CARA LUCHA (SAT) 07/23/2016 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México [Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), Kronosport]
1) Astrolux b Black Metal
2) El Dorado Jr. & Gladiola Negra b Demasiado & Látigo
Dorado Jr. & Latigo replaced Adrenalina Fly & Demasiado
3) Diamante Azul (CMLL) & Hechicero b Herodes Jr. & Trauma I
4) Lady Maravilla, Templario, Wasson b Brian Villa, Chik Tormenta, Willy Banderas
money thrown in
5) Andy Boy, Rayo Star, Sky Man b Crazy King, El Enviado, Estrella Oriental Jr.
6) Danger b Makabre
Scheduled as a tag team match with Danger & Mixtico vs Makabre & Rayman for the Casanova (Monterrey) tag titles, but became a singles match with Danger and Makabre.
Black Terry Jr. also has highlights from Astrolux vs Black Metal (which looks good) and Herodes & Trauma I vs Diamante Azul & Hechicero.
Tonight’s Arena Puebla show has a couple of big matches. The main event is Volador versus Ultimo Guerrero, a non-title match between two champions who are at the top of CMLL. Both men are a bit predictable in their tactics, but it should still be an exciting match; it’s actually helped by not having a title on the line, because it’s not clear who’s going to win.
The more meaningful match is the semimain event, where Black Tiger & King Jaguar face Ares & Disturbio, in a match where the losing pair immediately will go into a mask versus hair match. King Jaguar lost his mask one year ago, and the way where he was moved to the tecnico side with no explanation suggests Jaguar’s most likely taking another loss. Still, Ares & Disturbio are no real safe bets either, and the drama of an apuesta match involving Puebla locals usually draws in the crowd.
There’s still four more matches, making for a marathon of a Monday show. Skandalo & Stigma continue their never ending feud in the fourth match, teaming with Maximo & Valiente vs Dragon Rojo & Escorpion in a rematch from last week. Sanely, the daughter of Mano Negra first seen at last year’s bodybuilding contest, makes her main show debut tonight by teaming with Lluvia against Dalys & Zeuxis. Tigre Rojo Jr. makes an Arena Puebla appearance after not being seen for many months, and the Batillon del Muerte are back in the opener.
Culticon also has a preview of the show.
The show starts at 9pm CT, airing on CMLL.com & YouTube as usual.
Alberto del Rio could leave WWE in October due to unhappiness about how he’s been used. CageSide Seats reported it today, and the idea has been brought up elsewhere. The idea is ALberto signed a multiyear deal, but had an opt out after one. Alberto beat John Cena his first day in, but they never followed up on it and he’s not been given much to do after a feud with Kalisto earlier this year. My hunch is WWE is getting a bit of revenge on Del Rio for what he said about them in the press after he left last time; it’s going to be glaring if he’s still not given anything to do after the brand split, but the story about him possibly leaving in a few months might give them an out.
I don’t think it’s going to go like last time with Alberto. Alberto left AAA because he wasn’t happy just doing that. Nothing that has happened with AAA in the time since suggests he’d be any more happy there or they’d be able to more able to afford him, though maybe coming in for a big show or two is possible. Lucha Underground seems incredibly unlikely, their split was very acronymous. Alberto wanted more than CMLL was willing to pay last time. Elite will absolutely throw money at Alberto should he become available – he could still win Liga Elite! – but those dates are few. (Edit: Also, the whole Caristico/Alberto thing.) This would likely be more a story of US indie, non-North American indies and other media appearances if Alberto left, not something like his previous stint. At the end of the day, Alberto went back to WWE to get paid, and WWE’s probably the company that can pay him the most, so he may just swallow his discontent and stay there. It’s something to keep an eye on for now.
PWInsider pointed out the Paley Center, as part of it’s PaleyFest Fall TV screenings, lists Lucha Underground as being shown both in Los Angeles and New York. LA will have a screening & panel discussion on September 9th (Friday) with people from both LU (Van Wagenen, DeJoseph) and From Dusk Till Dawn, and New York will get a screening on September 10th. This is all for new shows, so it’s much more likely these will be the premiere of Season 3. It fits with Catrina’s tease of the show airing in September. Maybe it turns up on El Rey on September 14th, the first Wednesday after?
AAW posted the Gringo Loco & Skayde Jr. vs DJZ & Bandolero match I reviewed a few months ago and loved. You should go watch it right away.
Blue Demon Jr. appears on Discovery Channel’s Misfit Garage tonight.
Box Y Lucha #3242 has Mascara Dorada in the CWC.
Lucha 2000 #833 has La Mascara & Mr. Electro & Gronda XXX on the cover.
Controversial opinion: I like one really great image on the cover of a magazine instead of five different busy ones.
An article promoting the Gimnasio Coliseo Arena.
Crossarm Breaker reviews the first Ultimo Guerrero vs Mistico.
Lineups
CMLL (SAT) 07/30/2016 Arena Coliseo
1) Leono & Sensei vs Akuma & Artillero
2) Magnus, Star Jr., Starman vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Metálico, Nitro
3) Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Olímpico, Skándalo, Virus
4) Ángel de Oro, Stuka Jr., Volador Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Rey Escorpión
5) Máscara Dorada vs Mephisto
Dorada/Mephisto didn’t take long.
CMLL (SUN) 07/31/2016 Arena México
1) Bengala & Leono vs Espanto Jr. & Espíritu Negro
2) Astral, Fantasy, Shockercito vs Demus 3:16, Pequeño Universo 2000, Pequeño Violencia
3) Ephesto, Mephisto, Vangellys vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Kráneo, Rey Escorpión
4) Marcela vs Amapola, Princesa Sugehit, Zeuxis, Sanely, Dalys, Lluvia, Tiffany, Reyna Isis, La Comandante, La Seductora, Skadi [Copa Femenil]
5) Diamante Azul, Máscara Dorada, Mistico vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
CMLL already did a women’s cibernetico to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Arena Mexico, but forgot or just don’t have many ideas for them. That was a ten women match, this is twelve, so Tiffany, Lluvia and Sanely (Arena Mexico debut) all sort of replace Skadi. She may still make her way back into it, since Seductora’s missed a few matches. Estrellita wasn’t in either match and also missed matches of late, so she also might be out for some reason
They’re doing a Vangellys/Rey Escorpion feud! That’s way up there in the most random possible feuds.
CMLL (SUN) 07/31/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Avispón Negro Jr. & Fugaz vs Destructor & Guerrero de la Muerte
2) Sky Kid & Smaker vs Linterna & Mr. Brisa
3) El Yaqui, Javier Cruz Jr., Johnny Dinamo, Randy vs Carlo Roggi, Évola, Exterminador, Mr. Apolo
4) Sádico © vs Reycko [OCCIDENTE WELTER]
third defense
5) El Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Flash II, Star Black, Vaquero Jr.
The Dinamita Kids are visiting this week.