great match roundup, April

Great/Excellent matches this month

CMLL on Televisa: 2012-04-07: Volador Jr. vs Prince Devitt for the NWA World Middleweight Championship – great

CMLL on FOX 2012-04-21: Euforia & Terrible vs Atlantis & Triton in a CMLL Gran Alternativa final match – great

CMLL on CadenaTres: 2012-04-28: Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., La Sombra vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto – great

Have Watched, but nothing made the cut

AAA on Televisa (Regional): 2012-04-01

AAA on Televisa (Regional/Main): 2012-04-08
CMLL on CadenaTres: 2012-04-07
CMLL on Fox Sports (Mexico): 2012-04-07
CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2012-04-07

AAA on Televisa (Regional): 2012-04-14
CMLL on CadenaTres: 2012-04-14
CMLL on Fox Sports (Mexico): 2012-04-14
CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2012-04-14
CMLL on Televisa: 2012-04-14

AAA on Televisa: 2012-04-22
CMLL on CadenaTres: 2012-04-21
CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2012-04-21
CMLL on Televisa: 2012-04-21

CMLL on Televisa: 2012-04-28
CMLL on Fox Sports (Mexico): 2012-04-28
CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2012-04-28
AAA on Televisa (Regional): 2012-04-29
CMLL En Busca de un Idolo: Week 1

Matches I Didn\’t Watch Which Look Good

CMLL Puebla: 2012-04-09
taped 2012-04-02 @ Arena Puebla
2) Pequeño Olímpico vs Último Dragoncito for the CMLL World Mini Estrellas Championship – ???
It\’s Dragoncito, there\’s always a chance

CMLL Guadalajara: 2012-04-14
taped 2012-04-03 @ Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
3) Máscara Dorada vs Averno for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Probably should\’ve seen this.

2012 MOTYC list so far

is now linked here

great match roundup, March

Great/Excellent matches this month

03/10 CMLL GALA – Ayumi vs Marcela in a lightning match – great
03/10 CMLL FOX – Blue Panther vs Negro Casas – great
03/10 CMLL C3 – Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger for the Mexican National Trios Championship – great

Edit: 03/11 AAA – Argenis, Drago, Fenix vs Argos, Semental, Toscano – great

03/17 CMLL GALA – Ayumi vs Marcela for the CMLL World Women’s Championship – excellent
03/18 AAA – Dinastía & Octagoncito vs Mini Histeria & Mini Psicosis – great

Have Watched, but nothing made the cut
03/03 CMLL FOX
03/03 CMLL GALA
03/03 CMLL 52MX
03/03 CMLL C3
03/03 AAA

03/10 CMLL 52MX
03/10 CMLL FOX
03/10 AAA

03/17 CMLL FOX
03/17 CMLL 52MX
03/17 CMLL C3

03/24 CMLL 52MX
03/24 CMLL FOX
03/24 CMLL C3
03/24 CMLL GALA
03/25 AAA

03/31 CMLL 52MX
03/31 CMLL FOX
03/31 CMLL C3
03/31 CMLL GALA
03/31 AAA

MOTYC List, by date (thru March TV)

2011-12-20 Argenis, Atomic Boy, Fenix b Dark Dragon, Tigre Cota, Tito Santana full great
2012-01-13 La Máscara, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada b Mr. Águila, Psicosis, Volador Jr. YouTube great
2012-01-22 La Sombra b Volador Jr. [NWA WELTER] handheld, part 1 handheld, part 2 excellent
2012-01-31 Cancerbero, Euforia, Raziel, Virus b Arkángel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Nitro, Skándalo [cibernetico] YouTube great
2012-02-03 Ángel de Oro b Mr. ÁguilaMáscara DoradaRey EscorpiónValienteVirusDeltaStuka Jr.PólvoraTigerGuerrero Maya Jr.EuforiaFuegoHijo del SignoTitán,RazielPuma KingRey Cometa [Reyes del Aire] thecubsfan great
2012-03-02 Marcela b Ayumi [lightning] handheld thecubsfan great
2012-03-02 Negro Casas DRAW Blue Panther [hair] handheld part 1 handheld part 2 handheld part 3 handheld part 4 thecubsfan great
2012-03-06 Princesa Blanca b Lady Apache [MEX WOMEN] thecubsfan great
2012-03-09 Marcela b Ayumi [CMLL WOMEN] thecubsfan excellent
2012-03-11 Dinastía & Octagoncito b Mini Histeria & Mini Psicosis thecubsfan great

great match roundup, February

(filling in the gaps for all those weeks I missed)

Great/Excellent matches this month

02/04 AAA TV
2011-12-20: Argenis, Atomic Boy, Fenix vs Dark Dragon, Tigre Cota, Tito Santana – great

02/04 CMLL C3
2012-01-31: Cancerbero, Euforia, Raziel, Virus vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Nitro, Skándalo in a cibernetico match – great

from 02/11 CMLL FOX
02-03: CMLL Reyes del Aire – great, right on the line to go higher

Have Watched, but nothing made the cut
02/04 CMLL 52MX
02/04 CMLL GALA
02/04 CMLL GDL
02/04 CMLL FOX
02/11 CMLL GALA
02/11 CMLL 52MX
02/11 CMLL C3
02/11 AAA
02/18 CMLL 52MX
02/18 CMLL FOX
02/18 CMLL GALA
02/18 CMLL GDL
02/18 CMLL C3
02/18 AAA – Dinastia debut match is close
02/25 CMLL 52MX – Avernos vs Love Buffet title match is close
02/25 CMLL C3
02/25 CMLL FOX
02/25 CMLL GALA
(there was no new AAA TV the weekend of 02/25)

MOTYC List, by date (thru February TV)

2011-12-20 Argenis, Atomic Boy, Fenix b Dark Dragon, Tigre Cota, Tito Santana full great
2012-01-13 La Máscara, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada b Mr. Águila, Psicosis, Volador Jr. YouTube great
2012-01-22 La Sombra b Volador Jr. [NWA WELTERhandheld, part 1 handheld, part 2 excellent
2012-01-31 Cancerbero, Euforia, Raziel, Virus b Arkángel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Nitro, Skándalo [ciberneticoYouTube great
2012-02-03 Ángel de Oro b Mr. ÁguilaMáscara DoradaRey EscorpiónValienteVirusDeltaStuka Jr.PólvoraTigerGuerrero Maya Jr.EuforiaFuegoHijo del SignoTitán,RazielPuma KingRey Cometa [Reyes del Airethecubsfan great

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.