IWRG (SUN) 05/04/2014 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Sky Ángel b Skull Metal
straight falls
2) Fulgor I & Fulgor II b Alfa & Omega
Fulgors puled Alfa & Omega’s masks without the referee seeing.
3) Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 b Anubis Black, Látigo, Metaleon, Hip Hop Man, Zurdog, Oficial Fierro, Spartan, Picudo Jr., Imposible, Astro Rey Jr., Ángel Del Amor, Tony Rivera, Guerrero Mixtico, Black Terry, Ciclon Black, Oficial AK47, Avisman, Alan Extreme, Apolo Estrada Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Dr. Cerebro, Electro Boy, Golden Magic, Rayan, Canis Lupus, Pirata Morgan, Cien Caras Jr., X-Fly, Relámpago [IWRG Rey del Ring]
Participants were all surprises (but all regulars.) Listed in order of entry (except for the winner). Hijo de Mascara Ano 2000 threw out Pirata Morgan to win. 911, with the Oficials, presented Mascara with the belt – and then the trio beat up Mascara and Cien Jr.
IWRG has a new sponsored mat – but not a red Victoria one. It’s a white one promoting a local radio station.
It looks like there was a sponsored show on Saturday in Arena Mexico. Note the white mat in the first picture, for the sponsor.
A CNN video story on lucha libre celebrating it’s 80th Anniversary for Cinco de Mayo (Lucha libre is not 80 years old.) The correspondent was backstage at Arena Mexico on Friday, and it was a good thing Shocker showed up so he had someone to speak English to him. We do get “Shocker, or ‘1000% Handsome’ as he is known.” The Warner Brothers/CMLL deal that hasn’t been mentioned in years is brought up as current here. AAA is referred to only as “another lucha libre promoter” (though that may because they might have still not figured out the US name.)
If there’s three things I can teach you
- there’s no “e” in luchador
- it’s “tope con giro” – “tope con hilo” is a Spanish to Japanese to English mistranslation
- Cinco de Mayo is not a big deal in Mexico outside of Puebla. It’s definitely not Mexican Independence Day
Preview of tonight’s Arena Puebla card. I wonder if Revolucionario Rey Escorpion will be the crowd favorite tonight.
Sin Cara insists his plan is to work as an independent for the time being. I believe him, for the next month
AAA says they’re headed back to the Hard Rock in Puerto Vallarta in July.
Segunda Caida reviews Shocker’s turn.
Lucha Libre in Japan
05/05 Dragon Gate: Flamita beat Jimmy Susumu [Open the Brave Gate] (13:26, “Flame Fly”)
Flamita looked outstanding in this match by all accounts. @SenorLariato has GIFs of a plancha, an Asai Moonsault, and a great 450 splash.
Lineups
IWRG (WED) 05/07/2014 Arena Naucalpan
1) Sky Ángel vs Fulgor II
2) Látigo & Metaleon vs Rayan & Spartan
3) Ángel Del Amor & Astro Rey Jr. vs Hijo De La Bestia & Imposible
4) Golden Magic & Relámpago vs Canis Lupus & Eterno
5) Cien Caras Jr., Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, X-Fly vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
Oficials vs Capos continues on.
Hijo de PARK and Hijo de Wagner put on a decent show in DC yesterday. Probably about 15 minutes at most with a decent amount of comedy at the start which the crowd ate up since they hadn’t seen their PARK and Wagner do it themselves. Not a MATYC or anything, but you could tell that they had been working together for the past few years and had the match down. Wagner’s kid has put on some muscle since I saw him last, PARK’s kid has not. I was happy to see a clean pin via spanish fly for PARK.
Pequeno Pierroth lost an OK match with Sangre de Aguila in the opener. Highlight was actually Sangre de Aguila getting booed for kicking the PR flag before the match.
An awful match between two teams from Pennsylvania in the second match. I don’t want to trash these guys since they worked hard, but three large generic indy workers and one older generic indy worker wasn’t what the crowd was there to see on a lucha promoted show.
Match of the night was Caveman beating Jersey Kid. The crowd ate up the Caveman gimmick and the two worked a good fast paced match that was given plenty of time to get over. I really enjoyed the match and would check them out again if they are on a show in the area.