Category: news

CMLL

Tonight’s show

CMLL (FRI) 12/09/2022 Arena México
1) Fuego, Okumura, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Dark Magic, Disturbio, Guerrero Maya Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
2) Dalys & Lady Frost vs Ivelisse & La Jarochita and Alex Gracia & Lluvia and Avispa Dorada & Reyna Isis [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, seeding battle royal]
3) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, semifinal]
4) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, semifinal]
5) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, final]
6) Atlantis Jr. vs Gran Guerrero
7) Místico & Rocky Romero vs Lince Dorado & Volador Jr. and Kenny King & Último Guerrero and Hechicero & Matt Taven [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, seeding battle royal]
8) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, semifinal]
9) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, semifinal]
10) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, final]

I have this listed as a single elimination tournament. Who knows. It’ll probably be good fun as weird as it turns out. None of the foreigners seem locked in appearing again before the next Gran Prix, so it doesn’t seem to matter which one of them actually win. Atlantis Jr. and Gran Guerrero has more immediate meaning. Panterita del Ring Jr. always has a chance to do something. This is on Ticketmaster as usual.

The Mexico government has been part of promoting this show. I’d expect some sort of official presence; I’m sure if that means the US ambassador to Mexico or some lesser official, but something along those lines seems likely.

CMLL still hasn’t put tickets on sale for Christmas. They’re definitely running. If they’re doing something beyond a normal holiday show, they figure to announce it soon.

CMLL Informa included interviews with most of the tournament participants. Matt Taven missed it to go work a match on AEW Dark. The message CMLL wanted to get across was ‘CMLL is a great place for foreigners to work. All the foreigners who’ve worked here would love to come back for longer.’ Some of that took the forms of jokes suggesting they’d come back for a long time, like Rocky Romero saying he’d sign a one-year contract if he and Mistico win tonight. Fantasy booking Ivelisse as a third member of Chica Indomable or Kenny King finding a Mexican girlfriend was more typical.

In Lady Frost’s case, Julio Cesar Rivera mentioned CMLL had specifically extended an offer for her to return for a longer stretch. Frost played it off like she was surprised at this news and didn’t expect it to be mentioned during the broadcast. (A Fightful Select article released seconds indicated AAA has an interest is bringing in Lady Frost as well as the CMLL mentions seconds prior. Fightful doesn’t report on Informa typically.) I would be surprised if Lady Frost signed a deal with anyone after just coming out of an unhappy contract situation with Impact Wrestling.

CMLL (SUN) 12/11/2022 Arena México
1) Kaligua & Shockercito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia
2) Bengala, Neón, Oro Jr. vs Apocalipsis, Difunto, Zandokan Jr.
3) Alex Gracia, La Jarochita, La Maligna vs Amapola, Olympia, Stephanie Vaquer
4) Negro Casas, Panterita del Ring, Valiente vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
5) Atlantis, Lince Dorado, Stuka Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Kenny King, Último Guerrero

Probably the last night for the visitors. Maligna, here in the second match, hasn’t wrestled on the Mexico City shows since August. The second match is all cage match guys, and we’ll be seeing a lot of them grouped together for the next three weeks.

CMLL (MON) 12/12/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Millenium & Retro vs Nitro & Príncipe Odín Jr.
2) Princesa Sugehit vs Reyna Isis [lightning]
3) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Volcano vs Kráneo, Okumura, Yota
4) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
5) Místico, Stigma, Último Guerrero vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

CMLL very specifically set up Vaquer/Sugehit for this show and that’s not happening. Not sure why, seemed like it was still happening on Wednesday when they brought it up on Informa.

CMLL (TUE) 12/13/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Náutica, Princesa Tiger, Sexy Sol vs Nexy, Sexy Sol, Valkiria
2) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado vs Bestia Negra, Difunto, Zandokan Jr.
3) Flyer & Volador Jr. vs Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. and Euforia & Soberano Jr. and Blue Panther & Dark Panther and Panterita del Ring & Panterita del Ring Jr. and Felino & Felino Jr. and Misterioso Jr. & Misterioso Negro and Valiente & Valiente Jr. [Torneo Heredero]

I still don’t know what the other family tournament matches were about or if this is a single-elimination tournament or what. I do know Flyer hasn’t been booked in CMLL outside this tournament since his incident in Arena Coliseo.

CMLL Informa announced the participants for the 01/01 Sin Salida cage match

• Oro Jr.
• Neon
• Bengala
• Retro
• Nitro
• Inquisidor
• Principe Odin Jr.
• Apocalipsis
• Difunto
• Zandokan Jr.
• Valiente Jr.
• Milenium

It’s the names you’d expect, given the feuds over the last couple of months. Asturiano’s timeline has him healthy well before 01/01, but being out of action for the announcement seems to have cost him what might be his only chance to main event an Arena Mexico show. Maybe they’ll run another cage match next year and he’ll get a chance, because that’s a hard break. Bengala, Inquisidor, Principe Odin Jr., and Apocalipsis all fit “prelim guys who have been around forever” who typically lose on this show and nowhere else. (Nitro might be able to get himself an actual singles program.) Apocalipsis has appeared the favorite to lose his mask since he started these feuds. The winner is harder to figure; I’m guessing Zandokan because CMLL seems highest on him, but it’s not a safe pick.

CMLL also announced the Gran Alternativa would return to close the year. It’s an eight team field over two weeks. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on 12/16, and the final will stand alone on 12/23. The field:

• Atlantis & Arkalis
• Volador Jr. & Panterita del Ring Jr.
• Titan & Suicida
• Soberano Jr. & Halcon Suriano Jr.
• Valiente & Valiente Jr.
• Blue Panther & Cachorro
• Stuka Jr. & Neon
• Gran Guerrero & Raider

This is clearly Panterita del Ring Jr.’s tournament. He’s the guy. The only question is if the best option for Panterita is winning himself or giving Raider a big win now to help Panterita later. Raider’s been the Panterita’s opponent so far but is usually booked about a match below him. Raider will get moved up with a win. Still, Panterita is such an obvious future top star that it’d benefit him to get this spotlight and the history of this tournament to have him as a winner. It’s going to be a surprise if the 12/23 final is anything beside Gran Guerrero & Raider versus Volador Jr. & Panterita del Ring. Maybe Titan & Suicida would be a great pick in any other year.

The story about a “new Arena Puebla” turned out to be nothing lucha libre related, just people reading too much into the name. Government officials planned a 10,000 seat auditorium and put “Arena Puebla” on the paper without thinking about the lucha libre building that also uses that name. They’ve released it as a mistake and will change the name in an updated filing.

AAA

A source close to Cain Velasquez says WrestlingInc.’s report of AAA signing him to a five-date contract is false. AAA and Velasquez could definitely work together, but it’s said nothing’s been agreed to, and definitely not a five-date agreement.

The WON lists an attendance of 3,129 for the Tempe show, with “about 1,000” comped. They also report “only a few hundred tickets” were sold before the Velasquez announcement. It seems like people turned out far more for him than AAA, though the news around Velasquez might have been the first time many people realized there was an AAA show happening. AAA wants to run in the area again but may hold a future show in Glendale instead, figuring they’ll draw more Mexican-American fans there.

The newsletter also mentions Konnan has not attended recent AAA tapings due to kidney issues, and is booking/writing/ordering finishes via group chat. He’s hoping to make the 12/28 show.

AAA on Space tomorrow will have the first part of the Ciudad Juarez taping. (Results here.) No idea which matches. Arez, Bandido, and Octagon Jr. vs Gringo Loco, Rey Horus, and Villano III may have been the best match on the show.

I’m not sure what I’m doing with the stream. I’m not going to run an AAA stream against an AEW or ROH PPV with Mexican wrestlers, rather just watch that live and the AAA later. Right now, there are no Mexican wrestlers on the ROH show, but I expect that’ll change later tonight. I also have another obligation that may make me unavailable for part of AAA is streaming. My guess is I’ll do a stream later that night, but keep an eye on Twitter for more.

No big AAA shows this weekend. The next taping is Saturday in Madero.

AAA wrestlers made a trip to visit the children of La Magia de un Deseo for a holiday party on Wednesday. It’s sort of a Mexico version of Make a Wish, and it’s something they’ve done for many years.

A spot show in Ecatepec Thursday night (with “Psycho Producciones” as one of the local promoters) seemed to draw well. Corsario Negro Jr. joined the Vipers on the undercard, which is probably just a one night bit. Karis La Momia Jr. was added to the card, teaming with Mr. Iguana. Karis has been more visible than usual this week as part of the Panam sneakers promotion; he wore his father’s mask to promote the La Parka shoes on Monday, then did autograph signings later in the week as Karis. He’s been around AAA for years now and is never used for TV matches. Teaming with Iguana on this random show clicked that putting Karis in the Iguana, Hamburgesa, Microman group would be a good way to utilize him if they did want to use him on TV.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 12/11/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) John Tito vs Kenji
2) Diosa Quetzal vs Sagitarius [IWRG IC WOMEN, semifinal]
3) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. vs Hell Boy & Sick Boy
4) Keyra vs Lolita [IWRG IC WOMEN, semifinal]
5) Galeno del Mal vs Hijo De Canis Lupus
6) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.

I presume Mamba is the super partner for the Anniversary show as well, but then why is it a surprise?

IWRG has a form up to sign up for the 2023 Tryout competition. There’s no mention of requirements outside of having a wrestling license (and even that doesn’t seem mandatory.)

No new IWRG Retro. IWRG says the project is still active.

Big Lucha

I thought we were generally done with Big Lucha news for the year. I was incorrect. There’s a shot in Ecatepec on Christmas Day.

AAA , Big Lucha (SUN) 12/25/2022 Centro Civico Nueva Aragon, Ecatepec, Estado de México
1) Carito & Sussy Love vs Goya Kong & Lady Maravilla
2) Cometa Maya, Éxtasis, Radioactivo vs Black Skayde, Forneo, Hijo De Skayde
3) Argenis, Elipse, Niño Hamburguesa, Orbita vs Carta Brava Jr., Iku, Panic Clown, Vengador
4) Gravity, Pagano, Rey Horus vs Bendito, Elemental, Emperador and Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
5) Bandido © vs Hijo Del Vikingo [Big Lucha CHAMP]

Bandido versus Hijo del Vikingo is also the main event of 12/28 Acapulco show that’s airing live on FITE. It’s not great for AAA to have that same match happening three days prior. Perhaps they all agreed to this home & home deal and we’re just finding out about it, perhaps AAA is finding out with everyone else and there will be an urgent request to change the match. This is listed as a Mas Lucha airing but I can’t imagine AAA will want to stream this show free and live.

Penta has a show in the same town on the same night starting an hour earlier, with himself and Panic Clown vs Latigo & Toxin. I believe Panic Clown is the former Kill  (Tio) Korton, who stopped wrestling under that name shortly after Panic Clown debuted and goes way back with Penta and Fenix. Korton has been seen around AAA shows this year prior, including working as a lumberjack back in Monterrey.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Violento Jack defeated Aeroboy in an ultraviolent match Thursday night in Tulancingo. It’s a Mas Lucha subscriber show. If you like either man’s past extreme matches, you’ll probably like this one and it’s worth paying for. There’s a clip of it here.

Insolito defeated Asombro Jr. in a mask match Thursday in Arena Olimpico Laguna. Asombro Jr. is Sergio Alberto Castro Castro, 27 years old, 15 years a wrestler. It’s the third mask Insolito has won in 2022.

It’s not officially announced as I type this, but it appears Saturday’s ROH PPV show (or maybe the pre-PPV free show) looks to have Rush, Preston Vance (ex-10), and Dralistico versus Alex Reynolds, John Silver, and Evil Uno of the Dark Order. A video posted on social teased Dralistico coming in to join his brother and his new protege on Twitter. There are plenty of spaces for extra matches on the show and pre-show and it’s something that looked to be announced tonight as part of Rampage.

MLW’s TV show last night appears to have written off Cesar Duran (ex-Dario Cueto.) Court Bauer is now both in charge of MLW in real life and on-screen, which was Duran’s role. It’s possible Duran could be a manager or other personality, but the change was done off-camera with no sign of Duran, which means he wasn’t brought in to whatever taping they made the change. Duran is still listed on January’s TV taping talent list for Philadelphia. Duran seemed to be an attempt to pull in some ex-Lucha Underground watchers, though I didn’t get a sense many LU viewers stuck with MLW after checking in early.

Bandido is the 15th person announced for PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles. That leaves one more person as a two day tournament historically means 16 people. Both Vikingo and Takeshita make sense for the 16th spot, and it’s harder to imagine PWG passing on Takeshita.

GCW announce Hijo del Vikingo for their 01/20 show in Charlotte. They still have not announced an opponent for his debut with the group next Friday in Los Angeles. I have not been following this closely but I believe Blake Christian is also missing a match for that show. GCW also announced Arez vs Cole Radrick for their 01/07 show in Chicago, which is almost enough for me to go in to Chicago.

GLEAT has Flamita & Yutani and Issei Onitsuka & Shigehiro Irie challenging tag team champions Hayato Tamura & Check Shimatani on 12/30. Familiar faces Gringo Loco and Jack Cartwheel also appear in a trioss withSeptmo Dragon. I think that show turns up on YouTube.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 12/05/2022 Arena Puebla [El Sol de Puebla, Excelsior, Heraldo de Pueblo, Porra Fresa]
1) Espíritu Maligno & Sombra Diabólika b Dark Soul & Dreyko
2) Alex Gracia, Ivelisse, Lady Frost, Princesa Sugehit b Avispa Dorada, Dalys, Lluvia, Stephanie Vaquer 
Vaquer pinned Sugehit to set up a title match, though apparently, a lightning match might happen first
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa © b Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma [MEX TRIOS] 
fourth defense, 3rd time Fuerza Poblana challenging
4) Hijo de Octagón, Místico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. b Kenny King, Lince Dorado, Matt Taven, Rocky Romero 
Volador & Octagon rep
5) Gran Guerrero © b Euforia [CMLL HEAVY]
first defense

The loaded lineup helped put a lot more people in the building than usual. More so in the upper area than the ringside seats, which suggest the lower ticket prices for kids in those section may have had a role to it as well. Two title matches and foreigners also got the show much more coverage than usual.

Porra Fresa, which used to have a blogger page to post about Arena Puebla shows, has been writing on their personal Facebook page about these shows of late. That’s the only way I’m getting a result for the opener.

The state of Puebla government published documents on Monday indicating a they plan to build a new “Arena Puebla” in the town of San Andres Cholula, about 20 minutes to the west of the city of Puebla. MTP Noticias noted the filing and concluded this was a new lucha libre arena. There’s nothing in the note that specifically says it’s a lucha libre arena; it could be some Puebla equivalent of Arena Ciudad de Mexico. There probably will be more details about it to come this month. The planning stage is listed as lasting through September, so this is a long way off from behind build and we’ll find out what it longer before.

CMLL (TUE) 12/06/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports, Marca, The Gladiatores]
1) Acero, Aéreo, Último Dragóncito b Minos, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia 
Ultimo Dragon and Pequeno Violencia replaced Pequeno Magia and Pierrothito on Monday
2) Leono, Milenium (Puebla), Sangre Imperial DQ Cholo, Inquisidor, Príncipe Odín Jr. 
Sangre Imperial replaced Valiente Jr. (positive COVID test) on Monday. Inquisidor unmasked Milenium for the DQ and to tease another mask match. Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, La Vaquerita b Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany 
Tecnicas took 1/3.
4) Sagrado © b Star Black [MEX HEAVY] 
first defense
5) Negro Casas, Stuka Jr., Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota 
Volador Jr. replaced Soberano Jr. on Monday. Tecnicos took 1/3.

Minos got caught in the ropes on a tope and went down hard. He seemed to turn over enough to avoid a head injury. I have not seen much more of this show beyond those clips; it was still downloading on my slow VPN last I cehcked.

Millenium may be getting Asturiano’s spot in the cage, and now we know for sure it’s a cage match. CMLL Informa announced they’ll talk about Sin Salida on Informa, officially announcing the long expected cage match for 01/01. For whatever reason, New Year’s Day is the day CMLL does the prelim apuesta match historically and Christmas Day is something else. CMLL says “details” but not “all the details” so there’s wiggle room not to announce the full card yet. It’d be nice to get an answer to ‘will people outside of Mexico get to see this live?’ question but I don’t expect that answer.

This year was the year where it occurred to me “why do they call in Sin Salida if most of the match is people escaping?? Hay mucha salida.”

CMLL (TUE) 12/06/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, Fuego en el Ring]
1) Jabalí, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno ?? Exterminador, Maléfico, Thunder Boy
match left off the stream, no result recorded
2) Black Boy, Persa, Temerario b Estrella de Jalisco I, Estrella de Jalisco II, Obelisk 
3) Bestia Negra, Dark Magic, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II b Draego, JKR, Optimus, Trono 
JKR & Dark Magic added to the match, Draego replaced Halcon Negro Jr.
4) Adrenalina, El Divino, Explosivo, Fantástico b Barboza, Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. 
5) Magia Blanca © b Ángel Rebelde [MEX WELTER] 
6) Stephanie Vaquer b Alex Gracia, Avispa Dorada, Ivelisse, Lady Frost, Lluvia, Maligna, Valkiria 
billed as an atomicos, but effectively an eight way elimination match. Vaquer beat Gracia to win.
7) Rocky Romero b Kenny King, Lince Dorado, Matt Taven, Difunto, Dulce Gardenia, Último Guerrero, Zandokan Jr. 
Zandokan replaced Averno over the weekend. Billed as an atomicos, but effectively an eight way elimination match. Romero beat Ultimo Guerrero to win.

The wrestlers knew what the match rules were, the people who advertised the show knew what the match rules were, it’s just those were two different rules. They stood in corners as if it was a four way tag match, but then everyone just hung out at whatever corner they ended up in when they tagged out. That’s kind of the way the fourway tag matches have been working in Guadalajara of late, but it didn’t seem like there were actual partners. I hope it’s more clear on Friday. Matches still seemed like they were fine. Rebelde/Blanca was said to be good until the finish.

BUSHI & Titan defeated Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles in the Super Junior Tag League on Wednesday. They’re now 6-2, as are 4 other teams. LIJ have to win on Friday (over Lio Rush & YOH) and need to have one of two other matches to finish in their favor.

CMLL did acknowledge Mistico is wrestling in Los Angeles on NJPW Strong on Sunday but did not mention NJPW Misterioso as his opponent.

Informa today has all the expected United States visitors, some of the Mexicans involved, and a Gran Guerrero to discuss being an alleged poor friend.

CMLL (SAT) 12/10/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Angelito, Fantasy, Último Dragóncito vs Full Metal, Mercurio, Pierrothito
2) Bengala, Oro Jr., Retro vs Difunto, Nitro, Zandokan Jr.
3) Alex Gracia, Avispa Dorada, Marcela vs Hera, La Seductora, Reyna Isis
4) Magnus, Pólvora, Rugido vs El Coyote, Felino, Rey Bucanero
5) Ángel de Oro, Lince Dorado, Niebla Roja vs Euforia, Kenny King, Yota [Relevos Increíbles]

This is more notable for who’s checking out early (Romero, Taven, Ivelisse, Frost) than anything particularly happening on this card. Everyone in match 2 is headed to the cage.

AAA

WrestlingInc reports AAA and Cain Velasquez have agreed to a deal for “about five more shows”, with an option for more. Dorian Roldan, in an interview with Record, says AAA would like to hire Velasquez to be a key player in their US shows, but future dates have not yet been confirmed. It’s possible there’s a deal agreed to in principle but it hasn’t been technically signed yet so both stories are accurate. Roldan, with Record, confirmed Velasquez’s manager reached out to AAA originally to talk about Velasquez working the Tempe show.

Velasquez’s impact figures to lessen the more times he appears, but AAA likes him a lot and he is a bigger US star than pretty much anyone else they have. That number hints at AAA having plans for about five more shows in the US in the next year or so; the possible WrestleMania weekend show is the only one known to be in the planning stages. Maybe this is a positive sign for a Tempe return. I am assuming Velasquez can not leave the country until his attempted murder charges get resolved, and AAA is assuming Velasquez’s attempted murder charges play out where he remains available for their future dates. This whole situation is strange so those may not be safe assumptions, but the nature of the agreement is Velasquez is likely only getting paid if he can make the shows.

AAA and Panam announced Psycho Clown, Pentagon Jr., and La Parka sneakers on Tuesday. They’ll be a limited quantity, sold in Panam stores in Mexico and online. It doesn’t appear they’ll be sold outside of Mexico. Reception seemed mostly positive to the designs. Panam’s commercial promoting the sneakers includes Psycho Clown and Karis La Momia Jr. as La Parka.

Mas Lucha talked to Dorian Roldan about the collaboration and a lot of other recent news. He said it was important to AAA, as a Mexican company, to partner with other Mexicans companies like Panam and jersey manufacturer Charly. Roldan was asked about the Tempe event; he was happy with the show. He put the attendance as “over 3,000”, saying it was bigger than any wrestling promotion without TV did in the US this year. He says the crowd was into the show from the first match all the way through. Hijo del Vikingo was said not to be 100% yet from his arm injury, but still did well for his first match in the US. Komander got cited as doing well.

AAA wants to go to the US in 2023 and Dorian Roldan wants those shows to feel like the shows they do at the Showcenter and similar locations in Mexico in terms of production, not smaller than that. (AAA is selling an experience maybe more than they’re selling the actual matches themselves, so they’re not going to run a smaller show if it compromises on that experience.) AAA has thought about running in Los Angeles for WrestleMania week since meeting with various podcasters at Ric Flair’s Last Match, nothing is set right now, but Roldan says to expect some good news on that coming soon. Roldan said, in addition, they’re talking with a touring company in the US about possibilities for a project in the summer. They’re also talking to a TV network that would be a “no-brainer”, but noted these things have to get farther down the road before they’re official. Roldan revealed his two favorite bands are the Smashing Pumpkins and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, so he was thrilled to work with Billy Corgan on the Pumpkins/NWA/AAA “The World is a Vampire” festival in Mexico City. Roldan liked the spirit of mixing wrestling into a music festival setting, and both NWA & AAA hope the festival into something that can be taken into other countries.

Dorian Roldan says the three TripleMania idea was very successful and “I don’t see why we wouldn’t do something very similar [in 2023.]” This December Acapulco show is also meant to be a yearly event, which means a lot of tentpole shows on the card. Jose Manuel Guillen asked about the possible return of events like “Guerra de Titanes” and “Heroes Inmortales” and Roldan says they have and they will continue to meet with various local promoters to see their appetite for running those shows. (The local promoters are more responsible for that tier of event, while AAA is their own local promoter for the TripleMania shows.) Roldan’s gotten feedback that those promoters are interested, and it’s just about trying to find space in a busy 2023 calendar.

Penta now has “Pentagon Jr.” sneakers with Panam in Mexico and “Penta el Zero M” with Diadora/Champs in the US. I don’t think you can get one from the other country without someone helping you out; they’re only in competition for the collectors who have to get everything.

I’m catching up to this story midstream: the mayor of Guadalajara defended paid Vampiro 290,000 pesos to train police. Mayor Pablo Lemus explained he’d previously worked with Vampiro in Zapopan, where he helped reduce gang presence in popular areas, and would work with Guadalajara police on crime prevention programs in various neighborhoods. It looks like the money was previously reported as Vampiro training 100 police officers in self-defense, which is a fair bit different. For obvious reasons, there are people in Guadalajara who are skeptical of giving that much money to a luchador to train police officers.

The 49ers have a brief video on George Kittle meeting Penta from a couple of Monday ago.

IWRG

IWRG (FRI) 12/16/2022 Arena Naucalpan
***60th Anniversary show***
1) 1 vs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 [Copa IWRG]
all surprise names
2) ? vs ?? [IWRG IC WOMEN, final]
3) Aramis, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly vs Abismo Negro Jr., Baby Xtreme, Hell Boy
4) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. © vs ?, Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura [EdM Trios]
8th defense
5) Hijo De Canis Lupus & Rey León © vs Galeno del Mal & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. [IWRG IC TAG]
first defense
6) Blue Demon Jr., Heavy Metal, Tinieblas Jr. vs Dr. Wagner Jr., Fuerza Guerrera, Pirata Morgan
7) Tonalli vs Puma de Oro vs Aster Boy [mask]

They’re pushing it as three wrestlers who all came out of IWRG’s Tryout main eventing their biggest show. Tonalli is the one most teased to lose the main event, but there are fake outs and fake fake outs. Tonalli’s talked about this being the last match for him in IWRG, which prompted Mas Lucha’s Jorge Livan to jokingly speculate he must be taking Atlantis Jr.’s spot with Los Guerreros.

This is a Friday show, unusually so. “IWRG” has only been around since 1996. Adolfo Moreno started promoting shows in 1962 and this is the continuation of that; some initials to describe it just weren’t necessary for the first half of the promotion’s existence. As you might expect, this is a 60th-anniversary show that will be a Mas Lucha subscriber-only show, of course.

The funniest outcome on this show would be the IWRG tag team titles returning to Naucalpan, only for the Wagners to win them immediately and not get around to defending them for three years. Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. is still GHC (NOAH) National Champion and is definitely not losing here.

La Pandemia winning via foul was supposed to be the excuse to come back with the title match anyway, though that feels like a weak setup. Not that really matters; this will be a packed house regardless of how the fourth-biggest match was built.

Baby Xtreme was in IWRG back in July 2021, showed up at a Negocio Traumado press conference to declare he quit IWRG and was going to team with the other guys who quit IWRG, then never teamed with Neogocio Traumado and just went back to Monterrey. I do no understand what happened there but it didn’t seem to work well for Baby Xtreme, and he’s making his return to IWRG on this show.

The two IWRG women’s semifinals will take place this Sunday: Diosa Quetzal vs Sagitarius and Keyra vs Lolita. I’d put my money on Quetzal if I was forced to wager money on IWRG women’s championship matches.

Alejandro Alvarez was billed as the IWRG director of programming at the press conference. I think the Morenos are still involved in that part of the business.

No Thursday IWRG show, so there should be a new episode of IWRG Retro.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha , GALLI (SUN) 01/22/2023 Walther Christian Academy, Melrose Park, Illinois
1) Missa Kate vs Sussy Love
2) Torero & Viajero (Indie) vs El Potro de Oro & Sobrino Azteca
3) Dreamerbreaker vs El Bandolero, Skayde [GALLI DISCOVERY]
4) Bendito & Elemental vs Gravity (Indie) & Komander (Indie) and Joey Marx & Mason Conrad
5) Bandido (Indie), Galeno del Mal, Rey Horus vs Action Jackson, Emperador Azteca, Flamita and Axel Rico, Chuko, J. Manny [Copa Beginning]

When you’re bringing Viajero to Chicago, Big Lucha is really bringing anything. I was expecting Bandido and maybe a few other guys, but it’s a really a Big Lucha card in GALLI.

Big Lucha will give out awards based on Facebook polling, with the voting opening today and lasting for two days.

Other News

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

A ROH media call is ongoing as I finish this up. It reads like ROH will announce some sort of TV deal on their Final Battle show this Saturday, and there may be less mixing between AEW and ROH going forward. It’s worth watching as far as which AEW wrestlers (Rush, Bandido?) are suddenly revealed to be ROH-focused, and if this means people hanging around the edges like Dragon Lee will pick up a contract. No Mexican wrestlers have been announced for the ROH PPV as of yet, but the full lineup isn’t out yet.

PWG announced Latigo for the 2023 Battle of Los Angeles on Tuesday. That’s pretty much the biggest match of his life so far. They didn’t announce on Monday, so #16 now seems scheduled for Friday.

DTU (THU) 12/15/2022 Arena Aficion
1) Black Miner, Maddy La Hija De Barrio, Rencadio vs Shao, Struendo, Werito Power
2) Magia vs Raúl Vidal Jr. (Veracruz), Samuray Azteca, Rey Eclipse (Estado De México), Ryu (Puebla), Discipulso 13
3) Adrian Alanis, Lima Gray, Shocko vs Camuflaje, Kaleth, Soberbia
4) Mamba vs Exótico
5) Lunatik Extreme, Ovett Jr., Súper Boy vs Demon Boy, Disturbio (Tamaulipas), Hard Boy
6) Arez vs Lokillo
7) Aero Panther & Fight Panther Jr. © vs Sb Kento & Takuma and Kastigador & Vengador [DTU TAG]
8) Aero Boy & Violento Jack vs Makabre & Paranoiko and Avorto & Demus

This is the last of three DTU Anniversary shows, and the biggest of the three. It may stream live on Mas Lucha; they did say they’ll be covering the DTU show on Sunday at Arena Mamas Lucha. The main event is meant to be an ultraviolent match. Arez/Lokillo could be pretty good.

12/17 RIOT

• Erik Ortiz vs Blake Christian
• Demonio del Aire vs Rey Horus
• Latigo, Bandido, Toxin vs Iron Kid, Arez Jack Evans, Willy Banderas
  • Latigo, Jack Evans, Toxocin vs Iron Kid, Bandido, Willy Banderas
• Byron & Kaientai vs Prometeo & Kratoz
• Jimmy vs Aeroboy – new

Lucha Memes says their March Coliseo Coacalco has “a huge possibility” of being their last one in that venue.

Milenio has a review of a Rene Guajardo biography. It’s framed as if it was a new release, though it appears it came out back in 2015. I would like to read it – i have a better chance of making it through it now than I would’ve seven years ago – but the only place I see it in stock is charging about 90 USD for it and I don’t want to read it that bad.

IndieWire has a photo of Gael Garcia Bernal as Cassandro in the upcoming film of the same name. It’s been a while since the movie’s gotten an update; there it’s said to be on Prime Video in “2023.”

Hidalgo luchador Ultimo Samauary passed away on Monday. No age, but Box y lucha reports he debuted in 1987 and his four sons in lucha libre.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 12/02/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, R de Rudo, thecubsfan]
1) Bengala & Neón DQ Apocalipsis & Difunto 
7:43. Difunto unmasked Bengala, mask match challenges followed.
2) Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. b Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr.
23:20. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Dalys, Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer b Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, Lluvia 
14:56. Rudas took 1/3.
4) Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota 
17:06. Infernales took 1/3
5) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero b Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]  
16:19. Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero cheated to beat Atlantis Jr., who declared he was done teaming with the Guerreros for that offense and challenge Gran Guerrero to a singles match.

Atlantis Jr. is done being in Los Guerreros del Altantida, seemingly done being a rudo for now. The match felt like a normal match and the screw finish was minor, but Atlantis Jr. was definite that this was the end of the team, and he was now feuding with Guerreros. Reckless speculation time:

• Templario is overdue for a return, and Atlantis Jr. leaving the trio opens up a spot again. Templario’s departure wasn’t also a minor deal that could be reversed easily.
• Atlantis Jr. made a point of saying he was a heavyweight and those were the titles he aiming for on this past week’s Informa. (He’s not a heavyweight, but he’s getting closer by CMLL standards.) Gran Guerrero’s unexpected title win makes more sense if it was moving a piece into place for a GG/Atlantis Jr. feud.
• I don’t want to overplay this but Gran Guerrero versus Atlantis Jr. has to be kept in consideration for the 90th Anniversario. Atlantis/Ultimo Guerrero is one of the most famous matches in CMLL history, both Atlantis and Gran Guerrero have won Aniversario mask matches in recent years, and round number years tend to feature call backs to the past. It’s a low chance of happening, it doesn’t seem big enough right now in December, but you can see a path from here to there if they wanted to do it. Homenaje a Dos Leyendas is a possibility too. I am not saying it’s happening, just that it has to be thrown in the list whenever you’re coming up with ideas from those shows.

Not a good show otherwise. Every match had stuff that just went wrong and didn’t look good. It wasn’t just those who usually struggle, everyone seemed to have a bad night.

CMLL did a red (blue) carpet entrance bit alongside the Christmas lighting ceremony on Friday. Salvador Lutteroth, increasingly visible in these sort of things, entered with the Atlantis family.

Tonight’s Arena Puebla show has Euforia vs Gran Guerrero for the CMLL heavyweight title and Fuerza Poblana vs Dulce Atrpasuenos for the Mexican national trios titles. Children tickets are marked down to 20 pesos in this venue from now until the day after the Christmas show.

CMLL (SAT) 12/03/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia b Acero, Aéreo, Pequeño Magía
Rudos took 1/3.
2) Cachorro, Leono, Valiente Jr. DQ Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Inquisidor
straight falls, Inquisidor unmasking Valiente Jr. to end it.
3) Diamond, Robin, Suicida b Cholo, Enfermero Jr., Raider
Tecnicos took 1/3
4) Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring, Volcano b Kráneo, Okumura, Pólvora
Tecnicos took 2/3
5) Volador Jr. b Dragón Rojo Jr.
Volador took 1/3.

Add Inquisdior and Valiente Jr. to the mask match list. That’s going to be a competition between luchadors CMLL fans barely knew they were in the promotion and luchadors CMLL fans have seen for a decade and a half. No in-between.

Box y Lucha not covering the show is probably just the one person doing it being busy elsewhere but it seems worth noting here after the video issue last week.

CMLL (SUN) 12/04/2022 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Full Metal, Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia
Pequeno Violencia replaced Pierorthito on Saturday.
2) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, La Vaquerita b Hera, La Seductora, Tiffany
Tecnicas took 1/3.
3) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b El Audaz, Okumura, Pegasso [Relevos Increíbles]
Depredadores took 1/3.
4) Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus b El Coyote, Hijo del Villano III, Rey Bucanero
Cancerberos took 1/3
5) Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero, Yota b Negro Casas, Valiente, Volador Jr.
Negro Casas replaced Soberano on Saturday. Rudos took 1/3.

The only way to stop the prelim guys from making mask challenges is not to book the prelim guys.

CMLL (TUE) 12/06/2022 Arena México
1) Acero, Aéreo, Pequeño Magía vs Minos, Pequeño Polvora, Pierrothito
2) Leono, Milenium (Puebla), Valiente Jr. vs Cholo, Inquisidor, Príncipe Odín Jr.
3) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, La Vaquerita vs Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany
4) Sagrado © vs Star Black [MEX HEAVY]
first defense
5) Negro Casas, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota

The main event could be fun. I’m not so sure about the semimain.

Milenium has been an Arena Puebla luchador since 2009 and is making his Arena Mexico debut. I think he’s getting Asturiano’s spot; Asturiano announced on 11/23 that he’d be out 2-3 weeks after getting hurt on an Arena Puebla show. It would’ve made sense to put another Fuerza Poblana guy in there, but Perverso is the other guy who’s gotten used a lot and he’s an unmasked guy. I wonder if Big Lucha’s Extasis would’ve been considered for both this spot and the upcoming age match had he not been in the (thrown together to fill out the episode) AAA TV match in Puebla. He did work as part of the group in Guadalajara and is masked. Being “Big Lucha’s Extasis” makes me think it probably wasn’t going to happen for him anyway. This is great for Milenium to get the chance after 13 years, there is no problem with using these Tuesdays shows as rewards for people who’ve been grinding away for a long time.

CMLL (FRI) 12/09/2022 Arena México
1) Fuego, Okumura, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Dark Magic, Disturbio, Guerrero Maya Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
2) Dalys & Lady Frost vs Ivelisse & La Jarochita and Alex Gracia & Lluvia and Avispa Dorada & Reyna Isis [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, seeding battle royal]
3) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, semifinal]
4) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, semifinal]
5) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Femenil, final]
6) Atlantis Jr. vs Gran Guerrero
7) Místico & Rocky Romero vs Lince Dorado & Volador Jr. and Kenny King & Último Guerrero and Hechicero & Matt Taven [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, seeding battle royal]
8) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, semifinal]
9) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, semifinal]
10) ? vs ?? [Copa Bicentenario Varonil, final]

That’s probably not the correct order and I can’t say with complete certainty I know how these tournaments are supposed to work. Should be an interesting show though. Even the opener is very weird.

BUSHI & Titan picked up a fifth win in the Super Junior Tag Team over Sho & Dick Togo on Sunday. It’s a five-team race for two spots. The LIJ team faces Tiger Mask and Robbie Eagles on Wednesday, with the final the block final on Saturday.

Virus & Atlantis Jr vs Rocky Romero & Adrian Quest is up on NJPW’s YouTube page for free. It was a lot of fun, Virus looked very motivated to face his old rival one more time. They even played off the old finishing sequence. Atlantis and Quest were good too, but it was best appreciated by nerds who remember 2004 CMLL.

The thing I learned: I had presumed the audience for the NJPW Strong shows were mostly the English-speaking fans. I looked through the Twitter hashtag after the fact to see what people thought, and it seemed like 90% of it was in Japanese. This is where I’m supposed to draw an important lesson from that but I don’t have one at the moment.

AAA

AAA (SAT) 12/03/2022 Mullet Arena, Tempe, Arizona [ESPN Deportes, Lucha Central, Record]
1) La Perrush-K, Máscarita Sagrada, Willie Mack b Demus, King Dragó, Látigo
La Perrush-K is an exotico from El Paso, King Drago is a local wrestler.
2) Lady Shani & Sexy Star b Chik Tormenta & Maravilla
Shani picked up a leg injury but finished the match
3) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Arez, Dave The Clown, Komander
Dave the Clown replaced Mr. Iguana (flight issues). Appeared to be a non-title match. Said to be best match of the night.
4) Blue Demon Jr., Cain Velasquez, Pagano b Gringo Loco, Sam Adonis, Taurus
Velasquez thanked the crowd earlier in the night (in a set up to get the rudos to confront him.) He wrestled in his El Toro mask for most of the match. Adonis used an entrance video that was just highlights of Argentina knocking Mexico out of the World Cup. Velasquez looked good, considering little training.
5) Hijo Del Vikingo & Pentagón Jr. b Daga & Flip Gordon
Pentagon got the win, and he and Vikingo thanked the fans supporting them in Arizona.

This AAA show was an important one in that it was AAA show in a new market, and AAA RT-ed any positive comment they could find that put over what a great time people they had. This AAA show was also an unimportant one, it that it was barely promoted before the week of the show, not mentioned on TV and (as best as anyone can tell) and not taped for TV. Tempe was not treated as much bigger show than a spot show in León for most of the lead up, and then suddenly became of TripleMania-level importance the day of the show.

This show did well enough that AAA will continue to refer to its existence – better than the Dallas show, maybe not well as the relocated New York City show, though with similar positive feelings coming out of it. (Those feelings then and now were ‘wow, had a great time, wish it was promoted better so more people would’ve come out to see it.’) AAA got the obligatory crowd shot and teased returning, though that depends more on the local promoter. It looks like they’re going to be on TMZ today, which will be considered a publicity win.

People who were there live guessed about 3,000 people in the building. That seems to be around the official number AAA will be going with. It looked less than that to me, given the normal 5,000 capacity, the closed-off end for the entrance, and the sections with a few scattered fans. Maybe the floor seats made it for it. I was told 25-30% of those people were believed to be comped, and maybe those people didn’t stay for the whole show. (A fan in attendance told me about a chunk of the audience got up to leave after the Cain match, believing it to be the main event. Some returned once they heard the music for the next match, some did not.) If we go with 2,000 as the actual tickets sold, 2,000 is a great number for an indie promotion with no TV in the US, it’s a better number than some promotions with (weak) US TV have drawn in the US of late. Two thousand or even three thousand is still short of the “four to five thousand” goal Dorian Roldan had set up for these US endeavors. AAA did not get crushed like it seemed they were early on, but they haven’t figured out their formula to make this work.

AAA got saved due to Cain Velasquez wanting to work this show. (Information points to this idea starting in the Velasquez camp when they found out about it happening; AAA was completely onboard with the idea once presented to them.) This was meant to be a “100 years of Blue Demon” celebration and that didn’t seem to happen; maybe it got moved to the Noche de Campeones title match. It became the Cain Velasquez show.  UFC Champion Velasquez would’ve been a meaningful addition just wrestling near his university, Velasquez doing it while charged with controversial attempted murder charges made it more of a thing to see. It’s not exactly something AAA can count on for every US show, though it worked for this one, and I presume they’ll look at using him again in Los Angeles if available.

The complete video of Cain Velasquez’s match is here. Velasquez was into the match, and helped a lot by the rudos getting in the right places for the big moves. Taurus has quietly been dealing with an injury – I think it’s a puncture wound – and there was private concern if he’d be able to make this match to be Velasquez’s opponent again. He made it, though he did less than usual and it was often Adonis working with Velasquez. I read the finish was a superbomb on Adonis and that sounded a bit of a risk with a guy out of training, and it looked like a bit of risk. Everyone got home OK. Fans were said confused a bit by Velasquez wrestling in the “El Toro” bull mask again but got into it more once the match got going. Velasquez would be better off not wearing the mask but I don’t think in AAA anyone had him a problem with wearing it if it got him in the ring.

Fans seemed to be wowed by Komander’s antics in the trios title match. The main event came off a Penta & Vikingo showcase. Shani had a lower (right?) leg injury and was shaking it out on late in the match, though it didn’t seem too serious. (There is Facebook video of that match; I haven’t done a lot of digging on the rest, but I’m guessing it’s out there if you dig enough.) La Perrush-K got over well; having at least one exotico on these shows is useful. I see La Perrush-K listed on El Paso shows, but he’s actually based in Phoenix, according to Facebook, and must be making some long drives. Trying to make it from the Arizona/Colorado/New Mexico/Utah area must not be easy. The fans who attended the AAA show in Tempe seemed to really enjoy the night and would attend again; they just need to pull in two friends with them, and AAA will be all set.

I led off today with CMLL because the one minor Atlantis Jr/Gran Guerreros finish suggests a lot of CMLL’s plans for the near and medium term. With AAA and Tempe, it’s tough to know if any of this goes anywhere. None of the matches on the show set up something for the future, nor where they intended to do so. AAA ended with a vague hint they might return again, and this is a totally meaningful event if it’s the start of it being a regular stop. It’s also possible it’s another “remember when AAA did [X] and we all got focused on for a few months and then it never went anywhere”, because there’s of many of them. The local promoter dutifully pushed the show leading up to the day, and then hasn’t said anything since. That tends not to be a great sign, but we probably won’t know what this meant until months down the line.

Hijo del Vikingo versus Laredo Kid from this past Saturday’s TV show was must-see. This was more heated and more hard-hitting than their previous singles match. Laredo Kid attacked Vikingo with LA Park-level hate, Vikingo had to find that side of himself to fight back, and the match kept elevating and elevating until a beer bottle got involved. There was one reverse rana spot that went poorly, but everything else worked well and they just kept going. The intensity of the match came through, even on a shaky stream, weeks later. This felt closer to the V4/Penta match than the Fenix/Vikingo one.

Watching the match with Laredo Kid’s injury in mind made it a slightly different experience than it must’ve been live. The story of the match was Laredo going after Vikingo’s midsection, so the injury going the other way was a weird fact. Half the stuff they did seemed like it could’ve legitimately been responsible for an injury too. There’s no doubt to me that it was the 630 senton that actually did it after seeing it though; Vikingo landed very hard and direct.

Laredo Kid’s now beaten Hijo del Vikingo in both of their singles matches. That should set up a Mega title match between the two at a major show, but it’s AAA. TripleManias aren’t headlined by two full time wrestlers having a single match, and matches and feuds that happen on AAA TV outside of TripleMania are ignored on AAA TV. This Laredo/Vikingo match too was also pretty quickly moved on from AAA, lost in amplifying any and every positive comment about the Tempe show that evening. I think it was more unfortunate timing than a malicious act, but those moments were going to run into each other for some time.

The rest of the show was fine but nothing you have to see. Octagon, Aramis and Myzteziz and Hiedra and Chik Tormenta all tried, not everything came together and the crowd didn’t seem too into it. The crowd was there to see Vikingo and got way into his match with Laredo, and the tournament didn’t seem to mean much when it came to the Tormenta/Hiedra final. It’s a little bit biased by how AAA shoots the camera – the people on the stage we could see were mostly wearing Hijo del Vikingo gear and looked bored during the women’s match, while there was a faint noise to be heard off camera in the much larger seating area. That just is the way AAA shoots these things.

The 2023 Rey de Reyes will take place Poliforum Zamna, Merida, Yucatan on February 5th. Tickets go on sale Tuesday and will run between 300 to 1500 pesos before service charges, and there’s a 4×3 offer in some areas if you buy early. No names are announced. Rey de Reyes took place in February this year, moved earlier to make room for three TripleManias. AAA hasn’t officially announced they’re holding multiple TripleManias this year, but that’s clearly the plan. All three TripleManias drew well, and there’s no reason to give up that money if worked.

It’s possible that the February 5th show is the first TV taping of 2023. Now that we know Tempe won’t be airing, the best guess at the Space schedule is

• 12/10: Ciudad Juarez week 1
• 12/17: Ciudad Juarez week 2
• 12/24: holiday/best of?
• 12/31: holiday/best of?
• 01/07: Madero week 1
• 01/14: Madero week 2
• 01/21: Acapulco week 1 (Acapulco also airing live)
• 01/28: Acapulco week 2
• 02/05: Acapulco week 3?

It depends on if Space is going with repeat material on those holidays.

Psycho Clown said he had a big announcement to make on Saturday. Various YouTube lucha libre bloggers urgently posted videos talking about Psycho Clown’s imminent departure from AAA. I didn’t believe he was leaving – Psycho Clown is expected to be wrestling more in Mexico and less internationally in 2023, so leaving AAA wouldn’t make any sense. Still, even I was there watching it Saturday afternoon to be certain. Psycho Clown was well aware of those rumors and leaned into it, stretching out his announcement video as long as possible to set up his big news: an ugly Christmas sweater as part of a line of Psycho Clown-themed clothes. The sweater actually went on sale a few days ago, and he’ll be doing a (non-wrestling) appearance at Bandido’s Gym to sell it on Saturday.

Everyone gets stuff wrong, you feel embarrassed about it, you apologize for it, and you try to do better the next time. In the case of those vloggers, they’ve just let those videos with false stories up there with no correction. They’re just in the business of collecting views, not in getting something wrong, and a video teasing Psycho Clown leaving AAA is going to collect views forever.

AAA and Mexico sneaker/sportswear Panam have a press conference today at 4:30 pm to announce a partnership. AAA-themed sneakers would make sense. It’s possible Panam is replacing Charly as AAA’s “jersey” sponsor; we don’t know how long that deal was and the luchador-themed jerseys were meant to be a limited-time thing.

AAA removed Mamba from the AAA TV this week after quitting a couple of weeks ago. The current intro started out with an exotico section of Maximo, Pimpinela and Mamba. It’s now just Dulce Kanela alone.

A DTU show with AAA headliners (Psycho Clown, Absimo Negro Jr., Parka Negra) drew a sell-out on Sunday. That looks to be about 1,500 people. DTU shows are generally slow to turn up on YouTube but they been posting videos of their matches on Facebook in the days following a show.

EMW 12/09 has a main event of Rush, Hijo del Vikingo, and Nino Hamburguesa versus Daga, Gringo Loco, and Nick Aldis. That fits with Konnna mentioning wanting to find a way to bring in Aldis recently on a podcast. It’s a strange tecnico side, and I wonder what will befall Vikingo and Gringo Loco this time to prevent them from actually wrestling.

Black Taurus was announced for the 2023 Battle of Los Angeles. He’s the 12th person in. It’s one name a day and it probably is 16 people. That means the last and biggest name is being announced Thursday. I am not sure if Hijo del Vikingo is in the tournament – he’s either 16 or he’s not in, and we’ll find out Thursday.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha (FRI) 12/02/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Elipse, Limbo, Orbita b Andy Panda Jr., Sussy Love, Viajero 
2) King b Black Skayde 
Black Skayde replaced Kong (broken hand in training)
3) Skayde b El Potro de Oro 
Skayde won the date with Lupita, but Action Jackson showed up to say he still wanted to fight for her
4) Carito b Máximo 
Maximo praised Carlito but also wanted a hair match
5) Cometa Maya, Éxtasis, Little Star, Radioactivo b Forneo, Hannya, Sol, Torito Negro Jr. [TLC] 
Little Star and Hannya were added to the match for unexplained reasons. Tables, Ladders and Chairs were the idea, Delta Force came out to the Hardy’s music and Cometa Maya dressed like Jeff, but it was worked more like a hardcore match with little ladder usage and lots of light tube spots. Explosivo bleed lot from his shoulder area after taking a light tube shot, left the match and returned later bandaged. Maya beat Forneo.
6) Jack Evans L El Bandido, Komander, Gravity, Galeno del Mal, Rey Horus, Flamita, Emperador Azteca, Elemental, Action Jackson, Bendito, Scarecrow, Vengador, Aaron Steel, Anarko, Dito [cage, mask, hair] 
Gravity beat Jack Evans for his hair

This show worked out well as a spectacle. The “TLC” and the cage match were full of big and memorable spots. They also had ‘big’ finishes; Carito beating Maximo is an important win, and Jack Evans losing his hair is the most meaningful out that could come from the main event without an unmasking. It just wasn’t a show of great matches. The TLC match seemed inspired by the WWE matches, but they ended up doing one that felt much more out of GCW and not the best parts of GCW either. The announcers talked about the Hannya/Radioactivo masked match as if it was still coming, but it seemed no closer than usual. The main event had all the usual lucha libre cage match tropes, and a lot of people hanging by the edge of the cage so two or three people could do spots in the middle. Komander’s big spot went great and I can pass on the rest of it.

Mas Lucha stream went well, great news for a paid show. Everyone seems to have appreciated the irony of Jack Evans losing to a man named Gravity.

I presume these guys are off until 2023 but nothing was said.

Bandido and Psycho Clown are doing an autograph signing on 12/10 at Bandido’s Gym, which would mean Bandido isn’t on the ROH PPV that day. I had assumed he would be on that show.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 12/04/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Rey Aztaroth b Águila Roja 
2) Garra Mortal Jr. & Rey Halcón b Hijo del Pantera & Pantera Jr. 
3) Relámpago b Tonalli 
4) Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Rocky Casas b Asterboy, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly 
5) Hell Boy b Hijo del Pirata Morgan 
sets up an IWRG JUNIOR title match
6) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. b Diva Salvaje, Heavy Metal, Jessy Ventura 
La Pandemia won via foul, losers challenged for a title match anyway

Top 4 matches have a very “we just realized we have a big show coming up soon and we have to set things up immediately” feel. Every outcome seems designed to set up a title match, even the one when the champions won.

Hijo de Canis Lupus and Rey Leon won the IWRG IC Tag Team titles in GALLI on Sunday. Those titles should be headed back to Arena Naucalpan for the first time since December 2019.

IWRG held its holiday party on Friday, which included handing out awards

• Revelation of the Year: Spider Fly
• Best Trio: La Pandemia
• Best Tag Team: Las Shotas
• Best Luchador: Tonalli

Those picks seem fair. The only thought I can think of to put here is it seems a lot fewer awards than usual and that’s preferred.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Tabasco luchador León Negro (Rafael León Ochoa, 75) passed away Saturday. His son said he’d been battling kidney failure for a year. Leon Negro had been a referee and a commissioner after wrestling.

Plan de Juego Mundial writes about Blue Demon’s start on his 100th birthday.

The Hidalgo Institute of Sports will honor local wrestlers Paranoiko, Aspid, Medics, Alpha Wolf and Charo de Jalisco Jr. at their annual award show.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 12/02/2022 Arena México
1) Bengala & Neón vs Apocalipsis & Difunto
2) Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
3) Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, Lluvia vs Dalys, Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

This is the most skippable CMLL Friday show in a while. The matches should generally be good, it’s just bigger shows are coming and there’s nothing here that won’t happen again. The opener is cage match setup. Fuego returning to Arena Mexico will be a nice moment. Top matches could be good and follow up on the Aniversario rivalries.

CMLL will have a Christmas tree lighting ceremony today at 6:45. Televisa personality Raquel Bigorra will help host.

Titan & BUSHI lost to Alex Zayne & El Lindaman in the Super Junior Tag league, dropping them to 4-2. They may need to win out to finish in top 2; the two teams they’ve lost to are ahead of them. BUSHI took the pinfall loss, as he did in the previous loss. The choice of which team member takes the pinfall losses is treated with more importance in NJPW; The booking suggests Titan is ranked ahead of BUSHI right now. The team’s next match is against SHO & Dick Togo early Sunday.

CMLL (MON) 12/05/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Dark Soul & Dreyko vs Espíritu Maligno & Sombra Diabólika
2) Alex Gracia, Ivelisse, Lady Frost, Princesa Sugehit vs Avispa Dorada, Dalys, Lluvia, Stephanie Vaquer
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa © vs Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma [MEX TRIOS]
fourth defense, 3rd time Fuerza Poblana challenging
4) Hijo de Octagón, Místico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Kenny King, Lince Dorado, Matt Taven, Rocky Romero
5) Gran Guerrero © vs Euforia [CMLL HEAVY]
first defense

That’s a loaded Arena Puebla show. More loaded than tonight’s Arena Mexico show. There’s a good chance of a trios title change. Not sure why Hijo del Octagon got the random booking or why they mixed up the women’s sides.

CMLL (TUE) 12/06/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Jabalí, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno vs Exterminador, Maléfico, Thunder Boy
2) Estrella de Jalisco I, Estrella de Jalisco II, Obelisk vs Black Boy, Persa, Temerario
3) Adrenalina, El Divino, Explosivo, Fantástico vs Barboza, Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
4) Bestia Negra, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II vs Halcón Negro Jr., Optimus, Trono
5) Magia Blanca © vs Ángel Rebelde [MEX WELTER]
6) Alex Gracia, Avispa Dorada, Ivelisse, Lady Frost vs Lluvia, Maligna, Stephanie Vaquer, Valkiria
7) Kenny King, Lince Dorado, Matt Taven, Rocky Romero vs Averno, Difunto, Dulce Gardenia, Último Guerrero

Guadalajara’s preview graphics made it look like they were doing tag matches, and it’s similar atomicos to those in Puebla instead.

Avispa Dorada & Reyna Isis talked about the Copa Bicentenario with the press earlier this week. The four-team competition appears to be a single elimination tag tournament, as they talked about wanting to face Lady Frost & Dalys in a final. Dorada said she’d like a long stint in CMLL but had not figured out her 2023 plans as of yet.

Virus & Atlantis Jr.’s mask airs Saturday on NJPW World’s “NJPW Strong” show. A highlight of Informa was Virus and Julio Cesar Rivera trying to figure out where and how to watch that match. Virus was more on it than JCR. It certainly wouldn’t hurt NJPW to get Titan or someone else who speaks Spanish to do a video explainer on how to sign up for the NJPW World service prior to Fantasticmania.

Mistico will face Misterioso (California/NJPW version) on 12/11 in Los Angeles. There’s still that lingering issue about the Misterioso name and so it’ll be worth watching to see how CMLL talks about this match. They usually RT any CMLL match in NJPW and did not appear to do it this time, for what it’s worth.

CMLL put up the Ticketmaster Live list of PPVs: you can order 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, and 12/23. The link to 12/30 doesn’t work but I’ve figured out the secret naming scheme (they’re just numbered) and you can buy it early here. I don’t think anyone actually buys these early. All are the normal 100 peso price. I was aware 12/25 was a Sunday, but it still didn’t click that it would mean it wouldn’t be a (Friday) TicketMaster Live PPV. There’s a decent chance it’ll be a Christmas surprise free stream on YouTube as in past years.

CMLL Informa announced Arena Coliseo will take 12/24 and 12/31 off for the holidays. CMLL always skips running those nights, usually moving them to the next day. That doesn’t work when those days fall on a Saturday, the next day already has a show, so they’ll just keep Coliseo dark for a few weeks.

Informa also confirmed the upcoming Puebla move from up an hour for an 8 pm start time is meant to be a permanent change. Informa showed single-cam highlights of Monday’s Arena Puebla show, different from what the Facebook page aired. It may just be a one or two week thing since next Monday’s show is bigger than usual. (Odds just went up of Fuerza Poblana winning the national trios titles on Monday.)

CMLL knows they have a base number of people who will just pay for any CMLL content – that’s the TicketmasterLive buy number – and those same people would probably pay for any subscriber network that included things like “Arena Puebla single cam shows that are already being taped.” I’ve written this too many times, though.

Atlantis and Atlantis Jr.’s interview on Informa continued the push towards them challenging the Chavez for the CMLL tag team titles. Atlantis wanted it on 01/01 and that match does feel right for a holiday show, but it came off like they were just throwing out ideas and nothing was locked in.

NJPW announced the 02/24 Osaka show will have a cheering section. This is common for Japanese shows, where some of the crowd is cheering and others are not due to COVID protocols. Rules aren’t decided for the Korakuen Hall show, and it reads like the other shows will have no cheering.

AAA

AAA on Space at 6:30 pm Saturday

• Myzteziz Jr. vs Octagón Jr. vs Aramis
• Chik Tormenta vs La Hiedra [Showcenter Tournament, final]
• Laredo Kid vs Hijo Del Vikingo [Showcenter Tournament, final]

Laredo Kid versus Hijo del Vikingo could possibly be the match of the year and is definitely the match where Laredo Kid got injured. It’s as important a match as AAA gets now between TripleManias.

AAA’s Tempe show still isn’t listed as airing on FITE. You never know, it’s lucha libre, it could randomly pop up on a YouTube channel as a surprise on Saturday, but I wouldn’t plan around it. Fans would be beside themselves if another international promotion ran a rare show in the US with a former UFC heavyweight champion without selling a stream, but it’s AAA and you either accept them being very weird or you just don’t pay them much attention in the first place. I assume the show is being taped – an interview with Sam Adonis says as much – but it’s possible we’re all just guessing. Jose Manuel Guillen is on the way to Arizona according to his Instagram stories, but AAA’s used their TV announcers for live commentary at the non-televised Showcenter events so even that’s not definite of a taping. It’s AAA; assume nothing.

A ripple to this being a local-only show is the buzz for it on the internet is irrelevant, it only matters if the people in the Phoenix area feel excited enough to go check it on Saturday. I’m not there, I can’t really tell you how it feels. The WON (maybe sourcing WrestleTix) says 1,744 tickets are have either been bought or given away for the show, with a big increase coming after Cain Velasquez being announced. That’s probably enough for the usual carefully framed photo and that seems like the measuring stick of success.

Dorian Roldan was on the Meta podcast “Hablemos del Metaverso”. They talked about the TripleManias being available in Meta’s virtual reality project and the possibilities of lucha libre in a metaverse. It’s a brief segment; the text recap covers most of it.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha has Endgame tonight.

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. [TLC]
6) El Bandido, Komander, Gravity, Galeno del Mal, Rey Horus, Flamita, Emperador Azteca, Elemental, Action Jackson, Bendito, Jack Evans, Scarecrow, Vengador, Aaron Steel, Anarko [cage, mask, hair]

I don’t like lucha libre cage matches, I don’t think the build to this one has been compelling. I am still fascinated/frightening to find out what these guys are going to do with a cage to work with. No one show Komander the Elix Skipper TNA clip.

Hell Flyers versus Delta Force have been so close to putting together a great match. The weapons might make everything more messy (like the swing in the Carito match) or they might yet instead do something insane. I think this show is going to be good but it’s really only the top two matches that seem interesting to me and one’s a gimmick I don’t usually like.

It’s Big Lucha’s first show to be part of Mas Lucha YouTube subscriber-only service, 8 USD/month. (1st time subscribers may get a lower sign-up price.) They always seem to stream about half of these shows for free, so you can see how the stream is working before committing.

IWRG

IWRG , EXOTIC (THU) 12/01/2022 Arena Naucalpan [Estrellas del Ring, IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Rey Halcón Jr. b Jhon Tito, Legado 
2) Baby Star Jr. & Spider Fly b Hijo De Histeria & Histeriosis 
3) Brazo Celestial, Brazo Cibernetico, Brazo De Oro Jr., Hijo del Brazo b Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor 
4) Big Mami, Máscarita Sagrada, Microman b Baronessa, Gallito, Guapito 
5) Bugambilia, Máximo, Pimpinela Escarlata b Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba 
Las Shotas asked for a rematch in a cage
6) Cibernético & DMT Azul b Blue Demon Jr. & Hijo del Fishman 
Cibernetico wrestled in his mask for whatever reason. Demon tried to hit DMT Azul with a chair, the referee pulled it away, DMT Azul cradled Demon to win. Challenges followed.

I’m still not sure which exotico is running Exotic promotions. Whoever did drew a big house; Nuacalpan looked close to full for this show. I’m surprised the Pigs took a loss when they seem headed to a match with La Pandemia, but that may just indicate different people booking these shows.

IWRG (SUN) 12/04/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Águila Roja vs Rey Aztaroth
2) Hijo del Pantera & Pantera Jr. vs Garra Mortal Jr. & Rey Halcón
3) Relámpago vs Tonalli
4) Asterboy, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly vs Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Rocky Casas
5) Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Hell Boy
6) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Diva Salvaje, Heavy Metal, Jessy Ventura

A little less star power. I’m interested in seeing how Pirata/Hell Boy goes.

Other News

Lucha Memes’ Donadora campaign wraps up in the 24 hours or so. You can still see their October 16th show for donating about 10 USD. I watched it last night, a bit concerned when I realized Makabre/Virus, Aeroboy/Satanico, and Hechicero/Gresham were all broadly technical matches back to back to back. It worked out fine, the crowd was very into Hechicero, and it made for a strong environment. It’s a very good match between the two, with some good action and a few moments of unfamiliarity. I liked Aeroboy & Satanico too. It’s along the same quality as Satanico’s recent singles match, and Aeroboy did very well. Not much to say about the rest of the card. El Enviado stuck out as someone with skills to be a great highflyer though with obvious places to improve. He’s someone you want to send to Bandido’s Gym for three months and see if it clicks.

Box y Lucha posted another set of a dozen 1969 and 1970 issues. The cost is 500 pesos (25 USD) for 12 issues; you get access to the issues on the website. The number skip around a bit, the missing ones have already been offered for sale. They just posted the previous 12 about two weeks ago and it’s great news if this is just going to be a regular schedule. The issues of this era are light on results (typically only the EMLL Friday show) and lineups, but there’s a great history of Black Shadow series serialized through the last set and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in this bunch.

MLW aired Bandido vs Hammerstone on Thursday and it’s something worth watching. They built to a strong ending and it was totally enjoyable overall. The show opens with a Flammer/Hiedra/Shani/Reina Dorada four way match, which you’d like if you’d like the similar matches on AAA TV this past week.

12/17 RIOT

• Erik Ortiz vs Blake Christian
• Demonio del Aire vs Rey Horus
• Latigo, Bandido, Toxin vs Iron Kid, Arez Jack Evans, Willy Banderas
• Byron & Kaientai vs Prometeo & Kratoz – new

Aramis joins Komander in the field for PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles.

GCW announced the Jersey J-Cup on 02/11, which will include Komander, and Arez.

The KAOZ/The Crash/Robles show in February has announced Enzo, EJ Nduka, Big Mami, Marty Scurll, Cibernetico, Komander, Pimpinela Escarlata, Dralistico, Microman, Mamba, in addition to previously announced Flip Gordon. It’s like they saw the Icon show and wanted all of that.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 11/28/2022 Arena Puebla [El Sol de Puebla]
3) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma b Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa
sets up a MEX TRIOS title match
4) Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto b Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Misterioso Jr.
seemed to set up a Euforia/Gran Guerrero title match
5) Último Guerrero b El Mesías 

Mesias went for the top rope huracanrana. It did not work out for him. Or make any sense.

CMLL (TUE) 11/29/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, The Gladiatores (videos)]
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II b Átomo & Periquito Sacaryas  
2) Disturbio, Nitro, Zandokan Jr. b Oro Jr., Retro, Robin   
Rudos took 1/3. Retro, Nitro, Zandokan and Oro Jr. continue to make mask matches.
3) La Magnifica, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit b Amapola, Olympia, Tiffany  
Tecnicas took 1/3.
4) El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Panterita del Ring b Felino, Felino Jr., Misterioso Jr.  
tecnicos took 2/3
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black b Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado  
Fuerza Tapatia took 1/3. Star Black beat Sagrado, setting up a MEX HEAVY match

Star Black and Sagrado as a match explains that main event, but I’m not sure I can explain Star Black and Sagrado as a match.

The guys in the second match seemed more definite on their mask matches happening than before. I don’t know if they’ll do the cage match announcement on this Informa but they’re in range of it happening.

CMLL (TUE) 11/29/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, Fuego en el Ring]
1) Cosmos, Mágico, Metatrón DQ Demonio Rojo, Javier Cruz Jr., Minotauro
excessive violence DQ
2) Estrella de Jalisco I & Estrella de Jalisco II b Black Boy & Temerario and Persa & Raven and Eclipse Jr. & Obelisk [Torneo Talentos Tapatios]
Black Boy replaced Ultimo Angel. Estrella de Jalisco II beat Persa for the win.
3) Barboza, Optimus, Trono b Canalla, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
Barboza & Canalla debuts. Canalla is a masked younger brother for Maya, Daniel and Cavernario. (Canalla may be the wrong spelling; they pronounced it differently than it reads.) Barboza pinned Principe Daniel.
4) Ángel Rebelde b Magia Blanca [lightning]
sets up a MEX WELTER title match
5) Halcón Negro Jr. © b Rugido [QRO MIDDLE]
6) Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. b Euforia & Soberano Jr. and Blue Panther & Dark Panther and Valiente & Valiente Jr. [Torneo Herederos]
Atlantis Jr. beat Dark Panther for the win.

I’m no closer to understanding the main event tournament. I didn’t know there was another Cavernario brother. Rebelde/Blanca had money thrown in but didn’t stick out as a memorable match to me. They also seemed to go fourteen minutes. “Lightning” in the rest of the CMLL circuit means a ten minute time-limit, and it means “a special singles match” in Guadalajara, I think.

CMLL (SAT) 12/03/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Acero, Aéreo, Pequeño Magía vs Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia
2) Cachorro, Leono, Valiente Jr. vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Inquisidor
3) Diamond, Robin, Suicida vs Cholo, Enfermero Jr., Raider
4) Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring, Volcano vs Kráneo, Okumura, Pólvora
5) Volador Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr.

Volador should get his win but it’s a little surprising they didn’t dress it up as a title match.

Atlantis Jr. & Virus vs Rocky Romero & Adrian Quest will air on NJPW World this Saturday.

CMLL (SUN) 12/04/2022 Arena México
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Full Metal, Mercurio, Pierrothito
2) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, La Vaquerita vs Hera, La Seductora, Tiffany
3) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido vs El Audaz, Okumura, Pegasso [Relevos Increíbles]
4) El Coyote, Hijo del Villano III, Rey Bucanero vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
5) Soberano Jr., Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero, Yota

Nothing notable here. 3/4 seemed arranged just to have slightly different matchups.

CMLL announced the 12/09 Arena Mexico show will celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the US. The celebration will include men’s and women’s four-tag team matches with Mexico and US members. I keep having to call these “competitions” because I have no idea if they’re meant to be four-way tag matches or a four-team tag tournament or something else. Maybe it’ll be explained on Informa.

Men’s teams:

• Hechicero & Matt Taven
• Volador Jr. & Lince Dorado
• Mistico & Rocky Romero
• Ultimo Guerrero & Kenny King

Women’s teams:

• Dalys & Lady Frost
• La Jarochita & Ivelisse
• Lluvia & Alex Gracia
• Reyna Isis & Avispa Dorada

Matt Taven is reportedly under AEW contract, so he’d be the first AEW wrestler to appear in CMLL. Not sure if that’ll actually get mentioned.

12/05 Guadalajara will run similar matches with slightly different Mexican partners

Women

• Avispa Dorada & Maligna
• Ivelisse & Valkyria
• Lady Frost & Stephanie Vaquer
• Alex Gracia & Lluvia

Men

• Lince Dorado & Dulce Gardenia
• Kenny King & Difunto
• Matt Taven & Ultimo Guerrero
• Rocky Romero & Averno

CMLL Informa has a large cast: Euforia, Atlantis and Atlantis JR., Volador Jr., Reyna Isis, Los Cancerberos and Apocalipsis. Might be the first time ever for him.

Yota Tsuji is advertised for Germany’s WXW on 01/28, so it seems like he’s not sticking around Mexico long.

AAA

Every day I check to see if the Tempe show is on FITE. It is not on FITE. Forastero popped up as doing press on Tuesday and I’m sure other people are there or will be there soon. It does not feel like this big drumbeat leading up to this show on the internet but, again, it’s not on FITE at this point so really it only matters how it feels in Tempe.

EMW is teasing a mystery wrestler for their 12/09 show, which is obviously a photo of Daga. He hasn’t wrestled in Mexico since the 2020 empty arena TripleMania. Daga gave up the Latin American championship in 2021 and it was suggested then that it was due to residency-related travel restrictions, similar to the issues Mascara Dorada has been dealing with since leaving WWE. If Daga is actually booked on that EMW show and it means he’s free again to travel between Mexico and the US, that’s fantastic news. I would like to see him back in AAA to see what he can do, but it’s better news if he can travel to see one family without being separated from another. It’s also a mystery photo on a lucha libre show, so it could be someone completely different without explanation and this paragraph could be completely pointless.

I was critical of, well, just about everything about Daga being put in that main event of that Tempe show. One thing in particular was Daga just RT-ing the poster once and moving on with his day. Since then, no one’s pushed that Tempe show harder than Daga, even handling the change from it being a title match well. It’s great he’s trying to make the most out of this chance.

AAA posted the Luchatitlan press conference on their YouTube channel Wednesday.

Big Lucha

Mas Lucha had a preview show from Friday’s Big Lucha “Endgame” show.

Big Lucha says they’re having boxing at 8:00 and starting the show promptly at 8:30, with a meet and greet after the show.

Other News

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

80s/90s CMLL luchador Comando Ruso (Juan Carlos Torres Navarro, 58) passed away on Monday. SuperLuchas obituary mentions he was actually Comando Ruso II; Gerardo Garcia was Comando Ruso I, but faded away from wrestling much earlier. Comando Ruso was generally an opening card rudo, who’s biggest matches were apuesta losses to midcard wrestlers. He was also the second Titan, taking over a gimmick originally given to a foreign wrestler better known as Jack Victory in late 1992, and wrestling under the mask through 1995. He stuck around in CMLL during the tough period post-AAA exodus and still didn’t do much, which may have encouraged his decision to move back to Guadalajara and just wrestle around there.

Andrade announced Monday he underwent surgery for a torn pec. He says he suffered the injury in a six man tag on 08/17, which means he wrestled with it through a ladder match.  The recovery for that sort of injury depends on the severity. Cody Rhodes has missed half a year for what his bad version of that injury and we don’t know how bad Andrade had. It didn’t seem like Andrade thought he had a serious surgery-worthy injury until he pulled out of the RGR show with Dralistico about two weeks ago, which hopefully means it didn’t as severe. Andrade is under contract with AEW but hasn’t been used since getting into a backstage fight and it didn’t seem like he was going to be brought back soon even if he was healthy.

Lucha Libre CM announced an open tryout on 12/07. CM seems to have lots of people on their show and doesn’t come off that they have some sort of strict screening process. Perhaps that’ll change. The requirements list notes aspirants don’t actually have to a wrestling license, with the idea that they’ll have a Mexico State commissioner on hand and will help you get a license right away if qualified.

SB Kento and Takuma will challenge Aero Panther & Fight Panther for the DTU Nexo (Tag Team) Championship at DTU’s 12/15 show in Arena Aficion. Kento & Takuma won on Tuesday to set that up.

WWE seems to be make changes in their Latin American media division, with the person in charge of the department leaving. A vague goal of running more and bigger in Mexico comes up often in WWE public statements. Changing the people involved may indicate an actual adjustment in strategy. There’s gossip about the people being let go and I don’t know if any of it’s true, just that this is more worth watching the usual “we’d really like to go there” comments that get more attention.

12/17 RIOT

• Erik Ortiz vs Blake Christian
• Demonio del Aire vs Rey Horus
• Latigo, Bandido, Toxin vs Iron Kid, Arez Jack Evans, Willy Banderas – adjusted

GCW announced Hijo del Vikingo for their 12/31 show in Atlantic City.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/25/2022 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports, R de Rudo, The Gladiatores, The Gladiatores (video), thecubsfan]
1) Retro & Valiente Jr. DDQ Inquisidor & Nitro    
rare DDQ when everyone unmasked everyone else
2) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. b Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus    
11:45
3) Hijo del Villano III, Rugido, Volador Jr. b Blue Panther, Felino, Felino Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]   
15:48
4) Euforia b Atlantis, Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Kráneo, Valiente, El Mesías, Último Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, Sagrado, Rey Bucanero, Volcano, Esfinge [Leyenda de Azul]      
34:57. Order of elimination: Rey Bucanero (via, Volcano, 7:32), Esfinge (Yota, 9:30), Gemelo Diablo II (Gran Guerrero, 11:03), Volcano (Valiente, 13:01), Kraneo (Mesias, 13:56), Gemelo Diablo I (Niebla Roja, 16:09), Yota (Angel de Oro, 19:46), Valiente (Ultimo Guerrero, 21:56), Atlantis (Mesias, 22:12), Mesias (Niebla Roja, 23:20), Gran Guerrero (Euforia, 24:55), Niebla Roja (Ultimo Guerrero, 26:36), Utlimo Guerrero (Euforia, 29:26), Angel de Oro (Euforia, 30:44) leaving Euforia as the winner.

CMLL ciberneticos this year have tended to feature mini singles matches with the final two, going a decent length of time and usually greatly adding to the match. Angel de Oro and Euforia as the final two in this Leyenda de Azul seemed to have the potential to do the same. Instead, it was one submission tease each and a finish. It felt a lot less substantial than the 4 minutes I had there. It was fine, but a bit disappointing from what it could’ve been, and that fits with the rest of the cibernetico. This was just a generic CMLL tournament.

Salvador Lutteroth, Alejandro Munoz (son of Blue Demon) and Blue Panther (first Leyenda de Azul winner) came out to honor Euforia. They had two different plaques, which seemed to confuse them as much as me but was ultimately irrelevant. Sometimes I take for granted that everyone reading this knows all the stuff that’s been talked about previously and instead it’s been a while since I’ve written some stuff so there’s maybe people who are reading who don’t know. Alejandro Munoz and Blue Demon Jr. are both sons of Blue Demon. (Blue Demon Jr. is technically adopted, but is treated like a blood relative in every way that matters.) Munoz and Demon Jr. both appear to have inherited some rights to the “Blue Demon” name and image, do not agree on how it should be managed, do not appear to get along and do not even really acknowledge each other much. There’s been rumors and gossip about which brother has more power – every time a “Blue Demon Jr. might actually have to lose his mask” story gets passed, it goes back to this conflict – but neither has discussed the situation in any great deal. The separation between the two also leads to both groups doing their own Demon celebrations: CMLL works with Alejandro Munoz for the Leyenda de Plata, AAA works with Blue Demon Jr. for their own 100 years old Blue Demon ceremonies.

Salvador Lutteroth has appeared on screen for two straight weeks, a coincidence of the Mil Mascaras ceremony being last week, and also a sign he’s increasingly comfortable in that face of CMLL role.

CMLL (SAT) 11/26/2022 Arena Coliseo [Box y Lucha, CMLL]
1) Mercurio & Pequeño Violencia b Shockercito & Último Dragóncito 
Rudos took 1/3.
2) Astral, Cachorro, El Suicida b Cholo, Enfermero Jr., Raider 
Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Dark Magic, Espanto Jr., Magnus b Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr. 
Esapnto Jr. replaced Akuma. Rudos took 1/3
4) Blue Panther, Dark Panther, El Audaz b Mephisto, Misterioso Jr., Okumura 
Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Yota DQ Stuka Jr., Valiente, Volador Jr. 
Rudos took 1/3. Dragon Rojo faked a foul from Volador Jr., the second straight week he’s cheated to win

So, Dragon Rojo/Volador singles match next week. Probably.

CMLL (SUN) 11/27/2022 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Polvora b Fantasy & Pequeño Magía
2) Cholo, Difunto, Zandokan Jr. b Leono, Oro Jr., Retro
Rudos took 2/3. Zandokan Jr. cheated to beat Oro. Those two, Difutno and Retro all made mask match challenges.
3) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido b Akuma, Okumura, Pólvora
Depredadores took 2/3.
4) Fugaz, Panterita del Ring, Star Black b Dragón Rojo Jr., El Coyote, Misterioso Jr.
Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Volador Jr. b Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Yota
Mistico replaced by Blue Panther on Wednesday. Tecnicos took 2/3.

Difunto might as well be in the cage match too, though I’m still convinced they’re just randomly doing feuds without being sure of who will be the final group.

CMLL (FRI) 12/02/2022 Arena México
1) Bengala & Neón vs Apocalipsis & Difunto
2) Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
3) Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, Lluvia vs Dalys, Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

A nothing special show. The rest of December should be bigger.

CMLL’s given up on for months listing every Angel de Oro and Niebla Roja match as a relevos incredibles, so i’ve gone back and arbitrarily decided they became rudos back in February. They teamed with Dulce Gardenia as tencicos in a match then, and have been pretty much always on the rudo side since that point.

BUSHI and Titan are now 4-1 in the Super Junior Tag League, one of five teams tied at 8 points after five matches. The top two teams make it to the final. Their next match is Friday against fellow 8 point team Alex Zayne & El Lindaman.

AAA

AAA did air the four semifinals from the Showcenter tournament this week. The Google Drive version is better synced than Twitch one, but you may just be better off waiting until it turns up On YouTube in a couple of weeks. The matches were all shorter than usual for AAA TV and the action was good, not great. Next week will have Vikingo/Laredo and is about as must see as any AAA Space show.

AAA aired a FTR promo that already was posted online, and a Sammy/Tay promo that didn’t. These served a purpose in selling the idea these people are actually coming to AAA, but didn’t do much beyond that. I can see why they didn’t bother to post the Sammy/Taya one online; the entire point of the promo is they don’t know when or if they’re coming in, though at the end they thought they might be coming in on the 17th. I’m not sure why AAA bothered to have them film a promo right then if the mixed tag champs didn’t know yet which dates they were wrestling and it certainly came off like they didn’t know. I’m also not sure why the promo wasn’t followed with something or someone saying which shows they’re actually on; maybe that’ll be finally be revealed when the Juarez tapings start airing in two weeks.

AAA is in Tempe on Saturday. The show was not listed as airing on FITE as of Monday morning. It seems crazy that AAA wouldn’t air a show after going through the effort to add Cain Velasquez, but anything is possible with AAA. It seems tough to put together last second if AAA hadn’t already been putting something together – AAA doesn’t seem to have a US production team, production in Dallas was handled by Highspots and Arizona doesn’t seem the easiest place to pull together a production crew on short notice – but it also seems odd AAA would’ve decided to run a US show without having this figured out already. It’s that fundamental difference from where the Mexican wrestling promotion are at (“live is the thing that matters, digital is something we’ll spend time only if we’ve got guaranteed revenue”) to where everyone else is (“digital is just about as important as live, more important in some situations.”) The other Mexican wrestling bit is they’ll never think to say “it’ll be live only, you have to buy a ticket to see it” to push a few extra tickets sales, even if that’s the plan. It’s not going to be big money either way, but it’s money.

AAA, the governor of Quintana Roo, the Cancun mayor and other local officials appeared at a press conference to promo “Luchatitlan”, a tourist-aimed lucha libre venue to open in March 2023. Details on this have come out in bits and pieces since September, there didn’t seem to be a lot of new info, but this is the first time they’ve all talked about in Cancun itself rather than at various AAA press conferences. The location seems one of those new notes: it’ll be part of the La Isla Cancun shopping mall, which is right on the water. Retail venture capital business Puno owns the mall and are partly funded this project. Production company Cocolab is also part of it, as are theme park operators Ventura Entertainment. AAA is bringing some money and all the lucha libre expertise.

The Luchatitlan concept is an attraction that’ll draw the same sort of fans, and especially international fans, who come to Arena Mexico. The tag line “the official home of lucha libre” is part of the idea; instead of choosing between top level lucha libre and a beach vacation, you can go to the official home of lucha libre for both. The venue is smaller even by indie standards (580 seats) and the investment is quite high (200 million pesos). Prices for tickets and merchandise weren’t talked about; figure premium prices for a premium experience. This venue is still being put together, the process of being constructed, so concept art was shown instead. Whoever put together the art (not AAA) did the usual bit of googling “luchadors” to use as placeholder photos, which meant photos of Sagrado, Mistico and Fishman turned up in AAA presentation. It’s not meant to be AAA wrestlers on the shows either; the characters will be specific to the venue. Local news says the two who appeared at the press conference were Silverson and Monarca; everyone was given a Monarca mask. Luchatitlan characters would also allow different people to play those characters, which fits with a theme park operator being part of this.

Dorian Roldan mentioned this as an authentic lucha libre experience, which is certainly the selling point. An upscale expensive production where the performers are similar to theatre actors – the best standing out, but playing a role and meant to be swapped out over time – sounds inauthentic to someone used to seeing lucha libre in broken wooden seats or in a ring on top of an indoor soccer field. It’s not really for me (and it’s not for you if you think the same), it’s for the people who have no idea who or what lucha libre is and were told it’s something they have to check out while in Mexico. It’s for the people those merry people who go to Arena Mexico and post on Instagram how fun they’re having at the Lucha Libre AAA shows. There’s a lot of money in those people, a lot of money CMLL’s seen and AAA would like to see. AAA’s talked about wanting to buy a venue of their own in the past. It seems like the government and other local investors may own the building (and will be taking most of the risk) but this is the closest idea we’ve seen to AAA owning a building to put their vision of lucha libre. AAA’s had these sorts of agreements in the past – they ran matches at a theme park in Guadalajara in 2018 and 2019 – but this one seems better funded and in a better location.

Roldan called this the future of AAA. I think I’d be much less interested in lucha libre if this vision became the norm, but it’s obviously a lucrative and smart business decision. There will be more of these Luchatitlans in other resort cities if this one works, and those sound stabler to manage and more profitable than going from city to city looking for different local partners. This year has seen AAA partner with local malls for the Showcenter events and work with Disney for Marvel Lucha Libre; it’s an increased focus on deals with corporate partners rather than the local lucha libre promoter. It’s probably a little bit of a reaction to the pandemic, which showed how quickly those local promoters could disappear, and deals less likely to improve or dimish based solely on how popular AAA is in the moment.

If you’re a person going to Cancun next March, Luchatitlan is good news because it sounds like it’ll be a fun time. If you’re me, a person who regularly gets DMs or emails along the lines of “I’m going to [tropical Mexican location] in [something farther in the future than three days from now], can you please tell me all the shows that are happening?”, this is great news, I’ve now got Cancun covered. I can absolutely not help you anywhere else. If you are a person who mostly follows AAA on video, which I believe is the vast majority of people who read these words, than this is probably going to be another (Monterrey) Showcenter deal. We’ll probably see a show from this venue in March to sell the concept and commercials for it during the shows. How Lucahtitlan turns out will have a much bigger effect long term effect on AAA than the last AAA TV show or how Friday’s show in Tempe goes, but it’s also still a while away from happening and is unlikely to change how most of you watch AAA for the foreseeable future.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha World (FRI) 11/25/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [Mas Lucha]
1) Viajero b Anarko 
2) Alex Steel, Dito, Iku, Vengador b Elipse & Orbita 
3) Jack Evans NC Bendito 
Bendito replaced Sol, implied to have been beaten up off-screen. The ring announcer worked as a rudo ref as La Mosca worked as tecnico ref and none of it mattered because Los Locos Evans ran into attack everyone again.

This was announced as the last Big Lucha World of the year. That sounded OK to me after the last couple of these. It’s logical to put a lot of steam behind the new guys, but it’s made for some underwhelming show. A Big Lucha with heel referees and random handicap matches and no finishes to main events is not something I expect I’d stick with watching weekly. It’s a free show so not delivering on Jack Evans versus Sol isn’t as huge an issue, but it’s still a bit lame. The idea behind this is to make Locos Evans a threat equal to Golden Guns and Black Generation, but I’m not sure you can do it in two weeks beating the guys they’ve beat. (Anarko taking the loss in the opener was weird with that goal.) I’m guessing most fans still believe one of those guys are going to lose their hair or mask, and will still be underwhelmed if they do lose.

Anarko is not a random guy Big Lucha threw a mask on. He is indeed a Chilean wrestler who usually uses “Anarko Montana” elsewhere, and elsewhere has included Germany and Spain this year. Big Lucha seems to draw international wrestlers seemingly traveling on their own dime, and I hope someone’s putting together a photo book or something of everyone who’s passed through the gym for a time. In the context of this program, I wonder if pushing Anarko’s history would’ve been better than Big Lucha’s build it. They’re pushing this cage match a very traditional way – Locos Evans are evil threats, cartoonishly so powerful that the other two groups are in real trouble. Years of these cage matches where the loser is the least important person (and Big Lucha just months ago doing another multi-person match where the loser was the person who was least important) suggests the best way to build these cage matches up is to make everyone feel important. Anarko winning (or losing) random Big Lucha World match doesn’t make him feel important, Anarko talking about how he’s traveled the world in that mask and will fight hard to keep it might sell it better. I don’t have any idea of Alex Steel cares if he loses his this Friday; I’m not even sure he’s aware he’s in a match where that could happen. The build to this cage match hasn’t really worked to me, though I’m also wondering if Big Lucha is hot enough and just the idea of the big names in a cage match means none of this build really matters.

Mas Lucha announced the 12/02 Big Lucha show will be a Mas Lucha Membership show, part of the $8/month plan. Big Lucha going to the membership tier seemed inevitable with the buzz, though it’ll be a test to see if that buzz still follows if it’s no longer freely available. That’s been an obvious problem with CMLL this year. Mas Lucha’s YouTube is still a lot easier to handle than TicketMaster Live, but there’s low danger of a flickering black screen during a CMLL broadcast.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 11/27/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Jhon Tito b Baby Star  
2) Sagitarius b Artemiz [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal]  
Artemiz taking the spot originally announced for Lady Maravilla.
3) Hell Boy & Kauris b Noisy Boy & Spider Fly  
4) Mr. Leo, Paymon, Tonalli b Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Rocky Casas  
Mr. Leo left the match due to injury, but his team won anyway (Tonalli on Rocky Casas)
5) Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor b Big Boy, Big Chicoche, Big Tackle, Relámpago    
Puerquiza Extrema demanded title shots and the best IWRG opponents possible
6) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. b Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr. [EdM Trios]    
7th defense

Didn’t seem like they set up much specific going forward. The Pigs will probably be back in December, maybe Hell Boy beating the MexaBoys is setting up a title match.

Other News

Damian 666 was honored by the Tijuana lucha libre commission for reaching 40 years of wrestling.

Tigre Colombiano (Bill Martinez, 92) passed away Sunday in Puerto Rico. Tigre Colombiano was the most famous wrestler from Colombia. He wrestled everywhere, including in CMLL at times between 1974 and 1978.

Lucha Memes Donadora campaign ends up in 5 days. They’re at 65% of their goal, which is better than I would’ve guessed. Their success seems to have come from more people picking high-paid options.

Komander is the fifth luchador in PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles.

Ex-CMLL wrestlers Maquivelico and Tanque Infernal are coaching a youth soccer team.