CMLL (MON) 08/15/2016 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Cult Icon, thecubsfan]
1) King Jaguar, Meyer, Star Jr. b Artillero, Fuerza Chicana, Hijo del Signo 
17:45. Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Astral, Asturiano, Eléctrico DRAW Demus 3:16, Espíritu Maligno, Pierrothito
15:14. Tecnicos took 1, Rudos 2, and Astral & Demus double pinned in the third. They talked about a remathc next week.
3) Fuego, Stigma, Stuka Jr. b Fujin, Okumura, Raijin
12:38. Tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Black Tiger b Ares [mask]
13:26. Tiger took 2/3 to take Ares’ mask. Ares was revealed as Francisco Gonzalez, 40, 25 years a lucahdor.
5) Cavernario, Felino, Mr. Niebla b Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Mistico
9:48. Rudos took 2/3. Mr. Niebla replaced Negro Casas. Cavernario used the ropes to beat Mistico, setting up a 1v1 match next week.
6) Último Guerrero © b Shocker [NWA MIDDLE]
15:22. UG took 2/3 to retain his title. 7th defense.
Show played out pretty much how you would’ve guessed. Matches 4 & 6 were a struggle at time, though not for effort. Best matches were the 2nd and 3rd one.
Rush returns to Arena Mexico tonight, a rare appearance on a Tuesday show for him this year. He teams with Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada to face Euforia, Gran Guerrero and Ultimo Guerrero in what will be a great match if they’re interested in having a good match. (It’s Tuesday, so it’s not a certainty.) CMLL’s preview mentions it’s the last show for the crew going to Japan for the second Super J show, which includes 4 people in that match and Titan in the semimain. Titan teams with Angel de Oro & Johnny Idol against long ago tag team champions Mr. Niebla & Shocker, with Terrible rounding out the trio.
Stuka and Luciferno are in the lightning match. Rey Cometa, Fuego & Guerrero Maya take on Hechicero, Misterioso and Sagrado in the tercera, which might be the second best match on the show depending on how serious Misterioso & Sagrado take it. (I feel like we can count on them losing one fall in a dumb way.) The second match has a normal mix of shaky guys and interesting people, with Soberano, Starman and Oro Jr. taking on Sanson, Cuatrero, and Skandalo. The first match is just shaky, Espanto Jr. & Inquisidor versus Sensei & Leono. The openers on these shows seem to feature a lot of the same people, which is another reason it’d be nice to have Nuevo Valores on Nuevo Valores Tuesdays. The card CMLL releases tonight, for next Tuesday, might be a little interesting on that count to see if the Sunday schedule change has any ripple affect on these shows.
CultIcon also previews the show, which is taking place less than a half hour after I post this. It’ll air on YouTube & CMLL like usual.
Guadalajara has the Fantasy/Electrico title match; it’s be a shock if Electrico lost the Mexican lightweight championship, but it’s not as though the minis titles mean so much that they can’t bounce around. The main event is now Marco Corleone, Maximo Sexy and Atlantis versus Kraneo, Mephisto and Rey Escorpion; CMLL actually updated the lineup to replace Atlantis for Super Porky. It’d be nice if they were acknowledging injuries and people who wouldn’t appear, but it’s probably more about advertising Atlantis.
AAA announced the Copa TripleMania field will be La Parka, Zorro, Hernandez, Taurus, Elegido, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Daga, Super Fly, Australian Suicide, Mamba, Pimpinela Escarlata and a mystery person. (That’s 12 people for an 11 man match, with the mystery person.) It’s mostly TV regulars being given a spot. If you figure the rest of the Psycho Clown and Los Fronterizos are getting involved in the main event, then the notable omissions include Joe Lider, Nino Hamburguesa, Ricky Marvin, Argenis, Bengala – and minis champion Dinastia, who’s got no role on this show unless he’s the mystery luchador. Mamba & Pimpinela being in this match clinches no Relevos AAA this year, which is a welcome change, but means no minis.
CMLL has trailers for the Anniversary show, though it doesn’t appear they’ve put up a price. I haven’t been around much today, but haven’t seen anything from the AAA media day about the AAA iPPV either.
CMLL posted a note on their Facebook reminding Japanese fans that they’re on NJPW World again starting this week. They’re on this week. They’re on next week, both just for Japan. No one’s said what’s happening the 09/02 show yet. If the Anniversary show is available live, people will absolutely get around a region block to see it.
Lucha 2000 #836 has La Mascara and Dragon Lee biggest on the cover. Box Y Lucha #3246 puts both on their cover.
LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania, and KrisZ’s news report.
GALLI has a free outdoor show with Triton this weekend.
Cross Armbreaker watched Mascara 2000 versus Anibal.
Lineup
IWRG (WED) 08/17/2016 Arena Naucalpan
1) Brazo De Oro Jr. & Fly Tiger vs Shadow Boy & Último Caballero
2) Adrenalina, Alas de Acero, Aramis vs Dowki, Hanaoka, Yakuza
3) Black Dragón, Emperador Azteca, Hijo del Alebrije vs Bombero Infernal, Demonio Infernal, Violencia Jr.
4) Dragón Fly vs Hip Hop Man
5) Black Terry vs Judas el Traidor [hair]
Kind of surprised we’re getting this hair match, figured the draw was the end of the program.
The poster lists “Brazo de Oro”, but I’m going to assume it’s not the old man who showed up as a ref in Elite and actually one of his sons.
Elite (SUN) 08/21/2016 Arena México
1) Estrellita & Lluvia vs Keira & Muñeca De Plata
2) El Bandido, Emperador Azteca, Metaleón vs Decnnis, Fresero Jr., Zumbido
3) Blue Panther vs Black Terry
4) Golden Magic & Valiente vs Rey Escorpión & Sharlie Rockstar
5) Dragón Lee vs Flamita
6) Máximo, Súper Crazy, Xtreme Tiger vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Felino, Mr. Niebla
The story they appear to be going with is the fans demanded the return of Sunday Elite shows. OK. The fans probably should’ve given Elite more of a heads up, because most everyone in Liga Elite is already booked elsewhere and not on this show. (Rush & LA Park are in Monterrey.) Neither of the singles matches on this show are Liga Elite matches, though you might not be able to tell with all the subs.
Flamita & Dragon Lee met in a singles match in July 2015, but in Miniatlan, Veracruz – so no one outside the building ever saw it, and we’re not really certain if it actually occurred. A lot has happened with both guys in the 13 months since, and this is one of the more exciting matchups the mashup of CMLL & Elite can throw out there. (It’s going to be bigger for the type of people who drop in on this blog than the La Mascara match, though the Anniversary will obviously draw move.) Blue Panther versus Black Terry is a pretty good match too, though Terry seems to have had some rotten luck on his recent Arena Mexico appearances. The long Saturday night version of Elite has been recently airing 4 complete matches, so it’s a good chance both air.
Decnnis is a surprising name to pop up here; he’s disappared from the high profile indies but has still been wrestling. This would be his Arena Mexico debut after a long time in AAA. It’d be Zumbido’s first match here since 2005, since he left for AAA.
CMLL (MON) 08/22/2016 Arena Puebla
1) París & Rey Samuray vs El Malayo & Fuerza Chicana
2) Millennium & Robin vs Ares & Guerrero Espacial
3) Astral, Asturiano, Eléctrico vs Demus 3:16, Espíritu Maligno, Pierrothito
4) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto vs Kráneo, Morphosis, Ripper
5) Atlantis, Dragón Lee, Rush vs La Máscara, Shocker, Terrible
6) Mistico vs Cavernario
Mistico/Cavernario is a first time ever. Semifinal brings the Dragon Lee/La Mascara feud here. Rudo/rudo fourth match is odd, might mean the Hijos del Infierno are defending their titles, which would mean the minis rematch in the tercera might not go anywhere. Ares appears unmasked in the second (and “Millennium” gets the third different spelling of his name.) Opening could be good.