Kato Kung Lee, CMLL weekend results

photo by CMLL
photo by CMLL

CMLL (SAT) 05/07/2016 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Inquisidor b Bengala
2) Leono b Camorra
3) Flyer b Artillero
Flyer won with a Spanish Fly. Good match.
4) Hombre Bala Jr. b Nitro
5) Tritón b Disturbio
6) Blue Panther & Esfinge b Puma & Tiger
A moment of applause for Kato Kung Lee took place before the match. Puma & Tiger took fall one. Tiger was injured when the top rope broke during the match (taken to hospital, seemed to be OK on Twitter later.) Tecnicos took the second fall 2 on 1 and they stopped the match to repair the ring. Blue Panther quit the match so it could finish 1v1, and Esfinge defeated Puma to win. Money thrown in.
7) La Máscara, Súper Porky, Titán DQ Ephesto, Luciferno, Ripper
La Mascara didn’t get along with his partners, was fouled by Luciferno.

Note they’ve got edecanes on these shows too now. Might be a sponsorship thing. The card structure is still the “retro” style, but it’s also a dumping ground to give work to people who aren’t part of the bigger shows.

CMLL (SUN) 05/08/2016 Arena México
1) Bengala & Flyer b Apocalipsis & Cholo
2) Fantasy, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) Esfinge, Oro Jr., Tritón b Cancerbero, Sangre Azteca, Tiger
Tiger, hurt last night, was back in action today. Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stuka Jr., Titán b Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado
The Boricuas had issues, may be breaking up
5) Ephesto, Mephisto, Rey Escorpión b Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy
Escorpion wants a title shot against Atlantis.

I’m alright with the Boricuas doing their split up angle on a non-televised show. More televised show for Pierroth!

Kato Kung Lee, Johnny Lezcano Smith, passed away on Saturday afternoon. He was a agile luchador of the 70s, 80s, 90s, the leader of a wave of martial arts themed luchadors inspired by the popularity of Asian martial arts films, though he had genuine martial arts training. Kato was nimble and had impressive rope tricks. He won singles gold, but is probably best remembered as part of Los Fantasticos (with Black Man & Kung Fu), a popular tecnico trio during the rise of trios wrestling in the early 80s. Lezcano was born in Panama and emigrated to Mexico for his career, and lived in the country for the rest of his life. He was well known – both in Mexico and Japan – and well liked even after his career had wound down. He’d been dealing with medical issues for as long as the last decade, and things had taken a turn for the worst in the last week.

LuchaWorld has the most complete bio. The Gladiatores shares some personal thoughts from knowing Kato. Hijo del Santo, who unmasked Kato Kung Lee, talks about knowing him in and out of the ring.

Los Ingobernables don’t want anything to do with Rey Escorpion, are still sure he must’ve bought the shirt from a pirate vendor.

ChilangaMask and ERLL will have a show on Monterrey on June 5th.

RobViper has highlights from 10/09/15 CMLL.

There’s a new edition of +LuchaTV up.

SuperLibre had Satanico as guest.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 05/15/2016 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Pequeño Universo 2000 & Pequeño Violencia
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Mano Negra Jr., Starman vs Grako, Hijo del Signo, Sangre Azteca
3) Blue Panther Jr., Oro Jr., Tritón vs El Cuatrero, Sansón, Skándalo
4) Máscara Dorada, Rey Cometa, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Ephesto, Mephisto
5) Atlantis © vs Rey Escorpión [MEX LH]
3rd defense.

This is Atlantis’ second defense on a Sunday show, the one untelevised Arena Mexico show.

Cometa & Cavernario back up against each in the second match.

There was a Mano Negra Jr. in CMLL from 1997 to 2005. This is probably not him. There is a Mano Negra Jr. – this is probably not him? Grako shows up Toryumon shows in 2014 and then very rarely around Mexico City; maybe he has/had another identity?

CMLL (SUN) 05/15/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Micro vs El Diplomático
2) Fugaz & Johnny Dinamo vs Carlo Roggi & Mr. Apolo
3) Capitán Cobra, Cosmos, Reyko vs Gitano, Linterna, Relámpago
4) Gallo & Vaquero Jr. vs Kempo Dragón & Príncipe Kisho
5) Furia Roja, Mr. Trueno, Ráfaga vs Joker, Maléfico, Sádico

Rudo main event is odd; guess we’ll find out why it happened in a few days.

Friday night results, Kato Kung Lee, Lucha World Cup

photo by CMLL
photo by CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 05/06/2016 Arena México [@RobViper, +LuchaTV, CMLL]
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Súper Halcón Jr. DQ Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo
Referee screwed up the finish
2) Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, The Panther b Fujin, Raijin, Skándalo
Referee screwed up the finish (again)
3) Ángel de Oro, Fuego, Súper Porky DQ Bobby Z, Hechicero, Vangellys
Tecnicos won in straight falls.
4) Rey Bucanero b Titán [lightning]
Bucanero win in 7:02.
5) Rey Cometa, Valiente, Volador Jr. b Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
Tecnicos took 2/3.
6) Marco Corleone, Terrible, Último Guerrero b La Máscara, Rey Escorpión, Rush [Relevos Increíbles]
Rey Escorpion got along with Rush, did not get along with La Mascara

I didn’t see this show. It didn’t sound like a show that needed seeing, with CMLL just killing time and doing little.

Kato Kung Lee has not passed away as of the time of this writing. He’s been in bad health at the hospital for a week, and word he had passed away spread last night, with both major promotions announced he had passed away. CMLL even did a moment of applause. The family got word out about 20 minutes later that he had not passed away, but was still in delicate condition.

Edit: there are now reports again Kato Kung Lee has passed away.

Konnan, Roberto Figueroa and Aldo Farias have a new “podcast”, a Spanish language variation of what Konnan’s doing with MLW Radio. (It’s not a podcast if I have to watch it on YouTube. It’s a video with a really boring picture for an hour.) Konnan was as anti-AAA as expected, saying the three tools AAA has to keep luchadors around are “lying, intimidation and fear.

Konnan says AAA told Octagon they’d let him use the name on independents, which appeared to be what was happening before the Octagon Jr. situation started.  Konnan also said AAA first tried to get Flamita to take the name Myzteziz Jr., which Konnan thought was a bad idea (Myzteziz didn’t mean much) and Flamtia didn’t want to do. There was a story in the WON after Myzteziz left that AAA wanted to keep using that name, which seemed like a bad idea at a time and still seems like a bad idea. Konnan said he’d have Fenix and Pentagon Jr. on the show soon, which seems politically difficult as long as they’re working for AAA.

(Edit: added a word I missed and cleared up the above paragraph on 05/10)

One of Konnan’s big points early on is how AAA may feel like they’re a big deal, but all the international stuff their luchadors are doing is because people watch Lucha Underground, and no one really pays attention to AAA itself. I went to AAW last night to see Fenix & Pentagon, and you absolutely get that feeling from the crowd. There actually was a Mexican family with a noise maker and a Perros del Mal shirt, and there were others who have followed those two in Mexico, but you could sense most of the crowd was into them because of a show on an obscure US cable network that the ratings systems say nearly no one actually watches. The people yelling “break his arm!” were doing it because of that show, not because of anything AAA’s done. The people excited for Drago coming in next month are because he’s looked cool in LU, not because of anything they’ve done with him in AAA (because they haven’t done much with him in AAA.) Lucha Underground has a buzz and cool factor, and AAA is pretty much in obscurity.

The subtext to this is, if you’re a Pentagon Jr. & Fenix or anyone else getting US/international bookings and really like them, you simply need to stay in LU to keep getting those bookings. AAA is not necessary.

(Aside 1: Had AAA nailed TripleMania last year, maybe this is a completely different conversation.)

(Aside 2: Pentagon Jr./Fenix was very good and the crowd ate it up. They’re not cheap nowadays, but they also seemed like they were a significant draw for a big indie turnout. People only following LU has a benefit too; this matchup is something that was done a lot in trios in AAA, but it was really only done a couple times very early in the first season of LU and then both guys have moved in different directions. It’s still very new for LU fans.)

(Aside 3: this is Konnan working with the same people Arturo Rivera said he’d be working with on a new promotion, but they insist they’re just doing this as a friends and not going into business together.)

Konnan says he’ll finally talk about AAA & LU on Tuesday’s MLW Radio show. That’s the second part of the show with Dave Meltzer, which was obviously taped and cut in half to stretch in two weeks. It would’ve been weird for Dave not ask, but the other co-hosts have been careful not to bring up the either subject when Konnan’s been on the last few months.

Today’s CMLL show is back at Arena Coliseo, has La Mascara, Super Porky, Titan versus Ephesto, Luciferno and Ripper. Best match might be Tiger & Puma versus Esfinge & Blue Panther.

This week’s AAA TV is up. It’s a Mother’s Day themed episode, with Mary & Faby and their children appearing (and also they have a match.) Those two are also announced as being on the Mexico team for the AAA World Cup, with the last spot a mystery person. Maybe someone outside AAA, because the suspense doesn’t make sense for AAA.

The Lucha World Cup spot now lists Oudou (Akebono’s promotion) & Zero1, so that’s probably the second Japan team this year. The Notimex story said more info would be announced about the tournament on Monday.

Ricky Marvin, Nicho and Pirata Morgan talk about their qualifier.

La Parka has a column in Record now. Record was doing an autograph signing with AAA luchadors today

That Monterrey Elite lineup with “Mr. Elektro” and others for May 15th must mean the one with Bobby Lashley & Caristico versus Rush & Volador Jr. as a main event must’ve been canceled.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

RobViper has a music video of last year’s Heroes Inmortales.

Segunda Caida reviews Atsushi Onita, Mil Mascaras & El Hijo del Santo vs. Tarzan Goto, Negro Casas & Giant Warrior.

Valiente, Dragon Rojo and Omega Labs are holding a weight loss competition. (Them helping other people losing weight, not them losing weight.)

Lineups

ELITE (WED) 05/11/2016 Arena México
1) Príncipe Diamante & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
2) Ángel de Oro vs Golden Magic, Metaleón, Argos, Rey Cometa, Tritón, Dinamic Black, Puma [ELITE MIDDLE, pre eliminatoria]
3) Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy, Rocky Lobo vs Magno, Rey Escorpión, Último Ninja
4) Volador Jr. vs Xtreme Tiger [Liga Elite]
5) Hijo de LA Park, La Parka Jr., Súper Parka vs Cibernético, Mephisto, Sharlie Rockstar
6) Carístico vs Último Guerrero [Liga Elite]

Caristico and Ultimo Guerrero is a rematch from Puebla. Volador squeezes in one more match before heading to Japan.

Ultimo Ninja makes his ELITE debut in the tercera. Magno may or may not be there; he actually wasn’t there this past week, with Karonte Jr. in his spot instead.

ELITE and the poster doesn’t really say what they mean by a pre-eliminatoria, but the guessing is it’s some sort of seeding match for a tournament. I hope that’s not the complete field, I’d be disappointed if Jinzo didn’t make it.

CMLL (FRI) 05/13/2016 Arena México
1) Eléctrico & Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
2) Estrellita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Blue Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Titán vs Bobby Z, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora
4) Stuka Jr. vs Cavernario [lightning]
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
6) La Máscara, Pierroth, Rush vs Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Terrible

Good for Shocker not to be the worst wrestler in his return to a Friday night main event. Bad for the rest of us. That main event is going to be awful.

Cometa/Cavernario appears to be dropped out of nowhere. 3/4/5 coul dbe good anyway.

Rush/Marco in Arena Mexico tonight, Mascarita Dorada released, Volador BOSJ schedule

tonight

Tonight’s CMLL Friday night Arena Mexico show is pretty much a reset to where things were before the incredible pairs tournament invaded all our lives for three weeks. The CMLL preview pushes as Rush versus his three biggest rivals (Terrible yes, not sure how UG is bigger than Shocker or Negro Casas), but it’s really about the Marco versus Rush feud resuming. La Mascara & Rush team up tonight with Rey Escorpion, who seems like the replacement for Thunder (and it seems like CMLL isn’t crazy enough to put Pierroth in main events, yet.) The Rush/Marco issue was pushed hard before as if they were going to do the match soon, but there’s no obvious date for a match now that the Arena Mexico anniversary show has happened.

The semimain continues the Rey Cometa and Barbaro Cavernario feud. Cometa teams up with Volador & Vailente to take on Negro Casas, Felino and Cavernario. Some sort of singles match between Cometa & Cavernario appears to be happening soon. A title match would be easier to pull off, but they’ve been talk about a hair match rematch as well. The rest of the card looks OK. Titan gets a singles match with Rey Bucanero. Fujin & Rajin and the Panthers return their unofficial series of matches. The opener is an all Generacion 2011 tag match, though that doesn’t mean good things for Hombre Bala.

The show airs at 8:30 pm on ClaroSports. I will NOT be recording it; I’m heading to AAW out near Chicago and have no way to record this show this time. Other people have been, so it will probably still turn up.

AAA’s also busy in the Mexico City area, running a spot show in Arena Naucalpan. The original listed main event is La Parka, Electroshock, and Octagon Jr. versus Pagano, Chessman and Taurus. That’s not going to happen. However, AAA’s site actually has the new lineup, which I can’t ever remember happening before. Bengala & Drago replace Electroshock & Octagon in the main event.

The Elite show will also air tonight at 11:30pm. (There’s no sign of a Muy Thai broadcast on the feed instead of wrestling tonight, so the normal feeds should work this week.) Negro Casas versus Rush and Atlantis versus LA Park are the two big singles matches.

Torito – Mascarita Dorada – was released by WWE today as part of mass cutting. WWE’s inability to use Dorada well was both bad and predictable. CMLL has gotten so much mileage out of Zacarias and Mije and KeMonito, it should’ve been easy for WWE to do the same with Torito. Or they could’ve simply hired another lucha mini for him to work with forever. They didn’t do either, and Dorada spent a lot of time sitting backstage at wrestling shows (if he was even being flown in.)

Mascarita was US based even before he went to WWE, which might mean he’d be unlikely to appear regularly in other promotions. He’s a name, so I’m sure he’ll be in ELITE soon enough. He had a pretty good regular gig working US lucha shows and I’d suspect he’ll be doing those.

MLW says they’ve confirmed Lucha World Cup won’t be on conventional PPV, though iPPV is still a possibility. The difference between the two doesn’t make much a difference for people who read this site (iPPVs do tend to have more technological problems, but so did AAA’s normal PPV), but it does mean there’s likely to be a lot less promotion for the show.

Mephisto & Mistico said they’d like a shot at the tag team titles on CMLL Informa. Negro Casas says he’d be fine with that.

Dragon Lee & Titan represented CMLL at the 60th anniversary celebration for a Mexico City skyscraper, since it’s just as old as Arena Mexico.

Hernandez & Herodes Jr. are also listed on an AAA show on 05/15 in Coahuila.

Psycho Clown talks about his match with Pagano in Orizaba. The split face photo is cool.

SuperLuchas talks to Psicosis Jr. about his career and his identity. Ripper/Psicosis II gave him permission for the name, which sounds like it helps him in someway but anyone with TV won’t use him to avoid trouble with AAA.

AAA posted it’s second part of it’s remembrance of Perro Aguayo Jr.

LuchaWorld has the latest edition of their podcast.

RobViper has highlights of 10/06 & 10/13/15 CMLL and 09/29/06 CMLL.

Super Comando took a shot at Argos.

Florencio Rodriguez, a fixture outside Arena Puebla making the cities’ famous cemitas sandwiches, passed away earlier this week.

Volador’s BOSJ schedule

05/22: Beretta
05/23: Tiger Mask
05/27: Jushin Liger
05/30: Bobby Fish
06/02: Nick Jackson
06/05: Ricochet
06/06: Will Ospreay

Volador has some interesting trios matches, but those weren’t posted to NJPW World regularly last year.

Ricochet and Ospreay figure to be in the mix to win the block, which means Volador will have big matches to end the competition if he’s in or out of it himself. CMLL saying he’ll be back on the 7th seems a pretty big hint Volador’s not winning, since the winner is probably cashing in their title shot on the June 19th show.

Volador has never been beaten in a singles match by anyone in his group! (He’s just 1-0 versus Liger, beating him in a Leyenda de Plata in 2011.)

Lineups

Lucha Memes (SUN) 05/15/2016 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México
1) Tequilita vs Eterno
2) Princesa Maya vs Marcela
3) Alberto Dos Rios & Silver Star vs Trauma I & Trauma II
4) Caifan vs Dr. Cerebro
5) Hechicero vs Virus

Full card for Lucha Memes’ DF vs Monterrey show. It’s a small card than usual, but the top two matches sell the show easily enough.

ELITE MDA (SUN) 05/15/2016 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Larry Miranda & Mini Hator vs Erika Sotelo & Mini Difunto
2) Epydemius, Galactar, Obsesión vs Chamaco Gurrola, Gallardo, Golden Boy
3) Extreme Boy & Quinto Elemnto vs Psicótico & The Beast II
4) Laredo Kid, Ninja Jr., Último Ninja vs Flamita, Golden Magic, Metaleón
5) Carístico, Hijo De Rey Misterio, Negro Casas vs Fuerza Guerrera, Mr. Elektro, Rush

Mr. Elektro is Electroshock’s new name. AAA owns the Electroshock name. He went with just Electro last time, Mr. Elektro is an improvement. Your guess is as good as mine on which Misterio that is.

Semimain, a north versus DF battle, looks superb.

CARALUCHA (SAT) 05/21/2016 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) Templario & Wasson vs ? & Fiero
2) Centvrión & Fly Warrior vs ? & ??
mystery luchadors are from CMLL
3) Magnífico II, Rayo Star, Sky Man vs Astral, Eléctrico, Tiago
4) Bestia 666 & Black Terry vs Cavernario & Hechicero
5) Toro Negro Jr. vs Látigo [mask]
6) Flamita vs Máscara Dorada

This is their 2nd Anniversary. CaraLucha released a card last night, then changed it up this morning to make the mask match. Toro Negro and Latigo have been feuding since late last year and it was a little bit of a surprise they weren’t doing the mask match on this show (thought maybe they’d save it for September), but it ended up on this card after all. Flamita versus Mascara Dorada should be outstanding and the rest of the card should be pretty good too.

Tiago is the new name for the ex-Mini Charly Manson. He’s teamed up with CMLL guys, and he’d be a nice addition to their roster. Anyone new would be a nice addition to their minis roster. Tiago successfully picked a name no one else is using, so he’s already one step ahead of the game.

lucha TV preview for weekend of May 7th

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AAA has the second half of the Leon taping – and Octagon Jr’s final TV match.

Hopefully the webfeed of Info7 won’t have the Muy Thai and Lucha Azteca will air as normal. (The Muy Thai was a webfeed exclusive – all the TV stations that normally get that show still got that show.)

This is surely a one show IWRG week, since the Friday show is an AAA one isntead

best (and worst) matches of 2015

Rush & a guy deemed not qualified to appear on minor league TV
Rush & some guy deemed not qualified to appear on minor league TV

Sometimes, people ask me “what were the good lucha libre matches from [XXXX] year?” I am a terrible person to answer that question, but I try anyway. These were what I thought were the best matches of 2015.

excellent

01-19 Rey Cometa vs Bárbaro Cavernario
01-25 Fénix vs Mil Muertes [casket]
02-08 Myzteziz vs el Hijo del Perro Aguayo
03-20 Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi for the mask
04-19 Mil Muertes vs Prince Puma © [Lucha Underground Championship]
05-03 Titán © vs Bárbaro Cavernario for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship
06-14 Volador Jr. vs Flamita
06-14 Drago vs Fénix, Laredo Kid, Daga, Steve Pain, Aerostar, Bengala, Súper Nova, Súper Fly, Hijo del Fantasma [Alas de Oro]
07-13 Dragon Lee © vs Kamaitachi for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
08-16 Dr. Cerebro vs Virus
08-30 Dragon Lee © vs Kamaitachi for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
08-31 Aerostar, Argenis, Bengala vs Daga, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Steve Pain
09-16 Centvrión & Látigo vs Fly Warrior & Mr. Leo
09-18 Atlantis vs La Sombra for the mask
09-20 Rey Horus vs Kamaitachi
11-06 Aerostar, Australian Suicide, Fireball vs Daga, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Steve Pain
11-13 La Sombra vs Rush
11-22 Mil Muertes © vs Prince Puma, Pentagón Jr. [LU CHAMP]
11-22 Mil Muertes © vs Fénix [LU CHAMP]
12-04 Dragon Lee © vs Kamaitachi for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship

great

10-05 Prince Puma vs Fénix, Mil Muertes, Johnny Mundo, Mr. Cisco, Son of Havoc,Pimpinela Escarlata, Ivelisse, Drago, Bael, Cortez Castro, Ricky Mandell, Big Ryck,Pentagón Jr., Súper Fly, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Máscarita Sagrada, Sexy Star, Mariachi Loco, King Cuerno [Aztec Rumble] and [LU CHAMP]
10-18 Prince Puma © vs Fénix (AAA) [LU CHAMP]
12-07 Aerostar vs Súper Fly for the mask
12-07 El Patrón Alberto vs Texano Jr. © for the AAA World Heavyweight Championship
12-26 Máscara Dorada & Negro Casas vs Rey Cometa, Tritón, Sangre Azteca, Delta, Pólvora,Titán, Kamaitachi, Fuego for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship and in a cibernetico match
01-01 Fénix, Hijo del Fantasma, Pentagón Jr. vs Flamita, Hijo del Fishman, Sky Man
01-02 Máscara Dorada vs Negro Casas for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship andin a tournament final match
01-04 Dragon Lee, Guerrero Maya Jr., The Panther vs Hechicero, Hombre sin Nombre, Sagrado
01-06 Astral vs Eléctrico, Fantasy, Último Dragóncito, Shockercito, Demus 3:16, Pierrothito,Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Nitro, Mercurio in a Pequeno Reyes del Aire match
01-09 Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi in a lightning match
01-11 Máximo vs Negro Casas
01-18 Atlantis vs Último Guerrero
01-19 Máscara Dorada vs La Sombra
01-24 Johnny Mundo vs King Cuerno in a cage match
01-25 Alberto el Patrón vs Texano Jr. [bull rope] and for the AAA World Heavyweight Championship
01-25 Prince Puma © vs Cage [street fight] and [LU CHAMP]
01-30 Terrible © vs Máximo for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
02-06 Negro Casas & Shocker © vs La Máscara & La Sombra for the CMLL World Tag Team Championship
02-08 Dr. Wagner Jr. & La Sombra vs LA Park & Volador Jr.
02-08 Cage, King Cuerno, Texano vs Hernandez, Johnny Mundo, Prince Puma [LU TRIOS] and in a tournament match
02-08 Drago vs Aerostar
02-08 Angélico, Ivelisse, Son of Havoc vs Bael, Cortez Castro, Mr. Cisco [LU TRIOS] and in a tournament match
02-08 Fuerza Guerrera vs Negro Casas
02-13 Euforia, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero © vs Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. for the CMLL World Trios Championship
02-21 Prince Puma vs Drago [LU CHAMP]
02-21 Alberto el Patrón vs Johnny Mundo [LU CHAMP] and [#1 contender]
02-22 Aerostar vs Jack Evans
02-22 Fénix vs Sexy Star, the Mack, Killshot, Cage, King Cuerno, Pentagón Jr. [Aztec Medaillion]
02-22 Angélico, Ivelisse, Son of Havoc © vs Bael, Cortez Castro, Mr. Cisco [LU TRIOS] andin a ladder match
02-27 El Patrón Alberto, Fénix, Myzteziz vs Brian Cage, Hijo del Fantasma, Pentagón Jr.
03-03 Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Puma, Tiger, Virus
03-15 Jimmy, Kevin, Tony vs Arez, Belial, Impulso
03-17 Negro Casas & Shocker © vs Marco Corleone & Rush for the CMLL World Tag Team Championship
03-17 Astral © vs Mercurio for the CMLL World Pequeño Estrellas Championship
03-18 Fénix vs Hijo del Fantasma © for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
03-18 Aerostar vs Psycho Clown, El Mesías, Texano in a AAA’s Rey de Reyes Tournament match
03-21 Mil Muertes vs Fénix
03-22 ACH vs Extreme Tiger
04-01 Aerostar, Argenis, Fénix vs Carta Brava, Electroshock, Hijo de Pirata Morgan
04-05 Virus © vs Dragon Lee for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
04-11 Prince Puma vs Johnny Mundo [iron man] and [LU CHAMP]
04-12 Hernandez, Jack Evans, Johnny Mundo, Súper Fly vs Aerostar, Alberto el Patrón, Drago, Sexy Star
04-12 Arez & Belial vs Aramis & Iron Kid
04-18 Cage vs the Mack [falls count anywhere]
04-19 Johnny Mundo vs Alberto el Patrón
04-19 Fénix vs King Cuerno, Big Ryck, Aerostar, Sexy Star, Jack Evans, Bengala [Gift of the Gods]
05-02 Mike vs Leo, Rafy
05-08 Volador Jr. vs Mephisto
05-15 Mistico vs Volador Jr., Titán, Dragon Lee, The Panther, Fuego, Mephisto, Niebla Roja,Bárbaro Cavernario, Virus, Luciferno, Kamaitachi in a CMLL’s Leyenda de Plata Tournament match
05-24 Volador Jr. vs Negro Casas
05-24 Alberto el Patrón, Myzteziz, Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Johnny Mundo, Ken Anderson, Matt Hardy in a tournament final match
05-30 Titán & Volador Jr. vs Bestia 666 & Flamita
06-01 Angélico, Jack Evans, Laredo Kid vs Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, Mocho Cota Jr.
06-09 Blue Panther, The Panther, Valiente vs Kráneo, Puma, Tiger
06-12 La Sombra, Naito, Rush vs Diamante Azul, Valiente, Volador Jr.
06-14 Angélico & Jack Evans vs Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria in a cage match and for the hair
06-17 Flamita vs Dinamic Black, Arez, Suicida, Drastik Boy, Golden Magic, Freelance, Jinzo,Impulso, Carta Brava Jr. (IWRG), Tony Rivera
06-21 Rich Swann vs Flamita
06-21 Caifan vs Virus
07-03 Myzteziz vs Averno
07-10 Fireball & Ludxor vs Daga & Steve Pain
07-11 Flamita vs Wasson
07-17 Último Guerrero vs Rey Escorpión for the hair
07-17 Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Volador Jr. vs La Sombra, Marco Corleone, Rush
07-21 Marco Corleone, Stuka Jr., Valiente vs Kamaitachi, Puma, Tiger
07-24 Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr., Negro Casas vs Boby Zavala, Disturbio, Virus in a En Busca de un Idolo match
07-25 Pegazuz, Rayo Star, Sky Man vs Magnífico I, Magnífico II, Templario
08-03 Volador Jr. vs La Sombra
08-09 Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Myzteziz
08-14 Shockercito, Stukita, Último Dragóncito vs Demus 3:16, Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia
08-16 Keira vs Zeuxis
08-16 Avisman & Caifan vs Hechicero (CMLL) & Último Guerrero
08-16 Guerrero Maya Sr. vs Guerrero Maya Jr.
08-23 Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. © vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja for the CMLL World Trios Championship
08-28 Blue Panther Jr., Canelo Casas, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., Negro Casas vs Boby Zavala, Disturbio, Esfinge, Flyer, Virus in a En Busca de un Idolo match
08-28 Dr. Wagner Jr., La Sombra, Rush vs Atlantis, LA Park, Volador Jr.
08-31 Australian Suicide, Súper Nova, Venum vs Carta Brava Jr., Machine Rocker, Súper Fly
09-06 Emperador Azteca, Metaleón, Mr. Leo vs Diablo Jr. I, Hip Hop Man, Imposible
09-08 Astral © vs Mercurio for the CMLL World Pequeño Estrellas Championship
09-11 La Máscara, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Cavernario, Hechicero, Negro Casas
09-16 Cavernario © vs Tritón for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship
09-16 Imposible © vs Metaleón for the IWRG Intercontinental Lightweight Championship
09-20 Caifan vs Último Guerrero
09-20 Aramis vs Garrobo Punk
10-03 Dralion vs Rey Horus
10-03 Centvrión, Fly Warrior, Látigo vs Magnífico I, Magnífico II, Metaleón
10-04 Angélico & Jack Evans vs Joe Lider & Pentagón Jr. © and Daga & Steve Pain for the AAA World Tag Team Championship
10-09 Shockercito & Stukita vs Demus 3:16 & Pequeño Nitro
10-12 Volador Jr. © vs Mephisto for the NWA World Welterweight Championship
10-16 Shockercito vs Demus 3:16 for the hair
10-20 Zeuxis © vs Princesa Sugehit for the Mexican National Women’s Championship
10-25 Carístico & Volador Jr. vs La Máscara & Rush
10-30 Volador Jr. © vs La Sombra for the NWA World Welterweight Championship
11-06 La Sombra & Volador Jr. vs Mistico & Rush
11-06 Fénix, Psycho Clown, Rey Misterio Jr. vs Johnny Mundo, Low Ki, Pentagón Jr.
11-14 King Cuerno vs Fénix © [LU GotG]
11-15 Ángel de Oro, Argoz, Golden Magic vs Pegasso, Rey Cometa, Titán
11-15 Australian Suicide & Speedball vs Daga & Steve Pain
11-15 Fénix vs King Cuerno [last man standing]
11-15 Prince Puma vs Pentagón Jr.
11-21 King Cuerno © vs Fénix [GIFT OF THE GODS] and in a ladder match
11-22 Ángel de Oro, Argoz, Golden Magic vs Pegasso, Rey Cometa, Titán
11-26 Titán (CMLL) vs Drastik Boy
11-27 Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi in a lightning match
11-29 Black Terry, Dr. Cerebro, Hijo del Pantera vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Canis Lupus, Eterno
12-12 Matanza vs Fénix ©, Rey Mysterio, King Cuerno, Argenis, Johnny Mundo, Joey Ryan,Prince Puma, Jack Evans, Taya, Cage, Máscarita Sagrada, Marty Martinez, Drago, the Mack, Chavo Guerrero, PJ Black, Aerostar, Dragón Azteca Jr., Texano, Mil Muertes[Aztec Warfare] and [LU Champ]
12-13 Texano vs Daga [Aztec Medaillon]
12-13 Dragón Azteca Jr., Prince Puma, Rey Mysterio vs Cage, Johnny Mundo, Taya [LU TRIOS] and in a tournament match
12-20 Imposible © vs Pantera I for the IWRG Intercontinental Lightweight Championship
12-20 Solar I vs Blue Panther

I’m going to end up listing the Lucha Underground match twice. I think what we’ve learned is Kamaitachi and Dragon Lee were every good at wrestling in the year 2015, as were many other people. Hooray lucha libre.

Rating everything and putting it in an ill-designed database means it’s not impossible to create could put together my worst matches of the year just as easy. I don’t take grading the worst (or even the mildly not good) near as seriously, but I do put a grade on them for some reason. Perhaps this is the reason!

worst matches of 2015

01-18 Canek, Heavy Metal, Villano III vs Máscara Año 2000, Mr. Jack, Shu el Guerrero
01-31 Dama Divina & Yuca La Potranquita vs Miss Janeth & Tania
03-31 Blue Panther, Marco Corleone, Máximo vs Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Terrible
08-03 Atlantis, La Máscara, Último Guerrero vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Rey Escorpión in a relevos increíbles match
08-09 Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V vs Monsther Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown
09-01 Molotov & Sensei vs Camorra & Espanto Jr.
09-22 Metatrón, Robin, Sensei vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Canelo Casas, Inquisidor
10-06 Astral vs Pequeño Violencia in a lightning match
10-12 Black Tiger, Magnus, Oro Jr. vs Cancerbero, Fuerza Chicana, Raziel
10-12 Lestat vs Molotov for the mask
11-02 Euforia vs Thunder
12-11 Súper Parka vs Negro Casas in a lightning match

Please note I pretty much gave up on Leyendas Inmortales after a few months, or they’d probably be appearing more. Same is true for a lot of the indie stuff I end up posting. (People sometimes believe I will watch every thing I upload. This is an incorrect belief.) The only AAA match making this list being a match on AAA’s biggest show of the year is kind of amazing. That Lestat/Molotov match was so bad.

Park & Rush win in Elite, Lucha World Cup, Flamita

we're going to need a new Mascarita Sagrada again
this is like a F9 or F10

CMLL (TUE) 05/03/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Mágico & Magnum b Joker & Sádico
Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Stukita b Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado b Esfinge, Fuego, Tritón
Boricuas took 1/3.
4) Blue Panther, Rey Cometa, Valiente b Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Rey Escorpión
Tecnicos took 2/3. Panther submitted Rey Escorpion. Money thrown in.
5) La Máscara, Rush, Volador Jr. DQ Shocker, Terrible, Vangellys
Shocker’s return from injury. Volador fit in well with the Ingobernables (unsurprisingly). Team Rush took 1/3, the last by DQ when Terrible fouled Rush. Rush demanded a singles match next week.

The Rush/Terrible match was already announced. Volador would be so much a better Ingobernable than Pierroth.

Shocker’s return was actually on the DTU show over the weekend; he told +LuchaTV he was happy for the fan’s support after being out five months. At that same show, Flamita said Octagon Jr. was now part of his past and he was content with his own name.

On Informa, Misterioso & Sagrado claimed they haven’t talked to Pierroth outside the matches, including this match in Guadalajara, and do not know what’s going on with him and the Ingobernables. (In other words, no one’s figured out how that’s supposed to work.)

ELITE (WED) 05/04/2016 Arena México [+LuchaTV, CMLL, SuperLuchas]
1) Muñeca De Plata & Rossy Moreno b Estrellita & La Jarochita
Rossy used the ropes to win.
2) Hijo De Dos Caras, Jinzo, Metaleón b El Cuatrero, El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Sansón
3) Ángel de Oro & Golden Magic b Argos & Magno
Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Rush b Negro Casas [Liga Elite]
Rush picks up his first win (1-1), Negro Casas loses in his first match (0-1)
5) Carístico, Máscara Dorada, Mistico b Euforia, Rey Escorpión, Último Guerrero
Rey Escorpion replaced Angel Blanco Jr., who needed medical help after taking La Mistica from Caristico.
6) LA Park b Atlantis [Liga Elite]
Park submitted Atlantis to an armbar. LA Park now has 1 win and 1 draw. Atlantis has 2 wins and 1 loss.

Full standings are here. It’s still too soon to care about full standings. Casas and Cibernetico are the only people who’ve had a one match so far, maybe they’ll match up next week.

Angel Blanco Jr. was on the card up as far as the preview. Must’ve been a last minute change.

The WON says the original idea was to make both the Friday first round matches in Puebla and the Sunday finals on PPVs, then come back for TripleMania whenever that takes place. The Friday show will not be on PPV for sure, and the rest is unclear. On his podcast with John Pollock, Court Bauer said he would no longer be working with AAA and Lucha Underground (where he was more of a consultant) at the end of this month, would not be part of this show, and did not believe the US PPV would actually be taking place. Bauer explained it as being busy with other current and future projects and was complimentary towards AAA. On the PPV, the WON says the Sunday show is happening and AAA will be producing it. MLW countered said AAA will not be producing it – PPV companies want someone they trust to produce the show after TripleMania was a technological failure.

FWIW, AAA has never officially announced there will be a PPV in Mexico or the US or elsewhere, and no PPV listings I could find mentioned an AAA show. The show is around four weeks away, so usually PPV information is out by now in the US. Mexico PPVs seems to wait a little bit later.

The WON mentions the Lucha World Cup announce team will be Josh Mathews of TNA & Hugo Savonvich. Mathews is said to be in the role as part of the deal to get TNA wrestlers on the show. Josh has gotten harsh reviews for his work in TNA and has not called lucha libre before to my knowledge. (Hugo hasn’t been great on the AAA in US shows.) The World Cup, with people from all over the place, is going to require a lot of prep work to be done right.

Bauer said he believed the AAA in English show, currently airing only on the Fight Network would go on, but he didn’t seem especially confident about it. The WON has been saying AAA’s been upset about CMLL programming also being on the channel and might pull their own show. That seems like an insignificant thing to be concerned about when the visibility of your product is nil outside of Mexico.

This is just elementary connecting the dots, but Court Bauer’s probably setting himself up to go with Konnan if/when he gets whatever he’s teased started as a wrestling promotion. Court leaving AAA was inevitable; they made the connection thru Konnan, but now Konnan and AAA are on very opposite sides and it’s going to be tough for anyone to work with both.

The tickets for the Lucha World Cup are on sale, and are running from 246 to 2152 MXP ($14 to $121 USD) for the Sunday show. There’s no sign of tickets for the Friday show.

While I’m on Ticketmaster, it looks like the 05/15 (Sundy) FULL show at Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera is canceled. The Saturday show is still listed as happening.

The WON also had a bit on Flamita’s fallout with AAA. The claim there is AAA wanted him to stay as Octagon Jr. for three months to “finish up storylines and bookings.” Since one of Flamita’s problems was the lack of storylines, that’s part is hard to understand. Bookings is easier to grasp – there are still new upcoming AAA cards spot show cards coming out with Octagon Jr.’s name on it, a sign of how long the lead time is on these and how much they struggle making changes – but AAA also routinely makes changes and doesn’t deliver advertised luchadors to shows without explanation. It’s hard to believe that sort of thing matters to them (though it may matter to the local promoters) and it comes off as more a hope that if they could get Flamita to stick around for three more months, maybe they could fix things.

AAA has not given up on the idea of a new Octagon Jr., though they may try “Octagon II” instead.

Angelico’s going to be out two months with a fractured/dislocated elbow. That’d put his return time around end of June or early July. He could possibly make the end of the Season 3 of Lucha Underground, but he’s out from the World Cup for sure. Angelico was on team Rest of the World last year and the lead up has indicated there will be another one of those; I’d bet Australian Suicide is making the show if he wasn’t going to be on already.

Hijo del Fantasma’s injury is a back injury. WON says he’s out “a few months” and won’t be back in time for the end of Lucha Underground Season 3.

Dragon Lee will be out at least two more weeks with his knee ligament strain. FWIW, that would’ve made it very tight to make it to the Best of Super Juniors had he been selected. He says the doctor told him to take eight weeks in total out but of course he’s going to try and hurry back early.

Lucha Memes 05/15 in Coliseo Coacalco
1: Hechicero vs Virus
2: Princesa Maya vs Marcela
3: Traumas vs Silver Star & Alberto Dos Rios
4: Caifan vs Dr. Cerebro.

CMLL says Volador will be in Japan from May 19th to June 7th.

Electroshock is now off the ELITE show with Sharly Rockstar, with Caifan in his spot.

Drago is coming to AAW in Chicago on June 17th.

Titan & Stigma visited a children’s hospital.

Flamita is facing Galactar on Sunday in Monterrey and Aeroboy on Monday in Nuevo Laredo.

Mascara Dorada thinks the missed senton on the apron probably cost him the title match.

Apolo Valdez writes about the evolution of lucha libre.

SuperLuchas looked back at five Star Wars themed luchadors. I had no idea Fuerza Guerrera was one. The story is he wanted to go by “Star Wars”, the commissioner said no because they didn’t want English names, so he adapted “The Force” (La Fuerza) into Fuerza Guerrera instead.

Eric has a review of last night’s Lucha Underground.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 05/08/2016 Arena Naucalpan
1) Adrenalina & Omega vs Aramis & Magnum 44
2) Astro & Dragón Fly vs Atomic Star & Hip Hop Man
3) Leo, Mike, Rafy, Teelo vs Factor, Rayan, Spartan, Spector [lumberjack]
4) Danny Casas, Hijo del Alebrije, Veneno vs Golden Magic, Negro Navarro, Trauma II
5) Dinamic Black, Emperador Azteca, Freelance vs Cerebro Negro, Herodes Jr., Killer Jr.
6) Hijo De Dos Caras & Máscara Año 2000 Jr. vs Canis Lupus & Trauma I [Relevos Increíbles]

No Wednesday show here because AAA is in on Friday, but they’re back on Sunday.

Spartan is back for first time since October, as the full Ninja Turtles face the full Comando Elite. Might a big match actually be coming.