06/04-05 Lucha Times

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AAA-US: Fenix alert! Also, a mixed tag team title match, Parka & friends vs the Bizarros and Maniacos vs Tiger/Jack/Metal. Main event sadly lacks a vignette where Heavy & Jack compare musical influences.

52MX: Someone figured out they ought to be airing the Sunday match which has the angle every week, so Gen11/Rayos is back here. 2nd match is surely the main event, the one time trio of Alebrije, Psicosis and Nakamura.

LATV: Minis, Fuego vs Dr. X, Angel de Oro & friends vs Cancerberos and Atlantis/Garza/Volador vs Warrior/Panther/Dorada.

TF: if they’re sticking with GDL, this is the big Volador vs Maximo singles match. I remember when I used to look forward to Volador singles matches. (It was, like, 7 months ago.)

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CMLL-Gala: Women’s trios, Invasors vs Fantasma/Sagrado/Valiente, Angel de Oro vs Polvora, and ex-Hijos de Averno vs Mascara/Sombra/Maximo

AAA: Perros vs Air Force, Bizarros vs team IWRG in predictable AAA Trios tournament action, Chessman/UG vs Electro/Metal and Perro Aguayo Jr. returns to action, bringing along a Perros del Mal finish with him.

FOX: Starman/Blanco vs Disturbio/Mortiz, plus Garza/Niebla/UG vs Panther/StrongMan/Porky

C3: Minis, the second SL cibernetico, Sagrado/Sangre/Stuka vs the Axis Powers (we’re just short an Italian) and Garza/Psicosis/Volador vs Maximo/Rush/Porky

Mega6: the big Metro/Rey Escorpion match!

ACM: really could be anything at this point

Perros: got to figure they’re just reairing the anniversary show for the time being.

GDL, AAA in Naucalpan?, odd lineups

CMLL (TUE) 05/31/2011 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Metalik COR Javier Cruz Jr.
2) Black Metal & Leo b Infierno & Ráfaga
3) Amapola, Princesa Blanca, Tiffany b Goya Kong, Lluvia, Luna Mágica
Goya was back after her trip to the hospital on Friday. Amapola beat Lluvia and stripped her of her mask. This seems to be building to a singles match.
4) Metro DQ Rey Escorpion
Good match, bad foul ending.
5) La Sombra, Strong Man, Toscano b Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero, Shinsuke Nakamura
Tecnicos take 1/3. Nakamura did not impress Fuego en el Ring.

CMLL in Japan
NJPW 06/02: Kota Ibushi [2] b Mascara Dorada [2] (7:38)
Dorada is 1-2. This match MAY turn up on the YouTube channel (though nothing has as of yet.) Dorada’s next match is tomorrow, versus CMLL Welterweight Championship Ryusuke Taguchi.

Other news

There may be an AAA TV taping in Naucalpan next Thursday. Al Filo del Ring said as much earlier this week, when writing about Sunday’s IWRG show. At the same time, AAA’s press release on Saturday’s Neza’s taping says that is the last taping before TripleMania. Maybe they just mean the Naucalpan taping is for after TripleMania?

Radge didn’t miss the Perros anniversary show; he changed his name to Peligro. There was a Peligro in IWRG from 2004 to 2007 (around the time Radge started); maybe he’s actually going back to an old name? Samoth & Maldito Jr. are keeping their names, but also changed their looks.

Chessman talks to Impacto about his short lived futbol career, his start in wrestling (first payday: drink & chicken sandwich) and the other jobs he’s had. When Chessman first was told that name, he was confused – he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be a chess piece or a piece of cheese. I am so sad he was not a piece of cheese. Antonio Pena explained to him it was actually supposed to be the serial killer.

Box Y Luchas has video interviews with Dement Xtreme, Stuka Jr. and Baby Star.

MedioTiempo is starting a new wrestling a channel, which looks like it’ll include contribtions from R de Rudo and Estrellas del Ring. Good luck to everyone.

CMLL posted the Stellar Moments from a few weeks ago.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update. I totally agree with him on the EAW shows. Also, the Alfredo’s weekly ramblings, where I almost receive an email.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 06/05/2011 Arena Coliseo
1) Astro Boy & Enrique Vera Jr. vs Bobby Zavala & Ramstein
2) Starman, Tigre Blanco, Trueno vs Bronco, Mortiz, Semental
3) Ángel Azteca Jr., Ángel de Plata, Rey Cometa vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Dr. X, Skándalo
4) Black Warrior, Blue Panther, Sagrado vs Misterioso Jr., Negro Casas, Volador Jr.
5) Máximo, Rush, Super Porky vs Mr. Niebla, Shinsuke Nakamura, Último Guerrero

Astro Boy! Astro Boy is wildly expected to debut in AAA on Saturday in Arena Neza. This is not a secret at all at this point, everyone saw him at the last AAA TV taping, SuperLuchas reported his new name (Argos), he actually was even trying out a new mask in his last CMLL match which I bet is going to be his new mask in AAA. Astro Boy’s jump isn’t being disputed by anyone (perhaps because it’s only Astro Boy) like the other jump.  The only question is if AAA changes their mind on Saturday and puts someone else in that Fuerza Aerea spot, which is always possible. But Astro Boy is definitely trying to leave this company on Saturday and CMLL is billing him to appear on Sunday. This is the bubble CMLL lives in.

It kind of makes me think Averno’s interview with Record wasn’t only for the fans benefit, but for CMLL upper management. They may still think he’s not going, because someone doesn’t know Astro Boy is going.

Meanwhile, Shinsukue Nakamura has a match with Maximo & Super Porky.

CMLL (TUE) 06/07/2011 Arena Mexico
***Fan Apperciation Day, June (TUE)***
1) Soberano & Trueno vs Apocalipsis & Semental
2) Ayumi, Dalys la Caribeña, Marcela vs La Comandante, Mima Shimoda, Princesa Sugheit
3) Fuego, Metal Blanco, Palacio Negro vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Dr. X, Skándalo
4) Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Virus [CMLL SL]
5) Hijo del Fantasma vs La Máscara, Mr. Águila, Olímpico, Toscano, Metro, Psicosis, Ephesto [NWA LH, cibernetico, semifinal]

Such an aggressively weird lineup! Starting the NWA LH tournament this week sure explains why the Volador/Rush trios match Tuesday didn’t end with a title challenge, there’s not much room for it. (Though looks like Dr. X vs Fuego is back.)

I don’t think any one of the eight guys in this half of the title tournament actually has a chance to win the title; it’s quite a collection of No Hope. In other circumstances, La Mascara would be a favorite, but the point of this tournament is to create a new champion and he’s already got a couple. Hijo del Fantasma is Cursed. Psicosis never wins singles matches. Mr. Aguila barely stuck around after that match with Rey Bucanero; he may be improved but enough to get a title? Olimpico or Toscano or Ephesto in 2011 seems about 10 years too late (though any one of them opens the door for Ultimo Guerrero has too much power jokes.) Metro? Metro??? I think the answer might be “whoever’s the best opponent for the guy who wins next week”. I’ve got a hunch that it needs to be a tecnico here, so Metro, why not. (Because it should’ve been Fantasma.)

Ayumi is in! She’s not facing Amapola (???). Sobreano is around (???), he hasn’t been in a match in CMLL since 09/2008. Virus looks like the slight favorite.