Templario defeats Soberano (but not on the stream), TNA/AAA, Big Lucha

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 01/12/2024 Arena México [CMLL, ExcelsiorKaiser SportsThe GladiatoresThe Gladiatores (video), thecubsfan]
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía b Full Metal, Minos, Pequeño Polvora Angelito, Pequeño Magia y Kaligua vs Pequeño Pólvora, Minos y Full Metal ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) CMLL - PEQ. PÓLVORA - MINOS - FULL METAL VS KALIGUA - PEQ. MAGIA - ANGELITO /ARENA MÉXICO / 12-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Gran trabajo de Angelito, Pequeño Magia y Kaligua sobre Minos, Full Metal y Pequeño Pólvora… (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
10:33. one fall. rematch from March 7th
2) Brillante Jr., Max Star, Neón b Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Valiente Jr. Brillante Jr., Max Star y Neón se imponen ante Valiente Jr., Fuego y Capitán Suicida (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) CMLL - MAX STAR - BRILLANTE JR. - NEÓN VS VALIENTE JR. - FUEGO - CAP. SUICIDA/ARENA MÉXICO/12-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Neón, Max Star y Brillante Jr vs Valiente Jr, Capitán Suicida y Fuego ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
9:51. two of three falls. rematch from 06/23
3) Esfinge b Misterioso Jr. [lightningCMLL - MATC RELÁMPAGO / MISTERIOSOS JR. VS ESFINGE / ARENA MÉXICO / 12-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) En match relámpago Esfinge derrota a Misterioso Jr. con el (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Misterioso vs Esfinge MATCH RELÁMPAGO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
9:15. Announced as one fall, switched to a lightning match. rematch from 10/06 (and a result of lots of Esfinge fans voting in the monthly polls)
4) Espíritu Negro & Rey Cometa b Akuma & Dark Magic CMLL - DARK MAGIC - AKUMA VS ESPÍRITU NEGRO - REY COMETA / ARENA MÉXICO / 12-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) En dos caídas al hilo Rey Cometa y Espíritu Negro vencen a los recios y poderosos Akuma y Dark Magic (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Rey Cometa y Espíritu Negro vs Akuma y Dark Mágic ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
15:14. two of three falls. rematch from 07/14, pushed back a week.
5) Zeuxis b Tessa Blanchard CMLL - MANO A MANO / TESSA BLANCHARD VS ZEUXIS/ ARENA MÉXICO / 12-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Tessa Blanchard vs Zeuxis MANO a MANO en la Arena México (posted by Estrellas del Ring) Zeuxis se va con el brazo en alto al dejar sin brillo a Tessa Blanchard (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
17:15. Two of three falls.
6) Templario b Soberano Jr. Templario se impone a Soberano Jr. al regresar un faul, gracias al apoyo de KeMalito el referí no ve (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Templario vs Soberano Jr MANO a MANO desde la Arena México (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
16:54, straight falls, Templario won with a package piledrivers after some KeMaltio assisted happenstances. two of three falls. rematch from 01/06

The parts we saw of this show were generally good. The lightning match didn’t really work – crowd was only happy to see Esfinge win at the end – but the other matches were good fun. Espiritu Negro & Rey Cometa vs Akuma & Dark Magic came the closest to surpassing the previous match up, with Akuma again having a great performance. There’s got to be more for him in 2023 2024. Match two was steadier than match one. Templario/Soberano continued the trend of rudo Soberano being more character heavy – I like it, but it’s not going to be everyone’s taste.

Zeuxis/Blanchard was pretty good. It was also Tessa losing a feud clean for a second time. This is not the Tessa Blanchard I thought was coming to CMLL, and it’s been a pleasant surprise. She works hard, and she’s willing to put people over. I have no information about how well she’s getting along with her peers – and that seemed like the bigger problem in her previous life. As far as the stuff we can see, she’s been a plus. (If anyone who disliked Tessa Blanchard was paying attention to CMLL, the last few months would’ve been moderately effective image rehab. But they – and the people who generally want to support all women’s wrestling – don’t seem to be watching any CMLL.) I was not in favor of CMLL bringing in Tessa Blanchard, and I think I was wrong – it’s working out well for both sides. This appeared to be end of Blanchard’s run for now, but she’ll surely be back again.

This was the third straight week with an issue on the CMLL stream. This time, it appears not to be a Boletia/Neerme problem hosting the broadcast. The video feed stopped late in the main event, though the audio could still be heard. The video did not return until a few minutes after the show ended, and even the audio seemed to end abruptly. There wasn’t the usual sign off with plugs for upcoming events for streaming viewers. (You can actually see the finish here.) CMLL also hasn’t posted the usual main event highlights as typical. It all suggests CMLL’s in-house production had some sort of internal failure with their stream. I’m deeply curious to find out if CMLL had some sort of failsafe to record the match and if it’ll turn up in full this coming weekend on TV.

If I’m correct, that would mean CMLL had a different issue than usual, something that would’ve affected them the same if they were streaming on YouTube or elsewhere. It’s still three straight weeks of a stream issue. CMLL again is trying to make it right: you should have a coupon code that’ll give you this upcoming Friday’s show for free. That’s about the right price for these streams right now. I suggest extreme caution about buying a CMLL PPV live at the moment; you might as well let suckers like me try it and check back in Saturday morning to see if it worked.

(Ultimately, I don’t think CMLL has the manpower, resources or interest to do this streaming by themselves and would be better off partnering with FITE/Triller or NJPW or ROH to use their platform and technical ability. It’s not just the streaming; this week’s member upload hasn’t gone up on time again. CMLL probably makes less money in the short term choosing one of those routes, but they’re making less money when they have to send out refunds every week or lose people because they can’t deliver on their promises. CMLL should focus on what they do well.)

CMLL (SAT) 01/13/2024 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Fantasy, Galaxy, Último Dragóncito b Full Metal, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) Lady Amazona, Olympia, Tiffany b La Guerrera, Lady Metal, Magia Azul
Arena Coliseo debut of Lady Amazona
3) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio b Diamond, Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr.
4) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black
Magnus and Star Black tore each other’s masks. Magnus beat Star Black to set up a title match.
5) Star Jr. b Zandokan Jr. [lightning]
6) Flip Gordon, Místico, Titán b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible

Magnus as a heavyweight seems like a stretch and it’s sure a random match with Star Black, but also: why not?

No big news in either of the CMLL matches on Saturday’s NJPW Battle of the Valley show. Stephanie Vaquer defeated Viva Van on the pre-show. The announcers talked her up as next challenger for either of the two NJPW women’s titles, but she didn’t directly challenge Guilia in the ring or backstage. Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada defeated Soberano Jr. & Rocky Romero in a really good match but with no specific story coming out of it.  (The entire NJPW show is pretty good, but I would not advise you to buy the show just to see the tag match.) Both Volador and Dorada said they wanted another singles match with Romero. Maybe they’ll get them on FantasticaMania.

(No FantasticaMania lineups yet. Maybe they’ll turn up tonight, but it could be a bit of a wait if they don’t.)

It made sense to keep those CMLL matches light on story, because there was a lot of it on the rest of the show. The shorter version NJPW really wants to load up that 04/12 Chicago show, and varied from the typical policies to announce some big matches early. It is the next NJPW US show, I expect that there will continue to be CMLL involvement in Chicago, I just don’t know exactly what it’ll be.

CMLL (TUE) 01/16/2024 Arena México
1) Eléctrico & Oro Jr. vs Grako & Inquisidor
2) Capitán Suicida, El Audaz, Max Star vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
3) Andrómeda, Marcela, Skadi vs Amapola, Persephone, Reyna Isis
4) Volcano vs Zandokan Jr. [lightning]
5) Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja © vs Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. [CMLL TAG]
13th defense (nearly exactly two years in)
6) Flip Gordon, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

I didn’t really hit me how many defenses the Chavez brothers have racked up until looking it up. This is also the second time they’re going to defend the belts against the brother winners of #1 contenders tournament. (It’s CMLL, they have lots of brothers.) A title change is possible at any time and the Villanos are pretty popular, but I’m still leaning towards the Chavez brothers retaining.

CMLL (TUE) 01/16/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Black Boy, Thunder Boy, Yaky Boy vs Destello, Destructor, Jabalí
2) Emperatriz & Miss Guerrera vs Hatanna & Katara [OCCIDENTE WOMEN TAG, semifinal]
3) Lady Amazona & Lady Metal vs Adira & La Pantera [OCCIDENTE WOMEN TAG, semifinal]
4) Barboza, Draego, Persa vs Bestia Negra, Cris Skin, Ráfaga
5) Futuro, Max Star, Neón vs Arlequín, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte
6) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther vs Euforia, Hijo del Soberano, Soberano Jr.

That main event will be good if they’re excited for it. A final of Hatanna & Katara versus Amazona & Metal is my guess for that tag title.

CMLL (FRI) 01/19/2024 Arena México
1) Valiente Jr. vs Felino Jr. [lightning]
2) Futuro & Neón vs Magnus & Rugido
rematch from 10/13
3) Máscara Dorada vs Bárbaro Cavernario
rematch from 12/30
4) Brillante Jr. & Místico vs Crixus & Euforia and Explosivo & Titán and Raider & Templario and Atlantis & Rey Samuray and Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Stuka Jr. and Ángel Rebelde & Star Jr. and Esfinge & Halcón Negro Jr. [Gran Alternativa, battle royal]

Matches 2/3 finish out the Best Of 2023 series. (Dorada/Cavernario happened in Coliseo, aired on HeraldoTV, and so few people have seen it.) Brillante Jr. & Mistico and Raider & Templario seem like the two teams with a chance to win the tournament.

Costa Rica’s Einar el Salvaje hasn’t appeared in CMLL since his November 26 debut. Appearing a CWE show this weekend, Einar told the crowd he had suffered a “serious” knee injury and is back in Costa Rica getting treatment.

Pegasso talks about being a second-generation wrestler and a police officer in his other life.

AAA

Dorian Roldan appeared on TNA’s Hard to Kill show in a segment with Impact’s Scott D’Amore, where they signed an agreement stating both companies to work together. Some places reported it as a new agreement. These companies have worked together as recently as Ultraclash in November, and have frequently worked together over the years. AAA just called it a signing while TNA talked about continuing their history with AAA. There was no actionable item, there was no new event announcement coming out of it, it was just “look at this big deal, and here’s Vikingo wrestling next” on a night when TNA was trying to make as much noise as possible. Wrestling is about pretending things are happening that aren’t actually happening so TNA and AAA did nothing wrong here, but a lot of people seemed to get worked.

One of the (many) things that bugged me about this is some sentiment that TNA would treat lucha libre in the US better than AEW. I have had some issues with how AEW/ROH uses Mexican wrestlers and have voiced them (occasionally directly) in the past, but they are miles ahead of TNA. They did so amazingly little with Black Taurus and Laredo Kid in 2023; it was both satifising and frustrating to see reactions towards Taurus in his AEW/ROH run along the lines of “wow, I had no idea he was that good.) The snow storm that prevented Trent Seven from appearing on TNA’s PPV also prevented TNA from looking completely foolish; it would’ve been hard to talk about their love of lucha libre if Laredo Kid was just sitting backstage without a match again. Vikingo and Laredo were shoved into a multiman scramble on the TV tapings, the home of people a promotion thinks are good but has no ideas for. Penta & Fenix did do well in Impact, but did well in Impact coming off a Lucha Underground wave that actually made them, and Impact was just far savvier at riding that wave than Lucha Underground ever did. I’m sure if someone else figures out how to get Laredo Kid and whoever gets brought into replace Taurus over to a US audience, TNA will ride that wave too. It just probably won’t be them figuring out. It probably won’t be TNA. It probably won’t be AAA for a US audience either.

(And, by the way, it’s OK for TNA not to be a great home for lucha libre. They’re a business, they’re just trying to make money and keep people employed. They seemed to have a really great weekend at doing both of those things. I just don’t want to pretend something’s happening here that’s not really happened.)

Vikingo wrestling in two multimans on those TNA shows – ones where he neither wins or loses, like always – also spotlights an issue here. He’s still very good, but he’s not grown much in the last year. Neither TNA here nor AEW/ROH has spent a lot of time investing him since his debut. Vikingo gets plenty of time in ROH, and gets highlights spots when he’s on AEW TV. He just doesn’t get a feud. It’s evident that AAA doesn’t want Vikingo beat in the US – maybe just while he’s champ, maybe entirely – but US booker don’t know what to do with a guy who they can’t beat. They definitely seem not to want to give him big wins without assurances he can take big losses later. NJPW US has seemed to have a simliar issue with Jon Moxley – AEW clearly doesn’t want him taking pinfalls outside of their TV, outside of the G1. NJPW’s gone the route of having Moxley beat upper level names pretty consistently, and now they’re going to have a big payoff with Moxley facing Naito at their Chicago show (probably with the world title on the line.) Maybe something like that can work for TNA or AEW for Vikingo. Maybe it’s something else . Everyone’s just got to stop settling for “Vikingo neither wins or loses”  or “Vikingo has an (entertaining) match defeating Gringo Loco/one of the Workhorsement” as the only ways to use him. If you believe Vikingo’s great, you’ve got to book him like he’s great.

AAA aired the second half of the Baradhl show. (If you are the running a results site, I put the full show here; not 100% sure on the card order.)

  • Octagon Jr. versus Aramis versus Mecha Wolf was Good. It struggled from being a formless threeway match – they just did stuff until they ran out of stuff, but the stuff was generally entertaining. Could’ve been better a little shorter and tighter. Octagon Jr. kicked out of Aramis’ finish and beat him clean with a 450 splash. I don’t know if everyone knew that would be Aramis’ final TV appearance but it worked out like one.
  • Vipers versus Psycho Circus ended with Dave the Clown and Latigo having a ‘shoot’ brawl to lead to a double DQ, and I have no idea why either of those things happened. Arez wants to be back in the Vipers, but Toxin, Latigo and Abismo were opposed. Psicosis, of all of them, seemed to be OK with the idea. He’s definitely not in the group at the end of this taping and he’s definitely in the group by the next taping, maybe it’ll make sense. This match was definitely setting up a Psycho Circus/Vipers trios title match but AAA setups rarely go anywhere.
  • Argenis, Dalys, Maravilla beat Dulce Kanela, Jessy Ventura, Lady Shani was some typical AAA garbage. The finish of this match was a wood panel spot – one that looked bad, but that was a relatively minor issue. They brought in the panel and leaned it on a corner in the opening section of the match, which meant two thirds of it was the wrestlers awkwardly working spots around a large option leaning in one corner, while also making no attempt to use the object in anyway. Throw in Tirantes deciding to be a heel referee in the last minute and it was not a great use of anyone’s time.

QT Marshall is advertised for the 02/17 EMW Tijuana show, so he’s still around and taking AAA bookings. I’m not sure how he fits in with the Origines concept.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 01/14/2024 Arena Naucalpan [La Tijera]
1) Fussion b Histeriosis IWRG EN VIVO | HELL BOY TONALLI Y SHOCKO VS REY ESPECTRO IVAN ROKOV Y H. DEL PIRATA MORGAN (posted by IWRG tv)
2) Bengalee & Danessa b Amazonika & Satania IWRG EN VIVO | HELL BOY TONALLI Y SHOCKO VS REY ESPECTRO IVAN ROKOV Y H. DEL PIRATA MORGAN (posted by IWRG tv)
3) Auzter, Caballero de Plata, Dr. Cerebro Jr., Freelance DRAW Carnicero, Granejero, Leñador, Minero IWRG EN VIVO | HELL BOY TONALLI Y SHOCKO VS REY ESPECTRO IVAN ROKOV Y H. DEL PIRATA MORGAN (posted by IWRG tv)
double pin between Caballero de Plata & Carincero, but then Carinero hit the referee and a second referee gave Caballero’s team the win. Challengers followed.
4) Hijo del Alebrije, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly b Águila Roja, Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr. IWRG EN VIVO | HELL BOY TONALLI Y SHOCKO VS REY ESPECTRO IVAN ROKOV Y H. DEL PIRATA MORGAN (posted by IWRG tv)
MexaBoys wants another tag title shot, will get it on 02/04
5) Hijo de Canis Lupus b Hijo del Fishman IWRG EN VIVO | HELL BOY TONALLI Y SHOCKO VS REY ESPECTRO IVAN ROKOV Y H. DEL PIRATA MORGAN (posted by IWRG tv)
Sets up a IWRG JUNIORS title match
6) Hell Boy, Shocko, Tonalli b Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Ivan Rokov, Rey Espectro IWRG EN VIVO | HELL BOY TONALLI Y SHOCKO VS REY ESPECTRO IVAN ROKOV Y H. DEL PIRATA MORGAN (posted by IWRG tv)
Pirata wants a match with Hell Boy, Rokov wants a match too

Mas Lucha’s recap was very positive on the Canis Lupus/Fishman match.

LLB (SUN) 01/21/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Demencia, Gaona, Reptil vs Bitter, Juan Ma Sanchez, Mr. Maicool
2) Argus & Oro Blanco vs Eurus & Voltio and Gravedad Cero & Minos II and Hijo De Sparta & Príncipe Centauro and Rey Azteca Jr. & Sparta [Copa Boom]
3) Steve Manson vs SolX-Devil?
4) Lunatik Extreme, Lunatik Fly, Súper Boy, Toto vs ?, Fly Star, Noisy Boy, Spider Boy
5) Carta Brava Jr. (IWL), Cíclope, El Mago, Miedo Extremo vs Canis Lupus Jr., Dr. Cerebro Jr., Hell Boy, Puma de Oro
6) Místico vs Ángel de OroAvernoMáscara Dorada

Next Sunday’s show is a CMLL headlined Lucha Libre boom show. I wish the main event was a tag match instead of a four-way and it’ll probably end up be worked as a 2v2 anyway. This should stream free; it’s the Arena Lopez Mateos show the night before that’s on Mas Lucha’s premium service.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha World (FRI) 01/12/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Alma De Fuego & Piraña b Obelys & Red Dragón BIG LUCHA WORLD T4EP01 | Black Generation vs Locos Evans (posted by BIG LUCHA )
8:47. INJUVE Bonus match
2) Big Tao Tao b Cody 1-8 BIG LUCHA WORLD T4EP01 | Black Generation vs Locos Evans (posted by BIG LUCHA )
10:47. Elipse interfered to cost Cody the match.
3) Atómico Jr., Auzter, Black Skayde b Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo BIG LUCHA WORLD T4EP01 | Black Generation vs Locos Evans (posted by BIG LUCHA )
14:19. Atomico pinned Morfosis
4) Mr. Win, Tirano, Viajero b Brujo, Limbo, Torito Negro BIG LUCHA WORLD T4EP01 | Black Generation vs Locos Evans (posted by BIG LUCHA )
15:04
5) Emperador Azteca & Ricky Marvin b Elipse & Orbita BIG LUCHA WORLD T4EP01 | Black Generation vs Locos Evans (posted by BIG LUCHA )
13:11. Ricky Marvin replaced Action Jackson and was said to be a new Black Generacion member. Cody 1-8 cost Elipse the match.

Strange things going on here. The big angle on the last show was Orbita seemed to leave Lokos Evans last week and definitely had issues with Elipse. They treated it like nothing happened. Action Jackson has vanished again and was never mentioned. Ricky Marvin was introduced as the newest member of Black Generacion, but Marvin also teaches wrestling classes at the gym and so may have been a last minute addition with no plan past that. The opener was billed as an INJUVE offer match; INJUVE sponsored the previous Big Lucha talent search and the just completed AAA one, where Morfosis was Andy Panda Jr. There was no mention of that talent search here, as far as I caught. (They did spend a lot of time talking to anyone who put a comment in the YouTube chat, which was distracting.) Match 3 stood out the best but there was no must see match here. Atomico and Limbo winning their matches surprised me. Big Tao Tao continues to have something, though he’s still a work in progress. It’s nice to see someone trying to be a different archetype (or, in a less polite way of putting it, it’s nice to see someone trying to be a Samoan monster rather than seeing another person trying to be Fenix and Penta. There are more people out there to steal from.)

Big Lucha said they’ll be back on 01/19 and 01/26 with more of these shows.

Other News

02/04 NOAH in Sendai

  • Daga (c) vs Hajima Ohara for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship
  • Kenoh (c) vs Hijo de Dr. Wagner JR. for the GHC Heavyweight Championship

Mexico City luchadora Kamillon has taken a hiatus from wrestling to focus on a graphic design merchanding store.

ESTO interviews 12 year old luchador Ahijadito del Diablo.

Voces y Jarillas visits the lucha libre exhibit in Texcoco.

Arena Coliseo Monterrey done for real, CMLL Best of Week 2, Gran Alternativa

The Schedule This Weekend

It’s a bit much.

  • Friday
    • 7:00 pm WWE Joaquin Wild & Curz del Toro vs Angel & Humberto
    • 8:00 pm GCW – Triller
      • Latigo, Oni el Bendito, Arez vs Aramis, Demonic Flamita, Jack Carthweel
      • Ciclope & Miedo Xtremo vs Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd
      • Microman TBD
      • Mustafa Ali vs Gringo Loco spiritually belongs on this list
    • 8:30 pm CMLL (Soberano/Templario) – Boletia
    • 8:30 pm Big Lucha World – YouTube? Maybe on purpose this time?
  • Saturday
    • 7:00 pm TNA (Vikingo vs Sabin vs KUSHIDA) – Triller
    • 8:00 pm GCW
      • Joey Janela vs Microman
      • Oni el Benito vs Jack Cartwheel
    • 8:30 pm NJPW Countdown (Stephanie Vaquer vs Viva Van) – Triller (but free)
    • 9:00 pm NJPW (Dorada/Volador vs Soberano/Romero) – Triller
    • AEW has three hours of TV so maybe a luchador will turn up?
    • F1rst has Latigo vs Arez vs Gringo Loco vs Aramis but that isn’t streaming
  • Sunday

Arena Coliseo Monterrey no more

The long-rumored demolition of Arena Coliseo Monterrey started on Thursday. The long time Monterrey hub was expected to be torn down and replaced with a new (non-lucha libre) building for years, so much so that it was hard to believe it would happen; a “final” show happened in 2022, and then a few more shows happened after that same year. The photos of bulldozer tearing up the floor sure seems like’s it is final; the demolition is expected to take 3-4 months.

Arena Coliseo Monterrey was opened on October 23, 1955. It was originally built by EMLL (CMLL) as their hub in the city. It held many huge events even as ownership changed hands over the years and was the center of lucha libre in one of the biggest cities for it.

The building was believed to be owned by the TV company Multimedios most recently. Wresting in Monterrey and Arena Coliseo Monterrey still seemed reasonably sustainable until the 2010s. Fans in the area will forever point to stars of (non-wrestling) Multimedios TV shows being used as celebrity attractions, leading to the downfall of the local scene. I think it was more that the average fan didn’t see the weekly wrestlers as big stars worth buying tickets for then. Those fans might show up at one or two shows yearly, but most shows drew in the hundreds instead of the thousands. There are plenty of other places in the area to run smaller shows; some of them are nicer places to visit. Arena Coliseo Monterrey was an older building and poorly maintained; it very much showed its age. (That’s an epidemic issue with the lucha libre arenas from the 50s/60s; the buildings need to be modernized, but the owners either have no interest or lack the funds to maintain them well.) Arena Coliseo Monterrey also sat on a downtown plot of land that seemingly could make much more money being used differently. It didn’t make economic sense to keep the building, but much history goes with it.

CMLL

Tonight’s show

CMLL (FRI) 01/12/2024 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía vs Full Metal, Minos, Pequeño Polvora
one fall. rematch from 11/03?
2) Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Valiente Jr. vs Brillante Jr., Max Star, Neón
two of three falls. rematch from 06/23
3) Esfinge vs Misterioso Jr.
one fall. rematch from 10/06 (and a result of lots of Esfinge fans voting in the monthly polls)
4) Espíritu Negro & Rey Cometa vs Akuma & Dark Magic
two of three falls. rematch from 07/14, pushed back a week.
5) Tessa Blanchard vs Zeuxis
two of three falls
6) Soberano Jr. vs Templario
two of three falls. rematch from 01/06

Soberano appeared on Informa and confirmed he’ll wrestle on this show. He says he’s about 80%, which is a big improvement over not being able to get out of bed last Wednesday. Soberano says he dealt with a back/spine issue all 2023, thought he was getting better, and then it got much worse last week. He was able to get it checked out after a couple of days and was released to know he wouldn’t need surgery, but he’s going to be doing physical therapy on the injury for the next 8-10 weeks. He believes he can wrestle through it, and hopes the power of the Arena Mexico crowd can carry him through. This Soberano/Templario match is in Best Of shows as a rematch of Soberano/Templario happening on last year’s Best Of shows. Both men seem to really want to keep that chain going and have the best match of this month too. I don’t know how they’re going to pull it off, but I felt more persuaded they would try after hearing Soberano on Informa.

The rest of the card looks solid. The two trios matches to start the card might be the next best matches. The Nuevo Valores versus regular CMLL tecnicos rematch of Max Star, Neon, and Brillante versus Capitan Suicida, Fuego, and Valiente Jr. will be great if they hit their spots because there will be a lot of spots. The Pequeno Sky Team trio (Angelico, Kaligula, and Pequeno Magia) have good chemistry with the young mini rudos – Full Metal, Minos, and Pequeno Polvora – and so might pull out something from the opening spot. Elsewhere, Akuma & Dark Magic vs. Espiritu Negro & Rey Cometa was a magic trick last time, and it’s hard to expect it to work out as well again. Esfinge/Misterioso is the weirdest possible Best of Match. Zeuxis/Tessa is the one non-Best Of match. I want to see Zeuxis hit as hard in that one as she did with Catalina. Not because of anything against Tessa, but because she might hit back just as hard and it’d make for a good match.

It’s still on PPV. Maybe it’ll work!

Zeuxis mentioned on Informa that she had already beaten Tessa Blanchard before in a singles match in Puerto Rico. It did happen on a 2018 Champion Wrestling Association show. Zeuxis keeps pushing that she’s going to send Blanchard back to this US “where you’re very famous and really no one wants you.”

I mentioned the NJPW CMLL stuff above, but a reminder that there’s a good chance for NJPW FantasticaMania lineups to come out the next day, maybe sometime Sunday night.

Last week, Julio Cesar Rivera said he’d reveal everything about the Gran Alternativa on this week’s CMLL Informa. He lied. He revealed only the first block of the competition. I’ve never been more lied to by a wrestling personality (except for all the other times a wrestling personality has lied to me.) Anyway, that first block is 01/19, and the eight teams

  • Explosivo/Titan
  • Halcon Negro Jr./Esfinge
  • Angel Rebelde/Star Jr.
  • Rey Samuray/Atlantis
  • Crixus/Euforia
  • Hijo del Stuka/Stuka Jr.
  • Raider/Templario
  • Brillante Jr./Mistico

That final team is a purposeful call back to the 2007 winning duo of La Sombra and Mistico. Raider reached the finals last time in 2022 with Gran Guerrero (when this was an eight team field, as opposed to sixteen teams this year.) We’ve not seen much of Angel Rebelde since winning the Torneo de Escualas so, notably, he’s part of this.

Mascara Dorada & Neon are one team in the other block. Futuro mentioned Wednesday that he’ll be in this tournament as well. The rest of the names will be revealed next Wednesday.

CMLL and MLW officially announced Mistico will face Averno on their 02/03 show in Philadelphia. MLW also suddenly decided they must bring in Okumura; he’ll be forming a team with Kojima.

Formula E (car racing with all electric motors) is in Mexico City for a race this weekend. Drivers from the McLaren team trained in lucha libre with Retro, Magnus, and Atlantis Jr., the usual celebrity bit.

AAA

Let’s chat about wrestlers and their AAA deals.

Black Taurus is done with AAA. He announced Thursday that he’s an independent wrestler, thanking AAA for his time but making it clear he’s open to working anywhere, even CMLL. I don’t think Taurus is going back (*) to CMLL any time soon, but the only way he could is if he was completely done with AAA. I read that, and know a little bit, that there’s a better chance of Taurus working Impact than AAA any time soon. Taurus was not under contract to AAA, this is him distancing himself from that promotion and saying he’s done. The two sides have been done before (2016) and gotten back together (2018), but they’re done for now.

AEW and Taurus is still active. Nothing is official until Taurus shows up on AEW TV again but I believe that’s where he’ll end up. There is mutual interest, and there are just some issues that have to be ironed out first.

(* – not everyone knows or remembers the history here. Taurus was just another Torreon luchador who made him his way into CMLL, wrestling there from 2007 to 2011 as Semental. This was far before CMLL did much with the young guys and prelim wrestlers; he had skills in the same way Raider has skills but he wasn’t used even as much as Raider is right now. He was announced to wrestle in the 2009 Gran Alternativa with NJPW’s youngster Yujiro as his partner, but CMLL ran an angle where Yujiro refused to team with a Mexican and Okumura attacked Semental to replace him the tournament. The Japanese team would win. Semental’s involvement would not be mentioned again; it wasn’t an angle to set up a feud, he was just a disposable figure. Semental did wrestle in the 2010 Gran Alternativa, where he lost unremarkable in the first round with Rey Bucanero as a partner. Semental decided he wasn’t going anywhere in CMLL, secretly tried out for AAA, and jumped along with fellow prelim wrestler Mortiz. He eventually was re-gimmicked as Machine Rocker, and then later as Taurus. It’d be fun to see him back in CMLL but I’m not holding my breath on that happening soon.)

Hijo del Vikingo is staying with AAA. He’ll still be on AEW, but he’s not leaving AAA any time soon. From the moment AEW’s announced the Omega/Vikingo match, I’ve thought that AAA needed to prepare for a near future when they wouldn’t have Vikingo around. I’ve written about this a lot in 2023; the normal progression for most Mexican wrestlers who get a lot of work in the US is to stop working much in Mexico and likely leave their companies. I’ve thought the same of Vikingo, but I’ve more recently explained to me that I’m missing the mark on him. Vikingo, for personal and professional reasons, wants to and expects to wrestle regularly in Mexico for the foreseeable future. I’ve been told he likes working in the US, likes working for AEW, but not to expect him ever to become a fulltime AEW guy who works just occasional Mexico dates like a Rey Fenix. (That may mean he never gets the official All Elite graphic from AEW, though I strongly suspect there’s some sort of three-way contract deal between Vikingo, AEW, and AAA governing his appearances in the US promotion.) This was so different than I believed that I wasn’t sure about it, but Masked Republic mentioning that Vikingo had extended his contract with AAA, it seems pretty solid that Vikingo is sticking around AAA for a while to come.

The leading theory about why AAA doesn’t really have any stories around Vikingo has been because they were concerned he wasn’t sticking around. It doesn’t really fit AAA – they run stories around people who they’re not sure if they’ll be back often. (Who knows what the deal is with QT Marshall is at the moment?) It could be that AAA sees Vikingo as a “great match guy,” and so he just needs to have his matches, he doesn’t need stories. The matches themselves, though, are hurt when he’s facing a “random guy who hasn’t been in AAA in years”, and Vikingo seems less of a star when he has no goals or direction. Not that an AAA direction is necessarily better. They tried that in 2022 with the Fenix/Vikingo feud, but it was so spread out and Vikingo was a passive participant. I don’t want to end this with just “please do better with AAA” but I’m not sure what else I’ve got here. There’s a lot of simple lanes they can have Vikingo take: maybe Vikingo declares he wants to avenge old losses (like against Laredo Kid and Gringo Loco), maybe he wants use his spotlight to showcase/test the youth of the roster (Octagon Jr., Arez, Aramis), maybe he wants to prove the AAA title is the best in the world by challenging wrestlers elsewhere, or maybe there’s another idea that’s better than any of this. It just needs to be something. If Vikingo is going to be around for the long haul, he needs more help than “1-3 challengers appear out of nowhere as opponents because it’s a TripleMania show.”

Roberto Figueroa teased that AAA will have its usual January press conference late in the month. They’ve laid out the big concept for the year in those in the last couple. I hope they have a better one next year. Also, Laredo Kid and Antifaz del Norte will have a match for the Showcenter championship on the 02/18 show.

AAA on Space Saturday will have

  • Octagon Jr. vs Argenis vs Mecha Wolf for the AAA Latin America championship
  • Argenis, Dalys, Maravilla vs Lady Shani and two others
  • maybe one more match?

I should’ve put this on the list of things that are happening this weekend, but nothing from this taping feels like a happening.

IWRG

IWRG , RGR (SUN) 02/04/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Bengalee vs SataniaDehynaPrincesa AzulLa SádicaAmazonika [RGR WOMEN, #1 Contenders]
2) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. vs Noisy Boy & Spider Fly [IWRG IC TAG]
fifth defense
3) Tonalli vs Black Destiny [RGR MIDDLE]
first defense
4) Big Mami, Niño Hamburguesa, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Estrella Divina, Lolita, Vito Fratelli
5) Coronel VIP & Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Hell Boy & Hijo de Canis Lupus [RGR TAG, torneo]
6) DMT Azul © vs Blue Demon Jr. [IWRG IC HEAVY]
second defense

This is RGR’s third anniversary show. Maybe Tonalli/Destiny will be good. Tag match has a shot too.

Other News

El Horizonte has an interview with Hector Aguilar Hinojosa, who says he trained to wrestle in Monterrey in the 90s, wrestled there as Saddam, then joined Promo Azteca as it started as Zorro, retiring to finish his degree and start a professional career, and returning to wrestle in small Monterrey shows as Guerrilero. Welcome to another bit of me trying fruitlessly trying to figure out the truth in a biographical article on a minor wrestler. There was someone listed as Saddam in Northern Mexico in the 90s. The earliest video of Zorro looks to be the more famous wrestler (and it’s possible he was doing that gimmick in Guadalajara, where we don’t have many ’90s lineups.) Aguilar Hinjosa’s story is he wrestled as Zorro in Tlalnepantla as Zorro and there is one other before that TV match, so I guess the story could be true if he quit the gimmick a month on. That Saddam character was wrestling when this guy said he retired so I dunno about any of that.

El Grafico has an interview with luchadora Brisa Mortal. She had a child as a teenager, then studied nursing. She got a job at a private clinic in the town of Nicolas Romero, which just happened to be next door to a local lucha venue Arena 23 de Junio. She got interested in lucha libre, started to train, and debuted four years later.

Mistico remains champ, Villanos earn tag title shot

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 01/08/2024 Arena Puebla [GradaMano a Mano, Porra Fesa]
1) Asturiano & Black Tiger b King Jaguar & Rencor Facebook video (posted by )
2) Xelhua b El Perverso [lightningFacebook video (posted by )
8:05
3) Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito b Acero, Aéreo, Shockercito
4) Enigmática, Skadi, Stephanie Vaquer b Andrómeda, Lady Amazona, Tessa Blanchard Facebook video (posted by )
Andromeda left injured.
5) Hechicero, Hijo de Stuka Jr., Stuka Jr. b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black Facebook video (posted by )
Stuka beat Esfinge for a second straight week, challenged him to a MX LH title match
6) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario b Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Star Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
Templario replaced Soberano. He unmasked Atlantis, and Angel de Oro cradled him for the win.

Soberano’s still not making matches. I’m sure he’ll want to be good enough to take the NJPW US trip on Saturday but I’d keep expectations in check for a match with Templario on Friday.

Andromeda seemed OK by Tuesday.

CMLL (TUE) 01/09/2024 Arena México [CMLL, Entornio InformativoExcelsiorKaiser Sports, thecubsfan, thegladiatores.com]
1) Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr. b Bengala, Leono, Retro CMLL | La Ola Blanca derrota a Leono, Retro y Bengala (posted by mluchatv) Enfermero Jr y Hnos Karonte vs Leono, Bengala y Retro ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) La Ola Blanca (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
9:09
2) Andrómeda, Maligna, Skadi b Hera, Olympia, Persephone Amazonas NG: Andromeda, Skadi y Maligna vencen a Hera, Persephone y OlympiA en el CMLL (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Andromeda, Skady y Maligna vs Hera, Olympia y Persephone ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) CMLL | Skady, Andrómeda y La Maligna derrotan a Hera, Olympia y Persephone (posted by mluchatv) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
11:03
3) Magnus b Akuma [lightningAkuma vs Magnus MATCH RELÁMPAGO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) CMLL | Magnus vence en match relámpago a Akuma (posted by mluchatv) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
7:45
4) Espíritu Negro & Villano III Jr. b Blue Panther Jr. & Gemelo Diablo II [seeding battle royalFUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
1:54. Espiritu Negro appeared to accidentally go out early, leading to a shorter than usual battle royal
5) Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. b Espíritu Negro & Rey Cometa [CMLL TAG, semifinal, #1 ContendersCMLL | Los Villanos superan a Los Atrapasueños en la primera ronda del cuadrangular de parejas (posted by mluchatv) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Rey Cometa y Espíritu Negro vs Villano III Jr e Hijo del Villano III ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) Semifinal CMLL Hijo de Villano III y Villano III Jr (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
7:03
6) Blue Panther Jr. & Dark Panther b Gemelo Diablo I & Gemelo Diablo II [CMLL TAG, #1 Contenders, semifinalCMLL | Así llegaron a la final los Hermanos Panther tras superar a los Gemelos Diablo (posted by mluchatv) Dark Panther y Blue Panther Jr vs Los Gemelos Diablo I y II ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Semifinal CMLL: Blue Panther y Dark Panther (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
7:26
7) Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. b Blue Panther Jr. & Dark Panther [CMLL TAG, #1 Contenders, semifinalCMLL | Villano III Jr y El Hijo del Villano III son retadores a los Campeonatos Mundiales de Parejas (posted by mluchatv) Final CMLL Villano III Jr e Hijo de Villano III (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Villano III Jr e Hijo del Villano III vs Blue Panther Jr y Dark Panther ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
15:24. Villanos challenge Chavez next week
8) Místico © b Volador Jr. [NWA MIDDLECMLL | Místico retiene el Campeonato Mundial Histórico de Peso Medio ante Volador Jr. (posted by mluchatv) El clásico del CMLL: Místico (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO  MARTES 9 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Místico (c) vs Volador Jr CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL HISTÓRICO DE PESO MEDIO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
16:18. 8th defense.

Mistico/Volador was a very version of their Tuesday match, which made it a relief when the title change didn’t happen on that one. The crowd was still into it, but the energy level of the wrestlers was much different in the semi-main. The Villanos and the Panthers have matched up well the last few months, and this was as good as those. I think it was helped a bit because no one really expected it go as long for a tournament final, and they were able to take it up and down to keep it interesting over the extended length. (It’s possible that match is longer than the tag title match it’s setting up next week.) Both teams have good fan support, and the Villanos were their usual crazy/intense types in the post-match promo.

The only other thing worth talking about from this one is it looked like Espiritu Negro went over the top floor and to the floor by accident, and everyone in the ring acted like they knew that wasn’t supposed to happen. It was a four team seeding battle royal, it was easy to fix it on the fly.

One more guess at the FantastiacMania big matches:

  • Dorada/Romero
  • Soberano/Volador? Soberano/Atlantis?
  • Titan/Desperado (he did beat him in BOSJ)
  • Templario/Mistico
  • Ultimo Guerrero/Hechicero?

CMLL (TUE) 01/09/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, Mas Lucha]
1) Hatanna & Katara b Alondra & Lady Shadow [OCCIDENTE WOMEN, torneoArena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 9 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
2) Lady Amazona & Lady Metal b Centinela & Magia Azul [OCCIDENTE WOMEN, torneoArena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 9 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
3) Gallo Jr. & Rafaga Jr. b Calavera Jr. I & Calavera Jr. II Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 9 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
4) Okumura & Panterita del Ring DQ Exterminador & Satánico Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 9 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
5) Tessa Blanchard b Dark Silueta Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 9 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
6) Adrenalina & Fantástico b Magia Blanca & Rugido Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 9 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
Adrenalina & Fantastico want a tag title shot
7) Atlantis Jr., Explosivo, Máscara Dorada DQ Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 9 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
Barbaros DQed for unmasking Atlantis (and the other tecnicos eventually)

The opener was all four women trying to do a lot of stuff, and it worked out actually fine. They seemed tentative and weren’t going at the speed of more experienced writers, but it still held together much better than expected. It was not a must see match but it was still a good effort. Some of the other stuff I saw here was not as much effort.

CMLL (SAT) 01/13/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) Fantasy, Galaxy, Último Dragóncito vs Full Metal, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) La Guerrera, Lady Metal, Magia Azul vs Lady Amazona, Olympia, Tiffany
3) Diamond, Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr. vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
4) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
5) Star Jr. vs Zandokan Jr. [lightning]
6) Flip Gordon, Místico, Titán vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible

That’s a higher position for a lightning match than usual. Not sure if it actually means anything.

CMLL (SUN) 01/14/2024 Arena México
1) Bengala & Leono vs Dr. Karonte I & Grako
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Oro Jr. vs Enfermero Jr., Inquisidor, Sangre Imperial
3) Crixus, Difunto, Raider vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Valiente vs Rey Bucanero [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Flip Gordon, Star Jr. vs Averno, Euforia, Mephisto
6) Máscara Dorada, Titán, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

The main event is a rematch, seemed to be heading to Ultimo Guerrero versus Volador Jr.

CMLL (MON) 01/15/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Amnesia & Blue Shark vs Espíritu Maligno & King Jaguar
2) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Chamuel & Periquito Sacaryas
3) Capitán Suicida & Diamond vs Rey Apocalipsis & Siky Ozama
4) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Star Black vs Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Zandokan Jr.
5) Esfinge © vs Stuka Jr. [MEX LH]
3rd defense
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Star Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario

Probably no title change in Arena Puebla. It seems weird for Zandokan and the Panthers to be on the same team.

CMLL Informa has

  • Soberano Jr. (Friday main event or injury update)
  • Tessa Blanchard & Zeuxis (Friday match)
  • Stephanie Vaquer (NJPW)
  • Los Villanos (tag little shot)
  • Star Jr. & Zandokan Jr. (Saturday main event)
  • Lady Metal, Magia Azul and Lady Amazona (new CMLL CDMX women?)

It seems like there’s an emphasis on including an Arena Coliseo main event person every week. Stuff like that and Mistico/Volador might exist to generate more interest in the non-Friday shows.

MLW announced Mistico versus Averno for on 02/03 in Philadelphia on their most recent PPV. It hasn’t been promoted elsewhere yet, they may be waiting for CMLL to mention it on Informa.

NVI Noticas, which often covers Oaxacan lucha libre, talked the biggest current star from their state: CMLL’s Fuego. He says he originally moved to Mexico City in 1999, thought he was going to work in physical education, then tried playing soccer for a while, and none of it worked out. He got into wrestling on TV and started training. It was Dr. Cerebro who told then-Flash that he had talent and should keep pushing himself, which got him to try out for CMLL. He trained under Tony Salazar there and got more chances. Fuego confirms CMLL got a legal letter telling them to stop using Flash identity, which actually started with him teaming with a Batman and Spider-Man. (He says it was from “Marvel, who owned the character”, but I assume he means the other one, DC.) CMLL came up with and owns the Fuego gimmick, and the dancing version came about in the 2013 En Busca de Un Idolo tournament.

Okumura talked about Fantastica Mania with the press. He mentions the Tokyo shows are not yet sold out but some other cities are.

AAA

Space’s programming guide lists this week’s TV as “Toluca II”, so it will indeed be the second half of the Bardahl show. The Mexico City taping should air 01/20 and 01/27, and the following Queretaro taping on 02/03 and 02/10.

The tickets for the Queretaro show finally went on sale Tuesday. The local promoter had a show happening on January 6th and perhaps they didn’t want to be selling shows to two events at once. Tickets going on sale for an AAA taping only 11 days ahead of time is still odd. They’re already on sale for the March 16th Mexico City show.

Mini Vikingo announced he had signed an AAA contract. I think he’s either 17 or just turned 18, might be the youngest wrestler to have a contract in North America now. (Sorry Billy Starkz and Nick Wayne.)

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 01/14/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Fussion vs Histeriosis
2) Bengalee & Danessa vs Amazonika & Satania
3) Azuter, Caballero de Plata, Dr. Cerebro Jr., Freelance vs Carnicero, Granejero, Leñador, Minero
4) Hijo del Alebrije, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly vs Águila Roja, Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr.
5) Hijo de Canis Lupus vs Hijo del Fishman
6) Hell Boy, Shocko, Tonalli vs Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Ivan Rokov, Rey Espectro

A show. Ivan Rokov sure has stuck around a long time for a random foreigner.

Other Notes

Bulldog Villegas (Asunción Villegas, 90) passed away on Monday, according to SuperLuchas. When wrestling in that area, he got the name El Enfermero de Monterrey, and took on the Bulldog Villegas name after being unmasked. The Bulldog was inspired by the Los Luchadors song. He wrestled in EMLL in the mid 60s, then later lived in Juarez and was credited to help train people like Fishman, El Cobrade, Valente Fernandez, Tony Reyna, Martha la Sarapena among others.

Fenix was doing interviews to promote Marvel/Disney’s+ Echo TV series. (I don’t understand the connection either.) Denise Salcedo posted an interview with him, where Fenix didn’t quite give a detailed 1/explanation of his injury or his timeline, but talked positively and said he’d be back “soon.”

Mas Lucha will stream the 01/20 AULL show as a members only show.

Arena San Juan will reopen on February 2nd with a “The King Phantom” show (which means LA Park and Dr. Wagner.) No shows have been run at the building since June following a fire and a death on the property.

Box y Lucha #3585 has Lyger’s return to Mexico on the cover.

AAA Origines, Lucha x el Barrio, CMLL Best of Week 1

The (end of) 2023 Tapatia Awards are open to vote in from now until the end of the month.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 01/05/2024 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser SportsThe Gladiatores (text), thecubsfan, thegladiatores.com]
1) Capitán Suicida COR Astral [lightningCapitan Suicida vs Astral ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) CMLL - MATCH RELÁMPAGO / CAPITÁN SUICIDA VS ASTRAL / ARENA MÉXICO / 05-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Astral sale en camilla y Capitán Suicida gana el match relámpago (posted by mluchatv) Viernes VIP del CMLL: Astral vs Capitán Suicida en la Arena México (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
6:14. Rematch from February 14. Announced as a one fall match, turned into a lightning match.
2) Pegasso, Rey Samuray, Stigma b Futuro, Max Star, Vegas CMLL - MAX STAR - VEGAS - FUTURO VS REY SAMURAY - PEGASSO - STIGMA / ARENA MÉXICO / 05-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | La Fuerza Poblana derrota a Vegas, Max Star y Futuro (posted by mluchatv) Pegasso, Stigma y Rey Samuray vs Futuro, Max Star y Vegas ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) Rey Samuray, Stigma y Pegasso derrotan con espectacularidad a Max Star, Futuro y Vegas (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
12:17. rematch from May 7. 2/3 fall match.
3) Reyna Isis & Tessa Blanchard b Dark Silueta & Zeuxis CMLL - ZEUXIS - DARK SILUETA VS TESSA BLANCHARD - REYNA ISIS / ARENA MÉXICO / 05-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Tessa Blanchard y Reyna Isis derrotan a Dark Silueta y Zeuxis (posted by mluchatv) Diamantes sobre Infernales: Tessa Blanchard y Reyna Isis derrotan a Dark Silueta y Zeuxis en el CMLL (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Tessa Blanchard y Reina Isis vs Zeuxis y Dark Silueta ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
10:03. Replaces Espiritu Negro & Rey Cometa vs Akuma & Dark Magic. 2/3 fall match. Tessa pulled Zeuxis’ mask to pin here. Zeuxis challenged Tessa to a match and said she was only in Mexico because she ran from the US, Tessa used some foul language and they brawled.
4) Cavernario b Esfinge Bárbaro Cavernario derrota a Esfinge en un gran mano a mano (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Bárbaro Cavernario vs Esfinge MANO a MANO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) CMLL - MATCH RELÁMPAGO / B. CAVERNARIO VS ESFINGE / ARENA MÉXICO / 05-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Bárbaro Cavernario derrota en mano a mano a Esfinge (posted by mluchatv)
13:07. Rematch from September 29. One fall match.
5) Stephanie Vaquer b Lluvia CMLL - MATCH RELÁMPAGO / STEPHANIE VAQUER VS  LLUVIA / ARENA MÉXICO / 05-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Stephanie Vaquer derrota a Lluvia en mano a mano (posted by mluchatv) En un intenso mano a mano de Amazonas, Stephanie Vaquer derrota a Lluvia (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Stephanie Vaquer vs Lluvia MANO a MANO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
10:17. Rematch of November 14? 1 fall
6) Máscara Dorada b Templario CMLL - MATCH RELÁMPAGO / TEMPLARIO  VS MÁSCARA DORADA / ARENA MÉXICO / 05-01-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Máscara Dorada derrota en mano a mano a Templario (posted by mluchatv) Máscara Dorada vs Templario MANO a MANO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
18:28. Originally a Soberano/Templario rematch from January 6. Mascara Dorada replaced Soberano on Wednesday (back injury), now as a rematch from Apirl 21st. 2/3 match.

This was a disappointing show up to the main event. The first two matches had injuries. The third match was fine but messy. Cavernario/Esfinge was a lesser version of their previous match, and Lluvia/Vaquer was less than Vaquer/Jarochita from last week. Dorada/Templario made the show worth while, an exciting, competitive match. Dorada looked spectacular, Templario had lots of new (and old) ways to beat him up. Dorada won clean, and it may be a while before we see him lose a singles match again. 

Astral sounds like he was fine (if annoyed with people mocking him.) Vegas hasn’t posted an update on social media but doesn’t seem to post much at all.

Leaning into the real Tessa Blanchard stuff is a better way to get interest than to pretend it doesn’t exist.

There were issues with the Neerme stream, for the second straight week and maybe the third in the last six weeks. This time it was the “feed is live for people who paid in pesos but not for dollars because these are oddly two different feeds” thing that’s happened before. The stream did start working by at least a half hour in. This shouldn’t keep happening and yet it does, with no sign of being fixed. If CMLL was 10% less good, I’d just say everyone should stop buying the PPVs at this point.

CMLL (SAT) 01/06/2024 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Leono & Robin b Enfermero Jr. & Inquisidor
2) Diamond b Valiente Jr. [lightning]
3) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Brillante Jr., El Audaz, Fuego
4) Metálica, Reyna Isis, Tessa Blanchard b Andrómeda, Marcela, Skadi
5) Star Jr. & Titán b Hechicero & Sagrado
Hechicero & Sagrado argued the third count and attacked referee Olimpico over it
6) Atlantis, Flip Gordon, Místico b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario

CMLL had a meet and greet with KeMalito and the Mistico inflatable mascot. They seemed to draw a big crowd, either for the show or for this being Three Kings’ Day. Neither AAA nor CMLL seemed to hurt each other, though the separate Mexico State indie shows also featuring talent from both promotions appeared to do worse than usual.

CMLL removed the mesh fencing that wrapped around the upper level (and somewhat obstructed the view.) I don’t know when that was put in; it must’ve been decades ago. That fencing was there, as best I understood, to prevent fans in the cheaper seats from throwing garbage at the ring. CMLL doesn’t draw those sorts of reactions nowadays, or at least not outside of booking the wrong Aniversario main event. That fencing is still there in Arena Mexico (though only on the floor they rarely use), Arena Puebla and Arena Coliseo Guadalajara.

CMLL (SUN) 01/07/2024 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports]
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II, Micro Sagrado b Átomo, Mije, Periquito Sacaryas
2) Nitro b Oro Jr. [lightning]
3) Kráneo, Okumura, Pólvora b Hombre Bala Jr., Neón, Volcano
4) Persephone, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis b Dark Silueta, La Catalina, Tessa Blanchard
5) Averno, Euforia, Mephisto b Felino, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II
Felino and the Diablos didn’t get along
6) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero b Máscara Dorada, Titán, Volador Jr.
UG snuck in a foul on Volador

Lots of rudo wins, but then most of the show was rudos. Not sure how that happened. The main event set up a rematch for next week.

CMLL (TUE) 01/09/2024 Arena México
1) Bengala, Leono, Retro vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
2) Andrómeda, Maligna, Skadi vs Hera, Olympia, Persephone
3) Akuma vs Magnus [lightning]
4) Blue Panther Jr. & Dark Panther vs Gemelo Diablo I & Gemelo Diablo II and Espíritu Negro & Rey Cometa and Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. [CMLL TAG, #1 Contenders]
5) Místico © vs Volador Jr. [NWA MIDDLE]
8th defense

CMLL announcing a title match just before the FantasticaMania lineups are to be announced usually means a title switch. A four and half year Mistico title reign ending in hastily set up title match simply to change which match will be for a belt on a FantasticaMania show that will sell out either way is quite lame. There’s a little bit more logic if NJPW requested Soberano Jr. be a champion for whatever’s coming next with him, but it’d still be lame (and they could’ve/should’ve done it with Atlantis Jr.’s belt.) I rooting hard for Mistico, knowing I’m probably wrong.

There are three good options to root for in the tag title four way. The Gemelo Diablos have looked better when they’re actually on a stream, but they’re still the least appealing option.

CMLL (FRI) 01/12/2024 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía vs Full Metal, Minos, Pequeño Polvora
2) Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Valiente Jr. vs Brillante Jr., Max Star, Neón
3) Esfinge vs Misterioso Jr.
4) Espíritu Negro & Rey Cometa vs Akuma & Dark Magic
5) Tessa Blanchard vs Zeuxis
6) Soberano Jr. vs Templario

My guess is CMLL assumes Soberano will be cleared and might not actually know for sure yet; that decision is typically made early in the week. Poor Templario is going to keep having cool main events and losing them. Blanchard is probably getting a win back over Zeuxis (and should if she’s sticking around.) The Espiritu/Cometa vs Akuma/Dark Magic match was pushed back a week. Match three is the crazy Esfinge fans punishing us all. First two matches should be good.

NJPW announced two CMLL matches for next Saturday’s Battle in the Valley show (FITE, 20 USD)

  • Stephanie Vaquer vs Viva Van (airs for free as part of the pre-show)
  • Soberano Jr. & Rocky Romero vs Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada

(So, if you’re buying the show for CMLL stuff, you’re really just paying for one preview tag match. There’s other stuff on that show too but…)

That main event must exist to set up some FantasticaMania matches, so we’ll probably see the Japan lineups sometime after that show. My hunch is they’re going towards Dorada/Romero and Soberano/Volador. That would leave Mistico feuding with one of Hechicero, Ultimo Guerrero and Templario. Templario/Mistico fits the best, with the other two maybe fitting better with Atlantis Jr. (The lack of any Altantis Jr./Soberano Jr. follow-up is a flaw in this theory.) I would rather have Mistico and Templario as a title match instead of Volador and Soberano, but we’ll see what CMLL decides on Tuesday.

(If you want to get deep in the weeds on FantasticaMania booking – and who doesn’t? – that probably means Soberano needs a tag partner. Volador & Magnus, Ultimo Guerrero & Stuka, and Pegasso & Stigma seem locks for the four-team tournament NJPW runs every FantasticaMania; there’s just been no obvious fourth. Maybe it’s Soberano and Brillante to wrestle Volador?)

Vaquer’s the centerpiece of the NJPW Strong women’s division despite losing the big matches. She’s the one who’s person always back on each show. Vaquer lost her challenge for the IWGP Women’s Championship, but NJPW has a second women’s belt in the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, and there are issues surrounding that. The current champion is STARDOM’s Giulia, though it’s already been reported that she’ll likely move from STARDOM to WWE sometime this year, which means she’ll probably lose that belt sometime in the next few months. It could be to AEW’s Trish Adora, who Giulia defending against on this show. It could be to IWGP Women’s champion Mayu Iwatani since the concept of two different NJPW women’s titles never really clicked (though maybe due to injury bad luck.) It could be no one at all, and Giulia just vacates it on her way out the door. But it’s unlikely NJPW is flying in Vaquer just to have a random singles match; their undercard 1v1 usually sets up something, and maybe it’s another title chance.

Arena Coliseo Guadalajara is already hyping festivities for its 65th Anniversary show in June.

Voices of Wrestling has reviews of December CMLL matches.

AAA

There’s a lot of AAA news, for the first time in a while.

Saturday led off with the Lucha x el Barrio final, a few hours before the taping

AAA , INJUVE (SAT) 01/06/2024 Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal [La Tijera, thecubsfan]
1) Rey Espartano, Skyler, Vengador (Querétaro) b Andy Panda Jr., Epidemus Jr., Kenji 
8:42
2) Mary Caporal & Satania b Lady Wind & Princesa Azul 
7:10
3) Estrellato b Piraña 
4:19
4) Alfa Jr., Dragón Suicida, Steven Manson b Black Shadow II, Shere Khan, Thunder Storm 
5:15
5) Dick Angelo 3G, Forneo, Legendario b Éxtasis, Osiris, Radioactivo 
7:54
6) Rey Espartano, Shere Khan, Vengador (Querétaro) b Alfa Jr., Epidemus Jr., Steven Manson 
5:59
7) Dick Angelo 3G, Estrellato, Legendario, Radioactivo b Andy Panda Jr., Dragón Suicida, Éxtasis, Lady Wind 
5:24

Judges were Faby Apache, Arez, Myzteziz Jr., Chessman, Negro Casas, Abismo Negro and Dalys. Dick Angelo 3G won 1st place, with Legendario 2nd and Lady Wind 3rd. Andy Panda Jr., Estrellato, Radioactivo, Vengador, Dragon Suicida, Steven Manson, and Extasis were honorable mentions, and will get chances to work AAA shows sometime this year.

Dick Angelo 3G (3G means third generation) and Legendario are well known Mexico City indie wrestlers. They were working IWRG regularly until last June, walking out for the same reasons everyone else ends up walking out of IWRG. Abismo Negro Jr. was their trainer and was one of the judges for this AAA competition, though those two were fair choices based on the performances on this show. Lady Wind, a 17 year old luchadora from Xalapa, was a more surprising pick. She looked impressive in the final match, but a lot of that was visibly the bigger male wrestlers basing to make her look more spectacular. She and Princesa Azul looked about the same quality in the previous match, and Azul didn’t make it past that round. It could be that they wanted the visual of having a woman in the top 3; everyone AAA wants to book will be booked in the end. AAA said the three winners would sign contracts with AAA next week.

This streamed on Capital 21, presented as live but on an hour or so delay. They ran one first round with all the matches (and some time in between the matches), and then a more hurried second round with the finalists. Satania seemed to be an alternate; a post-show credit sequence listed Hija del Vikingo as one of the finalists. Estrellato/Pirana also may have been a late addition; the announcers had identification sheets for all the matches except for that one. La Jornada has a good story about the winners, even if they forget Dick Angelo’s name. Both INJUVE and AAA talked positively about the tournament and doing another one down the road.

AAA held a press conference between the Llave x el Barrio tournament and their own TV taping that night. The big news they wanted to get out is the 2024 theme is “Origenes.” Dorian Roldan’s story was AAA was planning only to do a one-off Retro show to start the year, but the social media reaction to the idea was so positive that they decided to make it the style for the whole year. This is the 32nd year of AAA; the 30th year of AAA was also a celebration of the past and many of those names were around last year too. This Retro concept did draw – it was a huge improvement over the previous Juan de la Barrera taping in September – but I’m not sure twelve months of this is a great idea.

There are other reasons AAA may be dipping into a more popular past; Record headlines their piece on the announcement as “AAA seeks in 2024 to once again be the best Mexican wrestling company“, and the subhead has Roldan acknowledging 2023 was not a good year. He tries to explain it the same as a sports team having a bad year, but it got them thinking about new concepts that they could do that would work better. It is not immediately clear what those new concepts are in the article, except borrowing from the past.

AAA TV (SAT) 01/06/2024 Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal [ASHeraldo Deportes, Mas Lucha] Attendance: 5000
1) Látigo & Toxin b ? & Alfa Jr.
dark match, other unidentified person is probably another Lucha x el Barrio finalist
1) Látigo & Toxin b Epydemius Jr. & Extreme Monster
Dark Match. Extreme Monster appeared to be a (young) teenager.

2) Colmillo De Plata, Garra De Oro, Lady Wind b Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Reina Dorada
Dick Angelo (1st), Legendario (2nd) and Lady Wind (3rd) were the Lucha x el Barrio winners. Colmillo de Plata is the former Mr. Leo, Garra de Oro is Leon Dorado Jr., keeping “The Money Machine” team name and gimmick.
3) Arez, Jessy Ventura, La Parkita, Lady Shani b El Elegido, Estrellita, Mini Charly Manson, Pimpinela Escarlata
Arez replaced Aramis on 12/21. Prior to the match, Abismo, Latigo, Toxin and Arez (back in Los Vipers) questioned Cibernetico for teaming with La Secta instead of them. Los Vipers attacked Pimpinela after the match. Between matches, Konnan came to the ring and introduced Cien Caras. They hugged. Vampiro interrupted to offer a handshake of peace to Konnan. Cibernetico made the second interruption, then Los Vipers made the third interruption to attack him. Vampiro and Konnan cleaned house on Los Vipera and hugged to a big reaction.
4) Abismo Negro & Flammer © b Aerostar & Faby Apache and Drago & Sexy Star [AAA MIXED TAG]
5) Mr. Iguana, Myzteziz, Niño Hamburguesa b El Ángel, Electroshock, Heavy Metal
El Angel was the mystery person on the Retro team.
6) Forastero, Negro Casas, Sansón b Charly Manson, Súper Caló, Zorro
7) Cibernético, Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Dark Scoria b Hijo Del Vikingo, Octagón Jr., Pagano, Psycho Clown
Cibernetico pinned Psycho after a mask pull

The power of properly placed nostalgia. La Secta were always midcarders, guys who’d wrestle in the main events simply to be the sort of henchman beat up so Cibernetico or Mesias escaped clean. The role Los Vipers are now, more or less. Their recent appearances in Big Lucha didn’t seem to mean anything to attendance. (If anything, the turnout seemed down, though that may be due to other factors with Big Lucha.) They’re on plenty of other indie shows, too, and those guys have never seem to mean a whole lot. La Secta teaming with Cibernetico on this Retro show sold out the 5000-ish seat building, which is a victory for the Retro branding.

Vampiro left AAA forever back in August and returned in January. What happened in between was Vampiro doing that podcast with Latin Lover, where both shoveled some dirt on Konnan and the whole thing went viral. AAA brought back Vampiro to play off it, teasing issues and then swerving people by going the other way. The entire segment seemed laid out to get a loud reaction for Vampiro and Konnan in front of a big crowd and did exactly that. Vipers just happened to be the expendable heels for the night, it may not mean more than that. AAA surely wants Latin Lover in to play off the podcast, and maybe they’re just waiting to get to Monterrey for that part.

Mr. Leo and Leon Dorado Jr. were actually in the INJUVE contest and shown in the look back at the tryouts as part of the broadcast. They also had a tryout with AAA in 2023 (maybe multiple ones), and were probably going to get brought in even if there wasn’t a Lucha x el Barrio. It did look like a weird go-around on the tryout if you’re paying close attention, but no one’s paying close attention to AAA.

There may have been more angles on this taping, but AAA’s decided to continue not reporting on their shows. They streamed bits of a couple of matches on social media, but there is no sign of a full return to streaming these events. I got results this time because newspapers and Mas Lucha covered the show. I’m sure it’ll be a problem to find out what is actually going on with AAA for the rest of the year. Originally, I thought this taping would start to air next week, but I’m less certain after watching TV.

I’m confused about if AAA is doing live commentary again or not. Mas Lucha posted clips of post-match angles where the announcers are audible. Those same announcers didn’t seem audible to me when I saw clips of the matches AAA posted. Maybe they’re only turning the audio on after the match; maybe I’m losing it. Jesus Zuniga was back at the announce desk with Jose Manuel Guillen and Hugo Savinovich; he’s been hosting the Luchatitlan shows for most of 2023.

AAA also fully announced the Queretaro show, which differed a bit from what I guessed.

AAA TV (SAT) 01/20/2024 Auditorio General José María Arteaga, Querétaro, Querétaro
1) ?, ??, ???? vs ?????, ??????, ???????
2) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
3) Estrellita, Faby Apache, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Dalys, La Hiedra, Maravilla
4) Hijo Del Vikingo, Myzteziz Jr., Octagón Jr. vs Aerostar, Mr. Iguana, Súper Fly
5) Drago, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs Belcegor, Dinámico, Parka Negra
6) Chessman & Pagano vs Electroshock & Zorro
7) Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Panic Clown, Psycho Clown vs Cibernético, Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Dark Scoria

Match 5 is the only one that strays from the Origines theme. Match 2 is probably the Lucha x el Barrio wrestlers, and Match 1 a dark match with the locals. It’s weird to see Vikingo working third from the top on AAA card; AAA probably sees it more about who he’s working with but it’s also their choice of who he’s working with.

AAA additionally announced they’d return to Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera on Saturday, March 16th. CMLL may run Homenaje a Dos Leyendas on that Friday, making for a big weekend. CMLL just probably won’t make it clear until mid-February.

AAA’s show on Space aired three matches from outside the Bardahl plant in Toluca. The show had lots of promotion for AAA’s main sponsor and the matches were the usual level for 2023 shows.

  • Mr. Iguana, Nino Hamburguesa and La Estrella defeated Kento, Kuukai, Takuma with help from a masked Mr. Bardahl. He did a very Octagon Jr.-ish 450 splash to help the tecnicos win. It didn’t make any sense for Estrella to be teaming with Iguana & Hamburgesa since he was working with the other Japanese and also attacking those two tecnicos, but the announcers and a pre-match promo pushed the idea Estrella was a tecnico at heart and going good guy from here. Some comedy, some good wrestling.
  • Abismo Negro Jr. and Flammer beat Drago and Sexy Star to keep the mixed tag titles. They worked hard, it didn’t click for me but it wasn’t a fault of effort. There was no point where I thought the challengers would win and, despite the announcers pushing that the champs were nearing a one year a reign, no point where it felt like it mattered who did hold these belts. A pre-match vignette had Maravilla talking about Sexy Star challenging her to a singles match, something I don’t remember happening but it’s always possible, I suppose. Anyway, since the point of AAA is for the rudos to always get heat on the tecnicos, that meant Sexy Star had to lose this match, then attack Flammer (for no obvious reason) so Maravilla could cut her off. Maravilla ran out so fast that Sexy Star had barely done anything before she got beat up for a second time. It was loser stuff.
  • Laredo Kid, Negro Casas, Psycho Clown beat Bestia del Ring, Taurus, Texano in an aimless brawl. Taurus looked good with Laredo and Psycho but this was the least of the three matches. (Taurus has not shown up on a new AAA lineup, even house shows, since working the second AEW date, a important factoid I’m nonetheless putting in the place no one will read, a recap of AAA’s TV) The point of this match was a La Bestia del Ring/Negro Casas feud. The comedy was Bestia getting a cut above his right eye before the match officially started, a medic urgently (and seemingly unnecessarily) hastily wrapping some gauze around Bestia’s head to stop the bleeding, and Bestia wrestling the match looking like a mummy.

AAA has at least two more matches they haven’t aired from this show. One of them was a title match, which they could’ve squeezed on to this TV if AAA only wanted to do one episode from the venue. Maybe there’s another week, maybe they’ll just save it to fill in a gap down the line. Space will have an episode description sometime midweek.

If you’re thirsty for a Konnan interview where he talks about how AAA needs to go the US and get a TV deal to compete with the companies there, La Jornada has you covered. The big idea is the US money will allow them to keep the talent they lose to the US, but I’m less and less certain that’s a realistic possibility. The most likely way AAA is getting the sort of money it would take to be competitive with the US companies is if someone comes in to just buy AAA. There’d be no reason to put that much money in without getting ownership. Anyway, it’s not just the US companies AAA is in losing battles for talent. AAA’s first Showcenter show of the year is February 18th. Recent AAA stars Dralistico and Pentagon Jr. won’t be on that show, not because they’ve got a US commitment, but because they’ll be working across town for Robles promotions that night.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 01/07/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Ajolotl b Osiris IWRG | Ajolotl se lleva la primera victoria de la tarde ante Osiris (posted by mluchatv) IWRG EN VIVO  (posted by IWRG tv) Live | Función de Reyes en IWRG: Vipers, Mexa Boys y más estrellas en acción (posted by mluchatv)
2) Freelance & Tornado b Alan Extreme & Rey Aztaroth IWRG | Tornado y Freelance vencen a Rey Astaroth y Alan Extreme (posted by mluchatv) IWRG EN VIVO  (posted by IWRG tv) Live | Función de Reyes en IWRG: Vipers, Mexa Boys y más estrellas en acción (posted by mluchatv)
3) Látigo & Toxin b Noisy Boy & Spider Fly IWRG | Los Vipers derrotan a Los Mexa Boys en un buen choque de parejas (posted by mluchatv) IWRG EN VIVO  (posted by IWRG tv) Live | Función de Reyes en IWRG: Vipers, Mexa Boys y más estrellas en acción (posted by mluchatv)
great match
4) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. b Abigor & Yorvak IWRG | Los Cerebros Negros se llevan la victoria ante Abigor y Yorvak (posted by mluchatv) IWRG EN VIVO  (posted by IWRG tv) Live | Función de Reyes en IWRG: Vipers, Mexa Boys y más estrellas en acción (posted by mluchatv)
Cerbero Negro Jr. & Cerbero Negro replaced the Lion Brothers (who may be done here after starting in AAA), said they’ll be tag team champs this year
5) Dr. Cerebro Jr., Shocko, Tonalli b Águila Roja, Hip Hop Man, Ivan Rokov IWRG | Tonalli, Shocko y Dr. Cerebro Jr. derrotan a Ivan Rokov, Hip Hop Man y Águila Roja (posted by mluchatv) IWRG EN VIVO  (posted by IWRG tv) Live | Función de Reyes en IWRG: Vipers, Mexa Boys y más estrellas en acción (posted by mluchatv)
Shock replaced Aster Boy, wants a “loser goes back to their home country” match with Rokov
6) Hell Boy, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Laredo Kid b Hijo del Fishman, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Rey Espectro IWRG EN VIVO  (posted by IWRG tv) Live | Función de Reyes en IWRG: Vipers, Mexa Boys y más estrellas en acción (posted by mluchatv)
Laredo Kid wore a La Parka tribute mask. Lupus wants a singles match with Fishman for the Juniors title.

I wanted to see Los Vipers versus the Mexa Boys and I’m glad I did. It was an all-action match. It wasn’t truly a tag match in that there wasn’t any tags, but they went back and forth nicely. Mexa Boys looked smoother against the Vipers; Toxin and Latigo had plenty of cool double-team offense. It was exactly what you’d hope for from the best of that style, along with the better work the Vipers have done in the US. It’s worth checking out.

Big Lucha

They’re running Friday

Big Lucha World (FRI) 01/12/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Cody 1-8 vs Big Tao Tao
2) Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo vs Atómico Jr., Auzter, Black Skayde
3) Mr. Win, Tirano, Viajero vs Brujo, Limbo, Torito Negro
4) Action Jackson & Emperador Azteca vs Elipse & Orbita

They’re calling it Big Lucha World but it doesn’t look like one of their previous lineups (three matches, mostly lopsided.) It’s not quite a normal Big Lucha card either, just something in between. It may just be an attempt to run something this month when the roster is elsewhere later on: Black Generacion is headed back to Japan for GLEAT, Locos Evans and Potro de Oro are doing that tour of the Yucatan. 

I’m not really sure what the roster is going forward. A new group named “Mexico Wrestling” had a press conference Friday to talk about the lineup for their first show, and it has some effect on who’s still here:

Mexico Wrestling (SUN) 01/21/2024 Batalla de Tunas Blancas, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) ?, ??, Allan Star vs Baalzephone, Mas Alla, Último Monarca
2) Datura vs Diosa Nix
3) Radical, Uzumaki, Vudu Max vs Andy Panda Jr., Odiseo Mendoza, Ursus Mendoza
4) Carito, Chris Stone Jr., Tigre Blanco vs León Dorado, Mr. Leo, Soberbia
5) Hijo del Solar & Solar I vs El Machote, Máscara Año 2000, Máscara Año 2000 Jr.

I typically file this type of lineup into the luchadb and don’t bother mentioning here. None of the matches look particularly promising, there’s no interesting direction – the press conference teased a Solar/Mascara 2000 mask versus hair match – and it’s the most generic name possible. It’s one of hundreds of shows that will happen in the Mexico City each year and aren’t normally worth considering. This one is notable because it’s effectively a Big Lucha splinter promotion. The familiar names from here – exotico Carito, the Mendozas, the Capos, and the two mystery people – are apparently all ‘done’ with Big Lucha. It has not played up that way, but the idea is these guys are all going on their own. I’m less clear about Andy Panda Jr; he is Morfisis in Big Lucha but only in Big Lucha, and he’s still listed on that name on Big Lucha’s next card. Or maybe Big Lucha has a new Morfosis?

It’s indie wrestling, nothing is permanent, but Big Lucha seems headed to a roster crunch. I’m unsure of the availability of guys like Extasis and Radioactivo and anyone else who impressed AAA in the talent search. (A firm rule of Mexican indie wrestlers is they will absolutely sign any contract laid in front of them and they will tell their friends how unhappy they are about the same contract six months later once they really understand the deal.) Maybe the increased focus on Locos Evans was to make up for missing people, or maybe it helped lead to wrestlers checking out. I’m not sure. On a lower level, this is Big Lucha going through the same sort of talent drain that AAA is going through – people getting funneled to a big promotion with a better payday and people checking out to have more fun elsewhere.

Other Notes

A Three King’s Day show Sunday in Uruapan, Michoacan was said to draw 8,000 people (on free tickets.) Cibernetico and La Secta headlined against ELectroshock, Charly Manzon and Lizmark.

A report on lucha libre in Hermosillo mentions there 15 shows in the Sonoran city in 2023. Promoters are asking for more support from the government to help pay for this; he throws out running a show costing between 15-18,000 and he’s making between 8-10,000 pesos.

Oaxacan born, Mazatlan based luchador Super Angel talked about his career. He says he wrestled in AAA, once under the Super Angel name, later under both Maravilloso and Cadete del Espacio member Super Nova. There is a Maravilloso who pops up on 1998 and 1999 TV, which fits with Super Angel’s story.

A short article on Brisa Mortal.

Luchadors gave out gifts at a Guanajuato hospital in honor of Dia de los Reyes.

Segunda Caida writes more about 90s Monterrey.

Templario/Dorada (not Soberano) tonight, AAA returns to TV tapings, Gran Alternativa

CMLL

Tonight’s show

CMLL (FRI) 01/05/2024 Arena México
1) Astral vs Capitán Suicida
rematch from February 14. One fall match
2) Pegasso, Rey Samuray, Stigma vs Futuro, Max Star, Vegas
rematch from May 7. 2/3 fall match.
3) Reyna Isis & Tessa Blanchard vs Dark Silueta & Zeuxis
Replaces Espiritu Negro & Rey Cometa vs Akuma & Dark Magic. 2/3 fall match.
4) Esfinge vs Cavernario
rematch from September 29. One fall match.
5) Lluvia vs Stephanie Vaquer
Rematch of November 14? 1 fall
6) Máscara Dorada vs Templario
Originally a Soberano/Templario rematch from January 6. Mascara Dorada replaced Soberano on Wednesday (back injury), now as a rematch from April 21st. 2/3 match.

The new main event was announced on Wednesday’s Informa. Mascara Dorada was still Panterita del Ring Jr. when he and Templario went to a memorable time limit draw in April. They went to another draw in September. The Soberano/Templario match will happen on one of the next two Fridays, assuming Soberano is cleared to wrestle. It’s an unusual amount of singles matches, but that’s what a Best of show tends to be. The show will air on PPV as always. All the links for the month are up, and it looks like the price has been pushed up 50 US cents.

Neon, on Informa, was told he would be appearing on the next two Fridays as part of Best Of matches

  • 01/12: Neon, Max Star, Brillante Jr. vs Valiente Jr., Fuego, Capitan Suicida
  • 01/19: Neon & Futuro vs Magnus & Rugido

It’ll be at least three straight weeks of Neon on Fridays. Neon and Mascara Dorada were also revealed as the first team for the Gran Alternativa, which starts on 01/19. (They’ll be in the 01/26 block, obviously.) The other 15 teams will be revealed next Wednesday. Julio Cesar Rivera said the tournament will feature wrestlers from all over Mexico. I’m guessing that might mean a couple of rookies who haven’t been in Arena Mexico prior, similar to the Torneo de Escuelas.

Tessa Blanchard on Informa said she’s only coming from the US to CMLL for tours, but would be open to moving to Mexico and coming in fulltime. It’s conceivable, it’s what Flip Gordon has done. On the other side of the coin, Oraculo did a speech similar to Tessa’s right before Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, and he’s never appeared again. Blanchard talked about loving the people of Mexico and the culture, and being best friends with Reina Isis.

Tessa Blanhard’s discussion came up in a story about how Tessa was told by “someone close to her” that she was only successful in Mexico due to him, and would never get booked in Mexico without him. The point was to put over CMLL – they got her back into wrestling and loving wrestling when she was just about to quit – but the other part was picked up on. The “someone close to her” was clearly to be ex-husband Daga; they announced a divorce in 2023 after a brief public spit. Daga posting a photo of himself with his new significant other after the Blanchard interview circulated may have been a coincidence. (Daga posted it from Japan, where he’s successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight championship over EITA back on 01/02.)

CMLL (SUN) 01/07/2024 Arena México
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II, Micro Sagrado vs Átomo, Mije, Periquito Sacaryas
2) Oro Jr. vs Nitro [lightning]
3) Hombre Bala Jr., Neón, Volcano vs Kráneo, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Dark Silueta, La Catalina, Tessa Blanchard vs Persephone, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
5) Averno, Euforia, Mephisto vs Felino, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II
6) Máscara Dorada, Titán, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

A promising main event and then who knows.

CMLL (TUE) 01/09/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Lady Amazona & Lady Metal vs Centinela & Magia Azul [OCCIDENTE WOMEN, torneo]
2) Hatanna & Katara vs Alondra & Lady Shadow [OCCIDENTE WOMEN, torneo]
3) Gallo Jr. & Rafaga Jr. vs Calavera Jr. I & Calavera Jr. II
4) Okumura & Panterita del Ring vs Exterminador & Satánico
5) Dark Silueta vs Tessa Blanchard
6) Adrenalina & Fantástico vs Magia Blanca & Rugido
7) Atlantis Jr., Explosivo, Máscara Dorada vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible

Los Barbaros make their way to Guadalajara. That team is probably bad news for Cavernario’s brothers. Silueta/Blanchard might be something.

NJPW announced two of their Young Lion rookies, Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima, will be heading out for excursions. I have no idea if they’re heading to CMLL. Just something to keep in mind if CMLL suddenly introduces a new masked demon.

While I’m on NJPW news which may or may not have anything to do with CMLL, NJPW announced a (Friday) April 12th show at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena. That’s a big building with a significantly higher capacity than the (now closed) Odeum, the site of NJPW’s previous Chicago area show. They’re billing it as “the biggest NJPW US show of the decade,” and it’s lucha libre-centric Chicago, so maybe that’ll mean some CMLL participation. Then again, there’s no CMLL people announced for the San Jose show coming up on 01/13 and they would seem to fit there. (Maybe it’ll be different when that San Jose lineup is announced, probably around when CMLL finishes tonight.)

AAA

AAA has its first TV taping of the year – and first public TV taping in about 40 days – on Saturday in Mexico City.

AAA TV (SAT) 01/06/2024 Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal
1) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
Final of Lucha x El Barrio, no idea how many people or format ofo match (or matches)
2) Arez, Jessy Ventura, La Parkita, Lady Shani vs El Elegido, Estrellita, Mini Charly Manson, Pimpinela Escarlata
Arez replaced Aramis on 12/21
3) Abismo Negro & Flammer © vs Aerostar & Faby Apache and Drago & Sexy Star [AAA MIXED TAG]
4) Mr. Iguana, Myzteziz, Niño Hamburguesa vs ?, Electroshock, Heavy Metal
5) Forastero, Negro Casas, Sansón vs Charly Manson, Súper Caló, Zorro
6) Hijo Del Vikingo, Octagón Jr., Pagano, Psycho Clown vs Cibernético, Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Dark Scoria

This is the first Retro show, which means a lot of wrestlers from the (recent) past. It also means there’s no story to any of these matches, they’re just things to fill up a card. The closest the main event has come was Vikingo posting a photo of him taking a photo with Ozz when Vikingo was still a kid. It appears the older guys are sticking around, so perhaps they’ll set up some ideas. There are no hints on who the mystery person in match four is, but there’s also little speculation on much of anything in ring on AAA right now. The combination of the Retro gimmick and the holiday seems to have helped moved tickets; Boletomovil shows only the upper level with tickets remaining, which is better than the September taping.

The AAA activities actually begin at 1 pm, with the finals of the Lucha x el Barrio talent search. Those are scheduled to air on Mexico City public broadcasting channel Capital 21, which streams on their website. It may also turn up on their YouTube and AAA’s social media. The taping itself is not expected to be streaming. It’s a Mexico City show so it’ll probably be bootlegged onto YouTune, Facebook, and Instagram, AAA just won’t see any benefit from it. AAA was so ahead of people at one point on live-streaming and now they’re behind everyone. At any rate, this should air on TV on 01/13 and 01/20.

There’s still no official lineup for the 01/20 Queretaro show. There are no tickets on sale for a show two weeks away, which is more concerning. A reason AAA usually announces these lineups a month ahead of time is because tickets are going on sale, and tickets just haven’t gone on sale for that one.

AAA’s TV on Space on Saturday will be the private Bardahl sponsored show. I’ve got limited info on the results (and honestly didn’t bother to update the info when I got more info.)

Other

This is old news, but I never noted it here and other things brought it back it to mind: Chicago area lucha libre promotion GALLI no longer had their old home venue. They’ve been running in multiple locations inside the at Villa Park’s North Park Plaza Shopping Center since 2011. They ran in a closed-down wing of the mall, then in a backroom of a flea market, and occasionally on top of an indoor soccer field in another part of the center. The 12/17 GALLI show at that indoor soccer arena was said to be the last show. I’m not sure the reason why they’re leaving (GALLI does a Facebook talk show, it’s surely on there, I just haven’t spent the time to listen), so I’m not sure if something’s up with the building or if it’s “we’re never coming back (maybe we’ll see you in 18 months)” deal. GALLI had already been running other places around the greater Chicago area, so they’ll probably be fine if maybe run fewer shows. There were a few other promotions who used that GALLI – GCW had one of their deathmatch tournaments there. The venue appeared to be very available and very inexpensive. (It also looked very inexpensive, to put it politely.) That arena was also a place that had a lot of great lucha libre matches over the last decade plus and it’s a piece of history that’ll be missed if it’s truly gone.

GCW announced their lineup for the WrestleMania adjacent The Collective shows. There is no Wrld on Lucha on the schedule this year. (There’s a blurred out show, but I’m told it’s not Wrld on Lucha.) There will be lucha libre on the annual Highspots Mark Hitchcock Memorial show, but they’re not running a standalone lucha libre card. I’m not sure of everyone’s plans, but it looks like there’s probably going to be less Mexican wrestling on this year’s WrestleMania weekend adjacent shows than recent years.

Septimo Dragon looks back at his 2023.

 

Volador/Mistico title match set, Shockercito shaved, Pompin (1943-2024)

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 01/01/2024 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser SportsThe Gladiatores, thecubsfan, thegladiatores.com]
***Sin Salida, 2024***
1) Futuro & Valiente Jr. b Arlequín & Draego Valiente Jr y Futuro vs Joker y Draego ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) Valiente Jr. y Futuro se llevan el triunfo ante los tapatíos Draego y Arlequín (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
9:21
2) Andrómeda, Reyna Isis, Tessa Blanchard b Marcela, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis Andrómeda, Reyna Isis y Tessa Blanchard derrotan a Marcela, Zeuxis y Stephanie Vaquer (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) CMLL: Reyna I., Tessa Blanchard y Andromeda vs Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis y Marcela (posted by mluchatv) Tessa Blanchard, Reina Isis y Andrómeda vs Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis y Marcela ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
14:38
3) Máscara Dorada b Ángel de Oro [lightningCMLL: Máscara Dorada derrota a Ángel de Oro en un match relámpago (posted by mluchatv) Máscara Dorada derrota con espectacularidad en el Match relámpago a Ángel de Oro (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Máscara Dorada vs Angel de Oro MATCH RELÁMPAGO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
8:33
4) Atlantis Jr., Flip Gordon, Místico b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible CMLL: Místico, Atlantis Jr. y Flip Gordon derrotan a Terrible, Bárbaro Cavernario y Dragón Rojo Jr (posted by mluchatv) Místico, Flip Gordon y Atlantis Jr se llevan el triunfo ante B.Cavernario, Terrible y Dragón Rojo Jr (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Místico, Flip Gordon y Atlantis Jr vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible y Dragón Rojo Jr ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
17:48.
5) Shockercito L Último DragóncitoPierrothitoFantasyMercurioMinosAéreoPequeño PolvoraPequeño MagíaPequeño OlímpicoPequeño ViolenciaAceroAngelitoFull MetalKaliguaGalaxy [cage, mask, hairMercurio gana la cabellera de Shockercito en jaula (posted by mluchatv) Mercurio inicia el año con el pie derecho y se lleva la cabellera de Shockercito en Sin Salida CMLL (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Mercurio vs Shockercito ¡¡¡ Cabellera vs Cabellera !!! ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
29:03. Order of escape: Pequeño Violencia, Fantasy, Aereo, Ultimo Dragoncito, Pierrothito, Acero, Pequeño Magia, Kaligula, Minos, Full Metal, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Olimpico, Angelito, and Galaxy, leaving Mercurio and Shockercito. Mercurio cleanly submitted Shockercito to take his hair.

There was good attendance, but there was not a lot of remarkably good wrestling on the show. Dorada/Oro was probably the best match, though the Shockercito/Mercurio segment of the final was the most exciting. CMLL definitely spent some time thinking out the escapes, but it still really didn’t keep my interest until it turned into a normal match. This was otherwise a Sunday medium-effort show that happened to be streamed.

After the semi-main, Los Barbaros attacked KeMalito, and the tecnicos made the save. It was unclear if this was supposed to be a permanent change or just something funny to do on a holiday show. The production crew didn’t think it was important, as they just went on autopilot and aired the usual replays while we could hear something happened. There was no KeMalito appearance on Tuesday’s Arena Mexico show.

Mercurio spoke a bit post-show about wanting to beat Ultimo Dragoncito and also moving up to the main division. After having a long time with the title (which Mercurio just finished), there is not much to do in the minis division, and graduating to the bigger group is the one story to wish for. The main men’s division is probably not a great fit for him. He wouldn’t stand out as a worker and might end up lower on the cards. Astral, Electrico, and Stukita/Halcon Suriano Jr. have all moved out of the minis division in recent years. Electrico had a long title reign but not a memorable one, and all have struggled to advance out of the lowest tier of main roster wrestlers. Mercurio might do OK if Magia Blanca, Magnus or Rugido ever left the Los Depredadores trio and he replaced them. Still, there’s no guarantee they would give him the spot over a Crixus or someone else Volador is training with. I took Mercurio’s comments as just something to say and not a plan that was in motion.

CMLL (MON) 01/01/2024 Arena Puebla [Porra Fresa]
1) Centella Roja & Hijo de Centella Roja b Dreyko & Fénix SO
2) Hera & Olympia b Astoreth & Lady Metal Facebook video (posted by )
3) Arkalis & Rey Samuray b El Malayo & Rey Apocalipsis Facebook video (posted by )
4) Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Stuka Jr. b Esfinge & Star Black and Blue Panther Jr. & Dark Panther and Akuma & Hijo del Villano III Facebook video (posted by )
5) Atlantis, Stigma, Titán b Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Templario

Nothing too notable here, but a good turnout on the holiday.

CMLL (TUE) 01/02/2024 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sportsthegladiatores.com]
1) Aéreo, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Full Metal, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia CMLL: Shockercito, Último Dragoncito y Aéreo Vs Pequeño Violencia, Full Metal y Pequeño Olímpico (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO MARTES 2 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Shockercito getting the win after losing his hair the night before.
2) Guerrero Maya Jr. b El Coyote [lightningFUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO MARTES 2 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Reporte CMLL: Guerrero Maya Jr (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
Maya got the pinfall win just before the time limit at 9:39
3) Amapola, Metálica, Tessa Blanchard b La Vaquerita, Marcela, Skadi FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO MARTES 2 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Reporte CMLL con Amazonas: Tessa Blanchard, Amapola y Metálica (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
A moment of reembrace was held for deceased referee Pompin after the match.
4) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black b Cancerbero, Difunto, Virus FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO MARTES 2 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Reporte CMLL: Cancerbero, Virus y Difunto (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
5) Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible b Atlantis, Star Jr., Valiente FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO MARTES 2 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Reporte CMLL: Terrible, Dragón Rojo Jr y Bárbaro Cavernario (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
6) Averno, Titán, Volador Jr. b Hechicero, Máscara Dorada, Místico [Relevos IncreíblesFUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO MARTES 2 DE ENERO DE 2O24 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Místico, Hechicero y Máscara Dorada Vs Volador Jr. Averno y Titán, Arena México (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
Volador defeated Mistico to set up a title match between them next week.

The main event and Maya/Coyote were good. Mistico actually demanded one more fall, but Volador said he only wanted the title match, and Mistico didn’t bring his belt, so he was out of luck. Mistico offered to do a mask versus hair match right there, but Volador passed. Mistico got a lot of talking time afterward to thank the fans.

A Volador/Mistico match on a Tuesday is strange, but CMLL’s in a time crunch. The FantasticaMania lineups should be out soon, and CMLL often rushes to reposition titles for matches on the tour. Those title shows may happen on unexpected shows depending on timing, and the timing right now has Friday shows taken up by Best Of content It’s hard to believe CMLL would take a title belt off Mistico just to set up a Volador FantasticaMania title defense – they’re fine with either man having a title match- but a title match involving someone about to go on FantasticaMania usually means a title change. Maybe this even sets up an instant rematch in Japan.

CMLL and NJPW haven’t indicated exactly when the FantasticaMania lineups will be announced, but they have some patterns. It could be:

  • after New Year’s Dash (so January 6th)
  • after the upcoming US show, when NJPW would also be announcing their next tour (so January 14th)
  • at the next shows in Korauken Hall (so January 23th or January 24th)

January 6th doesn’t work if this Volador/Mistico title match is relevant to those lineups, so we’re probably looking at January 14th (or thereabouts.)

Former CMLL referee Pompin (Alfonso Ramirez Diaz) passed away on Tuesday. We have his age as 81 on the wiki but that’s unsourced; SuperLuchas has it as 85. Pompin trained as a wrestler but never debuted due to his small size. SuperLuchas says El Santo suggested that he become a referee instead, and Pompin started that career at age 14 in 1957. (He said 15 in 2013 interview.) Many decades later, Pompin was one of the referees in the ring when Santo had a heart attack, inadvertently creating the Misionarios de la Muerte gimmick. He was still working as a referee until the pandemic in 2020; the COVID restrictions sidelined him, but he said vision problems caused him to retire. Pompin started appearing as a referee for EMLL in the 60s, and was one of the top Promociones Mora (UWA) referees when it started. Pompin was well-regarded for most of his career. He also hung around a lot longer than was a good idea for him or CMLL; they started keeping him out of the important matches so his errors wouldn’t cause bigger problems. CMLL sent out a note mentioning his passing.

CMLL (TUE) 01/02/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Gguadalajara]
1) Adira & La Pantera b Diablita Roja (Puebla) & Estrelita Mágica (Puebla) [OCCIDENTE WOMEN TAG, torneoArena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 2 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
2) Emperatriz & Miss Guerrera b Dulce Kitty & Nexy [OCCIDENTE WOMEN TAG, torneoArena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 2 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
3) Espíritu Negro, Halcón Negro Jr., Rey Cometa b Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 2 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
4) Andrómeda & Náutica b Dark Silueta & Valkiria Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 2 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
Andromeda used the middle rope to pin Silueta for the win
5) Maléfico & Satánico b Blue Panther & Okumura Arena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 2 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
6) Dulce Gardenia & La Fashion b Furia Roja & Guerrero de la Muerte © [OCCIDENTE TAGArena Coliseo GDL️ MARTES 2 DE ENERO 2024 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
3rd defense

Gardenia/Fashion are featured a lot in Guadalajara so it makes as much sense for them to be champions as it makes for any champion. Andromeda cheating to beat Silueta is out of character. Perhaps a title match is coming.

CMLL Informa today has

  • Tessa Blanchard (return)
  • KeMalito (a tecnico?)
  • Mercurio & Shockercito (Sin Salida)
  • Mascara Dorada, Star Jr., Neon (Best of matches?)

CMLL (SAT) 01/06/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) Leono & Robin vs Enfermero Jr. & Inquisidor
2) Diamond vs Valiente Jr. [lightning]
3) Brillante Jr., El Audaz, Fuego vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) Andrómeda, Marcela, Skadi vs Metálica, Reyna Isis, Tessa Blanchard
5) Star Jr. & Titán vs Hechicero & Sagrado
6) Atlantis, Flip Gordon, Místico vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario

This is a Three Kings Day show, with the promise of surprises and presents for the kids. Mistico stands a good chance of winning.

CMLL (MON) 01/08/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano & Black Tiger vs King Jaguar & Rencor
2) Xelhua vs El Perverso [lightning]
3) Acero, Aéreo, Shockercito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
4) Andrómeda, Lady Amazona, Tessa Blanchard vs Enigmática, Skadi, Stephanie Vaquer
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Hechicero, Hijo de Stuka Jr., Stuka Jr.
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Star Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr.

Nothing jumps out as too important here.

Jushin Thunder Liger will be in Mexico in early March for autograph signings. He’ll appear at the Caristico store on 03/01 (a Friday), then at Tijuana’s MULLEM lucha libre museum on March 2nd and 3rd. That’s a little early for WrestleMania weekend so maybe there’s a NJPW US show around that time. He’ll probably appear in some fashion on that Friday Arena Mexico show.

Blue Panther Jr. will be teaching a seminar in Guanajuato.

Box y Lucha 3584 has Mercurio’s hair match on top.

AAA

Jessy Ventura said Tuesday’s match as part of Shotamania was their final match as an independent. Ventura is supposedly full time with AAA going forward, though I’ve seen Vvntura on independent posters through March.

Space’s TV description for Saturday is “Estado de Mexico”, which sounds like the sponsored show will be airing.

Other Notes

IWRG (SUN) 01/07/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Ajolotl vs Golden Power
2) Freelance & Tornado vs Rey Aztaroth & Rey Halcón
3) León Dorado & Mr. Leo vs Abigor & Yorvak
4) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Látigo & Toxin
5) Aster Boy, Dr. Cerebro Jr., Tonalli vs Águila Roja, Hip Hop Man, Ivan Rokov
6) Hell Boy, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Laredo Kid vs Hijo del Fishman, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Rey Espectro

Match four looks very promising. Match 3 might be something good.

Andrade posted essentially a “farewell to Mexico.” He’s returning to CMLL WWE sometime soon.

ESTO has an interview with Mexico state luchador Rey de Fuego.