luchablog

IWRG (SUN) 12/18/2011 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) King Drako b Rolling Boy
2) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II b Astro Rey Jr. & Saruman
Gemelos won again, taking falls 2/3. They still want Astro Rey’s mask and haven’t lost since returning here a month ago.
3) Alan Extreme, Black Terry, Carta Brava Jr. b Astro de Plata, Eragón, Tritón
Black Terry replaced Impossible. Rudos took 2/3.
4) Apolo Estrada Jr., Avisman, El Hijo del Diablo b Multifacético, Saruman, Súper Nova
Saruman, working twice, replaced Solar. Rudos took 2/3. The Gringo’s valet, Sherry, snuck in a foul on Multifacetico.
5) Electroshock, Solar I, Texano Jr. b Canis Lupus, Head Hunter I, Máscara Año 2000 Jr.
Solar replaced Toscano, missing already. This match had “El Consejo” members on opposite sides, but that wasn’t addressed. Focus was on Electroshock vs Head Hunter. Rudos jumped the tecnicos and took 1/3. Head Hunter snuck in a foul on Electroshock for the win. Hunter challenged Electrshock and Taboo to a three way match for the IWRG Heavyweight Title on Christmas Day. I guess he reads the magazines.

Chabelo Jimenez, the 92 baseball sports writer and former manager, did in fact defeat Konnan Big in a match that involved no less than 7 other luchadors and the Monterrey baseball team’s mascot. I’m asking for this match to air as a Christmas present.

Other News

CMLL sent out an injury update for a couple wrestlers.  Mascara Dorada, who suffered a right knee injury jumping into the ring on Tuesday in Guadalajara, is expected to actually be back on Christmas in Guadalajara. It must’ve not been as bad as it looked. Zeuxis is also out this week with a left arm injury. Amapola replaces her on Friday.

Los Reyes de la Atlantida – the new name for Atlantis, Maya and Delta – have made all sorts of challenges. Maya would like to defend their belts against the Guerreros and get another tag title shot at them, Delta wants to go after Polvora’s belt then the world trios titles.

Trauma I isn’t thrilled about the idea of fighting his brother to save his own mask. Neither are the IWRG fans, who were told they were getting two mask vs two masks last week. This is not an uncommon bait and switch by IWRG and lucha libre promotions in general, but it doesn’t make it any more palatable. Meanwhile, R de Rudo has a couple of editorials defending Trauma II in an incident with a fan. The drunk fan had stumbled over the rail, didn’t seem interested in going back to his seat, and Trauma II took a shot at him before security dragged him away.

La Catedral picks the best faction, trio and mini of the year. I saw too many Gen11 matches to put them on any top faction list, and I don’t feel strongly about the top pick either.

“El Consejo” doesn’t like the AAA six sided ring, which should pose a problem on the four or five shows a year AAA actually uses it.

Rob has highlights of Heroes Inmortales 2011.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update, including La Parka inducted in a Walk of Fame.

Lucha Libre in Japan

Announced days ago, but keep neglecting this:

AJPW 01/02: Seiya Sanada, Kai, Hiroshi Yamato vs Ozz, Cuervo, Kenny Omega
AJPW 01/03: Ozz & Cuervo vs Seiya Sanada & Kai [AJPW TAG]
I’d be surprised if Ozz & Cuervo came home with the belts.

Tim mentioned, a while back, Fishman is going to Japan for Christmas, but I don’t have any details.

Links

• Amo La Lucha has video of Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Peligro, Zumbi vs Cerebro Negro, El Fantasma, Sepulturero I and Ángel o Demonio, León Rojo, Obett from Saturday’s IWL show.
• Herejia brags about winning the AULL welterweight title.
• Daga chats about his 2011
• DJ Spectro had his third part of an Ultraman bio.
• Konnan talked about AAA to a Zacatecas paper.

CMLL (SUN) 12/25/2011 Arena Mexico
1) Hombre Bala Jr., Sensei, Super Halcon Jr. vs Inquisidor, Rayo Tapatío I, Rayo Tapatío II
2) Dalis la Caribeña, Goya Kong, Lady Apache vs Amapola, La Seductora, Princesa Blanca
3) Negro Casas, Pólvora, Volador Jr. vs Dragon Lee, La Máscara, Valiente
4) Marco Corleone vs Mr. Niebla, Super Porky, Mr. Águila, Rush, Rey Bucanero, Hijo del Fantasma, Terrible, Metro, Olímpico [CMLL HEAVY]

Marco and Niebla are the favorites. Maybe ex-champ Niebla slightly better a champ because of how rarely non-latino foreigners win championships here. Terrible, Rush and (another ex-champ) Porky all have outside shots at winning, and the other five don’t really have seem to have a chance. Ultimo Guerrero is the notable omission. He’s back in Laguna this week, wrestling at Arena Olimpico Laguna this Friday and probably somewhere around the area on Sunday.

This is only the third DF match for Amapola since losing the title to Marclea (and Marcela being very angry with Amapola after) two months ago.

CMLL (MON) 12/26/2011 Arena Puebla
1) Lestat & Stigma vs Arissma & Policeman
2) Metálico, Molotov, Sensei vs Apocalipsis, Bronco, Inquisidor
3) Lady Apache, Luna Mágica, Marcela vs Amapola, La Comandante, Zeuxis
4) Black Warrior, Metro, Valiente vs Ephesto, Pólvora, Rey Escorpion
5) La Máscara, Máximo, Super Porky vs Averno, Mephisto, Volador Jr.

A show. Brazos teaming up in the main event.

(photo by Black Terry Jr.)

AULL (SUN) 12/18/2011 Arena Lopez Mateos [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), Estrellas del Ring]
1) Lady Rabbit & Super Panda b Felina Metalika & Tigre de Bronce [semifinal]
2) Big Mama & Juan el Ranchero b Mujer Panera & Tortuguillo Ninja [semifinal]
3) Big Mama & Juan el Ranchero b Lady Rabbit & Super Panda [final]
4) Chucho el Roto, Iron Love, Karma, Terry 2000 b Chicho del Barrio, Epitafio, Ronny Ventura, Tormento
Karma replaced Robin Maravilla, Chico del Barrio replaced Cerebro Maligno
5) Herejía b Yakuza [AULL WELTER]
Herejia won falls 1/3, with his feet on the ropes in the last, to win the title.
6) Judas el Traidor, Mike Segura, Rocky Santana vs Ángel o Demonio, Daga, Super Mega
Originally a four way, but instead a trios without Super Crazy (Angel o Demonio’s partner) & Sadico (Santana’s partner). Good match, money thrown in.
7) Ray Mendoza Jr., Villano III, Villano IV b Coco Amarillo, Coco Azul, Coco Rojo
Ray Mendoza’s first match back from injury. Villano took 2/3, Mendoza sneaking in a foul on Coco Amarillo.

Ray Mendoza says he’s still not 100%.

Super Vaquero lost his match in Monterrey.

Other News

CMLL is not on the schedule in the Galavision US next week. They’re running a 10 hour marathon of Pequeno Gigantes. (It’s also not on the schedule the week after, but Galavision tends to just send in a repeat of it’s schedule and shouldn’t be taken as definite.) It may simply be a holiday thing, but we won’t know for sure of a couple weeks. It is listed on the schedule in Mexico.

There’s a story bouncing around on websites that Arena Coliseo has been sold. This does not appear to be the case, but just people piling rumor upon the previous rumor  from around the Anniversary show: the Lutteroth family was going to sell both buildings to Carlos Slim. (Slim would be buying the buildings not for lucha libre, but just to own Televisa’s parking lot, part of the CMLL property.) There have also been rumors about CMLL selling Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. None of these appear to be true. Enough people have brought them up that some shred of truth buried deep inside, but nothing’s actually happened. CMLL, as it’s way, has ignored all of this talk. They did mention to Ovaciones that Arena Coliseo will get some maintenance work done during it’s down time.

La Catedral doesn’t like the new the new arrangement of TRT. It’s not a problem with Tiger himself, but Tiger changing the group from what it was originally conceived – a group of mean tough guys – in a softer direction. It was really Bucanero’s inclusion that set it up in that direction, and I agree that the group seems to exist now more to continue the El Luchador angle than because they have any specific plan for the trio.

Tomorrow’s AAA taping remains a mystery show. This week should still be fairly busy, with that taping, the IWRG year end shows, and the CMLL heavyweight title tournament, but things should slow down after that. I’m hoping to get up an improved list of the best matches of the year list (and I’d like to figure out a way of making it easier to track on a weekly basis) and some of the end of year stuff I’ve done in past years.

Rob has highlights of 01/04/11 and 01/11/11 CMLL.

Links

• Despite being missing from the ring, Estrellita still has a new photo gallery on CMLL.com
• Luchas 2000 #600 has AAA, CMLL and Todo x el Todo on the cover.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 12/25/2011 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Meteoro vs Relampago
2) El Divino vs Acertijo
3) León Blanco vs Virgo, Esfinge, Evola, Mr. Trueno, Black Metal, Leo, Exterminador, Rey Trueno, Infierno [cibernetico]
4) Máscara Dorada, Titán, Triton vs Malefico, Mr. Águila, Psicosis

If Mascara Dorada can’t get his fellow tapatios a win here, I’d be very concerned. What really sucks for them is not the losses, but Titan & Triton have been cut down to working only one match a week since this storyline has started. That’s not a big help to the wallet.

Speaking of money, CMLL’s down to sending five guys here. It is Christmas and maybe they didn’t want to have people travel – Psicosis is the only who’s not a Guadalajara native – but they were sending sixteen guys three months ago.

(photo by CMLL)

CMLL (SUN) 12/18/2011 Arena Mexico [CMLL, La Catedral]

1) Inquisidor, Rayo Tapatío I, Rayo Tapatío II DQ Hombre Bala Jr., Sensei, Super Halcon Jr.
Rudos take 1/3. Halcon took Rayo II’s mask for the DQ.
2) Ángel Azteca Jr. b Apocalipsis [lightning]
Angel Azteca won in just over 7:13 minutes.
3) Dragon Lee & Fuego b Puma King & Virus [semifinal]
Best match of the night.
4) Euforia & Pólvora b Titán & Triton [semifinal]
Titan & Triton have now lost four straight weeks.
5) Euforia & Pólvora b Dragon Lee & Fuego [final]
6) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger b Ángel de Oro, Hijo del Fantasma, Metro
Hijo del Fantasma replaced the injured Mascara Dorada, but was injured himself by Tiger’s super backcracker. Rudos took 1/3.
7) Atlantis, La Máscara, Marco Corleone b Dragón Rojo Jr., Rey Escorpion, Último Guerrero
Tecnicos took 2/3. Rudos cut open Marco’s chest.

At the close of the show, CMLL announced the (vacant) heavyweight championship would be filled next week. No word on format or participants.

SuperLuchas #443 has LA Park with his new title and “El Consejo”. They’re not publishing again until 01/09.

Rob has highlights of 1/17/11 Puebla.

AAA has a taping on Tuesday, and they haven’t put out a card yet. That’s different. At least it’s not actually Monday.

Links

• Llaves y Canadados announced it’s award winners.
• Croncias y Leyendas have video of Silver King vs Zandokan in a hair match.
• La Catedral picks it’s top tag team of 2011
• Mascarita Dorada will wrestle for PWG on 01/29. No word on his opponent.

Lineups

IWRG (THU) 12/22/2011 Arena Naucalpan
1) Astro de Plata, Astro Rey Jr., Tritón vs Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II, Imposible
2) Centurión, Multifacético, Saruman vs Alan Extreme, Apolo Estrada Jr., Avisman
3) Dinamic Black vs Carta Brava Jr. [IWRG IC Light]
4) Golden Magic vs Eterno [IWRG IC WELTER, WWS WELTER]
title unification bout; Golden Magic is IWRG champ, Eterno is WWS
5) Pantera, Texano Jr., Toscano vs Canis Lupus, Head Hunter I, Negro Navarro
6) Oficial 911 & Trauma II vs Oficial AK47 & Trauma I [relevos suicidas]
7) ? vs ?? [mask]

One mask will go down, not two. Loaded card, and the last Thursday one of the year.

PdM (SUN) 12/25/2011 Arena Neza
1) Sugi San, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Barba Roja, Dr. Cerebro, Pirata Morgan Jr.
2) Drago (AAA), Neza Kid, Súper Nova vs Apolo Estrada, Súper Fly, Vampiro Metálico
3) el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Héctor Garza, Texano Jr., X-Fly vs Dr. Wagner Jr., Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown

In case you missed the other 400 chances to see the Perros vs the Psycho Clowns, Perros del Mal are giving you one more as a Christmas gift.

La Catedral pegs the Sin Piedad attendance as between 6,000 and 7,000. That’s up slightly from recent weeks, though not to half capacity of the building. He also said the first three matches were below expectations. The semimain sounds like it was good for reactions (crowd was happy to see Marco back, though happier to see Niebla) and the only two matches that may have been any good were the two ones with storylines coming into them. Trios title match is said to be best of CMLL’s show and possibly best of the night anywhere, but AAA surely had the best matches overall.

(photo by CMLL)

Deportivoros wrote this on the main event

Hoy, sin temor a equivocarnos podríamos decir que en ‘Sin Piedad’ ganó Blue Panther y perdió Felino, pero que perdió aún más la credibilidad del CMLL y de la H. Comisión de Box y Lucha del D.F.

CMLL did give the fans a head shaving. They did not even slightly give them one guy proving they were better than the other.

Whatever else you can say about the main event finish, it didn’t come off clearly to those watching. People have written that Negro was in there to stop Felino from the martinete, and others have written that he was there to help with the martinete. It looked to me like it was both – Negro came in to help spike the piledriver, but then tried to warn Felino to stop once Bestia Negra turned back around and saw them. Any way, I just don’t understand why they didn’t just more simply end with the martinete itself if they weren’t going to do a pinfall finish. CMLL very clearly wants us to think about Negro Casas vs Blue Panther next (if they’ll actually get there and if we’ll be satisfied when it’s over is another question), that would’ve drawn more interest in it than a muddled DQ finish (much like when he loss the mask, the attention now goes to a sympathetic Felino and not the winner) and Panther was going to be out a couple weeks anyway.

Felino did get mostly shaved in the ring. RadioCMLL.com has video of that, and the finish if you’d like to figure it out. Estrellas del Ring has Felino being interviewed after the show.

(photo by AAA)

“El Consejo” is the big talking point coming out Guerra de Titanes. AAA had actually laid out this storyline at the Guerra de Titanes press conference, but it really didn’t get much attention until last night’s show. Toscano, Texano Jr., LA Park, and (inexplicably) Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. are essentially playing the AAA-version of CMLL’s Invasors. AAA’s doing it a bit stronger. CMLL portrayed Psicosis and company as independent luchadors (who mostly happened to be from AAA, and still used the Viper’s music.) “El Consejo” is a nickname and a popular shortening of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. All the fans who follow lucha libre but don’t dig it into daily and follow the comings and goings know Toscano as a CMLL guy, believe he’s a CMLL guy, and still think that after last night.  AAA’s finally getting the CMLL vs AAA feud they’ve always wanted, with the added advantage of not actually having to deal with CMLL. They’re skirting dangerously close to lawsuit territory (and probably after it), but I suspect CMLL’s first move will be to loudly disavow Texano & Toscano, making it clear they’re long gone.

The bigger issue in this storyline, internally for AAA, is it’s a third different faction invading AAA at the same time. TNA/La Sociedad is taking over. Perros del Mal is (somewhat fake) promotion battling AAA already, and now there’s a third psuedo-CMLL group. El Consejo said they were against everyone in AAA (and noted they could not figure out who was in charge of AAA), so they’ll be separate from the other two. This invasion itself can’t help but feel like more of the same; it’s more reliant on the names being involved if it’s going to get over. Toscano & Texano are a good start. LA Park is a strong name but he’s been in AAA a long time, started in AAA, and not as associated with CMLL at the moment. (He’s Garza of the Invasors.) Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. has never wrestled in Arena Mexico and has previously invaded AAA as a IWRG representative. He does not work at all, and feels like a last minute replacement when someone from CMLL backed out. He’s not going to work. “El Consejo” can always pull in ex-CMLL guys who are working the indies and would be thrilled to show up on TV a couple times – Tony Rivera/Zumbido types – but they probably need one or two more current CMLL TV stars if they want to make this work as a top angle.

This story would have a lot more weight on in it if, let’s say, the current heavyweight champion of CMLL was a leading force in it. Being a part of this will make it a lot harder to get back to CMLL someday, which is probably why the current heavyweight champion of CMLL wasn’t involved.

“El Consejo” is more a clear boon to the Perros del Mal promotion. Perros vs CMLL main events can easily replace the Perros vs Psycho Clowns main events, and they still don’t have to do (top) Perros vs Perros matches.

Ras de Lona has hype for Sin Piedad, which does them a world of good on the day after the show. Shocker still exists, as far as the story of how the Mexican Trios Title match came about. Super Halcon talked about the double mask match as well. He seems to be a better interview than luchador (though it has been a while since I’ve seen him.) They’ll be doing year end recap shows the next two weeks.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Links

• LuchaPOP’s show on Sunday is canceled.
• Oaxaca luchador Zombie I passed away.

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 12/23/2011 Arena Mexico
1) Astral & Shockercito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
2) Estrellita, Marcela, Silueta vs La Comandante, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Diamante, Fuego, Sangre Azteca vs Euforia, Shigeo Okumura, Virus
4) Stuka Jr. vs Pólvora [lightning]
5) Hijo del Fantasma, Super Porky, Valiente vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger
6) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto

Current trios champs versus great new tecnico trio. Hmmm. Ras de Lona lineup had Blue Panther (!!!) and Porky in the main event, with Maximo moved done and Rush not to be found.

AAA’s Chilpancingo lineup should be out any moment.