Category: news

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.

CMLL

Tonight’s card:

CMLL (FRI) 11/25/2022 Arena México
1) Retro & Valiente Jr. vs Inquisidor & Nitro
2) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
3) Hijo del Villano III, Rugido, Volador Jr. vs Blue Panther, Felino, Felino Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Atlantis vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Euforia, Yota, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Kráneo, Valiente, El Mesías, Último Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, Sagrado, Rey Bucanero, Volcano, Esfinge [Leyenda de Azul]

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

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

A show. Audaz has quietly returned to action.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAA

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

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

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

No taping this weekend.

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

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

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 11/24/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cosmic b Nubilus, Osogbo 
No Kalu, so a tag became a three way.
2) Balak, Cheff Benito, Último Caballero b Güero De Tijuana, Skanda, Yetti 
3) Milagro, Rey Eclipse, Taurino b Legado, Nativo, Rey Minos 
4) Águila Oriental, Águila Roja, Ajolot, Hell Boy, Jhon Tito, Kenji, Rey Aztaroth, Súper Boy b Adamarino, Cometa Boy (Puebla), Makro, Pequeño Joker (Puebla), Rey Kratos (Puebla), Súper Tiger (Puebla), Tiger Boy (Puebla), Tigre Fly (Puebla) [Copa Higher Power]  
FILL vs Gym Cuchillo. Hell Boy beat Pequeno Joker to win for the home team. Cuchillo wanted a trios match with Hell Boy, Black Terry and a third.
5) Spider Fly b Aster Boy © [IWRG IC Light]  
New champ, win via surprise small package. Aster Boy falls on his 7th defense.

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

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

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

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

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

Big Lucha

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

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

Other

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

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

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

AAA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CMLL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IWRG

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

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

Other News

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

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

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

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

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

These blogs are supposed to be automatically emailed out to people who’ve signed up for that service. A WordPress upgrade seems to have turned off that feature for a while. I was alerted to it today and it should be back working again. Hello if you’re seeing this in your email box again. If you’d like to sign up for the emails, you can add your address below.

AAA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/18/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports, R de Rudo, The Gladiatores, The Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Oro Jr. DQ Disturbio & Zandokan Jr.  
12:08. Zandokan Jr., making his Arena Mexico debut, unmasked Oro Jr. for the DQ.
2) Amapola, Metálica, Reyna Isis b Avispa Dorada, La Vaquerita, Marcela
14:08
3) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Yota b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black   
15:20.
4) Soberano Jr. b Vincent  
16:09
5) Gran Guerrero, Titán, Último Guerrero b Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Místico [Relevos Increíbles]  
13:35

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CMLL (FRI) 11/25/2022 Arena México
1) Retro & Valiente Jr. vs Inquisidor & Nitro
2) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
3) Hijo del Villano III, Rugido, Volador Jr. vs Blue Panther, Felino, Felino Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Atlantis vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Euforia, Yota, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Kráneo, Valiente, El Mesías, Último Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, Sagrado, Rey Bucanero, Volcano, Esfinge [Leyenda de Azul]

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

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

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

Big Lucha

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

Big Lucha World (FRI) 11/18/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Action Jackson b Potro  
2) Anakro & Vengador b Cometa Maya & La Estrella 
3) Alex Steel, Dito, Iku DQ Éxtasis  
Scheduled as Iku vs Extasis but Dito and Alex Steel added themselves. Anarko & Vengador ran in for the DQ, with Estrella and Cometa Maya trying and failing to make the save

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

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 11/20/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Súper Boy COR Stelaris 
Stelaris got hurt taking a dive
2) Keyra b Bengalee [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal]  
3) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro DQ Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.  
Excessive violence DQ. Black Terry made the save for the Cerebros, challenges followed.
4) Tonalli b Hijo del Alebrije, Jessy Ventura, Máximo, Relámpago, Diva Salvaje, Rocky Casas, Bugambilia, Noisy Boy, Hell Boy, Galeno del Mal, Mr. Leo, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Garra Mortal Jr., Paymon, Spider Fly, Yorvak, Pantera Jr., Legendario, Hijo del Pantera [lumberjack strap, battle royal]  
Tonalli beat Jessy Ventura to set up a IWRC IC WELTER title match.
5) Puma de Oro DRAW Aster Boy  
Billed as winner faces Tonalli in a mask match, went to a draw.

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

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

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

Segunda Caida wrote about last week’s IWRG Retro.

Other News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Box y Lucha 3528 has Mil Mascaras on the cover.

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

A profile of Zacatecas’ Angel del Abismo.

CMLL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAA

AAA on Space on Saturday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IWRG

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

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

IWRG (SUN) 11/20/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Stelaris vs Súper Boy
2) Bengalee vs Keyra [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal]
3) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
4) Hijo del Alebrije vs Jessy Ventura, Máximo, Relámpago, Tonalli, Diva Salvaje, Rocky Casas, Bugambilia, Noisy Boy, Hell Boy, Galeno del Mal, Mr. Leo, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Garra Mortal Jr., Paymon, Spider Fly, Yorvak, Pantera Jr., Legendario, Hijo del Pantera [lumberjack strap, battle royal]
5) Puma de Oro vs Aster Boy
winner faces Tonalli in a mask match

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

Big Lucha

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

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

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

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

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

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

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

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

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

12/17 RIOT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CMLL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12/16 GCW

• Gringo Loco, Toxin, Latigo vs Komander, ASF, Arez
• Joey Janela vs Pagano
• Hijo del Vikingo vs ?

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

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

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

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

IWRG

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

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

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

Big Lucha

Lineup for Endgame

Big Lucha (FRI) 12/02/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Andy Panda Jr., Sussy Love, Viajero vs Elipse, Limbo, Orbita
2) King vs Kong
3) El Potro de Oro vs Skayde
4) Carito vs Máximo
5) Cometa Maya, Éxtasis, Radioactivo vs Forneo, Sol, Torito Negro Jr.
6) El Bandido vs Komander, Gravity, Galeno del Mal, Rey Horus, Flamita, Emperador Azteca, Elemental, Action Jackson, Bendito, Jack Evans, Scarecrow, Vengador, Aaron Steel, Anarko [cage, mask, hair]

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

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

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

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

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

Other News

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

AEW Dynamite tonight has

• Death Triangle (Fenix, Penta and PAC) vs Top Flight & AR Fox
• Bandido vs Ethan Page in the semifinals of a title shot tournament

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

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

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

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

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

12/17 RIOT

• Erik Ortiz vs Blake Christian
• Demonio del Aire vs Rey Horus – new

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

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

La Prensa has an interview with Microman.

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

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

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

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

Box y Lucha has Mil Mascaras on the cover.

Yahoo! Deportes has a bio of Casandro.