06/02-06/03 lucha times

box

Two issues to cover:

The other IWRG show: IWRG Sunday tapings, for the last few months, are airing on obscure cable channel VibraTV. It’s a station small enough to only be carried by Cablevision in Mexico City. It’s additionally confusing because another group (CanalDVD) seems to buying the TV time themselves and using it to put IWRG on the channel themselves. The station has a website, http://www.canalvibratv.mx/, and streams the station on the home page.

The show airs Sundays. It’s listed as 10:30AM to 11:30AM. I started recording about 10:15 last Sunday, but you saw that I still missed part of the first match. I’ll be checking at 10 AM…assuming I’m up and around by 10AM.

how I’m recording these streams: I don’t know that I’ve mentioned this, though it was not supposed to be any secret. I’ve just bounced around trying stuff and haven’t been happy enough with anything to recommend. Maybe other people have better ideas.

The software I’m using right now is called MediaBox. The program tracks all incoming streams when it’s running. You can select any stream to Record, though you’ll need to refresh the feed to get the recording to start. The stream is saved in whatever video type it’s being streamed in (FLV for both GDL and IWRG), and it’s easy to convert as long as you stop the feed properly – hitting the stop button and not just closing feed.

There are some problems. It’s a random piece of software on the internet, so you never know what you’re actually getting. An earlier version of the software totally screwed up my computer. I had to go back a Restore Point to get it to work. I haven’t had the same problem with the newer version, but I’d still suggest you back up before you install it (and then reboot to see if everything still works.) It’s a a Chinese program that’s been translated to English, though not perfectly. It seem to be timing out at recording 1:45, though that may just be the feeds I’ve tried of late. And there’s no way to set this up to record that I’ve found, you have to repeat the process each time. There’s an attached piece of software called Blader included that seems to store the recording info, but this version of it hasn’t worked well.

Is there something steadier? I think I’d be willing to pay a reasonable amount for a program which would record streams reliable and without needing me to be there to hand hold every time. Free would be nicer, but something that actually works trouble free is the goal.

=== CMLL ===

Galavision/Television: Easy enough this week. The Ephesto/Stuka lightning match, the minis match, and the last Escorpion/Warrior trios.

FOX: leaving this show with the women’s trio to follow up on last week’s DQ, and Dragon/Volador/Yujiro vs Sombra/Marco/Dorada

C3: Yujiro vs Rush build.

52MX: I’m still not sure what’s going on with the Puebla matches, but this should be the Stuka/Sangre Azteca match. Stuka/Sangre and the build to Diamante Azul/UG should air.

Puebla: Not listed on entutele.com’s schedule, but Jose said the cage match airs this week. I go with the people who broadcast the show over website listings. I have no idea why Puebla matches are airing on two different networks.

GDL: Volador vs La Mascara, plus a cibernetico, plus a Gallo match. That sure sounds like a GDL show.

LATV: who knows

=== Other ===

AAA: Night of Champions. Main show should get at least the Cruiserweight, Trios and Latin American championship bouts, and either the minis or Reinas title. The remaining matches will turn up on the regional show.

ACM: matches from the all Serious Wrestling show last weekend?

IWRG-TVC Deportes: the show going on right now, with Rey del Ring.

IWRG-Vibra: Navarros/Pantera vs Head Hunter/2 Oficials/Shadow Phoenix in an only-in-IWRG main event. Team DTU teams up with Scorpio to face Freyser, Golden Magic and Veneno in the semimain.

Mascara stops Volador, Escorpion vs Warrior, Mexico election, Black Silver

CMLL (TUE) 05/29/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) El Divino & Virgo b Acertijo & Infierno
Acertijo & Infierno beat Divino, but Virgo came back to beat both.
2) Esfinge, Fuego, Smaker, Titán, Triton b Arkángel de la Muerte, Barbaro Cavernario, Hooligan, Ráfaga, Sádico [cibernetico]
Titan beat Arkangel to win the tournament.
3) Gallo, Sagrado, Stuka Jr. DQ Espectrum, Misterioso Jr., Rey Escorpion
After the two teams went to a draw last week, Rey Escorpion fouled Gallo this week.
4) La Máscara b Volador Jr. [MEX LH]
Mascara retained his title. Rey Escorpion & Stuka were seconds.

Rey Escorpion and Black Warrrior are doing interviews to hype up tomorrow’s hair match. Escorpion says this is the biggest match in his career and will cement him as a star, while Black Warrior suggests this is just an average match for him. Warrior is not impressed by Rey Escorion’s wrestling skill. Rey Escorpion plans on bringing Ultimo Guerrero or Dragon Rojo as his second (they’ve been conspicuously absent from this feud), and feels the support from his family will be his key to the win. Black Warrior hopes this will be his final match…as a tecnico, because he saw how Sangre Azteca just switched back to the rudo side and wants to do that as soon as possible.

The Mexican general election is also tomorrow. This election has been good business for lucha libre, maybe CMLL especially. The giant video boards ads for AMLO have been displayed in Arena Mexico for months, and CMLL and other companies have been brought in for a lot of campaign rallies disguised as free admission lucha libre shows. Brazo de Oro, Averno, Mephisto and Mascara Dorada worked one of those last weekend for a local PRI candidate. It’s not just CMLL – the Morenos hosted one of these at Arena Azteca Budokan Tuesday – but there’s been a lot of CMLL ones have turned up. There’s nothing as visible this cycle as Mistico’s PAN commercial last time, but it’s been a help to business that’s going away tomorrow.

Edit: or not, because the election is July 1st. Not June 1st. It is July 1st.

Porra Fresa’s recap of the Arena Puebla cage match mentions Stigma and Pegasso did big cage dives, and Arissma had a chance to leave the cage, but saw Stigma being double teamed by Super Comando & Puma King and just couldn’t leave his fellow Puebla behind. Stigma repaid him by powerbombing Arissma and escaping. Never go back in a cage.

The Black Silver listed on Sunday’s Arena Coliseo lineup is Black Silver Jr. from Acapulco. He’s been very successful at home, holding the Guerrero State Light Heavyweight championship, and he just won former CMLL opener match rudo Apolo Estrada Jr.’s hair a couple weekends ago.

With the Busca semifinals, Rey Escorpion/Black Warrior, AAA taping in Veracruz and Sin Cara returning to WWE on SmackDown, I’d like to do a chat on Friday, but I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be around. Figure on something around 8:30 CT on Friday, maybe sooner if I can work it out.

LuchaWorld has Raziel, Gran Apache, Angel Mortal, Polvora, Titan, Fabi Apache on the top 100 list.

Rob has highlights of 07/15/11 CMLL and a bad time to be Electrico.

Lucha Libre in Japan

05/31 NJPW: Angel de Oro b Jushin Liger via casita [BOSJ]

That’s 3 wins, 6 points, and the maximum expected wins. The matchups and scheduling suggests it’s all downhill from here, but it could not have gone better for Angel de Oro than it has so far. The bigger story might be Jushin Lyger being stuck at 0 points thru three matches. NJPW hasn’t pushed Lyger as the top of the division in a long time, but he’s always at least middle of the pack. Not so far, and Lyger seemed distraught after the latest loss.

Actually, the biggest story is Angel de Oro won three matches without the mecedora being the finish of any of them. Oro runs into Dragon Gate and the UK’s PAC tomorrow in a battle for control of the block. Pac has some experience facing luchadors, having fought Juvi & Super Nova on NWE tours.

Links

top six stories of the last two weeks

  1. On AAA’s Night of Champions show, two of them changed hands. Juvi, just three months back from an infinite suspension from AAA, won the cruiserweight title. Also, the El Consejo main trio won the trios titles from Psycho Cirucs with some outside help. LA Park kept his Latin American championship despite all kind of interference, but continued to refuse to be friends with anyone. Interference was more successful in helping both Mini Psicosis and Sexi Star keep their titles.
  2. Rey Escorpion and Black Warrior agreed to a hair match, which will take place tomorrow. The match has been built up for a few months, but neither is a major star and there’s no expectation of a large turnout.
  3. Puma King took Arissma’s mask in an Arena Puebla cage match, the biggest win in his career.
  4. Titan, Euforia, Dragon Lee and Diamante advanced to the semifinals of CMLL’s En Busca de un Idolo tournament. A preview trios match spotlighted Dragon Lee, making it clear he’s the one we’re supposed to want to see. The fans in the building disagreed.
  5. The Lucha Fan Fest featured Canek & Kensuske Sasaki destroying Hector Garza and Nosawa. The week would get worse for Nosawa.
  6. Sangre Azteca returned to the rudo side, turning on Stuka to start a feud between them. Sangre’s rudo rival Misterioso doesn’t want to team with him.
  • NJPW’s Yujiro came to CMLL, laughed a lot during matches, and will face Rush in a CMLL Light Heavyweight title match next week.
  • Hijo de Rey Misterio I was arrested for drug possession.
  • The Familia de Tijuana trio of Damian, Head Hunter and X-Fly picked up the IWRG trios titles.
  • Trauma I is out a month with a knee injury
  • People who kept their titles: Dragon Rojo Jr., Mascara Dorada, Reyes del Atlantida, La Mascara

Rush vs Yujiro, Mascara defeats Volador, Psicosis

(photo by CMLL)

CMLL (TUE) 05/29/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL, Kaiser Sports]
1) Bronco & Inquisidor b Leono & Soberano Jr.
Rudos took 2/3.
2) Demus 3:16, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito b Astral, Eléctrico, Fantasy
Rudos took 1/3.
3) Diamante, Dragon Lee, Pegasso DQ Niebla Roja, Sangre Azteca, Virus
Tecnicos took 1/3. Sangre Azteca fouled Diamante
4) Ephesto, Kráneo, Olímpico b Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., Hijo del Fantasma
Ephesto replaced Morphosis. Ephesto and Hijo del Fantasma feuded thru the match, Ephesto taking falls 1/3 directly, though the last by pulling the mask.
5) Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero, Yujiro b Marco Corleone, Rush, Super Porky
A left cross from Rush caused Yujiro to bleed from the nose in the third fall. Yujiro still challenged for Rush’s title. Rush accepted.

No full results from GDL, but Twitter and Facebook posts from last night say La Mascara kept the MEX LH title over Volador, and Titan beat Arkangel to win the cibernetico.

I mention this in the recap where it pops up (which will be posted in approximately five months), but the Psicosis Returns vignette where it’s revealed Psicosis isn’t just burned, but the burning incident has caused him to go crazy and believe he’s Psicosis again, is a much better explanation. It’d be nice if the website or Nicho got over that this was the idea when they explained the angle, but it seems much stronger on TV than it has elsewhere.

Rob has highlights of 07/08/11 CMLL.

Lucha Libre in Japan

05/30 NJPW: Angel de Oro b Gedo with Alas de Oro

Angel de Oro’s up to 2-0, though it’s both the matches it appeared he might get. He’s got Liger tonight. Old friend Alex Koslov is actually 3-0 with chances to get a few more.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 06/05/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Camaleón & Robin vs Bobby Zavala & Disturbio
2) Ángel Azteca Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Nitro, Skándalo
3) Fuego, Hijo del Fantasma, Sagrado vs Niebla Roja, Raziel, Sangre Azteca
4) Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Ephesto [lightning]
5) Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas vs La Máscara, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada
6) Rush vs Yujiro [CMLL LH]

Rush vs Yujiro has a likely outcome, but it still should be an interesting match.

Odd that Guerrero Maya’s in the lighting match when the feud was built up with Hijo del Fantasma. Fantasma’s on the card, maybe it’ll be switched.

CMLL (TUE) 06/05/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Virgo vs Sky Kid
2) Black Metal & Metatrón vs Infierno & Malefico
3) Astral, Bam Bam, Último Dragoncito vs Demus 3:16, Mercurio, Pequeño Nitro
4) Gallo, Stuka Jr., Valiente vs Misterioso Jr., Pólvora, Virus
5) Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Máximo vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Mr. Águila, Último Guerrero

wonder who replaces Bam Bam.