top six stories of the last two weeks

  • Mini Chessman passed away
  1. Sin Cara threw a party for himself, a Sin Cara Gym first anniversary show to announce his return to lucha libre. Cara managed to get AAA (his brothers, Drago, Aerostar) & CMLL luchadors (Sombra in the main event, and unofficially Magnus masquerading as an Astro Boy in the semimain event) in the same matches, something CMLL has otherwise prohibited. The show was a free show and seemed to draw well. 1,000 and 1,500 were estimated, but it was more accurately the most amount of people who could comfortable stand near the ring. Cara, who had a new mask, seemed much more open to changing his name and suggested he might try running occasional shows similar to the Perros del Mal promotion (which is actually no longer running shows.) He’s still expected by everyone to go to AAA, but on a contract that allows him to work indy shows.
  2. AAA held tapings in Toluca and Ecatepec. Both buildings are in the 3000 rang and AAA was able to sell out both. They’ve sold out all four tapings they’ve run (though one was a free taping), but their upcoming Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera taping will be the biggest building by far.
  3. La Parka and Perro Aguayo Jr. advanced in the Rey de Reyes tournament, joining Zorro. The final member of the group will be determined at a Gimansio Juan de la Barrera. That’s the only match which has been announced at Rey de Reyes. Other matches have been vaguely hinted, but it remains tough figuring out which of the hinted matches which actually occur. AAA did announce Rey de Reyes would take place on 03/16 in Monterrey, and Konnan mentioned they were trying to get it on iPPV.
  4. speaking of vague builds to major cards, Rush and Shocker continue to feud in CMLL and seem like the best guess at a Dos Leyendas main event. Nothing’s actually been confirmed – not even the second Legend to be honored! – and the show is about a month away.
  5. Soberano Jr. (and Volador Jr.) and Barbaro Cavernario (and Mr. Niebla) advanced to the final to Gran Alternativa. Barbaro Cavernario seems to be the favorite based on getting one vignette (which is one more than almost everyone), but it’s could go either way.
  6. El Elegido will appear on a celebrity high diving competition. For some reason.
  • NJPW trainee Kamataichi joined the wave of new luchadors who’ve started in CMLL since the begining of the year.
  • El Dandy defeated Satanico in Monterrey in Dandy’s Monterrey retirement match
  • Electro Boy (& Super Nova) won IWRG’s El Protector tournament, their version of the Gran Alternativa. Electro Boy’s prize appears to be nothing at all. Maybe the journey is the prize?
  • Diamante Azul won the Occidente Heavyweight championship from Olimpico in Guadalajara.
  • Titan beat Virus in a great title match to kepe his welterweight title, and Delta & Guerrero Maya Jr. kept the Arena Coliseo tag titles over Tiger and Puma (who was hurt in the match.)
  • various TV Azteca programs continue to do features on CMLL. It’s as if they’re vignettes teasing the impending debut of the promotion on the network, but nothing proceeding that orderly should ever be assumed.