CMLL’s road to the Anniversary show focused on Volador versus Sombra, including Volador laying out Sombra with brass knuckles and beating him in a singles match. Ultimo Guerrero has spent a lot of time feuding with former protege Rey Escorpion (beating him in Arena Mexico, losing to him in a title match in Arena Puebla) and little interacting with Atlantis. Atlantis & Ultimo Guerrero will meet in a singles match this week, but CMLL has put the emphasis on building up the feud between the younger luchadors.
AAA’s sole taping of the last two weeks took place in Queretaro and did not progress stories much. Psycho Clown is still chasing Texano Jr. for a title shot and La Parka and Parka Negra remain feuding. AAA has begun to hype Heroes Inmortales, their next big show, but no date or location has been announced.
CMLL announced a second (or third) match for the Anniversary show: Blue Panther and Averno will conclude their summer long feud with a hair match, where only submissions count. This will help ticket sales, which appear to be moving okay – the first three rows are already sold out. The match was announced after Averno and his friends had destroyed Panther last week, following a well received CMLL maestros versus independent maestros match in honor of Panther’s 35th anniversary.
Eterno & X-Fly won the IWRG tag team titles from Trauma I & Negro Navarro as part of the Familia de Tijuana (Eterno/X-Fly/Super Nova) versus Traumas feud. The Traumas later put Super Nova out of action with a knee injury, and teased switching to the rudo side of this feud.
CMLL announced the first block for it’s annual CMLL Universal tournament of champions. Rush is the favorite in the 08/23 block which also includes Mistico, Averno, Rey Escorpion, Terrible, Mascara Dorada, Polvora, and La Mascara. The 08/30 block seems to be setting up a Sombra vs Tanahashi final, with Valiente, Diamante Azul, Dragon Rojo, Virus, Titan and Mephisto (beat La Mascara for the Mexican Light Heavyweight Title at the last minute to fill out the bracket with no Liger around) also in that group.
NJPW announced Tanahashi will be in from this Friday until the end of the Universal tournament, and Tomohiro Ishii will arrive in time for the Anniversary show (which will also be Ishii’s Mexico debut.) Tanahashi will miss that show, heading back to Japan to defend the tag team titles with Lyger against Tama Tonga & Rey Bucanero.
SuperLuchas reported CMLL may be taking away the lucha show in Zocalo spot from Hijo del Santo. Neither CMLL or Hijo del Santo (or the official promoters of the show.) Those involved in Santo’s proposed LA Park/Santo/Wagner show seem confused on the date; Santo is saying the end of September, while Wagner is still talking about the 09/01 date. Both are unlikely.
Electrico won the vacant Mexican Lightweight Championship (a title originally for normal sized wrestlers but brought out of mothballs as a minis championship.) There’s still no explanation of what happened to former champion Pierrothito, but he appears to be outside of CMLL.
AAA, Pro Wrestling Revolution and Masked Republic announced a AAA seminar/tryout taking place in San Jose in the middle of July September.
No title changes happened on IWRG’s Night of Championships show.
Hijo de Dos Caras, a forgettable washout in WWE and a completely anonymous luchador when (if?) he was wrestling in Mexico before his WWE stint, will main event WWL’s next shows in Mexico. There is no better example of what having a famous name will do for you in Mexico.
Shows Watched But Nothing Made The List
– CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2013-08-03
– CMLL on CadenaTres: 2013-08-03
– CMLL on Fox Sports (Mexico): 2013-08-03
– AAA on Televisa (Regional): 2013-08-04
CMLL has announced Blue Panther faces Averno in a hair versus hair match on 09/13. This will be the second apuesta match on the show, added to the already announced to the one that comes out of the Atlantis/Ultimo Guerrero vs Sombra/Volador tag match. Based on the press release, it appears the proposed “victory thru submission only” rules have been accepted by all sides.
The working theory before anything was announced was CMLL would need to have two big matches on the Anniversary show to justify the prices. It appears CMLL felt the same thing. Last year’s Anniversary show also had two apuesta matches (Rush/Terrible and Rey Cometa/Puma King.) It was the first time they’ve done it since 2003. 1993 was the last time CMLL had an Anniversary show with a main event mask match (Atlantis/Mano Negra) and semimian hair match (Negro Casas/La Fiera).
I am so thrilled this is happening on the Anniversary. It seemed like it actually might headed to the 09/16 special Monday show, because that one seems designed for another significant main event. Goya/Tiffany seemed to be dropped, but maybe they’re just stretching it out. Metalico and Hijo del Signo are suddenly booked against each this week, maybe it’s then. (Both sound like bad ideas and I’m not planning on going to Arena Mexico that Monday, so it’s all good with me.) Rush versus Negro Casas is still out there, though it hasn’t been brought up much lately.
CMLL (MON) 08/19/2013Arena Puebla [El Popular, Porra Fresa]
1) Asturiano, Camaleón, Milenium b Artillero, Blue Center, Súper Comando Tecnicos took 1/3. The finishing spot with Artillero & Asturiano went badly (recap says Artillero is at fault) and Asturiano suffered a dislocated left shoulder. Asturiano would later say he will be out six months.
2) Leono, Starman, Stigma b Cancerbero, Espíritu Maligno, Raziel Stigma & Espiritu are still feuding, but the other guys finished the match.
3) Hijo del Fantasma, Stuka Jr., Titán b Kráneo, Morphosis, Psicosis Invasors took 1/3.
4) Atlantis, Rush, Thunder b Mr. Niebla, Niebla Roja, Terrible Tecnicos took 1/3.
5) Rey Escorpión b Último Guerrero [CMLL LH] Escorpion is champion. Seconds were Niebla Roja and Terrible. UG submitted Escorpion in the first, Escorpion submitted UG in the second, and Escorpion used a cradle and the ropes to beat UG in the third. 3rd defense.
Porra Fresa thinks they might be setting up a Espiritu Maligno versus Stigma title match. Espiritu Maligno is Puebla middleweight champion, but it’s been years since the title has been defended. (I don’t even have any record of a defense in Arena Puebla.)
El Popular’s recap mentions the 09/16 show will start at 6pm (instead of the usual 9pm.) That day looks like it’s going to be the hardest day to pick where to go.
photo by CMLL
CMLL (TUE) 08/20/2013Arena Mexico [Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), CMLL]
1) Bengala & Sensei b Akuma & Ramstein Tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Dalis la Caribeña, Estrellita, Goya Kong b La Comandante, La Seductora, Tiffany Tecnicas took 1/3. Goya splashed Tiffany for the win.
3) Delta, Hijo del Fantasma, Tritón b Boby Zavala, Sangre Azteca, Shigeo Okumura Triton moonsaulted Okumura.
4) Tiger b Diamante [lightning] CMLL recaps says TRT has confirmed Tiger is still in the group. Tiger actually won here.
5) La Sombra, Super Porky, Thunder DQ Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Rey Escorpión Volador pulled Sombra’s mask for the DQ. Sombra and Volador demanded an extra fall but the commission said no (again.) They still fought some more.
6) Dragón Rojo Jr. b Niebla Roja Dragon Bomb for the win.
Dragon Rojo looks, at least from the pictures, like he’s dropped some weight.
Goya pinning Tiffany and those two not on the card next week may mean that feud is done already. Their match last week was very not good.
Clarity on TRT! Until someone changes their mind.
CMLL (TUE) 08/20/2013Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [@acogdl]
1) Esfinge & Metatrón b Demonio Maya & Évola Tecnnicos took 1/3.
2) Magnus, Sky Kid, Soberano Jr. b Disturbio, Herodes Jr., Sádico Tecnicos took 1/3, Sky Kid top rope plancha on Disturbio.
3) Amapola, Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sugheit b Lluvia, Luna Mágica, Marcela Rudas took 2/3, Amapola defeating Marcela. This sets up a title match next week.
4) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Titán DQ Ephesto, Mephisto, Pólvora Tecnicos took 1/3, Polvora fouling Angel de Oro.
5) Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Valiente b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero Tecnicos took 1/3, Mistica on Gran Guerrero for the win.
Marcela versus Amapola probably will be a good match. Going out on a limb.
AAA has put up this week’s UTDN show early. It inculdes the opener, which didn’t air on the GalaTV show, and is apparently really good.
Perro Aguayo Jr. is relaunching his store, now with AAA merchandise along with Perro del Mal gear, and discounts this weekend. He says he does not know the reason Halloween left the group. Perro declares the only real celebration of 80 years of lucha libre was the Cibernetico vs Perro Aguayo Jr. hair match.
CMLL (MON) 08/26/2013Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Robin vs El Malayo & Guerrero Negro Jr.
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Metálico, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Akrón, Hijo del Signo, King Jaguar
3) Fuego, Sagrado, Tritón vs Namajague, Puma, Sangre Azteca
4) Diamante Azul, La Máscara, Super Porky vs Kráneo, Mr. Águila, Psicosis
5) Atlantis, La Sombra, Mr. Niebla vs Rush, Terrible, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
King Jaguar’s first appearance since May. I don’t like the chances of Volador Jr.’s team keeping it together (though there really should be some Sombra/Volador vs Ultimo/Atlantis tension at this point.)
CMLL (TUE) 08/27/2013Arena Mexico
1) Oro Jr. & Robin vs Herodes Jr. & Inquisidor
2) Soberano Jr., Stigma, Súper Halcón Jr. vs Artillero, Nitro, Súper Comando
3) Pegasso, Starman, Tritón vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Taichi
4) Rey Cometa vs Shigeo Okumura [lightning]
5) Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., Super Porky vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, Namajague, Rey Escorpión
6) Atlantis, La Máscara, Thunder vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
That semimain is interesting. Namajague seems to be Tanahashi’s designated partner, not Taichi or Okumura. Makes for much better matches. Also, looks like the first step in Guerrero Maya Jr. winning the G1 next year.
Cadetes del Espacio team up for the third time still looking for their first win. They’re not the favorites in that one.
CMLL (TUE) 08/27/2013Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Black Metal & Leo vs Espectrum & Maléfico
2) Diamante, Fuego, Magnus vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Hooligan, Skándalo
3) Marcela vs Amapola [CMLL WOMEN] Marcela is champion. Seventh defense.
4) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Misterioso Jr., Pólvora
5) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush vs Negro Casas, Terrible, Volador Jr.
First time Bufete del Amor has teamed up since Marco’s injury.
