Leyenda de Azul tonight, IWRG title change

CMLL

Tonight’s card:

CMLL (FRI) 11/25/2022 Arena México
1) Retro & Valiente Jr. vs Inquisidor & Nitro
2) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
3) Hijo del Villano III, Rugido, Volador Jr. vs Blue Panther, Felino, Felino Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Atlantis vs Ángel de OroNiebla RojaEuforiaYotaGemelo Diablo IGemelo Diablo IIKráneoValienteEl MesíasÚltimo GuerreroGran GuerreroSagradoRey BucaneroVolcanoEsfinge [Leyenda de Azul]

The Leyenda has a high floor (it won’t suck) and a low ceiling (it won’t be great.) Mesias or Ultimo Guerrero seem like the winners since they’re the focus, but there’s not a lot to this one and a half dozen other people could win if there’s no plan on following it up.  The third match is weird but it doesn’t seem like they’re setting up anything. We can dream about the second match setting up a Virus/Panterita Jr. match; it probably will be the match of the night. Retro having issues with his partners might pop up in the opener. This is the usual Ticketmaster Live show.

CMLL (SAT) 11/26/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Violencia
2) Astral, Cachorro, El Suicida vs Cholo, Enfermero Jr., Raider
3) Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Magnus
4) Blue Panther, Dark Panther, El Audaz vs Mephisto, Misterioso Jr., Okumura
5) Stuka Jr., Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Yota

A show. Audaz has quietly returned to action.

CMLL (TUE) 11/29/2022 Arena México
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo & Periquito Sacaryas
2) Oro Jr., Retro, Robin vs Disturbio, Nitro, Zandokan Jr.
3) La Magnifica, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Olympia, Tiffany
4) El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Panterita del Ring vs Felino, Felino Jr., Misterioso Jr.
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado

I know Los Malditos have been used in main events before but this feels like a lineup that only helps when the actual stars are all booked on two other shows that night. I guess you can’t actually hurt Tuesday shows with weak lineups at this point, they’re already dead.

CMLL (TUE) 11/29/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Cosmos, Mágico, Metatrón vs Demonio Rojo, Javier Cruz Jr., Minotauro
2) Estrella de Jalisco I & Estrella de Jalisco II vs Temerario & Último Ángel and Persa & Raven and Eclipse Jr. & Obelisk [Torneo Talentos Tapatios]
3) Barboza, Optimus, Trono vs Canalla, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
4) Magia Blanca vs Ángel Rebelde [lightning]
5) Halcón Negro Jr. © vs Rugido [QRO MIDDLE]
6) Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. vs Euforia & Soberano Jr. and Blue Panther & Dark Panther and Valiente & Valiente Jr. [Torneo Herederos]

A problem with this building is there is no place information is shared about these shows outside of the poster being released and the shows themselves. Perhaps somewhere on the commentary, they explained what the deal is with this father/son tournament. I didn’t hear it, there’s no one else covering this shows, and there’s no other explanation, so I’m just sort of guessing. My guess now is they’re doing the same sort of round robin style as they did with the schools tournament earlier this year. That doesn’t really work with four way matches but I suppose it’s not so important.

CMLL December tickets go on sale Saturday, which meant CMLL spent a bit of Informa talking about upcoming plans

  • December 2 (Friday) is an important show with no details yet.
    • obviously, this will be announced in a few hours
  • December 9 (Friday)
    • this is expected to be a Mexico vs the World theme, Lady Frost & Lince Dorada are the two names known to be back for that show
  • December 25 (Sunday) will be a special show
    • Tickets do not go on sale yet for that, so they’re waiting for another announcement – maybe the cage match
  • January 1 (Sunday) will be a special show
  • January 6/13 (Fridays) will be the Best of 2022 shows

Titan & BUSHI defeated TJP & Francesco Akira in their 3rd Super Junior Tag League tournament, moving to 2-1. That also means Titan & BUSHI are very likely to challenge for the junior tag team titles again soon, rather as winners of this tournament or soon after. (Losing the tournament and getting a title shot on FantasticaMania might also work.)

On CMLL Informa, Difunto mentioned he’s actually a fourth-generation wrestler, the great-grandson of Rito Romero. I’m sure that must’ve been said on commentary before but it was the first I heard of it. Magia Blanca, Suicida, and Hijo del Villano III all found out they were going on FantasticaMania when they saw the announcement video.

AAA

AAA on Space is back at 6:30 pm this Saturday and I should be able to stream it live. The description says it’s the Showcenter finale. It would make sense if AAA aired the four tournament semifinals this week:

  • men’s semfiinal: Laredo Kid vs Villano III Jr. vs Toscano
  • men’s semifinal: Hijo del Vikingo v Taurus vs Puma King
  • women’s semifinal: Lady Shani vs Sexy Star vs La Hiedra vs Artemiz
  • women’s semifinal: Dulce Kanela vs Zeuxis vs Chik Tormetns vs Lady Flammer

They could also just air all the women’s matches this week and all the men’s matches next week, who knows. It does set up the famous Laredo/Vikingo rematch will air the same day as the Tempe show.

No taping this weekend.

Noche de Campeones (12/28 Acapulco) is now listed on FITE. It’s $22.99, the same price as TripleMania Mexico City. It’s not as good of a card. They will have English commentary in person for that show. 12/03 Tempe is not listed on FITE as of yet.

The Smashing Pumpkins announced Wednesday “The World is a Vampire” festival. It’ll debut in Mexico City on March 4, 2023, and will include AAA vs NWA matches. Both AAA and NWA played this as a bigger deal than just some random matches on a music festival The NWA name means something in Mexico, but the Billy Corgan NWA product itself has no visibility.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 11/24/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cosmic b NubilusOsogbo LIVE  (posted by IWRG tv)
No Kalu, so a tag became a three way.
2) Balak, Cheff Benito, Último Caballero b Güero De Tijuana, Skanda, Yetti LIVE  (posted by IWRG tv)
3) Milagro, Rey Eclipse, Taurino b Legado, Nativo, Rey Minos LIVE  (posted by IWRG tv)
4) Águila Oriental, Águila Roja, Ajolot, Hell Boy, Jhon Tito, Kenji, Rey Aztaroth, Súper Boy b Adamarino, Cometa Boy (Puebla), Makro, Pequeño Joker (Puebla), Rey Kratos (Puebla), Súper Tiger (Puebla), Tiger Boy (Puebla), Tigre Fly (Puebla) [Copa Higher Power] Hellboy ganó la Copa High Power en el #TorneoFILL101 frente al GYM Cuchillo (posted by mluchatv) LIVE  (posted by IWRG tv)
FILL vs Gym Cuchillo. Hell Boy beat Pequeno Joker to win for the home team. Cuchillo wanted a trios match with Hell Boy, Black Terry and a third.
5) Spider Fly b Aster Boy © [IWRG IC Light] ¡Hay un nuevo Campeón Intercontinental de Peso Ligero: Spider Fly derrotó a Aster Boy! (posted by mluchatv) LIVE  (posted by IWRG tv)
New champ, win via surprise small package. Aster Boy falls on his 7th defense.

The Copa Higher Power is almost always the main event, so that card change was a hint something was happening. This Cuchillo showed up out of nowhere earlier this year with the gimmick, so this bit at least revealed he’s got some Puebla ties.

IWRG (SUN) 11/27/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Jhon Tito vs Baby Star
2) Sagitairus vs Artemiz [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal]
Artemiz taking the spot originally announced for Sagitarus
3) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Hell Boy & Kairos
4) Mr. Leo, Paymon, Tonalli vs Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Rocky Casas
5) Big Boy, Big Chicoche, Big Tackle, Relámpago vs Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor
6) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr. [EdM Trios]
7th defense

There’s a decent chance of a title change in the main event or a setup to a match on the IWRG anniversary show. Maybe both. Semi-main is interested for having the pig team listed as facing some people speculated to be the pig team. Didn’t catch an explanation of why Artemiz is replacing Maravilla, but I guess there was just a conflicting booking.

IWRG , EXOTIC (THU) 12/01/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Jhon Tito vs Rey Halcón
2) Hijo De Histeria & Histeriosis vs Baby Star & Spider Fly
3) Brazo Celestial, Brazo Cibernetico, Brazo De Oro Jr., Hijo del Brazo vs Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor
4) Big Mami, Máscarita Sagrada, Microman vs Baronessa, Gallito, Guapito
5) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba vs Bugambilia, Máximo, Pimpinela Escarlata
6) Blue Demon Jr. & Hijo del Fishman vs Cibernético & DMT Azul

I’m not sure who is running “Exotic Promotions.” My guess was Mamba, but there’s no indication there’s anything special going on there Tuesday.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha World (FRI) 11/25/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Viajero vs Anarko
2) Elipse & Orbita vs Iku & Vengador
3) Jack Evans vs Sol

Back tonight at 9 pm. It’s another Locos Evans focused show, the last before the big cage match next Friday.

Other

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Super Astro Jr. was one of two wrestlers to earn a chance in NOAH following a tryout last weekend. That is a great spot for him; his ideal usage is to be the equivalent of Fuego for NJPW somewhere else, just show up to be entertaining 2-3 times a year.

Faby Apache, promoting upcoming Robles appearances, said CMLL using “Faby” was to avoid trademark issues. Faby Apache says no one in AAA has said she can’t be Faby Apache, it was more being safe than anything. I haven’t seen any sign Faby Apache is actually trademarked.

Cain Velasquez will wrestle in Tempe, 2023 FantasticaMania roster announced

AAA

Cain Velasquez will wrestle on the 12/03 AAA show in Tempe. He will reportedly team with Pagano and Blue Demon to face Taurus, Sam Adonis. and Gringo Loco in the main event. Velasquez was cleared to participate on Tuesday morning, under conditions including paying for the police in charge of watching him for the weekend. There is a new lineup for the show:

AAA TV (SAT) 12/03/2022 Mullet Arena, Tempe, Arizona
1) Dave The Clown, Máscarita Sagrada, Willie Mack vs ?, Demus, Látigo
2) Lady Shani & Sexy Star vs Chik Tormenta & Maravilla
3) Arez, Komander, Mr. Iguana vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
4) Cain Velasquez, Pagano, Blue Demon Jr. vs Gringo Loco, Sam Adonis, Taurus
5) Hijo Del Vikingo & Pentagón Jr. vs Daga & Flip Gordon

This is crazy. There are unemotional ways to look at Velasquez on this show and I’ll get back to that in a second. It’s impossible to talk about this without acknowledging how crazy this is. It is valid to have a wide range of feelings on a wrestling promotion using someone currently charged with attempted murder. It’s about the most sympathetic case of attempted murder situation possible, but it’s still attempted murder. This idea isn’t good or bad, just well into the grey, and about the craziest thing I’ve written about that didn’t involve Ultimo Guerrero’s car.

Cain Velasquez is the best thing to happen to this Tempe lineup, which hadn’t sold many tickets so far. The hope seemed to be a huge walkup on day of the show, or for the show to be quickly forgotten when AAA moves onto their next US adventure. Velasquez will either sell a lot of tickets because of increased awareness or attention or will be a handy excuse if the show continues to do sell poorly. AAA’s efforts to this point are largely irrelevant, the guy whose addition to this show is being covered by TMZ and ESPN is now everything. It’s also great exposure for Hijo del Vikingo (and Daga!) if the expected extra press on this show take it seriously. This creates a lot more awareness of the Lucha Libre AAA brand as well. Some of that awareness will be negative, but AAA’s never been that concerned about that. (It was shocking that Velasquez was allowed to and wanted to do this, it was not a surprise that AAA would agree to it.) I don’t know if the match will be any good – Velasquez hasn’t wrestled in years and his training with WWE didn’t seem to go well for anyone – but the match quality is largely irrelevant. This is about as a freak show main event as it gets, and the task here is just to make sure it gets to the ring.

There is a history of AAA using people who are currently and famously charged with crimes. Charly Manson was arrested in May 2011 after attacking police officers. He was released on bail and continued wrestling on TV. The police officers pushed for bail to be revoked and Manson was taken back into custody directly after an AAA TV taping in July. It’s wrestling, so I’m sure that wasn’t the only legal situation with a Mexican wrestler, just the only one to come to light.

Lost in the Cain situation is this lineup is still not great. I can’t believe AAA is going to main event a show with major exposure in the US with Daga and Flip Gordon in 2022. I can’t believe that because it probably won’t happen, they’ll flip the Cain match to the main event on the day of the show if not prior. It has to end with Velasquez in the ring if AAA’s putting him on the show. AAA is totally behind Velasquez as a good guy in this situation, and so it would’ve made more sense to team him with their most important stars (Penta, Vikingo) if they’re going that route, and just let everything else fall where it may. I guess the idea is Penta/Vikingo vs Daga/Flip is the “workrate” match, but that’s more confidence than I’d have into those two guys and I’m not sure that should even be the priority. And, if they were going to do a workrate match and add Arez on the card, he’d make more sense for that spot than Daga or Flip; few outside of AAA see Flip Gordon as a bigger star or a better wrestler than Arez in 2022.

Penta and his mask were all over Monday’s Arizona/San Francisco NFL game at Estadio Azteca. George Kittle, a Penta superfan going back to Lucha Underground, wore the mask walking into the building and at a post-game press conference. He scored 2 touchdowns in between. Kittle and Penta exchanged masks before the game, something ESPN just seems to catch in passing during their pre-game show and then replayed with more focus during the broadcast and in recaps of the game.

Garbage collectors/TikTok stars “Los basurologos” told El Sol del Acapulco say they’ll be wrestling in the semi-main on an AAA show being taped for TV on 12/09. There is of course no known AAA taping for 12/09, so it’s probably a local Acpaulco show said to be an AAA TV taping. The story is more about their surprise rise in popularity and background in wrestling; they were fans growing up, one of them wrestled prior, and they have been training over the last two years.

RIOT announced Arez is off their 12/17 show, following AAA announcing Arez for Madero.

CMLL

CMLL (TUE) 11/22/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, Mas Lucha, The Gladiatores]
1) Full Metal & Minos b Acero & Aéreo CMLL: Full Metal y Minos derrotan a Aéreo y Acero (posted by mluchatv) Minos y Full Metal Vs Aéreo y Acero; Martes de Arena México (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
2) Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Raider DQ Hombre Bala Jr., Neón, Robin CMLL: Neón, Hombre Bala Jr. y Robin son descalificados ante Apocalipsis, Raider y Disturbio. (posted by mluchatv) Neón, H. Bala Jr. y Robin Vs Apocalipsis, Rider y Disturbio; Martes de Arena México (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
Rudos took 1/3, the last when Neon unmasked Apocalipsis.
3) Avispa Dorada, La Magnifica, Marcela b Amapola, Hera, La Seductora CMLL: Marcela, Avispa Dorada y La Magnífica vencen a Amapola, Hera y La Seductora (posted by mluchatv) Marcela, Avispa Dorada y La Magnífica Vs Amapola, Seductora y Hera en martes de Arena México (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
tecnicas took 2/3. Avispa hit her head on the apron on a tope con giro at the end of the match.
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa b Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma CMLL: Dulce Gardenia, Rey Cometa y Espíritu Negro derrotan a Pegasso, Stigma y Arkalis (posted by mluchatv)
Dulce Atrapsuenos took 2/3.
5) Guerrero Maya Jr., Místico, Stuka Jr. b Atlantis Jr., Hechicero, Mephisto Místico, Guerrero Maya Jr. y Stuka Jr. VS Atlantis Jr., Mephisto y Hechicero (posted by mluchatv)
Straight falls, rudos DQed in the first for mask removal.

Not sure if the main event was supposed to go anywhere or if they were just doing something different for the sake of it. Avispa says she took a couple of stitches to the back of the head but is otherwise OK, will rest and return.

CMLL (TUE) 11/22/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Atilus, Maxiums, Rey Urano b León Blanco, Relámpago Azul, Thunder Boy Transmisión en vivo de Martes de Glamour Oficial 22 noviembre 2022 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
2) Black Boy, Carlo Roggi, Maléfico b El Divino, Persa, Temerario [Relevos IncreíblesTransmisión en vivo de Martes de Glamour Oficial 22 noviembre 2022 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
3) Ángel Rebelde, Optimus, Trono b Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga Transmisión en vivo de Martes de Glamour Oficial 22 noviembre 2022 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
4) Rugido b Halcón Negro Jr. Transmisión en vivo de Martes de Glamour Oficial 22 noviembre 2022 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
5) Averno & JKR b Yota & Zandokan Jr. Transmisión en vivo de Martes de Glamour Oficial 22 noviembre 2022 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)
6) Euforia & Soberano Jr. b Valiente & Valiente Jr. and Flyer & Principe Daniel and Misterioso Negro & Misterioso Jr. [Torneo Herederos, semifinalTransmisión en vivo de Martes de Glamour Oficial 22 noviembre 2022 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial)

Flyer ends up wrestling, Volador did not. They didn’t just sneak him in and out either, he went to the end of the match with Soberano. I presumed this was a two block tournament but there seemed to be even more family teams announced for next week.

CMLL (SUN) 11/27/2022 Arena México
1) Fantasy & Pequeño Magía vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Polvora
2) Leono, Oro Jr., Retro vs Cholo, Difunto, Zandokan Jr.
3) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido vs Akuma, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Fugaz, Panterita del Ring, Star Black vs Dragón Rojo Jr., El Coyote, Misterioso Jr.
5) Atlantis, Místico Blue Panther, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Yota

Zandokan and Difunto in the second match. Yota’s getting put in main events immediately, though it’s not an overwhelming rudo side. (He came along at a good time.)

CMLL (MON) 11/28/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Rey Apocalipsis vs Fuerza Chicana & King Jaguar
2) Asturiano, Oro Jr., Valiente Jr. vs Disturbio, Príncipe Odín Jr., Zandokan Jr.
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma
4) Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Misterioso Jr. vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
5) Último Guerrero vs El Mesías

Mesias both fouled UG and put his feet on the ropes to beat him on Monday, setting up this singles match. They Atrapsuenos/Poblana matches continue. Zandokan is opposite Oro Jr. again. I had a joke in here about buying Zandokan’s Christmas presents should be stuff he could use traveling between Mexico and Guadalajara often, but maybe he’s already making the move.

NJPW unexpectedly announced the full CMLL talent roster for FantasticaMania 2023 on their Tuesday show.

  • Mistico
  • Volador Jr.
  • Titan
  • Soberano Jr.
  • Dulce Gardenia
  • Rey Cometa
  • Magia Blanca
  • Suicida
  • Ultimo Guerrero
  • Atlantis Jr.
  • Hechicero
  • Templario
  • Barbaro Cavernario
  • Okumura
  • Hijo del Villano III

15 is way down from 22 in 2020, but NJPW’s scaled back in ways visible and not since the start of the pandemic. A smaller roster was expected too, and that means CMLL’s own shows should be a bit stronger than time around. It’s a different group from that 2020 tour, with only 6 wrestlers (Okumura, Dulce, UG, Soberano, Caristico/Mistico and Cavernario) repeating.

There are three first timers: Suicida, Magia Blanca and Hijo del Villano III. Suicida worked his way from the fringes of the CMLL roster to making this tour. I’m more positive about Villano getting this trip after his great title match with Angel de Oro. Magia Blanca gives Volador a tag team partner; those Depredadores versus Mistico & Suicida would make sense as a match somewhere on that tour.

Barbaro Cavernario and Templario included are good signs for their recovery. Cavernario’s probably helped by these shows being later than usual. Templario’s original recovery timeline had him back weeks ago.

No Stuka Jr. is a surprise; the CMLL Aniversario main event rematch has been a staple of these shows. The usual family tournament isn’t happening either. I really wanted Panterita Jr. but he’s probably a year or two away based on tenure. Maybe more so with usual opponent Raider. Volador, Mistico, Templario and Magia Blanca are champs, but no tag champs and it’s strange Hechicero lost his title if he was going to be on these shows. He’s out of sight so out of mind, but Mascara Dorada probably also should be on these shows and it’s not a good sign for his immigration situation to be left off.

NJPW is still running some shows with no cheering allowed and some shows with cheering but limited capacity. Not sure where they’ll be in February 2023. NJPW is unlikely to announce lineups before until around these February shows.

Atlantis Jr. is grouped with the rudos, in case anyone else is trying to figure out tecnicos or rudos.

CMLL Informa has the FantasticaMania debuts (Hijo del Villano III, Suicida, Magia Blanca), the Jalisco visitors (Zandokan Jr. & Difunto), Kraneo to talk about the Leyenda de Azul and Star Black and Blue Panther to talk about something else since they’re not in the Leyenda de Azul.

Titan and BUSHI defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors to improve their Super Junior Tag League record to 1-1.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 11/24/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cosmic & Kalu vs Nubilus & Osogbo
2) Balak, Cheff Benito, Último Caballero vs Güero De Tijuana, Skanda, Yetti
3) Legado, Nativo, Rey Minos vs Milagro, Rey Eclipse, Taurino
4) Aster Boy © vs Spider Fly [IWRG IC Light]
7th defense
5) Águila Oriental, Águila Roja, Ajolot, Hell Boy, Jhon Tito, Kenji, Rey Aztaroth, Súper Boy vs Adamarino, Cometa Boy, Makro, Pequeño Joker, Rey Kratos, Súper Tiger, Tiger Boy, Tigre Fly [Copa Higher Power]
FILL vs Gym Cuchillo

FILL 101. Gym Cuchillo appears to be a Puebla group of luchador.

Other News

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. retained the GHC National Championship.

KDNA is running Arena Coliseo Monterrey on 11/27 with Psycho Clown and indie wrestlers. That’s the first non-KAOZ show in the building since the pandemic.

NOAH has a Great Muta retirement show on 02/23 in the Tokyo Dome. Nosawa has recently announced he’ll also be retiring on that show. In an interview talking about his retirement, Nosawa says his Japan-based Perros del Mal group will also go away in February. Nosawa claims he licensed the name, the license actually lasts through June, but he’s not going to do anything with it once he retires and the license itself is expensive. Many people do not believe Nosawa is actually retiring, and he repeatedly insists he’s done after February.

A profile of retired Tamaulipas luchador Spirt, who’s since moved to Iowa and still works wrestling shows as a referee.

Cain Velasquez back in AAA?, Mil Mascaras honored, Flyer ejected, AAA in Juarez

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AAA

There is plenty of other stuff going on, but how do I start with anything but the Cain Velasquez story?

Cain Velasquez wants to work the 12/03 AAA Tempe show and is asking the court to allow him to travel out of state. The judge is expected to make a decision on Tuesday.  Velasquez has to ask the court to permit it because he’s on home detention after being released on bail two weeks ago. AAA would be putting someone who’s actively being charged with attempted murder on their show. AAA is not insane; Velasquez’s attempt at murder came after being told a daycare worker had molested his four-year-old child and other children. (The case around that incident is also ongoing.) Velasquez engaged in a high-speed chase with the alleged perpetrator, then fired a gun into the car repeatedly. The facts of the incident don’t appear to be in much dispute, it’s the context of his acts, and what fair punishment means that seems more open to debate.

AAA has not acknowleged this story. There is no reporting on Velasquez’s chances of being allowed to work this AAA show. That is so far out of my knowledge base that I don’t even want to hazard a guess. We’ll know soon enough.

This news potentially drastically changes the outlook for that Tempe show. Cain Velasquez appearing will be a media circus, for good and for bad, and AAA could use the publicity. Tickets have not moved much, even after the card was announced, and this is at least putting that show back in the news. Velasquez is also an Arizona State graduate, so he has ties to that area beyond this show that make this show meaningful to him and likely to make him a bigger draw in a show that’s happening in Arizona State’s hockey facility. There’s nothing AAA could do or book for this show that would have as big an impact on Velasquez being on this show. I believe AAA would suffer small to zero damage to their reputation if they used Velasquez on this show. It’s obviously something they would’ve needed to run by important business partners like Marvel before trying just to be safe.

Taurus will be moved into whatever match Cain Velasquez is in should Cain Velasquez become available. I don’t know if that means Vikingo/Daga as a 1v1 or whatever else gets moved around. Also, if you’re bringing in “former UFC Heavyweight champion currently charged with attempted murder” Cain Velasquez to work your show, that probably should be a PPV of some sort, not something you file away to air on TV four weeks later. This show is currently not listed on FITE.

AAA TV (SUN) 11/20/2022 Gimnasio Municipal Josué Neri Santos, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua [4 Equinas LL]
1) ?, ??, Samuray VIP vs ???, Ráfaga, Serpiente Blanco Facebook video (posted by )
2) Cobarde b AéreoMini Abismo Negro Facebook video (posted by )
Scheduled as Aereo, Cobrade and Microman vs Arez, Mini Abismo and Rey Horus. Horus and Arez moved up as replacements, Microman just didn’t appear. Los Mercenarios attacked the participants after the match. Octagon Jr. confronted Villano 3, with Pentagon Jr. making the save after that didn’t work out.
3) Reina Dorada, Sexy Star, Sussy Love b Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla Facebook video (posted by )
4) Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf b Jack Cartwheel & Willie Mack Facebook video (posted by )
5) Arez, Bandido, Octagón Jr. b Gringo Loco, Rey Horus, Villano III Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
Arez replaced Vikingo (injury), Rey Horus replaced Flamita (Japan/GLEAT). Bandido beat Gringo Loco. Hijo del Vikingo appeared before the third match and faced off with Bandido to tease their title match.
6) Rey Escorpión, Sam Adonis, Taurus b Pagano, Pentagón Jr., Psycho Clown Facebook video (posted by )
Adonis fouled Psycho and pinned him

This was AAA’s first TV taping in Juarez since pre-pandemic. They had running a yearly November stop in this building since 2015. They may have to go to a bigger building next November. This looks like it drew very well, maybe 7,500 in an 8,000 seat building because you can see a few empties in the corners, but close to being a sell-out. The crowd comes off as hot on video, especially for Pagano’s big entrance in the main event. The local government’s hope about getting a bigger named show seems fair.

No Vikingo (though he did appear) or Flamita (in Japan) or Microman (???), and AAA moved people around instead of sending replacements. Cain Velasquez’s lawyer telling the judge they needed a quick decision for AAA to promote an accurate lineup was a funny thing to say in court. All the matches are up complete on Facebook; I haven’t watched much of them outside of getting the results. I assume this is airing before Acpaulco because they did the Bandido/Vikingo confrontation. Gringo Loco taking a pin if he’s going after Vikingo is odd but it’s AAA. Plates keep spinning on Octagon/V3 and Adonis/Psycho with no clear destination in mind.

The Madero taping that’s been hyped locally for a while has a lineup.

AAA TV (SAT) 12/17/2022 Domo Madero, Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas [BWT Banana]
1) Dark Spíritu, Electroshock, Hijo del Picudo, Nygma vs ?, Avorto, Chaneke, Loco Castillo
2) Aerostar, Reina Dorada, Sexy Star vs Demus, La Hiedra, Maravilla
3) Mr. Iguana & Niño Hamburguesa vs SB Kento & Takuma
4) Arez & Myzteziz Jr. vs Argenis & Parka Negra
5) Aramis, Octagón Jr., Willie Mack vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © [AAA TRIOS]
2nd defense
6) Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo vs Abismo Negro Jr. & Flammer
7) Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Pagano vs Cibernético, Gringo Loco, Villano III Jr.
Vampiro guest referee
8) Fénix vs Komander vs Taurus [AAA LA]
first defense

This card was announced locally on Friday and not by AAA, but it’s official. The opener is a dark match, though it adds to the feeling of “why are so many people booked for this random show in Madero?” It’s more than 2 weeks of TV at a point where AAA seems to already have too much TV taped. The main event should be good but feels like a three way just because they need to squeeze people in. Sammy and Tay as defending their titles locally, the poster says it’s non-title. It’s probably not changing hands either way with the title defense in Acapulco (in a match Abismo and Flammer aren’t booked in, though I suppose they could be added.) Octagon and Villano are feuding but not in the same match. Aerostar and Parka Negra are feuding and not in the same match. NGD are facing almost the exact same team in Acapulco. Lady Shani was advertised and didn’t appear on the final lineup. The Iguana/Hamburguesa vs Kento/Takuma match at least resolves that issue. AAA doesn’t take their lineups seriously so all of this may changed around.

AEW announced a seven-match series between Death Triangle and The Elite over the AEW Trios championships. One of the matches is scheduled for December 28th, which may explain why Fenix is not defending either of his championships on the 12/28 Acapulco show. Maybe AEW even allowing FTR, Sammy and Tay to work a Wednesday is part of a tradeoff, or just a helpful coincidence. 

Mamba announced on Friday he had quit AAA and would be an independent wrestler going forward.  Mamba said he’d consider it for months, talked it over with AAA, they parted on good terms, and he’ll be fulfilling any dates where he’s still advertised. Mamba says both sides are open to working again. Mamba’s vlog, which is often about talking about drama, is in this case making it clear there is no drama – Mamba just wanted to do other things outside of AAA.

Just before the vlog went up, Mamba was announced appearing on the Kaoz/Robles/The Crash combined show in February. Robles & Crash are off-limits to AAA-contracted wrestlers at the moment, so at least part of this decision seems to be taking work with those groups. (It’s a little confusing because Konnan was involved with Kaoz at one point, but I’m guessing he’s no longer going to be if they’re working with The Crash.)

Mamba started in AAA in 2013 and was active until this year. Mamba hadn’t returned to TV after suffering a leg injury a few months, but had been working non-TV AAA shows the last couple of matches. Mamba hasn’t been on any of the TV since recovering and isn’t listed on the upcoming shows. Mamba was mostly a first half of the card wrestler, seemingly either feuding with Pimpinela or teaming with Pimpinela at all times before Pimpinela left the promotion earlier this year. AAA had introduced a couple of Mamba-led stables in the last couple of years that never got followed up on. Mamba had a more vital role behind the scenes, someone who assisted in multiple roles, from things like make up and choreography to just being a person who spoke English who could help out the foreign wrestlers.

Dave the Clown and Mr. Iguana did some publicity with the Arizona Cardinals to promote the 12/03 Tempe show. The Cardinals are in Mexico for a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. The 49ers include famous Pentagon Jr. (and general wrestling) fan/Tight End George Kittle; there’s a chance this may come up on the broadcast.

I’m supposed to be talking about the AAA TV on Space this week but this section is too long and weird already. The opener was guys who aren’t TV polished and did too much (when the camera is missing diving headscissors from the stage it’s definitely too much) but it was fun and that’s more than I can say about the rest of the taping. You could miss this week and last week and not miss anything important.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/18/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del RingKaiser SportsR de RudoThe GladiatoresThe Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Oro Jr. DQ Disturbio & Zandokan Jr. ¡Descalificados! Zandokán Jr. le quita la tapa a Oro Jr, la victoria es para Oro Jr y Hombre Bala Jr (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) CMLL - HOMBRE BALA JR. - ORO JR.  VS  ZANDOKAN JR. - DISTURBIO /ARENA MEXICO/18-11-22 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
12:08. Zandokan Jr., making his Arena Mexico debut, unmasked Oro Jr. for the DQ.
2) Amapola, Metálica, Reyna Isis b Avispa Dorada, La Vaquerita, Marcela
14:08
3) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black CMLL - STAR BLACK - FUGAZ - ESFINGE  VS  YOTA - NIEBLA ROJA - ÁNGEL DE ORO /ARENA MEXICO / 18-11-22 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Niebla Roja, Yota y Angel de Oro derrotan a Star Black, Esfinge y Fugaz (posted by mluchatv) Yota, Ángel de Oro y Niebla Roja, se llevan la victoria ante Fugaz, Esfinge, Star Black (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
15:20.
4) Soberano Jr. b Vincent ¡Júbilo total! Soberano Jr. saca la cara por México y derrota a Vicent en espectacular mano a mano (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) CMLL - SOBERANO JR.  VS  VINCENT / ARENA MEXICO / 18-11-22 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
16:09
5) Gran Guerrero, Titán, Último Guerrero b Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Místico [Relevos IncreíblesCMLL: Último Gerrero, Gran Guerrero y Titán derrotan a Atlantis Jr. Místico y Dragón Rojo Jr. (posted by mluchatv) Último Guerrero, Gran Guerrero y Titán derrotan a Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr. y Místico (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
13:35

I liked Vincent/Soberano as a very clear rudo/tecnico dynamic that was different than usual CMLL and Soberano matches. I seemed to be in the minority, though the crowd reacted strongly to the victory.

Zandokan Jr. was presented as if this was the start of more than a one off; you can throw him and Oro Jr. in the list of wrestlers in the cage match, but he seems like he could at least be a regular 2/3 match guy next year if/when he moves to Mexico City full time.

CMLL didn’t show a big arena photo but it seemed like attendance was up over usual. Mil Mascaras is the third Mexican to receive the Order of the Rising Son, after Genaro Estrada  (writer, journalist) and Aaron Saenz Garza (lawyer, solider); both were foreign ministers in the 1920s. Mil Mascaras got a good reaction and a nice ceremony. He clearly couldn’t walk without assistance. Mil said he’s not retired and plans like to continue to wrestle as long as his body allows, he simply hurt his right knee in training. It seems like his body is no longer allowing it. Mil Mascaras also told a story about how his mother taught him to be humble at 12 and it was a lesson he’s remembered all his life, so the knee thing is not the biggest lie. He seemed to be in good spirits. Kaiser Sports’ recap has Mil Mascaras talking about earning a black belt in Australia from two Japanese fighters in 1970 outside of pro wrestling, and we’re at the Mil Mascaras point where you just nod and say that sounds cool without thinking about it.

CMLL (SAT) 11/19/2022 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II b Átomo & Periquito Sacaryas Facebook video (posted by )
2) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, Princesa Sugehit b Hera, La Seductora, Tiffany Facebook video (posted by )
3) Flyer, Fuego, Volcano b Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa b El Coyote, Felino, Felino Jr.
Dulce AtrapSuenos took 2/3.
5) Místico, Valiente, Volador Jr. DQ Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Niebla Roja Facebook video (posted by )
Dragon Rojo tossed his mask to Volador draw a DQ

Flyer and Los Depredadores had an incident on Saturday’s Arena Coliseo show. Flyer appeared to be in no condition to perform, and the Depredadores appear told by photographer/security Alexis Salazar to unmask Flyer to end the match early before something bad happens. It doesn’t go well; Flyer and Magnus fight a bit, with everyone else getting involved. Magnus backs off, only for Flyer to jump up and attack Magnus from behind. All the Depredadores beat against Flyer for that attack and, seemingly at Salazar’s urging, carry Flyer up the ramp and throw him behind the curtain. Salazar goes through the curtain himself briefly, as does security, and that’s the end of Flyer on that night.

Box y Lucha posted clips of the initial incident and Los Depredadores ushering Flyer away. They were deleted off Box y Lucha’s Facebook page sometime on Sunday. There’s a hilarious-in-context post-match interview where she repeatedly asks Los Depredadores if they’d like to add Flyer as a member, and Magnus cracks up his partners by saying they’d rather have Kemonito: “he’s better prepared and more athletic.” You can get the sense something happened from the interview, but it’s not clear what without the video. I suspect CMLL asked Box y Lucha to take the video down, and Box y Lucha had no problem with it, it doesn’t seem like they knew they even had something in the video by the questions they were asked afterward.

Flyer is scheduled Tuesday in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. He kind of needs to be there for the bit – a family tournament teaming with Volador – but his behavior usually leads to a suspension of some months. I don’t expect Magnus or the rest of Los Depredadores to be in trouble for their actions; I’m not sure they did anything wrong.

CMLL (SUN) 11/20/2022 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Neón & Retro b Bengala & Leono
Retro unmasked Bengala and pinned him.
2) Cholo, Enfermero Jr., Nitro b Cachorro, Robin, Valiente Jr.
straight falls. Cacohrro replaced Oro Jr.
3) Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. b Diamond, Fuego, Sangre Imperial
Fuego replaced Pegasso, making his first Arena Mexico appearance since pre-pandemic. Ola negra took 2/3.
4) Blue Panther, Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring b Magnus, Pólvora, Rey Bucanero
Kraneo originally announced; Magnus replaced him within hours. Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Stuka Jr., Valiente, Volador Jr. b Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo I, Sagrado
Tecnicos took 2/3.

Add Retro and Bengala to cage match mix. CMLL always adds more names than they need for that.

CMLL (FRI) 11/25/2022 Arena México
1) Retro & Valiente Jr. vs Inquisidor & Nitro
2) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
3) Hijo del Villano III, Rugido, Volador Jr. vs Blue Panther, Felino, Felino Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Atlantis vs Ángel de OroNiebla RojaEuforiaYotaGemelo Diablo IGemelo Diablo IIKráneoValienteEl MesíasÚltimo GuerreroGran GuerreroSagradoRey BucaneroVolcanoEsfinge [Leyenda de Azul]

Panterita Jr. on a Friday sounds good. Not too excited by the rest of this card. I assume Leyenda de Azul is a cibernetico; it’s a frightening idea otherwise. 

BUSHI & Titan lost to Chris Bey & Ace Austin in the first match fo the Super Junior Tag Team tournament. The show aired for free on NJPW World. They’ve got 9 matches total and will do better. Favorites often lose the first match of the tournament and CMLL-related teams often win them. This might be the first time a Mexican team (or at least half Mexican team) is actually the favorite in one of these NJPW competitions.

Mexico senator Ricardo Monreal had a rally at Arena Mexico on Saturday. He’s seemingly running for president in 2024, though he may have not officially declared. This only bubbled to my attention because there was some controversy about attendance. It mirrored the lucha libre debates. There was a carefully framed photo to make it look full, claiming a 12,000 turnout, and others posting photos to prove there weren’t that many people. It doesn’t look like 12,000, it probably doesn’t matter. Friday, Monreal held a meeting with luchadors to promote the event and his policies. They were random indie people instead of CMLL wrestlers, including whom I believe is the non-CMLL Gemelo Diablos. Universo’s article on the event listed all the wrestlers’ names and their real names, which I’m sure very much upset the masked wrestlers involved.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha put up a video introducing the Loco Evans members. The man with the mask that looks like he has a burlap sack for a mask is Iku, the one carrying light tubes is Anarko, the other normal masked one is Vengador, the micro formerly known as Oni is now Dito, and the unmasked member is Aaron Steel. Iku is listed as Scarecrow on the poster. Jack Evans isn’t in the video and wasn’t on Big Lucha World.

Big Lucha World (FRI) 11/18/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Action Jackson b Potro LIVE (posted by Big Lucha) Mano a mano: Action Jackson VS El Potro de Oro 1 Lucha completa en Big Lucha World 2, capitulo V (posted by mluchatv)
2) Anakro & Vengador b Cometa Maya & La Estrella LIVE (posted by Big Lucha)
3) Alex Steel, Dito, Iku DQ Éxtasis LIVE (posted by Big Lucha) Mano a mano: Éxtasis VS Iku | Lucha completa en Big Lucha World 2, capítulo V (posted by mluchatv)
Scheduled as Iku vs Extasis but Dito and Alex Steel added themselves. Anarko & Vengador ran in for the DQ, with Estrella and Cometa Maya trying and failing to make the save

Perhaps the strangest Big Lucha World ever, and only fitting that Mr. Win was this week’s host. Action Jackson and Potro decide to have their WrestleMania main event singles match in front of about 40 people, including ignoring a moment where the referee mistakenly counted a three because they still had a poison rana to the floor spot planned. The second match has no streamed ending. Alex Steel, the muscular unmasked guy who has a very “Gronda 3” vibe, grabbed La Estrella and gave him a move on the floor in front of the announce/production desk. There’s a brief moment where the Mas Lucha crew looks concerned about Steel enough to protect their equipment, and then the stream goes dark the next moment. It stays out for about fifteen minutes, and they blame Los Locos Evans for the issues when they finally resume with the main event. The main is supposed to be Iku against Extassis, and turns into a 1 vs 3 handicap match where the referee is ejected and the ring announcer counts pins and also may be a heel. The idea is to put the Locos Evans guys over super strong before the cage match though it came off as a show careening out of control. Was this a good episode of Big Lucha World? Not really. Was it one I will remember watching? Absolutely.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 11/20/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Súper Boy COR Stelaris ¡Súper Boy deja fuera de acción a Stelaris en el arranque de #IWRGRevolución! (posted by mluchatv)
Stelaris got hurt taking a dive
2) Keyra b Bengalee [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal] ¡Keyra está en las semifinales! Tras derrotar a Bengalee, sigue con vida por el Campeonato Femenil (posted by mluchatv) Bengalee VS Keyra | Lucha completa en 4tos de final por el Campeonato Femenil IWRG (posted by mluchatv)
3) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro DQ Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. ¡Llegó la descalificación para La Pandemia sobre los Terribles Cerebros! (posted by mluchatv) La Pandemia VS Los Terribles Cerebros | Lucha completa en #RevoluciónIWRG (posted by mluchatv)
Excessive violence DQ. Black Terry made the save for the Cerebros, challenges followed.
4) Tonalli b Hijo del AlebrijeJessy VenturaMáximoRelámpagoDiva SalvajeRocky CasasBugambiliaNoisy BoyHell BoyGaleno del MalMr. LeoHijo del Pirata MorganGarra Mortal Jr.PaymonSpider FlyYorvakPantera Jr.LegendarioHijo del Pantera [lumberjack strap, battle royal] Lucha de la Revolución Mexicana | Lucha completa en Royal Rumble en #RevoluciónIWRG (posted by mluchatv) Tonalli se ganó la oportunidad de retar a Jessy Ventura por su Campeonato (posted by mluchatv)
Tonalli beat Jessy Ventura to set up a IWRC IC WELTER title match.
5) Puma de Oro DRAW Aster Boy ¡Empate! Puma de Oro y Aster Boy revientan sus cuerpos sobre una mesa con lámparas (posted by mluchatv) Mano a mano: Puma de Oro VS Aster Boy, el ganador se jugará la máscara VS Tonalli (posted by mluchatv)
Billed as winner faces Tonalli in a mask match, went to a draw.

The match to determine a single winner ended up with no winner and IWRG will have a three-way mask match instead. This is the surprise outcome that’s never much surprising. It looked like Los Terribles Cerebros may be reuniting to challenge La Pandemia instead of the young Cerebro Negro Jr.

Keyra always hits hard, and seemed to go a step or three beyond “stiff” in her match with Bengalee. Diosa Quetzal, Lolita and Keyra have advanced in the women’s tournament, with the winner of Lady Maravilla and Sagittarius scheduled for the fourth semifinal spot; it’s probably Maravilla the way it’s gone so far.

Lucha Libre Evolucion (Costa Rica) announced they’ll be sending wrestlers to IWRG’s 2023 Tryout, which is the first time I’ve seen that competition officially announced. I think we all assumed it was happening.

Segunda Caida wrote about last week’s IWRG Retro.

Other News

Dragon Lee won the 2022 King of Indies on Saturday, the third time in a row (2018, 2019) he’s won that competition. That is the part of the story everyone can agree upon. Everything else is up for debate. It was a strange tournament; an eight-man single-elimination tournament ended up with a three-way final after Jacob Fatu pulled out mid-tournament with an injury. That left Dragon Lee, Dralistico and SB Kento in the final, where Dragon Lee beat Kento. 

There are multiple stories about this King of Indies outcome, including one that Dragon Lee forced the promotion into giving him the tournament win. My guess is this confuses a past story with the present. Jack Atlas was originally scheduled to win the 2019 King of Indies, and it changed to Dragon Lee during the day. People involved blamed Dragon Lee for insisting on winning, Dragon Lee’s never talked about it, and no one cares now because Jake Atlas’ personal issues over the last few years. That same story going around for 2022 seemed suspicious. A source with King of Indies says the story about Dragon Lee holding up the promotion is false. The story I’ve been told is Fatu was scheduled to win, did actually get hurt, and Dragon Lee ended up as the winner as the best idea of what was left.

Dralistico and Andrade were scheduled to headline an RGR show on Sunday night. That became Dralistico and Rey Fenix when Andrade pulled out to an unexplained injury. (Andrade is now teasing the end of his career in IG posts; he’s cried wolf too often and it’s not working this time.) In the match, Rey Fenix landed his Fire Driver, which is usually his finish on a show like this. The referee counted one, two and then held up for no particular reason before three. Rey Fenix immediately rolled out of the ring and appears to have walked to the back. A confused referee signaled as if Dralistico was hurt, which doesn’t explain anything of what just happened, and Dralistico makes motions like maybe his left or right shoulder is hurt (He offers both shoulders as answers.) It’s possible Rey Fenix was told the finish and later Dralistico told the referee a different finish. Whatever happened, it makes for some bizarre video.

It was a weekend of celebrations for the most famous lucha libre family of San Luis Potosi. Mil Mascaras was honored on Friday in Arena Mexico. Dos Caras was spotlighted on Saturday in their home town, including the naming of a “Plaza Dos Caras’ in his honor. Alberto and Cinta de Oro ran a free show in the space, which looks very well attended. They’ll add a statue to the square later.

A headline for an upcoming Robles Promotions show in Villahermosa says it’s the “final show of Robles Promotion.” They meant it was the final one in that city for this year.

Black Taurus lost to Trey Miguel in the finals of the Impact X-Divison tournament on Friday. The match was good. Miguel apparently turned heel in the finish, which likely means he’s holding the title for a while and it’s moving away from Taurus’ orbit. It was a nice dream. There doesn’t appear to be publically available spoilers for the upcoming TV episodes.

DTU announced the Skulk (Liam Gray and Adrian Alanis) for their December string of shows. Liam gray and Adrian Alanis are AR Fox trainees who were regulars in the last days of Evolve and have popped up on AEW Dark programming in more recent times. Crazy Boy talked with local paper El Sol de Tulancingo about the company reaching 15 years, says foreign wrestlers are now seeking DTU out to work there. This article also is a good periodic reminder that Ace Austin is still DTU champion.

Los Traumas won the NWA Mexico Tag Team championships from Texano Jr. & Super Nova. Perhaps they’ve crowned a new most problematic NWA champion.

Box y Lucha is now offering issues 879 to 890 for about 500 pesos. Those are 1969 issues that have not been previously available. This was an instant buy for me.

Box y Lucha 3528 has Mil Mascaras on the cover.

Twitter user @ajosephhb went through every available Box y Lucha commission record to find out what the rule is to consider someone a mini. Weirdly, taller minis are allowed in Enseanda than anywhere else in the country.

A profile of Zacatecas’ Angel del Abismo.

Mil Mascaras and Vincent/Soberano tonight in Arena Mexico, AAA TV in Juarez on Sunday

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/18/2022 Arena México
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Oro Jr. vs Disturbio & Zandokan Jr.
2) Avispa Dorada, La Vaquerita, Marcela vs Amapola, Metálica, Reyna Isis
3) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota
4) Soberano Jr. vs Vincent
5) Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Místico vs Gran Guerrero, Titán, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

Mil Mascaras is being honored on the show. Mil Mascaras is probably only going to attend a CMLL show if he’s being honored in some way, and I’m not sure if there will ever be a specific reason for him to be honored again. Maybe CMLL brings many people back for the 90th Aniversario and we see him there. Maybe Mil is around and feels like coming to the 100th celebration. Maybe this is it for him appearing in Arena Mexico. No one knows, but I think the importance of the moment might get a few more people to show up.

Soberano Jr. versus Vincent should be very strange and that’s all we ask. Yota has some tricky opponents to work with (though figure he’ll get matched up with Star Black.) Avipsa Dorada is back on a Friday show after her COVID illness. Zandokan makes his Arena Mexico debut. Here’s the ticketmaster link.

CMLL (SAT) 11/19/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo & Periquito Sacaryas
2) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, Princesa Sugehit vs Hera, La Seductora, Tiffany
3) Flyer, Fuego, Volcano vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs El Coyote, Felino, Felino Jr.
5) Místico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Niebla Roja

Fuego still only working Saturdays. Opener is a micros match without Chamuel after Chamuel lost the title. I think he’s still around.

Atlantis Jr. & Virus face Rocky Romero & Adrian Quest in Los Angeles for New Japan Strong on Sunday.

CMLL (TUE) 11/22/2022 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Full Metal & Minos
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Neón, Robin vs Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Raider
3) Avispa Dorada, La Magnifica, Marcela vs Amapola, Hera, La Seductora
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma
5) Guerrero Maya Jr., Místico, Stuka Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Hechicero, Mephisto

The main event is probably a Stuka/Atlantis thing but I want it to be a Maya/Hechicero thing.

Atlantis, hyping next week’s Leyenda de Azul, says he’s written a letter to Santa Claus to request a tag title match with Los Hermanos Chavez. (He also made the challenge publically.) That’s a rare Atlantis 2023 match that has me intrigued. Atlantis also mentions he’d like to star in an Aniversario; prior to this year, he said he was done putting his mask on the line.

CMLL (TUE) 11/22/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Atilus, Maxiums, Rey Urano vs León Blanco, Relámpago Azul, Thunder Boy
2) Black Boy, Carlo Roggi, Maléfico vs El Divino, Persa, Temerario [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Ángel Rebelde, Optimus, Trono vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
4) Halcón Negro Jr. vs Rugido
5) Yota & Zandokan Jr. vs Averno & JKR
6) Euforia & Soberano Jr. vs Valiente & Valiente Jr. and Flyer & Volador Jr. and Misterioso Negro & Misterioso Jr. [Torneo Herederos, semifinal]

Halcon Negro versus Rugido is not a title match, though that was the challenge last time. I really want Euforia & Soberano to win because a match with them and the Panteritas sounds great.

Mistico vs Averno was scheduled to headline a Lucha Libre Boom show in Puebla on Sunday. Lucha Libre Boom announced the show is canceled, implying CMLL pulled Mistico and Averno because they considered it a competition against their own Arena Puebla shows. I can see CMLL seeing feeling that, it’s doing it on two days notice that’s really strange. They’ll run a new lineup on the building without wrestlers on 12/18.

AAA

AAA on Space on Saturday

  • Éxtasis, Mini Vikingo, Radioactivo vs Brazo De Oro Jr., Demus, Draztick Boy
  • Puma King vs Emperador Azteca vs Toxin
  • Mr. Iguana & Niño Hamburguesa vs Carta Brava & Chessman

This is airing earlier than usual, but it’s still going against AEW’s PPV pre show. I’m not planning on being around when it’s going on and it’s just a TV episode to have a TV episode. My plan is to record it on Saturday and stream on Sunday. AAA has its first TV taping since TripleMania Sunday in Ciudad Juarez:

AAA TV (SUN) 11/20/2022 Gimnasio Municipal Josué Neri Santos, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
1) Aéreo, Cobarde, Microman vs Arez, Mini Abismo Negro, Rey Horus
2) Reina Dorada, Sexy Star, Sussy Love vs Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla
3) Jack Cartwheel & Willie Mack vs Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf
4) Bandido, Hijo Del Vikingo ???, Octagón Jr. vs Flamita, Gringo Loco, Villano III Jr.
5) Pagano, Pentagón Jr., Psycho Clown vs Rey Escorpión, Sam Adonis, Taurus

The main event was probably meant to build up Adomis/Psycho for later, but this appears to be the last time they’ll wrestle on AAA TV this year. The semi-main has Villano/Octagon and Bandido/Flamita pairs and meant to have a Vikingo/Gringo one. AAA knows Vikingo isn’t going to wrestle, they just haven’t bothered to update the lineup. Most of the matches look like they should be fine – I’m not as confident about the women’s one after Sussy Love & Reina Dorada’s work this past week on TV – and there’s not that looks particularly exciting or important. There was a press conference to build up the event on Thursday, and they were still presenting Vikingo as appearing on the show. Local officials were also pushing the idea that Dorian Roldan and Marisela Pena were going to attend the show, and that must mean a TripleMania or like event would be happening in Ciudad Juarez if they would come. (They’re at every taping.)

An Aereo Instagram posts says this show is airing live on the Lucha Juarez Facebook page, but I think that he likely just meant he was doing an interview about the show on the Lucha Juarez Facebook page.

I presume AAA is airing the Showcenter final over the next two weeks (11/26 and 12/03) and then this Ciudad Juarez show (12/10, 12/17). After that, maybe best off as usual around Christmas? Maybe a special airing of the Acapulco show? AAA doesn’t necessarily need to tape Tempe show on paper, unless they’re taking January off from taping.

The WON says Laredo Kid is “hopefully” mid-February. It’s Laredo Kid, he probably wants to wrestle as soon as possible, but also I kinda think he should chill out until Rey de Reyes and AAA should make his return a big deal there. The newsletter also mentions the plan is to have in-person English commentary for the 12/28 Acapulco show, which is also useful confirmation AAA plans on putting that show on FITE. AAA hasn’t announced any plans for airing that hsow. I wonder if AAA would’ve flown them in for this show if the last show hasn’t been such a tech disaster.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter also reports MLW is considering working with CMLL, which would mean the end of its relationship with AAA. I think there are a lot of good wrestlers in CMLL that I would like to see additionally outside the bubble that is Arena Mexico, but that’s also the same reason it’s hard to imagine CMLL wrestlers being any upgrade to AAA wrestlers on MLW shows. If correct, this seems to me like it may be MLW being upset with AAA over something and they’re publicly looking for alternatives. Most of the responses I got to this story think it’s a NJPW thing, but MLW wouldn’t need to bring in CMLL wrestlers to do that (and Impact is quietly doing that with AAA wrestlers on their shows. MLW counts AAA wrestlers on their roster. AAA’s Arez and Aramis are under MLW contract last I knew, though it’s hard to tell watching the show. Aramis hasn’t been on an MLW show since April, Arez hasn’t been on since June. Others have come in briefly. Taya and Micro Man are featured more often, and MLW face issues using them if they use CMLL ones. This story is so bizarre that there’s got to be another part we’re not getting, but a lot of stuff with MLW in the last six months made much sense at face value and no one looks too much into it because it’s only MLW.

Hugo Savinovich and Carlos Cabrera are hosting a show in Chile on 12/11 with Will Ospreay, Santino Marella and Natalia Markova. Makes me wonder if Hugo was the one who came up with bringing Markova to AAA, which never worked out.

IWRG

IWRG , RGR (THU) 11/17/2022 Arena Naucalpan [Cronistas del Ring, IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Rey Halcón & Súper Boy b Baby Star & Jhon Tito ¡Súper Boy y Rey Halcón son los primeros ganadores de la noche! (posted by mluchatv) LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
2) Dick Angelo 3G & Legendario b Aster Boy & Noisy Boy ¡Aster Boy y Noisy Boy salen con la victoria sobre Los Herederos Dorados! (posted by mluchatv) LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
3) Bugambilia, Máximo, Pimpinela Escarlata b Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba ¡Guerra de exóticos en la Arena Naucalpan! (posted by mluchatv) Las Shotas Vs Las Chicas Superpoderosas Arena Naucalpan (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
two teams continued to fued
4) Rey León © b Hijo De Canis Lupus [RGR MIDDLE] ¡Así se disputa el Campeonato Medio de RGR entre Rey León y El Hijo de Canis Lupus! (posted by mluchatv) LIVE (posted by mluchatv) Rey León Vs Hijo de Canis Lupus por el campeonato peso medio RGR en la Arena Naucalpan (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
5) Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, LA Park Jr. b Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. La Familia Real ☠️ VS Los Piratas Infernales 🏴‍☠️ | Lucha completa en IWRG-RGR (posted by mluchatv) La Familia Real se lleva la victoria sobre Los Piratas Infernales (posted by mluchatv) LA Park, Hijo de LA Park y LA Park Jr Vs Pirata Morgan, Hijo de Pirata Morgan y Pirata Morgan Jr (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) LIVE (posted by mluchatv)

This one looks to have drawn great, especially for a Thursday. LA Park can still mean a lot. LA Park and Rush spent Thursday jabbering back and forth on social media.

IWRG (SUN) 11/20/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Stelaris vs Súper Boy
2) Bengalee vs Keyra [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal]
3) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
4) Hijo del Alebrije vs Jessy VenturaMáximoRelámpagoTonalliDiva SalvajeRocky CasasBugambiliaNoisy BoyHell BoyGaleno del MalMr. LeoHijo del Pirata MorganGarra Mortal Jr.PaymonSpider FlyYorvakPantera Jr.LegendarioHijo del Pantera [lumberjack strap, battle royal]
5) Puma de Oro vs Aster Boy
winner faces Tonalli in a mask match

The main event resolves the unsigned mask contract from last week, where either Puma de Oro or Aster Boy will end up facing him on IWRG’s anniversary show. Match 3 looks headed to a trios title match, probably on the anniversary show as well.

Big Lucha

Tonight’s Big Lucha World, listed as starting at 8:30 pm:

  • Action Jackson vs Potro
  • La Estrella & Cometa Maya vs Vengador & Anarko
  • Iku vs Extasis

I think Iku is the guy listed as Scarecrow on the poster for the next show.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

Segunda Caida rates Pentagon Jr vs Villano IV as the best match of the year so far. Segunda Caida putting a Pentagon Jr. match up top is as unexpected as the Pope switching to Buddhism.

Jalisco luchador Lazzer Boy (Mario Alberto Contreras, 40) passed away Tuesday. He was a regular at Arena Jalisco but doesn’t seem to have wrestled since 2014.

Black Taurus defeated PJ Black and faces Trey Miguel for the vacant X-Division championship tonight on Impact’s Over Drive PPV. You can subscribe to Impact’s YouTube channel and see the show for $5/month. Taurus seems like the slight favorite, in the way most US promotions just take turns with different people holding midcard titles and Miguel already have him his turn earlier this year. The counterpoint is Black Taurus is a luchador in Impact.

01/27 PCW Ultra has Black Taurus vs Jacob Fabu. It’s crazy how other promotions see Black Taurus as impressive enough to be in a big singles match on a show and AAA doesn’t see it.

Pro Wrestling Revolucion and West Coast Pro Wrestling have the King of the Indies on Saturday. Matches include Titus Alexander versus Dragon Lee (who’s won the last two of these) and Viento vs Dralistico. It’s a one night eight team tournament, so the winners will be wrestlers multiple times on that show. Extreme Tiger and Califronia Misterioso will appear on the show as well. It streams on IWTV. This should had the bad luck of running against AEW or I think it would be a bigger deal.

12/17 RIOT

That looks like a really good trios match. Can’t wait to find out who replaces Willy Banderas, who seems never to make these shows.

KAOZ announced they’ll be bringing in Flip Gordon for February. It’s a combo show with Robles and The Crash. I have no problem with Flip Gordon and I don’t like that I’m frequently in a position to be critical of Flip Gordon, but I have no understand of why these groups are so stuck on Flip Gordon.

An ESTO article has the author wrestling Hijo de Fishman to find out if wrestling is real, which leads to his glasses being broken.

El Imperial has an interview with Thunder Rosa on being added to the Tijuana walk of fame.

Big Mami and Baronessa are listed on a poster for Great Khalis’ CWE promotion in India. That fits with Mami saying she was heading to India in February. The poster, as uploaded by Khali and reposted elsewhere, crops off the location and the date of the show.

Puebla officials held a press conference for their lucha libre licensing exam, which is scheduled for 11/27. Asturiano, Pegasso, Black Tiger and Loco Max will be the talent evaluators. The exam costs 253.68 pesos (~13 USD)

AAA in Tempe, Angel de Oro still champ, Big Lucha cage match

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 11/14/2022 Arena Puebla [El Sol de Puebla]
3) Arkalis, El Suicida, Halcón Suriano Jr. b Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
4) Felino Jr., Okumura, Yota b Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Titán
5) Averno, El Mesías, Soberano Jr. b Gran Guerrero, Místico, Último Guerrero [Relevos IncreíblesFacebook video (posted by )
Averno & Mesias fouled Gran & Utlimo Guerrero to set up a tag match

Again, Soberano and Ultimo Guerrero stayed out of the ring when the other one was in. It comes off like they’ve been ordered not to touch.

CMLL (TUE) 11/15/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring (CMLL)]
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia 20221115cmll_match1Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia.mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive)) CMLL: Angelito, Shockercito y Último Dragoncito vencen a P. Pólvora, P. Violencia y P. Olímpico. (posted by mluchatv) CMLL: Shockercito, Último Dragoncito y Angelito Vs Peq. Olímpico, Peq. Violencia y Peq. Pólvora (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
2) Apocalipsis, Inquisidor, Raider b Asturiano, Halcón Suriano Jr., Neón 20221115cmll_match2Asturiano, Halcón Suriano Jr., Neón vs Apocalipsis, Inquisidor, Raider.mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive)) CMLL: Apocalipsis, Inquisidor y Raider vs Halcón Suriano Jr., Asturiano y Neón (posted by mluchatv)
Panterita del Ring (double booked in GDL) and Suicida were replaced by Asutriano & Neon shortly after card was announced. Neon and Apocalipisis ripped masks.
3) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma b Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus 20221115cmll_match3Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus.mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive)) CMLL: Stigma, Guerrero Maya Jr. y Arkalis derrotan a Virus, Luciferno y Cancerbero. (posted by mluchatv)
tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Ángel de Oro © b Hijo del Villano III [MEX LHCampeonato nacional semicompleto: Ángel de Oro acaba con la ilusión del Hijo de Villano III en CMLL (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) CMLL: Ángel de Oro retiene el Campeonato Nacional Semicompleto ante el Hijo del Villano III (posted by mluchatv)
2nd defense
5) Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto b Negro Casas, Stuka Jr., Volador Jr. CMLL: Hechicero, Euforia y Mephisto derrotan a Negro Casas, Volador Jr., y Stuka Jr. (posted by mluchatv)

The bits and pieces of the title match looked good. (VPN/Geoblock/YouTube prevent me from having it to share at the moment; it should be up Wednesday night.) Angel de Oro looked great and I have no problems with Hijo del Villano III. I hope they give him more long match chances like and wait until he’s ready to give him a title.

Neon and Apocalipsis are about the lowest ranked CMLL tecnico and rudo. CMLL’s not running a singles apuesta match with those two men in 2022. A cage match on 12/25 or 01/01 seems likely. Inquisidor took an elbow to the face from Neon during the match.

CMLL (TUE) 11/15/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo GuadalajaraDe Golpes y Caidas, Fuego en el Ring, Kaiser Sports]
1) Bello Antuan, Cosmos, Logan b Black Boy, Minotauro, Ponzoña Jr. 20221115cmll_match1Bello Antuan, Cosmos, Logan vs Black Boy, Minotauro, Ponzoña Jr..mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive))
Logan was hurt on a dive
2) Destello, Destructor, Javier Cruz Jr. b Gran Kenut, Jabalí, Tigre Blanco 20221115cmll_match2Gran Kenut, Jabalí, Tigre Blanco vs Destello, Destructor, Javier Cruz Jr..mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive))
3) Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga b Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. 20221115cmll_match3Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga.mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive))
4) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Ángel Rebelde, Halcón Negro Jr., Optimus, Trono 20221115cmll_match4Diamond, Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido vs Ángel Rebelde, Halcón Negro Jr., Optimus, Trono.mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive))
sets up a Rugido/Halcon Negro title match
5) Panterita del Ring Jr. & Panterita del Ring Jr. b Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. and Blue Panther & Dark Panther and Felino & Felino Jr. 20221115cmll_match5Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. vs Panterita del Ring Jr. & Panterita del Ring Jr. and Blue Panther & Dark Panther and Felino & Felino Jr..mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive))
this is one week of a family tournament, Panteritas facing the winner of the 11/23 show on 11/30.
6) Averno, Dulce Gardenia, JKR, Último Guerrero DQ Dark Magic, Okumura, Yota, Zandokan Jr. 20221115cmll_match6Dark Magic, Okumura, Yota, Zandokan Jr. vs Averno, Dulce Gardenia, JKR, Último Guerrero.mp4 (posted by luchablog vault (Google Drive))
a series of fouls ended with Yota getting caught fouling Averno for the DQ.

Yota will get plenty of chances to improve his fouling technique if he’s going to be around for a while. Rugido getting another title match sounds interesting.

CMLL (SUN) 11/20/2022 Arena México
1) Bengala & Leono vs Neón & Retro
2) Oro Jr., Robin, Valiente Jr. vs Cholo, Enfermero Jr., Nitro
3) Diamond, Pegasso, Sangre Imperial vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
4) Blue Panther, Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring vs Kráneo, Pólvora, Rey Bucanero
Magnus originally announced, Polvora replaced him within hours
5) Stuka Jr., Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo I, Sagrado

A show. I like Sagrado and Gemelo Diablos are safely Sunday acts right now.

CMLL (MON) 11/21/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Fénix SO & Meyer vs Dreyko & Sombra Diabólika
2) Asturiano, Neón, Retro vs Apocalipsis, Nitro, Príncipe Odín Jr.
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma
4) Okumura, Volador Jr., Yota vs Atlantis Jr., Euforia, Soberano Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Averno & El Mesías vs Gran Guerrero & Último Guerrero

At least they got UG and Soberano out of the same match this time.

Mil Mascaras, Vincent, Valiente & Valiente Jr., and Los Depredadores (Magnus, Rugido, Magia Blanca) will appear on Informa today.

Atlantis Jr. is very excited to prove himself on NJPW Strong. The meta-story is many CMLL watchers believe Altantis Jr. gets chances in CMLL because he’s Atlantis Jr., and any time Atlantis gets to go somewhere else, he gets to prove he’s actually doing it on his own.

Cultaholic talked to Lady Frost (in a podcast) about recent news in her career, including the CMLL Gran Prix. It’s not a lot about CMLL itself; the host is aware something happened in Mexico but has no specific questions to ask. Frost’s rocky situation with Impact is the actual focus. They talk around it early and get to it later without ever getting the full details. Frost got her release from Impact after the Gran Prix and it comes off as if part of that release was an agreement not to say anything directly negative about Impact. Frost does mention that the situation (being stuck in a contract she felt was not paying her what was promised) had her considering retirement, and she sort of took the CMLL gig as one last trip to cross off her career goal list before hanging up her boots. Instead, she had a great time, had good experiences elsewhere, got out of that contract, and is looking forward to wrestling again. It’s rare for CMLL to be credited with reigniting a wrestler’s passion; seems to happen more for foreigners than natives. Frost describes her Mexico stay as almost a blur – a lot of travel, a lot to do – that she really didn’t get to reflect on what happened until she was home. She loved the arenas, loved the fans, was amazed to be quickly recognized on the street Her best story from Mexico is one of her interviews in Mexico about her background was somewhat mistranslated as “Gymnast Assassin”, and she immediately seized on it as a new nickname and t-shirt. Frost again mentioned she’d be back in CMLL in December.

AAA

AAA announced the lineup for the 12/03 show on Tuesday. The recent Acapulco shows have gotten multiple press conferences. This card was unceremoniously posted on social media.

AAA TV (SAT) 12/03/2022 Mullet Arena, Tempe, Arizona
1) Máscarita Sagrada & Willie Mack vs Demus & Látigo
2) Lady Shani & Sexy Star vs Chik Tormenta & Maravilla
3) Dave The Clown, Komander, Mr. Iguana vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
4) Taurus vs Hijo Del Vikingo vs Daga
5) Blue Demon Jr., Pagano, Pentagón Jr. vs Flip Gordon, Gringo Loco, Sam Adonis

The best and worst thing you can say about this card is it is an authentic AAA experience.

Make a list of the strengths AAA possesses in November 2022. “Hijo del Vikingo, a hot star who has not been seen outside of Mexico” is near the top of that list, if you’re doing any sort of thought on it. AAA knows this, and that’s why this show was promoted around being the first Hijo del Vikingo match in the US. Another great strength AAA has is “plenty of great opponents for Hijo del Vikingo.” No one’s better at wrestling Hijo del Vikigno than Taurus; that was one of the matchups that got Vikingo to the spot he’s in now. There is no better way for AAA to make an impact in the United States using their regular roster than a Taurus versus Hijo del Vikingo main event match. AAA has the actual Hijo del Vikingo and Taurus booked, they could do that match. AAA decided to do something else. AAA isn’t some fan run promotion, there are people there with decades in wrestling, people who’ve been in lucha libre all their life. They got this very easy call to make, a very obvious move to make. It’s not even asking them to add someone else to a show, which isn’t always possible. It’s just to run the best possible match for Vikingo and to run it as the main event. AAA made their list of priorities and instead decided trying to get over old friend Daga was more important. This is Ben Simmons passing up a wide open layup.

There’s no benefit to making Vikingo in a three-way with anyone for this show. There’s should be no point in Vikingo’s long-awaited US debut where he’s standing outside watching two other people fight. There’s also nothing 2022 Daga adds to the match. He’s been out of the spotlight for two years, a name that hasn’t been in demand in the US and hasn’t been in Mexico. I’m not sure AAA fans have thought about him since he gave up the Latin American title in a promo. I hope Daga is great in the match and this is not his fault, but he’s a negative selling point to the match and to the show. I have no objection to using Daga on the card, but there are four other matches to use him in. This is AAA plainly putting an old friend in spot they don’t belong in because that’s more important than putting on than AAA putting on the best possible show. Again, there are smart people running in AAA, they know Taurus/Vikingo is the correct match to make and they’re just choosing to do something else.

(This is at least should be a big deal for Daga. Daga RT-ed the poster once, moved on with his life, enjoyed his BJJ class. Perhaps that’s the healthier choice compared to whatever it is I’m doing here.)

This behavior is why it’s impossible to take forever planned AAA’s US expansion seriously. They’re not taking it seriously themselves.  There are so many challenges to a wrestling company running regularly outside of their home country that there’s no guarantee it’ll work even if the company puts forth it’s best effort. AAA’s not committed to their best; they feel like they can succeed just putting forth the vibes of a wrestling company without doing the work, and so they end up with things like the commercial for Tempe just using a TripleMania highlight package with a bunch of people who aren’t on the show. Their shows will do just as well as their partners force them to try. The local Tempe partners are apparently not at the level to make AAA work, and the Los Angeles show will thrive only if Conrad Thompson has the ability to make it happen himself. It’s also why their best chance of success if being the generic lucha libre product for companies like Marvel; those companies have a better chance of convincing AAA to do their best than the idea of selling tickets. I kind of wish I could stop writing about AAA’s plans in US beyond that.

The rest of this card has the same “we don’t really have to try out best” spirit embodied by that Daga decision. The main event is a juiceless trios, expecting fans will show up for the idea of a Mexico versus US feud with no effort put into it or no juice behind it. I hope Flip Gordon is constantly thanking whoever’s booking him on all these AAA shows, because there is no other promotion in the world that’s booking him as a main eventer. Even if AAA is correct in throwing out a random Mexico/USA match as a draw, there are so many people who could’ve been thrown in that spot. Only AAA sees Flip Gordon as a bigger star than their own wrestlers in 2022, like people who stopped paying attention to wrestling four years ago. (Daga would’ve been a better fit there, if you’re using committed to using Daga.) The tercera is just “whatever tecnicos with visas were free that day against NGD. This card was so low effort and changed at the last minute that it lists Chik Tormenta as a member of Las Toxicas. La Hiedra is a member of Las Toxicas and La Hiedra was advertised for this show. Psycho Clown, who AAA freely acknowledges is their biggest star, was also advertised for this show as recently as Monday. Psycho and Hiedra were still listed on the meet and greet after the card was announced. Both were pulled with no explanation or even acknowledgment. I suspect Pentagon was the replacement for Psycho based on the positioning.

No sign of that Taya/Flammer match (or Taya at all.) No resolution to feuds like Villano III & Octagon Jr. that have been going on aimlessly since 2021. Some fans talked themselves into believing there had to be heavy AEW or even Impact involvement and were surprised when that lineup came out. AAA and Conrad Thompson will reportedly try to run their own show in four months in Los Angeles. I wonder how many fans are going to see this lineup and decide AAA is something they’d see if they get a chance but they’re not going to risk a whole day around a show for it to turn out to be a decent but unmemorable USA vs Mexico match. Every show sells the next one, and this one sells the idea that AAA is going to do just the minimum required in the US. They’ll have the minimum results to match.

No mention of if this is a taping or if it’ll stream. The show has Vikingo and Taurus in the ring, so I always want to see that, but I’m not bothered if I miss the rest. I’d definitely go if I was in the Phoenix area, and I feel like anyone who bought plane tickets is wasting their time. I do not expect this lineup itself to move many tickets, but the idea there is an actual lineup (and so the show might be real) and the new round of publicity that comes with announcing a lineup should move a few tickets.

12/16 GCW

I don’t know who Vikingo is facing. If it’s Speedball (which seems like the most popular request) or someone of that quality in a 1v1, it’s a more appealing AAA card than the AAA card.

The local promoter continues to announce names for a 12/17 taping in Domo Madero, most recently NGD. AAA hasn’t announced this show as happening; they usually do about a month out. This also looks like it’s going to be a bigger show than Tempe.

Guadalajara-based Corazon de Lucha says AAA pulled their wrestlers off their 12/18 show, and so they’re canceling the event. The main event was Pentagon & Vikingo vs Rush & Bestia del Ring, with Myzteziz, Komander, Sexy Star and others AAA regulars booked. It’s unclear why AAA pulled their wrestlers, just that this seems to break the relationship. Corazon de Lucha had run four previous shows going back to 2021.

Arena Ciudad de Mexico was closed by the local government, reportedly due to an aggravated robbery on the facility. I’m not sure why one would lead to another; maybe they’re just protecting some evidence for the moment. This would be a really big problem if TripleMania was next week and seems certain to get resolved well before it matters for a lucha libre show.

IWRG

IWRG , RGR (THU) 11/17/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Baby Star & Jhon Tito vs Rey Halcón & Súper Boy
2) Aster Boy & Noisy Boy vs Dick Angelo 3G & Legendario
3) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba vs Bugambilia, Máximo, Pimpinela Escarlata
4) Rey León © vs Hijo De Canis Lupus [RGR MIDDLE]
5) Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, LA Park Jr. vs Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr.

This card is a few weeks old but haven’t thought about it in a while.

Social media shooter Pirata Morgan put out a promo challenging LA Park to a retirement match. That’s not happening but it got picked up a lot anyway, so it was good promotional work for this show by Pirata.

Big Lucha

Lineup for Endgame

Big Lucha (FRI) 12/02/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Andy Panda Jr., Sussy Love, Viajero vs Elipse, Limbo, Orbita
2) King vs Kong
3) El Potro de Oro vs Skayde
4) Carito vs Máximo
5) Cometa Maya, Éxtasis, Radioactivo vs Forneo, Sol, Torito Negro Jr.
6) El Bandido vs KomanderGravityGaleno del MalRey HorusFlamitaEmperador AztecaElementalAction JacksonBenditoJack EvansScarecrowVengadorAaron SteelAnarko [cage, mask, hair]

Scarecrow, Vengador, Aaron Steel and Anarko are part of Locos Evans, though that doesn’t give us much more info. Vengador popped up on a Big Lucha World last month; he’s not the Queretaro/Memes Vengador. Not a lot of info on this Scarecrow, Aaron Steel or Anarko. It would be a disappointing outcome if any of them lost. That seems to leave Action Jackson or Jack Evans as the possibilities.

Maybe this Potro/Skayde match is actually for the Lupita date? I feel out of the loop on these developments.

Yutani took the pin in the main event this past week and on the Big Lucha World before and mentioned he’s going to Japan and will return in March. It felt like Big Lucha was having Yutani take losses before leaving because that exactly what happened.

Sol officially signed his 1 year Big Lucha contract, the 1st place prize for the INJUVE talent search contest. Sol was probably going to be around Big Lucha for the foreseeable future anyway after how well the Hell Flyers have done.

Mas Lucha did put up the full Jack Evans angle from the start of the Big Lucha show, it just must’ve happened before they started their stream.

Other News

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

AEW Dynamite tonight has

Death Triangle appears a trios title defense against the return Elite on Saturday, and tonight’s big question is if the Elite will actually appear on screen before the PPV. Writing that sentence makes me think no, they won’t, they’ll make people pay for it. Ethan Page seems likely to win, and it’s more about if AEW sets up something with Bandido coming out of it.

(Also, writing those paragraphs out makes me realize I have to figure out what I’m doing with AAA on Saturday. I’m scheduled to be at movie theatre while the AAA show is finishing up, so I’m leaning towards just waiting until Sunday for AAA.)

Andrade is out of action due to an unspecific health issue. All we know is he said it was a minor issue. He was supposed to wrestle Dralistico for RGR this weekend and Rey Fenix will replace him

Black Taurus faces PJ Black on Thursday’s Impact show. The winner faces Trey Miguel on Impact’s Over Drive (YouTube/Impact+) show on Friday. There’s also a Laredo Kid versus Rich Swann show on Thursday’s show, obviously taped before his injury.

12/08 Luchando Libre (Tulancingo) has Violento Jack vs Aeroboy in a death match.

12/17 RIOT

Going on one match announced every two weeks right now for RIOT.

An anti-drag bill in the Texas legislature would classify any events with cross performers as adult entertainment, with children banned and a surcharge added. If passed and enforced, it would likely mean the end of exoticos in Texas wrestling. This is only a proposed bill at a period where lots of bills are proposed, and only a very few go anywhere. This appears to be one of many done just for legislatures to tell their most fanatical backers they gave it a try and also circulated by opposition to fuel their anger. Neither side believes it’ll be passed into law.

La Prensa has an interview with Microman.

San Luis Potosi’s Marca Promotion (based at Arena Margarita) announced the passing of Jose Luis Gonzalez Palma. Their description sounds like he was one of the people booking and running the weekly indie group.

Mexicali luchador La Maquina suffered a brain injury and there’s a raffle for his medical benefits.

Hijo del Santo will appear at Arena Lopez Mateos on January 14th. His last appearance at that arena was right before the onset of the pandemic, where he actually lost to Dr. Cerbero in what was supposed to set up a singles match between the two.

Merida based referee Servio Tulio Rosada passed away Monday morning. He was driving late at night and crashed into a tree for unknown reasons. Tulio Rosada worked as a high school teacher in his day job and seemed to be well-known as a referee; I don’t normally see mentions of referees passing away. (Another here.)

Box y Lucha has Mil Mascaras on the cover.

Yahoo! Deportes has a bio of Casandro.

AAA full Night of Champions card, coming Big Lucha cage match, Soberano versus Vincent

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/11/2022 Arena México [CMLLEstrellas del RingKaiser SportsR de Rudo]
1) Halcón Suriano Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Leono b Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Raider CMLL-LEONO-HALCÓN SURIANO JR.-HOMBRE BALA JR. VS APOCALIPSIS-DISTURBIO - RAIDER /A. MEXICO/11-11-22 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Leono, Hombre Bala Jr. y Halcón Suriano Jr. se impusieron ante Raider, Apocalipsis y Disturbio (posted by mluchatv) Leono, Hombre Bala Jr. y Halcón Suriano Jr. derrotan a Raider, Disturbio y Apocalipsis (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
15:55
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma b Felino Jr., Okumura, Rey Bucanero CMLL: Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma y Pegasso derrotaron a Felino Jr., Okumura y Rey Bucanero (posted by mluchatv) Con vuelito de KeMonito apoyado por la Fuerza Poblana derrotan a Felino Jr, Rey Bucanero y Okumura (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
17:07
3) El Mesías, Vincent, Yota b Blue Panther, Soberano Jr., Valiente ¡Faul de Vincent sobre Soberano Jr! Los extranjeros derrotan a Blue Panther, Soberano Jr y Valiente (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) ¡Vincent faulea a Soberano Jr. y gana la batalla con trampa! (posted by Revista BOX Y LUCHA) CMLL-BLUE PANTHER - VALIENTE - SOBERANO JR. VS YOTA - MESÍAS - VINCENT /ARENA MEXICO/11-11-22 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Vincent, Yota y El Mesías vencen a Soberano Jr., Blue Panther y El Valiente (posted by mluchatv)
Vincent fouled Soberano Jr., setting up a singles match next week.
4) Místico, Negro Casas, Titán b Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto ¡Titán El Inmortal da una cátedra de estilo esta noche! (posted by Revista BOX Y LUCHA) CMLL: Místico, Negro Casas y Titán derrotan a Hechicero, Mephisto y Euforia (posted by mluchatv) La Mística da el triunfo a Místico, Titán y Negro Casas que derrotan a Los Infernales (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
17:22
5) Atlantis Jr. b Volador Jr. ¡La Quebradora en todo lo alto da la victoria a Atlantis Jr. sobre Volador Jr.! (posted by Revista BOX Y LUCHA) CMLL VOLADOR JR. VS ATLANTIS JR. / ARENA MEXICO / 11-11-22 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Atlantis Jr. vence a Volador Jr. en mano a mano (posted by mluchatv) Con La Atlántida, Atlantis Jr. derrota a Volador Jr., en un extraordinario mano a mano (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
17:55.

Atlantis Jr. defeating Volador Jr. struck me as a big deal. It wasn’t just the win, it was a totally clean win, no questions. Atlantis Jr. did it before in May, though tournament matches are a bit weird. In normal Arena Mexico singles matches, Volador’s only lost to Hechicero and Rush in the last two years. Atlantis Jr. is not someone who will be a top guy in the future, he’s a top guy right now.

The semi-main was best on the show. Yota looked like he might be a useful guy if he’s around for a while.

CMLL (SAT) 11/12/2022 Arena Coliseo [Box y Lucha, CMLL]
1) Fantasy & Pequeño Magía b Full Metal & Pequeño Polvora Facebook video (posted by )
2) Halcón Suriano Jr., Sangre Imperial, Valiente Jr. b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus Facebook video (posted by )
4) Último Guerrero, Vincent, Yota b Atlantis, Blue Panther, Soberano Jr.
Vincent unmasked Soberano after the match
5) Místico b Ángel de Oro Facebook video (posted by )
typical challenges followed

It looks like Vincent is winning all his matches until Friday. Well, until he lost on Sunday.

CMLL (SUN) 11/13/2022 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
2) Dalys, Metálica, Stephanie Vaquer b Avispa Dorada, La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit
3) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Volcano b Magnus, Pólvora, Rugido
Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Euforia, Niebla Roja, Vincent b Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
Team Vincent took 2/3, Vincent cheating Sagrado
4) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado b Euforia, Niebla Roja, Vincent
Los Malditos took 1/3, Sagrado cheating Vincent
5) Atlantis Jr., Titán, Valiente b Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.
Team Titan took 2/3.

Mexican senator Ricardo Monreal visited the show for social media purposes.

CMLL (TUE) 11/15/2022 Arena México
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia
2) Asturiano, Halcón Suriano Jr., Neón vs Apocalipsis, Inquisidor, Raider
Panterita del Ring (double booked in GDL) and Suicida replaced by Asutriano & Neon shortly after card was announced.
3) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
4) Ángel de Oro © vs Hijo del Villano III [MEX LH]
2nd defense
5) Negro Casas, Stuka Jr., Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto

Hechicero seemed to lose his heavyweight title because CMLL likes spreading out titles. Angel de Oro is a double champion, also holding the tag team titles with Niebla Roja. It would be terrible if CMLL gives Hijo del Villano III the title here. He’s not ready, especially not after his most recent Friday appearance, and it’d be a deceitful message to him that he’s already graduated to a high level and doesn’t need to get better. The titles don’t matter but it’d be terrible for his career if he took a title win as evidence he’s already proven himself. I’m not giving up on the kid, and he shouldn’t give up on himself either, but CMLL would be doing a disservice to Hijo del Villano III if they rewarded him with a title he doesn’t deserve yet. That’s part of the harm of having two dozen titles, lots of people who shouldn’t be champions will have a title to make up the numbers.

Asturiano getting random Arena Mexico appearances is a nice lifetime achievement award even if probably came too late for his in-ring abilities. I’m just more curious on how he and Neon (the lowest ranked guy on the regular roster) ended up as subs instead of the 20 other regular CMLL prelim guys. Is CMLL doing an actual lightweight pool of wrestlers and so it had to other lightweights getting Suicida & Panterita’s spots?

CMLL (FRI) 11/18/2022 Arena México
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Oro Jr. vs Disturbio & Zandokan Jr.
2) Avispa Dorada, La Vaquerita, Marcela vs Amapola, Metálica, Reyna Isis
3) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota
4) Soberano Jr. vs Vincent
5) Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Místico vs Gran Guerrero, Titán, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

Mil Mascaras will also appear.

If you are going to use someone on the level of Vincent, this is the best way to use him. Bring him in for two weeks, go right to the singles match, likely give Soberano a nice win over a foreign wrestler, and get it done before something happens to make it hard to happen. If he does well next week, bring him back in the future, but don’t do long builds for people who may not be available or may change what they want down the road.

Guadalajara’s Zandokan making a Friday show is a surprise; CMLL must really see him as a prospect. The next NJPW tour starts on 11/21, so this is probably TItan’s last match for now (and I’m mildly surprised he’s sticking around this long.)

This is not new and not news, but it struck me this week how CMLL uploads their weekly show on YouTube to little notice. You know it’s there if you’re a diehard CMLL fan but most people are not. A week like this, where a lot of people who aren’t normally following in CMLL might want to dip into see the women’s Gran Prix, is a great week to promote the upload. CMLL didn’t because they never do. Compare that to Informa, that’s plugged frequently on Wednesday and then followed up with social media bits on Thursday. That’s the one they’re concerned about if people watch; they feel their talk show gets their wrestling product over more than their actual wrestling product.

AAA

This week’s AAA on Space show was bad. The opener should’ve been thrown into the recycle bin. The Octagon/Abismo/Villano match was a ludicrous finish. NGD lost their win streak in the main event, in something that’ll probably never be seen again. There were so many missed spots and people redoing sequences after they messed up the first time. Next week’s show looks better on paper but this taping was so thrown together that it’s no great bet.

The only positive thing AAA should take from this episode is the five or so minutes they spent playing clips and interviews from the Acapulco press conference. A big missing piece from AAA’s TV presentation is important data like “what’s the next big show?” and “when is happening?” is missing. It can’t even be in a lot of these episodes because the TV is taped so far ahead of when it airs and AAA doesn’t know what they’re doing that far in advance. (Every match that airs on AAA TV in November will be at least a month old.) It’d help AAA a lot if they carved 3-5 minutes of every episode and dropped in the old Noti AAA segments, and airing the press conference was a good first step in that direction.

Of course, it’s AAA, so they announced a different set of matches during the Space broadcast (and had earlier said those matches would be announced before the show.) The full lineup is a couple of paragraphs down but it was a distracting few minutes in real time.

Next Saturday’s Space show is about 90 minutes early. Space has boxing and prefers to have a movie lead-in instead of AAA, so AAA has to squeeze in before the movie.

The full lineup for Noche de Campeones on December  28th

AAA TV (WED) 12/28/2022 Arena GNP, Acapulco, Guerrero
1) Arcano vs El EngañosoGran MazoPicadura LetalLeyenda America [MLL CHAMP]
2) Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo © vs Lady Shani & Octagón Jr. and Komander & Sexy Star [AAA MIXED TAG]
3rd defense, 1st in AAA
3) Aramis, Myzteziz, Willie Mack vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © [AAA TRIOS]
2nd defense
4) Dave The Clown vs Panic ClownMurder ClownVampiroPaganoAerostarBlue Demon Jr.Niño HamburguesaMr. IguanaDiva SalvajeJessy VenturaParka Negra [Copa Mundo Imperial]
5) Arez vs Taurus vs Villano III Jr. [AAA DEMON]
new title
6) Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood © vs Dragón Lee & Dralistico [AAA TAG]
fifth defense
7) Hijo Del Vikingo © vs Bandido [AAA MEGA]
Eighth defense, third on TV

The main event should be good. I liked FTR/Hermanos Lee before the dumb finish but I’m not sure they’ve clicked in Mexico; they’re definitely not as good a fit as the Young Bucks were for their run. Arez/Taurus/Villano 3 should be good if random. There’s no drama for the trios title finish but there are good names there. I have no idea what to expect from the Marvel match but there’s certainly a chance it could be a positive in-ring bit besides the gimmick. As something I’d like to see on TV, this is a good taping. As something that’s going to draw in 10K+ seat arena, I dunno.

A year ago, AAA had Omega/Vikingo planned and Omega pulled off the show. AAA booked a strange five way match as a replacement, seemingly because they didn’t feel Vikingo versus Bandido alone was strong enough to headline the show. It’s 2022 and they’re now going with it as the main event with little help. TripleMania Regia had Cain Velasquez and LA Park in a crazy trios match, as well as FTR/Lucha Brothers. This has FTR/Hermanos Lee and some title matches with no juice. They’re going to be good matches, I hope we get to see this live (and I truly hope it’s not me who’s streaming it live) but this is a big building and a big test for the drawing power of Vikingo, Bandido and the AAA Megachampionship. All credit to them if they can pull it off.

AAA posted a FTR promo that was effective in that promos are supposed to make you feel something and I was annoyed after I watched it. They’re faces in AEW now, so forget all the xenophobic stuff they said, they’re faces in AAA too. Just hardworking guys who want to win all the belts and are generously giving Hermanos Lee one last chance at the AAA ones after Vickie Guerrero interfered last time. (They forgot it was Penta who interfered at the finish last time, and didn’t know or didn’t care Hermanos Lee earned the title match and did the promo as if they were granting Dragon Lee & Dralistico the chance.) I would’ve said thanks but no thanks to airing a promo where FTR was too checked out to remember their storyline, but it’s AAA and they just wanted to prove FTR knew they were in the match. They vaguely do. FTR clearly believe they’re finishing up in AAA with this match. I hope they’re correct.

When we were all counting out the matches on this Night of Champions show and the titles AAA had to put on the line, no one figured out “AAA will make up a random title rather than book Taya or Fenix.” The three way should be good, not sure AAA needs another belt they’ll do nothing with, but it’s just an excuse to honor Blue Demon on this show. It’s odd AAA’s doing the Blue Demon title match in Acapulco when the Tempe show is built around celebrating Blue Demon; makes it come off as if there was a scheduling conflict and things got moved around.

If AAA announces a lineup for the Tempe show and Taya/Flammer is also not on there, I’d advise them to close their social media replies for a day or two.

This AAA mixed title reign has been a flop. It’s meant nothing for AAA, Guevera & Melo seem less over in AEW than when it started, and there’s no indication a preliminary feud on AEW TV has helped AAA’s visibility. (If these belts come up at all, it’s as part of lists of titles AEW fans wish would disappear because they feel the promotion has too many belts.) Lady Shani repeatedly mentioning wanting to win the mixed tag titles in media interviews out of nowhere makes me think she’s got a hint on the outcome.

Note AAA didn’t actually name anyone in the Marvel Lucha Libre match. I am assuming the people who were announced as winners at TripleMania to advance to the final will be in the final, but that’s not a safe assumption. Especially with Furioso/Dragon getting hurt, plans might have changed.

There’s still no word on if this will air anyplace besides FITE.

Nothing has been announced for 12/03 Tempe. There is a commercial airing in English locally.

AAA , EMW , ICON (SAT) 11/12/2022 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California [TJ Sports, Zona Ruda]
1) Fantastik & Mirage DQ Ju Dizz & Ryan Kidd and Kal Herro & Rayo Star and Kamikaze & Skalibur
Skaklibur & Kamikaze unmasked Fantastik & Mirage in the never ending Tijuana/Mexicali rivalary for the DQ. Rayo Star also was unmasked.
2) La Hiedra & Maravilla b Reina Dorada & Sexy Star
Mr. Iguana helped Hieda.
3) Máscarita Sagrada & Viva Van b Mr. Iguana & Niño Hamburguesa
La Hiedra helped Iguana.
4) Vampiro b Nzo
Ryan Kidd & Ju Dizz got involved. Vampiro declared he’d have his final Tijuana matches in 2023.
5) Arez & Rey Horus b Flip Gordon & Marty Scurll
money thrown in.
6) Taurus b KomanderArgenisGringo Loco (Indie)
early in the show, Hijo del Vikingo appeared with birthday boy Jackson Jacoby and apologized for not being able to wrestle due to injury. (He said he’d be out 4 weeks.) Moose, Marty Scurll, and Gringo Loco went to attack Viking and the kid until Psycho and Pentagon made the save, but they all ended up unmasked anyway. Gringo Loco was moved to this match and Vikingo using crutches (though he had an arm injury) attacked him.
7) Pentagón Jr., Psycho ClownMoose, Sam Adonis
Vikingo & Gringo Loco scheduled for the main event, switched to a tag match (no replacement for Vikingo), so this was a 2v2.

This is a non-taped Tijuana show, but it’s also Tijuana so about three YouTube channels will have these matches in the next week or so. You will likely be able to experience Vampiro versus nZo if you can be patient enough. EMW seems like they did well. This is a show that would get no attention out of Mexico (and hasn’t gotten much inside of Mexico) if it wasn’t for the blackballed Marty Scurll being booked.

Do you remember the Hard Rock Hotel show this year, where there was an adorable little boy shown dressed up as Hijo del Vikingo? That’s Jackson Jacoby. His father is the owner of American Icon Autographs, who’s been working with AAA thier wrestlers for some time now. (That’s also the “ICON” labeling that appears on some masks and gear, especially the women.) As part of that AAA/Icon partnership, American Icon essentially got to book the people he wanted to see on this show. That list probably includes Moose, Flip Gordon, NZO and Marty Scurll. AAA has deniability – they’re not responsible for these people, Icon may have even been paying them themselves – but they also didn’t say not to it, and they had to know they’d get blamed for it because they’re the name people recognize on the poster.

(I don’t want to say AAA is some cartoonishly evil company either. They’re not using Scurll on their own shows. I don’t know this as a fact but I’d bet large sums of money they’ve been pitched on using Travis Banks many many times in the last year and have said no because of the anger they’d get. Still, part of the price of doing this show is eating the complaints over running it.)

Vikingo saying he’ll be out four weeks is either making it especially clear he’s not wrestling again until Tempe or a concerning sign his recovery time is going to be really close. The ideal AAA Tempe show has Vikingo in a big singles title defense match, but it may be safer to put him in tag or trios.

American Icon Autographs actually paid for two shows, not one. The actual birthday party was the next day in the US. Lucha libre shows for children’s birthday parties are uncommon but not rare in Mexico. I actually have results.

AAA , JACKSONMANIA (THU) 11/03/2022 Poway, California [RL] Attendance: 250
1) Sam Adonis b Ju Dizz
2) Viva Van b Juliana MillerSexy Star
3) Geo Martinez & Vampiro b Enzo & Richie Martinez
4) Komander b Black Taurus Flip Gordon
5) Kal Herro, Máscarita Sagrada, Mr. Iguana b Anton Carrillo, Gringo Loco, Ryan Kidd
Gringo Loco and Hijo del Vikingo made challenges
6) Arez & Pentagón Jr. b Marty Scurll & Moose

AAA is promoting Tempe as Hijo del Vikingo’s debut in the US. Had he not got hurt, his actual US debut would’ve been at this birthday party instead. Vikingo’s making as many of his dates as possible while hurt, which he seems to do whenever he’s hurt, and so he was here for him and Gringo Loco to continue to build towards a match.

Hugo Savinovich made the choice to post a photo of himself with Marty Scurll and nZo on Lucha Libre Online’s Twitter. Sometime later, someone decided it was better to close replies on that post. They were still cool with posting an interview with Hugo and Scurll on Lucha Libre Online’s YouTube channel. (It’s not a useful interview, though I learned that Marty relaunched his vlog for some reason.) The reality is a lot of the people on this show are probably still happy associating with Scurll despite his accusations, most of them are just savvy enough not to do it for public consumption. The local part of this arrangement, EMW, put out “[X] will be there” like graphics for every person on this show, and made sure not to do one with Marty Scurll. They’re aware.

DEFY announced Hijo del Vikingo vs. Nick Wayne for their 12/17 Seattle show. This was the other booking I had heard about for Vikingo in December. It’s a great opportunity for Nick Wayne, who already has a big spotlight on him and will get a bigger one with this match. I wish that, if promotions are going to spend the significant expense of bringing in Vikingo, they’d bring in someone who’s already used to working with to make sure that first match works great. Fenix & Penta got over on their first indie run wrestling each other so fans could see the best of them, before throwing them against the US Indie stars of the moment. It’s not that Nick Wayne will do bad, it’s that Vikingo versus someone like Taurus or Gringo Loco is going to give people want they want to see out of Vikingo, and that’s what his first US matches should be out.

Hades returned to wrestling for the first time in a year and half this past Friday in Acapulco. It was a show with AAA wrestlers, and she’s advertised as working other shows with AAA wrestlers, but I think she’s doing them as an indie wrestler. Of all the people she could’ve fought, she ended up wrestling Mini Vikingo. She doesn’t seem to hate the entire family, that’s nice.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha (FRI) 11/11/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [Big Lucha, Mas Lucha]
1) Andy Panda Jr., Estrella Del Ring, Sussy Love b Diosa Nix, Metal Shadow, Zenky EN VIVO (posted by mluchatv) Sussy Love, Pandita y Estrella del Ring Vs Diosa Nix, Metal Shadow y Zenky en Big Lucha Mx (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Sussy Love/Estrella del Ring/Andy Panda Jr vs Diosa Nix/Zenky/Metal Shadow BIG LUCHA (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
INJUVE offer match
2) Black Skayde & Hijo De Skayde b King & Kong EN VIVO (posted by mluchatv) Hijo de Skayde y Black Skayde Vs King y Kong en el Bandidos Gym cn Big Lucha Mx (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) King y Kong vs Hijo de Skyde y Black Skyde BIG LUCHA/BANDIDOS GYM (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
King and Kong continued their breakup, setting up a match on 12/02.
3) Carito & Skayde b Action Jackson & Potro EN VIVO (posted by mluchatv) Relevos sencillos: Skayde y Carito Vs Action Jackson y Potro de Oro en Bandidos Gym (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Skyde y Carito vs Acción Jackson y el Potro de Oro BIG LUCHA/BANDIDOS GYM (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
The guys in the match feuded over would get a date with a woman named Lupita after the match. Potro’s team lost but he won the date. Maximo attacked Carito after the match
4) Galeno del Mal b Limbo EN VIVO (posted by mluchatv) Galeno del Mal vs Limbo BIG LUCHA/BANDIDOS GYM (posted by Estrellas del Ring) Galeno del Mal Vs Limbo en mano a mano de poder en el Bandidos Gym (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
Originally Galeno del Mal vs Bendito
5) Forneo, La Estrella, Sol, Torito Negro Jr. b Cometa Maya, Éxtasis, Radioactivo, Viajero EN VIVO (posted by mluchatv) Hell Flyers: Torito Negro-Sol-Forneo-Hannya Vs Delta Force: Radioactivo-Cometa Maya-Éxtasis-Viajero (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Sol, Torito, Hannya y Forneo vs Radiactivo, Éxtasis, Cometa Maya y Viajero BIG LUCHA/BANDIDOS GYM (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
La Estrella replaced Hannya. Hell Flyers and Delta Forced agreed to a TLC match for 12/02.
6) El Bandido, Gravity, Komander, Rey Horus b Bendito, Elemental, Flamita, Yutani Bandido, Rey Horus, Gravity y Komander vs Flamita, Elemental, Yutani y BenditoBIG LUCHA/BANDIDOS GYM (posted by Estrellas del Ring) EN VIVO (posted by mluchatv) Lucha estelar: Bandido, Rey Horus, Komander y Gravity Vs Flamita, Yutani, Elemental y Oni el Bendito (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
Black Generation beat up Jack Evans at the start of the show. Originally Emperador Azteca was in the match, replaced by Bendito hours late. Black Generation added Yutani to the match before it started, and Bandido brought Rey Horus out as a surprise. Bandido beat Yutani. After the match, Bandido announced the formation of the Golden Guns but both teams were attacked Jack Evans and his new Loco Evans group. (Most members appeared new to Big Lucha, identities unclear.) Galeno del Mal made the save, joining Bandido, Gravity, Komander and Horus in Golden Guns. All three teams agreed to a cage apuesta match on 12/02.

The top two matches aren’t perfect but they are worth watching. Galeno versus Limbo is good for the story they’re telling. The undercard is more iffy.

Not sure who Jack Evans recruited. That seems to be part of the bit; they didn’t mention their names in backstage interviews. Oni the micro is there, so it may be other people from the recently concluded INJUVE talent search concept. The attack on him started actually before the Big Lucha/Mas Lucha stream started (you can see it here); the show starting on time seemed to throw everyone off.

Fulgor seems to have disappeared from the King/Kong storyline and the idea now is Kong is teaming with the evil Skayde team.

No word was given why Hannya the Ghost was not on this show. I’m not sure why I’m writing this sentence, but Dragon Gate’s Takuma Fujiwara wrestled early that day on a NOAH show. Fujiwara is expected back in Mexico soon. Getting back to relevant material, Big Lucha said that 12/02 show would be its final one of their year, so the Hannya/Radioactivo match is off indefinitely unless Mas Lucha or someone else is running their own show in Bandido’s Gym.

Don’t like using Maximo, wouldn’t be using Maximo right now.

Bandido beat Rush on Friday’s AEW Rampage and will face Ethan Page on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. He’s unlikely to win that match. AEW also officially announced Bandido’s signing Friday night.

A past version of me would’ve been mostly concerned with how Bandido is going to fit in with AEW, and how he can find success, and what’s his chance of being lost on a Dark show. Of late, I find myself more pragmatically being happy for Bandido getting three years of contract no matter what happens during it I feel much the same about Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wild and Cruz del Toro over in WWE. I hope everyone does great, but I’m more concerned with people getting paid closer to what their worth, and signing with this company gets all of them closer. And Bandido will still be wrestling outside of AEW, so we’re still should see plenty of good matches with him.

WXW announced Komander for their WXW 16 Carat Gold tournament, March 10-12. That’ll be his first trip to Europe.

El Grafico has an interview with occasional Big Lucha wrestler El Mexicano, about the famous photo he appears in. He’s the baby a masked La Briosa is feeding on the cover of Lourdes Grobet’s Espectacular de Lucha Libre photo book. His father (the original El Mexicano/Halcon 78) was an office worker and programmer for AAA for many years, and this Mexicano is training wrestlers at Bandido’s Gym.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 11/13/2022 Arena Naucalpan [Cronista del Ring, IWRG]
1) Paymon, Spider Fly, Stelaris b Kenji, Limbo, Súper Boy LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
2) Lolita b Mary Caporal [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal] LIVE (posted by mluchatv) Lolita se impone a Mary Caporal y avanza a las semifinales por el Campeonato Femenil IWRG (posted by mluchatv)
3) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro b Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
win via foul, setting up a title match
4) Galeno del Mal, Hell Boy, Rocky Casas b Hijo De Canis Lupus, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Relámpago ¡Hellboy sorprende al Rey del Ring y quiere una oportunidad por su CORONA! (posted by mluchatv) LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
Hell Boy beat Pirata Morgan to set up an IWRG Rey del Ring title
5) Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura b Bugambilia & Máximo Continúa la rivalidad entre Las Shotas y Las Chicas Superpoderosas (posted by mluchatv) LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
win via fouls. Maximo and Pimpinela will appear on Thursday’s show.
6) Dick Angelo 3G & Puma de Oro b Aster Boy & Tonalli LIVE (posted by mluchatv)
Tonalli and Aster Boy had issues. Tonalli signed a mask match contract for IWRG’s 60th Anniversary show but Puma de Oro refused to sign.

It looks like IWRG’s heading to a December mask match with maybe all four people for this main event, which at least explains why the feud has run in place for so long. In the meantime, if you’re in Naucalpan and search around, you may be able to find a contract to wrestle Tonalli in a mask match. Tonalli is hinting that he’s going to CMLL as soon as the match happens, and his appearance in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara makes that plausible.

The IWRG Retro show went up on Friday. Those two matches that I said were unseen matches were definitely unseen matches. Also I found out I did have them in the luchadb, just labeled wrong. One had a wrong spelling, one had a wrong participant in the match.

IWRG also put up last Saturday’s Mexico City show complete on YouTube.

Other News

Puebla luchador el Caudillo (Roberto Hernández García de la Cadena, 24) passed away Friday. He was honored in a retirement show on a September show in Tehuacan, which Mas Lucha reposted following his passing. No cause of death is mentioned. I saw that clip of the farewell skimming through that show previously and I was dumbstruck to find out he was only 24; whatever illness he’d been battling left him moving like a much older man. That’s a sad situation

A free show in San Luis Potosi will honor Dos Caras on 11/19. Alberto and Cinta de Oro have been pushing this for a couple of weeks, I keep waiting for a card to turn up and none has.

TJ Boy talked to El Sol de Tijuana about his first year about being commissioner of lucha libre in Tijuana. No great scoops, but I didn’t know Fobia (Nicho’s brother) was also on the commission.

The local promotion in La Joya, Guanajuato hasn’t run a show since September. Local officials recommended they stop until they were better certified in first aid. They’ve got that certification but are waiting until January to resume.

A story about the past and decline of lucha libre in Panama.

A column wishing Arena Aficion was like the old days.

Queretaro’s Ursus talks about his career and mentions he also runs a pizarria.