Month: June 2018

CMLL (SAT) 06/23/2018 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito b Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia
tecnicos took 2/3
2) Magnus, Príncipe Diamante, Starman b Cholo, Grako, Inquisidor
tecnicos took 2/3
3) Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Virus b Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa
rudos took 1/3.
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. b Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
tecnicos took 2/3, then issues a challenge for the national trios titles.
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto b Dragón Lee, Stuka Jr., Volador Jr.
Volador & Stuka replaced Mistico & Valiente. Straight falls, Luciferno beating Dragon Lee in both. Luciferno issued a challenge for Dragon Lee’s lightweight championship.

Post-match promos: Ultimo Dragoncito (talks about CMLL classes), Starman (sad he and Arkangel never got to do their mask match), Soberano Jr. (ready for his title match tomorrow) and Luciferno (really serious about challenging Dragon Lee).

Luciferno is an unlikely lightweight. He’s a likely Dragon Lee opponent. For reasons only truly understood by CMLL, Dragon Lee and Luciferno have met in the first round of the 2015 Universal tournament, the first round of the 2016 Universal tournament, and the 2017 Universal tournament. The results have been consistent, Luciferno loses every time. They can not repeat this match in 2018 at this point, so I guess this is another way to do it.

Torta Super Astro (SAT) 06/23/2018 Arena Lopez Mateos [Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), LuchaCentral]
1) Divino Boy, Kalibus, Magnético b Hijo Del Dr. Pólux Jr., Maremoto, Murciélago Plateado
2) Demasiado & Musashi b Ciclón & Dragosth and Astro Infernal & Lucifier
3) Montana, Syrus, Tackle b Maravilla, Perro Negro Jr., Terremoto
4) Zeuxis b Lady Apache, Quetzal, Cinthia Moreno, Rossy Moreno, Mima Shimoda, Estrellita [G21 WOMEN]
5) Ricky Marvin & Silver King b Steve Pain & Terremoto and Samoano & Tonga
Terremoto replaced Hijo de Dos Caras. Tonga may be “Huma”, who was originally listed in that spot.
6) Imposible & Laredo Kid b Demonio Infernal & Golden Magic and Ángeluz Fly & Diamante
7) Baronessa b Muñeca De Plata [mask] 
La Mascara ran in to help his cousin, but Baronessa still surprised her with a cradle. Muneca de Plata is Monserrat Alvarado Nava, 29 years old, 13 years a wrestler, originally from Guadalajara.
8) Hijo de LA Park & LA Park DQ La Máscara & Xtreme Tiger
The LA Parks were unmasked.

Seemed like the building was around half full for a show largely built around the women’s mask match. There was some controversy about the match and I’m not sure why. People may have been led to believe the result was going the other way but I’m not sure why it mattered so much – neither are big names by indie standards and the match is really only notable because of Muneca is an Alavardo. I guess I don’t really need to understand why as much as note there was unhappiness in how it went down.

CMLL (SUN) 06/24/2018 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Retro & Sangre Imperial b Camorra & Príncipe Odín Jr.
tecnicos took 2/3
2) Cancerbero, El Coyote, Nitro b Arkalis, Magnus, Súper Astro Jr.
Rudos took 1/3
3) Misterioso Jr., Puma, Sagrado b Audaz, Pegasso, Tritón
Rudos took 1/3
4) Dalys © b Princesa Sugehit [CMLL WOMEN]
Dalys took 2/3 to keep her title. 16th defense. Sugehit’s 2nd chance.
5) Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Terrible b Flyer, Kráneo, Titán
Rudos took 1/3. Terrible was injured after a Kraneo senton landed on his head.
6) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero b Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr.
Rudos took 1/3, then asked for a title shot.

Terrible suffered a concussion from that senton, according to Dr. Zavaleta. He’s not listed on any cards next week as of yet, so hopefully he’s taking some time off Post-match promos: Dalys (wants new challengers), Shocker & Rey Bucanero (looking for a third member of their Senores Bien group), Los Guerreros Laguneros (want a trios title shot), and the Sky Team (ready to give one.) Even the champion Dalys is aware they need different match-ups in that division, but I’m not sure what the solution is going to be. Or if there is one.

CMLL (SUN) 06/24/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Alteño b Frenético
Alteno, replacing Eclipse, took 1/3.
2) Cosmos & Johnny Dinamo DQ Destructor & Quca
Quca unmasked Cosmos for the DQ. Straight falls.
3) Fugaz, Neutrón, Reycko b Gran Kenut, León Blanco, Linterna
Linterna’s partners betrayed him. Tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Bobby Black, Carlo Roggi, El Chakal, Mr. Apolo b Exterminador, Príncipe Kisho, Terremoto King Jr., Thunder Boy
Team Roggi took 1/3
5) Joker b Sádico [hair]
Joker took 2/3 to take his ex-partner’s hair.

Joker starts his tecnico career with a big win, which probably should be inspiring for Linterna.

I’m not going to even link to the latest round of “Alberto says he’s retiring in 2 years” article, but I am letting you know they exist.

Lucha Underground posted a Jeremiah Crane promo for 3 Way to the Grave. He makes it clear two people are getting put in a casket at the end.

LuchaWorld has an obituary for El Egipcio and the latest Lucha Report.

CMLL (FRI) 06/22/2018 Arena México [ESTO, Lucha Central, Marca, Ovaciones, Record, thecubsfan]
1) Robin & Súper Astro Jr. b Akuma & Yago 
~13:00. Tecnicos took 2/3. The stream went out during this match.
2) Estrellita, La Jarochita, Marcela b Amapola, Dalys, Reyna Isis 
12:27. Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Dragón Rojo Jr., Hechicero, Pólvora b Black Panther, Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr. 
19:55. Rudos took 2/3.
4) Atlantis, Carístico, Stuka Jr. b Euforia, La Bestia Del Ring, Último Guerrero 
9:33. Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) El Hijo de L.A. Park, King Phoenix, Volador Jr. b Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas 
17:10. Tecnicos took 2/3, the last when Cavernario unmasked Rey Fenix. Fenix challenged him to a singles match next week.
6) L.A. Park DCOR Rush 
20:14. Rush was DQed in the first after Bestia interfered and Rush hit the referee. Park was DQed in the second after hitting the referee when he was trying to stop him from punching an unconscious Rush. The referee and the officials tried to stop the match at this point but LA Park wouldn’t let them, and punched Rambo out when he got to close. Referee Edgar quickly counted both men out when the third fall ended. Rush was dragged to the back while LA Park screamed for the mask versus hair match.

Park/Rush exceeded the high expectations. The result was a draw, but Park was the man walking out of the building and Rush was the man who knocked out. The Panther match and the semimain are also worth watching.

CMLL post match promos: Robin & Super Astro Jr. (would like to be teamed up as Los Nuevos Arqueros del Espacio), Black Panther (explains the name change), King Phoenix (explains the name change). Fenix is using “King Phoenix” until “Rey Fenix” is legally his, in a situation not unlike Kraneo/Alebrije. No media interviews have been posted as of yet.

LA Park punching Rambo could be a set up for Park being “suspended” from CMLL for a while. I keep expecting that sort of explanation to happen, but it didn’t seem played up by commentary and they may just not explain it. LA Park will be on an AAA/EMW in Tijuana on July 27. I’m guessing we won’t see him in CMLL again until August regardless of the reasoning.

Blue Panther mentioned his third son will be debuting as Hijo de Blue Panther very soon. The family has brought up this son as training and joining the family team before but there’s never been a firm date of when we might see him.

The Marca website feed was unblocked. The Facebook feed was Mexico only and had at least 3.3K viewers by the main event. My YouTube stream just over 11K.

Penta & Fenix will appear on the Pro Wrestling Revolucion show tonight in Gridley, California. I believe that’s streaming on their Twitch channel late tonight.

Draztick Boy told Criterio Hidalgo that he and AAA had been in talked for months and had recently come to an agreement for him to work their full time. Draztick says he signed a three-year contract. In AAA, that’s probably good for at least four different changes of direction. His performance in that Arena Aficion show made a difference.

El Egipcio passed away suddenly Friday. He was a former Mexican heavyweight champion and lost his mask in a match with Rayo de Jalisco Jr. in Arena Mexico in 1983. Egipcio was a local star in Arena Puebla despite originally being from Oaxaca, and was honored this past year in Arena Puebla as part of their Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show. He seemed to be in fine health on that show.

Shane Strickland/Killshot has an interview on ESPN to promote this upcoming weekend’s EVOLVE shows, but talks a lot about Lucha Underground. After Hell of War, Strickland says Dorian Roldan told he and Fox they had made wrestling history, and no one would ever do a match like that again on television.

Fightful has a report from the AroLucha show.

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 06/29/2018 Arena México
1) Magnus & Príncipe Diamante vs Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo
2) Pegasso, Star Jr., Stigma vs Disturbio, Kawato San, Okumura
3) Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Templario
4) Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
5) King Phoenix vs Cavernario
6) Charly Rockstar, Cibernético, Zorro vs Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr.

The idea of the main event was Klan Kaoz versus Caristico and two of his friends. Valiente is a nice man who gets along with everyone. Volador is definitely not Caristico’s friend. Zorro’s most recent Arena Mexico match, as far as I can tell, was October 1, 1999. He teamed with Ringo Mendoza and Pantera (II) against Violencia, Karloff Lagarde and Arkangel de la Muerte.

Fenix specifically demanded a no time limit match. He’s getting that, a full three falls and not a lightning match.

Fourth has Atlantis as the third wheel in a trios we’ve seen a lot. Templario is a nice addition to the third. Kawato makes an increasingly rare Tuesday appearance.

AAA TV (SUN) 07/29/2018 Centro Civico Nueva Aragon, Ecatepec, Estado de México
1) Astroluxe, Lady Maravilla, Vanilla vs Keyra, Látigo, Starfire
2) Carta Brava, Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana vs Aramis, El Bandido, Flamita
AAA vs ELITE
3) Lady Shani, Mamba, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Australian Suicide, Faby Apache, Parka Negra
4) La Máscara, Máximo, Sammy Guevara vs ?, Jack Evans, Teddy Hart
5) Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly vs Hijo del Fantasma, Juventud Guerrera, Taurus
6) Dr. Wagner Jr., Pagano, Psycho Clown vs Killer Kross, Rey Escorpión, Texano Jr.

This is three tapings down the line for AAA. We know the 07/13 Queretaro lineup. We have not seen a real lineup for Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera on 7/21, which will be an AAA vs ELITE show and may be the first taping for an ELITE TV show. It’s a 6pm local start which means stream will start around 6:30pm.

Wagner said he would still work some dates for AAA when also saying he was quitting AAA following Verano de Escandalo. This appears to be one of those dates. It’s tough to be certain of any directions beyond the announced matches at this point, but the main event teams up the tag team champions.

With the influx of MDA and ELITE rudos, OGT may have been flipped to psuedo-tecnicos, defenders of the AAA flag for the moment. Fantamsa, Texano, and Escorpion might as well partner with one of those factions instead of being entirely separate rudos.

Guevera was definitely a rudo in Monterrey, and is in the Aerostar role of making an Alvarado match good. More interesting is the other side. Teddy Hart returns four months after his last appearance (if he’s not on CDMX) and Jack Evans returns to AAA after an 18 month hiatus. AAA fired Jack after an interview in Europe where he was critical of the promotion and some of the wrestlers, La Parka in particular. This seems to be the season to let go of old AAA grievances. It also makes him an obvious fit for MAD.

Tercera continues the Shani/Faby build. Suicide is not getting a lot to do, though that’s better than Ashley is doing.

Flamita & Bandido may not actually be on this show. They started their latest tour with Dragon Gate earlier today. They’re due back in Mexico near the end of July, but maybe not in time to make this date. It’d be a good match if they’re there. It’s billed as an AAA versus ELITE so it’ll probably be two other people we’ll see in Mexico City.

Vanilla is likely is Vanilla Vargas from Puerto Rico, who’s popped up in a variety of Konnan projects. Alternate spelling for Astroluxe but same old Latigo as an opponent. Tiny Starfire as a ruda seems an odd fit.

Today is Rush versus LA Park day. The story so far:

• a brawl in Tijuana in 2016
• a brawl in Arena Mexico for ELITE in 2016 – didn’t really kill ELITE because ELITE can never die
• a brawl in Monterrey in 2016
• a brawl in Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera in 2017
• a brawl in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara in 2017 that didn’t get filmed??
  • +LuchaTV logo was on the poster, how did this happen.

There are plenty of new people checking in for this match. The attendance thing has gotten it some buzz. Maybe even some of those new people are reading this. Hello! If you are expecting an athletic big move showcase like you’ve seen with Volador or Soberano or even Ultimo Guerrero, you’ll get that in the semi-main event. That is not what LA Park and Rush will do. This is going to be a brawl, a messy and out of control fight. There might be good moves or near falls, but a LA Park versus Rush match is about having as ugly as a battle as possible. The one thing we can be sure of about this match is at least one referee will be taken out and cheating will ensue.

Rush versus LA Park is a big deal in CMLL because CMLL style is about having as clean as much as possible, and they’re aiming to have something as far away from that style as possible. A lot of people, CMLL fans included, want more than the style presented. Rush versus LA Park is a big deal in lucha libre because a lot of matches outside CMLL have even more ugly violent brawls – go check out Fly Star versus Toxin – but none have the charisma, intensity and the energy of this particular matchup. Rush versus LA Park is a big deal because it may have blood, which was largely banned from CMLL but Rush has been promising since last Friday.

I think Rush & Park are going to give people who’ve been into this feud exactly what they expect, and I think people wandering into watching this match because it’s gotten some hype might be totally confused. It doesn’t fit what the hyped “best” professional wrestling looks like in 2018. It fits more what the best-hyped pro wrestling looked like in 1978. It’s OK if it doesn’t work for everyone. There’s other stuff on this card too.

The semimain has Volador Jr., Hijo de LA Park, and “King Phoenix” (Fenix) versus Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, and Negro Casas. CMLL couldn’t bother to address The Panther becoming Black Panther, so I do not expect to ever get a reason out of them for the King Phoenix name. He’s still one of the best whatever the name. Atlantis, Caristico, and Stuka face Euforia, Bestia del Ring, and Ultimo Guerrero in a match seemingly just to get people involved on a big house.

The Panthers – Blue Sr., Blue Jr., and Black – face Dragon Rojo, Polvora and Hechicero is a sneaky good match. The older Blue Panther does well in all matches, but figures to be extra popular with the older crowd coming in for tonight’s main event. The luchadoras are back on Friday night for the first time in seven weeks, with Estrellita, Jarochita and Marcela versus Amapola, Dalys and Reyna Isis. That match does not look good on paper, but Maravilla & Zeuxis quitting seems to have gotten CMLL to try a little bit more with the remaining women. CMLL openers aren’t usually good, but the Robin & Super Astro versus Akuma & Yago match has more hope than usual.

Lucha Central has a preview of the show.

The Friday night show, as always, will air on Marca and their Facebook. If they block the feed outside of Mexico, I will stream it on my YouTube channel. (Check Twitter, I’ll remember to pin the streaming location to the top of my feed tonight.) It’ll be on CMLL’s YouTube channel later tonight.x

 

CMLL & Rush were very concerned about that fake poster that listed Rush as working the AAA/ELITE Gimnasio de la Barerra card. Not only did Rush call it fake on Twitter, Rush appeared on CMLL’s Facebook show to say it wasn’t true and CMLL put out a press release to mention it wasn’t true. It also comes up in CMLL’s preview of today’s show.

In the least shocking news of the year, AAA will not be running Madison Square Garden. At least not in 2018. Konnan, in his return to the old MLW Radio podcast, mentioned AAA is “probably” not going to do it and is looking at 2019 instead. This doesn’t have to do with WWE blocking them from running the building (as they have with ROH); AAA hasn’t heard either way about that. It’s more an admission that running in New York costs a lot, running a show with a disappointing turnout would look bad, and there’s no way they’ll be ready by September. Konnan continues to tout the possibility of a deal with a “major network” that would heavily help the show while avoiding all details of the network. The previously mentioned show in Los Angeles was not mentioned either way.

AAA running a major show in New York in 2018 with no TV presence would’ve been a disaster. It’s good they realized that. They probably should’ve realized that before they floated out the idea, but better later than never. Even if they had three months of TV – I’m guessing the network is the Univision Deportes channel or something similar – it still would be a pretty big reach. The great news is it doesn’t seem like AAA is going to do something that would ultimately hurt their company more than it helps unless they get that deal. The not great news is AAA could be doing other stuff to promote their show – like any English language content at all, or even just more Spanish language content to explain what is supposed to be going on during these insanely long gaps between tapings – and they don’t try to those things except in a quick hurry before a big project comes up. I think Konnan believes this too – he agreed in a Twitter thread hoping AAA would stream/VOD their shows in English – and maybe they’ll actually do. But they should’ve been already doing it, whoever they’re bringing in for TripleMania should’ve been brought in for Verano de Escandalo to actually get a feel of what was going on. None of this is a new idea, but the same ones they’ve been circling around and committing to for years.

(That is a stray thought from a longer thing that I can’t get around to writing.)

The podcast was in part to promote Konnan will be wrestling on MLW’s show in New York. It looks like that’s his first match in five years, though many of the later Konnan matches had him participating more in name only. Konnan seems to be moving better but hoped he wouldn’t be in the royal rumble match they’re doing long. NOAH also comes up on that podcast. Court Bauer & MSL had heard Impact & NOAH are going separate ways. Konnan wasn’t as sure of this, mentioning that Dorian Roldan had recently visited with NOAH officials in Japan, relations between NOAH & AAA were good, and believed that had to still be true for Impact since Impact & AAA are also good. AAA & NOAH talking sounds like plans for the October AAA Japan shows. Konnan was also under the impression that Rey Mysterio was close to signing with WWE, though it kind of sounded like he might not start with them right away and be allowed to work out his other dates.

Miedo Extremo & Ciclope are headed back to Japan for “two months and twenty days.” They’re wrestling for Freedoms and talk proudly in that interview about their recent success.

SoLucha has released a free PDF book of recently deceased mask maker Alejandro Puebla’s work.

RO Wrestling in Houston has Eterno vs Tiger on 07/14.

El Hijo del Santo was on ESPN Deportes talking about the World Cup.

+LuchaTV has a new edition of Aqui esta la Lucha.

LuchAWorld has the latest lucha report.

Pushing Upwards positively reviews Daga vs Ricky Marvin.

Lucha Talk is up with a new episode.

Lineups

Muchas Luchas (SUN) 07/08/2018 Arena Jalisco, Guadalajara, Jalisco
1) Black Golden & Shyru Dragón Jr. vs Implacable & Kittan
2) Chik Tormenta vs Diosa Quetzal
3) Mr. Iguana, Steve Pain, Torito Negro vs Crazy King, El Enviado, Willy Banderas
4) Demasiado, Diva Salvaje, Nygma vs Draego, Estrella Oriental Jr., Maravilla Azteca
5) Masada (Texas) & Trauma II vs Makabre & Rayman

3rd Anniversary show.

Cibernetico & Sharly Rockstar invaded CMLL Informa yesterday to announce their new group – Klan Kaoz – is coming to CMLL. There’s also a Zorro promo up on CMLL’s YouTube channel. The end result is a match on the 29th with Cibernetico, Sharlie and Zorro against Caristico and two partners TBD. At least I think that’s the match: CMLL’s twitter says has Zorro as the second and in the match. Zorro’s probably in the match. The fourth member of this faction, Mesias, seems unmentioned. I’m not as excited by the possibilities of this group of coming in, but it’s an obvious thing to try given the success they’re having with LA Park and “whatever we’re calling Rey Fenix today.” It may be too much at once to have the biggest possible effect, but perhaps this week will be the end of LA Park/Rush for now.

You have to be a long time fan or someone who likes looking up stuff to know this, but this is actually a return to CMLL for Zorro. He started as a Arena Coliseo Guadalajara wrestler, got scooped up by Promo Azteca when they got going (in a similar fashion to Ultimo Guerrero and Ultimo Rebelde) and migrated to CMLL after Promo Azteca fell apart. He doesn’t seem to have stayed too long and ended up making his name in AAA. The character feels so AAA but he had it beforehand. This is a big deal for him, trying to get a promotion off the ground in Monterrey which would be helped by having a connection with CMLL.

AAA announced their next TV taping

AAA TV (FRI) 07/13/2018 Auditorio General José María Arteaga, Querétaro, Querétaro
1) Dragón Bane, Lady Maravilla, Starfire vs Arez, Chica Tormenta, Keyra
2) Arkángel Divino, Hijo Del Vikingo, Joe Lider vs Carta Brava, Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
3) Dinastía, Lady Shani, Niño Hamburguesa vs Australian Suicide, Faby Apache, Parka Negra
4) Aerostar, La Máscara, Máximo vs ?, Juventud Guerrera, Taurus
5) Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly vs ?, Rey Escorpión, Texano Jr.
6) Pagano & Psycho Clown vs Hijo del Fantasma & Jeff Jarrett

Jeff Jarrett is here because AAA believe he’s famous and important. They spelled his name wrong. They spelled Chik Tormenta wrong too, so it’s an equal opportunity name misspelling. Fantasma & Jarrett are the two top AAA champions teaming up. Jarrett & Pagano wrestling should be thrilling, though Jarrett will probably be stalling more than usual. OGT go from feuding with the rudo Poder del Norte to feuding with Escorpion & Texano apparently. Maybe Samoano gets his first match.

Aerostar brings some needed energy to the Mascara/Maximo matches. Doesn’t look like Killer Kross is around for this show and Teddy Hart remains MIA, so maybe a new MAD member. Dinastia seems lined up as Suicide’s next challenge in the tercera – but TripleMania is more likely to be a multiman match with every lightweight guy not busy given history. If being a rudo doesn’t matter, I’d rather move Parka Negra down and Joe Lider up so Lider can do comedy with Hamburguesa and Parka Negra can be part of a good segunda. Chik Tormenta is the latest person to debut in an opener.

ELITE sent out another video, teasing an AAA versus ELITE confrontation on the 07/21 CDMX taping, the AAA taping after that Queretaro one. That’s already been leaked as being AAA versus ELITE. A lineup was going around Facebook as if was the one for this show; it’s a fake. There are people listed for that show who probably aren’t working that show – Rush said he won’t be there (even showing up on their Facebook show to repeat it), Cibernetico is unlikely to be coming back to AAA at the moment, Bandido may still be in Dragon Gate at that point. I have strong suspicion there are people who aren’t listed who will be on that show too; they’re going to want some surprises.

The Crash’s next Tijuana show will be on 07/14 (Saturday). Matt Riddle vs Daga has been announced for the show, based of a challenge on the previous show.

The Criterio Hidalgo report on Tuesday night’s DTU show confirms Draztick Boy is starting with AAA in July. Draztick worked in ELITE and could end up being part of that roster. They also say the Ciclope/Miedo Extremo match was to determine who was leader of their Macizos. Since that group seems down to just being the two of them, I think they could’ve just kept it simple with a coin toss.

Dragon Lee will be getting another match with Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the 07/07 NJPW San Francisco G1 Special show. It’s unlikely Dragon Lee will win but the match will be great. The show will air on AXS in the US and will be available on NJPW World outside of the US.

Puma King was announced in PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles tournament. A fair amount of CMLL wrestlers work in the US. Puma’s been working more in the relatively higher profile indie shows, the kind that seem to get people’s names out there to get bookings elsewhere. This is the biggest of all of those, and a successful weekend for Puma could open up a lot of options for him going forward. That is also the Anniversario show weekend, so it’s notable Puma would be passing on any chance of working CMLL’s biggest show. Given how CMLL’s used him and the addition of new talent into the promotion, Puma would’ve been a long shot to work the opener at best.

CMLL is now listing Rey Fenix as King Phoenix. No one knows why. It would seem like something that AAA might push back about – they didn’t want him to use the name “Fenix”, so he’s been wrestling as The King in Mexico – but it seemed like there was a truce when Fenix showed back up in AAA. Maybe? Maybe not? Maybe CMLL is just weird?

In other name changes, Blue Panther Jr. & Black Panther did the weekly CMLL interview segment on Marca, which means someone finally got to ask “the Panther” about why he’s no longer “the Panther.” His story is everyone knows they’re the sons of Blue Panther and people were calling him “Black Panther” already because he wears black a lot, so he decided to run with it. Black Panther is also fairly obviously a Marvel name and CMLL changed Flash to Fuego to get away from a different comic book hero. That trademark hasn’t been filed in Mexico so I guess it’s fine for now.

Lucha Memes announced it’s next show (Chairo Bill Vol. 4) in Coliseo Coacalco is on 07/22 with their first match:

• Lolita vs Keyra

Lolita was an AAA luchadora from 2011 until sometime in 2014. The last show we know she wrestled on was the New Years Day show that year, though she showed up on lineups afterwards. She left wrestling to start a family with Hijo del Pirata Morgan, and there was no prior indication she’d be returning to lucha libre. She showed promise but still needed to improve when we last saw here. I have no idea what to expect.

Today is the 59th Anniversario of Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. The first show had Blue Demon vs El Espectro, almost as big as Carisitco/Mistico. They figure to do something big to celebrate the round number next year.

YouRocket visits the most recent Zona23 show.

An article on the Mexican lucha libre art exhibit in Colombia.

I enjoyed Hijo del Fantasma’s remembrance of Vader.

Lineup

IWRG (SUN) 06/24/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Arquero vs Atomic Star
2) Kanon & Miss Gaviota vs Hijo Del Mosco X-Fly & Psycho Kid
3) Hijo del Alebrije, Pantera I, Relámpago vs Demonio Infernal, El Hijo del Diablo, Eterno
4) Hijo de Canis Lupus, Imposible, Toscano vs El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Pit Bull, Trauma I
5) Ovett vs X-Fly
6) Trauma I vs Cerebro Negro vs Emperador Azteca © [IWRG IC WELTER]
Trauma’s mask versus Negro’s hair vs Azteca’s title. Would be sixth defense (including two obscure ones in Oaxaca)

The main event usually leads to the title changing whenever IWRG does it. Guessing Trauma I is winning. Toscano is back here for the first time in a while. He’s been wrestling only in northern Mexico for the last while, so it’s notable for him to pop up here. He’d fit with either promotion’s invasion angle going on.

CMLL (TUE) 06/26/2018 Arena México
1) Bengala & Leono vs Apocalipsis & Cholo
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Oro Jr. vs Cancerbero, Nitro, Yago
3) Estrellita, La Jarochita, Marcela vs Dalys, La Metálica, Reyna Isis
4) Hechicero vs Felino [lightning]
5) Esfinge, Titán, Tritón vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Luciferno, Pólvora
6) Dragón Lee, Flyer, Mistico vs Euforia, Forastero, Negro Casas

That’s a good main event featuring young people on a Tuesday show? Seems like a mistake. Forastero/Dragon Lee would be a logical title match if they’re interested in running a feud off that match.

Semimain could be good too. It seems like CMLL’s running with the OneAtos trios too.

Cancerbero is teaming with Coyote & Nitro on Sunday and Yago & Nitro on Tuesday. Raziel is nowhere to be seen since having a very public running argument with Tirantes on the 06/12 show.

KAOZ (SUN) 07/15/2018 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Chica Tormenta vs Lady Apache
2) Azteca Warrior, Galactar, Rico Rodríguez vs Apolo Estrada, El Divo, The Tiger
3) Lince de Oro & Tormento vs The King Crow & Vasco Jr. and Hijo del Volador & Tequilita
4) El Elegido & Toscano vs Difunto I & Diluvio I
5) Dos Caras Sr. & Panthro vs Negro Navarro & Skayde
6) Blue Demon Jr., Octagón, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs Cibernético, Sharlie Rockstar, Zorro
Demon 22th Anniversary show

Second show for the promotion. That semimain is interesting.