01/22: Guadalajara, Laguna, VIP, IWRG, Tijuana, Magazines

Mistico fights beats AULL’s Sepulturero in a mask/mask this Saturday at Arena Lopez Mateos. (Super Luchas)

CMLL (TUE) 01/16 Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara Results [CMLL via KrisZ]
1) Virgo b Milenio
2) Frayle de la Muerte, Imposter b Estrella de Jalisco, Neon
3) Anthrax, Carlo Roggi, Evola b Danger (Guadalajara), Depredador, Guero Loco
4) Gallo, Maximo b Arkangel, Toxico
5) Black Warrior, Eclipse, Ultimo Guerrero DQ Hijo de Lizmark, La Mascara, Rey Bucanero
Rey got caught holding Ultimo’s mask for the DQ, and to set up the title shot Sunday.

indy (THU) 01/18 Arena Olimpico Laguna de Gomez Palacio Results [Chui]
1) Jerry Brown, King Azteca b ?, Insolito
2) Angel de Oro, Espacial, Scriba Jr. b El Scriba, Guerrero Inca, Moro Jr.
3) Brillante Jr., Piloto Suicida b El Scriba, Piloto Negro
4) Sobearno Jr., Stuka Jr., Trueno b Espanto V, Misterioso II, Mr. Guerrero

This Thursday’s show has Piloto Suicida vs Piloto Negro in a hair match. The president of Arena Olimpico Laguna says he’s hoping to bring in Místico, Hijo del Santo, Blue Demon Jr., Ultramán Jr, Hijo de Huracán Ramírez, Aníbal and Fishman Jr for shows this year. Do you really have to get Fishman Jr.? (El Siglo de Torreon)

CMLL VIP (SAT) 01/20 Salon 21, DF Results [CIO]
1) Skayde, Turbo b Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro
2) Dark Angel, Sahori b Amapola, Princesa Sujei
3) Nitro, Tarzan Boy, Terrible b Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Platino, Super Brazo
4) Super Muneco DRAW Coco Rojo
5) Dos Caras Jr., Lizmark Jr. b Kenzo Suzuki, Ultimo Guerrero

Lots of replacements on this show; Hiroka and Marcela were booked her originally, Lady Apache is still MIA, Tarzan Boy has reappeared (though he’s not booked in DF next week) but he’s only here because all the Villanos weren’t, and still no Corelone (explained later.) Besides the 8 changes, everything was fine.

ONAC (SUN) 01/12 Auditioro de Tijuana Results [thegladiatores.com]
1) Kimura & TG Power b El Duende & Calavera
2) Voltio & Mr. Maldito b Ricochet, Super Rhino
3) Shamu Jr. b Scream [AMERICAS]
4) TJ Boy, Principe Arandu, Mortiz b Super Astro, Rayman, Bobby Lee Jr.
5) Mistico & LA Park b Olimpico & Atlantis

IWRG (THU) 01/11 Arena Naucalpan Results [the gladiatores]
1) Shuriken b Golem
2) Kid Tiger, Puma King b Trauma II, Truama I
3) Bacteria, Fabián el Gitano, Freelance b Camorra, Macho II, Supremo Jr.
4) Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Suicida b El Hijo del Diablo, Fantasma de la Ópera, Veneno
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Negro Navarro, Volador Jr. b Alex Koslov, Black Warrior, Pierroth Jr.

There’s a lot of show reports up over on thegladiatores besides these.

IWRG (THU) 01/18 Arena Naucalpan Results
1) Shuriken b Comando Gama
2) Trauma I, Trauma II b Bacteria, Valiente
3) Avisman, Black Terry, Estallido b Fabián el Gitano, Freelance, Kid Tiger
They’re building up an Avisman (newly rudo?)/Freelance feud
4) Cerebro Negro, Fabian el Gitano, Sagrado DQ El Hijo del Diablo, Fantasma de la Ópera, Veneno
Veneno fouled Sagrado to save himself from beating pinned. Sagrado wants Veneno’s hair, but they’ll just do a super libre match at some point instead.
5) Felino, Negro Casas, Negro Navarro b Alex Koslov, Olímpico, Pierroth Jr.
Rematch of the preivous week, said to be good.

CMLL.com’s preview of this week’s Arena Mexico show mentions that Marco Corelone missed last week’s show due to airplane issues. Esto‘s report on the Arena Mexico couldn’t find an explanation of Dos Caras’s absence. And also LA Park still hates Arena Mexico fans.

Milenio has an interview with Super Porky – am I correct when I read that he says he’s got three sons wrestling? Porky explains he can’t lose weight, because than he’d look ugly.

Magazines:
Box Y Lucha 2802 has La Parka Jr.’s suspension.
Super Luchas #196 has an interview with the Hell Brothers
Guerreros del Ring # has Alex Koslov
Luchas 2000 352 has Mr. Niebla crotch chopping, which makes me laugh and laugh. This was posted on the Box Y Lucha forum Saturday afternoon, which kinda spoiled his debut (though I doubt many people at the taping knew about it.)

If you’ve missed the comment (or the thread over on DVDVR), LA Park & Santo versus Shocker & Blue Demon Jr. on 03/11. Sunday’s show getting a sell out proves I know nothing.

El Halcon is celebrating it’s 2nd anniversary.

So Saturday, when CMLL updated it’s news, and half of the update was “Dark Angel was really hot last night”, I just assumed they were also stretching to find something to talk about off of Friday’s show. And then I saw the pictures in Super Luchas and decided “Dark Angel was really hot last night” should’ve been the lead story. She had new gear, which appears to be a skin tight speed skating outfit, and it’s completely unfair. It’s a bitter disappointment that CMLL.com hasn’t gotten pictures from that show up yet so I could share them here. (You can see it in the Super Luchas preview.)

01/20 AAA Results

AAA TV (SAT) 01/20 Parque de Beisbol, Guan Results [triplea.com, Box Y Lucha]
1) Dizzy, Mini Dizzy b Kaoma Jr., Mascarita de la Muerte
2) Miss Janeth, Rossy Moreno, Tiffany b Cinthia Moreno, Estrellita, Fabi Apache
3) Chris Stone, Hator b Alliens, Gran Apache [AAA TAG, torneo]
4) Pegasso, Super Fly b Espiritu, Scoria [AAA TAG, torneo]
5) Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis II b Barba Roja, Drake, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr.
6) Alberije, el Ángel, El Elegido, Laredo Kid b Abismo Negro, Antifaz del Norte, Histeria, Mr. Niebla
7) Gronda II, Intocable, Super Porky DQ Alan Stone, Scorpio Jr., Zumbido

This was the Octagon tribute show, for 25 years in wrestling, but he was replaced in the main event by Intocable (and Alan fouled him for the loss.) Why didn’t Octagon wrestle? Before the main event, Octagon was honored and given a plaque by Intocable. Octagon made a speech, and dedicated this anniversary to Antonio Pena. Tirantes arrived, and said there was one more who wanted to honor Octagon – Fuerza Guerrera, who honored him by breaking the plaque over his head.

I dunno about you, but I refuse to take this seriously until they actually announce the mask, instead of this “Fuerza reappears every five months, punks out Octagon, and vanishes” bit. It’s not like the match is going to be any good, but they need to do it already.

Mr. Niebla did indeed debut as the newest Viper (as spoiled a day early in Luchas 2000) and under that name, but was overshadowing by continuing Hijo de Tirantes/Abismo Negro issues. The Hell Brothers made a cameo in the Sect tag team match, busting up Espiritu (so he’ll be MIA for the 3v3 main event next taping.) No sign of a Mexican Powers breakup this week; Juvi got fouled in that match, but still manged to win.

UPDATED STANDINGS
P M
9 3 Super Fly & Rey Cometa/Pegasso
6 2 Crazy Boy & Joe Lider *
6 2 Cuervo & Ozz
3 1 Alebrije & El Brazo
3 2 Alan Stone & Zumbido
3 2 Mascara Divina & Oriental
3 2 Charly Manson & Pirata Morgan
3 2 El Angel, Laredo Kid
3 2 Alan & Decnis *
3 2 Chris Stone & Hator
3 3 Espiritu & Scoria
3 3 Alliens, Gran Apache
0 0 Yet To Be Announced Mystery Team On Next Taping *
0 1 Antifaz & Histeria
0 1 El Elegido & Intocable
0 2 May Flowers, Pimpinela Escarlata *
0 2 Juventud Guerrera & Psicosis II

Tournament chart. I’m going to presume unaired matches counted until told different. Is the Caida show still doing updates on this? It’d be nice to compare notes.

Next taping is Thursday. To echo the comments, I’ve also heard 02/04 is the taping after that.

2006 Year In Review: April

the big story: On a non-wrestling TV show appearance, Ciberentico gets into a brawl with ex-boxer turned politician Jorge Kawaghi. All involved act as if the fight is a unscripted incident, which garners a lot of press in Mexico.

On one hand, I totally missed the boat when it happened and didn’t think it was a big deal at the time. On the other hand, I was sure it was a work to begin with – as were many wrestling fans when they saw the video – and eventually the mainstream press caught on. Cibernetico, Antonio Pena and AAA were steadfast in maintaining that this was all real, and keeping up other angles related to Cibernetico, like his feud with Pena. Kawaghi kept up his end by threatening to sue Cibernetico.

Obviously, the idea was to do a Kawaghi/Cibernetico match at some point – it might’ve finally confirmed to all that the fight was never real to begin with, but by then there would’ve been plenty of interest in the story no matter how it was conceived. It was always supposed to put off for a few months, figuring that if it went to the ring right away, it’d look too fake.

As of 01/2007, the match hasn’t happened, and hasn’t even been hinted at in a great long time. Circumstances have conspired against it. Cibernetico suffered a knee injury in the following couple of months, which they managed to weave into the story (Kawaghi’s political clout forced Pena to suspend Cibernetico for the six months he’d need to recover), and Antonio Pena’s illness and death surely affected keeping Kawaghi involved. The shelf life of the angle hasn’t completely expired, but with Ciberneitco’s new tecnico role, it doesn’t seem to work unless Kawaghi is willing to act as the rudo. Looking back, Muerte turning on Cibernetico was the sign that they’d given up on this direction.

Even if the angle never comes off, there was some nice ancillary affects from it. I don’t live in Mexico and I don’t watch a lot of other spanish language TV, so I’m picking this up second and third hand and may be over or under playing it, but it sure seemed like Cibernetico got a lot more mainstream attention int he second half of the year, even much past the initial Kawaghi fight. While out with his knee injury, he was a guest on daytime talk shows, and often they’d do a ‘real unscripted fight’ as with the original Kawaghi bit. Sometimes Cibernetico would be involved, and latter in the year his girlfriend Esterllita would get into fight with Tiffany on these shows. Individually, these were far lesser deals, but it got Cibernetico in front of a lot of female viewers while he was reshaping his gimmick. When he returned to the ring at the end of the year, Cibernetico suddenly had a ton of screaming female fans (and male fans too). A lot of it was being the returning rudo who’s now a tecnico and going to save us all, but the talk show appearances and his new popularity couldn’t have been a coincidence.

I don’t know that Pena figured the mainstream pub of the Kawaghi fight would turn out this way, but establishing Cibernetico as a big tecnico star probably will gross AAA more in the long term than just the one match with Kawaghi would’ve.

Gran Apache beat Billy Boy for his hair: Gran Apache had opposed his daughter Fabi’s relationship with Billy Boy, and was angry when he found out Fabi was pregnant – till he realized/decided it wasn’t Billy’s son. This didn’t sit well with Billy Boy, and he feuded with his father-in-(common?)law leading up to a hair match on 04/30. Due to sparse coverage of AAA, both on their own website and elsewhere, it wasn’t really easy to get a good feel for how over this feud was before this match unless you were watching the TV show (which was still months behind in the US.)

The hair match between Billy Boy and Gran Apache has since been acclaimed as one of the best matches of the year. Bloodied and battered, Billy Boy can not overcome old man Gran Apache, and the match ends with the emotional scene of Fabi bringing her newborn son into the ring to watch as his red faced father gets his hair shaved off. This was AAA doing what it does at it’s best; going in, the thought was Billy Boy needed a win to establish himself as a singles star, but everything coming together as it did a better job of making him as an individual (and he can always get the win later.)

AAA would downplay the feud during the summer (starting a triangle with Gran Apache claiming Brandon was the real father but never really going anywhere with it), but ramp it back up during the fall. Gran Apache would kidnap his grandson, starting another round of matches.

The Mexican Powers debut: On the same show, Juventued Guerrera returned to AAA, starting a new group that was obviously intended to be a mimic of his previous WWE stable. They originally called it the MexiPowers (to be like the MexiCools), but split into two names. Replacing Psicosis was the AAA Psicosis (who left the just reformed Vipers to join this group), and replacing Super Crazy was his cousin, Crazy Boy – who was a CMLL undercarder up until that moment, and had just missed an Arena Mexico show days before, due to injury. Juvi didn’t just borrow from his own WWE group; he also took Rey Misterio’s area code gimmick and got his whole team jerseys with their own area codes.

The Mexican Powers, particularly the non-Juvi members, were way into hardcore/extreme/garbage wrestling styles; that’s how Crazy Boy had made his name, such as it was, on independent shows and AAA gave them free reign. Crazy Boy’s frequent indy partner/rival Joe Lider was later brought into the group to do more of the same style. Some of the younger AAA wrestlers went along with it, some of the older ones didn’t seem too impressed.

The Mexican Powers actually had more legs than the group they were mimicking, and got over well as an undercard tecnico group. Their matches provoked definite opinions – you either liked that style or you hated them (like me), and the wrestlers weren’t that great at doing their stunts; over the course of the year, there were a lot of botches AAA never bothered to edit out.

Other AAA Notes Lots of continuing angles…
– Muerte Cibernetica, Cibernetico’s hired mercenary, started his feud with La Parka Jr.
– Zorro defended the Mexican Heavyweight Champion quite a bit as part of a three way feud with brothers Electro Shock and Zorro. As the feud progressed, Electro was slowly becoming rudo-ish, like his brother.
– Cassandro and Pimpinela Escarlata continued their feud, which never got around to a payoff
– Vampiro, Konnan, Cibernetico and Shocker had a four way chain match, which sounds like it should been a big deal, but wasn’t.
РLaredo Kid, N̩mesis AAA, Super Fly and Rey Cometa, dubbed the New Air Force, made their way up the cards and a feud with the Sect.

Besides the AAA stuff, there were three different important CMLL shows on the month.

Dark Angel beats Amapola for her mask on 04/14: When CMLL restarted the women’s division, Amapola and Dark Angel were initially the rudas, but they stole the match, Dark Angel got over as a tecnica, and everything got redone for that and seemingly a dozen other reasons. The two spent the first part of the year feuding, with Dark Angel yanking Amapola’s mask multiple times, but I don’t it occurred to me how big a deal CMLL was going to make it until it was announced as a semi-main of an Arena Mexico show.

It was proclaimed to be the highest women’s match and first mask match in Arena Mexico history. There was a discussion of women’s lucha libre history in that week’s Box Y Lucha; I was unaware until then that women had been banned for wrestling from around ’58 to ’88 due to local morals legislation (that same that kept lucha off TV.) Dark Angel seemed primed for the top spot in the division, so there as no doubt Amapola was losing her mask in the preview, and she did, but got herself in trouble for storming off after taking her mask, not allowing any of the magazine photographers to get a good shot off her. (I think they’re going to have to position themselves on the ramp to get people as they walk to the back, one of these days.) Amapola apologized for her actions in the press in the days after, but seemed to drop in rank on the ruda side as punishment.

Surprisingly, this win actually didn’t springboard Dark Angel. The match was fine, but outside of winning the CMLL bodybuilding title on her own, she wasn’t given major matches or feuds the rest of the year. She’s still seems to be the fan’s choice, but maybe not the promotions pick for the center.

Mistico & Negro Casas end Averno & Mephisto’s reign, win the tag team titles: Negro finally found the right partner. Title change went down the same day as the mask match. Averno & Mephisto had a great reign as tag champions, especially on the sliding scale for championships in Mexico, defending the titles often, in high visibility, and against top competition. The titles were raised to their highest level since Ultimo & Bucanero were trading them with Negro & Santo. Despite not having the titles, Averno & Mephisto are still casually referred to as the best team in the country and it’s assumed they’ll get the belts back at some point.

As of this writing, Mistico & Negro Casas have been near non-entities as champions. Outside of one defense versus the former champions (to promote Mistico in a music video), CMLL hasn’t done much with the duo as a team and Mistico’s individual issues would’ve made it tough for them to do a lot with this title even if they wanted to. Negro, as a guy who’d been chasing the titles, and Mistico, a frequent opponent of Averno & Mephisto, made sense as a team to finally stop the ex-champs, but didn’t make sense as a team that’d keep the belts valuable.

Guerreros defeat Perros on 04/28: This was the traditional end of April big card by CMLL. The top two matches were another outgrowth of the feud between the two rudo stables.

In the semimain, Ultimo Guerrero defeated Hector Garza to retain the CMLL Light Heavyweight championship.
In the main event, Tarzan Boy & Rey Bucanero beat Mr. Aguila & Damian 666 for their hair.

Neither match ended up meaning all that much by the end of the year; Ultimo and Hector’s match wasn’t as good as it might have sounded, and the double hair match was one you had to strain to remember a few months later. It really had no impact.

What we didn’t know at the time was how this card was probably a compromised rethought out lineup. Apparently, the original plan – maybe for this show, maybe for a show later in the summer – was to culminate the Perros/Guerreros feud with a cage of death match, everyone on both sides involved, and Rey Bucanero taking the loss and losing his hair. Bucanero, having started the Guerreros with Ultimo as his equal partner and since been passed in importance by every new member, balked at taking the loss, and considered a jump to AAA. CMLL changed it’s booking to keep Rey around, turning him tecnico later in the year – which flopped bad. He probably would’ve been better going.

Tecnicos lose on Kids Day!: CMLL ran a special Arena Mexico show on a Sunday, drawing lots of younger fans (at reduced prices) for a Kids Day show. Since the beginning of time, or at least since CMLL started running these years ago, the good guys would win on shows for kids, sending all the children home happy.

In 2006, La Park was a grinch. As noted in previous months recaps, LA Park had some issues with fellow tecnico Dr. Wagner and was upset with the crowd going against him. Despite Wagner not being involved in the main event (it was the Perros versus Negro Casas, Heavy Metal, LA Park and Mistico), LA Park got booed once again. Park became angry and bitter, taking it out on Mistico. He attacked his teammates, and then laid down to allow the Perros to beat him. Park teased joining the Perros at the time, but ended up being an independent rudo (and sometimes a tecnico in other parts of the country.)

historical note: at one point, it was hinted Black Warrior vs Mistico for the masks would happen on 04/30, to give Mistico the big win in front of all the kids, but they wisely waited for a day where they could for full price (and even more than that) tickets.

Stuka Jr. beats Flecha for his mask: This was an opening match feud that slipped under my radar till they were at the mask challenges. Stuka won on a pretty fun Guerreros del Ring show, and then Flecha disappeared off everyone’s radar, wrestling only rarely and not in the main arenas. In hindsight, this was Flecha putting over a youngster one last time on the way out, typical of his career.

Other: US indy wrestler Sabu did a weekend in Mexico, including a bloody brawl in a Luchas 2000 promoted card at Arena Coliseo. Sabu tore a nail off in one of his matches, which actually sidelined him for a bit