Super Muneco
Super Muñeco (Hebert Palafox, 59) passed away on Wednesday. He’d been said to be in bad health over the last couple of weeks, with one report saying it was due to covid, but the most recent news had him recovering and home from the hospital. It’s not immediately clear what caused his death. Super Muñeco never lost his mask, but his name is listed on his publically accessible Facebook page and was confirmed after his passing.
AAA announced the passing, with CMLL also posting condolences. This is a luchador death that’ll be mentioned in every Mexico news outlet.
Super Muñeco was an iconic luchador for children of the 80s and early 90s. Muñeco came to fame in a promotion known sometimes as Super Libres or AWWA for their championships. The promotion began in the early 80s as an attempt at serious Mexico City competition to EMLL & UWA, but the talent they had (luchadors who either aged out of top positions or prelim guys who never stuck) meant they eventually had to tried a new approach. Luchador clown Super Muñeco became that approach, the charismatic friendly face of a group attempting to appeal more to kids. The lucha libre magazines embraced the character and he quickly rose in popularity. Muñeco had short stints in EMLL and UWA off of his fame, though he was more successful as a traveling independent wrestler, with literally hundreds of mask wins in small towns around Mexico. Super Muñeco would jump to AAA during the 1992 founding year, with his unit (Trio Fantasia, including Super Raton and Super Pinocho) coming with him as a midcard comedy act. Muñeco went to Promo Azteca upon that group’s founding and then later returned to the indies as a recognizable face to put in main events, with or without the rest of his team. Muñeco’s last major promotion work was returning to CMLL a few times as part of Legends shows.
Super Muñeco is an obvious predecessor to Psycho Clown as a charismatic wrestling clown, but also more generally a forerunner to part of AAA’s styles. Muñeco became famous with light comedy matches. There are great parts of 80s lucha libre, but much of it was either serious technical wrestling or angry brawling; comedy entertainment seemed generally limited to exotico-like bits. Muñeco’s character added another color to the pallets, and it’s something AAA made sure to include thru their history. Both La Parkas had a comedy aspect to their character, with the second Parka owing as much to Muñeco as an inspiration as to the original gimmick. Gimmicks like Alebrije and Monsther fit that mold too, and it’s a role Mr. Iguana, Big Mami and Nino Hamburguesa have filled in more recent years. Super Muñeco was never a great technician and got grief from his fellow wrestlers about it when he first broke out, and he was proof that being a great in-ring worker isn’t necessary to be a successful wrestler.
AAA
AAA’s press conference in Monterrey on Tuesday had a couple of big topics.
AAA revealed the first round of its TripleMania Ruleta de la Muerte, the four singles matches in 04/30 at Monterrey’s baseball stadium
- Canek vs Psycho Clown
- LA Park vs Villano IV
- Pentagon Jr. vs Ultimo Dragon
- Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs Blue Demon Jr.
Blue Demon Sr. unmasked Rayo De Jalisco Sr. late in both of their careers, so that’s a backstory to that match. Canek/Psycho seems to have caught the most attention from Mexican media. Pentagon/Ultimo Dragon is by far the match with the most interest to casual AAA watchers outside of Mexico and maybe the least important to those in Mexico.
The losers will move to the show in Tijuana. AAA didn’t announce a bracket, didn’t reveal which losers would face each other next. Psycho Clown, Villano IV, Pentagon Jr., and Blue Demon Jr. are the four most likely to move on in the tournament. Penta/Dragon is the least certain outcome because either guy could just win in the next round.
LA Park, being LA Park, teased the idea that he could lose his way to the final, win a mask, and then retire with that big win. That’s probably not happening.
AAA also announced a series of monthly shows in the Monterrey area. They’ll be running at the 6,000 seat Showcenter Complex in San Pedro Garza García, with the first show on March 12th. AAA will skip the April show since they’re running TripleMania Regia and then hold shows monthly in the building until the end of the year, nine shows of the year. The focus of the shows will be a Showcenter Championship tournament, with men’s and women’s competitions. AAA’s held similar things with the Lucha Fighter and Lucha Capital tournaments in recent years. This tournament will be singles matches but the format and size are otherwise unknown; the ticket site promises a “unique” format. Laredo Kid & LA Park were announced as part of the tournament, and Dorian Roldan said wrestlers from Europe, Japan, and the US would be involved without mentioning names. There was no mention if/how this show would air; my hunch is this isn’t part of the usual Space TV tapings.
Nine shows in the same venue over ten months is a lot to ask, and will probably affect all the local promotions. KAOZ has relied on AAA names in the past, and that’s going to be harder if there are proper AAA shows each month. That’s an indoor building but they don’t appear to be worried about capacity limits. I’m a little surprised AAA didn’t come out with more of a lineup since the show is not that far away. AAA running singles tournaments over multiple months sounds like a recipe for some nonsense, but they did pull off the Lucha Capital tournament in a logical fashion.
Tickets are on sale for both 03/12 Showcenter and 04/30 TripleMania Monterrey events. The front row for TripleMania is 3000 pesos (146 US), or about twice as much as the show just in December. The cheapest ticket has gone up from 200 pesos to 250 pesos. AAA didn’t sell out last time around but obviously, they think there’s more money to be had with these legend matches. I’m not particularly enthusiastic about them, but it’s a good bet the Mexican fans will have an emotional investment in seeing those names in big matches maybe for the last time.
AAA held a second press conference on Wednesday to announce their March 5th taping in Tampico. That one has a full lineup
AAA TV (SAT) 03/05/2022 Domo Madero, Tampico, Tamaulipas
1) Drago Kid, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs Argenis, Dinámico (Baja California), Parka Negra
2) Dulce Canela, Komander, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, Xtreme Tiger and Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba
3) Rey Escorpión, Taurus, Villano III Jr. © vs DMT Azul, Puma King, Sam Adonis [AAA TRIOS]
4) Aramis, Myzteziz Jr., Octagón Jr. vs Flamita, Látigo, Toxin
5) Bandido & Jack Cartwheel vs Hijo Del Vikingo & Laredo Kid and Abismo Negro Jr. & Gringo Loco (Indie)
6) Chessman, Pagano, Psycho Clown vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
Lots of unexpected things going on here. Jack Cartwheel, Gringo Loco, and Dinamico make their AAA TV debuts. Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, and Xtreme Tiger all make their returns to AAA, and Bandido & Flamita are in as well. AAA has a lot of people they’re using at the moment. It may all fit together once the schedule picks up but right now it looks like they’re (back to) stuffing people on the show for purposes others than putting on a good show. The fourth and fifth matches should be great and there are others with a chance.
Los Mercenarios were scheduled to defend those trios titles on the canceled Merida show against NGD & Poder del Norte; perhaps they’ll get their shot later. Vipers are oddly split among two matches, though that’s about normal for AAA keeping groups together.
I wonder if the Mexican Powers were going to be a surprise for Rey de Reyes that may have been revealed a little early.
This is a Saturday show but an 8 pm start time, so it’s unlikely to air live on Space unless AAA airs much later than usual. The poster has no logo for any TV network, which has been the pattern this year. We continue to not know if AAA will stream these non-big shows tapings live on social media and may not know until this show.
Killer Kross said he was told he would become AAA Mega Champion during his originally 2017 run. Post Wrestling transcribed the comments from an autograph signing with Signed By Superstars. It sounds like Vampiro, then in charge of creative in AAA, told Kross he was going to win the title and then later told (maybe also by Vamprio) that other people in management were not on board with the idea. Kross’s onscreen role was Johnny Mundo’s bodyguard and AAA had a storyline where Mundo tasked Kross with gaining control of a Money In The Bank-like title shot briefcase so no one else could challenge Mundo, only for Kross to tease he might cash it himself. The angle, like so many others in that period and AAA in general, was dropped with no attempt to close it off. (It also wasn’t a great business loss; the Mexican fans didn’t seem to care about issues between Kross & Mundo.)
There’s no one who was a part of more half-finished concepts in AAA than Killer Kross in his time in AAA. Kross is inevitably returning to AAA some time in the next few months, and we can only hope AAA will only start an idea with him if they have a plan for it.
CMLL
CMLL (TUE) 02/08/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas de Ring, Kaiser Sports, Mas Lucha]
1) Fantasy & Pequeño Pólvora b Full Metal & Pequeño Violencia [Relevos Increíbles] 
Full Metal debut
2) Akuma, Disturbio, Espanto Jr. b Sangre Imperial, Stigma, Suicida 
Rudos took 1/3
3) La Vaquerita DQ Reyna Isis 
Vaquerita took 1/3, won when Reyna Isis got DQed for excessive hair pulls. Everyone hated the finish.
4) Atlantis, Dark Panther, Dulce Gardenia b El Audaz, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr.
Team Atlatnis took 1/3
5) Fugaz, Místico, Volador Jr. DQ Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
tecnicos took 2/3, the last by DQ when Hechicero unmasked Mistico. Fugaz, scheduled to wrestle Volador on Friday, left the match due to injury in the second fall.
That main event finish reads like they just bailed out of the match when Fugaz got hurt. La Tijera Lucha Libre has video of the injury; Fugaz ran down the ramp to run up the ropes, slipped climbing and got his leg caught. It doesn’t look as bad as other , though it might be something that’d normally put him out for a few days. Maybe CMLL had plans to tease something with Fugaz & Volador to set up Friday’s planned match, but you’d think five of the most experienced guys on the roster could’ve gotten to a finish on their own. I guess we’ll see if the DQ goes anywhere.
The Isis debut really appeared for too many hairpulls. CMLL DQs in women’s matches are often bad since they can’t do foul finishes and most of them are unmasked, but that one was quite lame. This feud continues to appear like a mask versus hair setup.
CMLL (TUE) 02/08/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Estrella de Jalisco I, Estrella de Jalisco II, Obelisk b Persa, Raven, Temerario
2) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico b Cris Skin, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
Late in the match, Explosivo tried a top rope moonsault to the floor over the corner and his head hit the post on the way down. He needed medical attention but didn’t appear seriously hurt.
3) Exterminador & Maléfico b Bestia Negra & Difunto
win via mask pull on Besita Negra. Challenged followed.
4) Joker, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. b Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel, Zandokan Jr.
Zandokan Jr. and Principe Daniel had issues, costing their team the match. Zandokan got beat up by Daniel and Maya after the match.
5) Flash, Gallo, Star Black b Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
Exterminador hasn’t been around much during the pandemic. It definitely came off like he and Malefico are being set up for an apuesta loss. Zandokan seems like a promising guy here so it’s notable they’re changing his side.
CMLL Informa has Templario, Fugaz, Reyna Isis and Cancerbero. Fugaz appearing is a good sign for him wrestling on Friday. Cancerbero has reached 25 years of wrestling this month (about 13 of it under this name), so that’s what he’s there to talk about. Informa would normally include some of teams in the incredible pairs tournament if blocks were starting this week, and this lineup suggests there are no blocks and this is just going to be a one-week tournament this year. That’d be fine.
Other News
The Crash (FRI) 02/18/2022 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California
1) Kamik-C & Skalibur vs Lanzer & Terror Azteca
2) Toto vs Próximo
3) Black Danger, Dinámico, Oráculo vs Black Destiny, Emperador Azteca (Indie), Komander
4) Arandú, Star Boy, Zarco vs Súper Astro Jr., Trauma I, Trauma II
5) Rey Horus vs Jack Cartwheel, Demonic Flamita
6) El Hijo Del Santo & Octagón vs Fuerza Guerrera & Hijo del Fishman
Santo & Octagon on this show meant the AAA wrestlers wouldn’t be around this show. It may have also meant a lot of money in the main event not as much for other names, though it’s good to see Komander get a chance here and for Super Astro Jr. to pop up.
X-LAW (SAT) 03/05/2022 Centro Deportivo Roma, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
1) Atenea vs Kisha
2) Silverman vs Príncipe Zoque, Imperio, Arejan
3) Capitán Furia, Destroyer, Granda Man, Vértigo vs Charly Galan, Dr. Electro, Epidemia, Zoom Driver
4) Dariux & Zuzu Divine vs Aero Panther & Fight Panther [DTU NEXO]
5) Ricky Marvin vs Zumbi
6) ? & Crazy Boy vs Hijo de LA Park & LA Park Jr.
7) LA Park vs Blue Demon Jr., Juventud Guerrera
X-LAW was an innovative indie promotion of the early 2000s. They’ve returned with the same 2000s names, a lot less innovative. The mystery man is teased to be a US person; given everything else here, they must’ve asked Sabu. I presume there’s going to be a way for people not in Tuxtla Guiterrez to see this.
DTU will have a three-day training camp in Tulancingo from March 11 to March 13.
Martinez Entertainment has announced Pimpinela Escarlata, Shocker, Hijo de Fishman, Ultimo Dragon, Matematico, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., and Hijo del Santo for their 04/01 (WM Weekend) show. I think people are rightfully hoping Santo turns up on other indie shows, but he’s expensive and particular about which shows he’ll work – It wouldn’t be a big surprise if he was effectively Martinez exclusive.
04/02 Lucha Maniaks in Arlington, Texas
- Gringo Loco, Juventud Aerea, Decimus vs ASF, Aramis, Lince Dorada
- Aero Boy vs Myron Reed vs Tristen Tahai
This is a Saturday show going up against the first night of WrestleMania.
Guadalajara’s ASPW has put up compilations on IWTV focusing on local wrestlers: Magno, Demencia, and Willy Banderas.
El Diario de Malvinas has a story on Argentina’s Tito Moran Jr. (Franco Benites), who’s part of the IWRG Tryout competition. He’s part of Jessy Ventura’s group.
Televisa interviewed Miss Gaviota as the first transexual wrestler in Mexico. I think that’s true but I’m not sure.
LuchaWorld has the latest Poster-Mania.
Any reason Dralistico doesnt seem to be working much since leaving Arena Mexcico – he’s not become a regular with AAA or even on The Crash? was he expecting to get into ROH?
Dralistico had thrown ROH into his instagram bio, and I think he said something about going there in an interview. Honestly, no one really knows what was going to happen before ROH restructrured. It’s possible that they never even reached out to him, but his brothers told him “don’t worry, we can get you a spot in ROH” before…you know…
He works a decent amount of events, as far as I can tell. Probably charges a lot per appearance, so he doesn’t need to work nearly as much as he used to with CMLL.
You can never say never, but ROH had sent word they weren’t interested in using Dralistico; I think they were planning on moving on from the Munoz family after their contracts ran out. Dralistico on the indies is being selective of how often he wants to work but I think it’s also a value issue; he expects to be paid like a top guy as he was in CMLL and CMLL was/is so cold that there’s not the interest in him as a top guy, especially if he can’t be Mistico.
Man, it was a horrible day on Monday, with the deaths of Super Muñeco and Arturo Rivera. May they both rest in peace.
On another note, I watched the Estrellas del Ring clip of Blue Demon Jr vs. DMT Azul from Arena Neza out of morbid curiosity. Estrellas del Ring’s cameraman directly shot BD Jr blading himself, and to make it worse, Demon Jr didn’t even sell being bit on his forehead.