complete card for AAA TripleMania Tijuana, Big Lucha, IWRG

CMLL

Tonight’s card

CMLL (FRI) 06/09/2023 Arena México
1) Diamond vs Raider [lightning]
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Samuray, Stigma vs Difunto, Furia Roja (Jalisco), Zandokan Jr.
3) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Sanely vs La Catalina, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
4) Atlantis, Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr. vs Euforia, Soberano Jr., Valiente [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Mephisto vs Hechicero
6) Dragón Rojo Jr., Místico, Último Guerrero vs Templario, Titán, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

Mephisto versus Hechicero is the match of most interesting, more to find out where they’re going with that (if they’re going with that) than the result or even the quality of the match. Everything else is a bit more predictable: the main event should be more Templario/Dragon Roj. Titan’s return to CMLL is a side dish. The fourth match is a regular keep busy tag (and maybe gets Soberano in the building for something later.) The women’s match is the same feud for months, which is still OK. The second match is Puebla versus Guadalajara, and the opener could be fun. It’s on PPV per usual. It’ll go up on YouTube on June 25th.

The YouTube upload this week will have the Soberano/Dragon Rojo Copa Junior VIP final and the first two rounds of the National Middleweight Tournament.

CMLL (SUN) 06/11/2023 Arena México
1) Leono vs Inquisidor [lightning]
2) Cachorro, Capitán Suicida, Valiente Jr. vs Oro Jr., Robin, Sangre Imperial
3) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Flyer vs Misterioso Jr. [lightning]
5) Dragón Rojo Jr., Star Jr., Titán vs Hechicero, Soberano Jr., Templario [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Dr. Karonte I & Místico vs Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. and Panterita del Ring & Panterita del Ring Jr. and Felino & Felino Jr.

Odd that it’s a Sunday show where Dragon Rojo, Soberano and Templario all end up in the ring at the same time for the first time in a long time.

CMLL (MON) 06/12/2023 Arena Puebla
1) Centella Roja, Meyer, Rayo Metálico vs Espíritu Maligno, King Jaguar, Rencor
2) La Magnifica, Sanely, Skadi vs Hera, Metálica, Olympia
3) Audaz, Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr. vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Fuerza Guerrera, Hechicero
5) Místico, Panterita del Ring Jr., Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

Guerrero Maya Jr. likes being the old-school CMLL wrestler, so I guess CMLL is testing him to see what he can possibly do with Fuerza Guerrera.

CMLL (TUE) 06/13/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Celeste, Cosmos, Eclipse vs Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Hijo del Calavera
2) Exterminador, Javier Cruz Jr., Maléfico vs Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
3) Misterio Blanco, Misterio Negro, Misterioso Jr. vs Halcón Negro Jr., Optimus, Trono
4) Ángel Rebelde, Cachorro, Hijo de Stuka Jr. vs Barboza, Draego, Persa
5) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado vs Ángel Negro, Brillante Jr., La Fashion
6) Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. vs Stuka Jr. & Templario

That main event sounds good if they’re up for it.  Match two will probably some interference on the finish. There’s a Guadalajara based Angel Negro, the guy on these shows is actually “Angel Negro Jr.” from Torreon but they don’t use the Jr. even there often and it’s causing minor havoc on my database.

“Arena Coliseo Guadalajara shows every Sunday!” seems to have lasted exactly one show. That’s the second time that’s happened.

CMLL posted a video revealing the mystery guy from two weeks ago was Mascara Dorada 2.0. Anouncing Mascara Dorada 2.0 in a match gave that away already. They did confirm that 06/30 match with El Desperado is the debut of the new character. His identity is obscured more in the second video. He is still expected to be Panterita del Ring Jr.

Mistico announced he’s given up his pursuit of the 90th Anniversary main event. He feels like if CMLL doesn’t have the confidence to put him in that spot, it’s no big deal, he’ll hopefully still be on the card otherwise and there’s still so many other places he can main event. (He was coming off main eventing in Colima and Guadalajara.) Mistico also suggested he may retire in four or five years. I believe none of this.

Mural has a history of Guadalajara wrestling, centering on Arena Coliseo Guadalajara.

AAA

AAA held a press conference in Tijuana to announce the full 07/15 TripleMania card

AAA TV (SAT) 07/15/2023 Estadio Chevron, Tijuana, Baja California
***TripleMania XXXI Tijuana ***
1) Willie Mack vs Mr. Iguana, Jack Cartwheel, La Hiedra, Flammer, Myzteziz, ?, Puma King, Niño Hamburguesa, Dinámico, Gringo Loco [Copa TripleMania]
2) Dalys, Lady Shani, Sexy Star vs Kamille, Natalia Markova, Viva Van
3) Bestia 666, Mecha Wolf, Pagano vs Aramis, Jack Evans, Vampiro Canadiense
4) Argenis, Chessman, Daga, Negro Casas vs Damián 666, Nicho el Millionario, Rey Horus, Xtreme Tiger
Baja vs Mexico City
5) Laredo Kid & Pentagón Jr. vs QT Marshall & Taurus [ambulance]
6) Psycho Clown & Sam Adonis vs LA Park & Rush [Guerra de Rivalidades, semifinal]
7) Hijo Del Vikingo © vs Kenny Omega [AAA MEGA]

Analysis is kind of pointless. You’re going to get this show (available on FITE) because Vikingo/Omega will be one of the best matches of the year, or because AAA weirdness appeals to you, or you just won’t get it at all. But I guess I’ve got to fill up this space somehow.

The fifth match was somewhat set up earlier in the day by an AAA video revealing QT Marshall as the mystery person who’s been causing trouble for Penta for the last few months. Marshall debuts on the June 18th taping in Puebla, where he’s facing and teaming with none of the people in this match. It’s a weird pick. Penta’s a big enough star that he’s only doing a feud in AAA with QT Marshall if that’s what he feels like doing, so Penta must be in to this idea somehow. (The counter part is Fenix and Taya not being on this show, for lack of anything interesting for them to make time.) Taurus and Laredo are good and I’d rather see them on TripleMania than not, but I have no idea why they’re in the match. I’d also much rather see Taurus than Antifaz but wasn’t that the feud that was going on?

How does a tag team ambulance match work? Do you think AAA’s figured out if both people have to be in an ambulance, or just one, or what counts as putting someone in an ambulance? Is this going to be one of those times where the announcers explain the rules of the match and then the wrestlers work it under entirely different rules? Is it possible for me to write this paragraph harshly enough to get AAA everyone on the same page ahead of time? I’d prefer AAA get mad about me for questioning their competency than to watch a dumb show. (This is where I also note the only referees listed for the show are Piero and Hijo de Tirantes – is Vikingo/Omega going to be refereed by the guy with one good arm or the guy who can’t remember how counts work in big matches?)

AAA shifted the Copa TripleMania to be a battle royal of people booked with nothing to do. The Baja California versus Mexico City match was 5v5, is now 4v4 with no Cup on the line. (No one told Daga. I encourage him to bring his own trophy and give it to himself if he wins.) Battle rapper Azcino and UFC fighter Brandon Moreno will be in the corners, with AAA making it clear that neither would actually be wrestling. There was some confusion with that bit in Monterrey, AAA should not have that issue this time. Moreno being on this show seems to have gotten more attention of the two early on.

The Vampiro, Jack Evans, Aramis versus La Rebelion & Pagano stuff appears to be set up by stuff taped on TV that is unlikely to air before this show happens.

Women’s match isn’t interesting to me but it is a sound business move: US-based women’s wrestlers seem to have passionate followings, and it seems worth using them to see if the support from those fans will carry through to actually paying for a PPV. I don’t know that AAA risks losing much audience to Collision in general, but it’s a PPV built around Kenny Omega showing up, there might be people trying to watch both and tuning in late.

This is a Tijuana show, so Copa TripleMania will be built around (the same as ever) Willie Mack dancing spot to get the reaction. It will definitely get a great reaction. I’m not sure if Dinamico is still with AAA or if AAA just didn’t bother to update the poster. Note that Hiedra & Flammer are booked and Maravilla is again not with them. I don’t know the story there but that keeps happening.

Komander goes from main eventing the last TripleMania to not appearing on this one at all. Maybe he’s got AEW commitments? Arez, Octagon Jr, and the Vipers aren’t around either. Alberto el Patron seemed set up to be a major part of these shows and he’s nowhere to be seen; I take the victories where I can get them.

This show, and all Saturday shows for the time being, goes up against AEW Collision. This episode is scheduled to have the finals of the Owen Hart tournament. If I’m understanding the time zones correctly – a risk! – the last hour of Collsion goes up against the first hour of this TripleMania. That means likely men’s and women’s finals against the first couple of matches on this show.

In the bigger picture, I’d figure the luchadors who are still working Mexico and indies (the Komander, Vikingo, Bandido types) will want to be on Dynamite so they can still pick up bookings on the weekends. It seems like AEW is taping Ring of Honor on Saturdays and those luchadors have more often worked that show, so I’m not sure how it will work out. No one seems to know how it’ll work out, about eight days before the first show.

AAA TV this Saturday starts the Morelia shows, taped 20 days ago. Matches taped:

• Dulce Kanela, Estrellita, Mini Vikingo vs Demus, Látigo, Toxin
• Brazo De Oro Jr. & Sexy Star vs Flamita & Villano III Jr.
• Lady Shani vs Chik Tormenta in a hardcore rules match
• Octagón Jr. & Rey Horus vs Arez & Komander and Jack Evans & Myzteziz for the AAA World Tag Team Championship
• Aramis & Negro Casas vs Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf
• Hijo Del Vikingo & Pentagón Jr. vs Dralistico & Gringo Loco

AAA hasn’t indicated which matches will air and I haven’t seen a Space press release posted elsewhere. I actually tracked down WBD Mexico’s media contact email and signed up for their mailing specifically so I can get the AAA info most dearly important to me (which three matches are airing that week), but I have never gotten an email. The media site also doesn’t look like it’s been updated in two years, what are you going to do.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 05/28/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, R de Rudo]
1) Rey Aztaroth b Ei Bi Ci 
2) Águila Roja, Mr. Mike, Rey Halcón b Éxtasis, Fussion, John Tito 
3) Bengalee, Sagitarius, Zoy Raymunda b Bugambilia, Mary Caporal, Sexy Gladys 
4) Elemental, León Dorado, Mr. Leo b Caballero de Plata, Relámpago, Spider Fly 
5) Canek Jr., Nosaki, Shocko b Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. 
6) Heavy Metal & Rocky Casas b Hell Boy & Puma de Oro 

More Casas/Hell Boy stuff.

IWRG (THU) 06/01/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) John Tito b Rey Astaroth 
2) Bengalee, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly b Águila Roja, Lolita, Rey Halcón 
3) Wesley Pipes b Hijo De Enigma [WLLC, 8f] 
4) Vito Fratelli b Puma de Oro [WLLC, 8f] 
5) Tonalli b Leo Cristiano [WLLC, 8f] 
6) Nozaki b Kiki Roberts [WLLC, 8f] 
7) Vito Fratelli b Wesley Pipes [WLLC, quarterfinal] 
8) Tonalli b Nozaki [WLLC, quarterfinal] 
9) Cuervo de Puerto Rico, Dick Angelo 3G, Mark Thomas b Hellboy, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Hijo del Pirata Morgan 
Pirata betrayed his opponents. Mark Thomas was hurt during the match
10) Vito Fratelli b Tonalli [WLLC, semifinal] 

IWRG (SUN) 06/04/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha, R de Rudo]
1) Sagitarius b Bengalee, Therius 
2) Mamba b El Marques [WLLC, 8F] 
3) Hijo del Fishman b Mark Thomas [WLLC, 8F] 
4) Cuervo de Puerto Rico b Tirano [WLLC, 8F] 
5) Hellboy b Nimrod [WLLC, 8F] 
6) Hijo del Fishman b Mamba [WLLC, quarterfinal] 
7) Hellboy b Cuervo de Puerto Rico [WLLC, quarterfinal] 
8) Hijo Del Enigma, Kiki Roberts, Leo Cristiani b Mosca (Argentina), Nozaki, Wesley Pipes 
9) Hellboy b Hijo del Fishman [WLLC, semifinal] 
10) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. b Hijo de Canis Lupus & Rey León © [IWRG IC TAG] 
11) Vito Fratelli b Hellboy [WLLC, final] 

The World Lucha Libre Championship didn’t make much of an impression. The Mas Lucha group talked about the tournament a bit on the Monday after it. The consensus is most of the foreigners didn’t impress – winner Vito Fratelli was said to have done well, but the panel suggested they’d rather see some of the usual IWRG foreigners rather than the people who came in for the tournament. Laredo Kid pulling out of the tournament hurt a lot as well. IWRG announced there will be a 2024 edition of this idea in Los Angeles, hosted by RGR promotion, and the Mas Lucha panel hoped that location would lead to a better field.

IWRG (THU) 06/08/2023 Arena Naucalpan [Mas Lucha]
1) Súper Boy b Legado
2) Águila Roja, Mr. Mike, Rey Halcón b Jhon Tito, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly
Mike asked for an IWRG Tag title shot, only for champions Los Cerebros Negro to attack him. Not clear who Mr. Mike will team with.
3) Demasiado & Lolita b Bizhota & Danessa
Bengalee showed up for her match but was told she was suspended for a fight in the gym. Demasiado said he would win Diva Salvaje’s hair in the upcoming cage match.
4) Hell Boy & Puma de Oro b Heavy Metal & Rocky Casas [RGR TAG, torneo]
5) Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura b Hijo de Canis Lupus & Hijo del Pirata Morgan
Salvaje challenged Hijo de Canis Lupus is the Rey del RIng title.

IWRG ran a Facebook angle on Tuesday, with announcer Vic Martz posting a “unexpected” video of Bengalee and Sagitarius getting into a fight during training. IWRG announced both wrestlers were suspended. The video didn’t get much traction before the suspension announcement; a few people thought the ‘suspension for a fight’ was actually a cover for benching those women after a horrendous performance on Sunday. I guess it could still be that on some level, though it’s more likely just part of the fued those two have been doing off and on for a year. For Thursday, that meant they tried to have their match and were again told they were suspended. They’ll surely be back in the upcoming cage match.

IWRG (SUN) 06/11/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Fussion vs Rey Aztaroth
2) Benga Lee vs Sagitarius
3) Caballero de Plata, Éxtasis, Jhon Tito vs Black Danger, León Dorado, Mr. Leo
4) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. vs Bombero Infernal & Mr. Mike
5) Hijo de Canis Lupus & Tonalli vs Noisy Boy & Spider Fly [RGR TAG, torneo]
6) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Hijo del Fishman, Pandemónium Jr. vs Pig Decapitador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool

Match 4 makes Mr. Mike’s plans clearer; they’re moving towards a father/son vs father/son tag title match for Father’s Day. I haven’t checked out the IWRG news show in a while, not sure if they’re explaining how these tournament matches fit together. Pure lucha libre weirdness to keep listing Benga Lee (or Bengalee) on the lineups so she can keep showing up and being told she’s still suspended.

Lucha Libre Boom ran their 10th Anniversary show on Saturday at Arena Lopez Mateos. Among those in attendance, though not wrestling, was El Cuervo de Puerto Rico. It was the first time he set foot in the venue since the November 19, 2018 incident where Angel o Demonio threw a cinder block at Cuervo’s head, severely injuring him. He had a lot of feelings about being back there, and seemed to be in a good place after all that’s happened.

IWRG also announced lineups for it’s first “Expo Lucha Libre”, Saturday and Sunday shows at an outdoor festival. Nothing too notable to them.

Big Lucha

They ran twice back at the end of May

AAA , Big Lucha (FRI) 05/26/2023 Centro Civico Nueva Aragon, Ecatepec, Estado de México [thecubsfan]
1) Reyidel b Golden Dragón (Illinois) 
2) Metal Shadow b Atómico Jr., Steel Dragón 
3) Forneo & La Brava b Aero Queen & Skayde 
Limbo distracted Skayde
4) Niño Hamburguesa, Tirano, Viajero b Abismo Negro Jr., Argenis, Limbo 
Skayde distracted Limbo
5) Chessman b Mr. Win 
Bonus match. Black Generation invited Chessman to join the group (he already had the red and black colors)
6) Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo b Ditto, Elipse, Orbita 
Ditto was officially on the Locos Evans team but Iku interfered freely.
7) Bendito, Emperador Azteca, Flamita, Hijo De Wagner b El Potro de Oro, Galeno del Mal, Gravity, Negro Casas 
Chessman threw a drink in Galeno del Mal’s face to cost him the match. Black Generation betrayed Chessman after the match.
8) Alberto el Patrón, Bandido, Psycho Clown b Sam Adonis, Súper Nova, Texano Jr. 
Fouls all around until Psycho cradled Adonis

Didn’t see much of this. This was a very AAA spot show with some weird angles thrown in. I can’t explain the Chessman thing; it’s not like they’re coming back with it next month.

Big Lucha (SAT) 05/27/2023 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [La Tijera Lucha Libre]
1) La Brava & Vórtice b Aeroqueen & Reiya  
2) Cometa Maya & Radioactivo b El Machote & Máscara Año 2000 Jr. [BIG LUCHA MIXA, quarterfinal]  
3) Brujo De Iztapalapa, Cobarde Jr., Forneo b Skayde, Tirano, Viajero  
setting up a Skayde/Forneo match
4) Dalys b Lady Maravilla 
5) Bendito & Flamita b Sol & Torito Negro [BIG LUCHA MIXA, quarterfinal]  
6) El Potro de Oro, Gravity, Rey Horus b Iku, Jack Evans, Vengador  
7) Cometa Maya & Radioactivo b Flamita & Oni El Bendito [BIG LUCHA MIXA, semifinal] 
8) Galeno del Mal & Negro Casas b Emperador Azteca & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. and Súper Nova & Texano Jr.  
Negro Casas replaced Bandido around May 9th.

Bendito & Flamtia versus Sol & Torito Negro was the best match on the show. It was a rudo/rudo match, so Flamita decided to play sarcastic good guy the whole match – and also just wrestled very well the rest of the time. The Hell Flyers had one of their good nights too and it came together nicely. Match 6 was fun, and the rest of the show was hit or miss. The latter half of match seven was a struggle; I think the intended finish was Radioactivo escaping a powerbomb into a torito, only he lost hold of Bendito, crashed, and was hurt. They had to scramble to get to the result. The main was normal spot show stuff, and everyone teasing matches with Emperador Azteca that don’t appear to be happening.

Attendence seemed down here from recent shows, even with bigger names on top.

These shows were produced by Big Lucha; they’re not on Mas Lucha now, and you can find the full version only on Big Lucha’s YouTube channel. That’ll be the way it is going for, until the next time it changes again. The production was fine when everything was working – the announcing wasn’t overbearing. The sound was fine. They seemed to only have a hard cam and a single floor cam but it got through fine. The black screen of doom came up only once or twice. They even had graphics for wrestler/team names, which Mas Lucha does not do for live shows (and neither do AAA or CMLL come to think of it.) I found it interesting that, where a US promotion might put up a wrestler’s Twitter handle, this group was using Instagram pages instead. It was perfectly acceptable Mexican wrestling footage when it was working right.

The Big Lucha production also wasn’t working right for the first third of the show; the first three matches on the Saturday show were unlistenable because of echoing audio. They figured it out and got it working, and you just have to allow for those kind of issues early on. The video had about 2.1K views when I checked Thursday, which is significantly lower than what Mas Lucha live streams normally do. That’ll take time and effort to improve too.

The next set of Big Lucha shows:

Big Lucha (SAT) 06/17/2023 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) El Machote & Máscara Año 2000 Jr. vs Reiyel & Steel Dragón
2) Mr. Win & Viajero vs SBK & Takuma [BIG LUCHA TAG, quarterfinal]
3) Súper Nova & Texano Jr. vs Elipse & Orbita [BIG LUCHA TAG, quarterfinal]
4) Forneo, Sol, Torito Negro vs Black Skayde, Skayde, Vórtice
5) Carito & Dalys vs Andrómeda & Lady Maravilla
6) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [BIG LUCHA TAG, semifinal]
7) El Bandido, Gravity, Potro vs Abismo Negro Jr., Cibernético, Látigo

Golden Guns versus Vipers in the main event. Match five has a feud between exoticos Carito & Andromeda, set up between matches on the most recent Arena show. Match four continues the Forneo/Skayde feud. SBK & Takuma going far in this tournament would be an interesting way to draw a whole bunch of new people to sample a show, though Sangre Texana seem more likely to go through in this block.

Big Lucha (SUN) 06/25/2023 Auditorio Municipal, Amecameca, Estado de México
1) Andrómeda, Forneo, La Brava vs Aeroqueen, Auster, Skayde
2) Elipse, Iku, Orbita vs Mr. Win, Tirano, Viajero
3) Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo vs Limbo, Sol, Torito Negro
4) El Potro & Gravity vs El Cobarde (Chihuahua) & El Dragón (Chihuahua) and Jack Evans & Vengador
5) El Bandido, Negro Casas, Psycho Clown vs Sam Adonis, Súper Nova, Texano Jr.

More Psycho/Adonis prior to the mask match. Match three is one of those that could be great if everyone has a good night. Bandido working the main event heavily suggests he’s been told he won’t be needed for AEW’s Forbidden Door (to no great surprise.)

Other News

Chica Yeye (Julio Flores, 32) passed away Wednesday after battle with colon cancer. It’s July Flores on Facebook but friends seem to be using Julio. Chica Yeye wrestled in many indie promotions in the 10s, most often with DTU. Yeye’s first got attention by participating in the 2012 Quien Pinta Para La Corona contest. Yeye’s mother told Peridocio Correo that Yeye snuck out to the QPPLC tryout in Leon, then again went to Mexico City without telling her, bringing back photos and a La Parka mask as proof. Yeye’s only AAA appearance ended up being an appearance on the short-lived AAA Fusion b-show, but wrestled and trained with the AAA wrestlers of that 2010-2015 era. Yeye also worked as a nurse.

Yeye was running a school in Morelia up until the pandemic. Yeye had reopened a school recently in Salamanca but started to feel ill; doctors didn’t discover the colon cancer until it was grave. Yeye’s death has gotten a fair bit of attention because of Maravilla’s statements earlier in the week about the poor treatment Salamanca’s hospital was giving Chica Yeye, and because it may have to with Yeye being transgender. I briefly met Chica Yeye at the “DTU offices” on a trip to Mexico; I remember Yeye was quiet and had surprisingly soft hands for a wrestler.

Mexico State Referee Mr. Lobo (Aurelio Villanueva) passed away Wednesday. He was just scheduled to be honored for 50 years in lucha libre this past weekend, though it reads like he was in poor health for a while.

Andrade’s June 15th wrestling appearance in Arena Olimpico Laguna is being billed as “his final match in the area.” Andrade did clarify that it’s not a forever final, he may wrestle again years down the road, but not in the immediate future. AEW deals seem to allow people to take indie bookings when they want, so either Andrade is choosing not to wrestle in his hometown for a long time or he’s thinking he’s getting a different sort of contract soon. Andrade is like Penta and Fenix, where he really doesn’t need to wrestle in Mexico at this point economically, and it could be as simple as him deciding to take less work coming back from an long term injury.

SuperLuchas writes about Canek’s appearance in Madison Square Garden appearance, where he got attention for his flying ability (of all things.) He may have done the first tope in the history of wrestling on in that building.

LuchaWiki and other site issues

an overly bit on long how these sites have been issues

• Everything (this blog, the main page everyone’s forgotten about except for Joe Versus the World stuff and the luchawiki) was originally hosted under the same account. This was on old plan that my hosting company doesn’t offer anymore: unlimited storage, though at low RAM for modern sites. The unlimited storage was super helpful before podcasts hosts (and podcasts themselves) really existed – I could upload MP3s without problem. The luchawiki also took up a lot of space, and the later poster archive for the luchadb takes up an absurdly large amount of space.
• Years back, I moved the database – the part of the site that basically stores all the text – onto it’s own separate database hosting for speed reasons
• More recently, I moved the luchadb to make it easier to track malware; having all those files and folders on one hosting site was causing scanners to give up before checking everywhere. This helped for a while!
  • To save money, I ended up keeping the posters back in the main (unlimited) storage. So sometimes the luchadb site will work but the posters will be down
• Both the luchawiki and thecubsfan pages started going down all the time in early May. As always, I had no idea why. There’d be times when I’d restart the servers and they’d go back down within seconds. This was really annoying and came at a time when I didn’t have the focus to deal with it. It was probably also really annoying for you to try to visit these sites. I’m my own tech support for these things and the only solutions I came up with was “upgrade the luchawiki to the latest version, and split luchawiki off to it’s own server to figure out which site is causing the problem.”
• Upgrade & moving went very poorly. That constant downtime disrupted the move; there was a point where I feared every luchawiki image was lost, trapped on an old server. (The hosting company fixed it.) The Mediawiki software also didn’t carry over correctly; I had to reinstall it from scratch and even then got weird errors that even the Mediawiki people couldn’t figure out. (It seems like most of those have shaken out, but I’m not confident about it at all.) Reinstalling the software also wiped out the stuff I put in to stop bot accounts from spamming the luchawiki, and they figured it out quickly. I cleaned up the account, put some security back, and turned off creating new accounts for the site.
• Splitting up the sites did help in figuring out the issue: It’s definitely the luchawiki that’s having the problems. It still is going down randomly, while thecubsfan.com site is staying up. A site scan found some malware that snuck in (to spam other sites, don’t think it accessed the passwords because they’re hashed), but the luchawiki is still going down often, and I’m not sure why. The hosting company believes there’s no more malware left, but the issue is still there and I don’t have any real idea how to ensure it will stay working.

The luchawiki software update also included positive changes – the new visual editor is useful – that also broke parts of the website. A recent required server update also broke parts of the luchadb around this time; I think it’s working. This has not been fun. Paying for four different hosting plans is also not fun.

The luchawiki isn’t going anywhere. I wouldn’t call it – or anything I’ve done – ‘successful’, but it’s known, used, and contains a lot of work by other people that I don’t want to be wasted. But the issues I’ve had with keeping that running, along with other things going on personally recently, have been a reminder that nothing will last forever. I’ve been around, these sites have been around for eternity, but they and I won’t be around forever. I can keep these plates spinning until my last breath, or I can set them down and move onto something else. They’re going to stop spinning either way. I’m going to keep spinning them for now; I’ll see if I can track down someone who can get the wiki working a little better if I can’t do it myself.