People will want to watch Naito on CMLL Marca tomorrow and be very confused about it starting so late. Maybe they can be tricked into watching Cavernario beforehand.
AAA YouTube has a taping from six weeks ago. And this is the first part. It is a good part.
I’m probably not getting around to this next week.
The Cain Velasquez match comes up on this week’s Keepin’ It 100. The press conference message was Cain is wrestling on TripleMania but the match has not been settled. It appears that is the actual situation: Konnan said he has an idea he likes for the match but has to run it up the ladder to get approved. He expects that it will end up being a 2v2 match, not a singles match. Konnan also has a dream match that he’s working on that he believes will blow everyone away.
WrestleMania weekend comes up for discussion too – that’s where the empty thoughts in the next paragraph came from – and Konnan mentions AAA will have a “special announcement” that weekend. On the face, WrestleMania weekend seems like a really poor time for anyone not running a big show to make an announcement, because it stands a big risk of being eclipsed by whatever else happens. It’s a special difficulty for AAA if they make it during their Tijuana taping that weekend. It is the final day before Daylight Savings Time starts in Mexico in the farthest west they go. (If you’re in New York for WrestleMania or anywhere else on the US East Coast, AAA starts at 1 AM Saturday morning if they even start on time.) The only reason I could come up where it would make sense making a big announcement is if the announcement is New York focused – if AAA is bringing back the idea of running MSG again. That seems like a stretch but I know AAA hasn’t ruled out the idea.
This is a non-issue except for people concerned with announcing but I wonder who is going to be the announcers for the AAA show in Tijuana that weekend. Vampiro is listed as signing autographs at WrestleCon, so he might not be around. Jose Manuel Guillen usually goes to WrestleMania to cover it for +LuchaTV so he might not be around. Konnan might fill-in for either, but he’ll be at MLW & Impact that weekend. It could be Jesus Zuniga gets back behind the mic with Hugo if he’s free from his Televisa commitments and Adrian goes it alone.
(You know, if I was organized and liked public outings and/or drinking, I should’ve organized a Saturday 1 AM AAA in watch party someplace where the other lucha libre degenerates could watch TJ locals do many Destroyers in that opener. It is an idea I had but not one I was interested enough to figure out. I’ll probably be sitting around someplace in the WrestleCon Hotel watching it on my phone instead.)
Leo Riano says Dorian Roldan reached out to Cain Velasquez after he made his comments, but also says Roldan reached out to Velasquez last year. Where there other comments last year? Riano also says CMLL & Televisa would like the viewership numbers to improve but commercial sales are doing OK and there’s some thought to adjusting the time or having it run longer.
AAA put up a surprise vintage match: the minis match from TripleMania 4 in Ciudad Madero.
The debuting (Pro) Wrestling Resurrecion Revolution held a press conference yesterday to talk about their first show this Saturday in Arena Lopez Mateos. This is the Mexico City promotion, not the northern California one. They really need to drop the “Pro” to make it less confusing. The big angle on the press conference was Hijo del Fantasma showing up and asking to be part of the main event. That main event was Ricky Marvin & Super Cuervo vs Cuervo & Scoria, so Fantasma needed a tag partner and didn’t have one at the moment. Hijo de Dos Caras nominated himself and got the spot. Caras was in a trios match with the Panther boys against Eterno, Kawato, and Okumura. Okumura’s not thought to be back from surgery from months so that slides into a tag match.
The recycled lucha story of the last few days has been “Is Hijo del Fantasma/King Cuerno going to the WWE?”, because Dave Meltzer mentioned Fantasma had a WWE offer on a recent podcast. This was not new news: it’s been reported many times that Fantasma had an opportunity to go to WWE around the time of the original Cruiserweight Classic but was prevented going there by his Lucha Underground deal. (Fantasma also talked about having a WWE tryout many times, as recently as last week’s MMM Show.) The repeater new stories made it sound like Fantasma had a recent deal. Fantasma was asked about that at the press conference and MedioTiempo mentions Fantasma has not received any WWE offer so far. Fantasma says he’s open to going there, just like he’s open to going to CMLL to feud with his old friend Rush. LA Park is the other big name Fantasma would like to wrestle. He’s smartly picking big names.
It hasn’t been announced as such, but this Saturday’s Arena Coliseo show will be the Arena Coliseo 76th Anniversary show according to Ovaciones. (It reads like a CMLL press release which hasn’t been posted to their website yet.) Arena Coliseo was opened on April 2nd, 1943. The Arena Coliseo Anniversary show is usually the first week of April and usually promoted a little bit. That’s probably why Soberano/Templario is happening on a Saturday. Ovaciones says Arena Mexico will have the building anniversary shows on Friday April 26 and Sunday April 28. (This is different than the CMLL promotion anniversary date if you’re not used to all these anniversaries.) CMLL figures to hold a Kid’s Day show on Tuesday April 30th as well.
The finals of the parejas increibles would make for a reasonable main event for that Friday Arena Mexico anniversary show. That would mean blocks on April 12 and 19th. We’ll probably know within the first match on Friday. Either they promote the tournament as starting next week or it starts the 12th, because they’re not going to do a tournament block show for a building anniversary.
CMLL Parejas Increibles Teams announced so far
Yago would like to form a trio with Hechicero & Mephisto and his goal is to be in a main event. Yago doing CMLL press is a pretty big achievement.
Estrellita may be back in CMLL next Sunday (or maybe she’s just making an appearance.)
CMLL announced they’ve established relations with the Japanese embassy in Mexico City. I assume this will help to direct Japanese fans to CMLL, but not many details are mentioned.
El Planchitas says CMLL is worried about bad turnout, especially on Tuesday shows “where families of wrestlers don’t even want to come.” This turns into an item about CMLL giving press tickets to give away – The Gladiatores did so for this past week – but CMLL’s really been giving away tickets for a while to various shows. Anyone who’s watched some Informa knows about that, and they’ve done it in other media appearances. Planchitas uses this as a complaint about not getting their own free tickets but I’m more disappointed about no mention of making the shows better.
Misterioso Jr.’s daughter has passed away.
The Crash on 04/13 in Auditorio de Tijuana
That suggests Horus is not the mystery person in the main event.
Rey Horus & Aeroboy are scheduled to be in Chicago on 04/28 for GALLI, though the last Thalia Hall show got canceled.
05/19 ChilangaMask 6th Anniversary show in Coliseo Coacalco
Silueta hasn’t been seen since December 2017. If you guessed “left wrestling to have a child”, you are correct. (It’s a boy.) She says she’s nervous to return but looking forward to it.
LuchaWorld has a fresh Lucha Report.
LuchaTalk has the latest episode.
Lineups
CMLL (MON) 04/01/2019 Arena Puebla
1) Arkalis, King Jaguar, Robin vs El Perverso, Policeman, Tyson La Bestia
2) Lluvia, Marcela, Sanely vs Dalys, La Metálica, Tiffany
3) Esfinge, Flyer, Rey Cometa vs Kawato San, Olímpico, Tiger
4) La Bestia Del Ring, Místico, Último Guerrero vs Euforia, Mephisto, Valiente [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero
No title on the line in the main event. Semi-main is likely a relevos increible just because Mistico & La Bestia are on the same show, but I want some Ultimo Guerrero/Euforia battle. Marcela & Tyson get to be on the same show.
Recapped: 2019-03-24
Matches:
Angelito & Fantasy beat Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico
(12:29 [4:35, 3:43, 4:11], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Disturbio, Hijo del Signo, Nitro beat Magnus, Robin, Star Black
(13:52 [6:46, 2:54, 4:12], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL
Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr. beat Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Tiger
(12:13 [5:20, 2:43, 4:10], 1/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Hechicero, Kawato San, La Bestia Del Ring beat Blue Panther, Kráneo, Volcano
(10:55 [3:03, 2:20, 5:32], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Atlantis, Místico, Valiente beat Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Templario
(11:21 [4:11, 3:39, 3:31], 2/3, good, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Dragón Lee defeats Mephisto © to win the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
(17:42, 2/3, great, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Mephisto trap cradle (2;50)
Dragon Lee casadora cradle (2:54)
Dragon Bomb (11:58)
What happened:
Dragon Lee wins the CMLL Welterweight Championship from Mephisto
Star Black in his Arena Mexico debut appears accidentally eliminated early in the third fall. He got his shoulder up on a Disturbio, but it was the shoulder shielded away from referee Edgar. The rudos were winning eventually anyway but Star Black doesn’t get a chance to show much.
Thoughts:
Mephisto versus Dragon Lee was a strong way to end Mephisto’s title reign. It was a like most of Mephisto’s title matches, with a long third fall of back and forth big kickouts, with the smaller técnico battling to stay alive. It bordered on reaching level of too much when it got to the Canadian Destroyer, but it seemed balanced out by some small touches that made it stick out a bit more. The first fall surprise trap cradle was really well done, coming both as a surprise and looking really good. It didn’t work quite as well in the second fall, but they broke the trope of dong finishes in the first fall just to kick out of them later and made it more a question of what would end up the match. Mephisto did a great job of sneaking into a cradle while Dragon Lee was arguing over a count, Dragon Lee had the moment of ripping down his knee pad before delivering the knee to the face that set up the finish. Dragon Lee still destroyed himself in different ways during the match, you weren’t let down there, but it was more than usual title match formula.
The semi-main and the third match were similar in structure. There were disallowed técnico tag spots and the match turning around when the rudos were too busy posing rather than paying attention. An important difference is Negro Casas is great and brings out the best in Mistico. Another difference is Tirantes didn’t count three when he was bored. Atlantis & Rey Bucanero had trouble moving around but it didn’t prevent the semi-final from being very watchable.
Recapped: 03/23/2019
Matches:
Fuerza Chicana, Policeman, Sombra Diabólika beat Astro, Rey Samuray, Sonic
(11:21 [6:08, 3:12, 2:01], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Cancerbero, Perverso, Raziel beat King Jaguar, Star Black, Tigre Rojo Jr.
(16:24 [6:59, 3:13, 6:12], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Audaz, Drone, Stigma beat Felino, Templario, Tiger
(10:59 [3:44, 2:58, 4:17], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Valiente went to a draw with Cavernario, La Bestia Del Ring, Terrible
(10:16 [3:30, 2:28, 4:18], rudos 1 técnicos 2 draw 3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, Volador Jr. beat Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
(22:06 [3:45, 7:58, 10:23], 1/3 DQ, good, VideosOficialesCMLL)
What happened:
This is the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show for Puebla, with Estrella Blanca honored.
The finish of the main event – LA Park handing his mask to UG to draw a DQ – set up challenges for a rematch for the following week.
Terrible has a shoulder sling on his right side following Friday’s match (and injury) but doesn’t seem to be too bothered by it. La Bestia del Ring pinned Niebla Roja as Angel de Oro pinned Terrible in the third fall. In theory, both Niebla Roja & Terrible were the captains, but no captains were ever announced. Los Ingobernables jumped the técnicos before the match, and the ring announcer cut his introduction short. Miguel Linares knew who the captains were and it seemed consistent during the match, just a little confusing for the finish. This also was rematches the following week.
Thoughts:
LA Park was on for his return to Arena Puebla. This is LA Park doing headscissors and taking big bumps for dropkicks even early on. Último Guerrero works great as an opponent for him, and one that is fresh in CMLL at least. This match is really about those two, with Volador doing less than an up and down Hijo de LA Park. Euforia has to save Hijo de LA Park from himself on a complicated headscissors, though skinny Park does better later. The hidden highlight of the match is Gran Guerrero just refusing to sell LA Park’s belt shots, Hijo de LA Park getting legitimately angry over it and LA Park doing the same no sell to Gran Guerrero in revenge later. They’ve all very macho. The finish is screwy but that is part of the bargain with LA Park matches. Not usually part of the bargain is Último Guerrero having to point LA Park at the right way to go right before that, as I guess Park forgets he’s supposed to cause the lesser Guerreros to go away before the fake mask pull. UG is really obvious about it, which causes more problems for me than LA Park kicking Tirantes and getting away with it. There’s no problem with kicking Tirantes at any point.
I’m convinced Audaz is better than Templario but that still means Audaz is really good. Both shined in the tercera. It also featured Drone having one of those occasional strong performances that really make you sad he screwed up his career. Borderline match.
This is a dumb post. I have the CMLL Friday show (inside the week) as a Saturday show (outside the week) because it technically didn’t go up until Saturday. I guess this is not true for the person(s?) who got on TV in the US but I didn’t qualify. And I didn’t rate many of the Monday or Tuesday matches. This leaves me in a world where Universo 2000 Jr. had the only good match. Sometimes the system is very bad.
Me in March is willing to add a low video quality Decnnis match that’s probably not any good in Guatemala to my watch list because it’s Decnnis in a title match in Guatemala. Me in December panic-ing to finish the year is skipping high video quality indie matches because it’ll only be good. The Volador/Barbaro Cavernario match may actually be a worse decision.
Recommended Matches
| rating | matches | TV Show | taped |
| good | Black Panther vs Universo 2000 Jr. in a lightning match  |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-12 | 2019-03-12 |
Other Matches
| rating | matches | TV Show | taped |
| ok | Cavernario, Dragón Lee, Místico vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Volador Jr. in a relevos increíbles match |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-11 | 2019-03-11 |
| ok | Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Rey Cometa vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Tiger |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-12 | 2019-03-12 |
| not rated | Astro & Meyer vs Ares & Sombra Diabólika |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-11 | 2019-03-11 |
| not rated | Arkalis, Halcón Suriano Jr., Oro Jr. vs Black Tiger, Espíritu Maligno, Policeman |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-11 | 2019-03-11 |
| not rated | Fuego, King Jaguar, Pegasso vs Disturbio, El Perverso, Virus |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-11 | 2019-03-11 |
| not rated | Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, Niebla Roja vs La Bestia Del Ring, Templario, Terrible |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-11 | 2019-03-11 |
| not rated | Bengala & Leono vs Apocalipsis & Cholo |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-12 | 2019-03-12 |
| not rated | Magnus, Retro, Star Jr. vs Akuma, Espanto Jr., Nitro |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-12 | 2019-03-12 |
| not rated | Atlantis, Audaz, Stuka Jr. vs Felino, Hechicero, Kawato San |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-12 | 2019-03-12 |
| not rated | Diamante Azul, Dragón Lee, Místico vs Mephisto, Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero |
CMLL YouTube: 2019-03-12 | 2019-03-12 |
| watch later | Volador Jr. © vs Bárbaro Cavernario for the NWA World Welterweight Championship  |
CMLL Guadalajara: 2019-03-09 | 2019-03-05 |
| watch later | Hijo de Voltrón © vs Decnnis [EUROPA WELTER] |
FMLL Guatemala: 2019-03-09 | 2019-02-10 |
CMLL (TUE) 03/26/2019 Arena México [CMLL, Lost in Lucha, Lucha Central, Ovaciones]
1) Astral & Eléctrico b Inquisidor & Yago
2) Cancerbero, Espanto Jr., Raziel b Arkalis, Halcón Suriano Jr., Oro Jr.
Rudos took 2/3.
3) Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa DQ Nitro, Templario, Virus
Nitro replaced Polvora. Straight falls. Templario fouled Cometa.
4) Titán b Flyer [lightning]
Titan won with El Inmortal (his new cradle)
5) Atlantis, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. b Ephesto, Hechicero, Mephisto
Tecnicos took 2/3.
6) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Volador Jr. b Cuatrero, Euforia, Sansón
Tecnicos took 1/3.
CMLL promos have Espanto Jr. proposing to make a trio with Raziel & Cancerbero, Templario explaining fouling Rey Cometa was about getting ready for his match with Soberano, Titan talks about his win and Soberano also talking about the Saturday match.
CMLL (TUE) 03/26/2019 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara[CMLL]
1) Demonio Maya, Exterminador, Sádico b Fantástico, Principe Daniel, Rielero
Rudos took 2/3.
2) Magnum, Príncipe Diamante, Star Jr. b Difunto, Espíritu Negro, Metálico
tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Star Black b Mr. Apolo [lightning]
Star Black won in 8:30 in a bonus match.
4) Kaho Kobayashi, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit b Amapola, Dalys, Reyna Isis
tecnicas took 2/3
5) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys b Blue Panther, Kráneo, Volcano
Terrible replaced Shocker. Rudos took 2/3.
6) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Místico b Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
tecnicos took 2/3.
The added match suggests someone was late: either someone flying in or the bus that drives everyone else. Not much really happening on either one of these shows.
There are about 50 different sites writing about Cain Velasquez over the last day. None of them really covers any new ground. Velasquez, Pentagon, and Psycho were also on TV Azteca to promote the concept. I haven’t seen UFC The UFC Espanol twitter account mentioned Cain at TripleMania in a video update. They probably would’ve been told to ignore the fight if UFC didn’t approve of it.
My theory as of this morning is the match will be Psycho Clown & Cain Velasquez versus Texano Jr. & Rey Escorpion. I don’t think Velazquez is going to be around much, if at all, prior to TripleMania. A tag match will cover for his weakness and allow AAA to promote the match without needing Cain to be there. It is also unlikely Velasquez is coming into AAA to lose, and Texano is the best choice of the three options to take a loss. AAA’s shown a Rey Escorpion promo for his feud with Psycho Clown so there at least was a plan for them to meet somewhere. There’s a lot of people in AAA and only 8 matches to fit them in, so squeezing both concepts in a tag match creates some space and
Konnan, on his podcast last week, strongly hinted towards the Young Bucks returning and a TripleMania rematch with the Lucha Brothers for the AAA Tag Team Titles makes the most sense timing wise. That would take Penta out of the possibilities for Velazquez. It would also mean Fenix loses the Mega title before TripleMania or there is no Mega title match on TripleMania. (Given who’s already busy and who could just as be used in other ways, it may make sense not to have a Mega title match at TripleMania anyway.)
Add an 05/19 in Villahermosa to the list of AAA tapings. Or potential tapings, since AAA also has a poster out for 05/18 in Tuxtla and hasn’t run a taping on back to back days in at least a decade.
The Impact versus Lucha Underground match happening on 03/04 as part of WrestleMania weekend is currently listed as Cage, Moose, and Eddie Edwards vs Drago, Daga, Aerostar, and King Cuerno. Johnny Impact (Mundo) was moved to a different match. Everyone believes King Cuerno has already been pulled from this match as part of leaving AAA – King Cuerno included! – so it is a little weird Impact bothered to put up a 3v4 graphic.
The Crash 04/13 in Auditorio de Tijuana
The Crash is still advertising Black Danger, so they’re thinking he isn’t going back to AAA.
Coahuila luchador Killer Cat is retiring after 20 years.
An interview with Illinois based luchador SWAT Kat mentions he’s promoting a show with LA Park (“Tapia”) sometime next month, mentions having promoted a show in Madison Square Garden (???) and encourages everyone to go vote next week.