January 2014 – luchablog

CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2013-12-21

January 31, 2014January 26, 2014 thecubsfan 1 Comment

taped 2013-12-10 @ Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
Sagrado, Solar I, Stuka Jr. vs Negro Navarro, Olímpico, Psyco Ripper: good different style match. The CMLL regulars aren’t the first four guys you’d choice for a match of this kind, but they did okay here. Olímpico and Sagrado did a little better than the other two. Solar and Navarro seemed to be working faster than usual, with Solar never really getting on a hold for too long except for the first fall submission; maybe because it was a TV match and they didn’t have as much time to work with? Match wasn’t money throwing in good, but they’ve successfully trained the people that they’re supposed to throw in money every time Solar and Negro Navarro have a match.

taped 2013-12-15 @ Arena Mexico

Súper Halcón Jr. vs Cancerbero in a lightning match: decent lightning match. Cancerbero is good, Halcón has good matches, and these two have faced each other in trios a decent amount, but they didn’t have much of a flow in this match and it wasn’t as interesting as it should be. Nothing bad, but easily skippable.

Atlantis, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Felino, Negro Casas, Pierroth: Build up trios match with little value in isolation. Just really Negro Casas attacking Volador’s right knee repeatedly while the other four guys exist (if sometimes barely.) It would be a good way to make Volador sympathetic if anyone was willing to boo Negro Casas. They probably should stop whipping Volador when he’s meant to be selling his knee, but he did do his dive on his own so I guess it’s not so important. Next week’s match should be interesting, this really wasn’t.

01/30 AAA TV Results (Toluca) – La Parka advances in Rey de Reyes

January 31, 2014January 31, 2014 thecubsfan

AAA TV (THU) 01/30/2014 Gimnasio Agustín Millán [AAA]
1) Argenis, Dinastía, Gotita de Plata b Argos, Mini Charly Manson, Mini Psycho Clown
Argenis beat his brother Argos.
2) Dark Cuervo & Mary Apache b Drago & Faby Apache
Champions lost thanks to Hijo del Tirantes. Cuervo & Apache demanded a title shot. Faby & Drago accepted.
3) Daga, Hijo del Fantasma, Pentagón Jr. b Angélico, Fénix, Psycho Clown
Fantasma beat Fenix after they heavily feuded.
4) La Parka b Blue Demon Jr., Parka Negra, Chessman [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
Group 2. Chessman & Blue Demon were counted out (while Parka & Parka Negra were in the ring.) Parka beat Parka Negra. Parka defeated Parka Negra via tapatia.
5) Texano & Zorro b Cibernético & Electroshock
Mesias appeared but had his right arm in a sling. Argenis at first came out to replace him, only to be beat up before the match started. Electroshock made the save and was the official replacement, but Argenis still got involved. Zorro still got the win, using a cane shot behind the referee’s back. Pictures show Daga, Pentagon and Fantasma being up the tecnicos post match, then being run off by the tecnicos.

Air Date: 02/08. This appeared to be a quick show – starting after 9 PM and finishing around 1130 – so it figures to be a one taping show.

The show began with a tribute to Mini Chessman.

Gimnasio Agustin Millan appeared to be very full. It’s a 2,500 seat building, though one side was cut off by the entrance set (and seemed less occupied as a result.)

This is La Parka (II)’s seventh Rey de Reyes finals. That includes many years where there was just one round. He hasn’t made it this far since 2009.

I don’t understand how two guys can be counted out in an elimination match when there’s other people fighting in the ring, but this is the third or fourth time it’s happened in the last couple of years so I’m less surprised by it. I wonder if this means they’ll have to find some other way around it next round. I still believe they’d be better off making all of these sort of matches single fall so they wouldn’t have to use such measures to avoid eliminating people.

Mesias was pictured as hurt on the Guerrero Negro taping, but not much was made of it then. They appeared to use it here to build up a Zorro/Mesias feud. Argenis being involved in the main event seems like very obvious foreshadowing, but it’s a bit weird Electroshock came to the show to replace Mesias but didn’t show up until Argenis got beat up. Maybe he thought he’d give the kid a chance until he realized he was making a terrible decision.

Tercera seemed like a heavy tease to Fenix/Fantasma. It should set up a match at Rey de Reyes, but they were teasing that match last year and didn’t get to it. Wait and see.

Hijo del Tirantes, the plot device masquerading as a referee, helped Cuervo get a title shot here after costing him a title shot in Naucalpan. Evil referees are a played out trope, but even those are better than inconsistent referees. It’s hard to care about a story when the elements change week to week.

Next taping is 02/09 in Ecatepec.

Gran Alternativa preview, Sin Cara/WWL

January 31, 2014January 31, 2014 thecubsfan

Table are good ways to fill up blank spaces on slow days. A look back at the history of tonight’s Gran Alternativa particpants

Novato	# of GA	Best Finish
Oro Jr.	2	R16
Guerrero Negro Jr.	2	QF
Soberano Jr.	2	SF
El Rebelde	1
Hombre Bala Jr.	4	Runner Up
Akuma	2	R16
Cachorro	1
Espanto Jr.	2	QF

Veteran
La Sombra	5	2007 winner (novato) w/Mistico I
Terrible	5	2011 winner (veteran) w/Euforia
Volador Jr.	9	SF
Averno	5	SF
Maximo	5	QF – has never won a match
Rey Bucanero	7	1996 (2) winner (novato) w/Emilio Charles Jr.
Blue Panther	9	1999 (1) winner (veteran) w/Ultimo Guerrero
Mephisto	9	Runner Up

Those numbers don’t include the 1998 missing tournament (but do include the not totally clear 2003 one.) Rencor Latino had to be in that 1998 one, just because it’s crazy to believe Averno wasn’t in any part of Gran Alternativa until 2009. Also, the Palacio Negro/Averno team made no sense at the time and looks even weirder now. They really had no idea what they had in that novato.

Tonight’s field seems very unbalanced – the four tecnico teams all look to have better chances than the rudo teams. Guerrero Negro Jr. has much more experience than most of the guys involved and would fit in on a higher level, but remains a great candidate for a new character and there’s no sense in using him a lot until they come up with one. Rebelde is making an unheralded debut and Espanto and Akuma are struggling in the openers in many senses of the word. I think Akuma’s passed Espanto at this point but neither seems ready for more right now.

Hombre Bala Jr. seems like the on paper favorite; he almost won last year, is steadily moving up the card anyway and seems the most ready of the people involved. He’s almost over qualified; it would be a bigger deal win for someone else, so someone else might get it. (He’s also stuck with the wrong partner.) Oro Jr. & Soberano Jr. are very young but very talented and in need of something to break them out. (Those two feel like they’re two guys fighting for one spot – though maybe they’d be better as a team at the moment.) Cachorro has looked good in his first few matches, but it’d be a big surprise if he won this tournament that quickly. I have a weird feeling Sombra & Oro are winning this block, but have nothing to back it up.

The entire tournament should air on Terra; that’s how they handled the last tournament. There’s not a lot of consistency in these things but there’s no reason to skip it. I have no idea how it’ll work on TV, since they can’t quite fit an elimination tournament and two trios in an hour. They’d be better off with highlights and the block final.

Fuego en el Ring has posted an interview with this block’s rudos.

The actual main event of tonight’s Arena Mexico show has Shocker on the rudo side, teaming with Mr. Niebla & Ultimo Guerrero of all people, facing Atlantis, La Mascara and Rush. That should include a tease for Shocker/Rush at Gran Alternativa. There’s a women’s match (which should follow up on Dalys/Marcela) and the debut of Kamaitachi. Stukita makes an appearance in the opener.

Sin Cara will work WWL shows. No dates are announced; it’s not clear if it’s the March tour or some other time. This seemed obvious once Sin Cara was free to work other shows; WWL will pay lots of money to bring in the wrestlers they want to see, and Sin Cara will gladly take money. Also in WWL news, X-Fly talks about Sabu.

Diario Irapuato writes about the biggest matches in the history of Arena Mexico. (This may be a repeat.)

Today’s the last day of the 80 Years of Lucha Libre exhibit. It’ll be moved to different venues starting in February.

great match roundup, week of 2013-12-21

January 31, 2014January 26, 2014 thecubsfan 2 Comments

Great/Excellent Matches

nothing

Shows Watched But Nothing Made The List
CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2013-12-21
CMLL on CadenaTres: 2013-12-21
CMLL on Fox Sports (Mexico): 2013-12-21
AAA UTDN: 2013-12-26

Matches To Watch Later

CMLL Puebla: 2013-12-22
taped 2013-12-09 @ Arena Puebla
Blue Panther vs Averno

IWRG Zona XXI: 2013-12-27
taped 2013-12-22 @ Arena Naucalpan
Black Terry, Bombero Infernal, Dr. Cerebro vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Avisman, El Hijo del Diablo

01/31-02/02 lucha times

January 30, 2014January 30, 2014 thecubsfan

box.

== AAA ==

AAA-Televisa: Guerrero Negro show, which should air complete. The 90 minute slot seems to be the new regular deal, or at least it is until the next new regular deal, but a nice sign for AAA.

== CMLL ==

FOX: Shocker’s turn, Estetas vs Guerrero, Reapper, Roja

52MX: Casas Family vs Reyes del Atlantida in a strong match, Estetas vs Revolucionarios

C3: Titan vs Virus

TVC Deportes (Puebla): At 7pm this week. Shocker vs Rey Bucanero

Lucha Azteca: Atlantis, Shocker, Valiente vs Peste Negra, and Diamante Azul falling on his head.

Terra Friday: Probably Block A of the Gran Alternativa, definitely Kamaitachi’s debut.

Terra Sunday: Sombra, Mistico, Valiente vs Revolucionarios, Atlantida vs Casas

== Other ==

IWRG-AYM Sports: maybe this Sunday’s show, which would be main evented by the El Protector tournament.

Noches de Coliseo: Random matches from last Sunday.

IWL: Airing completely random matches

DTU: matches from their last Xalapa show, with the TV show returning just in time to promote this weekend’s first 2014 live show.

WWL, TerceraCaida, Kamaitachi, Konnan Big back in action

January 30, 2014January 30, 2014 thecubsfan 1 Comment

WWL held a press conference Wednesday to promote their early March shows. The lineups are as announced previously. Clown Corp – Dave the Clown and friends – ran in on the press conference and got into a fight with the wrestlers and owner Richard Negrin. That trio has been announced as participating on the shows but not for matches yet. Estrellas del Ring, Terra and LuchaWorld have recaps of the press conference. Black Terry Jr. has photos and video of the Clown Corp/WWL fight.

Last night’s TerceraCaida had a ton of guests, including the WWL wrestlers to promote those shows and Flamita & Rocky Lobo to promote the DTU show this weekend. There’s also a bunch of after the show clips: Belial & Impulso surprised with news they’re facing the Young Bucks at the ChilangaMask show, Rocky Lobo and Flamita talking to Japan, and more with the WWL luchadors. Alfredo has a recap of everything, pointing out Rocky Lobo & Flamita said they’re headed back to Japan in February.

CMLL had an interview with Kamaitachi, who debuts on Friday. I’ll be mispelling his name for some time to come. Kamaitachi says he was born in Tokyo, has been a professional for 4 years, weighs 93 kg, and is 173 cm tall. That’s not exactly what NJPW lists Watanabe at, but not that far off. (Namajague’s measurements were off a bit too.) Kamaitachi says he’s already enjoying Mexican tacos (“I ate 20”), will be sticking around for a year, and plans to accomplish more in that time than any luchador in the last 80 years – he’ll be the best for the next 90 or 100 years too.

Tonight’s DTU TV show has the top 3 matches from 11/09, including Joe Lider vs Angel o Demonio.

AAA helped out a charity which helps children of deceased soldiers.

An article hyping the Crash show in Tijuana Friday night claims “at least 9 lucha libre shows in Tijuana this year will draw more than 3000 people.” I have no idea where that number comes from, if it’s meant to mean the Crash will be running 9 shows or just some weird wild guess.

LuchaWorld also has KrisZ’s news update.

Guerrero Maya Jr. talks about reaching 10 years of lucha libre.

Ciclope says he and Los Macizos don’t need help to beat the Porros, but wouldn’t mind the fans helping. That seems like a bad idea.

Cronicas y Leyendas looks back at Lola Gonzalez vs Bull Nakano.

R de Rudo previews the homage to Torbellino Rojo show.

Lucha Libre in Japan

01/30 WNC: Shuri [O] b La Comandante [X], Lin Byron, Yuki Shizuki
The recap says this sets up a Makoto vs Shuri “for the REINA re-debut show on 02/16”. Poor REINA, redebuting again.

Also, Tenryu says he’s bringing back the UWA World Junior Championship. I assume he means the UWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and not the UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship (which at least two other people claim to hold.) I also assume I’ve personally offended Tenryu somehow and this is his cruel method of revenge.

Lineups

indy (SUN) 02/02/2014 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Muerte Guerrera & Zagaz vs Coyote Jr. & Destroyer
2) Lady Flammer & Pedro Navajas vs Lady Maravilla & Super Jack
3) Cirio Negro I, Cirio Negro II, Golden Boy vs Babe Fox, Pee Wee, Principe Guerrero
4) Erika Sotelo & Larry Miranda vs Galactar & Rey Demonio
5) Konnan Big & Rico Rodriguez vs Dulce Kanela, Kamaro, Simbolo, Vudu

This is Konnan Big vs Kamaro but they’re announcing the run-ins ahead of time. It’s nice of them.