Cien Caras Jr. keeps his title, GDL, Tanahashi

IWRG (SUN) 07/22/2012 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Bull Power & Galáctico b Alas de Acero & Serpiente de Oro
debut for everyone besides Serpiente de Oro
2) Centvrión & Galaxy b Alemán & Eita
Galaxy replaced Johnny Rivera
3) Oficial Factor, Oficial Rayan, Oficial Spartan b Chicano, Dr. Cerebro, Niko
Rudos took 2/3. AK47 came out after the match to issue a challenge for the EdM Trios titles.
4) Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Relampago, Trauma II, Veneno DQ Bestia 666, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pete Powers, Scorpio Jr.
Tecnicos took 2/3. Hijo de Pirata Morgan fouled Wagner, Wagner pulled Hijo de Piarta’s mask, ref called the foul on the rudo.
5) Cien Caras Jr. b Pirata Morgan [IWRG IC HEAVY]
Seconds were Hijo de Pirata and Scorpio Jr. Pirata took the first, Cien took the second, Pirata thought he won the third with a ‘rana but it was ruled only two, and Cien Caras Jr. rolled him up to get the title. Pirata and Hijo de Pirata challenged Cien Caras to a triangle match with the heavyweight title on the line.

CMLL (SUN) 07/22/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [El Occidental (4), El Occidental (5)]
4) Espectrum, Malefico, Niebla Roja b Ángel de Oro, Gallo, Titán
Rudos took 1/3, Malefico pulling Gallo’s mask for the win.
5) Diamante Azul b Averno
Azul took 2/3, winning the third with a German suplex.

It’s not listed on the website, but a Box Y Lucha poster (unhappily) mentions they’ll moving these shows to 12:30 pm starts (currently 6:30pm.) A follow up clarifies that it’s to avoid running against Chivas games.

CMLL and NJPW announced this morning that IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi will return to Arena Mexico. He’ll arrive in Mexico on August 22. There’s no set return date, but he’s scheduled to be back on the September 12 NJPW show. That probably means Tanahashi works the Friday shows on 08/24, 08/31, and 09/07 and random shows in between.

Rob has a big Aero Star headscissors and 07/04/1992 AAA highlights.

Links

  • The Gladiatores interviews Skayde, who’s upset with Angel de Oro stealing his move, among other people.
  • Hooligan is back in Arena Olimpico Laguna this Thursday.
  • Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. says Dr. Wagner will have to have a new career unmasked.
  • AULL would like to be on TV and have it’s own YouTube channel. I think they can do one of those.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 07/29/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El TapatÍo & Indigo vs Demonio Rojo & Spark
2) Brillante & El Divino vs El Hippie & Relampago Azul
3) Halcon de Plata vs Infierno [lightning]
4) Esfinge, Metatrón, Smaker vs Acertijo, In Memoriam, Mr. Trueno
5) Gallo, La Máscara, La Sombra vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Malefico, Rey Escórpion

No sign of another Friday card. The five straight Friday cards seems to be stopped at two.

Rush accepts Terrible challenge, Super Crazy picks up title in Japan

photo by CMLL

CMLL (SUN) 07/22/2012 Arena Coliseo
1) Niño de Acero & Pequeño Halcón DQ Mercurio & Pequeño Universo 2000
Mercurio pulled Halcon’s mask.
2) Bengala, Leono, Tigre Blanco b Bobby Zavala, Disturbio, Inquisidor
Team Jungle Animals took fall 1/3.
3) Nosferatu, Raziel, Virus b Molotov, Sensei, Starman
Rudos took 2/3.
4) Estrellita b Princesa Sugheit [lightning]
Estrellita won in 8:29 with a ‘Star Cross’
5) Diamante, Hijo del Fantasma, Triton b Ephesto, Sangre Azteca, Shigeo Okumura
Tecnicos took 2/3.
6) Marco Corleone, Rush, Shocker b Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger
Rush pinned Terrible clean with a back suplex and a senton. Rush then took care of old business, accepting Terrible’s hair match challenge from Friday.

Terra broacasted the entire show this week. Previously, Terrible reiterated his hair match challenge. They’re treating this like it’s an actually going to happen, not just some idle challenges.

Rob has highlights of 12/09/11 CMLL, 01/13/12 CMLL, and mid April 1994 AAA.

Bill has highlights of 03/27/12 CMLL GDL, 04/03/12 CMLL GDL, 04/10 & 04/17 CMLL GDL, 05/01 CMLL GDL, and 05/08 CMLL GDL.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Lucha Libre In Japan

07/22 NOAH: Ricky Marvin [O] & Super Crazy b Atsushi Aoki & Kotaro Suzuki [X] (c) [GHC JTAG]
Marvin & Crazy are 16th champions.

07/22 NJPW: Captain New Japan [O], Tama Tonga, Bushi & Maximo b Yoshihashi, Jado, Gedo [X] & Tomohiro Ishii
Elsewhere on the card, Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero won the IWGP Tag Team Titles (with a fair bit  of cheating, but a win’s a win!)

Hijo de Pantera is heading to Wrestling New Classic on 08/02.

Links

Lineups

IWRG (THU) 07/26/2012 Arena Naucalpan
1) Galaxy vs Infierno Kid
2) Centvrión & Charly Madrid vs Imposible & John Crazy
3) Danny Casas, Dr. Cerebro, Suicida vs Alan Extreme, Black Terry, Bombero Infernal
4) Oficial Factor, Oficial Rayan, Oficial Spartan vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro [EdM Trios]
5) Fuerza Guerrera, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan vs Damián 666, Head Hunter, X-Fly

John Crazy, presumably son of Bob and Marianne Crazy.

Comando Elite Oficials are the champions, AK47’s team really should be the champs…

CMLL (FRI) 07/27/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Bengala & Leono vs Inquisidor & Zayco
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Sensei, Super Halcon Jr. vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Skándalo
3) Eléctrico vs Demus 3:16 [lightning]
4) Diamante, Fuego, Triton vs Hijo del Signo, Misterioso Jr., Vangelis
5) La Sombra, Máscara Dorada, Shocker vs Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero, Terrible
6) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Negro Casas, Último Guerrero

Titan in an an actual main event! This is the week before Nuevo Mistico goes on and nothing that happened before mattered, but it’s a good week of matches.

IWRG (SUN) 07/29/2012 Arena Naucalpan
1) Galaxy & Sky Ángel vs Blue Monsther & Infierno Kid
2) Charly Madrid & Dinamic Black vs Dowki & Eita
3) Centvrión, Chicano, Golden Magic vs Alan Extreme, Black Terry, Bombero Infernal
4) Danny Casas, Dr. Cerebro, Trauma II vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
5) Hijo de LA Park, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Veneno vs Head Hunter, Heddi Karaoui, Scorpio Jr.

Monsther’s been on FILL shows (which have disappeared lately) going back more than a year, but this would be his ‘big’ show debut.

The last Nuevos Temerarios lasted four matches before they started making changes (subbing Black Terry in.) This would be match 3 for the new crew. Can they beat the old record? By the way, if you can name the two non-Freyser members of the last Nuevo Temerarios, you’ve won this round of random IWRG trivia.

indy (WED) 08/01/2012 Centro Civico de Ecatepec, EdM
1) Kaving & Maullido vs Chamaco De Oro & Zertico
2) Takama & Templario vs Ángel De Satán & Dr. Jekill
3) Trauma I & Trauma II vs Corsario Negro Jr. & El Seminarista
4) Solar I & Super Astro vs Black Terry & Negro Navarro
5) Ángel de Oro, Máscara Dorada, Máximo vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Rey Bucanero
6) Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas vs Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V

40 year anniversary show for Villano III

Terrible lays out Rush, Titan comes up short

(photo by CMLL)

CMLL (FRI) 07/20/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL, Kaiser Sports (4)Kaiser Sports (rest)]
1) Camaleón & Höruz b Apocalipsis & Cholo
Cholo was strechered out after a Horuz move.
2) Hooligan, Nitro, Skándalo b Pegasso, Starman, Tigre Blanco
Rudos took 2/3, Nitro winning in his return.
3) Goya Kong, Luna Mágica, Marcela b La Comandante, Lady Apache, Tiffany
Marcela hooked the ropes to pin Tiffany for the win. They fought after the match. Marcela challenged for a hair match, and Tiffany said no.
4) Kráneo, Morphosis, Psicosis b Ángel de Oro, Máscara Dorada, Valiente
Invasors took 2/3, though Mije took a shot from Valiente near the end.
5) Dragón Rojo Jr. b Titán [CMLL MIDDLE]
Dragon Rojo defended the belt for the fourth time, taking falls 1/3. This was Titan’s title shot for winning En Busca de un Idolo. Horuz was Titan’s second.
6) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Rush DQ Negro Casas, Terrible, Último Guerrero
Straight falls. Terrible was subbed in for Mr. Niebla during the week. Both Tiger and La Comandante distracted Rush, allowing Terrible to a glass box on Rush’s head. DQ finish, but Terrible was more than satisfied, and challenged Rush to a hair vs hair match. Rush, unconscious and stretchered out, did not respond.

Plans can change, but that’s sure looks like an Annviersary main event angle.

Dragon Rojo says the win was harder than he anticipated, but winning a tournament doesn’t mean you can beat the Guerreros. Apparently! Rojo credits watching Titan matches and talking to people he’s faced as a key part of his preparation for the win.

Apolo Dantes tweeted that Diamante won the Occidente Heavyweight Championship last night. Poor Misterioso.

There was a rumor going around last night that La Parka had died. He was eventually in Monterrey (and Tweeting in the airport.) Monterrey is not that bad.

IWRG is starting a Friday video interview series with Golden Magic, who tells the story about how he ended up Brazo Cibernetico for a time.

LuchaWorld has a chronicle of Luchador Versus Dog.

Rob has new Mascara Dorada spots.

DJ Spectro write about the battle of the Star Wars robots.

Cronicas Y Leyendas writes about Japanese journalists visiting Mexico in the 80s and 90s.

A musician is going to try to combine opera music with lucha libre. This would be something to see.

Lucha Libre in Japan

07/20 NOAH: 5) Atsushi Aoki [O], Kotaro Suzuki & Go Shiozaki beat Ricky Marvin [X], Super Crazy & Mohammed Yone
Marvin & Crazy’s junior tag title shot is Sunday. They’re not favorites, but they have a real shot.

07/21 NJPW: 2) Maximo, Ryusuke Taguchi [O], Prince Devitt, Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask V b Jado, Gedo [X], Alex Kozlov, Rocky Romero & Low Ki
Free charity show for tsunami/earthquake relief

Lineups

Hasn’t come in yet. Will add later.

Fuerza vs Octagon, Titan gets his shot, Perromania, DTU, PBS

photo by Black Terry Jr.

IWRG (THU) 07/19/2012 Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), Estrellas del Ring, The Gladiatores]
1) Johnny Rivera & Serpiente de Oro b King Drako & Matrix Jr.
2) Eita & Infierno Kid b Dragón Celestial & Galaxy
Galaxy replaced Templario
3) Alan Extreme, Black Terry, Bombero Infernal b Centvrión, Chicano, Golden Magic
Black Terry, Bombero Infernal, Alan Extreme are (the newest) Los Nuevos Temerarios. Black Terry used the ropes to beat Chicano.
4) Danny Casas, Dr. Cerebro, Trauma II DQ Dowki, Eterno, Hijo de Máscara Año 2000
Trauma II’s team took 1/3, feuding with Mascara. In the last third fall, Dr. Cerbero beat Dowki, Eterno beat Danny Casas, Eterno send Cerbero into the crowd and tried to dive on him, but came up short. Mascara pulled off Trauma II’s mask when trying for a cutter, and the ref called a DQ. Trauma II challenged Mascara for a title match.
5) Fuerza Guerrera, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan b Hijo de LA Park, Octagón, Veneno
Rudos took 1/3. Octagon is a tecnico here. Pirata accidentally took out the ref when aiming for Octagon, Octagon ducked him, Fuerza fouled him and got away with it for the pin.

Tonight’s biggest match is Titan getting one of his rewards from the En Busca de Un Idolo match, facing Dragon Rojo for the CMLL Middleweight championship. Dragon Rojo is the favorite for the same reasons Euforia was the favorite in the Busca final; he’s a rudo CMLL is high on and they might as well keep the rudos strong with New Mistico coming. Of course, Titan did win En Busca de un Idolo, so we can’t count him out ever.

The match may be a bigger test for Dragon Rojo, who has slipped a lot the last year. Rojo was poor in the last tag title defense he had, looking lost against Blue Panther & Diamante Azul. He did have a better match with Sombra a few weeks later, but Titan is a more raw tecnico. Dragon Rojo is in no danger of being moved down as long as he’s tag team champion, but he could use a positive performance.

Friday’s main event is Negro Casas’ first match back in Arena Mexico since his eye injury (though he’s been wrestling elsewhere, including last night at Durango’s fair.) He’ll team with Ultimo Guerrero & Mr. Niebla vs Diamante Azul, Rush and Atlantis. Guerrero vs Atlantis is the closest thing CMLL has to a pushed top level feud going into September, but it’s not been turned up to mask vs mask level. This show also has La Comandante’s first match back since coming back from her REINA tour, wrestling against the newly unmasked Goya Kong.

Over in Guadalajara, Diamante faces Misterioso for the vacant Occidente Heavyweight Championship. Misterioso’s previously been Occidente Light Heavyweight champion a couple times and is the favorite to win here.

Perros del Mal held their own press conference for TripleMania. Perro Jr. said their are so many Perros on the card, “more than half, like in CMLL” (3) that it should be called PerroMania. Perro believes Mesias is lying about his recovery from injury, because he had the same arm injury and it took him six months to recover. Beyond that, Perro Jr. feels there are hundered of Mexican luchadors who are as good or better than Mesias, so no one should support him. Perro Jr. knows “Mesias’ lover” Cibernetico will get involved, but has a big surprise for Cibernetico if he does. The Perros agreed AAA was trying to protect their luchadors, and that’s why Juvi got added to the relevos suicidas match instead of defending against Daga, but they’ll have all the titles soon enough. Halloween reminded Extreme Tiger that Tiger had to carry his bags to be brought back in AAA as part of Familia de Tijuana, and his mask will be a new trophy for the Perros del Mal office should they face off. Psicosis did not wear his mask, explaining he heard people calling him a fraud and wanted to emphasis what was already said, he’d be putting his hair on the line in the relevos suicidas match, not the mask. Psicosis still covered his horribly scared face with a bandana. Both Halloween and Psicosis said did not want to lose the tag match, but would punish their tag team partners if they did.

AAA launched a special site for TripleMania, http://www.triplemania.mx/. They may want to fix what it says in the title bar.

DTU says they’ll be announcing their card for the Lucha Libre Expo on July 24th, including their surprise guest (a mister Rick O’Shea, I believe.) I presume that’s the usual press conference for the expo, and we’ll be getting a lot of good info on that day. The expo shows are August 17-19 (which means the Expo is back to being three days after all) and DTU will run additional shows on August 21st (Arena Aficion), August 24 (Arena Queretaro) and August 26 (Arena Roberto Paz in Guadalajara.) Crazy Boy is not pictured on the poster, so he must still not be close to returning.

PBS’s VOCES series will have a show on lucha libre called “Tales of Masked Men.” A trailer is up, and it looks like it falls firmly into the well worn “What Does It Say About The Mexican People” category of lucha libre documentaries. But it has Solar! Footage looks a little old; one of the first shots is Mr. Aguila in a Perros del Mal shirt in Arena Mexico, so 2008 at the latest and possibly older than that. The VOCES season starts on September 28th and it reads like the lucha libre episode will be the first episode.

Electroshock says he doesn’t fear an Olympic gold medalst, because he’s faced all sorts of fighters in his MMA matches. Actually having MMA matches is more than Kurt Angle’s ever done.

Rob has the Payasos victory montage.

Links