Let’s do this in a hurry, because it’s 2 AM and much of this stuff is 6 or more days old
(Thanks to KrisZ, Stuart, CMLL.com and others)
New NWA Champion: So, Shocker beat Vampiro for the NWA LH Title in Arena Puebla all the way on the 3rd. If you recall, the last time this title was seriously brought up was a Vamp title defense versus Black Warrior (scheduled to air next week), where Vampiro walked out of the match in the third fall, got dragged back, and laid out many tecnicos.
That seems like a killer angle to me, but without the title being involved (as the reason for the match, and a source of heat for Vamp wearing a belt that’s much too small for him), I don’t think there’s anything left there worth going after. Either something happened causing them to speed up the title change (and I don’t know anything of the sort) or it’s just one of those magical disappearing lucha angles. It’s not like Shocker and Vampiro didn’t have their own issues anyway, so there could be less important title switch matches.
The upside is Shocker already had a scheduled match vs Ultimo Guerrero for CMLL’s LH Title. They didn’t turn it to title for title, not putting the newly won belt on the line, but it still was champion vs champion. And it’s Thursday and I can’t find a result for it, so I’m guessing it was either an Ultimo win or (probably more likely) indecisive.
Meanwhile, that NWA Middleweight Title Ultimo Dragon dropped off during his last visit still sits in a closet somewhere in the bowels of Arena Mexico, I guess. I wonder if he’ll just grab the belt back while he’s in the area.
Japan to Mexico: AJPW’s (I think) Shigeo Okumura told the Japanese press earlier this week that he’s signed with CMLL and will be leaving Japan to work in Mexico full time for as long as he feels necessary. CMLL hasn’t mentioned this at all. I don’t expect this to be a big deal.
Speaking of Japan – Takemura did end up seconding Masada and Nosawa in their match against Jado and Gedo, only to help out the former team to win. Weird thing was, Takemura, Masada and Nosawa managed to imply they were previously together under a “Tokyo Gurentai” name. That’s a cool name, but the name I heard was Legion de Japanese. I could imagine Nosawa and Masada wanting to use another name and being totally ignored, though. Or a name switch happening after they were sent back to the lower card abyss.
Guapo Tournament Update:
The second generation team of Texano Jr., Brazo de Oro Jr. and Misterioso Jr. beat Lestat, Leono and Karisma to move on in the tournament. That sets up the title shot match next week at Arena Mexano, where Texano/Oro/Misterioso meets Chris Stone/Tiger Metallico/Brazo de Plato Jr – the Brazos collide! I’m guessing Misterioso’s team wins, just because I see his name more than people on the other side. Winners get the title shot vs Voaldor/Safari/Felino on the 28th.
Arena Mexico Results from last week
1. Mini Olimpico and Mini Brazo de Oro d. Mini Pierroth and Mino Violencia
2. Tiger Blanco/Misterioso Jr./Sagrado d. Dr. X/Sangre Azteca/Nitro (some Blanco/X rivalry here)
3. Felino/Ricky Marvin/Alan Stone d. Super Crazy/Fuerza Guerrera/Violencia
4. Olimpico/Averno/Mephisto d. Atlantis/Niebla/Zumbido
5. Ultimo/Tarzan/Wagner d. Canek/Parka/Shocker (cheat to win, and Wagner/Canek challenge each other post match)
Arena Mexico Card for this week
1. Tigre Blanco/Mr. Power/Neutron vs Holligan/Sangre Azteca/Loco Max
4. Mr. Niebla/Felino/Volador Jr. vs Pierroth/Averno/Mephisto
4. Perro Jr./Ultimo Dragon/Negro Casas vs GdI (Tarzan/Ultimo/Rey)
4. Atlantis/Rayo/Shocker vs Universo 2000/Tiger/Terrible
5. Canek vs Dr. Wagner
The stated deal is that all 3 middle trios matches are all really big. I guess the real deal is none of them wants to be promoted as the second match on the card.