I’m really excited for tonight’s CMLL show but I’m shocked they went as far as getting all the calendars to call it “Good Friday.”

CMLL

CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas is tonight:

CMLL (FRI) 03/29/2024 Arena México
***CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, 2024***
1) Magnus & Rugido © vs Brillante Jr. & Neón [MEX TAG]
4th defense
2) Esfinge © vs Zandokan Jr. [MEX LH]
4th defense
3) Bárbaro Cavernario © vs Averno [CMLL LH]
4th defense (1st in six months)
4) Angelito vs Pierrothito, Acero, Pequeño Olímpico [mask]
four way, winner escape, last person remaining loses their mask
5) Lluvia, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis vs La Catalina, Tessa Blanchard, Willow Nightingale
6) Máscara Dorada & Rocky Romero vs Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. [natl pi, final]
tournament final, teams undecided
7) Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley, Matt Sydal vs Blue Panther, Místico, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.
Matt Sydal replaced Wheeler Yuta on 03/25.

I wrote a long preview for Voices of Wrestling. The AEW involvement is a big deal for everyone, the people who watch every week and the people who are only showing up because a bunch of AEW (or ex-WWE) people are involved. The other part of it is there’s no clear Best Match On The Show. The main event has the talent and moment to be the best, but many of the matches which precede it have the chance of surpassing it. The minis are going to be going all out with their mask match, it’ll just be a matter of if the key person (probably Acero) comes through in a memorable way. There’s a lot of talent in the semi-main, and it’s just a matter of what kind of story they want to tell. We’ve seen greatness out of many on this show, and it wouldn’t be a huge upset if the opener or the Averno/Cavernario match stole the night. I think I’ve been stressing about the surrounding factors – the time crunch, the YouTube tier bit – because this will be a superb show if those non-wrestling issues stay out of the way.

The other part is there’s a lot of options on the table for future matches. Again, everyone’s going to be looking to the main event for more, but there’s plenty of stuff on the undercard that could set up big events later this year. The parejas incrieble tournament has produced Aniversario main events in the past. CMLL’s pattern of wrestlers winning a big apuesta match before losing one could crop up if Pierrothito or Pequeno Olimpcio win that minis match. Averno still has weird hair that’s just waiting for someone like Cavernario to shave it. Zandokan and Star Jr. did a great job of building up their short feud, and Zandokan winning a title could push that one farther. That’s just CMLL based stuff too; there’s probably a Forbidden Door story to start, and even something as “surprising” as a Chris Jericho video appearance seems plausible. This is going to be a huge crowd and it’s going to be the perfect time to give those people reasons to keep paying attention to CMLL. What comes next is nearly as important as what happens here.

I hope I don’t need to explain “It’s on CMLL’s YouTube Fan Leyenda” to the type of people who read this blog but there is one more time. If I disappear on Friday, it’s likely because I’ve answered the question too often. I believe CMLL is going to have their highest ever subscription number at that $35 level and it’ll probably be a record for their digital revenue. It’s hard to argue with those likely results, but I believe they probably would have gotten more viewers if there was some 10/15 USD single PPV option out there. (It’s not really possible with the YouTube tiers to do that, it would’ve had to be an other option.) CMLL’s pretty well off if they can retain those 35 USD, but I think I would rather have this show in front more people and a lower price point would’ve helped.

Just to be clear: the main event is specifically a one fall match, not three falls. That was announced back when the match was announced. It’s still captain’s rules, so either a captain or two other people have to get pinned. What this really is a “the CMLL guys are just going to pin Yuta Sydal after all of this (LOL)” side chat. I don’t this finish is just Sydal getting pinned, and it also doesn’t seem likely to happen unless there’s a sudden rule change.

The title matches are all one fall, as always in CMLL. The minis match will have multiple “falls”, if you think of eliminations that way. The women’s trios match is the only traditional three fall match on paper, but it’s possible CMLL just quietly scraps that. The difference between one fall and three fall match lengths are not that much, but they reclaim the 60-90 seconds between falls by just going one fall.

Blue Panther will wrestle masked on this show. He showed off permission from the Mexico City lucha libre commission to wrestle masked, with the idea that was the character Bryan Danielson idolized.

There was no mention of Homenaje a Dos Leyendas on AEW TV on Wednesday night. That is standard AEW practice; it was surprising when AEW had mentioned it earlier in this build. AEW will absolutely mention the match on Saturday’s Collision show. Danielson, Castagnoli and others in their traveling party have to make it back to Canada to wrestle on that show. (By others, I don’t include Tony Khan – I don’t have it confirmed, but circumstantial evidence suggests he’s not attending this CMLL show.)

The AEW crew did a press event on Friday. CMLL previously told the press it wouldn’t happen, but perhaps they meant after the match. It was largely in character and without much news, but it was entertaining enough and good at getting over personalities. Claudio Castagonli and Jon Moxley were in full rudo invaders mode. Bryan Danielson and Matt Sydal were trying to be that way but also too happy to be doing this match to totally commit to the bit. Willow was Willow. They said the things the media/fans wanted to hear (“we would very much like to come back”) while also playing up that they expect to win. AEW’s Bryce Remsburg is in as a referee, and asked by the press if he was there to be a biased referee for Rocky Romero. (He will officiate the tag tournament final.) Bryce said he wouldn’t admit it right there if he was crocked, but went on to say he was there just as part of a referee exchange, same as Edgar going to AEW.

Octava Sports has a sitdown interview with Tony Salazar, Magnus and Alexis Salazar. Magnus notes that when he went to AEW PPV, he and Chris Jericho talked and Jericho realized he was the son of the “Ulises” he had wrestled in Mexico in his time. That was the near the end of Tony Salazar’s time in the ring. Alexis talked about some of his non-photography duties with CMLL; he mentions his role as a community manager and an office administrator. Alexis, in doing the hard sell for H2L at the end of the podcast, mentions that CMLL’s production staff is doing some additional work for this show – “Arena Mexico is going to look completely different.” I don’t know what that means, guess we’re going to find out.

Mistico ran into former La Quinta Estacion singer Natalia Jimenez; Mistico famously appeared in the Me Muero music video.

MLW is taping Star Jr. versus Virus tonight, to air in a couple of weeks on YouTube. My recollection is that was originally announced for tonight’s MLW PPV. At any rate, someone had the good sense to move it at any rate.

CMLL (SUN) 03/31/2024 Arena México
1) Astro Boy Jr. & Novato vs Calavera Jr. I & Calavera Jr. II
2) El Audaz, Hombre Bala Jr., Magia Blanca vs Felino, Felino Jr., Rey Bucanero
3) Andrómeda, Marcela, Skadi vs Persephone, Tessa Blanchard, Willow Nightingale
4) Euforia vs Hechicero [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Titán, Valiente vs Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr., Terrible
6) Máscara Dorada & Místico vs Ángel de Oro & Templario

Nighingale isn’t booked on Monday, so it seems like a weekend swing. The main event could be great. Euforia/Hechicero is the match between the former Infernales; Hechicero has won all those singles matches so far. Attendance may continue to be good on this holiday weekend.

CMLL (MON) 04/01/2024 Arena Puebla
***CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, 2024***
1) Asturiano, Capitán Suicida, Valiente Jr. vs El Perverso, Multy, Prayer
2) El Malayo, Rey Apocalipsis, Siky Ozama © vs Crixus, Difunto, Raider [OCCIDENTE TRIOS]
first defense
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Titán vs Gran Guerrero, Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr.
5) Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja © vs Akuma & Espanto Jr. [CMLL TAG]
14th defense
6) Volador Jr. vs Rocky Romero

CMLL had been talking about running Homenaje a Dos Leyendas in Puebla and Guadalajara, but this is more than I thought they’d actually put on that show. Volador/Romero is last year’s big feud. Ola Negra and the Chavez set up a title match previous; it seemed like CMLL dropped it but they were just saving it for this show. The Puebla crew won those Guadalajara trios matches last December as part of the city feud. That feud hasn’t had much activity lately, but they are making use of the titles here. It would be unusual for this era of CMLL to record two straight Puebla shows but it’s an elevated card.

There was no mention of that Monday Puebla taped show on CMLL Informa, so who knows if/when it’ll turn up.

CMLL (TUE) 04/02/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Johnny Dinamo, Minotauro, Shezmu vs Black Boy, Thunder Boy, Yaky Boy
2) Astro Oriental, Gallo Jr., Rafaga Jr. vs Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Temerario
3) Dark Magic, Elemental, Yutani vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
4) Andrómeda, La Catalina, Lluvia vs Dark Silueta, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
5) Magnus vs Villano III Jr. [lightning]
6) Atlantis & Blue Panther vs Rey Bucanero & Satánico
7) Atlantis Jr., Esfinge, Máscara Dorada vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Euforia, Soberano Jr.

Guadalajara’s Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show has no title matcches. They are running a special legends match, which seems fitting. They also have Magnus and Villano III Jr. in a lightning. Previewing a match on Informa, Magnus said Villano looked more like a cholo than a luchador with all his tattoos. He requested a good referee for the match who would check Villano for any knives.

Arena Coliseo Guadalajara typically doesn’t run lightning matches and almost never does with Mexico City talent, and CMLL Informa doesn’t usually preview matches there. Referee Edgar Noriega, who’s also part of CMLL’s programming department, has been working in Guadalajara the last couple of weeks. He typically does the Arena Mexico shows on Tuesdays. Guadalajara’s  photographer/poster designer seems to have left the promotion about a month ago. The Guadalajara shows have felt like they’ve existed in a parallel universe since the pandemic restart. These may be signs of it being pulled a little closer to the home office, though I’d need to know more to be sure.

La Metalica, who got hurt on a dive at the 03/08 show, says she’s been cleared to return.

CMLL promoted having a merchandise stand for the “Mexico is the Shit” clothing line. Arena Mexico’s a different place than it used to be.

Stephanie Vaquer teams with Starlight Kid and Momo Watanabe against AZM, Saya Kamitani and Camron Branae on Stardom’s 04/04 US show. AZM and Vaquer are probably wrestling for the NJPW Strong match in Chicago though it’s not official yet. It may be official after this match.

Volador Jr. is officially off the 04/05 Joey Janela show. Dralistico will now replace him to wrestle Gringo Loco.

Tr3s Caidas in Tijuana has a Hechicero/Ultimo Guerrero singles match on 04/05.

AAA

AAA posted last Sunday’s Ecatepec spot show on YouTube. This was a Mas Lucha filmed show and went up on their channel at the same time. Mas Lucha has posted some AAA spot show sin the past. I wonder if there’s a new rule that AAA’s got to a copy of those shows as well. It’s mysterious.

You want another mystery? There’s still some lucha libre going on in the old Luchatitlan location. Diagonal Sports posted video of what appears to be local Cancun wrestlers running a show at the venue. They’re even using some of the remaining special effects (or trying to.) Jesus Zuniga is doing the announcing, as he did during nine month AAA run there. The website asks him what’s going on at the end of the video and Zuniga claims they’re just in between “seasons” and Luchatitlan will be back soon. I haven’t seen anyone else who was working there say that, and there’s no explanation for why local wrestlers is there. It comes off like someone trying to see if the concept could work with cheaper wrestlers and a scaled down production, but I’m a bit surprised anyone still has the literal keys to the place. I don’t know what’s going on. There are lucha libre tourist traps at other Mexico beach cities, though typically not at the ticket price that AAA and their partners were asking.

AAA on Space should have the first half of the 03/09 Saltillo taping. The poster was not quite accurate but may help a bit if you’ve forgotten a three week old taping and don’t want to be spoiled.

The Crash’s main event on 04/20 has Rey Horus, Pagano and Mecha Wolf versus Bestia 666, Rey Escorpion and D-Luxe, so whatever that AAA angle was supposed continues. No Taurus in that one. The Crash finished putting up their show on YouTube and didn’t include that AAA angle; they cut away right after the match. They cut away right after every match, so it might have just been a new editor.

TNA aired a sit down interview with Laredo Kid to set up a Digital Media title match with Crazy Steve. This is the sort of stuff I’ve been critical of TNA not doing with Laredo Kid, and I’m glad to see they’re giving him a chance. I believe Laredo’s title match airs next Thursday.

Other News

Arena Naucalpan has the AAA Rosales Vampiro show tonight. That one might disappear into the void. Mas Lucha may not be filming in Naucalpan and I’m not sure how AAA is going to feel about IWRG airing it. Maybe all the YouTube people who get blocked out Arena Mexico may end up there. Sunday is a FILL trainee show.

No Big Lucha show, no mention by Big Lucha on what is going on there.

Mas Lucha has the Psicosis and Damian 666 benefit show on Sunday. I believe that’s a free streaming show but they haven’t made it totally clear.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 03/25/2024 Arena Puebla [Grada, Porra Fresa]
1) Diablita Roja & Mayahuel b Enigmática & Lady Metal
2) Crixus, Difunto, Raider b El Malayo, El Perverso, Siky Ozama 
CDMX rudos challenged Puebla rudos for their Occidente (GDL) trios championships
3) Tessa Blanchard b Lluvia [lightning]
4) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma b Futuro, Max Star, Neón 
5) Soberano Jr., Templario, Último Guerrero b Atlantis Jr., Averno, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Romero ran in for the DQ, leading into the main event
6) Rocky Romero b Máscara Dorada 
Originally a title match, quietly a non-title match and begin out of the semimain post match. Romero got his knees up on Dorada’s SSP and cradled him for the win. Romero challenged Volador to a singles match next week.

So this was weird. There’s an old CMLL trick – an old Mexican wrestling trick either – when they’re not going to deliver on a promoted stipulation. One side of the match interferes in the previous match, then the other side attacks them to go right into their match. It saves the ring announcer from revealing the match isn’t for whatever title it’s supposed to be, and fans might not even notice the champion never brought the belt. They pulled this one here, distracting from the main event by not being a title match by rushing into it.

Only can guess at why it wasn’t a title match. Maybe Romero is busy on the Universal tournament day and no one realized it until it was too late. Maybe the commission threw some wrench. Maybe we’ll see the video someday and they’ll explain it well.

The show did draw well.

CMLL (TUE) 03/26/2024 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Galaxy, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía b Full Metal, Mercurio, Pequeño Polvora 
9:43
2) Eléctrico, Fuego, Robin b Dr. Karonte I, Enfermero Jr., Inquisidor 
Inquisidor replaced Grako
3) Hera, Olympia, Tessa Blanchard b Lluvia, Marcela, Tabata 
16:09
4) Virus b Fugaz [lightning] 
6:44
5) Atlantis & Octagón b Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja 
11:55
6) Rocky Romero, Soberano Jr., Templario b Flip Gordon, Star Jr., Volador Jr. 
12:11. Templario was eliminated, came back in to distract the referee, and Romero pulled Star Jr.’s mask to set up a cradle. Star Jr. and Rocky Romero agreed to a singles match

Attendance was much higher than usual for a Tuesday. This might be a holiday week reaction. The crowd that did show up cheered loudly for Octagon and Atlantis. Nothing notable in match quality; at least nothing notable positively. Matches 2/3 had some not good performances.

After the show, Soberano claimed he and Templario no longer wanted to be Mexicans and asked Rocky Romero to help them become Americans. Rocky said they’d fill out a few forms and get it done. Templario asked if they could move Tlaxcala to the US too and Romero suggested it could become part of Texas. (They did not address Monday’s non-title match.)

CMLL (TUE) 03/26/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, Mas Lucha]
1) Avispón Negro Jr., Lince Del Bajio, Último Ángel b Eclipse Jr., El Jabalí, Ponzoña Jr.
2) Dulce Kitty, Lady Shadow, Miss Guerrera b Hatanna, Magia Azul, Valkiria
Tabata announced, then replaced by Centinela a few hours later. Valkyria ended up in the spot, and Dulce Kitty replaced Alondra
3) Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. DDQ Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
double fouls fouls both ways
4) Andrómeda, Lady Metal, Skadi b Adira, Náutica, Sexy Sol
5) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther b Ráfaga, Sagrado, Zandokan Jr.
Rafaga replaced Misterioso
6) Brillante Jr., Máscara Dorada, Titán b Averno, Euforia, Mephisto

That’s two straight missed shows for Misterioso.

CMLL (SAT) 03/30/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Micro Ditto & Mije
2) Rayo Metálico & Xelhua vs Alom & Dragón de Fuego
3) Dark Panther vs Espanto Jr. [lightning]
4) La Catalina, Lluvia, Marcela vs Dark Silueta, Tessa Blanchard, Willow Nightingale
5) Star Black, Valiente, Volcano vs Gemelo Diablo II, Gran Guerrero, Kráneo
6) Atlantis Jr., Místico, Star Jr. vs Rocky Romero, Soberano Jr., Templario

Willow appears to be staying in CMLL for a moment, while BCC are one show and out.

CMLL announced Wheeler Yuta would be unable to wrestle on Friday and Matt Sydal will replace him. Yuta hasn’t wrestled since January 10, 2024. AEW keeps injury information very quiet and I’m not sure what Yuta’s injury has been. Sydal has wrestled three matches against CMLL wrestlers while in AEW, including singles matches with Magnus and Mistico, so it makes sense for him to be used as a replacement. He’s also a former WWE wrestler, and that’s part of the draw here. Mexican reactions were generally positive about the change.

CMLL Informa today has a cast of thousands

• Tony Salazar (H2L)
• Mistico, Volador Jr., Blue Panther (vs AEW)
• Atlantis Jr., Rocky Romero, Soberano, Templario (tournament final)
• Tessa Blanchard (women’s match)
• Magnus (tag title match)
• Villano III, Akuma, Espanto Jr. (04/06 Arena Coliseo Tag Match)

No AEW people. Media people have been told AEW people won’t be available for interviews after Friday’s show.

MLW announced Felino for their 05/11 show, which is notable only in that social media discourse thought Felino might be jumping to AAA to team with Negro Casas as one his TripleMania mystery partners. I guess he still could, seemed unlikely to begin with. AAA never actually said Wagner & Casas would be teaming with family members, but most people are convinced that’s the deal because of how they presented the match.

Box y Lucha 3596 has Homenaje a Dos Leyendas on the cover. I can probably pre-write this same sentence for 3597 next week.

ESTO has a Tony Salazar bio (or, more accurate, a recap of the videos CMLL has been posting.)

AAA

Neither of these are directly AAA but there’s nothing to put in this section today.

Mas Lucha had a 27 minute interview with Komander from the KAOZ show Sunday, minus them time where the KAOZ promoter wanders into the interview to praise him. (I believe the Komander KAOZ->AEW contract move worked out happily for the KAOZ promoter and so he always makes an effort to praise Komander.) Komander’s asked about him, AAA, and their Crusierweight title. Komander notes he recently defended the belt against Action Jackson in Reynosa. He would like to be on AAA shows defended it, AAA wants it, AEW also wants it, but they’ve just had problems all lining up together for dates. Komander would like to also wrestle CMLL wrestlers, though he understands the difficulties behind that. He doesn’t worry about not being able to used on certain (CMLL) shows, but just is focusing on being ready when AEW needs him. Komander says he’d talked to “Senor Villano” (Villano V, I think) earlier in the day and he praised Komander for his work internationally. Komander feels like he gets a lot of criticism in social media (Mexican social by his phrasing) and it helps to here praise from veterans.

Mas Lucha also talked to Tiffany, who says she left CMLL on very good terms, it was just the end of her cycle there, and she wanted to see what it was like to be an independent wrestler. Tiffany popped up on a 05/12 Gran Apache show with a bunch of AAA wrestlers before she left CMLL; her story is Faby asked her to participate, she definitely wanted to be there and thought she could, but hadn’t actually decided to leave CMLL at that point. (At another point, Tiffany talks about a project she wanted to do that CMLL would not allow her, which could be this show.) Eventually, she decided to og. Tiffany talks about getting a lot of messages from fellow CMLL wrestlers, and it sounds like very few of them knew she was leaving in advance. She thanks Paco Alonso for bringing her in, Salvador Lutteroth, Edgar Noriega, Tony Salazar, and Alexis Salazar by name. Tiffany newest retirement timeline is “a year and half at most.” She notes that everyone assumes that she’s now going to be of AAA’s Origenes tour, but she hadn’t talked to anyone in AAA, yet. That “yet” is the important word; she’s clear that she’d like to be part of that and feels like she should be invited.

IWRG

There’s an AAA/Rosales show on Friday, so no show on Thursday. They do have a gym show on Sunday

IWRG (SUN) 03/31/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Indra & Silver Hawk vs Fobia & Shura King
2) Drakula, Pequeño Drago, Viral vs Atómico, Hijo de Rey Pantera, Mariachi
ULLO vs Radioactivo
3) Allan Star, Bralzephone, Impacto vs Argus, Hijo De Sparta, Sparta
Gym Mexico vs Lucha Libre Boom
4) Adam Del Castillo, Dardo, Rey Azteca vs Anara Haki, Giako, Gigante Karoshi
Gym Infiero vs Gym 23 de Junio
5) Oficial AK47 & Oficial Fierro vs Multifacetico Jr. & Tornado
Fierro 30th anniversary match
6) Águila Oriental, Águila Roja, Ajolotl, Auzter, Fussion, Rey Astaroth, Rey Halcón, Tornado vs Bumbu, Charly Boy, Dragón Suicida, Emperador Slayer, Energía, Hauzer, Jitsu, Zoom Driver [Copa Higher Power]
FILL vs Gym Lucha MX

These used to be all trainee shows, but there are some names in that main event who are definitely not trainees.

IWRG also announced a Lucha Libre show for next Sunday

IWRG , LLB (SUN) 04/07/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Macho I, Macho II, Macho III vs Argus, Demencia, Rocky Bulldog
2) Hijo De Sparta vs Príncipe Centauro, Gravedad Cero, New Level, The Crow, Corazón Guerrero, Sparta, Karma I
3) Águila Oriental, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly vs Cometa, Sol, X-Devil
4) Águila Roja, Fandango, Hellboy, Puma de Oro vs Carta Brava, Lunatik Xtreme, Súper Boy, Toto
5) Reina Isis & Shamila vs La Catalina & Mary Caporal
6) Máscara Dorada & Místico vs Soberano Jr. & Templario

That’s a better main event than usual, though these don’t tend to be the hardest working matches.

Other News

ESTO also has an interview with Komander.

Black Taurus says he’d like to go to Japan one day and also face CMLL wrestlers in Mexico.

Here Is Oregon has a profile of Portland Lucha Libre.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 03/22/2024 Arena México [CMLL, FDDE, Kaiser Sports, La Tijera, thecubsfan]
1) Fuego & Hombre Bala Jr. b El Coyote & Pólvora  
11:07
2) Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr. b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black   
11:25. Zandokan said he’d beat Esfinge next week too, that time for the title.
3) Lluvia, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis b La Catalina, Reyna Isis, Tessa Blanchard [Relevos Increíbles]   
9:25
4) Flip Gordon, Místico, Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Rocky Romero   
13:25
5) Stuka Jr. & Templario b Atlantis Jr. & Disturbio [Torneo Incredible de Parejas, battle royal]
6) Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. b Disturbio & Virus [Torneo Incredible de Parejas, quarterfinal] 
8:18
7) Hechicero & Stuka Jr. b Dragón Rojo Jr. & Templario [Torneo Incredible de Parejas, quarterfinal] 
6:31
8) Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. b Hechicero & Stuka Jr. [Torneo Incredible de Parejas, semifinal]   
9:19. Atlantis Jr. and Soberano Jr. advance to the final on 03/29

Disturbio & Virus went all out in their brief semifinal, and that made that the most fun match of the night. I thought everything else was profession if not extraordinary, and I didn’t remember a lot about it by Sunday night. The Mistico match was a good Mistico match, the Zandokan & Villano team remains fun if out of control. Next week’s the big one.

Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. fought after the match, though CMLL cameras missed it. They felt like the correct team to advance, as much as Stuka and Hechicero were the better functioning unit. Soberano just has to be on the big show, it would be strange to not have him.

The women’s match had Vaquer & Blanchard trading victories in the first two falls, then not at all factoring into the third fall finish.

Mistico wore a Perros del Mal tribute mask to the ring, as he typically does around the anniversary of Perro Aguayo Jr.’s passing.

The top of CMLL’s barricades had ads for Netbet, the first time they’ve had a gambling sponsor. It looks like a generic gambling site with a sports book; you can not currently bet on CMLL.

CMLL (SAT) 03/23/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Dragón de Fuego b Astro Boy Jr.
2) Astral, Robin, Valiente Jr. b Enfermero Jr., Grako, Inquisidor
3) Raider & Vegas b Capitán Suicida & Diamond
4) Amapola, Dark Silueta, Tessa Blanchard b Andrómeda, Marcela, Skadi
5) Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. b Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, El Hijo De Blue Panther
Espanto Jr. cheated to beat Dark Panther, setting up a singles match next week
6) Flip Gordon, Místico, Star Jr. b Averno, Euforia, Mephisto

CMLL’s restarting using their building specific Twitter accounts of late; there’s video clips on the long dormant Arena Coliseo and Arena Mexico accounts. It stuck out to me that Arena Coliseo clips were from a video feed of the show – CMLL’s streaming that show somewhere. It’s possible it’s just some internal video feed because and Arena Coliseo doesn’t have a stable enough internet connection to put it on YouTube, but that would be the only thing holding it back. Even with just an internal video feed, it’s typically not hard to chop that video up and put up two (or more) matches on to a YouTube channel in a matter of minutes. There’s no obvious tech issue preventing CMLL from posting those shows, it’s just not a priority.

(Worth pointing out here that CMLL did not put up the Arena Coliseo matches last week, so anyone who was on the 35 USD level wasted their money more than usual this week. They were late in posting the Friday night show, as happens fairly often.

CMLL (SUN) 03/24/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Novato & Rayo Metálico b Hunter & Infarto
2) El Audaz, Eléctrico, Volcano b Inquisidor, Kráneo, Vegas
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa DQ Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
straight falls, Virus getting DQed for excessive violence on Dulce Gardenia in the 2nd fall
4) Persephone & Tessa Blanchard b Hera & Olympia
5) Flip Gordon b Niebla Roja
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr.

Maybe CMLL will give a better idea of where that fourway midcard feud is headed after H2L. My best guess still is the Arena Mexico Anniversary show on 04/2.

Tonight is the Mascara Dorada/Rocky Romero title match in Puebla. Porra Fresa often streams matches (from his phone) on Facebook.

CMLL (TUE) 03/26/2024 Arena México
1) Galaxy, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía vs Full Metal, Mercurio, Pequeño Polvora
2) Eléctrico, Fuego, Robin vs Dr. Karonte I, Enfermero Jr., Grako
3) Lluvia, Marcela, Tabata vs Hera, Olympia, Tessa Blanchard
4) Fugaz vs Virus [lightning]
5) Atlantis & Octagón vs Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja
6) Flip Gordon, Star Jr., Volador Jr. vs Rocky Romero, Soberano Jr., Templario

Tabata was listed on the Tuesday Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, then pulled off that show hours later. Guess she was booked here. Los Principes team up in the main event, the Chavez have to handle the team of Atlantis & Octagon again. Virus has made Fugaz look silly in the past.

That singles loss to Persephone last Sunday was apparently Tiffany’s farewell to the promotion. She made a surprise appearance on the Crash show on Friday night, then announced she left CMLL after 14 years and would be an independent wrestler. This has been in the works for a while; she’ll the mystery woman on a lot of upcoming Robles shows. Tiffany had talked about wanting to wind down her career in a year or so. Wrestlers rarely actually retire when they say they’re going to retire, but, if she believes she’s finishing up, Tiffany leaving CMLL makes a lot of sense. She’s likely to get more bookings and be in better spots in the short term, working with people and in places she hasn’t worked for a while. That effect wears out after time, but that’s not an issue if she’s truly planning on wrestling just a short while longer.

Tiffany at her peak in AAA was a great personality and a good worker. Age was catching up to her on both points by the time she jumped to CMLL. She’s been a poor wrestler for a number of years, and there was little chance CMLL was ever going to push her at this point in her career. Her matches being reallocated to a newer woman is a positive for CMLL. I had heard she had a leadership role within the CMLL women’s division, which always surprised me given she came from outside the system.

Tiffany is married to Kraneo. There’s no word about his status; he doesn’t seem to post on social media much (at least under his wrestling accounts.) He did wrestle Sunday in Arena Mexico, taking the pin.

Halcon Suriano Jr. posted a video statement about his CMLL departure. The overall themes aren’t a surprise: Suriano thought he should be pushed, CMLL’s programming department wasn’t interested in him, he got frustrated. It’s unsaid if he was fired or simply suspended for his previous comments and decided to quit, but it’s clear he had a meeting with someone from that programing department and then was gone from the promotion. Suriano specifically said he was told not to do certain moves or wear outfits because others were doing so, and the programming department just didn’t like him. (He still likes Sr. Lutteroth and believes they’ll work together again.) Suriano seems to cite Astral & Electrico as others in similar situations, their abilities not properly recognized by the promotion. Suriano mentions he was suspended last year for working a Costa Rica promotion (Riot Wrestling Alliance, which is not the Costa Rica Embassy that’s partnered with CMLL.) He plans on working on the independents and proving his value there. It’s almost as hard to change your slotting on independents as in CMLL – everyone seems slotted at the same level and there’s not much movement – but he at least gets a chance to be slotted higher to start.

AEW’s Jose the Assistant posted photos/video of being at Arena Mexico Friday night, and thanked them for the VIP treatment. Dralistico talks in every interview lately about how much he loved his time in CMLL and would enjoy going back. He’s never bad mouthed CMLL, but the idea he’d ever go back was not an idea brought up as recently as the start of the year. The game here is to convince people that LIJ and CMLL are all good. I don’t think CMLL cares about former Elite wrestler Principe Orion/Jose the Assistant one way or the other. Rush is the problem, or CMLL’s dislike of Rush is the problem. Jose tweeting photos doesn’t indicate any of that has changed, just that they’d like it to change and quickly. You’re welcome to guess if this is related to Rush & Dralistico not appearing in AEW lately.

AS Chile has a profile of La Catalina. New detail in here is that AAA approached her about coming in while she was in Mexico (probably around the time of her wrestling in Big Lucha), but she rejected them. She later went to the CMLL offices about coming in and was accepted right away.

Stephanie Vaquer looks to be defending the NJPW Strong title against STARDOM’s AZM next, probably at NJPW’s Windy City Riot.

The Crash 

I try to choose what promotions to cover more closely here based on a few factors

• The influence they have on the rest of Mexican wrestling.
• The ease of footage of the promotion that’s both in good quality and timely, so the people I’m sharing this info with (you) can actually check out the thing I’m talking about
• The presence of something novel or intriguing; maybe it’s just good matches, maybe it’s a different approach

This criteria means I’ll never stop covering AAA. AAA has an immense gravity that affects the rest of Mexican wrestling (and frequently beyond), no matter how interesting or good it is. IWRG goes in waves of quality, but it has some influence and is really easy to find. Big Lucha has some affect on the wider landscape – mostly through it’s own drama – but they’re usually easy to find and are doing things in a different way. Attendance hasn’t been a reason to cover a show or promotion closely for me. There’s Arena Neza or Arena Lopez Mateos shows that draw reasonable well, numbers that would stand out positively if transferred to US or Japanese scenes, but they have no relevance to the rest of the world. The last typically has no relevance to the next; they are events that happened and then are largely immediately forgot.

The Crash has fit into that category the last few years. There was a point where they were doing something novel with the mix of Mexican and foreign talent, and there was enough drama in and out of the ring to make them a source of relevant news. The footage has almost always an issue, but there was a point where it was worth jumping through whatever hoops it took to find out what was happening. The Crash still has been drawing well the last few years – as has it’s forever Tijuana rival EMW – but it’s slipped as relevant without having the same quality of names, and it not doing as much interesting. I’ve putting the results in the luchadb when they come in, but not done much more.

The Crash seems to be changing in ways that handles some of those issues. They streamed a single cam version of Friday’s show on Facbeook, and they’re now uploading full video of those matches on a reactivated YouTube show. The YouTube uploads have gone up for the last couple of shows. The primary way to watch the events prior was through fancams; The Crash says they’re no longer allowing them. The Crash believes they’re about to make money off the videos, or they’ve made some sort of deal already and that’s why all this is happening. There was also a bit on the show that suggested they’ll be a bit more relevant:

The Crash (FRI) 03/22/2024 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California [The Crash (stream), thecubsfan, Zona Ruda]
1) Keyra b Julissa ©, Jessica Rodan, Ayako Hamada, Tiffany [THE CRASH WOMEN] 
Tiffany was the surprise wrestler; this was her departure from CMLL. Keyra won thet itle.
2) Ángel Metálico, Mirage, Mr. Maldito b Anubis, Gallo Extreme, Rey Furia 
3) Destiny © b Tonalli, Aramis, Nick Wayne, Blake Christian [The Crash CRUISER] 
Destiny retained, the D-Luxe challenged him for a title match. La Rebelion came out and invited D-Luxe to join their group, which he accepted.
4) Alpha Wolf & Dragón Bane © b Noisy Boy & Spider Fly and Bamboo & El Rey [THE CRASH TAG]
5) Bestia 666, Black Taurus, Rey Escorpión (Indie) b Dralistico, Rey Horus, Rush
Moved down a match. Rush threw a drink at Rey Horus for losing, then he and Dralistico walked out before as the post match angle started. The “eye” emoji video from AAA aired after the match (and earlier in the night), and Pagano and Mecha Wolf hit the ring. La Rebelion left the ring. Dorian Roldan appeared on the stage, and called Pagano (and Mecha) to the back. They walked past La Rebelion, who taunted them but otherwise didn’t ineract. La Rebelion came back to the ring to interact.
6) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno del Mal b Bishop Kaun & Toa Linoa
Moved up a spot; though it appeared a significant amount of the crowd left after the main event.

The AAA angle caused a lot of surprise, but also confusion. La Rebelion acted like they didn’t know what was supposed to be happening and didn’t want any part out of it. Black Taurus being out there for it especially stood out; his recent AAA departure left hard feelings on both sides. There were hints earlier in the day, so I some people had to know. Maybe Rush & Dralistico did – maybe that’s why they got out of there quick rather than be part of an AAA angle at time when they’re trying to be friends with CMLL. It didn’t seem like nearly as many people realized it was Dorian Roldan. (It was unclear who it was on the stream, but that was mostly an issue with the quality of the stream.)

The best guess is this is a setup to some EMW/The Crash matches, probably including the TripleMania Tijuana show. Konnan tried to get the two groups to work together back in 2022, and it immediately fell apart (over a El Hijo del Santo booking.) AAA treated The Crash as the enemy as recently as June, when they stopped booking Bandido, Flamita and Emperador Azteca for working The Crash. It is hard to believe they’ll last long working together, but the hope probably is to keep it together at least long enough for that big show. This angle did get some buzz from both promotions, though maybe not as much as hoped – running an angle on a late night on Friday with little notice is difficult.

The “eye” bit doesn’t seem to fit together. It was treated like mystery people invading AAA on the Mexico City taping. It was some signal of AAA people invading another promotion at The Crash. AAA guys showing up on The Crash show is a big deal, but nothing actually happened – no one said anything, no one really did anything. It was enough to get footage on social media, which seemed was the goal, but there was no clear match direction coming out of it.

I caught the last half of this show after CMLL. (Watching a late night Friday show after CMLL is also difficult for me.) The three way tag was overly familiar and not interesting to me, but seemed to get a good reaction. The semimain was a little more creative, though totally overshadowed by the angle. The main event was nothing and couldn’t follow what had happened earlier anyway. Wagner doing his usual promo – and getting distracted by taunts – as the building was clearing out was pretty flat.

Julissa lost her the women’s title here. Two days later, she lost the KAOZ women’s title also to Keyra. That one was one a direct pin, which seems like it was the first direct pin she’s taken since returning to Mexico. Announcers pushed it as a story of Keyra collecting belts. Julissa losing a lot of title belts and taking pinfalls suggests some change in her career. (Julissa and Tiffany later had a long pull apart backstage.)

That KAOZ show seem to fill Gimnasio Nuevo Leon Unido, just like the Konnan Big show did a couple of weeks ago. I thought there’d be more of the AAA/eye angle there, but nope. They were pushing a feud with Robles Promociones instead.

Mas Lucha streamed the show, and avoided all mention of Marty Scurrl. Disgraced baseball pitcher Trevor Bauer also happened to turn up in Mexico this weekend, signing with Mexico City’s Diablo Rojos because they were playing the New York Yankees in an exhibition game and it was his latest stunt to try to get back into MLB because he loves the history of Los Diablos Rojos so much. Coverage of Bauer’s signing stuck to what he could add to the team (for the five games he signed for) and avoided all mention of the scandals that led Bauer to the point. It is a useful reminder the way Mexican wrestling handles people like Marty Scurrl or Travis Banks is not specifically a Mexican wrestling cultural choice, but a larger Mexico cultural deal.

AAA

AAA TV was not much. Laredo/Antifaz was a ten minute version of the generic AAA singles match – a rudo second interfering frequently, a wood panel destroyed in the finish, the tecnico winning but the rudo immediately beating him up to make sure everyone knows Nothing Is Settled (as nothing is ever settled in AAA.) Laredo Kid did good Laredo Kid things but the match didn’t didn’t much for me. Neither did other two. The women/exotico match was only interesting in that Dulce Kanela was working it as if they were supposed to end up in a team with Pimpinela, and Pimpinela was ignoring that storyline.

Laredo and Antifaz once again talked up a mask match. They’re not booked against each other TripleMania Monterrey either.

AAA shows are put to bed well before they air; there was no mention of the Eye storyline because it probably wasn’t a set idea at that point. The next Showcenter event (June 30th) was a set idea but wasn’t mentioned in the Upcoming Events; neither was the Mexico City event. The Upcoming Events is notable because some AAA wrestlers believe the 04/13 AAA EMW Tijuana show is a TV taping, AAA hasn’t mentioned it as such, but it may just be AAA not getting around to mentioning it. It’s possible they’re taping something for this Eye/The Crash angle and lines got crossed.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 03/24/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Dracula Ng & Xolotl b Arcues & Nival Banks 
2) Príncipe Centauro & Rey Espartano b Golden Power & Sacro 
3) Diosa Quetzal, India Mazahua, Kali b Bengalee, Shamila, Zuzu Divine 
Quetzal and Shamila are feuding.
4) Multifacetico Jr. & Tornado DQ Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. 
excessive violence
5) Gannicus, Ivan Rokov, Vangellys b Jessy Ventura, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly 
Gannicus replaced Puma de Oro
6) Hell Boy b Hijo de Canis Lupus [bull terrier] 
Hell Boy and Canis Lupus challenged for a mask match.

Canis Lupus/Hell Boy went a long time and used a lot of weapon. IWRG appears to be building to DMT Azul, Vangellys, Hijo de Canis Lupus, and Hell Boy four way apuesta match but it’s not clear when it’s happening.

It looks like Mas Lucha and IWRG are done for now. Mas Lucha hasn’t been posting new IWRG content since IWRG announced of their shows were exclusive. Not sure what happens next time IWRG runs a big show, since those were going behind the Mas Lucha paywall before. It’s probably a good deal for everyone, since it seems like it’s pushing Mas Lucha to post more content and the IWRG shows are still available on their YouTube channel.

IWRG announced an alliance with Costa Rica’s Riot Wrestling Alliance. The RWA folks are in Mexico doing a tour of shows this weekend. IWRG like to announce these deals and they usually are forgotten in a few months. I am just curious about how many promotions there are in Costa Rica. It’s at least three: there’s the one that works with CMLL (CWE), the one that showed up in Big Lucha (Luchamania) and this group.

Other

Quintana Roo luchador Cachorro Jr. (Marrio Alberto Suaste Mena, 45) passed away Friday.

Mas Lucha is running a benefit show for Nicho & Damian on 03/31. Daisuke Sasaki from DDT is back in Mexico in time for that show.

Azteca has a 18 minute lucha libre video documentray. I didn’t watch the whole thing, it didn’t seem to break any ground over the other 30 lucha libre documentaries.

El Sol de Tulancingo has a history of wrestling in Tulancingo. I liked the story behind El Impostor.

No Big Lucha show this past week, no acknowledgement of it not happening.

Segunda Caida reviews the White Wolf versus Panterita del Ring mask match.

CMLL

Tonight’s show.

CMLL (FRI) 03/22/2024 Arena México
1) Fuego & Hombre Bala Jr. vs El Coyote & Pólvora
2) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr.
3) Lluvia, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis vs La Catalina, Reyna Isis, Tessa Blanchard [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Flip Gordon, Místico, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Rocky Romero
5) Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr. & Templario and Hechicero & Stuka Jr. and Disturbio & Virus [Torneo Incredible de Parejas, battle royal]

Templario would be a good opponent for Mascara Dorada & Rocky Romero, but so would Soberano. It is inconceivable CMLL is picking Dragon Rojo Jr. over Atlantis Jr. Match 2 and 4 look good, match 3 should be a dry run for next week. Seeing those teams makes me curious when CMLL found our Jarochita was “going on indefinite hitaius”, because it sure feels like Catalina was put in her spot.

CMLL (SAT) 03/23/2024 Arena México
1) Astro Boy Jr. vs Dragón de Fuego
2) Astral, Robin, Valiente Jr. vs Enfermero Jr., Grako, Inquisidor
3) Capitán Suicida & Diamond vs Raider & Vegas
4) Andrómeda, Marcela, Skadi vs Amapola, Dark Silueta, Tessa Blanchard
5) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, El Hijo De Blue Panther vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
6) Flip Gordon, Místico, Star Jr. vs Averno, Euforia, Mephisto

I think I would want to see match 3 and match 5 if CMLL uploaded the videos.

CMLL (SUN) 03/24/2024 Arena México
1) Novato & Rayo Metálico vs Hunter & Infarto
2) El Audaz, Eléctrico, Volcano vs Inquisidor, Kráneo, Misterioso Jr.
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
4) Persephone & Tessa Blanchard vs Hera & Olympia
5) Flip Gordon vs Niebla Roja
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr.

Flip tries for revenge on Niebla Roja.

CMLL (MON) 03/25/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Enigmática & Lady Metal vs Diablita Roja & Mayahuel
2) El Malayo, El Perverso, Siky Ozama vs Crixus, Difunto, Raider
3) Lluvia vs Tessa Blanchard [lightning]
4) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs Futuro, Max Star, Neón
5) Atlantis Jr., Averno, Volador Jr. vs Soberano Jr., Templario, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Máscara Dorada © vs Rocky Romero [NWA WELTER]

The visa situation for some CMLL wrestlers got a lot of attention in how it affected AEW. It’s really more of an issue for NJPW’s US work. The Rocky/Dorada feud carried over to those shows. Volador, Soberano and Hechicero were all used on those shows recently. Templario figured to be involved sooner or later due to his new team with Romero. All of those guys are off limits in the US for the moment.

Which kind of makes me wonder about this title match – could it have been something scheduled for Windy City Riot at one point? Romero winning the title again on a NJPW show would’ve been a big deal, and it would’ve happened just before the Historic block of the Universal tournament. I think a Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Atlantis Jr. would be a big match and a good match. It also might be the rare CMLL match where they care who wins and don’t won’t to beat anyone. Romero replacing Dorada gives them someone easier to beat, or someone who can cheat in a way where it’s not a real loss. CMLL historically had some sudden title changes prior to the Universal tournament to get the correct people involved, and there hasn’t been any yet tis year. It’s likely I’m overthinking all of this, but this title match seems more noteworthy than the usual Puebla title defense.

CMLL (TUE) 03/26/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Avispón Negro Jr., Lince Del Bajio, Último Ángel vs Eclipse Jr., El Jabalí, Ponzoña Jr.
2) Hatanna, Magia Azul, Tabata vs Alondra, Lady Shadow, Miss Guerrera
3) Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. vs Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
4) Andrómeda, Lady Metal, Skadi vs Adira, Náutica, Sexy Sol
5) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Zandokan Jr.
6) Brillante Jr., Máscara Dorada, Titán vs Averno, Euforia, Mephisto

Tabata has her first match in a CMLL ring since her Japan tour (though she’s wrestled outside of CMLL.) No follow up from last week’s mask challenges in the undercard.

Edit: CMLL updated the poster to repalce Tabata with Centinela minutes after I posted this.

Halcon Suriano Jr. announced he and CMLL had split ways last Thursday via Instagram Story. He used the same platform out a statement on Friday that didn’t add much detail. I’m not sure if CMLL pushed Suriano out or if Suriano jumped himself, but he seemed to know it was the end prior; he had posted a nostalgic photo of an empty Arena Mexico earlie in the day.

Suriano was one of the wrestlers chosen for the CMLL media day last Thursday (03/14), and he talked a fair bit about his frustration with his current situation. Halcon posted video of that talk on Instagram Stories after his departure. He’s been working in CMLL, first as Stukita and now as Halcon Suriano, for 12 years and was seeing new wrestlers who hadn’t put in the same work move up the card past him. Surano tried to make it clear he had nothing against the new wrestlers, just that he thought he was putting in good work and wasn’t getting the same consideration. CMLL’s programming department has responded harshly to public criticism in the past – infamously Fuego similarly complained about lack of opportunities and was punished in booking for years – though it’s also possible Suriano got frustrated enough to quit on his own.

Halcon Suriano came in to CMLL as Stukita (the mini version of Stuka Jr.) on Christmas 2012, a time where CMLL wasn’t doing a lot with the minis. He moved to the main division in 2018 and took on the Halcon Suriano Jr. name. Suriano seems to still be living in Torreon and has disappeared from CMLL from time to time. (He also missed the empty arena period.) Halcon Suriano, Astral, Electrico and Diamond all started out in the minis division, ‘graduated’ to the main division, and then haven’t done all that much – the moves have been lateral or even downward for their shape of their careers. The dream for minis wrestlers is to leave the division and become a top star. The minis group seems capped at the match 3 level, but those who leave rarely do much better – and more often, they fall back. Demus had the same issues when he also moved up, which led to him losing his way back into the minis division and out of CMLL. Only Virus has been able to overcome that mini stigma due to his superb technical ability, but he still was a 2/3 match guy for most his career and only recently been a 3/4 guy – he’s someone more reversed among diehard fans than booked strong. The others have been treated like unwanted interlopers in the main division. The dream to move to the main division seems like a foolish one; the people who’ve had more happiness are those who’ve just left CMLL entireity.

I didn’t find Halcon Suriano Jr.’s work enjoyable the last few years. He had a fun quality as Stukita that diminished over time. Suriano became the type of wrestler excited to do his own offense and was completely disinserted in anything else, be it what his teammates were doing or what his opponents were trying to do. He didn’t seem to be trying to make the matches better, just show off what he had learned to do. It didn’t appear Halcon’s fellow wrestlers were all that happy with him in his recent matches and he didn’t appear happy either. He’ll probably be happier on the outside.

No sign of this week’s Fan Leyenda exclusive Arena Coliseo matches yet. They’ve gone up on Thursday since the bit started. There was no free match this week. I feel fairly confident next week’s Friday show will be a minor disaster, in terms of getting people to understand it’s only available live on the Fan Leyenda/35 USD level.

CMLL Informa’s only notable announcement was the block scheduling for Universal tournament. Each week is a different elimination match

• 04/05: all National champions
• 04/12: all CMLL champions
• 04/19: all Historical (NWA) champions
• a three way match with the winners on 04/26

04/05 is WrestleMania weekend Friday, but none of the national champions figure to be on those shows. (They really missed on El Cholo.) Julio Cesar Rivera noted that the participants are as of time of the match; they’ll be replaced if a title changes hands prior. That seemed to come up in relation to the Romero/Dorada title match.

CMLL also announced Copa Bobby Bonales will also be given on out on 04/26. It’s called a Copa but it’s actually a lifetime achievement award chosen by Bonales’ son (and important person in Mexico’s governmental sports structure) Daniel Aceves. There is no strong criteria, just the idea it’ll go to a veteran.

ESTO interviews Tony Salazar about Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.

CMLL not in CMLL

CMLL officially they’re working with MLW on their Azteca Lucha show May 11th. Mistico indicated he’d be there. It was going include CMLL show as soon as they announced it for Cicero and called “Azteca Lucha”, CMLL’s the lucha libre partner right now, but this makes it official. Tickets run from $10-95; I haven’t see $10 tickets for wrestling shows in this area in a long time, it’s cheaper than most lucha shows in that building. MLW’s starting to roll out talent announcements in similar fashion as the RevPro FanasticaMania UK shows; Star Jr. was Friday’s announcement. I’m probably not going to pay too much attention until matches are announced, unless someone unexpected is included.

Yota Tsuji and Tetsuya Naito will meet for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 6. CMLL usually doesn’t make much notice of NJPW happenings outside of CMLL direct involvement, but have been pointing this match out on both social media and CMLL Informa. (Titan said he was excited for the match.) Maybe CMLL still just considers Tsuji one of their guys, but it comes off as if they’re setting up something.

AAA

TrillerTV put up the purchase pages for TripleMania Monterrey  ($25) and the three show bundle ($55 USD). The single show price is up from 23 the last two years to 25. The package deal is down 5 USD. The package saving is up from 9 to 20. If you are going to buy TripleMania Monterrey, you should just buy all three. Unless you’re a Dolph Ziggler completist, paying for this TripleMania lineup means you’re going to pay for any TripleMania show, so you might as well buy them all at a discount. Most people watching these shows are going to watch it for free – either on Space, or on YouTube later, or just pirating the thing.

Note that the TrillerTV start time is wrong, as always. It’s a 7 pm Mexico start time, but a 8 pm CDT one. They never get this right on the first try because of daylight savings time and it takes until a few days prior to the show for them to notice it was wrong (but not to create some process to get it right the next time.)

AAA on Space will air the second half of the 02/18 Showcenter taping on Saturday:

• Belcegor & Toscano vs the Mummy & Ultra
• Lady Shani, Pimpinela Escarlata, Sexy Star vs Dulce Kanela, Flammer, La Hiedra
• Laredo Kid vs Antifaz del Norte

On his podcast, Konnan confirmed Hijo del Vikingo is under contract to AAA not not AAA. Konnan also said they were supposed to get a US TV deal “like two years ago”  (2022) but the pandemic (2020) messed it up and they’re back “on the road” to a deal. Konnan says AAA will keep losing people to AEW until they can pay them equally, but that TV deal will be change that and a lot of people that will “come back home because they know they will be used right.”

That is the the long held Konnan dream: AAA will get a big influx of money from a TV deal, AAA will be able to pay close enough wages that every one who’s left to go elsewhere will happily come back, and Konnan will prove to everyone that he’s the guy who knows best on how to book those guys. Everything that is or isn’t happening now in AAA is (to some extent) killing time until that blessed day happens when AAA signs that big TV deal, where we’ll see Konan really show flex his muscle. Every criticism of how someone’s used in AEW is Konnan thinking about how he will use those guys when that big TV deal comes in.

In 2014, El Rey Network, MGM and others gave AAA a big (or at least decent sized) influx of TV money. Konnan believed he would be the creative person in charge; it appears he was promised as much by AAA. Konnan ended up not being the person in charge, in what seems like one of the greatest professional disappointments of his life. A decade out, Konnan (and AAA) are still trying to get undue that decision. The world’s moved on. El Rey is no longer a TV network, just reruns on a ROKU FAST channel. The power of conventional TV networks is diminishing by the day; a glut of content means there’s no need for those channels or streaming providers to pay much for unproven content like a foreign wrestling promotion. The WON’s reported previously (like years ago previously) that AAA’s been offered US TV deals, but not for much money, and AAA’s passed on them. CMLL’s a factor in here; they sold their TV cheaply to stations in the 2010s, and those stations weren’t going to pay dramatically more for AAA.

It’s unlikely AAA is going to see a big money US content deal – one large enough to be competitive for talent – without building up their name greatly in the US or selling a stake in the promotion itself to an interested content provider. And, if AAA did sell, that means another layer of management who may have their own opinions about how AAA creative should work and who should be involved. That is also essentially what happened with Lucha Underground back in 2014. This time, all Konnan is asking is for a strong US content provider to give AAA enough money to compete for talent they want, while also respecting Konnan enough as an auteur to leave him alone. It’s a dream.

All of this ought to be kept in mind when considering Konnan’s comments about Mexicans being used in other wrestling promoters. Konnan voices his opinions because he’s worked in and observed wresting for decades, because he’s looking out for his friends, and because he’s a guy who just likes to chat about anything. He’s also saying these things with a thought in the back of his mind about how he’d use these guys when he gets the chance to do so, as long as he can convince them to leave. I don’t know if it rises to “tampering”, he’s allowed to express his feelings, but AEW may not have been thrilled about a partner doing that.

The other part of this is Konnan is correct; he would use Penta, Fenix, Taya and whomever else if they came better than AEW does, because they’d be his guys and they’d would be the people the AAA audience already knows. AEW’s defense is they also have Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay and Mercedes Mone and Okada and whoever else you’d like to add on to this list. I’m not going to make you read all the names, they just have a lot of names and not everyone’s going to be featured. The people Konnan wants back would indeed be bigger fish in the smaller pond and inherently be booked as a bigger deal. It’s also just a dream of happeninggg.

LuchaManiaks had a show announced for 05/18 in Laredo, Texas with many AAA wrestlers. La Secta were headling and LuchaManiaks decided to use the Origenes tour logo on their poster. It’s not uncommon for indie promotions to “borrow” the themes of the bigger promotions to no consequences. There were consequences this time; LuchaManiaks said AAA forced them to cancel the show. Maniaks says it was over using the Origenes logo and implying it was an AAA show; it sounds like AAA pulled their wrestlers. LuchaManiaks said they also may be limited to two AAA wrestlers per show going forward. AAA is taking their own trademarks more seriously going forward, though it’s more effective to make these sort of threats in the US (where promoters believe the threats may be followed through) than Mexico (where promoters figure they’re just talk.)

AAA posted the Sting versus Mesias match in celebration of Mesias returning to AAA. They’re a few weeks late to get some Sting attention.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha does not appear to have a show? They announced they moved to Saturday, ran one show against an AAA TV taping and then just said nothing.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 03/21/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, La Tijera]
1) Príncipe Centauro & Rey Espartano b Sacro & Sky Man 
2) Kali & Sagitarius b Diosa Quetzal & Shamila  
Quetzal and Shamila had problems leading to their defeat; the other women were critical of Shamila for getting into IWRG through the Tryout and not earning her spot.
3) Brazo De Oro Jr. b Hellboy 
Gimmick is the both wrestlers are randomly picked right before the match. Brazo de Oro asked for a title match after the win
4) Látigo & Toxin DQ Noisy Boy & Spider Fly 
Mala Fame faked a foul
5) Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool b Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. 
Pigs want a trios title shot.

I understand the idea of a “random match” but IWRG announces these cards about 36 hours ahead of time – most people have no idea what matches are actually booked, they’re all surprise matches to them.

IWRG (SUN) 03/24/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Arcues & Nival Banks vs Dracula Ng & Xolotl
2) Golden Power, Sacro, Sky Man vs Gannicus, Príncipe Centauro, Rey Espartano
3) Bengalee, Shamila, Zuzu Divine vs Diosa Quetzal, Kali, Lilith Dark
4) Multifacetico Jr. & Tornado vs Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr.
5) Jessy Ventura, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly vs Ivan Rokov, Puma de Oro, Vangellys
6) Hell Boy vs Hijo de Canis Lupus [bull terrier]

The main event is looks like it should be good on paper but there will probably be some weird finish. Ivan Rokov is back to being listed as Special Invitee. The real winners of the IWRG Tryout are the rest of the IWRG “women’s division”; Zuzu Divine and Lilith Dark are likely picking up bookings here just to give Shamila ladies to work with.

El Universal has an interview with Shamila, who mentions she was originally a Valiente trainee. I’d forgotten about it, but Shamila’s first known matches were on those one two three Valiente Team showcases in 2021. Half the Valiente people who’ve made some noise are Valiente family members, but he also turned out Neon, Pequeno Magia and recent Torneo de Escuelas wrestler Alom.

ELITE

Tickets should go on sale today. As of noon, tickets were not available on Ticketmaster and the show is not listed on Fronton Mexico’s website.

El Grafico quoted LA Park and Rush as saying, as much as they hate each other, they’re bonded as great friends with Lucha Libre Elite president Ernesto Santillan. LA Park said he sees Santillan as more of a buddy than a boss. Someone feed that line to the Young Bucks. Park says he’s going to do his best so Lucha Libre Elite can continue to run more dates. Rush calls Ernesto a great teammate and says he’s blessed to work for a company like AEW which allows him to take these sorts of dates.

Speaking of Rush, he has an AEW t-shirt and told fans to buy it to let AEW know you want to see him back on TV. An unusual thing to say if everything’s OK there.

Other News

Gracia Guajardo, the daughter of Rene Guajardo and wife of Villano V, passed away on Wednesday.

Gatopardo has a feature on Zona 23. There’s been quite a few of these at this point, but this seems a good one. They get into the name (police code for someone under the influence) and the location (promoter’s family owns the junkyard.) The promoter, Abel Guerrero, says no one’s ever needed the ambulance or gone to the hospital after the show, just a few stitches. I do not believe that is accurate. It’s a contradiction; the writer talks to fans and wrestlers who enjoy Zona 23 because it feels more real and violent than other Mexican wrestlers, while the promoter is trying to sell it as completely safe.

Republic of Lucha is the store and wrestling promotion owned by Fenix & Penta. They were were located in South Pasadena, California, then left that physical location as their lease came up. The idea was to find another place around the area, but they haven’t had any luck – the rent is too high – and so they’re going online only for now. They’re still looking for a physical location. Republic of Lucha used to run shows once every three or fourth months in the parking lot of that South Pasadena location, and so they also don’t have a place for those now. Their solution, at least for the June 1st show, is to run the the warehouse that was used as the Lucha Underground Temple for the first three seasons of that show. (Tickets go on sale today.)

This warehouse is a situation like the ex-ECW (and current 2300) Arena, where it’s going to be same physical space but will not look the same. The 2300 Arena’s been remodeled. Most of what people saw as the Lucha Underground Temple was a set built for a TV show, and is either now sitting in a (different!) warehouse somewhere or has been otherwise dispersed. Republic of Lucha is surely going to dress it up, but it’s not going to look like Season 5 of Lucha Underground – this is going to look like a wrestling shows in an aging warehouse that wasn’t built to hold a wrestling show. Still, there’s great meaning in going back to the spot that changed the arc of the Lucha Brothers careers, and where a lot of people who will attend the Republic of Lucha shows first discovered them. It’s another chasing off a dream. Republic of Lucha has released/sold their recent shows themselves, though with a very restrictive “you are not allowed to talk about anything that happens on these shows” disclaimer.

A match graphic was floating around Facebook announcing an Alan Stone versus Intocable in a hair match on 05/25 in Orizaba. The full poster came out Thursday and it’s actually Alan Stone & Intocable teaming against Scorpio Jr. & Negro Casas, where the losing team will face off in a hair match. Scorpio Jr. doesn’t have much hair and seems most likely to lose, but it’s not like Alan Stone or Intocable are in demand either. The part that actually stuck out to me is that, as often on wrestling posters, they’ve used photos of Alan Stone and Intocable that are at least a decade out of date. Those guys were body guys and they don’t quite have those bodies nowadays.