CMLL FantasicaMania talent list announced, Noche Briticana show announced

CMLL released new on two international (related) events in the last 24 hour.

Coming up first is Noche Briticana, a special Arena Mexico show on 12/07. The announcers mentioned it in passing on last night’s Terra broadcast, and Ticketmaster already has some details.

BRITISH NIGHT una lucha con causa… es un evento que están organizando la Embajada Británica y el Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre para recaudar fondos para la Fundación John Langdon Down. Los luchadores Ultimo Guerrero y La Sombra se disputarán “Las Joyas de la Corona” en un ambiente muy británico en la cual, la arena México tendrá música y motivos ingleses. El público podrá ver y tocar el “London Bus” (el camión de doble piso inglés) y verá guardias reales dentro de la arena México. Este evento será el 7 de diciembre a las 8:30 p.m. en la majestuosa Arena México.

As you can read, it’s a copromtoion with the British Embassy, and will include British music, a double decker bus, and Buckingham Palace soldiers. It sounds like an Ultimo Guerrero vs La Sombra singles main event, but I guess they could also be just leading teams.

The John Langdown Down Foundation helps children with Down’s Syndrome. That weekend is the same as the annual Televisa supported “Teleton” to help special needs children, so there’s probably some connection there, though it appears CMLL may be donating a different charity.

That date would seem to mean any major CMLL year end show wouldn’t happen until later in December. However, there’s yet to be any hint of CMLL actually running a major show in December. (I haven’t seen any CMLL TV this weekend yet, so maybe you know something I don’t.) It is possible CMLL says Ultimo Guerrero vs Sombra with British people is enough and calls it a year. We won’t know that for certain for a few weeks, but it’s possible.

In a dream world, Sombra wins the main event when new rudo faction of Rey Escorpion, Dragon Rojo, and Hooligan (british! going for revenge on his old partner!) cost Ultimo Guerrero the match. I dream too much, but Hooligan’s got to be on the card. He’s the only British guy they’ve got! Volador dressing up as one of the Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band alone is not going to be good enough.

CMLL & NJPW also announced the CMLL participation for the three day FantasticaMania event. Tecnicos are Mistico, Titan, La Sombra, Rush, La Mascara, Mascara Dorada, Maximo, and Diamante. Rudos are Volador Jr., Mephisto, Dragon Rojo Jr., Rey Bucanero, Euforia, Misterioso and Okumura. It’s not stated, but I expect Namajague will be back in NJPW in January and would also be on these shows, in addition to the regular NJPW wrestlers. CMLL is also sending ring announcer Ivan and edecan Bruni.

Mistico and Titan are the tecnicos making the NJPW debut. Euforia is the only rudo making his debut here. NJPW also introduces Rey Bucanero, who’s been in NJPW as part of the team with Ultimo Guerrero prior but not in many years (and not under the current regime.) It’s a total of 14 CMLL wrestlers this time, up from 9 on previous shows.

The tour is being promoted around the first appearance of the new Mistico. NJPW mentions the previous one was IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship, setting the bar for this one (though I’d imagine that’s not something happening this year.)

Titan earned this spot by winning En Busca de Un Idolo, but the 2nd (Euforia), 3rd (Mistico) and 4th (Diamante) place finishers all got in as well. That makes the winning a bit cheap (though true to most reality shows), but I’m not certain Titan would’ve made it if he didn’t make the final 2 of the tournament given where he was before the tournament. This is still a win for #porraTitan.

There is plenty of pressure on the younger guys, but La Mascara might have the most to prove. Mascara was embarrassingly poor on the first FantasticaMania shows, looking in no condition to perform on both shows. It was said Mascara was ill and tried to work thru it (and the wrestlers on the show defended him against criticism), but everything he tried looked abysmally bad. Just having OK matches would be a vast improvement, but the Brazos have a great reputation in Japan and I’m certain La Mascara will be motivated to raise his families name back up.

FantasitcaMania had four title matches in 2011 involving CMLL wrestlers (and one that was between NJPW & DDT), and two in 2012. FantasticaMania expands to three days this year, and so the title match number is likely to increase. Titan (National Welterweight), Rush (CMLL Light Heavyweight), La Mascsara (National Light Heavyweight), Dragon Rojo Jr. (NWA & CMLL Middleweight), Rey Bucanero (NWA Light Heavyweight) all have major CMLL titles. Dragon Rojo’s already stated he’ll defend against either Jushin Lyger or Prince Devitt on these shows. Lyger makes more sense. Rush being a spotlight match (rematch vs Yujiro? Goto?) seems to fit with CMLL goals, as well as Mascara Dorada getting a big match (Bucanero is not doing much with his belt). Titan vs Euforia would also be a fun showcase for both guys, and it’d be weird if Volador and Sombra weren’t involved in something big. There’s a lot of possibilities. Unless there’s a title change between now and January, there won’t be a CMLL pairs or trios title on the line (though Okumura and Namajague are still facing Stuka & Fuego a lot.)

NJPW and CMLL will announce actual matches at a later time, probably early January, and we’ll likely know if any of these will be an iPPV around the same time. There will also likely be CMLL participation on the 01/04 NJPW Toyko Dome show. That usually includes 1 or 2 guys who don’t end up working these shows.

Guadalajara, Rojo & Escorpion done with the Guerreros, Marvin & Crazy

CMLL (SUN) 10/07/2012 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Cancha, El Occidental (4), El Occidental (5), Informador]
1) El Yaki b Demonio Rojo
2) Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno b Halcón de Plata & Sky Kid
3) Eros, Esfinge, Exterminador b Espectrum, In Memoriam, Leo [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Gallo & Smaker b El Bárbaro & Maléfico
Tecnicos took 1/3.
5) Hijo del Fantasma, La Sombra, Máscara Dorada b Dragón Rojo Jr., Mephisto, Misterioso Jr.
Tecnicos took 2/3, Fantasma landing his lariat on Dragon Rojo.

There probably was something coming out of the tercera – besides the unusual sides, it was Eros’ first match since April – but no one mentions anything.

Dragon Rojo & Rey Escorpion told Kaiser Sports that they’re done with Ultimo Guerrero and Los Guerreros. Ultimo was holding them back, taking credit for their work, and recruiting members without consulting them. They both pointed to Dragon Rojo being double champion as proof they don’t need Ultimo Guerrero. They don’t have a name for their new group and are open to suggestions. Right now, they’d like a tag match against Guerrero & Euforia and, after they destroy them, they’re moving right on to the tag team titles.

Dark Angel says she’s working the Tuesday show in Guadalajara. Hooray!

LuchaMonterrey has footage of the Llaves y Candados explaining the Rayo de Jalisco Jr. no-show. Very stand up of them to come to the ring and explain it in front of the fans.

Llaves y Candados announced their next big show will be 10/21, with Perro Aguyao Jr.  & Teddy Hart vs La Parka & Jack Evans as the main event and more AAA wrestlers in the undercard. Match gets five stars if Parka tries to break dance.

AAA is teasing what must be a site redesign for Thursday with a countdown clock on their webpage. The last page seemed like it was a site only intended to be used for TripleMania but forced into use full time when the previous site disappeared. I can not make fun of anyone for redesigning their site when this one looks as it does.

Crazy Boy is teasing the DTU Anniversary shows as his return to the ring. They’ve been setting up that direction for a little bit.

I am told there is a possible exciting video of Euforia playing football americano at this link, but we in the US are blocked from seeing the 2 minute clip. Surely United States copyright law and world territory rights would break down if I was able to see this footage.

This week’s Box Y Lucha cover

[tweet https://twitter.com/BoxyLucha/status/255334052679254016]

(everyone should tweet out a picture of their magazine with a link to buy it to make my life easier.)

La Pantera wants a shot at Angelica’s LLF title.

Lucha Libre in Japan

10/07 WNC: Hijo del Pantera wrestled in the main event, but the promotion hasn’t posted results. Let’s assume he won!

10/07 NOAH: Ricky Marvin & Super Crazy [O] b Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich [X]

10/08 NOAH: Super Crazy [O] & Ricky Marvin b Taiji Ishimori & Atsushi Kotoge [X] [GHC JR TAG] – 1st defense
Crazy is listed as winning with the “Sorpresa”. It definitely is a Sorpresa to see him coming back to Mexico with one half of the tag belts. If Ricky really is coming to Mexico later this year, perhaps they’ll get a chance to defend it on home soil before returning to NOAH.

NJPW first iPPV outside of Japan took place early this morning. It sounds like there were some technical difficulties processing orders, but they aired the show free until it was all sorted and most people were happy with the quality of the feed (and very happy with the quality of matches.) If NJPW is happy with how the business side turned out, it’s possible this is the start of regular broadcasts. It’d be neat novelty to see CMLL guys in Japan in miscellaneous matches (the matches they’re usually in!), The hope here is this worked out well enough that NJPW doesn’t just do it for next year’s big show on 01/04 in the Tokyo Dome, but for the NJPW/CMLL FantasticMania 2013 shows which will take place later that month. Those are something I’d wake up at 4AM and spend $25 on.

Ultimo Guerrero vs Villano V to face in a mask vs mask match on March 20th

8:30pm: Update at the end of the poast

That’s your Dos Leyendas main event. I’m not sure if that was the plan all along, or if Villano III cost himself (and Blue Panther) this pay day by opting to do the hair match with Scorpio Jr. this weekend in Arena Neza, but CMLL announced a straight singles one on one match for the masks. Tickets go on sale next week.

The talk, when V5 beat Blue Panther, is that V5 would ultimately lose his mask in turn to build up a young wrestler. If you believe that talk, Ultimo Guerrero does not exactly fit the bill as a young wrestler. (On the other hand, one could say V5’s importance has been so diminished, it’s not the boost beating Panther would’ve been for anyone else.)

If Ultimo beats Villano 5, then I think we can definitely say we would’ve preferred this sequence of events to be Ultimo taking Blue Panther’s mask and anyone taking Villano 5’s. But, we need to keep on saying if, because CMLL’s shown they’ll do silly things just to do the surprise.

Other notes from the press conference
– Dragon Rojo Jr. has a new mask. No picture yet, but I’m sure we’ll see it soon.

– Hector Garza is starting a tecnico midcard group again. This time, it’s Angel de Oro, Angel de Plata, Angel Azteca Jr. and Metro. Hmm, who doesn’t belong? Maybe we can call him Angel de Diario.

No one remembers this, but the Angels were actually in Hector’s group last year – they were introduced as Angel I & Angel II at the time. Anyway, no idea if this is supposed to be a separate undercard act or if they’ve forgotten Hijo del Fantasma and La Mascara.

Since Mistico doesn’t like Garza, maybe now he can be free to complain that giving guys “Angel de Plata” and “Angel de Oro” gimmicks is totally ripping off and marganilizing his identity. They really seem like Martha Villalobos knock off Mistico characters than CMLL ones.

Update (1): Box Y Lucha’s take on the press conference does clarify that Hijo del Fantasma and La Mascara are supposed to be part of Hector’s group.

In big news somehow lost in the shuffle, Misterioso II was announced as a new member of Hijos del Averno.  We’re down to just Virus, Vangelis, Okumura and Lizmark Jr. as unaligned notable rudos in CMLL.

Mistico (and Dragon Rojo Jr.) back in NJPW on 05/03

Ovaciones reports today that Mistico will be back in NJPW on 05/03. SuperLuchas had that over the weekend, but this article says he’s facing Jushin Lyger in a title match. The problem is, Lyger’s not IWRG Jr. champion currently. SoloLuchas also has this story but says challenging Tiger Mask IV. It’s probably whomever is the champion on May 3rd.

Dragon Rojo Jr. is also going for that show, which should also be entertaining and hopefully also good.

12/23: Minis Cage Match, Poder Mexica

CMLL held a newsworthy press conference today. There will probably be a few more background quotes in the days to come, but it seems worthwhile to focus on the news items tonight.

The next Sunday special show at Arena Mexico will be 01/11 and be called La Hora Cero. As a special main event, and working off feuding in recent minis matches on Sunday, there will be the first CMLL Cage Match of Mini Estrellas. The loser will lose their mask. Panico was not definite on a lineup, but Pierrothito, Mini Universo 2000 and Mascarita Dorada talked at the press conference and are in for sure. CMLL.com adds Shockercito, Mini Olimpico, Pequeno Ninja, Pequeno Warrior and Acero de Oro, which makes 8. 8 is about normal for this sort of cage match, but it’s minis so who’s to say what normal is. I can’t think of any more mini rudos who still have their mask, though.

This, in fact, would probably be the main event minis match I was talking about on Sunday. Who could’ve known. Women keep on waiting.

In more ticket selling news, CMLL officially announced Guadalajara’s First Sunday Of The Month discounted ticket deal and mentioned Arena Puebla would be doing the same thing on the First Monday of the month.

The other news was Sangre Azteca delivering on his idea of forming a group. It’s called Poder Mexica, and it’ll be Sangre Azteca, Black Warrior and Dragon Rojo Jr.

“Poder Mexica” translated to Mexico Power. Sound familiar? (Besides the ex-Boricua guy!) I’m going with the idea that this is CMLL/Sangre being completely unaware of what AAA is doing than a purposeful rip. Either way is very silly, but Sangre Azteca’s been promoting that name since he left the Guerreros so we’re likely stuck with it. (And we’re surely getting the Mexican Powers back in force in AAA just so they can prove they were there first.)

If you check out Sangre’s website, you’ll notice that it’s actually open and it already has a link for this group. I wonder if the website was done before the announcement of the group was ready.

I like the makeup of the group. They’re not three similar guys, really three guys at very different career points, but three guys who’s strengths and weaknesses balance out pretty well. My concern is how they fit in the greater rudo sphere:

Current Rudo Factions
Pesta Negra: Negro Casas, Felino, Heavy Metal, Mr. Niebla
Guerreros de la Atlantida: Atlantis, Ultimo Guerrero, Rey Bucanero
Villanos: Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V
Hijos del Averno: Averno, Mephisto, Ephesto, Texano Jr., Terrible
Poder Mexica: Sangre Azteca, Black Warrior, Dragon Rojo Jr.
Infernales: Satanico, Euforia, Nosferatu
Tuareg: Nitro, Dr. X, Loco Max, Skandalo, Hooligan, Arkangel

7! We may be overpopulated here. I mean, it’s easier to write the list of notable people who are not in groups.

* Lizmark Jr. (who’d be in one of he was around long enough)
* Virus (who is essentially the fourth Infernal)
* Okumura (who is foreign and therefore doesn’t count – hey, I didn’t make up the rules)
* Vangelis (who no one would want in their group)
* Misterioso II

Alex is right! Anyway, I know this is for sure different, I just don’t know if it’s good or bad. I would think forming a 7th group wouldn’t be a good idea if you have six other ones, but at least this one seems to have some thought behind it.

At the same time, there’s zero tecnico groups. There’s Garza’s thing where no one knew who was in it and no one remembered it a week later. There’s Mistico’s idea for a group (and it’s funny to think Sangre Azteca has enough pull to form a group but Mistico does not), but there’s an obvious disinterest for tecnico groups by CMLL programmers. There’s no other obvious reason it’d be so lopsided. This whole format reminds move of a Japanese setup, where you various heel groups and one company tecnico army led by the company ace to fight them. The difference is those groupings are usually tightly adhered to, while it’s an exception for a tercera or higher rudo side to be completely members of one group or another. Maybe that’ll change – they seem to be going this way with keeping the Hijos del Averno together.

Getting back to Sangre Azteca – the idea of the guy who probably would’ve won ‘most underutilized’ multiple times if I was doing these awards in the late 90s and early 00s now leading an important faction (not La Alianaza) is pretty cool.

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