Box y Lucha 994 & 997 (November 1971) recaps

I’m still trying to figure out how to do this. I’m going to try to bunch them by months when possible. It’s not often possible.

Box y Lucha 994 (November 11, 1971 publish date) covers a big Arena Mexico show on October 29th:

EMLL (FRI) 10/29/1971 Arena México [Box y Lucha 1002, Box y Lucha 993, Box y Lucha 994]
1) Agente X vs Dick Angelo
listed in the lineup, not mentioned in the results.
2) Látigo Watson b Cesar Valentino
3) Raúl Reyes b Coloso Colosetti
Raul Reyes
4) Kitazawa b Alberto Muñoz
5) Anibal & Blue Demon b Karloff Lagarde & Shibata
6) Ángel Blanco & El Solitario DQ Rayo de Jalisco & Tinieblas
Straight falls, Rayo fouled both rudos.
7) Rene GuajardoRenato TorresBlack Shadow [hair]
first three way hair match. Renato Torres won the battle royal, causing Shadow and Guajardo to have to fight in the first fall. (It’s meant to be multiple falls here, not separate matches.) Shadow submitted Guajardo to the Gory Special in the first fall, Torres defeated Black Shadow in the second, Guajardo beat Torres in the third to leave everyone tied at 1 fall won. Black Shadow beat Rene Guajardo again, meaning Shadow escaped the match, and Torres pinned Guajardo to take Guajardo’s hair. Box y Lucha later called one of the Black Shadow/Rene Guajardo the best singles match of 1971.

This is typical of this apuesta matches in this era: there wasn’t much build to it. Guajardo & usual tag partner Karloff Lagarde won a one night tournament the week before. They defeated Black Shadow & Blue Demon in the semifinals, then El Soltiario & Renato Torres in the final. They hadn’t been wrestling each other much prior, and there wasn’t any obvious set up for a hair match even in the tournament outcomes. The matches just happen and that’s the inherent issue with doing a look back at this period; the dots don’t always connect. Box y Lucha plays up Lagarde almost unmasking Demon in their tag match more than the hair match.

This issue also includes results for Arena Coliseo Acapulco on Sunday 10/24 and Wednesday 10/27. The setup there is like Guadalajara in modern times: Mexico City based wrestlers work on the midweek show, Sunday is more local focused (though some lower card CDMX wrestlers will work more as time goes on.)

In injury updates:

  • Ray Mendoza’s knee surgery went well, he’s got a good prognosis to return
    • Mendoza suffered a serious knee injury in October, may have wrestled through a it a bit, and Box y Lucha’s been fearful that is the end of his career. He would return in April 1972, though is time in EMLL is coming to an end.
  • Huracan Ramirez has a left arm fracture.
  • Villano I suffered a broken nose against Tauro.
  • Matematico messed up a tope, hit his head, and will be three months.

The magazine’s various notes columns also mention Villano III and Tony Salazar may be headed in soon. Both are there eventually, though it’s much farther down the road.

Box y Lucha has a few ‘notes’ columns. They add another one in this issue, debuting “Teodulfo” as the first ever masked lucha libre reporter.

Modren Box y Lucha skipped over 995 or 996 in their run, which may mean they don’t have access to copies. 994 does has the next Arena Mexico lineup, and a later year in review mentions the main event

EMLL (FRI) 11/05/1971 Arena México [Box y Lucha 1002, Box y Lucha 994]
1) El Greco vs Mario Alcala
2) Villano I vs Carlos Plata
3) Manuel Robles vs El Rostro
4) José Luis Mendieta b Gemelo Diablo II
5) Gemelo Diablo I vs Látigo Watson
6) Black Shadow, Blue Demon, Garo Katcherian b Karloff Lagarde, Kitazawa, Shibata
debut of Garo Katcherian (or something like that) from Armenia.
7) Rayo de Jalisco & Tinieblas b Ángel Blanco & El Solitario
bloody match

“Garo Katcherianis a borderline impossible name for lucha libre magazines to get right; I’m not sure why they didn’t have anyone change it. (They did just that with Whipper Watson Jr., switching him to Latigo Watson to make it more palatable.) I can’t find anything about Katcherian in wrestling outside this tour, but it’s possible we’re all spelling his name wrong.

The November 12th results popped up in a Super Luchas a long time ago.

CMLL (FRI) 11/12/1971 Arena Coliseo [RB, SL 333]
1) Joe Martin b Pepe Casas
2) Escorpión II b El Greco
3) Escorpión I DRAW El Rebelde
4) José Luis Mendieta DQ El Enfermero
5) Vic Amezcua b Chino Chow
6) Ángel Blanco & El Solitario b Anibal & Garo Katcherian [semifinal]
7) Karloff Lagarde & Kitazawa b Látigo Watson & Raúl Reyes [semifinal]
8) Ángel Blanco & El Solitario b Karloff Lagarde & Kitazawa [final]

That’s the future Tropicasas (and father of Felino, Heavy Metal and Negro Casas) in the opener. He worked a lot in EMLL in the early 70s, but was a guy who considered to small to book on most Friday night shows.

Box y Lucha 997 (November 26th) has Rayo de Jalisco in a University of Michigan sweater on the cover. This is a great inexplicable lucha libre photo that is never explained.

EMLL (FRI) 11/19/1971 Arena Coliseo [Box y Lucha 997]
1) Mario Alcala b Buddy Montes
2) Mario Alcala DRAW Dick Angelo
3) Escorpión II b César Silva
4) Estrella Blanca b Escorpión I
5) El Enfermero b Carlos Plata
6) Látigo Watson DQ Vic Amezcua
Watson’s best performance so far. Straight falls, last a DQ for foul
7) Anibal, Black Shadow, Garo Katcherian b Ángel Blanco, Dr. Wagner, El Solitario
tecnicos took ⅔

Anibal gets credited for carrying his side in the main event. He’s the rising young tecnico at this point. Latigo Watson is also pretty new – he admits on his debut that he’s green and he’s hear to learn – so his best performance is a hopeful sign of some improvement. The results really do list Mario Alcala in two matches, which is probably at typo. It’s possible one of them is his brother Marco, but Marco doesn’t otherwise turn up on these shows until 1975.

One of the notes columns mentions Tinieblas is off the Friday night shows, and is now demoted to Pista Arena Revolucion. Tinieblas, like Mil Mascaras, was a guy built up by the lucha libre magazines before he debuted. He looked impressive in still photos, not so much when it came to actually moving, and got poor reviews early on. The reviews never got all that much better for Tinieblas, but he’d make it back to Friday shows eventually.

That’s it for November.

TripleMania this Saturday, Habana Brothers vs Volador/Virus, Big Lucha/CMLL

CMLL

Tonight’s show

CMLL (FRI) 08/11/2023 Arena México
1) Futuro & Neón vs Raider & Sangre Imperial
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs El Coyote, Kráneo, Okumura
3) Esfinge vs Zandokan Jr. [lightning]
4) Adrian Quest, Baliyan Akki, Francesco Akira, Samuray del Sol vs Ángel de Oro, Euforia, Mephisto, Niebla Roja
5) Virus & Volador Jr. vs Rocky Romero & TJP
6) Atlantis Jr., Místico, Soberano Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

Virus & Volador Jr. face Rocky Romero & TJP for the first time since the 70th CMLL Aniversario show. The series of matches between a CMLL trio of Ricky Marvin, Virus, and Volador Jr. and NJPW’s Habana Brothers (Romero, TJP as Pinoy Boy, Ricky Reyes, and Bobby Quance) was a superb young guy feud of the 2003. It was a lot of fast-paced matches that really stood out for the time, making everyone involved feel like bigger stars by the end.

CMLL knew they needed a young star at the time. They tried (and failed) with Sagrado at around the same the CMLL/Habana feud started. It didn’t work with him, but it did work with a preliminary who wrestled a lot like the guys in this feud named Astro Boy. That wrestler became Mistico in 2004, and it was history from then on. There’s an argument, maybe not the most solid one but one that you can make if you’re inclined to do so, that CMLL doesn’t get Mistico right if they don’t have Volador and Rocky and TJP and Virus and the others as a model first. Or maybe they were just really great matches without needing the historical link.

Romero and TJP have had long and interesting careers. It never really came together the same way for Reyes, who’s now semi-retired after a long run of indie wrestling. Quance left wrestling to join the Navy not too long after his CMLL run, and turns up to do a match in California once every few years. Quance’s career was a real shooting star; he was really good over a short period of time that fans of that era can’t help but speculate what might have happened if he stuck with wrestling later or came along later when there were more and better paying places to wrestle.

Ricky Marvin still wrestles, though increasingly in fewer places. Marvin was and is still talented, but is also appears embittered by the lack of respect his career has gotten. Marvin is not without reason. It took about a decade for CMLL to fully embrace Volador as a top star, and Virus has had a similar slow climb to his current place. There was no guarantee it was ever going to happen for that CMLL trios, and Marvin wisely focused on wrestling in Japan’s NOAH promotion. He did well there, but his achievements were largely ignored in Mexico, and that version of NOAH fell apart. Marvin had a multiyear run with AAA, but it didn’t work out there. Nowadays, Marvin is the most reliable part of the Lucha Memes promotion. He has a cult following out of IWTV viewers and, unfortunately, has little impact beyond that. A video of Ricky Marvin painfully double stomping Calibus from the most recent Lucha Memes went viral, as some people talked themselves into believing there was a serious injury, and it was the most attention Marvin’s got in some time. Marvin’s still respected as a wrestler and a trainer. He’s not fit by any means, but there are plenty of out of shape Mexico luchadors wrestling often. Some wrestlers who’ve been “canceled” seem to get more bookings than he does nowadays. I think it’s possible he’s both had bad luck and has made bad luck for himself. Marvin is active on Facebook. Marvin hasn’t appeared to say anything about this reunion match (and not being part of it), though he has stated before he believes he’s banned from appearing in CMLL.

Virus, Volador, TJP and Rocky can all go at a high level. It’ll be cool just to seem the back together after so long, but it should be really good as a standalone match without that history. Rocky came back to CMLL one year ago now and has had great matches with Volador often during the last twelve months. TJP and Virus seem like they match up just as well.

We’re all dorking out about the Habana Brothers reunited against Virus & Volador, but the rest of the show is pretty solid too. The main event is a rematch from last week, it should be good and should be going somewhere. Match 4 has a lot of people making their Arena Mexico debuts against talented rudos. Zandokan keeps on appearing on Friday shows. The Puebla guys are reliable, and Futuro & Neon against Raider could be spectacular. Next week is the bigger show, but this is definitely worth checking out. It’s on Boletia as ever.

Both Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo Guadalajara had stream issues on Tuesday. These things happen, you just need a plan on how to handle them. Both are also recording those shows for TV, so it’s a solid bet a clean version of the show is available somewhere. Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, which operates a free channel, uploaded fixed versions of each match to their YouTube channel (though they’re posting them one a day.) CMLL’s channel, which offers that show as a 9 USD/month package, just left the broken show up there with no fix. Some of this is decisions on what to prioritize, but it also seems like Guadalajara has more people hours to throw at these things than Mexico City, and that makes no sense when looking at the revenue that must be coming into both places.

CMLL (MON) 08/14/2023 Arena Puebla
1) El Novato & Rayo Metálico vs Hijo del Perverso & Sombra Diabólika
2) Oro Jr., Retro, Xelhua vs El Malayo, El Perverso, Prayer
3) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, El Audaz vs Crixus, Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr.
4) Bárbaro Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr., Terrible vs Adrian Quest, Francesco Akira, Okumura, Samuray del Sol, TJP [cibernetico]
5) Atlantis Jr., Soberano Jr., Titán vs Baliyan Akki, Kushida, Rocky Romero

Another fun-looking main event and a cibernetico featuring people who wouldn’t get to face the international people otherwise.

CMLL (TUE) 08/15/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Luminoso, Omega, Quka vs Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Hijo del Calavera
2) Barboza, Draego, Persa vs Atilus, Maximus, Rey Urano
3) Náutica, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis vs La Catalina, Maligna, Valkiria
4) Atlantis Jr., Averno, Bestia Negra, Dulce Gardenia, Furia Roja, Soberano Jr., Titán, Último Guerrero vs Adrian Quest, Baliyan Akki, Dark Magic, Francesco Akira, Kushida, Rocky Romero, Samuray del Sol, TJP [cibernetico]

On the one hand, it’s strange for a Team Mexico with access to the entire CMLL roster to include Furia Roja and Bestia Negra. On the other hand, I like that we’re getting a very different match here than the Gran Prix.

The Aniversario show is down to less than 100 numbered tickets left. CMLL did sell out last year, announcing the lower bowl portion sold out on August 23rd. They’re ahead of that pace, and that pace was the first ever complete sell out before the doors opened. (The show was on 09/16 last year, as it is this year.) Announcing the lineup appeared to move a lot of tickets; maybe not even just the lineup itself, but as a reminder the show is coming and putting some urgency into buying tickets. Announcing the lower bowl has sold out will probably do the same. It doesn’t appear other CMLL shows are getting this sort of advancing sales – there are still plenty of tickets left for next week’ Gran Prix – but the Aniversario show is a must have.

Obviously, it would to be a thing if CMLL sells those last few floor tickets and can announce a partial sell-out tomorrow, the same day as TripleMania. I don’t know if those last few will move that fast.

ESTO talked to Fugaz about the All Star Junior Festival; he’s thrilled. It’s a big deal to him to be part of an important international competition, but it’s also a big deal because it’s the first time he’s traveled outside of Mexico. He made sure to enjoy his Arena Mexico debut and treat it like it was the only time he’d ever get to wrestle there, just in case, and he’s going to handle the ASJF the same. The ESTO article accidentally lists his age as 17. He is 27.

ESTO’s interview with La Catalina talked about her struggles to be a wrestler in Chile, dealing with health issues in WWE, and being inspired to keep going in Mexico.

ESTO also interviews Brillante Jr. and Max Star, both talking about how nervous they were for their debut. With Mundo Deportivo, Brillante Jr. talked about how Andrade/La Sombra was always his idol, and they first trained together when Brillante Jr. was four years old.

Kaiser Sports has notes on an interview with Hiromu Takahashi, who did an interview via Zoom. Not much in there; he’s happy to come back. I think he’s the favorite to win the Gran Prix; he’s only getting pinned if CMLL and NJPW have a title match planned.

Revolution Pro did a Q&A on Twitter Friday and the FantasticaMania UK show came up a bit. It appears it’s actually two shows, with an afternoon and evening card. The CMLL names are not finalized but they’re expecting to bring in “at least 10 wrestlers”. (More than I would’ve guessed.) CMLL participation was also teased for RevPro’s 10/21 British J Cup.

AAA

The final TripleMania of 2023 is Saturday. The lineup

AAA TV (SAT) 08/12/2023 Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Azcapotzalco, Distrito Federal
***TripleMania XXXI Ciudad de Mexico***
1) Dalys, Lady Shani, Sexy Star vs Chik Tormenta, La Hiedra, Maravilla
2) Komander vs Laredo KidWillie MackDave The ClownPaganoAramisMr. IguanaMurder ClownArezOctagón Jr.MyztezizNiño Hamburguesa [Copa Bardahl]
3) Negro Casas vs Nicho el Millionario
4) Taya © vs Flammer [Reina De Reinas]
5) Pentagón Jr. vs Qt MarshallDralisticoBrian Cage [AAA LA]
6) Hijo Del Vikingo © vs Mike BaileyDagaJack Cartwheel [AAA MEGA]
7) Sam Adonis vs Psycho ClownLA ParkRush [mask, hair]

Start Time on FITE

Los Angeles 7 pm
Mexico City 8 pm
Chicago 9 pm
New York 10 pm
London 3 am Sunday
Tokyo 11 am Sunday

AAA is sticking to a four-hour window, so expect a late night.

I have a preview of TripleMania over on Voices of Wrestling. It’s not positive. Last year, I wrote recaps for Post Wrestling. I’m not doing them this year, probably because I forgot to ask them if they wanted them again. I felt like I screwed up by forgetting before the Monterrey show, and by the time the Tijuana show ended, I was so happy I hadn’t agreed to do that. I’ll probably have way too many words here on Monday.

TripleMania should draw fans as well as usual. I sense as little online interest in this show as I can remember. The lineup is part of it, running two TripleManias so close to each other is also a part of it.

I think that if everything but the main event was instead a normal TV show, it would still be weird, but it’d be interesting. This being a TripleMania show weighs down on those matches, which all feel like they were hastily scribbled down around 2 AM after the Tijuana show ended. We’re also coming off a TripleMania where every single match was made worse by the overbooking and production. (Even the main event was strangely made worse for not being overbooked because everyone was waiting for it after the tease to start the match.) There are matches on this TripleMania that look perfectly enjoyable on paper but also probably won’t be because AAA can’t help themselves.

The main event should be really good, and even if it has no juice. I can’t believe LA Park and Rush are going to be in an apuesta match on Saturday, and so few people seem to care. Maybe they’re all quietly buying tickets instead of discussing it, because there’s no discussion. AAA chose to include them to sell tickets, but those guys haven’t done anything since TripleMania to promote the match. I know everyone believes Adonis will lose (and he should lose). Part of the attraction of Rush and LA Park is that they “break the rules” and do things they’re not supposed to; I think they could convince people they would settle it no matter what on Saturday if they want. It feels like just another weekend booking.

Psycho Clown confirmed the main event four-way is the first pin decides the winner and loser. I have no idea why Dorian Roldan made a deal out of announcing the rules for this match and then AAA never talked about the rules again. I’m not complaining about something hard to do or super niche here, I’m just asking for the most basic follow-through on their own angles. A single fall fourway is for the best; wrestlers want to build matches around breaking up pins and it makes more sense in that format.

This TripleMania is the last chance this year to retain the interest of fans AAA-curious fans. Many of those people will be back next TripleMania but will drop AAA between now and then unless AAA gives them a reason to care. I’m not talking about an angle here, I mean the very basic “this is our next worldwide streaming show, this is the next time we’ll have English commentary, this is how you can watch us on YouTube” details. It’d be great if AAA had those answers to give out on Saturday. They normally do not.

AAA has its pre-TripleMania pilgrimage on Thursday. It seemed like fewer actual wrestlers were involved than usual, though still a good amount of fans and press coverage.

AAA posted a QT Marshall promo on Friday. These promos are finally turning up just hours before the show, which I guess is better than not at all.

AAA mentioned there was a Mortal Kombat tie-in with TripleMania. Either Mortal Kombat or Warner set a press release Thursday to many Mexican video game sites to hype it, teasing it would include Mortal Kombat luchador masks. AAA posted a teaser on Friday. These are straight profit team-ups for AAA, with the added bonus of getting the product promoted to a different audience. It does eat up some time on the show; plan your snack runs.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 08/10/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, La Tijera, Mas Lucha]
1) Águila Roja & Rey Aztaroth b Blue Win & Ryu LIVE🔴 | Por el Campeonato Rey del Ring: Hijo de Canis Lupus (C) vs Pig Destroyer (R) (posted by mluchatv)
2) Mr. Mike, Puma de Oro, Tortuga Leo b Freelance, Ovett Jr., Súper Boy LIVE🔴 | Por el Campeonato Rey del Ring: Hijo de Canis Lupus (C) vs Pig Destroyer (R) (posted by mluchatv)
3) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. b Noisy Boy & Spider Fly LIVE🔴 | Por el Campeonato Rey del Ring: Hijo de Canis Lupus (C) vs Pig Destroyer (R) (posted by mluchatv)
Cerebros won via foul on Spider Fly.
4) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. b Pig Decapitador, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool and Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba LIVE🔴 | Por el Campeonato Rey del Ring: Hijo de Canis Lupus (C) vs Pig Destroyer (R) (posted by mluchatv)
5) Hijo de Canis Lupus © b Pig Destroyer [IWRG Rey del RingLIVE🔴 | Por el Campeonato Rey del Ring: Hijo de Canis Lupus (C) vs Pig Destroyer (R) (posted by mluchatv)
2nd defense. Pig Destroyer attacked Cnis Lupus after the match, with Pandemia making the save.

I know nothing of this. Recent events did make me wonder how many opening match guys the random smoke machine that’s over the center of the ring cost. (They also seem to have adopted CMLL’s kiss cam.)

IWRG (SUN) 08/13/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Ajolotl & Ryu vs Águila Roja & Rey Astaroth
2) Ely Surge, Gannicus, Sagitarius vs Centurion, Lolita, Rey Halcón
3) Dr. Cerebro, Dr. Cerebro Jr., Último Legendario vs Hip Hop Man, Karaoui, Shocko
4) León Dorado, Mr. Leo, Spider Fly vs Cerebro Negro, Ivan Rokov, Tonalli
5) Hijo del Fishman & Rey Espectro vs Hell Boy & Puma de Oro
6) Pig Decapitador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.

Both Spider Fly and Rey Halcon look like they were late adds to the lineup (different font than the rest of the names.) Not sure if that’s more people dropping out of IWRG or other reasons; Spider Fly makes sense in that match the following Thursday. The main event follows up on Thursday’s show. Ely Surge may be ex-ROH’s Eli Isom, who’s been seen at a Ricky Marvin training camp at Big Lucha this week. Correction: Ely Surge is pacific northwest wrestler Eli Surge.

IWRG (THU) 08/17/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Dark Shadow II, Moria, Prolux vs Dariux, Garrobo, Golden Power
2) Aéro Queen, Keyra, Lolita vs Baronessa, Satania, Zuzu Divine
3) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Astrolux, León Dorado, Mr. Leo
4) Hell Boy, Huracán Ramírez, Mamba vs Ángel Mortal Jr., Relámpago, Tonina Jackson
5) Arez, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Súpernova vs Hijo del Fishman, Ivan Rokov, Joe Lider

This is a benefit show for Diosa Quetzal. She had knee surgery earlier this year, still hasn’t returning to wrestling.

Arez makes his first Naucalpan appearance since the infamous 2019 Lucha Memes Battle of Naucalpan. That feels like an entirely different Lucha Memes than the one that exists now. Arez previously appeared on the Cuervo del Puerto Rico benefit show in 2018. He hasn’t appeared on a normal IWRG show since a FILL trainee show in 2017 when he was Fulgor II’s mentor. Arez hasn’t been in Naucalpan since he became Strange Style almost. I believe he and Quetzal have been in the same training group and that might be why he’s here. Wish he had better people to work.

I’m very curious about the semi-main. The Angel Mortal Jr. we know is now AAA’s Parka Negra, a very talented rudo who seems thoroughly underutilized in AAA. Not sure if this is him or (more likely) a new Angel Mortal Jr.

Eterno has been posting supportive messages about every IWRG luchador departure over the last week on Facebook (under both the Abismo Negro Jr. & Eterno accounts.) Reading through old posts, he definitely seemed to know the Dick Angelo/Legendario bit was coming before it was announced, maybe the others. He posted a message encouraging others to leave after Aster Boy left back on the 1st. Meanwhile, IWRG launched a “#somos IWRG” campaign over on Facebook.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha announced their 2nd Anniversary Show. It’s rather soon:

CMLL , Big Lucha (SAT) 08/26/2023 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Carito & Viajero vs Andrómeda & Brujo De Iztapalpa
2) Skayde vs Forneo [last man standing]
3) Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) Elipse, Iku, Orbita vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
5) Euforia, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero vs ?, Bendito, Flamita
probably Yutani
6) Averno & Místico vs Templario & Volador Jr.
7) Emperador Azteca © vs El Potro de Oro [BIG LUCHA CHAMP]

Big Lucha spent about a half hour reviewing the lineup, with graphics and live promos from participants. It wasn’t until Potro de Oro came out to cash in his golden ticket for the title shot that someone actually told the press the date from the show. The entire point of a press conference should be to let people know what is happening, where it is happening when it is happening, and how to watch. If you can get over “why”, that’s useful, but you need to finish the four big ones, and Big Lucha struggled at that basic task.

The lineup is fine. Not exciting but fine. There are three CMLL vs Big Lucha matches, though not the greatest picks from CMLL. Rey Bucanero appeared as the CMLL representative.  Big Lucha CEO (“Mr. Big Lucha”) Eduardo Gonzalez said he talked directly to Salvador Lutteroth III to make this deal, but it comes of as Bucanero being the main conduit. Bucanero promotes shows using CMLL talent and his trainees at Arena Rey Bucanero; they get a lot of lucha media attention and seemingly small fans, so this might be a better way to use that connection. Gonzalez said this was the start of an alliance between the two promotions, not a one-off.

Eduardo Gonzalez briefly mentioned Bandido and Big Lucha had split at the start off the press conference, immediately moving into a big reveal of the current Big Lucha roster. (Except for Black Generation, who didn’t show up until mid-conference.) This was the first public acknowledgment that Big Lucha and Bandido split. Gonzalez later said that Bandido was an important part of Big Lucha, they’re not going to remove his name from everything, and the door would always be open for a return. He also pushed the idea that Big Lucha was always more than just Bandido and there was a whole team involved. He was confident in his current roster and their ability to train new wrestlers to replace those who left or had commitments elsewhere. In a post-press conference interview, Gonzalez  insisted he and Bandido were still friends, said this was more about Bandido needing to focus on AEW and implied CMLL didn’t want Bandido around as part of the agreement with Big Lucha. This situation was handled more peacefully and professionally than normal for wrestling.

Potro de Oro showed up at the end to make his title challenge and nothing was said about the status of former Black Generation members Gravity, Galeno del Mal, and Rey Horus. (Komander left the promotion back in January and wouldn’t be allowed to work here anyway now with CMLL wrestlers in. Los Locos Evans still exists but Jack Evans was quietly missing from this press conference, likely for similar reasons.)

On a similar topic, Flamita said he was never under contract to AAA, and just agreed to work some dates. Flamita said he left over political issues, every promotion has their politics, CMLL has its own politics, and he considered himself an independent wrestler. Flamita said that he was part of Big Lucha today, but “tomorrow I could go.” That came off more as his heel anti-Big Lucha character than a real thought about leaving. Flamita staying in Big Lucha and Bandido leaving separates those two for the first time since Mexablood started in 2017 2018.

Other News

DTU had a show at the Expo Tulancingo on Wednesday, bringing in AAA wrestlers in addition to their own crew. (Mas Lucha streamed this live.) Criterio Hidalgo reports that an edecan was taken by the Red Cross to the hospital after the show with multiple injuries, allegedly having been attacked by a wrestler in a dressing area. There are no more details about who was involved, and neither DTU nor the organizers of Expo Feria have said anything.

RIOT put up the SB Kento & Takuma vs Kartoz & Prometo match from their most recent show. It’s worth going out of your way to watch.

Box y Lucha posted another set of 1956 Box y Luchas. I haven’t even gotten through the old set. I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far; these are more informative than I would’ve thought.

Panama’s El Titán (Titán, 77) passed away on August 6th. He’s said to a wrestler in the 60s and 70s, retiring in 1983 after fracturing a rib.  I think that would’ve been before the era of Panama wrestling that recently turned up.) He’s said to have won an unnamed world champion.

full CMLL Aniversario card includes a mask and a hair match, Copa Independencia, AAA Showcenter TV

Aniversario

CMLL announced the full lineup on (one of the longest ever episodes of) Informa

CMLL (SAT) 09/16/2023 Arena México
1) ? vs ?? [Copa Independencia]
2) La Jarochita & Lluvia vs Stephanie Vaquer & Zeuxis [CMLL WOMEN TAG]
new championships
3) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Octagón vs Fuerza Guerrera, Satánico, Virus
4) Soberano Jr. & Titán vs Lince Dorado & Samuray del Sol
5) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Místico vs Kevin Knight, Rocky Romero, TJP
6) Ángel de Oro & Volador Jr. vs Averno & Último Guerrero [winners advance]
7) ? vs ?? [hair]
8) Templario vs Dragón Rojo Jr. [mask]

It’s not bad. I thought there was no way CMLL was doing all three apuesta matches. Getting two of them and getting them in straight forward fashion is a lot better than one. The outcomes are not in much doubt – Dragon Rojo’s seems certain to lose his mask, and Averno’s likely to lose his hair – but the matches should be great in that atmosphere.

Metalik quitting right as the rest of the Lucha House Party is coming in for an Aniversario match can not be a coincidence. In the place of whatever that was going to be, there are now two matches and Kevin Knight making his CMLL debut. Both should be good, I’d rather one of them got pushed off to get more regular rudos onto the card. Lince Dorado and Samuray del Sol will be fine, I’d rather have gotten to see Barbaro Cavernario and Hechicero and I think the card would’ve done just as well with either team.

Legend’s match is a legend’s match; maybe we’ll get another Octagon/Fuerza challenge once again.

The new women’s tag titles debuting here explains why CMLL was holding off on running that tag match for so long. I believe CMLL should’ve just made world women’s tag titles when they came up with this idea, glad they’re getting to it eventually. The winner of this match will vacate the other tag titles: Lluvia & Jarochita would give up the Mexican National Trios Titles, Zeuxis & Stephanie Vaquer will relinquish the Occidente Tag Team championships if they win.

The Copa Independencia returns as the opener, with blocks on 09/01 and 09/08 and a final on 09/16. Making it the opener is unexpected and might mean it’s a younger wrestler.

The legend’s match will probably not be good. Everything else should be good, and some should be much better than that. It doesn’t seem like it’ll challenge the best CMLL shows of years in terms of match quality, but it feels like an Aniversario show with the important stuff. It’s solid.

Other CMLL News

CMLL (MON) 08/07/2023 Arena Puebla [El Sol de PueblaGrada, Porra Fresa]
1) Astro, Asturiano, El Novato b Dreyko, Espíritu Maligno, Fénix SO
2) Hijo del Perverso, Inquisidor, Nitro b Amnesia, Diamond, Millenium
3) Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr. b Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, El Audaz Facebook video (posted by )
Hijo del Villano III snuck in a foul on Blue Panther Jr.
4) Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Máscara Dorada b Ángel de Oro, Baliyan Akki, Templario [Relevos IncreíblesFacebook video (posted by )
5) Místico DQ Soberano Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
Soberano fouled Mistico, wants a title match despite the loss

CMLL will get it’s own version of the Gran Prix next Monday, and that main event seemed to be setting up a title match.

CMLL (TUE) 08/08/2023 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito b Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 08 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
2) Eléctrico, Max Star, Valiente Jr. b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Inquisidor FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 08 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
3) Zeuxis b Skadi [lightningFUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 08 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
8:10
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa b Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 08 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
5) Atlantis, Star Jr., Valiente b Hijo del Villano III, Niebla Roja, Villano III Jr. FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 08 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
6) Hechicero, Máscara Dorada, Titán b Averno, Soberano Jr., Terrible [Relevos IncreíblesFUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 08 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)

There were streaming issues on this show. Guadalajara had issues too, so it might have been a bigger YouTube issuer. The sound and video gets out of sync and doesn’t get fixed until the main event. The show itself was alright for a Tuesday show but I didn’t get much out of it.

CMLL (TUE) 08/08/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Astro Oriental, Cosmos, Lince Del Bajio b Destello, Destructor, Relámpago Azul
2) Dulce Kitty, Náutica, Sexy Sol b Atenea, Nexy, Valkiria
3) Halcón Suriano Jr. b Johnny Dinamo [super libre]
4) Crixus, Difunto, Zandokan Jr. b Ángel Rebelde, Gallero, Halcón Negro Jr.
Crixus and Halcon Negro still feuding.
5) Blue Panther Jr., Cachorro, Dark Panther b Bárbaro Cavernario, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
Canalla and Blue Panther dropped from the lineup on Sunday.
6) Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Místico b Baliyan Akki, Templario, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

Also just a normal show. The YouTube version is in eight pieces and incomplete, and the Facebook is not a lot better. I give them credit, I would have quit a lot quicker than on the eighth try streaming a show.

CMLL (SAT) 08/12/2023 Arena Coliseo
1) Grako & Retro vs Bengala & Príncipe Odín Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
2) Amapola, La Magnifica, La Vaquerita vs Hera, La Maligna, Olympia [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr., Volcano vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) Pólvora vs Rey Bucanero [lightning]
5) Bárbaro Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Terrible vs Adrian Quest, Baliyan Akki, Francesco Akira
6) Máscara Dorada, Titán, Volador Jr. vs Rocky Romero, Samuray del Sol, TJP

There are going to be a lot of shows over the next week where I’m going to look at the lineup and wish they’d stream at least part of it because of the unusual names, like the main event here. We’ll probably get at least one of them.

CMLL (SUN) 08/13/2023 Arena México
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Minos & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Leono vs Enfermero Jr. [lightning]
3) Astral & Oro Jr. vs Omar Brunetti & Vaquero Jr.
4) Fugaz, Star Black, Valiente vs Felino, Felino Jr., Misterioso Jr.
5) Adrian Quest, Baliyan Akki, Samuray del Sol vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
6) Soberano Jr., Templario, Titán vs Francesco Akira, Rocky Romero, TJP

Again, main event looks fun. Omar Brunetti is back.

Noches de Campeones will take place 09/29. That’s been “fans pick the challengers” in previous years.

The CMLL bodybuilding contest returns on November 29th, and got a whole segment about it. This previously seemed as Paco Alonso’s favorite bit, one of the rare times he’d be seen around a CMLL show in his last years, and it seemed like maybe it would be dropped after he passed away. Salvador Lutteroth III was part of the bodybuilding segment here, so it’s probably here for good. I did not give this segment my full attention, but bodybuilding federation officials appeared to talk about how they’d be working with the luchadors in monthly sessions for the rest of the year. There will be men’s and women’s winners; JCR mentioned three or four women have indicated they’ll participate.

El Sol de Puebla has an interview with Rey Apocalipsis, mostly about his other life as a butcher. He says he came to Arena Puebla under the Apocalipsis name he used in Xalapa, but that wouldn’t work because CMLL already had one. He came up with “Rey Apocalipsis” and Benjamin Mora congratulated him for the idea. The creativity is underwhelming.

CMLL Informa had a long segment with Templario with no news at all, just talking about how much he liked being part of CMLL and how it helped him. This is where the YouTube chat was helpful: the unexplained subtext was that viral Tiktok declared that Templario was heading to WWE. There was nothing to that story, but CMLL still needed him to express his commitment to them. The funny thing is people thinking Templario was headed to CMLL would give more doubt to the Aniversario match, but it was more important for CMLL to shoot down the rumor.

AAA

AAA pointed out their 08/20 Showcenter card is now a TV taping. It looks like it was actually changed to a TV taping back on 07/24, and I missed it. AAA added a Sexy Star vs Centella vs Lady Maravilla match to the lineup, which makes six matches and probably two weeks of TV.  Everywhere else uses TV time as a precious commodity to get over talent and angles, and AAA is trying to get it as cheaply and ineffectively as possible. I’m sure Space lovers them for the TripleManias and for the other live shows they’re going to do, and the other stuff just doesn’t matter at all. Making it a TV taping should sell a few more tickets to the Showcenter, but also that seemed to be the point of booking Alberto to appear.

AAA had a media day on Tuesday. If they announced the rules for the main event, no one felt it was important enough to report yet. Sam Adonis appears to have been the only guy in the top three matches in attendance; many people are discussing how important it is to win the Copa and imagining more interesting matches they could have the rest of this year.

Negro Casas did have something to say: he felt he was disrespected by CMLL, to the point that the only way he’d be part of a Friday show is being Dalys’ ride to the arena. Casas told the CMLL programmers to use him either as a rudo or tecnico if it’d get him booked more and still could not get on to those shows. He still seems to hold bitterness to CMLL out of how his run ended, though he exempts Salvador Lutteroth III from it – Lutteroth was there for the family after Black Warrior Jr. passed away. Casas talks about his exit from LLI/UWA – crying to Carlos Maynes to ask to be let go, because EMLL was offering him so much more and LLI was going down – as an example of why it’s better to move to different places like he’s done now with AAA.

Casas left CMLL in January 17th. He worked on the December 30th and December 23rd shows, which are always impacted by holiday absences. The previous Friday he worked was November 11th, and before that the September 16th Aniversario. Part of CMLL’s turnaround has been focusing on a smaller group of people more often on Friday, and Casas was outside that group.

Mas Lucha has an interview with Dralistico, who talked up Rush’s match and Dragon Lee’s match and didn’t mention anyone he was facing (though he did acknowledge he had a match.) Octagon Jr. is going with Villano III Jr. got scared of him, and ran away.

An actual Taya promo for the title match!

AAA has its annual march and church service on Thursday.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 08/10/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Blue Win & Ryu vs Águila Roja & Rey Aztaroth
2) Ovett Jr. & Súper Boy vs Mr. Mike & Tortuga Leo
3) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr.
4) Pig Decapitador, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. and Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba
5) Pig Destroyer vs Hijo de Canis Lupus © [IWRG Rey del Ring]
2nd defense

Maybe good? Kinda wonder what match 3 will be like.

Los Herederos Dorados (Legendario and Dick Angelo 3G) are out of here. Legendario posted a long Facebook message on Tuesday detailing their issues with IWRG: low pay (about 350 pesos a match), lack of bookings and IWRG demanding a cut of the bookings Herederos Dorados found on their own as per their contract. Legendario & Dick Angelo 3G are talented but often out of control. They were booked regularly until a March 12th match, which included an attempted mid-bout fist-fight with Tryout participant Hazel. Herodes Dorado dumped Haziel on his head to end the match, he seemed to be in real pain, and he hasn’t wrestle in Arena Naucalpan since. (He may have not wrestled at all; I’m not sure if I have the different Hazel/Haziel’s straight.) Dick Angelo and Legendario returned for three matches over May and June and haven’t been used since. They’re Abismo Negro Jr./Eterno students, and it appeared he was already getting them booked as replacements on AAA spots shows. They’ll likely end up working other Mexico State shows.

Kenji added his name to the list of people leaving IWRG on Wednesday. Kenji mostly wrestled in openers and on trainee shows since 2021, and had not appeared on a show since July 16th. His only notable match was a lightweight title challenge in February, which is half the problem. He complains about pay as well. He says he was under contract, which is amazing. It clearly is a bad idea for the wrestlers to sign these sorts of contracts, but I’m not sure what the advantage is for IWRG to sign guys that they’re not going to do much with over two years. I would not have noticed Kenji was gone if he didn’t announce it and IWRG can easily find someone like Blue Win to be in their space. I guess it’s a sign how ridiciolously one sided these IWRG contracts must be that they bother with this contracts, and how little education lucha libre wrestling trainers are giving their students about the business of wrestling that these guys are signing them.

The IWRG pattern, with both Aster Boy and this group, is they have a big announcement they’ve quit, but IWRG’s already stopped booking them for an extended point. The two sides might still be talking, but it comes off as IWRG’s cut ties with the wrestlers (or at least decided they don’t care if it falls apart) before the wrestlers figure it out. On the other side, this run of Facebook posts detailing people quitting IWRG is unusual. Luchadors usually just stop showing up places and don’t make an announcement unless someone requires them to do so (as Flamita & Emperador Azteca did last week.) Maybe doing these on the way out is a new trend, but it feels almost coordinated for the IWRG departures.

I’m unsure if this is related, but IWRG announcer Mauricio Rebollo announced he was done with the promotion as well. In this case, he was told he was done after taping the episode of IWRG’s Revolucionado that’s going up tonight, and he says he was surprised to find out. He’d be working there for two years. The same show introduced Rodrigo Soto as a new IWRG announcer last week, though it was presented as one more announcer rather than a replacement.

Other News

Impact has Samuray del Sol, Laredo Kid, Black Taurus vs Moose, Bryan Myers and Bully Ray on Thursday’s episode.

A visit to a lucha libre expo in Oaxaca include an interview with Fray Tormenta, who mentions he’s got a blocked artery. He believed he would earn one or two million dollars per year when he got in wrestling and was shocked to find out it was more like 200 pesos per match. That’s better than some people are doing.

Zeta Tijuana visits the Lucha Libe Tijuana school, now located at the Auditorio.

Box y Lucha 3563 has too many things on the cover.

Guerreros versus Soberano/Atlantis, Havana Brothers reunite, Metalik/CMLL done, Big Lucha

 

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 08/04/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser SportsThe Gladiatores (text)The Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Brillante Jr., Futuro, Max Star b Misterio Blanco, Misterio Negro, Vegas CMLL - MISTERIO NEGRO Y BLANCO - VEGAS VS MAX STAR - BRILLANTE JR. - FUTURO/ARENA MÉXICO /04-08-23 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Futuro, Max Star y Brillante Jr. vs Vegas, Misterio Negro y Misterio Blanco (posted by mluchatv) Max Star, Brillante Jr. y Futuro derrotan a Misterio Blanco, Misterio Negro y Vegas (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Max Star, Futuro y Brillante vs Vegas, Misterio Blanco y Misterio Negro ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
12:15.
2) La Magnifica, Lluvia, Skadi b Amapola, Hera, Zeuxis CMLL - HERA - AMAPOLA - ZEUXIS VS LA MAGNÍFICA - SKADI - LLUVIA /ARENA MÉXICO /04-08-23 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Lluvia, Skadi y La Magnifica vs Zeuxis, Amapola y Hera (posted by mluchatv) Lluvia, La Magnífica y Skadi derrotan a la poderosa tercia ruda de Amapola, Zeuxis y Hera (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Zeuxis, Amapola y Hera vs Lluvia, Skady y La Magnífica ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
11:14
3) Magnus b Difunto [lightningCMLL - MATCH RELÁMPAGO / MAGNUS VS DIFUNTO/ARENA MÉXICO /04-08-23 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) El poderoso (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Magnus vs Difunto MATCH RELÁMPAGO/ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
7:49.
4) Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr. b Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa CMLL - LA DINASTIA IMPERIAL Y ZANDOKAN JR. VS LOS DULCES ATRAPA SUEÑOS /ARENA MÉXICO /04-08-23 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr. e Hijo del Villano III vs Los Dulces Atrapasueños (posted by mluchatv) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro y Rey Cometa vs Zandokan Jr, Hijo del Villano III y Villano III Jr (posted by Estrellas del Ring) H. de Villano III, Villano III Jr. y Zandokan Jr. derrotan a D.Gardenia, Rey Cometa y Espíritu Negro (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
14:20. No immediate trios challenge.
5) Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible, Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Star Jr. [Relevos IncreíblesCMLL -STAR JR.-NIEBLA ROJA-ÁNGEL DE ORO VS TERRIBLE-B. CAVERNARIO-VOLADOR JR./ARENA MÉXICO /04-08-23 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Volador Jr, Terrible y Bárbaro Cavernario vs Angel de Oro, Niebla Roja y Star Jr ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
13:57. Volador and Angel de Oro feuded a bit but didn’t figure into the finish.
6) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero b Atlantis Jr., Místico, Soberano Jr. CMLL - LOS GUERREROS LAGUNEROS VS ATLANTIS JR. - MÍSTICO - SOBERANO JR. /ARENA MÉXICO /04-08-23 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Con trampa Stuka Jr, Último Guerrero y Gran Guerrero vencen a Soberano Jr, Atlantis Jr y Místico (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
11:14. Straight falls, Stuka & Gran Guerrero sneaking in a foul on Soberano. Tecnicos demanded a rematch next week.

Not a strong show but generally watchable. Villanos and Zandokan remained really fun and had good opposition; that was easily the match of the night. CMLL usually runs something special as a semi-main for the Gran Prix, and the main event pointed towards that being Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. versus Gran Guerrero & Stuka. That requires two straight weeks of Soberano and Ultimo Guerrero not touching in the main event, but they’ve gotten good about hiding it.

CMLL (SAT) 08/05/2023 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II b Mije & Perico
2) Cachorro, Diamond, Eléctrico b Dr. Karonte I, Futuro, Raider
Futuro replaced Dr. Karonte II
3) Amapola & La Vaquerita b Maligna & Tiffany [Relevos Increíbles]
4) El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma b Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
Ola Negra fouled Maya in the first fall, Audaz DQed in the second for touching referee Olimpico, Maya won the third clean.
5) Esfinge © b Misterioso Jr. [MEX LH]
first defense
6) Stuka Jr., Templario, Volador Jr. DQ Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Niebla Roja
Angel de Oro foul to Volador, Dragon Rojo unmasked Templario.

Misterioso doesn’t win but losing enough weight to challenge is the victory.

CMLL (SUN) 08/06/2023 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito b Galaxy & Kaligua
2) Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr. b Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Sangre Imperial
Bala/Imperial continue to feud
3) Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus b Crixus, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Fugaz b Rugido [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Panterita del Ring, Valiente b Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
6) Atlantis Jr., Hechicero, Máscara Dorada b Euforia, Mephisto, Titán [Relevos Increíbles]

Nothing much notable here.

NJPW announced Fugaz for the 08/19 All Star Junior Festival. If he’s on, he’ll turn heads. That show is 12 days away, and I’m slightly concerned they’ll still be announcing people after the show takes place.

Blue Panther is off Tuesday’s Arena Coliseo Guadalajara show. He was previously announced as wrestling in Piedras Negras as part of a northern tour with other names. (Satanico is on those shows, you think the Guadalajara people would’ve known.) Canalla was removed from the Cavernario side to make it a trios.

CMLL (TUE) 08/08/2023 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía vs Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) Eléctrico, Max Star, Valiente Jr. vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Inquisidor
3) Skadi vs Zeuxis [lightning]
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
5) Atlantis, Star Jr., Valiente vs Hijo del Villano III, Niebla Roja, Villano III Jr.
6) Hechicero, Máscara Dorada, Titán vs Averno, Soberano Jr., Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]

Again, no idea why the main event teams are split up this way. Maybe Hechicero and Averno can’t team? Max Star versus the Karontes could be dangerous.

CMLL (FRI) 08/11/2023 Arena México
1) Futuro & Neón vs Raider & Sangre Imperial
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs El Coyote, Kráneo, Okumura
3) Esfinge vs Zandokan Jr. [lightning]
4) Adrian Quest, Baliyan Akki, Francesco Akira, Samuray del Sol vs Ángel de Oro, Euforia, Mephisto, Niebla Roja
5) Virus & Volador Jr. vs Rocky Romero & TJP
6) Atlantis Jr., Místico, Soberano Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

The semi-main will be the first time those four will be in the same ring since the 70th Anniversary show. Virus, Volador and Ricky Marvin versus Rocky Romero, Pinoy Boy (TJP) and Bobby Quance or Ricky Reyes was the hot midcard feud of 2003, something fondly remembered by fans of that time twenty years later. I’ve been hoping we’d get that match since Rocky Romero started showing back up here, and it’s actually happening.

Samuray del Sol’s thing in the US was he was out of most people’s price range, so I’m surprised to see him working here more than just the Gran Prix. It might be a bucket list thing for him.

The main event is the rematch from last week. Raider against those tecnicos could be really good in the opener.

Metalik announced Saturday that he would not be returning to CMLL. He said he and CMLL could not come an agreement on a deal. Metalik announced this shortly after appearing on AEW TV, which suggests they may have come to their terms. Metalik coming back to CMLL once after his WWE run was useful for closure and for helping to get fans to accept the new Mascara Dorada. (It may be related that CMLL’s dropped the “2.0” from the new Mascara Dorada’s name after the original has gone.) A return visit didn’t seem necessary; 2023 Metalik just does not do enough in the ring to make himself valuable. It’s not even that CMLL has a new group of high flyers; Metalik also just isn’t going ever be the same guy who left CMLL, due to age and a belief in a more-WWE way of doing things. Metalik will be missed because he was an important part of a lot of great matches, but CMLL will also be fine without him.

Metalik’s wise to look for other options if he has them. I believe the Lucha House Party may be taking dates together belatedly; they’re hinting at it on Twitter. Officially breaking his ties with CMLL will free him of restrictions of working with AAA people, and that may be necessary going forward and particularly for signing an AAA/ROH deal.

A reminder: the CMLL Aniversario card will be out Wednesday evening (and I’ll post sometime after.)

AAA

Not a lot to say about the rest of Verano de Escandalo. Dalys had a bad night and Negro Casas and Nicho messed up something before the finish, but the other two matches were fine. Maybe even the Laredo Kid/Latigo match was good and just didn’t get into it. The show was full of promos of guys talking about how they really want to settle things with their rivals, which would make sense but doesn’t amount to much. No one said when they’d actually get that match because no one knows.

The show was full of AAA weirdness too. The sound and video was off in the opener. The second match listed Belecgor on one of the teams in Latigo’s place. A Konnan/Antifaz segment cut from one version of the promo to another every time someone spoke bizarrely as if they couldn’t get the audio working for both guys at one time. That segment seemingly advanced nothing, and I’m not sure why something that looked that terrible was included on the final cut. Again, it’s clear no one in AAA who the power to make changes actually watches their television show.

On his podcast, Konnan says the rules to the TripleMania main event are simply the normal rules to every other AAA four-way: no DQ, first pin decides the winner and loser. It’s better than a cage. No idea when AAA will announce this.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 08/06/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Spider Fly © b Gannicus [IWRG IC Light] IWRG | Spider Fly retiene su Campeonato Intercontinatal de Peso Ligero ante Gannicus (posted by mluchatv) KICKOFF 🔴| CARAVANA DE CAMPEONES 2023 (posted by IWRG tv)
4th defense
2) Puma de Oro © b Shocko [IWRG IC MIDDLE] IWRG | Puma de Oro retiene el Campeonato Intercontinental de Peso Medio ante Shocko (posted by mluchatv) KICKOFF 🔴| CARAVANA DE CAMPEONES 2023 (posted by IWRG tv)
3rd defense
3) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. © b Dr. Cerebro & Dr. Cerebro Jr. [IWRG IC TAG] IWRG | Los Cerebros Negros retienen el Campeonato de Parejas ante Dr. Cerebro y su Jr, (posted by mluchatv) KICKOFF 🔴| CARAVANA DE CAMPEONES 2023 (posted by IWRG tv)
2nd defense
4) Tonalli b Rey León © [RGR MIDDLE] IWRG | Tonalli se corona como Campeón Medio de RGR derrotando a Rey León y es doble campeón (posted by mluchatv)
Rey Leon falls on his 2nd defense. Tonalli is now a double champ.
5) Hell Boy © b Rey Espectro [IWRG MEXICO] IWRG | Hellboy llevó al Infierno a Rey Espectro y retiene el Campeonato de México (posted by mluchatv)
3rd defense
6) Hijo del Fishman b Hijo De Dos Caras [IWRG JUNIORS] IWRG | El Hijo de Fishman retiene el Campeonato Jr. de Jrs. ante Hijo de Dos Caras (posted by mluchatv)
2nd defense
7) Hijo de Canis LupusIvan Rokov © [RGR HEAVY]
1st defense

It sounds like the Cerebros tag match was worth watching (and is on the free part of the show.)

IWRG , LLB (THU) 08/24/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Gravedad Cero vs Hijo De SpartaPríncipe CentauroRyuSpartaLatinoÁguila OrientalRey Espartano
2) Macho I, Macho II, Macho III vs Arturo Gaona, Demencia, Reptil
3) Belial, Fandango, Hijo De Carta Brava vs Fly Star, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly
4) Lunatik Extreme vs Ovett Jr.Súper Boy Jr.
5) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba vs Alas De Plata, Ángel Del Amor, Carta Brava Jr. (LLB)
6) Hell Boy, Puma de Oro, Tonalli vs Judas el Traidor, Sádico, Terry 2000
7) Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool vs Fantasma de la Ópera, Joe Lider, Sádika
8) Cibernético & Dr. Wagner Jr. vs DMT Azul & Pirata Morgan

The usual Lucha Libre Boom style show in Arena Naucalpan.

Big Lucha

A day late, Big Lucha posted the first part of their latest show. This included the title match, the faction must split match, and two undercard matches.

The four-way team match had some good action but was too chaotic to really get into. Teams would disappear for so long that I thought they were eliminated. The wrestlers and the announcers sold the Guns/BG as this big end of the feud but I think the fans thought it was just a big twist that’ll be undone later.

Emperador Azteca/Negro Casas was better than I thought it would be. It was a lot of just standing and hitting, and that was enough to get emotion and work around any limitations. Casas looked better here than on AAA TV.

The post-match seemed to establish Black Generation as the home army; they’re the bad guys but they’re Big Lucha’s bad guys. Big Lucha fans reacted very positively to the idea of CMLL wrestlers coming in. The video itself teased people like Mascara Dorada and Volador but I’m sure if that’s who is actually coming – Dr. Landru heard Big Lucha would have Black Generation versus Los Infernales and the full card will be announced Thursday.

If I had not been told Bandido was gone, I’m not sure I would’ve put it together. There were clues if you were looking there – he was almost totally removed from the opening video, the announcers avoided mentioning him at all in association with the Golden Guns – but they kept the breakup quiet. It’s not been a story at all in Mexico. Bandido hasn’t said anything, and it won’t be something people notice until he starts wrestling again.

Big Lucha appeared to be filming a documentary.

ADN Radio’s “Ring a Tu Madre” had Eduardo Gonzalez, billed as the CEO of Big Lucha, as a guest on a recent show. Poli Carrillo, one of the Big Lucha announcers, was also on the show. Gonzalez been an on-screen authority figure and I believe is the person who actually owns the promotion. He talked about a few different subjects, including working out the deal to get CMLL wrestlers on to the upcoming show. ADN is an Azteca owned station, so the hosts remarked that even they can’t have CMLL wrestlers on the show and were impressed Big Lucha found a way. Gonzalez sounds like he dealt directly with the Lutteroth’s, he feared CMLL might have a problem with sending their wrestlers to another show in Mexico City on a Saturday night, but CMLL had no problem with that. He was later asked if this meant Big Lucha wrestlers would go to CMLL; Big Lucha is open to that but there’s no agreement that way.

Gonzalez’s (heavily storyline) explanation for the end of the Golden Guns is they just weren’t around much to be a group and they were in the shadow of Black Generation anyway. Bandido and Gravity are busy in the US, Galeno del Mal in Japan, and it was asking too much for Potro to lead a unit himself. Please ignore that Black Generacion is also in Japan a lot.

I’ve not gotten a good explanation of the creative differences between Gonzalez and Bandido that led to the split. There is a point in the podcast where the hosts bring up ROH wrestlers come to Big Lucha early on. Gonzalez is down on the idea, saying they didn’t understand how to work for Mexican fans and those fans didn’t see them as an attraction. He’d rather book Fresero Jr., and then points to the camera and says he is booking Fresero Jr. coming up. It likely is the smarter economic move to book Fresero Jr., but that also seems like a pretty different Big Lucha than the idea was at the start.

Other News

The 08/04 debut show of Aztec Wrestling in Auditorio de Tijuana was canceled hours beforehand. That’s usually a money issue.

Segunda Caida reviews some of the new 1992 Monterrey lucha libre.

Site Note

I started moving this site to a new hosting company on Sunday. There’s apparently no good way to do it outside of FTP-ing everything down from here and up to the new site, and that’s taken more than a day. This site will stop working for a while at some point this week. The luchawiki and luchadb will also go down, as their database will move. I’m not really sure the best time to do it; I’m not sure how long they’ll be down. I’ll try to let you know when I know.

 

FantasticaMania UK announced, quiet CMLL Friday show, Verano de Escandalo

CMLL

Tonight’s show…

CMLL (FRI) 08/04/2023 Arena México
1) Brillante Jr., Futuro, Max Star vs Misterio Blanco, Misterio Negro, Vegas
2) La Magnifica, Lluvia, Skadi vs Amapola, Hera, Zeuxis
3) Magnus vs Difunto [lightning]
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr.
5) Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Star Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Atlantis Jr., Místico, Soberano Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

…is just a show. Maybe the fourth match sets up a trios title match and the Angel de Oro/Volador feud continues in the semimain, but it feels like a lower important show after the last few. That’s fine, they all and shouldn’t have the volume at ten, and matches should turn up fun anyway. It’s also one you might feel safe skipping if you’re buying this on PPV. Ticket seem to be moving well enough.

CMLL also has the PPV links to buy the Gran Prix (in pesos and dollars). It is the same elevated price strategy CMLL was using for big shows on TicketmasterLive, but it looks like they may be a dollar or so cheaper before fees.

CMLL (SAT) 08/05/2023 Arena Coliseo
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Mije & Perico
2) Cachorro, Diamond, Eléctrico vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Raider
3) Amapola & La Vaquerita vs Maligna & Tiffany [Relevos Increíbles]
4) El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
5) Esfinge © vs Misterioso Jr. [MEX LH]
first defense
6) Stuka Jr., Templario, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Niebla Roja

Usual feuds in the main event. Misterioso talked about reawakening his love of wrestling thanks to his family and losing a lot of weight, hence qualifying for a light heavyweight title match.

CMLL (SUN) 08/06/2023 Arena México
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito vs Galaxy & Kaligua
2) Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr. vs Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Sangre Imperial
3) Crixus, Okumura, Pólvora vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
4) Fugaz vs Rugido [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Panterita del Ring, Valiente vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
6) Atlantis Jr., Hechicero, Máscara Dorada vs Euforia, Mephisto, Titán [Relevos Increíbles]

CMLL has started listing the wrestler as “Mascara Dorada” without the “2.0”. They still call him “2.0” on commentary so far. Maybe they’re going to quietly drop it now that people have seen Dorada 2.0 and Metalik in the same place at the same time enough to understand they’re different people?

CMLL (MON) 08/07/2023 Arena Puebla
1) Astro, Asturiano, El Novato vs Dreyko, Espíritu Maligno, Fénix SO
2) Amnesia, Diamond, Millenium vs Hijo del Perverso, Inquisidor, Nitro
3) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, El Audaz vs Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr.
4) Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Máscara Dorada vs Ángel de Oro, Baliyan Akki, Templario [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Místico vs Soberano Jr.

Akki appears to be starting well before the Gran Prix.

Informa had Miguel Linares doing voice over for Puebals highlights. They could probably do that with whole matches and put them up on YouTube should they care to do so.

CMLL (TUE) 08/08/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Astro Oriental, Cosmos, Lince Del Bajio vs Destello, Destructor, Relámpago Azul
2) Dulce Kitty, Náutica, Sexy Sol vs Atenea, Nexy, Valkiria
3) Johnny Dinamo vs Halcón Suriano Jr. [super libre]
4) Ángel Rebelde, Gallero, Halcón Negro Jr. vs Crixus, Difunto, Zandokan Jr.
5) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Cachorro, Dark Panther vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Canalla, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
6) Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Místico vs Baliyan Akki, Templario, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

Semi-main is family vs family.

Guadalajara is doing a wrestler-by-wrestler rollout for the participants in their version of the Gran Prix. The notable thing so far is a confirmation it won’t be the exact same wrestlers working the Mexico City Gran Prix, because Dark Magic and local Bestia Negra were the first two announced.

CMLL Informa snuck in two important news bits. Julio Cesar Rivera mentioned “all the details” about the Aniversaro show would be revealed next week during the same show. That means all the matches and the mechanism CMLL has planned for the main event. (It also means I’ll hold off posting an update on Wednesday until after those announcements.) This announcement came during the Mascara Dorada 2.0 segment, and there was a tease of Rocky Romero/Mascara Dorada happening on the Aniversario, as well as other international names appearing. Tickets are about 80% sold out on the Ticketmaster map, and these announcements may finish those off.

The bigger surprise closed the show: CMLL and RevPro will hold FantasticaMania UK on September 23th in Manchester. You can sign up for ticket info at cmlluk.com, a real URL I’m not making up. CMLL wrestlers have appeared on RevPro shows and in Europe in general prior, but this is the first CMLL-branded show to take place in that part of the world that I know of. This show is part of the entertainment at a taco festival; lucha libre wrestling fits, but it’s still notable RevPro reached out to CMLL rather than just look for independent guys.

No wrestlers are announced yet for FantasticaMania UK, no number of wrestlers are announced. FantasticaMania Mexico was Rocky, Titan, and four wrestlers from Japan (and DOUKI ended as a bonus), so that could be a starting point. That was a week of FantasticaMania shows and this is just one, so maybe keep expectations grounded.

RevPro shows go up on their on-demand service ($9.50 USD a month) after a short delay and it’s safe to assume this show will be the same. This show, or at least the relevant Mexican matches, really should go up on CMLL’s on-demand service too if they’re serious about it. I’d be happily surprised if that did happen.

There will be FantasticaManias in Japan, Mexico, and the UK this year. No US one. The obvious partner in the US is the NJPW Strong shows, but the problem there is they’re running less often, and they seem to be running bigger venues. They’re also running the All Star Junior Festival in August, so it might be a while before NJPW Strong wants to run another themed show. Maybe something gets put together for later in the year, because I guess I can’t rule out anything after the UK show got announced.

One point brought up a lot in the wake of “FantasticaManiaUK” is AAA talks quite a bit about how they have plans go to various countries, and CMLL is the one that actually is going places this year. There is more nuance to it. CMLL tends to work with established groups doing relatively smaller-scale projects. The 2019 CMLL/ROH collaboration did not appear to work out, but it was an aim for buildings with less than a thousand people. AAA always wants to go big; they seem to need to see attendances of multiple thousands, or they’re not going to bother. That also leads to AAA working with promoters who don’t have as much wrestling experience or knowledge; anyone who can draw in thousands of wrestling fans (WWE, AEW) doesn’t need to split that with AAA. It would probably better for AAA’s brand to have some of smaller wins, to build up a track record before they go for the big show, but they’re all or nothing.

(I’m not even certain where those smaller wins would come from for AAA though. It seems a natural match to have an Impact/AAA co-promoted show in the US, similar to the Impact/NJPW ones. Both Impact and AAA talk about their great relationship. We just don’t see it in practice much. That spot to bring in a big name luchador for the Cicero show has gone to guys with US history like Bandido, Rey Horus and Samuray del Sol – either they haven’t seen the value in AAA names like Psycho Clown or Pagano, or that relationship isn’t what it seems.)

Futuro says he was a “multi-medalist” amateur wrestling as a youth.

Blue Panther Jr.‘s goal now that he’s back is not to worry about being the champion or the #1 wrestler, but just be a memorable wrestler.

Mundo Deportivo has an interview with Terrible.

AAA

AAA on Space has the missing matches from Verano de Escandalo

  • Las Shotas vs Dinamico, Kamik-C, Skalibur
  • Jack Cartwheel, Laredo Kid, Willie Mack vs Antifaz del Norte, Latigo, Toscano
  • Dalys, Drago, Negro Casas vs La Hiedra, Nicho el Millonario, and Puma King

It’s been so quiet with AAA for the last couple of weeks that it feels like there’s no buzz at all for this TripleMania. It should and will pick up next week – Konnan doing more podcasts will give something to talk about. Still, it’s very quiet. I’m not sure that’s reflected in ticket sales – they seem to be doing about normal based on the Superboletos ticket map – so AAA probably isn’t too concerned. It’s worth noting how low it is because AAA deserves some credit if they can ramp it up in one week.

It is eight days away, and we don’t know what the rules are for the TripleMania main event. AAA loves announcing these things at press conferences so it’s probably coming next week, and it might be revealed on Konnan’s podcast this weekend.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 08/03/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Ryu b Latino LIVE 🔴| LA VENGANZA: LA PUERQUIZA VS LA PANDEMIA (posted by IWRG tv)
2) Centvrión & Rey Aztaroth b Rey Espartano & Súper Boy LIVE 🔴| LA VENGANZA: LA PUERQUIZA VS LA PANDEMIA (posted by IWRG tv)
3) Máscara Sagrada Jr., Noisy Boy, Spider Fly b La Estrella, Nishikawa, Rey Halcón LIVE 🔴| LA VENGANZA: LA PUERQUIZA VS LA PANDEMIA (posted by IWRG tv)
4) Ivan Rokov & Tonalli b Hell Boy & Puma de Oro LIVE 🔴| LA VENGANZA: LA PUERQUIZA VS LA PANDEMIA (posted by IWRG tv)
5) Pig Decapitador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool b Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. LIVE 🔴| LA VENGANZA: LA PUERQUIZA VS LA PANDEMIA (posted by IWRG tv)
challenges followed, with Las Shotas getting involved.

The lights were turned low but it looked like there was actually a good sized crowd here for a Thursday. The Pigs are an indie draw.

IWRG says they’ll have their Independence show on 09/17.

Other News

Big Lucha hyped all week that their new show was going to go up on YouTube on Thursday at 8 pm. They seemed to be teasing that it’d actually just be the first half of the show, but OK that’s something at least. Thursday at 8 pm came and went, nothing got posted, no explanation was offered. A couple of hours later, Big Lucha put up the opening “dark match” from the show on Instagram and Facebook, but not YouTube. I have no idea.

Hijo del Santo made a rare wrestling appearance in Arena Olimpico Laguna last night, teaming with Bendito against usual rival Hijo de Fishman and Torneo de Escuelas alumn Rey Insolito.  The video is here. The building looks to be a complete sell-out.

Box y Lucha is offering a set of 8 digital magazines from 1956. It’s the same price they’ve been charging for 12 of the 70s/80s, but you’re not going to find 1956 magazines anywhere else.

Racket MN has a profile of Minneapolis’ Rudos Promotions.

Soberano/Dorado 2.0 in Guadalajara, Flamita & Emperador announce they left AAA (like two months ago), Aster Boy out of IWRG

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 07/31/2023 Arena Puebla [El Sol de PueblaGrada, Porra Fresa]
1) El Novato & Rayo Metálico b Espíritu Maligno & Sombra Diabólika
2) Full Metal, Mercurio, Minos, Pequeño Polvora, Pierrothito b Acero, Aéreo, Angelito, Pequeño Magía, Shockercito [ciberneticoFacebook video (posted by )
Pierrothito beat Angelito to win.
3) Esfinge, Pegasso, Star Black b Felino Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr. Facebook video (posted by )
4) La Jarochita & Lluvia © b Hera & Olympia [MEX WOMEN TAG] Facebook video (posted by )
13th defense (11th on CMLL shows); first in five months.
5) Soberano Jr., Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. DQ Máscara Dorada 2.0, Místico, Terrible Facebook video (posted by )
Soberano faked a foul from Mistico for the DQ win.

Mistico was feuding with Ultimo Guerrero this week and Soberano this week. Soberano works as a rudo a lot for someone who’s a tecnico. I’m no sure, but the minis ciberneti o might have been the annual Pequeno Estrellas division celebration. If that’s the case, it definitely wasn’t promoted as much as in past years.

There was a police and national guard presence at the arena following last week’s robbery. Last week, police said they had identified five people and the car used in the robbery, but there’s no mention of arrests to this point. There was an article about another issue; shady people around Arena Puebla asking 100 pesos to ‘make sure your car stays safe.’

I didn’t know the Grada site before, but they’ve been doing full Arena Puebla recaps for some time.

CMLL (TUE) 08/01/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports]
1) Grako & Inquisidor b Leono & Oro Jr. FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 01 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Inquisidor y Grako vs Leono y Oro Jr ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
2) Valiente Jr. b Astral [lightningFUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 01 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Valiente Jr vs Astral MATCH RELÁMPAGO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
3) La Jarochita, Sanely, Skadi b Dark Silueta, La Catalina, Zeuxis FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 01 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) La Catalina, Zeuxis y Dark Silueta vs La Jarochita, Sanely y Skady ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
4) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Volcano b Felino, Felino Jr., Kráneo FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 01 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Volcano, Blue Panther Jr y Dark Panther vs Felino, Felino Jr y Kraneo ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black b Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 01 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Virus, Luciferno y Cancerbero vs Star Black, Fugaz y Esfinge ARENA MEXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
6) Atlantis, Templario, Titán b Euforia, Mephisto, Volador Jr. [Relevos IncreíblesAtlantis, Templario y Titan vs Volador Jr, Euforia y Mephisto ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) FUNCIÓN COMPLETA DESDE LA ARENA MÉXICO - MARTES 01 DE AGOSTO DE 2O23 SOLO MIEMBROS (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)

I did not pay much attention this and missed nothing. I think the lightning match was good.

CMLL (TUE) 08/01/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, thecubsfan]
1) Minotauro, Mortis, Rumbero b Avispón Negro Jr., Bello Antuan, Samurai Martes de Glamour 01 Agosto 2023 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
2) Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno b Exterminador, Javier Cruz Jr., Maléfico Martes de Glamour 01 Agosto 2023 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
3) Johnny Dinamo, Obek, Temerario b Halcón Suriano Jr., Misterio Blanco, Misterio Negro Martes de Glamour 01 Agosto 2023 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
4) Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Sangre Imperial b Arlequín, Hombre Bala Jr., Robin Martes de Glamour 01 Agosto 2023 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
Bala and Imperial feuded.
5) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico b Akuma, Dark Magic, Raider Martes de Glamour 01 Agosto 2023 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
6) Máscara Dorada 2.0 b Soberano Jr. Martes de Glamour 01 Agosto 2023 (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
The previous tecnicos hung around ringside signing autographs and picking up money for an extended time; they were still there, and Soberano stormed the ring to get them to leave finally. Soberano worked this match totally rudo.

Soberano/Mascara Dorada is not the match it would’ve been in Mexico City. Soberano loves working as Guadalajara as a rudo and spent the first half of the match just trying to get heat. It worked to get a lot of energy into the last half of the match and into the finish, but it wasn’t the all action match you might expect from those names.

Members of Spain’s Sevilla FC were at the show, and Soberano and Mascara Dorada wore Sevilla jerseys to the main event. Sevilla have a game tonight in Guadalajara as part of a pre-season tour.

The semi-main went short and then those tecnicos were in the ring forever. They might still be there if Soberano didn’t get them going.

Arena Coliseo Guadalajara announced a Lucha de Naciones 2023 for 08/15. It’s their usual bit of using the Gran Prix wrestlers in a similar match a few days ahead. They also have a active YouTube channel so something from this show may turn up there.

NJPW’s 08/19 All Star Junior Festival announced Soberano as their 21st participant and first from CMLL. That’s a NJPW PPV.

CMLL Informa has Mistico, Volador Jr., Mascara Dorada, Misterioso Jr., and Futuro as guests, which seems a little bit light. I screwed up the Misterioso title challenge from Saturday – it was for Esfinge, not Star Black. Esfinge made it clear in a post-match promo on Tuesday. I’m thrown by the idea of 2023 Misterioso challenging for a light heavyweight championship.

AAA

AAA posted a video of La Hiedra and Maravilla tricking rapper Aczino into a sneak attack by Argenis (and Latigo for some reason), as payback for Aczino unmasking Argenis at TripleMania Tijuana. A celebrity is involved so this has a better chance of going somewhere than a normal AAA  feud.

Flamita and Emperador Azteca both posted statements to Facebook saying they were finished up in AAA and graciously thanking the bosses there. In reality, they were both done with AAA two months ago. Wrestling on the June 2nd The Crash show meant they were done with AAA – they had either told AAA then, or AAA told them off after. These announcements were for CMLL’s benefit. AAA rarely announces wrestlers coming in and never announces them leaving, so the only people who knew they were gone were people who listened to Konnan’s podcast or those who read dumb summaries of that podcast. CMLL needed a much more public split before Flamita & Emperador Azteca could appear on the upcoming CMLL/Big Lucha show, and so the Facebook farewells.

This was Flamita’s third stint (at least) with AAA. It’s wrestling, there may be a fourth. I’m not sure AAA is a great place for a wrestler at his level. It’s a few extra TV appearances, but it’s also going to make wrestlers at his level seem less of a star. If AAA can’t find room to consistently do stuff with more ‘home grown’ guys like Laredo Kid and Taurus, there’s no chance for a Flamita there. Or an Emprador Azteca.

Cibernetico is listed on the next The Crash show, which means he’d be gone like Flamita & Emperador Azteca by AAA’s normal rules. I presume Cibernetico gets a pass for being Cibernetico.

WBD sent out about TripleMania Mexico City airing on Space and HBO Max, talking about “seven stellar matches”. That’s a mistake, they’re doing the same late start time and airing the last few matches as ever.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 08/03/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Ryu vs Ángel Oriental
2) Rey Espartano & Súper Boy vs Centvrión & Rey Aztaroth
3) Máscara Sagrada Jr., Noisy Boy, Spider Fly vs Kuukai, Nishikawa, Rey Halcón
4) Hell Boy & Puma de Oro vs Ivan Rokov & Tonalli
5) Pig Decapitador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.

The Pigs are back to help a Thursday.

Aster Boy announced he was done with IWRG in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Wrestler leaves IWRG is bordering on a “dog bites man” level story and Aster Boy himself hadn’t worked in IWRG since July 2nd. It is instructive on the great situation of Mexican indies. Aster Boy came in to IWRG as winner of the 2021 tryout, moved up and made himself a regular there, and wanted to get paid now more than IWRG was offering. IWRG wasn’t offering more because there’s an oversupply of wrestlers, and they can always find someone else half as good who costs a fourth as much. Aster Boy was that ‘someone else’ two years ago, the new/younger/cheaper talent IWRG could use to replace some of their existing wrestlers, and now he’s on the other end of that cycle. There’s a hard ceiling to what an IWRG level promotion is going to pay their regular talent, Aster Boy hit his head on the ceiling and is just the latest to leave in hopes of doing better.

Most of the guys who leave do end up coming back later. Not all of them – everyone’s still expecting Los Traums, Fresero Jr. and Demonio Infenral to pop back in a surprise someday, but it hasn’t happened yet. Aster Boy probably will as well, but it may depend if he’s sticking around Mexico City or going back to San Luis Potosi.

Other News

New-ish promotion The Wolf King has a show on August 11th. This event is an Arena Neza show and that promotion had been Arena San Juan only until this point. No one’s run in Arena San Juan since the neighborhood fire that cost two children their lives and a show like this getting moved suggests no one’s expecting to run that building for a while longer.

The KeMonito documentary is coming to the Ambulante film festival (but that’s a multi-city Mexico festival from August to October, and they haven’t said when or where yet.)

A few articles popped up in my news feed Tuesday about Gael Garcia Bernal promoting the Casandro bio movie. It turned out they were referencing a mid-June Instagram post. (He gives the Amazon Prime release date as September 22nd, which is slightly different than Amazon had said before.) Mining whatever content you can find, no matter how old, takes me back to those early pandemic days. Actors aren’t promoting much right now doing their current strike, and understandably so, but that will also affect how this Casandro movie does.

Mexican serial killer Juana Barraza gets some added attention because of her supposed double life as luchadora La Dama del Silencio. It came up again last month; Barraza broke her leg in prison and it was a story for a couple of days. No one can find a record of her actually wrestling and other wrestlers around that time believe she may have promoted small shows but never actually wrestler. The case for her being a wrestler is a photo of here with a title belt that’s circulated around. SuperLuchas, in reviewing the recent Netflix documentary about her life and his victims, reveals that the photo is from SuperLuchas issue 61. Barrza talked the photographer into including her in a reoccurring wrestler roundup feature they did, complete with a title belt and a concocted story about her winning it in Los Angeles. (It an obvious WCW replica belt with Goldberg’s name on it.) The one trace of her wrestling is a known fake story. I wonder how many of those quick profiles weren’t what they seemed; probably quite a few.

Segunda Caida reviews some found lucha.