Month: June 2018

CMLL (TUE) 06/26/2018 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) Apocalipsis & Cholo b Bengala & Leono 
Rudos took 1/3.
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Oro Jr. b Cancerbero, Nitro, Yago 
tecnicos took 2/3
3) Estrellita, La Jarochita, Marcela b Dalys, La Metálica, Reyna Isis 
tecnicas took 2/3
4) Hechicero b Felino [lightning] 
Hechicero submitted Felino to Magia Negra in just over 9 minutes
5) Dragón Rojo Jr., Luciferno, Pólvora b Esfinge, Titán, Tritón 
Rudos took 2/3, Luciferno staying winning leading into his big title match
6) Dragón Lee, Flyer, Mistico DQ Euforia, Forastero, Negro Casas 
Forastero unmasked Flyer for the DQ.

Post match promos: Bengala & Leono (random apuesta challenges), Hechicero, (wants more challenges) OneAtos Style (patching things up after Esfinge was not in Titan’s corner on Monday), Forastero (going to cut Flyer down to size), and Flyer (will take Forastero down if he gets in his way). CMLL setting up a non-title feud between Flyer/Forastero is atypical. The winner of the Gran Alternativa getting a singles feud itself isn’t odd, but I guess since there’s no suitable rudo singles champions for him to face, Forastero is getting his own big chance.

Hechicero/Felino seemed good. Haven’t seen a lot of the rest.

CMLL (TUE) 06/26/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Micro, Principe Daniel, Vaquero Jr. b Demonio Maya, Frezzer, Relámpago Azul
2) Retro, Robin, Sangre Imperial b Akuma, Inquisidor, Príncipe Odín Jr.
3) Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Virus b Drone, El Audaz, Fuego
Rudos took 1/3.
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. DQ Cavernario, Ephesto, Mephisto
Tecnicos took 2/3, the last when Cavernario unmasked Soberano for the DQ. Cavernario felt this action granted him a title match next week.
5) Atlantis, Carístico, Volador Jr. b La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible
Terrible back wrestling two days after a concussion. Tecnicos took 2/3.

The Twitter recap mentions Terrible, though I didn’t see him in any of the photos they posted. Maybe he was feeling fine. Maybe he took it easy. I don’t know. I know Mexico isn’t where the US is about head injuries. Cavernario’s reasoning about getting a title shot seems a little flimsy but everyone seemed sure it was happening.

Lucha Underground 4×3, “Rest in Pieces”, has two matches

• Jack Evans vs a mystery person, which LU social media has revealed to be the debuting XO Lishus (Sonny Kiss)
  • This is billed as a Put Up or Shut Up challenge. Either a video will be posted on social media explaining what that means or we may never know.
• Jeremiah Crane versus Fenix versus Mil Muertes in a Three Way To A Grave match

I’ve seen this episode. It’s easier just to acknowledge that instead of talking around it. I’m not under an NDA or anything, so I can try to thread the needle between giving you information which may interest you about the show and spoiling the thing.

This show has those two matches and a third brief in-ring segment, plus a couple of vignettes. One of is this Worldwide Underground bit, which leads off the show. The casket match gets plenty of time and a definite ending. It’s an elimination match – there are actually three caskets around the ring, and two people will be put in them and be Lucha Underground dead – so they needed that time to do it justice. Lucha Underground social media posted a photo of Cage with no explanation, in the way they post photos for everyone who’s going to be doing something, so don’t come at me for spoiling things.

As mentioned before, Lucha Underground will be airing a new episode next week on July 4th, US Independence Day. That’s obviously going to be a problem for live viewing. El Rey appears to be handling this by adding an additional replay of that 4th episode on July 11th, just before the new 5th episode airs.

A highlight of the post-AAA/ELITE press conferences interviews is Faby Apache saying she doesn’t know who Zeuxis is. I have no trouble believing this. Mr. Electro wants you to know he’s really an AAA guy who happens to be on Team Elite.

Segunda Caida reviews the Parkas/Munoz IWRG tag match.

LuchaWorld has the latest news update, including a recap of +Lucha’s interview with Daga.

Latigo de Acero Jr. took Ultimo PIcazo’s hair in Monclova.

Muerte Guerrera took Big Lover’s hair in Monterrey.

Criterio Hidalgo notes there are only three luchadoras currently wrestling in Pachuca (Pumara, Princesa Amazona) and Tulancingo (Chica Dinamtia) combined.

Lineup

The Crash (SAT) 07/14/2018 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California
1) Oráculo, Torito Negro, Xperia vs Búfalo Ayala, Tiago, Zarco
2) Daga vs Matt Riddle
3) Lacey Lane © vs Tessa Blanchard, Santana Garrett [The Crash WOMEN]
3rd defense
4) The King vs ACH vs Rey Horus
5) Blue Demon Jr., Hijo De Octagon, Octagón vs ?, Garza Jr., Mr. 450
6) Penta Zero M vs Bestia 666 [cage]

I guess Penta is the match Bestia wanted? It’s the match he’s getting. Daga is getting the match he wanted with Matt Riddle, but I’m unsure why it’s being treated as a second match. The Crash feels like it’s down to a handful of stars who are primarily with them – Garza (who’s expected to go to WWE at any moment), 450, Bestia, Rey Horuz, Daga, and Lacey Lane – and it would seem to be to their advantage to make them bigger stars since they’re sticking around. Instead, the bigger stars of this show are the annual appearances by Octagon and Blue Demon.

Mexa Wrestling (SAT) 07/14/2018 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) Medieval & Pumita vs Fulgor I & Fulgor II
2) Lady Pink & Lilith Dark vs Chica Pantera & Lady Cat and Kelly Star & Reina Oscura
3) Terremoto, Tromba, Yoruba vs Baby Star, Príncipe Aéreo, Tyson La Bestia
4) Metálica & Reina Dorada vs Baronessa & Mystique
5) Lady Flammer vs Chik Tormenta vs Lady Maravilla
6) Mary Apache vs Keyra
7) Marcela vs Rossy Moreno

This is billed as an Amazonas del Ring show being co-promoted by Mexa Wrestling, but that’s too many characters for my promotion field. It’s not the usual Mexa Wrestling show but it makes some sense not to have the usual show. They’ve already announced the Toxin/Fly Star mask match on 08/04 (and will have them sign that contract at this show), so any normal show would be a bit skippable and you might as well go abnormal. These particular matchups just aren’t particularly interesting, outside of the semi-main where Keyra is putting her 4-0 streak on the line against currently independent Mary Apache.

Mexa Wrestling also announced they’d be sending representatives to the next RIOT show, as part of a strengthening relationship between the two indies. They also announced Bandido & Flamita vs Eterno & Steve Pain for 08/04, which should be great. I want to tell Mexa Wrestling they should stream their shows online themselves, there’d be a market for these things, but that conversation never seems to go well for me. Or anyone.

 

CMLL (MON) 06/25/2018 Arena Puebla
1) Espíritu Maligno, King Jaguar, King Rocker b Meyer, Millenium, Tigre Rojo Jr. 
Rudos took 2/3.
2) Astro, Asturiano, Stukita b Joker, Mercurio, Saurón 
Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Amapola b Princesa Sugehit [lightning] 
Amapola won cleanly and challenged Sugehit to a title match next week. Sugehit accepted.
4) Felino, Puma, Tiger b Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Esfinge 
La Familia Felino took falls 1/3. El Egipcio was honored after the main event.
5) Soberano Jr. © b Titán [MEX WELTER] 
Soberano took falls 2/3 for his 4th defense. Titan worked a bit rudo during the match. Money thrown in.
6) Flyer & Volador Jr. DQ Templario & Último Guerrero 
Tecnicos took 2/3, the last by DQ when UG fouled Volador. Those two agreed to a singles match next week.

The main event was very good, though more storytelling and less spot after spot like you might have been expecting. It’s worth watching.

Today’s CMLL show has some mikdly promising matches with nothing special to them. Brothers Dragon Lee & Mistico team up with Flyer against the odd combination of Euforia, Forastero and Negro Casas in the main event. OneAtos Style face Dragon Rojo, Luciferno, and Polvora in a possibly good semi-main. Hechicero and Felino have their first ever singles match in the weekly lightning match. The opening matches aren’t too interesting except for Yago’s outfit. Lucha Central has a preview of the show. It’ll stream at 7:30pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel.

CMLL announced three people will be awarded Copa Bobby Bonales on Friday. This is a  sometimes annual award handed out by Daniel Aceves, Olympic wrestling medalist, and son of luchador Bobby Bonales. It’s something of a lifetime achievement award. They originally handed out one a year, when they remembered to do it, and then expanded it two a year by making Marcela the first female winner (alongside Volador) last year. Three is a further expansion; Rob guessed they may have added one to honor Arkangel and that would make a lot of sense. They may explain more on CMLL Informa.

AAA/ELITE

AAA & Elite announced their combined show at a press conference today.

AAA TV , ELITE (SAT) 07/21/2018 Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal
1) Faby Apache, La Hiedra, Vanilla vs Keyra, Lady Maravilla, Zeuxis
Team AAA (Faby) vs team ELITE (Zeuxis)
2) La Máscara & Máximo vs Trauma I & Trauma II
Team AAA (Alvardos) vs Team ELITE (Traumas)
3) ? & Aerostar vs Hijo de LA Park & Taurus
Team AAA (Aerostar) vs Team ELITE (Taurus)
4) Rey Escorpión & Texano Jr. vs Golden Magic & Laredo Kid
Team AAA (Texano) vs Team Elite (Magic)
5) Joe Lider & Pagano vs Jack Evans & Teddy Hart
Team AAA (Pagano) vs Team Elite (Jack)
6) Dr. Wagner Jr., Hijo del Fantasma, Psycho Clown vs ?, Electroshock, LA Park
Team AAA (Wagner) vs Team Elite (Park)

World of Warcraft is sponsoring the show, as they did with the December Juan de la Barrera show. In keeping with the game, AAA will represent the Horde (wearing red) and ELITE will represent order (wearing blue). They’re encouraging the fans to support their favorite promotion by wearing those colors. It may end up as a sea of red. This was billed as the first of a run of shows, and World of Warcraft will also be part of TripleMania.

ELITE was presented as a separate promotion. ELITE owner Ernesto Santillán appeared and was treated as an equal to Dorian Roldan. It’s tough to take that completely seriously seeing as ELITE is not running any shows, and the press mostly deferred to Roldan during the press conference. “Mr. Electro” was introduced at the press conference under that name but is using the AAA trademark “Electroshock” on the poster. The same thing with Taurus, name changes that only matter if AAA is in charge.

The main event missing person is a big question. Dorian was asked about Rush, and said he’d like to be able to use Rush but it won’t be Rush. Three of the four TripleMania main event luchadors are in the match, so Penta would make a lot of sense. It’d be weird if they had Penta on this show and didn’t just advertise him. The mystery man in the third match looks like Drago’s spot, and Drago hasn’t wrestled since suffering a shoulder injury at Verano de Escandalo. They may not be sure if he’ll be back by this time.

Zeuxis said she wasn’t going to AAA. She’s technically correct; she says she’s working as part of ELITE and has not signed a contract with anyone. Anyone who can work on AAA TV without having to sign a contract to AAA is in good shape.

The show is simply listed as airing on TV. The usual image for Televisa is conspicuously missing, but they also didn’t announce any deal with Azteca or anyone else. They may have just wanted to focus on selling tickets for the live event at this point. The show will air on Twitch.

Santillán was asked about the CMLL/ELITE deal falling apart. He claimed CMLL has never told him why they stopped the deal. Dorian was asked about Rush possibly being the mystery man. He did a similar speech he’s done at other times, saying it would be better for everyone to get along and it’s only egos getting in the way. It’s a speech he wouldn’t need to make if CMLL had agreed to work together. They wouldn’t be running a AAA/ELITE show if CMLL was an option. Wagner’s comments about quitting after Verano de Escandalo were brought up, and Roldan explained it as just one thing Wagner said, but he’d still be working his scheduled dates.

More

Rey Mysterio Jr. was announced as a pre-order bonus character in the newest WWE 2K game. Dave Meltzer said Mysterio has not signed with WWE as of yet, but everyone expects it to happen eventually. The really important thing to remember is that game is never any good but people talk themselves into buying it every year.

Related: Bestia 666 wants Rey Mysterio Jr. to agree to a title match on the next Crash Tijuana show or ELSE. (Or else Mysterio ends up going back to WWE without having a chance to lose the title, probably. Once he’s signed, he’s probably not losing a title match.)

Hechicero says indie wrestlers should only be allowed to wrestle in CMLL if they really deserve it, and if they’ll increase the box office.

Lucha Memes in Coliseo Coacalco (Chairo Bill Vol. 4) on 07/22

• Lolita vs Keyra
• Aaron Sykes & Helio Guerra (DFW) vs Dr. Polux Jr. & Murcielago Plateado (G21)

A class on lucha libre and literature will start in July in Mexico City.

 

Puma & Barby respond to Tweets in their lastest video.

Segunda Caida watches the AAA Tijuana opener match

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

+LuchaTV has a new edition of their podcast.

Let’s Taco ‘Bout Wrestling has an interview with Gringo Loco about his career.

Lineups

IWRG FILL (WED) 06/27/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Fly Tiger, Príncipe Dragón, Vortrex vs Águila Oriental, Canibal, Chico Bestia
2) Dranzer, Puma de Oro, Rey Picazo vs Acero II, Ciber Punk, Voltar
3) Celestial Boy, Cheff Benito, Chicanito vs Biosfera, Dinámico, Kraken
4) Ángel Oriental, Black Puma, Black Shadow Jr. vs Adrenalina, Carnicero, Power Bull
5) Ángel Estrella Jr., Tortuga Mike, Toto vs Death Metal, Picudo Jr., X-Fly
6) Atomic Star, Black Dragón, Guerrero 2000, Hijo Del Mosco X-Fly, Kanoan, Lunatic Xtreme, Mexica, Shadow Boy vs Eligor, Flayman, Gallo Colorado, Hijo del Zumbido, Meza Kid, Pandemónium Jr., Quetzal, Shalom
Gym FILL (Black Terry) versus Gym Zaetas del Ring (Freelance)

We haven’t seen many trainee shows lately. We also haven’t seen Black Terry even in the mentor lately. Good to see boht.

CMLL (SUN) 07/01/2018 Arena México
1) Arkalis & Leono vs Espíritu Negro & Grako
2) Lluvia, Maligna, Princesa Sugehit vs La Comandante, La Seductora, Tiffany
3) Black Panther, Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr. vs Felino, Puma, Tiger
4) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Kráneo vs Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. © vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero [CMLL TRIOS]
11th defense, 5th versus some combination of the Guerreros, first in Arena Mexico in 16 months.

The trios title match and the third match make for this a pretty good card (which probably won’t air.)

IWRG (SUN) 07/01/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Chicanito vs Atomic Star
2) Chico Che, Mexica, Shadow Boy vs Antar, Demonio Infernal, Kronoz
3) Demasiado, Diva Salvaje, Pasion Kristal vs Leo, Mike, Rafy [lumberjack]
4) Aramis vs Freelance [IWRG Rey del Aire]
5) Hijo de Canis Lupus, Hijo del Alebrije, Relámpago vs Cerebro Negro, Eterno, Savage
6) X-Fly vs Ovett [super libre]
7) Penta 0M, Trauma I, Trauma II vs El Mesías, Emperador Azteca, Imposible

Penta has appeared a few times in Arena Naucalpan since leaving AAA, though never before for just IWRG. I wonder if he and Mesias are doubling up in the area because both would seem to be able to get more than IWRG usually pays for top guys.

Aramis is Rey del Ring champion, they’re calling the title match Rey del Aire, and I think IWRG may have gotten confused at what their title is called.

IWRG (SUN) 06/24/2018 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), The Gladaitores]
1) Arquero b Atomic Star
2) Hijo Del Mosco X-Fly & Psycho Kid b Kanon & Miss Gaviota
3) Hijo del Alebrije, Pantera I, Relámpago b Demonio Infernal, El Hijo del Diablo, Eterno
despite the loss Eterno challenged Pantera to a title and a hair/mask match.
4) Hijo de Canis Lupus, Imposible, Toscano b El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Pit Bull, Trauma I 
5) X-Fly b Ovett 
X-Fly used a weapon and a foul when the referee was down. Ovett wants a rematch without a ref.
6) Trauma I L Cerebro Negro, Emperador Azteca [losers advance] 
Trauma I would’ve had to put up his mask had he lost. Cerbero Negro framed Emperador for using a chair to cause him to advance.
7) Cerebro Negro b Emperador Azteca © [hair, IWRG IC WELTER] 
Negro’s hair vs Azteca’s title. Cerebro Negro is the 37th champion, holding this title for a record 7th time. Azteca falls on his sixth defense (including two obscure ones in Oaxaca)

Cerebro Negro as champion is usually a pretty good idea. Losing a match to set up a title match is an IWRG staple at this point.

Soberano and Titan meet for the first time ever in a singles match tonight. Soberano put the Mexican National Welterweight championship against former holder Titan in Arena Puebla. It’s a rare tecnico/tecnico championship match in CMLL, though Titan has been playing the role of the rudo leading up to it.  Both have some recent experience facing tecnicos. Soberano’s previous defense was against Magia Blanca in the best match Blanca’s had in CMLL. Titan and Dragon Lee had a great match in Pro Wrestling Revolution earlier this year. Their sequences in the lead-up trios matches have been good, and this figures to be on the same level as the Soberano/Cavernario title match in this same arena.

It’s a better overall Puebla card than usual. The main event has Volador & Flyer versus Templario & Ultimo Guerrero, a rematch of the Gran Alternativa final. This probably won’t be as good, main events after a title match are usually cut a bit short. The Panther kids & Esfinge take on Puma, Tiger, and Felino in the fourth match. I think we take for granted how good the Puma/Tiger/Panther stuff is because CMLL runs it so often (and so meaninglessly), but maybe we shouldn’t right now – if Puma does on those indie dates, he might not be around to superkick Black Panther as much.

Princesa Sugehit, fresh off losing a title match to Dalys, meets Amapola in a lightning match. This should be another loss for Sugehit, setting up a title match for next week. Astro, Asturiano, and Stukita face Joker, Mercurio, and Stukita, to see if CMLL’s remembered a Puebla apuesta match for July. Meyer, Milenium, and Tigre Rojo Jr. meet Espiritu Maligno, King Joker and King Rocker in the opener.

The show will air at 9pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel. I’d guess the title match will be taking place around 10:20pm, and it’ll be up for VOD as soon as the show completes. Maybe I’ll remember to put up timestamps in the comments if it’s good.

MDA has announced Rey Wagner vs Penta on 07/29 in Monterrey.

+LuchaTV has an interview with Daga.

Segunda Caida reviews Hechicero versus Stuka lightning matches.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 06/26/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Micro, Principe Daniel, Vaquero Jr. vs Demonio Maya, Frezzer, Relámpago Azul
2) Retro, Robin, Sangre Imperial vs Akuma, Inquisidor, Príncipe Odín Jr.
3) Drone, El Audaz, Fuego vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Virus
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. vs Cavernario, Ephesto, Mephisto
5) Atlantis, Carístico, Volador Jr. vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible

Guadalajara cards are occasionally showing up late. There was no feud here last week. There’s probably not going to be Terrible here this week.

CMLL (SAT) 06/30/2018 Arena Coliseo
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Violencia
2) Robin, Star Jr., Starman vs Cancerbero, Metálico, Sangre Azteca
3) Blue Panther, Drone, Stuka Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Dragón Lee © vs Luciferno [CMLL SL]
6th defense, first in over a year.
5) Kráneo, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Forastero, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero

I need a weigh-in for that title match. It won’t be taped and we’ll never see it unless we get a fan to take a camera, which seems very stupid for a Dragon Lee singles match in 2018.

No sign of that trios title match. Cancerbero still going solo without Raziel.