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.

Reyes del Atlantida win trios titles back, Bufete del Amor keep theirs, CMLL minis cage match

CMLL (MON) 10/29 Arena Puebla [Porra Fresa]
1) Ares & Centauro de Fuego b Dinámikoo & Tigre Rojo Jr.
Rudos took 2/3, early falls went very quick.
2) Höruz b Cholo [lightning]
Cholo dominated the match, but Horuz pulled it out with an armbar.
3) Asturiano, Metálico, Molotov vs Bobby Zavala, Disturbio, Espiritu Maligno
Tecnicos took 2/3. Molotov submitted Espiritu, Metalico pinned Disturbio.
4) Dalis la Caribeña, Goya Kong, Marcela b Amapola, Mima Shimoda, Tiffany
Tecnicas took 1/3.
5) Namajague, Shigeo Okumura, Tama Tonga b Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., Hijo del Fantasma
Rudos took 2/3. Tonga beat Maya to win in his debut and the best match of the night Maya had to be strechered out. Delta tried to help with that, but Tonga attacked him too.
6) Atlantis, La Máscara, Mistico DQ Averno, Felino, Mephisto
Felino replaced Ephesto. Mascara pinned Averno in the first, then Mephisto pulled Mistico’s mask in the second in a disappointing match. Mistico challenged Mephisto a singles match.

Mr. Aguila/photo by CMLL

Was Ephesto hurt on Sunday and I’ve forgot about it?

CMLL (TUE) 10/30/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Metatrón b Exterminador
2) Pequeño Warrior b Shockercito and Aereo and Pequeño Halcón and Astral and Último Dragoncito and Fantasy and Demus 3:16 and Pierrothito and Mercurio and Pequeño Olímpico and Pequeño Violencia [Mini Reyes del Aire]
Pequeno Warrior won the match, which set up a cage match next week! Shockercito may have been hurt on a dive.
3) La Máscara, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada b Kráneo, Olímpico, Psicosis
4) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush b Averno, Mephisto, Tama Tonga [CMLL TRIOS]
Tama Tonga replaced Ephesto. Love Buffet came in as champs, and took falls 2/3 to keep the titles. Last week’s match was Maximo vs Averno, and this week Maximo kissed and cradled Averno to keep the titles.

Results were from radio station Canal58, which appears to be doing live PBP of Tuesday and Sunday Guadalajara shows. Satanico joined the commentators a couple times.

new/old champs
photo by CMLL

CMLL (TUE) 10/30/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL, CMLL Gaceta]
1) Akuma & Camorra DQ Freesbe & Oro Jr.
Camorra fouled Freesbe
2) Artillero, Hooligan, Súper Comando b Camaleón, Pegasso, Sensei
Camaleon replaced Angel Azteca Jr. Isis was with Hooligan. Rudos took 1/3. Sensei was strechered out with a knee injury and Pegasso was hurting (as usual.)
3) Fuego, Sagrado, Triton b Arkángel de la Muerte, Cancerbero, Raziel
Tecnicos won in straight falls when Arkangel and the Cancerberos turned on each other.
4) Rey Cometa b Sangre Azteca [lightning]
Cometa won with a 450 splash in 8:10.
5) Euforia, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero b Diamante Azul, Mistico, Stuka Jr.
Rudos took 2/3, Euforia & Niebla getting the pins while Mistico dove onto Mistico.
6) Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. b Black Warrior, Mr. Águila, Volador Jr. [MEX TRIOS]
Volador, Mr. Aguila, and Black Warrior came in as champs. Delta & Maya took 1, Volador took the second with a backcracker on Atlantis, and Atlantis won the match with an Atlantida on Volador (again!) Reyes del Atlantida are champions as a team for a third time, Atlantis has won the titles three times.

Shocker & Brazo de Plata beat Terrible & Dragon Rojo in Arena Queretaro. In the undercard, Amapola (replacing Tiffany) was beat by local luchador Reyna Azteca in a tag match. The Quereatro wrestler challenged for a title match.

The semi-official Noti AAA Facebook site confirmed Decnnis was leaving AAA, then took down that post, put up another post saying all the rumored people leaving AAA (Tiger, Wagner) were not true. That’s totally not confusing. In the comments of the last post, they say Wagner is joining going back to being an independent who works with AAA. (The difference there is if AAA controls his booking for non TV shows and what cut they need; someone the level of Wagner doesn’t need AAA for that.) As for Extreme Tiger, he’s scheduled to work tonight’s Halloween show in Arena Lopez Mateos, which would be an easy time for him to confirm or deny rumors.

Arena Neza’s Facebook writes Vampiro will miss this weekend’s AAA Fusion taping. Vampiro’s said the same, going on to say he’s busy with another show and AAA never told him he was on this show. Same thing happened last time Vampiro missed a taping. Mesias will take his place, which greatly improves the match. AAA hasn’t acknowledged the change yet.

Quien Pinta Por La Corona held a press conference in Guadalajara for the event there on 11/10 and 11/11. QPPLC also posted profiles of some of the finalists: Rey Maya (nephew of Canek!), Forajido (inspired by Cibernetico and Gronda), Full Back Jr. (snuck off to train with Canek), Demoledor (36 years old), and New Fire Jr.

Samuray del Sol was on Figure Four Daily yesterday (subscriber only) in a really good interview where he talked a lot about his career. His story about being in last year’s QPPLC contest was my favorite part. Samuray never actually signed up for the contest himself, Crazy Boy just invited him to come to Veracruz, then signed Samuray up without him knowing to get Samuray in front of AAA people. Samuray was under the impression the talent contest – at least by the final – was set up for Daga to win, saying AAA officials wanted him specifically to work with Daga since he could do the style Daga likes to do and Daga would look like a star.

Rob has highlights of 04/13/12 CMLL and has updated his MOTYC list.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Lucha Libre in Japan

Fabi Apache, Sexi Star, Lolita and Jennifer Blake are headed to WAVE for their AAA Reina de Reinas on 11/27. The Japanese promotion had previously announced the show, this is the first time the Mexican promotion has acknowledged it. The article is mostly talking about Fabi Apache’s training and previous time in Japan. WAVE also mentions Pimpinela and Fenix working on the show in a bonus match with CIMA, which hasn’t yet been announced by AAA.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 11/06/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Sky Kid & Virgo vs Èvola & Thunder Boy
2) Esfinge & Gallo vs Bárbaro Cavernario & Espectrum
3) La Máscara, La Sombra, Mistico vs Felino, Psicosis, Rey Escorpión
4) Shockercito vs Último Dragoncito, Pequeño Halcón, Aereo, Astral, Fantasy, Pierrothito, Demus 3:16, Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Warrior, Pequeño Violencia [cage, hair, mask]

Cage match, just not at all the one I thought. Warrior winning the Reyes del Aire means he’s a favorite to lose here.

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.

04/23: GDL, CMLL in May

CMLL
CMLL

CMLL (TUE) 04/21 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, Fuego en El Ring]
1) Angel del Mal b Plata
2) Astaroth b Depredador (GDL)
3) Metatron b Drago
4) Magnum b Infierno
5) Stuka Jr. b Mascara Magica
6) Mascara Dorada & Mictlan b Dragon Rojo Jr. & Sangre Azteca
7) Hector Garza & Shocker b Atlantis & Mr. Niebla

Ref got bumped in the main event, so Shocker snuck in a foul on Atlantis. They agreed to a singles match.

On this week’s Ras de Lona, Maximo does an interview saying he’s 100% in CMLL and not going anywhere. Hope he doesn’t change his mind again.

CMLL announced it’s plans for early May

05/01: Kid’s Day at Arena Mexico. Atlantis’ movie for kis, and plus partial card:

4) Sagrado, Hijo del Fantasma, Valietne vs Dragon Rojo Jr., Black Warrior, Sangre Azteca
5) Mistico, Sombra, Volador Jr., La Mascara vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Felino, Atlantis

05/02: CMLL Lucha Libre Expo show

05/03: Fan Appreciation show in Guadalajara with Shocker, Panther, Sagrado, Sombra, Lizmark Jr., Mr. Niebla, Draogn Rojo Jr., and Dos Caras Jr.

05/05: Fan Appreciation show in Mexico City (Tuesday)

05/10: Fan Appreciation show in Mexico City (Sunday)

Amapola and Mima Shimoda talked with the press (Ovaciones, MT, Mima’s blog) about the Lucha Libre Expo. They’re both participating in the fashion show at the expo. Amapola still is talking about taking Dark Angel’s hair; she better hurry up.

LuchandoLibre writes about an upcoming Magno (El Paso) vs Magno (Tijuana) agreeing to a name vs name match.

(Reforma via Venom) While promoting the raffle to win dinner with Santo & Demon, El Hijo del Santo claiming the previous event to benefit Kato Kung Lee – the show at Arena Lopez Mateos – ended up with the building owner keeping 85% of the money.

DTU posts Chris Hero talking to Tercera Caida about his upcoming appearance.

Cesar rates Heavy Metal, Neutron, Sombra de Plata, Amapola

ESPNDeportes and kcidis both discuss Dos Caras Jr.’s rudo turn, but kcidis has much the better art. I would buy that t-shirt, no doubt.

WagnerMania has video of Dr. Wagner, LA Park, Blue Demon Jr. vs Perros del Mal

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update, and Robert on CMLL 01/19/08, ACM 03/07/04, AAA 01/26/08, and AULL 12/27/07. That’s a lot of recaps.

04/01: Maximo gone, GDL, Solidaridad, Monterrey

Maximo’s hair loss to Texano was his farewell: Reforma (via Jazzo) has him leaving CMLL to rejoin the independents. Maximo repeatedly complains CMLL is totally focused on one guy and only that guy, and everyone is unhappy because they don’t get as much, though he doesn’t actually mention this one guy’s name.

He means Mistico, I know. (Maximo also said the same thing on a radio show.) I do wonder at the thought process here – if you annoyed at being a big enough star, you’re going to go to promotions who have little or no TV? That’s what matters in 2009. Maximo seems pretty clear that he’s going independent and not to AAA, but I’m not sure AAA would be looking for his kinda of character right now.

India Sioux hasn’t been on any CMLL card we know of since mid February and nto in Arnea Mexico since December. She could keep working here, but she’s not really working much at all.

CMLL (SUN) 03/29 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Mongol b Milenio
2) Katana & Malefico b Angel del Mal & Infierno [Torneo Tanque Dantes]
3) Palacio Negro & Samurai b Leon Blanco & Thunder Boy [Torneo Tanque Dantes]
4) Boomerang & Gallo b Acertijo & Mr. Trueno [Torneo Tanque Dantes]
5) Black Warrior, Dragon Rojo Jr., Sangre Azteca b Hector Garza, La Sombra, Shocker
6) Averno, Mephisto, Texano Jr. b Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Ultimo Guerrero

Assuming I’ve got it right, and who really knows anymore, these are the standings going into the final round

Team
7: Boomerang/Meteoro & Gallo
6: Palacio Negro & Samurai
4: Katana & Malefico
3: Leon Blanco & Thunder Boy
2: Acertijo & Rey & Mr. Trueno
2: Angel del Mal & Infierno

The leading team faces Katana & Malefico, who still have something to play for if second place matters. I’m still not sure first place matters. Negro/Samurai face one of the trailing teams,, Angel del Mal & Inferino, which one would presume they will win.

LA Rosa (SUN) 03/29 Arena Solidaridad [RFC & josedjesus]
1) Baby Fox, Sky, Turbina b Guerrero Griego, Neon, Titanik
2) Bella Karina, Galactar, Martha Villalobos, Mini Gato Volador b Linda Star, Mini Hator, Mongol Chino Jr., Sexi Psicsis
3) Diluvio Negro I, Estrella Dorada, Gato Volador b Apolo Estrada, Mongol Chino, Monje Negro Jr.
4) Antifaz del Norte, Olimpico, Scorpio b Diluvio Negro II, Intocable, Zumbido
5) Aventurero, El Hijo Del Santo, Tinieblas jr. DQ Fuerza Guerrera, Hator, Super Parka

Hator took Santo’s mask for the DQ and they talked hair vs mask after. Zumbido replaced Juvi, still out. RFC says 5000 fans.

CMLL (TUE) 03/31 Arena Mexico [ESTO, SuperLuchas, Avellaneda @ box y lucha]
1) Artillero, Inquisidor, Super Comando b Molotov, Sombra de Plata, Trueno
2) Angel de Oro, Angel de Plata, Astro Boy Sensei b Arkangel de la Muerte, Hooligan, Vangelis
3) Shockercito b Fire [hair]
4) Maximo, Mictlan, Shocker b Felino, Heavy Metal Okumura, Mr. Niebla
5) Atlantis, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero b La Sombra, Mistico, Volador Jr.

Shockercito took falls 1 and 3 clean. Rudos challenged for a tag title shot after their main event win; sounds like it’ll be Atlantis/Rey as the team next week for Fan Appreciation day. Sunday’s main event appears to be a Marcela vs Rosa Negra mask versus mask match, which should fill Arena Mexico to the brim.

AAA trumpets Alex Koslov in ROH. (CMLL does not mention half the trips people go on.) Looks like the lucha particpation matches are going to be

04/03
– Generico vs Blue Demon Jr. vs Brent Albright vs Claudio Castagnoli
– Kevin Steen, Jay Briscoe, Magno vs Chris Hero, Eddie Edwards, Incognito
– Bryan Danielson vs Alex Koslov (!)

04/04
– Alex Koslov vs Roderick Strong
– Kevin Steen, El Generico, Jay Briscoe, Magno vs the American Wolves, Chris Hero, Incognito
– Nigel McGuiness, Claudio Castagnoli vs Blue Demon Jr., Brent Albright

Bobby Lee is interviewed about his career. He’s currently commissioner in Leon, and complains Santo cheated to beat him. In a unusual occurrence of links working in tandem, DJ Espectro talks to Bobby Lee Jr., suspected to be the original Ice Cream. DJ Espectro also asks for more visitors leave comments; sometimes, I’ve personally found that’s a better idea in theory than it is in practice.

DTU interviews Chris Hero about coming in.

Lucha libre will be on CSI. Don’t care.

Maska Lucha points out some Dos Caras inspired baseball caps. I still need to get an Artillero one.

LuchaWorld has Robert on AAA’s 07 Pena show, and CMLL 10/27 and 11/03.

AAA (MON) 05/04 Centro Banamex
1) Aerostar, Laredo Kid, Super Fly vs Rio Bravo, Tigre Cota, Tito Santana II
2) Joe Lider & Nicho el Millionario vs Jack Evans & Teddy Hart
3) ? & Vampiro vs Chessman & Extreme Tiger
4) Alex Koslov, Rocky Romero, X-Pac vs Kenzo Suzuki, Silver King, Zorro
5) ?, Charly Manson, Mesias vs Electro Shock, Konnan, Ozz

Looks like status quo is still the way to go. Let’s be honest: I don’t care who the mystery people are.

CMLL (TUE) 03/31 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Hierro vs Skaxy
2) Silueta vs Atenea
3) Idolo vs Depredador
4) Virgo vs Ebola
5) Metal Blanco & Valiente vs Mascara Magica & Satanico
6) Dos Caras Jr., La Mascara, Sagrado vs Black Warrior, Dragon Rojo Jr., Sangre Azteca

CMLL (SUN) 04/05 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Astaroth & Hierro vs Fraile de la Muerte & Relampago Azul
2) Casanova, Magnum, Neutron vs Asesino Negro, Güero Loco, Rey Trueno
3) Dark Angel & Lady Apache vs Amapola & Princesa Blanca
4) Dos Caras Jr., Sagrado, Volador Jr. vs Heavy Metal, Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero
5) Texano Jr. vs Atlantis [NWA LH]

Fan appreciation show. Big week for Atlantis!

03/02: Coliseo, GDL

CMLL (SUN) 03/01 Arena Coliseo [Ovaciones]
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II b Inquisidor & Semental
2) Bracito de Oro, Mascarita Dorada, Niño de Acero b Fantasy, Pequeño Olímpico, Último Dragoncito
3) Flash, Metro, Stuka Jr. b Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus
4) Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Ultimo Guerrero b Blue Panther, Marco Corleone, Mascara Dorada
5) Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto b Hector Garza, Hijo del Fantasma, La Máscara

Rudos cheated in some unspecified way to win the main event. They’re rudos, I guess it doesn’t need to be specified. Shocker was replaced by Hector here, but that probably had more to do with the story than a noshow. This sets up a rematch next week, and probably a title match on 03/15.

Felino & Negro are listed as replaced by UG and Atlantis. Either Ultimo Guerrero really gets around or someone made a typo.

I’d be more relieved about Flash & Stuka winning (preventing that program from restarting again) if Flash & Stuka moved onto a new feud.

Minis match was said to be best match and Dorada was said to be awesome. I guess you hold out that this slips onto LATV or turns up as filler programming on the Dos Leyendas week.

CMLL (SUN) 03/01 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [MT: main, semimain]
4) Misterioso II, Terrible, Texano Jr. b Máximo, Sagrado, Toscano
5) Héctor Garza, Místico, Volador Jr. b Black Warrior, Mr. Niebla, Último Guerrero

Mistico, who the fans had issues with last time here, was beloved this evening and beat UG clean and they did the usual challenges and such (the upside to the pending mask match is UG can beg out of any others because he’s already occupied.)

The big angle of the night was in the semimain. Texano sneaking into foul Maximo for the win is not a big angle, that’s an every show bit, but the two cut promos on each other noting they grew up playing together (Texano saying he’d been playing with trains while Maximo was playing with Barbies) but now they’re going to end each other once and for all. They settled on a hair match for 03/15, a fan appreciation day show. Neither man has ever lost their hair, though Texano lost his mask (as Kempo Kid) and both their fathers (Texano Sr. & Brazo de Plata) were notorious for losing their hair frequently in the later stages of their careers.

By sheer coincidence, I’m sure, March 15th is also the day Rey de Reyes is in Guadalajara. You know, as the card is currently listed on AAA’s site (without those two openers mentioned elsewhere), I probably would go see Texano/Maximo instead. I also am pretty sure I’d be lonely making that decision; this might be a match that’d mean something with a month or two build, instead of two weeks.

There are times when Mistico’s booed. And there are times when people are booed for not being Mistico. Take this charity show in Cabo San Lucas, where the sponsors of the show wanted to come to the ring and talk a bit before the main event. No one’s quite sure what he said, because the fans booed the coordinator of the national institute of health care for the elderly for not being Mistico and delaying them from seeing Mistico. Eventually, the people in charge figured it out.

(via Box Y Lucha Foro) Xalapa luchador Tigre Cosmico is in at least temporary retirement due to a brain injury suffered on the 02/04 show. Sounds like he blacked out. Doctor says he may get better, but it’s not sure thing and he’s not supposed to be wrestling until he does.

SuperLuchas continues it’s look at Antonio Pena’s ideas for CMLL in 1991. If you’re a subscriber to WON and have been reading the old 1991-1992 newsletters as they’ve gone up (which I higly recommend), it’s interesting to get the slightly different perspective on the shows CMLL was running in a night club, as both a way around the ban of recording at Arena Mexico (WON) and as a way to reach different fans (SuperLuchas).

Box Y Luchas #2912 has Ultimo Guerrero vs Villano V. Box Y Lucha TV Episode (#3?) is up, but I haven’t had a chance to watch it. Is it any good?

Vampiro, Abismo Negro and Latin Lover were at the Mexican premiere of the Wrestler. AAA fixed the Super Crazy typo from last night – this is why I’m using backup URLs, just to prove I’m not losing my mind.

If you do nothing else today, watch Principe Maya vs Angel Azteca in a mask match from 2002 for Principe Maya’s epic performance. My favorite part is how he clearly did not want to do that match, but still went to the ring in his gear.