CMLL (FRI) 10/05/2018 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central, Ovaciones, The Gladiatores, thecubsfan]
1) Akuma, Camorra, Star Jr. b Hijo del Signo, Robin, Yago [Relevos Increíbles]
14:03. straight falls. Camorra & Signo tried to cheat each other on the finish until Camorra won with a half crab.
2) Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, Marcela b Dalys, Metálica, Reyna Isis
9:53. Avispa’s debut; she did a tope con giro near the finish. Tecnicas took 1/3.
3) Gran Guerrero b Valiente [lightning]
9:10. Gran Guerrero won with a super fireman’s carry bomb.
4) Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, Mistico b Cavernario, Ciber the Main Man, The Chris
17:06. Team Park took 1/3, the last when LA Park clotheslined Ciber after he failed to take a bump for the spear.
5) Dark Magic, David Finlay, Flip Gordon, Gilbert el Boricua, Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe, Matt Taven, Michael Elgin, Okumura b Carístico, Cuatrero, Diamante Azul, Euforia, Hechicero, Sansón, Terrible, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. [Gran Prix] 
59:57. Team Rest of the World defeated Team Mexico for the first time since the concept was brought back two years ago. Eliminations: Okumura (via Sanson), Cuatrero (both Briscoes), Black Magic (Hechicero using magia negra), Diamante Azul (Elgin), Finlay (Caristico), Sanson (Taven), Gordon (Terrible), Terrible (Jay Briscoe), Jay Briscoe (UG), Mark Briscoe & Caristico went to a double pin on a fisherman’s suplex, Hechicero (Gilbert), Taven (Volador; they feuded), Volador (Gilbert), Gilbert (Euforia!), Euforia (Gilbert), Ultimo Guerrero (Elgin) leaving Michael Elgin as the winner. UG asked Elgin for a singles match next week and Elgin accepted.
CMLL promos include Avispa Dorada, Gran Guerrero, Rayo de Jalisco, Ultimo Guerrero, and Michael Elgin. Rayo de Jalisco, who is essentially a retired luchador who believe he’s still at the top of his game, said he’d like to face Michael Elgin in a match. Rayo was teasing the idea even while handing the trophy to Elgin. Ultimo Guerrero told Box Y Lucha he was sad about losing.
The Blue Panther Anniversary show was announced as taking place on 10/19 during the broadcast. There’s still a Mascara 2000 Anniversary show to be scheduled. The annual legends show will be on 11/30.
Show was just OK and iPPVs need to be better than OK. The Gran Prix was longer but not better than previous years. None of the undercard was really special. The fans did not seem into it and did not turn out as much as the last few years, despite that 10 pesos ticket deal. My theory on the Park/Rush bait and switch was CMLL would do fine on the Aniversario show and the bad feelings about it would hurt the turnout to the other shows. The other shows seem to be hurting, though I can’t prove that’s why.
Avispa Dorada wrote about the process of starting with CMLL on her blog a few days ago. She’s been in Mexico since April on a tourist visa, training three days a week in Arena Mexico. She made a good impression, and CMLL told her they were putting in for a work visa for her in early August. It was approved at the end of August. There’s a female boxer using “La Avispa”, so CMLL didn’t want to use her to use the same exact name, but they approved her suggestion to simply change it to Avispa Dorada – her wasp (avispa) tattoo caused them to agree she shouldn’t change her name all that much. Interestingly, Paco Alonso is mentioned as being in the meeting where she was suggesting names.
Timing also probably helped out Avispa Dorada a bit. Kaho Kobayashi was supposed to be in Mexico now and probably would’ve been in that match instead. She missed her trip due to injury. Maligna & Mystique would be next picks, only they’re in Japan too. Estrellita doesn’t appear to be full time if she’s even still meant to be an active part of CMLL. Skadi is showing up occasionally on the indies but hasn’t appeared to be cleared back to CMLL. There’s a window of time for both Avispa and La Guerrera to get more regular work and see if they can make an impression.
Dragon Lee was not eliminated on Exatlon and remains on at least another week. There are 20 people left.
The Crash runs tonight in Tijuana. The main event is Rebelion Amarilla versus Los Guerreros. Ultimo Guerrero’s crew was listed both here and in Neza, and they’ve been quietly replaced by the Traumas and Electroshock on that show. Garza Jr. is in Tijuana, so he’ll probably be helping out his teammates somehow. Mexablood versus the Briscoes and a Daga/Hechicero match look like the standout matches in a busy card. There’s been no mention of streaming.
Arena Coliseo is being used for boxing this Saturday. It works out because there’s a special sponsored show in Guadalajara tonight. The Sunday Arena Mexico show has the Briscoes & Taven vs Diamante Azul, Niebla Roja, and Valiente. IWRG is supposed to have a relevos suicidas match, in a little question due to Demonio Infernal’s injury. Mucha Lucha Atlanta will have Rush & LA Park. Kaoz is back in Monterrey.
The Daga/Low-Ki ear incident has gotten picked up in various Mexico media outlets.
There are interviews with Casandro in Hoy and Lento around her recent documentary.
Record has photos from AAA’s Antonio Pena mass.
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara is teasing something called on Mmagol for 11/02.
Diamante, who is part of the AJPW Lucha Fiesta tour, says his goal still is to return to CMLL.
Lineup
CMLL (FRI) 10/12/2018 Arena México
1) Robin & Star Jr. vs Akuma & Camorra
2) Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dalys, Reyna Isis
3) Audaz, Soberano Jr., Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Templario
4) Atlantis, David Finlay, Hijo de LA Park vs Hechicero, Rey Bucanero, Shocker
5) LA Park, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Ciber, The Chris
6) Michael Elgin vs Último Guerrero
Main event is a rematch from two years ago, which aired as a $1 PPV that CMLL didn’t ever try again. UG won that one and probably will win this one.
Two straight weeks with no Scharly Rockstar. LA Park appeared to want nothing to do with Ciber after their match last night, so that’ll be interesting.
Finlay is the only other guy from team Rest of the World sticking around for the full week. I guess we shoud’ve figured this out when he wasn’t on the NJPW PPV on the 10/08 show; he can make it back for the next tour even after this show.
Titan is back from injury in what looks like a fun match. Avispa Dorada gets booked two weeks in a row. The opener is smaller version of the same match, with Camorra back around. More Camorra is a bad thing.
Ugh, Elgin.