Astro unmasked in IWRG, AAA in León, CMLL in Puebla

photo by Black Terry Jr.
photo by Black Terry Jr.

IWRG (SUN) 04/17/2016 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Estrellas del Ring]
Guerra del Golfo, 2016
1) Galaxy & Picudo Jr. b Black Dragón & Dragón Fly
2) El Divo & Freyser b the Tiger (Tamaulipas) & Violencia Jr.
Straight falls. Debut for Tiger.
3) Diva Salvaje, Miss Gaviota, Pasion Kristal b Factor, Rayan, Spector [super libre]
Straight falls. Rematch challenge follows.
4) Astro L Halloween, Mr. Águila, Veneno, Golden Magic, Bestia 666, El Hijo del Diablo, Oficial AK47, Rafy, Apolo Estrada [cage, losers advance]
Halloween replaced Super Nova. Astro lost to Rafy.
5) Dr. Cerebro L Oficial Fierro, Máscara Sagrada, Danny Casas, Hijo De Dos Caras, Canis Lupus, Mike, Leo, Damián 666, Eterno [cage, losers advance]
Black Terry replaced Canis Lupus (injury). Bestia helped Damian escape.
6) Dr. Cerebro b Astro [mask, hair, cage]
Astro is Emanuel Marin Jacome, 27 years old, 6 years a luchador, from Toluca.

Astro losing is a significant surprise; he’s been around enough where he’s established himself as an indie guy, but perhaps he decided he needed a new identity after giving up Astro Rey Jr. (which Mephisto claimed he owned.) Someone truly surprising losing these is a nice change of pace; I’d bet most people thought Dr. Cerebro was once again losing his hair when the main started.

AAA visits León, Guanajuato tonight for a TV taping, one which will start airing on April 30th. The main event has Dr. Wagner & La Parka versus Brian Cage & Texano Jr. It’s weird to see Texano Jr. on a lineup after he was destroyed on TV two days ago (and won’t be missing any shows.) Cage did a lot of the destroying, and is somehow supposed to be Texano’s partner. Dr. Wagner  & La Parka are mismatched pairs on the other side. AAA seems high on La Parka of late; he really should be in a title mix if he’s getting pins on the champion and the Rey de Reyes final is booked around keeping him strong. The result match would be worse but it doesn’t seem like a concern.

The second biggest match on the show is a four way tag title match with the winning team getting the title shot on the next taping. This past week’s TV had Averno talking about this match, except he pretty much only talked about Angelico & Jack winning the match. It’d be a surprise for a surprise’s sake if any other team won.

The other matches on the show are a Psycho Circus vs La Familia semifinal, the Xinetez facing Aerostar, Drago and Octagon, the Apache sisters against the rudas who never win, and a fun looking atomicos opener. It’s possible AAA might make some future matches out of those – and the semimain is already set to be a rematch on the next taping – but the most useful information would be the dates/locations for the Lucha World Cup and Verano de Escandalo. Show will start sometime after 9pm (a few minutes after Puebla.) There’s no official live stream.

CMLL has it’s usual Puebla show tonight. Cibernetico makes his return to Arena Puebla, teaming with Mr. Niebla and Rey Escorpion against Angel de Oro, Mascara Dorada and Volador in the last match. The real main event is a rematch from last week, a Relevos Increibles with Rush, Mascara & Terrible against Atlantis, Ultimo Guerrero and Gran Guerrero, which seems to be setting up a Ultimo Guerrero/Rush main event. 05/01 (the end of the Kid’s Day weekend) is the logical date for the next big show here, but that match doesn’t sound suitable for children. The full card is here; the show starts at 9pm.

The 04/22 LLF show is a benefit show for luchadora Flor de Loto, who’s battling stomach cancer.

Rey Mysterio & Bobby Lashley defeated MVP & Mesias in the main event of the MysterioMania show in Santiago, Chile. The show was said to draw about 5,000 fans.

Lucha Libre World – the Hijo del Santo one of the two lucha libre shows last year – says they’re returning on July 1st and July 2nd this year.

Segunda Caida reviews La Sombra versus Negro Casas

Euforia defeats Maximo (but not for the title), Cometa/Cavernario

photo by Black Terry
Super Astro Jr., Hijo del Solar and (a) Vagabundo/photo by Black Terry

CMLL (SAT) 04/16/2016 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Apocalipsis b Leono
2) Magnus b Artillero
3) Sangre Azteca b Starman
4) Pegasso b Disturbio
5) Okumura & Olímpico b Fuego & Stigma
6) Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Titán b Raziel, Terrible, Virus
Tecnicos took 1/3. Raziel replaced Misterioso. Money thrown in.
7) Euforia b Máximo Sexy
Maximo took 1/3. Maximo kissed Euforia and Euforia fouled him and got away with it.

Euforia won it! because no title was on the line. Still, he’s good for a singles win every 18 months.

CMLL (SUN) 04/17/2016 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Akuma & Espíritu Negro b Metatrón & Templario
Templario’s debut in a loss.
2) Cancerbero, Nitro, Okumura b Hombre Bala Jr., Magia Blanca, Súper Halcón Jr.
Cancerbero and Nitro replaced Fujin & Raijin on Saturday.
3) Blue Panther Jr., The Panther, Tritón b Luciferno, Tiger, Virus
Virus replaced Felino (moved up) on Saturday
4) Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr., Titán DQ Cavernario, Felino, Pierroth
Felino replaced Niebla Roja on Saturday. Cavernario fouled Cometa again.
5) Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. b Ephesto, Mephisto, Mr. Niebla
Atlantis replaced Dragon Lee on Saturday

Cometa is doing promos saying he wants a hair rematch. I guess that’s not impossible with Kid’s Day coming up, but a title match is always more likely.

Black Terry Jr. posted photos of Arena Lopez Mateos. Octagon Jr. wrestled in the main event without issue. Ludxor says he got hurt earlier, and posted video of it.

CMLL Informa’s 100 episode is this week, judging from the ticket giveaway.

+LuchaTV has video of Canis Lupus’ injury on Wednesday. He loses his balance on the top rope and doesn’t get any distance on a plancha to the floor.

I was interviews on the Winter Palace podcast talking about recent lucha libre news.

Super Libre had Magico on as guest. He probably ends sentences better.

Lineups

CMLL (SAT) 04/23/2016 Arena Coliseo
1) Bengala vs Apocalipsis
2) Sensei vs Camorra
3) Magnus vs Artillero
4) Stigma vs Espanto Jr.
5) Fuego vs Disturbio
6) Blue Panther & Titán vs Misterioso Jr. & Pierroth
7) Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, La Máscara vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Vangellys

Maximo/Euforia over, but Euforia still on Saturday shows.

CMLL (SUN) 04/24/2016 Arena México
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito vs Demus 3:16 & Pequeño Violencia
2) Oro Jr., Soberano Jr., Starman vs Cancerbero, Canelo Casas, Raziel
3) Estrellita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis
4) Dragón Lee, Rey Cometa, Titán vs Cavernario, Ephesto, Felino
5) Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Mistico vs Rey Bucanero, Rey Escorpión, Terrible

No new names this week. Dragon Lee is listed, though that’s probably subject to change on Monday. Cavernario/Cometa continues, with the singles match probably happening the following week.

CMLL (SUN) 04/24/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Tapatío vs Quca
2) Fugaz & Linterna vs Destello & Mr. Apolo
3) Cosmos & Metatrón vs Relámpago & Thunder Boy
4) Frezzer, Nautilius, Reyko vs El Chakal, Gran Kenut, Mr. Trueno
5) León Blanco, Neutrón, Omar Brunetti vs Furia Roja, Joker, Sádico

Joker and Omar may be feuding in the main event, since they’re the repeat from tonight’s show.

Mistico & Mephisto advance in the incredible partner’s tournament, CMLL cards changes

photo by CMLL
photo by CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 04/15/2016 Arena México [@black_bile, @DrLuchaJr, +LuchaTV, CMLL, ESTO, KronosSport, R de Rudo, Yahoo! Deportes]
1) Cholo & Espanto Jr. b Bengala & Sensei
2) Demus 3:16, Pequeño Nitro, Pierrothito b Astral, Eléctrico, Stukita
3) Fuego, Rey Cometa, Tritón DQ Cavernario, Hechicero, Vangellys
Stright falls. Cavernario fouled Rey Cometa Good match.
4) Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Marco Corleone, Rush b Mephisto & Mistico and Ángel de Oro & Pólvora and Mr. Niebla & Volador Jr. and Blue Panther & Ephesto and Bobby Z & Máscara Dorada and Felino & Súper Crazy [natl pi, seeding battle royal]
5) Bobby Z & Máscara Dorada b Felino & Súper Crazy [natl pi, 8f]
4:55. Felino & Crazy couldn’t get along
6) Mr. Niebla & Volador Jr. b Blue Panther & Ephesto [natl pi, 8f]
8:17.
7) Mephisto & Mistico b Ángel de Oro & Pólvora [natl pi, 8f]
8) Marco Corleone & Rush b Dragón Rojo Jr. & Euforia [natl pi, 8f]
4:11. Marco & Rush did not work together, but still won.
9) Mr. Niebla & Volador Jr. b Bobby Z & Máscara Dorada [natl pi, quarterfinal]
3:43/.
10) Mephisto & Mistico b Marco Corleone & Rush [natl pi, quarterfinal]
4:19. Marco & Rush fought, leading to their loss.
11) Mephisto & Mistico b Mr. Niebla & Volador Jr. [natl pi, semifinal]
6:14. Niebla and Mistico were screwing up at the end, leading to boos. Mephisto & Mistico advance to the 04/29 final.
12) Atlantis, Carístico, Máximo Sexy b Rey Bucanero, Rey Escorpión, Terrible
12:33. Tecnicos took 2/3. Caristico & Atlantis will face on Wednesday in Liga Elite, had no problems here.

Mephisto & Mistico winning this block makes them the favorite to win the whole thing over whoever comes out of the other block. Mistico’s probably not going to a final to lose; they’d take him out earlier, like they did with Gran Alternativa.

Here’s my sad recording story: my recording captured the first two matches before calling it a night. The main event is on Claro’s site and not hard to get. That tournament matches will air on Azteca – maybe a little edited, but it doesn’t sound like they’d be wrecking a Picasso. The only match which it doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to get is the tercera, the only match I wanted to see from the show. Oh well. The DQ seems to be a rare case of playing up a feud on a different day of the week show: Cometa & Cavernario will be having a title match soon, maybe during Kid’s Day weekend.

Super Crazy and Tiger definitely appear to believe someone’s holding an apuesta match between them sometime soon. They might be right, but I’m not sure if that’d be Elite or CMLL.

There’s a bunch of substitutions on the lineups today – everyone CMLL DF card got changed.  It looks like Dragon Lee is being pulled from the weekend lineups. The poster for Coliseo has him off the show (though the text and preview does not.) Everything agrees he’s off Sunday’s card, also for Atlantis. Dragon Lee is still listed on Tuesday’s main event.

Sunday’s card also has Felino moving up a match for Niebla Roja, Virus taking Felino’s spot in the tercera, and Cancerbero & Nitro in for Fujin and Raijin. Niebla Roja hasn’t been in CMLL in a month.

Tuesday’s card has Gran Guerrero in for Terrible in the semimain, and Metatron replacing Sensei in the opener.

CMLL also posted a statement saying the shooting near Arena Mexico didn’t happen on Arena Mexico’s property and that everyone coming into their building is checked closely for weapons. (That is true.) CMLL’s greatly relying on tourists and casual fans attending shows, and the idea that the Arena Mexico area might be dangerous is potentially very harmful to their business.

AAA’s TV is already up. It’s the first half of the recent taping from Mexico City, with the odd numbered matches – the atomicos opener, the trios with Marvin versus Bengala, and the Mesias/Texano/Cage trio (with Octagon Jr. on the other side.)

Goya Kong says she’s staying in AAA, but she’s not wrestling due to her pregnancy. She claims all the talk about her leaving AAA were social media rumors; those rumors seemed to come from her and Carta Brava’s social media.

Black Fire won the DTU Alto Impacto championship for DTU tonight in WXW.

04/30 RIOT show
1: Caifan vs Dralion
2: Ultimo Ninja vs Jinzo
3: Kaientai & Hooligan Byron vs Rico Rodriguez & Galactar

Heavy Metal is starting new lucha libre classes, says Sharlie Rockstar is a fake rockstar luchador.

Ivelisse was announced for Stardom in June, which sounds like she got good news for her injury recovery.

Plantilla Deportiva interviews Stigma.

Lineups

ELITE (WED) 04/20/2016 Arena México
1) Pegasso & Rey Cometa vs Imposible & Karonte Jr.
2) Dinamic Black, Emperador Azteca, Hijo de LA Park vs El Cuatrero, Eterno, Fresero Jr.
3) Jinzo, Rocky Lobo, Súper Crazy vs Felino, Puma, Tiger
4) Máscara Dorada vs Negro Casas [Liga Elite]
5) La Máscara, Rush, Toscano vs Cibernético, Mephisto, Sharlie Rockstar
6) Atlantis vs Carístico [Liga Elite]

Atlantis versus Caristico is the first match of previous winners. That match winner will be leading the tournament so far.

Rush is a constant on these cards. Cibernetico’s likely facing him or Mascara next week.

Negro Casas makes his debut in the tournament against Mascara Dorada, which has been pretty good in the past.

Tercera is Hidalgo versus Felinos. Hijo de LA Park makes his expected debut in the segunda.

CMLL (FRI) 04/22/2016 Arena México
1) Angelito & Stukita vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Esfinge, Pegasso, Tritón vs El Cuatrero, Skándalo, Virus
3) Ángel de Oro, Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Euforia, Olímpico, Ripper
4) Carístico & Cibernético vs Atlantis & Gran Guerrero and Máximo Sexy & Terrible and Rey Escorpión & Último Guerrero and Kráneo & Súper Porky and Dragón Lee & La Máscara and Titán & Vangellys and The Panther & Tiger [natl pi, seeding battle royal]
5) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [natl pi, 8f]
6) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [natl pi, 8f]
7) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [natl pi, 8f]
8) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [natl pi, 8f]
9) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [natl pi, quarterfinal]
10) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [natl pi, quarterfinal]
11) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [natl pi, semifinal]
12) Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Felino, Mr. Niebla

CMLL’s avoided Caristico/Mistico on opposite sides, which seems to leave Atlantis & Gran Guerrero as the most likely team to advance. Rey Escorpion & Ultimo Guerrero, a team of two rudos who shouldn’t be teaming in this touranment, might have a chance too.

Angelito & Stukita on a Friday night should be fun.

DTU (SUN) 05/15/2016 San Agustin Mimbres, Otzolotepec, Estado de México
1) Licántropo & Niño De Cobre vs Chalapa & Fandango
2) Jimmy & Kevin vs Lokillo & Tony Iron
3) Erwin & Irwin vs Masizito & Porrito
4) Black Fire vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Johnny Idol
5) Pesadilla & Rocky Lobo vs Drastik Boy & Jinzo
6) El Chato & El Nene vs Ángel o Demonio & Drako
7) Crazy Boy & Sharlie Rockstar vs Ovett & Psicosis II and Cíclope & Miedo Extremo

Billed as Black Fire’s first match back in Mexico, facing Dragon Rojo and Johnny Idol (who’s been in from New Zealand for a while now.)

CMLL Torneo Increible de Parejas begins tonight

CMLL

Tonight’s the first block of the annual Torneo Increible de Parejas. Past winners

2010: Atlantis & Mascara Dorada
2011: Atlantis & Mascara Dorada
2012: Atlantis & Mr. Niebla
2013: La Sombra & Volador Jr.
2014: Atlantis & Euforia
2015: Maximo & El Terrible

So, either Atlantis wins, or they’re specifically setting up a match. Sombra & Volador at the Anniversary show, Maximo & Terrible at Dos Leyendas. Atlantis is not in this week’s blocks, but here are the 8 teams who are:

  • Mephisto & Mistico – maybe
  • Marco Corleone & Rush – maybe
  • Mr. Niebla & Volador Jr. – maybe? (Niebla is a replacement for Negro Casas)
  • Felino & Súper Crazy – nope
  • Ángel de Oro & Pólvora – nope
  • Dragón Rojo Jr. & Euforia – nope
  • Bobby Z & Máscara Dorada – nope
  • Blue Panther & Ephesto – nope

Marco & Rush are either going to win, or they’re going to destroy each other. Destroying each other seems much more likely. Mephisto & Mistico are the favorites by default, but Niebla & Volador would be reasonable as well.

Including the seeding battle royal, it’s a 12 match show, one more than the Gran Alternativa shows. No idea why they needed to add so many trios matches to the show – it’s going to cause the matches to be even shorter. The actual main event, Caristico, Atlantis and Maximo against Rey Bucanero, Rey Escorpion and Terrible, will likely be a quick build to block for next week. There’s a Rey Cometa, Fuego, Triton vs Vangellys (with a new spelling in the preview), Cavernario, Hechicero trios match which looks good, but not sure how much time they’re going to have to do anything. Show also includes a minis match and a Cholo match.

The show airs on ClaroSports at the usual 8:30pm. I am not sure if I’m going to be around to record it this time. I swear I didn’t design to miss a tournament show, but I’d be definitely OK if that happened.

Lucha Azteca 7 moves to it’s new time slot at 11:30pm tonight. Cibernetico versus LA Park and Xtreme Tiger versus Ultimo Guerrero will air. It appears like they’ve already changed around the replay time: it’s now being listed as 9:45 AM on Sundays.

CMLL’s website mentions Rush & La Mascara in New York, finds yet a new way to spell “Xtream” Tiger.

Hijo del Octagon is not the son of Octagon, as Octagon claimed at the press conference he held on Wednesday. He’s a Mexico City indie luchador. I do know the name, but I don’t see the point in announcing it. He’s not a big name, but some people might recognize him – and a lot of people seemed to, since the name started to come out yesterday and is around social media today. This is not a big surprise to anyone. It will be a big surprise if it’s mentioned outside of lucha circles.

A show with AAA luchadors in Coacalco last night seems like it drew pretty well. I couldn’t think of any other time that building has been run on a weekday night, but it looks like a success.

LuchaWorld has an interview with Mascara Dorada, talking a little bit about his time in Japan and his return to CMLL.

Segunda Caida reviews Blue Panther, La Sombra, Shocker vs Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas

Black Fire gets his shot at the DTU Alto Impacto championship tomorrow.

AyTV interviews Amapola.

Lineups

Lucha Memes (SUN) 04/24/2016 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México
1) Jinzo vs Obscuro
2) Ciber Punk & Garrobo Punk vs Fly Star & Toxin
3) Demasiado vs Súper Mega
4) Pantera vs Jeque [lightning]
5) Alas de Acero, Aramis, Iron Kid vs Fujin, Okumura, Raijin
6) Arez, Belial, Impulso vs Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II
7) Freelance vs Sádico [falls count anywhere]
8) Keira vs Princesa Sugehit

Full card for this show: Pantera vs Jeque & Jinzo and Obscuro vs Jinzo are the two last additions. This is a pretty good card.

lucha TV preview for weekend of April 16th

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As mentioned earlier, the big news is Lucha Azteca moves to 11:30pm CT on Friday night. That should be about 15-25 minutes after the Friday night ClaroSport show ends. They’ve confirmed the Sunday show is a repeat (officially starting at 7:45 AM, though still listed as 8 on their guide last time I checked.)  It’s been pointed out to me that the new time slot could be good for them because they could follow a soccer game, and that looks to be the case next week. This week, they’re following a movie. This move is so last minute that any guide besides Azteca’s own still lists them at 6pm. (Azteca’s own guide show them back at 6pm two weeks from now, but guides that far out are rarely accurate.) Ultimo Guerrero vs Extreme Tiger should still be fun.

AAA is the first part of the most recent DF show. I guessed Evens this time.

Lucha Azteca US is airing Homenaje a Dos Leyendas this week, which is definitely worth watching if you haven’t yet seen it.