CMLL
Today’s show
CMLL (FRI) 11/11/2022 Arena México
1) Halcón Suriano Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Leono vs Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Raider
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs Felino Jr., Okumura, Rey Bucanero
3) Blue Panther, Soberano Jr., Valiente vs El Mesías, Vincent, Yota
4) Místico, Negro Casas, Titán vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
5) Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr.
This is a better show than last week for the matches, though it surely won’t draw as well without the scenary. The main event is the latest test for Atlantis Jr., both in-ring and as a star. The semi-main should be a fun match. The tercera has some debuts. The show is on PPV as ever.
Mistico complained to Mundo Deportivo that he hasn’t been given enough big wins since taking back the characters, and feels he needs an apuesta match with one of his many enemies to solidify him back in the role. It seems so easy money to feed someone to Mistico but CMLL seems to book Mistico like he’s over enough already so they should focus on other people.
Yota, in interviews with the press on Thursday and Informa on Wednesday, said that Terrible used to be his favorite CMLL wrestler and the one he wanted to be like. He said Terrible wasn’t now because he wanted to be a rival. Yota didn’t appear to know Terrible is out with knee surgery; CMLL definitely could’ve brought up in the Informa interview and did not. It was awkward but normal in CMLL’s handling of injuries.
CMLL typically posts videos of wrestlers arriving in Mexico. Haven’t seen one for Vincent yet, but he did post an Instagram story from the Arena Mexico neighborhood, so he’s there. Maybe the character of The Horror King Vincent doesn’t meet people at the airport.
CMLL (SUN) 11/13/2022 Arena México
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
2) Avispa Dorada, La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit vs Dalys, Metálica, Stephanie Vaquer
3) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Volcano vs Magnus, Pólvora, Rugido
4) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado vs Euforia, Niebla Roja, Vincent
5) Atlantis Jr., Titán, Valiente vs Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.
A show. I’m not really sure who’s supposed to be a tecnico or rudo any more. Stuka? Atlantis? Niebla Roja? Rugido? I guess Rugido most likely is a rudo.
CMLL (MON) 11/14/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano & Millenium vs Rey Apocalipsis & Siky Ozama
2) Astral & Valiente Jr. vs Espíritu Maligno & Prayer
3) Arkalis, El Suicida, Halcón Suriano Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
4) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Titán vs Felino Jr., Okumura, Yota
5) Gran Guerrero, Místico, Último Guerrero vs Averno, El Mesías, Soberano Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Yota finally gets to team up with Okumura.
Mil Mascaras will appear on the 11/18 Arena Mexico show to be honored by the Japanese embassy. They released a video tribute on Facebook. Mascaras will also appear on Informa next week. Mil hasn’t wrestled in 3 years, and hasn’t appeared in Arena Mexico since being honored on the 2018 Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show. He’s also 80, at an age where he might be around for two decades or never appear in Arena Mexico again. That show is going to a bigger deal.
CMLL announced the Leyenda de Azul tournament on 11/25. This is intended to be a heavyweight-focused competition, with 16 wrestlers announced.
- Volcano
- Gran Guerrero
- Sagrado
- Rey Bucanero
- Ultimo Guerrero
- Euforia
- Angel de Oro
- Niebla Roja
- Gemelo Diablo I
- Gemelo Diablo II
- Kraneo
- Yota
- Mesias
- Atlantis
- Esfinge
- Valiente
Last year’s champion Soberano Jr. was already announced as wrestling in Tijuana on that night, as are Hechicero and Star Black. This lineup doesn’t seem exciting. It does seem like Vincent must not be sticking around for too long if he’s not included in this.
A poster for 12/02 Coliseo Coacalco lists Blue Panther Jr. wrestling (with a picture of Dark Panther). Blue Panther hasn’t wrestled since September 2021 due to an eye injury, and Dark Panther says he’s not wrestling on that show either – just signing autographs.
AAA
Space will air the first part of the Puebla taping this week. Three of these matches will air:
- Brazo De Oro Jr., Demus, Draztick Boy vs Éxtasis, Mini Vikingo, Radioactivo
- Octagoncito & Sussy Love vs Mini Psycho Clown & Reina Dorada
- Emperador Azteca vs Toxin vs Puma King
- Octagón Jr. vs Villano III Jr. vs Abismo Negro Jr.
- Mr. Iguana & Niño Hamburguesa vs Carta Brava & Chessman
- Murder Clown & Pagano vs Cuatrero & Forastero
This is a thrown-together taping featuring a lot of people on the fringes of AAA’s roster. It may have been a TV taping just to help out the local promoter. It’s not an ideal use of TV time but maybe the matches will be good.
The AAA panel at AdWeek LATAM focused on a single theme “lucha libre is a beloved representation of Mexico internationally, we’re the people to partner with to bring lucha libre to your product.” Business Insider has a summary of Blue Demon, Vampiro and Dorian Roldan, and Roldan said many of the same things in a sit down interview later Wednesday. This was AAA selling the idea of lucha libre in marketing and cross-promotion to potential business partners as something to positively associate with and something people around the world know, then bringing up Marvel and Amazon as successfully delivering on those partnerships. Businesses may have wanted to ‘partner’ with lucha libre before, but it’s a nebulous concept and AAA’s hoping to be more useful than CMLL. This is essentially a white-label lucha libre strategy: AAA will supply the wrestling and another business can place its brand on it.
While AAA is selling itself as a generic lucha libre for international markets, they’re also selling shows and wrestlers where AAA is the brand. The public news Thursday was GCW announcing Hijo del Vikingo would be appearing on their 12/16 show in Los Angeles. No opponent has been announced. AAA announced the appearance. GCW previously announced Komander, ASF and Arez vs Gringo Loco, Toxin and Latigo, and Pagano is booked as well. AAA did not announce those appearances. No match has been announced for Vikingo.
AAA’s exerting a greater influence in Vikingo’s indie bookings than they have for other AAA wrestlers transitioning to the US scene. We’ve seen it already with AAA saying Vikingo would not wrestle in the US until the Tempe show. Today’s WON mentions PWG was interested in bringing Vikingo as Laredo Kid’s replacement, in the spot that went to Arez and could not get him due to that debut restriction. (That is an incomplete report; PWG wanted Vikingo on that show even prior to Laredo Kid’s injury.) There are a lot of people who’ve wanted to put Vikingo on their show for years and have been just waiting for him to get his visa. They may keep waiting. Do not expect Vikingo to be working the same heavy US schedule as a Psycho Clown or an Arez or a Drago; it’s going to be more one or two dates a month, and probably bigger name venues. I’m aware of another December date for Vikingo after GCW, which should be announced at any more, but those two may be it for December US appearances. One or two matches a month in the US for Vikingo should be your expectation for the immediate future.
There’s usually AAA weirdness involved with all of this, but there’s also a clear big-picture strategy than usual. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter mentions an AAA and Conrad Thompson plan to run an 8,000 seat tennis stadium in Carson, California. This fits with Dorian Roldan saying they’d have news about a show in the first quarter of the US with a US friend. That’s about 45 minutes away from Downtown Los Angeles in an unpleasant traffic situation (though all traffic situations in Los Angeles seem unpleasant.) AAA – Dorian Roldan specifically – has talked about running a handful of US shows aimed at drawing three to four thousand people, which is probably the aim for this Los Angeles show. AAA needs attractions and novel ones to help draw those crowds, and “Vikingo in the US” remaining a novel experience is one of the tools they have. Vikingo worked a lot more in the US would increase his exposure, but would make it easier for fans to say “I’ve seen Vikingo or I will see him soon, I’ll go do something else at that time”, and that’s the last thing AAA wants. I expect him to be on the low side of WrestleMania weekend appearances for the same reason. It’s debatable if this is good for VIkingo or not, but it’s what’s best for AAA
(That probably informs the Mega Championship booking; Fenix winning the title to set up a rematch on a later TripleMania is better business for Mexico, but the mythical Vikingo coming to the US as AAA’s champion makes for a better selling point.)
That AAA WrestleMania weekend show doesn’t seem locked in yet; it would make sense if everyone wanted to see how the Tempe show went before committing. (On the other hand, they may write that show off as someone else’s failure, as AAA did with the previous Los Angles show.) Still, even if AAA and Conrad Thompson went full bore with this show today, or three weeks ago, they’d be years behind the other promotions planning to run that weekend. After a PWG weekend, I was loitering around some high-powered Highspot executives when they were scouting Los Angeles venues for that weekend three years in advance. It’s a very competitive weekend with the indie promotions, not even to mention WWE. Thompson was able to successfully draw in a similar situation (SummerSlam) and on a seemingly quick turnaround but had something to better to work with Ric Flair’s retirement. AAA themselves have not done well at this with other partners. It’ll be a big credit to Conrad Thompson if this goes reasonably well. It’s still a credit if it’s a mild disappointment but happens at all.
Yesterday was “Lucha Libre AAA day” in Arizona, according to the local promoter and AAA. I don’t know how these things work, but I would’ve asked for the day when AAA runs a show in Arizona as Lucah Libre AAA day. This is the only news about the AAA show in Tempe this week. Nothing has been announced about the show in weeks.
Here are the three types of replies I get whenever I tweet about the AAA Tempe show
- “I had no idea there was a show an AAA show here soon, and I live here”
- “This is definitely not happening,”
- “I’m interested in buying a ticket but I haven’t because this all feels off”
I used to get tweets with people saying they bought tickets, haven’t gotten those lately. Everyone insists the show is still happening. I have no reason to believe otherwise. Needing to write that disclaimer tells you how it’s going.
Estrella TV airs TripleMania Mexico City tonight at 6 pm CT. Estrella TV hasn’t posted about it, but they don’t post much on social media. I don’t get a sense many people have been watching these, but it’s hard to know for sure. AAA would obviously like to have a bigger US deal and these being a success would help, it’s just impossible to know if this is considered one.
Chik Tormenta is raffling off her TripleMania Regia gear to help raise money for Lared Kid.
IWRG
Mas Lucha (THU) 11/10/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha, Zona Ruda]
1) Dragón King & Spider Fly b Limbo & Rey Halcón Jr. 
2) Lady Shani b Bengalee [Torneo Suprema, quarterfinal]
3) La Hiedra b Satania [Torneo Suprema, quarterfinal]
4) Zuzu Divine b Jessy Jackson [Torneo Suprema, quarterfinal]
5) Sakura (Chihuahua) b Princesa Azul [Torneo Suprema, quarterfinal]
6) Dick Angelo 3G, Hell Boy, Legendario, Puma de Oro b Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor
debut of the Pigs (under those gimmicks) in Arena Naucalapn
7) Lady Shani b La Hiedra [Torneo Suprema, semifinal]
8) Zuzu Divine b Sakura (Chihuahua) [Torneo Suprema, semifinal]
9) Mr. Iguana & Niño Hamburguesa b Draego & Great Eku
Iguana & Hamburgesa had issues with some rude fans post match
10) Lady Shani b Zuzu Divine [Torneo Suprema, final]
Lady Shani is the third winner (Sexy Dulce, Chik Tormenta)
The first round aired for free, the second half as a member show. (I’m a member current, but I haven’t had a chance to see the show and I can’t get to the login at the moment to add it to the luchadb; getting yourself banned from YouTube makes life tough sometimes.)
It sounds like the tournament exceeded expectations; matches were generally good and the show drew very well for this concept.
IWRG Retro may have switched days – it didn’t go up on Thursday – but they did announce matches to air
- 1999-12-02 Hijo del Santo, Mascasra Sagrada, Super Parka vs Scorpio, Scorpio Jr., Rey Bucanero
- 1997-??-?? Azor vs Neblina
- 2002-??-?? Multifacetico, Guerra C3 vs Epidemia, Super Atlas .
The 1999 is on a traded IWRG in low quality but not available on YouTube. I don’t have dates for the other two because I don’t have the matches in my database, so they’re obviously new. Keep an eye on the IWRG channel for more.
IWRG (SUN) 11/13/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Paymon, Spider Fly, Stelaris vs Kenji, Limbo, Súper Boy
2) Lolita vs Mary Caporal [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal]
3) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
4) Galeno del Mal, Hell Boy, Rocky Casas vs Hijo De Canis Lupus, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Relámpago
5) Bugambilia & Máximo vs Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura
6) Aster Boy & Tonalli vs Dick Angelo 3G & Puma de Oro
Lots of rematches; IWRG might be stalling out a bit before running their usual big shows in December.
Big Lucha
They’re back on Mas Lucha tonight
Big Lucha (FRI) 11/11/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Metal Shadow, Sussy Love, Zenky vs Andy Panda, Diosa Nix, Estrella Del Ring
2) King & Kong vs Black Skayde & Hijo De Skayde
3) Carito & Skayde vs Action Jackson & Potro
4) Galeno del Mal vs Limbo
Originally Galeno del Mal vs Bendito
5) Cometa Maya, Éxtasis, Radioactivo, Viajero vs Forneo, Hannya, Sol, Torito Negro Jr.
6) El Bandido, Gravity, Komander vs Bendito, Elemental, Flamita
Originally Emperador Azteca, replaced by Bendito hours later
The top two matches continue existing rivalries; I think they’re building to a bigger show in December. Just doing tags should be exciting but it is a question about how well this one is going to draw. This should stream on Mas Lucha. It’s listed as started at 8:30 so maybe check-in around 9:15.
Bandido also faces Rush on Rampage tonight in a pre-atped match. I expect to see a “Bandido is All Elite” graphic tonight.
Other News
LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania and the latest Lucha Report.
Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. won the GHC National Champion in NOAH from Masakatsu Funaki. I have no sense of NOAH but this seemed to be a surprise. It hasn’t gotten a lot of attention in Mexico. He’s already got a defense scheduled but I hope he gets to bring it back to Mexico for a bit.
Violento Jack is returning to Mexico to wrestle for Luchando Libre on 12/08, then DTU on 12/11 and 12/15.
DreamWave has Gringo Loco vs Komander vs Arez vs ASF on 12/10 in LaSalle, Illinois. This is may go to depending on the weather.
Damian 666 & Halloween will be honored on the 12/17 Lucha Libre Boom show on Arena Lopez Mateos. The graphic teases a GCW tag title defense. I presume they’re unrelated things, Halloween hasn’t wrestled in a while.