F1 versus Mistico, Lucha Underground, Alberto, Averno, IWRG

photo by ESTO

CMLL PUMA (WED) 10/28/2015 Arena México
1) Atlantis, Dragon Lee, Volador Jr. ?? Kamaitachi, Negro Casas, Shocker
2) Mistico b Mephisto
exhibtion match. F1 Driver Lewis Hamilton watched from the apron, tagged in once, kicked Mistico and knocked him down with a running plancha. Mephisto celebrated with Hamilton, but eventually lost to La Mistica.

CMLL occasionally does sponsored shows. We normally don’t hear about them. This one went viral. Puma (the shoe company) had a press event at Arena Mexico centered around driver Lewis Hamilton prior to the upcoming F1 race in Mexico City. They had a few wrestling matches, the last one including Hamilton getting in a doing just enough to make for a good video clip. This got picked up everywhere, which was the idea.

IWRG (WED) 10/28/2015 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Bambio, Canario, Fly Tiger b Gafe, Kabra Kan, Skanda
2) Charly Boy, Sexy Girl, Vardeus b Ángel De La Muerte I, Ángel De La Muerte II, Guerrero 2000
3) Acero, Blue Monsther, Macho b Fireman, Rey Flecha, Shadow Boy
4) Picudo Jr., Troll, Violencia Jr. b Galaxy, Rocker Rojo, Vengador
5) Ángel Dorado, Ángel Dorado Jr., Cruz Del Silencio, Emeprador Sayri, Hades, René Rocks, Toro Machine b Alas de Acero, Aramis, Black Drago, Dragón Fly, Hijo del Alebrije, Kanon, Power Bull [Copa Higher Power]
Torneo FILL XLVI; Gym FILL versus Gym SCW. Match came down to Latigo & Rene Rocks, with the outsider getting the win. Eterno blamed the loss on Black Terry and vowed revenge.

Usual FILL show.

Is Averno out of AAA? The WON reported he told AAA he was staying back around October 11th and he’s done interviews since indicating the same. However, his name now appears on the FULL 11/15 Arena Jose Sulaiman card, teaming with Toscano & Heavy Metal versus Caristico, Mistico and Zumbi. (That’d also be the first time the two Misticos have teamed.) The promotion is billing it as an AAA vs CMLL match, but neither of those promotions are likely to allow the match if Averno is still working in AAA. Averno leaving AAA has been rumored since the moment Caristico was spotted in Arena Mexico, but again he’s said previously he wasn’t doing it. Could be something to watch out for on Friday’s Arena Mexico show.

Alberto confirmed on Twitter that he’s on WWE’s European tour next week. WWE’s website lists him on those events. That means he’s off the 11/07 ZZinc show. The last show of the tour is 11/14 in England; it’s physically possible for him to get Juarez in time for the AAA TV taping the next day, but it seems unlikely he’d be excited to do that. There are some AAA/ZZInc dates after that where WWE isn’t running (because they’re giving everyone time off after the European tour and before the PPV), but the best bet is Alberto’s just not working any more AAA shows after the next two. Alberto may work on Sunday in Monterrey, Alberto may wrestle in Reynosa on Monday and that’s probably it. Both those promoters are claiming nothing is changing about their cards. AAA still hasn’t said anything about the situation outside of the one Dorian Twitter post – if they knew he was making those shows, it would make sense for AAA to say so, but AAA doesn’t say much.

The WON mentions AAA (Dorian) was told on 10/12 that Alberto was going back to WWE, but dismissed it as another rumor and had no plans to take the Mega title away from him this year. They also say Alberto had been telling people in “recent weeks” he was going back to WWE, but gave the impression it would be in January. Meltzer says one source says the deal was done in mid-September. If that’s correct, Alberto knew he was leaving, could’ve informed AAA and lost the title on Heroes Inmortales before people knew he was going, and decided not to. It’s possible Alberto may still be willing to lose to someone now, but it doesn’t seem like a certain outcome. I talk about AAA tapings where about five different angles happen after once (which usually follow lots where nothing happens), but this is really going to be the busiest taping in quite some time.

Eric Mutter has his picks for who should win the Mega championship. I agree with the #1 pick. Who wins the title is less important to me than how it’s done. We talked about this on the podcast a bit; I’d rather see AAA put the title on the shelf for a few months and come up with a good plan for a next champion than to have some super screwy win because of a need (or requirement) to protect Alberto. AAA is not Japan, where the strength of the heavyweight championship is what drives the company. It’s the star power of the people on top, and no one’s going to become more of a star because an evil referee handed them a belt after eight people ran in. AAA routinely goes months and months between doing anything with the championship – whatever happens in Reynosa, Alberto is going to end up with only two successful title in AAA (both by DQ!) after a near year long reign, and AAA business has apparently been fine. I’d love to see all the titles being defended much more often, because it usually means many more good matches, but AAA’s shown they can go without those title matches for a long time.

The Wrestling Observer also mentions these as the “current taping dates” for Lucha Underground

  • November: 14, 15, 21, 22
  • December: 12, 13
  • January: 9, 10, 16, 17, 30, 31

All shows are Saturdays and Sundays. That’s 12 tapings, so 24 episodes. It’s not clear if that’s the complete season 2, or if there’s more in February/March to come.

Ticket info went out today for the November set of tapings to people who went to the last set of tapings. Check your email immediately if you went to Ultima Lucha. Seats are limited and it looks like they’re inviting back the people who were with them early before letting everyone else in.

The newsletter also mentions Cheerleader Melissa, who worked dark matches near the end of season 1, is currently slated to be Marty the Moth’s sister.

Masked Republic and WWNLive starts four days straight of Viva La Lucha shows this afternoon at 11:30am. (So, probably after you’re reading.) They’re running about the same time on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a similar group of guys but different matches each day. Shows are all $10 for live only and $15 for live + on demand.

A CMLL interview builds up Mr. Niebla versus Thunder, which sounds like some match. There’s no explanation of what’s up with Ultimo Guerrero; the WON says he was hurt in California on Sunday.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update and a recap of Valiente & Marco Corleone on CMLL Informa, which was taped earlier in the day and shorter due to the Puma event.

El Pancario talks to ring announcer Angie Roux about her life in lucha libre, who has an incredibly busy backstory.

Demasiado versus Rocky Santana is the second match announced for the 11/22 Lucha Memes/Chairo show at Arena Lopez Mateos.

Lucha Memes and Arena Pepe Cisneros are co-promoting a show on 11/20 (Friday) in Puebla’s Arena Coliseo San Ramon. Pagano is the first wrestler announced.

Frontera has an interview with Damian 666 about his career.

Electroshock has no idea why Hijo del Pirata turned on him.

Palantilla Deportiva talks to Triton.

Lineups

Cara Lucha (SAT) 11/07/2015 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) ? vs ??
2) Mike, Rafy, Teelo vs Centvrión, Fly Warrior, Látigo
3) Aramis, Fly Star, Toxin vs Magnífico I, Magnífico II, Templario
4) Andy Boy, Danger, Guerrero Mixtico vs Drastik Boy, Emperador Azteca, Sensei
5) ? vs ??
6) Carístico vs Flamita, Cavernario, Hechicero

That’s an unusual main event, and subject to change – Flamita’s slated to work the AAA TV the day before working with CMLL people. This is really good card, with every announced match having a chance to be outstanding. People who listened to the podcast last month may recall why the second match is especially interesting.

I’m assuming Sensei here and Espanto on previous shows are part of whatever deal they have with CMLL (you have to give the undercard guys work if you take the main event ones?)