CMLL FantasicaMania talent list announced, Noche Briticana show announced

CMLL released new on two international (related) events in the last 24 hour.

Coming up first is Noche Briticana, a special Arena Mexico show on 12/07. The announcers mentioned it in passing on last night’s Terra broadcast, and Ticketmaster already has some details.

BRITISH NIGHT una lucha con causa… es un evento que están organizando la Embajada Británica y el Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre para recaudar fondos para la Fundación John Langdon Down. Los luchadores Ultimo Guerrero y La Sombra se disputarán “Las Joyas de la Corona” en un ambiente muy británico en la cual, la arena México tendrá música y motivos ingleses. El público podrá ver y tocar el “London Bus” (el camión de doble piso inglés) y verá guardias reales dentro de la arena México. Este evento será el 7 de diciembre a las 8:30 p.m. en la majestuosa Arena México.

As you can read, it’s a copromtoion with the British Embassy, and will include British music, a double decker bus, and Buckingham Palace soldiers. It sounds like an Ultimo Guerrero vs La Sombra singles main event, but I guess they could also be just leading teams.

The John Langdown Down Foundation helps children with Down’s Syndrome. That weekend is the same as the annual Televisa supported “Teleton” to help special needs children, so there’s probably some connection there, though it appears CMLL may be donating a different charity.

That date would seem to mean any major CMLL year end show wouldn’t happen until later in December. However, there’s yet to be any hint of CMLL actually running a major show in December. (I haven’t seen any CMLL TV this weekend yet, so maybe you know something I don’t.) It is possible CMLL says Ultimo Guerrero vs Sombra with British people is enough and calls it a year. We won’t know that for certain for a few weeks, but it’s possible.

In a dream world, Sombra wins the main event when new rudo faction of Rey Escorpion, Dragon Rojo, and Hooligan (british! going for revenge on his old partner!) cost Ultimo Guerrero the match. I dream too much, but Hooligan’s got to be on the card. He’s the only British guy they’ve got! Volador dressing up as one of the Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band alone is not going to be good enough.

CMLL & NJPW also announced the CMLL participation for the three day FantasticaMania event. Tecnicos are Mistico, Titan, La Sombra, Rush, La Mascara, Mascara Dorada, Maximo, and Diamante. Rudos are Volador Jr., Mephisto, Dragon Rojo Jr., Rey Bucanero, Euforia, Misterioso and Okumura. It’s not stated, but I expect Namajague will be back in NJPW in January and would also be on these shows, in addition to the regular NJPW wrestlers. CMLL is also sending ring announcer Ivan and edecan Bruni.

Mistico and Titan are the tecnicos making the NJPW debut. Euforia is the only rudo making his debut here. NJPW also introduces Rey Bucanero, who’s been in NJPW as part of the team with Ultimo Guerrero prior but not in many years (and not under the current regime.) It’s a total of 14 CMLL wrestlers this time, up from 9 on previous shows.

The tour is being promoted around the first appearance of the new Mistico. NJPW mentions the previous one was IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship, setting the bar for this one (though I’d imagine that’s not something happening this year.)

Titan earned this spot by winning En Busca de Un Idolo, but the 2nd (Euforia), 3rd (Mistico) and 4th (Diamante) place finishers all got in as well. That makes the winning a bit cheap (though true to most reality shows), but I’m not certain Titan would’ve made it if he didn’t make the final 2 of the tournament given where he was before the tournament. This is still a win for #porraTitan.

There is plenty of pressure on the younger guys, but La Mascara might have the most to prove. Mascara was embarrassingly poor on the first FantasticaMania shows, looking in no condition to perform on both shows. It was said Mascara was ill and tried to work thru it (and the wrestlers on the show defended him against criticism), but everything he tried looked abysmally bad. Just having OK matches would be a vast improvement, but the Brazos have a great reputation in Japan and I’m certain La Mascara will be motivated to raise his families name back up.

FantasitcaMania had four title matches in 2011 involving CMLL wrestlers (and one that was between NJPW & DDT), and two in 2012. FantasticaMania expands to three days this year, and so the title match number is likely to increase. Titan (National Welterweight), Rush (CMLL Light Heavyweight), La Mascsara (National Light Heavyweight), Dragon Rojo Jr. (NWA & CMLL Middleweight), Rey Bucanero (NWA Light Heavyweight) all have major CMLL titles. Dragon Rojo’s already stated he’ll defend against either Jushin Lyger or Prince Devitt on these shows. Lyger makes more sense. Rush being a spotlight match (rematch vs Yujiro? Goto?) seems to fit with CMLL goals, as well as Mascara Dorada getting a big match (Bucanero is not doing much with his belt). Titan vs Euforia would also be a fun showcase for both guys, and it’d be weird if Volador and Sombra weren’t involved in something big. There’s a lot of possibilities. Unless there’s a title change between now and January, there won’t be a CMLL pairs or trios title on the line (though Okumura and Namajague are still facing Stuka & Fuego a lot.)

NJPW and CMLL will announce actual matches at a later time, probably early January, and we’ll likely know if any of these will be an iPPV around the same time. There will also likely be CMLL participation on the 01/04 NJPW Toyko Dome show. That usually includes 1 or 2 guys who don’t end up working these shows.

Atlantida vs Invasors, Avernos vs Bufete, Halloween, Mr. Aguila, Heddi Karoui, CMLL press

photo by CMLL

CMLL (TUE) 10/23/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Apocalipsis & Guerrero Negro Jr. b Genesis & Soberano Jr.
2) Cancerbero, Hijo del Signo, Raziel b Bengala, Metálico, Sensei
3) Pierrothito b Último Dragoncito [lightning]
Pierrothito won in 7:12.
4) Fuego, Sagrado, Stuka Jr. b Namajague, Shigeo Okumura, Vangelis
Tecnicos took 2/3, Sagrado pinning Okumura.
5) Niebla Roja, Terrible, Tiger b Ángel de Oro, Diamante, Hijo del Fantasma
Niebla Roja replaced Rey Bucanero, who suffered a knee injury Monday in Puebla. Rudos took 2/3. Angel de Oro hurt his knee, and Niebla Roja seemed very concerned.
6) Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. b Black Warrior, Mr. Águila, Volador Jr.
Delta wore pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Euforia started the match for the rudos, but was replaced by a late arriving Mr. Aguila (so late he didn’t have his hair up or his facepaint on.) Tecnicos won and challenged for a rematch.

CMLL (TUE) 10/23/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Virgo b Thunder Boy
2) Metatrón & Smaker b Exterminador & Ráfaga
Smaker replaced Black Metal, Rafaga replaced Malefico.
3) Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Warrior b Aereo, Pequeño Halcón, Shockercito
4) Ephesto, Mephisto, Tama Tonga b La Sombra, Marco Corleone, Rush
Tonga pinned Sombra in the first/third.
5) Máximo DQ Averno
Averno got help from Mephisto and Ephesto. Maximo snuck in a small package, and the rudos ran in for the DQ. Rush & Marco tried to make the save but were laid out, leading to a trios title match next week.

Halloween wrote he suffered one broken rib and two fractured ribs in Sunday’s title match with Ricky Marvin & Super Crazy. He does not know when he will be able to return. (Website suggests a painful 6-10 week recovery, which means he’s probably done for the year.) We can only hope this doesn’t hurt his chances with Mari Apache.

R de Rudo caught up to Damian 666 to ask what was with Mr. Aguila teaming with him last weekend. He explained it as X-Fly missing a flight back from Ciudad Juarez and Aguila filling in as a one time replacement. Damian’s off to Panama this weekend.

Heddi Karaoui is out of Thursday’s IWRG IC Middleweight Championship match. Relampago legdropped him on the head on Thursday, concussion Karaoui and taking him out of one of his biggest matches since coming to Mexico. Oficial AK47 takes Karaoui’s spot. That’s much more interesting match to me, but it’s unfortunate for Karaoui.

Kaiser Sports has this message posted on top of their website:

A nuestros queridos amigos, seguidores y lectores: Ante las nuevas disposiciones del CMLL que limitan nuestro libre ejercicio profesional, desde este 23 de octubre ya no podremos ofrecer información al respecto, pues consideramos que valores como la lealtad y el respeto deben ser mutuos, no solo unilateralmente, Gracias.

CMLL is implementing some new policy “that limits our profession” so they’ll no longer be covering CMLL “because we feel values of loyalty and respect must be mutual.” Harsh. I wonder what “limits our profession” means? CMLL demanding approval over anything posted?

Whatever it is, this is really disappointing. It’s another excellent source of CMLL news run off by CMLL. Many times, like the recent Guerrero break up, the Kaiser Sports interviews have done a better job of explaining and getting over CMLL’s storylines than CMLL’s done on their own. CMLL is still covered in papers and some of the magazines, but most of the coverage is frequently dry lineups and results, nothing that would cause someone to be interested in CMLL if they weren’t already. It’s also usually the same article just reprinted as copy everywhere; this is a source of original material that’s just going to be gone and not replaced. CMLL and Kaiser Sports had a falling out about a year ago that was eventually resolved, hopefully that’ll just repeat.

It also has some slight international implications, since they were supplying NJPW with interview photos when their guys would come to CMLL (Alexis sends the match/press conference ones.)

Hijo de LA Park and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. will be in the Castle of Terror after all.

LuchaWorld has Alfredo on this week’s 52MX show.

Links

Lucha Libre in Japan

10/24 NJPW: Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi, Negro Casas [O] b Low Ki, Brian Kendrick, Jado [X]

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 10/30/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Metatrón vs Exterminador
2) Shockercito vs Aereo, Pequeño Halcón, Astral, Último Dragoncito, Fantasy, Demus 3:16, Pierrothito, Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Warrior [Mini Reyes del Aire]
3) La Máscara, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada vs Kráneo, Olímpico, Psicosis
4) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto [CMLL TRIOS]
Love Buffet are champs.

Fun show. Main event should be good, semimain should be a fun romp for the tecnicos, and pequeno estrellas all flying around in the opener. (Also, Metatron.) Like the full sized version, this is a repeat from doing the tournament in May in Arena Mexico. Even CMLL can’t keep track of it’s tournaments.

CMLL (TUE) 10/23/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Virgo b Thunder Boy
2) Metatrón & Smaker b Exterminador & Ráfaga
Smaker replaced Black Metal, Rafaga replaced Malefico.
3) Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Warrior b Aereo, Pequeño Halcón, Shockercito
4) Ephesto, Mephisto, Tama Tonga b La Sombra, Marco Corleone, Rush
Tonga pinned Sombra in the first/third.
5) Averno b Máximo
Averno got help from Mephisto and Ephesto. Maximo snuck in a small package, and the rudos ran in for the DQ. Rush & Marco tried to make the save but were laid out, leading to a trios title match next week.

06/26: Coliseo, Halcon

CMLL.com/last Tuesday

CMLL (TUE) 06/26 Arena Coliseo [cmll]
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II b Pólvora & Vaquero
2) Bam Bam, Electrico, Fantasy DQ Mr. Aguilita, Pequeño Damian 666, Pequeño Halloween
3) Hirooki Goto, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura b Leono, Tigre Blanco, Tony Rivera
4) Felino, La Sombra, Mictlán b Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus
5) Atlantis, Olímpico, Universo 2000 b Blue Panther, Heavy Metal, Rey Bucanero

Evil Dark Monkey helped the rudos win the main event. Did the name contest for him get dropped? Mini Damian fouled Bam Bam in the segunda.

AAA has a preview of the 07/01 taping. No new details.

El Halcon #93 is up. Inside:
– Interview with Mini Halloween & Mini Damian, who both note they were really awful when they debuted (prior to this gimmicks.) They’re not awful now. To prepare for last year’s bodybuilding contest, Mini Damian says he dropped from 85 kg to 73 (187 lb to 160). They want Mini Olimpico’s championship (they accuse him of hiding the belt so he doesn’t have to defend it) and Ultimo Dragoncito’s mask.
– preview of a card in Chipas on 07/14
– Interview with Euforia & Nosfearatu. Euforia shares the same trainer as Sobearno Jr, but claims he’s never ever used another name “professionally.” Nosferatu says he wrestled as Camelot three times while living in Chicago – if jtron or Rob or anyone from CPW is reading this, do you recall him at all? They note it’ll be difficult to surpass the success of prior Infernales, but they’re going to try. Satanico’s a very demanding leader.
– History of tag team champions in Mexico, from Super Luchas 216

AAA (MON) 07/18 Auditorio Miguel Barragan [El Sol de San Luis (Potosi)]
1) Bat Boy, Chico Malo, Flechador Justiciero vs Bogar, Principe del Futuro, Simon Blanco
2) America, Cosaco Loco, Maniaco vs Apolo Star, Centella Inca, Sexy Salazar
3) Espiritu, Picudo, Silver Cat vs Aero Star, Brazo de Plata, Super Astro
4) Tiffany & Zumbido vs Cinthia Moreno & Oriental [AAA MIXED TAG]
5) Gronda II, Intocable, La Parka Jr. vs Alan Stone, Head Hunter I, Muerte Cibernetica

BBC Mundo interviews El Hijo del Santo.

Lucha Libre events are offically banned from Auditorio Municipal Torreon.

Mexican Wrestlers Not In Mexico

Chris D pointed out a couple of cameos

06/22 UWA Hardcore: Tyson Dux b Brian Lee – Lee’s apparently part of the Dragon Gym group, and UWA’s the Canadian affilate, so there you go.

Another Dragon guy, Amigo Suzuki worked in CHIKARA over the weekend.

06/22
Amigo Suzuki b Rex Sterling [qf, Young Lions Cup]
Chuck Taylor b Lince Dorado, Moscow the Communist Bovine, Player Uno, Ice Cream Jr., Amigo Suzuki [sf, Young Lions Cup]

06/23
Hijo de Ice Cream, Ice Cream Jr., Amigo Suzuki b Gran Akuma, Icarus, Max Boyer

06/24
Billy Roc b Amigo Suzuki

Pantera is headed back to the group at some point (and is going to AJPW at some point prior.) As always, I’d point you towards ChikaraFans.com, who provided these results, for something a bit more coherent about the group. I really need to add a link to them to the sidebar.

Turbo, Skayde, Black Pentagon and Black Thunder are headed to Dragon Gate from July 8th to August 13th.

This is not news, but I think everyone would be well off if Chessman went to NOAH for a tour, like ASAP. I wouldn’t even care about him winning, but it’d be good for him to work with theoretically better guys his size. Whoever’s been laying out his matches of late has done a nice job of making his spear mean something, and I get the impression they’re very slowly grooming him for more down the line. Still, if there’s ever a time to do it, it’s right now as they’re pushing Cibernetico teaming with the tecnicos he hasn’t before. You don’t need Chessman around for that.

Gran Alternativa Teams Announced

CMLL.com’s gotta ’em

– Heavy Metal, Super Nova
– Dr. Wagner Jr., Mascara Purpura
– Negro Casas, Stuka Jr.
– Shocker, Valiente
– Marco Corelone, Flash
– Mistico, La Sombra
– Villano V, Super Comando
– Ultimo Guerrero, Euforia

Tournament will take place next week, June 29, which means we’ve had all of a two week gap between tournaments. (Only the Leyenda de Azul remains, unless they bring back the Gran Prix Trios tournament or something new.)

Mistico & La Sombra are obvious favorites, and Villano and Ultimo will almost have to run into each other at some point. Almost all are tecnico teams, which is a bit odd.

First guess…

Villano V, Super Comando b Heavy Metal, Super Nova
Ultimo Guerrero, Euforia b Marco Corelone, Flash
b Negro Casas, Stuka Jr.
Shocker, Valiente b Dr. Wagner Jr., Mascara Purpura

Ultimo Guerrero, Euforia b Villano V, Super Comando
Mistico, La Sombra b Shocker, Valiente

Ultimo Guerrero, Euforia b Mistico, La Sombra (though Mistico losing at this point seems impossible)

05/30: Coliseo, Mistico’s doctor concerned, AAA in Japan, Villanos

CMLL (TUE) 05/29 Arena Coliseo [cmll]
1) Mini Olimpico & Ultimo Dragoncito b Mini Damian 666 & Mini Halloween
2) Sensei, Stuka Jr., Tony Rivera b Caligula, Hooligan, Messala
3) Felino, Mascara Purpura, Mictlan b Euforia, Loco Max, Nosferatu
4) Heavy Metal, Maximo, Rey Bucanero DQ Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto
5) Ultimo Guerrero b Volador Jr.

That’s Euforia and Nosferatu’s first loss as a CMLL team, assuming I’m reading the results right. I’m doubting myself, because they just kinda loss, though it was more about Loco Max here. Ultimo beat Voldor clean, Averno fouled Maximo for being Maximo.

Radio Formula has an interview with Mistico’s doctor. The doctor, Mario Garcia Orozco, is concerned, because Mistico was to rest another week, and skipped a checkup because he had to make a booking. Orozco says Mistico’s left shoulder is 75%.

AAA NOAH (MON) 09/03 Tokyo Differ Ariake [Mario Rivero @ box y lucha]
1) Mascarita Sagrada, Octagoncito vs Mini Abismo Negro, Mini Histeria
2) Fabi Apache, El Apache, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Cassandro, ? (NOAH), ? (OZ ACADEMY)
3) Super Fly, Laredo Kid, Pegasso vs ?, ?, ? (3 NOAH Juniors)
4) Abismo Negro, Mr. Niebla, Histeria, Antifaz vs Juventued Guerrera, Joe Lider, Crazy Boy, Ricky Marvin
5) Cibernetico, Chessman, Charly Manson vs KENTA, Taiji Ishimori, Marafuji

Lineup subject to change! This would just be one event as part of a tour, I think. Mini Histeria is Rocky Marvin according to this thread.

Ovaciones has an interview with the Villanos. They’re teasing a Villano III/Atlantis rematch or Atlantis taking on one of the other Villanos in a mask match, but I presume it’s just a tease to give them an instant issue while they’re in. It’s better off it’s just a tease, you don’t want to go back seven years later.

Ovaciones notes Lizmark Jr. is the third masked member of Perros del Mal, joining Blue Demon and Canek. When was Canek in the group? I don’t recall this at all.

indy (THU) 06/14 Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutierrez Moreno Casas Geo [El Sol De Tijuana]
1) Hijo del Santo, Latin Lover, Tinieblas vs Fuerza Guerrera, Sangre Chicana, Tornado Negro

Atlas News has a video interview with Lourdes Grobet about her lucha libre photography exhibition in Madrid.

El Hijo de Santo talks to La Jornada de Oriente about the Santo biography.

Some of the Toryumon Mexico guys, who otherwise have seemed to drop off our radar lately, worked in Canada over the weekend (as previously posted in the comments, but I might as well put it here too.)

UWA Canada (SAT) 05/26 St. John’s Hall, Missauga, Ontario
1) Dan Paysa b Oscar Hanaoka
2) Passion Hasegawa b Larry Sweeny
3) Hiromi Horiguchi b Arik Cannnon
4) Chris Sabin b Sonjay Dutt and Brian Lee (Not That One)
5) Claudio Castiagnoli b Toshiya Matsuzaki
6) Lionel Knight b Amigo Suzuki [UWA CANADA LH]
8) Jushin Liger & Puma b Kazuchida Okara & Ultimo Dragon

UWA Canada (SAT) 05/26 St. John’s Hall, Missauga, Ontario
1) Sonjay Dutt b Rascal Matsuzaki
2) Dan Paysan b Passion Hasegawa
3) M-Dogg 20 b Brian Lee
4) Amigo Suzuki b Arik Cannon
5) Derek Wylde b Oscar Hanaoka and Puma
6) Hiromi Horiguchi b Lionel Knight [UWA CANADA LH]
7) Josh Prohibition b Kazuchida Okara
8) Jushin Liger & Ultimo Dragon b Chris Sabin & Alex Shelly

Yea, I had to write “UWA CANADA” just so no one was reading quick and thought these were odd shows for Canek to be headlining. Is it just me, or was there supposed to be a Ohara/Sabin NWA Welterweight match on one of these cards? Ohara’s didn’t appear, so I guess it’s him – hurt or missing?

CHIKARA () 05/26 Hellertown, PA
6) Pantera, Lince Dorado b Larry Sweeney, Claudio Castagnoli

CHIKARA () 05/27 ECW Arena
4) Lince Dorado, Pantera, Player Uno b Ice Cream Jr., Hijo de Ice Cream, Mitch Ryder

Arkangel was supposed to work both these shows, and missed his flight.

Easiest guess on Cibernetico’s surprise tonight at the AAA taping is La Parka Jr., now out of a sling.

05/02: Coliseo, IWRG, AULL, Monterrey

CMLL (TUE) 05/01 Arena Coliseo [ova]
1) Vaquero & Zayco b Espiritu Maligno & Karissma
2) Bracito de Oro & Electrico b Fire & Mini Mr. Aguilita
3) Goto, Ohara, Okumura b Brillante, Euforia, Starman
4) Ephesto, Texano Jr., Virus b Metro II, Ogun, Sagrado
5) Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca, Ultimo Guerrero b Blue Panther, Shocker, Volador Jr.
6) Atlantis b Alex Koslov [NWA LH]

Alex put up a good fight and won the first fall, but Atlantis took two and three clean. In the semimain, Ultimo beat Shocker with his own move. Sagrado filled in for Maximo, who still out from his injury on Sunday. They might as well change the teased Maximo/Texano feud to Sagrado/Texano feud – that’s what the feud was here. Euforia filled in for a hurt Leono in the third match – I’m not sure where this leaves the hair match for next Monday – and didn’t get along with his teammates. Mr. Agulita replaces Sombrita in the minis match, but I don’t know if anyone was hurt there.

IWRG (THU) 04/19 Arena Naucalpan [Hector Albores @ thegladiatores]
1) Golem & Puma King b Bacteria & Celestial
2) Cyborg & Hermano Muerte II b Trauma I & Trauma II
3) Astro Boy, Halcon Salvaje, Kid Tiger b Black Terry, Dr. Karonte Jr., Kraneo
4) Enfermero Jr., Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., Veneno b Esfinge, Hijo de Anibal, Suicida
5) Black Warrior, Hijo de Cien Caras, Misterioso II b Alex Koslov, Mistico, Volador Jr.

Cyborg cheated to help his team win (was eliminated, but held the last remaining Trauma down from the outside while he was being pinned), and it sounds like they’re doing something with him and the Traumas. Veneno got turned on by Enfermero Jr. and Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. after their win, for no clear reason. Warrior snuck in a foul on Mistico.

AULL (SUN) 04/22 Arena Lopez Mateos [Jesús Silva Hernández @ thegladiatores]
1) Exterminador & Mini Demonio b Depredador & Star Cat
2) Mr. Potro & Regional b Misterio & Violento
3) King Star Tiger, Rocky Satana, Ultimo Gladiator b Psicopata, Sadico, Shu El Guerrero
4) Terry 2000 b Rey Krymen [AULL LIGHT]
5) Maximo, Mistico, Texano Jr. b Black Warrior, Hijo del Diablo, Sepulturero

indy (TUE) 05/01 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC @ lomejordelucha libre]
1) Arcangel (Monterrey) & Black Nazi b La Furia & Naufrago
2) Guerrero Greigo, Kriminal, Potro Jr., Vudu b Enrique Vera, Halcon Matles, Hollywood, Sky
3) Burrito, Poly Star, Rosa Salvaje b Borrico, Cuy Oviedo, La Bandida
4) Beast, Hijo de Espanto II, Pancho Tequila b Corazon Adicto, Humberto Garza Jr., La Kalaka
5) Intocable b Golden Boy [hair]

In La Presna, Zorro says he was reborn a new man by taking off his mask.

IWRG’s site is still down.