Lucha Underground 3×32: The Cueto Cup

this destroyer is good only because of Prince Puma’s sell

Matches

Sexy Star and Veneno went to a no finish in a mask versus mask match (0:51, whatever)

Prince Puma beat Pentagon Dark to win the Cueto Cup (9:34, 630 senton, good)

Johnny Mundo beat Rey Mysterio to retain the Lucha Underground championship (18:04, fin de mundo, good)

Developments

bad times for Mundo

Johnny Mundo is still Lucha Underground champion. Dario Cueto banned all people on the “roster” from participating. The concept of a set “roster” in Lucha Underground is hard to fathom, given the owner didn’t even know who Veneno was last week and Matt Striker referenced Super Fly disappearing from the show. In this case, that very special word choice meant Dominic could show up to get some revenge on Mundo before being chased away by security, and that Dario himself pulled out the ref to cost Rey the match. They wasted no time with Rey getting his revenge, but Mysterio landing the 619 on Cueto left him open for a Mundo belt shot, and Mundo landed the find the Mundo a moment later. Striker sold this as a travesty.

Prince Puma defeated Pentagon Jr. in a competitive match to win the Cueto Cup. Vampiro celebrated with Puma after the match, making their private alliance very public. Vampiro rooted for Puma during the match. By virtue of these outcomes, Prince Puma will face Johnny Mundo for the championship as the main event of Ultima Lucha 3.

The Sexy Star/Veneno match barely got going before Joey Ryan ran out, and ripped off Veneno’s mask. The announcers focused on Veneno being exposed as Ricky Reyes, and not about a DQ being called. Referee Justin Borden was busy with Sexy Star and didn’t see the mask being removed. Borden  did appear to very quickly (thru editing) count Reyes out, and that’s likely how the result that occured in the building. Striker, in an obviously post edited line for TV, instead said the match was thrown out. His later lines talking about Veneno/Reyes as if he had lost the match and his real identity needed to be announced were left in. Reyes beat up Ryan, but Ryan got in a foul and escaped with the Veneno match.

Thoughts

nice reversal into the backbreaker

Lucha Underground usually delivers on big shows. They failed tonight.

The Sexy Star/Veneno segment was outrageously terrible, just a thumb to the eye of the viewer. There was no reason for it to be a mask match, just like there wasn’t really any reason for Johnny’s whiny heel agent to call Sexy Star’s title reign terrible. They know why they did what they did, but it came off like they were still ticked off about the reactions to Sexy Star’s title reign and the Sexy Star/Super Fly and decided to take it out on everyone else. They delivered a “mask vs mask” match which was among the most ill considered segments, up there with the Angelico/Ivelisse match. At least with that one, they realized what they had enough to try and tone it down in editing (didn’t work). This one could’ve been fixed easier. It would’ve been only a few minutes instead of an aggravating bit if they edited out the mask vs mask stipulation, but instead we were treated to a booking tantrum in the place of actually good wrestling.

(This was the first time Dario Cueto was acting way out of character; the Dario Cueto of the last three seasons would’ve have let a mask/mask match end without a finish, and he would’ve humiliated Cortez himself. It also made no sense for Joey Ryan to go out of the way disrupt this match when he and Dario were the ones who came up with it. This didn’t make any sense.)

Pentagon & Puma was good, and would’ve been a nice treat as a random match in the middle of the season. They got in a lot of big spots, the crowd was totally into it, and they got a decent amount of time. The match was good, and probably would appreciated even stronger out of context. There were problems with it in context; it didn’t feel like a big match, a tournament final at all. Finisher kick outs are over done in general, but this was definitely the time for guys surviving something beyond what they normally do, and what we got instead was the normal build up to a normal finish. Puma winning clean and as fairly as season one with the 630 senton didn’t really fit the long and incessant story they’ve been telling about Puma falling under Vampiro’s spell. There needed to be something underhanded, something that compromised him or justified his new outlook, like using the cement block on Mil Muertes, but he instead just won the same way he would’ve won before the skinny jeans, and the angry man who’d been breaking everyone’s arms quietly walked away. It felt wrong.

(Striker and Vampiro had a very bad night, but this also feels like one of those things where complaints only get them to push back harder. Lucha Underground is intensely loyal to people who were with them from the start and I don’t expect any change if there’s a season 4, but I also think they’d be crazy to keep going with these two.)

backcracker

The title match was a really solid match between two guys who work together well. Mundo comes off as a champion here and Rey put in a really strong effort for his biggest match on the show so far. It went a bit long; it probably would’ve helped both matches if they took a few minutes out of the middle of this one and tacked it on the end of the Cueto Cup. The production wasn’t at their usual level; both big Mysterio dives were shot in ways where it was hard to see what was going on, at least on the SD version I get. And then that finish.

Nothing about it made sense. Nothing about earlier made sense: why would Johnny Mundo want interference banned when he wins all his matches by interference and none of the técnicos ever interfere in his match? Why would Dario ban Worldwide Underground if he wants Rey to lose? Why would Dario scheduled Rey in the first place in the title match if he didn’t want him to win the title, and then wait 15 minutes to cost him it? Why did he lecture Matanza about letting go of his hunger for revenge on Rey and then attack Rey? I’m sure some of those things will be answered in the next few weeks, but I’m guessing not a lot of it will.  The answers to those questions are going to have to overwhelmingly satisfying to make up for the very unsatisfying finish to a match that’s been built to for months. And it’s going to have to make up for the usual heel owner bit, making Dario a lot less interesting in the process. There was nothing they were building towards, nothing they were paying off with this finish, just the usual played out swerve for the sake of doing a swerve.

(And, this is another reason that Sexy Star/Veneno match was so dumb. If you know Mundo/Rey is going to have a disappointing finish, the last thing you need is another terrible ending earlier in the show.)

The storytelling on this show was bad. The work in the matches was generally really good, and people defending this show will point to that work as a reason not to trash this show. There’s also the reasoning to wait and see how this will pay off. I’m in no danger of not watching the last handful of episodes here, but we’ve waiting nearly three months for this and the pay off really wasn’t worth it. This show has done a great job of elevating the wrestler’s performances with their story telling on other shows, but they let them down on this show.

how this show felt

great match roundup, week of 2017-08-12

wrestling is crazy

Six recaps in a week either feels likes I’m making progress or feels like I have too much time.

this week

Lucha Underground has two slightly disappointing matches and they’re still among the best thing this week. Standards are different.

I finally broke down and added more IWRG stuff to watch, just as soon as the other IWRG stuff was actually watched. I’ve got a The Crash show lined up next – though not sure how I’m going to work it in this week.

Recommended Matches

rating matches TV Show taped
great Prince Puma vs Fénix [Cueto Cup] and in a tournament semifinal match Lucha Underground: 2017-08-16 2016-06-11
good Aerostar, Drago, Raptor vs Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Soul Rocker for the AAA World Trios ChampionshipAAA Worldwide en Monterrey Parte 1 - Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide - Agosto 2017 (posted by Lucha Libre AAA) AAA on Televisa: 2017-08-12 2017-07-16
good Princesa Sugehit © vs Zeuxis for the Mexican National Women’s Championship LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 14 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-14 2017-08-14
good Blue Panther Jr., Soberano Jr., The Panther vs Kráneo, Morphosis, Olímpico LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 14 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-14 2017-08-14
good Drone vs Puma in a lightning match LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 15 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-15 2017-08-15
good Pentagón Dark vs Mil Muertes [Cueto Cup] and in a tournament semifinal match Lucha Underground: 2017-08-16 2016-06-11

Other things watched (sometimes really fast)

rating matches TV Show taped
ok Hijo del Fantasma & Texano Jr. vs Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria © for the AAA World Tag Team Championship AAA - Cuervo y Escoria vs. Texano y Fantasma - 16 de Julio 2017 (posted by Luchamania Monterrey)AAA Worldwide en Monterrey Parte 1 - Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide - Agosto 2017 (posted by Lucha Libre AAA) AAA on Televisa: 2017-08-12 2017-07-16
ok Fiero & Retro vs Apocalipsis & Inquisidor LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 15 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-15 2017-08-15
ok Astral & Robin vs Cholo & Espíritu Negro LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-08-18 2017-08-18
ok Esfinge, Fuego, Stigma vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Universo 2000 Jr. LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-08-18 2017-08-18
ok Marcela, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely vs La Metálica, Tiffany, Zeuxis LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-08-18 2017-08-18
ok Stuka Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr. in a lightning match LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-08-18 2017-08-18
ok Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. vs Ephesto, Gran Guerrero, Mephisto LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-08-18 2017-08-18
ok Diamante Azul, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Juice Robinson, Marco Corleone, Matt Taven LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-08-18 2017-08-18
below average Sexy Star vs Faby ApacheLa HiedraLady ShaniGoya KongBig Mami in a AAA’s Reina de Reinas Tournament match AAA - Sexy Star nueva Reina de Reinas, Ataque Kevin Kross - 16 Julio 2017 (posted by Luchamania Monterrey) AAA Worldwide en Monterrey Parte 1 - Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide - Agosto 2017 (posted by Lucha Libre AAA) AAA on Televisa: 2017-08-12 2017-07-16
not rated Millenium & París vs Centella Roja & Hijo de Centella RojaLA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 14 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-14 2017-08-14
not rated Espíritu Maligno & Lestat vs Disturbio & Metálico LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 14 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-14 2017-08-14
not rated Ángel de Oro, Johnny Idol, Niebla Roja vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Sam Adonis LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 14 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-14 2017-08-14
not rated Carístico, Marco Corleone, Mistico vs Diamante Azul, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero in a relevos increíbles matchLA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 14 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-14 2017-08-14
not rated Metatrón, Oro Jr., Star Jr. vs Canelo Casas, Nitro, Sangre Azteca LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 15 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-15 2017-08-15
not rated Guerrero Maya Jr., Johnny Idol, Rey Cometa vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Virus LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 15 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-15 2017-08-15
not rated Blue Panther, Carístico, Titán vs Luciferno, Mr. Niebla, Pierroth LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 15 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-15 2017-08-15
not rated Mistico, Rush, Valiente vs Cavernario, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 15 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2017-08-15 2017-08-15
watch later Alas de Acero, Aramis, Black Dragón, Demonio Infernal, Diablo Jr., Dinamic Black, Eterno, Golden Magic vs Fly Star, Fly Warrior, Fulgor I, Fulgor II, Glenn Calavera, Jerry Calavera, Mr. Leo, Séptimo Rayo [Copa Higher Power] Indy Natión vs IWRG ¡¡¡ TORNEO FILL COMPLETO !!! (posted by Estrellas del Ring)Indy Nation vs IWRG (rematch) from IWRG Zona XXI: 2017-08-12 (posted by thecubsfan) IWRG vs Indy Nation, Copa High Power en la Arena Naucalpan (posted by IWRG tv) IWRG vs Indy Nation, por la Copa High Power en la Arena Naucalpan (posted by +LuchaTV) IWRG Zona XXI: 2017-08-12 2017-08-09
watch later Emperador Azteca © vs Arez for the IWRG Intercontinental Welterweight Championship Emperador Azteca © vs Arez for the IWRG Intercontinental Welterweight Championship (posted by thecubsfan) Emperador Azteca vs Arez CAMPEONATO WELTER INTERCONTONENTAL DE LA IWRG (posted by Estrellas del Ring) Emperador Azteca vs Arez, Campeonato Intercontinental Welter (Resumen) (posted by mluchatv)Emperador Azteca vs Arez, Campeonato Intercontinental Welter en IWRG TV (posted by iwrgtv) Emperador Azteca vs Arez, Campeonato Intercontinental Welter IWRG (Lucha Completa) (posted by +LuchaTV) IWRG Zona XXI: 2017-08-12 2017-08-09
watch later Emperador Azteca vs Hijo del Pantera EMPERADOR AZTECA ES VAPULEADO POR EL HIJO DEL PANTERA (posted by hector godfrey) Emperador Azteca vs Hijo del Pantera (posted by thecubsfan) Emperador Azteca vs Hijo del Pantera, en IWRG TV (posted by IWRG tv) Emperador Azteca vs Hijo del Pantera, IWRG Arena Naucalpan (Lucha Completa) (posted by +LuchaTV) IWRG Zona XXI: 2017-08-15 2017-08-13
watch later Black Dragón vs Gallo Frances for the mask Black Dragon vs El Gallo Francés, máscara contra máscara en IWRG (Lucha Completa) (posted by +LuchaTV) Black Dragon vs El Gallo Francés, máscara vs máscara en IWRG TV (posted by IWRG tv) Black Dragón vs Gallo Frances, mask vs mask (posted by thecubsfan) Gallo Francés vs Black Dragón ¡¡¡¡ MÁSCARA vs MÁSCARA !!! (posted by Estrellas del Ring)LE QUITO LA MÁSCARA AL EMPERADOR AZTECA AL GANARLE EL HIJO DEL PANTERA (posted by hector godfrey) LUCHA MASCARA DE BLACK DRAGON Y MASCARA DEL GALLO FRANCÉS EN LA ARENA NAUCALPAN (posted by hector godfrey) IWRG Zona XXI: 2017-08-15 2017-08-13

TripleMania to air for free on Twitch, huge Lucha Underground episode tonight

Mistico doing the other Mistico’s plancha

CMLL (TUE) 08/22/2017 Arena México
1) Apocalipsis & Cholo b Bengala & Sensei LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 22 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
2) Cancerbero, Raziel, Sangre Azteca b Oro Jr., Príncipe Diamante, Starman LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 22 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
3) Puma, Tiger, Virus b Drone, Fuego, Stigma LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 22 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
rudos took 1/3
4) Blue Panther Jr., Stuka Jr., The Panther b Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 22 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 1/3
5) Ángel de Oro, Titán, Valiente b Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 22 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 2/3
6) Último Guerrero b Mistico LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 22 DE AGOSTO DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
UG took 2/3, using the ropes to win the third fall

I’ve only seen the main event, which was good. The rest of the show got better than usual reviews.

They appeared to have Tirantes wearing a body camera on the show. Maybe highlights will turn up later. The referee cameras haven’t turned out well in the past, but those have been higher up (like glasses) and maybe a different angle will make it work.

It sounds like the Guadalajara bus broke down on the way back to Mexico City.

CMLL has an introduction to Flip Gordon. The Anniversario match will be his first match in CMLL.

TripleMania on Twitch

Twitch & AAA announced TripleMania will air on the streaming video platform on Saturday for free. They’re going to do seven hours of a live show, with both Spanish and English commentary. The show will began at 5pm Central Time with a 2 hour pregame show (a “best of TripleMania” marathon.) The show is scheduled to start at 7pm CT and run until midnight.

The Spanish language stream: https://www.twitch.tv/luchalibreaaa

The English language stream: https://www.twitch.tv/luchalibreaaa_en

No one is specifically mentioned as English language announcers. There’s also no word if the show will be live only, or if will be available to be watch after the fact. It’s possible with Twitch and it’s also definite that someone (not me) will upload the thing to YouTube the moment it’s done anyway, so I’m assuming it’ll be an option.

(a quick What Is Twitch aside: Twitch became famous as a super popular video game streaming platform. They restricted it to only games for a while, and have started to open it up to other types of programming in the past year. That means wrestling program is so novel that this announcement has been picked up by places that don’t cover wrestling like Engadget and Venturebeat. You do not need a Twitch account to watch the video, you just need to go the page and it’ll be normal streaming video. If you have some device which casts video to your TV, you probably can do that with Twitch as well. Twitch streams may include commercials and ads, and AAA may make some of the money from them.)

(a quick schedule aside: Psycho Clown vs Dr. Wagner is scheduled to happen after Mayweather/McGregor. The idea is to let people in Mexico see both on Televisa, and so will you if you choose so.)

The preshow bit is a Very Good Thing. I don’t know that you or I actually need 7 hours of TripleMania (or of any wrestling show), but I love the idea because it gives them two hours to make sure the feed is actually running before something new actually happens. We’ve seen problems in that area many times before and any precautions are great news. AAA could really use TripleMania being a good show, in the ring and in the presentation.

As part of their tapings, GFW mentioned TripleMania (or highlights) will air on Impact at some point.

Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground 3×32 has “the Cueto Cup”. This is not a season finale, but it is one of the bigger shows in the history of the show

  • Sexy Star versus Veneno in a mask vs mask match (clip)
  • Pentagon Dark versus Prince Puma in the Cueto Cup final ((clip)
  • Rey Mysterio versus Johnny Mundo (c) for the Lucha Underground Championship

The winner of the Cueto Cup final will face the winner of Rey/Mundo on Ultima Lucha. The people who’ve seen the mask match have indicated expectations should be set very low. I have not seen this episode (though I believe it did make it to torrents this week), but I did see a clip from a vignette in Dario’s office which will convince you it was taped in the last few months, not last year.

Look at that list of names again: the two biggest ex-WWE stars on the show are having a match, the two biggest “homegrown” stars are having a match and their most favorite female star putting up her mask. Sexy Star/Veneno hasn’t really gotten more than 10 seconds of attention (they weren’t even part of last week’s brawl), but Mysterio/Mundo and Pentagon/Puma have had nearly 3 months of build. It’d be tough to draw up a bigger non-Ultima Lucha one hour TV show.

I’m not a really big believer in the importance of the week to week Lucha Underground ratings. The numbers are so low that most of the week to week variation is more about the margin of error than what happens. (That’s why they get tossed off with a single tweet and not mentioned here.) Still, if Lucha Underground is every going to pop a number based on a show, it’s this show: it’s got big names, a good build and is coming off a hot segment to end last week’s episode. No one’s knows the definite future of Lucha Underground, and one rating number shouldn’t define it’s future, but this does seem like a situation where really good viewership might be a point in favor of continuing and a disappointing number might lower the value people are willing to pay for a season 4.

Lucha Underground t-shirts are now available on Walmart.

Other News

Reforma has a video of Psycho Clown & Dr. Wagner hanging out in Cancun the last couple of days.

Pagano was on Record duty today. Pagano, Fantasma and Texano did not appear on last night’s Impact tapings, the last of the set. Which was weird, since the AAA wrestlers would’ve worked well on a taping being marketed as Latin Night. I’m thinking they must’ve have flown back to Mexico yesterday, either for press or for a walkthru.

Revista Sidi has an interview with former DTU/Queretaro luchador Money Pack. He was doing well with the group until disappearing after 2010 and only returning for a few matches. The article reveals he was traveling to get English lessons, feeling that he should learn because he had a chance to wrestle internationally, only to be hit by a taxi and break many bones in his foot. He’s clearly frustrated with those who still have the opportunity to wrestle but don’t put in the same effort he believes he would’ve given.

Roberto Figueroa makes the case that weird matches like the upcoming Revolucha main event (Huracán Ramírez, Mistico II, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs Jeff Jarrett, MVP, Sam Adonis) draw a lot of interest. This might be right, I hear there’s a weird fight on Saturday that has some interest. But it’s going to be so bad.

DTU announced changes to their card on Saturday. Crazy Boy & Halloween are part of Torneo TripleMania, so Black Fire and Aeroboy have been added to the card to replace them.

Todo x el Todo put their entire poster for their 09/23 Tulancingo show, but hasn’t actually listed

The Gladiatores interviewed Pimpinela, Mr. Aguila and Halloween at the AAA media day.

LuchaTalk has RobViper as a guest to preview TripleMania.

The latest +LuchaTV podcast has Dr. Wagner Jr. & Sharlie Rockstar as guests. They mention Kojima is sticking around after the Gran Prix, thru the Anniversary show.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 08/27/2017 Arena Naucalpan
1) Celestial Boy vs Power Bull
2) Demonio Infernal, Hijo Del Bombero, Shadow Boy vs Lunatic Xtreme, Skanda, Toxin
3) Emperador Azteca vs Hijo del Pantera
4) Bombero Infernal, Chico Che, Leo, Rafy vs Eterno, Gallo Frances, Internacional Pantera, Kanon
5) Danny Casas, Golden Magic, Villano III Jr. vs Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Trauma I, Trauma II
6) Mr. Electro vs Villano V Jr. [IWRG IC HEAVY]
2nd defense

That main event – well, match three in the Azteca/Pantera sequence look sfun.

CMLL (TUE) 08/29/2017 Arena México
1) Fiero & Sangre Imperial vs Grako & Templario
2) Astral, Pegasso, Stigma vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Nitro, Sangre Azteca
3) Drone, Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Puma, Tiger, Virus
4) Titán vs Pólvora [lightning]
5) Dragón Lee, Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Rey Bucanero
6) Ángel de Oro, Carístico, Niebla Roja vs Gran Guerrero, Pierroth, Rush

Another promising looking Tuesday card. Titan & Polvora have been great before.

CMLL (TUE) 08/29/2017 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Mágico & Neutrón vs Relámpago Azul & Thunder Boy
2) Oro Jr., Robin, Star Jr. vs Cancerbero, Metálico, Raziel
3) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Disturbio, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado
4) Johnny Idol, Marco Corleone, Sam Adonis vs Shocker, Terrible, Vangellys
5) Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas vs Juice Robinson, Matt Taven, Michael Elgin

One last appearance for the foreigners here before the Gran Prix.

TxT (SAT) 09/23/2017 Palenque de la Feria, Tulancingo, Hidalgo
1) ? vs ??
local luchadors
2) Ángel Blanco Jr. © vs El Bandido (Indie) [WWA WELTER]
3) Crazy Boy, Fishman Jr., Rayman vs Canek Jr., Cien Caras Jr., Heddi Karaoui
4) El Dandy, El Hijo Del Santo, Mil Máscaras, Santo Jr. vs El Hijo del Solitario, Satánico, Silver King, Silver King Jr.

Full card for Hijo del Santo’s celebration of 100 years of his father. El Dandy has been lured out of retirement one again. Bandido is getting all the title matches, which speaks well for him, but I assume they’re saving that title change for Santo Jr.

This show was originally supposed to be in Mexico City, in the city square Zocalo. It sounded like Hijo del Santo couldn’t get a deal done, but they could’ve found another venue to hold it if they had to have it in Mexico City. I wonder if there might also be a desire to keep holding off Santo Jr.’s debut in the capital, because reviews of his performances still are not strong.

2017 watch later catch up, part 5 of ∞

definitely a Copa Higher Power

This turned it an “all Naucalpan, all the time” group – mostly because I’m way behind on adding indie matches to my watch list.

Trauma I & Trauma II vs Black Terry & Diablo Jr. © for the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship
(IWRG, 04/23, 19:27, ok, via
+LuchaTV)

I didn’t get much out of this one. This match was trying to be a lot od different, a technical first fall, brawling later on, and it didn’t feel particular good in any way. It didn’t feel like there was much drama most of the way, though finally unlocked near falls in the end. It was a slower worked match and they tossed away the second fall in a fashion more like CMLL. This was more about establishing the champs as for real by having beat the team everyone in IWRG thinks is the best, and it seemed like it was a fun match in person based on how everyone reacting, but there’s better matches to watch with everyone. This was not bad but wasn’t interesting.

Terrry gets the pin easy

Negro Navarro beat Zack Sabre Jr.  
(Lucha Memes @ Naucalpan, 04/28/2017, 15:37, arm trap hammerlock neck crank, excellent, via
+LuchaTV)

It Took forever for me to get to this match but it was worth the wait. Navarro/ZSJ worked on a simple level of two guys with similar idiosyncratic styles but from different backgrounds figuring out what they could do with and to each other, and it worked on a slightly more complex level of Sabre coming to Mexico and meeting an old man who can confound Zack at the game he thought he mastered. Touches like ZSJ thinking about grabbing the ropes but refusing – he’s not going to lower himself to that sort of easy out because he’s sure he can find a way out like he always does until he’s so frustrated by Navarro that he does it without thinking. This plays out like the wrestling version of the young chess grandmaster going down to the park to glorious destroy everyone, only for an old man to school him. ZSJ’s fit after the match is him knocking the chess pieces to the ground in disbelieving anger over what just happened, while Navarro is just having a fun time grappling. The emotion they show is just as well executed as the holds.

Special credit should go to the production here; all the handhelds are appreciated but these matches look so much better professionally shot. The intricate stuff both men were doing would not have come across as well off someone’s phone in the first row. You need to get I tight and you needed to see everything. JMG’s comparing one of ZSJ’s hold to an amazon snake constricting the life out of Navarro was a great visual metaphor.

The second toughest part of this match was deciding where to put it; I’m think it probably won’t make my top 10 at the end of the year but I liked it a lot. The actual toughest past is, as with many Navarro matches, trying to figure out what to write down as the hold he used at the end.

always time for back bend submissions
how did he not dislocate his shoulders
cradle out of nothing

Climax vs Aramis
(Arena Naucalpan, 05/03/2017, 7:40, good, via
IWRG tv)

I picked this one out to see Aramis but this turns out to be much more of a Climax exhibition. He takes most of the offense, with some nice agile spots and unexpected judo spots, if that’s even the right martial art. He was using Aramis’ momentum against him, which is an interesting idea for lucha libre, and cranking his arm while covering him. Aramis was faster and smoother, but both guys can probably flesh out what they’re doing a little better. Aramis’ chained northern lights suplex looked cool, but just stopped with Climax blocking it in a way that made it look like nothing had happened. Aramis’ submissions at the end came off as harsh. Nothing earth shaking here but a nice exhibition of what this Climax could do, before he disappeared back into the void.

Climax escape
Aramis tope con giro

Freelance vs Eterno
(IWRG, 05/05, 8:35, good, via
IWRG tv)

The Freelance exhibition matches seems to be fewer and fewer in IWRG as time goes by, but this was a thoroughly enjoyable one. Eterno is just here to make sure Freelance almost but never quite dies, while Freelance takes all the scary backdrops and crazy dives they can do. There was a headscissors spot that looked both very cooperative and still insane. There was Freelance maybe suffering a shoulder injury, or maybe working one for reasons impossible to understand. This wasn’t a complete match or anything, but it was a usual spectacle out of him.

Eterno defies the laws of physics
Freelance into the crowd, check

 

Team FILL (Ángel Oriental, Aramis, Black Dragón, Demonio Infernal, Diablo Jr., Kanon, Keiser Drago, Power Bull vs Team Lucah libre Boom (Aspirantito Jr. (Guerrero), Boxter, Fandango, Kilvan, Kronoz, Toxin, Tromba, Yoruba) [Copa Higher Power]
(IWRG 05/17, Arena Naucalpan, 43:51, good, via
IWRG tv)

LLB vs IWRG fit the usual Copa Higher Power mold: some really strong sequences and some iffy moments. The big brawl into the crowd and the dives in the middle of it separated this from most of the others ones, but also seemed to cause it to go a lot longer without getting to eliminations; this wouldn’t have been hurt by going 8-10 minutes shorter. On the upside, +LuchaTV giving graphics for each elimination made this a lot easier to follow than the usual AYM presentation. Helped that they actually could ID the people in the match. Demonio Infernal like hitting people very hard and likes being hit very hard. Angel de Oriental and (I think) Baxter had the iffiest sequence in the match and Angel didn’t come across too well. Toxin & Aramis got a lot of time at the end, almost a singles match on their own. Aramis looked really good, Toxin seemed to slow down a lot after the Spanish Fly on the floor but came back strong at the end. It didn’t look especially safe at times but this was entertaining if long.

Diablo throws himself into a double stomp
Demonio Infernal running Fire Driver
Tromba and Aramis, head to head

Imposible © vs Súper Mega for the IWRG Rey del Ring
(IWRG @ 06/04, 14:19, ok, via
IWRG tv)

My plan of watching all the Imposible singles match takes an ugly turn. This didn’t start good, didn’t get better, and then thankfully ended. Super Mega appeared to legit bounce his head off the mat on the second fall finishing powerbomb. He reacted big, putting his hands behind his head and shaking it about, which also meant he wasn’t close to be pinned while he was counted for three. He later missed on his giant tope, wiping out badly. He was messed up enough that the rest of the match was slow and sloppy, but it also wasn’t so great before that point either. That missed dive should show up on spot of year countdowns (good or bad), but the rest isn’t worth your time. This is on the low end of OK.

Super Mega’s usual crash and burn