Lucha World Cup teams, Cavernario to BOSJ, AAA in TNA

CMLL (TUE) 05/05/2015 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Freezer & Meteoro b Relampago & Thunder Boy
Freezer replaced Divino.
2) Cancerbero, Joker, Raziel b Hombre Bala Jr., Súper Halcón Jr., Virgo
3) Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado b Esfinge, Gallo, Tritón
Rudos took 1/3, setting up Misterioso & Pierroth challenging for the Occidente tag titles next week.
4) Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Marco Corleone b Euforia, Felino, Niebla Roja
Euforia replaced Barbaro Cavernario. Dragon Rojo was hurt (on a second rope headscissors on Mr. Niebla?)
5) La Máscara, La Sombra, Rush b Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys

Dragon Rojo left Monday’s match hurting too, though that could’ve been selling Bucanero’s finish. He’s just back from being out with an injury and is having a rough time of it.

AAA held a press conference to announce the Lucha World Cup. Full final teams

  • Mexico 1: Dream Team (Alberto el Patron, Myzteziz, Rey Mysterio Jr.)
  • Mexico 2 (Hijo del Fantasma, Texano Jr., Psycho Clown)
  • Mexico 3 (Blue Demon Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., Solar)
  • Japan 1: Team NOAH (Taiji Ishimori, Atsushi Kotoge, Yoshihiro Takayama)
  • Japan 2: Team AJPW (Kenzo Suzuki, Tiger Mask III, Masamune)
  • USA 1: Team ROH/Lucha Underground (Moose, ACH, Brian Cage)
  • USA 2: Team TNA/Lucha Underground (Matt Hardy, Ken Anderson, Johnny Mundo)
  • Rest of The World (Angelico, El Mesias, Drew Galloway)

The format is single elimination. They did not announce first round matchups. They did announce special rules: all matches will have a 15 minute time limit. If there is no winner, there will be a sudden death 1v1 overtime that will last 5 minutes. (It’s unclear what would happen next – just a draw?)

Canek and the Hermanos Dinamitas (Mascara Ano 2000 at the press conference, not said if both Universo & Cien) will be part of a judging panel. They’ll decide the best match and best luchador.

The shows will air on iPPV, in English and Spanish. No price or website was reported. (I’m posting this before they’ve sent out a press release, so maybe more details in a little bit.) The Lucha Underground crew of Matt Striker & Vampiro will handle the English commentary. There’s no mention of the Spanish, but presumably it’ll be the usual AAA crew.

Dorian Roldan was asked about groups not here, specifically CMLL. He said they invited everyone, including CMLL, but CMLL turned them down. AAA would be happy to work with them in the future, which is always the case.

Edit: I thought they were done, but apparently not?

  • first round matchups will be drawn on May 22nd, 2 days before the tournament.
  • the hope is to make this an annual tournament

NJPW announced it’s Best of Super Juniors lineup. Barbaro Cavernario and Mascara Dorada are CMLL participants. Three or four shows will air on their NJPW World streaming service, including the opening show on May 22nd. (Breakdown of what’s expected to air is here.) Cavernario’s title win is highlighted in the preview of him in the tournament, and the sudden nature of the title changes suggests it was a favor to NJPW to build him up going into the tournament. Likewise, taking him off CMLL shows is giving him a chance to heal before the more important NJPW ones. Cavernario should be excellent if he’s feeling fine.

The winner of this tournament will get a shot at NJPW’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.Mascara Dorada had a shot and lost already, so he’s unlikely to win (and also he’s a CMLL guy in NJPW, so he’s really unlikely to win.) Dorada does have a good chance to be a story in the tournament anyway. NJPW’s earlier teased a singles match between him and KUSHIDA, and they just so happen to face off to start the tournament. A scenario where Dorada beats KUSHIDA to start, then KUSHIDA gets that win back later in the tournament (or even sometime after the tournament) is definitely in play.

LuchaMania Monterrey has an article talking about two recent area extreme wrestling shows which were canceled on the day of the show, and rumors of extreme wrestling being outlawed in Monterrey. Alfredo Alvarado asked the commission what was happening, and was told the plan is not to ban extreme wrestling, but to regulate it and set some limits. For example: barbed wire ropes are going away, but barbed wire still can be used. The shows themselves were canceled because their permits were pulled for not having certain requirements, and the article notes the commission has been checking on the other non-extreme promotions in the area to see if they meet regulations.

Super Porky says he plans NOT to retire. Brazo de Plata says it used to be said that a luchador should retire at 55, but he’s just going to keep going. Super Porky says he likes working in Tinieblas’ FULL promotion (where they always put him on top), but also vaguely mentions there’s issues between FULL and CMLL.

Bob Ryder of TNA said an AAA wrestler would be working on their next set of TV tapings as part of a talent sharing deal between the two companies. The tapings start Friday, include an almost live show Friday night, and go thru June 26th to set up their Slammiversary PPV on 06/28. The AAA wrestler should have some significant role on that PPV too if he’s meant to be taken seriously. This deal makes some sense as payback for sending the TNA wrestlers to Lucha World Cup. I’m not 100% sure, but I’d presume anyone who’s worked on Lucha Underground can only be on that show for contractual reasons and it may have to be someone who hasn’t appeared yet.  Ryder also said TNA would like to do more of talent exchanges (which probably means ‘send people to TripleMania’ since that’s what it always means.)

TNA rival GFW is still listed AAA as a partner in their latest press release, but who knows what the current deal actually is there.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update and an interview with Rey Horuz about his career. Horuz says he’s got a big announcement coming up in a couple months.

AAA posted their version of last week’s TV show.

Black Terry Jr. has a phantom cam video of a Myztezyz plancha.

+LuchaTV has the latest Dr. Wagner vs LA Park encounter and Wagner complaining about the referee.

Mr. Aguila & La Mascara are coming to Cicero, Illinois this Saturday.

Perros del Mal disagree with Pepe Aguayo saying he was a member of Perros del Mal on a recent TV show, saying he and Perro Jr. were never close. I think I still have this show on my DVR and still need to watch it.

Rossy Moreno & Lady Apache talk about their luchadora organization.

There’s another photographer workshop at Arena Mexico on May 29th. For 1200 pesos, you get to stories, the chance to show five luchadors,

Lineup

CMLL (MON) 05/11/2015 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Robin vs Ares & Hijo del Signo
2) Flyer, Lestat, Soberano Jr. vs Fuerza Chicana, King Jaguar, Metálico
3) Delta, Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Morphosis, Pierroth, Sangre Azteca
4) Ángel de Oro, La Máscara, La Sombra vs Kráneo, Rey Escorpión, Ripper
5) Atlantis, Máximo, Rush vs Mr. Niebla, Shocker, Último Guerrero

Shocker cheated to beat Rush last week, and theyr’e back together this week.

One thought to “Lucha World Cup teams, Cavernario to BOSJ, AAA in TNA”

  1. Weird that Ricochet won’t be in the Best of the Superjunior.

    There’s some pressure for the World Cup for AAA. Sponsor will cover all the expenses, but it has to be a hit, or they might look for that other group that happens to run shows in MxC all the time…

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