PWG BOLA Night 2, CMLL Aniversario built, Dragon Lee

Aramis (and Excalibur!)

CMLL (FRI) 09/20/2019 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) Sonic & Súper Astro Jr. b Espíritu Negro & Grako LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 20 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Átomo, Gallito, Microman DQ Chamuel, Mije, Perico Zacarías LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 20 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Chamuel unmasked Microman again
3) Felino, Hechicero, Hijo del Villano III b Atlantis Jr., Dulce Gardenia, Flyer LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 20 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Rudos took 2/3
4) Soberano Jr. TLDRAW Templario [lightningLUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 20 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
the two continued to fight after the time ran out, and neither one was particularly saved by the time.
5) Big Daddy, Gilbert el Boricua, Último Guerrero b Cavernario, Ciber the Main Man, Volador Jr. [Relevos IncreíblesLUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 20 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
neither team got along
6) Carístico, Místico, Valiente b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Negro Casas LUCHA LIBRE VIERNES ESPECTACULAR DE ARENA MEXICO 20 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2019 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 2/3.

I haven’t seen much of this, but it sounds like everything but the semifinal was good. I saw about half of the lightning match trying to see if the feed was working and they did a lot in that match again, and then did some more after. It felt like the kickoff to a feud if CMLL did those things.

There’s a lot of promos on CMLL’s video channel that I have no time to link to.

Lucha libre results from PWG Night #2

  • Fenix beat Aramis
  • Bandido beat Puma King
  • Pentagon beat Tony Deppen

For me, Jake Atlas/Jungle Boy was the match of the night (and perhaps better than the opening night tag match.) Fenix/Aramis was very good, but hurt by Aramis being so new to most of these fans. There were finisher teases and the first time Aramis went for La Desnucadora del Mosquetero there was no reaction. There was a good reaction when he got to actually show off the move, and when he did his rope walk springboard dive, but it sometimes came off like Aramis was a talented guy brought in to showcase Fenix rather than Aramis being a future star on his own. Fenix put Aramis over post-match as a future star and Aramis talking about having watched PWG (on YouTube oops) and telling his parents he’d be there someday got a strong reaction. I think that’s why BOLA & PWG is still relevant; it’s definitely not the buzzed-about tournament on the internet as it was a few years ago, but now there’s a generation of young wrestlers who’ve gotten into wrestling knowing of it is a big thing and it’s still an important career goal.

I didn’t know how Deppen and Pentagon would match up but I thought Deppen ended up looking great. (Even if Penta keeps cheating in chop battles, with his top making those shots not sound as hard.) Puma was working hard in his match with Bandido, saving the comedy for post match. Bandido & Puma did a title switch with the DDT title on the finish of this match, and then Puma won it back after. They limited that to backstage on the AAA show. It didn’t seem like the PWG people were all the way clued in on that happening; it was called the “DDT 24/7 title.”

Aramis, Rey Horus, Black Taurus, and Puma King may appear on Sunday in the traditional 5v5 match. (Flamita’s already gone.) That leaves Dragon Lee, Fenix, Penta, and Bandido. It’s going to be tough for any of those Mexican luchadors to go all the way, because all are tied to companies and may or may not be able to come back long term. On the other hand, that’s the case for most of the wrestlers, that’s just the general situation now. I’m leaning towards Brody King based on his interactions with Jeff Cobb in the main event. I think Jake Atlas would be a popular pick.

The full AAA InvadingNY show aired last night on AXS. At least part of it also aired on Azteca in Mexico. Unsurprisingly, there was a bit more social media talk about the show (positive!) than there had been when the show was live.

Laredo Kid still hasn’t debuted on Exatlon, which should tell you how far in advance they tape that thing.

Lineup

CMLL (FRI) 09/27/2019 Arena México
CMLL 86th Aniversario
1) Audaz, Rey Cometa, Stigma vs Misterioso Jr., Tiger, Virus
2) Diamante Azul, Dulce Gardenia, Titán vs Hechicero, Hijo del Villano III, Rey Bucanero
3) Dalys vs Marcela © [CMLL WOMEN]
fifth defense
4) Ángel de Oro, Mephisto, Niebla Roja vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Soberano Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Soberano replaced Dragon Lee on the Friday previous.
5) Microman vs Chamuel [mask]
6) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © vs Carístico, Místico, Valiente [MEX TRIOS]
13 defense
7) Último Guerrero vs Big DaddyNegro CasasCavernarioVolador Jr.Gilbert el BoricuaCiber the Main Man [cage, hair]

The only change here is Dragon Lee off and Soberano on. I didn’t notice it, but this change was made the same time Dragon Lee was pulled off the Tuesday show, Friday morning. Dragon Lee wrestled Friday night, so it’s not injury. It could be that CMLL changed course and is now sending him to the ROH show after all. It could be that Dragon Lee is on vacation or decided a meaningless trios wasn’t worth working, even for the Aniversario show. I hope he’s not in trouble for working the PWG show but I guess that’s also a real possibility.

(May not be another update until Monday.)