What happened: The main event trios title match didn’t happen. The match happened, it wasn’t a title match, and Sky Team won anyway. Rush & Ultimo Guerrero feuded in the main event.
What was good: The main event was good, though not the blow away match it seemed like it would be on paper. I liked the minis match and the incredible trios match was not bad, but most everything on this show underdelivered and it’s not something that felt like a good use of a couple hours.
Lucha Memes (SUN) 04/10/2016 Arena Jardines, Ecatepec, Estado de México [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), Estrellas del Ring]
1) Hantar & Íkaro b Electroser & Troyano Gym Falcon vs Gym Contreras
2) Freelance, Pantera, Sádico b Arez, Belial, Impulso Sadico replaced Mike Segura. Money thrown in. Impulso and Freelance challenged for a hair match.
3) Supermega DQ Black Terry Super Mega fouled Terry, Terry fouled Mega, ref only saw the second.
4) Keira DCOR Toxin They battled outside to a draw.
5) Aramis b Iron Kid, Alas de Acero Aramis defeated Iron Kid. Alas de Acero was injured after a tornillo to the floor which flew past the other two.
6) Último Guerrero b Hechicero Guerrero won with via Pulpo Guerrero in a great match. Money thrown in.
Sometimes I’m slow, but it finally dawned on me that IWRG turned Golden Magic because the fans are still booing him over the Castillo del Terror finish. It’s so weird that he’s turning rudo just as he starts as a tecnico in CMLL, but it’s an a great example of how insular the different lucha libre fanbases can be in Mexico. The fans of indie groups (and IWRG) don’t seem really affected much by what happens in CMLL, and those people don’t seem to be affected much by what’s happening in AAA, and so on with WWE.
Tonight’s Puebla show has the trios titles on the line in the main event, as the Sky Team (Mistico, Valiente and Volador) defend against the Revolucionarios (Dragon Rojo, Polvora and Rey Escorpion.) The rudo challengers have had great matches against tecnico high flying teams, and these tecnicos are going to fly. This will be a match worth going out of your way to see, even if a title change seems unlikely.
The semimain on the show is a relevos incredibles, which puts Terrible with Mascara & Rush against Atlantis, Maximo and Ultimo Guerrero. Terrible would be a better new Ingobernables than Pierroth, but a loaf of white bread would be a better Ingobernable than Pierroth. Super Porky is listed in the tercera and it’ll be news if he’s there; he hasn’t been lately. The second match is a minis match with favorites Stukita, Asturiano and Espiritu Maligno in action. It’s got a good chance of being the second best match of the night. The opener has locals Black Tiger, Zaeta Roja, El Malayo and Policeman.
People corrected me in the comments, but I want to make sure to repeat it here: Maximo’s not in Liga Elite. He was definitely in the group of names thrown out for the tournament, but so were Zumbio and Marco and neither of them are actually in it. The full field is Mascara Dorada, Xtreme Tiger, Rush, Bobby Lashley, Atlantis, La Mascara, Volador Jr., Caristico, LA Park, Cibernetico, Ultimo Guerrero and Negro Casas. Ultimo Guerrero is the one I keep missing, and Negro Casas is the one who’s missing from the tournament. Those two should have a match Wednesday if they’re following a normal schedule, but it’s Ultimo Guerrero against Xtreme Tiger instead.
On today’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave an explanation for the Rey Mysterio/AAA situation. He said Rey stopped working for AAA when there were two dates left to fulfill on his contract, because AAA was behind on pay. AAA has caught up on pay, so Rey is going to honor those final two dates (and seemed doubtful if there’d be more than that.) He speculated those last two appearances would be Verano de Escandalo and TripleMania.
On his podcast, MVP repeatedly says he was let go for revealing “specific character information” about Lucha Underground. He says all the executive producers were great to him, and it’s a parent company who had him let go. (Mark Burnett’s company? El Rey? There’s a bunch of companies who could fit, given the shared ownership. AAA’s has let things go on that specific podcast network without firing people in the past so I think I’d rule them out.)
Main event follows up from the bloody match between the Traumas & Canis & Eterno last Wednesday (which did air this weekend and will be up tomorrow.) Panteras versus Terrible Cerberos also might be a title match.
What happened: Xinetez are the trios champions. Dr. Wagner defeated Psycho Clown (via foul, but made sure to get in a Wagner Driver after that.) Pentagon won the Rey de Reyes in the least convincing manner possible, then the Perros del Mal were attacked by La Familia de Tijuana & Pagano.
What was good: The trios match was good I guess, but a show where Fenix and Psycho Clown lose and Pentagon Jr. is made to look like a joke is a pretty dispiriting way to spend 80 minutes. Maybe take a long walk instead of watching.
Where can I watch it: It’s on AAA’s channel and will be on mine soon enough. If you are going to watch it, I’d recommend checking out the +LuchaTV clips of the main event, because it looks like they edited out a chunk of high spots from Psycho/Wagner.
Fantasma’s in the open, but so is Goya Kong so I guess that doesn’t mean much. The bit where they try to find former Rey de Reyes to sell the history of this is nice.
Hype for Brian Cage returning airs during the show.Read More
CMLL (SAT) 04/09/2016Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Camorra b Bengala
2) Flyer DQ Inquisidor Flyer won quickly by DQ when his mask came off as Inquisidor escaped the corner (and Terror Chino made a bad call.)
3) Arkángel de la Muerte b Sensei Sensei, who’s been out since 02/13 (when he suffered a knee injury in this building), replaced Star Junior. He got submitted to an armbar.
4) Nitro b Starman Nitro used his piledriver again.
5) Puma b Hombre Bala Jr. Puma won via powerbomb. Said to be very good.
6) Bobby Z & Vangellys b Guerrero Maya Jr. & The Panther No title challenge made.
7) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Luciferno b Atlantis, Máximo Sexy, Valiente Title challenge made – Euforia beat Maximo to set up the third Heavyweight title match between them. Luciferno replaced Niebla Roja.
Terror Chino was referee for matches 2 & 4, strictly applying the rules on Flyer’s mask falling off but loosely applying them on Nitro’s piledriver. Even by a non-kayfabe sense, CMLL lets Nitro’s piledriver go because that’s the finish, and they know the mask falling off is not the finish of the second match but won’t let it go. It’s terrible and no one in CMLL who can put a stop to it cares enough to put a stop to it.
indy (SAT) 04/09/2016 Gimansio Hercules, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal [Estrellas del Ring] 1) Red Abadón & Thunder Storm b Divino Boy & Star Warrior Star Warrior was scheduled to appear on the DTU, somehow ended up here instead (or it might be a different Star Warrior?) 2) Látigo b Kilvan good match, money thrown in 3) Casandra & Reina Dorada b Felina Metálica & Mystique Felina & Mystique beat Reina, but Casandra (HUMO champ) defeated them both to win 4) Demus 3:16 & Wasson DCOR Akuma & Yoruba [Relevos Increíbles] predictable, the partners could not get along and everyone fought outside for the draw. 5) Rey Hechicero b Dr. Cerebro said to be a great match
This seems like it has a good chance of turning up on handhelds and I hope it does givein the two hyped matches.
DTU (SAT) 04/09/2016Autolavado VM, Tulancingo, Hidalgo [+LuchaTV, DTU]
1) Radical b Chalapa Boy, Licántropo, Krónico
2) Masizito & Porrito b Erwing & Irwing Money thrown in. For winning, Porrito and Masizito get a special match on the next show – against KeMonito and Zacarias!
3) Hormiga b Fandango, Exotico, Gran Cobra Fandango’s DTU debut. He was supposed to be in an earlier match on the show, but replaced Star Warrior (who was also supposed to be debuting.)
4) Jimmy b Rocky Lobo, Lanzeloth, Johnny Idol Jimmy pulled the upset in a good match. Rocky Lobo gave him credit for the win.
5) Drastik Boy & Pesadilla b Fujin & Raijin Mexicans even the results from the previous show. Drastic challenged Raijin to a singles match.
6) Ángel o Demonio b Paranoiko, Drako DTU has Angel de Oro winning, while +LuchaTV has Angel & Paranoiko drawing.
7) Ovett & Sharlie Rockstar b Cíclope & Miedo Extremo Ovett still wants a title match with Ciclope. Ciclope accepted for the next show in Pachuca.
I usually like to wait to see if more detailed recaps of DTU shows turn up, but I have news that Zacarias & Monito are fighting some DTU Kids and that really can’t wait. Also I guess Drastick Boy vs Raijin should be good too.
Who gets their owed title shot first, Bobby Z or Miedo Extremo? (Who’s missing title shot gets even acknowledged first?) I don’t want to be too hard on DTU, because not everyone else would’ve given Jimmy a big win to at least put him in the midcard mix.
CMLL (SUN) 04/10/2016Arena México [CMLL, Yahoo! Deportes]
1) Mercurio & Pierrothito b Shockercito & Stukita
2) Bugambilia, Cancerbero, Raziel b Oro Jr., Pegasso, Soberano Jr. exotico Bugamabilia’s debut, though he doesn’t appear to be involved in any of the finishes. Rudos took 2/3.
3) Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado b Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther Rudos took 1/3. Pierroth continues to be regular Boricua when he’s not with the Ingobernables (days which don’t start with “F”)
4) Dragón Lee, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa DQ Cavernario, Ephesto, Luciferno Cavernario fouled Rey Cometa
5) Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Volador Jr. b Kráneo, Rey Bucanero, Terrible Tecnicos took 2/3.
Don’t you dare set up a Cometa/Cavernario singles match on the day you don’t air, CMLL! That wouldn’t be cool.
Octagon Jr. had an autograph signing at CaraLucha restaurant today. He was there when Octagon confronted him, lecturing the ex-Flamita for using the Octagon mask. Octagon Jr., who was polite at all times, explained he was wearing because that’s his job, and Octagon pulled the mask off Octagon Jr.’s face. Octagon Jr. covered his face and left. Octagon had people filming this on phones and cameras; this was a designed publicity stunt on his part. Octagon boasted about what he had done before his video ends. The video and the story have gone viral, with it making it as far ESPN’s Mexico section. This is not a storyline, though Octagon’s is clearly in wrestling promo mode the entire time.
CaraLucha says Octagon brought bodyguard with guns to the restaurant. Octagon denied the guns, but nothing anything else. It’s obvious from the video that there’s no less than four different security people accompanying Octagon. Some get between the CaraLucha staff and Octagon immediately, and at least one on camera appears to be signaling to everyone else that he has a gun in his pocket.
This was not a brave act by a man standing up for his self identity, but a cowardly act by a man so afraid of losing a legal battle that he’s desperate to win it in the court of public opinion. And it’s seems to have backfired. Octagon had a lot of sympathy for his plight, and blew it all with this. Pulling the mask off someone in a threatening situation only accomplished to turn the people against him. There a few Octagon diehards, and people who feel they’ve been wronged by AAA, who expressed their support for Octagon, but the majority of other luchadors have condemned Octagon for his actions. Octagon’s been ripped on his own social media pages and people are supporting Flamita. People don’t see a man defending his name, but simply a bully. It doesn’t feel like there’s any point in yelling at Octagon over this, because he’s so caught up in his own bluster that he’s lost any grip on reality or decency (and will obviously still claim he has the right to the name whatever the court case decides), but I think the worst punishment he can have is be shunned by his fellow luchadors and that appears to be what’s happening at the moment.
The Roldans has sent out messages of support to Flamita while condemning Octagon. That’s nice and good. That doesn’t absolve them of their responsibility for this mess. There’s not a single thing “Octagon Jr.” has done that could’ve been done by Flamita. I’m sure there’s a peso more he’s made as Octagon Jr. that he would’ve made as Flamita, or Fireball, or whatever. Call him whatever you want, he’s one of the most talented luchadors on the planet, AAA should be honored to have him work for them, and they’re making him carry an enormous burden for mostly their own benefit. If you’re going to put this man on the firing line, apparently quite literally, you have to better plans for him than opening match mixed tags and completely pointless trios matches. He deserves much better for dealing with this nonsense, and he can find better work in pretty much any promotion in the world if the best you’ve got for him is trademark defense. If Octagon Jr. is only a thing to maintain some right to the name, give it to some super anonymous rookie and have him appear as often as Atomic Boy does (or Alebrije does) and keep the heat off the luchador. If Octagon Jr. is supposed to be a big deal worthy of all this blowback, treat him like a big deal. There’s no in-between on this one, I don’t understand the point of all of this if you’re doing it in-between.
In a video posted on Twitter, LA Park said he’s honoring his agreements to work both the AAA date in Nuevo Laredo on Monday he had agreed to and the Elite show on Wednesday. This would also seem to be up to the promoters; Wednesday’s no problem, but Monday might be iffy.
Hopefully Alas de Acero can make the match. You may not want to watch the video, but he completely flew past his partners on a tornillo dive on tonight’s Lucha Memes show, landing badly on a cement floor. The end of the video shows a significant wound on his forehead, and he’s lucky if that’s all that happened.
Over in Germany, Black Fire defeated the Rotation to win a shot at the DTU Alto Impacto championship, still held by Kim Ray. Black Fire’s stint in Europe must be wrapping up soon, and he might not get another shot to bring it back to Mexico.
CMLL (SUN) 04/17/2016Arena México
1) Metatrón & Templario vs Akuma & Espíritu Negro
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Magia Blanca, Súper Halcón Jr. vs Fujin, Okumura, Raijin
3) Blue Panther Jr., The Panther, Tritón vs Felino, Luciferno, Tiger
4) Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Cavernario, Niebla Roja, Pierroth
5) Dragón Lee, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Mr. Niebla
They’re doing the Cometa/Cavernario match off TV! That’s not cool!
There are a few Templario’s in Mexico, but this debuting one is probably the one who’s been seen on Cara Lucha shows. This would be the eighth new person who’s debuted in CMLL proper since the end of December, not counting Golden Magic, Fujin and Raijin. I probably need to pay closer attention to see who’s being dropped.
Magico, at least under that name, debuted in January and is getting his first ever title shot after four months and twelve matches, in a building that doesn’t do many local title matches.
Fugaz debuted tonight (or was supposed to), and Avispon Negro simply lost his “Jr.” after one week, so the only real new name is Destello. He’s been around smaller Jalisco indies, not always near Guadalajara, for a little while.
This show is going up against a Satanico & Panthro vs El Dandy & Caifan main event across town. You must be very old to main event in Monterrey. The poster is very unclear as to what’s going in the semimain, but it’s probably nothing good. It’d be nice to see Rayman on TV, if only he had a decent match.
The standout bit from these shows is the winners from Rey de Reyes both losing. Texano took the loss to La Parka (off all people) and got destroyed by Mesias & Cage. Pentagon took the loss to Jack Evans and was beat up by La Familia (for the second show in a row.) It’s not for nothing – Texano vs Cage (and maybe Mesias) and Perros for La Familia appear to be the big matches for Verano de Escandalo – but it’s a tough way to build new stars. It’s also not so different than what was done in the prior booking regime, where the philosophy seemed to be keeping the rudos as strong as possible in hopes of making it a big deal when the tecnicos finally won. The reaction to Psycho Clown winning in the main event would be a good barometer to how well that’s working now, and I’m not sure how they reacted.
Another thing back: Rey Mysterio. He was announced as returning soon, no date given. My uninformed guess is he’s back at Verano de Escandalo to set up a big match for TripleMania. The substory is AAA, said to be cash strapped recently, suddenly does have money to bring in Mysterio and Cage. Not really clear what changed.
Also maybe coming back soon: Hijo del Fantasma, who was writing himself into the Texano vs Mesias/Cage feud on Twitter last night, saying he’d be back in a few weeks. (With Leon announced, the first show where we might see him is Xalapa on the 29th.) Fantasma was understood to be trying to leave both LU & AAA for WWE, but unable to do so because he signed a 7 season deal with LU. Something obviously changed and it looks like he’s sticking around.
The new Bengala appears to be a shorter than Drago in the photos, which makes him pretty short. No shoulder tattoo. We’ll have a better idea of who he is when it airs in a few weeks. AAA is a little short on people – that’s probably part of the reason Atomic Boy is back around – so it might be someone working double duty. Losing in his first match also might mean it’s a one off Bengala appearance, or someone not expected to be around much.
