AAA Mini Line - 04/19/08 (#829)
Recap: 05/04/08

Video Package: and a really well done one at that, showing how all 16 guys got into the Rey de Reyes as they proclaim they're going to win the whole thing. And then they show the Mesias/Cibernetico stuff one more time.

fireworks. That sword got stuck in the stone again this year, how odd.

Match 1: Mr. Niebla vs Zumbido vs Elegido vs Mascara Divina in a semifinal of the Rey de Reyes 
Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 03/16/08

Winner: Mr. Niebla
Match Time: 6:42
Notes: Copetes, who hasn't been around the last couple TV tapings, is back here as captain. After introductions four the match, they run the show open one more time, which is plain weird. I hope they don't do that for every break.

Rudos get into a fight which each other before the bell, they immediate turn on the tecnicos. Match was worked like a typical four way: four man brawling early, then two guys fighting with a third jumping in once someone got too much of the advantage. Rudos fought, tecnicos did not have an opportunity to fight (or not fight.)  Guys broke up pinfalls, even though it appears to be an elimination match. Mascara Divina ran and pushed off Niebla's back for a tope con giro that totally missed Zumbido. I was surprised that was not the end of him, and it did take him extra long to get up to take Niebla's tope. Crowd seemed to boo as Intocable called for his dive, and got on him when he slipped jumping on the ropes, but the girls were with him on his plancha. Intocable/Zumbido got a big noticeable clip. Zumbido had Intocable beat with a moonsault, but Divina broke it up. Zumbido slaps Divina out of the ring, but Intocable very carefully German suplexes Zumbido for the elimination. From the crowd reaction, it seems like they weren't aware it was elimination and there's some people (men) turning on Elegido. 

Niebla gets Elegido with a dropkick, but fools around and gets caught by a Divina plancha. Niebla blocks Divina's attempt at a rollup, and starts dancing on chest slaps. Divina tries a clothesline, and Niebla catches him in a fujiwara. He's not Blue Panther, but it works for the elimination. Copetes calls for a timeout while he tries to move Divina out of the ring, and the crowd gets some time to anticipate the fight before it happens. 

Elegido gets Niebla with a bad crucifix rollup, gets booed, and does not get the pinfall. Elegido is getting booed every time he does a move now - casita gets two and more boos. Niebla kick, Elegido has trouble getting a suplex but eventually pulls it off. Elegido poses and gets booed. Niebla pulls his trunks (away form the camera), then sneaks in a knee lift low blow. Niebla has all sort of problems getting Elegido in the Niebla, but he eventually gets it locked on for the win. Mr. Niebla advances.

Promo: post match promo by Niebla, with lots of production for no reason. He's hoping he gets to beat up Abismo Negro ont he way to being Rey de Reyes. 

Match 2: Head Hunter I vs Pirata Morgan vs Alan Stone vs Decnnis in a semifinal of the Rey de Reyes 
Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 03/16/08

Winner: Alan Stone
Match Time: 5:55
Notes: The ring music seems quieter than usual. Everyone stomps on poor Alan as soon as he comes in the ring. Piero is ref. 

Alan is quickly taken out of the action with a Head Hunter splash, but rolls outside instead of being pinned. Decnnis takes special enjoyment in taunting Alan when he's in pain, and the other two rudos decide to turn on him. Decnnis works pseudo tecnico for a bit, getting to show more solo offense than usual. Some of it looks good, but his top rope splash to the floor on Head Hunter looks painful. Pirata grabs Decnnis as he tries to come back in, suplexes him, slams him, and Head Hunter adds a top rope splash for the pin.

Alan gets a very short comeback before Head Hunter drops him and goes up for another top rope splash. They try a spot where Pirata pulls Alan out of the way just in time - he needs some edge to take out the large man, and having him miss a top rope splash is as good as any - but they don't execute it well and so the Pirata only sorta pulls Alan out of the way and Alan sorta gets hit. Pirata quickly finishes off Head Hunter with the double armbar he's been using.

It comes down to Alan and Pirata, and Alan surprises Pirata with a couple quick roll ups, but both are well in the ropes and Pirata easily grabs the bottom rope before three. Alan is surprisingly able to win a punch battle with Pirata, but it's mostly thru ducking every punch Pirata throws. Alan tries to rush off the ropes, but Pirata catches him in his sleeper, drops him with his sleeper slam and hooks on the double armbar again. They're still too close to the ropes and Alan his able to scissor them with his legs while in the hold. Piero seems to take his time, but eventually orders a break. Pirata powerbombs Alan, but rests instead of going for a pin. Pirata walks around pointing at the crowd while Alan stagers around. Pirata picks him up one more time, holds him up for a second, and Alan reveres the powerbomb into a 'rana for the pin. Crowd approves.

Promo: Alan Stone thinks this is his night to be Rey de Reyes.

Noti AAA
-
lots of foreign people participated at Rey De Reyes. Sabu, Kenzo, Teddy Hart, Konan, and Scott Steiner are mentioned.
- Jesus talk to Mesias about his return. Mesias points out he's still champ, and he's still #1 in Mexico. We never actually see the belt in this promo. World of Mesias, like it or not
- recap of why Fabi is angry with Billy. 
- quick black screen of Bestia Salvaje, remembered. I wonder if they just stuck this in at a last minute - it feels that way. It's very eerie picture of Bestia staring up into a spotlight. 
- lots of keys

Promo: Super Porky survived the cage of death, so he thinks he has a chance here
Promo: Abismo Negro calls out all the groups in AAA - he doesn't need any one, he's Abismo Negro.

Match 3: Psicosis vs Abismo Negro vs Aero Star vs Super Porky in a semifinal of the Rey de Reyes 
Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 03/16/08

Winner: Abismo Negro
Match Time: 12:30
Other Match Notes: Abismo shakes hands with the AAA family members in the front row and high fives everyone he can on the way to the ring. I think that might make him a tecnico. Hijo de Tirantes and his white top hat is your ref.

Psicosis and Abismo go after each other immediately, as you'd expect. Aerostar, perhaps a bit excited to be here, decided he might as well chop Porky. All of his chops and punches have zero effect on Porky, except for Porky giving him a hammer blow to the back. Porky knocks Psicosis out of the ring with his fatness, and Aero Star gets in his reverse cannonball tope. Abismo gets knocked outside, and Porky gets in his plancha on him. Crowd LOUD for Porky.

When everyone gets sorted out in the ring, Aero Star and Abismo Negro have a sequence that goes very unwell, but then Abismo finishes it off with a no hands tope that sends him into Abismo and then flipping past him in to the third row. That was crazy. Porky gets the better of Psicosis and Abismo offers him a handshake for a job well done, but porky just messes with him. Abismo pays him back with an enziguri. Aero and Abismo work again and again have problems, complicated by Hijo de Tirantes getting involved when Abismo wants to try a Martinete. Abismo powerbombs Aero star hard in frustration at once point, but Psicosis break sup the pinfall. The forearm Vipers teammates have a back and forth with pinfalls, but Porky ends up getting involved. Psicosis tries a sunset flip on Porky, Porky blocks it but doesn't do a sit. He'd rather do a splash, but gives Psicosis plenty of time to roll out. Aero Star and Porky have a sequence that's impressive at times but the crowd does not seem to have any interest in having them fight. Aero sends Porky out and Psicosis takes his place with a chair. The chair back fires immediately, they run thru a few near falls before Psicosis gets Aero Star with a middle rope sorta-Michinoku Driver (though not that severe) for the pin. Much longer for the first pinfall this time.

Porky comes in to take over, and we get the sight of him running the ropes. Psicosis slams him and heads up for a top rope charge senton, but comes up short all on his own. Porky gives him a normal senton and pins him for the elimination.

Porky is sweating a ton. Fans would rather see Porky win for sure. Porky end sup slamming Abismo and climbing up with lots of help from Hijo de Tirantes, but misses the second rope senton. Abismo really can't do anything with Porky, but can move out of the way on the sunset flip sit. Abismo adds one running dropkick to the head, and that's good enough for the win.

Crowd is unhappy. Abismo tries putting on an America jersey (I think) to get over and gets a mixed reaction. Fan are happy when Porky is back up, and Abismo gets him to shake off the pain and dance for the crowd.   

Promo: Zorro is pretty confident.

Match 4: Scorpio Jr. vs Zorro vs Billy Boy vs Super Fly in a semifinal of the Rey de Reyes 
Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 03/16/08

Winner: Zorro
Match Time: 8:04
Other Match Notes: Pepe Casas is ref. Guapito is out with Scorpio Jr., the first time we've seen him tonight.

Unlike all the other matches, these guys work the four way as a tag match. Except Zorro has no interest in tagging into help Scorpio when he beats up Billy early, and the announcers are more interested in singing then the match. Guapito helps Scorpio freely. Billy makes the tag to Super Fly, but Scorpio pummels them both. Zorro just hangs out on the apron, bored. Tecnicos finally manage to get it together to boot dropkicks Scorpio, and give Guapito and Scorpio lifted up missile dropkicks. Billy covers Scorpio after his, and Super Fly is the first guy smart enough to help covering instead of breaking it up. Scorpio's gone.

This leaves Zorro versus the two tecnicos. Zorro makes sure to mockingly clap for them before they get stared. Scorpio's ticket hat him, but it doesn't matter. Zorro rolls out and jumps in the front row to take a seat, encouraging the two tecnicos to fight while he hangs out. Zorro's a smart man here - he'll just fight whomever is left, once they're worn themselves out. Super Fly and Billy are selling exhausting darning chops within ten seconds, so there's obviously some merit here. Crowd is dead for these two tecnicos fighting, then starts chanting for Zorra. Billy gets a near fall off another missile dropkick, then almost pins Super Fly and himself with a Dragon suplex. Zorro would've marked out for that, I think. Super Fly and Billy Boy exhaust themselves, and so Zorro gets in a chap shot form behind on Super Fly. Billy wakes up enough to dropkick him out before he can do any more. Super Fly gets Billy with a spinning headscissors, and follows with his handspring moonsault dive. Billy has to lunge forward to catch Super Fly and prevent him from taking a header on the apron. Super Fly must be gassed. Zorro takes care of him with a cane shot, then throws Billy back in. Zorro yanks Billy into the middle of the ring, and gives him a curb stomp. One two three. Super Fly has a chance to break it up, but understands the rules and does not.

Super Fly does dropkick Zorro as soon as he gets up, but that leaves him close to his sticks, and Zorro brutalizes the man with cane shots. Zorro dramatically (and loosely) puts on his STF for the win.

Video Package: Mesias/Cibernetico - this is a long version of the short ones that have aired before. 

Match 5: Mesias vs Cibernetico for the AAA World Heavyweight Championship
Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 03/16/08

Winner: Cibernetico
Match Time: 12:20 (11:56+0:24)
Other Match Notes: Chessman, with a taped right knee and limping, is Cibernetico's second. He might have taped ribs underneath his shirt. Mesias has one druid. Ozz is his backup. Hijo de Tirantes is ref.

Hijo de Tirantes lays down the law earlier, so this match between two guys who hate each other, after video packages about how they burned each other alive and all, turns into a normal technical match you'd see on any day of the week. If any match in AAA should be a brawl, this is the match, but they start with shoulderblock bits and reversing armbars and distraction spots so Ozz can get in shots. Crowd is not in the match except for the times someone hits someone sells hard, because that's why they want to see, or where Ozz gets in his shots, because that's the cheap. They even tease a DQ on Cibernetico for Chessman stopping Ozz from attacking, and I think this causes Dr. Morales to swear. They must want to the slow start because they planned on going a long way, but this match doesn't need to go a long way to give the fans what they want. That's not what they're looking for out of Cibernetico. 

At the ten minute mark, Cibernetico gets a spear, his first really big move of the match. Mesias quickly spears him back, so that meant nothing. Mesias gives Cibernetico a F5 and stares at the entranceway for the longest time. If ever they needed a clip, this would be time, but we instead wait around for Ozz to return with a table. He and Mesias set it up, Ozz puts lighter fluid on it, and Mesias stands around in the ring with Cibernetico waiting for him to get set up. Ozz sets the table on fire, and then jumps on to the apron right in front of it. Why would you do that? You would do that so Chessman can appear from nowhere and spear both of you thru it. The spot itself looks incredible, and the fire goes out instantly (and maybe before impact if I remember the photos right, though you can't tell here) so no one's going to be out for months because of burns this time, but everything leading up to it was slow. They take a break right here.

Hijo de Tirantes goes out to check on Chessman and Ozz. Inside the ring, Cibernetico gives Mesias a Stunner, foul kicks him, and chokeslams him. Cibernetico cover, Hijo de Tirantes comes back in, one two three. Why did they take a break? That was only 30 seconds more. 

Charly is out to celebrate, and then remembers maybe he should check to see if Chessman is alive. Cibernetico gets the lighter fluid and douses Mesias with it. Hijo de Tirantes does not like this idea. Cibernetico gets a lighter, and Charly gets a torch. They can't get the torch lit though, so Cibernetico just stands over Mesias with a lighter. as Charly keeps the Sect out of the ring and gets a new torch. Cibernetico talks as Charly can't get that one to light either. This probably went better in rehearsal. Ah, they finally got it. Cibernetico opts to throw down the flame rather than burn Mesias alive, which is nice of him. He gets the title and fireworks go off - Sect is smart enough to protect Mesias from any stray firework which might burn him alive. I hope they didn't really douse him in lighter fluid and this is actually water, because that would be pretty dumb.

Cibernetico and Charly seem to check on Chessman on their way out, but leave him to go pose on the stage. Cuervo and Scoria are concerned with Mesias, which means security has to help Ozz out. Chessman gets stretchered out and looks in a lot of pain. Replay of the finish.  

Match 6: Mr. Niebla vs Zorro vs Abismo Negro vs Alan Stone in the finals of the Rey de Reyes 
Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 03/16/08

Winner: Zorro
Match Time: 20:35
Other Match Notes: Abismo is the third out, and Niebla jumps him in the aisle. Abismo can't even talk along to his music opening! How sad. Niebla throws Abismo into the crowd and thinks about joining him there, but the fans get on him so he rethinks it. Zorro is content taking his time for fireworks. Piero is ref.

After we pick up from Zorro's entrance, they show Abismo and Niebla way out in the crowd. They haven't been doing this on every single show, like they were doing for a while, so it does seem like something different. Zorro works over Alan in the ring with chokes and another things that don't require a lot of effort when people aren't paying attention to you. Niebla and Abismo take it to the ring, all Niebla in charge, so Zorro beats up Alan on the outside. Alan gets whipped over the barricade as well. Abismo manages to turn it around enough to dumb Niebla in the crowd, so Zorro and Alan go in so Alan can turn it around there. Zorro begs off for a while to kill some time while Niebla and Abismo are brawling, so of course we stick with them and not the brawl. Alan slams Zorro, but misses on a moonsault. They go back inside as the Vipers fight comes back in. Both of their masks are untied and Niebla's mask nearly falls off. Piero thinks about DQing Abismo and Abismo argues with him. Piero and Abismo count out Niebla again, but the count stops because Alan comes. Alan leaves so the Vipers can fight. They don't get to a conclusion before Zorro knocks Abismo out of the ring and works over Niebla with his canes. He's ever into using both of them this week. Alan reveres a whip and kicks Zorro away, but Zorro crotches him when he tires for a moonsault and hangs him in a tree of woe. Zorro backs all the way up, sets up, and Abismo pulls him down by his hair from behind. Abismo waves Niebla back in so they can settle it, and the crowd is definitely behind Abismo. Forearm shots, with Niebla's mask nearly falling off. Clotheslines, and neither man goes down. Niebla has to stop to dance before they try again, and they both go down on the clothesline this time. Both down, one two no. Both Alan and Zorro snap kick Abismo, then they're face to face again. Alan's al fired up, but Zorro knocks him back with chops. Whip, head down too soon, and Alan kicks it hard. Dropkick sends Zorro out, and Alan teases a dive, stops at the ropes, and drops Zorro with a springboard plancha.  Abismo sets up for a dive, then realizes Niebla is standing behind him to cut him off. Abismo tries to slide thru Niebla, but Niebla stops him and forearms him a punch. Abismo pushed into the ropes, Niebla charges, Abismo backdrops him, and Niebla takes an out of control bump tot he floor. No hands on the ropes, he just fell on to his back. Must've not been too bad, because Abismo's quickly going for a dive - tope drives both of them thru the announce desk, which collapses. That was pretty impressive. Both guys are down, and Piero start to count all four guys out. He's counting pretty quick, so something's up. Piero walks back and forth of the ring, since the guys recovering from the dives are at opposite sides. He's counting one number on one side, then going to the other side to count the next number. Piero's look the Viper's way when he hits twenty, and no one's in the ring. Zorro and Alan dive in a moment later, but Piero doesn't know that since he's looking the other way. Piero decides to count out Abismo and Niebla, who've recovered now enough to brawl into the crowd again and let the other two go.    

Piero tries to get Abismo and Niebla to stop fighting, but he can't really do it from inside the ring. And it's not like he actually go out and do it, because those two are surrounded by photographers. Security eventually gets involved as Piero makes sure to signal they're both done, but that doesn't stop them from brawling. The match comes to a halt for a while while security tries to get Niebla and Abismo separated and away form ringside. They don't do the best of jobs of it, so it takes longer. Abismo is dragged out to the entrance, pausing a moment at the sword. Niebla takes a bit longer. The doctor checks on Alan Stone's left elbow. Maybe he hit on the plancha landing. Both Zorro and Alan are still laying on the mat, as they've been since they came back in. Crowd chants for Abismo as Niebla is finally forced to leave. Abismo jumps out the entrance and gets into yet another fight, but they're able to push this one backstage. This was a 3:30 pause in the match, really. I think they have a break left, and they really should use it before this gets going again.

Zorro is up first and has both his canes. A decent amount of garbage is thrown in - this was happening when the fire table was being set up earlier. Zorro waits for Alan to get up, looks at him, and Kenzo Suzuki's music plays?!? Hey, Kenzo, you're supposed to wait until your man is in trouble to run in. Think he'd know that by now. Electroshock is in as well, in his ugly outfit. Elegido and Super Porky are out to counter them. Super Calo and Chris Stone must've been working elsewhere. So now we've got more stalling as Piero orders the extras, who never got around to fighting, out of the ring and the participants as them to go as well. It's now over a five minute break since the countout. The seconds stay around ringside.

Alan poses, and Zorro knocks him down from behind. Whip, reversed, over, under, rolling over a monkey flip, Alan off the ropes flipping off Zorro's back, and waiting for him to turn around. Zorro tries a clothesline, Alan with a crucifix rollup, one two no, even though all the fans thought it was three. Alan works over Zorro in the corner, corner whip, charge, Zorro boosts him to the apron, Alan flights him off there and comes back in with a springboard clothesline one two NO. Piero makes sure we know it's two as they pick the worst time to go to a generic crowd shot to cover a clip. Back in the ring, Zorro blocks Alan's punches and comes back with many of his own. Corner whip, Alan kips up and out, Zorro does his own corner springboard plancha, Alan rolls thru, one two NO. Alan  blocks Zorro's punches this time and gets in his own. Corner whip, reversed, Alan stops short and gets Zorro with an elbow. Bodyscissors cradle one two NO! Crowd thought that was three for a moment again. Zorro's got confetti stuck on him for the last ten minutes, and very tried as he gets up. Alan charges him, Zorro catches him and lifts him on his shoulders. Spinebuster, leg is tied, and everyone sees it coming. Hey, the hold is  over. STF, Alan hangs on - no, he doesn't. That's it, Zorro is your 2008 Rey de Reyes.   

Kenzo and Electro are ecstatic, as if Zorro was now the greatest man in the world. Porky and Elegido slink into check on Alan as Zorro's carried on the rudos shoulders. Prez Roldan is out. His security carries the gigantic sword as Electro and Kenzo continue to praise Zorro for his big win. Roldan gives Zorro credit for winning. He's presented the sword, and they kinda miss the crowd shot of him holding it up at first but get to it. Kenzo and Elector hold up Zorro's canes' with him. Zorro is very happy to pose for pictures. Why is Kenzo's mouth green? I guess he did mist in a match we'll see next week, but he didn't have time to clean his mouth since? Kenzo is weird.

Replays of the match, and of the show, and we're done.