On yesterday’s CMLL Informa, Negro Casas announced his 40th Anniversary show will be on August 3rd. He’ll team with Blue Panther & Atlantis against Fuerza Guerrera, Octagon, and Solar. Casas brought up the early career match he had with Fuerza Guerrera which went really well and helped them. He also complained about Fuerza and Octagon challenging each other for their masks forever and decided to put them on the same side for once. Casas also wanted to see Solar and Atlantis, two Diablo Velasco trainees, wrestle so he’s got them on opposite sides. Casas wanted to team with Blue Panther & Atlantis, so they’re part of it.
That means Fuerza and Atlantis are on opposite sides, six weeks out from the Anniversario show. CMLL could still set that up as the match, has tended to start stories with outsiders on the second time they’re in. On the other hand, six weeks seems a short build to set up a Fuerza Guerrera mask match.
Casas had previously hinted about wanting Hijo del Santo to be part of this show, and it seems like that must’ve been turned down. CMLL and Santo have been on bad terms for a long time, either side could’ve said no.
CMLL and ROH officially announced Matt Taven, The Briscoes, and Christopher Daniels to appear in early August. The Briscoes and Daniels had been announced previously by Pura Raza, where they’ll be wrestling on Saturday. CMLL trips are usually for a while, often for a full weekend, but these guys will only be in for one show each. The Briscoes & Taven will be on the 08/03 show, where Matt Taven will give Volador Jr. a return match for the NWA Welterweight Championship. Daniels will only be on the 08/05 show, the usually not-streamed Sunday show.
ESPN has a really good article on the CMLL Micros, especially Microman. The origin story is Microman liked wrestling, KeMonito asked Ultimo Guerrero if he’d train him, UG said sure, UG found out Microman wanted to be a wrestler and not just a mascot, UG was stumped because there was no one else Micro’s size to work with, then talked to other mascots and found out they wanted to wrestle as well. There’s a mention of the CMLL Minis division supposed to be five foot and under how it’s strayed, “a recent champion of the division was 5′ 6 3/4″.” That sure sounds like Astral. Microman’s favorite wrestler is Mascarita Dorada.
Guatemala’s FMLL, which brings in Mexico based wrestlers every couple months, yesterday posted a signed apuesta contract with Atlantis, local legend Voltron, and local rudo Hacha Diabolica to take place later this year. Diabolica would be putting up his hair (and be losing) with the other two putting up his mask. Atlantis has worked the promotion before so it’s likely this is happening.
Psycho Clown talks about TripleMania and his character origin to Ovaciones. Dorian Roldan was the one who wanted to bring back the Clowns idea but with a new concept, and Psycho says he came up with mixing Gene Simmons and a wig for his mask. Psycho Clown feels AAA is growing around the world. He went to New York last year and there were five children who knew him. This year, there were thirty. My doubts about AAA running MSG are clearly unfounded with those numbers.
Pagano says we’re seeing a new darker non-dancing La Parka because of recent events in AAA. I’m not sure serious La Parka is a great idea but is there any version of this AAA La Parka that’s a good idea?
The TripleMania XXVI edition of AAA’s Panini sticker album has been spotted, though it’s not yet been officially announced by AAA. It’ll probably be out around the same time they announce the card. EDIT: two minutes later, Panini announced the album will be released tomorrow.
AAA will have a show in Bogota, Colombia on November 16th, as mention in that article. Hugo Savinovich mentioned this on commentary in between matches on Friday’s TV taping as well. Tickets are going on sale on Monday, so AAA may announce more on in the next few days.
There are Lucha Underground caps available at Lids.com. Or these are old ones I’ve forgotten. The Pentagon Dark one is the Perros del Mal scratch logo; I wonder if whoever put that together knew that. I would get it if didn’t say Pentagon Dark on the side.
AroLucha, claiming incredible demand, has reopened their funding for another week. This was one of the funniest things I’ve read this month. They have indeed gotten an extra funder since reopening, but the money amount listed funded looks like it went down $21 from what I captured.
Espectrito, brother of the recently deceased Piratita Morgan, says Pirata Morgan is trying to sell the rights to be his mini to someone soon, claiming the money will be donated to the deceased minis widow. Espectrito says the big Pirata sold the rights to the name to his character and shouldn’t be selling them again (and doesn’t think the money would be going to his widow.)
There will be 10 hours of wrestling at Mexico City’s Zocalo on Saturday, though the person responsible for it – El Fantasma – says he has no idea who will be wrestling, or what matches will be happening. Sounds exciting.
GCW announced Psicosis (Nicho) for their 09/21 show in New Jersey.
Lineups
CMLL (TUE) 07/24/2018 Arena México
1) Leono & Sonic vs El Coyote & Grako
2) La Guerrera, La Jarochita, Marcela vs La Seductora, Metálica, Reyna Isis
3) Fuego, Pegasso, Rey Cometa vs Kawato San, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado
4) Audaz vs Tritón [lightning]
5) Blue Panther, Kráneo, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Hechicero, Luciferno
6) Ángel de Oro, Mistico, Niebla Roja vs Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
Title match this week means a reset this week (and maybe nothing set up at all.) Hechicero leaves the announce desk to wrestle this time. Audaz and Triton have similar styles, which sometimes means they don’t mesh together in a lightning match. It’ll be interesting to see how that one goes.
Sonic, the modern day Frisbee, hasn’t been seen since last December. He hasn’t shown up much outside of CMLL either.
CMLL (TUE) 07/24/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Joker, Magnum, Micro vs Carlo Roggi, Mr. Apolo, Ráfaga
2) Explosivo, Magnus, Starman vs Akuma, Frezzer, Yago
3) Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Súper Astro Jr. vs Okumura, Pólvora, Tiger
4) Esfinge, Soberano Jr., Titán vs Cavernario, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero
5) Atlantis, Dragón Lee, Rush vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
This is also a reset week. Atlantis and Rush have a title match on Monday, team on Tuesday. What if Tiger became a Revolucionario? What if Tiger became Japanese?
RIOT (SAT) 07/28/2018 Arena Femenil, Monterrey, Nuevo León
1) Último Ninja vs Erick Ortiz
2) Kaientai & Lord Byron vs Brian Villa & Willy Banderas
3) Madness vs Baby Xtreme
4) Lady Flammer vs Keyra
5) Caifan II & Furor vs Kratoz & Prometo
6) Chik Tormenta vs Tony Rodríguez (Jalisco)
All this and a Sammy Guevara birthday party. My card order is probably wrong.
The Crash (FRI) 08/03/2018 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California
1) Cósmico, Craven, X-Peria vs Búfalo Ayala, Star Boy, Zarco
2) Rey Horus vs Titán (CMLL)
3) Fatu & Garza Jr. vs El Mesías & Terrible
4) El Bandido & Flamita vs Chris Brookes & Kid Lykos and Soberano Jr. & Stuka Jr.
5) Trent Seven & Tyler Bate vs Bestia 666 & Mr. 450
6) Pete Dunne vs Daga vs Dragón Lee (CMLL)
Slightly different tag matches than the post implied. I’m happy Brookes & Lykos have a warmup match against Bandido & Flamita before they come my way (but this one should be good too. You’re spending a lot on bringing people in when you have Horus & Titan as your segunda.
No, this won’t stream. As reminded, card subject to change.
MEXA WRESTLING (SAT) 08/04/2018 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) 1 vs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 [Copa Mexa]
2) Tiger vs Metaleón
3) Lady Maravilla vs Keyra
4) Arez, Erick Ortiz, Mr. Iguana vs Centurion, Látigo, Séptimo Dragón
5) The King vs Titán (CMLL)
6) El Bandido & Flamita vs Eterno & Steve Pain
7) Toxin vs Fly Star [mask]
That opener is a Royal Rumble, which seems like a challenging thing to run on a day where everyone is booked in two different places and are in some sort of hurry. This is a really good card but going to be hurt because many of these people are around a lot and the ROH guys are not.
AAA TV (FRI) 08/10/2018 Auditorio Benito Juárez, Veracruz, Veracruz
1) Angelikal, Dinastía, Vanilla vs Draztick Boy, La Hiedra, Villano III Jr.
2) Hijo Del Vikingo, Iron Kid (Estado de México), Niño Hamburguesa vs Black Danger, La Parka Negra, Low Rider
3) Ciclón Ramírez, Joe Lider, Juventud Guerrera vs Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
4) Aerostar & Drago vs Hijo de LA Park & Taurus
5) La Máscara, Laredo Kid, Máximo vs Hijo del Fantasma, Rey Escorpión, Texano Jr.
6) Psycho Clown vs Dr. Wagner Jr. vs LA Park vs Pagano
Not official by AAA yet, but released by local promoters. The main event sticks out: Dr. Wagner Jr. says he’s done with AAA, continues to be listed on the card. Sometimes, Dr. Wagner lies. Sometimes, AAA lies. It’s tiring to figure which person is lying all the time.
AAA is running a lot of four ways on house shows as a preview for TripleMania (and probably after TripleMania), so it’s no surprise one is happening here. It’s more a surprise Fantasma is on the card and being kept out of it.
Laredo Kid is appearing as an Elite wrestler on Saturday’s show, and this would be his next date (in a pretty high position.) Ciclon Ramirez makes his debut, like as another Elite luchador. He was one of the more promising Elite wrestlers in 2016, and I haven’t seen him a lot since. Iron Kid & Draztick Boy are back after doing well in Arena Aficion.
No Fenix on this show; it looks he’s only working the Chalco date before TripleMania, just like Penta is only working one AAA date before TripleMania. Outside of Jarrett winning the main title at TripleMania, there’s no title matches or any obvious title programs on any of these shows. I’m not sure they need to have them, but it does stick out how they’re not a priority at the moment.
The 08/18 (Saturday) taping in Chalco is the only one left pre-TripleMania without an announced lineup. That, and maybe even TripleMania, could turn up next week.