Month: January 2009

01/17: Mexico, NWA Mexico

thecubsfan 47 Comments

CMLL (FRI) 01/16 Arena Mexico [Ovaciones, ESTO]
1) Metálico & Sombra de Plata b Camorra & Zayco
2) Amapola, Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sujei b Dark Angel, Marcela, Sahori
3) Virus b Máscara Púrpura [lightning]
4) Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Villano V b Blue Panther, Shocker, Toscano
5) Héctor Garza, Mark Corleone, Místico b Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero
6) La Sombra & Volador Jr. b Averno & Mephisto [CMLL TAG]

I think it’s too soon, still, but it’s also pretty cool. Ovaciones times the match at 40 minutes (so expect no more than 25), with the first two falls going 5 minutes. Rudos stook the first, which ESTO says was very techinical and booed by the crowd. The tecnicos won the second – except Sombra hurt his arm on a tornillo and Volador had to go it alone to finish off both rudos. Sombra was taken to the back by medical personal, and Volador continued going it alone for “twenty minutes” of the final fall. Volador managed to defeat Averno, but Mephisto crushed him with two powerbombs. Mephisto wanted the belts, but the referees pointed out Sombra had just returned, so the match must go on. They battled for a few minutes longer, and Sombra reversed a cruceta into a pin for the win.

Volador and Sombra are the 29th champions, each winning this title for the first time. This is the first time Volador has won a World title. At age 19, Sombra is a triple crown champion, holding a singles title (NWA Welterweight), a tag title, and a trios title (Mexican National with Sagrado and Volador.) This is the second straight title reign for Averno & Mephisto which has ended without a successful defense.

This obviously puts even more interest in Monday’s title match in Arena Puebla between Sombra and Mephisto – will their be a title swap or will Sombra hold on to all three belts?

The big news in the semifinal is Mistico won a finishing hold that was NOT La Mistica. A new move! Everyone gets to shut up now. Atlantis and Mistico ripped each other’s masks.

Villano V got Panther to submit to win their match.

In Barranquilla, Colombia, El Hijo del Santo does the usual career talk, and also compares himself to Sammy Davis Jr.

Box Y Luchas has added new galleries, including India Sioux (original), el Sanguinaro (original), Los Bengalas and Los Dinamicos

SuperLuchas looks back at the Can-Am Express vs Texano Sr. & Silver King, mask vs hairs.

Ohtani’s Jacket watched Blue Demon Jr. vs El Hijo del Santo, with a pretty dead-on description of Blue Demon Jr. as a wrestler.

LuchaWorld has Robert on Guadalajara from 07/07 and CMLL 07/13/07

No CMLL lineups. Been waiting all morning but again they’re delayed.

NWA MEXICO (SAT) 01/31 Restaurant el Rancho, Tepotzotlan [SuperLuchas]
1) Eragon vs Trauma I
2) Extrano vs Alma Infernal
3) Angus vs Skayde Jr.
4) Pendulo vs Black Spider
5) Último Vampiro vs Mr. México
6) Blue Demon Jr. & el Hijo Del Anibal vs El Dandy & Septiembre Negro

Yes, it still exists. Been a bit quite for a while. They’re saving their money here by running a restaurant and a super cheap undercard. The main event is going to draw whatever they’re going to draw anyway. This is supposed to be the first show as part of a tour. SuperLuchas mentions Demon is headed to Japan from 03/17 to 03/23.

01/16: Mexico preview, Puebla

thecubsfan 6 Comments

CMLL (FRI) 01/16 Arena Mexico
1) Metálico & Sombra de Plata vs Camorra & Zayco
2) Dark Angel, Marcela, Sahori vs Amapola, Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sujei
3) Máscara Púrpura vs Virus [lightning]
4) Blue Panther, Shocker, Toscano vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Villano V
5) Héctor Garza, Mark Corleone, Místico vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero
6) La Sombra & Volador Jr. vs Averno & Mephisto [CMLL TAG]

Previews: ESTO, El Sol de Cuatutla, Ovaciones hypes the tag team title match, with quotes from the challengers. There’s a note mentioning Averno & Mephisto had 15 defenses in their title run, exactly as much as listed in the wiki, yet still no mention of the wiki. I think I’m being trolled by a major sports daily.

Anyway, as it turns out, at least one of the challengers is returning the title defense:

CMLL (MON) 01/19 Arena Puebla
1) King Jaguar, Super Star, SWAT vs Aguila Guerrera, Ares, Toro Bill Jr.
2) Blue Center, Lestat, Tigre Rojo vs Karisma, Policeman, Toro Bill Sr.
3) Dark Angel, Lluvia, Marcela vs Hiroka, Princesa Sujei, Rosa Negra
4) La Máscara, Místico, Valiente vs Black Warrior, Dragon Rojo Jr., Sangre Azteca
5) La Sombra vs Mephisto [NWA WELTER]

HMMMM. Normally I’d be pretty confident of Sombra defending the title, but CMLL going Sombra -> Mephisto -> Mistico in Japan is not inconceivable. NWA’s a rare kind of title Mistico doesn’t hold, it’d mean more in Mexico, and, if Mistico starts fighting NJPW guys, it’s not a title CMLL would mind losing to another promotion for a long while. The title change is also not likely, but the possibility exists and grows if there’s a title change tonight.

And I guess we should talk about that. Ovaciones is pretty on when it notes this is Sombra and Volador’s big change to prove themselves as top wrestlers, and I think that’s pretty accurate. It’s a rare chance of breaking out of Mistico’s shadow and maybe satisfy those who like his style but want to see something new. I don’t figure on a title change – it feels much too soon – but this could be a pretty memorable match.

[poll id=”15″]

It’s worth noting Mephisto and Averno have only lost the tag team titles to teams with Mistico. Not muc hype for anything else. Guerreros team up against Mistico and friends in the semimain. More Panther/V5 in the fourth. Purpura/Virus could be good. Blanca debuts as an offical ruda, and I wonder if we’ll get the title match with Marcela before the end of the month.

CMLL posted the GDL results. I’m skipping reposting them because there’s not much news in them, but it’s worth noting Neutron’s beat Satanico’s team on Sunday. Since the Gallo feud, Satanico been pretty much constantly putting people over here.

SoloLuchas has interviews with Super Pinocho and Enrique Vera Jr.

Kcidis shows of some Hijo del Faraon designs, now on t-shirts.

LuchaWorld has Robert on AAA 06/17/07 and CMLL 52MX on 07/21/07

Clip: I think I’ve seen enough cooking shows travling to Mexico City for the food that I know I can write the segment by heart. There’s the scene setting shot in the Zocalo, there’s the trip to see some lucha libre (and perhaps try it out), there’s riding the boats on the canal and there’s lot of eating. The difference with this one – No Reservations – is the lucha libre they went to see is AAA, not CMLL. In the clip below, the host travels to Gimansio Latino America and tries to fight Octagon. Finally, Octagon taking no offense is an advantage!

CMLL FSE #125 (12/28)

thecubsfan

taped 12/19, 12/21/08, aired 12/28.

Old old old! This recap is so old, I’m not sure if I should make a deal about it being the last FSE episode. Been there, done that, perhaps seen it undone.

Women’s match was really nothing time wise, which gave a lot of time for the lightning match. I like the idea of giving more guys opportunities, but this one wasn’t taken. Polvora must’ve figured that since he ‘won’ this match via winning the bodybuilding contest, he ought to just show off his built body. Did not work. Not Flash’s most solid match either, though he got all the highspots (Polvora wasn’t any more interesting selling, either.)

It’d be helpful if there was some better way to prep the crowd for these. We may see it as two interesting match of young guys trying to prove themselves, but this crowd clearly felt like two non-stars were being inflicted on them and they’d rather their time not wasted. This wasn’t a good enough match to win them back.

Main event was okay. It was just A match, the kind I’ll be okay with missing for a while.

01/15: Notes

thecubsfan 8 Comments

Just like ESTO the other day, Ovaciones has an interview with IWRG’s Yack. He hopes to get a shot at Fuerza’s IWRG welterweight or Negro Casas’ IWRG middleweight title. Interesting that they still haven’t just stripped the CMLL guys of their belts (though IWRG’s better off not having as many floating around.) There’s also previews of today’s IWRG card, the Toreo Requim shows, and AAA’s taping.

Box Y Lucha articles, from two editions ago
– Villano III talks about wrestling on the holidays, often far from home
– Interviews with Marcela, the Traumas, Villano 3 (doesn’t think CMLL has a problem when them working other shows – seems right) and Jr. Pirates. Pirata Jr. and Barba Roja say they’re going to the US for three months starting in March, but do not say where. They’re talking to the Perros about working there before they leave, and they’d like to work in CMLL in 2009.
– Mascarita Dorada has NO problem with AAA putting another under the Mascara Sagrada mask. For one, it’s their character so they can do what they want. (For another, he was the same guy.) Sagrada says he’s more interesting in protecting his mask in the cage match than with Freelance’s challenge.
– There’s also a video interview with La Marquesa, who’s part of the extended Pirata family.

The Miami Herald talks to Nikki Roxx about her career, including her time in Mexico. They say she worked in CMLL, but I believe it was only AAA (besides the LLF/Monterrey stuff.)

AAA says they’re redoing their website this weekend and it may be done for a stretch. They’re already redoing it?

Record Lucha #6 has Perro Aguyao and Cibernetico as independents.

SuperLuchas looks back at a Dos Caras taking Scorpio Jr.’s hair.

Ohtani’s Jacket watch the Santo trios match from Lucha Libre London. I need to watch that.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

GDL Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 01/18 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Thunder Boy vs Acertijo
2) Carlo Roggi & Ebola vs Depredador (GDL) & Exterminador
3) Hijo del Faraon, Metal Blanco, Metatron vs Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno, Semental
4) Angel de Oro & Volador Jr. vs Rey Bucanero & Satánico
5) Héctor Garza, La Máscara, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero [CMLL TRIOS]

Volador and Rey replace Angel de Plata and Infierno. Angel de Oro is still listed as working Coliseo too, but that’s gotta be the error now.

CMLL (TUE) 01/20 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Dragon vs Katana
2) Aztaroth vs Angel del Mal
3) Virgo vs Rafaga
4) Metal Blanco vs Semental
5) Neutrón vs Mr. Trueno
6) Angel de Oro & Angel de Plata vs Loco Max & Satánico
7) Héctor Garza, Toscano, Volador Jr. vs Felino, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero

Too many Angels.

Charly Manson joins the Perros

thecubsfan 3 Comments

Perros del Mal announced yesterday that Charly Manson is joining the group. Box Y Lucha has a brief about it, SoloLuchas has quotes from a (tele?)conference about it with Perro Jr. There’s also a Diario Record story aruonds somewhere. Perro said they’re not sure how far Charly is along on rehab, but they’ll talk to him and announce a start date. That makes no sense, if you stop to think about it. How exactly did that conversation take place?

Charly: “Perro, I’d like to come work with you and team with Ciber-”
Perro: “Great! I’ve got to call the press and let them know!”
Charly: “Don’t you want to know when I can start?”
Perro: [has already hung up]

The other thing is, AAA was paying Charly while he was out hurt. They do that with all the injured wrestled – there was a Laredo Kid interview linked here a while back that mentioned it – and while it’s not what they get paid while they work (and quite probably not enough), it’s an income. Plus, he’s appearing on TV now and getting paid for that.

It’d be really great if the Perros could afford to do the same, but it’s inconceivable that they could afford to support someone who got hurt in another promotion and isn’t yet ready to wrestle. They’re only getting money for working shows and selling merchandise, and that money is dived up already to the people who are working. There’s still no TV deal. If they’re making so much money that everyone involved is getting all the money they want, and they have left over money to pay to people not involved, they’d be far exceeding the most optimistic projections for the company. And that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Which leaves two possibilities

1) AAA pays injured guys so little, Charly decided to just skip it and hang out with his friend Cibernetico
2) this is a(nother) worked departure from AAA to set up a big return later

With Cibernetico, I said it was a work because it looked like works I’d seen before. With Charly, I hope it’s a work, because if it’s not, it kinda says some really terrible things about how AAA (and lucha promotions in general) treat wrestlers who get hurt in their ring. Some things we probably already knew, but still depressing to see.

There’s circumstantial evidence to back up it being a work. AAA was building a Charly/Chessman match, but if Chessman’s going to be involved with the Circus, the Sect, and the Atomicos titles, then there’s no hanging storyline for Charly. If this was a work, it’d be better for Charly to go to Perros and be part of that group when they (inevitable) come back to AAA – he’ll give them a new act and more credibility to the group to help keep it afloat. Plus, the Perros shows seem to have plenty of healthy people talking and not doing much already, so an injured guy doing the same would fit right in.

Charly joining the Perros doesn’t seem to be a huge surprise to those reporting the story. It’s (now) mentioned he was seen at some of the shows, hanging around with Cibernetico.

01/17-18 Lucha Times

thecubsfan 12 Comments

chart

I’m kinda confused on AAA. I actually have a copy of the show that aired in Mexico this week, and I believe they just aired a repeat. I’m pretty sure Chessman/Zorro (and Padrino’s debut) aired two weeks ago, but here it was on again. Or was that episode pre-empted and I forget? See, I’m confused.

AAA-US: whatever the case, the first show from Xapala should air in teh US this week.

52MX: as confirmed by CMLL, the minis cage match airs here. Probably also the 4th match (Ephesto/Terrible/Texano vs Panther/Marco/Shocker), so…

—

FS-MEX: …this show can get another Infernales/Flash & Stuka match, and the Warrior/Mistico trios match to set up the singles match airing on this show next week.

CMLL: Listed as two hours, but the listings haven’t been that accurate lately. Tag title match is what you’re watching for here.

AAA-MEX: from the last taping of 2008. Maybe the whole taping, since they should have fresh footage next week.

C3: Dos! Looks like they’re airing repeats of this show thru the week now.