This was a boring week, where even the first FantasticaMania show didn’t really liven things up. Lots of average matches on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Even the Atlantis Jr. match probably wouldn’t be as interesting if it was match 100 instead of match 1.
recommended matches
rating
matches
TV Show
taped
good
Audaz, Flyer, Titán vs Kawato San, Okumura, Virus
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-08
2019-01-08
good
Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. vs Okumura & Sansón
NJPW World: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
Other Matches Watched
ok
Súper Muñeco, Súper Pinocho, Súper Ratón vs Gallego, Mr. Cóndor, Rocky Santana
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-07
2019-01-07
ok
Bengala & Sonic vs El Coyote & Grako
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-08
2019-01-08
ok
La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi vs Amapola, Dalys, Metálica
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-08
2019-01-08
ok
Ángel de Oro vs Templarioin a lightning match
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-08
2019-01-08
ok
Carístico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Terrible, Último Guerrero
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-08
2019-01-08
ok
Dragón Lee, Místico, Rush vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-08
2019-01-08
ok
Robin, Star Jr., Súper Astro Jr. vs Cancerbero, Disturbio, Raziel
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Drone, Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Kawato, Sagrado, Tiger
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Blue Panther, Rey Cometa, Tritón vs Máscara Año 2000, Rey Bucanero, Shocker
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Kráneo, Stuka Jr., Volcano vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Villano IV vs Euforia, Niebla Roja, Valientein a relevos increíbles match
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Audaz, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask vs Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Templario
NJPW World: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Flyer, Jushin Liger, Titán vs Forastero, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru
NJPW World: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Ángel de Oro, Dragón Lee, Místico vs Cuatrero, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
NJPW World: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Kushida, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Carístico, Namajaguein a relevos increíbles match
NJPW World: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
ok
Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, Toa Henare vs Bushi, Shingo Takagi, Terrible, Tetsuya Naito
NJPW World: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
below average
La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Vangellys vs Hechicero, Kráneo, Valientein a relevos increíbles match
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-07
2019-01-07
below average
Pólvora vs Felinoin a lightning match
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2019-01-11
2019-01-11
not rated
Black Tiger & Sombra Diabólika vs Ares & Guerrero Espacial
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-07
2019-01-07
not rated
Astral, King Jaguar, Príncipe Diamante vs El Malayo, Fuerza Chicana, Joker
CMLL YouTube: 2019-01-07
2019-01-07
not rated
Niebla Roja, Stigma, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Felino, Mephisto
This was the final show before FantasticaMania for about half the people working these shows. The matches were a bit shorter and lower impact than the names might suggest, though some of that is probably due to being a Tuesday show as well. The last two matches were sort of cut down exhibition showcases, showing some of what these matches could be like while not going full out. This was the more exciting of top two matches, with the rare chance to see the Munoz family together bringing some extra energy. Rush seemed more into than usual for one of these B-Shows. Dragon Lee perhaps less so when he’s winning falls with half crabs, but he and his brother show some nice dives. The spot with Dinamitas ever so slightly tossing Místico up and down on a press slam was impressive.
The second and third fall of the semi-main were about two minutes each. They tried for the two minutes, they just weren’t going to spend a lot of time on this match on this night. Carístico looked the best of the técnicos and the announcers were way too excited about the third fall finish.
I know Templario did things in this lightning match, but nothing besides getting his finisher countered into a headscissors for the loss really stuck out. He kept up with Oro in the match, but this was mostly the técnico making the effort. It was definitely reduced by being on Fantastica Mania travel day.
They didn’t re-invent the wheel in the tercera, but the rudos looked more into the match than usual, and they made the most of what the técnicos were going to do in a match before a big trip. Kawato seemed angry and aggressive, especially early in the match, and it was a vast improvement over seeing lost and confused. He landed a dive and he caught a dive, he is officially over the Yoshihashi line and I can imagine a scenario where he actually has a good match on his own. He and Virus looked pretty good, while Okumura seemed to be off into the background. Audaz did that thing where he looks like the most impressive acrobat in the world for about 30 seconds and then disappears for a few minutes.
The segunda was a strange laid out match. The first fall was even, for the most part, the rudas took over at the end and Sugehit snuck in a pin (which had happen in the opener for the técnicos only win as well.) The rudas took almost all the next two falls, minus a ten-second comeback. This ended up as one-sided as matches can be, though it is not really surprising it was the luchadoras rudas who beat a non-Marcela team pretty dominantly. Skadi got a showcase to start off and was the only tecnica to get in offense in the third fall, so she really needed to be good to make anything out of this. She surprisingly was good, the best she’s looked since coming back. It has the same artificial feeling as some of the other women’s sequences, but at least hers are new.
The opener seemed like it was built around boring the fans in the second fall so they’d be more excited when the comeback finally happened. They were effective in doing that. Sonic seemed the most confident he’s been since coming back from him knee injury, and Bengala let him take a lot of the match for his team. Grako & Coyote continue to have flashes of being interesting.
The tournament was more interesting in paper than in reality. Some of the matches got time (the Peverseo/Valiente vs Arkalis/Vangellys match felt like it got a lot of time) but little of it was good and the more interesting people didn’t get advance. Malayo seemed like one of the guys least excited for this thing and somehow went ot the final. Tiger & Azul were the most excited. If I was Tiger, I’d be whatsapp-ing Puma King to ask him how many tournaments he’s won lately. But I am a terrible person.
I gave up before the main event but it sounded like it was fine.
Today’s CMLL show looks a little better than it was first announced. Cuatrero, Forastero, Sanson were scheduled to face Angel de Oro, Kraneo and Volcano. The big two are out, and Niebla Roja & Volador Jr. are instead. It is the most promising match on a usual Tuesdays show.
Hechicero teams with Rey Bucanero & Shocker, who feel like they’re on every show lately. They face Titan, Soberano and Blue Panther. Fuego, Rey Cometa, and Triton meet Kawato, Misterioso, and Sagrado. Coyote gets his first ever lightning match against Super Astro Jr. There’s a women’s match (Mystique’s first Arena Mexico match) and a usual opener to start it off. The show streams at 7:30 pm on CMLL.
Guadalajara has Bestia del Ring & Rush challenging for the tag titles against Diamante Azul & Valiente. A title change is unlikely. A good match is slightly less likely. Atlantis Jr. makes his first official appearance in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, teaming with his father and Mistico. Hijo del Villano III also makes his debut in this arena, teaming with Villano IV and Templario. This should air on Thursday and Saturday locally, though only the Saturday version streams on the internet.
Jeff Jarrett reportedly signed a deal to return to WWE this past weekend. AAA announced Jarrett on their 02/16 lineup a few hours before that news came out. It is possible WWE lets Jarrett work out his already announced dates, though I don’t expect AAA will make it clear any time before the show happens.
MexaWrestling is teasing a plan to launch a YouTube channel. I don’t think you need to a plan to create a YouTube channel, I manage to do it whenever I get owned by a wrestling personality on Twitter and have to find a way to send them a match, but plans are probably a good idea.
+LuchaTV posted an interview with German Cardona of the Mexico State lucha libre commission from the 01/20 Arena Lopez Mateos show. He’s asked why Angel o Demonio is now unsuspended. Carona does not come off well. He explains Angel o Demonio is a very professional luchador and the commission said the suspension didn’t have a set time, so they could decide to end it at any time. He calls Angel o Demonio “muy professional” at least five different times in a 90 second interview, coming off as if he was unprepared for anyone to ask him that obvious question and latching onto the only thing he could think come up with. Cardona explains the original attack on Cuervo as just as small bit of anti-professionalism and justifying Angel O Demonio bringing out a brick again as proof everything is OK because he was stopped from using it this time. This is the last we’ll hear about this story until the next person gets hurt.
Mexa Wrestling on 02/23 (“New Idols”) in Arena San Juan
The masked French submission wrestlers are back. Will one be unmasked by Dr. Cerebro? (Nah, probably not.) It feels like there is a better use of Ricky Marvin than having him tag-along with the new rudo trio that disappeared after three weeks. Maybe not.
Kobayashi mentioned on Twitter that she was happy to be able to check Arena Naucalpan off her list of venues wrestled in.
ANCLA (SAT) 02/02/2019Centro de Alto Rendimento The Crash, Ecatepec, Estado de México
1) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
2) Lilith Dark vs Lady Monster
3) Memo Romero & Príncipe Deka vs Astrolux & Black Metal
4) Fly Warrior vs Bam Bam
5) Drako & Último Guerrero vs Caifan & Mr. Iguana
This looks like a FILLM show but appears to be an ANCLA show? These are important distinctions. Bam Bam versus Fly Warrior seems like a different match if Bam Bam makes the show.
CMLL (SUN) 02/03/2019Arena México
1) Angelito & Fantasy vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
2) Arkalis, Halcón Suriano Jr., Leono vs Grako, Inquisidor, Metálico
3) La Jarochita vs La Comandante [lightning]
4) Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr., Tritón vs Kawato San, Universo 2000 Jr., Virus
5) Kráneo, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Vangellys
6) Diamante Azul, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
You could say this card is good for nothing but it did remind me Leono still exists. Lightning match seems like Jarochita’s toughest task in CMLL so far.
La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Vangellys beat Hechicero, Kráneo, Valientein a relevos increíbles match
(12:07 [2:38, 2:33, 6:56], 2/3, below average, VideosOficialesCMLL)
What happened:
Hechicero wasn’t all that interested in helping his partners, though Los Ingobernables were taking no chances. They had the first fall well in hand when Rush fouled Kraneo. They unmasked him too. Tirantes messed up a pinfall count in the second fall. Hechicero eventually gets too friendly with the rudos in the third fall and they attack him, with Valiente throwing him back into gets a bigger beating. Valiente and Kraneo make a two-man comeback, and then the match turns into a normal one for about 3 minutes until Hechicero betrays Valiente again. They argue, and the rudos beat Kraneo.
Mephisto and Zacarias had a lot of fun before the third fall of the semi-final match.
Los Diabolicos are Dqed quickly for excessive violence in the first, though it seemed like the panned finish. Gallego snuck in a foul on Super Muneco in the third fall.
Thoughts:
This show was more ordinary than bad, with a lot of the matches just being about the level you’d expect from the people involved without being excitement. The main event wasn’t any good, but that was more of a matter of the story they decided to tell than any lack of execution.
The legends match here went smoother than the comparable match in November. They didn’t aim particularly high, but they did get as far as a Super Pinocho dive and what they did in the ring looked fine. It’s not much worse than the local veterans matches on this show, which is not a high bar. It is weird to bring in the old children’s act and have them win zero falls but that’s CMLL.
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
2) Demasiado & Pasion Cristal b Lolita & Rossy Moreno 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 destroyed Robin’s Lucha Libre REAL Omega title belt after the match.
4) Tiger b Eterno, Troyano win via sunset flip powerbomb
5) Black Terry & Pirata Morgan b Fresero Jr. & Mr. Iguana 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 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
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) 01/27/2019Arena 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 Park, Rush “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.
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.
CMLL (SAT) 02/02/2019Arena 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.