Day: June 13, 2016

Mascara Dorada, as Gran Metalik, will be participating in WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic. He was officially announced this afternoon on WWE.com. The tournament starts airing later this summer. (Most of it will be taped before airing, with the finals airing live.)

It’s unclear where this leaves Dorada beyond this tournament. The Cruiserweight Classic contracts are generally said to be short time/part time deals. However, some of the people listed in the tournament are believed to have actually signed full time deals, with this tournament simply being their introduction into WWE, and it’s assumed any strong performers from this tournament will be offered deals. We also don’t know how CMLL feels about this; they haven’t acknowledged Dorada’s entry into the tournament, though the promo picture they’re using is one shot by CMLL’s Miguel Reducino. CMLL working with WWE would seem to be in opposition to their partner NJPW.

CMLL owns the trademark Mascara Dorada name in Mexico. No one owns the name in the US. Dorada recently mentioned plans to trademark his original name of Metalik, which may be part of it.

At this point, Mascara Dorada is scheduled to work on Tuesday (CMLL) and Thursday (Elite) in Arena Mexico, and has at least one announced booking out into July. Dorada’s mentioned the CWC on Twitter and hasn’t indicated anything is up with his involvement in CMLL, so maybe he’ll just keep working as normal and these will just be extra dates.

As previous rumored, Ronnie Mendoza (as Raul Mendoza) and Zumbi were announced for the tournament. La Sombra/Andrade Cien Almas is not in the tournament, and looks to be part of regular NXT TV instead.

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At the same moment, Elite held a press conference to explain it’s upcoming plans. Elite’s holding a 16 man international tournament, in another competition that seems to be happening in response to the Lucha World Cup. The single elimination tournament will take place on 06/23 (Thursday) and 06/25 (Saturday) in a single elimination tournament.

Elite announced they’ll be selling both tickets as a package, which is a first. My guess is they may not be running on Thursday 06/30, since they could use the Saturday show as that week’s TV instead.

Announced as participating, via Mas Luchas & Apolo Valdes:

1) the winner of the Elite Rumble this Thursday (Mexico)
2) Hernández (Puerto Rico)
3) Tama Tonga (Tonga)
4) DJZ (Philippines)
5) Jinder Mahal (India)
6) Bram (UK)
7) Lio Rush (US)
8) Zumbi (Brazil)
9) Kushida (Japan)
10) Michael Elgin (Canada)
11) Heddi Karaoui (France)
12) David Tita (Cameroon)
13) Veneno (Panama)
14) ?
15) ??
16) ???

I don’t think the last three are meant to be mysterious; they’re just omitted from the lists. Marco Corleone (Italy) & Johnny Idol (New Zealand) could be two of those spots. The other people in CMLL’s Gran Prix would be duplicate countries from those already listed.

I’m guessing Tonga/Kushida/Elgin aren’t just flying in for a night and then going back home; they’re probably working select shows all the way thru the Gran Prix (maybe thru that weekend?)

There’s an obvious conflict with Hernandez working both Elite and AAA. AAA used Lucha Underground leverage to get Cage not to work these shows, but obviously don’t have the same over Hernandez. On the other hand, Hernandez seemed like a patch for not having access to Cage or Mesias during Lucha Underground taping periods, and that may have been only a temporary issue.

DJ Z & Bram are TNA wrestlers, which seems to put them in a conflict with the AAA/TNA alliance. However, TNA guys appear to be allowed to work wherever they can find work on their off days, and there’s been no obvious issue with Bobby Lashley & Extreme Tiger working here. DJ Z was really fun when AAA brought him in long ago, but they never brought him back.

David Tita has 9 matches over four years according to wrestlingdata. Hopefully they’re missing a lot.

Those in the match Thursday to represent Mexico
– Máscara Dorada
– Atlantis
– La Máscara
– Rush
– Carístico
– Cibernético
– Xtreme Tiger
– Volador Jr.
– Diamante Azul
– Rey Escorpión

IWRG (SUN) 06/12/2016 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, The Gladiatores]
1) Demonio Infernal & Vampiro Metálico b Omega & Sombra Verde
Sombra Verde (debut) replaced Dragon Fly.
2) Sonic & Zatura b Shao Lee & Violencia Jr.
debuts for Sonic & Shao Lee
3) Freelance, Relámpago, Súper Nova b Argos, Golden Magic, Killer Jr.
Relampago didn’t get along with his partners and stole a pin from Freelance.
4) Apolo Estrada Jr., Canis Lupus, Eterno b Mr. Águila, Trauma I, Trauma II
Relampago helped his new friends. Mr. Aguila wants a singles match with Apolo.
5) Mr. Electro DQ Máscara Año 2000 Jr. © [IWRG IC HEAVY]
Mascara is DQed when his second Apolo hit Elektro with a bottle. Titles change hands by DQ, so Electro is the champion. Mascara falls on his second 2nd defense. Hair/hair challenge followed.

Mascara lost his title not because he got pinned or submitted, not even because anything he did, but because his second hit Electro with a weapon. That’s an underwhelming ending. (If you do believe Mr. Electro is awesome, is this a great way for him to become champion?) Maybe it plays better live.

Today’s Arena Puebla show is a five match show, for the first time in quite a few weeks. It’s also not a particularly promising show. The best match might be a Guerrero Maya, Rey Cometa & Stuka versus Kraneo, Morphosis, and Ripper tercera. (Morphosis seems not to appear a lot when he’s advertised, so someone may take his place.)

The actual main event is Cibernetico, Euforia, and Ultimo Guerrero vs Atlantis, Diamante Azul and Rush. TGR team up as a trio against Angel de Oro, Maximo and Valiente. There’s interesting local tecnicos in the segunda – Arakalis & Zaeta Roja – but they’re working against a rudo side that probably won’t give them too much to do. This is an easy card to skip if you’re on the fence, and I’m kind of persuaded to watch what is essentially a two hour infomerical for upcoming attractions instead of the first half of this.

The show will still start at 9pm Central Time, and will air on CMLL.com and YouTube.

Super Libre’s guests included Al Carillo, Makabre, Arkangel de la Muerte, Maximo and Nautilius.

Valiente says Ultimo Guerrero is the biggest challenge of his life. Rey Cometa still wants Cavernario’s hair. And Volador talks about the Best of Super Juniors.

Norte Digital has an interview with Juarez mask maker Eduardo Sanchez.