Lucha Memes, FantasticaMania, Puebla tonight

Lucha Memes/video by Black Terry Jr.
Lucha Memes/video by Black Terry Jr.

Lucha Memes (SUN) 10/23/2016 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), MT, R de Rudo]
1) Black Metal, Diosa Atenea, Moria b Astrolux, Baby Star, Zafiro (Chihuahua)
2) Silueta b Keira
Keira wants a rematch.
3) Negro Navarro © b Alberto Dos Rios [FMLL CHAMP] Negro Navarro vs Alberto 2 Rios | Memes | 23-10-16 (posted by TVLuchaMundial)
very good match
4) Impulso DDQ Mike Segura
Kamikazes del Aire ran in attacked both guys. Challenges setup a cage match with the Kamikazes, Seats and Indys.
5) Hechicero b Sammy Guevara Sammy Guevara vs Hechciero | Memes | 23-10-16 (posted by TVLuchaMundial)
a very good match
6) Flyer, Soberano Jr., Star Jr. b Alas de Acero, Aramis, Iron Kid Soberano, Star Jr. y Flyer vs Aramis, Iron Kid y Alas de Acero | Memes | 23-10-16 (posted by TVLuchaMundial)
good match. Lunatik Extrem, Lunatic Fly, and Rebel Punk challenges the Kamikazes on 11/20.
7) Dragón Lee b Ronnie Mendoza Dragon Lee vs Ronnie Mendoza | Memes | 23-10-16 (posted by TVLuchaMundial)
good match

I actually watched the highlights videos before writing about this. Hooray for basic competency. Hechicero/Guevera sounds like it got the best reviews live. The trios match translates to highlights the best, because it appears nothing but craziness. It’s also the CMLL guys getting to do a 100% more than normal; if you’re frustrated by seeing them have ** matches with Arkangel & Nitro forever, maybe you’ll want to check that out (or maybe you won’t because it’ll make you depressed.) Looks like a pretty good crowd.

A running theme in the WON’s coverage of the Crash (covered more now because Konnan is booking for them) is how they’re not high on using the CMLL guys because they didn’t want to lose or do much with the indie guys. That hasn’t been the case in Lucha Memes in the past, and it does look like the CMLL guys worked very hard in the matches with Black Terry Jr. highlights. On the other hand, CMLL luchadors used to (surprisingly) lose a bit here. They did go 4-0 last night. Maybe a booking idea, maybe CMLL people putting their foot down.

FantasticaMania

From one promotion booking CMLL luchadors in more interesting matches than CMLL to another. NJPW & CMLL announced the dates for the annual tour.

01/13 Friday: Osaka (EDION Arena Osaka)
01/14 Saturday: Ehime (Ehime World Trade Center)
01/15 Sunday: Kyoto (KBS Hall)
01/16 Monday: location to be announced – NJPW doesn’t list this one
01/20 Friday: Korakuen Hall
01/21 Saturday: Korakuen Hall
01/22 Sunday: Korakuen Hall

A ten day trip is the longest tour so far, and it’d be the most shows of that Monday show is happening. Kind of think it will be, because it’s a long gap of doing nothing if they’re just running the weekends. Tickets start to go on sale for the Osaka show on the 11/05 PPV, which is probably why they’re announcing it now (and it’s about when they announce it every year), but it does come just happen to come a couple days before the AAA show in Japan for people who are deciding how to spend their lucha dollars in Japan. Ehime is a new location for the tour, replacing Kōchi.

The Korakuen Hall shows are definitely to be on NJPW World. The other tour stops were not, but aired on Samurai TV and made their way to the internet. The list of talent usually goes out in mid November, around the time the tickets go on sale for the general public (11/15 in Osaka, 11/21 elsewhere) and we usually get the matches a couple days after the Tokyo Dome show. The Sunday main event is usually the biggest match on the tour. KUSHIDA signaled he’d like to defend the IWGP Junior championship against Volador back at the Super J tournament. Assuming KUSHIDA is champion and healthy in January, I’d guess that’s title match is the main event.

Other Things

There’s a Puebla show tonight! The main event is the Sky Team teaming up before Valiente & Volador face off in the CMLL Universal on Friday. They take on Euforia, Gran Guerrero and La Mascara. It’s possible they could set up a trios title match, but it seems more likely the feud already was started in the semimain. Negro Casas fouled Atlantis last week, and they rematch with the same other four: Johnny Idol, Maximo, Sam Adonis and Shocker.

The undercard matches might be good? They look better than usual. Guerrero Maya, Rey Cometa and Stigma face Bobby Z, Felino and Polvora in the tercera. Ares, Rey Apocalipsis, and Toro Bill are scheduled to face Star Jr., Soberano Jr. and Hombre Bala Jr., but Hombre Bala Jr. doesn’t exist any more. 50/50 if Drone wrestles instead or if they just send Flyer or Robin instead. Opener is Astro, Meyer, Zaeta Roja vs Espiritu Maligno, Guerrero Espacial, and Policeman.

The show will air on CMLL.com and YouTube at 9pm as usual.

11/05 in Nuevo Laredo has Rayo de Jalisco, Juventud Guerrera and Garza Jr. versus Cien Caras, Mascara 2000, and Universo 2000. Rey Bucanero is listed in the semimain, which probably isn’t going to work out with Garza also on the card. Tabu surfaces teaming with Mr. Electro & Sharlie Rockstar, and he’s a possibility for Cibernetico’s surprise. Meanwhile, Cibernetico was up at 6AM sending messages to CMLL (or he was sitting on phone.)

XL/Alejandro Saez has turned up in NOAH’s Global League (singles league tournament.) He worked for the group back in 2014.

Lineups

DTU (SUN) 11/06/2016 Salón Citlalli, Ecatepec, Estado de México
1) Maszito & Porrito Toto vs Ewing & Irving
2) La Magnifica vs Zuzu Divine
3) Tony Iron vs Moria, Drollux
4) Exotico & Lokillo vs Ángel o Demonio & Ovett
5) Hormiga, Jimmy, Kevin vs Black Fire, Gallego, Mr. Cóndor
6) El Gio & El Jr. vs Corsario Negro Jr. & Toxico
7) Niño De Cobre vs Drastik Boy
8) Pesadilla & Rocky Lobo © vs Dragón Rojo Jr. & Pólvora [DTU NEXO]
Second defense

This came out late last week but I haven’t had it up until now. The main event is notable; Rocky Lobo is leaving in a few months and will likely not be tag team champion when he goes, and Dragon Rojo & Polvora have been regulars and winning a fair amount in DTU. A title change here actually seems more likely than not.