CMLL Gran Prix tonight (but not airing live), Fenix, WR

Tonight is CMLL’s Gran Prix show. CMLL brought back the concept as an annual event in 2016. The first two really got strong reactions in Arena Mexico. Last year match (won by Michael Elgin) did not. The match didn’t really gel and there was a lack of a big moment in the match for any of the luchadors. This year’s show might have a bit of a challenge, just because so many of the US/Puerto Rico team are making their first or second appearance ever in Arena Mexico. CMLL fans should know Matt Taven pretty well and Jay Briscoe’s been around a few times now, but the rest have mostly just been seen in interviews or a single match. The Mexico side is really good, with guys like Rush & Negro Casas guaranteeing crowd instead. Still, this is not a layup.

These Gran Prix shows have been either just the cibernetico or maybe one more notable match. This one is slightly busier. The semi-main has Ciber & Ultimo on the opposite side of a Friday night match for the 10th time in the last 11 weeks. This remains a strange situation: CMLL usually waits to put tickets on sale for their major shows until they have a main event. Tickets are already on sale for the 09/27 show, something CMLL has not yet promoted, and no main event has been announced. That main event seems certain to be Ciber & Ultimo Guerrero. Making that official in front of a Gran Prix crowd seems like a good idea. If they don’t make it official tonight, then CMLL’s getting into even stranger territory. Caristico, Mistico, Titan, and Gilbert were seemingly picked to be in this match at random.

The third big match includes the smallest luchador. Microman and Chamuel settle their recent issues in a one fall match tonight. There’s some mask ripping and fouls involved but this is really just the best two micros in the division getting to have a singles match on a big show. Microman & Chamuel have had singles matches on spot shows but this will be the first micros 1v1 match in Arena Mexico since the division was relaunched. There’s a chance this is setting up a bigger match sometime next month – Chamuel wants Microman in a mask match on the Aniversario show – though I tend to doubt it for scheduling reasons. The finish will make it pretty clear either way; if Microman gets the win, that’s probably it for now.

Angel de Oro, Niebla Roja, and Valiente takes on Sanson, Cuatrero, and Templario in what is a random trios match but could be a good one if they have time. Atlantis Jr., Flyer & Audaz versus Rey Bucanero, Hijo del Villano III, Tiger would be a similar version of the same if CMLL had someone better than Bucanero in that spot. Marcela & Jarochita face Dalys & La Metalica. Metalica’s gotta have a better match this time out. This may be the last time we see Marcela & Dalys on Friday nights until they come back from Japan.

Sanely & Avispa Dorada are taking photos with fans today, Fray Tormenta is autographing the CMLL book, Star Jr. is on the TuriLuchas and Avispa is in Freedoms. Either CMLL bought a lot of those books or they don’t sell many of them a night to still be doing autographs. It’s a good book that I’ve never gotten around to writing about.

CMLL says this show is not streaming live. In the past, that usually means the show will be posted to the CMLL YouTube channel sometime after midnight. CMLL isn’t promising a release time; I would recommend not scheduling your night around it.

Lucha Central has a preview of the show.

Speaking of Michael Elgin: Lucha Libre Real says he’s coming in for their 09/21 show.

I got to see Fenix last night at AAW. He’s in that zone where he’s good enough to go for Saturday’s AEW show while also not being 100%. There’s a slight limp, slight enough to miss if you’re not looking for it, and he wasn’t quite as smooth on his trickiest high spot as other times I’ve seen him. He was just a little bit off. Maybe a couple more days will help him because it doesn’t look severe, but he could probably use more time off than that.

Laredo Kid beat Ace Austin in the first round of AAW’s Jim Lynam Tournament. That’s the first time Laredo Kid has gotten a win in AAW in Chicago (though he did get a win when they’ve run in Austin.) I liked that match but of course I’m going to like a Laredo Kid match. He faces Myron Reed in the second round. I assume Reed is going to win but that sounds like a strong matchup.

I’m headed to BLP/GCW tonight to see Black Taurus vs Arez vs Gringo Loco vs Ophidan vs Laredo Kid vs Rey Horus (match subject to change) and then also wonder what I’m doing going to a show that starts at 11 pm. You can find me near a wall, slowly dying.

WR (THU) 08/29/2019 WR Arena, Atizapán de Zaragoza, Estado de México [+LuchaTV]
1) Athon Montañez, Francois Montañez, Pierre Montañez b Cachorro Lagunero, Dr. Cerebro, Hellspawn Pro Wrestling Resurrection, desde la WR Arena (posted by mluchatv)
2) Stephanie Vaquer b Nicole Montañez Pro Wrestling Resurrection, desde la WR Arena (posted by +LuchaTV)
Hellspawn helped Vaquer win
3) Audaz (CMLL) b TemplarioStar Jr. Pro Wrestling Resurrection, desde la WR Arena (posted by mluchatv)
4) Karaoui b Atomic Star Pro Wrestling Resurrection, desde la WR Arena (posted by mluchatv)
5) Jean Montañez, Mr. Electro, Zumbi b Comando 1, Comando 2, Eterno Pro Wrestling Resurrection, desde la WR Arena (posted by mluchatv)
Jean Montañez Jr. seconded his father. La Comandante was with the Comandos. Mr. Electro attacked Montanez after the match.
6) Blue Panther b Black Terry Pro Wrestling Resurrection, desde la WR Arena (posted by mluchatv)
money thrown in
7) Ricky Marvin & Súper Crazy b Black Panther (CMLL) & Blue Panther Jr. Pro Wrestling Resurrection, desde la WR Arena (posted by mluchatv)

(Pro) Wrestling Resurrection is one of the few promotions who have me on their mailing list, so I definitely got an email about the new they were setting up (along with promo pics of Jean Montanez & Mr. Electro). The press release didn’t actually have an address for the arena and didn’t mention they were running a show yesterday. It just popped up in +LuchaTV randomly, a show in an eight-sided ring. This is a weird promotion.

A show in Tampico scheduled to be headlined by Ultimo Guerrero, La Bestia del Ring and Mr. Aguila vs Cibernetico, Charly Manson and Mesias was said to draw more than 5,000 people.

There hasn’t had a Nieto del Santo update in a while. Hijo del Santo told Ovaciones that his son is studying abroad and will not wrestle in Mexico until he finishes. It does sound like he’s planning on wrestling again, which hasn’t always been clear.

Villano III Jr. visited his father’s tomb with his newly won AAA Mixed Tag Championship. He noted that they were in mourning for Villano III last year at TripleMania and this year he won a championship. V3 Jr. has no memory of that match, he suffered a concussion and did not know the finish when he got to the back.

Pro Wrestling Mexico in Arena Coliseo Monterrey on 09/22

That’s probably the whole show.

That last match brings up another story about the AAW show last night. It was a good show but it was also a lengthy show. Nearly 3.5 hours when the show also confusingly starts a half later than the time I saw on the ticket is tough for a Thursday night. This was more problem just for me – I think a lot of people were starting a long weekend – but it was enough of a problem that I left within seconds of the main event finish. Which meant I was out in the street by the time Killer Kross made his AAW debut. I can not possibly escape this man. Is it possible he is stalking me from promotion to promotion? If so, does he appreciate me going to PWG shows? So many questions.

Dalys will be on the 09/16 Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling show as part of her and Marcela touring Japan.

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

Puma has a video on his latest trip to Japan.

Tomorrow’s AAA spot show in Torreon was canceled.

Hijo de Canis Lupus feels he’s surpassed the original.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 09/02/2019 Arena Puebla
1) Astro & Sonic vs Joker & Sombra Diabólika
2) Arkalis & King Jaguar vs El Malayo & Fuerza Chicana
3) Drone, Fuego, Toro Bill Jr. vs Perverso, Stigma, Universo 2000 Jr.[Relevos Increíbles]
4) Audaz vs Templario [lightning]
5) Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Volador Jr. vs Dragón Lee, Terrible, Valiente[Relevos Increíbles]
6) Euforia & Gran Guerrero © vs Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja [CMLL TAG]
2nd defense

A strange card. Audaz and Templario finally get to have their singles match on a show we can see, main event is a rematch of a very good tag title match, and two relevos increibles matches. At least one of those is for no reason. It would be funny if Volador & Dragon Lee get immediately set up for a rematch to try and improve over the last one though I suspect that’s not the outcome.

One thought to “CMLL Gran Prix tonight (but not airing live), Fenix, WR”

  1. Hey Cubs, please write about the CMLL book. I’ve been wanting that book, but I can’t order it in the U.S. I’d like to get an idea if it’s worth the hassle to buy it. I wish Amazon U.S. would carry it.

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