Month: March 2017

CMLL (MON) 03/13/2017 Arena Puebla [CultIcon, Plantilla Deportiva]
1) Cancerbero, Policeman, Raziel b Arkalis, Espíritu Maligno, Tigre Rojo Jr.
2) La Seductora, Tiffany, Zeuxis b Estrellita, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely
Zeuxis challenged Sugehit to a title match for next week
3) Puma, Skándalo, Tiger b Drone, Esfinge, Lestat
4) La Máscara, Pierroth, Ripper b Diamante Azul, Máximo Sexy, Titán
5) Atlantis, Carístico, Dragón Lee b Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
Carsitico challenged Mephisto to a title match for next week.

Sounds like the third match is the one worth checking out. They stayed away from doing the trios title match next week. If they do the same in Guadalajara, the Infiernos might actually be giving up the trios titles.

Today’s Arena Mexicos show has Rey Cometa versus Barbaro Cavernario. It’s a solid bet to be great, every match they’ve had has been great. It’s for Rey Cometa’s Mexican Welterwerweight championship. It was Cavernario’s title, Cometa seems to have only won it to put doubt in the outcome of their hair match last year. That didn’t quite work, and CMLL’s done nothing with Cometa since, so this is probably Cometa’s last moment to have a great singles match for a while. He’ll probably wrestle like it, and Cavernario will be as crazy as usual. It should be a good time. If you’re a person who doesn’t like to watch the entire Tuesday Arena Mexico show, this match should take place after 10pm CDT (US).

It should be the main event. It’s not the main event, because a pointless Marco, Volador and Maximo versus Mr. Niebla, Terrible, Rey Bucanero trios is the main event. The crowd will like that match, but it seems likely to be a sub 10 minute rushed thru match because it will be hard to follow the title match. (It’s a Tuesday main event, so it might have been the same otherwise.) The fourth match is Angel de Oro, Johnny Idol, Guerrero Maya Jr. versus Vangellys, Olimpico and Sam Adonis. Triton, Esfinge, and Fuego against Virus, Misterioso and Sagrado. Magnus makes a streaming show, but with Sensei, Metatron, Arkangel, Nitro and Canelo Casas. Electrico & Fantasy take on Pequeno Olimpico & Pequeno Nitro to open the show.

CultIcon also previews the show. Like last night, the CMLL stream now starts an hour later, starting at 8:30pm.

Vampiro is now also the Head of Talent Relations for Lucha Libre FMV, Lucha Underground’s parent company, as part of the AAA side handling the wrestling end of the promotion. The job description is “scouting and development, live event coordination, and communication with leagues owners FactoryMade Ventures, Lucha Libre AAA and Promociones Antonio Peña, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico. He will also oversee Lucha Underground talent schedules, travel, and negotiation with 3rd party promoters.” What this means is anyone’s guess; we haven’t really seen anything come of Dorian Roldan being in put charge a couple months ago. In theory, you’d need to go thru Vampiro to booking Lucha Underground wrestlers, but they’ve been getting booked out on their own for years now. Vampiro would seem to be the point man in setting up live shows and seemed to be involved in that end already.

IWRG’s Dragon Fly says he’s heading to Japan soon, though he doesn’t say who he’s with or when he’s going. The Gladiatores also has an interview with Chicano, who introduces Tigre del Ring, Chabela la Atrevida and Atomo as part of his Chiwa Team (as luchadors from Chihuahua.)

Octagon says 2017 is the year he and Fuerza Guerrera will have their mask match, making this the 27th straight year where Fuerza & Octagon were definitely going to have their mask match.

California indie wrestlers Dicky Mayer and Adrian Quest saying they’re wrestling on DragonMania (which turns out to be May 27th this year.)

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

Paste Machine writes about Maximo.

+LuchaTV has a sit down with Diamante Azul.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 03/20/2017 Arena Puebla
1) Meyer, París, Vega vs King Jaguar, Rey Apocalipsis, Toro Bill Jr.
2) Espíritu Maligno, Rey Samuray, Zaeta Roja vs Cancerbero, Policeman, Raziel
3) Princesa Sugehit vs Zeuxis [lightning]
4) Lestat, Rey Cometa, Stigma vs Kráneo, Luciferno, Morphosis
5) Diamante Azul, Mr. Niebla, Terrible vs La Máscara, Pierroth, Rush [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Mephisto © vs Carístico [CMLL WELTER]
5th defense

I guess you can’t have a Homenaje a DOS Leyendas when they’re only honoring one; CMLL says this show will honor Salvador Lutteroth (and no one else.) Caristico just lost this title match in Arena Mexico and doesn’t seem to have much better odds in Puebla. The lightning match could set up a title match next week, or just go nowhere. Espiritu & Policeman remain on the show, on opposites of matches.

Lestat now escaping the locals opening matches two weeks in a row, and even while Stigma is around. And Morphosis is back for the first time since Histeria lost his mask. Morphosis is Histeria. I know I’m excited to see if CMLL will let someone who lost their mask put one back on. Hey, look, Pierroth.

CMLL (SUN) 03/12/2017 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Black Sugar b Quca
2) Relámpago & Thunder Boy b Cosmos & Johnny Dinamo
3) Mágico & Metatrón DQ Évola & Gran Kenut
Evola unmasked Magico for the DQ.
4) Esfinge, Smaker, Tritón b Difunto, Espectrúm, Maléfico
5) El Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © b Explosivo, Omar Brunetti, Star Black [OCCIDENTE TRIOS]
In a surprise, the Dinamita kept the titles. Third defense.

That means the Dinamtias will probably be back on Sunday Guadalajara shows in the future (or those titles will just not be defended for two years, could go either way with Occidente titles.)

IWRG (SUN) 03/12/2017 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr)]
1) Cadilac vs Power Bull
2) Kanon b Vórtize
3) Átomo & Shadow Boy b Atomic Star & Chavela La Atrevida
debut for Chavela
4) Hip Hop Man & Relámpago b Pantera I & The Tiger
5) Black Terry & Diablo Jr. © b Black Dragón & Internacional Pantera [IWRG IC TAG]
first defense
6) Chicano, Danny Casas, Golden Magic b Negro Navarro, Trauma II, Veneno
Golden Magic and Trauma II feuded.
7) Imposible, Mr. Electro, Tigre Del Ring DQ Herodes Jr., Silver King, Trauma I
Imposible was hurt and left the match in the first fall. Mascara 2000 Jr. just happened to be there (and in his gear!) so he replaced him. Silver King Jr. interfered to attack Mascara for the DQ.

Tonight’s Arena Puebla show has Atlantis, Caristico and Dragon Lee taking on the Hijos del Infierno in a rematch of last week. It seems like a setup to a trios title match, though they could pivot into it being for Mephisto’s title or just a non-title singles match. It does hint the Hijos del Infierno are both not winning the world trios title and not giving up their national titles (this has the markings of a thing we talk about for two weeks which goes nowhere), but we may have a better idea about that tonight.

The rest of the card is a mixed bag. The tercera has Drone, Esfinge and Lestat and Puma, Tiger and Skandalo. Skandalo’s not good, but he does seem to be less of a focus when Stigma isn’t in a match. This match comes off as if Lestat’s only getting this spot because Stigma isn’t around for whatever reason. The rest of the guys are good and could put together the best match of the night. The other stuff is not as interesting: another Diamante Azul/Pierroth trios in the semimain, a women’s tag match including some people who aren’t great, and an opening match focusing on the Espiritu Maligno & Policeman feud. They’re headed to a hair match soon, maybe as soon as next week.

CultIcon also previews the show. Tonight show starts four weeks of CMLL streams airing an hour later due to US starting Daylights Saving Time a month earlier than Mexico. That means tonight’s CMLL Puebla show will start 9pm locally, but 11 pm Eastern in the US, and 10pm Central.

On the latest Podcast Boom, Konnan claims AAA’s trying to get many veterans to join in. Konnan mentions the Mr. Aguila, Damian, Halloween, as he has on other podcasts, with the idea that the original Perros del Mal would be part of the group again to legitimize it. Konnan mentions LA Park, and Park has referenced rumors of him going to AAA on his Twitter (mostly on the idea he’d go if they gave him enough money, but it doesn’t sound close.) New Konnan claims this time is Maximo, La Mascara and Rush. Maximo’s had several times of coming close to leaving CMLL in the past, but has always been convinced to stay. (When he was in charge, Konnan himself was frustrated by these teases and said he’d no longer to talk to Maximo about coming to AAA after it fell thru last time.) Rush & La Mascara seem to have a lot of freedom in CMLL and would seem to have to be convinced AAA’s a much better deal. For what it’s worth, CMLL owns the rights to trademark for “Rush”. They filed for La Mascara in 2010 but it’s never been approved (maybe because other people used it longer before CMLL.) CMLL also files for Los Ingobernables in 2014, which hasn’t been approved yet. I don’t think there’s any real chance they’re going to AAA.

Dragon Rojo kept the CMLL Middleweight Championship over Delta in Arena Pavillon del Norte.

TKD reviews a disappointing July 11, 2015 Cara Lucha show.

Lineups

CMLL (SAT) 03/18/2017 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Mercurio & Pequeño Violencia
2) La Jarochita, La Vaquerita, Skadi vs La Comandante, Metálica, Reyna Isis
3) Blue Panther Jr., Fuego, The Panther vs El Cuatrero, Okumura, Sansón
4) Ángel de Oro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Titán vs Bobby Villa, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora
5) Matt Taven, Stuka Jr., Volador Jr. vs Hechicero, Kráneo, Ripper

Matt Taven is sticking around at least all weekend. He’s also suddenly a tecnico, probably because he’s facing Ultimo Guerrero on Friday. Semimain should be really good. Okumura might be back from injury by this point.

CMLL (SUN) 03/19/2017 Arena México
1) Flyer, Príncipe Diamante, Robin vs Apocalipsis, Artillero, Inquisidor
2) Astral, Pegasso, Tritón vs Disturbio, Sangre Azteca, Skándalo
3) Drone, Soberano Jr., Stigma vs Bobby Villa, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora
4) Dragón Lee vs Niebla Roja
5) Marco Corleone, Matt Taven, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Rey Bucanero, Terrible

Dragon Lee vs Niebla Roja on a not taped show for the second time. Opener might be a match Principe Diamante can win. Seems less likely for Astral.

CMLL (SUN) 03/19/2017 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Avispón Negro Jr. vs Guerrero de la Muerte
2) Black Sugar & Cosmos vs Destello & Gitano
3) Fantástico, Mágico, Tigre Blanco vs Évola, Linterna, Mr. Brisa
4) Difunto & Espectrúm vs Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno
5) Magnum, Neutrón, Vaquero Jr. vs Frezzer, Furia Roja, León Blanco

Fantastico is a new name here (though there’s plenty of people who’ve used that name elsewhere.) Not sure why there’s a rudo vs rudo match, or if this is the old CMLL Tigre Blanco or if that name’s being recycled.

CMLL (SAT) 03/11/2017 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Camorra & Cholo b Leono & Retro
Retro replaced Marvel on Tuesday. It’s his first match in CMLL since May (when he was a rudo.) Rudos took 2/3.
2) Arkángel de la Muerte, Espanto Jr., Nitro b Astral, Oro Jr., Sensei
Rudos took 1/3.
3) Esfinge, Rey Cometa, Tritón b Sangre Azteca, Skándalo, Tiger
money thrown in.
4) Ángel de Oro, Máximo Sexy, Volador Jr. b Mr. Niebla, Sam Adonis, Terrible
tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto © b Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther [MEX TRIOS]
Hijos del Infierno took 2/3 to keep the titles. 10th defense.

CMLL’s recap says they’re still awaiting a ruling on if national trios titles will have to be vacant if the Hijos del Infierno win the world trios titles on Friday. They also say the rudos are probably winning, so they’re talking crazy. (The Hijos del Infierno are likely defending the natioanl trios titles on 03/19 in Arena Puebla.

BARACAL (SAT) 03/11/2017 Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal [+LuchaTV, The Gladiatores]
1) Ángel Del Amor & Mr. Leo b Centvrión & Violencia Jr.
Centvrion left on a stretcher.
2) Trauma I & Trauma II b Herodes Jr. & Máscara Año 2000 Jr.
Trauma II was the surprise luchador (or just not cleared to wrestle when the card was announced.)
3) Hijo de LA Park & Hijo De Octagon b Hijo del Fishman & Silver King Jr.
Pierroth (Noberto Salgado) was honored after the match
4) Mr. Electro & Silver King DQ La Máscara & Pierroth
La Mascara replaced Dragon Lee.
5) LA Park DQ Rush
Rush fouled and unmasked LA Park, ref counted three before raising LA Park’s hand for the DQ win. Money thrown in.

+LuchaTV has already put up Rush vs LA Park, which is said to be very good. It doesn’t seem like anything else was worth seeking out. They drew about a half house, which doesn’t look great but is still a good number for an indie promotion running it’s first show. That would be the benchmark for The Crash’s first DF show in a vacuum, but coming in to the building AAA filled as the anti-AAA promotion changes the expectations greatly.

CMLL (SUN) 03/12/2017 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Sangre Imperial & Starman b Apocalipsis & Artillero
2) Eléctrico, Robin, Último Dragóncito b Demus 3:16, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico
Tecnicos took 1/3. Robin replaced Fantasy, unusually working as a mini.
3) Estrellita, La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit b Amapola, Metálica, Zeuxis
tecnicas took 1/3, beating Zeuxis.
4) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Johnny Idol b Mr. Niebla, Terrible, Vangellys
tecnicos took 2/3
5) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Marco Corleone b Kráneo, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero
Dragon Lee got revenge on Niebla Roja by unmasking him to pin.

They continue onto Dragon Lee & Niebla Roja. Maybe the singles match will be next week. We won’t know until later; the time change means the Saturday/Sunday lineups will be in Monday’s midday post instead of this one.

Black Terry Jr. has photos of the Saturday XMW show.

The Crash officially announced it’s alliances with Impact and NOAH. We’ll have to see if this leads anywhere before caring too much about it; it’s also hard to think of how many people work for either promotion who would be a big deal if they came to Tijuana. It’s probably more meaningful as a confirmation that other promotions thinking highly enough of The Crash to make deals with them, and that neither will be working with AAA going forward. Still no lineup yet for the 03/25 Crash show beyond the Young Bucks vs Daga/Rey match.

AAA’s posted this week’s TV show. The show ends with Texano finding a Vamiro mystery note. Vampiro explains not appearing in person on the taping was his idea – he wants to lean into buying a mysterious ghost/vampire character. (This is tougher to pull off when you’re normal Vamprio in the La Llave de La Gloria segments on the same show.)

AAA is getting a second TV show. Sort of. You may recall a couple shows called Zona Ruda during the holidays on Televisa Deportes in Mexico, pushing the TripleMania match and other AAA luchadors. The concept was successful enough to come back on March 27 at 10pm according to La Parka’s column.

Rey Fenix was announced for the Elite Night of Champions show in Aguascalientes show on 04/06. Elite, or what there is of it, and The Crash are the only two major Mexican promotions working together.

03/26 Lucha Memes (Chairo9) in Arena Naucalpan
1: Kamikazes del Aire (Alas de Acero, Aramis, Iron Kid) vs CMLL Rudo Minis (Pierrothito, Demus 3:16, Mercurio)
2: Totems (1 & 2) vs Traumas (1 & 2)
3: Puma & Tiger vs Corsario Negro & Drako
one singles match
two more tag matches
one more trios match

There are highlights of the The Crash show in Aguascaientes.

Ex AAA designer Oscar Garcia is now working with FULL.

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

RobViper has highlights of Elite 06/25/16.

Ohtani’s Jacket reviews February 2000 CMLL and Satanico vs Tarzan Boy.

Segunda Caida reviews Aztec Warfare 3.

Will Ospreay beat Penta el Zero M in London, which I think means Dragon Lee is better than Penta el Zero M.

CMLL (FRI) 03/10/2017 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Misterioso Jr. & Sagrado b Fuego & Soberano Jr.
14:01. Rudos took 1/3. Misterioso used the ropes to pin Soberano, and took his mask after the match.
2) El Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Drone, Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr.
15:39. NGD took 1/3. Forastero tried the running springboard dropkick to end the match but fell badly on the springboard.
3) Stuka Jr. b Bobby Villa [lightning]
6:53. Stuka won with a casadora bomb, and landed on Zavala on the way down. Zavala was put in a neck brace and strechered out.
4) Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Volador Jr. b Felino, Negro Casas, Sam Adonis
9:49. Tecnicos took 2/3. Marco & Adonis feuded.
5) Euforia, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero b Dragón Lee, Mistico, Valiente
12:12. Guerreros took 1/3. Niebla Roja & Dragon Lee feuded.
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Máximo Sexy DQ La Máscara, Pierroth, Rush
8:41, straight falls. Los Ingobernables beat up Diamante Azul for almost all of the match, finally being DQed for using a vendor’s tray of potato chips as a weapon. They took out Tirantes as well, and left Diamante Azul without his mask.

Show had all good matches or building matches for next week. CMLL’s running a lot of feuds which aren’t taking place on Homenaje a Dos Leyendas. Azul finally getting his revenge on Pierroth next week is a lock.

R de Rudo has a report on The Crash show in Aguascalientes on Thursday. The main event was changed to Rey Mysterio & Penta el Zero M vs Willie Mack & Brian Cage to keep La Rebellion on the same team. Elsewhere on the show, a triangle match between Lady Maravilla, Keira, Sexy Star had no finish, with Konnan setting up a cage match with all three on the 03/25 Tijuana show. Maybe Brooke will be in that too.

The Crash’s 04/05 show will be in Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera according to Dr. Landru and Tercera y Definitiva. That had been the rumor going around, with the reason partly to specifically run AAA’s home Mexico City arena with the guys who used to be in AAA.

Rey Mysterio told the media post match that he only wants to wrestle for The Crash in Mexico. The Crash confirmed it’s alliance with Impact Wrestling.

Aguascalientes also appears to be the home for a Night of Champions show Elite teased weeks ago. This Facebook page is promoting it, with Blue Demon, Cibernetico, Violento Jack and Golden Magic announced. If it’s all the way in Aguascalientes, it’s unlikely to be a taped show.

AAA says their TV show airs about an hour early today at 4:30pm. (Televisa hasn’t updated their listings to reflect this, but that’s Mexican TV networks.) AAA’s preview/open is evasive about what matches will air – which makes sense, so many matches changed during the show – but it implies the Super Fly/Bengala and Faby Apache/Ricky Marvin matches will be airing. They’ve also posted the La Llave de la Gloria segment from this week’s TV show.

Today’s shows include the debut lucha libre show for Baracal, also in Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera. Rush versus LA Park is the main event, in what should be a crazy match. Wagner & Park had some crazy matches in the same location back when Todo x el Todo was a thing. The show will honor the original Pierroth, with the new one wrestling in the semifinal.

Coliseo has the Panthers versus the the Hijos del Infierno for the Mexican Trios Championship. This would seem like a decent time for a title change – it’s the right challengers, the rudos don’t seem to want the belts – but CMLL is teasing similar title matches in Puebla and Guadalajara, so it’s unlikely the titles would change hands here.

Indie shows include XMW running in Salon Citalli, with Toxico vs Wotan as the main event. There’s a usual crazy tag match underneath too.

Vice Mexico has a long interview with Sanely. It’s more focused on how she got in shape for fitness competitions. There’s a lot about diet and supplements, with the big point being she was much more successful and changing her body once she started working with a trainer instead of trying to figure it out on her own. A big revelation is snuck in the end; Sanely looks in her 20s in her mask and in the ring thanks to her work on her body, but she’s actually 35.

Arena Coliseo Guadalajara announced it’ll now be Ray Mendoza who’s honored on March 21. Americo Rocca had been announced a few days ago.

Lucha Memes says Chairo9 will have one singles match, four tag matches and two trios matches.

Fuego en el Ring has Gallo on the latest podcast.

Segunda Caida watches some Elite.

Lineups

IWRG (WED) 03/15/2017 Arena Naucalpan
1) Fly Star vs Guerrero 2000
2) Luantic Boy, Luantic Fly, Lunatic Xtreme vs Adrenalina, Atomic Star, Vórtize
3) Alas de Acero, Aramis, Shadow Boy vs Araña de Plata, Keiser Drago, Power Bull
4) Black Dragón, Cadilac, Chicano vs Diablo Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Imposible
5) Emperador Azteca, Freelance, Pantera I vs Demonio Infernal, Heddi Karaoui, Relámpago

Wednesday shows back this week. The Mariachi Locos are actually teaming. The Lunatic brothers debut outside of a FILL tournament.

CMLL (FRI) 03/17/2017 Arena México
***Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, 2017 (Villano III & Salvador Lutteroth)***
1) Estrellita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis
2) Dragón Lee, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja
3) Atlantis, Carístico, Marco Corleone vs Kráneo, La Máscara, Rush
4) Matt Taven vs Último Guerrero © [NWA MIDDLE]
tenth defense
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. © vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto [CMLL TRIOS]
ninth defense
6) Pierroth vs Diamante Azul [mask]

Nothing new on this card, but you’re used to seeing here so here it is. Remember, if you’re a person who only checks out Friday nights (and yet somehow still read this entire blog entry), this show will only be up after it takes places and it’ll be taking place an hour later than usual.