Máscara Dorada wraps up in GDL, Elite on Thursday, Goya Kong, Cara Lucha

Mascara Dorada, 2016 FantasticaMania
Mascara Dorada, 2016 FantasticaMania

CMLL (TUE) 11/08/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Martes de Glamour]
1) Gran Kenut & Ráfaga b Nautilius & Neutrón
Rudos took 2/3
2) Astral, Cosmos, Stukita b Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Relámpago
Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany b La Vaquerita, Silueta, Skadi
Rudas took 2/3
4) Cavernario, Hechicero, Sam Adonis b Ángel de Oro, Johnny Idol, Valiente
Rudos took 2/3.
5) Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone, Máscara Dorada b La Máscara, Pierroth, Rush
tecnicos took 1/3, in Dorada’s last match in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara (for now)

No big ceremony, at least as far as I can tell in pictures, just a goodbye. Edit: they posted more pictures, and there was a scene similar to in Puebla. In a CMLL interview, Atlantis said he’s proud of his former national incredible pairs tournament Mascara Dorada, notes he’s done well and in Mexico and Japan and thinks it’ll be no different in the WWE (which CMLL is now mentioning by name.) Dorada was interviewed on Informa, with JCR mentioning Dorada was in line to get the mask match against Averno, only Dorada got a chance to go to NJPW instead (and La Mascara was the second choice.) Apolo Valdes’ column on MedioTiempo talks about Dorada’s departure, and contrasts it with the recent AAA departures. There’s different circumstances (and AAA gave Alex Koslov a nice farewell when he too was headed to WWE), but it does stick out as being very different when compared like that.

CultIcon has a thank you article for Mascara Dorada.

On Informa, they explained Friday’s CMLL three way trios main event will actually be a series of matches in a round robin. Each teams faces the other two teams, so it’ll be a three match (and probably one fall) series of matches.

The recent cluster of the three biggest lucha promotions on Fridays is broken up for at least a while. AAA is off this week and their next taping is on a Sunday. (They could be done with Fridays for the year.) CMLL is still on Friday, but Azteca is moving their taping to Thursday for at least this week. Thursday’s figure to be a slightly tougher draw, even in a venue that’s had a history of Thursday shows like Naucalpan. On the other hand, taping on Thursday may give Elite a day to post produce their TV. Elite/Azteca production has appeared to be done live since they moved to Fridays, and the quality of the broadcasts has suffered – they have no feel of when to show a replay and when to show live action. If they can use the extra day to produce a better flowing show, taping on Thursday long term would be for the best. Elite is basically a TV product (some might even say a TV show!) at this point, and so anything they can do to make the TV better should be the top priority.

Of course, if Elite really wanted to TV to flow better, they wouldn’t be putting Blue Demon in three singles matches tonight. No one understands why Elite is doing this, and even Blue Demon Jr. fans probably aren’t going to like the matches either (which will likely be CMLL tournament length.) Elite desperately needs some long term direction. There’s a idea of a Park/Escorpion/Carstico apuesta match, but everything else is just randomly assembled matches. Some times they’re good, sometimes they’re bad, but none of them have any weight. It’s an antiquated model (and yet, if you look back at the UWA shows from three decades ago, they had a better idea of week to week booking) and it’s going to hold the promotion back from growing.

Besides the main event, La Park teams with Mr. Aguila to take on Rey Escorpion & Black Tauro. Intocable, Zumbido and Decnnis take on Hijo de Dr. Wagner, Hijo de Dos Caras, and Dr. Karonte Jr. No Argos, hooray. Emperador Azteca, Zumbi and Metaleon (no more Leon Dorado?) face Imposible, Samoano, and Diamante. Rocky Lobo & Mr. Leo take on Impulso & Belial; the Indystructibles seem to be regulars in the matches that just don’t make the TV cut. Solaris, Pequeno Gigante vs Shaolin, Mini Black Warrior open the show. The show starts at 8pm and will air on Saturday (at least it’s on the schedule right now)

AAA has an interview with Daga & Pentagon, explaining they’re against Johnny Mundo and all the foreigners, and find the Wagner/Pagano/Monster/Murder group just as bad.

Wednesday is typically AAA announcement day, and there’s no announcement on Guerra de Titanes’s date or location as of yet. I’ll give it another week before getting concerned.

Goya Kong returned to the ring Tuesday night. She’s been away from wrestling most of this year, busy with a new child. (There was a point where she and Carta Brava Jr. appeared to quit and return to AAA.) It doesn’t look like a one off – Goya appears to be the mystery luchadora on the 11/18 Arena Neza show, now a ruda opposite Big Mami.

Chairo 6 on 11/27 in Arena Naucalpan
1) Memes Rumble (Alberto Dos Rios + 21 surprise luchadors)
2) Hechicero vs Caifan – two out of three falls
3) Rey Cometa vs Laredo Kid – falls count anywhere
4) Black Terry vs Valiente – super libre
5) Astral, Belial, Arez, Impulso vs Shockercito, Aramis, Iron Kid, Alas de Acero vs Ultimo Dragoncito, Sadico, Pantera I, Freelance 
 relevos Super Sayayin.
(three more matches to be announced)

CultIcon reviews last week’s Lucha Underground episode.

Tony Rodriguez replaces Dralion (injury) against Alberto Dos Rios on RIOT’s 11/19 show.

PWPonderings has introduction articles to CMLL, AAA and Elite.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 11/13/2016 Arena Naucalpan
1) Araña de Plata & Fireman vs Adrenalina & Guerrero 2000
2) Demonio Infernal vs Omega, Black Dragón, Diablo Jr., Cadillac, Dragón Fly, Pantera I, Astro [IWRG IC Light, battle royal]
3) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC Light, quarterfinal]
4) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC Light, quarterfinal]
5) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC Light, quarterfinal]
6) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC Light, quarterfinal]
7) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC Light, semifinal]
8) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC Light, semifinal]
9) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC Light, final]
10) Danny Casas, Imposible, Súper Nova vs Dr. Cerebro, Heddi Karaoui, Relámpago
11) Canis Lupus, Chicano, Golden Magic vs Herodes Jr., Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Trauma I

Impossible held the lightweight title, and it’s been vacant since he’s moved up in divisions. His current partner Diablo Jr. challenged for the title multiple times and seems like the best bet to become champion.

Cara Lucha (SAT) 11/19/2016 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) Estrella De Oro & Limbo vs Rey Carnero Jr. & Rocker Boy
2) Alas de Acero, Alas de Oro, Alas De Plata vs Imperio Negro, Toro Negro Jr., Ying Yang
3) Astral & Demus 3:16 vs Mini Drago & Tiago [Relevos Increíbles]
4) El Bandido, Fly Warrior, Rayo Star vs Freelance, Mike Segura, Pantera I
5) Látigo vs Templario [CaraLucha The Best]
6) Volador Jr. vs Rey Fénix vs Flamita

A little bit weird that you’re deciding your The Best championship on a show with three guys who seem to be a bit better, but the three top matches are really strong. Brothers Tiago and Mini Drago get to team up, and I can’t believe he’s getting away with using that gimmick. Probably won’t happen much longer.