great AAA show in Tepic, Toxin benefit show, IWRG

AAA TV (SUN) 02/10/2019 Auditorio Amado Nervo, Tepic, Nayarit [AAA, Lucha Central, MedioTiempo, R de Rudo]
1) Dinastía, Lady Shani, Niño Hamburguesa b Lady Maravilla, Lanzelot, Villano III Jr.
Lady Maravilla messed with Hamburguesa again and tried to distract him from the splash, but Lady Shani shut her down with backcracker and Hamburguesa got the win.
2) Hijo Del Vikingo b Jack Evans, Taurus
Originally a tag with Sammy Guevera. Vikingo got the pin on Evans.
3) Aerostar, Máximo, Taya b Faby Apache, La Máscara, Monsther Clown
Faby accidentally hit Hijo del Tirantes, and he fast counted a win for Taya this time. Hijo del Tirantes argued with both Faby & Taya after the match.
4) Laredo Kid b Drago, Flamita
Scheduled to be Fenix defending against Laredo & Flamita. Fenix sent in a video saying he’d be out two weeks after suffering a neck injury on Friday but would defend soon. Laredo beat Drago in a non-title match.
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. b Blue Demon Jr. [street]
Earlier, La Parka came to the ring in a neck brace to talk about Fantasma giving him a martinete back in Mazatlan, and Wagner joined him to talk about Demon. They were interrupted by one of the Unefon sponsor characters, who was Demon in disguise. Fantasma joined in, taking out Parka and leaving Wagner bloodied. Wagner came out for this match with his head wrapped, but the wrapping was taken off early and he bled a lot. Faby Apache seconded Demon and interfered often. Taya got involved after about 10 minutes. Monsther Clown came out after her after about 10 seconds. Joe Lider, in his only appearance of the weekend, ran out to save old (current??) Perros del Mal ally Taya and put himself and Monster through a table. Wagner beat Demon. Wagner attempted to request a hair/mask match with Demon from Vampiro afterward, only to get beat up by Demon and company. Wagner recovered and made a trios challenge (Wagner/Park/Vampiro vs Demon/Fantasma/whomever)
6) Laredo Kid, Psycho Clown, Puma King b Hijo del Fantasma, Killer Kross, Rey Escorpión
Laredo Kid worked twice, replacing the “injured” Parka. La Mascara came out for a distraction, but Puma still surprised Fantasma for a cradle. Rudos beat up and unmasked the tecnicos after.

This was a great show. The two three ways are absolutely worth seeking out. The opener would’ve been the best match by leaps on bounds on a lot of shows this time last year. (Do you remember AAA this time last year? Things have changed for the better.) Wagner & Demon have smoke, mirrors, and blood to cover up the limitations – it was essentially the TripleMania match in half the time. The main event was very good though also very long. The trios match didn’t do a lot for me but this was a really fun show overall.

The finishes were all nice too. The three ways were more simple “whoever is not dead wins”, but Vikingo getting a win back in a strong performance balanced out the scales. There were most balancing elsewhere, with the Hamburguesa/Maravilla stuff taking another step and the Taya/Faby/Tirantes triangle going a different way. Fantasma is still taking about Fenix & the heavyweight title in every promo but perhaps Puma beating him gives him an obstacle to overcome before he gets there. There were no huge twists here but there also there didn’t need to be, it felt like nice progression. I still have no idea what exactly is on Rey de Reyes. (Perhaps out of justifiably concern over Fenix’s condition, even the tag title match was not mentioned at all last night.) It doesn’t really matter. They can just roll out the balls at this point and figure it out.

Konnan said they drew 8,000 fans. The upper section looked pretty empty on TV for that many fans, but there’s no problem believing they drew more than Mazatlan because it’s such a big (12,000) seat building.

The pre-show included an introduction of the TV Azteca AAA hosts. They did not appear to be doing live commentary during the show, so they were probably there to be part of some extra footage. The Azteca debut was mentioned on commentary a few times. The commentary also mentioned an English language version of the Twitch feed will return with next Saturday’s taping. The upside of no Televisa (and Azteca doing commentary later) is there is more space and resources to do an English language feed. The downside is AAA has swung and missed at competent English language commentary every time and they’ve given no indication this will go any better. No commentators have been mentioned, which causes me to believe it’ll be the default Vampiro & Striker team.

The show, like Fridays, started the stream a half-hour late. They did cut down on the pre-show both nights (and changed around the order of things do the incredibly obvious Unefon angle.) Still, just when you think can figure out AAA’s actual starting times, they find a way to delay it even more.

A show in Houston next Sunday is being billed as having Low Rider’s last match before going on tour with AAA. Low Rider hasn’t been in AAA since August and is listed as working indie shows the following weekend, but maybe they mean in Houston. AAA does seem to be signing some of the undercard talent.

Mexa Wrestling (SUN) 02/10/2019 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr)]
1) Puma de Oro b Astrolux, Black Metal, Kalibus, Celestial Boy, Shere Khan, Fandango, Juventud Venegas 
Pumita/Puma de Oro will face Flamita on Mexa Wrestling New Idols II. He beat Black Metal.
2) Mimo & Toro Negro b Chris Stone Jr. & Cyrus, Máscarita Divina & Samoano 
3) Demonio Infernal, Eterno, Lunatik Extreme b Diablo Jr., Sinn Bodhi, Yoruba 
4) Black Terry, Emperador Azteca, Freelance, Hijo de Zumbido b Baby Star, Centvrión, Diva Salvaje, Tromba 
5) Keyra b Rossy Moreno 
6) Dragón Bane b Látigo 
spectacular match
7) Ricky Marvin & Zumbido b Belial & Impulso 
scheduled as Ricky Marvin vs Flamita (AAA TV)

Seemed like a good turnout for the benefit show. Toxin did not appear before the crowd.

IWRG (SUN) 02/10/2019 Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), The Gladiatores]
1) Chicanito DRAW Ángel Estrella Jr.
double pin
2) Kamikaze, Latino, Puma de Oro b Atomic Star, Güero Palma, Neza Kid
3) Black Dragón, Dinamic Black, Eragón b Apolo Estrada Jr., Tackle, Yakuza
money thrown in
4) Demonio Infernal, Eterno, Lunatic Xtreme b Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
bloody match, with the Oficials challenging for the titles despite a loss
5) Capo del Norte, Capo del Sur, Sinn Bodhi b Black Terry, Internacional Pantera, Pasion Kristal
Bodhi used a chain to hit Kristal for the win.
6) Cerebro Negro © b Dragón Bane [IWRG IC WELTER]
2nd defense. Cerebro won with a super powerbomb.

Main event sounded like a lot of big moves. An Oficials title match is probably not deserved after a loss but it’d be another interesting bloodbath.

Rush versus Cuatrero in a first time ever singles match main events in Arena Puebla tonight. Rush is making a long trip back from Miami to Puebla tonight, so his energy might actually be a question. Still, it is a new match up in a run of CMLL doing a few of those.

The semi-main weirdly includes Vangellys teaming with the Atlantis family against the Villanos & Guerreros. Drone, Fuego and Guerrero Maya take on Kawato, Okumura and Sagrado in the tercera. There’s a women’s match and opener with locals and a Sonic appearance. The show starts at 9 pm.

The El Planchitas lucha libre gossip column throws out an answer to the question AAA/LU/AEW conundrum. They write that AAA has broken off relations with Lucha Underground & the companies behind it. because it was never something they could sell in Mexico. The article frames it as AAA changing their alliance from LU to AEW. This doesn’t fit with the MGM stories saying Dorian Roldan and Lucha Libre FMV are still in charge of the Lucha Underground contracts, though it does with stories about AAA not contributed much to financially to the series since the first season. I think the reality is since no one’s really working on this show outside of maybe MGM trying to find some investors, everyone wants to redirect the blame for the current awful situation to someone else and no one wants to take public responsibility for the mess.

Alberto el Patron, Dos Caras, Hijo del Dos Caras, and Tinieblas Jr. were among those who got their hands molded in plaster at the Plaza Galerias in Mexico City. I think this is the second time Alberto has done it; this is treated as a hall of fame but it’s more like a gimmick done every month to get attention for the mall. Alberto brought his a-game performance by saying he’s retiring soon.

Arena Coliseo Guadalajara set up a Vaquero/Malefico hair match, so they’re farther along towards an apuesta match than Mexico City.

Espiritu Divino & Radly saved their masks and took El Vago & El Brujo’s hair in Arena Jalisco on Sunday. A referee got shaved too.

Caristico is in the Chicago area for GALLI on 02/24.

MLW announced Fenix & Pentagon Jr. versus Laredo Kid & Taurus (as Team AAA) for their 03/02 show near Chicago.

A story of luchador Black Power turning a Cuernavaca trash dump into a lucha libre arena.

Lineups

WWCI , XMW (SAT) 02/16/2019 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) Felina Metálica vs Star Fire, Lady Monster, India Mazahua, Lilith Dark, Princesa Azul, Sadik Maiden, Lady Cat, Zafiro (Chihuahua), Reyna Dorada, Skadi, Hetzza, Reyna Oscura, Espia Maya, Lady Pink [WWCI WOMEN]
2) Marcela vs Mary Apache vs Cinthia Moreno
3) Bam Bam vs Demus
4) Drako & Impulso vs ? & Fly Star
5) Último Guerrero vs Caifan [super libre]

I would not be doing my job if a rematch of a great match was scheduled to happen. Had to include ths lineup to let you know Bam Bam versus Demus is on. Also Guerrero/Caifan will have many hard chops.

CMLL (SAT) 02/16/2019 Arena Coliseo
1) Bengala & Leono vs Cholo & Inquisidor
2) Halcón Suriano Jr., Principe Daniel, Príncipe Diamante vs El Coyote, Grako, Nitro
3) Drone, Fuego, Tritón vs Kawato San, Sagrado, Tiger
4) Princesa Sugehit vs Reyna Isis [lightning]
5) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr. vs Rey Bucanero, Templario, Terrible
6) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Diamante Azul vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón

Difunto’s appearances this week are similar to Principe Daniel, Fugaz and Reyko coming thru Mexico last year. Principe Daniel makes his return this upcoming weekend.

CMLL (SUN) 02/17/2019 Arena México
1) Sangre Imperial & Sonic vs Camorra & Príncipe Odín Jr.
2) Oro Jr., Principe Daniel, Súper Astro Jr. vs Apocalipsis, Espíritu Negro, Hijo del Signo
3) Retro vs Magnus [lightning]
4) Blue Panther, Rey Cometa, Star Jr. vs Kawato San, Misterioso Jr., Universo 2000 Jr.
5) Kráneo, Soberano Jr., Volcano vs Hechicero, Rey Bucanero, Shocker
6) Místico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Mephisto

The Sky Team is reunited on a random Sunday.