Caristico debuts in The Crash, AAA in Cuernavaca, AroLucha crowd funding

The Crash

The Crash (SAT) 03/17/2018 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California [+LuchaTV, 126FTJ Sports, Zona Ruda]
1) Búfalo Ayala & Último Maldito b Súper Caló Jr. & Xperia
2) Astrolux b TiagoLátigoRayo StarTorito Negro [The Crash JUNIOR]
Black Boy did not defend his title, explained as an issue with the commission. Championship was declared vacant. Astrolux defeated Latigo.
3) El Bandido & Flamita b Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz and Aeroboy & Séptimo Dragón [The Crash TAG] Facebook video (posted by )
Vacant titles (last held by the Hardys). Bandido & Flamita became the new champions.
4) Arkángel Divino b Shane TaylorMr. 450
moved down a spot. Intended to be the debut of Shane Taylor (with 450) and Rich Swann (with Divino) but Swann pulled out, saying he was retiring him. The Crash just changed it to a 3 way and moved it down a spot. Mr. 450 got the win.
5) Damián 666, Nicho el Millionario, Último Gladiador DQ Black Danger, Black Taurus, Garza Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
Ultimo Gladiador replaced Extreme Tiger. Sinn Bodhi debuted as a member of Rebelion Amarilla to interfere for the DQ. Flamita, Bandido and others made the save.
6) Carístico DQ Bestia 666
Caristico was the surprise replacement for Rey Mysterio Jr. (bicep injury) and the scheduled title match was announced as delayed for another day. Rebelion Amarilla watched from ringside and interfered for the DQ when Caristico got La Caristica.

The Crash posted a video from Rey at the show, apologizing for missing the show and saying they’d have his match with Bestia later. Just like with Ricochet & the Hardy Boys, there’s a sincere intention to do that but it won’t happen if WWE scoops him up first. Even with Rey being off the show, they said they still sold out.

Sinn Bodhi fits with Masada as an extreme wrestler who’s worked on some of the same shows as The Crash wrestlers and still is a unexpected inclusion to be in a top Mexico faction.

The next Tijuana show is 04/14 with Rey Fenix vs LA Park.

AAA

AAA TV (SAT) 03/17/2018 Unidad Deportiva Miraval, Cuernavaca, Morelos [AAALa UnionMorelos Habla]
1) Dinastía, Dragón Solar, Pardux b Bronco González Jr., Fetiche, Mini Histeria  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
6:59. Dinastia beat Mini Histeria
2) Mamba & Pimpinela Escarlata b Ashley & Estrella Divina  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
8:25. Mamba beat Ashley. Ashley was more a straightforward ruda, but Estrella still being mean to her at times to take over Faby’s role.
3) Histeria & Psicosis b Monsther Clown & Murder Clown  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
4:25. Psicosis used his snake to turn around the match, and beat Monster with a senton
4) Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria © b Joe Lider & Mr. Águila [AAA TAG (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
8:30. Cuervo beat Aguila with a Stinner. 3rd defense (2nd on TV)
5) La Máscara, Máximo, Psycho Clown b Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly and Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
15:58. Originally 2v2v2, but the two rudo trios partners (Super Fly, Tito) came out, the Alvarados wanted to fight everyone, and Psycho Clown added himself to even the match. Maximo pinned Carta after Averno fouled Carta and Maximo kissed Averno.
6) La Parka & Pagano b Dave The Clown & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
29:54. Tirantes helped the rudos and counted the pin anyway. Rey Escorpion got involved after about 25 minutes, but Hijo del Vikingo came out to even the odds.

Morelos Habla called the main event “an excellent bout“. That was not the reaction I was seeing on Twitter. This was really a house show that happened to be taped for TV. Nothing of importance happened, most of the matches were not any good, and the main event was really not any good. The opener is worth checking out if you can. Otherwise, you can ignore this show existed by the time Wednesday’s taping comes around.

AAA’s new Guadalajara arena had three days of Elegido & Gronda vs Chicano & Tigger Boy. Vampiro’s claim AAA’s going to go from 200 to 800 show was usual exaggeration, but they are going to be running a lot more shows if they’re sending luchadors to work this theme park arena every weekend. On the other hand, counting shows with guys who are never on TV like those four as AAA shows feels quite a stretch. Maybe it’ll be better after Lucha Underground wraps up.

Mary Apache is back in Mexico, at least for the weekend, working the highly attended Arena Neza show on Saturday.

CMLL

CMLL (SAT) 03/17/2018 Arena Coliseo [+LuchaTV, CMLL]
1) Retro & Sangre Imperial b El Coyote & Yago
2) Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Universo 2000 b Mercurio, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito
Mercurio replaced Stukita
3) Arkángel de la Muerte b Grako [lightning]
Grako replaced Sangre Azteca
4) Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma b Disturbio, Kawato San, Universo 2000 Jr.
Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto b Niebla Roja, Rey Cometa, Soberano Jr.
6) Ángel de Oro, Matt Taven, Mistico b Cuatrero, Gran Guerrero, Mr. Niebla
Oro beat Cuatrero won night too late.

A CMLL person who wins loses their mask has about a 100% winning record on any match the following day.

CMLL (SUN) 03/18/2018 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Disturbio & Grako b Bengala & Sensei
Disturbio replaced Apocalipsis. Rudos took 1/3.
2) Hijo del Signo, Sangre Azteca, Universo 2000 Jr. b Eléctrico, Pegasso, Stigma
Rudos took 1/3.
3) Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa b Johnny Idol, Sagrado, Tiger
Sagrado replaced Kawato. Tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Ángel de Oro, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. b Cuatrero, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora
Dragon Rojo’s first match in three months. Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone, Matt Taven DQ Cavernario, Ephesto, Mephisto
Tecnicos took 1/3, Cavernario DQ for illegal foul on Matt Taven.
6) Volador Jr. DQ Rush
Rush was DQed in the first fall, took the second, and Volador faked a foul in the third.

Cavernario challenged Matt Taven to a singles match, as part of his seeming quest to lose singles feuds to every one in the world. Rush was upset about the main event. Dragon Rojo was happy to be back. Angel de Oro doesn’t have as nice hair as Niebla Roja. Diamante Azul is still angry about Furia Roja ‘robbing’ him of his title.

CMLL’s Homenaje a Dos Leyendas broadcast ended with Julio Cesar Rivera saying the Arena Coliseo & Arena Mexico Anniversary shows will be the next big events for CMLL. We’ll hear about them for the first time on Wednesday, when CMLL will hold a press conference talking about those and whatever else they have coming up for April.

 

Next Friday’s show:

CMLL (FRI) 03/23/2018 Arena México
1) Shockercito & Stukita vs Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
2) Magia Blanca, Pegasso, Star Jr. vs Sagrado, Templario, Virus
3) Blue Panther Jr. vs Drone [lightning]
4) Audaz, Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Misterioso Jr., Puma, Tiger
5) Ángel de Oro, Matt Taven, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Sansón, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone, Último Guerrero vs Kráneo, Rush, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]

Original lineup had Ultimo Guerrero on both sides and also Cavernario in the match. That main event could be syncing up the Kraneo tecnico turn which appears to be happening in Puebla.

Semimain suggests Volador versus Matt Taven on 03/30, there’s no real reason to book that match otherwise.

Tercera is Drone’s first Friday match here since FantasticaMania. Magia Blanca is making a less dramatic return, not having been seen on streams in 6 weeks (and working a lot of Guadalajara when I’m having trouble recording Guadalajara.)

AroLucha launching crowdfunding investment

Arolucha announced they’re selling shares of their company on crowd investing platform We Funder. People who invest will own part of the company, up to a total of 1/9th if their funding maxed out. Investors will get discounted merchandise, be allowed to participate in polls on the creative decisions and get to see the pilot. The funding campaign kicked off with AroLucha’s CEO Jason Brown selling the idea in an article Tennesssean, who’s been covering this promotion since the December TV taping. Brown pitches it as a chance for the fans finally to be heard and that Rey Mysterio is part of the ownership group.

AroLucha’s timeline says Mysterio became part of the ownership group in November, the month before the first TV taping. I think that might mean Mysterio did not buy into the company, but perhaps instead was given stock or stock options as part of his deal for working that taping. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said Rey’s involvement in AroLucha was overblown in the article, and that it would have no effect on his possible return to WWE.

If you check out Wefunder’s FAQs, the first couple of answers tell you not to invest to make money, and only to invest if you can afford to lose every single dollar you invest. That applies to all start up companies, not just AroLucha. Even a completely sound investment of a start up is likely to fail. This is a start up entering into a competitive market, which they’re trying to pitch as completely open to make it attractive and instead appearing as if they don’t understand what they’re doing. This is a group planning on doing TV tapings in May or June which doesn’t have a TV partner, and who’s plan of running 10 house shows this year ended with 4.

If you want to buy into a wrestling company for the novelty of saying you own part of a wrestling company and can afford to the $100 minimum investment, please do not let me stop you. I would no sooner stop the person who wants to spend that much or more on a replica championship title. I will simply advise you that your stock in AroLucha will probably end up being just as real as the replica championship belt, and lot less shiny.

AroLucha needs to get at least $50K to get anything funded. They’ll need a heavy campaign to reach even that minimum. The Tennessean article did not actually mention the funding site, which hurts. The $100 minimum to fund is a lot higher than traditional funding sites like Kickstarter, which erases a lot of people kicking in in small amounts of money they’d wouldn’t mind losing on a project like this. Years ago, Masked Republic tried something similar with a TV show pilot, promoted it a lot, and did not come close to hitting their number. Jeff Katz’s Wrestling Retribution Project, a 2011 Kickstarter wrestling show, did get funded but never delivered it’s content. That show is the boogeyman in the room, the one scares people away from wanting to invest in projects like this. You can get into the weeds on that one – there’s a theory few fans were actually affected because it was actually a small amount of private investors who funded the thing and they were just using Kickstarter as a way to get buzz – but it’s still the example of what can happen with these sorts of projects.

That buzz might actually be AroLucha’s buzz here. They need a TV deal, and they need a TV company to take them seriously. They’d like the money, the money will keep them going longer, but they’re selling themselves on social media impressions and the amount of people who they can claim will be tuning in once a network picks them up. Having a whole bunch of people who want to invest in their company is part of that TV pitch. Being able to promote Rey Mysterio as owner is another part of that plan.

The big obstacle for AroLucha are the Harris Brothers. AroLucha is hyping how reactive they are to the fans, and they’re aware of Vince Russo’s perception to not mention him at all in their sales pitch. There are people with the promotion obviously paying attention to every time the word “AroLucha” is mentioned, which means they’ve seen “AroLucha Nazis” quite a few times by now. The Harris Brothers infamously had SS tattoos on their arms, and one wore an SS t-shirt on a TNA show, which are commonly associated with Nazis. Whenever that image is posted, you’ll also find people claiming those logos are also part of biker culture, and they had them covered up, and they became born again Christians and are definitely not Nazis. That may be true – I’d like it to be true, we could use less Nazis – but that’s something they probably need to say themselves. I’d guess they think only a few people on the internet know or care about this accusation and they don’t want to give it more attention by acknowledging it, but the only type of people who are going to invest money in this project are the type of people to very much know this accusation.

I’m skeptical they’re getting the money either way, so maybe it’s not worth the hassle. But saying you’re not a Nazi should not be a hassle.

They’re up to $1,590 in funding at least check, which is more than I got for my book, so I guess I have to respect that.

Other Things I’ve Had The Time To Work On

On his Mexico press tour, Andrade Almas mentioned that many times he wanted to leave NXT and return to Mexico, but he really wanted to make it in WWE more. He acknowledged Alberto el Patron was a person he talked to when he thinking about leaving WWE, something Alberto has said previously. Alberto told Almas to stand up for himself more and fight for what he wanted. Almas mentioned Rush, Volador Jr. & Dragon Lee as people who would do well in WWE. Almas seemed to get a lot of press attention and his autograph signing was packed.

04/22 Lucha Memes vs CaraLucha in Coliseo Coacalco

CGTN has a What is Lucha Libre video piece focusing on Mexico State luchador Tezca.

Lucha Sorpresa has some recent match reviews.

Segunda Caida dares to watches Mascara 2000 vs La Bestia del Ring.

AAA on Twitch: 2018-03-17

Pagano accidentally unmasks Dave the Clown

Recapped: 03/17/2018

Matches:

Dinastía, Dragón Solar, Pardux beat Bronco González Jr., Fetiche, Mini Histeria
(6:59, Dinastia huracanrana Mini Histeria, good, Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch) )

Mamba & Pimpinela Escarlata beat Ashley & Estrella Divina
(8:25, Mamba powerbomb Ashley, ok, Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))

Histeria & Psicosis beat Monsther Clown & Murder Clown
(4:25, Psicosis senton Monster, ok, Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch) )

Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria © beat Joe Lider & Mr. Águila for the AAA World Tag Team Championship
(8:30, Cuervo Stunner Mr. Aguila, ok, via Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))

La Máscara & Máximo  beat Averno & Chessman and Carta Brava Jr. & Mocho Cota Jr.
(15:58, Máximo pin Carta Brava, ok, Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch) )

La Parka & Pagano beat  Dave The Clown & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.
(29:54, Pagano splash, bad, via Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))

What happened:

this looked good

Hijo del Wagner put a Wagner mask on Pagano and beat him up as if he was his father, though I guess his father doesn’t wear that any more. Fur robes were not easily available. Tirantes worked as a rudo referee, helping frequently and then counting a normal pin for the técnicos at the end anyway. Rey Escorpión interfered late for no particular reason except to set up Hijo del Vikingo attacking him to even the odds. That was the only appearance on the card for both wrestlers.

Super Fly & Tito Santana came out with three teams. The Alvarados agreed to take them on, and Psycho Clown came out to add himself as well. Averno fouled Carta Brava, who remained laying on the mat as Máximo kissed Averno three times. Máximo pinned Carta for the win.

Parka Negra ran in to help the Perros del Mal, and La Parka evened it up.

Psicosis turned the tide in the match by putting the snake on Murder

Thoughts:

2018 is a hard year for Ashley

The main event made me question why I was even watching AAA. It was so bad. It seemed good for the small children they were showing. It was still so bad to me. The wrestling was poor and lasted forever. I couldn’t believe how long the opening beatdown was going, thinking they must’ve not left time to have a comeback if the match was going to go 10 minutes before one. I was wrong, they had all the time in the world. And they had the two best wrestlers in the match watching the match backstage to do run-ins at the end that amounted to nothing. This match was going to be bad because everyone in it is not particularly good and was not interested in having a good match and they were doing the Tirantes stuff, but it might have been slightly not terrible if Hijo del Vikingo and Rey Escorpión were in the whole time. If you missed this one, count yourself as lucky.

The three way trios match was hard to follow and not that interesting when they slowed it enough down to make it easier to follow. Both rudos teams taking turns at holding an Alvarado down in the ring for an extended portion killed the momentum in the middle of the match. The Alvarados got the showcase here they didn’t get at Rey de Reyes, which was probably part of the idea. It just didn’t translate well to TV but seemed to get a good reaction from this crowd.

great bump Parka

The tag title match was a match that will be recorded as occurring despite not being good. Joe Lider used the stapler on his opponents. The opponents made the comeback and used the stapler on him. Mr. Aguila didn’t do a lot of impressive stuff and the version of this match with Parka Negra might have been better. Parka Negra did get come in and take a big bump at the end, so that was good for him.

At least the Vipers/Traidors match was short, and it’s not often you see a team win a match by using their pet snake. This was the kind of brawling match you’d expect with maybe less to it than you’d expect. I can’t recall anything Histeria actually did here, and the stuff the other three did wasn’t much.

proof of Vikingo’s existence

The second match wasn’t match. The Mamba & Pimpienla act can get a reaction but it’s much to watch. Estrella Divina isn’t as good as Faby Apache at being mean to Ashley, but at least they’re trying to keep this story going. The finish looked brutal and the match didn’t fall apart any point, and it’s about as much as I’d expect out of a Pimpinela match at this point.

The opener was a fun. They had energy and plans to do trincky things. It didn’t always work out, Dragon Solar seems a pretty spotty guy in particularly. It still was an exciting way to start the show. Bronco Gonzalez is still a pretty good base, saving a Solar spot from falling apart, and I wonder what’s happened where he’s not much a part of things. I can almost identify Fetiche out of a lineup now. Dinastia at least one pinfall win this year.

CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas iPPV: 2018-03-16 

things went badly quick for Angel de Oro

Recapped: 03/16/2018

Matches:

Audaz, Flyer, Star Jr. beat Disturbio, Templario, Virus
(10:55 [4:20, 2:55, 3:40], 1/3, great)

Dalys, La Seductora, Zeuxis beat Kaho Kobayashi, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit
(14:16 [6:24, 2:33, 5:19], 2/3, ok)

Dragón Lee, Mistico, Rush beat Forastero, Máscara Año 2000, Sansón
(12:13 [4:05, 8:08], 1/2, good)

Atlantis, Matt Taven, Niebla Roja beat  Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
(11:29 [5:09, 2:43, 3:37], 2/3, ok)

Valiente & Volador Jr. beat Rey Bucanero & Terrible for to win the the CMLL World Tag Team Championship
(16:59 [3:22, 1:56, 11:41], 2/3, good)

El Cuatrero beat Ángel de Oro in a mask vs mask match mask
(18:43, 1/3, great) 03/16/2018

  1. Cuatrero inverted bear hug (3:34)

  2. Angel de Oro campana (2:18)

  3. Cuatrero crucifix powerbomb (12:51)

What happened: 

Audaz & Star Jr.

Angel de Oro is Miguel Ángel Chávez Velasco, 29, 12 years a wrestler.

Rush put his feet on the ropes to beat Mascara Año 2000 Jr.. He really didn’t need to.

While Virus & Audaz did work together, Audaz submitted Templario to win their match (so maybe that feud is over for now?)

Thoughts:

Angel de Oro versus Cuatrero lived up to the tradition of emotional mask matches. The crowd, pro-Dinamita all the way, made this a moment along side other similar matches. It was better than last year’s Diamante Azul/Pierroth effort, but Niebla Roja/Gran Guerrero was definitely better. That mask match seemed to have people go far and beyond a normal match. Angel de Oro just doesn’t posses the ability to go any farther than he has before. He pulled off All his usual spots. They were also all his Usual spots. Maybe the failed top rope move near the end would’ve lead to something different. He did kill himself on the tope early on and took a lot of punishment from Cuatrero. Angel just didn’t really rise to the occasion like his brother did last summer. Cuatrero was solid all the way thru, looking impressive throwing Oro around and being in the right spot for his big moves. The inverted bear hug was a strange finish. At least it was an idea. The loudest portion of the crowd so badly wanted him to win that it came off like a huge victory for him. He could’ve just used a little more exciting opponent.

Volador & Valiente dives

The tag title match was good as it was going to be given the people involved. Bucanero couldn’t do much on his own but was willing to try – the monkey flip over the ropes spot was back, he was the one who took Volador super headscissors, he was one the one who caught (or tired) on the Valiente Special. Terrible continues to look great, and Valiente and Volador got enough of their big offense. It just still felt like a main event on a B—show and never a great match on it’s own. Terrible & Bucanero never came that close to winning, and they do much as a team that would give you a reason to believe they’d over come their obvious disadvantage. If they do something with Volador & Valiente, their defenses will probably be all better than this match. Like a lot of this show, this one seemed like it might be much better live with the crowd caring more than you’d expect.

The fourth match had the stream dying early on, and didn’t last for too long when we did get to see it. Gran Guerrero & Niebla Roja mixed got to mix it in, the Guerreros got to go thru their team offense, the técnicos got to make a big comeback, but nothing really sank it to it. Nothing wrong with it and the crowd got into it.

everyone lived

The tercera was highlighted more by the crowd reactions than the match. Dragon Lee & Mistico looked off their usual. It just fed into the crowd hating them even more. Rush laid it in on the closing dropkick and Mascara 2000 didn’t seem to have a lot of fun there. The Dinamitas didn’t stick out strongly in this match, but were there for the offense. They got two falls and not a lot of time, so this wasn’t a big showcase.

The women’s match was an OK match which still really didn’t feel like it should be on this show. They were doing more than usual because of the occasion, but it came off as slow and really had a hard time following the match which came before. Seductora’s first spot in this match to duck an invisible clothesline. At least she got a new outfit and the splash went well. Zeuxis crushed Kaho with the double knees. Kaho seemed thrilled to be there anyway and her energy helped the match. It would’ve helped if they got her into it a little quicker.

The opener was a great display. Audaz has looked good this year. He somehow got even better in this one. He was leaping around the ring like gravity was an optional thing, looking like the mostly easily agile person on the planet. Star Jr. wasn’t far behind him, his frog splash to win the first fall was outstanding and he was getting amazing height on his springboards thru the match. They were so spectacular that Templario walking the ropes for a dropkick or Flyer’s moonsault got over shadowed. It felt a little pre-planed but the plan was strong and they pulled it off well.

Cuatrero bomb