Hooligan & Loco Max
7) La Sombra, Mascara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Naito, Negro Casas, Yujiro

The big news of the day is a press release AAA posted on their site yesterday evening. They’ve named Cookie Jar Entertainment as the exclusive licensing agency for AAA. Cookie Jar Entertainment the right to use AAA wrestlers and names on products; action figures, masks, books, back to school items and collectibles are specifically mentioned, with the target time as early 2010. Of special note to those who read this blog, there’s a mention of “the first series of lucha libre AAA in English.” There’s no ETA mentioned on that.

That’s what we know, based on the press release. What’s missing and how it’s said is interesting. While it’s pushed as a partnership of AAA and Cookie Jar, no one from AAA proper is quoted. Instead, speaking for them is Steve Ship, listed as CEO of Lucha Libre USA. That group is actually the local promoters for the US tour of shows, as well as those in charge of the PPV they did last year. In interviews prior to the latest tour, Konnan’s sounded unhappy about how AAA’s partnership with the US group was going, but the last tour seemed like it went well, and obviously the relationship has to be going well for both sides to expand it like this. I’d figure, though, that these are actually the US licensing rights and Televisa still owns the Mexican ones; Televisa surely has some sort of control here.

As I alluded to in the comments, Cookie Jar Enterainment is a strange fit with AAA. From that list of items they hope to put out, the target audience looks like 6-12 year olds, and Cookie Jar aims for the same age range. The actual product seems so much different. Cookie Jar owns the rights to such things as Strawberry Shortcake, Inspector Gadget*, and the CARE BEARS. That’s a bit of a departure from Crazy Boy breaking a light tube over Joe Lider’s back and the camera zooming in to watch blood flow.

However, AAA’s anime seems a lot closer in tone. Makes me wonder if that’s possibly the AAA we’ll end up seeing in the US; just a lot of marketing and editing (or separate tapings) to focus on the kid-friendly aspects of AAA – lots of minis, comedy (that’s safe for all ages) and people in colorful costumes doing high spots – while cutting out the soap opera and the hardcore bits and the sexual elements. WWE’s gone to a PG product, CMLL’s banned bleeding and restricted un-family friendly brawls, perhaps this is a sign AAA will be going in the same direction.

This doesn’t mean a lot to the product at the moment, but it could be a sign of where they’re going.

Cookie Jar uses Immersion Games to create games for it’s characters. Immersion is making the AAA game, so that’s the obvious meeting point here.

* obligatory cheap joke: most of Dr. Claw’s plans are better thought out than AAA’s stoylines

AAA TV (TUE) 06/30 Auditorio Benito Juarez, Cuautitlan de Romero Rubio [AAA, KrisZ]
1) Mini Abismo Negro & Yuriko b Gato Eveready & Octagoncito
2) Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero b Cuervo & Escoria
3) Decnnis & Sexy Star b El Elegido & Fabi Apache
4) Extreme Tiger, Jack Evans, La Parka Jr. b Electro Shock, Shiima Xion, Teddy Hart
5) Cibernetico & Mesias b Dr. Wagner Jr. & Silver King

2009 AAA TV Chart
Projected Air Date (#895)
Mexico: 07/05
US: 07/25

El Brazo refed the opener, helping the rudos. Yuriko flirted with Gato. Octagoncito had Mini Abismo beat, Brazo stopped counting, Octagoncito argued and got pinned.

Alex got Scoria with the Red Scare for the win in the second match.

Elegido had Decnnis beat, but Brazo returned to distract the ref, allowing Guapito to foul Elegido.

AAA says Shiima looked good, but it sounds as though he still ended up losing to Extreme Tiger.

Wagner & Silver King got along – enough so that we’re supposed to wonder if they’ll still  fight at the show – but Cibernetico beat Silver King for the win.

Next taping is Friday in Queretaro. AAA’s added pages for the announced tapings this month, and lists the Lucha Libre Expo show as a taping. They do not list the 07/12 Tepapulco taping, which makes me wonder if it’s gone in the same black hole as the Acapulco show.

AAA WAGNER (SAT) 06/27 Estadio Revolulcion de Torreon, Coahuila [WagnerMania]
1) Oso Negro & Psycho b Dorado Jr. & Makina 27
2) Arana del Futuro, Gran Jefe I, Sexy Francis b El Dorado, Emperador Azteca, Sexy Piscis
3) Chamuco Trevino & Conflictus CO Espanto V & Stuka I [Relevos Increíbles ]
4) May Flowers & Polvo de Esterllas b Aerostar & Super Fly
5) Killer Clown, Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown b Alex Koslov, Charly Manson, El Elegido
6) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Konnan DQ Mesias & Silver King

Konnan refused to wrestle in the main event. Psycho Clown, seconding Konnan for no clear reason, unmasked Wagner for the DQ. Post match mic work teased Wagner/Silver vs Mesias/Konnan, but Mesias & Konnan didn’t like that idea. Earlier in the show, they teased Silver King vs La Parka Jr., Mesias vs Wagner in a rematch and May Flowers & Polvo de Estrellas vs Sexy Francis & Sexy Piscis for future shows. Despite the local commission telling him not to, Silver King wrestled in his mask, causing an upset editorial.

Zocalo and via DJ Espectro talks about the benefit show for Jerry Estrada in Monclova (one of a few), but isn’t big on spelling out results.

CMLL (SUN) 06/28 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Astaroth & Hierro b Acertijo & Angel del Mal
2) Azazel & Rafaga b Palacio Negro & Virgo
3) Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno b Magnum & Metatron
4) Casanova, Metro, Stuka Jr. b Dr. X, Satanico, Skandalo
5) Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas DQ Hijo del Fantasma, La Mascara, Mistico

Full results, just had the main event yesterday. Stuka and Satanico feuded in the semimain. Thought it may just be random, but Satanico felt Stuka was to full of himself, talking about having wrestled in 2 other countries while Satanico’s wrestled in more than 15. That’s not all – Satanico was also upset with Stuka and more so Ultimo Guerrero proclaiming the best wrestlers come from schools in Comarca Lagunera. Satanico wasn’t going to let Guadalajara be disrespected like that. Satanico vows never to forget this, and hopes to soon have a battle between the rival schools. This sounds like a fantastic idea for a cibernetico.

There’s also an interview with No Limit on wrestling in Mexico. They say the wrestling isn’t so much different as the fans. Yujiro says he loves Mexico, and also points out he has no girlfriend so he hopes he meets a Mexican girl to marry and bring back to Japan with him.

EAW (SUN) 06/28 Gimnasio Lazaro Cadenas, Salamanca, Guanajuato [box y lucha, or the nearly identical recap on LuchandoLibre, ESTO]
1) Gallito Colorado & MatriXXX b America & Terror Negro
2) Dinastia, Pequeno Angel, Ragde b Pesadilla, Siniestro, Talaxys
3) Dralion & Erick Snake b Nightmare & Skam 13
4) Tracy Taylor b La Diabolica
5) Don Pollo & El Alebrije b Hijo de Pirata Morgan & Pirata Morgan Jr.
6) Super Crazy & Zumbido b Juventud Guerrera & Scorpio Jr.
7) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Super Porky DQ El Hijo del Solitario & Pirata Morgan

Wagner wasn’t working with AAA this day, so he had no problem working here. Solitario pulled Wagner’s mask, got the pin, but the ref figured it out in the end. Scorpio made Zumbido bleed a great deal, but Zumbido came back to win. They’re still teasing that hair match.

IWRG (SUN) 06/28 Arena Naucalpan [KrisZ]
1) Sangre Latina b Fly Star
2) Chico Che & Rigo b Carta Brava Jr. & Judas el Traidor
3) Trauma I & Trauma II b Ghost Rider & Xibalba
4) Fantasma de la Opera, Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., Sauron b Bobby Lee Jr., Oficial 911, Oficial AK47
5) Avisman & Freelance NC Suicida & Tetsuya Bushi [Relevos Increíbles]

Main event was advertised last week as a six way cage match with Turbo and Black Thunder. Plans change. This main event went to a no contest, so they’ll do it again this weekend with hair mask on the line.

CMLL (MON) 06/29 Arena Puebla [CMLL]
5) La Sombra & Volador Jr. b Felino & Negro Casas [CMLL TAG]

Ovaciones has an interview with Panico, which ends up being about two quotes long. Even before they get to the Panico quotes, the author (Rosas Plata) claims, “10 months out from the Perros leaving, CMLL remains the strongest company in Mexico.” Their strength is built on their empty seats, I guess. The next paragraph talks about running shows in “areas that were lost”, naming Arena Isabel, San Luis Potosi, and Arena Coliseo Monterrey (uh, no.)

Anyway, Panico says CMLL can afford to lose anyone, because they’ll just take a kid out of one of their training schools to replace them. I don’t think that’s actually a working strategy, but it’d be interesting if CMLL actually believed that. Panico says guys like the Perros and Dos have left and some will eventually return, but that’s up to the wrestlers.

Ovaciones previews tonight’s Arena Mexico, as does ESTO and Record

Dr. Wagner says Cibernetico and Mesias had to join forces to fight him, because neither has a chance on their own. Plus, Cibernetico had to return to AAA to exist at all. Mesias was a good champion, but he’s not at Wagner’s level. Wagner says the Perros knew he was scheduled for AAA on the day they announced him for their show, but announced them everyone. In this interview, Dr. Wagner says he’s a free and independent wrestler. Someone’s lying here.

Villano V wants a loser must retire match with Blue Panther for the anniversary show.

Blue Demon plans to start celebrating his 24th anniversary with the show in Toronto next month. He also talks about the great success of NWA Mexico, which hasn’t run a show in a 2.5 months.

Ras de Lona #52 is Sangre Azteca, Dragon Rojo, Ultimo Dragoncito, Terrible, Princesa Blanca, Stuka Jr., Hijo del Fantasma, Quemonito and the hosts going on rides at Six Flags for their one year anniversary. If you want to see Leobrado and Quemonito on a merry go round, this is the show for you. Not only does Stuka appear to own one shirt, but he also is totally freaked out on some of the rides.

Luchas 2000 #476 is all about their show on Saturday.

Guerreros del Ring #192 is a special double issue with Pesta Negra & Andre the Giant covers.

LuchaWorld has Robert on Cadena3 04/05/08, CMLL TV 04/19/08, and AAA 04/27/08, as well as KrisZ’s news update.

IWRG (TUE) 06/30 Arena Naucalpan [DJ Spectro]
1) Extrano vs Dinamic Black
2) Blacky & Crazy Cat vs Halconero & Tachido
3) Halcon Fire & Rosa Salvaje vs Osiris & Sangre Latina
4) Comando Negro, Espada de Plata, Garra de Aguila vs Alan Extreme, Chamaco Maravilla, Espada de Plata
5) Fly Star, Guizmo, Zafiro vs Imperio Azteca, Latin Brother, Menphis

Tuesday novato show. Didn’t know they were doing these, but the poster says this is the third.