Rey Destoller, Vampiro/Penta, CMLL title matches

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 03/04/2024 Arena Puebla [Grada, Porra Fresa]
1) Astro, Black Tiger, Millenium b Dreyko, Espíritu Maligno, Sombra Diabólika
2) Diablita Roja & Lady Amazona b Astoreth & Lady Metal Facebook video (posted by )
3) Arkalis, Meyer, Pegasso b El Perverso, Multy, Prayer Facebook video (posted by )
4) Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. b Ángel de Oro, El Hijo de Stuka Jr., Niebla Roja Facebook video (posted by )
5) Místico, Stigma, Tiger Mask b Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero Facebook video (posted by )

Another big turnout this week, this time in Arena Puebla. Again, there’s no obvious reason beyond CMLL convincing people it was a big deal to see Tiger Mask.

CMLL (TUE) 03/05/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito b Fantasy, Galaxy, Shockercito
14:48
2) Astral, Capitán Suicida, Diamond b Dr. Karonte I, Grako, Inquisidor
14:35
3) El Coyote & Pólvora b Fuego & Hombre Bala Jr.
16:13. Hombre Bala was shaken up after hitting his knee on the middle rope on a corner dive and coming up very short.
4) Brillante Jr., Futuro, Neón b Crixus, Hijo del Villano III, Raider
13:33
5) Hechicero, Magnus, Zandokan Jr. b Flip Gordon, Star Jr., Titán
14:01. Zandokan unmasked and pinned Star Jr., setting up a singles match between them next week.
6) Místico & Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro & Soberano Jr.
Angel de Oro beat Mistico, then challenged for the MLW Middleweight Championship

A good show on paper, a not good show in execution. Low effort in some matches and bad nights by some people. Dr. Karonte I is always a strong contender for worst wrestler in CMLL and proved it on this show. Brillante Jr. was way off most of his match. Hombre Bala got hurt on a dive. The Tuesday matches also feel like they’re thrown together with not a lot of time, so sometimes things aren’t thought out – like the rudos being on different pages for their triple team move, or whatever was going on in the third fall of the main event. There are worst shows but you can take a pass on this one if you missed it.

CMLL setting up two singles match for one show is odd; it’s possible Mistico/Angel de Oro is a Friday build that just can’t take place on Friday this week.

CMLL (TUE) 03/05/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, Mas Lucha]
1) Johnny Dinamo, Minotauro, Principe Drago b Quka, Sangre Azul, Último Ángel
2) Emperatriz, Lady Shadow, Miss Guerrera b Náutica, Sexy Sol, Valkiria
3) Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. b Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
4) Lluvia b Dark Silueta
Lluvia replaced La Catalina
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring b Felino, Rey Bucanero, Satánico
6) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible
Guerreros asked for a trios title shot, which Los Barbaros accepted

CMLL’s Twitter had live results on this show, for the first time in years. I hope that doesn’t mean they’ve noticed there’s a live stream of CMLL matches outside their paywall.

La Catalina was double booked by CMLL and worked their spot show in Arena Aficion. Edgar was there as well. CMLL double booking their own dates helps explain why it’s tough for foreign promotions to work with them.

CMLL Informa today has

  • Mistico (all things Mistico)
  • Lluvia, La Jarochita, Andromeda, Skadi (title match)
  • Dark Silueta, La Catalina (title match)
  • Reyna Isis, Zeuxis (title match)
  • Magnus, Rugido (AEW)
  • Guerrero Maya Jr., Difunto (title match)
  • Star Jr. & Zandokan Jr. (title match)

Tiffany, in promoting Friday’s show, talks around the idea of retiring at the end of the year. She wants to get out healthy, so it’s more an idea of leaving rather than working through injuries at some point than a strict timeline. Zeuxis says she wants her match with Reina Isis to be the best match of her life.

It’s good to have goals. CMLL’s asking fans to wear pink or white to the show on Friday, though they haven’t pushed in strong on the streams as of yet. Purple is the color associated with International Women’s Day, and that’s the color CMLL is using in their publicity. I wonder if we’ll see purple ropes or canvas.

CMLL (MON) 03/11/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger, Blue Shark, Hijo de Centella Roja vs King Jaguar, Rencor, Sombra Diabólika
2) Halcón Suriano Jr., Meyer, Xelhua vs El Malayo, Enfermero Jr., Rey Apocalipsis
3) Arkalis, Rey Samuray, Volcano vs El Coyote, Kráneo, Okumura
4) Akuma, Espanto Jr., Flip Gordon vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Titán
5) Máscara Dorada, Místico, Neón vs Averno, Brillante Jr., Euforia

This lineup makes it clearer which two Ola Negra members are getting a title shot. The main event is still doing Gran Alternativa follow up.

Okumura and Star Jr. will appear on the 03/29 MLW show. Okumura is in an eight man cage match, Star Jr. is still TBA. It’s not the most impressive names though getting the most impressive name is tough on the same day as Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.

AAA

Arez, Latigo and Toxin officially announced they had left AAA and were free agents on Tuesday night. That was what had been expected, but it was not official until then. They all posted the same message, almost down to the same wording, thanking Dorian Roldan, Jorge Flores, and Konnan. AAA themselves have said nothing about the situation, though Konnan posted a positive reply to Arez’s message.

last four recent AAA trios titles champions, in reverse

  • Abismo Negro Jr., Psicosis, Toxin
    • Toxin leaves company while champ
  • Cuatrero, Sanson, Forastero
    • Cuatrero is jailed, Mascara 2000 Jr. fills in for title loss
  • DMT Azul, Sam Adonis, Puma King
    • dropped suddenly because DMT Azul is quitting
  • various combinations of los Mercaniros
    • Texano quits while champion, five different people end up being champions during the reign

These titles haven’t had a normal title run in at least four years. And prior to that was the bit where Laredo Kid gave up the title while champion.

Pagano says he was diagnosed with a shoulder separation – his third in the last two weeks – and he will rest a few days before returning. That sounds like he’s making Saltillo. There’s probably enough wrong in the shoulder a few days of rest are going to fix and continuing to work on it is not the wisest idea, but it is Pagano.

Vampiro’s newest episode of his podcast is an interview with Pentagon Jr and the two ran an angle on it for a TripleMania match. Vampiro asked Penta to give him a rematch of their Lucha Underground match at TripleMania Mexico City, as Vampiro’s retirement match. Penta said it was fine with him, as long as Dorian Roldan signed off on it. Vampiro’s latest return to AAA played off his podcast with Latin Lover, so they’re willing to use it to set something up and so this may have been pre-arranged to reach a wider audience. The Penta/Vampiro Lucha Underground match is memorable match from the season 1 finale of the series, though in large part due heavy work by editors. It did not go well live, and a rematch a decade later is likely to go worse. Still, it holds a special place for fans of that era, and it would get curious foreign fans to tune into TripleMania out of curiosity. Vampiro and Penta are big names and that would be enough to make it one of the bigger matches on the show for Mexican fans, even if Lucha Underground never connected the same way with them. There’s little chance that match will be good in any conventional sense and I’m not sure anyone believes Vampiro is actually going to stick to a retirement, but those parts hardly matter.

Penta talked about his life during that podcast, while Vampiro made stories up as usual. I’ve not had a chance to listen to it myself.

Rey Destroller

Monterrey’s Rey Destroller (22) suffered a life threatening brain injury Saturday night while wrestling on RIOT’s show. He is in grave condition with severe brain damage at last report. The family is holding out hope of a miraculous recover to prevent him from being declared brain dead, but that seems like it might happen in the next few days.

Destroller (also spelled Destroyer and pronounced that way) collapsed during a tag match teaming with his brother Black Spider Jr. against local regulars Los Un-Mexicans, Byron and Kaientai. The planned spot was Destroller ducking a clothesline, then both he and his opponent (Byron) kicking each other as a typical double knockdown. Destroller ducked the clothesline, but then just fell to the mat without being touched. Destroller kicks his foot in the air from the mat, which may have been his body spasming. It looks like nothing happened on the video.

Monterrey indie wrestling promotions are running a benefit show in Arena el Jaguar on March 22nd. RIOT is running a raffle with donated items to help pay medical expenses; tickets are 100 pesos each (about 6 USD) and can also be purchased by Paypal. There’s also a bank account Mexican fans can donate too;

Members of Rey Destroller’s family have gone on TV to say RIOT hasn’t taken care of Destroller properly, and blamed the injury on a bad fall from a headscissors earlier in the match. I reached out to RIOT to get more information, and they provided me with clips of Destroller’s collapse and the headscissors spot. In the latter, Destroller attempted to step from the top rope, to one opponent (Kaientai)’s shoulders, and to finally step off into a headscissors on to the opponent (Byron). That headscissors didn’t go correct at all and Destroller does fall hard to the mat – but he turns lands on his shoulder and back. It’s clearly visible that Destroller’s head never touches the mat. The video is not public – I don’t think RIOT plans on making it public for obvious reasons – and I can understand why Black Spider Jr. and the rest of his family thinking back to that spot in trying to figure out what could’ve happened to cause the injury. It’s clear in the video there’s no impact to Destroller’s head on that landing.

RIOT does not believe there’s any place else where Destoller could’ve suffered a head injury during the match. The Un-Mexicans matches on RIOT shows are intended to be unserious comedy matches, and this one had a lot of silliness as well; it’s not one where they’re hitting hard or taking big risks. RIOT says the medical personal on hand immediately realized Destroller’s injury was serious, put him on a stretcher, and took him to a hospital via the ambulance that was already on hand, as required by Monterrey’s lucha libre commission. There’s third party video circulating from Destroller being put on a stretcher to confirm that part. Members of Destroller’s family were critical of RIOT for not paying Black Spider Jr. and Rey Destroller’s wages for the match; RIOT’s explained their focus was getting Destroller in the ambulance and to the hospital as quick as possible and they could figure out getting them the wages later. RIOT says they plan on paying medical bills, they’re just trying to figure out if it makes more sense to pay the Destroller’s mother (who’ve they’ve been in frequent contact with) or the hospital directly.

In 2020, similar young luchador Principe Aereo collapsed during a match in Arena San Juan Pantitlan and passed away before he made it to the hospital. The original belief was Aereo had a heart attack, but further examination revealed he had ruptured artery in his head and suffered an aneurysm. That fatal injury was thought to be caused either by some unknown previous impact that took days to show itself, or was due to a defect that had always been lurking without anyone’s knowledge. That’s the best guess at what’s going on with Rey Destroller, but no one knows for sure at this point.

IWRG

I made a questionable choice in judgement: I watched all seven episodes of IWRG’s tryout shows posted a week or so ago. Now, in my defense, I did it most of it while watching the matches a 1.5-2x speed and just skipped over any point where people were talking. I have some limits. Still, the one thing these IWRG tryout have going for it is they draw in people from all over. Most of the entries were from Mexico City or Mexico State, but it’s also a rare chance to see luchadors from Zacatacas or Cuernavaca or whatever other random lucha libre spot that doesn’t get much attention. There’s always a chance to discover someone remarkable. I don’t think it was that successful this time; I did see some promising wrestlers though no sure fire great ones.

the best of the bunch

  • Bebote Valdez (son of Monterrey’s Simbolo, already popping up Showcenter AAA TV tapings)
  • Xolotol
  • Aries Jr.
  • Principe Centauro

Other positive standouts

  • Drakula (not to be confused with Drakula NG)
  • Hijo del Sparta
  • Argus
  • Vato Pilas
  • Shamila
  • Infarto
  • Jitsu (same Jitsu as always, had a good night)

best five matches

  1.  Principe Centauro vs Hijo del Esparta (episode 5)
  2. Aries Jr. vs Drakula (episode 3)
  3. Fanastik Jr. vs Bebote Valdez (episode 2)
  4. Vato Pilas vs Shamila (episode 6)
  5. Infarto vs Loko Boy (episode 7)

Centaruo and Esparta work on the same shows all the time; more often as partners than opponents, but it sure seemed to help. Who people ended up work with was a huge factor in how they did; a lot of the matches I liked had a big guy/small guy dynamic that gave them something to work with (and they were smart enough to go with it.)

Worst Match

  • Chester Jr. vs Emperador Guerrero (episode 5)

The big gimmick this year’s tryout is that the judges were choosing teams, or choosing to stop watching the match and turnaround if they decided neither wrestler was worth picking. The ads played it up like that turn around bit could happen a lot, and matches may be stopped if all four judges gave up. In reality, the judges rarely gave up on matches, and this was the only one that ended up stopped. The wrestlers weren’t working together at all.

I have no idea how the rest of the tournament works (and I’m not sure it’s that important to me.) IWRG lists round of 16 matches on Thursday; I’m unclear how they cut down from 60 wrestlers among four teams to 16 wrestlers. That Thursday show will also have a Vanegllys & Ivan Rokov vs Hijo del Canis Lupus & Hell Boy tag match.

Big Lucha World

Big Lucha World (FRI) 03/08/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Orbita vs Atómico [first blood]
2) Sussy Love vs Satania
3) El Potro de Oro vs Caballero de Plata [bull terrier]
4) Skayde vs Platino [submission]
5) Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Ricky Marvin [knockout]
6) Emperador Azteca vs Ciclón Ramírez
Toreo Cuatro Caminos style
7) Flamita vs Jack Evans [lumberjack]

A few more singles matches for next week, and a whole bunch of stipulations. I’m disappointed by Jack/Flamita having lumberjacks, because that always means a comedy match in Mexico. Toreo de Cuatro Caminos had many styles of matches, but it’s been dumbed to meaning “brawl where we hit each other hard and bleed” in modern times. Sussy Love/Satania is the token women’s match because it’d look bad without one on International Women’s Day. It’ll also look bad for having one with Satania involved. Orbita/Atomico Jr. might actually be pretty good.

Other News

The viral Mexican wrestling video of the week involves Sadika. Sadika often does a bit where she “accidentally falls” onto a person in the front row and grinds her butt on an unsuspecting fan for a bit. She did that Saturday in Arena San Juan on a female fan and another (male) fan slapped her on the butt. Sadika angrily slapped the man in the face in response. Sadika, as one of the more in demand women on the indies for certain styles of shows, can pretty much do whatever she wants.

A “Tigre Blanco” will participate on this season of Survivor Mexico. There’s been many Tigre Blancos in Mexico; I believe this is one who’s been wrestling as a son of the original Mascara Sagrada. (“Tigre Blanco” was a nickname for that wrestler.) Survivor is not the cultural institution in Mexico as it is in the United States, but this is airing on over the air on Azteca Uno. That’s the network partnered with AAA; it’s unclear if AAA passed on participating or Azteca went a different direction.

There are very vague plans for a women’s wrestling reality show/contest, to be unveiled on Monday. Mascara 2000, Lady Apache and Tinieblas Jr. are said to be involved; some of those names have been part of similar ideas in the past that got a big roll out and then vaporized.

Tiger Mask in CMLL, Pagano out hurt?, Tonalli leaving IWRG

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 03/01/2024 Arena México [CMLLDiaro BastaExcelsiorKaiser SportsThe Gladiatores]
1) Fuego b Diamond [lightningCMLL - MATCH RELÁMPAGO / DIAMOND VS FUEGO / ARENA MÉXICO/01-03-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Fuego superó a Diamond en match relámpago (posted by mluchatv) Fuego derrota a Diamond en el minuto 8 del Match relámpago (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Fuego vs Diamond MATCH RELAMPAGO/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
7:42
2) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio b Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa CMLL -APOCALIPSIS-CHOLO-DISTURBIO VS ESPÍRITU NEGRO-REY COMETA-DULCE GARDENIA/ARENA MÉXICO/01-03-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Dulce Gardenia lanza el reto de cabelleras a Disturbio y así acepta la lucha (posted by mluchatv) Los Indestructibles derrotan en dos al hilo a los Dulces Atrapasueños (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Los Indestructibles vs Los Dulces Atrapa Sueños ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
7:50. Straight falls, Disturbio used the ropes to beat Dulce. Hair match challenges followed again.
3) La Catalina, La Jarochita, Lluvia b Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis CMLL - REYNA ISIS-ZEUXIS-STEPHANIE VAQUER VS LLUVIA - JAROCHITA- LA CATALINA/ARENA MÉXICO/01-03-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Catalina y Las Chicas Indomables vencen a Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis y Reyna Isis. (posted by mluchatv) La Catalina, Lluvia & Jarochita vs Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis & Reina Isis ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) Triunfo de La Catalina con las Chicas Indomables que derrotan a R. Isis, Zeuxis y S. Vaquer (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
11:48. Catalina submitted Vaquer in their first meeting with Catalina as a tecnica.
4) Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible © b Averno, Euforia, Mephisto [CMLL TRIOSBárbaros vs Infernales CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL DE TRIOS CMLL/ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring) CMLL - EUFORIA - MEPHISTO - AVERNO VS DRAGON ROJO JR.-TERRIBLE-B. CAVERNARIO /ARENA MÉXICO/01-03-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | ¡Los Bárbaros retienen el Campeonato Mundial de Tríos del CMLL ante Los Infernales! (posted by mluchatv) Terrible, Bárbaro Cavernario y Dragón Rojo Jr derrotan a los Infernales, Averno, Mephisto y Euforia (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
14:43. 2nd defense. Cavernario submited Averno. Cavernario said he’d keep his singles title, then go after Averno’s hair.
5) Tiger Mask DQ Último Guerrero CMLL - MANO A MANO / TIGER MASK VS ÚLTIMO GUERRERO / ARENA MÉXICO/01-03-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL | Tiger Mask gana por descalificación a Último Guerrero en mano a mano (posted by mluchatv) Tiger Mask IV con Lyger vs Último Guerrero con Gran Guerrero ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
8:24. Liger and Gran Guerrero were seconds and both interfered in sight of Edgar. Ultimo Guerrero got a pin off a foul, but Edgar then called the DQ and gave the win to Tiger Mask.
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Místico b Gran Guerrero, Soberano Jr., Templario CMLL | Místico, Atlantis Jr. y Máscara Dorada derrotan a Templario, Soberano Jr. y Gran Guerrero (posted by mluchatv) CMLL-GRAN GUERRERO-SOBERANO JR.-TEMPLARIO VS MÁSCARA DORADA-ATLANTIS JR.-MÍSTICO/A. MÉXICO/01-03-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Místico y la mística con Atlantis Jr y M. Dorada derrotan a Templario, G. Guerrero y Soberano Jr (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)
14:43.

The main event was what you’d hope for with those guys in a main event position on a random show. The rest of the show wasn’t really much. The trios match was alright at best but didn’t really click. The other trios matches were forgettable. Tiger Mask somehow looked better against Magnus in Japan than he has in any of his Mexico matches, and they did a lot of non-CMLL things in that just to get through it (and to pay of including Liger.)

Treating Tiger Mask as a towering legend did seem to pay off at the ticket booth. This had a bigger than usual turnout, well over 10K, and Tiger Mask is really the only special thing on this show.

Cholo may have fractured his nose in the match; he’ll get evaluated for surgery. This is a weird sentence to type: “Cholo is an important person in CMLL at the moment and it would be a problem if he were out for a significant amount of time.” They need the full Indestructibles for whatever’s going on with this trios feud but the destination probably isn’t for a month at least.

CMLL (SAT) 03/02/2024 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Grako b Retro [lightning]
2) Amapola & Tiffany DQ La Guerrera & La Maligna
Excessive violence towards Maligna (who was on her feet to get her arm raised, so not sure how much excessive violence there was)
3) El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora b Astral, Futuro, Robin
4) Difunto, Raider, Vegas b Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma
Difunto beat Maya, challenged for a MEX MIDDLE shot
5) Brillante Jr., Neón, Valiente b Felino, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado
6) Flip Gordon, Místico, Tiger Mask b Magnus, Rugido, Volador Jr.

The title match seemed to change from Raider to Difunto, but both sound interesting. Coliseo drew big, which again seems due to Tiger Mask (and CMLL’s marketing of him) if there’s a reason at all.

CMLL (SUN) 03/03/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Fantasy & Pequeño Olímpico b Acero & Aéreo
Fantasy replaced Mercurio
2) Felino Jr. b Valiente Jr. [lightning]
3) Dark Panther, El Hijo De Blue Panther, Volcano b Crixus, Kráneo, Misterioso Jr.
4) Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus b Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
Cancerberos won – clean! Still, challenges followed.
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black b Felino, Gemelo Diablo II, Hechicero
6) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Tiger Mask DQ Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Templario
Gran Guerrero unmasked Tiger Mask for the DQ.

Tiger Mask finishes up on Monday in Puebla.

Magnus’ participation on the AEW PPV was more or less you’d expect: he got in his three best spots, he got in one really notable teamwork spot (stereo Lionsaults with Chris Jericho), he sold a lot and he didn’t figure in the finish. He did fine for what the role was. Someone like Mascara Dorada might have stood out more, but it would’ve been tough to make a big impression in that match because there was so much stuff in that match.

CMLL came up briefly in the post match press conference. Tony Khan was asked if the CMLL/AEW talent sharing would eventually include female talent, and specifically Stephanie Vaquer. Khan said CMLL women would be included, and said he’d specifically asked “Salvador” about bringing her in. (It’s unusual, at least to Mexican wrestling ears, to hear any Lutteroth referred to on a first name basis.) Khan also said AEW was “very happy” with the CMLL relationship.

CMLL (TUE) 03/05/2024 Arena México
1) Fantasy, Galaxy, Shockercito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) Astral, Capitán Suicida, Diamond vs Dr. Karonte I, Grako, Inquisidor
3) Fuego & Hombre Bala Jr. vs El Coyote & Pólvora
4) Brillante Jr., Futuro, Neón vs Crixus, Hijo del Villano III, Raider
5) Flip Gordon, Star Jr., Titán vs Hechicero, Magnus, Zandokan Jr.
6) Místico & Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro & Soberano Jr.

A little bit more loaded Tuesday show, since none of the men are booked for Friday. Magnus is the semi-main sticks out, though there’s no other rudo CMLL would normally put ahead of him. Maybe he and Villano might switch spots, but it’s not a sure thing.

CMLL , DELKING (SUN) 05/12/2024 Showcenter Complex, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo Leon
1) Black Spider Jr. vs Gemelo TapiaHijo Del Astro
2) Granada vs Alberto Rios
3) King Rex & Prometeo vs Charro Blanco & Charro Negro
4) Esfinge & Star Black vs Gemelo Diablo I & Gemelo Diablo II
5) Stephanie Vaquer & Zeuxis vs La Catalina & Lluvia
6) Atlantis Jr., Místico, Volador Jr. vs Averno, Euforia, Mephisto

This is a weird one. Local promoters do bring wrestlers to Monterrey from time to time, but running AAA’s TV venue is something else. AAA’s blocked others who’ve tried to run this building since started taping here. I’m amazed this one got approved and I figure it’ll be quietly canceled or moved. Someone was at least aware of the conflict to use Lucha Time guys but not the ones who’ve already worked AAA tapings. This build is an important relationship for AAA, it’s going to be about a 1/6th of their TV tapings this year as sold shows.

Mistico, Hechicero, Stephanie Vaquer, Atlantis Jr. and Atlantis are announced for RevPro’s FantasticaMania UK. US visa problems aren’t UK visa problems. RevPro is also better at knowing who are the good people to bring in from CMLL and bring them in. Except Atlantis. I would not be bringing Atlantis overseas to wrestle two matches in one day.

AAA

Not a lot extra on TV that wasn’t evident from the handhelds. Dinamico is back to doing generic promos (he pitched a feud against Drago since they were wrestling that night.) There was a generic Psycho Circus promo too. The matches that aired were the two good undercard ones and the main event, so the show happened to close with Arez, Latigo and Toxin getting laid out by Alberto and Vampiro.

There’s no official word on those three wrestlers yet. They did appear as scheduled in RIOT, and Arez took the mic to say this would be the last time the fans hear them used the catchphrase “the Vipers have arrived.”

Toxin was listed on an AAA spot show in Puebla on Sunday, teaming with Abismo and Psicosis to defend the trios titles. Argenis ended up replacing Toxin, though the trios titles weren’t on the line (and the match had no finish.) Show was said to draw well.

Pagano posted a video of himself in the hospital, and another one of him in left shoulder sling. Pagano seemed to suffer a shoulder injury during his match with Aereo on the 18th, but it’s tough to tell how serious things are with Pagano always and he’s wrestled since. He cites that match as the cause for the injury and it sounds like he’s just tried to wrestle through it until he could no longer. He was scheduled to wrestle in Delicias, Chihuahua last night, so maybe it gave out then. Pagano says the doctors have told him to stop, and I didn’t catch him giving a specific length of how long he’ll be out. Pagano is currently scheduled to challenge NGD for the tag team titles with Psycho Clown on Saturday night’s AAA TV taping. The main event still has Vikingo advertised in it.

BIG LUCHA

Big Lucha World (FRI) 03/01/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Mania Cop & Piraña b Golden Dragón & Helios Big Lucha VS INJUVE: La Revancha | Big Lucha World EP. 10 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
9:53
2) Cometa Maya & Morfosis b Skayler & Visionario and Mr. Win & Tirano Big Lucha VS INJUVE: La Revancha | Big Lucha World EP. 10 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
10:40
3) Atómico Jr., Auzter, Black Skayde, Brujo b Elipse, Iku, Orbita, Vengador Big Lucha VS INJUVE: La Revancha | Big Lucha World EP. 10 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
13:46. Atomico Jr., Auzter and Black Skayde are an unnamed unit (they weren’t great friends with Brujo.) Dito was not with Lokos Evans. Challenges followed. Atomico Jr. and Elipse had issues after the match, with Atomico ripping off Elipse’s mask.
4) Big Tao Tao & Skayde b Emperador Azteca & Platino Big Lucha VS INJUVE: La Revancha | Big Lucha World EP. 10 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
15:46
5) El Potro de Oro, Flamita, Jack Evans b Caballero de Plata, Ciclón Ramírez Jr., Hijo del Pirata Morgan Big Lucha VS INJUVE: La Revancha | Big Lucha World EP. 10 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
15:45. Jack and Flamita had issues. Ricky Marvin broke up a Pirata pin on Flamita, Flamita beat Pirata moments later. Flamita set up singles match with himself and Jack, and Pirata and Marvin for the title. Big Lucha announced it’d be an all singles match show next Friday, also with Platino/Skayde, Potro/Caballero and Emperador Azteca/Ciclon.

The matches were all generally good but also all feeling the same-ish. Even Tao Tao dropped a lot of his power stuff to do lesser flyer stuff. All singles matches is a different gimmick.

IWRG

An odd night for lucha libre result reporting on Sunday. Mas Lucha took the night off. All the other sites I usually check for Naucalpan didn’t do much Sunday either. I though IWRG didn’t post results either – nothing on Twitter or Facebook – but I stumbled across them on Instagram. Still, those are only partial and there’s always changes on shows like this – Puma de Oro won the FILL cibernetico and he wasn’t in the lineup. The IWRG stream itself jumped around a bit in the first couple of matches. I have very bare bones stuff here but I’m certain there’s errors.

(That Lady’s Ring Lucha Fiesta show from a couple of weeks ago is a pretty low tier show for a Japanese show and even it had easy to find listings of who wrestled, who won each match, and how. It’s a cultural thing, Japanese promotions do that because Japanese promotions are expected to it, but it’s worth reflecting how the smallest of Japanese groups come of as more professional in that way than any Mexican promotion.)

The big news from the show was Tonalli announcing he was leaving IWRG. He retained the RGR Middleweight title over Cerbero Negro, then said his IWRG contract had ended and he was leaving on good terms. IWRG said Tonalli was going independent, Tonalli’s speech seemed like he was going somewhere full time. (If he’s looking for most professionalism, he definitely isn’t going independent.) Maybe he shows back up in CMLL, I’m not 100% certain.

Other News

Violent People has a round up of matches they liked from the lucha indies in February.

El Hijo del Santo’s first match in Xalapa in ten years look to have sold out Arena Xalapa. This is billed as part of a retirement tour, but there’s not even a tease of when or where it might finish up; it feels more acknowledging the reality that he’s almost done.

Shows this weekend had a wrestler named “Extreme Liger”, which seemed notable the same weekend actual Liger was coming to Mexico. It looks like little connection; the Extreme Liger gear isn’t anything like the Japanese guy. The name is obviously inspired but otherwise it appears unrealed. Might just be an Extreme Tiger protégé, since they teamed all weekend.

A profile of Sonora luchador Arcangel de la Luz. He says he started training wrestling at 15 years old to impress a girlfriend.

A profile of Mexico City luchador Centellita Azul.

Arez, Latigo and Toxin quit AAA, Vikingo surgery, CMLL/AEW

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 03/01/2024 Arena México
1) Diamond vs Fuego [lightning]
2) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
3) La Catalina, La Jarochita, Lluvia vs Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
4) Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible © vs Averno, Euforia, Mephisto [CMLL TRIOS]
2nd defense
5) Tiger Mask vs Último Guerrero
Liger and Gran Guerrero will be seconds.
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Místico vs Gran Guerrero, Soberano Jr., Templario

Tiger Mask and Liger are the big draws here. I’m not sure what Tiger Mask has left for a big singles match in Arena Mexico; his match with Magnus was fine but kept at strictly ten minutes. His match on Tuesday was not fine. Ultimo Guerrero will work hard to make it something. Quality may not matter, it is an old wrestler and Mexican fans do (sometimes) show up just to say they saw an old wrestler. Tiger Mask is just a guy in NJPW now. CMLL treats him like an all time legend, something easier to do when he appears rarely, and that’ll make him mean a little more in this matchh.

The main event should be good. The trios title match is a wild card; I’d be surprised if Los Barbaros lost the trios title so quickly, but I can’t rule it out. Match 3 is the return of the regular women’s match, now with Catalina as the partner of the week for Lluvia & Jarochita. Match two will end with some controversy to keep that feud going. Diamond and Fuego is a odd fit for an opening match; it’ll be sad if Fuego loses.

CMLL (SAT) 03/02/2024 Arena México
1) Retro vs Grako [lightning]
2) La Guerrera & La Maligna vs Amapola & Tiffany
3) Astral, Futuro, Robin vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Difunto, Raider, Vegas
5) Brillante Jr., Neón, Valiente vs Felino, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado
6) Flip Gordon, Místico, Tiger Mask vs Magnus, Rugido, Volador Jr.

Magnus and Rugido get to team with their leader – except Magnus may miss this to make it to another booking.

CMLL (SUN) 03/03/2024 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Valiente Jr. vs Felino Jr. [lightning]
3) Dark Panther, El Hijo De Blue Panther, Volcano vs Crixus, Kráneo, Misterioso Jr.
4) Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Felino, Gemelo Diablo II, Hechicero
6) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Tiger Mask vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Templario

That is one old experienced tecnico side in the main event.

CMLL (TUE) 03/05/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Johnny Dinamo, Minotauro, Principe Drago vs Quka, Sangre Azul, Último Ángel
2) Emperatriz, Lady Shadow, Miss Guerrera vs Náutica, Sexy Sol, Valkiria
3) Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
4) La Catalina vs Dark Silueta
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring vs Felino, Rey Bucanero, Satánico
6) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible

I questioned where Gran Guerero had gone and now he’s everywhere. Semimain is the oldest match of the week. Match 4 is a preview of the impending title match.

Taking a step back, the CMLL Friday schedule highlights for March is now

  • 03/01: tonight’s show, with Tiger Mask
  • 03/08: all women’s show
  • 03/15: incredible pairs tournament, block A
  • 03/22: incredible pairs tournament, block b
  • 03/29: Homenaje a Dos Leyendas

I totally missed this on Tuesday: Skadi and Hera started throwing some real shots during their match on Tuesday. Skadi and Hera seemed to have issues earlier in the match and it broke down in the third fall. Olimpico pretty much just lets them go at them, which is great for the video but not great for his skills as a referee. This barely got noticed, which is a sign about how many people are watching these Tuesday shows.

CMLL hosted a ceremony for La Antorcha de La Luza Por La Paz Y Beinestar (Torch of Ligth for Peace and Wellbeing), which will travel through Mexico. This is a Daniel Aceves idea.

CMLL not in CMLL

Chris Jericho defeated Atlantis Jr. on AEW Dynamite. I thought the match was OK at best. Atlantis Jr. didn’t shine as much as he has in other matches, but Jericho also really looked his age. It was the monkey flips early that stood out. We’ve seen that move a million times in Arena Mexico, and it’s clear it looks as good as the person taking is willing/capable of doing it. They looked terrible. There were other moments where either Jericho looked physically slow or they were a step off from each other. It was also strangely done: Jericho did a promo building up the match and his respect for Atlantis Sr., then he’s untying Atlantis Jr’s mask during the match and Atlantis is choking him with a towel. I’m sure the idea was to Jericho testing him by going after Atlantis hard, but it didn’t work together. The match was not a disaster but I hope people interested in Atlantis Jr. find other matches to watch.

The finish too was not great. I think AEW is conscious they’re beating the CMLL guys too much to make their inclusion meaningful, and so they tried to get around it here by having Atlantis throw in the towel instead of his son actually submitting. Finishes that rarely happen always come off as contrived when they do, whether it be a timelimit draw or a towel being thrown in what that’s never a teased finished on shows; I didn’t like it for aesethic reasons. The idea actually backfired among Mexican fans who didn’t see the match and only heard about it; they imagined that Jericho was destroying Atlantis Jr. so bad that his father had to save him in a boxing sense. It sure looked like Atlantis Jr. was taping out anyway.

Not at all CMLL wrestlers are losing. This is a spoiler so maybe scroll down a bit if you don’t want to find out AEW stuff. The Magnus versus Matt Sydal match is now for a spot in AEW Revolution All Star Scramble. A promo on Collision additionally makes it clear that the winner of that scramble will earn a shot at the AEW World Championship. Magnus beats Matt Sydal, so Magnus is a) going to wrestle on an AEW PPV and b) going to be in a match for a shot for AEW’s top championship. Magnus had improved a lot in 2023, really found his niche on the CMLL roster after so many years, and is great example of why the promotion felt better in the last year. At the same time, if you told me a year ago that, Magnus was going to be wrestling in a #1 contenders match on an AEW PPV, I would’ve thought you were insane. If you told me that three weeks ago, I would’ve still thought you were insane. I am telling you it’s happening right now and I’m questioning my own sanity. He’ll do well, it’s a scramble, that’s great for doing a couple of spots and not just working with an unfamiliar person for twelve minutes. He’ll remember this for the rest of his life, and he’ll be an incredible trivia answer. It doesn’t make “Magnus is two wins away from being AEW champion” any less incredibly weird.

Question answered: I wondered why Stephanie Vaquer wasn’t on the CMLL all women’s show on March 8th, people on Twitter noted Stardom had a couple of shows around that weekend, and Vaquer indeed popped up on Stardom social media Thursday to challenge Guilia. Vaquer will wrestle in a trios match on March 9th in Yokohama, then fight Guilia for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship on March 10th in Korakuen Hall.

Vaquer is the favorite to win. That match was originally expected to take place at NJPW’s April show in Chicago, Guilia’s now following former boss Rossy Ogawa out of the company and finishing up in STARDOM in March, so waiting until April is out. (This is all coming together late enough that CMLL may have thought they’d have Vaquer when they originally planned that 03/08 show.) It is gracious for Guilia to lose to Vaquer on the way out, if that is what is happening; it’s nothing something everyone would be willing to do. It would also mean Vaquer is beating one of STARDOM’s top stars at a time where they may be about to lose some or many of their top stars; it would be logical for STARDOM to ask CMLL for a few more dates on Vaquer to while everything gets sorted out.

(One thing I’ve noticed from machine translated Japanese fan reactions is confusion at why Vaquer’s CMLL title isn’t also on the line. It’s a good point, and the best case for Vaquer not actually winning the NJPW title in this match.)

Mistico defeated Rocky Romero for the MLW Middleweight Championship on their FITE/Triller+ show on Thursday. Match was said to be gogod.

WrestleCon announced Titan for their Mark Hitchcock Supershow. AEW really should look at bringing him in for this CMLL bit, he’s exactly what they’re looking for, but I think he’s still on a post-FantasticaMania break.

Another Thunder Rosa interview from her trip to Mexico got posted, this time by ESTO. She again brings up the match with Stephanie Vaquer. I don’t know if that’s an actual plan at this point but Thunder Rosa is a person who can get these things to happen by sheer force of will.

RevPro says they’ll have at least 15 CMLL wrestlers on their upcoming FantasticaMania shows. (It’s two shows on one day.) The first name will be announced today.

AAA

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter says Arez, Latigo and Toxin have quit AAA, in a newsbit that includes comments from Konnan.

I had previously heard Arez, Latigo and Toxin informed AAA of their intention to quit, but were scheduled to have a meeting with AAA early next week to formally leave the promotion. That means AAA will have at least one more chance to convince the trio to stick around, and there’s a slight chance this could be reversed. These wrestlers had been letting friends know for months that they were very unhappy in AAA. They had said multiple times they were leaving the company only to be convinced to stick it out a little longer. I’ve heard about this story, but I had no plans to talk about it until it was officially official for that reason, but here we are. My understanding is these wrestlers are planning to stay independent in Mexico; this is not a jump to CMLL. Their work visas are not tied to AAA, and they are expected to continue working in the US and elsewhere.

When Toxin, Arez, and Latigo told AAA they were leaving now, a source says AAA asked them to wait until after that meeting so they could put out a joint official public statement, framing it as parting on good terms. The wrestlers abided by that deal. Konnan, an AAA official, gave a statement about it to the WON. His belief is the wrestlers quit because “they had hoped Konnan could get them booked on US TV”, but AAA is now only working with TNA and TNA had no interest. Konnan says there was a plan to have them feud with Cibernetico and La Secta at some point, but the AAA plan is to focus on the nostalgia characters as long as they continue to draw. Konnan also cites the difference in the wages – AAA can’t afford to pay wrestlers what they can make in the US. (Or at least I think that’s what is meant; the end of the paragraph appears missing.)

It’s great Konnan’s being cited by name this time around. It’s less great the WON newsbit seems to overly rely on just his version of his events, and not enough product knowledge. Konnan speaks about Los Vipers eventually feuding with Cibernetico & La Secta, but that is a program that is happening on TV right now – it may be part of the episode airing tomorrow. The difference may be in what the word “feuding” means. There are two types of rudos in Konnan’s booking of AAA: the one type of rudos who humiliate tecnicos for months to build to a TripleMania match, where they may finally lose, and the other type of rudos who exist simply to get laid out by the top tecnicos. Los Vipers were clearly category two. Their final two TV appearances, assuming they do leave, are getting laid out by Konnan and Vampiro and getting laid out by Cibernetico and La Secta.

The issues go back a lot farther than this Retro/Origenes push. Let’s take the 2023 Arez run as an example:

  • does not participate in the Lucha World Cup
  • loses in first round of Rey de Reyes as the fourth most important person w/Vamprio, Sam Adonis and Puma King. That’s fine, not every match can be about everyone
  • teams as a tecnico with La Hiedra (a ruda) to beat the NWA’s Aron Stevens & Natalia Marakova in a match designed to get them over to a new audience, but doesn’t end up meaning anything. AAA airs a promo where Hiedra & Flammer mock Arez for getting kicked out Los Vipers and Arez says he’ll get revenge. He does not get revenge.
  • participates in the utterly useless Copa TripleMania in Monterrey
  • wins the vacant tag team titles with Komander, the first time they’ve teamed and with no build, seemingly only because Komander is AAA’s flavor of the month for getting an AEW deal. Arez and Komander are immediately destroyed and mocked by La Rebelion to built to a match. The match doesn’t happen.
  • Arez, Aerostar and Octagon Jr. defeats Parka Negra, Psicosis II, Villano III Jr. in a match of three apuesta feuds AAA has been building for a months if not year. Arez is supposed to wrestle Psicosis in a hair/mask match; a source says Arez was directly told that match was happening. It doesn’t happen. (Villano III Jr. quits the promotion after this match and goes onto greater success in CMLL.)
  • does not wrestle on the TripleMania Tijuana show, instead only doing a run-in with Komander to attack La Rebelion among many other run-ins. Again, the feud goes nowhere.
  • participates in the utterly useless Copa TripleMania (Bardahl) in Mexico City
  • loses the tag titles in his first defense (after half a year as champion) to Forastero & Sanson, as they are AAA’s new flavor of the month
  • loses again to Forastero & Sanson, this time with Frankie Kazarian as a one-time partner. (Impact cuts this match out of their airing of the show.) Arez is now doing an angle where he admits he was dumb for betraying the Vipers and wants to get back in, but most of the members vocally do not want him back
  • Arez is suddenly back in Los Vipers, the previous storyline about people not wanting him in dropped cold, and he’s now cannon fodder.

AAA had ideas for Arez in 2023. They just couldn’t stick to an idea for more than two tapings, and failed to deliver the payoffs for any of them. The Psicosis feud and the tag title feud were aborted with no attempt to make sense of them, and his return to the Vipers came off like the people in charge forgot where they were in between tapings. There are always other factors that the public are not not privy too, but this was atrocious creative work by AAA’s team. I think AAA realized it by the end, throwing Arez back in the Vipers as a way to make up for his terrible tecnico run. Even that didn’t work.

AAA has made the decision to only market themselves outside of Mexico on the three TripleManias a year and the occasional Lucha World Cup. Arez wrestled in two nothing matches and not all on the third one. Latigo and Toxin didn’t fair any better. There’s no US company who’s going to have interest in a wrestler when they’re booked as a non-entity in their home promotion, and that’s what AAA was doing even prior to the Retro crew coming in. These first couple of shows made it clear that the only people getting something out of AAA this year the top Retro guys, the normal top guys, and whoever happens to be the new flavor of the moment (Money Machine, Lucha x el Barrio right now.) No one else has much of a chance to get over, not to a Mexican audience or to a US one.

The people who have been trying to get people like Latigo, Toxin and Arez over are US indie groups like GCW. They’re positioned like valuable parts of the show, as some of the best wrestlers. It’s a smaller crowd than AAA shows, but it’s a more sound path if the end goal is US TV, and they wouldn’t be leaving AAA if GCW had not exist. Komander got to AEW through GCW, not because of he got hot in AAA. Instead, AAA’s gotten Laredo & Taurus into Impact/TNA, where their value in the US has been destroyed. (Laredo was beat in four minutes on TV last night, again.) AAA got Arez and Aramis into MLW, which was somehow even worse. They were also treated as non-entities, then MLW stopped booked them entirely, they were left them in legal contact limbo for months which kept them from taking US offers, and then found out they’d been released from MLW months earlier but AAA had kept it a secret from them. Aramis and Arez have left or are leaving AAA now, it obviously has a bit do with that MLW terrible experience, and I don’t understand how that can be left out of a a story about them leaving. AAA is not a help as getting their wrestlers booked in the US; AAA appears to be more of a determent at the moment. I’ve also been told that AAA wants to have a greater involvement in their wrestler’s outside bookings in 2024, something that would likely cost the wrestlers money with no obvious benefit.

AAA – and Konnan especially here – defends their the promotion’s style as something that’s meant to be appeal to Mexican fans; it doesn’t matter if other people don’t like it as long as it’s drawing. That’s well and good when it’s drawing, and it sure seems to be doing ok. It obviously must still not be doing that OK if there’s still a big pay gap between working AAA and working a random US indie. The pay isn’t the only thing; maybe the wrestlers would be happier if they had a lane on these shows to be showcased as star for an outside audience. AAA’s not interested in that; they’ve consolidated to a live event business who even mention what happened on their shows, much less try to use them to get wrestlers over to people outside of the building. Konnan himself has rightfully positioned himself as a savvy knower who can take great Mexican talent and get them onto the international stage – he did it with Rey Mysterio and Psicosis and that generation, he did it with Fenix and Penta, and he can and has use that history to get wrestlers to go with him to be the next people in that line. I think guys like Arez, Toxin and Latigo – and maybe Taurus, Aramis and Daga and others – believed he’d be able to help them the same way, and Konnan just hasn’t come through for them. AAA itself hasn’t come through for them. If any of the half dozen AAA plans for US expansion produced something viable and repeatable, then these guys might be happy getting US dollars for doing what they’ve been doing. CMLL, not known for their relationship abilities, has figured out healthy partnerships with promotions all over the world to give their wrestlers more opportunities and more money. AAA hasn’t been able to make those connections or has broken them. AAA gave these guys work, helped them get through a pandemic, gave them a platform to improve as wrestlers, but AAA’s bigger issues meant they could only help these guys get so far.

Arez was one of the judges for the recent INJUVE Lucha x el Barrio. I don’t believe he had decided for sure he was leaving when he was doing that, but I bet he had a thought in the back of his head that he was picking people to replace him. I know that’s what I was thinking. The INJUVE contest came around at the perfect time – a new hungry group of talent to replace those who had left or wear leaving, people who would ask for less money and weren’t yet disillusioned by years of unfulfilled promises. It’s no surprise Dorian Roldan was eager to do many more of those: AAA’s ideal talent situation is a few top stars that can draw the houses, and a lot of fresh talent filled with their own US dreams and willing to accept whatever AAA’s giving them until they get there. Being cast as the fourth Bengala is a lot easier sell to someone just thrilled to be working for a historic wrestling promotion than someone who knows their worth. Some of the wrestlers will be good, maybe one or two will develop into a great star. AAA will continue to ask them to just to be patient, their big moment is coming. They’ll wait, wait, and wait while whomever AAA gets attached to in that moment leaps ahead of them. And finally, some of them will feel like they have better chances elsewhere, get tired of waiting, and decide to depart. It’s a cycle that’s gone on with AAA since the mid-90s and shows no sign of ending. My reaction to hearing Arez, Latigo and Toxin were going to quit was not surprise, but wondering why it took so long. It makes sense for them, and it is the way of AAA.

In the last few months, AAA’s lost Aramis, Taurus, Arez, Toxin and Latigo. Vikingo is out with an injury. It’s been months a couple Komander’s been there, and AEW has dropped all mention of his AAA Cruiserweight title. You can go back farther and include people like Rey Escorpion, Andromeda and Villano III Jr. I’m certain there are other unhappy people as well. There’s no sign of any changes on AAA’s side.

Toxin is currently AAA trios champion with Abismo Negro Jr. and Psicosis. My guess is they’ll just put someone else in the spot and continue on, but who knows. It hardly matters. AAA should give the titles to La Secta; AAA fans would be thrilled (and I mean that seriously and postively.)

Toxin, Latigo, Arez and Gringo Loco switched to using “Los D-sperados” in GCW a couple months ago, which I presumed was them easing away from the Los Vipers name in case they did decide to lose. If that’s the case, they may have not told Gringo Loco about their move.

The same section confirmed Juventud Guerrera was telling the truth about AAA contacting him about coming in for Copa TripleMania in Monterrey. Guerrera (very predictably) spent a long YouTube video explaining he would not be doing that and taking shots at AAA for asking. Konnan says they’ll not be bringing in the guy who didn’t want to come in.

AAA TV this week should have matches from the 01/20 Queretaro taping. (It appears either AAA or Space have stopped putting titles on these episodes, which was the only way to be sure what would air, so I’m just taking a guess.) I watched this on January 21 and barely have memory of it. The Extasis/Radioactivo versus Money Machine match was the best of the stuff taped for TV, but there’s no knowing which stuff will air when as ever. I hope the Origenes stuff draws well and last a long time, because I don’t know what AAA is going to look like when that stuff runs it’s course.

Hijo del Vikingo underwent surgery on Thursday for the right knee injury he suffered back on the 17th. The diagnosis is a torn meniscus and a rupture ligament. AAA acknowledged the injury for the first time in mentioning the surgery was successful. AAA says word on the recovery time and the status of the Megachampionship will be announced in the future. I presume we’ll hear both whenever that next TripleMania Monterrey press conference happens. If I had to guess, Vikingo is going to be out many months and AAA is going to put the title up in whatever match Alberto is wrestling in Monterrey, but we’ll know for sure soon enough.

Oceania Pro Wrestling (Ballarat, Australia) will bring in Lady Flammer for an AAA Reina de Reinas title defense on April 12th. This is a random booking, but it’s actually part of a Starrcast convention taking place in Australia that weekend.

Unfixable problem

There is an obvious opportunity in the indie Mexican wrestling ecosystem for a promotion that

  • will use people CMLL won’t use (ex-AAA people, or those who left CMLL on bad terms
  • is either Mexico City-area based or otherwise has high international visibility (via a Mas Lucha or similar service)
  • will put on good matches that aren’t strictly weapons/crowd brawls that other groups
  • will put some investment into building up wrestlers and feuds into something big
  • can actually afford to pay these people something close to what they’re worth.

There’s just a lot of freelance talent now in Mexico and not a lot of places for them to go have good matches. There’s options like RIOT or Lucha Memes, who seem like they want to put on good matches but don’t have the visibility or the financial structure to support it. There’s alternatives like IWRG who have some of the structure but clearly want to do believe weird foreign monsters are the way to go (or can’t stick to an idea for more than three weeks.) There’s a million different acronyms that will run some combination of the Pigs, the Parks, the Negociantes and whomever else, but are booking one show without a thought in the world of the next and aren’t getting anyone more over. There’s someone like Big Lucha, who meet some of these criteria but have other priorities and aren’t on great terms with some of the people it’d make sense to use.

IWRG

IWRG , LLB (THU) 02/29/2024 Arena Naucalpan [Estrellas del Ring, IWRG]
1) Juan Ma Sanchez, Mr. Koi, Mr. Michael, Vitter b Argus, Demencia, Oro Blanco, Sparta
winning unit is a group of garbage men who went viral a few years ago for doing wrestling spots as part of their job (and have since gotten some more training.)
2) Cometa & Príncipe Centauro b Hijo De Sparta & Steve Manson and Argus & Gaius and Águila De Bronce & Cósmico
3) Águila Oriental, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly b Fandango, Sol, X-Devil Jr.
4) Hell Boy b Puma de OroTonalliCarta BravaHijo de Canis Lupus
5) Rhino Ciborg, Rhino Extreme, Rhino Killer DQ Carnicero, Granjero, Lendaor
the fourth Sindicato del Terror interferred for theh DQ.
6) Desalmado Ibarra, Hijo de LA Park, LA Park b Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool LA Park, Hijo de LA Park y Desalmado Ibarra Vs La Puerquiza Extrema con Lucha BOOM-IWRG (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre)

I didn’t watch this show, but a weird thing happened. Mas Lucha streamed a “live” show Thursday night with LA Park – except the Mas Lucha “Live” show wasn’t really live, it was the 02/17 The Wolf King show.  Mas Lucha clearly put “En Vivo” in the title and streamed (not uploaded) the show to give the impression it was happening right now. IWRG had an actual live show with LA Park, just only on their channel and not also on Mas Lucha’s channel. Mas Lucha appeared to act in a way to confuse viewers into watching them instead of IWRG, but also they work with IWRG and are putting up IWRG’s content on their channel on a delay. I’m sure there’s a great story to this, but I don’t know it.

IWRG (SUN) 03/03/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cosmic, Rossel, Último Caballero vs Carnicero, Fauno, Milagro
2) Balak, Cheff Benito, Jitsu vs Güero Tijuana, Skanda, Sumed Black
3) Adrenalina, Águila Oriental, Auzzter, Fireman, Fussion, Hijo De Sparta, Rey Aztaroth, Thunder Storm vs Amara Haku, Garritas, Giako, Gigante Karoshi, Huracán Negro, Isa Rob Dan, Kanelo Jack, Payaxucho [Copa FILL]
4) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Ivan Rokov, Rey Halcón, Vangellys, Wesley Pipes
5) Tonalli © vs Cerebro Negro [RGR MIDDLE]
2nd defense

This is half normal show, and half FILL format with the youngters. Though it’s not like IWRG is filled with experienced vets at this point. It is filled with weird foreigners, though Pipes and Rokov are not listed as “special invitees” this week.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha World (FRI) 03/01/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Golden Dragón & Helios vs Piraña & Shere Khan
2) Cometa Maya & Morfosis vs Sol & X-Devil and Mr. Win & Tirano
3) Elipse, Iku, Orbita, Vengador vs Atómico Jr., Auzter, Black Skayde, Brujo
4) Emperador Azteca & Platino vs Big Tao Tao & Skayde
5) El Potro de Oro, Flamita, Jack Evans vs Caballero de Plata, Ciclón Ramírez Jr., Hijo del Pirata Morgan

More Big Luchas versus INJUVE in that main event. Match three is also a rematch from last week.

Other News

A Tigre Universitario Jr. popped up on Mas Lucha’s show in Arena Azteca Budokan. It’s another Junior with a relationship to a wrestler employed by KAOZ wrestling and their related promotions. A source says this Tigre Universitario Jr. is another wrestler playing a role and not a family member as presented. The Mexican indie scene often just copies the homework of what AAA or CMLL is doing, so AAA introducing a lot of new versions of familiar characters has inspired smaller groups to do the same. It goes all ways; CMLL running that all women’s show on 03/08 is going to inspire more promotions to do the same.

A benefit show will be held for (one of seemingly many) Chucky in Leon on 03/03. He brought a bone in his shoulder in a previous match.

CMLL visa cancelations, Atlantis Jr. on Dynamite, Ozz/Vikingo

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 02/26/2024 Arena Puebla [Porra Fresa]
1) Espíritu Maligno & Rencor b Astro & Rayo Metálico
2) Hijo del Perverso & Multy b El Novato & Xelhua Facebook video (posted by )
Multy’s first match in eight months.
3) Reina Isis b AstorethAndrómedaLady MetalSkadiDark SiluetaDiablita RojaLady AmazonaManiaZeuxis Facebook video (posted by )
Elimination order: Mania, Diablita Roja, Skadi, Astoreth, Andromeda, Dark Silueta, Lady Metal, Amazona, Zeuxis, leaving Isis (sub for Catalina) as the winner.
4) El Perverso & Prayer b Fugaz & Hombre Bala Jr.
5) Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja © b Fugaz & Star Black Facebook video (posted by )
14th defense
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. b Averno, Euforia, Zandokan Jr. Facebook video (posted by )

Chavez continue their march towards the defense record.

CMLL (TUE) 02/27/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring, Lo Mejor de Lucha]
1) Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Temerario b Astro Oriental, Gallo Jr., Rafaga Jr.  (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
2) Dulce Kitty & Nautcia b Sexy Sol & Valkiria  (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
3) Dark Magic, Elemental, Yutani DQ Arlequín, Bestia Negra, Furia Roja  (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
Furia Roja tried to foul Dark Magic and pin him, but got caught after the foul.
4) Adria, La Catalina, Mystique b Dark Silueta, Maligna, Persephone  (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
5) Brillante Jr., Dulce Gardenia, La Fashion b Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno  (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )
6) Atlantis Jr., Flip Gordon, Místico b Averno, Euforia, Soberano Jr.  (posted by Martes de Glamour Oficial )

Soberano was back wrestling. I suspect we’re going to keep seeing periodic serious seeming injuries from him that he he bounces back from in a day or two; he doesn’t seem healthy but also isn’t completely broken down. He’ll either need a vacation at some point or be forced into one. Attendance seemed normal, unaffected by running the weekend shows.

CMLL (TUE) 02/27/2024 Arena México
1) Full Metal, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia b Kaligua, Pequeño Magía, Último Dragóncito
2) Dr. Karonte I, Enfermero Jr., Inquisidor b Astral, Eléctrico, Leono
13:41.
3) La Vaquerita, Marcela, Skadi b Hera, Metálica, Olympia
13:59
4) Villano III Jr. b Dark Panther [lightning]
9:46, via submission.
5) Difunto, Hechicero, Zandokan Jr. b Atlantis, Blue Panther, Star Jr.
15:14
6) Máscara Dorada, Tiger Mask, Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario
11:11

The lightning match was the best of the show, though Villano III seemed far more amped for it than Dark Panther, who was working more towards a twenty minute pace. Panther has also come back from Japan as a lariat guy, which is weird and unexpected. Star Jr. hurt himself on a dive but walked away from it. Tiger Mask did not look great.

CMLL (MON) 03/04/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Astro, Black Tiger, Millenium vs Dreyko, Espíritu Maligno, Sombra Diabólika
2) Astoreth & Lady Metal vs Diablita Roja & Lady Amazona
3) Arkalis, Meyer, Pegasso vs El Perverso, Multy, Prayer
4) Ángel de Oro, El Hijo de Stuka Jr., Niebla Roja vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
5) Místico, Stigma, Tiger Mask vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

Tiger Mask is at least staying thru early next week. Stigma in a main event feels weird but they’re not really sending any tecnicos to Puebla this week besides Tiger and Mistico.

On CMLL Informa, the second block of the incredible pairs was announced

  • Disturbio & Virus
  • Hechicero & Stuka Jr.
  • Dragon Rojo Jr & Templario
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr.

The most likely final is Mascara Dorada & Rocky Romero versus Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr.

CMLL will celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th with an all women’s show in Arena Mexico.

CMLL (FRI) 03/08/2024 Arena México
1) Lady Amazona & Lady Metal vs Náutica & Sexy Sol
2) Marcela vs AmapolaLa VaqueritaTiffanyLa MalignaMetálicaLa GuerreraValkiriaHeraOlympiaPersephoneDiablita Roja [Copa Irma Gonzalez]
3) Reyna Isis © vs Zeuxis [MEX WOMEN]
4) Dark Silueta © vs La Catalina [CMLL JAPAN WOMEN]
5) La Jarochita & Lluvia © vs Andrómeda & Skadi [MEX WOMEN TAG]

I kept thinking this type of show was coming but somehow never thought about it it happening on International Women’s Day. Seems so obvious in retrospect. What’s less obvious is where Stephanie Vaquer is on this day; I kept waiting for CMLL to do a “one more match” reveal with her, but that didn’t happen if you’re reading this sentence.

This card is going to be a big litmus test. It’ll be easy for CMLL to make this an annual tradition, and turnout is going to decide if it becomes more than that.

Lluvia also mentioned Tabata dislocated her elbow, and will be out two weeks.

The Lucha Festival show will go up on WrestleUnivers on March 2nd.

CMLL & US work Visas

The US Department of Homeland Security is canceling visas for the following CMLL wrestlers, as of today:

  • Hechicero
  • Mascara Dorada
  • Soberano Jr.
  • Templario
  • Volador Jr.
  • Blue Panther
  • Robin
  • Dulce Gardenia
  • Sagrado
  • Capitan Suicida
  • Espiritu Negro
  • Euforia
  • Fugaz
  • Gemelo Diablo I
  • Gemelo Diablo II
  • Sangre Imperial

The source lists a referee named Sagaz and a wrestler named Magico in this group. I’m unsure who those people are; there is no one actively wrestling in CMLL as Magico nor is there a referee named Sagaz. It’s theoretically possible these are people who just haven’t debuted.

This is an immediate cancelation; any of these wrestler continuing to use their work visa now risks the same five year ban from the US that applies to any unauthorized worker. These wrestlers can restart the visa process, though it will be time (and money) consuming: the best case is two months if everything goes right and they pay to expedite it, but even that would mean missing WrestleMania weekend. It’s more likely a 6-12 month process if they started today, which would mean these wrestlers are unlikely to work MLW’s upcoming shows or NJPW’s Chicago show. They’d be unlikely to work Forbidden Door. Not all the CMLL people in this group were actively working in the US, though some of the lesser stars had popped up on smaller shows.

This visa cancelation is not AAA or WWE or any other promotion’s fault. It doesn’t seem to even be a specific US government issue, outside them doing their normal job. The fault seems to be a CMLL internal communication problem. There’s a confusing group work visa process at work here. These are not one by one applications, they’re instead a batch of 20-40 names processed at once as a group. Technically, they’re being brought in by a promotion for the US. They’re informing the government this is a bunch of people they’d like to employ for the show, and the visa they get from working that show would also allow them to work for another promotion during the visa’s timespan. The group also needs to have a promotion in Mexico vouching for them. It is the US company submitting the information, but it’s often the Mexican side driving it – saying who’s available, who’s interested in going and who has the ability to meet the requirements. The important part is the companies on both sides have to agree on details. My understanding of the breakdown here goes like:

  1. CMLL and Texas’ Full Blown Pro Wrestling agreed to work on a group visa
  2. CMLL Official #1 submitted a list of people to be included in the group.
  3. Full Blown’s owner signed off on the list and submitted it.
  4. The visas were approved and everything seemed fine.
  5. Homeland Security double checked the list, had a question about a name on the list.
  6. Homeland Security contacted CMLL Official #2, who had not talked to Official #1 about the list, wasn’t aware that name was submitted, and told Homeland Security that name shouldn’t have been included.
  7. Homeland Security contacted Full Blown, and threatens a fraud charge for submitting a name CMLL didn’t approve of unless they cancel the visas or provide proof the original list is correct.
  8. Full Blown contacted CMLL and asked them to contact Homeland Security and fix this.
  9. CMLL is not responsive to Full Blown, only says they’ll figure it out through the US Embassy, doesn’t actually fix the situation. Time passes.
  10. Full Blown decides they’ve waited long enough, don’t want to risk a fraud charge, and notifies Homeland Security the visas are canceled as of 02/28.

Technically, all the wrestlers still have visas that have a date much after February 28th on them. They will still scan until the US government updates their information. Affected wrestlers could try to get by for now, but at risk of being caught and turned or, or being found out next time they try to renew their visa.

There was a decent amount of time between when Full Blown was notified and when these visas were canceled; promoters planning to use the affected wrestlers were given a heads up it would not be possible unless the situation got fixed. It’s unclear what the wrestlers have been told by CMLL; they may have gotten the same “we can fix it through the US Embassy” line, but again it doesn’t appear anything has been fixed. Part of the reason for making this story public is to make sure CMLL’s wrestlers are aware of what’s going on; if the problem is CMLL internal communication then there’s no guarantee they’ve been informed. It’s unclear why CMLL objected to the name on the list, or didn’t just try to undo their mistake. At least one person involved in the situation on the CMLL side is no longer working for the promotion, though it’s not entirely clear if that’s related. It was atypical for CMLL to be involved in this process.

Note that affected list doesn’t include all CMLL wrestlers. Mistico was among the original CMLL in AEW names and he’s unaffected. Stephanie Vaquer, announced as working the next NJPW US show, is unaffected. CMLL hasn’t gotten directly involved with these visas in the past, and different wrestlers have gotten their visas in different groups and through different pieces. I don’t have a list of who in CMLL has a US working visa, at this point.

This is bad news for everyone affected. Hechicero really stands out; someone who got a much bigger name instantly coming out of the Bryan Danielson match, was going to have plenty of offers to work indies in the US (and likely more AEW TV), but now looks to be shut out of the country for months.

It’s worth nothing this is a US only issue. Canada passed an exemption to their work rules which allows wrestlers to work shows there without a work visa. AEW, if they so choose, could resume using these Mexican wrestlers on their upcoming Canada shows. There are a lot bigger issues with US immigration policy than lucha libre bookings but this is one of those small things that could’ve been fixed if the rest was worked on.

This situation has been going on for so long that it made the previous story about “AEW original Mexican wrestlers” (just Penta, Fenix is still hurt) upset about not being on AEW TV because of a CMLL block a bit strange – there was a reasonable chance AEW was going to just pause using CMLL talent if they couldn’t get the people they wanted the most. For the moment, AEW instead seems to be shifting in who they’re using to keep it going. (MLW obviously has well.) I think AEW was really excited for that first group and maybe some other names, and it’s going to take the remainders stepping up for this idea to keep going. One is getting his chance tonight.

CMLL/AEW

AEW Dynamite tonight will have Atlantis Jr. (w/Atlantis) versus Chris Jericho. The match plays off Jericho’s 1993-1995 stint in CMLL, when he and Atlantis occasionally teams. CMLL fans mostly seem excited to see Chris Jericho back in their universe, while vocal AEW fans feel much differently about Jericho. I think Atlantis Jr. will do well.

Getting Chris Jericho back to Mexico has been a dream for CMLL fans, and for AAA fans too when that company started bringing in AEW talent. The popular narrative, encouraged by CMLL, is that the best wrestlers in the world have to first come to Mexico to learn true lucha libre before becoming stars elsewhere. Jericho’s post-CMLL success plays into story well, and he’d be welcomed back in Mexico as a conquering hero. All the reasons why Jericho is not in favor in the US would be non-factors in Mexico. Jericho is close with Konnan, who’s clearly wanted to bring Jericho to AAA in recent years and it just hasn’t happened. (Jericho instead has brought Konnan into AEW a couple of times.) Jericho seems to still have some affinity to CMLL, though he worked there under a boss who’s passed away years ago now. This Atlantis Jr./Chris Jericho made is going to put the idea of Jericho returning to Mexico back in the front of the mind for a lot of fans. There’s no big indication this is anything more than this than a one off, but there was no hints to the BCC/AEW idea before it got going.

AEW also officially announced Rugido/Claudio Castagnoli and Magnus/Matt Sydal for Friday’s AEW Rampage. AEW’s taping this Saturday’s Collision tonight, but I have no idea if CMLL wrestlers will figure on that.

AAA

At the last TripleMania press conference, they said they’d have the next press conference with match announcements at the end of February. Tomorrow is the end of February. They may just not have announced it, or it may be delayed.

La Secta were in Puebla on Monday, to promote the AAA spot show there on Sunday. Heraldo de Puebla asked Dark Ozz his thought on Vikingo and the Mega Championship. If you recall, there was a social media push for AAA to book Dark Ozz versus Vikingo for the title, as fans of a certain age felt Ozz didn’t get his due when he was an AAA regular. Additionally, a photo of Vikingo as kid meeting Ozz got a lot of attention. Dorian Roldan brought up the possibility of the match in the pre-Rey de Reyes press conference. The paper suggested to Ozz he might be part of a tournament to decide a new champion, but Ozz said he wasn’t interested in participating – he hopes Vikingo’s injury isn’t serious and would rather wait for a one on one match, because he feels that’s what the fans had been asking for. Ozz had said similar things on Facebook.

TJ Sports has an interview with Black Taurus, who doesn’t seem to have any problem with the new AAA Taurus but says he’ll have big shoes to fill to replace him. Black Taurus teases news and big plans coming soon, while also saying he’d be open to working with CMLL again.

Other News

Mexicali luchador Pequeno Dragon passed away on Saturday, according to Box y Lucha.

GCW’s The Wrld on Lucha will take place on May 5th this year, in Jersey City.

DoradaFan has a highlight video of Forneo.

Box y Lucha 3592 has Ultimo Guerrero and Tiger Mask on the cover.

An interview with Aeroqueen, who turns out to be a daughter of long time indy wrestler/promoter Genaro Contreras.

An interview with the director and star of El Halcon, the movie which is premiering this week. A bunch of luchadors were at the Puebla premiere.

A profile of Veracruz luchador Guerrera Oriental.

CDMX wins Torneo de Escuelas, Depredadores/AEW, Tiger Mask

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 02/23/2024 Arena México [AS, CMLL, ExcelsiorFugeo en el RingKaiser SportsThe GladiatoresThe Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II b Micro Dito & Mije CMLL - MICRO DITO - MIJE VS MICRO GEMELOS DIABLO I Y II / ARENA MÉXICO / 23-02-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) La dupla de Micro Gemelo Diablo I y II pasan por encima de los ruditos Mije y MicroDito en su debut (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Micro Gemelos Diablo I y II vs Micro Dito y Mije ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
10:45. Micro Dito replaced Periquito Sacaryas on Friday.
2) Marcela & Skadi b Hera & Olympia CMLL - HERA - OLYMPIA VS MARCELA - SKADI / ARENA MÉXICO / 23-02-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Skadi y Marcela derrotan a Hera y Olympia (posted by mluchatv) La experiencia y fuerza de Marcela y Skadi se imponen a Hera y Olympia (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Marcela y Skady vs Hera y Olympia ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
10:25
3) Averno, Euforia, Mephisto b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible Averno, Mephisto y Euforia se llevan la victoria ante Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible y Dragón Rojo Jr. (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) CMLL - MEPHISTO - AVERNO - EUFORA VS DRAGÓN ROJO JR. - TERRIBLE -B. CAVERNARIO/ARENA MÉXICO/23-02-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Los Infernales vs Los Bárbaros ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
9:45. Averno demanded a trios title match
4) Alom, Astro Boy Jr., Dragón de Fuego, Forneo, Hunter (CDMX), Legendario b El Hijo De Centella Roja, El Malayo, El Novato (Puebla), Rayo Metálico (Guanajuato), Rey Apocalipsis, Xelhua [Torneo de Escuelas, final¡La escuela de la CDMX se lleva la victoria! Forneo derrota al poblano Xelhua (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) CDMX vs Puebla FINAL DEL TORNEO DE ESCUELAS 2024 CMLL en la Arena México (posted by Estrellas del Ring) CMLL - FINAL TORNEO DE ESCUELAS / PUEBLA VS CDMX / ARENA MÉXICO / 23-02-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) Forneo le da la victoria a la CDMX en el Torneo de Escuelas ante Puebla (posted by mluchatv)
31:27. CDMX vs Puebla final. Order of elimination: El Hijo del Centella Roja (Alom, 14:43), Hunter (Rey Apocalipsis, 16:18), Malayo (Dragon de Fuego, 20:14), Rey Apocalipsis (21:44, Astro Boy Jr.), Alom (23:31, Xelhua), Rayo Metalico (26:20, Legendario), Dragon de Fuego (28:17, Novato), Astro Boy Jr. (29:13, Xelhua), Novato (30:27, Forneo), Legendario (31:27, Xelhua), Xelhua (37:59, Forneo), leaving Mexico City and Foreno as the winners.
5) Ángel de Oro, Atlantis Jr., Brillante Jr. b Máscara Dorada, Neón, Soberano Jr. [Relevos IncreíblesCMLL-ÁNGEL DE ORO-BRILLANTE JR-ATLANTIS JR. VS SOBERANO JR-NEÓN-MÁSCARA DORADA/ARENA MÉXICO/23-02-24 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL) CMLL: Máscara Dorada, Atlantis Jr. y Neon vs Ángel de Oro, Brillante Jr. y Soberano Jr. (posted by mluchatv) M.Dorada, Neón y Soberano Jr quien sale en camilla vencen a Atlantis Jr, Brillante Jr y Ángel de Oro (posted by La Tijera Lucha Libre) Máscara Dorada, Neón y Soberano Jr vs Atlantis Jr, Ángel de Oro y Brillante Jr ARENA MÉXICO (posted by Estrellas del Ring)
14:22. Soberano didn’t get along with his partners and was hurt in the closing moments.

The Torneo de Esceulas match had a lot of energy early, and seemed to die a bit in the middle when some of the bigger names weren’t involved. The crowd seemed disappointed when Legendario got eliminated. Xelhua, Foreno and Legendario were the three standouts in the whole tournament, and the ones I’d expect to stick around.

Soberano needed medical attention after Atlantis Jr.’s match closing dive, but he seemed to be struggling with something even a couple of minutes earlier. (Atlantis Jr. paused and stood over him near the ropes to give Soberano a moment, it seemed to me.) Soberano’s listed on Tuesday’s Guadalajara, so hopefully it was something minor.

Big Lucha’s Micro Dito made his debut as a late sub for Zacarias. He took the Micro Gemelo Diablos moves well and that’s really all they need out of that role.

CMLL (SAT) 02/24/2024 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Grako & Inquisidor b Bengala & Retro
Bengala left the match early with an injury.
2) Amapola & Olympia b Metálica & Tiffany
3) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma b Difunto, Raider, Vegas
Raider pinned Maya after a mask pull. Maya wanted a rematch.
4) Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus DQ Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
Disturbio fouled Virus challenges followed.
5) Magia Blanca © b Fugaz [MEX WELTER]
sixth defense (third versus Fugaz)
6) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario

I’m not dying to see Blanca and Fugaz, but that’s going to be the first test to see if CMLL is going to relevant matches on the 35 USD tier.

A CMLL x Lady’s Ring show, the most notable event for the women on this tour, took place Sunday. Relevant matches: (results via here)

  • Cohaku beat Tabata by referee stop
    • Tabata suffered an injury – believed to an elbow injury – on a springboard moonsault to the floor. She was in noticeable pain and the match was stopped at that point. Tabata’s arm was in a sling on a photo marking the group’s return back to Mexico
  • Sumika Yanagawa won a five way match to earn a trip to Mexico. There’s no mention of when the trip is happening.
  • La Jarochita & Lluvia defeats Mei Suruga & Sayaka Unagi
  • Salvador Lutteroth appeared at the show to talk about the partnership with this group, in a similar bit as FantasticaMania.

This Lucha Festival show will go up on WrestleUniverse in the near future.

CMLL (SUN) 02/25/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Acero, Aéreo, Kaligua b Full Metal, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia
2) Leono & Retro b Nitro & Príncipe Odín Jr.
3) Zeuxis b Skadi [lightning]
4) Gemelo Diablo II, Kráneo, Sagrado b Fuego, Panterita del Ring, Volcano
5) Crixus, Magnus, Rugido b Esfinge, Hombre Bala Jr., Star Jr.
6) Atlantis Jr., Flip Gordon, Místico b Gran Guerrero, Hechicero, Soberano Jr.

Magnus and Rugido were back in Mexico, one night after appearing on AEW’s taping Saturday in Missouri. The two appeared in matches taped for this upcoming week’s Rampage. (AEW’s taping schedule is a bit out of order this week, but these matches were definitely taped for Friday.) Claudio Castagnoli wrestled Rugido, while Matt Sydal wrestled Magnus in the TV main event. The second match was said to have gone significantly better than the first one.

The last four people who’ve gone to AEW are Star Jr., Esfinge, Magnus and Rugido. All those guys are fine and can have good matches in the right situations but they’re also not exactly the best or the brightest stars; I don’t think any of them would make the top 25 people I’d send. There’s always some politics to these sorts of decisions but there may be more going on.

Nothing worth pointing out in the results of the Saturday or the Sunday Arena Coliseo Guadalajara show. Only the Sunday show was streamed. The Saturday free show looks like it drew a big crowd, Sunday’s show was lower than a usual Tuesday show.

CMLL (TUE) 02/27/2024 Arena México
1) Kaligua, Pequeño Magía, Último Dragóncito vs Full Metal, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Leono vs Dr. Karonte I, Enfermero Jr., Inquisidor
3) La Vaquerita, Marcela, Skadi vs Hera, Metálica, Olympia
4) Dark Panther vs Villano III Jr. [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Star Jr. vs Difunto, Hechicero, Zandokan Jr.
6) Máscara Dorada, Tiger Mask, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario

Tiger Mask worked Prestige Wrestling late Sunday night and is in Mexico for the rest of the week. Dark Panther/Villano III Jr. could be pretty good.

CMLL (TUE) 02/27/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Astro Oriental, Gallo Jr., Rafaga Jr. vs Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Temerario
2) Dulce Kitty & Natucia vs Sexy Sol & Valkiria
3) Dark Magic, Elemental, Yutani vs Arlequín, Bestia Negra, Furia Roja
4) Adria, La Catalina, Mystique vs Dark Silueta, Maligna, Persephone
5) Brillante Jr., Dulce Gardenia, La Fashion vs Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
6) Atlantis Jr., Flip Gordon, Místico vs Averno, Euforia, Soberano Jr.

Brillante, Dulce, Fashion, Dark Magic, Elemental and Yutani all ended up staying Saturday to Tuesday. That used to happen a bit when Sunday shows were a regular thing.

CMLL (FRI) 03/01/2024 Arena México
1) Diamond vs Fuego [lightning]
2) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
3) La Catalina, La Jarochita, Lluvia vs Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
4) Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible © vs Averno, Euforia, Mephisto [CMLL TRIOS]
2nd defense
5) Tiger Mask vs Último Guerrero
Liger and Gran Guerrero will be seconds.
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Místico vs Gran Guerrero, Soberano Jr., Templario

Gran Guerrero makes an rare Friday appearance in the main event, though his bigger role may be seconding his brother. Ultimo Guerrero versus Tiger Mask should be a very professional wrestling match. It seems too soon for Los Barbaros to lose the trios titles but it would be odd for Cavernario to defeat Averno before their title match. Catalina makes her Arena Mexico debut as a tecnica. Match two continues the four way feud.

AAA

They did air the remaining matches from Mexico City on Space this week. The Money Machine/Lady Wind versus Dick Angelo/Legendario/Reina Dorada was the best match of the three, though it was much more than OK. It was also the only match where the attempt was really to have a good match. The Relevos AAA match was just there to do that match type. Charly Manson, Super Calo and Zorro were not embarrassing in their match but that match wasn’t much better. AAA ran a random angle with Cien Caras and NGD attacking Negro Casas after they won, and Cien Caras and Negro Casas brawling was not a pretty sight. It was an also an AAA angle, so there’s no reason to think it’s going anywhere.

Still no word on Vikingo. Unless him posting photos of crutches in Instagram stories counts as an update.

For months – maybe longer?- Juventud Guerrera has been doing a bit on his YouTube show and on other social media about how he wants to wrestle Vikingo for the AAA Megachampionship, how the fans want it, and how mean AAA is for blocking that from happening. It’s Juventud Guerrera, he is another old wrestler who says stuff to keep himself in the news and is half crazy, it’s not really news. It has seemed like AAA has wanted nothing to do with him. Today, Guerrera posted a new edition of his YouTube show revealing Konnan contacted him about appearing on TripleMania Monterrey as a surprise name in the Copa TripleMania. (Guerrera showed off a Whatsapp message that he has labeled as “K-Dog”; it’s impossible to verify if this is really from Konnan.) Guerrera buries AAA and Konnan for half the podcast while institing that he wants and only wants to be in the megachampionship match like he deserves.

It’s Mexican wrestling so Juventud Guerrera pushing back on the idea of working in Copa TripleMania means it’s 50/50 he’ll end up working it anyway. The most disturbing news is AAA is going to ruin another lousy Copa TripleMania that’ll eat up 1/4th of their PPV time and eat up a full episode of TV.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha (FRI) 02/23/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [thecubsfan]
1) Diosa Nix & La Brava b Sairely & Satania Big Lucha VS INJUVE | Big Lucha World EP.8 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
10:23
2) Piraña & Rey Espectrito b Cósmico & Helios Big Lucha VS INJUVE | Big Lucha World EP.8 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
8:38
3) Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo b Shere Khan, Sol, X-Devil Big Lucha VS INJUVE | Big Lucha World EP.8 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
9:17.
4) Brujo, Limbo, Torito Negro DDQ Atómico Jr., Auzter, Black Skayde Big Lucha VS INJUVE | Big Lucha World EP.8 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
13:25. Stream went on the finish, but it sounded like foul & mask pull
5) Caballero de Plata, Ciclón Ramírez Jr., Hijo del Pirata Morgan b El Potro de Oro, Jack Evans, Súper Nova Big Lucha VS INJUVE | Big Lucha World EP.8 T.4 (posted by BIG LUCHA )
17:56. Pirata fouled Potro de Oro to set up the victory.

They pushed the Big Lucha/INJUVE feud hard. That final was really an AAA Retro style main event; a brawl that went both ways for a while, and then the moment where suddenly none of that matters and they reset back to even. It was long for the finish they were doing, something to set up rematches but no specific direction. The flimsy guardrails got a workout on the show, being banged around in the semimain too. The stream paused right as that one finished, and they weren’t able to show a replay of what happened. Match 3 had a lot of good spots, and a lot of stuff that look sloppy. They sold it as a great match that had to be rematched, and maybe it’ll be smoother that time.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 02/25/2024 Arena Naucalpan [La Tijera, Zona Ruda]
1) Ajolotl & Fussion b Fireman & Rey Aztaroth IWRG EN VIVO | LA PANDEMIA VS LOS VIPERS (posted by IWRG tv)
2) Lolita b Keyra IWRG EN VIVO | LA PANDEMIA VS LOS VIPERS (posted by IWRG tv)
Lolita won via mask pull
3) Auzter, Spider Fly, Tornado b Águila Roja, Cerebro Negro Jr., Rey Halcón IWRG EN VIVO | LA PANDEMIA VS LOS VIPERS (posted by IWRG tv)
Vipers attacked Spider Fly again after the match
4) Cerebro Negro b Tonalli IWRG EN VIVO | LA PANDEMIA VS LOS VIPERS (posted by IWRG tv)
sets up a RGR title match
5) Ivan Rokov & Vangellys b Hell Boy & Hijo de Canis Lupus IWRG EN VIVO | LA PANDEMIA VS LOS VIPERS (posted by IWRG tv)
Vangellys snuck in a foul on Hell Boy for the win
6) Arez, Látigo, Toxin b Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. IWRG EN VIVO | LA PANDEMIA VS LOS VIPERS (posted by IWRG tv)
Vipers win to set up a title match

Not a big turnout here. Or in Arena Azteca Budokan for the May Flowers 37th Anniversary show. I watched the main event here and it was solid but not at the level of the Vipers (or D-sperados) trios matches in the US by far. It was just an IWRG match.

Other News

WWE announced their annual Mexico City and Monterrey dates for July 13th and 14th. These are normal house shows; still no TV tapings of PPVs.

Konnan Big will have a farewell show on March 15th, which is not to be confused with other three ‘last Konnan Big match ever’ matches he’s already had. The main event of Heddi Karaoui, Travis Banks and Ivan Rokov versus Simbolo, Konnan Big and 9-10 MMA fighter El Loco Ricardo Arreola looks especially wretched. Though it’s not like anyone’s going to the latest Konnan Big retirement show to see a good match, they’re going see something dumb and it can’t get much dumber than that match.

The El Halcon movie is due out this week, and it’s getting a lot of write ups on

Segunda Caida reviews Pierroth/La Parka from 2000.

An interview with Oaxaca’s Incognito Jr., who debuts on 01/06.

A profile of Tepic luchador Marakame I

Torneo de Escuelas final, AAA upcoming TV lineups, Parejas Incredible teams

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 02/23/2024 Arena México
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Mije & Periquito Sacaryas
2) Marcela & Skadi vs Hera & Olympia
3) Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible vs Averno, Euforia, Mephisto
4) Alom (CDMX), Astro Boy Jr. (CDMX), Dragón de Fuego, Forneo, Hunter (CDMX), Legendario vs El Hijo De Centella Roja, El Malayo, El Novato (Puebla), Rayo Metálico (Guanajuato), Rey Apocalipsis, Xelhua [Torneo de Escuelas, final]
CDMX vs Puebla
5) Ángel de Oro, Atlantis Jr., Brillante Jr. vs Máscara Dorada, Neón, Soberano Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

The main event should be good, even if it’s the oddity of Mascara Dorada being on the rudo side. (Or Atlantis Jr.?) Mexico City seems unlikely to lose Torneo de Escuelas back to back years, but that’s not really a team that has to win. It’s possible a trios title match comes out of match 3, but otherwise nothing to focus on the undercard.

Beyond the trophy for best school, all these young wrestlers are trying to impress to get full time spots on the roster. CMLL kinda knows who they want to spotlight – it was no accident Xelhua got the hero performance last week – but other people can forced their way into the conversation. This, and watching a Vegas match on one of the Saturday shows, got me to thinking about how last year’s Torneo de Escuelas wrestlers turned out

Names Team Status
Futuro CDMX Full Time
Max Star CDMX Full Time
Neón CDMX Full Time
Vegas CDMX Full Time
Brillante Jr. Laguna Full Time
Crixus GDL Full Time
Rey Samuray Puebla Occasional
Hijo de Stuka Jr. Laguna Occasional
Misterio Blanco Laguna Occasional
Misterio Negro Laguna Occasional
Vaquero Jr. GDL Occasional
Ángel Rebelde GDL Rarely
Histórico CDMX Rarely
Príncipe CDMX Didn’t return
Tonalli CDMX Didn’t return
Gran Jefe Laguna Didn’t return
Rey Insólito Laguna Didn’t return
Adrenalina GDL Didn’t return
Explosivo GDL Didn’t return
Fantástico GDL Didn’t return
Hijo de Centella Roja Puebla Didn’t return
Millenium Puebla Didn’t return
Multy Puebla Didn’t return
Perverso Puebla Didn’t return
Prayer Puebla Didn’t return

In retrospect, it’s obvious which names were going to get on the roster anyway and last year’s tournament was just the way to introduce thhem. The Mexico City team didn’t win, but CMLL sure liked to keep most of them around. Principe was the guy who wrestled in the semifinal for Team CDMX before Historico replaced him in the final. As best I can tell – and it’s imperfect which a name that generic – Principe hasn’t wrestled again. Vegas was good in that tournament but I wonder if he essentially just got Tonalli’s spot. I still don’t understand what happened with Angel Rebelde; maybe he just didn’t want to move to Mexico City?

A block of stuff that was announced on Informa but I’m putting this line up top so I don’t have to keep saying “On Informa, they said”:

  • The Parejas Incredible tournament will be an eight team tournament this year, down from the typical sixteen. This routes around many wrestlers already being announced for the date of the final, Homenaje a Dos Leyendas. The March 15th block is:
    • Akuma & Dulce Gardenia
    • Euforia & Gran Guerrero
    • Angel de Oro & Flip Gordon
    • Mascara Dorada & Rocky Romero, the heavy favorites to advance
  • Jushin Liger and Tiger Mask IV will appear on the 03/01 Arena Mexico show. Liger had previously been announced for an appearance/autograph tour. Liger will not be wrestling, though CMLL didn’t exactly make that clear. (He is retired but Mexican wrestling fans are used to that not meaning anything.) Tiger Mask will wrestle.
  • La Catalina declared she’s going to be a tecnica going forward. She’s breaking up with her ex-friend Stephanie Vaquer after since Vaquer decided to second Zeuxis in the Universal final last year, and more so after Vaquer attacked her in Puebla after a match. Tuesday’s match – which left Catalina with an arm injury that’ll be fine before the next match – was the breaking point, and Catalina can’t stand to team with Vaquer or the other rudas any more. Vaquer and Catalina went back and forth on social media.
  • A video package highlighted the issues between Atrapasuenos, Ola Negra, Cancerberos and Indestructibles. There was no hint where it all was going. Four way trios feuds are uncharted territory in CMLL.

Not on Informa itself, but in the media interviews prior, Tony Salazar talked about his training philosophy a bit. He says he’s training big groups now and prefers to train wrestlers who are totally new, not people who trained with others (and picked up habits he doesn’t like.) He says some wrestlers are scared to train with him because he’s so strict, but feels he needs to be strict to get through to students, and part of being a professional wrestler is handing that sort of pain. Salazar says his hope is someday one of his students is the wrestler honored at Homenaje a Dos Leyendas. (Mistico certainly will be one day.) Salazar says he admires Volador’s leadership over his students, because they’re all very united. It seems like Volador’s training more people – there seemed to be a significant amount of people in the Torneo de Escuelas who cited him as a trainer – but there’s never been much of a public announcement about it.

There’s still tickets left to 03/29 Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, but really just the upper levels. A couple of the seats in the Freedom restaurant are still left (thouh you have to click around on the map to get it.) The map doesn’t show how many tickets are available in upper levels. Ticketmaster used to put a low ticket warning when a show was about sold out, and I don’t see it yet.

CMLL put up the Ola Negra/Cancerberos match from 02/11 as a free match on YouTube. They’ve also put up matches 4/6 from Saturday’s show for members; they’ve been doing bigger matches since the first week. None of the matches have been notable in terms of quality.

Ultimo Guerrero is still in Japan with Lluvia, Jarochita and Tabata. Titan also still seems to be in Japan with his family (or he’s posting old photos.) Maybe there other people on vacation? I haven’t deeply searched Instagram. Rocky Romero, Mascara Dorada and Mistico are in San Jose Saturday for Pro Wrestling Revolution.

CMLL (SAT) 02/24/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) Bengala & Retro vs Grako & Inquisidor
2) Amapola & Olympia vs Metálica & Tiffany
3) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Difunto, Raider, Vegas
4) Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
5) Magia Blanca © vs Fugaz [MEX WELTER]
6) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario

Magia Blanca is up to six defenses. Half of them have been against Fugaz. Match 4 continues that trios feud.

CMLL (SAT) 02/24/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Gallo Jr., Obek, Rafaga Jr. vs Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Rav
2) Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. vs Ángel Rebelde, Barboza, Persa
3) Adira, Dulce Kitty, Náutica vs Nexy, Sexy Sol, Valkiria
4) Dark Magic, Elemental, Yutani vs Arlequín, Cris Skin, Trono
5) Andrómeda, La Catalina, Mystique vs Dark Silueta, Maligna, Persephone
6) Dulce Gardenia & La Fashion vs Bestia Negra & Ráfaga
7) Adrenalina, Brillante Jr., Explosivo, Fantástico vs Furia Roja, Gallero, Guerrero de la Muerte, Halcón Negro Jr.

CMLL (SUN) 02/25/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Avispón Negro Jr., Bello Antuan, Último Ángel vs Eclipse Jr., Rumbero, Shezmu
2) Ángel Rebelde, Halcón Negro Jr., Trono vs Black Boy, Thunder Boy, Yaky Boy
3) Adira, Dulce Kitty, Náutica vs Estrellita Maldita, Sexy Sol, Valkiria
4) Dark Magic, Elemental, Yutani vs Exterminador, Javier Cruz Jr., Maléfico
5) Andrómeda, La Catalina, Mystique vs Dark Silueta, Maligna, Persephone
6) Dulce Gardenia & La Fashion vs Guerrero de la Muerte & Ráfaga
7) Brillante Jr., Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. vs Arlequín, Bestia Negra, Furia Roja, Gallero

CMLL is back to running on Sunday in Guadalajara. They’re also running the afternoon prior with pretty much the same crew as a free sponsored show. I assume the Sunday show came about because they were already bringing in people for Saturday. I’m uncertain there’s going to be a great demand for a Sunday pay show after a Saturday free show. They are doing 1 peso tickets for kids. Maybe Mascara Dorada got dropped because he wouldn’t be free both days?

For people who don’t care about all of that but want to watch wrestling, this means Guadalajara will be streaming both Saturday and Sunday but you probably don’t need to watch both.

CMLL (SUN) 02/25/2024 Arena México
1) Acero, Aéreo, Kaligua vs Full Metal, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia
2) Leono & Retro vs Nitro & Príncipe Odín Jr.
3) Skadi vs Zeuxis [lightning]
4) Fuego, Panterita del Ring, Volcano vs Gemelo Diablo II, Kráneo, Sagrado
5) Esfinge, Hombre Bala Jr., Star Jr. vs Crixus, Magnus, Rugido
6) Atlantis Jr., Flip Gordon, Místico vs Gran Guerrero, Hechicero, Soberano Jr.

Magnus gets back in the Los Deperdadores mix, with Crixus in for Magia Blanca. Odin and Retro are on opposite sides of a match again.

CMLL (MON) 02/26/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Astro & Rayo Metálico vs Espíritu Maligno & Rencor
2) El Novato & Xelhua vs Hijo del Perverso & Multy
3) Andrómeda, Astoreth, La Catalina, Lady Metal, Skadi vs Dark Silueta, Diablita Roja, Lady Amazona, Mania, Zeuxis
4) Fugaz & Hombre Bala Jr. vs El Perverso & Prayer
5) Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja © vs Fugaz & Star Black
14th defense
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Averno, Euforia, Zandokan Jr.

I think Angel de Oro and Niebla Roja are going with a higher number, and they may be right. CMLL could help this angle by laying it out (and not just assuming I have the luchawiki updated; I haven’t had the time to update the title histories there in months.)

While I need to fix it, the cibernetico in the third match helps clear up who’s supposed to be tecnicas and rudas in this Puebla division. Multy hasn’t been here since last May. That was a match that went up on YouTube (holiday show) and so I’m pretty sure I saw it, but I don’t recall an injury.

AAA

AAA on Space has no episode title this week. The oldest unaired taping is the second part of the Mexico City taping so that’s my guess.

AAA released the full card for the 03/09 Saltillo taping.

AAA TV (SAT) 03/09/2024 Lienzo Charro Prof. Enrique Gonzalez, Saltillo, Coahuila [Saltillo Al Raz De Lona]
1) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
2) Drago, Epydemius Jr., Estrellato vs Hijo del Picudo, May Flowers, Nygma
3) Dulce Kanela, Jessy Queen, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla
4) Toscano & Zorro vs Antifaz & Hator
5) Aerostar, Myzteziz, Negro Casas vs Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Dark Scoria
6) Pagano & Psycho Clown vs Forastero & Sansón [AAA TAG]
4th defense (2nd on TV)
7) Hijo Del Vikingo, Octagón Jr., Vampiro Canadiense vs Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Panic Clown

AAA added match 2 (return of the Vatos Locos) and 4, both of which probably will not be good. They left Hijo del Vikingo in the main event. He is unlikely to be in the main event.

AAA TV (SAT) 03/16/2024 Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal
1) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
2) Faby Apache, La Parkita, Mr. Iguana, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Bengala, Dalys, Jessy Queen, Parkita Negra
3) Myzteziz Jr. & Octagón Jr. vs Aerostar & Laredo Kid
4) Oscar Sevilla & Súper Caló vs Charly Manson & Nygma
5) Pagano vs ? vs Mecha Wolf
6) Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Panic Clown vs Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Dark Scoria
7) Psycho Clown vs Cibernético vs El Patrón Alberto

By my best guess, this starts airing on April 28, a four week delay. It is also probably the last taping before TripleMania Monterrey.

They might as well make that main event for the vacant mega title, but AAA still hasn’t said anything about Vikingo or the title. They also are missing the random foreign wrestler I guess.

Maybe Vikingo was in the mystery spot in the fifth match? Weren’t Pagano and Mecha Wolf meant to be part of a group? You know it’s not that important.

Match 3 might be the only good one. The Faby Apache/Dalys feud continues in the second, though AAA booking a women’s singles match seems unlikely.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 02/25/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Ajolotl & Fussion vs Histeriosis & Rey Aztaroth
2) Keyra vs Lolita
3) Auzter, Spider Fly, Tornado vs Águila Roja, Cerebro Negro Jr., Rey Halcón
4) Tonalli vs Cerebro Negro
5) Ivan Rokov & Vangellys vs Hell Boy & Hijo de Canis Lupus
6) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Arez, Látigo, Toxin

Los Vipers returned to attack MexaBoys, end up fighting La Pandemia. OK.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha (FRI) 02/23/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Diosa Nix & La Brava vs Sairely & Satania
2) Cósmico & Helios vs Rey Espectrito & Solaris
3) Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo vs Shere Khan, Sol, X-Devil
4) Brujo, Limbo, Torito Negro vs Atómico Jr., Auzter, Black Skayde
5) El Potro de Oro, Jack Evans, Súper Nova vs Caballero de Plata, Ciclón Ramírez Jr., Hijo del Pirata Morgan

This week has an INJUVE/Big Lucha theme for some of the matches.

Other News

CMLL luchadora Andromeda has been part of an minor ongoing saga. KAOZ Lucha Libre claimed she signed a contract with them when she was still indie luchador Estrellita Lagunera, one they’d definitely be enforcing and she’d definitely still be wrestling for them whenever it was they’d get around to running a next show. That next show is March 24th and Estrellita Lagunera is wrestling – only KAOZ announced it’d be a new person. They had been so insistent they were going to get Andromeda to be on the show that this announcement was mocked heavily; comments are now closed.

Taya beat Sussy Love last night on ROH’s Honor Club show, as part of a tournament to decide a first ever ROH Women’s TV champion. Almost all of the first round matches in the 16 women tournament are roster members versus outside talent, with the unsigned talent getting just enough offense to look like they belonged in the tournament (but none of them actually winning.) Sussy Love did enough flashy things to do well in that role; I don’t know that if she’ll be back in ROH but she did well enough to be considered.

Might be something, might be nothing: ROH announcers mentioned Sussy Love’s background in Big Lucha, but not AAA.. They talked about Taya’s background in Mexico without saying where that happened. Komander again didn’t have the AAA Cruiserweight Championship. I think me making a big deal about AEW distancing themselves from AAA is going to fall on deaf ears – a lot of people half paying attention though AEW already did that just by working with CMLL. I see there’s more going on here but maybe that’s me overthinking it.

A visit to a Zacatecas lucha libre musuem.