Zeuxis returns to CMLL, Torneo de Escuelas, AAA Rey de Reyes this Sunday

site notes

Twitter’s announcement that they’re ending free access to their API on 02/09 means the @lucharobot Twitter account will probably come to an end on that date. I may try a similar on another service but no promises. I believe  the API change means I (and anyone who publishes a blog) will have to start always manually linking these posts on Twitter, which is a nuisance and something I may forget. You can always just check the website.

CMLL

Tonight’s lineup

CMLL (FRI) 02/03/2023 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Último Dragóncito vs Minos, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
2) Flyer vs Magnus [lightning]
3) Capitán Suicida, Dark Panther, Volcano vs Felino, Felino Jr., Kráneo
4) La Jarochita & Lluvia © vs Metálica & Reyna Isis [MEX WOMEN TAG]
12th defense (10th on CMLL shows)
5) Guerrero Maya Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr., Titán vs Ángel de Oro, Bárbaro Cavernario, Niebla Roja
6) Místico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero, Templario

The main event could be good or could be the rudo team completely breaking down. The semimain doesn’t have that issue so it’s a great bet. I think Jarochita & Lluvia are keeping their titles more so now than a few days ago, but that’s match is going to more if they can recapture their form of 2021. Tercera is Felino’s first appearance since his brother left CMLL. Flyer versus Magnus is quite the battle of second generation wrestlers who once had great expectations and now are just around (though at least Magnus has found a niche in Los Depredadores.) Minis have been reliable lately. This could be another good one. It’s the usual Ticketmaster Live price; all Friday shows will be 99 pesos this month. 

CMLL announced Zeuxis’ return to the promotion at the very end of CMLL Informa. Zeuxis won Princesa Sugehit’s mask at the 84th Aniversario, then faded afterward and left within a year. The mask match turned out to be much more about Sugehit losing her mask (and setting her up to win the world title) than Zeuxis unmasking her, but Zeuxis seemed enthusiastic into lucha libre soon after. That impression continued in her post-CMLL run. She had one AAA match in 2018 that both sides were unhappy with and then appeared infrequently in the following years. (Zeuxis hasn’t wrestled 20 matches in a year since leaving CMLL.) Zeuxis did get brought back to AAA last year to help fill out the Showcenter tournament, and last wrestled for them in November. There were rumors CMLL was interested in bringing Zeuxis back as part of Team World for the 2022 Women’s Gran Prix, which didn’t happen. She talked only briefly on Informa, just that she was happy to return. No start date was announced.

Zeuxis coming back to CMLL right after Dalys leaves drew comparisons and probably was intended to be to do so. 2017 Zeuxis is a big upgrade of 2022 Dalys, but I don’t know if we’re going to see 2017 Zeuxis again. If Zeuxis is OK, which she seemed to be in those recent matches AAA, that’s still an upgrade over Dalys was giving CMLL at much less the hassle. (There’s no Negro Casas replacement waiting out there that I can think of. There are good veterans, but there’s only one Negro Casas.) CMLL 

The Homenaje a Dos Leyendas card will also be revealed next Wednesday. CMLL hasn’t yet said which day it’ll be, though maybe that’s a video that’ll air during tonight’s show. CMLL announced the Zeuxis return and the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas card announcement back to back, which sure implied Zeuxis (and other women) are booked for that show. 

CMLL announced the Torneo de Escuelas teams on Wednesday’s show. The teams:

  • Comerca Lagunera: Misterio Blanco, Hijo de Stuka Jr., Misterio Negro, Insólito, Brillante Jr. and Gran Jefe (w/coaches Blue Panther & Ultimo Guerrero)
  • Guadalajara: Vaquero Jr., Crixus, Fantástico, Adrenalina, Explosivo, Ángel Rebelde (w/coach Satanico)
  • Puebla: Millenium, Multy, El Perverso, Prayer, el Hijo de Centella Roja, Rey Samuray (w/coach Black Tiger)
  • Mexico City: Príncipe, Tonalli, Futuro, Max Star, Neón, Vegas (w/coach Virus)

The coaches will have a four-way match on 02/21 (Tuesday), which will determine the seeding for the tournament. Two of the teams will wrestle in a cibernetico on 02/24 (Friday), the other two on 02/28 (Tuesday) and the winners will meet in a final on 03/03. The cibernetico format means most of these guys will have two-three minutes of ring time to make an impression. CMLL’s said the winner gets to join the roster of CMLL, but what that means (the whole team? just the last person standing?) is a little vague. It’s never just about who wins in all these new talent tournaments; someone who makes a bit enough impression will get brought back, no matter the match result.

A lot of the names are familiar or came up last week. Insolito also goes by Rey Insolito. Gran Jefe is Gran Jefe V in his home area. Likewise, CMLL’s changed “Little Star” to “Max Star.” Multy & Prayer are Lucha Memes favorites. Vegas was a Black Warrior protege before he passed away, and they may be related. Principe is the guy I thought was Troyano and may actually be Troyano since no one seems to know who Principe is. (“Principe” is also so generic that it’s hard to search for.) 

The Guadalajara team seems like the favorite to me, because they’ve gotten a lot of real reps in the CMLL system at Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. The Mexico City team is usually the favorite by default, but that batch looks like a bunch of guys nice to have around but unlikely to stand out. Maybe Tonalli’s the exception. Comerca Lagunera seems young and the Puebla guys already got their victory by getting into this instead of the traditional Monterrey selection. 

Arena Colioeo Guadalajara will be running preview matches featuring their home wrestlers against Comarca Lagunera wrestlers next week.

Nitro talked to MedioTiempo about his career with CMLL, starting there as a vendor at the age of 8.

AAA

Saturday’s AAA on Space at the usual 6:30 pm start time.

  • Mr. Iguana & Niño Hamburguesa vs Kento & Takuma [lumberjack]
  • Aramis, Vampiro, Willie Mack vs Bestia 666, Mecha Wolf, Pagano
  • Pentagón Jr. & Psycho Clown vs Daga & Sam Adonis

The main event includes the debut of Dalys and Negro Casas. These matches are on YouTube (here, here and here) though I haven’t quite gotten around to watching them. 

AAA has Rey de Reyes this Sunday. This show is not airing on FITE and is not airing live on Space. It doesn’t feel like as big event this year because of both how it’s airing and the lineup. It should eventually air on 02/18 and 02/25.

AAA TV (SUN) 02/05/2023 Poliforum Zamna, Mérida, Yucatán
1) Ángel Infernal, Halcón Rojo Jr., Impacto, Panther Boy Jr. vs Eterno Alcander, Fuerza Maya, Persseus, Shangai Kid
2) Aerostar, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs Kento, La Parka Negra, Takuma
3) Vampiro vs Sam AdonisJack CartwheelArez [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
4) Psycho Clown vs BandidoAbismo Negro Jr.Komander [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
5) Pagano vs Bestia 666FlamitaAramis [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
6) Hijo Del Vikingo vs Mecha WolfMyzteziz Jr.Gringo Loco [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
7) Chik Tormenta vs Sexy StarLady ShaniDalysLa Hiedra [Reina de Reinas torneo]
Dalys officialy announced on 01/28.
8) ? vs ????????? [Rey de Reyes]

It’s AAA so some of these matches will change. From what we have right now, I’m going to take Sam Adonis, Psycho Clown, Aramis and Gringo Loco in the final four. Adonis/Psycho fighting seems a lock, Gringo could use a win over Vikingo, and Aramis is just to do something different. Adonis seems the most likely to win. Chik Tormenta seemed most likely to win the women’s tournament, but now that honor goes to Dalys. Merida shows are usually afternoon shows; this one has a 4 pm start.

On last week’s podcast, Konnan and Larry Dallas were going through the TripleMania dates. Dallas mentioned the Tijuana show as on June 17th, which surprised Konnan – he thought that show was June 30th. It turns out Konnan may have been right all along. There’s a concert scheduled for that same venue on June 17th and tickets are on sale. (Lucha Libre TM first noted the concert poster.) TripleMania Tijuana hasn’t had tickets go one sale. I can’t find an AAA tweet mentioning the date looking through Twitter now, so I think AAA are well aware and just haven’t announced the new date yet. It’s strange AAA would announce a date they didn’t actually have locked in but it’s AAA.

Blue Demon Jr. told AS he doesn’t like the AAA Guerra de Rivalades tournament; he wants a heads-up with DMT Azul, not a competition to get there. He wants to win his way out of the tournament and then do the mask match. Seems like it’d be easier to do it the other way.

Gringo Loco, Toxin and Latigo vs Jack Carthwheel, Arez, and Mago on 02/18 in Los Angeles. Mago seems be getting the first shot at ACH ASF’s vacated spot in these matches. Toxin & Latigo are appearing more often in GCW than on AAA TV this week.

IWRG

This Sunday’s IWRG show is the RGR anniversary card announced months back:

IWRG , RGR (SUN) 02/05/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Jhon Tito & Rey Halcón
2) Big Mami & Diosa Quetzal vs Goya Kong & Keyra [Copa Femenil RGR]
3) Coronel Vip & Galeno del Mal vs Hijo De Canis Lupus & Rey León
4) Jessy Ventura vs Diva SalvajeMambaMáximoPaymonPimpinela EscarlataBugambiliaZoy Raymunda [RGR EXOTICO]
5) Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr., Rey Bucanero vs Pig Decapitador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool
6) Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, LA Park Jr. vs Diamante Azul (Indie), Hijo del Fishman, Rey Espectro

This is a Mas Lucha subscriber only show. It sounds like every Big Lucha show will also be subscriber-only going forward, at least for the live airing.

IWRG Retro this week

  • 2007-11-01: Tortuguillos Ninja vs Rockero del Diablo, Judas el Traidor, Puma King
    • video has a different date but I believe this is the correct one
  • 2007-12-02: Fantasma de la Ópera vs Black Terry
  • 2007-12-02: Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Cien Caras Jr., Villano III vs Dr. Wagner Jr., Silver King, Negro Casas

IWRG’s Tryout format appears to be a team introduction video on Monday, a second team introduction video on Tuesday, training videos on Wednesday, and then matches and elimination on Thursday. They’ve changed the format around to do all the matches and then all the judges evaluations. This week started the competition with the teams coached by Diosa Quetzal and Las Shotas. They’re cutting down to two wrestlers per group: Golden Power & Garrobo Punk advanced from the Quetzal group and Fussion and Mandibula Jr. from Las Shotas. There are eight groups, so this should continue two teams a week for most of the month before getting to the next round.

IWRG announced they’ll have a Mejor Luchador del Mundo (World Lucha Libre Championship) competition around July this year. There weren’t many details, only that interested wrestlers can sign up on their website and this is a singles competition (specifically different from CMLL and AAA’s team competitions.) There is a sign up form on the website; it looks like the same one they were using for the Tryout without any extra details.

IWRG’s Revoluiconando show also included an interview with Hijo de Canis Lupus, focusing on his upcoming US matches and his participation as a coach in this year’s Tryout competition. He and the hosts talked about Centvrion entering the competition and how Hijo de Canis Lupus and he were friends. Canis Lupus confirmed and expanded on that, mentioning they were part of a trio together. Centvrion was part of a trio called La Mala Hiebra on the indies (mostly Arena San Juan) in 2015 and 2016. The other team members were Latigo and Fly Warrior, who vanished from Arena Naucalpan just about the same time as the new Hijo de Canis Lupus debuted. I’d been led to believe Fly Warrior was the one who got the new gimmick and his story seems to give away that secret. Maybe this was already made clear to people who watch more IWRG than I. ESTO also has a long interview with Hijo de Canis Lupus.

Other Notes

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

DoradaFan has a new Komander music video.

AULL (FRI) 02/17/2023 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
2) Impulso © vs SolChicanico [AULL Light]
First defense. won title in November 2020.
3) Sádico vs Terry 2000Cerebro Negro [AULL MIDDLE]
vacant. Last known to exist in 2010?
4) Keyra vs BaronessaMary CaporalStarfireLudark Shaitan [AULL WOMEN]
vacant (Stephanie Vaquer vacated)
5) Hijo del Olímpico, Máscara Mágica Jr., Rey Pegasus vs Lunatik Extreme, Ovett Jr., Venganza and Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. [AULL TRIOS]
second defense
6) Emperador Azteca © vs RelámpagoImposible [AULL SW]
first defense
7) Trauma I & Trauma II © vs Alpha Wolf & Dragón Bane and Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura [AULL TAG]
first defense
8) Pistolero Negro © vs ForasteroRey Espectro [AULL HEAVY]
third defense

I don’t often post Arena Lopez Mateos lineups – I’ve consciously posted less lineups from all indie promotions in these blog posts in recent years because I don’t have much to say about them. I don’t have an essay about this Night of Championship show either, expert to note how crazy it is to consider AULL has seven different titles. Maybe there’s a hardcore group of fans in Tlalnepantla who know all the champions and that’s why Arena Lopez Mateos had to release a statement Wednesday night to announce Stephanie Vaquer was giving up the women’s champion. I’m not sure most people knew who the women’s champion or even what the titles are (did you know they have a Super Welterweight championship?) if it wasn’t a night of champions show.

Octagon has launched a tamale company.

An interview with Hidalgo’s Aspid. And one with Zuzu Divine.

Luchadors Morgana and Zafiro are in some sort of social media back and forth about which one of them is actually a poor wrestler. It is not worth figuring out what it’s about, neither of them are that good.