CMLL’s said they’ll air Sunday‘s micro estrellas match, but we don’t know exactly in what form – or, I don’t know what form. It may be live, it may be VOD right away, it may be VOD not even close to being right away. We probably we won’t know for sure until it’s either there or not, that’s how CMLL works.
The way CMLL Claro is working is it’s just geoblocked all the time. It may be because NJPW is airing the shows on a delay, it may just be all geoblocked now, or it may just be an error. It doesn’t matter, we can’t see it either way.
AAA should finish off the rest of the San Luis Potosi taping. If you’re looking for Taya/Ayako, it may air next week or the weekend after.
You’ll probably want to want to watch CMLL Tuesday to see Dragon Lee vs Niebla Roja.
IWRG FILL (WED) 04/26/2017Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, The Gladiatores]
1) Celestial Boy b Fly Tiger, Voltar, Keshin Black, Vardeus turned into a five way, with Celestial Boy replacing Guerrero 2000.
2) Ángel Oriental, Blue Monsther, Kesier Drago b Atomic Star, Lunatik Xtreme, Power Bull
3) Hijo del Alebrije, Mike, Teelo b Picudo Jr., Skanda, Vórtize
4) Black Laser, Climax Jr., Hijo Del Villano III, Kortiz, Máquina Infernal, Tackle, Villano III Jr., Zhalon b Acero, Alas de Acero, Aramis, Black Dragón, Demonio Infernal, Diablo Jr., Kanon, Shadow Boy [Torneo Fill] Torneo FILL 58, Gym FILL (Black Terry) vs Gym Villanos (Villano IV). Match came down to Diablo Jr. and Villano III Jr., with the teachers getting involved and Villano IV putting his nephew on top for the win. A brawl broke out post match.
Good turnout for the trainee show based on photos. This may turn up on TV Saturday.
Villano IV showing up here with students brings up something I talked around in the AAA recap. The four new guys on TV were billed as La Llave de la Gloria contestants, but had not been listed by AAA as finalists so far. Maybe they did tryout anyway, but my guess is they’re actually Villano IV trainees who didn’t work this show, or maybe Apache trainees, or someone else affiliated with the promotion. (Also, it looked pretty likely that Guerrero de Plata normally wrestles as something other than Guerrero de Plata.) It would make sense AAA would be getting wrestlers from somewhere besides tryouts, though we haven’t seen many of them in recent years – I’d assume the younger luchadors training with whoever AAA has, but they ought to have more than that and maybe we’re getting to see that.
Those La Llave de la Gloria sessions have been on the last Saturday of the month the last couple. No sign of them this week, probably because they’re taping in Tlaxcala on Saturday. Maybe next weekend?
Leo Riano’s column says the Freedom Bar & Restaurant in Arena Mexico will have an opening on May 9th. The Facebook account for the restaurant has been saying the 12th. Maybe the 12th is when it’s open for the public and the 9th is more the press event. The 9th is a Tuesday, so there might be a bigger card than usual that week.
Ring of Honor posted the Amapola/Marcela match. It’s alright, crowd was generally respectful. The announcers do their best to put the match over as a big deal while seemingly not knowing more about these women than a five minute wikipedia read. Most telling moment is either them being surprised by Marcela using the double underhook backbreaker or theorizing Amapola is about to go for 450 splash. For me, there are moments that remind me of how they’re not quite what they were – Marcela needing two tries to get that backbreaker, or the off the middle rope headscissors that seems to timing issues – but it was nice for them to get the opportunity.
Black Terry found himself a trio! The Terribles Cerebros reunite, as the first challengers for the IWRG trios championship in Naucalpan in about a year. (Trauma I was busy with Canis Lupus, then Trauma II was out of action, but still.) This is Black Terry’s first shot at the trios titles since 2011, when he was teaming with Durok and Freyser.
This’ll be a rare three show week, with Lucha Memes running on Friday.
All matches were taped from Domo de San Luis in San Luis Potosi on April 12. They can be seen on the Lucha Libre AAA channel
Concord, Hijo Del Vikingo, Octagoncitobeat Bronco González, Guerrero De Plata, Mini Histeria (9:19, triple pin, ok)
Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly beat Lanzeloth, Máscara de Bronce, Venum(8:46, Super Fly frogsplash Venum, ok)
Johnny Mundo, Kevin Kross, Tayadefeated Argenis, Ayako Hamada, Hijo del Fantasma in a non disqualification match (rudos, Taya chair shot to the head Ayako, 11:27, ok)
Notes:
Hijo del Vikingo
Taya introduces Kross to the crowd. Fantasma responds by introducing the new champ, Ayako in Taya’s face. A table and a chair came into play late. The no disqualification stipulation wasn’t emphasized, but explained away the work. Taya hit Aayko in the head with a chair for the win. Taya tried to boat about the win, but was cut off by Vampiro’s music. Vampiro reminds everyone that Mundo cheated to win the title, and gives Fantasma a rematch for the championship in Tijuana. Vampiro also makes Taya & Ayako in a street fight for the Reinas de Reinas championship.
OGT unmasked their opponents after their match. Ricky Marvin cleaned house after the match when Pirata Morgan showed up and attacked Marvin. (On the taping, Pirata was already seen on the show, but he really comes out of nowhere here.) La Parka shows up to make the save and everyone scatters, though Pirata makes sure to stare at La Parka for a while before slowly exiting the ring. Parka challenges the OGT & Pirata.
Concord
Mini Histeria replaced Mini Abismo Negro. He got his own entrance away from the new guys, while Octagoncito comes out with his partners. The four new guys are introduced as Llave de la Gloria contestants, but none of the four are listed among the finalists AAA has posted to far. The referee is the mystery referee who worked the Neza show, so he’s probably actually a regular addition. Guerrero de Plata has a pirate theme going on and is wearing no silver (red and gold), suggesting he was previously working under a different name.
Noti AAA promoted some tiny action figures being given out by the Pasala newspaper every Monday. AAA showed Fantasma, Faby Apache and Parka figures, but there’s clearly at least two more figures partly showed and partly cropped out by AAA. (One appears to be an Octagon or Octagoncito.) There’s 19 being given out.
Noti AAA credits Vampiro for creating the new OGT, which doesn’t quite make sense unless the idea is Vampiro restarting the Rey de Reyes match is supposed to have pushed Super Fly to joining the group. Averno has a promo where he doesn’t show much.
Highlights of the AAA & Impact press conference are shown. Jeff Jarrett talking about going after Fantasma and Parka’s mask, and Fantasma challenging him back, so they’re clearly building a TripleMania match this week.
Thoughts:
Fantasma is easily distracted, kicked
The main event was a messy match, not in execution of moves but of flow. I would’ve assumed they would do a US style tag match given the people involved, but it was more like an AAA style. Kross didn’t immediately fit in – he used a chinlock in an AAA trios match to slow down the action, can’t think of the last time I saw that – and didn’t get to throw around as much. (He also did the three amigos and Eddie Guerrero shake which was lost on the announce crew and production.) Taya & Ayako didn’t look great, but they did look better in Monterrey. Argenis was back not standing out
The middle match did was it was intended to do, the OGT looking strong as a new unit by destroying the técnicos most of the match. They came off as much more impressive unit than the tecnicos. The rudos worked well for the técnicos, but they didn’t have their best nights. The second triple dive spot didn’t come off well, Mascara de Bronce took too long setting up and Lanzeloth crashed and burned. They did have some good offense, it just came smoother for it in other matches.
bad times for Argenis
The opener was sloppy and disorganized at times, but it finished strong and gave us good long looks at some new people. Hijo del Vikingo looked great, and has the potential to be something really good. Concord tried big offense but looked sloppy, though that could’ve been the rudos. Bronco Gonzalez was the better of the two rudos, with Guerrero de Plata not showing much at all. Octagoncito worked hard and Mini Histeria was fine.
This is after Tlaxcala and after Pachuca, and about six weeks from now. It also doesn’t appear to be an official poster, since the photos of Cuervo & Scoria are still as Xinetez. Maybe we’ll get an update down the line, but AAA probably would’ve preferred to keep this quiet at least until after this Saturday’s taping.
Four matches were already announced – it’s only the tag title tag & singles match which are newly revealed, and those fit where things appear to be going. It does confirm Taya & Mundo aren’t going to be around for a moment. They’ll probably turn up again before TripleMania, but the pacing suggests Fantasma versus Mundo for the titles on that show. (Of course, they did a tease for Jarrett/Fantasma on TV this week, so nothing’s for sure.)
The main event theoretically has a chance to disrupt the one match we know for sure for TripleMania, but no one’s really going to be too worried about. Any of the other four people could lose, but Soul Rocker would make more sense – he’s got an unmasked gimmick, and the Infierno Rockers have otherwise been dropped.
Pagano’s either winning the tag titles or having a violent breakup with Mesias in his hometown. Either way, this is a long way to set up the same match AAA ran on the last major show, with Cuervo & Scoria (so far) not seeming any more over than they were before.
That match, like all others, are subject to change. Mamba/Pimpinela seems most likely, because you’d only know it’s happening based on stuff coming out of Juarez. The feud’s been hinted at TV, but you’d have to know it was there to even think they were going somewhere with it.
AAA hasn’t officially announced a taping past this point on TV, but the Nuevo Laredo promoters are already advertising a date on the 19th.
CMLL (SUN) 04/23/2017Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Domingos Familares]
1) El Destructor b Micro Destructor took 2/3.
2) Demonio Rojo & Thunder Boy b Capitán Cobra & El Yaqui Rudos took 2/3
3) Black Sugar, Fantástico, Mágico b Évola, Gran Kenut, Mr. Apolo Tecnicos took 2/3. Magico & Evola feuded, Magico getting the win.
4) Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno DQ Nautilius & Star Black Rudos took 2/3, Rey Trueno faking a foul for the DQ.
5) Explosivo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. b Espectrúm, Exterminador, Maléfico tecnicos took 2/3
Semifinal sets up Star Black/Rey Trueno this Sunday.
CMLL (TUE) 04/25/2017Arena México [CMLL]
1) Canelo Casas & Espanto Jr. b Flyer & Magnus
2) Oro Jr., Starman, Stigma b Arkángel de la Muerte, Metálico, Sangre Azteca tecnicos took 2/3
3) The Panther b Sagrado [lightning] Panther won in 8:28
4) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys b Drone, Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr. Rudos took 2/3.
5) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Johnny Idol b Gran Guerrero, Luciferno, Mephisto Angel de Oro was hurt, but Blue Panther rallied to win the match without him.
6) Dragón Lee, Mistico, Valiente b Euforia, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero tecnicos took 2/3, with Niebla Roja not getting along with his partners. He blamed the loss on him and demanded a singles match with Dragon Lee to prove himself. Dragon Lee offered a mask match, and Niebla Roja wasn’t up for that match.
Main event was the usual mix of Dragon Lee & Niebla Roja looking good and the rudos not getting along. Lightning match is said to be good.
CMLL has an article talking about Mije to hype the Kid’s Day match. The mascot match is officially a Micro Estrellas match, with the suggestion there might be more appearances by these guys outside the Kid’s Day show and framing them as a modern version of the Arturito/Gran Nicolay matches from the 80s. (The previous modern version of those matches are the current Pequeno Estrellas division.)
AAA appears to be taping some special Kid’s Day themed matches to air on Televisa’s La Jugada this Sunday. The relationship between AAA and Televisa seems fairly strong of late, especially with the Zona Ruda show airing every week.
Bust praises the presentation of women on Lucha Underground. I believe the moment they actually passed the Bechdel Test was when Sexy Star and Ivelisse were arguing about who was the biggest bitch in the building (though Son of Havoc might have come up so maybe that didn’t count.) To me, LU’s presentation of women hasn’t usually been as strong or positive as portrayed, but they’re doing enough to get positive write ups like this all the time. Sexy Star winning the title and Ivelisse getting that title shot outshines other issues they might have had.
The Pit has a short interview with Rey Mysterio and Dorian Roldan from C2E2, part of a series of ones they’re doing with people from Lucha Underground. No big revelations but Dorian did know Sexy Star won her debut match the night before.
The Caristico & Discovery vs Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero match in the Chicago area has been moved to the Eagles Club in Berwyn, same place where ChilangaMask is running a week later. Tickets are expensive for this show, I could go to a full day of a comic/entertainment convention (or AAW’s show in Chicago) for a decent seat.
CMLL (TUE) 05/02/2017Arena México
1) Bengala & Sangre Imperial vs Espanto Jr. & Grako
2) Eléctrico, Shockercito, Stukita vs Mercurio, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Violencia
3) Drone, Fuego, Star Jr. vs Canelo Casas, Forastero, Virus
4) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys
5) Dragón Lee vs Niebla Roja
6) Atlantis, Rey Cometa, Valiente vs Cavernario, Felino, Mr. Niebla
We’re getting to see Niebla Roja versu Dragon Lee, and there’s no other Guerrero around to cause problems.
CMLL (TUE) 05/02/2017Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Leono, Magnum, Sensei vs Cancerbero, Difunto, Raziel
2) Flyer, Magnus, Pegasso vs Disturbio, Puma, Tiger
3) El Gallito & Microman vs El Perico Zakarias & Mije
4) Ángel de Oro, Johnny Idol, Titán vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
5) Carístico, Máximo Sexy, Mistico vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
Guadalajara TV – where Shocker is announcing while he’s recovering – showed the promo to hype the micro match for Arena Mexico. Maybe they’ll fix it to promote the match actually taking place here.
LLB (FRI) 05/19/2017Arena Naucalpan
1) Macho I, Macho II, Macho III, Ram El Carnero vs Dragón Bane, El Pachucho, Fandango, Kid Jaguar
2) Aguilita Solitaria vs Pinochito, Tritoncito, Pentagoncito, Caramelito, Demus 3:16, Súper Loco, Panterita
3) Ángel o Demonio, Ovett, Vaquero Ibarra vs Mike, Rafy, Teelo
4) Carta Brava Jr. (IWL), Cerebro Negro, Fantasma de la Ópera vs Fresero Jr., Herodes, Maldito Jr.
5) Séptimo Dragón vs Eterno, Suicida, Cíclope, Freelance, Miedo Extremo, Sádico, Emperador Azteca, Atomic Star, Ninja de Fuego, Drastik Boy
6) ? & Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Hijo de LA Park & LA Park [super libre]
Lucha Libre Boom returning to Arena Naucalpan which a normal card for them.
There was a rumor a couple months ago that non-IWRG promotions were no longer going to be able to use Naucalpan because Elite was going to be running the building. Naucalpan getting a lot of indie promotions now, which suggests Elite is planning on a different building or not planning on doing much.
