The Crash/Konnan, UG beats Rush in Puebla, UG faces Rush today

the finish

CMLL (MON) 12/04/2017 Arena Puebla [CMLL, CulticonWrestling With GIFs]
1) Fuerza Chicana & Guerrero Espacial b Centella Roja & Hijo de Centella Roja LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 4 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
2) Cancerbero, El Perverso, Raziel b Espíritu Maligno, Millenium, Tigre Rojo Jr. LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 4 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Espiritu Maligno attacked his partners after communication problems during the match, and gave the rudos a free win. He seems to be feuding with Tigre Rojo in particular.
3) Cuatrero, Hechicero, Sansón b Esfinge, Fuego, Stigma LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 4 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
4) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Titán LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 4 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Rudos took 1/3.
5) Carístico, Marco Corleone, Valiente b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Sam Adonis LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 4 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
6) Último Guerrero © b Rush [NWA MIDDLELA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 4 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2017 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
14th defense. UG took falls 1/3, the last via ref bump, foul, and fast count.

UG/Rush was fine but really short. The finish was totally screwy, and I’d expect about the same today.

The rest of today’s card includes a trio of foreigners – Adonis, Idol and Okumura – facing the current CMLL World Trios champions – Valiente, Volador and Mistico. That would be a really odd title match, but it does have a story with Idol turning heel, and the hook of the Mexican champions defending the world titles against people from other parts of the world. The national trios champs, NGD, face Niebla Roja, Titan and Stuka in the fourth match.

The fourth wheel of the Dinamtias, Universo 2000 Jr., teams with Tiger & Disturbio against Fuego, Pegasso and Stigma. Starman, Oro Jr. and Fiero face Nitro, Raziel and Hijo del Signo in more build to the not yet announced 12/25 cage match. Fiero being in this program means he’s gotten booked a lot more often of late. CMLL’s preview listed Sangre Imperial & Sensei against Espanto & Coyote as the opener, but the actual lineup page reveals Retro is in for Sensei. The show is airs at 7:30pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel.

Guadalajara has had a lot changes, mostly because CMLL moved some people to Arena Mexico. Whatever’s up with Kraneo is still going on, because he was also pulled from the main event tonight, but this building is pretty good at announcing changes and announced these. (It may just be in part of how it works; by now, they know who’s actually on six hour bus ride to Guadalajara and who’s not making it.)

The new main event is Caristico, Marco, Soberano vs Shocker, Mr. Niebla, Pierroth. The big match is Puma defending the Occidente Light Heavyweight title against Esfinge, where the local Esfinge is a heavy favorite. Esfinge previously beat Puma to win the Copa Junior back in early 2016, and Puma beat Esfinge in Arena Coliseo in 2015 when they were doing the heavy single match format.

Misterioso says he’s not going to be in a cage match on 12/25 – he’s going to be on vacation instead.

CMLL Informa will have Atlantis this week, so we should get some idea about his return date.

Today’s Wrestling Observer Radio reports that, in addition to the Arolucha issue, the Crash lost trust in Konnan after he had a meeting with Dorian Roldan. Impact set up the meeting, to try to get the promotions working together probably so it would be easier for Impact to work with both of them, but the story is Konnan didn’t tell The Crash about it and they found out second hand. Dorian, thru Lucha Libre FMV, has been actively threatening lawsuits against Rey Fenix & Penta 0M and the people who create artwork for them, and there’s been no sign of that ceasing lately. It doesn’t look like they made any progress about getting all along.

LA Park posted on Facebook that he heard the people of The Crash held a vote about letting Konnan stay or cutting him, and “everyone” but Rey Mysterio wanted Konnan to go. It’s unclear who would be in “everyone”. It’s unclear if LA Park is just telling a story here; for a long time he didn’t want any part of The Crash, then suddenly started showing up on shows the last month or so, and that’s probably when this situation started.

The usual thing that happens in this situation is Mount Konnan erupts, and we all watch the explosion from a safe distance, dodging the fall out. This time, Konnan’s not said much. He’s replied to a few people on Twitter, pointing them to his podcast for more info. That’ll be out Thursday. He’s mostly looking forward, telling people he’ll work with them again. Maybe Konnan isn’t burning a bridge because he thinks it might still be repaired, maybe he’s being careful not to do anything that might endanger getting the guys he wants on the Arolucha show.

Garza Jr., Damian 666 and Bestia 666 put out video statements saying they were sticking with The Crash even with Konnan leaving. There’s a statement attributed to Penta noting he and Fenix came to The Crash on their own (not via Konnan), and will continue to be independent. I can’t find where that originally comes from, but that matches what I’ve heard privately. Rey Mysterio is the other key person to hear from on this. I don’t see a comment from him, but there were photos of him with the new The Crash Heavyweight championship belt – a belt with his mask design alluded to in the center and photos of Perro Aguayo Jr. and Eddie Guerrero, so a title intended for him all along.

Everyone’s being very clear that the The Crash WrestleCon show is still on – the promotion moved fast there to make sure that didn’t change, it’s part of their US plans – and the The Crash show at the ExpoLucha show is also still on. None of the wrestlers are being pulled from AroLucha on Sunday, and none of the The Crash lineups are changing.

At this point, no one seems to have to choose between Konnan and The Crash. What we’ve learned about The Crash over the last two months is they can run more than a dozen shows in Tijuana a year, but they’re not strong enough in the rest of the country yet to run anything close to full time. There’s going to be plenty of dates for people to work both (and plenty more places), if both sides allow them.

AAA announced Blizzard/World of Warcraft will be a sponsor on their 12/09 charity show in Mexico City. In addition, they’ll use GoPro cameras a part of a sponsor deal, and Epson will be contributing as well.

A local paper says AAA sold out their TV taping in Arena Xalapa. The promotion was saying they filled the building and it looked pretty close to that in photos.

Hijo del Fantasma is tired of feuding with Texano Jr. (Which is a reason against dragging this out until TripleMania.)

Black Terry Jr. has a video of his trip to Monterrey to see NGX.

Microman Fever translates a El Dandy story.

Violento Jack is heading to New Jersey’s GCW on 01/20/18.

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

MasPorMas talks to the UNAM professor who founded the “Academia Mexicana de Altos Estudios en Lucha Libre.”

Lineups

ELITE (FRI) 12/08/2017 Gimnasio Benito Juárez, Cuautilan, Estado de México
1) Dr. Karonte & El Rielero (Jalisco) vs Ciclón Ramírez Jr. & Huracán Ramírez Jr. and Emperador Azteca & Fly Warrior and Metaleón & Mr. Leo
2) Bandido & Xtreme Tiger vs El Cerrajero & Heddi Karoaui
3) Dragón Dorado & Octagón vs Fuerza Guerrera & Fuerza Negra
4) Garza Jr. & Sharly Rockstar vs ? & Zorro
5) Blue Demon Jr. & Golden Magic vs Mr. Electro & Trauma II and Cibernético & Hijo De Dos Caras

One of these matches may be part of their Copa Junior tournament, but it’s tough tell based on how the poster is put together. Maybe the four way tag match.

Elite mixes in “young” people in the main event by putting in the same indie guys as always. It’s at least a try. Dos & Golden seemed to getting attention in the prior version of this group.

I’d assume Trauma I is the back up mystery guy if whoever it’s supposed to be doesn’t show up.

Still no sign of the TV deal. I’m sure it’s happening really soon.

CMLL (MON) 12/11/2017 Arena Puebla
1) Arkalis & París vs Fuerza Chicana & Policeman
2) Lestat & Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Hijo del Signo & King Jaguar
3) Astral, Asturiano, Pegasso vs Cancerbero, Espíritu Maligno, Raziel
4) Ángel de Oro, Marco Corleone, Soberano Jr. vs Johnny Idol, Okumura, Sam Adonis
5) Mistico vs Negro CasasVolador Jr.MephistoDragón LeeRey BucaneroNiebla RojaGran GuerreroValienteFelino [Reyes del Aire VIP]

That’s a weird rudo side for a high flying cibernetico, but they’re going for bigger names becuase it’s a VIP show.

Adonis/Idol/Okumura appears to be a regular rudo trio (at least this week.) Espiritu Maligno has returned to the rudo side after 9 months on the tecnico side.

CMLL has occasionally held Reyes del Air ciberneticos in Puebla:

2009/10/12: Volador Jr. (over Mephisto)
2012/10/15: Valiente (over Dragon Rojo jr.)
2014/08/04: Rey Escorpion (over Mascara Dorada)