Lucha Libre World Cup teams announced, Mistico defeats Stuka, Volador/Romero in NJPW US

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 01/23/2023 Arena Puebla [El Sol de Puebla, Porra Fresa]
1) Black Tiger & Meyer b Fuerza Chicana & Rencor Facebook video (posted by )
2) Asturiano, Millenium, Rey Samuray b King Jaguar, Multy, Siki Osama Facebook video (posted by )
Multy needed medical help after a Millenium tope
3) Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus b Arkalis, Flyer, Valiente Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
4) Bárbaro Cavernario, Stuka Jr., Templario b Atlantis, El Audaz, Panterita del Ring Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
Atlantis replaced Negro Casas on Sunday
5) Gran Guerrero, Oráculo, Rocky Romero b Ángel de Oro, Atlantis Jr., Volador Jr. Facebook video (posted by ) Facebook video (posted by )
Gran Guerrero pinned Atlantis Jr. after a mask pull. Atlantis Jr. wants a singles match next week.

Standard stuff here.

CMLL (TUE) 01/24/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, Mas Lucha]
1) Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito vs Acero, Aéreo, Último Dragóncito CMLL | P. Violencia, Pequeño Pierroth y Pequeño Pólvora vencen a Aéreo, Acero y Último Dragoncito (posted by mluchatv) CONSEJO MUNDIAL DE LUCHA LIBRE PRESENTA FUNCION DE MARTES DE ARENA MEXICO CON STREAMING GRATUITO (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
2) Amapola, La Seductora, Tiffany b La Guerrera, La Magnifica, La Vaquerita CMLL | Tiffany, La Seductora y Amapola derrotan a La Guerrera, La Magnífica y La Vaquerita (posted by mluchatv) CONSEJO MUNDIAL DE LUCHA LIBRE PRESENTA FUNCION DE MARTES DE ARENA MEXICO CON STREAMING GRATUITO (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
3) Felino Jr. b Fuego [lightningCMLL | Felino Jr. derrotó a Fuego en match relámpago (posted by mluchatv) CONSEJO MUNDIAL DE LUCHA LIBRE PRESENTA FUNCION DE MARTES DE ARENA MEXICO CON STREAMING GRATUITO (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
7:38. The return of regular lightning matches.
4) El Coyote, Kráneo, Okumura b Astral, Hombre Bala Jr., Volcano CMLL | Kraneo, Okumura y Coyote vencen a Hombre Bala Jr., Volcano y Astral (posted by mluchatv) CONSEJO MUNDIAL DE LUCHA LIBRE PRESENTA FUNCION DE MARTES DE ARENA MEXICO CON STREAMING GRATUITO (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black b Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto CMLL | Kraneo, Okumura y Coyote vencen a Hombre Bala Jr., Volcano y Astral (posted by mluchatv)
Fuerza Tapatia asked for a CMLL Trios title shot
6) Místico b Stuka Jr. CMLL | ¡El REY sigue brillando! Místico vence en mano a mano a Stuka Jr. (posted by mluchatv) CONSEJO MUNDIAL DE LUCHA LIBRE PRESENTA FUNCION DE MARTES DE ARENA MEXICO CON STREAMING GRATUITO (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Mistico survived a mask pull to win

Another good show. Mistico and Stuka had their big match on a Tuesday and got the crowd into it by the end. I thought there were going to get out of a definitive finish with a mask pull, but Mistico kicked out and won with the Mistica instead. Mistico used this as an appeal to get the 90th Anniversary main event, as he does. Stuka needs some work on some of the technical rudo aspects (he had trouble taking the Mistica) but personality here’s there. He even got Guerreros-themed Stuka gear. It went long and some of the other matches went shorter, which might also be related to adding to the lightning match (and wanting to stick to a two hour length to these shows.)

Mistico and Stuka traded casitas near the end of their match. The announcers didn’t call them by name. The CMLL announcing style is not to call many moves by proper names so that may have not been very meaningful. The “Casita” name actually comes from Pepe Casas coming up with the move, but the move is so commonly called that it’s almost a generic term in Mexico.

There were YouTube based rumors that Felino Jr. and Felino had also decided to jump to AAA. Felino Jr. being on this show quieted those stories. I don’t expect either to leave but I didn’t expect  Negro Casas & Dalys to jump.

CMLL (TUE) 01/24/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Black Boy, Destructor, Javier Cruz Jr. b Estrella de Jalisco I, Gran Kenut, Luminoso ¡ Martes de Glamour ! (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
2) Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II, Micro Sagrado, Mije b Átomo, Chamuel, MicroÁngel, Periquito Sacaryas ¡ Martes de Glamour ! (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
Originally 3v3, Mije and MicroAngel (listed as Angelito) added on Thursday
3) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Náutica, Sexy Sol b Maligna, Nexy, Reyna Isis, Valkiria ¡ Martes de Glamour ! (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
Reyna Isis replaced Dalys on Sunday. Malgina pinned Jarochita, but Lluvia pinned capitan Reyna Isis.
4) Atlantis Jr. & Volador Jr. DQ Dark Panther & Rocky Romero ¡ Martes de Glamour ! (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
moved way early for some reason and went short. Volador faked a foul for the DQ.
5) Adrenalina, El Divino, Explosivo, Fantástico b Cris Skin, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga ¡ Martes de Glamour ! (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
6) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Hijo del Villano III b Rey Bucanero, Satánico, Último Guerrero ¡ Martes de Glamour ! (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
Hijo del Villano III replaced Negro Casas on Sunday
7) Ángel de Oro, Averno, Soberano Jr. b Arlequín, Oráculo, Panterita del Ring Jr. ¡ Martes de Glamour ! (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)

The main event moving to the fourth match was strange, and the match was not much. The match that followed it was also unusually short. This show included a boxing match before the wrestling so maybe there was a time issue.

This arena has a Pepsi-sponsored show on Wednesday (today) with just about the same roster and similar matches. They have been streaming all the sponsored shows of late. They streamed Sunday’s show, and I’ve posted results here. Nothing important, though it does stick out how much Satanico is working when he’s even working those.

CMLL (SAT) 01/28/2023 Arena Coliseo
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía vs Full Metal, Mercurio, Minos
2) Cachorro, Leono, Retro vs Apocalipsis, Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II
3) Eléctrico vs Inquisidor [lightning]
4) La Vaquerita, Marcela, Skadi vs Amapola, Hera, Olympia
5) El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Volcano vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
6) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Valiente vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

Lightning matches are back as a regular fixture.

CMLL Informa has Templario & Dragon Rojo Jr. (Reyes del Aire), Marcela & Skadi (Skadi return from injury) and Capitan Suicida (is now a Capitan).

NJPW added Mascara Dorada, Josh Alexander, Adrian Quest, Rocky Romero vs KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight, DKC and Volador Jr. for their 02/18 show in Los Angeles. This is a 20 USD standalone show that will later be added to NJPW World. NJPW’s playing up the Romero/Volador issue, which again points to another match in Japan.

AAA

AAA announced the teams for the Lucha Libre World Cup on Wednesday afternoon

  • Mexico 1: Psycho Clown, Alberto el Patron, Hijo del Vikingo
  • Mexico 2: Taurus, Pentagon Jr., Laredo Kid
  • US: Sam Adonis, Johnny Caballero, Christopher Daniels
  • Canada: Josh Alexander, Vampiro, PCO
  • Europe: Thomas Latimer, Joe Hendry, Heddi Karaoui
  • Japan: La Estrella, Kuuaki, Nishikawa
  • Latin America: Carlito, Hip Hop Man, Zumbi
  • Rest of The World: Classy Ali, Rage, Bhupinder Gujjar

Mexico 2 is very good. Christopher Daniels and Pentagon Jr. were mentioned as wrestling in AEW but the AEW logo was not on their graphic. (Carlito wasn’t listed as Nacion Lucha Libre, though that’s the obvious connection.) Impact and NWA were specifically called out. Daniels seems like an AEW representative when they don’t want to send anyone on screen important but still want to maintain a relationship by sending an official. Hangman Page isn’t the only one who needs to mend some fences right about now.

It’s strange Takuma & Kento aren’t on Team Japan; maybe they’re in some other match? I don’t know if there are more matches. The rest of the world is now catching onto the fact Vampiro is just wrestling normal after his previous brain injury retirement; remember, his story is that he just took care of himself and got better.

Women

  • Mexico: Sexy Star II, Flammer, La Hiedra
  • US: Deonna Purrazzo, Kamille, Jordynne Grace
  • Japan: Emi Sakura, AKINO, Mayumi Ozaki
  • Rest of the World: Christi Jaynes, Taya, Natalia Marakova

Will Marakova finally make it to an AAA show? This is try 3. In kayfabe, Marvilla should be on Team Mexico instead of Sexy Star because Las Toxicas never ever lose. That also might be sign of how team Mexico might do here.

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. will also be honored on the show.  Tickets aren’t on sale yet, and Dorian Roldan said they were still in discussion about who the show would air. It’s unusual for AAA to announce a show like this without something on sale. We also don’t know the rules; there were strange tiebreaker singles matches in previous years.

Negro Casas & Dalys will appear on Saturday’s Arena Neza card.

Hijo del Vikingo says he used to sell posters and photos outside of lucha libre arenas to make money, and he still does so from time to time.

IWRG

Sunday’s lineup’s

IWRG (SUN) 01/29/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Águila Oriental & Baby Star vs Kenji & Tortuga Leo
2) Hades (AAA) & Sagitarius vs Black Fury & India Mazahua
3) Spider Fly © vs John Tito [IWRG IC Light]
first defense
4) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Hip Hop Man, Karaoui, Shocko
5) Hell Boy & Hijo De Canis Lupus vs Hijo del Fishman & Hijo del Pirata Morgan
6) Asterboy, Puma de Oro, Tonalli vs Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Rey Halcón

The main event is the battle between the various El Jacuan members. Fourth match seems headed to a trios title match.

IWRG is also announcing the teams/leaders for their 2023 Tryout competition on Friday.

Other Notes

LuchaWorld has the latest Poster-mania.

Netflix show Contra las Cuerdas debuted on Netflix this morning. It appears to be available worldwide. It’s gotten a lot of press, haven’t see a lot of reviews. Stephanie Vaquer has a cameo in episode 2, KeMonito is in episode 3, and episode 5 seems to involve a challenge from Ludark Shaitan.

02/06 Lucha Memes has Aramis vs Vengador as the headliner, and that should be pretty good. That’s a Monday show; they’re running on the holiday, while CMLL is moving their Monday show a day early to avoid it.

AAW announced Aramis vs Gringo Loco vs Black Taurus vs Brayden Lee for their 02/13 show in Berwyn.

GCW announced Bandido vs Gringo Loco for their 03/17 New York show.