CMLL (FRI) 09/02/2016 Arena México [+LuchaTV, CMLL, ESTO, Medio Tiempo,Plantilla Deportiva, SuperLuchas]
1) Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis b Lluvia, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit
Rudas took 2/3. Lluvia may have been hurt.
2) Ephesto, Mephisto, Shocker b Marco Corleone, Máximo, Stuka Jr.
Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Rey Bucanero b Súper Crazy [hair]
Rey Bucanero took a quick first fall, Super Crazy a quick second fall, and Rey submitted Crazy in a long third fall.
4) Atlantis, Carístico, Máscara Dorada b Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero [CMLL TRIOS]
Guerreros got a triple submission to take the first fall. Tecnicos took 2/3 to win without incident. 7th defense.
6) Dragón Lee b La Máscara [mask]
Shocker (Mascara) and Rush (Lee) were seconds and Tirantes was referee. Rush helped Dragon Lee win the first fall, then swept La Mascara off the top rope to try and help him in the second fall. Tirantes saw that one and called the DQ, then kicked Rush out. Dragon Lee convinced Rush to leave. Third fall went long and back and forth. Rush came out as Dragon Lee had La Mascara in a casita, distracted Tirantes from the pin. Mascara got up and fouled Dragon Lee, but Tirantes was slow in turning around and Dragon Lee kicked out at two. Mascara later got the campana, but Tirantes was again busy dealing with Shocker and missed it. Dragon Lee eventually won with the Phoenix Plex. La Mascara was unmasked as Felipe de Jesus Alvarado, 16 years a luchador, 34 years old. Rush made up with La Mascara and they appear to be friends again. Mistico celebrated with Dragon Lee and both were booed (as Dragon Lee was from the moment the match started.)
The VOD link is here, but it does not work. It’s blocked in all countries. At first, I thought it was something CMLL had done intentionally, planning on unblocking it at 8AM. Instead, it turns out to be an issue with the music rights on YouTube. (I’m surprised this didn’t come up with the other shows.) They say they’ll fix it shortly.
I’ll wait until I see the show in full (instead of just on a friendly cell phone) before really thinking about the matches too much. Rush and La Mascara being friends at the end is a very strange, but it was left unclear if they were really back together full time or just caught up in the moment of the mask loss.
Attendance was guessed at 95%, which would put it around 15,000 and higher than the 14,000 estimate for TripleMania. To my eye, TripleMania seemed to have more people, but attendance guesses are not my thing, far from my favorite thing, as you might be able to tell from how rarely I mention them.
Weird thing after the show. Brazo de Oro came out to the press area and said his son wouldn’t be doing his interviews because of an injury. Minutes later, La Mascara was good enough to pose for group photos/videos with Rush & La Sombra (backstage at the show, never appeared before the crowd.) He did not appear injured. Dragon Lee did talk, and talked about how much the win meant to him. Rey Bucanero also talked about his victory, and Super Crazy also appears not to have talked.
CMLL announced Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Kahoz, Cien Caras, Dos Caras, Mascara Sagrada, Negro Navarro, el Fantasma, Mascara 2000, Mano Negra, Super Astro, Satanico, Canek, Fuerza Guerrera, and Solar as appearing on 09/16 show. It wasn’t specifically said if they’d be wrestling, but it sure seems that way. Guessing it’s an attempt to bring back an older fanbase who might have come for the Atlantis show but not Dragon Lee/La Mascara (though they sure got lots of people along the way.)
CaraLucha is running tonight, with Hechicero & Mascara Dorada vs Angel Blanco Jr. & Flamita in the main event. Arena Coliseo has Dragon Lee, Angel de Oro, Maximo versus Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero, Terrible. Legend has a show/fan fest at Arena Lopez Mateos, with Canek, Dos Casas, and Mil Mascaras vs Negro Navarro, Scorpio Jr. and Villano II as the main event.
Japanese website Shueisha has an interview with Caristico. He’s back to saying he’s going to retire in 3-5 years in this one. Caristico also says he was on the Mexico under 17 Futsal (indoor soccer) team but gave up soccer for lucha libre.
PWSlam interviewed Paul London, who emphasized that he wanted to do something new/different if he was coming back to wrestling.
GALLI says they’re bringing Pentagon on September 11.
Cronkite News writes about the POR lucha promotion in Arizona.
Segunda Caida watches more Pierroth.
Culticon watches the Octagon vs Mascara Sagrada movie.
Super Crazy was announced for the 10/01 Tokyo Gurentai show.
Lineups
CMLL (FRI) 09/09/2016 Arena México
1) Astral & Stukita vs Pequeño Nitro & Pierrothito
2) Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, Soberano Jr. vs Okumura, Tiger, Virus
3) Ángel de Oro, Rey Cometa, Titán vs Ephesto, Hechicero, Vangellys
4) Valiente vs Felino [lightning]
5) Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy, Volador Jr. vs Matt Taven, Mr. Niebla, Shocker
Taven’s debut as part of the deal with ROH.
6) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Mistico vs Euforia, La Máscara, Negro Casas
Usual bit of following up on the Anniversary show in the main event. Matt Taven’s debut is the only other news. I’d guess he’s a Volador opponent; I don’t think they’re bringing people into work with Dorada at this point. As best as I can tell, Taven has not wrestled since blowing out his knee nine months ago, and I have no idea what he’s going to do in this one.
AULL LLP (SAT) 10/01/2016 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Flama Roja & Toro Negro vs Pegasus & Trival Kid
2) Felina Metálica & Keira vs La Jarochita & Reina Dorada
3) Leo, Mike, Teelo vs Centvrión, Fly Warrior, Látigo
4) Freelance vs Imposible
5) Los Porros vs Bastardos
6) Mr. Electro & Sharlie Rockstar vs Trauma I & Trauma II
7) Emperador Azteca vs Fly Star, Golden Magic
8) La Máscara vs Volador Jr.
This is the group that was doing Facebook live streaming from row 3 (and had over 5K viewers for the main event). They’re also promoting a show with a few good sounding matches.