CMLL (SUN) 05/08/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Avispón Negro & Black Sugar b Destructor & Guerrero de la Muerte
2) Diplomático & Gitano b El Alteño & Javier Cruz Jr.
Gitano won the final fall 1 v 2
3) Cosmos DQ Relámpago
Linterna, Gitano, Reycko and Avispon Negro all ran in.
4) Frezzer, Mágico, Neutrón b Demonio Rojo, El Chakal, Rey Trueno
5) El Divino, Gallo, Vaquero Jr. DQ Kempo Dragón, Príncipe Kisho, Ráfaga
Kempo & Kisho fouled and unmasked Vaquero & Gallo.

Run-ins on a Guadalajara show usually mean a cage match is coming.

CMLL (MON) 05/09/2016 Arena Puebla [thecubsfan]
1) París & Robin b Fuerza Chicana & King Jaguar
Black Tiger appears to have replaced Robin (traffic delay). Match did not air on the stream. Tecnicos apepared to have won in a match that was stalled out to allow everyone else to arrive.
2) Espíritu Maligno & Nitro b Millenium & Rey Samuray
11:38. Espiritu Maligno replaced Arkangel. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Hombre Bala Jr., Magnus, Súper Halcón Jr. b Virus, Warrior Steel, Yago
12:24. Rudos took 2/3.
4) Dalys © b Estrellita [CMLL WOMEN]
10:09. Dalys took falls 2/3 to retain, her second defense.
5) Ángel de Oro, Stigma, Stuka Jr. b Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
10:39. Tecnicos took 2/3. Stigma challenged for a trios title match next week. Mephisto accepted, but the rudos still unmasked the tecnicos.
6) La Máscara, Rush, Shocker DQ Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy, Negro Casas [Relevos Increíbles]
There was an odd delay before the match. Arkangel started as a replacement for Shocker, only for Shocker to take his place in the first minutes. Shocker’s team took 1/3, the last when Rush flagrantly fouled Marco. Marco demanded a singles match next week and Rush accepted.

This was a strange show. The announcers, when their microphones were finally working, explained there was an accident blocking traffic on the highway leading from Mexico City to Puebla. The caravan usually leaves Arena Mexico during the afternoon and is at the arena hours ahead of time, so they must’ve been stuck for quite some time. The announcers said they had to get out one of vehicle, grab their equipment, carry it a ways to get past the stoppage, and get in another vehicle to get to the show. The stream didn’t start until about half hour past normal, with the guys from the opener still lingering in the ring. (It must’ve gone a lot longer than usual, and the show itself went longer than usual.) The production crew was putting the equipment together, and got it working pretty quick all considering, though they didn’t explain what was going on until it was all working.

The Shocker bit in the main event was just as weird. They were stalling before that match got going. Arkangel got in the ring and started staring back, as if he was still unsure if Shocker was coming. I’d guess Arkangel was pulled from the second match because they didn’t know if Shocker was going to make his match. (They’d normally do it from the semimain, but those guys were all needed for the title match.) Maybe Shocker was traveling his own way up to Puebla and they weren’t sure if he was going to get thru the traffic in time? Shocker said there was a lot of stress last night but thanked God for letting him wrestler.

The matches itself weren’t as interesting. Rush/Marco next week should be fun. The Trios title match could be good too.

Today’s CMLL show has Marco Corleone, Maximo and Stuka taking on Ultimo Guerrero, Euforia and Vangellys. It was supposed to be Niebla Roja instead of Euforia, and Niebla Roja’s recent Facebook posts have him back in Arena Mexico, but he’s off all cards this week. The fourth match continues the Panthers/Kamikazes feud. There are no ongoing feuds and there aren’t any sure fire great matches. It seems like a good night to skip, but the joy/hassle of following CMLL is sometimes that’s randomly when good trios matches occur.

The preview says the show starts at 8:30pm, but I assume it starts at 7:30pm like every other Tuesday. It’ll air on CMLL.com and YouTube.

CMLL also lists Cavernario out of the fun looking lightning match with Stuka on Friday, with Misterioso taking his place.

Flamita defeated Dinamic Black on Muchas Luchas (Guadalajara)’s one year anniversary. Semimain saw the Neza Kings cheat La Legion (Rayman, Makabre and Omega) , with a tease of a mask/hair match to follow.

The AAA Japan account says a press conference for the Lucha World Cup will take place tomorrow. Wednesday’s the AAA announcement day so that makes sense. I’d expect we’ll get the full teams or something close to it.

Black Terry Jr. has slow motion highlights of Sunday’s IWRG show.

Box Y Lucha 3232 has Mephisto & Electroshock on the cover of this week’s issue.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update, including a recap of Konnan’s new podcast and this week’s Poster-Mania.

Segunda Caida reviews the No Mas episode.

Chessman & Averno hype their tag title rematch on Saturday.

Notimex has a video feature on the mother/daughter team Los Irmas. SuperLuchas has an interview with Lola Gonzalez along the same Mother’s Day lines.

Hola Ciudad has a story on Lucha Va Voom.

San Luis Potosi luchadors can sign up for government health insurance on Friday.

Lineups

FULL (SAT) 05/14/2016 Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal
1) Charly Madrid & Saru vs Pequeño Guerrero & Tupac Amaru
2) Lady Apache & Reyna Dorada vs Ludark Shaitan & Stephane Vaquer
3) Ángel Del Amor, Decnnis, Zumbido vs Fishman Jr., Sucesor, Veneno
4) Alan Stone, Hijo De Dos Caras, Hijo de Máscara Sagrada, Huracán Ramírez vs Cien Caras Jr., Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Scorpió Jr., Silver Kain
5) Grond XXX, LA Park, Súper Parka, Tinieblas Jr. vs El Hijo del Solitario, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Pirata Morgan, Rey Bucanero

Reconfigured lineup, with some people who were scheduled for the (quietly canceled) Sunday show added to this one. Of note, Marabunta Jr. – who’s currently playing the role of Octagon Jr. – disappeared off this card.

LI (SUN) 05/15/2016 Arena Aficion
1) Avispón & Dr. Boris vs Colmillo Blanco & El Novato
2) Dragón Latino & El Exótico vs Krónico & La Plaga
3) Hijo De Villano III & Villano III Jr. vs Águila Del America Jr. & Fujin
4) Canek Jr., El Fantasma, Solar I vs Máscara Año 2000, Okumura, Raijin
5) Canek vs Mr. Jack [IWL HEAVY]
listed as vacant title?

1. Leyenda Inmortales still exists
2. Leyenda Inmortales had an “International World League Heavyweight Championship” held by Fantasma and a “Indy Wrestling League World Championship” held by Canek
3. I have no idea which this is, or why it’d be vacant. Maybe there’s a title change we’ve all forgot
4. Canek just wants to get the win back over Mr. Jack, I guess.
5. Okumura chooses the oddest selection of indies to work

IWRG (SUN) 05/08/2016 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), The Gladiatores]
1) Adrenalina & Omega b Aramis & Magnum 44
2) Astro & Dragón Fly b Atomic Star & Hip Hop Man
3) Factor, Rayan, Spartan, Spector b Leo, Mike, Rafy, Teelo [lumberjack]
Comando Elite want a title match, while the Tortugas want a mask match.
4) Danny Casas, Hijo del Alebrije, Veneno b Golden Magic, Negro Navarro, Trauma II
Money thrown in.
5) Dinamic Black, Emperador Azteca, Hijo del Alebrije b Cerebro Negro, Herodes Jr., Killer Jr.
6) Canis Lupus & Trauma I b Hijo De Dos Caras & Máscara Año 2000 Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Kato Kung Lee was honored before the match. Trauma I gave his partner Canis Lupus a martinete at the start of the match, sending him out on a stretcher. Danny Casas replaced him. Mask and hair challenges followed.

It sounds like the expected IWRG “hair, mask and belt” multiman match is happening next Sunday.

Today’s Puebla show has a Yet Another relevos increibles match as a main event. This time around, it’s La Mascara & Rush teaming with Shocker against Marco, Maximo & Negro Casas. It’s likely to set up a rematch of some sort. The two matches below it are rematches of sorts from last week: Angel de Oro, Stigma and Stuka face the Hijos del Infierno in what appears to be setup for a trios title match, and Dalys defends the CMLL’s Women’s Championship against Estrellita where a title change is unlikely. The most interesting match might be the tercera, where regular early match tecnicos Hombre Bala, Super Halcon and Magnus take on Virus and novatos Warrior Steel & Yago. Paris, Fuerza Chicana, King Jaguar, Millenium, and Rey Samurai are the locals on the show, though the exciting Samuray is paired with the not exciting Arkangel & Nitro.

The show starts at 9pm and should stream on CMLL.com and YouTube as usual.

No Sabado Retros this week; there’s a boxing event for the venue instead. Barbie Juarez appears to be headlining. A while back on Informa, Ultimo Guerrero said he couldn’t imagine a women’s match headlining a show because there’s not enough of luchadoras. I’m not sure there’s that many more boxers, but it seems like it’s more about creating a star.

Peste Negra remember Kato Kung Lee.

RIOT’s next show is on 06/11.
1: Belial versus Drastick Boy

Chik Tormenta talks about being a mom and a lucahdora.

Segunda Caida reviews the Cage in a Cage Lucah Underground episode.

Lineup

IWRG (WED) 05/11/2016 Arena Naucalpan
1) Bambino, Demonio Infernal, Sexy Girl, Skanda vs Canario, Fly Tiger, Magic Dragón, Último Caballero
2) Vampiro Metálico & Voltar vs Ángel De La Muerte I & Ángel De La Muerte II
3) Aries I, Aries II, Torbellino Azul vs Adrenalina, Águila Oriental, Osiris
4) Acero, Blue Monsther Jr., Rolling Boy vs Keshin Black, Power Bull, Troll
5) Aramis, Dragón Fly, Fireman, Galaxy, Hijo del Alebrije, Kanon, Shadow Boy, Zatura vs Astaroth (Guerrero), Guerrero Azteca (Guerrero), Guerrero Jr. (Guerrero), Pez Tiburón, Relámpago Jr. (Guerrero), Rey Jaguar (Guerrero), Último Samurai (Guerrero), Uranio (Guerrero) [Copa Higher Power]
Gym FILL (Black Terry) versus Promciones del Norte (Black Silver – Acapulco)

There’s a lot of Ciudad de Mexico luchadors who turn up in Acapulco, so it’s about right they turn up the other way.

There’s a Blue Monsther Junior???

CMLL (SAT) 05/07/2016 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Inquisidor b Bengala
2) Leono b Camorra
3) Flyer b Artillero
Flyer won with a Spanish Fly. Good match.
4) Hombre Bala Jr. b Nitro
5) Tritón b Disturbio
6) Blue Panther & Esfinge b Puma & Tiger
A moment of applause for Kato Kung Lee took place before the match. Puma & Tiger took fall one. Tiger was injured when the top rope broke during the match (taken to hospital, seemed to be OK on Twitter later.) Tecnicos took the second fall 2 on 1 and they stopped the match to repair the ring. Blue Panther quit the match so it could finish 1v1, and Esfinge defeated Puma to win. Money thrown in.
7) La Máscara, Súper Porky, Titán DQ Ephesto, Luciferno, Ripper
La Mascara didn’t get along with his partners, was fouled by Luciferno.

Note they’ve got edecanes on these shows too now. Might be a sponsorship thing. The card structure is still the “retro” style, but it’s also a dumping ground to give work to people who aren’t part of the bigger shows.

CMLL (SUN) 05/08/2016 Arena México
1) Bengala & Flyer b Apocalipsis & Cholo
2) Fantasy, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) Esfinge, Oro Jr., Tritón b Cancerbero, Sangre Azteca, Tiger
Tiger, hurt last night, was back in action today. Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stuka Jr., Titán b Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado
The Boricuas had issues, may be breaking up
5) Ephesto, Mephisto, Rey Escorpión b Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy
Escorpion wants a title shot against Atlantis.

I’m alright with the Boricuas doing their split up angle on a non-televised show. More televised show for Pierroth!

Kato Kung Lee, Johnny Lezcano Smith, passed away on Saturday afternoon. He was a agile luchador of the 70s, 80s, 90s, the leader of a wave of martial arts themed luchadors inspired by the popularity of Asian martial arts films, though he had genuine martial arts training. Kato was nimble and had impressive rope tricks. He won singles gold, but is probably best remembered as part of Los Fantasticos (with Black Man & Kung Fu), a popular tecnico trio during the rise of trios wrestling in the early 80s. Lezcano was born in Panama and emigrated to Mexico for his career, and lived in the country for the rest of his life. He was well known – both in Mexico and Japan – and well liked even after his career had wound down. He’d been dealing with medical issues for as long as the last decade, and things had taken a turn for the worst in the last week.

LuchaWorld has the most complete bio. The Gladiatores shares some personal thoughts from knowing Kato. Hijo del Santo, who unmasked Kato Kung Lee, talks about knowing him in and out of the ring.

Los Ingobernables don’t want anything to do with Rey Escorpion, are still sure he must’ve bought the shirt from a pirate vendor.

ChilangaMask and ERLL will have a show on Monterrey on June 5th.

RobViper has highlights from 10/09/15 CMLL.

There’s a new edition of +LuchaTV up.

SuperLibre had Satanico as guest.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 05/15/2016 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Pequeño Universo 2000 & Pequeño Violencia
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Mano Negra Jr., Starman vs Grako, Hijo del Signo, Sangre Azteca
3) Blue Panther Jr., Oro Jr., Tritón vs El Cuatrero, Sansón, Skándalo
4) Máscara Dorada, Rey Cometa, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Ephesto, Mephisto
5) Atlantis © vs Rey Escorpión [MEX LH]
3rd defense.

This is Atlantis’ second defense on a Sunday show, the one untelevised Arena Mexico show.

Cometa & Cavernario back up against each in the second match.

There was a Mano Negra Jr. in CMLL from 1997 to 2005. This is probably not him. There is a Mano Negra Jr. – this is probably not him? Grako shows up Toryumon shows in 2014 and then very rarely around Mexico City; maybe he has/had another identity?

CMLL (SUN) 05/15/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Micro vs El Diplomático
2) Fugaz & Johnny Dinamo vs Carlo Roggi & Mr. Apolo
3) Capitán Cobra, Cosmos, Reyko vs Gitano, Linterna, Relámpago
4) Gallo & Vaquero Jr. vs Kempo Dragón & Príncipe Kisho
5) Furia Roja, Mr. Trueno, Ráfaga vs Joker, Maléfico, Sádico

Rudo main event is odd; guess we’ll find out why it happened in a few days.

CMLL (FRI) 05/06/2016 Arena México [@RobViper, +LuchaTV, CMLL]
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Súper Halcón Jr. DQ Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo
Referee screwed up the finish
2) Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, The Panther b Fujin, Raijin, Skándalo
Referee screwed up the finish (again)
3) Ángel de Oro, Fuego, Súper Porky DQ Bobby Z, Hechicero, Vangellys
Tecnicos won in straight falls.
4) Rey Bucanero b Titán [lightning]
Bucanero win in 7:02.
5) Rey Cometa, Valiente, Volador Jr. b Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
Tecnicos took 2/3.
6) Marco Corleone, Terrible, Último Guerrero b La Máscara, Rey Escorpión, Rush [Relevos Increíbles]
Rey Escorpion got along with Rush, did not get along with La Mascara

I didn’t see this show. It didn’t sound like a show that needed seeing, with CMLL just killing time and doing little.

Kato Kung Lee has not passed away as of the time of this writing. He’s been in bad health at the hospital for a week, and word he had passed away spread last night, with both major promotions announced he had passed away. CMLL even did a moment of applause. The family got word out about 20 minutes later that he had not passed away, but was still in delicate condition.

Edit: there are now reports again Kato Kung Lee has passed away.

Konnan, Roberto Figueroa and Aldo Farias have a new “podcast”, a Spanish language variation of what Konnan’s doing with MLW Radio. (It’s not a podcast if I have to watch it on YouTube. It’s a video with a really boring picture for an hour.) Konnan was as anti-AAA as expected, saying the three tools AAA has to keep luchadors around are “lying, intimidation and fear.”

Konnan says AAA told Octagon they’d let him use the name on independents, which appeared to be what was happening before the Octagon Jr. situation started.  Konnan also said AAA first tried to get Flamita to take the name Myzteziz Jr., which Konnan thought was a bad idea (Myzteziz didn’t mean much) and Flamtia didn’t want to do. There was a story in the WON after Myzteziz left that AAA wanted to keep using that name, which seemed like a bad idea at a time and still seems like a bad idea. Konnan said he’d have Fenix and Pentagon Jr. on the show soon, which seems politically difficult as long as they’re working for AAA.

(Edit: added a word I missed and cleared up the above paragraph on 05/10)

One of Konnan’s big points early on is how AAA may feel like they’re a big deal, but all the international stuff their luchadors are doing is because people watch Lucha Underground, and no one really pays attention to AAA itself. I went to AAW last night to see Fenix & Pentagon, and you absolutely get that feeling from the crowd. There actually was a Mexican family with a noise maker and a Perros del Mal shirt, and there were others who have followed those two in Mexico, but you could sense most of the crowd was into them because of a show on an obscure US cable network that the ratings systems say nearly no one actually watches. The people yelling “break his arm!” were doing it because of that show, not because of anything AAA’s done. The people excited for Drago coming in next month are because he’s looked cool in LU, not because of anything they’ve done with him in AAA (because they haven’t done much with him in AAA.) Lucha Underground has a buzz and cool factor, and AAA is pretty much in obscurity.

The subtext to this is, if you’re a Pentagon Jr. & Fenix or anyone else getting US/international bookings and really like them, you simply need to stay in LU to keep getting those bookings. AAA is not necessary.

(Aside 1: Had AAA nailed TripleMania last year, maybe this is a completely different conversation.)

(Aside 2: Pentagon Jr./Fenix was very good and the crowd ate it up. They’re not cheap nowadays, but they also seemed like they were a significant draw for a big indie turnout. People only following LU has a benefit too; this matchup is something that was done a lot in trios in AAA, but it was really only done a couple times very early in the first season of LU and then both guys have moved in different directions. It’s still very new for LU fans.)

(Aside 3: this is Konnan working with the same people Arturo Rivera said he’d be working with on a new promotion, but they insist they’re just doing this as a friends and not going into business together.)

Konnan says he’ll finally talk about AAA & LU on Tuesday’s MLW Radio show. That’s the second part of the show with Dave Meltzer, which was obviously taped and cut in half to stretch in two weeks. It would’ve been weird for Dave not ask, but the other co-hosts have been careful not to bring up the either subject when Konnan’s been on the last few months.

Today’s CMLL show is back at Arena Coliseo, has La Mascara, Super Porky, Titan versus Ephesto, Luciferno and Ripper. Best match might be Tiger & Puma versus Esfinge & Blue Panther.

This week’s AAA TV is up. It’s a Mother’s Day themed episode, with Mary & Faby and their children appearing (and also they have a match.) Those two are also announced as being on the Mexico team for the AAA World Cup, with the last spot a mystery person. Maybe someone outside AAA, because the suspense doesn’t make sense for AAA.

The Lucha World Cup spot now lists Oudou (Akebono’s promotion) & Zero1, so that’s probably the second Japan team this year. The Notimex story said more info would be announced about the tournament on Monday.

Ricky Marvin, Nicho and Pirata Morgan talk about their qualifier.

La Parka has a column in Record now. Record was doing an autograph signing with AAA luchadors today

That Monterrey Elite lineup with “Mr. Elektro” and others for May 15th must mean the one with Bobby Lashley & Caristico versus Rush & Volador Jr. as a main event must’ve been canceled.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

RobViper has a music video of last year’s Heroes Inmortales.

Segunda Caida reviews Atsushi Onita, Mil Mascaras & El Hijo del Santo vs. Tarzan Goto, Negro Casas & Giant Warrior.

Valiente, Dragon Rojo and Omega Labs are holding a weight loss competition. (Them helping other people losing weight, not them losing weight.)

Lineups

ELITE (WED) 05/11/2016 Arena México
1) Príncipe Diamante & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
2) Ángel de Oro vs Golden Magic, Metaleón, Argos, Rey Cometa, Tritón, Dinamic Black, Puma [ELITE MIDDLE, pre eliminatoria]
3) Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy, Rocky Lobo vs Magno, Rey Escorpión, Último Ninja
4) Volador Jr. vs Xtreme Tiger [Liga Elite]
5) Hijo de LA Park, La Parka Jr., Súper Parka vs Cibernético, Mephisto, Sharlie Rockstar
6) Carístico vs Último Guerrero [Liga Elite]

Caristico and Ultimo Guerrero is a rematch from Puebla. Volador squeezes in one more match before heading to Japan.

Ultimo Ninja makes his ELITE debut in the tercera. Magno may or may not be there; he actually wasn’t there this past week, with Karonte Jr. in his spot instead.

ELITE and the poster doesn’t really say what they mean by a pre-eliminatoria, but the guessing is it’s some sort of seeding match for a tournament. I hope that’s not the complete field, I’d be disappointed if Jinzo didn’t make it.

CMLL (FRI) 05/13/2016 Arena México
1) Eléctrico & Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
2) Estrellita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Blue Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Titán vs Bobby Z, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora
4) Stuka Jr. vs Cavernario [lightning]
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
6) La Máscara, Pierroth, Rush vs Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Terrible

Good for Shocker not to be the worst wrestler in his return to a Friday night main event. Bad for the rest of us. That main event is going to be awful.

Cometa/Cavernario appears to be dropped out of nowhere. 3/4/5 coul dbe good anyway.