Sangre Azteca leaves CMLL, Caristico out cheats Rush, Super J Cup

a problem with diving onto 4 people

CMLL (MON) 08/12/2019 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Lucha CEntral]
1) Asturiano & Retro b Black Tiger & Policeman LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 12 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Tecnicos took 1/3
2) El Malayo & El Perverso b Halcón Suriano Jr. & Tigre Rojo Jr. LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 12 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
rudos took 1/3
3) Amapola, Dalys, La Comandante b La Magnifica, La Vaquerita, Marcela LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 12 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
La Magnifica replaced Mystique (injury). Rudas took 1/3.
4) Dulce Gardenia, Fuego, Stigma b Olímpico, Pólvora, Universo 2000 Jr. LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 12 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Soberano Jr., Último Guerrero b Cuatrero, Forastero, Místico, Sansón [Relevos IncreíblesLA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 12 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Guerreros took 1/3, UG stealing Mistico’s mask in the third. This set up a rematch for next week.
6) Carístico DQ Rush LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 12 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Rush unmasked Carisitco in the first, then Caristico tossed his mask to Rush to draw the DQ in the second.

Caristico & Rush was better than those finishes suggest. There was less to the semi-main but they’ll get another chance next week. This show was helped by another loud and big summer crowd in Puebla.

Tonight’s Arena Mexico is in-between feuds. The main event has Los Ingobernables against Caristico, Soberano and Stuka. It would be weird for CMLL to repeat the same feud in a different building so close together, but I guess we can’t totally rule out another Caristico & Rush issue. Atlantis, Kraneo, and Blue Panther are scheduled to face Negro Casas, Felino, and Hijo del Villano III. The younger Panthers team with Audaz vs Disturbio, Hechicero, and Misterioso in a usual midcard match. Reina Isis gets a lightning match with Marcela. That feels like a repeat but hasn’t happened before: it was scheduled on a show canceled due to the 2017 earthquake. The second match has Fuego, Pegasso and Stigma against Hijo del Signo, Nitro and a spot that is still listed as Sangre Azteca but probably won’t be. Metatron & Sonic versus Espanto Jr. & Grako opens the show. It starts at 7:30 pm.

Guadalajara has Mistico versus Cavernario, which is often pretty good.

Sangre Azteca announced he had decided to leave CMLL yesterday during a Facebook live stream. Azteca said he had the option of staying with CMLL but decided to leave for lack of opportunities and economic reasons. Azteca said he had talked to one promotion in particular about joining which would be announced soon and had not talked to AAA. CMLL rarely notes the departure of wrestlers and has said nothing about this one. Sangre Azteca came up with the name before coming to CMLL and says he owns it; the trademark database confirms this (though the address used is Arena Mexico so maybe there’s something more going on there.)

Sangre Azteca had been with CMLL a very long time: he debuted in 1997 and became a regular starting in 1998. Azteca looked like a future start around the turn of the century, including getting a lightning match with Ricky Marvin on the Villano III vs Atlantis mask match show. CMLL was much slower about pushing new people than they are even now, but Azteca rose to the level of a secondary champion by the mid-2000s. My favorite Sangre Azteca run was as part of Poder Mexica, first with Dragon Rojo & Black Warrior and later with Rojo & Misterioso. They were an effective unit against CMLL tecnicos and worked well together. Dragon Rojo got pulled up out of the group to become a Guerrero in 2010. That was something Sangre Azteca complained publicly, including saying he was angry at Ultimo Guerrero about over. Storyline that didn’t go anywhere, coincidence or something else, that was the end of Sangre Azteca being a notable upper-level luchador. Misterioso & Azteca did a break-up bit, which led to an Azteca unsuccessful year as a tecnico in 2011. He flipped back in 2012, and hasn’t really done much of note since. He wrestled a Friday night opener just a couple weeks ago, the first time in a long time Azteca been back in openers. That, and CMLL using Dark Magic to work twice instead of him, probably contributed heavily to this decision. Sangre Azteca was also doing training classes in France around the turn of the decade, which seems to have been passed over to Nitro.

There are not many people left from Sangre Azteca’s generation who are still in CMLL, especially among those who aren’t really pushed. Most of them have another role or have changed to them. Nitro is one. Having the head of the union job probably is the reason why. Virus is a trainer. Metalico just became a referee. Olimpico is the exception, though I wonder if there is another story beyond just being an old Ultimo Guerrero tag partner with that. Sangre Azteca was just getting about one booking a week and getting less for that one booking when they decided to put him back in the openers.

It probably would’ve been better for Sangre Azteca to leave around the time they proposed that tecnico turn, if even a little earlier. There just wasn’t anywhere for him to go. He’s never got a style or shown a personality that would be a natural fit in AAA and there weren’t a lot of other steady options. 2011 was also just at the end of the Mistico-led boom, which meant most everyone was making good money working in CMLL and no one was in a hurry to strike out on their own. The safer choice was to just keep his head down and hope that things would get better. They never really did.

It is unfortunate that a 2010 Sangre Azteca wasn’t coming onto the indies now. The big increase in the middle class of promotions – both the MDA/Generacion XXI types trying to a couple of dozen shows per year – would be all over a guy like that. Even this Sangre Azteca might be in a demand for promotions always looking for new names, at least for one time thru, because there’s seems to always be spots to fill. Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria were pushed in AAA before they left, unlike Sangre Azteca in CMLL, but they don’t seem like that much bigger stars. I’ve got Scoria getting at least 36 matches so far this year, so he’s hitting the one match a week mark pretty easily, and they get to do a more variety of matches that someone stuck in the lower midcard of CMLL. It’s probably a lot more work to get those bookings but it can be done. Sangre Azteca sounds like he’s already worked out one; I’m guessing we’ll see him in Nacion Lucha Libre soon.

(Who would be the 2010-ish Sangre Azteca who are still on the CMLL roster? Fuego & Drone are the two who always come to mind, but Black Panther might fit even better bet. Even a guy like Guerrero Maya seems like CMLL has given up on doing anything with. Puma King definitely was in that situation and did leave. But it’s hard to leave behind CMLL if all you’ve wanted to be since you were a kid was to be a wrestler in Arena Mexico, and it takes many years of small indignities to make that move.)

The full bracket for NJPW’s Super J Cup has been announced. In the first round on 08/22 in Seattle, Soberano Jr. faces Rocky Romero, Caristico faces BUSHI and Dragon Lee faces YOH. Caristico & Soberano would meet in the second round (08/24 in San Francisco), though it’s unlikely they’ll both win their first-round matches. The final is on 08/25 in San Francisco. Dragon Lee has the best chance of being in it.

Dr. Wagner Jr. was announced for the Impact tapings in Mexico City. He’ll just be on the Friday show; they’re running Thursday as well. AAA isn’t running this week because they lend support to these Impact tapings. I’d expect more AAA wrestlers to be part of the show; Impact’s slowly rolling out matches for these tapings on social media today.

Sangre Chicana lost his hair to Satanico last night in Nuevo Laredo in what was billed as his farewell match.

09/07 The Crash lineup

Pro Wrestling Mexico announced they’ll be back on 09/22.

An article on lucha libre in Cancun, which has four promotions at the moment.

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

+LuchaTV has a new edition of their podcast.

Lineups

CMLL (SAT) 08/17/2019 Arena Coliseo
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Príncipe Diamante vs Cholo, Espíritu Negro, Inquisidor
3) Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, Sanely vs Amapola, Dalys, Metálica
4) Stuka Jr. vs Felino [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Titán vs Hechicero, Negro Casas, Templario
6) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Místico vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero

The fifth match is this week’s promising Arena Coliseo match we won’t see. Dalys & Metalica teaming one day after they fight.

CMLL (SUN) 08/18/2019 Arena México
1) Retro & Sangre Imperial vs El Coyote & Yago
2) La Guerrera, La Jarochita, La Maligna vs Dalys, La Comandante, La Seductora
3) Black Panther, El Audaz, Rey Cometa vs Sagrado, Universo 2000 Jr., Vangellys
4) Tritón vs Hijo del Villano III [lightning]
5) Diamante Azul, Kráneo, Titán vs Dark Magic, Rey Bucanero, Terrible
6) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Dragón Lee, Soberano Jr., Valiente

If Villano III is beating Black Panther, he’s probably beating Triton. Main event looks fun.

Caristico/Rush tonight, MDA, Friday Arena Mexico lineup

MDA (SUN) 08/11/2019 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV]
1) Adamntium & Rojo vs Hijo De Furia & Puma de Oro MDA Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
2) Auzter & Fly Warrior b Alas de Oro & Alas De Plata Alas de Oro y Alas de Plata vs Fly Warrior y Auzter con MDA en la Arena Naucalpan (posted by Estrellas del Ring) MDA Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
3) Ninja Jr. b El Hijo del Medico AsesinoBlack Warrior Jr.Hijo De Dos Caras MDA Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes) Ninja Jr vs Hijo del Medico Asesino vs Hijo de Dos Caras vs Warrior Jr en MDA (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
4) Apolo Estrada Jr. & El Divo b Herodes Jr. & Hijo de Pirata Morgan Chacho Herodes Jr e Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Apolo Estrada Jr y el Divo con MDA (posted by Estrellas del Ring) MDA Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
Ninja & Black Warrior got involved.
5) Trauma I & Trauma II b Caifan & Caifan II Los Traumas I y II vs Los Caifanes I y II con MDA en la Arena Naucalpan (posted by Estrellas del Ring) MDA Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
6) Carístico & Súper Nova b Aramis & Imposible Caristíco y Super Nova vs Imposible y Aramis con MDA en la Arena Naucalpan (posted by Estrellas del Ring) MDA Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
sets up a tag title match

MDA shows continue to draw well, though I didn’t hear much about the matches.

Today’s Arena Puebla show is headlined by Caristico versus Rush. The two did some remodeling last week, leveling the front two rows to throw them at each other. I’d expect a bit of that again this week. This is the fifth singles match they’ve had, with Caristico only winning once by DQ. A clean finish seems highly unlikely.

The semi-main has an atomicos, with Mistico teaming versus NGD against the Guerreros & Soberano. This seems like a match just to do a different match, but perhaps they’ll come up with from it. The rest of the show is nothing much interesting. Dulce Gardenia, Fuego and Stigma take on Polvora, Olimpico, and Universo in the fourth match. The women’s match is supposed to include Vaquerita (who hasn’t been around much) and Mystique (who’s out hurt); there will be changes, but also still Dalys winning. Halcon Suriano teams with Tigre Rojo against Malayo & Perverso. Asturiano turns up for the first time in a couple of months, teaming with Retro against Black Tiger & Policeman. The show will air at 9 pm on CMLL’s YouTube.

There’s a Sangre Chicana versus Satanico hair match tonight in Arena Cuatro Caminos.

AAA posted the generic ad copy for the LA show today on Facebook. They did so yesterday on Instagram. This appears to be the first time AAA’s mentioned the LA show since June. If you can make sense out why AAA can promote this (very occasionally) on social media but aren’t allowed to mention it on shows, let me know. My only guess is the person (or app) posting these things hasn’t been told what the announcers have been told.

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 08/16/2019 Arena México
1) Robin & Star Jr. vs Cancerbero & Raziel
2) Átomo, Gallito, Microman vs Chamuel, Mije, Perico Zacarías
3) Atlantis Jr., Flyer, Soberano Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
4) Metálica vs Dalys [CMLL Universal de Amazonas, final]
5) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Titán vs Cuatrero, Gilbert el Boricua, Sansón
6) Volador Jr. vs Forastero
7) Carístico, Ciber the Main Man, Valiente vs Dragón Lee, Místico, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

They’re trying to have a good match with Ciber & Ultimo Guerrero by surrounding them other people who might move around a bit. It’s an idea. Maybe not a great idea but there are no great ideas right now.

Forastero specifically asked for a title match but really Forastero should feel lucky to get a Friday night main event.

After all this time with the tournament, the final is still fourth from the top. People thought CMLL might put the women in the main event for that championship and not so much. Things haven’t changed that much here even with Sofia in charge (and not having back to back singles matches is more important, weirdly.)

It’d be shocked if Metalica won. Like jaw on the floor shocked.

IWRG (SUN) 08/18/2019 Arena Naucalpan
1) Brazo De Oro Jr. & Puma de Oro vs Death Metal & Neza Kid
2) Atomic Star, Black Dragón, Manchas vs Dragón Fly, Marado, Mosca
3) Auzter, Dinamic Black, Freelance vs Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Fly Warrior
4) Jessy Ventura, Ovett, Súper Nova, Zumbi vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Ave Rex, Herodes Jr., Hijo de Pirata Morgan
5) Dragón Bane, Imposible, The Tiger vs Eterno, Trauma I, Trauma II
6) Blue Demon Jr., Hijo de Canis Lupus, Marshe Rockett vs Demonio Infernal, El Mesías, Máscara Año 2000 Jr.

Marshe Rocket is back as part of the tie-up with Chicago’s GAW. That has Dragon Bane & Hijo de Canis Lupus working in Berwyn at the end of September, though they could’ve had better opponents to work with.

Seattle’s Ave Rex, who interfered in a match a couple of weeks ago, makes his debut here. He has been (and once again?) training in CMLL’s school.

Fenix defends his title (!!!) in good AAA show in Saltillo, CMLL weekend results, MLW/The Crash

It took too much time to combine live w/replays to not use this GIF

AAA TV (SAT) 08/10/2019 Lienzo Charro Prof. Enrique Gonzalez, Saltillo, Coahuila [AAA, Lucha Centralthecubsfan]
1) Eclipse, Komander, Lady Shani b Australian Suicide, La Hiedra, Villano III Jr.  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
11:14. Shani beat Villano III Jr. with a northern lights suplex. Komander AAA TV debut.
2) Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana b Argenis, Dinastía, Niño Hamburguesa  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
10:25. Cota top rope splash on Dinastia after Argenis betrayed Nino Hamburguesa earlier.
3) Golden Magic, Hijo Del Vikingo, Myzteziz Jr. b Dave The Clown, Monsther Clown, Parka Negra  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
11:28. Vikingo beat Dave with a reverse 450 on Dave after a La Parka distraction.
4) Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly b Aerostar, Drago, Willie Mack  (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
13:03. Super Fly won with a foul on Drago
5) Fénix © b Laredo KidPuma KingTaurus [AAA HEAVY (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
15:59. 2nd defense, 1st on TV. Unannounced title match. Fenix won with a spinning valagueza driver.
6) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Psycho Clown b Blue Demon & Rey Escorpión [super libre (posted by Lucha Libre AAA (Twitch))
15:08. Dr. Wagner was earlier convinced to not retire after all. He beat Demon via casita cleanly, though Los Mercenarios beat him up after.

+LuchaTV posted after the show promos with Dr. Wagner (definitely not retiring), Blue Demon, Laredo Kid (wants a 1v1 with Fenix still), OGTs, La Hiedra, La Parka (says Dave still isn’t worth having a mask vs mask match with), Aerostar (wants Monster Clown to agree to the mask match), Monster Clown, Konnan (still set on a retirement tour, will beat up Vampiro if he messes with it), Drago, Poder del Norte, Nino Hamburguesa, Argenis, Myzteziz Jr., Golden Magic, Lady Shani, and Mr. Iguana, who wrestled in a dark match and teased coming to AAA soon.

Another good show, with the crowd being very into the idea of Wagner not retiring and every match being at least good. While the main event was the expected revenge win, they did a lot more in the undercard to tease ideas. It’s AAA so Argenis starting a rudo turn may never get followed up on but they weren’t doing a quiet taping. The matches were worked very hard, with Viknogdoing impossible things and Komander’s double rotation dive getting a lot of attention.

The title match could’ve used any build up at all – the announcers hyped it at the beginning of the show but there was no other set up, and no mention of who was even in the match until right before it. Maybe it’ll be smoother when they air on TV, but it wasn’t really a great way to get people excited for it live and it showed in the reactions to it early on. It didn’t affect the work, which was top notch. There’s not another AAA show for a month but this is still worth paying the VOD fee for on its own.

The bit with Wagner deciding to unretire was superbly done. It is hilarious that he’s coming out of retirement after one week (and missing zero matches), but it was never a match stipulation. It was something Wagner said as a response to LA Park, and those two guys are crazy enough to maybe have planned this whole thing out thru unretirement themselves. Remember, LA Park attacked Blue Demon after TripleMania last week because he was upset about how Demon had won the match and retired Wagner, backing up Wagner’s belief that he shouldn’t retire because he was robbed in the match.

Zero mention of the AAA shows in New York & Los Angeles. The Instagram has posted the generic art work for both shows but that’s it. AAA’s not responded to people asking about the status of those shows. With no show until 09/08, it seems like the next AAA news should be about those shows (but it’d be totally AAA not to say anything until even later than that.)

Mexa Wrestling (SAT) 08/10/2019 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México [Lucha CentralThe Gladiatores]
1) Adamantium, Blue Monster Jr., Rojo b Eurus, Hijo De Furia, Kunai
2) Demasiado & Yawi b Denebola & Lady Cat and Dinámico & Tiago
3) Hechicero b Flamita
good match despite the middle rope breaking during it.
4) Imposible b Fly WarriorLátigoPríncipe AéreoFreelance
5) Atomic Star, Demonio Infernal, Lunatik Extreme b Alas de Acero, Cobre, Iron Kid and Fresero Jr., Fulgor I, Terremoto
Atomic Star replaced Eterno (AAA). Fresero wants a title match with Demonio Infernal.
6) The Tiger b Séptimo DragónAudaz (CMLL)Último Maldito
The Tiger & Audaz ended up swapping masks during the match and made challenges after.
7) Marcela b Lady Flammer
fight continued after the match
8) Black Terry b Toxin
mask pulling and fouls involved in the finish. Terry talked about wanting anothe

The Hechicero/Flamita match got the most praise of anything on the show. It was held early because Hechicero needed to get to Arena Coliseo and suffered from the middle rope breaking on Hechicero’s splash spot, but it still sounds like it turned out well. There was also a mystery show in Arena San Juan that I think was earlier that day but I’m not really sure

CMLL (SAT) 08/10/2019 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Angelito & Shockercito b Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Disturbio, Hijo del Signo, Yago b Eléctrico, Magia Blanca, Príncipe Diamante
rudos took 1/3. Diamante got hurt in the third fall (on a dive that wasn’t caught correctly), and the rudos unmasked the tecnicos.
3) Tiger b Drone [lightning]
4) Dark Magic, Olímpico, Sagrado b Black Panther, Fuego, Rey Cometa
Rudos took 1/3.
5) Felino, Hechicero, Rey Bucanero b Atlantis, Flyer, Súper Astro Jr.
Super Astro Jr. replaced Blue Panther (in the US.) Rudos took 1/3.
6) Gran Guerrero, Templario, Último Guerrero b Carístico, Místico, Titán
Rudos took 1/3, UG pulling Mistico’s mask to pin him and setting up a singles match next week.

Tiger talked about his win. CMLL booking isn’t to make any sense and I still get annoyed when I see Olimpico get wins (I’m the fool.)

CMLL (SUN) 08/11/2019 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia b Fantasy & Kaligua
rudos took 2/3
2) Disturbio, Universo 2000 Jr., Virus b Blue Panther Jr., Drone, Star Jr.
Rudos took 1/3.
3) Guerrero Maya Jr. DQ Hijo del Signo [lightning]
Hijo del Signo replaced Misterioso. Match ended quickly when Signo accidentally unmasked Maya.
4) Dark Magic, Hijo del Villano III, Pólvora b Flyer, Príncipe Diamante, Volcano
Principe Diamante replaced Blue Panther. Rudos took 1/3.
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Kráneo DQ Hechicero, Rey Bucanero, Terrible
Tecnicos took 2/3, the last when Kraneo unmasked Terrible.
6) Carístico, Místico, Valiente b Euforia, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero
tecnicos took 2/3, Mistica on UG.

There was a tribute show for Blue Panther in Houston this weekend, so there’s a good chance he was never making either show. CMLL shouldn’t have had to scramble for Super Astro and Principe Diamante in higher than usual spots, but they did. Not sure what’s going on there.

Hijo del Signo and Guerrero Maya talked about their match, which Maya disliked even winning. You can see the finish in the Maya clip, Signo pulled off Maya’s mask on a snap mare and ended the match in less than two minutes. It’s Signo’s fault for failing to do the move correctly and he reacts by kicking Pompin, who never takes physical punishment (he’s so old.) Probably not a good day for Signo but none of this ever seems to matter.

Funny to see CMLL do an indecisive finish on Saturday with Mistico & Ultimo Guerrero to build up a match and then do the very decisive finish the next day.

Paymon took Chakal’s hair in the Arena Coliseo Guadalajara cage match.

MLW announced a partnership with The Crash. Bestia 666 & Rey Horus of The Crash have been on recent MLW shows; Bestia was literally summoned from hell on a recent episode. I feel like Whatsapp is probably an easier way to get a hold of him but Salina de la Renta had lost her phone at that moment so you do what you have to do. Bestia’s involved with The Crash operations, so that’s the connection. The Crash is always looking for new sources of foreign talent to bring in and having a promotional alliance helps with as the selection continues to dwindle. Meanwhile, MLW has been helped drawing a lot by bringing in Mexico talent (or at least LA Park/Fenix/Penta) and someone on that side helping them connect with talent could help. On the other hand, The Crash now has partnerships with CMLL and MLW while using NXT UK people and it’s all very confusing. The only thing we really care about it is “does this mean The Crash shows will be taped?” and I’m not sure that changes that.

Mr. Niebla wrestled Sunday in Mexico City, his first known match since July 23rd. +Lucha’s report says Niebla was returning from an injury. He’s currently not listed on any CMLL cards (though we only really know thru Tuesday.) Still no sign of Kawato.

Near the end of Vampiro’s latest video, he mentions he’s been unemployed for the last year, paid all his medical expenses himself, wants to get stem cell treatments in December and asks his fans if it would be appropriate for him to start a Go Fund Me page for it since he doesn’t believe he’ll be able to come up with the $22,000 he needs by himself. Vampiro’s previously indicated he was still with AAA all this time. Vampiro believes the stem cell treatment would fix all his issues, including his brain disorders. The Go Fund Me page has not opened at least check.

A lucha libre expo is planned for Villahermosa on 09/01.

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

AAA on Twitch: 2019-08-10 (Saltillo)

no strings

Recapped: 08/10/2019

All matches took place in Lienzo Charro Prof. Enrique Gonzalez, Saltillo, Coahuila

Matches:

Komander, Eclipse, Lady Shani beat Australian Suicide, Villano III Jr., La Hiedra
(11:14, Lady Shani northern lights suplex Villano III Jr., good, 00:18:43)

Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana beat Argenis, Dinastia, Niño Hamburguesa
(10:25, Cota top rope splash Dinastia, good, 00:55:27)

Golden Magic, Hijo Del Vikingo, Myzteziz Jr. beat Dave The Clown, Monsther Clown, Parka Negra
(11:28, Hijo del Vikingo Reverse 450 splash Cuerno de Vikingo Dave The Clown, good, 01:15:16)

Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly beat Aerostar, Drago, Willie Mack
(13:03, Super Fly foul Drago, good, 01:36:32)

Fénix © beat Laredo Kid, Puma King, Taurus for the AAA World Heavyweight Championship
(15:59, Fenix spinning valagueza driver Laredo Kid, great, 02:00:05)

Dr. Wagner Jr. Psycho Clown beat Blue Demon, Rey Escorpión,
(15:08, Dr. Wagner Jr. casita Blue Demon, good, 02:27:51)

What happened:

the champ

Dr. Wagner Jr. is not retiring from lucha libre. The combined effort of Psycho Clown, Nino Hamburguesa and Hijo del Vikingo pleaded with him to rethink his decision, as did the fans. It was finally Blue Demon’s arrogance which convinced Wagner that he was robbed at TripleMania and he should continue fighting. Wagner continued fighting in the main event, cleanly defeating Demon. This was before the traditional AAA ending of Los Mercenarios beating everyone and posing with Psycho Clown’s mask. Texano took part in the no DQ part of the match despite not otherwise being on the card. Eterno also appeared in the main event, seemingly just to take a table bump.

Fenix got his wish and defended the AAA Mega Championship on this card. He beat Laredo Kid cleanly for his first TV defense after a year.

Super Fly beat Drago with a foul after Drago had misted Averno. Monster Clown attacked Aerostar after his match and the OGTs beat up the other tecnicos.

La Parka’s music and slow walk halfway to the ring was enough to distract Dave the Clown in his match. Vikingo might have won anyway but definitely won after.

Argenis betrayed Nino Hamburguesa late in their match, then declared it was the fans fault for not supporting him enough.

Thoughts:

a little bit off

Another strong AAA TV card, with every match worth watching and some great. The unannounced title match was great, though the Wagner un-retirement angle was probably the best thing on the show. There was a lack of crowd reactions on this show; there’s a lot of matches that feel the same but have different levels of difficulty, and that may be a factor. If you just want more of AAA, they’re giving you it.

The main event was the match that broke the form from the rest of the show most by fitting the mold of most AAA main events. Tecnicos got destroyed for a long time, came back to do all their big spots, and Psycho went thru a wooden object. The twist was an actual clean finish, but AAA got back on the well-trodden path by having the rudos beat him up with no one making the save after. There’s plenty of reasons Wagner isn’t actually retiring – no one actually retiring in Mexico being the big one – but it stands out that one big reason is the Wagner/Demon is really over. The fans legitimately dislike Demon, instead of just booing him because he happens to be a rudo right now. Wagner’s un-retirement bit was great and was really over because the crowd is so into him after the TripleMania match. It won’t last forever, it didn’t last long when Wagner lost his mask, but it makes sense to keep running with this. I expect there will be another Demon/Wagner match before the end of the year.

Fenix clapping, desperate for some sort of reaction, felt like a replay of his match with Bandido & Flamita from Aguascalientes. The crowd did come around late as the near falls became bigger, though it still felt like a great match for a crowd not totally prepared for it. (A segment setting up the match, rather the four being thrown out there with no notice, would’ve helped a great deal.) Ignoring the reaction, this title match was a lot of fun and the reason Fenix becoming Mega champion was so exciting in the first place. If Fenix is involved, the title match is going to be great, and this was great. The other three guys matched him. This felt like Puma King’s best performance in AAA, pulling off stuff we’ve rarely seen from him. Taurus seems to have taken something from the well respected PWG match and decided to build in more spots of him just destroying everyone in the ring. It worked especially well for a multiman match like this, and they pulled it off a couple of times. Laredo Kid versus Fenix was as good as hoped and really as good as it’s been in the past. I just was left a bit surprised Laredo was the one who ate the pin. Maybe they wanted to clear up challengers before getting to Omega, maybe they feel Laredo/Fenix is so good that they can keep going back to it no matter the finish, or maybe Laredo’s just bumped into a ceiling he can’t break thru again.

Taurus vs the World

The Aerostar led trios had trouble matching some of the insanity that preceded it. It was still a solidly worked match with some highlights. Super Fly versus Drago is an interesting direction if AAA plans on following it, though it’ll take more before believing it’s a real thing. Aerostar did cool stuff without falling from a high place, who knew. The crowd had no idea who Willie Mack was, but he knows which spots get over with a new crowd and they worked here too.

Dave the Clown, Monster Clown, and Parka Negra aren’t exactly the best trio in the world to get over the Jinetes. Doesn’t matter. The Jinetes have reached a point where they can have exciting highspot matches even with Dave the Clown. Golden Magic and Myteziz had good moments and really didn’t seem that far behind Hijo del Vikingo. It’s just the Vikingo kid still does a few things that no one else can do. There was a point where Vikingo started a Si Se Puede chant and it was totally absurd – we can’t do what he can. The AAA crowd has latched on to Vikingo as a star and he plays to them better than most guys trying his highspots. Vikingo probably shouldn’t need help to beat Dave the Clown, but you pick your battles and La Parka got a big reaction doing literally nothing.

Poder del Norte matches are always good. Their match here was a lesser version of it; like the Jinetes match, it mostly seemed to exist to give the established team a win in a strange fashion. Argenis was fine but is surpassed in skills by the younger tecnicos and isn’t as over as the older ones. I don’t know that a rudo act is going to work for him, but what he was doing at the moment had no chance. (I also don’t know if he’s going to be back any time soon to follow up on it, given how low he seems on the depth chart.) Dinastia lived after the finish but I’m not sure how.

The opener seemed to speed up and slow down for no reason and similarly flipped between each side being in control at random moments. It had enough action to cover up those deficiencies. Komander’s dive looked great, probably would’ve been a lot better had someone caught it, not exactly sure I blame people for not wanting to catch that. Komander may have gotten more over as a repeated victim to Australian Suicide and Villano III Jr.’s big moves. They worked well as a weirdo team here. Shani pinning Villano III Jr. (again!) feels like it should set up something but there’s no setting up things with AAA title matches. They just happen.

Villano III vs ramps

UG remains champ (and Aniversaro remains cloudy), Dalys advances, Forastero/Volador, AAA on Twitch tonight

a good Skadi moment

CMLL (FRI) 08/09/2019 Arena México [CMLL, ESTOLucha CentralThe Gladiatoresthecubsfan]
1) Magnus & Oro Jr. b Nitro & Sangre Azteca LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 9 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
12:54. Tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Atlantis Jr., Dulce Gardenia, Titán b Ephesto, Mephisto, Okumura LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 9 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
13:19. Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Dalys b LluviaSiluetaLa ComandanteMystiqueStephanie VaquerLa JarochitaSkadiReina IsisLa Magnifica [CMLL Universal de Amazonas, semifinalLUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 9 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
24:27. Order of elimination: Comandante (Skadi), Vaquer (Jarochita), Mystique (Magnifica), Skadi (Lluvia), Silueta (Isis), Magnifica (Jarochita), Lluvia (Dalys), Isis (Jarochita), Jarochita (Dalys)
4) Cuatrero, Negro Casas, Sansón b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Valiente LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 9 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
11:15. Tecnicos took 1/3.
5) Último Guerrero © b Ciber the Main Man [CMLL HEAVYLUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 9 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
7:51. UG took falls 2/3, the last when he was fouled but fell on Ciber as he was faking a foul. fourth defense
6) Euforia, Forastero, Gran Guerrero b Diamante Azul, Dragón Lee, Volador Jr. LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 9 DE AGOSTO DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
6:08. Straight falls, the last when Forastero pinned Volador after a foul (and the referee failed to avoid seeing it.)

CMLL promos: Dalys talked about her win, Forastero is going for the championship, Ciber wants another shot at his title.

Press room interviews: Forastero declared he’ll erase all of Volador’s title reigns, Sanson & Cuatrero say Forastero will prove they’re just as dangerous as individuals, Dalys is already looking past Metalica to the title match with Marcela, and Ciber talks about his match.

This show wasn’t much better than last week. The segunda was a rare CMLL Friday night match of late that I liked, but there was plenty I didn’t. Besides the match quality, everything feels inevitable in an unpleasing way. Volador’s probably going to beat Forastero in an overly familiar underwhelming match. Dalys is probably going to be Metalica and then Marcela for the women’s championship soon. Ultimo Guerrero is probably going to win Ciber’s hair at the Aniversario show. None of these are things I’m anticipating.

It’s at least worth noting Ciber didn’t seem into the hair match yet. Maybe they’re slow-playing this story out, maybe he’ll suddenly agree next week, but they sent people home thinking maybe the match is happening instead of definitely the match is happening. It’s just that, unless CMLL’s doing Forastero/Volador (!?!) or something else outside the box, there’s no alternative match being hinted at.

Mystique broke her left clavicle taking La Magnifica’s Gory Bomb during the cibernetico according to her Twitter. She was getting medical attention after getting pinned but it wasn’t immediately obvious how bad it was. She’s scheduled to be on Monday’s Arena Puebla show but will obviously be out for a while.

I think it is interesting CMLL used green for the new Campeona Universal de las Amazonas belt. I probably would’ve just gone with the same belt as the men. The green makes it feel like a WBC boxing belt.

Caristico, Soberano, and Stuka defeated Hechicero, Templario and Barbaro Cavernario last night in ROH’s match in Toronto. The match was at the upper level of expectations, a match just to have a spectacle with no specific direction. (The only hint of a direction was including Silas Young on commentary. It might be setting up a match for the upcoming ROH/CMLL tour or it is otherwise an inexplicable decision to include a grumpy character talking about a fun match.) The big news on the show was Rush emerging as the next challenger Matt Taven and ROH’s main title. It seemed like that was a slow story being saved for ROH’s Final Battle show in December, but it is instead reported as taking place in Las Vegas, which would be the 09/27 show instead.

(This has the feel of reminding the teacher to assign homework but – what happened to Kenny King coming to CMLL in August? CMLL’s still not mentioned him and we’ve got cards thru half the month.)

AAA has its second and last August show tonight in Saltillo. The Twitch stream start time is now 8:45 CT. (The original poster had 7. Things changed.) The long gap between shows might mean this is just a standalone show of rehashing TripleManai with not a lot of going forward. That still might be fine.

Dr. Wagner & Blue Demon rematch in the main event, teaming with Fenix, Psycho Clown, Rey Escorpion and Taurus. There may also be a brick. Wagner is likely to get some revenge to keep this feud going. Laredo Kid, who’s been great in all of his singles matches, faces Puma King in the semi-main. Willie Mack makes his first AAA TV appearance since 2013 (and the canceled 2015 Guerra de Titanes show), alongside Aerostar & Drago against the OGTs. The new Jinetes face Dave the Clown, Monsther Clown and Parka Negra, who we haven’t seen much the last few months. Poder del Norte get Nino Hamburguesa, Argenis and a to be announced wrestler. Villano III Jr., Australian Suicide and La Hiedra face Dinastia, Eclispe and Lady Shani in the opener; AAA is overrunning with rudos when those guys are the opening match.

The matches probably won’t start until after 9, so this’ll be a late one. I’d recommend the VOD, except this is the wrong time to get it unless you want to go back to TripleMania. The next show is nearly a month away and a long time after that until another one.

Nothing really notable on the AAA vs ELITE show in Zumpango last night but there are results if you’re needing them.

Other shows on Saturday

  • MexaWrestling has Summer Course with Flamita vs Hechicero, assuming Hechicero makes it back from Toronto (and Arena Coliseo) in time. Toxin takes on Black Terry among other multi-man matches.
  • An Aguascalientes show with LA Park vs Ciber vs Diamante Azul vs Mesias is listed as airing on +LuchaTV, I can’t recall seeing any more than highlights from Aguascalientes so maybe that’s what this is.
  • CMLL has a regular Arena Coliseo show
  • Gym Hercules has a Psycho Wrestler show with Negro Casas vs Diva Salvaje.
  • Dragon Lee is wrestling in San Diego.

Sunday

Fenix is announced for a 5 pm show in Arena Lopez Mateos on September 16th. It’s him and the LA Park kids versus Dragon Lee, Bestia del Ring, and Barbaro Cavernario. Two shows for Fenix just seems like the start of things.

An interview with Cuatula’s Cheroke Rockstar. His family convinced him to retire after winning an extreme match, he later attended a show as a fan, someone no-showed and they talked him into coming back as a replacement.

Lineup

Lucha Libre Vanguardia (SUN) 09/01/2019 Centro de Alto Rendimento The Crash, Ecatepec, Estado de México
1) Caballero De Atena, Falcón Fire, Gasparin, Lobo Blanco vs ?, Calibus, Memo Romero, Shere Khan
2) Dayami & Lluvia vs Pumara & Tiffany
3) Jimmy vs Aramis
4) Audaz (CMLL) & Negro Casas vs Aero Boy & Draztick Boy
5) Flamita vs El Bandido

This is no longer being called Dragon Gate Mexico, with them borrowing the name of the new Hidalgo promotion instead. I’m excited for this one. Flamita & Bandido is always good. Aero & Draztick as a team are a good counterpoint to Audaz & Casas. (I think it weirdly might be a better match US style tag than Mexico, though not sure if it’d work for the crowd.) Jimmy versus Aramis is exactly a match I want to see, to see if the work Jimmy’s put in for Dragon Gate can pay off back home. It’s got the +LuchaTV logo and I hope we get to see the top matches relatively soon.

CMLL on Marca: 2019-08-09

my thoughts exactly

Recapped: 08/09/2019

Matches:

Magnus & Oro Jr. beat Nitro & Sangre Azteca
(12:54 [6:48, 3:08, 2:58], 2/3, below average, 00:00:00)

Atlantis Jr., Dulce Gardenia, Titán beat Ephesto, Mephisto, Okumura
(13:19 [3:27, 4:33, 5:19], 1/3, good, 00:20:36)

The dumb battle royal went 3:47

Dalys beat Lluvia, Silueta, La Comandante, Mystique, Stephanie Vaquer, La Jarochita, Skadi, Reina Isis, La Magnifica in the CMLL Universal de Amazonas semifinal
(24:27, ok, 00:44:10)

  • 09:38 Skadi middle rope dropkick La Comandante
  • 11:17 Jarochita faceslam Vaquer
  • 13:32 Magnifica Vertabreaker Mystique
  • 15:52 Lluvia corner dropkick Skadi
  • 19:03 Reina Isis frontcracker Silueta
  • 19:55 La Jarochita Gory Bomb La Magnifica
  • 21:13 Dalys swinging slam Lluvia
  • 24:03 La Jarochita tapita Reina Isis
  • 24:27 Dalys spinning crucifix powerbomb La Jarochita

Cuatrero, Negro Casas, Sansón beat Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Valiente
(11:15 [3:13, 3:09, 4:53], 1/3, ok, 01:20:30)

Último Guerrero © beat Ciber the Main Man to retain the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
(7:51, 2/3, below average, 01:42:37)

  1. Ciber spear (2:15)
  2. Ultimo Guerrero Pulpo Guerrero (1:23)
  3. Ultimo Guerrero pin (4:13)

Euforia, Forastero, Gran Guerrero beat Diamante Azul, Dragón Lee, Volador Jr.
(6:08 [3:03, 3:05], 1/2, below average, 02:03:34)

What happened:

Dulce

Forastero fouled Volador to beat him, the third straight week Forastero has cheated Volador. Volador wanted a singles match to settle it, but Forastero insisted on putting the NWA Welterweight Championship on the line.

(The referee forgot to turn around in time to avoid seeing the foul, leaving a finish so bad the announcers were laughing about it.)

The semi-main finish was just as a laughable. Ciber fouled UG and immediately faked a foul. UG fell forward, landing on Ciber. This somehow left Ciber unable to kickout and Ultimo Guerrero retained the heavyweight championship. Ultimo Guerrero again pressed for a hair match while Ciber wanted a title rematch.

Dalys unsurprisingly advanced to face La Metalica in the CMLL Universal de Amazons final. The new belt, with a different design than the men’s belt, was presented.

The rudos attacked the tecnicos after the second match for no particular reason.

Thoughts:

a tornillo

The CMLL rut continues. Only the second match was something really worth the time. The top two matches were not good with poor finishes. The crowd was disinterested in much of the show, making for a poor atmosphere for a less than stellar show.

Some match was going to get shorted on time due to the women’s cibernetico going very long. I didn’t guess it would be the main event. Euforia & Gran Guerrero brought back some of their teamwork, the tecnicos did their dives, and they got to the finish. This finish would’ve been the worst in some time if not for the prior match being even worse. This one at least was intended to be better, but they didn’t have a referee who could handle turning away at the right time.

Ciber and Ultimo Guerrero was the same lacking match it is every other time. They haven’t figured out a way to make it work (and it doesn’t appear they care to do so.) They got no crowd reaction but there weren’t many crowd reactions to be had so I guess they can’t be blamed. This still this in no way feels like a big feud. Ciber probably hurt himself more by not taking Ultimo Guerrero’s superbomb right. He tried to protect himself and it backfired. The finish was ludicrous, something that would be considered absurd if done in AAA or WWE.

Atlantis Jr.

Of the two undercard trios matches, I preferred the segunda. Dulce Gardenia & Atlantis Jr. are fresher than most of the luchadors. The rudos worked hard, and the entire crew did the best job of engaging the crowd all night. The Angel de Oro led trios match was technically fine but more forgettable. The Dinamtias clearly enjoyed getting to team with Casas, but it never developed into much.

The women’s cibernetico wasn’t really any much better than last week and maybe hurt more by the inevitably of the outcome. La Magnifica was the closest thing to an Avispa Dorada like performance, surprisingly getting an elimination and should be back, but that alone wasn’t enough to make the match worthwhile. A lot of the women, especially Jarochita & Lluvia late in the match, seemed helpfully enthused to have such a big moment. The skills to have a good match just weren’t all there. The announcers try to praise Skadi as having a breakout performance; she did hit a great clothesline on Mystique but looked clumsily by the end. Silueta got to do her Spanish Fly, which seemed a lot more than Vaquer got to do.

Magnus promised the craziest performance ever in the opener. Magnus then had a very normal match. Perhaps Magnus should’ve looked at who he was facing first, or perhaps Magnus thinks he did have a crazy match and we’re all lost. This was a little worse opener than usual because the rudos were very dedicated to doing nothing for about two falls.

this isn’t going to end well