CMLL on Televisa (01/02)

Again, thanks to the YouTubes! I actually thought to put in links this time!

taped Arena Mexico, 09/18/2009

La Máscara, La Sombra, Volador Jr. vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto – why in the world did this air? Let me try this another way: if you’re interested in Volador looking like a star, why would you air a match where he seems completely out of his mind? It seemed like he was concussed, but there wasn’t an obvious moment where it happened. I dunno – Poder Mexica vs Fantasma/Dorada/Sagrado probably would’ve been a better idea, and most people wouldn’t have remembered this match existed otherwise.

Atlantis, Black Warrior, Héctor Garza, Último Guerrero vs Jushin Liger, Naito, Shigeo Okumura, Yujiro – given hindsight, it’s clear why they had Liger beat UG here, but the crowd sure seemed dead when it happened. It doesn’t sound like it actually was based on Alan’s report, but it came off deflating. And, to a lesser extent than the opener, why does this air? It’s chapter 2 of a story, where chapter 3 already aired and probably won’t air again anytime soon. (Maybe it’s a subtle setup for something to come?)

Místico vs Negro Casas in hair/mask match – to complete the trifecta, this was kinda disappointing to. Clearly, the two matches from the spring exceeded this one, even before the messed up finish. Seemed like they were aiming more to turn the fans behind Mistico than the aesthetics of the match, which makes sense but doesn’t seem to have actually worked. Alas.

(we’ll take a break from these tomorrow. If someone’s actually reading these, feel free to let me know.)

AAA #919 (01/02) – Guerra de Titanes part 1

taped @ Centro de Convenciones, Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, 12/11/2009

Mascarita Divina vs Mini Histeria, Mini Charly Manson, Mini Psicosis, Octagoncito, Mini Abismo Negro, Mini Chessman, La Parkita, Mascarita Sagrada 2007 for the AAA World Minis Championship in an elimination match – I wonder how much this got off track with Divina’s sad injury – he’d been in a groove the last months, but it’s was a crazy risky move and this happens – because three tecnicos going down in a row doesn’t feel like the plan. They kinda worked off it with Octagoncito versus the world, but I’d still rather see a trios or atomicos or just the straight Mini Abismo vs Mini Charly match.

Fabi Apache vs Sexy Star in a hair match and post match – horrible. This was the worst match they’ve had in this feud, the finish was over the top, and Fabi made it pretty clear the short hair cut was all she was doing by taking that bow at the end. They had given the fans all they were going to give, there’s a final bow, now let’s all get out of here. I don’t want to overhype this, because there’s plenty of bad in AAA in ’09, but this might have been the worst. (Or maybe it was later on Guerra de Titanes.) This was not a complete disaster – no one got hurt! everyone was safe to wear a cap another day – but no human being could have seen this match and thought the booking of this match was the way to go.

El Elegido, Extreme Tiger, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Electroshock, Silver King, Último Gladiador – a match. I guess the WagnerManiacos interview-only angle of wanting to recruit Pimpi is not happening now? I dunno, this will never be followed up on.

Cibernético vs Konnan in a street fight match – Why did Rain turn? Was the plan for Cibernetico to beat them all up for a while? That seems like a dumb plan! This was a dumb match! Why have Parka make the save if they’re not doing a Parka/Cibernetico team? (The Circus would’ve made less sense, but it would’ve been more delightfully insane.)

AAA to hold tryouts in Los Angeles this Tuesday

PWInsider has the details. As I do not hate you or your computers, I suggest you actually DO NOT click on that link unless you’ve got some strong ad blocking software going on. The actual details are just below. Thanks to Masked Republic for the tip on twitter.

Tryouts are Tuesday at noon at the Fit Pit Pro Wrestling School (6628 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91603.) That’s the same address as Slam City Pro Wrestling, so maybe it’s the same thing? Not sure.

Announcing a tryout with four days warning, at noon, is probably not going to give you the best and most complete selection of talent possible, but there’s so much that’s wrong here that I feel like even that’s not worth pointing out. At some point, you’ve got to wonder why AAA just doesn’t cease promoting in Mexico and restart as a southern California indy. Sure, they would be broke, but they’d be happier and I’m all for happy people.

To make this very clear: it makes absolutely no sense for a Mexico based promotion to be holding open tryouts in Mexico. It makes no sense to fly/house an American in Mexico to be roster filler when there are dozens of guys who’d kill for that chance, and one who would’ve made a difference (if such a thing exists) could probably be found without a tryout. Much less one at a weird time with little warning. The only way this makes sense is if they’re planning on running shows in southern California and need guys to fill out the opening matches because they’re going to save money by not flying Poder del Norte and the Dark Family out, and even then, not even sure why you bother with the tryouts. Just have the local indy find people for the opening matches, like they do with every spot show they run in Mexico.

Something doesn’t quite add up. Unfortunately, with AAA’s decisions of late, this seems to indicate something dumb is going on, not that a piece is missing.

At the same time, if anyone reading this is tempting into going, please email and let me know how it goes. I’m dying for a report on this one, I might find some DVD or something else to give to you.

01/31 Perros del Mal (and TxT) lineup

PERROS (SUN) 01/31 Sala de Arams Magdalena Mixhuca
2) Cósmico & Mini Parkita vs Mr. Aguilita & Talisman
3) Celestial, Hijo del Lizmark, Súper Nova vs ?, Pesadilla, Veneno
4) Groon XXX, Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Oriental vs Damián 666, Halloween, Mr. Águila
5) C. Manson vs X-Fly [super libre]
6) El Hijo Del Santo & LA Park vs Blue Demon Jr. & el Hijo del Perro Aguayo

Poster is up on their facebook page. Tickets are 40 for kids, 60 for adults, 150 for ringside, and go on sale on Thursday. No TV outlet is mentioned. There’s an unannounced opener, and Alan’s guess of it being a Skayde/Turbo bit makes sense.

The big C. Manson/X-Fly match! And also Demon/Santo. There’s no Todos el x Todos logo on the poster – there presence seems limited to Santo & Demon appearing in the main event. Clearly, how well this show does will go a long way into determining in if the apuesta match actually occurs. Even for one show, trading the 2.0 Vipers for Demon/Santo seems to be an upgrade.

Super Nova’s not supposed to start up with WWE for a while longer, but this may be about it. I wonder if Hijo del Lizmark will be good to go by this date.

NPI blocks, NJPW/CMLL, year end awards, Misterio, ROH, AAA/US

CMLL had one of it’s near-monthly press conferences yesterday. In usual CMLL fashion, news from the press conference leaked out slowly and spottily. So far, via CMLL’s Twitter, ESTO, superluchas, TV Deportes, Ovaciones, and CMLL.com

  • The National Parajes Increidible tournament was formerly announced and many of the teams were there to talk about their participation. This is being pushed as part of the nebulous Nueva Era concept, though I still expect it to look a lot like the tournaments of the previous era (short, unsatisfying.) CMLL has the block breakdown.

Block A
– Volador Jr. & Terrible (Monterrey)
– Mr. Niebla & Maximo (DF)
– Epehsto & Euforia (Laguna)
– Mistico & Averno (DF)
– Hijo del Fantasma & Mephisto (DF)
– Blue Panther & Misterioso II (Laguna)
– Atlantis & Mascara Dorada (GDL)
– Sombra & Dragon Rojo Jr. (Laguna)

Block B
– Texano Jr. & Rush (GDL)
– Ultimo Guerrero & Stuka Jr. (Laguna)
– Shocker & Sagrado (GDL)
– Rey Bucanero & Valiente (DF)
– Felino & Sangre Azteca (DF)
– Hector Garza & Toscano (DF)
– Negro Casas & La Mascara (DF)
– Ray Mendoza & Brazo de Plata (DF)

Everyone talked about how they were going to put regional pride ahead of personal differences.

  • CMLL/NJPW issues were build up more. Terrible, Texano, Naito and Okumura (playing the role of Yujiro) discussed the IWGP tag team championship match on 02/14. Terrible & Texano said they’d cheat again to win, while Naito pointed out it’ll be a NJPW referee for this rematch. The conversation nearly ended in punches, of course. Terrible & Texano leave for Japan on 02/12 and return on 02/15. Next NJPW tour starts on 01/27, so Naito’s presumably gone a few days before that.In related news, NJPW will be sending Taichi, Giant Benard, Jushin Liger, and Tanahashi (spelled as Tamaguchi in one place; gotta remember to feed it!) to CMLL.Only Taichi is announced with a firm date (02/14). Given his age, this might be an extended trip. CMLL seems to be building it up as much, but I’m sure we’ll get better info from NJPW.

    I don’t know if I want to see the entire match, but I now desperately want to see Giant Benard batte with STRONG MAN.

    Averno & Ultimo Guerrero also got to talk about letting down the entire country of Mexico by losing in the Tokyo Dome.

  • The new trios champs of Mascara Dorada, Metro and Stuka Jr. were presented, with Sangre Azteca running into challenge for a rematch on behalf of his team. Sangre really should set his sights a little higher. He was actually there to talk about the last tour of Europe, and to hand over a Key to the City they got while in France.
  • CMLL will hold internet voting to determine the best of CMLL. The awards and candidates
    • Novato: Delta, Diamante, Rush, Angel de Oro
    • Revelacion: Vangelis, Mascara Dorada, Polvora, Dragon Rojo Jr.
    • Luchadora: Amapola, Marcela, Dark Angel, Lady Apache
    • Extranjero: Strong Man, Yujiro, Naito, Liger
    • Parejas: Volador & Sombra, Terrible & Texano, No Limit, Averno & Mephisto, Ultimo Guerrero & Atlantis
    • Trio: Guerreros de la Atlantida, Angeles Rebeldes, Peste Negro, Hijo del Avenro, Super Sky Team
    • Tecnico: Blue Panther, Shocker, Hector Garza, La Mascara, La Sombra (no Mistico?)
    • Rudo: Negro Casas, Ultimo Guerrero, Mr. Niebla, Terrible, Averno
    • Mas Popular: Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Volador Jr., Mr. Niebla

Voting is up now and runs thru 02/14. My quick picks are Angel de Oro (was around longer), Mascara Dorada, Amapola, STRONG MAN (or maybe Naito), Terrible & Texano, Peste Negra, uh Sombra I guess, Negro Casas, and Mistico.

  • Remember the contest to win a home? (It’s tough not to, they plug it every single match.) 300 people signed up for the contest, but only 55 remain – having bought a ticket every week – after about a month of it. I would’ve figured there were more CMLL diehards than that, but then I had no idea you had to sign up for it.

Also at the press conference, Hector Garza says he’d like to win Ultimo Guerrero’s title and mask. So would I, but I don’t think it’s happening for either of us. Their non-title (and non-apuesta) singles match headlines tonight’s Arena Mexico show, which may or may not actually air. Leaning heavily to “not”.

Rey Misterio Jr. did a satellite interview tour in Mexico this past week to promote next month’s tour. In ESTO, he said he’s two to three years away from retirement, depending on how a post-WrestleMania surgery goes. He doesn’t see Dos Jr., Incognito or Super Nova replacing him, because he doesn’t feel like WWE does that with anyone, they just try to make everyone new and different person. (He also said he’d face Undertaker and Batista in a three way at the Royal Rumble, which I believe is either spoiler or a change of plans, since it’s a singles match at the moment.)

Ring of Honor is working with former WCW promoter Gary Juster on it’s 04/03 show in Charlotte. After WCW, Juster promoted some lucha shows in the Atlanta area, and it’s probably not a coincidence they’ll be using lucha libre wrestlers (and advertising it in the Hispanic media, the key!). There was no promotion mentioned in the press release about this, and I’m reasonable sure this means it’ll be indy lucha guys who would appeal to people on message boards. (Think Perros del Mal, and then think the guy who is not a Perro.)

Kinda with the same idea of marketing to lucha libre fans for ROH-type indy shows, I noticed local Chicago lucha GALLI was promoting next week’s Dragon Gate show in Chicago, with some discounted tickets for kids. Plenty of tickets are apparently still available (though I already have mine.)

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter mentions Naito specifically asked to come back to Mexico, because he had fun working on top.

Also, and stop me if you’ve heard this before, but AAA is talking about moving into the US market. Also, Teddy Hart is on thin ice. Also, the sun is due to come up tomorrow. Anyway, included in the discussion about AAA moving to the US (setting up offices in Texas or California and getting better TV), there’s also talk about a change in the creative team, bringing in big outside talent (also not new) and working with TNA again.

WON also mentioned Heavy Metal (and Black Warrior) as coming in. Metal would be very interesting. He left AAA back in 2005 after making a “it’s either Konnan or me” demand to Antonio Pena when Pena was bringing Konnan back. Pena obviously went with Konnan, but that would seem to indicate his feeling about Konnan at the time. But things do change over time.

Black Terry Jr. posted photos of last night’s Arena Naucalpan show. Looks like Gringo Loco has converted Avisman & Hijo del Diablo to proud Americans. I hope they’re using Toby Keith music.

AAA continues it’s series of interviews with Crazy Boy, who talks about dropping his ultraviolent style For The Children.

VassaloVision, a tiny Hispanic network previously only existing in Houston, has expanded to Las Vegas. They list lucha libre on Saturday and Sunday afternoons; I’m guessing this is either the AULL or Tijuana stuff being repeated again.

Perros del Mal has a picture teaser of their 01/31 show with Santo and Demon.

Cronicas and Leyendas looks back at Andre’s debut in Mexico

DJ Spectro shows off his new Rudos vs Rudos feature.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update and the latest Slamin’ Stan!

IWRG (SUN) 01/17 Arena Naucalpan
1) Guizmo vs Guerrero 2000
2) Dinamic Black & Eragon vs Alan Extreme & Hijo del Signo
3) Angelico, Chico Che, Zatura vs ?, El Hijo del Diablo, Veneno
4) Canek & el Hijo del Canek vs Hijo del Pantera & Pantera and Exodia & Olímpico and Negro Navarro & Trauma I [IWRG IC TAG, semifinal]

This is listed as a father/son tournament to define new tag team champs. (So long, Ricky Cruzz & Scorpio Jr. – wait, why you ever the champs to start with?) Block B is next week,with the finals on the 31st.

Guessing the other four teams: Piratas and Mascaras Ano 2000s both worked the father/son match (this will be the same rules – fathers take their sons place when eliminated.) The Brazos have been around enough that one ought to fit in here. The 8th team is more of a question mark. Maybe Signo returns for one match? Maybe Diablo Jr. does? Maybe Negro Navarro works twice? Maybe they reveal a new family relationship? Maybe Black Terry Jr. jumps in the ring and starts beating people with his camera? Many questions.

They’ve seemed to be going in a Canek/Pirata feud; I thought maybe that was leading to a mask match (which would definitely explain why Hijo del Pirata Morgan is here and not Pirata Morgan Jr.), but a tag title feud makes as much sense.

IWRG on TeleFormula #8 (12/26)

taped @ Arena Naucalpan 12/20/2009

Angelico, Bushi, Freelance vs Black Terry, Trauma II, Veneno part 2 – Part 1 is the one you want to see, where Angelico and Trauma II play a game of HORSE with submissions. Surely the idea of having Angelico go second is so he’d get the big reaction for matching. The fans cheered for Trauma II in the end, so sometimes plans don’t work out well. Angelico is easily better than the director here, as they MISSED THE FINISH OF THE MATCH. No replay either.

Canek & el Hijo del Canek vs Hijo de Pirata Morgan & Pirata Morgan and Negro Navarro & Trauma I and Máscara Año 2000 & Máscara Año 2000 Jr. and Exodia & Olímpico and Hijo del Pantera & Pantera – maybe it wasn’t going to be, before Olimpico got hurt, but this felt like a mess to me. Just random brawling and random finishes to set up a Canek/Pirata Morgan battle I didn’t want to see. Canek is Canek, but Pirata seems slower in IWRG. Maybe it’s just my memory.