IWRG (THU) 02/16/2012 Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), Estrellas del Ring, The Gladiatores]
1) Guerrero Mixteco & Matrix Jr. b Sky Ángel & Volaris
Guerrero Mixteco’s debut here. Said to be an excellent opener.
2) Acero & Bizarro b Aeroboy & Eragón
Acero replaced Leroy, both Navarro trainees.
3) Carta Brava Jr., Tóxico, Violento Jack b Dinamic Black, Freyser, Golden Magic
Golden Magic replaced Black Boy. Carta Brava replaced (supposed to be debuting) Gran Kalifa. Toxico, back here for the first time in 18 months, was hurt in the match. Violento Jack hit both the referee Rubinsky (by accident and somehow not a DQ) and Fresero with a chair, causing both to bleed. Jack then pinned Fresero for the win.
4) Oficial Factor, Oficial Rayan, Oficial Spartan b Alan Extreme, Apolo Estrada Jr., Chico Che
Carta Brava gave Alan a chair shot on a dive, setting up his team’s loss.
5) Negro Navarro, Texano Jr., Toscano DQ Eterno, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan
Negro Navarro replaced Veneno, and didn’t get along with the Consejo members. They still won the first, but lost the second. Texano & Terrible turned on Navarro in the third for the DQ.

Jesus Zuniga tweeted last night that Rey de Reyes would be in Zapopan, the suburb of Guadalajara where AAA runs major shows at Auditorio Benito Juarez, Zapopan, Jalisco. AAA had not officially announced this, but when their upcoming scheduled listed Guadalajara a few weeks back, this is what we figured they meant. I would suspect that’s also why CMLL is running Friday night Guadalajara shows on 3/16 and 3/31.

Once again, @OfficialKonnan is NOT Konnan’s twitter. AAA has a note about it.

On his Facebook, Casandro says he is retiring “for a while.” Casandro does not explain more, but sounds stressed out by wrestling at the moment. That links also takes you to a recent R de Rudo interview with Casandro.

CMLL says Metro will debut as Diamante Azul on Dos Leyendas. He doesn’t seem to be in the tournament, so that’s a third match (sort of) announced for the card. Metro is still listed as appearing as Metro this Sunday in Arena Mexico.

Todos x el Todos held a press conference to talk about next weekend’s show. Doesn’t appear to be any new news. They’re doing the mask match on the next show, as the promotion always seems to. Santo got a birthday cake.

Speaking of the birthday boy, the most recent Wrestling Observer Newsletter says his promotion has new cash and is offering deals to “LA Park, Dr. Wagner Jr., Cibernetico, Nicho, Halloween and others”. Between the new Perros and this, there sure seems to be a lot of new money floating around. Hmmm. The newsletter also says Santo has re-open relations with CMLL. Meanwhile, CMLL is said “to be close to a deal with a major star.”

Porra Fresa breaks down the chances of each team. I like Atlantis & Mr. Niebla’s chances the best.

Rob has highlights from CMLL 01/31/12.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Links

• Segunda Caida watches more Pirata Morgan.
• Sami Callihan and Samurai del Sol are in Mexico. “I’m on the shirt!”
• Lucha POP and CZW are allied now. I’m not sure what that actually means, but it sounds nice.
• Vaquerita talks up her match with Lufisto. So does Sexi Star.
• IWL has a new Twitter account: @IWLoficial
• AULL has Los Apocalípticos vs Los Bastardos on 02/26. Arena Lopez Mateos is busy this month.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 02/19/2012 Arena Naucalpan
1) Astro de Plata & Astro Rey Jr. vs Pacto Negro & The Momy
2) Charly Madrid, Dinamic Black, Golden Magic vs Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II, Violento Jack
3) Alan Extreme vs Carta Brava Jr. [IWRG IC Light]
5) Eterno vs Centvrión [IWRG IC WELTER]
5) Angelico, Texano Jr., Toscano vs Cien Caras Jr., Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Máscara Año 2000 Jr.

Card slightly changed to accommodate the two title matches. (Veneno and Multifacetico are now off the card.) The poster indicates this will be the taping of the week, replacing the usual Thursday one. It appears only the IWRG title is on the line in the Eterno/Centvrion match, not the WWS belt Eterno is still carrying around. Carta Brava Jr. feuding with Carta Brava Jr. in IWL may mean this one isn’t long for IWRG; Naucalpan doesn’t seem to want people working both regularly.

In Guatemala, Dick Togo faces Voltron, winner getting a shot at Ultimo Guerrero’s Guatemala championship.

CMLL (TUE) 02/21/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Camaleón & Freesbe vs Bobby Zavala & Cholo
2) Aereo, Pequeño Halcón, Último Dragoncito vs Niño de Acero, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
3) Pegasso, Rey Cometa, Starman vs Loco Max, Nosferatu, Skándalo
4) Hijo del Fantasma, Máscara Dorada, Stuka Jr. vs Morphosis, Olímpico, Shigeo Okumura
5) Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger

Nino de Acero is back! That would be his first match two years. He actually started as a rudo for his first week, before switch to the tecnico side for his eight month stint. Mini rudos could still use more youth.

Nosferatu is also back. Less excited about that one. Remember, he’s not a Cancerbero member, so no problems there. Though maybe if Nosferatu turns on Loco, he could actually get in the group.

CMLL’s been running a lot of Guerreros vs Atlantida and TRT vs Tercia Sensacion trios, but this is the first TRT.

GALLI (SAT) 03/10/2012 Gran Plaza, Elgin, IL
1) Atomico, Furia Roja, Pentagono vs Destructor Alfa, Emperador, Funebre
2) El Rebelde Noriega & Lince Dorado vs GPA & Rob Michaels
3) Joshua Cristian & Ovirload vs Acid Jazz & Jake Shining [GALLI TAG]
4) Ripper vs Bandolero [LUCHA CHICAGO CHAMP]
5) Skayde vs Discovery [NWA MEX WELTER]
6) Jorge Paez & Rey Fuego vs Chavo Guerrero Sr. & Gigoló American

This will also be a $10 iPPV, which is the same price as the normal ticket. I think I’m going; if anyone wants to order this, maybe we can figure out a way for me to run a chat from my phone?

Auditorio Benito Juarez, Zapopan, Jalisco

I was going to wait until CMLL posted their news update about their press conference today. Still waiting. Oh well.

The press conference itself was primarily to sign the contract for Blue Panther vs Negro Casas on 03/02. That news article calls it a surprise the two ended up fighting. The actual fight was about the signing itself, but they managed to put pen to the paper before putting fist to the head. No Felino, thank goodness.

The second biggest item from the press conference was Metro dropping his old name (a sponsored identity) and revealing a new identity: Diamante Azul. It’s nice Metro has a new name, and a look that enables me to make more Mega Man jokes. There’s the problem that they already have someone named Diamante, and that looks a lot like a Blue Demon mask. Same color scheme, different design on the mask, but close enough to surely cause (totally unnecessary) problems. This is not using Triton while possibly being unaware there was another Triton, this is picking a fight purely to pick a fight.

Using “Diamante Azul” when you already have Diamante actually bugs me more. Absolute lack of creativity and common sense. And of course, because it is lucha libre, there is at least one Diamante Azul out there already – he wrestled on CMLL’s show in Arena Queretaro at the end of January.

CMLL announced the next Friday night Guadalajara show on March 16th. At least they didn’t pick Dos Leyendas. They’re supposedly going to do them every two weeks from there, which optimistic.

Lady Apache, Dalys, Goya Kong, La Comandate, Zeuxis, Princesa Blanca and Princesa Sujei were all announced as heading to Japan for REINA. That promotion has their first anniversary show coming up soon, so maybe some of those are one night appearances. CMLL would be running a lot less women’s matches if they’re all going over for the usual multi-month stint (and I’d be surprised if Comandate agreed to another one.)

Most of the rest of the press conference was repeating stuff: talking about Virus vs Loco (so that feud is still going, which may mean bad things from Centella de Oro), introducing Namajague, talking about the others coming from and talking about others going to Japan.

IWL & DTU say they’ll have a second show on March 10th, which will include the Carta Brava vs Carta Brava match teased on the last show. Only one ring this time.

Volador explains La Mascara’s mistake was giving him a title shot. It was all over for Mascara right then. Volador hopes Mascara does not challenge for a mask vs mask match, because then he’d have to take that too. Volador encourages Mascara to go and learn another hold, because obviously the campana can not beat him.

The Gladiatores are on the air for live coverage of the IWRG show probably by the time you read this.

Links

• Violento Jack has joined Perros del Mal.
• Heavy Metal talks about reaching 25 years in wrestling.
• Ludark and Sexy Lady won the XWL hardcore tag titles.
• interview with Dark Family
• The Villanos talk about their new group, which is more trade association than promotion.
• The Gladiatores talks to Ojo Diabolico Jr., Halloween, and Hector Garza
• Impacto has a long history of lucha libre piece.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 02/21/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Virgo vs Thunder Boy
2) Leo & Metatrón vs Èvola & Magnum
3) Fuego & Valiente vs Arkángel de la Muerte & Virus
4) Dark Angel, Lady Apache, Marcela vs Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sugheit, Tiffany
5) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush vs Rey Escorpion, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.

First time a Tuareg & a Cancerbero have teamed since their feud started (and may be over now.)

CMLL (TUE) 02/14/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring, SuperLuchas]
1) El Divino b Infierno
Love beat Hate in the valentine’s day opener.
2) Black Metal & Leo b Disturbio & Rey Trueno
3) La Comandante, Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sugheit b Dalis la Caribeña, La Seductora, Lady Apache
Goya was double booked between here and DF (with Marcela). Silueta, Luna, and Lluvia are all still in Japan, Estrellita was in Los Angeles for Lucha Va Voom, Dark Angel is with TNA, Estrella Magica is where ever she always is – did I miss anyone? Instead of pulling someone new in, Seductora worked as a tecnica for one night and Sugeith replaced her on the rudo side. This did not work out well for the tecnicas; Blanca pinned Apache with her feet on the ropes.
4) Pólvora, Rey Escorpion, Último Guerrero b Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr.
Rudos took 1/3, UG sneaking in a foul on Atlantis.
5) Volador Jr. b La Máscara [NWA MIDDLE]
Volador took 1/3, escaping the campana three times and winning on a second superplex. Volador is the new champion, the third in the history of this belt. Mascara is still the national light heavyweight champion, which he had previously won from Volador.

Two title changes in two days. CMLL has over 20 titles, so that should statistically happen from time to time, but it rarely happens that way. It has happened previously right before the CMLL Universal tournament, but they seem nowhere neat that. Title changes always are political items, but from what little I know of who’s allied with who, this doesn’t seem like a any particular group gaining control. It could be trying to make Puebla & Guadalajara shows seem more important. (Porra Fresa notes Puebla had edecanes for the first time this week as well.) It also could just be randomness.

PdM (TUE) 02/14/2012 Arena Aficion [Estrellas del Ring, R de Rudo, Super Luchas, WagnerMania]
1) Dinastía b Radical
2) Ek Balam & Peligro b Freyser & Garra de Aguila
3) Mr. Aguilita, Sexy Star, Súper Nova b Celestial, La Vaquerita, Zumbi
4) Halloween b Violento Jack, Aero Boy, Freelance, Pesadilla [Copa PdM Extremo]
Pesdailla, a regular, was the surprise participant. Halloween won when X-Fly interfered, attacking Violento Jack.
5) el Hijo del Perro Aguayo b Héctor Garza, Toscano, Texano, X-Fly, El Mesías [MEX HEAVY]
Mesias replaced original ‘surprise’ wrestler Latin Lover. Match came down to Garza & X-Fly, with Violento Jack running to attack X-Fly, allowing Garza to win the title.

X-Fly is still Perros del Mal Extremo champion, so he and Violento Jack will have a match over that at some point. Probably more likely Garza is just getting a new trophy belt to replace the one he gave up, but it’d be nice if it Perros del Mal started doing something with that title. (Perro and Garza are still the WWA tag team champions, now that I think about it, maybe they can use that too.)

CMLL (TUE) 02/14/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Bengala & Camaleón b Camorra & Cholo
2) Goya Kong & Marcela b Tiffany & Zeuxis
3) Demus 3:16, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito b Eléctrico, Fantasy, Último Dragoncito
Fantasy subbed for Bam Bam. He must’ve been a last minute sub, wrestling with a black shirt, red compression shorts, and an Electrico mask for gear.
4) Felino, Negro Casas, Puma King DQ Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Hijo del Fantasma
straight falls, Panther hitting Negro with his new belt in fall one, then straight fouling him in the second. Fantasma replaced Stuka.
5) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger b Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush
Terrible beat Rush with his feet on the ropes.

The El Consejo invades AAA’s office video is great and worth checking out if you haven’t seen it. Texano & Toscano are so great in this angle. It’s weird to have them picking on Octagon – he’s exactly who they should’ve picked on until a few months ago. I think this aired on AAA TV too , but I’ve had zero time to watch anything this week.

A story about CMLL wrestlers – minis and Atlantis – bringing gifts to an orphanage is nice in itself. The extra interesting part to me is the mention (and picture) of Nino de Acero – a mini who badly broke his leg three years ago. He was seen at a minis party a couple years ago, but this is the first sighting of him since, and we all had figured he retired. A mystery luchador named Akuma seems to be lurking in the background of that picture, perhaps waiting for someone to win without using a continue.

The March Lucha Libre USA shows include Blue Demon, Lizmark Sr., Super Nova, Pequeno Halloween, Marco Corleone, RJ Brewer, Shane Helms (Hurricane), Chavo Guerrero Jr., Latin Lover, Melina, and LA Park. I’ve heard LLUSA itself has little to do with the show, these are just sold shows to a local promoter. But, hey, if you’re in California, this may your one chance to see Pequeno Halloween live, don’t miss it.

Chessman explains he wanted to challenge for the AJPW tag titles with Abyss so they could hold both belts, but he could not be in Mexico on that day. Ultimo Gladiador did a great job in Zumpango and they can unite well to win the belts from Ozz & Cuervo.

Rob wrote about Reyes del Aire 2012 – I think, I didn’t actually read it since I haven’t seen it yet.

Links

• WagnerMania has an interview with Zumbido.
• Hijo de LA Park and Psicosis are in Oxnard, California on 02/25
• La Parka hypes his match on the X-Project show.
• Sexi Star & Vaquerita hype Vaquerita’s match on the X-Project show.
• Kaientai hypes his match on the X-Project show – he’s the NGX rep.
• Pasion Kristal is auctioning an outfit to raise money for the exoticos documentary.
• Lluvia and Luna continue to win in Japan.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 02/19/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Aereo & Pequeño Halcón vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Violencia
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso, Super Halcon Jr. vs Bobby Zavala, Hooligan, Inquisidor
3) Metro, Titán, Triton vs Hijo del Signo, Loco Max, Namajague
4) Blue Panther, Delta, Hijo del Fantasma vs Felino, Negro Casas, Rey Escorpion
5) Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto vs Marco Corleone, Máximo, Rush [CMLL TRIOS]

I’ve felt like this is a title change for a while. But three title changes in one week is a bit of an oddity.

We need to find a way to get that tercera on the air. Panther getting DQed twice again works for me.