Virus advances, Averno, Shocker

CMLL (TUE) 05/31/2011 Arena Mexico [CMLL, Record (1-2;4-5), Record (3)]
1) Freesbe & Trueno b Camorra & Zayco
2) Demus 3:16, Pequeño Universo 2000, Pequeño Warrior b Astral, Fantasy, Shockercito
Astral replaced Mascarita Dorada
3) Virus b Fuego, Metal Blanco, Tiger Kid, Dragon Lee, Sensei, Super Halcon Jr., Pegasso [cibernetico, CMLL SL, semifinal]
Teams were Tiger/Sensei/Halcon/Virus vs Pegasso/Blanco/Dragon Lee/Fuego. Eliminations were Pegasso (via Dragon Lee), Halcon (Dragon Lee), Sensei (Metal Blanco), Dragon Lee (Tiger Kid), Tiger Kid (Fuego), Metal Blanco (Virus). Final two were Fuego and Virus, with Virus putting on a “Motocicleta” (one legged campana has a name!) for the win. Virus vs Guerrero Maya for the title next week.
4) Sagrado, Sangre Azteca, Stuka Jr. b Shigeo Okumura, Vangelis, Yoshihashi
Tecnicos took 1/3. Sangre used the counter dropkick to beat Okumura. I didn’t know tecnicos could use that move.
5) Héctor Garza, Psicosis, Volador Jr. b Máximo, Rush, Super Porky
Rudos took 1/3, winning easily in the third.

Next week show is a Fan Appreciation show. There seemed to be a new fame ring announcer on this show.

Rodolfo Ruiz, Averno’s father and CMLL referee, says Averno is going to the WWE.

Shocker says he’s not sure if he’ll wrestle in Friday. He hasn’t actually been cleared to return, but is visiting the doctor this morning. (He did not sound that positive about it on Twitter.  Shocker says he does not mind CMLL stripping him of his the NWA LH title, saying the company has to give opportunity to younger people and hopes they have an outstanding match for the title.

On Sunday, Ultimo Guerrero went to Guatemala’s FMLL promotion and won their Champion Du Monde over Voltron. Ultimo Guerrero was originally said to be defend the Universal Title (which Lyger has) and then just the CMLL World Title. It sure looks like the actual belt he brought to the ring with the UWE Tag Team Championship. Just weird.

Links

  • EAW says they’re bringing in Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Zach Gown, Reby Sky, Miss Jakcie, Marco Corleone, Hijo de Rey Misterio, Mr. Aguila, Juvi and more for shows the first weekend of July.
  • Zumbi trash talks X-Fly (always hides behind his friends) and Bestia 666 (my mascot)
  • Justiciero talks about his training school. He’s been running shows for 14 years now
  • SuperLuchas talks to Super Kendo.
  • Nikita watches Mistico vs Averno, not from NJPW.

Mascara vs Averno on 06/17, Shocker, AAA TV, Forjando un Idolo, Dorada

La Mascara will face Averno in a mask vs mask match on June 17th. The show will use the Jucio Final name. The rest of the card will be announced later.

Those two have been feuding for over a month, in mask ripping matches. It’s a surprise that it’s happening in that CMLL loves to start feuds in this direction but often does not follow thru on them to their logical conclusion. Times are tougher and CMLL needed (wanted) a match to compete with TripleMania, taking place the next night, and this is the most meaningful match of any current feud. (Blue Panther/Negro Casas might actually be a bigger match, but those masks are worth more than these hair.) CMLL will still need a notable semimain to sell out Arena Mexico, but this is a better start than Dos Leyendas.

There is no strong favorite here. After five years of feuding with Mistico, it’s hard to believe Averno would lose his mask to La Mascara. Mascara has been pushed harder the last year, but he’s still at least a step below Sombra & Mascara Dorada; either of them would seem better choices for knocking off Averno. La Mascara not having a mask would be weird (though neither Mascara Magica nor Mascara Ano 2000 changed their names after losing theirs.) He’s not a guy near the end of his career cashing in, he’s a guy who probably has many more years in front of him and losing his mask would probably prevent him from moving any higher up. I lean towards Averno winning, setting up a bigger mask match down the road, but I do not feel strongly about it.

La Mascara vs Averno happening now means there’s no obvious ongoing feud set up for Anniversary. It being the June match means the end point of Rayo Tapatios vs Hombre Bala/Guerrero Maya/Dragon Lee is unclear (unless they run that on the Sunday after TripleMania, which I believe is still a real possibility.)

The other big news from the press conference is the NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship has been vacated. Shocker won that from Texano back on December 13, then injured the knee the following week on a dive. The hope was Shocker would be back around now and be able to participate in next month’s Universal tournament – he was even advertised for Arena Mexico two weekends ago – but apparently he’s not going to be able to make it. (Officially, it’s vacant due to lack of defenses.) The Universal tournament is really the tail that’s wagging the CMLL dog, but this means there will be yet another tournament sometime very soon.

Today is AAA’s TV taping in Toluca. The AAA Trios tournament continues on, with the Perros del Mal vs the Air Force and Bizarros vs team IWRG. Electroshock & Heavy Metal put aside their feud to team up against Maniacos Chessman & Ultimo Gladiador. Main event is scheduled to be Mesias & Wagner vs LA Park & Zorro, but the rudos aren’t much friends and Zorro isn’t much wrestling lately.

Forjando un Idolo

CMLL in Japan
05/26: Best of Super Juniors – Mascara Dorada [3] CO Jushin Lyger [0] (3:18)
Good start! These tiger/lion hybrids are no problem. (Sombra beat Lyger the same way last year.) Mascara Dorada has a few days off to celebrate; no show Friday and he’s got the show off on Saturday. Next match is Sunday vs TAKA Michinoku, who lost his opening match.

This may or may not mean anything, but Ayumi forfeited her NEO titles in preparation to challenge Amapola for her CMLL Women’s title. NEO has closed at the end of the year, but Ayumi had kept the titles until now. Maybe this is just the Mexican ethos, but luchadors are usually reluctant to give up the even the least meaningful titles possible, unless they might be getting a new one.

Other News

Perros del Mal held a press conference to hype Sunday’s third anniversary show this Sunday. (Scroll down for the full lineup.) TVC Deportes announced the show will air live on their channel, which is sometimes broadcast on uStream. (See the sidebar for that.) Perro Jr. figures that being lighter than Clowns is a big advantage, and his team will all climb out first, leaving the Clowns to fight themselves.

On his Facebook page, Rellik (well, Johnny Stamboli) apparently complains Lucha Libre USA isn’t honoring his contract, not paying what they agreed to pay him. I guess he won’t be on the taping this weekend!

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update and Alfredo’s weekly ramblings.

Rob has highlights of the first half of March 2001 AAA.

Links

 

Lineup

PdM (SUN) 05/29/2011 Plan Sexenal
***3rd Anniversary Show***
1) Dinastía vs Drastik Boy
2) Celestial & Cósmico vs Mr. Aguilita & Talisman Jr.
3) el Ángel, Golden Magic, Skayde vs Ek Balam, Maldito Jr., Samot
4) Black Fire & Low Rider vs Pesadilla & Ragde
5) Tony Rivera, Turbo, Zumbi vs Bestia 666, Halloween, X-Fly
6) Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown vs Damián 666, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Super Crazy [cage, hair, mask]

I still expect someone not in the main event to lose. Should be a fun show, hope the feed is up.

CMLL (TUE) 05/31/2011 Arena Mexico
1) Freesbe & Trueno vs Camorra & Zayco
2) Fantasy, Mascarita Dorada, Shockercito vs Demus 3:16, Pequeño Universo 2000, Pequeño Warrior
3) Virus vs Tiger Kid, Fuego, Pegasso, Sensei, Metal Blanco, Dragon Lee, Super Halcon Jr. [cibernetico, CMLL SL, semifinal]
4) Sagrado, Sangre Azteca, Stuka Jr. vs Shigeo Okumura, Vangelis, Yoshihashi
5) Máximo, Rush, Super Porky vs Héctor Garza, Psicosis, Volador Jr.

Tough to pick who’s going to advance. Virus is a former champion and would allow for an interesting rudo/tecnico battle. Fuego has been hot lately. Another match with Metal Blanco would build off Forjando un Idolo (impossible!) Dragon Lee exists. Super Halcon Jr. might have been downgraded to Halcon Jr., that’s what they’re using on the posters lately.

06/07 is probably a Fan Appreciation Show, and likely one with two title matches. Besides the Super Light final, main event follows up on this week’s issue between Volador & Rush. It’s been less dramatic than Fantasma (because he is still in main events), but Volador has just been hanging around for months. Maybe the lesson is “don’t appropriate John Cena hand signals for yourself”?

Goto v Guerrero, Forjando un Idolo, weather forecasts

photo by CMLL

CMLL (MON) 04/18/2011 Arena Puebla [Porra Fresa]
1) Lestat & Stigma b Centauro de Fuego & Siki Ozama Jr.
Lestat had a great dive on Centauro de Fuego to eliminated him in the final fall. Tecs took falls 1 and 3.
2) Bam Bam, Fantasy, Último Dragoncito b Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
Tecs took falls 2 and 3, Dragoncito beating Pierrothito in the third, despite Tirantes refereeing.
3) Fuego b Ángel de Plata [Forjando un Idolo]
Fuego [3] submitted Angel de Plata [0] for his first win.
4) Magnus b Pólvora [Forjando un Idolo]
Mangus [3] looked better than last time here and the crowd was behind him. He dominated the match, but got distracted by Tirantes slow count and was rolled up by Polvora [6] for the pin.
5) Rush, Sagrado, Valiente b Shigeo Okumura, Virus, Yoshihashi
Tecnicos took 1 and 3, Sagrado beating Virus after Rush and Valiente dives.
6) Blue Panther, Máximo, Strong Man b Héctor Garza, Hirooki Goto, Último Guerrero
Maximo had an absurdly huge cape. Tecnicos took the first, and Goto and Guerrero had problems leading to the second fall loss (straight falls for the tecnicos.) Goto and UG fought after the match, with UG demanding a singles match.

CMLL (TUE) 04/19/2011 Arena Mexico [Record, CMLL]
1) Bronco & Inquisidor b Leono & Molotov
2) Sensei, Fuego, Metatrón DQ Dr. X, Loco Max, Nitro
Dr. X unmasked Fuego for the DQ.
3) Diamante b Hijo del Signo [Forjando un Idolo]
Diamante [6] pretty much clinches advancement. Signo is stuck on 3.
4) Hombre Bala Jr. b Puma King [Forjando un Idolo]
Puma [0] loses again, Hombre Bala picks up his first 3 points.
5) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Texano b Delta, Metal Blanco, Valiente
Rey Bucanero wore a Doble T shirt and the rudos had a bulldog with them for no apparent reason. Ideas! Dog = win.
6) Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas b Blue Panther, Rush, Super Porky
Rudos took the first, tecnicos the second and the third.

Espiritu, who’s bald most of the time, grew enough hair to lose in an Nuevo Laredo cage match. Hombre sin Miedo was the winner.

Weather report for Pachuca: Partly sunny with a show or thunderstorm the afternoon. (Also, about 50 degrees warming then here.) AAA should get the taping in this time!

Shocker says he’ll be back in action at the end of May. He’s been out since December after tearing his pattelar tendon.

Taguchi defends his CMLL World Welterweight Championship versus Taichi on 04/29 at Hiroshima Green Arena. Also, Hirooki Goto rejoins NJPW on 05/03, so if CMLL is really doing the Ultimo Guerrero vs Goto singles match they’re teasing, it’s gotta be next Friday.

Links

Lineups

LFF (SUN) 05/15/2011 Arena Naucalpan
1) Dr. Macabro, Dr. Mascara, Dr. OBorman vs Exito Cruz, Legendario Extreme, Oso Paul
2) Black Fire, Chapuline Negro, Multifacetico, Oficial 911, Peligro vs Crazy Sid, Daisuke Hanaoka, Low Rider, Veneno, XL [cibernetico]
3) Chica Tormenta & Mike Segura vs Io Shirai & Nosawa
4) Super Crazy vs ? [hardcore]
5) Canek, Dos Caras Sr., Mil Mascaras vs Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown

Annual Lucha Fan Fest, this year held at Arena Naucalpan. The cibernetico is Mexico vs the world. That main event will be a struggle.

Universo/Rayo in Puebla, Garza/Shocker in GDL, Tzuki returns

CMLL (MON) 06/21 Arena Puebla [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Ares & Karisma b Centella de Oro & Crazy Black
2) Loco Max, Nosferatu, Skándalo b Pegasso, Rey Cometa, Sensei
3) Fuego, Metro, Valiente b Euforia, Misterioso II, Pólvora
4) Blue Panther, La Máscara, Siki Osama b Atlantis, Shigeo Okumura, Yoshihashi
5) Jushin Lyger, Negro Casas, Universo 2000 b La Sombra, Máscara Dorada, Rayo de Jalisco Jr.

Universo got in a foul on Rayo for the pin. Rayo demanded a mask vs hair match for Puebla’s anniversary show and a title match. Since he has a title, that one’s a little easier to pull off.

Siki replaced a missing Toscano. Mascara finished Atlantis with an Atlantida.

CMLL (TUE) 06/22 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Silueta b Princesa Maya
2) Drago & Ebola b Angelo & Virgo
3) Gallo, Metal Blanco, Palacio Negro b Ángel del Mal, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
4) Hijo del Fantasma, La Máscara, Máximo b Ephesto, Terrible, Texano
5) Héctor Garza DQ Shocker

Hector not only had to deal with Shocker in this match, but also Shocker’s mom. She was seated at ringside, but chased Garza around the outside at one point. Garza still won – he tried to foul Shocker, Shocker blocked it and fouled him, and the ref saw it. Shocker challenged Garza to a hair match, but Garza just said no.

CMLL (TUE) 06/22 Arena Mexico [@cmllmagazine]
1) Disturbio & Semental b Camaleón & Robin
2) Dark Angel, Goya Kong, Marcela b Amapola, La Comandante, Mima Shimoda
3) Demus 3:16, Pequeño Warrior, Pierrothito b Bam Bam, Mascarita Dorada, Tzuki
4) Delta, Toscano, Valiente b Pólvora, Shigeo Okumura, Yoshihashi
5) Máscara Dorada, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Super Porky b Atlantis, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero

Tzuki actually showed up! Demus got his team the win with a foul on Bam Bam, and wants either a rematch or a title match.

Rayo’s team won, and he and Atlantis are still teasing the mask match.

Sombra talks to R de Rudo about his Best of Super Juniors experience. As expected, Sombra highlights how he beat “the two top figures in Japan” (in Tiger Mask and Jushin Lyger.)

Dos Caras Jr. debuted in a vignette at last night’s SmackDown taping as the unmasked Alberto del Rio. Since it’s a vignette, it could still be edited off the show before it airs this week, but it’s most likely his debut.

LuchaWorld has video of Satanico vs Super Astro for the UWA light heavyweight title from 1985.

CMLL (MON) 06/28 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano, Silver, Tigre Rojo vs Espiritu Maligno, Mr. Rafaga, Siki Osama
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Leono, Trueno vs Bronco, Durango Kid, Inquisidor
3) Ángel de Oro, Rush, Stuka Jr. vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus
4) La Sombra, Shocker, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero
5) Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs Universo 2000 [WWA HEAVY]

Rayo has been champion for five years. Probably will be champion for another five years.

Negro Casas & Texano retain their titles, updated IWRG lineup

CMLL (TUE) 12/01 Arena Mexico [Notimex]
1) Astral & Fantasy vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Universo 2000
2) Dr. X, Durango Kid, Escorpion vs Guerrero Maya Jr., Sensei, Tigre Blanco
3) Arkangel de la Muerte, Bronco, Virus b Ángel Azteca Jr., Ángel de Oro, Ángel de Plata
4) Blue Panther, Toscano, Valiente DQ Averno, Dragon Rojo Jr., Mr. Niebla
5) Negro Casas b Máscara Dorada [CMLL WELTER]

Toscano and Escorpion were their cornerman for the main event. Names out of a hat! Negro took the first, Dorada the second, and Negro took the third clean to retain the title. Notimex’s recap says Dorada did not fly as much as usual, but the pictures make it look as though he got caught going for one too many.

Rudos lost the semifinals in straight falls, Averno unmasking Valiente and Toscano getting filed by someone in the second.

CMLL (TUE) 12/01 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Exterminador b El Divino
2) Angelo & Metatrón b In Memoria & Malefico
3) Acertijo, Asesino Negro, Drago b Astaroth, Hierro, Metal Blanco
4) Atlantis, Naito, Yujiro b Brazo de Plata, Máximo, Sagrado
5) Texano b Shocker [NWA LH]

If I thought to do a poll for this one, the question would not be about the winner, but whether Shocker would show up. Happily, he did. Shocker won the first, Texano the second. Texano faked a foul in the third, but the referee did not allow it (that’s going around), and Texano won with two backcrackers.

Imagine if Texano beat Shocker and Atlantis clean in singles matches in Arena Mexico. That would actually be elevating someone. But at least now he’s big in Guadalajara. Anyway, Texano says he no longer feels like he’s a rookie and he’s becoming a star, but he’s not 100% satisfied because he still has that big match on Friday.

Cronicas y Leyenda looks back at Ultraman 2000 in FMW and the Mongolian Mauler in Mexico, “one of the worst wrestlers to ever visit our arenas”.

La Journda has an article on a new book on lucha libre in Aguascalientes, except they don’t seem to say where you might get the book. Or the name of the book.

IWRG (SUN) 12/06 Arena Naucalpan
1) Angel de la Noche vs Keshin Black
2) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II vs Anubis & Mixteco Jr.
3) Eragon, Exodia, Freelance vs Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro
4) Bushi, Suicida, Zatura vs Histeria, Psicosis, Tóxico
5) El Alebrije, Hijo del Lizmark, Super Porky vs Hijo del Cien Caras, Pirata Morgan, Veneno

Plenty of changes, most notable the Oficials being missing but Bushi still being on after the mask match. Make of that what you will. The poster has Suicida on both sides of the semifinal, but I assume Toxico is still meant to be on the rudo side.

Mexico results, GDL cancelation notes, Mother’s Day Lineup changed

CMLL (FRI) 05/08 Arena Mexico [Ovaciones, SuperLuchas, ESTO]
1) Astro BoyTruenoPuma KingTiger Kid
2) Arkangel de la MuerteLoco MaxSkandaloFlashPegassoRey Cometa
3) Black WarriorDragon Rojo Jr.Sangre AztecaMaximoMictlanSagrado
4) Misterioso IIMetro [lightning]
5) Hector GarzaHijo del FantasmaShocker DQ Dos Caras Jr.Ray Mendoza Jr.Texano Jr.
6) Blue PantherLa MascaraMisticoFelinoMr. NieblaNegro Casas

ESTO puts the turnout as just over 2000, a low low turnout (though more than they seem to do for a lot of Tuesday and Sunday shows.) Record has some pictures which show the ‘no one can sit next to another’ order was pretty much ignored. The article also mentions they had everyone come down to ringside so it’d look a little less awful on TV.

Earlier, I asked why La Mascara was in the main event. Turns out, it was to set up a title match. He got Negro clean with la campana and challenges were exchange for the welterweight championship, though we may be a couple weeks away from that.

I’m not exactly sure what the finish was in the semimain – I’ve seen Shocker yanking Dos’ mask for a pin and Dos getting himself DQed against Shocker. Either way, seems like the feud has switched from Dos/Hector to to Dos/Shocker.

Misterioso doesn’t get to go to Japan, but he gets to beat Metro in a bonus match! (Poor Misterioso.)

As mentioned last night, Arena Coliseo Guadalajara is staying off for two more weeks due to flu deaths in the area. Apolo Dantes says they’re canceling all shows up to and including the Tuesday May 19th show. First show back would be May 24th. Refunds are being handed out for the Friday show, which Dantes says was planned to be taped. All the wrestlers found out about the show being canceled as they were making their way there, and had to turn around and go home. SuperLuchas says Record’s show will be on June 20th, so that’s when last night’s CMLL show will be rescheduled.

Tommorrow’s show has had a some wrestlers bolted on to make up for no GDL show.

CMLL (SUN) 05/10 Arena Mexico
1) MolotovSensei vs CamorraInquisidor
2) Dark AngelMarcelaSahori vs AmapolaHirokaMima Shimoda
3) Bam BamMascarita DoradaShockercito vs Pequeño Damian 666Pequeño ViolenciaPequeño Warrior
4) La MascaraMictlanSagrado vs Black WarriorMisterioso IIShigeo Okumura
5) Hijo del FantasmaMetroValiente vs AvernoHeavy MetalTexano Jr.
6) Blue PantherMisticoShocker vs Dos Caras Jr.EphestoMephisto
7) Hector GarzaLa SombraVolador Jr. vs AtlantisRey BucaneroUltimo Guerrero

Match 4 and 6 are the new ones. I don’t think I’ve seen CMLL have seven matches before when it’s not been a tournament or something. This will clearly change what airs next weekend – no chance of the minis or women.

The Kid’s Day show has been rescheduled to “sometime this summer”

Given a couple weeks off to think about things, Averno has decided he now wants a triangle apuesta match with Mistico & Negro Casas at the Anniversary show. That’s what too much time off does to your mind. Averno would welcome Dos Jr. into Hijo del Avernos if he wants to join, but he’s not going to force anyone to join.

WWE has announced new lineups for it’s Mexico tour at the end of the month, which would confirm it’s still on. Wrestling is also on in Torreon this weekend.

Vampiro’s two latest DVDs were released in Canada. Mil Mascaras is filming a movie in Columbia, Missouri, which includes a giant explosion.

AAA looks at the careers of Nicho, Laredo Kid, and Alan Stone.

Segunda Caida ranks Villano V as #21 of 2008 and watched 04/23/09 IWRG