Tag: El Brazo

El Brazo (1961-2013)

thecubsfan 5 Comments

El Brazo, Juan Alvarado Nieves, passed away Tuesday night. Reports say he was in a diabetic coma since Sunday. He was 62.

El Brazo

El Brazo followed his father, luchador/referee Shadito Cruz, into a lucha libre career. He was the middle brother of the three most famous Brazos – Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata and El Brazo – but the last of those original three to debut. Many more would follow. The brothers formed the “Mosqueteros del Diablo”, a hard brawling rudo side which made it’s name in the 80s UWA. Their family versus family mask match against the Los Villanos is one of the most famous matches of that era.

The Brazos lost their masks and changed as a team. The trio became more comedic, the other two playing off Brazo de Plata’s natural charisma. Their family had long history in UWA and were very loyal, but decided to move to EMLL in 1991 (right before the UWA started going down.) The trio turned tecnico and remained were a regular act in EMLL/CMLL after AAA started. The trios broke up and faced each other in hair matches in 1995. El Brazo was the rudo, and defeated his brother Brazo de Oro in a three way hair match with Brazo de Plata.

El Brazo left CMLL in 1996, permanently splitting the famous trio. There’s always been a suggestion he had some falling out with his brothers, but I’m not sure if that’s true or what the details were. El Brazo would never return to CMLL while Brazo de Oro has forever stayed connected with the promotion, though it does appear they teamed on indy shows a little. El Brazo jumped to Promo Azteca for a couple years, then floated around the indies.

El Brazo joined AAA in the early 2000s and worked a variety of roles in AAA, including the standard creative Antonio Pena character (Tio Lucas), and was moved to an veteran role to work with youngsters. In recent years, he’s been a member of Los Guapos (feuding with Brazo de Plata in his one year visit to AAA), a luchador doing impersonations of other characters (most frequently the Latin Lover parody named Latin Broiler), and an exotico as La Braza. El Brazo had not been in a TV match since February 2012, but continued wrestling on off TV events. Brazo lost his hair once again last month in an all exoticos cage match, and wrestled semi-frequently in Arena Cuatro Caminos in Nuevo Laredo. Brazo had also transitioned to a behind the scenes role, representing the AAA office on those spot shows.The entire family was brought together once again for a all Alvarado charity show earlier this year. El Brazo was not allowed to work the show (they could not get the CMLL family members if the AAA were in matches), but the trio stood in the ring together, for what would become the final time.El Brazo is survived by his wife and children. A El Brazo Junior has wrestled in recent years, most frequently in IWL, and has been billed as the son of the original. El Brazo is the second Brazo brother to die – Brazo Cibernetico/Robin Hood passed away in 1999.

Both CMLL and AAA will honor El Brazo at their events this Friday. In a coincidence, both shows include Brazo family members in major roles. Brazo de Plata puts his hair on the line in a Super Libre Plus match, drawing on those old days as a rough brawler. Psycho Clown challenges for the AAA Mega Championship, and has reminded Texano how he was scared of the Devil’s Musketeers when he was little and should be equally scared of Psycho Clown. Both figure to be emotional matches under the circumstances.

No funeral arrangements have been announced.

04/07: Mexico preview, Alebrije, Brazos, Japan

thecubsfan 25 Comments

CMLL (TUE) 04/07 Arena Mexico
1) Rayo Tapatio II & Trueno vs Caligula & Méssala
2) Fabian el Gitano, Flash, Tony Rivera vs Loco Max, Skandalo, Vangelis
3) Mascara Dorada vs Rey Cometa, Pegasso, Angel de Oro, Angel Azteca JR., Angel de Plata, Super Comando, Polvora, Inquisidor, Tiger Kid [cibernetico, CMLL SL]
4) La Mascara, Mistico, Sagrado vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto
5) La Sombra & Volador Jr. vs Atlantis & Rey Bucanero [CMLL TAG]

Previews: ESTO, Ovaciones

[poll id=”25″]

Haven’t done a poll in a while. Still not especially sure if this is winner take all or winner faces winner next week, but it’s the Super Liegro championship so I’m trying not to care. You could so easily come up with 10 more that I think that’s what happening but I’m not positive.

I haven’t written much about the tag title match. I think it could be fun, but it seems like a real stretch to build Sombra & Volador up only to have them lose in a title defense that only exists to do a special main event for a fan appreciation show. Rey & Atlantis would not be bad champions, but there are better ways to even do that.

Quite the jam packed lineup of tecnico high flyers.

Ovaciones reports Alebrije and Cuije are out of AAA. Everything you need to know about how the press feels about AAA in 2009 is summed up in this subheadline:

Something is happening within this group and we have no doubt that his departure has to do something Konnan.

Alebrije & Cuije haven’t been on TV since the 01/31 show in Chalco, though they’re still listed as working next Wednesday. Like everyone else who leaves AAA, they’re headed to IWRG. I kinda wonder what’s up with IWRG, because there’s no Thursday Naucalpan show, and there’s no Xochimilco Saturday show until the 25th.

Luchas 2000 #465 has the Brazos – el Brazo, Brazo de Plata, and Brazo de Oro – reunited (for the first time since maybe 1996? – that was the last CMLL teamup, anyway.) I think we can take this as soft confirmation that El Brazo is done in AAA, and I’m kinda surprised UWE hasn’t already announced the inevitable Brazos/Villanos trios match.

Note that cover also mentions Perros getting on TV in May, but doesn’t say where. Judging from the comments, it doesn’t say much more inside.

It’ll be Mistico and Misterioso II who head to NJPW this May for a couple shows. No title shot for Mistico quite yet, and no Dragon Rojo – which is probably for the best, because he’s probably not ready for this spotlight yet, and Misterioso is very deserving of the opportunity. Plus, it allows CMLL to just continue working thru the Hijo del Averno lineup (though they might he skipped to the last guy in the group.)

Matches are:
05/05 Korakuen Hall: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tiger Mask IV, Mistico vs Giant Bernard, Black Tiger V, Misterioso II
05/06 Korakuen Hall: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Mistico vs Hirooki Goto & Misterioso II

I could not be possibly be more for the idea of Mistico & Tanahashi teaming. Both shows are taped, the 5th for Samurai TV and the 6th for SXW. And, hey, if you’re uploading to matches to YouTube in a month, you ought to add a watermark to the video so we can all see when CMLL uses it on their TV shows.

This week’s Ras de Lona episode features the guys from the Japan/Mexico tour, among the usual half million other things. I think Leono mentions who he was before he was Leono (which explains the mask he was wearing on LATV), but I couldn’t make it out.

DJ Spectro has a three part (1 2 3) tribute to El Solitario, who passed away 23 years ago yesterday.

WagnerMania is helping out with an auction for Grond XXX, with a mask up for bid.

Kcidis previews Guerreros del Ring #185, including his cartoon.

As part of the Los Campeones de Lucha Libre in Atlanta two Tuesdays from now, there’s a free after party at a nearby bar.

El Universal does the What Is Lucha Libre article, framed around AAA’s LA show.

SuperLuchas has added Hector Garza gear to their store. Meanwhile, still no Artillero cap, but I may settle for an Atlantis one. (Well, I would if shipping wasn’t THIRTY FOUR DOLLARS, or the price of three hats.) This reminds me that someone asked me where they might buy a lucha libre lineup poster online; I didn’t know at the time, but now that I see one here, I can’t find that e-mail.

LuchaWorld has Robert on AULL 09/27/06, CMLL 12/01/07, and AAA 11/15/07, plus KrisZ’s news update.

10/24: Dos, CMLL/AAA previews, Puebla

thecubsfan 39 Comments

SoloLuchas says Dos Caras Jr. is signed with WWE and starting at the Royal Rumble. The article trumphants Dos Caras Jr.’s contract as a three year one. Super Porky’s contract was for three years.

CMLL (FRI) 10/24 Arena Mexico
1) Sensei & Sombra de Plata vs Calígula & Méssala
2) Flash, Metalik, Stuka Jr. vs Euforia, Loco Max, Skandalo
3) Hijo del Fantasma, Mictlán, Valiente vs Olímpico, Sangre Azteca, Virus
4) Dragon Rojo Jr., Ephesto, Misterioso II vs Averno, Mephisto, Terrible
5) Black Warrior, Blue Panther, Último Guerrero vs Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V

Generic previews: Notimex, ESTO and Ovaciones.

More intersting the show is any info about Perro Aguayo Jr.’s plan; surely people are going to have questions for Averno, Mephisto and Terrible. If they were serious about doing a UG/V5 as a mask match, you’d think they’d be hinting at a date by the end of this show. No one believes they are, so CMLL is kind of directionless at the moment.

AAA TV (FRI) 10/24 Beisbol Beto Avila, Veracruz
1) Mascarita Divina, Mini Charly Manson, Octagoncito vs Mascarita de la Muerte, Mini Chessman, Mini Histeria
2) Fabi Apache, Mascarita Sagrada 2007, Pimpinela Escarlata, Super Porky vs Cinthia Moreno, El Brazo, Mini Abismo Negro, Polvo de Esterllas [lumberjack]
3) Jack Evans & Teddy Hart vs Alan Stone & Chris Stone and Joe Lider & Nicho el Millionario [AAA TAG, ladder]
4) Mesias vs El Elegido, Silver King, Gato Eveready, Escoria, Psicosis II, Histeria, El Alebrije, Crazy Boy, Extreme Tiger, Cuervo, Pirata Morgan, Aerostar [torneo Antonio Pena]
5) Cibernetico vs Zorro, Chessman [street]
6) La Parka Jr., Latin Lover, Octagón, Súper Fly vs Electro Shock, Kenzo Suzuki, Konnan, Rellik [War Games]

Rellik is listed as a mystery. You’d hope it’d be him, because otherwise why would they have brought him in to start with?

Tonight’s AAA taping is getting more press, as it should. La Oreja has Konnan already announcing his new executive team. Tirantes will be treasurer, and various people from the gossip show will be taking other positions. So this isn’t happening, good to know. NotiVer has the lineup, an interview with Joaquin Roldan (who says Marisela Pena is getting the urn back win or loss, and competition is good for the business.) For some reason, ESPN Deportes is writing about these things.

Also from that press conference – El Brazo: “I do not dance”. Yes, the guy from the Meterosexuals. El Brazo also explains that all wrestlers, every wrestler in the world, had to come to Mexico to learn wrestling before going back to wherever they were from, so that proves Mexican wrestling is the best. SoloLuchas complains of deja vu.

CMLL (MON) 10/27 Arena Puebla
1) el Tigre, Legionario, SWAT vs Espiritu Maligno, Mr. Rafaga, Zigma
2) Dark Angel, Lady Apache, Lluvia vs La Seductora, Medussa, Princesa Sujei
3) Máximo, Mictlán, Valiente vs Dragon Rojo Jr., Olímpico, Sangre Azteca
4) Último Dragoncito vs Fire [mask]
5) Blue Panther, Dos Caras Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Atlantis, Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero

Lluvia? (Rain? That’d be fun, actually, though it’s surely not.) I’m taking Ultimo Dragoncito for the win.

SoloLuchas has an interview with Tony Cirio, who clears up one of AAA’s gimmick mysteries – he and Luis Cirio were La Mosca and La Hormiga! He’s a teacher at Arena Azteca Budokan.

Blue Panther talks about his career with el Siglo de Torreon.

SuperLuchas points to Hijo del Santo part of a fashion show in Peru, as posted on the offical Todo pro el Todo blog. Which I didn’t know existed.

Los Tinieblas are doing a children’s show on TV this Saturday.

Mil Mascaras: Resurrection gets a very positive review from PopMatters.

Negro and Romero in NJPW: 10/24 – G1 TAG LOSS to Yurijo and Naito.

BTW, this SuperLuchas post about steroids is doesn’t reach their usual standards. It’s not interesting enough to break down point by point, but – even if you do a good enough job of making “steroids don’t create muscle, you still have to work” and “wrestlers and families are hurt when wrestlers are out of action”, you still need to draw a line between those points and there’s nothing here close to that. I could go on about the author not knowing the differences using steroids as a catch-all term when they really should be saying PEDs, but the article starts with a memorial picture of Chris Benoit and that’s probably all you needed to know in the first place. There’s surely a good article to be written about steroid use in Mexico (and the compare/contrast to elsewhere), but I’d be shocked it if it came from a magazine affiliated site (or this one.)

La Wagnermania has a new site, which looks roughly 10000x better than this one.

02/02: Guadalajara, Box Y Lucha, Mexico

thecubsfan 1 Comment

CMLL (TUE) 01/30 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara Results
1) Mileno b Virgo
2) Neon b Valentin Mayo
3) Destroyer b Exterminador
4) Mr. Power b Azazel
5) Leon Blanco b Egipcio
6) Mascara Purpura, Stuka Jr. b el Hijo del Pierroth, Emilio Charles Jr.
7) Máscara Año 2000, Pierroth, Universo 2000 b Lizmark Jr., Negro Casas, Rayman

Hijo del Pierroth turned up to foul Rayman in the main event, and Pierroth took the pin.

Random Guatamela lucha card.

Box Y Lucha posted a bunch of articles on Wednesday, and I keep forgetting to write about them.
– Brazo de Plata is angry about others advertising themselves as “Porky”, or “Porkys, specifically his brothers. He feels they’re leeching off his success, and the only people who should be using his name or nicknames is himself and his son. He doesn’t believe they should even call themselves the Brazos, because the Brazos were only Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata and el Brazo – all the others might be brothers, but they’re all imposers. He’s okay with then calling being Nuevo Brazos, but he doesn’t want the public deceived.
– Brazo de Oro clears up the family tree, except I still don’t know who/if Brazo Jr. is related too. His story of the names seems slightly different than what I’ve read before; Shadito Cruz was nicknamed “Man with the Golden Arm” for a while and Oro started out using that “Hombre de Brazo de Oro” name. Mil Mascaras complained to him that his look was too similar, so they redesigned his outfit and his name to Brazo de Oro. Porky asked his father if he could use Brazo de Plata, and his father as Oro, who said okay; same with El Brazo. When Brazo de Oro was out due to kidney surgery, Super Brazo took his place in the trio, and so on from there. I think Brazo de Oro’s point is they all got their name, directly or indirectly, from Shadito Cruz’s nickname, so they all have the right to call themselves Brazos.
– Misterioso II tells his story of the fan incident. Pretty much what he said before, though he adds a few details: despite contrary reports, the fan was not a kid (he was old enough to get in a bar later that night), he missed those Coliseo shows as punishment for his actions in addition to a fine, and the fan never protested to the commission but he’s still apologizing for everything. Rambo writes about his own experiences with fans throwing stuff at wrestlers.
– a list of past February deaths, including Huroki Sito (unclue of Panico and Black Cat), Acorazado Moreno (father of the AAA Morenos), El Cobarde I, and El Santo.

CMLL (FRI) 02/02 Arena Mexico
1) Flash & Super Nova vs Artillero & Super Comando
2) Mascara Purpura, Texano Jr., Virus vs Arkangel, Hooligan, Loco Max
3) Lizmark Jr., Maximo, Ultimo Dragon vs Averno, Mephisto, Sangre Azteca
4) La Mascara, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Damian 666, Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Mr. Aguila
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Rey Bucanero, Shocker vs Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Ultimo Guerrero

Ovaciones has a profile of Marco Corelone. Corelone claims that if Shocker is 1000% Guapo, that means Marco is 1000000% Guapo. The exchange rate is brutal. Esto has an article on Rey Bucanero. Rey would like to fight for Ultimo Guerrero’s mask, but figures he’d have to put up more than his hair to get a shot at – probably his whole career. Elsewhere in that paper, Rey hopes for a title/title match with Atlantis, and pushes the Corelone/Shocker feud.

CMLL is pushing the semimain as a dream team of young stars versus the Perros. Semimain should be something between Ultimo Dragon and Sangre Azteca again.