luchablog

Gonzalo Lòpez Peralt of Yahoo reports Rayo de Jalisco will be the wrestler honored as part of CMLL’s Dos Leyendas. CMLL hasn’t been always on the best of terms with Rayo de Jalisco Jr., but that’s the same way with everyone who used to work for them and Junior will likely appear at the show. Dos Leyendas always honors the promotion’s founder, Salvador Lutteroth and one of the past stars of the promotion. It was always Santo until the falling out with Hijo del Santo, and it’s been Perro Aguayo, Black Shadow, Cavernario Galindo, Ray Mendoza, Angel Blanco, and Bobby Bonales in past years. CMLL doesn’t have a publicized Hall of Fame, and this is their closest equivalent.

Odd situation with Mistico yesterday. He was pulled from tonight’s card in Guadalajara yesterday, leading some dope to believe he might be injured already, but Mistico was fine enough to wrestle Monday night in Puebla. Not sure why he is off the Guadalajara show; maybe he’s scheduled elsewhere we don’t know about yet. Shocker replaces him tonight.

CMLL hypes tonight’s card around Blue Panther vs Negro Casas and Metalico vs Bobby Zavala & Disturbio. Really, everything’s suddenly coming up Metalico. They even have a quote for Metalico, saying the two young rudos got lucky against Leono & Tigre Blanco but shouldn’t try him.

DTU has their show tonight in Arena Aficion. Main event is Ciclope & Perro Mocho vs Aeroboy & Violento Jack vs Drastick Boy & Pesadilla where there will be no mat/canvas in the ring, just the wood planks underneath. (Someone’s going thru the ring is the spot here.)

The FULL show in Spain with Tinieblas Jr., Mesias, Dr. Wagner Jr., Dark Angel show for March looked very unlikely has been canceled.  That link article believes the show will be instead take place in May.

El Luchador starts on MTV Tr3S in the US on March 10th. It looks like they’re starting with the first, Magnus-rific, season.

Terra has fall finishes of Sunday’s Arena Coliseo show, including the two matches which didn’t air. Herodes lands right on Oro Jr.’s head on a senton. I think it’s fair to bring up how Oro died every time one of the other Gen12 guys nearly kills Oro Jr., but they really could lay off it the rest of the time.

Tickets to the Ray Mendoza Jr. retirement show are on sale.

A luchador in Panama says Dalys la Caribena, Princesa Blanca and Negro Casas are wrestling there on 03/16.

Mesias, Blue Demon, Axxel, Octagon Jr., Laredo Kid and the Head Hunters are among those scheduled for the debut of the WWL promotion in Puerto Rico. Mesias, who remains a big deal in Puerto Rico and is probably the big draw here,  was working for WWC last month and this seems like an opposition group. Laredo Kid has been highlighted on their web TV show, and the promotion is teasing deals with AAA and TNA. Any promotion that is bringing in so many guys seems to be in danger of not making it past it’s first show (or at least not paying guys after their first show but then changing their name to run a second), but good luck to them.

Puebla will be holding another licensing exam on Sunday, with Virus, Black Tiger and Black Cuellar evaluating the luchadors. 25 luchadors have signed up to train, including one female wrestler (“Lady Amazona”, which sounds like the luchadora who’s already been wrestling in IWRG which is supposedly a commissioned promotion.)

LuchaWorld has KrisZ news update.

Rob has highlights of Volador Jr. vs Rey Escorpion.

Bill has highlights of 11/10/2011 IWRG.

Links

• Extreme Rising has a trailer up for their Bestia 666 DVD.
• Video of the Arena Jalisco de Guadalajara anniversary cage match.
• The Ultimo Guerrero picture on Saturday’s Arena Lopez Mateos poster is all the way blacked out now, but it’s clearly still Ultimo Guerrero. If Ultimo is working in nothern Mexico and El Paso this weekend, it’s not going to be him, but they can’t just take his photo off for whatever reason.
• Proyeccion Luchistica has a podcast interview with Ray Mendoza Jr.
• Photos from the monthly Mask Expo and VideoNemesis has interviews with Hombre Bala and Rocky Santana from that show.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 02/24/2013 Arena Coliseo
1) Freesbe & Génesis vs Guerrero Negro Jr. & Ramstein
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Stigma, Super Halcón Jr. vs Artillero, Súper Comando, Taurus
3) Dalis la Caribeña, Dark Angel, Estrellita vs Amapola, Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sugheit
4) Ángel de Oro vs Ephesto [lightning]
5) Fuego, Máximo, Stuka Jr. vs Namajague, Niebla Roja, Shigeo Okumura
6) Atlantis, La Sombra, Mistico vs Averno, Rey Escorpión, Volador Jr.

Mistico’s first Arena Coliseo match under that name. His last Dragon Lee match was here, where they had Niebla Roja destroy the mask for no particular reason seeing as it was never mentioned again. Mistico has largely worked outside shows on Sundays, but also some Arena Coliseo Guadalajara shows. Main could be very good.

It sure does look like Namajague & Okumura can get their title shot (maybe as soon as next week) if they can get a win this week.

I really don’t need to see Estrellita vs Amapola & Ladies del Polanco again. Interesting that both presumed Dos Leyendas matches are now on Sunday.

Probably skip the opener.

CMLL (SUN) 02/24/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Azteca de Oro & El Hippie vs Acertijo & Demonio Rojo
2) Smaker vs Mr. Trueno
3) El Alteño & León Blanco vs Espectrum & Infierno
4) Leo vs Black Metal [OCCIDENTE WELTER]
Leo is champion, attempting first defense
5) Máscara Dorada & Super Porky vs Mr. Águila & Pólvora
6) Olímpico vs Shocker [OCCIDENTE HEAVY]
Olimpico is champion, attempting first defense

Occidente Heavyweight Championship is exactly the title Shocker should be holding at this point.

CMLL (MON) 02/25/2013 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano, Black Tiger, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Akron, Blue Center, Saurón
2) Metálico, Molotov, Pegasso vs Hijo del Signo, Hooligan, Taurus
3) Pequeño Olímpico vs Astral [CMLL MINI]
Pequeno Olimpico is champ, going for his third defense.
4) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Máscara Dorada vs Black Warrior, Ephesto, Puma
5) La Sombra, Mistico, Thunder vs Kráneo, Olímpico, Psicosis

Sombra, Mistico, Thunder is some trio. I guess Thunder’s okay now? Well, feeling better, okay is debatable at best.

Olimpico has been champ for 3 years, and he’s only going to his third defense. (And he really should keep the title anyway.)

IWRG (SUN) 02/17/2013 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, The Gladiatores]
1) Araña de Plata Jr. & Chik Tormenta b Cristal & Seiya
Straight falls. Tormenta’s first match here in over a year (and over two for a normal IWRG show.)
2) Chico Che, Freelance, Hijo del Pantera b Apolo Estrada Jr., Avisman, Eita
Chico Che replaced Saruman, and Apolo Estrada cut him open in the first fall. Tecnicos rallied to take falls 2/3 and money was thrown in after the match.
3) Dinamic Black b Centvrión, Golden Magic, Carta Brava Jr., Alan Extreme
It was everyone for themselves. Dinamic Black beat Alan Extreme.
4) Pantera, Trauma I, Veneno b Decnnis, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Scorpio Jr. [super libre]
Super Libre rules, with chairs in play in the first fall. Tecnicos took 2/3, Veneno beating Hijo de Wagner in the third fall.
5) Oficial 911 COR el Ángel, Trauma II [loser advances]
Three way bloody mask ripping brawl. Angel and Trauma II did dives, then got into a fight on the outside, while 911 alertly crawled back in the ring for the countout win. Trauma and Angel were ticked, and both agreed to get along long enough to destroy 911. Referee Barba Negra and Black Terry had to pull them off. Angel & Trauma II meet on 03/03.

There’s going to be a few big lucha shows in March, but I’d love to be in Arena Naucalpan for this one. That crowd loves the Traumas and turns up for them in mask matches. The Oficials vs Traumas mask match from two Decembers ago was a fantastic scene and the Shadow Phoenix match last year was the same. Angel vs Trauma II should be memorable.

AAA tapes tonight in Irapuato. It’s nearly the last taping which will air before Rey de Reyes. The first half of the SLP should air the day before the big show in Monterrey, but they’ve suggested both the SLP and the Rey de Reyes cards will be announced this week and so we should expect the big matches to be set up. AAA has hinted around about their top matches, but nothing is really locked in now. We’d expect Texano vs Mesias for the World title, but Texano’s open challenge could allow someone else (or multiple elses) to get the shot. Perro Aguayo and Cibernetico have been feuding heavily, but Cibernetico’s a guy not suited for singles matches and they might end up with a team vs team bit for this show. It seems like AAA might have set up a Fenix vs Daga match, and there should be something with Drago and Psicosis after their feuding, but those could be singles matches or one multiman deal. AAA has said there will be an announcement about the Rey de Reyes tournament itself, but nothing else about it, and some of those feuds could just end up as part of the tournament instead. It’s not as though AAA can’t pull a card together from the storylines they’ve thrown out, but they haven’t committed to anything yet. Tonight should change that.

They will also have matches! The trios title is on the line, and everyone expects the Psycho Circus to win the belts back from Consejo, with Toscano turning tecnico in the process.  Mini Psicosis defends his minis title versus Dinastia, and a title change there seems very possible, though Drago & Psicosis will figure into the finish. The main event is the odd ball team of Mesias & LA Park vs Chessman & Parka Negra. LA Park spent most of the fall/winter acting like a rudo and has a past issue with Mesias, but is on the tecnico side. Maybe everyone is just more friendly when they don’t have to deal with Doctor Wagner.

CMLL’s Arena Puebla show features the latest return of Mistico, La Nueva Era. Last time, he made it 1.5 matches before getting hurt, so the bar is very low.

Pimpinela, Ludark Shaitan and Dave the Clown all won titles at ICHIBAN’s show on Saturday. The show was promoted as giving half the gate to Astro de Plata for his medical bills; there’s no mention of how much that turned out to be in the recap. The show was also hyped as an AYM Sports taping, and they did have announcers and cameraman there, but no announcement about when it might air.

DTU’s benefit for Astro de Plata is to bring his family to their show this Tuesday, so fans can give them money directly. Another Astro de Plata benefit will take place on March 3rd.

Dr. Wagner Jr. beat Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. in the main event trios match of Saturday’s Arena Lopez Mateos show, which is pretty surprising for a guy leaving. Mascara challenged Wagner to a hair vs mask match, but Wagner said he was off to CMLL and couldn’t. A shame. Show seems to have drawn well.

The poster for next Sunday’s Arena Lopez Mateos show now has Luchador Sorpresa in Ultimo Guerrero’s spot, but still has a faded picture of Ultimo Guerrero with a question mark over him. There’s no text explanation. Weird way to handle whatever happened.

Extreme Rising announced a Super Crazy & Pesadilla vs Bestia 666 & Damian 666 match on their 04/04 show in Philadelphia.

Rob has highlights of AAA 12/12/2012

Bill has highlights of CMLL 03/11/1990

CMLL has a promo for next Friday’s show.

A lucha libre exhibit opens in Buenos Aires next month.

IWRG (SUN) 02/17/2013 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, The Gladiatores]
1) Araña de Plata Jr. & Chik Tormenta b Cristal & Seiya
Straight falls.
2) Chico Che, Freelance, Hijo del Pantera b Apolo Estrada Jr., Avisman, Eita
Chico Che replaced Saruman, and Apolo Estrada cut him open in the first fall. Tecnicos rallied to take falls 2/3 and money was thrown in after the match.
3) Dinamic Black b Centvrión, Golden Magic, Carta Brava Jr., Alan Extreme
It was everyone for themselves. Dinamic Black beat Alan Extreme.
4) Pantera, Trauma I, Veneno b Decnnis, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Scorpio Jr. [super libre]
Super Libre rules, with chairs in play in the first fall. Tecnicos took 2/3, Veneno beating Hijo de Wagner in the third fall.
5) Oficial 911 COR el Ángel, Trauma II [loser advances]
Three way bloody mask ripping brawl. Angel and Trauma II did dives, then got into a fight on the outside, while 911 alertly crawled back in the ring for the countout win. Trauma and Angel were ticked, and both agreed to get along long enough to destroy 911. Referee Barba Negra and Black Terry had to pull them off. Angel & Trauma II meet on 03/03.

photo by Black Terry Jr.

After the show Arena Lopez Mateos show Saturday night, Dr. Wagner Jr. told La WagnerMania he’s done with AAA except for some minor legal issue, and would be in to CMLL soon. Luchas2000 has a cover story even giving the probably Dos Leyendas as his start date. Dr. Wagner has been saying this same thing since December, though this time it seems to have caught more attention. There are other things that haven’t changed:

• AAA says the small legal issue is ‘he contracted to work for AAA for 1 more year’
• CMLL says they don’t want him.

Dorian Roldan repeated the bit about Dr. Wagner being under contract to 2014 and could not leave to CMLL. He also explained AAA will not use Dr. Wagner until he acknowledges he’s under contract. There’s still some wiggle room here, because AAA has had both problems enforcing contracts they wanted enforced (rights to the Psicosis character) and ending contracts they didn’t want any part of (the Steve Shipp deal.) For all we know, AAA is completely right in Wagner is signed another year, and Wagner is completely right in that he could get out of the deal because of some breach in the contract. And if all there was to this was a legal fight, CMLL might be fine employing Wagner while the courts figure out the rest, the same as they have with the Invasors. The AAA side is relatively only a minor part of this.

It feels like the people in Mexico responding to this rumor believe you can just show up to work at a building, and they’ll just give you a match. It doesn’t seem to actually work that way. CMLL gets to choose who they employ. They don’t always do the best job of doing it, but they get to run their business however they’d like, and also get to deal with however that turns out for them. There are solid reasons for CMLL to bring Dr. Wagner back, but we’re not arguing logic here, we’re arguing about how CMLL acts, and CMLL tends not to lift their bans. There’s no reason to think they’ll lift this one.

Now, CMLL does have a press conference this Thursday (at least at last word.) It’s probably just to announce the Dos Leyendas card, with the expected big matches. If there was any major news like a Dr. Wagner returning, it’d be announced there. I don’t expect anything to be announced, but if your’e looking for news and not speculation, that’s the day you want.

photo by CMLL

CMLL (SUN) 02/17/2013 Arena Mexico [CMLL, Yahoo! Deportes]
1) Camorra & Herodes Jr. b Oro Jr. & Robin
2) Demus 3:16, Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico b Shockercito, Stukita, Último Dragoncito
Rudos took 1/3, Demus and Mercurio beating Stukita and Shockercito with martillo negros
3) Diamante, Metálico, Tritón b Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus
Tecnicos took 1/3. Virus pinned Metalico in the first fall after Metalico was tripped up by Raziel, and Triton was pinned by the other two. Triton and Diamante got pins in fall 2, then Metalico submitted Virus in a nudo to take fall 3. Metalico, who talked about Virus’ credentials as a maestro before the match and then beat him with Virus his own tricky hold, challenged Virus to a mask vs hair match.
4) Delta b Puma [lightning]
Match was less than five minutes long, but they went high speed from the opening. Delta looked good, and won with a tapatia variant.
5) Misterioso Jr., Namajague, Shigeo Okumura b Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stuka Jr.
Rudos took 1/3. Okumura snuck a foul in on Fuego, and Namajague pulled Stuka’s mask. Stuka demanded Namajauge’s mask in a match, while Okumura countered with a title match before they’d have the mask match. No agreement was reached.
6) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush b Kráneo, Mr. Águila, Psicosis [CMLL TRIOS]
Bufete del Amor are champions, going for their 7th defense. The Invasors are national trios champions, but their titles are not on the line (and could not be, because Marco is ineligible to win those.) Rush came into the match with a hurt left knee, which flared up during the third fall and limited his participation. Tecnicos took the first in usual fashion, rudos came back in the second. Third fall was long and back and forth, ending abruptly when Psicosis crotched Maximo on the top rope, Maximo fell out of the ring, Psicosis brought him back in the ring for a pin, and Tigre Hispano belatedly called for the DQ. Bufete del Amor challenged any trio in the world to beat them.

The Terra feed was not up for the first two matches due to problems on Terra’s end.

Credit to Carlos for picking up on the Metalico/Virus feud. Puma also made a mask versus mask challenge after his match, but that was the more rote ‘I lost, so I’m going to challenge you to a match both of us know will not get made’ challenge. Metalico’s challenge to Virus, coming after the upset clean victory, appeared to be part of a legitimate program between them. Timing is more of an issue; they’d seem to want to space it out from Dos Leyendas, so an Arena Mexico show on 03/30 or 04/06 seems like a target, but that also gives CMLL plenty of mind to change their mind or add 8 more people to the match.

Rush was a crazy man, doing 30 seconds of spots on one leg, then disappearing for a few minutes to limp around on the outside. He even did his tope con giro. I don’t know how you can boo Rush at this point. I am worried about what we might hear at the press conference about him, because he seemed like a guy who’s going to need to be off that knee for a while. Knee injuries are weird things, and he could be working on a knee that could use surgery or he could just need a couple weeks off. We do know that Titan will be out for about 3 weeks due to hernia surgery, and he’s not on any lineup coming up. Rush is on a lot of cards. Lots of work for Fuego!

There’s a decent chance the ending of the main event was not meant to be the ending. It came off as awkward and weird, and Maximo seemed to be injured and pained even in the post match interview. It’s possible Tigre Hispano just called the DQ to get it over. It’s the second straight title defense versus the Invasors to go a DQ – the last was when Psicosis blatantly fouled Rush (after Rush did the same to Volador and didn’t get caught.) This didn’t come across as strong. Maximo had to get to Neza for the Brazos show there. It’s never a good night to get hurt, but this one was likely a tough one. (But at least he won in Neza!)

CMLL (SUN) 02/17/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Relampago Azul b El Novato
2) Azteca de Oro & El Hippie b Acertijo & Thunder Boy
Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Black Metal b Sádico, Sky Kid [#1 Contenders, OCCIDENTE WELTER]
Black Metal gets a title shot against Leo next week.
4) Espectrum, Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Ráfaga b El Alteño, Halcón de Plata, León Blanco, Smaker
Rudos took 1/3, the last with fouls and mask pulls.
5) Hijo del Fantasma, Sagrado, Shocker b Olímpico, Pólvora, Tiger
Tecnicos took 2/3, Shocker pinning Olimpico and asking for a title match.

I know you all know this, but Olimpico is the Occidente Heavyweight champion.

Oficial 911 won tonight’s three way match in IWRG, so it’ll be El Angel vs Trauma II on 03/03 for the masks. They’ve met twice in singles matches, El Angel winning both times.

Vampiro spent part of Sunday trying to get people to report that he’s retiring. I’m nothing if not helpful. (Vampiro has not had his last match.)

Psycho Circus beat Texano, Chessman and Tony Casanova in the main event of Friday’s show in Tijuana. Show looks to have drawn well. Octagon Jr. worked the semimain, though he got caught in the ropes on a dive.

Rob has highlights of late June 2002 CMLL, Rey de Reyes 2008, and CMLL Puebla 02/27/12.

LuchaWorld has Dark Angel in Japan.

SuperLuchas #499 has the Mexitosos and Konnan.

Eric R @ Segunda Caida reviews CMLL Gala 02/02/13 and CMLL Fox 02/03/13.

A program from Arena Guatemala Mexico in 1990.

Ultimo Guerrero was in El Paso this weekend.

This card from 1981 is great. Black Terry main eventing the same arena he headlines 32 years later, Villano I & Villano II team, Negro Casas in the Alan Extreme spot.

photo by CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 02/15/2013 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Magnus, Pegasso, Stigma b Bobby Zavala, Disturbio, Taurus
Tecnicos took 2/3, Pegasso winning with a 450 splash.
2) Dalis la Caribeña, Estrellita, Silueta b Amapola, La Comandante, La Seductora
Rudas jumped the tecnicas but got DQed in the first fall, then the tecnicas took the second fall. Straight falls. Estrellita wants a hair match, but Amapola demanded a title match first.
3) Ángel de Oro, Stuka Jr., Valiente DQ Averno, Mephisto, Namajague
Namajague argued with Stuka from the ramp before the match, only for another Namajague to attack Stuka behind. (The first one was Okumura.) Tecnicos took falls 2/3. Namajague fouled Stuka for the DQ. Okumura and Namajague said they’re now ready for an apuesta match, and they and the other rudos destroyed Stuka after the match.
4) Dragón Rojo Jr. b Hijo del Fantasma [lightning]
Dragom Bomb for the win.
5) Euforia, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero b Atlantis, La Máscara, Super Porky
Guerreros took 1/3, UG slipping out of the Atlantida and cradling Atlantis for the win.
6) La Sombra b Volador Jr. [Reyes del Aire]
Seconds were Mephisto (and Mije) and La Mascara. Quick opening falls (Sombra double moonsault in 1, Volador backcracker in 2), long third fall with the usual big match kickouts and Mije violence. In the end, Sombra dropkicked Tirantes by mistake, Volador pulled Sombra’s mask, Sombra pulled Volador’s mask, and Sombra cradled Volador for his first Reyes del Aire win. The two made mask match challenges.

La Sombra and Volador Jr. will have their mask match about a week after Octagon and Fuerza Guerrera do. (That’s ‘never’.) It was more about giving people something to talk about instead of the finish.

CMLL is four weeks out from Dos Leyendas, and there’s still no sure bet as to the main event. If I had to assume something right now, I’d guess that Rey Cometa & Stuka vs Namajague & Okumura is the top apuesta match (and maybe semimain) and Amapola vs Estrellita in a hair match is also on the card (about the third match.) And then they’ll draw about 7,000 people. (Dr. Lucha points out that all the loose end feuds could also end up in a cage, though any cage match that includes Sombra and Volador and Atlantis and Ultimo Guerrero and even Mr. Niebla but ends up with Namajague or Stuka losing his mask would not go down well.)

The women’s match and the main event were taped for Fox Sports, which means they’ve flipped the feuds around – Namajague/Stuka is now the Televisa feud, and Amapola/Estrellita is now the Fox Sports one.

Ricky Marvin suffered a concussion in his match with KENTA last night in the Latin American tournament. He managed to post on Twitter about it, so I guess he’s okay.

Mil Mascaras is going to Japan to fight Nosawa on 11/04. Well, sure. It’s being billed as possibly his last ever singles match in Japan.

CMLL Gaceta previews Sunday’s big Invasors vs Bufete title match collision.

Porra Fresa previews Monday’s card.

Estrellas del Ring has an interview with luchadora Cristal and luchador Azazel, as well as a column about the lack of protection for luchadors in light of Astro de Plata’s injury.

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 02/22/2013 Arena Mexico
1) Acero & Aereo vs Demus 3:16 & Mercurio
2) Pegasso, Starman, Tritón vs Hooligan, Nitro, Skándalo
3) Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Misterioso Jr., Namajague, Shigeo Okumura
4) Ángel de Oro, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada vs Mr. Águila, Psicosis, Volador Jr.
5) La Máscara vs Averno [lightning]
6) Marco Corleone, Rush, Shocker vs Mr. Niebla, Terrible, Último Guerrero

No Guerrero/Atlantis and no Estrellita/Amapola, but the entire Cometa/Stuka/Namajague/Okumura crew is back, as well as a sort of Volador/Sombar rematch. Maybe they can also pointlessly tease Niebla vs Shocker.