03/28: IWRG, Neza, Mexico

IWRG (THU) 03/26 Arena Naucalpan [Al Filo del Ring, Proyeccion Luchistica]
1) Garra de Aguila b Keshin Black
2) Carta Brava Jr. & Mixteco Jr. b Galactik & Mascara Magnifica
3) Chico Che, Freelance, Turbo b Black Terry, Black Thunder, Capitan Muerte
4) Head Hunter I, Head Hunter II, Veneno b Arlequin, Hijo de Pierroth (IWRG), Pierroth II
5) Fuerza Guerrera b Oficial 911 [IWRG IC WELTER]

Fuerza retains the title. The Pierroth/Arlequin alliance fell apart, and a green Arlequin (Arlequin Verde?) showed up to set up a tag feud.

indy (FRI) 03/27 Arena Neza [proyeccion luchistica, Mr. Reyes]
1) Dr. Trauma & Iron Black b Lider & Super Chiva
2) Furia Roja & Motocross b Dragon Extreme & Rey Neza
3) La Parkita & Mascarita de Oro b Espectrito I & Mini Black Cat
4) Hermano Muerte II & Hermano Muerte III b Coco Verde & Cocolores
5) Head Hunter I & Head Hunter II b Fuerza Guerrera & Scorpio Jr.
6) Damian 666, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Halloween b Dr. Wagner Jr., El Hijo Del Santo, La Park

Santo had Perro in the camel clutch, but the Perros broke it up and fouled him for the win. Muertes and Cocos agreed to a mask match.

CMLL (FRI) 03/27 Arena Mexico [Ovaciones, SuperLuchas, ESTO]
1) Sensei & Trueno b Inquisidor & Semental
2) Flash, Leono, Stuka Jr. b Arkangel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Skandalo
3) Ultimo Dragoncito b Pequeno Violencia [lightning]
4) Dragon Rojo Jr., Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca b Hector Garza, Hijo del Fantasma, La Mascara
5) Dos Caras Jr., Mascara Dorada, Shocker b Averno, Mephisto, Terrible
6) Texano Jr., Villano IV, Villano V b Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Ultimo Guerrero

Villano V (announced here as Rey Mendoza Jr.) beat UG clean. Tecnicos took the second in straight falls, DQ in the first for throwing Dorada over the top rope (that only seems to happen to Averno & Mephisto teams) and Shocker & Dos got submissions in the second. Dorada is said to have looked good. Pseudo Poder Mexica won again and demanded a title shot next week.

Ultimo Guerrero tells el Siglo de Torreon he was satisfied with the mask match and wants Villano IV next.

Remember that WWA Middleweight Title match between Angel Blanco and Olimpico, which didn’t seem to make much sense because Mistico seemed to still have the belt. Well, Olimpico is upset, because he won and never actually got the belt. WWA belts = jokes.

WWE’s Rikishi talks about wrestling in Chile.

Terra TV has been running clips from interviews with Santo on their site all week: on Todo x el Todo, indepedent wrestling, CMLL, why he loves lucha libre, and tougest mask matches.

Proyeccion Luchistica also has an interview with female indy wrestler Corazon de Fuego Jr.

LuchaWorld has Robert on 10/13/07 CMLL and Arena Coliseo Monterrey 2004.

CMLL (TUE) 03/31 Arena Mexico
1) Molotov, Sombra de Plata, Trueno vs Artillero, Inquisidor, Super Comando
2) Angel de Oro, Angel de Plata, Sensei vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Hooligan, Vangelis
3) Shockercito vs Fire [hair]
4) Maximo, Mictlan, Shocker vs Felino, Heavy Metal, Mr. Niebla
5) La Sombra, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero

One week build to hair match. That’s IWRG-rific.

CMLL (FRI) 04/03 Arena Mexico
1) Angel Azteca Jr. & Starman vs Apocalipsis & Ramstein
2) Lady Apache, Marcela, Sahori vs Amapola, Hiroka, Princesa Blanca
3) Valiente vs Virus [lightning]
4) La Sombra, Sagrado, Volador Jr. vs Ephesto, Lizmark Jr., Mephisto
5) Hector Garza, Hijo del Fantasma, La Mascara vs Dragon Rojo Jr., Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca [CMLL TRIOS]
6) Blue Panther, Dos Caras Jr., Shocker vs Averno, Terrible, Texano Jr.

Everyone not here is in GDL. They probably should put the title match in the main event, but I don’t think they see anyone besides Garza as a star.

03/27: Mexico, notes

CMLL (FRI) 03/27 Arena Mexico
1) Sensei & Trueno vs Inquisidor & Semental
2) Flash, Leono, Stuka Jr. vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Skandalo
3) Ultimo Dragoncito vs Pequeno Violencia [lightning]
4) Hector Garza, Hijo del Fantasma, La Mascara vs Dragon Rojo Jr., Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca
5) Dos Caras Jr., Mascara Dorada, Shocker vs Averno, Mephisto, Terrible
6) Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Ultimo Guerrero vs Texano Jr., Villano IV, Villano V

Previews: ESTO, Ovaciones. Talk mostly about the rematch in the main event and in the fourt match

AAA wishes Super Porky will in his future endeavors.

Promoting the LA AAA Show, La Parka Jr. talks about his career. First show of the tour is in Fresno tonight, with Rocky Romero scheduled in for Abismo Negro.

TelevisaDeportes is holding a contest to win a meal with Atlantis. You do need to be in Mexico City to enter.

On SuperLuchas, Shocker discusses his imminent singing debut.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news recap.

03/26: IWRG, Zumbimania!, GDL, lineups

IWRG (THU) 03/19 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Epidemia b Galactik
2) Carta Brava Jr. & Heavy Boy b Garra de Aguila & Miss Gaviota
3) Black Terry, Mr. Condor, Muerte Roja b Pendulo, Tetsuya Bushi, Turbo
4) Arlequin, Black Terry, Pierroth II b Chico Che, Fantastik, Multifacetico
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Fuerza Guerrera, Zatura b Hijo de Pierroth (IWRG), Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., Oficial 911

Bushi filled in for Freelance (and worked with the tecnicos) and Garra de Aguila replaced Skayde. Turbo is mentioned here to be the current NWA Mexican Lightweight champion and Mr. Condor (video interview) got to the pin on him to feud with him.

ZUMBIMANIA (FRI) 03/20 Arena San Juan Pantitlan [the Gladiatores]
1) Comando Obscuro L Rey Famthom, Miserbale, Gargola, el Colombiano, Mosco de la Merced (?), Comando Rojo, el Colombiano, Kid Star, Batman del Futuro, Negro Casasola, Dinamico [hair]
2) Esther Moreno & Rossy Moreno b Flor Metalica & La Chola
3) Mini Black Cat, Mini Cibernetico, Mini Ozz, Mini Scorpio b La Parkita, Mascarita Brillante, Mascarita de Oro, Mini Zumbido
4) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Veneno b Emilio Charles Jr. & Scorpio Jr. and Cien Caras Jr. & Mascara Ano 2000 Jr.
5) Intocable b Zumbido [hair]

This was actually a Zumbido produced show. After Intocable beat Zumbido, Zumbido decided to turn tecnico. This annoyed Emilio and Scorpio, who wanted to reform the Guapos, but Intocable went on to announce they were forming a trio with Super Porky. The new pair talked to the Gladiatores after the show.

CMLL (SUN) 03/22 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Acertijo & Mr. Trueno DQ Katana & Malefico [Torneo Tanque Dantes]
2) Palacio Negro & Samurai b Angel del Mal & Infierno [Torneo Tanque Dantes]
3) Meteoro & Gallo DCO Leon Blanco & Thunder Boy [Torneo Tanque Dantes]

Another team change – Meteoero in for Boomerange this time around.

So, I think the standings are:

Team                           Win    Loss    Draw   Points
Boomerang/Meteoro & Gallo	2	0	1       5
Palacio Negro & Samurai         2       1       0       4
Leon Blanco & Thunder Boy       1       1       1       3
Acertijo & Rey & Mr. Trueno     1       2       0       2
Angel del Mal & Infierno        1       2       0       2
Katana & Malefico               1       2       0       2

But it’d neat of CMLL to actually confirm this. It doesn’t bug me as much as the AAA Tag Tournament, because there seems to be a logical pattern I can work together (check the wiki for the last two rounds, including the one yet to be announced) and it’s a tournament of undercard guys for no particular prize, much less than a world title we’re supposed to care about, but I should not have to do math myself to figure out who’s winning.

IWRG (SUN) 03/22 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Eragon & Miss Gaviota b Comando negro & Sangre Africa
2) Freelance, Latin Brother, Mascara Magnifica b Judas el Traidor, Mixteco Jr., the Killer Jr.
3) Andy Barrow, Black Terry, Tetsuya Bushi b Bobby Lee Jr., Multifacetico, Pendulo
4) Cerebro Negro L Gemelo Fantastico II, Trauma I, Trauma II, Universo 2000, Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., Scorpio Jr., Dr. Cerebro, Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Hijo de Pierroth (IWRG), Pierroth II, Gemelo Fantastico I, Zatura [cage, hair]

Cage match must’ve been a late change, because they weren’t scheduled to have one. With people going out, in, out, in, it ended up being Cerebro Negro losing his hair to Gemelo Fantastico. Second hair loss of the year for Cerebro Negro and we’re not out of March.

Abismo Negro stories:
– In a short press conference after the Mexico City funereal, Joaquin Roldan said the name Abismo Negro would not be used. Not sure if that means they just won’t put someone else into the costume, or if Mini Abismo will change his name.
– Among other wrestlers talking about Abismo Negro, Damian 666 says Abismo was dealing with depression, and his wife with cancer.
– One last service for him Wednesday in Villahermosa. The articles both mention Abismo wrestled as Alex Dinamo for two years before switching to Samurai. His first trainer says Abismo started in 1984, which means he would’ve been 13 when he started wrestling.
– There’s a call for the Box Y Lucha comission (both locally and nationally) sancation AAA and their local Cancun promoter for billing someone as Abismo Negro when the real one had already passed.
– El Universal talks to boxers and MMA-ists about how often people use steroids in combat sports.
The Gladiatores has a remembrance.

Juvi apparently sent pictures of his bruised/broken face to the magazine sites, as well as Tercera Caida, with much the same story from his mySpace page (though there’s addiotional bit about Konnan trying to beat him up on a foreign tour long ago, but Juvi fought him off – which explains even less why he was trying so hard to get him in AAA.)

Box Y Lucha quotes Reforma quoting Joaquin Roldan, who’s going with a “it was just supposed to be a joke, wrestlers will be wrestlers” defense. He pretty much says Konnan in charge of the wrestlers, but you’d think the owner might get involved in a situation like this.

AAA is in the US, with the shows starting tomorrow. These’ll be the first big shows since Abismo’s death. No mention on a replacement for him. According to AAA, only the Las Vegas show is a taping.

Toscano will be out 10 to 12 weeks, recovering and rehabbing from right ankle surgery. He had eight screws put in, which means they have to open him back up in a month to take them out after everything’s back in place.

CMLL looks back at Bestia Salvaje, who died a year ago last week.

WagnerMania is auctioning off a shirt autographed by all who were on the Groon XXX benefit show (Wagner, Zumbido, Scorpio, etc) with the proceeds going to Groon. There’s also lots of pictures from WagnerMania shows.

As part of the Guerreros del Ring/el Martiente relationship, kcidis’ cartoons will start appearing in the magazine.

Arena Mexico previews are popping up on Thursday this week, for whatever reason.

La Voz Colorado writes about weekly Wednesday night shows in Denver.

LuchaWorld has Robert on AAA 09/30/07 and CMLL GDR 01/19 and 02/26, as well as KrisZ’s news update.

CMLL (MON) 03/30 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Blue Center vs Policeman & Sauron
2) Asturiano, Fabian el Gitano, Tony Rivera vs Ares, Arkangel de la Muerte, Hooligan
3) Flash, Metro, Stuka Jr. vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus
4) Mascara Dorada, Maximo, Valiente vs Felino, Heavy Metal, Misterioso II
5) Hector Garza, Mistico, Shocker vs Averno, Mephisto, Rey Mendoza Jr.

That’s Villano V as Rey Mendoza Jr. Not sure if it’s a one time thing or a switch; it’s not uncommon to start referring them as their real names, but it is strange for that to be the name billed on the poster.

AAA (SUN) 03/29 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Rey Imagen vs Epidemius
2) Lover Boy & Rey Dragon vs Ejecutor & Mr. Secuestro
3) Aguila Extrema, Relampago, TDN vs Rio Bravo, Tigre Cota, Tito Santana II
4) La Momia vs Virual X
5) Chris Stone & El Elegido vs Billy Boy & Espiritu

AAA (MON) 03/30 Arena Cuatro Caminos Nuevo Laredo [RFC]
1) Fabi Apache & Mari Apache vs Doima & La Hechicera
2) Aerostar, Baby Rap, Estrella Universal, Universitario vs Jaque Mate, Rio Bravo, Tigre Cota, Tito Santana II
3) Alex Koslov, Rocky Romero, X-Pac vs Espiritu, Extreme Tiger, Teddy Hart
4) Alan Stone, El Elegido, Marco Corleone vs Electro Shock, Kenzo Suzuki, Zorro

Funny how, with the company touring US, the guys left behind for the weekly shows are the foreigners. Also, Rocky Romero turns up again (right in between NJPW tours?) Marco Corleone remains Marco Corleone for the moment, but if CMLL wanted control of Axxel’s name, they surely have rights on Marco’s.

CMLL SPARTAN (WED) 04/08 Auditorio Municipal de Tampico [RFC]
1) Transmetal vs Alejandro Montana, Guerrillero, Super Lobo, Mercurio, Iron Boy, Oro Negro, Jimmy Torres [ciber]
2) Shockercito & Tzuki vs Pequeño Damian 666 & Pierrothito
3) Pegasso vs Rey Cometa, Angel de Oro, Angel de Plata, King Boy, Astro de Oro
4) Loco Castillo, Maximo, Volador Jr. vs Black Warrior, Bronco III, Sangre Azteca
5) ? vs ??
6) a replacement for Toscano, Dos Caras Jr., Hector Garza vs Atlantis, Mr. Niebla, Ultimo Guerrero

Said to be a (local) TV taping. Semifinal is for the two finalists of the opener.

03/28 – 29 Lucha Times

box

AAA: Billy/Oriental/Tiffany vs Fabi/Gran/Mari plus Air Force vs Poder Norte. And some other matches.

52MX: Women’s trios and kinda Poder Mexica vs kinda world trios champs.

LATV: With all of Friday on the nonPPV, that should mean the minis match makes it here (hopefully.) Maybe they saved the lightning match for this week too? Plus Mistico/Garza/Shocker vs Ephesto/Niebla/Negro.

—-

CMLL: Guerreros vs Villanos, tecnicos vs Hijos, sorta trios champs vs trios champs rematch.

AAA: Mesias vs Chessman (and maybe a special appearance)

C3: More Negro vs Mistico.

03/25: Abismo Negro, Lucha Libre Expo, Mexico

Weird convergence of events yesterday. On the same day where the lucha community gathered for Abismo Negro’s wake in Mexico City, the lucha community also gathered to for a previously scheduled press conference to announce the third annual Lucha Libre Expo.

SuperLuchas has the most detailed coverage of Abismo Negro’s wake. The body was late in arriving, so there sounds like there was a lot of standing around and talking about what happened. Family, seemingly everyone from AAA was there. Joaquin Roldan is shown leaving Abismo’s mask on the (closed) casket, Mini Abismo is shown where his mask (Black Abyss is mentioned to be there too.) Plenty of other wrestlers who knew him came by – Santo and Heavy Metal turn up in pictures, and Winner’s old partner (and guy who took his mask) Super Calo was there as well, talking about living together with his wife during the early days of AAA (and even before) until their paths went in seperate directions. Tabasco Hoy mentions many wrestlers snuck in without their mask on, to keep the fans hanging around outside from causing a scene.

It’s mentioned that Abismo Negro will be cremated.

On Monday, Arena Puebla held a moment of recognition for Abismo. I do not believe CMLL did that for Anotnio Pena.

Tabasco Hoy has quote from Abismo’s father and el Noruego, the local wrestler who first trained him. There are more quotes from Calo, Santo and Villano V about Abismo elsewhere.

The cause of Abismo’s death is still being discussed, though I don’t think most of the answers will ever escape private discussion. Hijo del Santo says he doesn’t know if Abismo Negro used steroids, but lots of wrestlers are to the point where it’s become a bad copy of the problems in US wrestling. The article also talks to a doctor, who explains that an anxiety act might also explain the strange behavior that led to his death. Meanwhile, AAA is steadfastly sticking to their original story of it being a heart attack and refusing to address the problems with that story (which has done nothing but convince everyone there’s a lot more going on here.)

Earlier in the day, “Lucha Libre, La Experience” held a press conference. This will be third year of the Lucha Libre Expo, once again to be held Centro Banomex the first few days of May (May 1 – 3). CMLL, AAA, Perros del Mal, IWRG, DTU, Wagnermania, and “Luchas de Antano” (new group? UWE?) are all supposed to be putting on matches during the show. I think the Dinamitias might have announced their own group in here as well. Basically, everyone is going to be there. There will also be a second ring for guys like Ringo Mendoza to hold classes, and an MMA group will be part of the show. Tickets will be 150 for adults, 80 for kids for a single day, or 300 for all 3 days. That’s a fine value for $21.

DTU will have a fashion show as part of the festivities, so we can all learn the in look for barbed wire ths season. More notable, they’re bringing in Shiima Xion, el Generico, Jimmy Jacobs and Chris Hero for the show. I sure hope Crazy Boy gets Chris Hero the right visa. Mr. Reyes has lots more pictures of the event.

Ovaciones has the schedule of events as
05/01: IWRG and independents (which include Super Porky – apparently he rumors of him being out of AAA are true)
05/02: CMLL
05/03: AAA (Crazy Boy was there as DTU owner, but AAA otherwise did not have people there to speak for htem)

CMLL (TUE) 03/24 Arena Mexico [ESTO]
1) Puma King & Tiger Kid b Molotov & Starman
2) Pequeno Olimpico, Saturno, Shockercito DQ Fire, Pequeño Warrior, Pierrothito
3) Angel de oro, Angel de Plata, Fabian el Gitano b Euforia, Nosferatu, Skandalo
4) Felino, Lizmark Jr., Misterioso II b Blue Panther, Sagrado, Valiente
5) La Sombra, Mistico, Volador Jr. b Atlantis, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero

Mistico fouled Negro while the referees were checking on dives for the pin, then continued to stomp on him post match. Crowd was totally pro-Negro, who made sure to point it out to Mistico.

Lizmark Jr. replaced Metal. Tecnico minis took in straight falls when Fire fouled Shockercito.

CMLL (TUE) 03/24 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [MT
6) Flash & Mictlan b Satanico & Virus
7) Hector Garza & Shocker b Averno & Mephisto

Garza replaced Toscano. Recap for this is very great and in it’s angel vs demons metaphors. Semimain feels like an upset (/partial injustice.)

Fuerza Guerrera is demanding Jack Evans and Konnan be jailed or kicked out of the country for what they did to his son, and AAA needs to take some responsibility. Hijo de Cien Caras, Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. and Hijo del Santo are mentioned as supporting Juvi. The story says Juvi had to undergo hospitalized for nose surgery. Meanwhile, Juvi showed up at a Perros del Mal show Monday; he’d been booked there, and apologized for not being able to work. There is a picture, with Juvi’s nose taped up and wearing a neckbrace.

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. says the day he loses his mask is the day he ends his career. The interview also talks about him going to Japan and Korea to defend his WWA World Heavyweight championship. I believe all of this. The actual substance of the interview is yet another match with the Dinamitas, which everyone belives.

Guerreros del Ring magazine has launched a website – was it them, or Luchas 2000 who had one previously? They’re kinda low on content right now, but it’s early on. They’re using el Martinete as their message board; there’s a pre-existing relationship there, but more so it makes sense than created yet another board.

WrestlingObserver has it’s AAA recap

LuchaWorld has Robert with Monterrey 10/26/03 (Silva vs Damian & Haloween) and the CMLL MVS shows from 01/12 & 01/13.