Penta vs Caristico tonight in CMLL, IWRG Anniversary show

Penta 0M debuted in CMLL on June 29th. He ran in as a surprise, attacking Caristico. It took CMLL six months to get a singles match between the two. Tonight’s CMLL match will be hot because it has two of the bigger stars in Mexico facing off for the first time in Arena Mexico, though it still feels like CMLL missed the peak of the feud. This will be the fourth singles match they’ve had, after one in The Crash and two in Arena Neza. Caristico has won two of those, and one went to a draw. Caristico is the home team luchador here and seems like the favorite.

The lineup looks better than the last couple of shows, which have underperformed. Dragon Lee being back helps; his match with Mistico & Volador against NGD may be better than the main event. The rest of the show fits with the averageness of those recent Friday night shows. Atlantis, Diamante Azul & Titan taking on Terrible, Rey Bucanero and Hechicero doesn’t seem a great mix. Kawato, Okumura, and Vangellys versus Guerrero Maya, Flyer, Audaz is a standard “almost” promising CMLL match of 2018.

Estrellita has her first Arena Mexico since July 31st (and her first Friday match since the week before Penta debuts.) She’s had some injury issues this year. She’ll team with Marcela and Lluvia against Amapola, Dalys, and Tiffany. The show opens with Arkalis & Oro Jr. taking on Coyote & Grako.

LuchaCentral has a preview of the show. The show will air on Marca (region-blocked at last check) and Facebook.

CMLL posted April, May, and June in it’s look back at 2018 within hours yesterday.

Dorian Roldan told Record that he hopes to run an AAA show in Madison Square Garden in 2019. This idea first was started this summer (also in Record), Konnan later implied that a media company would be footing most of the bill if it happened, and then it just did not happen. The idea then was around Mexican Independence Day and maybe that’ll be the idea again if it does happen. It still seems like a long shot, though perhaps we’ll hear more about it at the January AAA press conference. Roldan also mentioned more international AAA shows (a tour in Colombia) and workng with more promotions.

This interview with Vanilla mentions the AAA Mazatlan lineup is expected to be known on 01/02. I’d guess the ones before it would be ready at the same time.

Warrior Wrestling announced Dragon Lee will replace Titan on their 01/05 show. Dragon Lee was also advertised for the 01/25 Northeast Wrestling show in Poughkeepsie, New York. I’m not sure if Dragon Lee will reach quite the Penta & Fenix levels of being booked everywhere in 2019, but it’s going to be a busy year for him outside of Mexico.

AJPW announced Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi will appear on this year’s DragonMania.

Diosa Quetzal who became known popular after appearing on reality show Enamorandonos, says she has to fight the perception she’s only a reality TV invented star.

PubliMetro talks to Psycho Clown about their year.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Morelos luchador Fussion won the award for the revelation of the year.

An interview with Monclova’s Zintro.

Lineups

IWRG (TUE) 01/01/2019 Arena Naucalpan
1) Divino, Juan Diego, Kid Jaguar vs Guerrero Palma, Marduk, Taurino and Flyman, Flyman II, Gallito Colorado and Manchitas, Psique, Puercules and Atomic Star, Chicanito, Death Metal [cage]
LLB (Jaguar) vs Gym Zeus (Marduk) vs Zaetas del Ring (Flyman) vs Lucha Memes (Psique)
2) Capo del Norte & Capo del Sur © vs Karaoui & Zumbi and Oficial 911 & Oficial AK47 [cage]
first defense
3) Leo & Mike vs Dinamic Black & Eragón and Ra-Zhata & Shil-Kah and Freelance & Relámpago [cage, #1 Contenders, IWRG IC TAG]
4) Dragón Bane © vs Rey Horus [IWRG REY DEL AIRE, cage]
5th defense
5) Máscara Año 2000 Jr. vs Toscano [cage, hair]

IWRG’s 23rd Anniversary show features every match in a cage and a main event apuesta match that is a bit hard to predict. Not sure any matches benefit from being in a cage and they’re resting a lot on the novelty of being an all cage match show.

CMLL (TUE) 01/01/2019 Arena Puebla
1) Astral, Eléctrico, King Jaguar vs Cholo, Fuerza Chicana, Joker
2) Pegasso, Star Jr., Stigma vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Sangre Azteca
3) Átomo, Gallito, Microman vs Chamuel, Mije, Perico Zakarías
4) Atlantis, Titán, Valiente vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rey Bucanero, Shocker
5) Volador Jr. vs Sansón

That’s a first time singles main event (that no one outside of the arena may see.)

The King Jaguar/Perverso issue came and went quick. Now Jaguar is just booked every week for no reason.

CMLL (TUE) 01/01/2019 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Avispón Negro Jr., Black Sugar, Joker vs Gemelo Pantera I, Gemelo Pantera II, Mr. Apolo
2) Drone, Súper Astro Jr., Vaquero Jr. vs Disturbio, Guerrero de la Muerte, Metálico
3) Esfinge, Flyer, Tritón vs Kawato San, Okumura, Virus
4) Ángel de Oro, Místico, Niebla Roja vs Gran Guerrero, Mephisto, Vangellys
5) Terrible vs Diamante Azul [MEX HEAVY]
3rd defense, 3rd against Azul

Will this be the team for Diamante Azul? Will any one care? No, Probably not.

Rush is again not booked on any of the shows. Rush has been taking vacations but he’s also worked in Arena Neza on Tuesday, wrestled in Mazatlan last night and is scheduled to be in Acapulco on Saturday. There is reason to suspect he’s been quietly suspended for 30 days and we won’t be seeing him until around 01/06.

Fuego is also not on these shows and hasn’t been seen since the 14th. Titan missed the Christmas Day shows but is working in Puebla this time around.