Recapped: 04/05/2016
What happened: Esfinge & Volador Jr. won the Gran Alternativa. And that was it.
What was good: The matches on the second half were generally good, but nothing exceptional. (The tournament block shows were better.)
Where can I watch it: It’s on CMLL’s YouTube channel.
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Recapped: 03/10/2016
This was Lucha Memes second Chairo show, held last Christmas. There’s not many stories you need to know to watch these shows, they’re all intended to be indie dream matches. The main event lived up that ideal the most. The opener didn’t seem like as big names on paper but delivered big. There was some good stuff on the rest of the show, and some matches that – often thru outside circumstances – were a lot like you might see on an ordinary show. This card didn’t work out like it could’ve, but there were still worthwhile matches. Read More
CMLL (SUN) 04/03/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Black Sugar & Johnny Dinamo b Guerrero de la Muerte & Mr. Brisa
Tecnicos took 2/3.
2) El Alteño & Star Black b Carlo Roggi & Thunder Boy
Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Sádico b Mágico [lightning]
Sadico removed Magico’s mask and cradled him for the win.
4) Frezzer, Nautilius, Reyko b Demonio Rojo, El Chakal, Gran Kenut
tecnicos took 1/3
5) Furia Roja, Maléfico, Vaquero Jr. DQ Espectrúm, Gallo, Magnum [Relevos Increíbles]
Vaquero’s team took 2/3, the last when he partners attacked him for the DQ. Espectrum said he’d win on Tuesday.
That hair match is finally tonight. Espectrum has a head full of orange looking hair right now, Vaquero might be doing him a favor.
CMLL (MON) 04/04/2016 Arena Puebla [CMLL]
1) Ares & Guerrero Espacial b Meyer & Zaeta Roja 
2) Espíritu Maligno, Metálico, Policeman b Asturiano, Pegasso, Starman
3) Fuego, Stuka Jr., The Panther b Bobby Z, Okumura, Skándalo
The Panther replaced Delta (MIA)
4) La Máscara, Máscara Dorada, Valiente b Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
5) Dragón Lee, Mistico, Rush DQ Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión
Rey Escorpion fouled Mistico again, and the rudos took Mistico & Dragon Lee’s masks.
I have not watched this show, but it sounded liked the main event was fun.
Tonight is the final of CMLL’s Gran Alternativa tournament. Fujin & Rey Escorpion take on Esfinge & Volador Junior after each team won a block in previous weeks. The winner gets the honor of winning the tournament, and is usually given a main event spot the next couple of weeks (and the runner up is usually elevated a bit as well.) Esfinge, as the home promotion guy who CMLL is clearly high on, is the slight favorite. Esfinge already won one of these tournaments, CMLL likes to balance out the wins, and CMLL seems to have a lot of faith in Fujin and Raijin already, so the NJPW exchange student definitely has a chance of winning. Volador and Rey Escorpion have had great matches before, will be having another big match in six days, and should help make this a memorable match.
The full preview is here. That tournament final is actually the main event of the show, something they haven’t often done for the Gran Alternativa. (It’s also on a Tuesday, which doesn’t usually happen and one may be related to the other.) Maximo, Mascara Dorada, and Guerrero Maya take on the Hijos del Infierno in the final trios match of the night. The Panther Family take on Tiger, Puma and Disturbio in the fourth match. You may be OK skipping the first half of this card.
The show is back at the normal 7:30pm CDT, no matter if you’re in Mexico or in the US. It’ll be up on YouTube as usual.
+LuchaTV visited the opening of the new CMLL photo exhibit, and actually got an interview with the rarely seen owner of CMLL, Francisco (Paco) Alonso Lutteroth. He clearly knows what’s going on with his company – he pushes the idea that all the DF shows are different (which is the concept if not the execution) – he’s just got better things to do than to talk about it. He’s happy with all the different places CMLL is on – Azteca, YouTube, iPPV, five different channels. He says there are “66” different groups of luchadors training. That seems high, so maybe I’m misunderstanding but it’s CMLL so I don’t doubt it. He says there are 6 trainers (5 in Mexico City, 1 in Guadalajara) training luchadors right now. Paco ends by saying we have a better chance of hitting the lottery than guessing the Anniversary main event, which suggests they actually have one right now.
Time Warner Cable is giving away a trip to the Lucha Underground Season 3 tapings; the rules state they’re May 14th and May 15th. You must be a Time Warner Cable subscriber to win.
Toro Bill Jr. beat Arkalis in a bloody chain match in Arena La Loma, at all unlike what they’ve done in Arena Puebla
CHIKARA shared the Team AAA (Fenix, Aerostar and Drago) versus Gentleman’s Club (Chuck Taylor, Drew Gulak, Swamp Monster) match from last year’s King of Trios.
LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update, this week’s Poster-Mania and a recap of CMLL Informa. Rocky Casas is much older than you’d think. Golden Magic was referred to as being in CMLL, so I guess he is. Yago being named after Iago is deep.
Box Y Lucha 3227 is up for subscribers. The IWRG column mentions Guerra del Golfo – the show where the losers of two cage matches face off in an apuesta match – will either be this Sunday or next Sunday. IWRG seems to be setting up feuds to tease for that show.
Recently deceased Bestia Magnifica I was honored on the Toryumon show on Sunday. El Patan, who only seems to wrestle on these shows, was mentioned to be his brother (so he’s probably either Johnny or Bobby Villalobos.)
Funcion Estelar explains the situation about lucha libre in Pachuca: the guy who programs the Arena 11 de Julio building (Jose Hernandez Carrilo) also is president of the local lucha libre commission and also is the secretary general of the local referee’s union and a lot of luchadors (70) are not happy with him, so they’re not working his shows and running free shows right outside the building as a protest. Jose Marquez Valle, who also happens to run an arena in town, says he’s forming a new union with everyone as part of way of pushing Jose Hernandez Carrilo out.
Drago hypes his match for Friday.
Adictos al Deportes says Caifan vs LA Park is scheduled of 05/01 in Arena Coliseo Monterrey.
X-Fly’s mom/Arana Atomica’s wife passed away.
Lineup
CMLL (MON) 04/11/2016 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Zaeta Roja vs El Malayo & Policeman
2) Asturiano, Shockercito, Stukita vs Demus 3:16, Espíritu Maligno, Mini Joker
3) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Súper Porky vs Kráneo, Olímpico, Ripper
4) La Máscara, Rush, Terrible vs Atlantis, Máximo Sexy, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. © vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión [CMLL TRIOS]
This would be the seventh defense, fourth in this building. The Sky Team beat these same rudos last May and probably will win again. Eight defenses, as best as anyone can figure out, is the record.
Not sure who’s going to actually have a match first, Super Porky or Delta.
AAA (MON) 04/11/2016 Estadio de Fut Rap, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
1) ? vs ??
2) Faby Apache & Mary Apache vs La Hiedra & Lady Shani
3) Aerostar, Estrella Divina, The Tiger vs Mamba, Rió Bravo, Snipper
4) Drago, Hijo de LA Park, Laredo Kid vs Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Mocho Cota Jr., Taurus
5) LA Park vs Pentagón Jr., El Mesías, Texano Jr.
LA Park on an AAA show alert. Pagano & Dr. Wagner showed up working the AAA shows in this building before they were announced for the AAA TV roster, and it could very well be the same thing here – especially since Friday’s main event is Psycho Clown vs Wagner.
AAA TV (SAT) 04/16/2016 Domo de la Feria, León, Guanajuato
1) Dinastía, Lanzeloth, Ludxor, Venum vs Mamba, Mini Abismo Negro, Soul Rocker, Súper Fly
2) Faby Apache & Mary Apache vs La Hiedra & Lady Shani
3) Angélico & Jack Evans vs Daga & Joe Lider and Argenis & Australian Suicide and Hijo de Pirata Morgan & Taurus [AAA TAG, #1 Contenders]
4) Aerostar, Drago, Octagón Jr. vs Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, Zorro
5) Monsther Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown vs Damián 666, Nicho el Millionario, Pagano
6) Dr. Wagner Jr. & La Parka vs Brian Cage & Texano Jr.
Air Date: 04/30 & 05/07 – they’re building up a bit of some space between taping and airing for the first time in quite a while.
The big news is in that main event: Brian Cage is back. AAA announced he’ll return on the 04/08 card. They didn’t say what he’d be doing, but there’s a mystery spot in the semimain he’d fit in. Cage had been announced as part of the Liga Elite tournament, then was pulled for the show for unclear reasons (but appeared to be LU/AAA pressure.) It’s great to see he’s still getting work in Mexico. Cage spent his last run feuding with Alberto and wrestling a lot with other people who aren’t here now. He didn’t come out of that feud well but maybe being on that level will keep perception of him high now that Alberto isn’t around.
Cage also could be the next Mega challenger. Texano was a patriotic slight tecnico in the main event of Rey de Reyes, and Cage is pretty foreign on the evil foreigner scale. AAA seems to be starting towards Verano de Escandalo on this card, La Parka doesn’t make sense as a title match challenger, and Wagner would possibly still be busy with Psycho Clown. I’m generally confused about Wagner on the tecnico side; he’s been booked as a rudo, but he does act tecnico during his matches. No idea.
I’m all for seeing new names in the semimain. Not quite as thrilled when it’s Pagano and Familia de Tijuana taking on the Psycho Circus. The Psycho Circus and the then Perros del Mal feuded back in 2011, with Halloween, Damian and Nicho losing their hair. I’d guess this might be a win back in the other direction, since the new group is just getting started here. They’re likely to show up in Mexico City on Friday first.
No Pentagon or Fenix on this card, with Octagon Jr. stepping in the latter’s place to team with Aerostar & Drago against the Xinetez. Octagon should be challenging for the Cruiserweight championship, but with Hijo del Fantasma currently MIA (four tapings in a row missed), maybe he gets into the trios title picture.
Four way tag team match means a) Jack doesn’t have to be in a three way tag match! b) I can keep beating that joke into the ground c) Angelico & Jack should probably win anyway. Lider & Daga are going to be busy with the old hardcore guys, and the other teams aren’t likely to be winning a shot on their own. This suggests the Chessman & Averno vs Angelico & Jack match will actually be a one team versus one team match.
First two matches don’t seem to have much significance but could both be pretty good.
Next taping is 04/29 in Xalapa.
YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYyNnOBGWP7RKT9IJep9YTxOyEsWc4ayc
The Azteca7 videos aren’t on the normal channel, but they’re in the playlist. It’s going to be this way until I feel safe Azteca7 isn’t going to do takedown notices and torpedo the whole channel in the process.
I had a problem recording AAA and you should be watching it on the AAA official channel anyway.
This has little directly to do with anything, but I figured out the deal with the Televisa live YouTube channels: they launched the channels without getting rights to anything, and so can only air the shows the individual stations produce locally. Anything else gets replaced by channel commercials so they don’t get in trouble, which means these feeds won’t be useful for recording Guadalajara lucha (or AAA) unless this changes.
You should also know that my MediaFire account is just about full. I’m going to take down the files from the first three months of 2015 soon. Those links will still be available on YouTube.