Month: September 2018

CMLL (FRI) 09/14/2018 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) La Jarochita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit b Dalys, La Metálica, Reyna Isis 
La Metalica replaced La Maligna on 08/24 (and it might have been a typo to start?)
2) Ángel de Oro, Audaz, Niebla Roja b Felino, Mephisto, Negro Casas 
Mephisto replaced Mr. Niebla on 09/14.
3) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Atlantis, Mistico, Soberano Jr. 
4) Ciber the Main Man, Scharly Rockstar, The Chris b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero [CMLL TRIOS] 
Guerreros fall on their first defense. Ciber used the ropes to beat Ultimo Guerrero.
5) Diamante Azul, King Phoenix, Penta El Zero M b Carístico, Hijo de LA Park, LA Park 
6) Bárbaro Cavernario & Rush b Matt Taven & Volador Jr. [hair]  
Cavernario beat Taven, Volador beat Cavernario, Rush beat Volador after Taven kicked Volador (by accident? he was a rudo after the match.)

Post-show interviews: Las tecnicas, the second match tecnicos, Negro Casas, NGD, El Klan, Diamante Azul/Fenix/Penta, Rush & Barbaro Cavernario.

Main event was said to be good beside the finish, and there was stuff to watch in 2/3/5. Taven may have been a rudo or may have turned for the benefit of the ROH audience. Overall, this seems like a card where the good stuff was better than expected and the bad stuff was a little bit worse.

El Klan – or Cl4N, CMLL and Ciber need to have a meeting to figure this out – winning came off as a big surprise to people watching. I’m not as shocked, CMLL’s would’ve ditched them a while ago if they thought they were bad – giving them titles is no big deal if you’re already putting on the Aniversario show. Maybe we’ll get Universal matches for all of them too.

Outside of the internet.tv showing up as $100 USD for some people for a while, it sounds like the stream went well. ROH is suggesting the idea of doing putting up an English language version of the main event on delay. It’d be a big step if there was English language CMLL content available.

I spent the night at PWG’s Battle of Lost Angeles. My phone barely works in the building, which didn’t stop me from checking it every 15 minutes for CMLL results. I probably should learn something from that.

Relevant lucha libre results

• Rey Horus beat Adam Brooks
• Flamita beat Puma King
• Bandido beat T-Hawk

Horus & Bandido had great performances. Flamita and Puma King had maybe the best match of the night. Puma King got over from the moment he came out and got two different Please Come Back chants after the match. It’s hard to imagine a debut match getting a better reaction than Puma got here. Flamita’s super and people were disappointed he won. He wrestled before intermission and I think he sold every shirt he had during intermission. All the Mexican wrestlers did well and there will be more to say about them on Sunday, but Puma was the guy making his first impression and he made a strong one.

Mr. Nieble acknowledged to Pasala that he was drunk in the 08/28 match that ended very quickly. He thanks Volador for ending the match before he did any harm to himself or someone else and defends CMLL and the commission from blame, saying he’s good at hiding his condition before going out there. (That seems unlikely, but it also seems like something you should say if those people are dependent on getting your job back.) Niebla says he’s not been suspended by the commission or had his license retired, as was going around in a pretty thin rumor, and will be wrestling tomorrow as scheduled. His only contact with CMLL was a phone call telling him he was off shows.

The leaked Heroes Inmortales card for San Luis Potosi in 10/03 is now taking place on 10/28 in Puebla. That’s a pretty big switch. The San Luis Potosi promoters had been advertising Heroes Inmortales for that date for a while, and the card is essentially the same (women’s match moved to opener and Australian Suicide replaces Taurus), so the 10/03 show was real and something happened. No idea what. It’s a little strange to have a major card announced complete six weeks ahead of time when AAA was so reluctant to announce a TripleMania lineup.

Alberto el Patron says he’s not wrestling because he’s so busy with Combates Americas it only leaves him one week a month to wrestle. Alberto says he was offered a part in a John Wick sequel, but said no because he wanted to study acting before he did it.

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 09/21/2018 Arena México
1) Magnus & Star Jr. vs Akuma & Espanto Jr.
2) Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Fuego vs Kawato San, Okumura, Virus
3) Esfinge, Stuka Jr., Tritón vs Cuatrero, Rey Bucanero, Sansón
4) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero vs Ciber the Main Man, Scharly Rock Star, The Chris
5) Mistico vs Negro Casas [lightning]
6) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, King Phoenix vs Cavernario, Rush, Terrible

Volador is in The Crash and Taven is seemingly back in Boston, so no follow up on the main event. Terrible does make his return to Friday nights, probably one week too late for him. (He was the guy taking photos with fans last night.) Mistico/Negro Casas should be fun.

Guerreros versus Klan must be going to some hair match, this is too much effort for just a trios title change. Ciber verus Ultimo or all three versus all three?

Today is CMLL’s Aniversario show. You can watch it on Honor Club or internet.TV. The show should be good, even if it’s not the Aniversario show expected. Expectations for the show have been lowered so much that it could easily be a pleasant surprise.

I wrote a long preview over at Voices of Wrestling. I’m still expecting Rush & Cavernario to win, and the Guerreros to retain the trios titles. It’s worth noting that today’s WON seems to be hinting at a Volador/Taven win, which surprises me.

Volador says Rush isn’t half as good as La Sombra. Ultimo Guerrero is sure he’s keeping the trios titles. Lucha Central has a preview of the show.

Impact taped last night in Mexico City. I have results here, and some of your favorite bootleggers already have video up on YouTube. Attendance was said to be not good but they moved people around to make it look good – which is really no different than many Impact tapings. Today’s taping might be even more of a struggle; if you’re interested in going to a lucha libre show in Mexico City today that’s not the CMLL show, you probably just have to hang around outside Fronton Mexico long enough and you might get a free ticket.

AAA wrestlers were used at the show, though some of the names you might expect were working a show scheduled for Guanajuato last night. (Though some people were been pulled from that show.) Two Llave de la Gloria level trios matches were taped for Impact’s Xplosion show, and sound like they were among the best things on the show. Jose Manuel Guillen worked as an announcer. Faby Apache got a storyline. The Lucha Brothers had two matches on the taping, which perhaps will be split over two episodes so they won’t be needed for today’s taping. La Parka answered an open challenge. La Parka was obviously a terrible fit. Besides the entire issue of wrestling, the people who are going to an Impact taping are the least likely to like AAA’s La Parka, so he was booed noticeably and fans changed for LA Park. (Parka blamed it on it being Impact fans.) Still, he and AAA get to brag that an international promotion used La Parka on their TV and hope everyone forgets the details. That’s really the motivation for everyone to be on this show.

The Gladiatores has interviews with Faby Apache and Puma King.

Not sure who will end up working the tapings today, but this Keyra twitter post seems like a tease of her being there. There were a lot of indie people around last night, and not all got used.

The Expo Museo Lucha Libre opens today. Saturday night is the night with the wrestling show (at 5pm), but today is the Rey Mysterio Jr. & Mil Mascaras autograph signing. I think it might be the biggest day of the weekend for them. Whoever planned this did a great job of putting it on the right weekend.

Today’s also the first night of PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles. I’ll be there. Lucha related matches tonight include Adam Brooks vs Rey Horus, Flamita vs Puma King, and Bandido vs T-Hawk.

LuFisto and Crazy Boy/DTU had a bad falling out, which LuFisto took to social media saying that she never got paid for her matches on this trip. They agree only on the LuFisto left the tour before working the last show. LuFisto says she was concerned about missing an important show this weekend and was contacted by United that she may need to change her flights due to the hurricane hitting the east coast of the US. DTU says LuFisto contacted United herself to get her flights changed to leave early. DTU was going to use the money owed to LuFisto to pay for the new flight. When the new flight didn’t cost extra, DTU decided to keep the money, justifying it as a co-promoter pulling out of that last show in Guadalajara and DTU losing money in the process. LuFisto also says she was told she asked not to wrestle any extreme matches and was told she wouldn’t be, then ended up in one in Hidalgo. She and her friends are now telling Americans not to work for DTU going forward.

It’s notable that the advertised DTU main event in Guadalajara was LuFisto vs Chik Tormenta. LuFisto didn’t work the show, but it doesn’t look like Tormenta was going to either. She was on those Impact tapings instead last night.

LuchaWorld had the latest Lucha Report.

Puma King and Barby told a story instead of cutting up a video this week. They’re a bit busy.

Friday’s CMLL show will be streamed live on ROH’s Honor Club service as part of their $10/month service. It’ll also be available on internet.tv for $10 if you’re in the US, and 100 MXP ($6 USD) if they see your IP as coming from Mexico. If you have to use a VPN service to get around the Marca geoblocks, you can do the same thing here to save $4 if you want.

There’s a chance the Gran Prix will end up on Honor Club as well; the reason ROH is picking this up is because of Matt Taven being on the show,  Flip Gordon is in the Gran Prix, so maybe they air that as well and it’s you get 2 shows for one price. There’s no way of knowing for sure though, and it’s a subscription you’ll to have to unsubscribe to not pay again in 30 days. (The subscription is good for a full month no matter when you cancel – you can do it right after you subscribe if you’re worried. some people have told me they’ve had problems unsubscribing, but I haven’t had that issue.) This is also a big lucha libre show, so there will be all sorts of bootlegged versions if you’re more willing to look for them than to pay.

I’m likely going to cut and paste most of that tomorrow, if I post at all. This is the last day of regular service until Wednesday. I’m heading to Los Angeles this weekend to see PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles this weekend, hanging around an extra day on Monday and flying back early Tuesday. I am just about set up with recaps to post during all that time, so something will be up in this space. I’ll write news update if/when I have the time, but no promises on that or an Anniversario recap (which I won’t be seeing live.) I’d like to watch it Saturday, but I’m also not going to sit around a hotel room watching wrestling if there are other things going on. It’ll get done eventually.

Tonight is the first of the two nights of Impact Wrestling taping in Mexico City. Tickets for the Thursday show seem to be going better than the Friday night one, for obvious reasons. Impact has announced people on the shows (Austin Aries, Brian Cage, Tessa Blanchard, Eddie Edwards, Fenix, Johnny Impact, Killer Kross, LAX, Moose, Pentagon Jr.). It looks like Hernandez will also be there. No matches announced though. I think you need matches to sell tickets in Mexico – it’s definitely AAA’s theory, which is why they’ve been announcing matches for shows even when they’re not the matches they’re going to run. I do expect AAA wrestlers on these shows, though not the undercard flying guys and more the Psycho Clown guys – though it seems like those names should be advertised if that’s the plan. LAX is really good, but announcing Psycho Clown (if he’s there) is going to mean more to this audience.

ReporteIndigo is doing interviews with many of the people on tomorrow’s Anniversario show. King Phoenix/Fenix was interviewed yesterday, telling the story of him and Pentagon going for mask sellers outside Arena Mexico to wrestle inside of it. At the end, he’s asked about the recent WWE rumors and Fenix notes that 70% of his biggest matches have come outside of Mexico. He finds it incredible that he’s gone from a kid mask seller to someone who’s “getting offers to work for WWE & NJPW.”

The WWE stuff is absolutely not new, though people have been treated it like breaking news the last few weeks. WWE’s been interested in Fenix & Penta for years, and the only thing that’s been holding up WWE from making a formal offer is the Lucha Underground contracts they’re under. The status of their contracts hasn’t been publically revealed, though everyone seems to have a theory. Fenix & Penta surely signed the same 7-year deal as most everyone else coming into the promotion, but it seems like they might have redone the deal somewhere along the way and LU has been more willing to just let people leave since the start of season 4. NJPW is new. NJPW has only brought in Mexican wrestling talent thru CMLL for a long time now. Fenix & Penta are in CMLL but not part of CMLL and it’s not clear been if that’s close enough. NJPW is a big deal for the prestige, but also because they pay pretty nicely. It’s also very possible that “All In” means NJPW to Fenix and I’m overthinking it.

There’s a lot of factors here, but the distilled version is if it’s a decision between WWE and what Penta/Fenix are doing now, then I believe WWE is the more likely outcome. If it becomes WWE versus “some of what Penta/Fenix are doing now and plus semi-regular NJPW dates”, then it’s more of a toss-up.

In somewhat related bits, Sin Cara is in Mexico City for the Lucha Libre Expo Museum and was asked why there are no top latino stars in WWE. Sin Cara believes it’s not a question of talent, but of people not getting opportunities. He mentions Penta, Fenix, and Dragon Lee as being good enough to make it in any company, but says it’s harder to stay in favor with a company.

Soberano was asked about his recent international trips by TJ Sports. He feels he learned from his experience in RevPro despite losing both his matches, says he’s got no ROH dates at the moment, but will be headed to Japan soon. I assume that’s NJPW’s annual junior tag tournament in October. It also suggests NJPW’s already selected the people for those shows, and maybe that means Dragon Lee won’t be going since he’s not available for those dates at the moment.

Razon interviews Cavernario & Rush, who gives Volador credit for being enough of a man to challenge him. But no more credit than that.

Volador tells ESTO that he’s had experience on Anniversario shows, but Matt Taven has not, and he’s a little worried the big moment might make him nervous. He’s also worried that he might repeat his last Anniverasrio main event and lose again. He had really good matches with La Sombra leading into their main events and thought highly of him as a wrestler, and does not the same of Rush.

Barbaro Cavernario tells MedioTiempo this match is a big opportunity to show what he and all the young luchador in CMLL can do. There’s been no formal offer for him to join Los Ingobernables and he remains loyal to Peste Negra. Cavernario calls Taven one of the most popular wrestlers in Ring of Honor, which doesn’t seem to be the case on Twitter. In another article, Cavernario promises the match of his life. He’s 100% doing the splash to the floor.

The El Panchitas column hears Rey Mysterio Jr. will be at the CMLL Anniversario show. As a fan, to watch Fenix & Penta. He’ll be at the Expo Museo Lucha Libre for an autograph signing earlier that day.

CMLL looks back at the 1994 Anniversario with Ricky Santana getting the big win, as well as Rush beating Maximo Sxy for his hair.

LuFisto is off the DTU show tonight, flying home early, and says she wasn’t paid what was promised because she was leaving early. She’s not the first person to have money problems with DTU, as noted in that post.

The +LuchaTV Thursday show is Martinez’s 5th Anniversario show. Last week’s show seemed to not happen due to technical difficulties, but a couple matches from the AAA Juarez were posted on YouTube this week anyway.

Hidalgo luchador El Exotico says they’ll be out at least two months after being injured on the DTU show on Sunday. It’s back injury, not a head or neck one, but enough for them to paralyzed for 15-20 minutes. Exotico is grateful DTU/Coliseo Coacalco had a doctor on hand to make sure the injury didn’t come worse.

Lineups

ExpoMuseo (SAT) 09/15/2018 World Trade Center, Benito Juárez, Distrito Federal
1) Gallito Tapatío & Microman vs Chamuel & Perico Zacarías
2) Marcela, Mina Shirikawa, Sanely, Zuzu Divine vs Amapola, Dalys, Kali, Lilith Dark
3) Gallo Tapado Jr. vs Fishman Jr., Trauma II, Rambo Jr., Hijo Del Villano III Jr., Ultramán Jr., Mano Negra Jr., Hijo del Solar, Stuka Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Blue Panther Jr., Soberano Jr., Tiger, Sansón, Magnus, Star Jr., Warrior Jr. [battle royal]
4) Mano Negra, Solar I, Villano IV vs Felino, Kurisu, Okumura
5) Atlantis, Dos Caras Sr., Mil Máscaras vs Negro Casas, Scorpió Jr., Último Guerrero

This 5pm show at the Expo Lucha seems like it’ll be interesting. I don’t know about match quality, but this is the only time you’re seeing Microman & Mil Mascaras at the same time. The entire expo seems like it’s going to be worth checking out, and it’s only 110MXP ($6 USD).

CMLL (TUE) 09/18/2018 Arena México
1) Hijo del Signo & Metálico vs Arkalis & Sonic
2) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Reyna Isis, Tiffany
3) Ángel, Gallito, Microman vs Chamuel, Mije, Perico Zakarías
4) Drone vs Rey Cometa [lightning]
5) Kráneo, Valiente, Volcano vs Felino, Hechicero, Pólvora
6) Ángel de Oro, Carístico, Niebla Roja vs Gran Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, Shocker

Volcano makes his Arena Mexico debut. The Micros are back on a Tuesday, with Angel subbing in for Guapito. (The MicroAngel name didn’t last long.) Drone/Cometa should be interesting. The opener will not be interesting.

CMLL (TUE) 09/18/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Guerrero Samurai Jr., Principe Daniel, Tigre Blanco vs Gran Kenut, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Star Black vs Cholo, Furia Roja, Sangre Azteca
3) Audaz, Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Kawato San, Okumura, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Esfinge, Soberano Jr., Tritón vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
5) Atlantis, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Terrible, Último Guerrero

NGD take on Soberano and the healthy OneAtos styles team.

The Sunday Guadalajara show has what’s essentially a four way apuesta match.

AAA , ELITE (FRI) 09/21/2018 Salón Rojo, Toluca, Estado de México
1) Faby Apache, La Hiedra, Lady Shani vs Keyra, Lady Maravilla, Starfire
2) Aerostar, Argenis, Niño Hamburguesa vs Ciclón Ramírez, Demus, Emperador Azteca
3) Rey Escorpión & Texano Jr. vs Mamba & Máximo and Golden Magic & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.
Maximo/Mamba & Wagner/Magic replaced Traumas on 09/21.
4) Joe Lider, La Parka, Pagano vs Hijo de LA Park, Laredo Kid, Taurus
Laredo Kid replaced Puma King on 09/21.
5) Hijo del Fantasma & Psycho Clown vs Electroshock & LA Park

This was a Twitch stream, then wasn’t a Twitch stream, and now has returned to streaming of Twitch. There’s been some changes today. Puma is off, and AAA Megachampion contender (???) Laredo Kid steps in. The Traums are gone and two teams have replaced him (giving AAA an unfair two teams in the match.) This is still an AAA/ELITE show, and AAA has yet to win one of those.