Titan, La Mascara, Rush win the national trios titles, Azteca de Oro unmasked, Santo hurt, REINA

photo by CMLL

CMLL (SUN) 06/30/2013 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Molotov & Sensei b Camorra & Zayco
tecnicos took 1/3 in a boring match.
2) Bushiroad, Diamante, Leono b Arkángel de la Muerte, Nitro, Skándalo
Leono replaced Starman. Tecnicos took 1/3 in a boring match.
3) Princesa Blanca b Dark Angel [lightning]
Blanca beat Angel with an cradle and a hand on ropes in 8:43. Good match, best of the show so far. Blanca threw around hair match challenges post match.
4) Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., Sagrado b Felino, Namajague, Shigeo Okumura
Tecnicos took 2/3, including Delta and Guerrero Maya beating Namajague & Okumura. No hint of a title match challenge post match.
5) Diamante Azul, La Sombra, Shocker DQ Pierroth, Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr.
Tecnicos took 1, with Azul breaking Pierroth on a german suplex. Volador fouled Sombra in the second.
6) La Máscara, Rush, Titán b Kráneo, Mr. Águila, Psicosis [MEX TRIOS]
Tecnicos took 2/3 in a disappointingly sloppy match to win the titles. Rush was clearly holding the ropes on the pinfall, but no one brought any attention to it. Invasors fall in their third defense. Post match celebration was pre-empted by another earthquake drill.

Main event title change is very weird.The show ending very quickly (because of the earthquake drill) added to the strange feel. It feels like a hurried change because they had to get the titles off the Invasors because someone is leaving and they’d figure out the rest later. Mr. Aguila is still the strong favorite to lose the Infierno en el Ring cage match, so maybe it’s him. Or maybe someone woke up and decided Rush had to have a title belt. CMLL Universal tournament is not that far away.

Dark Angel vs Princesa Blanca was the best match on the show. Sombra’s listed for a Tuesday night show in Guadalajara and then he’s off to Japan. Terrible finishes up Tuesday in Arena Mexico. That’s going to be a tough turnaround for the NJPW 07/05 show.

CMLL (SUN) 06/30/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Divino & Virgo b Évola & Magnum
Divino took 1/3.
2) Esfinge, León Blanco, Metatrón b Acertijo, Espectrum, Infierno
Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Black Metal, Gallo, Leo, Súper Popular b Bárbaro Cavernario, Exterminador, Maléfico, Ráfaga
Tecnicos took 1/3, Metal defeating Cavernario. Debutee Popular wasn’t involved in any of the finishes.
4) Demonio Rojo b Azteca de Oro [mask]
Azteca de Oro pinned Demonio Rojo in the first, Demonio Rojo took the second, and submitted Oro in the third. Azteca de Oro is Antonio Escobedo, 25 years old, 11 years a vet, which means he started wrestling professionally at 14.
5) Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Valiente b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja
Estetas took 1/3, Mistica on Euforia in the third.
6) Último Guerrero b Atlantis
Atlantis was again honored for 30 years of wrestling. Atlantis took the first, UG the second, and Gran Guerrero and Ultimo Guerrero pulled a switch in the third fall to get the win.

First time we’ve seen them pull that switch, and probably won’t be the last time.

Hijo del Santo was taken to the hospital after his match in Arena Solidaridad with LA Park and Dr. Wagner. His wife posted a photo of Santo being strechered backstage still in his gear, which suggests this is a storyline and probably build to the mask match they’d like to do in September. The building looks 60% full for the match, which must be a disappointment and suggests it may not be a big deal.

Rob has highlights of 05/28/12 CMLL.

You can see the Infierno en el Ring promo here.

Black Terry Jr. has photos of the Marketing Wrestling show. Skandalo and Coco Rojo bled a disgusting amount.

Impume Mex (or whoever they copied this from, it’s shown up in a couple places) has thoughts about lucha libre Television.

Lucha Libre in Japan
06/29 REINA
2) Mima Shimoda, Tiffany [O], Marcela b Rabbit MIU [X], Ray, Leon
3) Estrellita b Makoto
4) Dump Matsumoto b GOYA KONG

06/30 REINA – 300 fans
3) Mima Shimoda [O], Makoto b Cherry [X], Sareee
4) Leon vs Estrellita [REINA IJ] – succesful defense
5) GAMI & Ayumi Kurihara [O] vs Tiffany [X], Goya Kong
6) Marcela b Ray [CMLL WOMEN] – succesful defense, said to be good.

NJPW confirmed the Shinsuke Nakamura vs Sombra rematch on 07/20 will now be for the IWGP IC championship.

Sombra keeps the IWGP IC championship, Infierno en el Ring announced

this needs to the be the wiki picture/photo by CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 06/28/2013 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Súper Halcón Jr. b Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Namajague, Shigeo Okumura, Virus b Pegasso, Starman, Tritón
Starman’s trio are apparently Los Cadetes del Espacio, a team name used extensively in AAA previously. They did not wear matching gear and showed no indication they were meant to be a new trio, and lost their debut match. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Averno, Dragón Rojo Jr., Mr. Niebla b Blue Panther, Máscara Dorada, Mistico
Titan was announced, but was replaced by Blue Panther on Monday. Panther received his award from the Durango Congress before the match. Rudos were DQed for excessive violence in the first. Niebla beat Mistico in the second, and Panther submitted Averno to the nudo lagunero in the third (with Averno giving up before Panther even got him off the mat!) Averno and Panther challenged each other after the match. Panther wanted a date for a hair match, Averno would only accept if it was a one fall submission match.
4) Valiente b Fuego [En Busca de un Idolo]
Valiente won in a hurried feeling match. Judges seemed okay with it; Valiente scored a 10, 7, 8 and 7. for a 32. Fuego scored a 8, 8, 7, 8 for a 31. Tirantes’ harshest criticism were for referee Bestia Negra, who stopped and restated his count during the finish because Fuego’s shoulder was slightly off the mat.
5) Vangellys b Stuka Jr. [En Busca de un Idolo]
Vangelis ripped Stuka’s mask open and submitted him, putting a kneebar on Stuka’s bad leg. Judges loved Vangelis, giving him a 10, 10, 9, 10 for a 39. Tirantes was critical of Stuka for wrestling hurt, and Stuka scored a 8, 9, 8, 3 for a 28.
6) Negro Casas, Shocker, Terrible DQ Máximo, Rey Escorpión, Rush [Relevos Increíbles]
Straight falls. Rush got his team disqualified in the first, then fought with partner Rey Escorpion to cause his team to lose in the second. Negro, Shocker, and Escorpion challenged Rush to hair matches, but the match was preceded by a Infierno en el Ring teaser video.
7) La Sombra b Volador Jr. [IWGP IC]
Mistico and Averno were seconds. Volador had a Superman outfit on. Sombra took the first fall with a Dragonrana, Volador Jr. tied it up with a Spanish Fly in the second, and both guys kicked out everything in the third. Volador finally fouled Sombra, pulled his mask, and covered. Referee Rafael el Maya counted three, then awarded the match to Sombra by disqualification. Usual challenges followed between these two after the match and fought a bit more. La Sombra made his first defense.

CMLL honored edecan Anabel, who is leaving that role, with an in-ring ceremony including Panico and Guerrero del Futoro. I can’t recall CMLL doing this before for an edecan or a luchador leaving the promotion. It’s very mysterious to us, though I’m sure there are people behind the scenes who know exactly why this was done.

CMLL updated the point table for the first week of En Busca de un Idolo, right after week two finished. Putting it all together:

145 Valiente (40 on fan poll)
122 Vangellys (5 on the fan poll)
96 Stuka Jr. (34 on fan poll)
85 Fuego (17 on fan poll)

Stuka is 0-2, Vangellys is 2-0 and yet Stuka will be ahead of Vangelis if the poll numbers are the same next week. Vangellys needs a big turnaround in the polls to have a chance.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 07/05/2013 Arena Mexico
1) Camaleón & Sensei vs Cholo & Disturbio
2) Dark Angel, Luna Mágica, Marcela vs Amapola, La Seductora, La Vaquerita
3) Diamante Azul, La Máscara, Thunder vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Mr. Niebla, Pólvora
4) Stuka Jr. vs Fuego [En Busca de un Idolo]
5) Valiente vs Vangellys [En Busca de un Idolo]
6) Shocker vs RushMáximoBlue PantherSuper PorkyNegro CasasAvernoMr. ÁguilaRey EscorpiónRey Bucanero [cibernetico]
7) Atlantis, Mistico, Titán vs Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero

That’s the usual cibernetico before a cage match. July 12th seems like the date for the cage match, though it could slip one more week.

Cibernetico wins match (and mask?), AAA Fusion taping canceled, Volador vs Sombra tonight

photo by Black Terry Jr.

AAA RCH (THU) 06/27/2013 Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), Estrellas del Ring]
1) Alan Extreme & Imposible b Freelance & Saruman
2) Sexy Lady & Taya Valkyrie b La Jarochita & Lolita
3) Cuervo & Último Gladiador DQ Trauma I & Trauma II
Ultimo Gladiador replaced Espiritu. DQ when mystery masked men ran in and attacked the Traumas – it turned out to be Super Nova & Eterno, continuing their IWRG issues.
4) Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown b Devil Rocker, Machine Rocker, Soul Rocker
5) Cibernético, El Mesías, Electroshock b Daga, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Halloween
Cibernetico wrestled in his mask. Piero was knocked down and Cibernetico fouled Perro (they both went for one, only Cibernetico connected) for the win.

Cibernetico came out wearing his mask. That’s usually the set up to someone pulling the mask off to reveal a bald head during the match, and maybe that’s what Cibernetico told people he was doing. Instead, he just wrestled in his mask the whole match. Cibernetico explained after that it’s been over five years since he lost his mask so he should be allowed and, if the commission wants to do something about it, they should do something about Silver King and Psicosis first. He has a point; lucha libre is better when people who lose their mask never get to wear it again, but forcing the issue to create some consistency is a good as well. The commission probably won’t do anything, or anything we’ll hear about. I don’t think this will carry over to AAA TV.

I still have no idea what RCH is. I’m not sure I need to know, so that’s fine.

AAA canceled Saturday’s Fusion TV taping. This one was just announced this past Monday, so it’s an oddly quick sprint from start to canceled. “Through no fault of our own company” is AAA’s only explanation. Fusion will have no new TV for the immediate future unless they start pulling matches (or they go back thru the library and pick out the few skipped over matches, assuming they were taped.)

Tonight’s Arena Mexico show is headlined by the latest Volador Jr. versus La Sombra match. This time, it’s for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Sombra’s expected to defend this title in Japan next month, so he should keep it tonight. Match should be great if past matches are any indication.

List of Sombra vs Volador matches

2010-08-30 (Puebla) Volador Jr. b La Sombra [MEX LH] video (first part)
2010-12-12 (Mexico) Volador Jr. b La Sombra - no video
2011-09-18 (Mexico) La Sombra b Volador Jr. [NWA WELTER] video
2012-01-22 (Korakuen) La Sombra b Volador Jr. [NWA WELTER] - video around if you look for it
2012-10-09 (Mexico) La Sombra TLDRAW Volador Jr. [lightning]  video
2012-10-15 (Puebla) Volador Jr. b La Sombra - video
2012-10-16 (Mexico) La Sombra b Volador Jr. - video
2013-02-15 (Mexico) La Sombra b Volador Jr. [Reyes del Aire]- video
2013-03-11 (Puebla) La Sombra b Volador Jr. - only a clip

Sombra leads, 5-3-1

Tonight’s show also should have the usual hair match challenges. CMLL’s running out of time if they’re planning on running this multi-man match a distance away from the expected Ultimo Guerrero/Atlantis mask match. Fuego faces Valiente and Vangelis faces Stuka in this round of En Busca de un Idolo. Hopefully the stream gets posted a little earlier this week; it was running at the usual time, but did not appear on the website until just before the Busca matches started.

Links

07/15 AAA TV Lineup (Tehuacan)

AAA TV (MON) 07/15/2013 Polideportivo La Huizachera, Tehuacan, Puebla
1) Lucky Boy & Niño de Ébano vs Carta Brava Jr. & El Apache
2) Faby Apache, Octagoncito, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Mamba, Mini Abismo Negro, Taya Valkyrie
3) Angélico & Jack Evans vs Chessman & Eterno
4) Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown vs Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Silver King, Texano Jr.
5) Cibernético & El Mesías vs el Hijo del Perro Aguayo & Psicosis

You need to go the page to see the bald Cibernetico art.

Air Date: 07/20.

So THIS will be the first Cibernetico vs Perro TV match. Unless there’s even more TV around here somewhere. Psicosis appears to exist to take the pinfall in the main event.

More Consejo vs Psychos.  Tercera could be awesome. Opener should be a lot of fun.

We’re getting this slightly out of order, but it’s a total of four TV tapings post TripleMania now. There’s the Fusion taping in Mexico City and the regular Televisa shows in Estado de Mexico, Puebla and Xalapa. Random names unseen: Dr. Wagner Jr., Electroshock, Blue Demon Jr., Villano IV, pretty much everyone from the legends match, Heavy Metal, Infernal Rockers, Dinastia, Jennifer Blake, Aerostar. Crazy Boy & Joe Lider, the team that won the tag team titles, only turn up on Fusion. Angelico & Jack, who were out of that match in six minutes, appear on every Sin Limite. Psicosis appears on all four tapings – that’s a lot of staples! I do not quite understand how things work out this way, but I’m sure it makes sense to someone.

There generally doesn’t appear to be a whole lot happening on this shows as far as storylines moving forward, but that’s usually when AAA has it’s best matches of late.

07/19 AAA TV Lineup (Xalapa)

AAA TV (FRI) 07/19/2013 Arena Xalapa
1) Alebrije, Atomic Boy, Niño Hamburguesa vs Argos, El Apache, Último Gladiador
2) Halloween & Mary Apache vs Drago & Faby Apache [AAA MIXED TAG]
Halloween & Mary Apache are champions
3) Cuervo, Espíritu, Ozz vs Daga, Eita, Psicosis
4) Angélico, Fénix, Jack Evans vs Parka Negra, Pentagón Jr., Steve Pain
5) Cibernético, El Mesías, La Parka vs Chessman, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Texano

Lineup is from here.  Taping isn’t officially acknowledged, but they’ve teased news soon about a show in this the Arena Xalapa Facebook had mentioned it was happening. First taping in this building in two years.

Air Date: 07/27? We don’t know if Tehuacan is a one or two taping show yet, but everything appears to be one week shows. (Which means the openers may disappear into the abyss.)

Main event is Perro versus Cibernetico with other people happening to be around. Tercera is the same feud, so it doesn’t appear to be going away (but when does a lucha feud ever go away?) It looks like Eita is a full time Perros del Mal member if he can make the first show, at least as long as he’s full time in Mexico.

The summer of Steve Pain! Or that semimain spot just seems to be rotating around various unaffiliated rudos. That should be a pretty good match, as should be the tercera and segunda. That title match is the first time Faby Apache has ever teamed with Drago on a TV show.

Atomic Boy vs Apache feud continues. Maybe they’ll wrap this by December.

AAA in Naucalpan, Marvin, Goyito, Titan, Santo

IWRG’s usual Thursday show is replaced by an AAA sponsored show in Arena Naucalpan tonight. Main event is billed as the first Cibernetico/Perro meeting since TripleMania, though this time in a trios. Not a taping as far as we can figure, though highlights might turn up on Tercera Caida. CMLL luchadors are working a show in Arena Aficion.

Ricky Marvin will be at Arena Coliseo San Luis Potosi this Sunday. That post says Virus is on the card too, but it’s unclear if the old rivals are facing each other. A note in the WON mentions Ricky’s trying to get in to the WWE. That’s still a tough path.

The WON also reported TripleMania had 20,000 iPPV buys. That number does not seem plausible to me, unless it’s accidentally the conventional PPV buys. There’s also a mention of the Goyito Perez situation (UFC at fault with flight issues) and a plan to have done something with Perez and Daga. I don’t know if it would been so useful for Daga going for guy trading blows with a UFC fighter to setting up furniture for Perro Aguayo and pinballing for Cibernetico – it’d better at another show where AAA can’t accidental undo what they’ve done.

Titan wants a title match with Averno because he never actually lost the title in the ring, just had it stripped from him due to injury. He’d also like to get Polvora’s mask. Titan was also the guest on this week’s Tercera Caida.

Porra Fresa’s recap of Puebla’s Monday show mentions Pegasso was put in a neck brace after taking the Skandalo Driver. That may just be emphasizing the power of the move and not an injury. Pegasso’s due on Friday’s card.

El Hijo del Santo identifies the moment lucha libre turned into a circus: the first ever 2 vs 1 handicap match in 1941. Now, eight sided rings, mixed tags and extreme matches are apparently killing the business. I think the attempt at dig of the week is claiming someone other than AAA came up with a non-four sided ring (but also he hates it, so not sure why he cares.)

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 07/02/2013 Arena Mexico
1) Molotov & Oro Jr. vs Apocalipsis & Camorra
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Soberano Jr., Súper Halcón Jr. vs Disturbio, Hijo del Signo, Nosferatu
3) Hijo del Fantasma, Sagrado, Tritón vs Misterioso Jr., Puma, Sangre Azteca
4) Bushiroad vs Virus [lightning]
5) Fuego, Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger
6) Máscara Dorada, Titán, Valiente vs Averno, Pierroth, Volador Jr.

So close. If Pierroth was any good, the main event might be great. Lightning match could be a lot of fun, but they never air the lightning match. Semimain may be best possible match, though it’s 3 days before Fuego & Stuka have their En Busca de un Idolo match and that may play into things.

Wonder who Comandante will be with on this show. She’s been back with TRT lately after ditching them for Pierroth.