Sure will be a long time before I have to do six recaps for a week. (Wait, what?) I can’t imagine anyone still needs me to tell them to watch Park/Rush at this point but I’m going to do it again anyway. I probably should be pushing people to do the same with Rey & Puma, because I’d bet less people have actually seen that match once you figure in Azteca in Mexico versus El Rey in the US. (And I really can’t believe they gave that away for free on YouTube; it says something about LU that they’d give away the two biggest matches from Ultima Lucha 2 for free on YouTube.)
Usual kind of blah show. Ares & Tiger didn’t come across as an issue, but they’re matched up again next week.
That ref spot was so bad, but the tecnicos didn’t react and the rudos were overdramatic, so now I’m scared they’re doing bad ref spots on purpose, thinking it’s some great thing.
Rey Escorpion challenges Maximo for the CMLL heavyweight championship tonight in Arena Mexico. The two are back together after feuding in past years, though they’ve never gotten to the big hair match they were teasing after Escorpion defeated Maximo’s father Brazo de Plata. Maximo’s been heavyweight champion since last January, and all his title matches have been very enjoyable. It should be no different with Escorpion as challenger. The previous time Escorpion challenged for a title was in Guadalajara and never turned up on video. These guys have met a lot in trios, but we haven’t seen a three fall singles match between them since April 2014. I’m always a little cautious about my hopes for a match on a Tuesday night show, but this one seem like a solid bet.
For what it’s worth, because it’s now that time of the year, CMLL is currently at 16 champions, the ‘magic’ number they need for a Universal tournament (and no one gets hurt.) Escorpion beating Maximo wouldn’t change that.
The rest of the show has the usual Tuesday mix of random trios matches. The foreigners appear in the semimain, with Johnny Idolo, Dragon Lee & Valiente versus Sam Adonis, Negro Casas and Barbaro Cavernario. Angel de Oro, Titan and Guerrero Maya Jr. team up against Dragon Rojo Jr., Polvora, and Luciferno; perhaps we’ll see Maya & Dragon react to being brought up as a possible Anniversario match. Triton, Soberano Jr. & Hombre Bala Jr. will face Virus, Skandalo and Disturbio in the third. Magnus, Leono and Oro Jr. take on the unappealing trio of Nitro, Canelo Casas and Metalico; that’s 20 minutes you may want to skip. The opener sounds slightly better, with Electrico & Acero taking on Pequeno Nitro & Pequeno Universo.
The show will air at 7:30pm on CMLL.com & YouTube as usual.
Caristico is expected back in action tonight in Guadalajara, teaming with Mistico and Volador against Ephesto, Euforia and Mephisto in a great sounding main event. It’s enough for me to try tracking down a feed again when it airs. They were definitely setting up a Mephisto/Caristico match here prior to Caristico’s injury and will likely go right back to it. Of note elsewhere on the card, Super Porky is against listed as wrestling – he hasn’t made a CMLL since July 5th, though he’s been advertised often.
AAA’s posted this week’s show on their channel, but I’ve been told the this version of the show is no longer available for Canadian viewers. I’m not sure if this has to to do with the the Fight Network deal (which hasn’t been airing new episodes for months), but that’s the only reason I can come up with. You’ll have to find a way around the block if you’re in Canada.
El Rey has been picked up by Verizon Fios as part of their Preferred HD & Mundo packages, which means those customers will be able to watch Lucha Underground season 3.
Culticon starts a countdown of the top 20 matches of Season 2 of Lucha Underground: 20-10 and 10-1
CMLL (MON) 08/08/2016Arena Puebla
1) Centella Roja, Millenium, París vs Akuma, Espíritu Maligno, Inquisidor
2) Arkalis, Pegasso, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Espanto Jr., Policeman
3) Black Tiger, Titán, Tritón vs Ares, Bobby Z, Virus
4) Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Mistico vs Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
5) Marco Corleone & Último Guerrero vs Sharlie Rockstar & Shocker [Relevos Increíbles]
Only five matches this week after a while with longer shows. UG & Shocker matched up again, as are Ares & Tiger. Third & fourth match have some hope. Triton (& Dorada) are still around.
Chilanga Mask (SUN) 08/21/2016Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México
1) Psycho Kid vs Novasonic, Hijo Del Ángel, Hijo del Alebrije, Kronoz, Terremoto Negro, Dragón Fly, Aramis
2) Dorado Jr. & Mr. Leo vs Chicano & Fulgor I and Fulgor II & Sangre Dorada JR.
3) Solar I vs Caifan Rockero III
4) Bobby Z & Sagrado vs Mr. Maldito & The Platino
5) Xtreme Tiger vs Jacon Kincaid vsLaredo Kid
6) Terrible vs Juventud Guerrera
7) Dave Crist & Jason Gory vs Aken & Impulso
8) Black Terry vs Wotan
9) Jeque vs Roberto Paz Jr.
Full lineup for ChilangaMask, which is running about every three months now (and will be running against Lucha Memes on this show.) Card order is not correct, but I don’t know what it is. Terrible vs Juvi was the last match added, with Guerrera talking about the match on YouTube.
MDA (SUN) 08/21/2016Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Erika Sotelo & Larry Miranda vs Dulce Kanela & La Chocolata
2) Chamaco Gurrola, Quinto Elemento, Última Sombra vs Extreme Boy, Gemelo Muerte, Tekilita
3) Ángel de Oro, Mr. Elektro, Sharly Rockstar vs Bestia 666, Hijo de LA Park, X-Fly
4) Ninja Jr. vs Epydemius, Obsesión, Galactar, Mini Hator, Delta, Lince, Tormento, Mini Difunto [cage, mask, hair]
5) Mistico II & Pierroth vs La Máscara & Silver King
6) Atlantis, Dos Caras Sr., LA Park vs Caifan, Canek, Rush
Second anniversary show for MDA. I kind of want to see Rush and Canek on opposite sides.
Fourth match is combining the minis feud and the Monterrey vs outsiders midcard feud, though all the DF guys who were part of it at the start are all not around.
X-Fly sighting in Mexico! And that’s also Elite/CMLL vs AAA, if Bestia counts as AAA.
PROESA was a repeat. Monterrey aired one new match and and one repeat. IWRG skipped over the Wednesday semimain due to baseball running long, and didn’t seem to air a repeat. Azteca aired the Gran Prix, so I’m putting up the iPPV this week. Read More
Rob and I discuss the TripleMania lineup, the possibilities for the Anniversary show, and some thoughts on the end of Lucha Underground 2. I try to determine if there’s anyone Rob would less like to see main event TripleMania than Pagano. We both try to come up with something, anything for the Anniversary show that’s not La Mascara and I speculate in circles for a while. It’s about 90 minutes.
What happened:Dalys defeated Lluvia to keep her title again. Shocker & Ultimo Guerrero are feuding again. A referee blew a finish again.
What was good:I liked the match I thought I was going to like (Panthers/Felinos), though it barely rose to expected level. Sansón & Cuatrero looked great, but there match was non-competitive.