Mistico returns, La Jarochita Universal champion, NGD/AAA, Big Lucha/ROH

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 08/27/2021 Arena México [CMLL, Furia de Tiatnes (main event), Furia de Titanes, Kaiser Sports, Mas Lucha, R de Rudo, Reforma, The Gladiatores, thecubsfan, W Deportes]
1) Akuma, Espanto Jr., Magnus b Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma   
11:55. Rudos won the one fall match. Magnus replaced Coyote on Thursday.
2) Ángel de Oro, Luciferno, Terrible b Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Stuka Jr.   
16:53. Rudos took 2/3.
3) Dalys, Metálica, Tiffany b La Guerrera, Lluvia, Marcela   
17:14. Rudas took 1/3. Tiffany replaced Amapola and Lluvia replaced Magnifica on Wednesday.
4) Hechicero, Místico, Valiente b Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]      
12:45. Return to the Mistico gimmick for Caristico, which was very positively received. His team took 2/3.
5) La Jarochita b Dark Silueta [CMLL Universal de Amazonas]     
13:05. One fall match. Jarochita won with the running corner boot to become the second champion (and got booed a bit for it.)

It turns out there’s nothing CMLL could do in 2021 to get their existing fanbase more excited for their shows than to turn back the clock and put Caristico back into the Mistico gimmick. It’s probably something they wouldn’t have done unless Mistico Munoz had quit and it’s obviously a move both the fans and the front-facing parts of the promotion are super excited about it. Mistico’s return to the character got the loudest reaction of anything during this pandemic period, with the announcers noting it was the highest turnout they’ve had in a long time. The match itself was standard Mistico fare, which was exactly what the fans wanted on Friday night. Caristico/Mistico was overjoyed in his post-match interview and the crowd was with him. I was at the CM Punk return to wrestling the previous Friday; that felt like a bigger deal because AEW was allowed to have a 10x bigger crowd, but the people who made it into Arena Mexico on Friday night were similarly enthused, even though this same guy had been around for years as Caristico.

I’m not sure where this goes from here. CMLL people’s excitement for the return reaction led to them vocalizing a hope this will start a new boom. My concern is this will be something hard to keep hot and may fade quickly. (Sunday’s show with Mistico on top didn’t draw well.) Still, they might as well go hard with and find out. Pandemic CMLL seems like a lot of nothing but busy work to keep everyone occupied until something comes along to spark them again. That “something” might have been “tourists returning”, but something else dropped in their laps and they might as well see it through for a while just in case.

Mistico’s return is on the cover for this week’s Box y Lucha 3487.

La Jarochita & Dark Silueta tried very hard yet were stuck in the ultimate death spot following Mistico’s return. The fans who were very into Mistico haven’t been given a lot of reason to care about these ladies prior. They got the crowd into the end of the match, but it took a lot of work to get there. I thought it was a good match, one you should check out when it turns up on YouTube in a couple of weeks, though another one was hampered by needing to end as close to 10:30 pm as possible. The crowd seemed to be pro-Silueta and a bit upset with Jarochita winning, probably just because Sillueta has a bigger fanbase.

Nothing much notable. Akuma & Espanto don’t feel like two guys are about to headline an Aniversario show. They’re fine, it just is going to be a big adjustment.

Sunday results

CMLL (SUN) 08/29/2021 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports]
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito DQ Pequeño Violencia & Pierrothito
Pierrothito unmasked Dragoncito for the DQ.
2) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Inquisidor b Eléctrico, Oro Jr., Sangre Imperial
Rudos took 1/3, leading Inquisidor to challenge Electrico
3) Dark Magic, Magnus, Okumura b Diamond, Hombre Bala Jr., Magia Blanca
Rudos took 1/3. Magia Blanca got hurt early and left the match, but wrestled later in the night elsewhere.
4) Raziel, Terrible, Virus b Mephisto, Pólvora, Rey Bucanero
5) Místico b Cavernario
Mistico took falls 2/3 to win.

Cavernario was probably winning the main event by cheating last week. Caristico returning to Mistico wasn’t going to lose his first singles match and definitely shouldn’t.

The Inquisidor/Electrico title program may possibly have been birthed out of some goofball noting the lightweight title was one of many national championships not defended in over a year when the commission used DMT Azul not defending a title in 90 days as a reason to strip him. That post really didn’t get much traction but the numbers got picked up elsewhere that did and suddenly Electrico has a title defense.

CMLL has 22 world and national titles, not all of which are filled. If CMLL were to truly defend every title every 90 days, they’d need to have two title defenses almost every week, or about seven a month. They will have held one title defense in August. Seven title defenses a month is not impossible – there are North American promotions that seem to do that often – but would require CMLL to completely how they program cards. It’s tougher to do the more titles they add.

The semi-main seems like it should’ve had Cancerbero’s spot. He, unlike Magia Blanca, also missed his booking on the Valiente Gym show. The main event was originally a Cavernario/Felino program; Felino hasn’t appeared since the August 16th show in Puebla. Templario hasn’t been around since the weekend before. Not sure if these are minor injuries or something else, but those last couple of guys have some big matches coming up.

CMLL (MON) 08/30/2021 Arena Puebla
1) Meyer vs Black Tiger
2) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Espíritu Maligno & Joker
3) Pegasso & Stigma vs Dark Magic & Okumura
4) Stuka Jr. & Valiente vs Ángel de Oro & Terrible
5) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Místico vs Atlantis Jr., Cavernario, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

Relevos Increibles will never stop. They didn’t list the semi-main as one, but they’re inconsistent on that with Angel de Oro.

CMLL (TUE) 08/31/2021 Arena México
1) Átomo & El Gallito vs Chamuel & Mije
2) Arkalis, Oro Jr., Robin vs Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Hijo del Signo
3) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit vs Dark Silueta, Metálica, Tiffany
4) Dark Panther, Fugaz, Panterita del Ring vs Hechicero, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero
5) Místico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Cavernario, Terrible

The main event forces us to consider if this is still the Sky Team with a different Mistico.

Mije has barely worked in CMLL since the pandemic – just a couple of matches last year – but he’s been active lately on spot shows. The micros entirely haven’t been around much since the fans came back, which is a bit surprising.

CMLL (TUE) 08/31/2021 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Bello Antuan, Cosmos, Temerario vs Destello, Destructor, Rumbero
2) Bobby Black, Carlo Roggi, Fúnebre vs Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
3) Adrenalina, Estrella Oriental, Minotauro vs Bestia Negra, Demonio Maya, Difunto
4) Bulkano, Jaivo IV, Pantera Blanca Jr. vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
5) Gallo & Joker vs Espíritu Negro & Rey Cometa
6) Explosivo, Fantástico, Star Black vs Hijo del Villano III, Principe Daniel, Zandokan

Only three CDMX wrestlers here, which is less than usual. Atrapasuenos may be on this card to build up a tag title defense (or the next Queretaro show.) The Fourth match features a lot of Matamoros talent for the second straight week.

Stephanie Vaquer & Dalys have moved into first place for the Mexican National Women Tag’s title shot, ahead of Dark Silueta & Reyna Isis by 30 votes when I checked around noon. That’s gone back and forth twice and may again before the CMLL poll closes. I’m just not sure when that poll closure is. It originally was this week, when the national heavyweight title qualifier was scheduled on September 4th. That match is no longer needed, so it may stay open through next week. The Women’s Tag match is also catching up on the National Middleweight poll; if the poll stays open another week, there’s a good shot of the women’s tag match main eventing the Aniversario.

CMLL announced they reactivated their relationship with Ice Ribbon and Ladys Ring, who will soon be sending Tsukasa Fujimoto, Tsukushi, and Nao Ishikawa to Mexico. Tsukushi previously came to Mexico in February 2020 for a week, which will probably be the same here – they need to get to Mexico long enough to make a photo book out of it.

Costa Rica Wrestling Embassy, who’ve sent wrestlers to CMLL in the back, announced they’re bringing in Star Jr. & Rocky Romero for their 12/18 show. CWE is running a bunch of normal shows prior to it. I don’t believe Star Jr. & Rocky Romero are making a photobook but you never know.

La Jarochita, last week in promoting the Universal tournament final, said independent luchadoras are scared of CMLL women and not at their level.

Mephisto pitched himself, Euforia and Hechicero as Satanico’s new Infernales on Facebook, as mentioned on the De Futbol y Otros Demonios blog.

Mexico’s Monica Rodriguez set a world record in 1500m at the Paralympics, then she and her guide runner put on lucha libre masks. CMLL honored the Paralympics athletes before they went to Tokyo and I’d guess they’ll bring her and others to celebrate their medals in September.

NGD

Mas Lucha had a 90 minute interview with Sanson, Cuatrero and Forastero on Friday. They said it was an acclimation of reasons to leave CMLL, not one breaking point. They had no issue with Ultimo Guerrero. CMLL actually helped Cuatrero & Sanson trademark their names, giving them the option to own them. CMLL seems to have helped out some of the top-tier veterans to do that when they were getting names trademarked, but it’s surprising they’d give that option to guys just starting. It also is confusing that CMLL would help them get those names, and then attempt to file for their own trademarks on those names later on.

NGD signed with AAA in Mexico and have the freedom to work where they want in the US. They’ve taped two AAA matches already: versus Hijo del Vikingo, Psycho Clown, Laredo Kid and versus Monster Clown, Murder Clown, and Pagano. That means the Poder del Norte/NGD match hasn’t been taped; maybe it’s happening at Heroes Inmortales.

BIG LUCHA

Big Lucha (SAT) 08/28/2021 Bandido Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [Mas Lucha]
1) Usumaki Otai & Yutani b Destello & Limbo 
2) Tirano b Foreno, Éxtasis 
3) El Bendito b Cometa Maya 
4) Ciclón Ramírez Jr. b Elemental 
originally a DCOR, match was restarted with Ciclon winning.
5) Demonic Flamita b Gravity [falls count anywhere] 
Bandido tried to help Gravity but was restrained by security (in his own gym!)
6) Skayde b Mil Almas [bull terrier] 
7) Emperador Azteca b Komander 
Komander suffered a leg injury, ending the match early. Emperador & Flamita faced off with Bandido, Bendito and others when they were all attacked by masked men said to be from ROH, setting up a show for September.

I watched this show Sunday (didn’t realize it was streaming live on Saturday) and it was a worthwhile watch. It ends sadly with the Komander injury but the other matches were all watchable. Bendita/Cometa Maya was the best match, with the opener and Flamita/Gravity sticking out as well. Like pretty much every show, I wish the matches were a little shorter – a six-match show shouldn’t be three hours long – but at least they didn’t waste too much time between the matches.

Komander tore a ligament in his left ankle and will have surgery Monday night. That’ll put him between three and six months. As bad as that sounds, it was better than the leg/ankle fracture feared Saturday night. Komander getting hurt in the main event seemed to mess up wherever exactly they were going with the angle, but they got to the ROH introduction at the end. The full lineup for that show:

Big Lucha (THU) 09/16/2021 Bandido Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) ? vs ??, ???, ????, ????? [Torneo Alas de Independencia]
2) Delirious vs Skayde
3) ? vs PJ Black, Ciclón Ramírez
4) Emperador Azteca & Flamita vs Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe
5) El Bandido vs Matt Taven [ROH HEAVY]

Federacion Wrestling promised ROH stars in May and imploded before it happened, so I suspect the reaction to this announcement is going to be muted until people believe it’s happening. Still, that’s five people coming in (including the ROH booker), so this may be the start of a regular deal if it comes off right.

This would be the third ROH title match in Mexico

• 2005-05-15 in Tulancingo for X-LAW: Austin Aries defeated Super Crazy & Ricky Marvin
• 2011-10-15 in Tulancingo for IWL: Davey Richards defeated Daga

Other News

IWRG (SUN) 08/29/2021 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Chef Benito, Gran Felipe Jr., Spider Fly b Perro de Guerra, Tirano, X-Devil 
2) Elemental, Limbo, Skayler b Carnicero, Epidemia, Skanda 
3) Comando Negro Jr., Halloween Jr., Vudu Max b Baby Star Jr., Centella Oriental, Shocko 
4) Aster Boy, Caballero de Plata, Hellboy, Kenji, Lunatik Fly, Sol, Tonalli b Dick Angelo 3G, Halcón Mágico, Legendario, Lunatik Xtreme, Noicy Boy, Puma de Oro, Rey Halcón [Copa High Power, mask, hair] 
Caballero de Plata beat Halcon Magico, who is Héctor Omar Lorenzo Gutiérrez, 26 year old, 15 years a luchador. Order of escape: Hell Boy, Lunatik Xtreme, Sol, Noicy Boy, Lunatik Fly, Rey Halcon, Kenji, Legendario, Aster Boy, Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Tonalli, Caballero de Plata leaving Halcon Magico as the loser.
5) Mafioso, Medico Brujo, Sick Boy b Big Chico Che, Big Mike, Estrella Divina 

Thanks to Mas Lucha for getting the elimination order tracked, that’s not a normal or easy inclusion. IWRG seems to be doing more blood of late in the top matches.

ROH TV’s newest episode is up on their website, including a Dragon Lee versus Eli Isom match. The show also includes a change: Bestia del Ring replaces his son Rush teaming with Dragon Lee & Kenny King against Shane Taylor Enterprises for the ROH Six-Man Titles on their 09/12 show. Rush is out due to a knee injury that’s bothered him for a while. Rush may get surgery – recovery would take the rest of the year, which is the remaining portion of his ROH contract – so it’s possible Rush has wrestled his last Ring of Honor match. Dave Meltzer brought up this situation on Wrestling Observer Radio and was certain AEW and ROH would have a lot of interest in signing him Rush (and Dragon Lee, who’s also up) in 2022. I’m much more skeptical about those promotions having interest, but it’s still a lot of time until the end of the year for things to sort out.

Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf won the NWA Tag Team Championships on their PPV on Sunday. Konnan was inexplicably seconding them; the only thing that’s in more places at once in 2021 than Konnan is COVID. Actually, I’d be OK with more Konnan and less COVID if we can work on that. The La Rebelion duo of Bestia & Mecha have gotten good reviews for the NWA work and so the title win wasn’t a big surprise.

El Fresero (Demetrio Guadalupe Aguilera Arrendondo) passed away Friday. Fresero was a referee mostly for both Promociones Mora (UWA) and AAA. He had retired in 2009. His son, Fresero Jr., is an active wrestler and announced his father’s passing. SuperLuchas has an obit, mentioning Fresero being in charge of Arena San Juan Pantitlan at different points of his career.

Penta, repeating a bit from Thursday’s Robles Patron show, took to Facebook to call Alberto “a Patron of no one, a guy who pretends to represent Mexico but adopted a different nationality and doesn’t live in Mexico. I represent my people around the world with a Mexican passport, not like you who only say it to get applause.” Penta said the match between the two of them should happen in Ecatepec. This is probably just a promo to build to another match. Fenix & Penta are announced from Mexico City in AEW maybe because that’s just what everyone is used to hearing, but it’d be nice to hear Ecatepec someday.

Octagon Jr. would like to wrestle Kenny Omega, feeling he could learn a lot from it win or lose.

RIOT announced they’ll return with “the Secret Lucha Society” on September 18. No location was announced. The only show RIOT’s been able to hold this year has been the no-fans show in March.

A show in Cholo de Tijuana headlined Blue Demon Jr., Cinta de Oro, and Misterio versus Blue Demon Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., LA Park is said to have draw 7,000 fans. Another live report put that number closer to 3,000, which would still mean it’s one of the bigger shows so far this year in Mexico. There are some pictures here and here. That’s about a 21K bullring where half the building seems not to be used, so the other half would have to be 50% full to get to 7,000. I don’t think it’s that full.

Arturo Rivera will be part of Mas Lucha’s Supremo Tournament in October.

Oaxaca’s Diosa Quimera is interviewed about making it to five years of wrestling.