Tag: AAA US

AAA signs licensing deal with Cookie Jar Entertainment

thecubsfan 18 Comments

The big news of the day is a press release AAA posted on their site yesterday evening. They’ve named Cookie Jar Entertainment as the exclusive licensing agency for AAA. Cookie Jar Entertainment the right to use AAA wrestlers and names on products; action figures, masks, books, back to school items and collectibles are specifically mentioned, with the target time as early 2010. Of special note to those who read this blog, there’s a mention of “the first series of lucha libre AAA in English.” There’s no ETA mentioned on that.

That’s what we know, based on the press release. What’s missing and how it’s said is interesting. While it’s pushed as a partnership of AAA and Cookie Jar, no one from AAA proper is quoted. Instead, speaking for them is Steve Ship, listed as CEO of Lucha Libre USA. That group is actually the local promoters for the US tour of shows, as well as those in charge of the PPV they did last year. In interviews prior to the latest tour, Konnan’s sounded unhappy about how AAA’s partnership with the US group was going, but the last tour seemed like it went well, and obviously the relationship has to be going well for both sides to expand it like this. I’d figure, though, that these are actually the US licensing rights and Televisa still owns the Mexican ones; Televisa surely has some sort of control here.

As I alluded to in the comments, Cookie Jar Enterainment is a strange fit with AAA. From that list of items they hope to put out, the target audience looks like 6-12 year olds, and Cookie Jar aims for the same age range. The actual product seems so much different. Cookie Jar owns the rights to such things as Strawberry Shortcake, Inspector Gadget*, and the CARE BEARS. That’s a bit of a departure from Crazy Boy breaking a light tube over Joe Lider’s back and the camera zooming in to watch blood flow.

However, AAA’s anime seems a lot closer in tone. Makes me wonder if that’s possibly the AAA we’ll end up seeing in the US; just a lot of marketing and editing (or separate tapings) to focus on the kid-friendly aspects of AAA – lots of minis, comedy (that’s safe for all ages) and people in colorful costumes doing high spots – while cutting out the soap opera and the hardcore bits and the sexual elements. WWE’s gone to a PG product, CMLL’s banned bleeding and restricted un-family friendly brawls, perhaps this is a sign AAA will be going in the same direction.

This doesn’t mean a lot to the product at the moment, but it could be a sign of where they’re going.

Cookie Jar uses Immersion Games to create games for it’s characters. Immersion is making the AAA game, so that’s the obvious meeting point here.

* obligatory cheap joke: most of Dr. Claw’s plans are better thought out than AAA’s stoylines

AAA in Las Vegas date official (maybe)

thecubsfan 12 Comments

Edit: AAA’s changed the date for the Las Vegas show to Thursday 04/02.

Also, mexicanwrestling.org (which still lists the San Diego show and not the Vegas one) has the lineup for both weekends:

03/27-03/29
Crazy Boy, Super Fly vs Joe Lider, Jack Evans
Pimpinela, Mascarita Sagrada 2007 vs Decnnis, Mini Abismo Negro
Vampiro vs Mesias Chessman
La Parka Jr., Abismo Negro, Laredo Kid vs Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown, Killer Clown
Cibernetico, Mesias, Charly Manson vs Ozz, Cuervo, Scoria

04/02-05?
Vampiro, La Parka, Abismo Negro vs Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown, Killer Clown
Cibernético, Charly Manson vs Electroshock, Joe Lider
El Mesías vs Chessman
Super Fly, Crazy Boy vs vs Extreme Tiger, Jack Evans
Faby Apache, Octagoncito, Pimpinela vs Mary Apache, Mini Abismo Negro, Deccnis

Running the same lineup in Las Vegas and Los Angeles doesn’t really lend itself to TV tapings. But the card is subject to change, as are the taping dates (and no one explicitly says either card is for Vegas.)

Original post follows

AAA officially announced the Las Vegas stop on their US tour. The Observer had mentioned it back when the tour was first mentioned by AAA, but the building was not set.

AAA lists the tour as

03/27: Fresno, CA (Save Mart Center)
03/28: Sacramento, CA (ARCO Arena)
03/29: San Jose, CA (HP Pavilion)

04/03: 04/02: Las Vegas (Orleands Arena) – CONFIRMED TV taping
04/05: Los Angeles Sports Arena – possible TV taping

There are definite issues here:

– No San Diego show on the 4th, even though tickets are on a sale and a lineup was announced.

– Can’t find an Orleands Arena. Can find a Orleans Arena, which is hosting a hockey game that night. Huh.

I guess it does make more sense to do the TV tapings on the same weekend, so you can just go location to location, and AAA never does tapings on back to back days, but that doesn’t preclude them from running in San Diego without the cameras. I’m not quite sure what’s going on here, but I think it’s bad info.

02/15: Mistico, AAA in the US, lineups

thecubsfan 13 Comments

Mistico beat Mephisto in NJPW’s show at the Sumo Hall today to retain the CMLL World Welterweight Title. Unfortunately, Mistico seemed to hurt a knee in the opening moments of the match and suffered the rest of the way thru. No telling how bad it is, or what plans NJPW had for him next.

Ovaciones mostly talks about tonight’s show in Arena Mexico. It does continue cover of Mascarita Ano 2000’s feud with Bracito de Oro, which is apparently taking place in Cancun (yet no room for the AAA taping)

As noted in the comments (and in a story on ESTO and on WagnerMania), Halloween resurfaced with Los Perros on the 02/13 Arena Neza show. After Wagner refused to join the Perros, they beat him down. Wagner made peace with Santo and Demon to set up a main event for next time – Wagner/Santo/Demon vs Perro/Damian/Halloween.

AAA teases more info about it’s video game in the latest Dos y Tres. (Which is what seemed to be shown on Tercera Caida.) Of note, the graphic to promote this says 2010, so don’t be running to GameStop for a deposit.

A post on F4Wonline’s board pointed out lineups for a couple of US Tour shows have been posted. Subject to change, of course.

AAA (SAT) 03/28 Arco Arena, Sacramento, CA[Arco Arena]
1) Decnnis & Mini Abismo Negro vs Mascarita Sagrada 2007 & Pimpinela Escarlata
2) Chessman vs Vampiro
3) Crazy Boy & Super Fly vs Jack Evans & Joe Lider
4) Abismo Negro, La Parka Jr., Laredo Kid vs Killer Clown, Psycho Clown, Zombie CLown
5) Charly Manson, Cibernetico, Mesias vs Cuervo, Escoria, Ozz

Notice Vampiro’s returning to the ring. No big surprise.

AAA (SAT) 04/04 San Diego Sports Arena [San Diego Sports Arena]
1) Fabi Apache, Octagoncito, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Decnnis, Mari Apache, Mini Abismo Negro
2) Crazy Boy & Super Fly vs Jack Evans & Teddy Hart
3) Mesias vs Chessman
4) Charly Manson & Cibernetico vs ? & Joe Lider
5) Abismo Negro, Electro Shock, La Parka Jr., Vampiro vs Killer Clown, Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown

Obviously the main event is wrong. Interesting that the Clowns are on both weekends at this point – you wouldn’t have expected that a few months ago (and it’s still surprising now.)

03/27 at the Save Mart Center (Fresno), 03/29 HP Pavilion and the 04/05 LA Sporta Arena (taping?) do not have more info posted yet.

A couple notes from SuperLuchas #302
– Cassandro says “Satanico el Exocito” was a mishearing that got spread on the internet, and he’s back in TNA on 02/23 and 02/24
– Super Crazy says he told AAA he’s staying indepedent for the time being. We’ll see on Wednesday

LuchaWorld has Robert on Lucha Libre Azteca 62, AAA from Morelon on 08/31/07, KrisZ’s news update and 81-90 in the Top 100 countdown.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 02/17 Arena Mexico
1) Rayo Tapatio I & Rayo Tapatio II vs Artillero & Super Comando
2) Angel Azteca Jr., Angel de Oro, Angel de Plata vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Hooligan, Skandalo
3) Lluvia, Marcela, Sahori vs La Seductora, Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sujei
4) Hijo del Fantasma, Mascara Dorada, Valiente vs Dragon Rojo Jr., Felino, Sangre Azteca
5) La Mascara, Shocker, Volador Jr. vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Ultimo Guerrero

A show. CMLL.com lists the main event as for the Mexican National Trios Titles, for the third week in a row. (It’s not.)

IWRG (THU) 02/19 Arena Naucalpan
1) Halcon 2000 vs Comando Gama
2) Eragon & Fenix vs Hijo del Signo & Judas el Traidor
3) Chico Che, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Bushi, Cerebro Negro, Fantasma de la Opera
4) Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro vs Multifacetico, Pendulo, Zatura
5) Freelance vs Dr. Cerebro

Okay, keep that main event in mind.

CMLL (FRI) 02/20 Arena Mexico
1) Metalico, Starman, Trueno vs Apocalispis, Inquisidor, Ramstein
2) Angel de Oro, Angel de Plata, Flash vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Euforia, Nosferatu
3) Mascara Dorada vs Virus [lightning]
4) Blue Panther, Maximo, Ultimo Guerrero vs Averno, Texano Jr., Villano V
5) Hector Garza, Marco Corleone, Mistico vs Atlantis, Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero

This show still feels a match short. But at least Arkangel gets his shot at Flash and Ramstein exists. Also, we get to see how good Virus is (though he can’t prevent the ropes from eating Mascara Dorada up.)

Maximo’s involvement in that feud is still really odd. He’s comedy, that’s not an issue that needs comedy.

PERROS DEL MAL (FRI) 02/20 Plaza de Toros el Relicario, Puebla, Puebla
1) La Parkita, Mini Kung Fu, Piratita del Caribe vs Mr. Aguilita, Pequeno Halloween, Piratita Morgan
2) La Nazi vs Lizzy Valentine
3) Konami, Super Nova, X-Fly vs Momia, Murcielago, Vampiro (local)
4) Angel Blanco Jr. vs Olimpico [WWA MIDDLE]
5) Damián 666, Juventud Guerrero, Mr. Aguila vs Blue Demon Jr., El Hijo del Solitario, Intocable
6) Cibernetico & el Hijo del Perro Aguayo vs Dr. Wagner Jr. & Super Crazy

Uh oh. Was wondering what the deal with Mini FdT was, and it looks like Halloween and Aguilita have split town. That’s not good for anyone. (Don’t qutie feel as strong abotu La Nazi.)

Meanwhile, that WWA Middleweight title match is listed as for a vacant title. Angel Blanco held that title regularly until he dropped it to Mistico, and there’s also a Monterrey version floating about. I’m thinking this is neither, and Angel Blanco has just decided to declare himself champion. All the WWA titles are jokes, vanity belts of the umpteenth degree, and this seems no different.

CMLL MD (SAT) 02/21 Lienzo Charro de Atlacomulco, EdM
1) Bengala & Principe vs Flecha & Fobia
2) Pequeño Damian 666 & Pequeño Halloween vs Pequeño Olímpico & Ultimo Dragoncito
3) Amapola & Hiroka vs Lady Apache & Marcela
4) Estruendo, Maximo, Valiente vs Dragon Rojo Jr., Emperador, Misterioso II
5) Mistico & Volador Jr. vs Atlantis & Rey Bucanero

or, maybe the mini FdT is still with CMLL? Hmmm. This is one time where I really wish I was a person who could get an answer for these questions.

IWRG (SAT) 02/21 Arena Xochimilco
1) Galactik vs Comando Gama
2) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II vs Anticristo Jr. & Vampiro Metalico
3) Chico Che, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Fantasma de la Opera
4) Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro vs Dr. Cerebro, Freelance, Multifacetico [IWRG IC TRIOS]
5) Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Scorpio Jr., Tinieblas Jr. vs Head Hunter I, Hijo del Cien Caras, Mascara Ano 2000 Jr.

Cerebro and Freelance fight Thursday, get a title shot on the Saturday. That seems a bad idea. Looks like they’re getting close to the Traumas and Chico Che getting a DF Trios shot.

CMLL (SUN) 02/22 Arena Coliseo
1) Sensei & Sombra de Plata vs Camorra & Carrona
2) Goddess, Lady Apache, Lluvia vs Amapola, La Nazi, Rosa Negra
3) Flash, Metro, Stuka Jr. vs Loco Max, Shigeo Okumura, Skandalo
4) Mascara Purpura, Sagrado, Toscano vs Heavy Metal, Lizmark Jr., Terrible
5) Atlantis, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero vs Dos Caras Jr., Marco Corleone, Volador Jr.

And La Nazi is scheduled to work here. Huh. Note no Ultimo Guerrero – however the singles match went tonight, he and Dos are done for the time being.

Given the big push for Metro, you’d figure he’d be in the semimian and Purpura would be in tercera.

CMLL (SUN) 02/22 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Skaxy vs Relampago Azul
2) Astaroth & Nube Roja vs Ebola & Valentin Mayo
3) Magnum & Metatron vs Rafaga & Rey Trueno
4) La Mascara, Mictlan, Shocker vs Blue Panther, La Sombra, Mascara Dorada and Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto and Black Warrior, Dragon Rojo Jr., Sangre Azteca [torneo]

They haven’t run a tournament here for a while. One of those other matches should be part of their ongoing tag team tournament (if it’s still ongoing.)

IWRG (SUN) 02/22 Arena Naucalpan
1) Goleador & Miss Gaviota vs King Drako & Vampiro Metalico
2) Eragon, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Anticristo Jr., Judas el Traidor, Nemesis IWRG
3) Freelance, Multifacetico, Zatura vs Avisman, Bushi, Fantasma de la Opera
4) Mascara Ano 2000 & Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. vs Head Hunter I & Head Hunter II

Setting up a tag title match here? The Capos and the believers (Veneno & Head Hunters and Bushi on some weeks) have fallen into a rudo/rudo feud.

05/31: Guadalajara, Monterrey, AAA/Warped Lineup (take 2)

thecubsfan 1 Comment

CMLL

CMLL (SUN) 05/27 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [cmll]
1) Fraile de La Muerte b Casanova
2) Idolo & Nube Roja b Egipcio & Guero Loco
3) Arkangel & Nitro b Leon Blanco & Rayman [torneo, sf]
4) Cien Caras Jr. & Hijo de Cien Caras b Fabian el Gitano & Flash [torneo, sf]
5) Leon Blanco & Rayman DQ Cien Caras Jr. & Hijo de Cien Caras [torneo, final]
6) Pierroth, Shigeo Okumura, Terrible b Dr. Wagner Jr., Lizmark Jr., Shocker

Better version of the results – Lizmark did turn on his partners. That Rayman/Cien tag feud goes on, though no title match is announced.

CMLL (TUE) 05/29 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [cmll]
1) Milenio b Virgo
2) Lider CO Destroyer
3) Metalik b Rey Trueno
4) Oro II b Infierno
5) Malefico DQ Magnum
6) Arkangel, Nitro, Toxico b Fabian el Gitano, Flash, Gallo
7) Atlantis & Olimpico b Dr. Wagner Jr. & Shocker

Atlantis yanked Wagner’s mask and pinned him.

CMLL (TUE) 06/05 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Exterminador vs Milenio
2) Lider vs Danger
3) Oro II vs Mr. Trueno
4) Flash vs Infierno
5) El Gayo vs Jeque
6) Magnum & Stuka Jr. vs Emilio Charles Jr. & Malefico
7) Averno & Ephesto vs Blue Panther & Negro Casas

IWRG (TUE) 05/29 Arena Solidaridad
1) Anibal el Vampiro & Memo Valles b Sky & Tacua
2) Silver Star b Diluvio Negro I, Tigre Universitario
3) India Sioux & Lady Apache b Hiroka & Mima Shimoda
4) Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Suicida b Kai, Sasaki, Yamato [IWRG IC TRIOS]
5) Fantasma, Hijo de Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000 b LA Park, Máscara Sagrada, Rayo de Jalisco Jr.
6) Black Warrior, Damián 666, Mr. Águila b Alex Koslov, Místico, Negro Casas

CMLL (SUN) 06/03 Arena Solidaridad
1) Orientale I, Orientale II, Tony Rivera vs Eclipse, Ephesto, Vaquero Romo
2) Diluvio Negro I, Diluvio Negro II, Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Black Warrior, Olimpico, Terrible
3) Caifan I vs Estrella Dorado [hair]

AAA (SUN) 06/03 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Ciclone & Mercurio vs Akido & Euforia (Monterrey)
2) Orus & the Mummy vs karis & Ramses
3) La Parkita, Mascara Divina, Virtual X vs Mini Psicosis, Monje Negro Jr., Rey Infernal
4) Super Astro & Zorro vs Aventurero & Hator
5) Charly Manson, Chessman, Cibernetico vs Cuervo, Escoria, Ozz

Ovaciones has an interview with Extreme Tiger. He vows to make each match better than his last. Ovaciones also lists the second series of CMLL action figures: LA Park, Shocker, Damian 666, Hijo de Lizmark, Olimpico, Black Warrior, Averno, Mephisto, and KeMonito.

This preview of the Warped Tour says the AAA wrestlers are Mini Charly Manson, Mini Chessman, Super AAA, Angel, Psicosis and Deccnis. (Scroll about 2/3rds of the way down – right before the freak show.) A trios match and two minis makes a bit more sense, though it’s a tiny crew anyway.

(El Sol de Tijuana) Medico Asesino Jr. says he’s going to go into promoting events, teaching and writing after he retires from wrestling.

Tabasco Hoy‘s short article about 15 years of AAA is notable just for the weird lists of “AAA stars” and “LLL stars”, which are just a bit off. Apparently, the Air Force stretches between groups, not to mention Vampiro would be pretty surprised to find himself back in AAA. Newspaper fact checking is a funny thing.

04/14: Mexico, AAA in the US

thecubsfan 1 Comment

CMLL (FRI) 04/13 Arena Mexico [ova, ocampo]
1) Shockercito & Tzuki b Fire & Mr. Aguilita
2) Hiroka, Mima Shimoda, Princesa Sujei b Dark Angel, Luna Magica, Sahori
3) Dos Caras Jr., Lizmark Jr., Sagrado b Sangre Azteca, Tarzan Boy, Universo 2000
4) Marco Corelone, Rey Bucanero, Shocker DQ Atlantis, Olímpico, Último Guerrero
5) Místico & Negro Casas b el Hijo del Perro Aguayo & Mr. Águila [CMLL TAG]

Perro had Mistico pinned in the third fall after a low blow, but no ref was there to count. Mistico rallied back to win and keep the titles. Sixth defense, and as of today, they’ve held these belts for a year. These two had fought earlier in the evening for something airing on another TV show, and Ocampo says Mistico broke Perro’s nose during that bit. This main event drew the best house of the year, imagine that.

Ovaciones says Marco pulled Ultimo’s mask in the semimain, while Ocampo says Ultimo pulled it himself and Marco got blamed.

Sagrado replayed Rayo in the tercera.

Women’s match is three falls, and that seems to be the new way of things. Ocampo notes that Dark Angel’s parents were in the crowd.

Check out Luchalibreusa – it says the Warped Tour (summer concerts – their site is down as I write this, so use wiki instead) will include AAA wrestlers, but gives absolutely no more details besides that. So this could mean anything from matches at every show to something when they run thru Texas. It’s really too unspecific to spend much time speculating, but I think it’s gonna have to be spot freaks, and it’s going to end up having Foreign Legion/Hell Brothers on top (except, how do you have worthwhile guys in the US when you need them in Mexico for spot shows?)

(link via luchalibrelive on DVDVR)

Rosendo “El Acapulco” Genchi, an original AAA referee, has passed away. (Ovaciones)

The Tapatia Awards should be (auto)posted around 7 PM CST today, so check back for them.