No Puebla broadcast last night. There’s no reason given why, CMLL just scrubbed the mention of it airing off their website about 40 minutes after the broadcast was supposed to start. (I’m out here complaining about promotions not saying when wrestlers aren’t going to be there, they’re taking it to another level but not even saying when broadcasts are not going to be there.) I’d assume they’re airing today from Arena Mexico and maybe might explain what happened, but I’m not sure.
What I do know, thanks to Instagram videos on a produce company’s account, is Mistico, Caristico & Volador held it together long enough to win the main event. They were still not getting along. The rudos should be depressed about missing out on such an easy win.
The Puebla live streams exist because they’re taping the show anyway for 52MX’s Guerreros del Ring. Last night’s show would be scheduled to air on 12/30. I think there’s one person who still watches that show, so we might have an idea of what else happened. My impression is CMLL and some of the news sites who cover Puebla all actually do it by watching the stream, so I don’t know that full results will ever turn up.
G21 (MON) 12/18/2017 Plaza de Toros Revolucion, Irapuato, Guanajuato [+LuchaTV]
1) Impala & Lucifer b ? & ??
2) Keyra b Ludark Shaitan, Chik Tormenta
Keyra beat Ludark. Zeuxis made a surprise appearance to challenge Keyra to a match on 01/06.
3) ? & Rey Horus ?? Crazy Latino & Laredo Kid and Murciealgo Plateado Jr. & Xtreme Tiger and Bandido (Indie) & Dr. Pólux and Apando Negro Jr. & Bestia 666 and Emperador Azteca (IWRG) & Perro Callejero Jr. [Torneo Gran Alternativa Generación XX1]
results say Laredo Kid & Bandido went to a DCOR, no idea who won.
4) Wotan b Demus 3:16 [beard, hair]
Demus lost his beard. He challenged the promoter to a hair vs hair match for 01/06.
5) Mr. Electro & Nicho el Millionario DQ Damián 666 & Sharly Rockstar and Trauma I & Trauma II [Relevos Increíbles]
results show a photo of the Luna brothers and say the Traumas were DQed. Originally a relevos increibles trios.
6) Fresero Jr. b Angeluz Fly [hair]
7) Blue Demon Jr., Penta Zero M, Rey Fénix (Indie) b Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, Rey Mysterio Jr.
Demon beat LA Park.
The person who is helpful enough to provide results for +Lucha in Guanajuato is not as detailed oriented as some of the other people, but we got a lot of it. This is a big bull ring – room for 8000 according to google – and it looks at least 2/3rds full. Maybe 5,500? The exact number isn’t as interesting as the general idea that Generacion XXI outdrew The Crash shows from this week using the same top names.
Generacion XXI started just this year. They’ve promoted or been listed as a co-promoter on 27 shows, 16 in Irapuato. That’s a lot more than the most of the anonymous local promotions that have promoted The Crash shows in other towns, and running that often builds up name value and trust.
I’m not a person in living in Mexico, but my theory is they see lucha libre shows in about three different categories: super events like TripleMania & CMLL’s Anniversario show where it might be worth traveling for if you’re really into it, TV tapings where it is kind of the place to be for the night and regular live events without TV where it’s just something to do. Casual wrestling fans been taught over the years that the effort level on non-TV shows is a lot low and have priced them accordingly. The Crash bringing big names into those markets doesn’t make as big a difference as you’d think – passionate fans of those wrestlers, but a casual fan sees it as paying more for a low effort show, and they could just wait until the next (and probably significantly cheaper) show comes to town.
The Crash draws well in Tijuana, and I’m theorizing they did that because they shows came off as TV taping quality and it built interest over time. Back in November, The Crash did better in Monterrey and Naucalpan, two markets where the fans have been successfully convinced that the right non-TV shows can be worthwhile purchases by other promotions and are more willing to pay the higher prices. That’s what’s happened in Irapuato with G21, they’ve built their brand enough that the fans get this is going to be a big event because of the name even without TV.
If this theory is right, maybe frequent return visits to some of the places The Crash has drawn poorly in will draw better. San Luis Potosi might be a case against that, and it doesn’t seem all that practical to be going back to Queretaro ever month or whatever at this stage of the game. Maybe it’s just going to be a slower process to build The Crash name and casual fans will eventually decide their non-TV shows are special compared to the other ones (assuming they can keep them that way.) Or maybe they try it like Elite or others, and say some shows are being taped for TV even if it doesn’t actually appear to be the case, and see if that convinces fans it’s more imporant to come out.
This show is not a The Crash show, so I guess Zeuxis is allowed to appear here, but CMLL usually says no to appearing on Blue Demon Jr. related shows too. Maybe it’s ok because it’s not a match, maybe there’s something going else on here (I don’t really know, not trying to imply something.)
Tonight’s CMLL show is built around honoring rescue works and rescue dogs from the September earthquakes. The main event is Rush, Pierroth and Terrible against Ultimo Guerrero, Cavernario, and Negro Casas, but the big match is Volador versus Sam Adonis. It’s not the trios title that was originally advertised (and is still being advertised in some places), but it is CMLL’s top tecnico against the guy getting the biggest boos. It’s also situation that suggests a screwy finish: Adonis’ friends are in the match before, Adonis’ enemy is in the next match, there’s plenty of ways for this not to end cleanly.
Okumura and Johnny Idol do not get a trios title match, but do get to team with Mr. Niebla (when they’re opponents later in the week.) They face Mistico, Valiente and Blue Panther. The tercera is a women’s match with Marcela, Sugehit and Sanely against Dalys, Amapola and Isis. The second is a minis match, Mercurio and Shockercito meeting again after their title match with Pequeno Nitro, Pierrothito, Ultimo Dragoncito and Aereo. Sonic once again opens a Tuesday show, teaming with Bengala once again. They meet Coyote and Artillero
CMLL’s indicated this show will air. It’s scheduled for a 7:30pm start on YouTube.
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara has Angel de Oro, Niebla Roja & Caristico vs Mephisto, Ephesto and Luciferno as the main event. Guadalarara announced Silueta & Vaquerita are off the show, and local luchadoras Maligna & La Guerrera will repace them. It sounds like Shocker is planning on being there.
CMLL tickets are on sale for the 12/25 cage match, running from 483 to 65 (upper level is open for this.) That’s the cheapest ‘big’ show I can remember, and probably an admission it’s not really that big of a show. Weirdly, even though CMLL specifically said they wouldn’t be running on Tuesdays during the holidays, CMLL is selling tickets for 12/26 Tuesday.
DTU says they’re parting ways with Angel o Demonio due to him breaking rules of the group. This is just missing a Code of Ethics bit to be a Konnan homage.
The Crash announced Matt Riddle will debut on their 01/20 Tijuana show. They’ve also released the poster for their 01/14 makeup show for Tulancingo, which will include Rey Mysterio & LA Park among others.
La Liga de la Justicia has Ricky Marvin vs Puebla’s Prayer on 01/01.
LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.
A video interview with ex-AAA (?) luchador Torbellino, who lives in Naucalpan.
+LuchaTV’s latest podcast is on the best of 2017.
Lineups
AAA IWRG (MON) 12/25/2017 Arena Naucalpan
1) Dragón Orus vs Odín
2) Shadow Boy & Súper Brazo Jr. vs Leroy & Lunatic Xtreme
3) Liderk, Spartan, Spector vs Centvrión, Fly Warrior, Séptimo Rayo
4) Black Dragón, Estrella Divina, Faby Apache vs Lady Shani, Polvo de Estrellas, Warrior Jr.
5) Aramis, Dinamic Black, Emperador Azteca vs Averno, Cerebro Negro, Imposible
6) Capo Del Norte, Capo Del Sur, Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Ovett vs Leo, Mike, Rafy, Teelo
7) Hijo De Dos Caras, La Parka, Veneno vs Eterno, Monsther Clown, Murder Clown
A few AAA wrestlers coming to Naucalpan for Christmas, with others in Arena Lopez Mateos.