great match roundup, week of 2018-12-29

fun times

recaps

Catching up from far behind. This was a short week. Which was good for me that week.

The match CMLL spent months building up was the worst match of the week.

Recommended Matches

rating matches TV Show taped
great Bandido (Indie) vs DJZIsaias VelazquezGringo LocoBandido vs DJZ vs Isaias Velasquez vs Gringo Loco (posted by thecubsfan) Miscellaneous Live Recordings: 2018-12-30 2018-12-30
great Dragón Lee vs Cavernario LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 4 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-04 2019-01-04
great Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. for the Mexican National Trios Championship LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 4 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-04 2019-01-04
good Dragón Lee, King Phoenix, Penta 0M vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Templario LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 1 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-01 2019-01-01
good Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Gran Guerrero, Templario LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 4 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-04 2019-01-04
good Titán vs Tritón in a lightning match LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 4 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-04 2019-01-04

Other Matches Watched

rating matches TV Show taped
ok Arkalis & Robin vs El Coyote & Grako LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 1 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-01 2019-01-01
ok Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, Lluvia vs Amapola, Dalys, La Seductora LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 1 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-01 2019-01-01
ok Hijo de LA Park, Kráneo, Volcano vs Felino, Hijo del Villano III, Villano IV LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 1 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-01 2019-01-01
ok Carístico vs Último Guerrero LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 1 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-01 2019-01-01
ok Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Mephisto, Último Guerrero LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 4 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-04 2019-01-04
ok La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible vs Atlantis, Kráneo, Volcano LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 4 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-04 2019-01-04
below average Akuma & Camorra vs Hijo del Signo & Yago for the mask and for the hair LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 1 DE ENERO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-01 2019-01-01

 

 

weekend indie results, Niebla Roja/Luciferno & tournament tonight in Puebla

photo by Black Terry Jr.

Lucha Libre Real (SAT) 01/26/2019 Deportivo Ajusco, Coyoacán, Distrito Federal [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr)Lucha Central]
1) Chris Stone Jr. & Syrus b Dragosth & Redentor Chris Stone Jr y Syrus vs Fulgor II y Redentor en Lucha Libre Real (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
2) Demasiado & Pasion Cristal b Lolita & Rossy Moreno Rossy Moreno y Lolita vs Pasión Cristal y el Demasiado en Lucha Libre REAL (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
Lolita replaced Andressa del Rey, but cost her team the match by accidentally dropkicking Rossy Moreno. Both Lolita & Baronessa challenged Moreno for her title.
3) Demus b Robin Demus vs Robin mano a mano en Lucha Libre REAL (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
Demus destroyed Robin’s Lucha Libre REAL Omega title belt after the match.
4) Tiger b EternoTroyano Tiger vs Eterno vs Troyano en triangular en Lucha Libre REAL (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
win via sunset flip powerbomb
5) Black Terry & Pirata Morgan b Fresero Jr. & Mr. Iguana Pirata Morgan y Black Terry vs Fresero Jr y Mr. Iguana en Lucha Libre REAL (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
straight falls via foul. Cuervo & Scoria sent a video offering them a tag title match.
6) Juventud Guerrera & Mr. Águila COR Trauma I & Trauma II Juventud Guerrera y Mr. Águila vs Los Traumas I y II en Lucha Libre Real (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
Vangellys, Grako, and Gangster Jr. attacked Juventued Guerrera

What a main event heel group. This seemed decently attended but the main event was not good – got different reports on Guerrera’s team winning or a double countout, but it was definitely a situation where neither team was all that interested in losing. Demus destroying the promotion’s belt seems fun.

Toryumon Mexico (SUN) 01/27/2019 Gimnasio Cuauhtemoc, Domo del Deportivo Plan Sexenal, Miguel Hidalgo, Distrito Federal [Black Terry Jr. (Flickr)The Gladiatores]
1) Epidemal & Thunder Storm b Reyel & Zaeta De Fuego
2) Metaleón & Mr. Leo b Mandrake & Yoruba
3) Ángel Del Amor, Danny Casas, Jaguar Azteca b Canalla Jr., Montaña Negra, Sangre Fría Jr.
4) Douki, Karonte Jr., Veneno b Albatros, Magnus, Musashi
Jaguar Azteca & Canalla Jr. interfered.
5) Argos, Súper Ciudadano, Último Dragón b Diamante, El Patán, Súper Crazy
El Patan replaced Rey Bucanero.

Someone, somewhere needs these results. Maybe. I’m not sure if the Sangre Fria Jr. here is the same one in Guadalajara; he had a long day if so. Toryumon Mexico usually has a March/April show before DragonMania

IWRG (SUN) 01/27/2019 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr)The Gladiatores]
1) Ángel Estrella Jr. & Atomic Star b Ángel De La Tormenta & Güero Palma
2) Brazo De Oro Jr. & Juan Diego b Neza Kid & Tackle
3) Demonio Infernal, Eterno, Lunatic Xtreme b Black Dragón, Dinamic Black, Eragón
4) Black Terry, Manchitas, Pasion Kristal b Hijo de Canis Lupus, Holocausto, Mosca
Holocausto replaced Hip Hop Man
5) Multifacetico 2.0 b Multifacetico (Puebla) [identity]
Puebla’s Multifacetico will now be Polifacetico (another reused name.)
6) Dragón Bane b Cerebro Negro
Dragon Bane asked for a title match next week.
7) Oficial 911 & Oficial AK47 © DQ Rokambole Jr. & Villano V Jr. [IWRG IC TAG]
2nd defense. Villano V helped his kids win, but it was eventually ruled a DQ.

The Multifacetico match sounded like it was the best match on the show but no one was really invested in a battle between guys who aren’t regulars. Main event was bad.

Sanchez (SUN) 01/27/2019 Arena Neza [+LuchaTV]
1) Laberinto, Príncipe Neza, Rey Neza b Príncipe Caballero, Rey Caballero, Shaman Jr.
win via cheating
2) Geo, Guerrero Mixtico Jr., Tony Cirio Jr. b Belial, Diabolus, Pavor
Money thrown in. Belial’s trio is Los Ángeles Infernales
3) Hijo de LA Park & La Park Jr. b Galeno Del Mal & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.
LA Park Jr. debut match
4) Hantar, Kronoz, Muerte Extrema, Punker Bizarro b Ancla, Capricornio, Karma I, Karma II
5) Dragón Lee & Golden Magic b Fénix (LU) & Flamita
MOTYC level match. Dragon Lee & Golden Magic unmasked Fenix & Flamita after the match.
6) Penta 0M DQ LA ParkRush L.A Park vs Rush vs Penta 0M en la Arena Neza (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
“many irregularities”

+Lucha was probably taping this one. Handhelds are starting to turn up already, though I’m about 2.5 weeks behind in adding them hem to the database. The tercera was LA Park Jr.’s official debut. He’d wrestled as Ultimo Sadox earlier the night at CAR The Crash (results) and been revealed to be the new Parka. He’s got a different looking mask and size than his older (?) brother, so it’ll be easier to tell them apart visually than by name.

A lot of CMLL b-shows blend together. Tonight’s Puebla show looks like a bit more memorable. There’s a title match with an unusual contender and a weird tournament to make it interesting.

Luciferno challenges Niebla Roja in the main event. Luciferno is an unfortunate case, a luchador who was a fun undercard luchador for years who didn’t get a shot until he was old enough for his son to be on the roster (I miss El Rebelde) and his body started to betray him. Luciferno has shown a willingness to try a crazy thing or two in his rare singles matches, like a better version of modern Rey Bucanero, and last week’s match with Niebla Roja was promising. Even if it’s not good, it’s just good to see CMLL giving someone else a shot instead of running singles matches with the same four or five challengers.

CMLL typically runs a three-week incredible pairs tournament in Arena Mexico around this time. It may or may not be happening due to the Universal tournament; we’ll never know until CMLL gets around to announcing. The concept is at least coming to Arena Puebla tonight, with teams of rudos and tecnicos teaming up. CMLL one-night tournaments are generally not good, but it does give a situation where there will be different match-ups than usual and no definite favorite. Valiente & Perverso, Kraneo & Malayo and Dragon Rojo & Araklis seem unlikely to win with a not-pushed local involved. (It would’ve been a stronger concept if it was all CDMX/Puebla teams. Likely the CMLL booking formula wouldn’t allow for such fun.) Asking Shocker to wrestle three matches seems unfair both to him and the viewer, so he and Black Panther can be skipped over. That still leaves Diamante Azul & Tiger, Euforia & local hero Stigma, Hechciero & Audaz, and Stuka & Polvora as all having reasonable shots of winning this. The real thrill is if this tournament was actually leading anywhere. I’ll still settle for some randomness for one night

The tournament takes up most of the card, so there’s only one more match: TIgre Rojo Jr, Millenium, Tigre Rojo Jr. versus Fuerza Chicana, Policeman, and Siki Osama Junior making his first appearance in four years. An older local wrestler showing up in Arena Puebla often leads to a mask match, though is usually takes a couple weeks for that to develop.

The show will stream at 9pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel.

El Sol de Tlaxcala has an interview with Templario, talking about him representing Tlaxcala in Japan. He mentions he originally went to Pachuca to train, it didn’t work out, and he ended up in Arena Mexico instead. That seems like a lucky break. Templario mentions a vague plan to tour the US and “some Central America countries” this year.

The mystery 01/31 NJPW World CMLL broadcast is the 01/06 show, which includes the Reyes del Aire. It’ll air before the month turns over for NJPW World but you shouldn’t wait too long to watch it if you’re not interested in paying for February.

Arkangel Divino replaced Toxin (injury) on the 02/01 EMW show.

Box Y Lucha #3370 has Barbaro Cavernario as a future idol. There’s also an interview with Tinieblas Jr. shooting down a Lucha Expo in Mexico City as false. This thing was mentioned by Hijo del Santo over the weekend and in the Planchitas column today. I’ve heard more about this from people shooting it down than I ever saw it advertised, but that’s probably for the best.

The new CMLL Guadalajara TV show starts on 02/06. Not sure what time, not sure what it’ll cover, not sure if it means the other one is going away. The channel does have an internet stream.

ContraLona has a short interview with Vanilla.

Multimedios posted their version of TripleMania on YouTube.

El Manana has an interview with Bella Karina.

Lineups

CMLL (SAT) 02/02/2019 Arena Coliseo
1) Príncipe Diamante & Retro vs Grako & Príncipe Odín Jr.
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Oro Jr. vs Disturbio, Hijo del Signo, Nitro
3) Magnus, Pegasso, Stigma vs Sangre Azteca, Universo 2000 Jr., Virus
4) Drone vs Okumura [lightning]
5) Audaz, Flyer, Soberano Jr. vs Felino, Pólvora, Rey Bucanero
6) La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Villano IV vs Ángel de Oro, Diamante Azul, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

I’m ok with more Villano IV if we pretend he’s the new La Bestia del Ring. Can’t do both.

CMLL on NJPW World: 2019-01-25 

Mistico

Recapped: 01/27/2019

This is the 12/30 show, airing on 01/25 on NJPW World.

Matches:

Nitro, Sangre Azteca, Virus beat Black Panther, Drone, Magnus
(12:24 [5:23, 2:18, 4:43], 1/3, ok, 00:05:26)

Titán  beat Felino in a lightning match
(5:59, casita, ok, 00:26:23)

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón beat Atlantis, Shocker, Valiente
(11:14 [2:18, 4:28, 4:28], 1/3, ok, 00:46:18)

Carístico, Místico, Volador Jr. beat Gran Guerrero, Templario, Último Guerrero
(12:24 [6:02, 2:11, 4:11], 2/3 DQ, good, 00:57:57)

What happened: 

bringing back the veg-o-matic

Último Guerrero unmasked Carístico for main event DQ.

Shocker is a fill-in on the técnico side for Diamante Azul in the semi-main. He fights the NGD but doesn’t get along with his partners. Atlantis actually hiptosses Shocker in the third fall, Shocker attacks Atlantis, and Sansón immediately cradles Atlantis for the win. Valiente gets punched in the face too.

Thoughts: 

The main event was wrestled at Friday level, with Místico breaking out more big spots than expected on a big show. Carístico and Último Guererro feuded – to build up a match that CMLL never got around to happening – and do fine doing it. The other four show more, with Templario & Gran Guerrero doing some of the fun teamwork spots. The crowd is into this the whole way and Templario being in with the top guys and not looking the slightest bit out of place is nice to see.

it is a Magnus GIF

Titan/Felino is a lot of the stuff seen with them in trios matches for the first four minutes – Felino & Zacarias dance, Zacarias gets blown up by a Titan dropkick. It escalates with a nice sunset flip powerbomb and Felino is trying a lot harder than usual in the last few minutes. That stage isn’t long enough to develop into anything big but it felt more worth your time than it would indicate on name alone.

Someone I don’t know mentioned the tercera here was a good match. I’m not sure if I would go that far, but it was better than usual. The second and third falls finished up strong, with especially a lot going on to end the match. There was a tease of the Black Panther/Virus mat exchanges that have disappeared in the last year, and Drone’s sunset flip set up to the Panther boomerang kick was a good idea that needs slightly better timing. Sangre Azteca & Nitro hold no surprises but this was about as good as match gets with them involved at this point.