Morgans, Rush, X-Fly keep their titles, Blanca/Apache hair match off, Gallo/Barbaro mask match on, Sombra to NJPW

(photo by Black Terry Jr.)

IWRG (SUN) 03/04/2012 Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), IWRG]
1) Astro de Plata, Astro Rey Jr., Charly Madrid, Imposible, Matrix Jr., Pacto Negro, Saruman, Tritón b Aldi Boy, Arkano, Black Center, Chakalo, Guerrero Mixteco, Lucian, Star Boy
FILL vs Gym Rivera. Impossible got the win for the IWRG team.
2) Angelico, Dinamic Black, Tony Rivera b Alan Extreme, Bombero Infernal, Oficial AK47
3) Dr. Cerebro, Freyser, Suicida DQ Aeroboy, Hormiga, Violento Jack [hardcore]
DTU vs IWRG, featuring two guys who haven’t been in IWRG much of late. Striaght falls, both DQs. Even the IWRG recap is confused by a disqualification in a no DQ match.
4) Hijo de Pirata Morgan & Pirata Morgan b Trauma I & Trauma II [IWRG IC TAG]
Pirates are the champs and kept the titles via foul.
5) Cien Caras Jr. & Eterno b Drago & El Mesías
Team IWRG took 1/3, Cien cheating Mesias to win.

There’s a lucha libre photography and video exhibition, including work by Black Terry Jr.,  this Thursday at Santa Leyenda Bar in Mexico City.

CMLL (SUN) 03/04/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Rebelión b Relampago Azul
2) Acertijo & Sádico b Brillante & El Divino
3) Halcon de Plata & Smaker b Èvola & Magnum
4) Arkángel de la Muerte, El Bárbaro, Ephesto b Gallo, Titán, Triton
One ref was checking on the other four, and Gallo hit the other ref. Barbaro yanked Gallo’s mask and cradled him for the win. Mask challenges followed.
5) Rush b Terrible [CMLL LH]
Seconds were Ephesto & Titan. Rush took fall one, Terrible took fall 2, and Rush kept the title with an arm submission

PdM Juniors (SUN) 03/04/2012 Auditorio Miguel Barragán [Estrellas del Ring]
1) Destello, Maligno, Mini Maniaco b Aero Boy, Bogar Jr., Oro Azul
2) Rayo de Plata III, Rayo de Plata IV, Rayo de Plata V DRAW Crazy Star, Mensajero, Tigre del Ring
3) Black Terry, Negro Navarro, Platino b Hijo del Solar, Solar I, Super Astro
4) X-Fly b Joe Lider, Bestia 666, Zumbi [PdM EXTREMO]
X-Fly kept the title in an elimination match.
5) Damián 666, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Héctor Garza b Dr. Wagner Jr., Tarzan Boy, Texano
Perros took 1/3, Perro Jr. fouling Wagner.

Princesa Blanca and Lady Apache were supposed to face off in a hair match tomorrow in Guadalajara. CMLL has been promoting it on all of their TV shows the last couple weeks. It won’t exactly be happening; Fuego en el Ring notes a message on Apolo Dantes’ Facebook account saying it’ll now be a title match, and the hair match will be happening sometime later. There’s zero explanation of the change. Both Blanca and Apache actually have championships, but I presume they mean Blanca’s title.

TRT say they’re winning the national trios titles tomorrow night.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Rob has highlights of 08/12/11 CMLL

Pentagon/Santo Negro promotes his DVD. He says his eyes work at 15% of capacity.

LuchaMania interviews Caifan about his feud with Androide.

Lucha Libre In Japan

Sombra’s been announced for the New Japan Cup, a 16 man single elimination tournament with the winner receiving an IWGP Heavyweight Title shot on May 3rd. Sombra’s first round match up – they announce matchups ahead of time! – is versus Yoshihashi, so he stands a good shot at making it to round 2. The tournament runs from April 1st to April 8th, and Sombra will likely be over for the whole week even if he bows out early.

Sugi & Ronin will take their traveling match to AJPW on March 20th.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 03/11/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Javier Cruz Jr. vs In Memoriam
2) Halcon de Plata & Virgo vs Demonio Maya & Metalik
3) Black Metal, Metatrón, Sky Kid vs Èvola, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
4) La Máscara & Máximo vs Averno & Mr. Águila
5) Gallo vs El Bárbaro [mask]

Doesn’t get bigger than that in Guadalajara. Go Gallo.

Sky Kid is a name from small Monterrey shows. Dunno if it’s the same one.

CMLL LLA (SUN) 04/22/2012 Gimnasio Nuevo Leon
1) Babe Fox & Pedro Navajas vs Principe Guerrero I & Principe Guerrero II
2) Gitano & Sky vs Bengali & Difunto I
3) Golden Boy, Máscara Púrpura, Tigre Universitario vs Loco Max, Monje Negro Jr., Potro Jr.
4) Máximo & Rush vs Felino & Mr. Niebla
5) Volador Jr. vs Máscara Dorada, Último Guerrero [AZTECA CHAMP]
Volador is the current champion

No one’s ever successfully defended that title. It may be cursed.

CMLL on Fox Sports (Mexico): 2012-02-11

Titan

taped 2012-02-03 @ Arena Mexico

match 1
match 2

recap

Reyes del Aire: Really great. At 47 minutes, it’s bordering on being too much for one sitting; they have the talent to include 18 men like they did here (and probably many more), but that’s a lot to watch for something going at this pace. I know the CHIKARA ciberneticos go longer than that and I’m not sure how they do it. Here, they kept the action going, and did it while spreading things out. There were a ton of great bit spots – I could’ve gotten more if I could keep up with the action to mark the times of the spots down.

death by Euforia

This was a good night for Angel de Oro; not a breakout performance but a solid confirmation of his status. This was another good night for Aguila, who’s been very useful for months from now. Euforia looked superb, carrying middle sections of the match and breaking out great offensive spots. Raziel did the same earlier and Virus is Virus. Pólvora wasn’t bad, but it’s often hard to understand why he’s the breakout guy of that group. Stuka did well for himself, and Mascara Dorada was really good for limited involvement.

Euforia destroying the winner

I didn’t like the técnicos randomly helping then turning on each other near the end (didn’t make any sense), a double countout in a cibernético really makes no sense (though they did the best brawl they could’ve done of it) and, sadly, Rey Cometa did not have a great night with accuracy. Still, there’s nothing here that should dissuade you from something that belongs on MOTYC lists.

Stuka/Fuego vs Hooligan/Skandalo, Acero & Shocker return

(photo by CMLL)

 

CMLL (SUN) 03/04/2012 Arena Coliseo [CML, La Catedral]
1) Bobby Zavala & Zayco b Camaleón & Freesbe
Zayco, back much sooner than expected, won – he took fall 1/3, the last with the Zayclone on Camaleon.
2) Aereo, Eléctrico, Último Dragoncito b Mercurio, Niño de Acero, Pequeño Olímpico
Nino de Acero’s official return after a bad leg injury three years ago. He’s now a rudo, where he briefly started. Tecnicso took 1/3.
3) Euforia, Namajague, Shigeo Okumura b Diamante, Dragon Lee, Rey Cometa
Team Namajague took falls 1/3.
4) Hooligan, Pólvora, Skándalo b Fuego, Stuka Jr., Valiente
Rudos took 1/3. Tuareg made the expected title challenge, but Stuka and Fuego refused to defend their Coliseo tag team titles. Rudos took their masks instead.
5) La Sombra, Shocker, Super Porky b Kráneo, Morphosis, Psicosis
Shocker’s return. His team took falls 1/3.

Los Catedral argues Metro was a horrible name, so Diamante Azul was better name. This argument only works if Diamante Azul was the only other name he could’ve used. It’s ridiculous otherwise. They’ve taken a promising future star and gave him a gimmick that’ll handicap him just to get one in on Blue Demon Jr. That is also ridiculous.

SuperLuchas #452 has a bloody La Parka. Inside, proof of Histeria III’s continuing existence.

Rob has video of 08/05/11 CMLL and 02/21/12 CMLL.

Links

Lineups

IWRG (THU) 03/08/2012 Arena Naucalpan
1) ? vs ??
2) Golden Magic & Sexy Lady vs Alan Extreme & Ludark Shaitan
3) Oficial Factor, Oficial Rayan, Oficial Spartan vs Alemán, Carta Brava Jr., Imposible
4) Angelico, Dinamic Black, Freyser vs El Hijo del Diablo, Eterno, Scorpio Jr.
5) Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Texano Jr., Toscano

Navarros vs Consejo.

IWRG (SUN) 03/11/2012 Arena Naucalpan 
1) Astro de Plata & Astro Rey Jr. vs Matrix Jr. & Pacto Negro
2) Charly Madrid, Chicano, Golden Magic vs Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II, The Mummy
3) Oficial Factor, Oficial Rayan, Oficial Spartan vs Apolo Estrada Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Mil Amores
4) Angelico, Suicida, Ultramán Jr. vs Eterno, Oficial 911, Oficial AK47
5) Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr.

and Navarros vs Traumas.

Mil Amores is a new Guapo. There are many.

03/11 AAA TV Lineup (Ecatepec)

AAA TV (SUN) 03/11/2012 Centro Civico de Ecatepec
1) Dinastía & Octagoncito vs Mini Histeria & Mini Psicosis
2) Aerostar, Argenis, Súper Fly vs Ángel Mortal, Gallego, Gran Apache
3) Daga, Drago, Fenix vs Argos, Mortiz, Semental
4) Damián 666, Halloween, X-Fly vs Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown [AAA TRIOS]
5) El Mesías, Jack Evans, Zorro vs el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Héctor Garza, Nicho el Millionario

Mexico Air Date: 03/18 – and probably 03/25.

They teased Gallego last month and ended up using Tito Santana, so don’t get your hopes up. (Where is Tigre Cota, by the way? The great joy of AAA’s bloated roster and few TV tapings is there is no end of people you can complain about disappearing into a black hole.) First TV appearances of the year for both Super Fly & Aerostar, who are basically back to fighting the same guys they debuted against. Those are were good matches, so that’s fine with me.

The first three matches all could be really good. Argos as a rudo is going to be an interesting challenge, but Mortiz and Semental should do well with that tecnico trio.

Everyone in the semimain but Halloween have also not been around since 2011. The only arguement to not doing a title change is most of the fans probably assume the Psycho Circus are trios champions already, so you might not actually need to give them titles. Still, you might well as give it to the team that’s on every spot show.

All these people popping back up after not being around gives this the feel of a lame duck taping, so there’s probably not going to be much impact on Rey de Reyes on the main event. It still should be another good Jack/Perro match.

The parallel universe where Jarrett shows up for Guerra de Titanes (or, alternatively, AAA books Guerra de Titanes on a day their champion can show up) is so much more interesting. Rey de Reyes is Mesias vs Garza in a champion vs “champion of the other promotion! (and by which we mean Perros del Mal)” match, Triplemania is a Mesias vs Texano title match out of their most interesting storyline. Instead, we’re getting Mesias vs Jarrett and maybe Mesias vs Jarrett vs LA Park.

Blue Panther & Negro Casas both lose, Atlantis wins again, Casandro ACL injury

CMLL (FRI) 03/02/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLLKaiser Sports (6)Kaiser Sports (rest)]
***Dos Leyendas 2011: Salvador Lutteroth & Bobby Bonales***
1) Misterioso Jr., Namajague, Rey Escorpion b Fuego, Titán, Triton
Rudos took the first and third, Escorpion dropping Fuego with something close to a piledriver. Fuego was strechered out.
2) Averno, Mr. Águila, Olímpico b Ángel de Oro, Super Porky, Valiente
Rudos take the match in straight falls.
3) Marcela b Ayumi [lightning]
Marcela wins via top rope Michinoku Driver in 9:07, then challenged for a title shot. Ayumi accepted.
4) Diamante Azul, La Máscara, Marco Corleone DQ Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.
Tecnicos in straight falls. Volador yanked Diamante Azul’s mask for the DQ.
5) Atlantis & Mr. Niebla b Rush & Terrible [natl pi, final]
Team Rush/Terrible took fall one, team Atlantis/Niebla/Zacarias fall 2. Terrible & Rush turned on each other in the third fall, tripping each other up for pinfall losses. Third straight win for Atlantis. Rush and Terrible fought after the bell. Rush yelled at Terrible and the crowd, and Terrible responded with a hair match challenge.
6) Negro Casas DRAW Blue Panther [hair]
Panther won the first with his surprise fujiwara, Negro took the second with a casita, both short falls. Long third fall, with Panther doing the only dive of the match (a tope) and lots of near falls. A few more near falls on the way in, leading to a small package – with both men pinned! Fans rooted for a fourth fall, but the decision was draw. Negro & Panther yelled at each other that this wasn’t over. Both men got their heads shaved, though Negro attacked Panther before he got his hair cut. Panther challenged Negro to a title match, and the two fought more.

New barriers were up around ringside (said for safety, but with more ads.) CMLL returned two referees in the ring. Show led off with the usual dancing, including Mije, Monito and Zacarias (who ended up brawling.)

Handheld video of last night’s result.

Attendance guess variances was one of the substories of last night. Today, the estimates have solidified around 11,000. That’s much higher than my prediction, above everyone’s prediction. That would be a higher number than any show since Mascara/Averno (including the Anniversary show), and slightly higher than last year’s Dos Leyendas show.

CMLL Gaceta writes about the returns of Shocker and Nino de Acero (now with evil dark outfit.) They bring up the Shocker/Titan/Triton/Metro group, so perhaps that’ll be followed up on. Nino de Acero has been out three years, but said to be training to return for one year – was his leg hurt for two years?

Casandro‘s temporary retirement appears to be due to a torn ACL. There’s a donation page to help him out while he’ll be out of action for a year. Casandro has had a tough couple years with injuries.

Proyeccion Luchsitica talks to Damian 666 & Bestia 666, back in DF. They’ve been around the Tijuana area since Christmas; I thought perhaps Damain was making good on his promise to retire.

LuchaWorld has the latest Slammin’ Slam and KrisZ’s Dos Leyendas’ results.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 03/09/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Ángel Azteca Jr. & Hombre Bala Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte & Nitro
2) Fuego, Pegasso, Sangre Azteca vs Hijo del Signo, Namajague, Shigeo Okumura
3) Ayumi vs Marcela [CMLL WOMEN]
4) Ángel de Oro, Máscara Dorada, Shocker vs Averno, Mephisto, Volador Jr.
5) Rush vs Terrible
6) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, La Sombra vs Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas

Big push for Diamante Azul starts now.

Neither title on the line for Rush & Terrible.

Shocker’s first Arena Mexico match in 3 months.

A bit of a loaded show when Nitro & Arkangel are relegated to the opener.

03/02 AAA TV Results (Toluca)

AAA TV (FRI) 03/02/2012 Gimnasio Agustín Millán [AAA]
1) Atomic Boy & Sugi San b Gran Apache & Tito Santana
Apache appears to be feuding with Atomic Boy. Atomic reversed a powerbomb into a ‘rana for the win.
2) Argos & Semental b Billy el Malo & Escoria
Argos replaced Mortiz, defeated Billy via spanish fly. He also wore his Astro Boy mask.
3) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Drago DQ Halloween & Octagón
Octagon was DQed for a chair shot (it’s a DQ this week!) El Conjseo ran in after the match, but Roldan has AAA guys ready to run off anyone who jumped the rail. Joaquin told them not to eject Texano, so they could yell at him. Joaquin told him he’d have his match with no help, and Wagner told Texano that he had left CMLL when Texano was still in diapers. Texano, as leader of El Consejo will get to choose his three best men to take on Wagner, Electroshock, and Heavy Metal at Rey de Reyes.
4) Jack Evans b ChessmanTexano Jr.Nicho el Millionario [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
Final was down to Jack & Texano, with Wagner providing a distraction for the win.
5) LA Park b La ParkaElectroshockSilver King [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
At the start of the show, Konnan came out and paid Park’s fine. No development there, though Park and Konnan are not very friendly. This final came down to the Parkas, who were killing each other, and Park won with a powerbomb onto a cooler. Dorian & Konnan congratulated Park, but told him he must kiss Karen Jarrett’s feet at Rey de Reyes as an apology. Park told them he would not kiss anyone’s feet. Dorian yelled at Park, Park grabbed him, and La Sociedad grabbed Park. Dorian fled, with Park throwing the cooler at him. Still not an offical breakup but more problems.

Mexico Air Date: 03/11.

Related: AAA says their main show will be expanding to 90 minute starting 03/18.

Rey de Reyes now officially looks like

  • Jarrett (c) vs Mesias [AAA HEAVY]
  • LA Park vs Jack Evans vs Hector Garza vs Perro Aguayo [Rey de Reyes]
  • Texano, ?, ?? vs Dr. Wagner Jr., Heavy Metal, Electroshock [Consejo must win to stay in AAA]
    • Probably Toscano/MA2K Jr., unless they get someone new to jump
  • 12 person cage match

That leaves room for teased stuff (Psycho Circus vs Team AAA, Cibernetico/Parka).

Next taping is Ecatpec, and a lineup should be out for that in days. They may explain a couple more undercard matches on the show, but since it won’t air until hours before the PPV, it’s really not going to be too useful for building anything new.