Here’s all the 1966 Mexico City lineups and results that are now in the database, in case that’s something you need. I haven’t gone deep in checking it out. I can already see a date discrepancy over a hair match and I’ve fixed things after making that backup.
7 things I took away from this year beyond the results:
EMLL’s booker passes away midway thru the year. Nothing really changes. Referee Jesus Lomelin is said to be the lead programmer and had been for a long time when he passed away in June. There are slight changes; Black Shadow gets flipped to being a heel, there are some new pushes later in the year. Those might have happened anyway. There’s no huge change in direction obvious through the rest of the year, with the replacements sticking close to those who were already on top. This felt a bit instructive to the current day CMLL situation.
Lucha libre movies were hurting lucha libre shows(in the short term.) 1965 was the Mexico City introduction of Mil Mascaras. 1966 should’ve been his big year. It was a big year for him to film two movies instead. Mil Mascaras is still around a fair amount, but EMLL never pushes him to the top. Santo is in and out filming movies as well. Blue Demon also spends most of his year filming movies, though it is unclear if he’s medically able to wrestle this year. Even Ray Mendoza is missing for a movie early on.
EMLL had played the same hand too long. I’d like to have Box Y Luchas from this time period (or any time period) to balance things out; Lucha Libre is pushing for new blood at the top even before this year starts. As best as we can tell based on the one source, it seems like the fans have tired of seeing the same people at top. This is year six of Rene Guajardo being the perennial middleweight champion, the rudo who is also acknowledged as the best guy (similar to today Ultimo Guerrero) and some sort of change is needed. It should be Mil’s moment but being seen as the Santo replacement film star stops him from being the Santo replacement in-ring star for this year. Lucha Libre magazine stumps hard for Jerry London in that top spot, though it seems unlikely to go to a foreigner in that time period. The answer seems to be Ray Mendoza, but EMLL deluding itself into believing Gory Guerrero would come back to Mexico City and do a job delay his ascension. It feels a protest vote when Lucha Libre calls Mendoza wrestler of the year. Guajardo’s the one who has had actual success but they’re tired of him.
This was a nothing year for Karloff Lagarde. I felt less positive about Karloff Lagarde’s Wrestling Observer HOF value. He’s NWA Welterweight champion without once defending in Arena Mexico all year. His only title match in Arena Mexico is losing the Arena Mexico Tag Team Championship. Lagarde’s only apuesta match is a hair loss to Jerry London, a setup match for the Aniversario. Lagarde is frequently in main events but typically only to be Rene Guajardo’s junior partner. He does get one singles win over Black Shadow early in the year, but he not main eventing much else on his own. It’s an accumulation year, but not one with any particular glory.
There is help on the way. The year ends with Angel Blanco & Dr. Wagner on the way up. Solitario’s getting some notice as a future star, though he hasn’t jumped out of the pack yet. Anibal has just made the leap to EMLL. The stars of the 70s are on their way.
Jerry London had one of the better years of an EMLL foreigner. Lucha Libre praised him so much that I was surprised they didn’t give him the wrestler of the year. It doesn’t look as impressive just in the results – a short title win, a hair match win and a hair match loss. It reads in instead like he was only supposed to be in for the title match, maybe not even the title switch, and he kept impressing enough that EMLL kept extending his stay. It appears to be his choice to leave, not EMLL letting him go when he loses again to Guajardo.
There are so many tournaments. Very few of them go anywhere or mean anything but I guess it must be over as a gimmick if they keep doing it.
CMLL (TUE) 07/23/2019Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) Cholo & Inquisidor b Bengala & Sonic
2) Amapola, La Seductora, Reyna Isis b La Jarochita, Maligna, Mystique rudas took 2/3
3) Dark Magic, Okumura, Universo 2000 Jr. b Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Star Jr. Rudos took 1/3 and unmasked Black Panther after the match
4) Pólvora b Tritón [lightning] 7:54. CMLL recap talks about Polvora’s strong run in lightning match. (Polvora lost his last lightning match versus Flyer in February, though he had won his three prior.)
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Flyer b Felino, Hechicero, Hijo del Villano III tecnicos took 2/3
6) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr. b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Terrible Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja challenged for the tag titles after their win. Straight falls.
CMLL (TUE) 07/23/2019Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Explosivo, Fantástico, Star Black b Carlo Roggi, Fúnebre, Paymon tecnicos took 2/3
2) Difunto, Hijo del Signo, Sangre Azteca b Hijo De Mano Negra, Príncipe Diamante, Vaquero Jr. debut of Hijo de Mano Negra. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Esfinge, Fuego, Rey Cometa b Disturbio, Sagrado, Vangellys Tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas b Místico, Titán, Valiente Peste Negra took 2/3.
5) Rush b Volador Jr. Rush took 1/3, sneaking in a foul on Volador in the third.
It is impressive how wins and losses generally mean nothing in CMLL – Polvora’s promo is about how his win should mean something, though we know he’ll be in the same position – but there are still some outcomes CMLL won’t do. Volador still hasn’t pinned Rush in the third fall of a singles match between them.
Hijo del Fantasma posted a video message Tuesday saying he’s finishing up his independent run. He’ll be on the 07/27 (Fresnillo) and 08/04 (Monterrey) Nacion Lucha Libre show and a TAO show in Queretaro on 07/30. Fantasma does not say what he’s moving onto, just “a new adventure.” That sounds like NXT. I’ve heard nothing particular with Fantasma and NXT of late, but it would explain his moves (forcing his way out of his LU deal & leaving AAA without any immediate destination) this year. There is supposed to be another wave of wrestlers starting in NXT in the next few months and Fantasma could be taking time off to get ready. It is interesting that Fantamsa joined Rebelion Amarilla during this period if he was planning on not being available to The Crash for long.
Impact Wrestling is scheduled to tape in Mexico City on 08/15 & 08/16, back in Fronton Mexico. They taped in Mexico City last in January. I’d expect to see some AAA wrestlers (Vikingo) be used on the main portion of the tapings. In the past, AAA’s appeared to use spots on the taping – mostly the Xplosion B-show – as an inducement to get indie workers to also work AAA tapings. The importance of Impact has greatly diminished in the US over the last five year but it still seems like a big deal to wrestlers who’ve dreamed of wrestling on US TV.
When Zeuxis left CMLL a year ago, she did an interview saying Paco Alonso allowed her to take a year off from the promotion and to come back at that time. It has been a year, so SuperLuchas asked Zeuxis if she’s going back to CMLL and if that deal is still on without Paco Alonso. Zeuxis indicated that she hoped that deal to return was still on, implying she’d like to return to CMLL. I’d still be surprised if that happened.
The Lucha Libre commissioner of Torreon says only two venues of the eight in his town met the technical requirements to hold lucha libre shows. Those are Arena Azteca & Arena Campeones (which was run by the Wagner family.) Arena La Rosita is rated as meeting 60% of the requirements, with everyone else between 70-85%. The problem are mostly having to do with proper dressing rooms for the luchadors: the lack of lights or bathrooms. The commissioner is concerned with how alcohol is sold but doesn’t think he can do much about it. He’s also concerned about extreme wrestling – noting a fan caught glass in her eye in a recent match – and says this will be the last year they’re allowed in Torreon.
Segunda Caida reviews the “lucha libre in an MMA show“, has not been told that the only people who understood the gimmick were also the promotor of the show.
Space produced a special on the Blue Demon Jr. versus Dr. Wagner match with superfans of both. It probably shouldn’t surprise me that there are superfans of Blue Demon Jr.
CMLL (SUN) 07/28/2019Arena México
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia
2) Arkalis, Oro Jr., Retro vs Cancerbero, Nitro, Raziel
3) Dulce Gardenia, Flyer, Rey Cometa vs Dark Magic, Kawato San, Misterioso Jr.
4) Blue Panther vs Máscara Año 2000 [lightning]
5) Kráneo, Místico, Volcano vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
6) Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, Soberano Jr. vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
A show. Mistico teaming with Los Gorilla del Ring seems odd, though it’s an obvious way to kepe him from facing his father and brother.
CMLL (MON) 07/29/2019Arena Puebla
1) King Jaguar & Meyer vs Policeman & Sombra Diabólika
2) Marcela vs Metálica [lightning]
3) Eléctrico, Millennium, Rey Samuray vs El Malayo, El Perverso, Virus
4) Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Stigma vs Felino, Hijo del Villano III, Tiger
5) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Mr. Niebla
6) Carístico, Euforia, Volador Jr. vs Dragón Lee, La Bestia Del Ring, Rush [Relevos Increíbles]
Perhaps something is coming up with Euforia given Monday’s win and this main event? I’d like to see Dragon Lee versus Euforia but that seems the least likely outcome.
CMLL did this same Marcela/Metalica program in this same building in April. It was fine. They don’t have many women they want to feature so this happens.
MDA (SUN) 08/11/2019Arena Naucalpan
1) Adamntium & Rojo vs Hijo De Furia & Puma de Oro
2) Alas de Oro & Alas De Plata vs Auzter & Fly Warrior
3) Ninja Jr. vs El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Black Warrior Jr., Hijo De Dos Caras
4) Herodes Jr. & Hijo de Pirata Morgan vs Apolo Estrada Jr. & El Divo
5) Caifan & Caifan II vs Trauma I & Trauma II
6) Carístico & Súper Nova vs Aramis & Imposible
Sure doesn’t seem like there’s going to be a lot of Sunday IWRG shows this summer. (Or maybe look it like there’s going to be a lot of Wednesday trainee shows.) There will be a lot of chops in the semi-main.
KAOZ (SUN) 08/11/2019Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Baby Xtreme & Quinto Elemento vs Kratoz & Oro Negro
2) Black Taurus & Silver Tiger vs Epydemius & Hijo Del Espectro and Golden Boy & Halcón Negro Jr.
3) Flamita & The Tiger vs Emperador Azteca (Indie) & Hijo del Volador
4) El Mesías, Mr. Electro, Sexy Dulce vs Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, Reina Oscura
5) Tiffany & Vazco Jr. vs Oriental & Rossy Moreno and Lady Flammer & Red Flamer [KAOZ MIXED TAG]
6) Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, LA Park Jr. vs Dragón Lee (CMLL), La Bestia Del Ring, Rush
The main event has Dragon Lee replacing Mistico in a Friday main event rematch. Tiffany & Vazco Jr. seem likely to win the just created mixed tag titles.
MDA (SAT) 09/07/2019Arena Pavilion del Norte, Saltillo, Coahuila
1) Eragón & Mini Hator vs Máscara Maligna & Mini Difunto
2) Guerrilero Jr. & Star Kid vs Babe Fox & Komander
3) Lince de Oro & Tormento Negro vs Hijo del Guerrero Negro & Latino
4) El Divo & Ninja Jr. vs Guerrero Negro Jr. & Hijo de Kato Kung Lee
5) Silver Star vs Espartaco
6) Caifan & Caifan II vs Hijo de Canis Lupus & Imposible
7) Argenis vs Jack Evans vs Dragón Bane
8) Carístico & Laredo Kid vs Penta 0M & Rey Fénix (Indie)
These Saltillo MDA shows turn up on Estrellas del Ring fairly often so you may be able to see this show. I’m more posting this about the semi-main; Argenis being on this show seems to confirm he’s switched to a freelance deal with AAA. I don’t think he’d be allowed on this show if he still had an AAA deal, and I’d imagine Caristico is going to push to get his brother on more of his indie shows.
