Dragon Rojo vs Sombra (and Mascara Dorada vs Negro Casas) set for next week, AAA La Gran Sorpresa, TxT TV

CMLL (SUN) 03/31/2013 Arena Coliseo
1) Bengala & Leono b Apocalipsis & Inquisidor
tecnicos took falls 2/3.
2) Hijo del Signo, Hooligan, Nosferatu b Metálico, Sensei, Soberano Jr.
tecnicos took fall 1, rudos took fall 2, Hooligan & Sensei double pinned in the third, and Signo snuck in a foul on Metalico for the win.
3) Amapola, La Comandante, Tiffany b Dalis la Caribeña, Estrellita, Luna Mágica
Rudas took 1/3, Amapola beating Estrellita clean
4) Hijo del Fantasma TLDRAW Tiger [lightning]
Seemed to go past the 10 minute mark, but still a time limit draw. Both talked generically about a no time limit rematch.
5) Blue Panther, La Sombra, Super Porky b Averno, Dragón Rojo Jr., Olímpico
Polvora was originally announced, but subbed for Olimpico on Monday. Sombra took all the rudos out in seconds, dived onto Dragon Rojo, and the other teccnicos beat the other rudos to take the first. Rojo and the rudos came back in the second, but Sombra won the third. Sombra (did not have his title) challenged Dragon Rojo (did have his title) to a title match next week. DR said no. Sombra challenged to a mask match. DR walked off. Title match happening anyway.
6) Diamante Azul, Mistico, Valiente b Euforia, Niebla Roja, Volador Jr.
Rudos took fall 1, tecnicos took fall 2, and Mistico beat Volador clean with La Mistica in the third. Volador seemed to be either hurt or pouting after a botched spot late in the third. He seemed fine the rest of the way. Post match interview had Mistico (out of breath) talking while the other two stood there and were silently shooed away.

Main event stuff came off as trolling, though I’m sure they think this is actually getting Mistico over. He was resoundingly booed this week.

Announcers mentioned the title match as happening about 10 minutes after it was turned down, so there was really not reason for it to be turned down. It may have been mentioned over the house microphones as people were leaving after the main event, and CMLL fans who might care about a title match probably figured it was happening as soon as Dragon Rojo walked out with the belt, but it still was not most effectively done. Sometimes I think they don’t call it ‘professional wrestling’ in Mexico because lucha libre ain’t all that professional.

Genickbruch timed the lightning match as 10:29 on a ten minute draw. Like I said. Hijo del Fantasma apparently defended (and kept?) his Mexico City light heavyweight title at the fair outside of Palacio de los Deportes on Saturday. Those were the shows which handed out the titles last year and there appear to be many lucha shows again, so I suspect they’re also Signo promoted and the DF titles will be defended.

CMLL (SUN) 03/31/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [@acogdl]
1) El Piraña b Brillante
2) Rey Trueno b Virgo
3) Exterminador b Smaker
Exterminador snuck in a foul on Smaker.
4) Sádico b LeoEl HippieDemonio RojoAcertijoBlack MetalÉvolaAzteca de OroSky KidJocker [cibernetico]
Battle royal determined sides (Azteca de Oro, Black Metal, El Hippie, Leo, Sky Kid vs Acertijo, Demonio Rojo, Évola, In Memoriam, Sádico). The debuting Jocker replaced In Memoriam. Jocker and Sky Kid were the first two out. Black Metal was hurt on a dive and strechered out. Demonio Rojo & Acertijo fouled Leo & Hippie, and Sadico took advantage to win.
5) Atlantis, Delta, Máscara Dorada b Felino, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero
Dorada pinned Negro with a casita in the third fall, then challenged for a title shot (NWA Welter) next week. Negro accepted.

photo from the Luchas 2000 show Saturday, taken by Black Terry Jr.

Dorada winning in his hometown would be a great story. Thinking that’s not the story which will be told, but he’s got a chance.

IWRG results, DTU results (posting results themselves lasted 1 show) and the ones from that picture over on the left hopefully tomorrow. The big news from what I saw of the IWRG show was Trauma I’s bad knee going on again. They set up a tag title match next week and he’ll probably be working on it because he’s a luchador, but it seemed serious on TV.

AAA TV announced their next taping would be on 04/15 in Leon, and are calling it La Gran Sorpresa. They had listed this taping a while back, but never mentioned it on their website and did mention the Veracruz one, so I mistakenly believed they’d just rescheduled. Both are on, and AAA will essentially be taping three weekends in a row – Fusion next Saturday, Leon the following Monday, and Veracruz the Saturday after that.

AAA’s used the La Gran Sorpresa title before. Memorable, they ran a show under that name in 2007, where the planned surprise didn’t come thru, they had Extreme Tiger return to make up for it, and then did the actual surprise weeks later (which I can’t remember.) This might go smoother. No idea what it’s supposed to be, but it’d make sense for it to be something with the split. That Leon show should be the next lineup to come out, and it should be out soon. The way AAA’s been operating this year, it may be kept quiet until after next weekend’s Fusion taping.

AAA also confirmed the Reina de Reinas and Fusion title match from Rey de Reyes would be airing on Fusion this week. It’d make sense for matches for matches from Veracruz or Leon to end up on Fusion as well, they seem to be taping more TV than they need.

Speaking of TV, Todo x El Todo did air on CadenaTres this Sunday. They had promoted it a bit on the network, but the programming grid only listed it as Espacial (so those not following Hijo del Santo on Twitter might have not know it happened.) The minis match and the IWRG match aired this week, and they’ll have a two hour show next week. 3 hours of TV split over two weeks is the same way they did it for TVC Deportes.

Konnan says Rob will be seeing more of Aerostar after April, so probably the roster split is happening in April?

Jennifer Blake mentioned she hurt her ankle on the Naucalpan show, but it was doing better after being iced.

Porra Fresa has a detailed biography (and interview) with ex-Arena Puebla luchador Toro Bill, who talks about his start, his name, the circumstances behind his mask loss (a no-show), his title wins, and why he left Arena Puebla. This is good, hope we get more of these. Porra Fresa also has a preview of tomorrow’s tournament final.

The latest LuchaWorld podcast is up.

Rob has highlights of late 2011/early 2012 AAA, AAA 05/26/07 and CMLL 03/15/13.

Bill has highlights of 03/10/13 CMLL.

Mistico and Hijo del Fantasma are working at a fair in Veracruz Monday night.

Lucha Libre in Japan

03/31 NOAH: Taiji Ishimori defeated Ricky Marvin to keep the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship (second defense.)  Super Crazy won in a tag match in the undercard. That’s the end of their tour. Super Crazy was scheduled to go to the US for now canceled Extreme Rising shows. I’d expect both to turn up in Mexico (and probably at least guest appearing in AAA) soon.