Royal Air Force grounded

The AAA high flying unit known as Real Fuerza Aerea AAA formed six years ago this month. Some of the participants had been turning up in AAA TV opening matches since the prior fall, and others had been wrestling under different names or making occasional appearances prior, but not together as a unit name. The first show they were the Fuerza Aerea was established was the 02/25 taping in Morelos, with the trio of Nemesis, Rey Cometa, and Super Fly. Laredo Kid was added the next month. Pegasso, el Angel, and finally Aerostar were added thru the year. The seven man group was overfilled with exciting bright future stars. They were definitely treated that way the first few years.

Not so much today. It’s been a gradual change, and it’s been hidden underneath by another wave of young promising tecnicos taking their place, but things haven’t turned well for any of them.

el Angel: the one least fitting in the group, former Oscar Sevilla put under a mask in a Mistico clone attempt. (Many of these were done with that in mind.) His inclusion in the group seemed more to find a use for an existing wrestler than any great hope of him breaking out. Angel was one of the many mid 2009 long time midcard departures, and has drifted thru IWRG, Perros del Mal and AULL since. He seems to be fading out, appearing less each year.

Nemesis: first member of the original group, but switched between this masked identity and the new Barrio Boy Javi unmasked look depending on what the fringes of the AAA roster required that day. Vanished entirely at some point, until someone with his gimmick showed up in IWRG in 2010 (and did the usual IWRG disappearing act.) AAA never seemed that interested in him; he’s the less successful New Barrio Boy.

Laredo Kid: the one who was supposed to be the breakout future star. Appeared on multiple lists of people AAA totally were going to push that year. Had some injuries and bad breaks that changed plans – most notable the broken leg when Ron Killings fell on him taking a move – and was passed by his partners in the pecking order. Still was good when healthy and got to make angry faces at Super Fly for being Super Fly. Part of back to back *** 1/2+ trio matches in June (Neza & Naucalpan), hasn’t been on TV since. Hasn’t actually been on any AAA spot show outside of his hometown since August. Still wrestling around Laredo, but no longer mentioned by AAA.

Aerostar: dare devil high flyer given the backstory of the last character Antonio Pena came up with (oddly, the Psycho Circus claim the same) and the trainee carrying on the memory of his mentor Abismo Negro. Seems to have done well both with in ring performance and outside goofy skits (everything with Fabi.) Liked well enough to be sent to Japan, that people who failed to catch him on dives were strongly reprimanded for their actions. Not liked well enough to actually make TV in the last three months. Not nearly as hopeless as most people on this list.

Super Fly: also known as “poor Super Fly”. Surprisingly strongest pushed member of the group early, winning Super Calo’s mask. Feuded with Electroshock for a long time, Electroshock treating Super Fly as if he was several levels beneath him and destroying the tecnico. Seemed to be leading to Super Fly getting a big win. Just got destroyed some more. (We were told Super Fly’s bad promos were the problem.) Started to turn rudo, story was dropped, started to turn rudo, actually turned rudo, teased a match with Octagon, didn’t go anywhere, was stripped of his position for being a loser, was turned and destroyed by his partners, was destroyed again making his tecnico debut, and has not appeared since. I’m guessing he won’t be over when he’s back. Super Fly desperately needs a fresh start – the guy seen as a big enough promise to win one of the original AAA gimmicks now needs a new name and/or a new home.

Speaking of people who got new homes:

Pegasso: fringe AAA guy who got lumped into this group, much like Angel, but made a lot more of it. Never got much focus in AAA and they probably weren’t too concerned when he left in 2008. Made it to CMLL, and moved up out of openers, but not much more than. Reached the level of being high enough just to miss out on tournaments and anything interesting. Pegasso’s upside seemed to be the new Starman, a decade long run of wrestling in the same spot on the card against the same group of opponents without getting a real chance. (Ultraman Jr. did win a mask, which seems wildly optimistic for Pegasso.) Downside is a career ending at any moment due to a flare of his knee injury, which – allegedly I’m supposed to say – never actually got the surgery it needed and was just rested for a while. (Segundas don’t pay much, just ask Tony.)

Rey Cometa: core and original Fuerza Aerea member who essentially lost his spot to Aerostar and AAA deciding they only needed about three of these guys at any time. Like his partner Pegasso, made it to CMLL and moved up out of openers. Won a coin flip (or of having a couple more spectacular dive) and became the half of the team that was pushed just enough to make the tournaments, but bomb out of them every time. Earned a Twitter hashtag! Is getting really good at doing the Skandalo stomp, having had 100 matches to practice it. Still doesn’t even seem slightly in consideration to be chosen to even lose in title matches – there’s surprising gulf between Cometa and the likes of Fuego & Titan. Still, Cometa has a bit of forward momentum – if enough guys got hurt, left to AAA, or left to WWE, they’d probably give Cometa a chance. It’s be a chance in a mortally injured company, but that worked out for Cibernetico!

None of these guys have developed in the stars they were hoped to be. The hope is not extinguished for some of them; a few probably just need something closer to the chances they were given when they debuted as a group then the ones they’ve gotten of late.

I’m pointing the finger at booking a lot, because it’s always the easiest bit. There have been other reasons hinted at – lack of charisma in some cases – and there are surely reasons we have no clue about. And it’s possible these were just the wrong guys to pick for those spots. Still, there’s certainly a track record of similar problems with similar characters AAA, before and after these guys. None of these guys would even be considered light heavyweights, and there’s the same size preference in Mexico as there is the rest of the world.

I really like Fenix, and Atomic Boy, and Aregenis has been coming on, and Daga will probably be great. They are having fun matches and I hope they continue to, if it’s in the first match or the last, and I more hope they’re very well compensated for it. However, I’d bet against them still doing it in 2017 in any meaningful way; if history is a guide, it’ll be the guy who are already on top, and the guys who were on top in other groups. Being part of great matches alone just does not get you far in AAA.

02/27: Mexico, Dos Leyendas, Rey de Reyes

There’s a show tonight, though it’s gotten lost in the shuffle.

CMLL (FRI) 02/27 Arena Mexico
1) Angel de Oro & Angel de Plata vs Caligula & Messala
2) Mascarita Dorada, Nino de Acero, Pequeno Ninja vs Pequeno Universo 2000, Pequeno Warrior, Pierrothito
3) Rey Cometa vs Artillero [lightning]
4) La Mascara, Maximo, Sagrado vs Ephesto, Terrible, Texano Jr.
5) Black Warrior, Blue Panther, Ultimo Guerrero vs Averno, Mephisto, Villano V
6) Hector Garza, Marco Corleone, Mistico vs Atlantis, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero

The semimain is really the main event, but it’ll end up being the main event for the next month so there’s no rush now. Main event is build around a Mistico/Atlantis feud.

Most of the attention is on CMLL’s press conference: Ovaciones runs a big story on Ultimo Guerrero vs Villano V. In ESTO, Villano V requested that both his brothers work as his seconds for his title match. Somehow, CMLL was surprised by this request. They’re surely going to at least tease a switch again.

There’s a post on El Martinete’s board adding two more matches to Rey de Reyes
– El Apache, Fabi Apache, Aerostar vs Billy Boy, Cinthia Moreno, Oriental
– Teddy Hart, Jack Evans vs X-Pac, Alex Koslov vs a replacement for Super Crazy & Crazy Boy

I haven’t seen these officially listed anywhere. They’d be good matches, but it’d also make the taping marathon length – 10 matches, and AAA doesn’t usually cut down on time for these.

EDIT: I’m really tired this morning, but it occurred to me that it might be worth checking ticket master to see what they had. And they have a different lineup:

– Charly teaming with X-Pac and Alex and Zorro with Jack & Teddy instead of mystery partners
– Kenzo in Psycho Clown’s spot
– Gran Apache, Fabi Apache, Aerostar vs Billy Boy, Cinthia Moreno, Extreme Tiger as the opener.

That was probably an early lineup, but I got guess the post from el Martinete will eventually be proven correct and there’s a couple unadvertised matches. They didn’t mention the Mixed Tag match for Guerra de Titanes, IIRC.

There had be some talk of Villano III running for local office as a member of the Green Party. V3 told Box Y Lucha that he was a sure thing to win (?), but decided to focus on his wrestling career right now.

Rey Cometa & Pegasso are open to suggestions from the fans for a new team name.

Suburban Chicago News has an interview with local wrestler SWAT Cat. Video’s worth checking out for his giant mask display.

Ohtani’s Jacket enjoys Super Porky vs Asesino Negro.

SuperLuchas looks back at Konnan vs Perro Aguayo Sr.

LuchaWorld has Robert on 10/06/07 CMLL and AAA Verano de Escandalo 07, KrisZ’s news update and 30-20 in the top 100 countdown

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 03/02 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger, Blue Center, Tigre Rojo vs Espiritu Maligno, Mr. Rafaga, Toro Bill Sr.
2) Astro Boy, Pegasso, Rey Cometa vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Vangelis
3) Mascara Dorada, Maximo, Metro vs Misterioso II, Shigeo Okumura, Virus
4) Princesa Blanca vs Marcela [MEX WOMEN]
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Ultimo Guerrero vs Averno, Mephisto, Villano V

THE REMATCH. No word on where Mima will be. No minis on the show leading up to the big minis cage match, which is an awful relaxed way to do it. Opening match tecnicos should bring the flag of East Frisia to ringside with them.

CMLL (TUE) 03/03 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Hierro vs Relampago Azul
2) Quazar vs Katana
3) Astaroth vs Asesino Negro
4) Leon Blanco vs Rafaga
5) Metal Blanco vs Rey Trueno
6) Hijo del Fantasma & Valiente vs Dragon Rojo Jr. & Misterioso II
7) Black Warrior & Sangre Azteca vs Dos Caras Jr. & Sagrado

First Asesino Negro match here since December.

12/13: Mexico results, CMLL plans change, GDL Festival

CMLL (FRI) 12/12 Arena Mexico [superluchas, ESTO, Ovaciones, SoloLucha]
1) Inquisidor & Pólvora b Sombra de Plata & Starman
2) Dark Angel, Lady Apache, Lluvia b Hiroka, Mima Shimoda, Princesa Sujei
3) Terrible b Marco Corleone, Texano Jr., Dos Caras Jr., Atlantis, Mr. Niebla, Shocker, Blue Panther, Rey Bucanero, Toscano, Villano V, Sagrado, Misterioso II, Valiente, Ephesto, Máximo [LdA]
4) Místico DQ Último Guerrero

Main event was a near 20 minute match. UG took the first, Mistico took the second, and the third ended by DQ when Mistico dived towards Ultimo, but Ultimo grabbed Tony The Cartoonist’s canvas and smached with Mistico with it on the way down. SuperLucha has the first fall over in about 3 minutes, which ESTO lists as “less than five minutes.”

People voted for 11 different people to win the Leyenda de Azul. Terrible got no voes and won. Order of elimination is listed above, with Villano V replacing Lizmark. Story of the match was the three Hijos de Averno working together. When it was down to Dos/Marco and Terrible/Texano, the two rudos took out Dos together. Texano got pinned next, but he and Ephesto stayed around ringside to distract Corleone into being fouled by Terrible. SuperLuchas has the match at 36 minutes, I think.

SoloLuchas says attendance was up, but it doesn’t look good from the shot of Mistico and Ultimo Guerrero. They both could be right.

Ovaciones reportes CMLL has changed their minds and will continue to run Arena Mexico Tuesday and Friday for the rest of the year. CMLL is thinking of running big shows on 12/23 and 12/30 (Fridays) and may announce them well in advance, plus Tuesday January 6 will be another fan appreciation day.

I thought IWRG was supposed to be done this week as well, but there’s a mention of them running a 10 man cage match next Sunday with Scorpio Jr., Fuerza Guerrera, Arlequin, Pierroth II, Multifacetico, Zumbido, Cerbero Negro, Tetsuy and Mascara Ano 2000.

Lots of articles on the first day of the Guadalajara Lucha Libre expo
– Local papers Informador, milenio and La Jornada covered the show, as well as a local reporter for MT who filed three different articles: the AAA undercard, on the main event, and on those being honored and what’s to come the next two days.

Milenio says 3000 people showed up for the wrestling portion of the show. It sounds like attendance was not as expected; the show was delayed 30-40 minutes as they waited for “enough” people to move to the bleachers to start the show, and the Milenio article mentioned ticket giveaways. The MT report has a good photo of the setup. Having this outdoors in December did not help, with a lot pointing out how cold it was while watching the events.

AAA (FRI) 12/12 Guadalajara Lucha Libre Festival
5) La Parka Jr., Mesias, Octagón b Jack Evans, Konnan, Teddy Hart

Main event was supposed to be Parka/Octagon vs Mesias/Konnan, but Mesias and Konnan refused to get along based off current storylines and they turned it into a trios. The other matches sound like they happened as scheduled, just no results reported.

The MT article says the idea was great but the execution was horrible. A complete lack of security put the wrestlers in danger. The semimain guys were pelted with drinks for the bleachers. (There were announcements to stop it, but no one actually forcing them too.) After the main event, the crowd jumped the barricade to get close to the tecnicos, who had to fight thru the crowd to get to the back. AAA wrestlers were angry enough to blow off the press after the show.

WagnerMania has video and pictures of the booths and other parts of the show not relating to the AAA show.

SuperLuchas has the first round results of the Latin American tournament in Peru.

News American has an article on San Jose lucha promotion >Pro Wrestling Revolution and includes this line:

According to American wrestler “Strongman” Jon Andersen, Pro Wrestling Revolution is the most successful wrestling promoter in the United States.

CMLL (TUE) 12/16 Arena Mexico
1) Angel de Oro & Tigre Blanco vs Camorra & Inquisidor
2) Pegasso, Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Nitro, Skandalo
3) Hijo del Fantasma, Mascara Dorada, Valiente vs Ohara, Shigeo Okumura, Virus
4) Sangre Azteca vs Dragon Rojo Jr. [MEX WELTER]
5) Blue Panther, Dos Caras Jr., Shocker vs Black Warrior, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas

2009 came early! I suspect this is the beginning of a long series between the ex-Air Force and the Tuareg. Between Cometa and Pegasso making the card and Ohara being back on a proper CMLL show for the first time in a long while (the Leyenda de Plata tournament), I think people are already headed off for vacation.

CMLL (FRI) 12/19 Arena Mexico
1) Ángel Azteca Jr. & Angel de Oro vs Calígula & Méssala
2) India Sioux, Marcela, Princesa Blanca vs Amapola, Hiroka, Medussa
3) Flash vs Pólvora [lightning]
4) Mascara Dorada, Máximo, Valiente vs Felino, Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca
5) La Máscara, Toscano, Volador Jr. vs Ephesto, Terrible, Texano Jr.
6) Dos Caras Jr., Mark Corleone, Shocker vs Black Warrior, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero

That’s a random but fun sounding lightning match. They haven’t done one of those for a while – last one I see is June 30, 2006 between Mascara Purpura & Stuka. A Lightning match is just a 10 minute time limit one fall match, usually between young guys.

Nice that they’re bundling Los Hijo del Averno as a rudo trio, but shouldn’t the guy who won Leyenda de Azul get the main event?

The opener is an ongoing feud. Maybe “ongoing” is too strong, “continuing” without making progress works better.

Mistico is in Tijuana on this night.

While you’re waiting for this week’s shows, here’s last week’s Ras de Lona:

12/11: Neza, Panther remasked, Sombra challenges Demon

indy (SAT) 12/06 Plaza La Canela, Xochitepec, Morelos [the gladiatores]
1) Aikido, Eragon, Scanner b Centinela, Kadafi, Marte
2) Afrodita & Zeuxis b Princesa Zareth & Zorra
3) La Parkita & Mascarita Sagrada b Espectrito I & Espectrito II
4) El Hijo del Diablo & Sultan Jr. b Coclores & Coco Verde
5) Dr. Cerebro, Mr. México, Septiembre Negro II vs Freelance, Pendulo, Ultramán Jr.
6) Dr. Wagner Jr., El Dandy, Fuerza Guerrera b Head Hunter I, Hijo del Cien Caras, Veneno

I don’t why it’s surprising, but it didn’t occur to me until now that there was actually someone wrestling as Zorra. They’d be way over at an AAA show.

CMLL (SUN) 12/07 Arena Neza [the gladiatores]
1) Beta & Maullido b Bizarro & Templario
2) Black Lancer & Tarasco b Angel de los Ninos & Mr. Katana
3) Black Thunder, Skayde, Vampiro Metálico b Carta Brava, Soldado del Futuro, Turbo
4) Starman & Tony Rivera DQ Puma King & Tiger Kid
5) Dos Caras Jr., Máscara Púrpura, Toscano b Black Warrior, Felino, Heavy Metal

A little bit under the radar compared to the other shows going on last Sunday. Tercera was said to be match of the night.

Blue Panther is getting his mask back. Only for a day, though. As Panther’s part of participation in the campaign for non-violence against women, he’s wearing the mask because people know him masked so much better than unmasked. (Elsewhere in the article, Panther says he thinks his post mask loss career is going well.)

(Reforma via Wagnermania) Sombra says that if Blue Demon wants his NWA Welterweight Title, he’ll have to beat him in a match. What a crazy idea. Historian Sombra notes that, back in the 40s, the NWA didn’t have many wrestlers in smaller weight classes, so they gave the opportunity to Mexicans to win the titles. If they have those wrestlers now, they need to beat Sombra to earn the belt, not request it be handed over in meaningless way. No such match will ever be booked, because that’s the way CMLL likes it, but Blue Demon so needs to make a grandstand Sombra vs Skyade/Turbo/Trauma II/SOMEONE challenge right now.

They also post a photo of the Perros del Mal show, after the semimain, disputing the 4,500 attendance number. They look to have a point. the Gladiatores and hablando de catch also wrote about the show, so you can check their pictures too.

Speaking of titles, Dos Caras Jr. is okay with giving Mr. Niebla a CMLL World Heavyweight Championship match, but would like Mr. Niebla to stop being silly/AAA-ish in the ring. Dos heads the fans demanding wrestling when he’s in the ring with rudos like Mr. Niebla, and thinks it’s because the fans didn’t pay their ticket to see Mr. Niebla dancing. I can think of other reasons. Dos expects the title match to go down before 2008, and at a Friday night in Arena Mexico (which is odd, since CMLL said they’re done with those after next week.)

Wagnermania also has video of Dr. Wagner wrestling in Rodeo Potro and on Tercera Caida, as well as video of Guerra de Titanes. I think I can wait to see that.

AAA looks back at what Abismo Negro was doing ten years ago. (A: actually having matches!)

The Gladiatores has an interview with Hector Guzman Chavez, who’s part of the Arena Lopez Mateos management.

After the fact, CMLL updated it’s Arena Mexico’s listing to note Tuesday’s Cibernetico was for the national title.

SuperLuchas looks back at Los Brazos coming to Arena Coliseo.

Ohtani’s Jacket looks back at Blue Panther vs Angel Azteca for the National Middleweight Championship in 1992.

Ovaciones is down at the moment, but here’s a direct link to today’s edition; nothing much interesting today.

CMLL (MON) 12/15 Arena Puebla
1) Karisma & Sauron vs Centella de Oro & Legionario
2) Asturiano, Hijo del Faraon, Pegasso Xtreme vs Policeman, Semental, Toro Bill Jr.
3) Mascarita Dorada, Pequeño Olímpico, Último Dragoncito vs Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Warrior, Pierrothito
4) Blue Panther, Mictlán, Valiente vs Black Warrior, Dragon Rojo Jr., Sangre Azteca
5) Dos Caras Jr., Marco Corelone, Shocker vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero

There’s an unsourced interview with Pegasso and Rey Cometa on Box Y Lucha’s forum (Edit: original story is from Deporte1), where they confirm they’re getting a trial run in CMLL (DF) starting in January. They’re more gracious to AAA then I think they’ve been in previous interviews.

CMLL (TUE) 12/16 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Quazar vs Milenio
2) Carlo Roggi vs Ebola
3) Thunder Boy vs Asesino Negro
4) Metatron vs Mr. Trueno
5) El Gallo & Leon Blanco vs Malefico & Satánico
6) La Sombra, Marco Corelone, Toscano vs Heavy Metal, Terrible, Texano Jr.

Back to normal here. Maybe less CMLL guys here, actually. Note Satanico mixing in with the locals.