luchablog

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CMLL (FRI) 01/25 Arena Mexico [ovaciones, superluchas, ESTO]
1) Hooligan & Loco Max b Sombra de Plata & Trueno
2) Diamante Negro, Ephesto, Misterioso II b Felino, Neutron, Stuka Jr.
3) Alex Koslov, Sagrado, Último Dragón DQ Black Warrior, Lizmark Jr., Olímpico
4) Averno & Mephisto b Dos Caras Jr. & La Sombra [torneo, final]
5) Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero b Blue Panther, Marco Corelone, Místico

A banner night for rudos!

Rey is firmly back with the Guerreros del Atlantida. Rudos got a showy three on three posing submission to win the first fall, tecnicos came back to win the second, and Atlantis and UG powerbombed Panther and Corelone to win the third fall and the match. Clean win, though no pin on Mistico (he'd gotten a dive on Bucanero.) Every report says something like "Rey Bucanero is much better as a rudo, and the rudo fans are happy to have him back."

Averno & Mephisto are surprise winners based on who the champs are. They're a much more experienced team, so I'm not sure it's an upset. Rudos took the first fall, Dos & Sombra came back in the second, and things got complicated in the third. Averno & Mephisto pinned Sombra, Dos got Averno with his German suplex, so it was down to Mephisto and Dos. As Dos and Mephisto battled in the corner, the two eliminated men trying to get involved. Referee Rodolfo Ruiz cut off Sombra, which allowed Averno to sneak in and yank Dos' mask as he held Mephisto up for a press slam. Dos went to cover up, Mephisto covered him, and the team claiming to the best in the world will get an opportunity to prove it next week. Tecnicos complained to the commission after.

Note the only match the tecnicos won all night, the tercera, was won on a DQ for excessive rudo violence. Quite a night.

CMLL (TUE) 01/29 Arena Mexico
1) Super Camaleon & Super Tri vs Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Molotov, Starman, Trueno vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Nitro
3) Fabián el Gitano, Leono, Super Nova vs Diamante Negro, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura
4) Alex Koslov, Sagrado, Valiente vs Misterioso II, Olímpico, Sangre Azteca
5) Marco Corelone, Negro Casas, Último Dragón vs Damián 666, Mr. Águila, Texano Jr.

CMLL (FRI) 02/01 Arena Mexico
1) Ángel Azteca Jr. & Neutrón vs Calígula & Méssala
2) Mascara Purpura, Mictlán, Stuka Jr. vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Satánico
3) Blue Panther, La Máscara, Shocker vs Misterioso II, Mr. Águila, Villano V
4) Grey Shadow, LA Park, Místico vs el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Héctor Garza, Terrible
5) Atlantis & Último Guerrero vs Averno & Mephisto [CMLL TAG]

Who's the Grey Shadow? He appears to be following in tradition of the legendary Black Shadow. There's been two Black Shadow Jr.'s - one who wrestled in the UWA and lost his mask to El Hijo del Santo, the other was an indy guy who may have no had permission to use the gimmick. There's no details on the Grey Shadow besides his name being listed in the lineup, but obviously they've got big plans for him if they're putting him in that spot

I didn't know how much a rudo vs rudo main event is going to draw, but the names in the semimain should make it a non-issue. If they had done Atlantis/Rey tension in yesterday's match, I'd be sure of a title change. Now, I have no guess.

CMLL (SUN) 02/03 Arena Coliseo
1) Sensei & Sombra de Plata vs Pólvora & Vaquero
2) Astro Boy, Metálico, Tony Rivera vs Dr. X, Hooligan, Skandalo
3) Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca vs Amapola, Medussa, Rosa Negra
4) Damián 666, Misterioso II, Texano Jr. vs Alex Koslov, Dos Caras Jr., Último Dragón
5) LA Park, Místico, Negro Casas vs Atlantis, Black Warrior, Lizmark Jr.

CMLL CAN52 GdR #114 has
01/18 Mexico: Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus b Fabián el Gitano, Mictlán, Starman
01/20 Coliseo: Marco Corelone, Rey Bucanero, Stuka Jr. DQ Héctor Garza, Mr. Águila, Texano Jr.
Outside the ring: Nitro

The 2007 Tapatia Awards are ongoing. You can get info about the awards or fill out a ballot right now. The deadline is MONDAY

CMLL (FRI) 01/25 Arena Mexico
1) Sombra de Plata & Trueno vs Hooligan & Loco Max
2) Felino, Máximo, Stuka Jr. vs Diamante Negro, Ephesto, Misterioso II
3) Alex Koslov, Sagrado, Último Dragón vs Black Warrior, Lizmark Jr., Olímpico
4) Dos Caras Jr. & La Sombra vs Averno & Mephisto [torneo, final]
5) Blue Panther, Marco Corelone, Místico vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero

Notimex has the general preview. Bucanero tells ESTO he was upset with the lack of support from the fans. He also remembered UG and him are an unbeatable duo, and being an unbeatable duo is good.

Everyone expects Dos and Sombra to win the tournament. Averno & Mephisto vs Ultimo Guerrero & Atlantis would be such an awesome triumphant of rudoness that it can not possibly occur. I think the Guerreros are sticking together if they win, and I'd be worried if they lose.

ESTO also has a long interview with Marco Corelone about male fans not liking him, wanting to challenge Dos Caras Jr. for his heavyweight title (even if means turning rudo), wanting to be a main stream star like Latin Lover, and teaming up with Alex Koslov.

According to the Record (via heavy_metalkiss @ box y lucha), La Park is upset with CMLL booking again. Well, the non-booking of him more so. This comes and goes and he'll be back soon or later; he's another guy clearly with no interest in AAA nor happy with the amount of money he can make on the indy scene, because he would've stopped coming back to CMLL by now if either other option was better.

Coca Cola in Mexico is marketing a new energy drink called "Gladiator." There's two flavors named Rudeza Citrica and Furia Azul, but I think people will more think of them as Ultimo Guerrero and Mistico flavors. rabano enmascarado @ el martiente has photos. I don't buy energy drinks, but I think I would buy one of UG's mask on it. Coco Cola also does the Full Throttle drink with Blue Demon Jr.

BAJA STAR (FRI) 01/18 Auditorio de Tijuana [thegladiatores]
1) Saeta b Army
2) Deja Vu & Randuz b Maquiavelico & Rayo Tapatío II
3) Pancho Cachondo, Ricochet, Shamu DQ Scream, Tazmananiac, Viernes 13
4) Super Astro & Super Kendo DQ El Dandy & Mortiz
5) el Hijo del Perro Aguayo & Héctor Garza b Blue Panther & Dos Caras Jr.

Hector and Perro used low blows to win. How unlike them. Lots of DQs in the undercard. Why would Rayo Tapatio go all the way to Tijuana to work a segunda?

AULL (SAT) 01/19 Arena Lopez Mateos [thegladiatores]
1) Cheque Pena, Pulsar, Super Electra b Black Danger, Mohicano I, Mohicano Jr.
2) Cerebro Diabolico, Cyber Black, Ice Man b New Boy, Rey Marical, Super Tri
3) Hijo del Signo b Maythor
4) Masada, Nosawa, Takemura b Kalimari, Kushida, Nakashima
5) Solar I b Negro Navarro [CENTROAMERICANO]
6) Kilvan, Rey Krimen, Sepulturero, Shu el Guerrero b Hijo del Fantasma, Kung Fu Jr., Robin Maravilla, Yakuza
7) Dos Caras Sr., El Fantasma, Villano III b Black Terry, Onita Santana, Rambo

The Japan match was an unadvertised match. Solar retained his title. Mano Negro showed up to challenge V3 to another match after the main event.

CMLL (SUN) 01/20 Arena Neza [Arena Neza]
1) New Boy b Tormenta del Deierto
2) Poder Boricua & Turako b Okawa & Super Chiva
3) Chac-Mol, Hijo de Faraon, Winners Black b Artillero 2000, Killer Machina, Lokar
4) Hiroka & Mima Shimoda b Princesa Blanca & Rosa Negra
5) Héctor Garza, Mr. Águila, Ramstein b Felino, Heavy Metal, Rayo Tapatío I

Rosa Negra was back as a tecnico, but this time it was due to Marcela being out with a shoulder injury. Garza pinned Heavy with a foul in the main event. Rayo Tapatio and Hector Garza in the same match only happens in Arena Neza.

CMLL (MON) 01/28 Arena Puebla [CMLL, hugo999
1) Forajido, King Jaguar, SWAT vs Mr. Rafaga, Toro Bill, Toro Bill Jr.
2) Centella de Oro, the Tiger, Tigre Rojo vs Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Policeman
3) Ángel Azteca Jr., Flash, Stuka Jr. vs Loco Max, Nitro, Skandalo
4) Blue Panther, Heavy Metal, Negro Casas vs Atlantis, Sangre Azteca, Último Guerrero
5) Averno vs Místico [NWA MIDDLE]

Why not just defend both? (Because he's eventually going to lose only one of them and still be champ.)

indy (TUE) 01/29 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Galio & Tequilita vs Aguila Azteca & Pedro Navajas
2) Burrito & Cavernicola vs Coyote & Mercurio
3) Mr. Cuervo vs Corazon Adicto [bull terrier]
4) Bengali & Rey Demonio vs Angel Dorado Jr. & Sombra del Amor
5) Angel del Amor, Bam Bam (Monterrey), Golden Boy vs Mosco, Simbolo, the King

Box Y Lucha posted some interviews (some with video)
* Ultimo Gladiador talks about his return to wrestling after five months (due to personal reasons.)
* Pierroth talks about his retirement. In this one, he cites a "fairly serious spine injury" for speeding the process up
* Head Hunter I talks about his career. He says the economy has killed wrestling in the Dominican Republic.
* La Zorra talks about epilepsy affecting her career. She's says that's why she's not joined a main company, though she's never had a incident in the ring. She's satisfied being an indepdent wrestler.

Mascara Sagrada told Reforma (reposted by Jazzo) about growth in the independent scene and plans for shows in the US. He lists Santo, Demon, Rayo, Muneco and Parka among those involved, but those probably will change from show to show. They're going to San Jose on 03/01 (LLII?) and Chicago, New York and Denver, but it doesn't sound like anything's set. The big goal is to create a psuedo-office for the top indy guys, so promoters can get a hold of them easier.

Don King and Julio Cesar Chavez were in Cancun this week, talking about building a temporary 30 day casino (Mexico not allowing permanent ones) and turning it into the worldwide center of boxing. They also hope to an event with Santo and Mistico teaming up. This sounds largely insane.

Did you know there's a Si TV channel? Did you know it's a Latino channel in English? I knew none of these things till I happened to see a lucha libre segment advertised this past week.

I can not begin to tell you how amused I was to see the segment start of with footage of LA Park/Dr. Wagner restaurant show from the north suburbs, long ago, that I still have on DVD around here somewhere. Sure enough, it was a feature on Arenas de Chicago, who are co-promoting this Saturday's show featuring...LA Park and Dr. Wagner.

By the way, if you're an aspiring promoter, never ever ever say the last line the promoter says here.

I'll go mark my calendar for that.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I'm going to the show and I may actually say hi to people. No promises!

taped 12/16/07, aired 01/20/08

Fabian el Gitano isn't very good in the ring. He gets opportunities because he's a male stripper type, and they think it's good to have one of those around. One way of solving this is suggesting some undercarder who's otherwise going nowhere take up the gimmick (insert name here), but I think the more likely outcome is Fabian suffers an injury on a moonsault dive and that's the end of him forever.

I've seen matches a month from this taping, because of the lag and all, and so I know Fabian's still doing a moonsault dive and I can't believe someone's not told him to stop it immediately. He's getting no distance on the dive at all and looking quite unimpressive doing it. An okay plancha beats a bad moonsault anyday.

Yea, two paragraphs on Fabian el Gitano. Sometimes the shows are like that.

CMLL (SUN) 01/20 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Milenio b Quazar
2) Fraile de la Muerte b Thunder Boy
3) Estrella de Jalisco ?? Impostor
4) Depredador, Exterminador, Valentin Mayo b Carlo Roggi, Ebola, Lider
5) Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno b Leono, Magnum, Tony Rivera
6) Blue Panther, Dos Caras Jr., el Gallo b Ephesto, Misterioso II, Universo 2000

Shocker was supposed to be in the main event, in El Gallo's place. Between this and being subbed out on Friday, he hasn't been on a show in a week and isn't announced for another one until 02/02.

Dos pinned Universo clean with a suplex. after the fourth match, Evola and Exterminador agreed to a hair match in two weeks.

CMLL (TUE) 01/22 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, *DELTA* @ box y lucha]
1) Thunder Boy b Milenio
2) Idolo b Guero Loco
3) El Egipcio b Casanova
4) Danger (Guadalajara) b Magnum
5) Malefico, Máscara Mágica, Toxico DQ Leono, Metalik, Tony Rivera
6) Black Warrior & Olímpico b Dr. Wagner Jr. & Último Dragón

Malefico fouled Tony in the semimain, setting up a singles match next week. In the main, Warrior faked a foul from Wagner, but the ref didn't see it. So Warrior just yanked Wagner's mask instead and pinned him. That also sets up a match for next week.

CMLL (TUE) 01/29 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Quazar vs Azazel
2) El Idolo vs El Egipcio
3) Casanova & Metatron vs Rey Trueno & Super Maquina
4) Carlo Roggi vs Exterminador
5) Tony Rivera vs Malefico
6) La Sombra & Volador Jr. vs Atlantis & Último Guerrero
7) Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Black Warrior

The Box Y Lucha recap says Wagner agreed to defend his UWA Heavyweight Title in that match. CMLL doesn't have that announced yet.

indy (TUE) 01/22 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
2) Burrito DRAW Mercurio
3) Cavernicola & Mr. Cuervo b Corazon Adicto & Former Love
4) Black King & Maravilla Azteca b Bengali & Pancho Tequila
5) Golden Boy & Mosco b Rey Demonio, Simbolo [losers advance]
6) Rey Demonio Jr. b Simbolo [? Title]

AAA (SUN) 01/27 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Baby Fox & Rey Imagen vs Iron Extreme & Yako
2) Aero Boy, Dranser, Scravos vs Euforia (Monterrey), Ramses (Monterrey), Violento Jack
3) Aguila Extrema vs Dr. Cianuro [NORTH LH]
4) 5X, Iron, Principe Diamante vs Extreme Tiger, Rio Bravo, Tito Santana II
5) Octagón & Pimpinela Escarlata vs Antifaz del Norte & Kenzo Suzuki

Crazy Boy's making an appearance.

Atlantis tells Ovaciones he's got no issues with Rey Bucanero any more and would be happy to team up with Ultimo and him to form the greatest trio in all of CMLL. Looks like Atlantis will stay rudo.

Ovaciones also talks (again) to the AAA Clowns, who admit they're just trying to repeat the winning streak of the previous AAA clowns. Psycho Clown is listed as 187 cm/105 kg, Zombie Clown is 190 cm/110 kg and Killer Clown is not listed, but they're all bigger than average guys.

IWRG's card tonight is 2nd Generation Dinamitas vs Villanos. Avisman, one of the suspended regulars from last summer, is listed as working the segunda. Dr. Cerebro and Mike Segura are still gone (unless they're working new gimmicks here.)

El Luchador #30, an e-mail newsletter, has an interview with Aerostar (who promises new crazy dives in '08, and also may have given away the next unannounced AAA taping as 02/07.) I hadn't heard of them till I saw a link on box y lucha foro today, but they've apparently been going since last June, so there's probably good stuff in the previous editions.

box

AAA-US: Show airs a couple hours later on Saturday and Sunday afternoon than usual due to a comedy special taking up the normal time.

This would be a fine time to skip a couple episodes to get us closer on track, but I doubt anyone's paying close enough to figure that out. This is first part of the Best Of shows, including Kenzo losing his hair in the dome cage.

FSE-US: Flash (and some other people) vs Dr. X (and some Japaneses people), plus Averno, Mephisto and Sangre attempt to chop down a giant Italian, while Rey and Mascara stand nearby.

No rerun at midnight this week on Sunday, but the midnight Monday airing is listed. (Though this past week, it turned out to be a different rerun.) Reruns air at the top of the hour, Thursday, Friday and next Tuesday.

CAN52: Infernales vs tecnicos from Friday and the tercera from Sunday.

---------

CMLL-MEX: TV Guide's listings says it's a 3 hour show (and I think that's what Galavision's page says) but it never turns out to be a three hour show. Probably top 3.

AAA-MEX: An 8 day turnaround is faster than any taping they've had in quite a while.

FSE-MEX: Volador vs Perro.

CadenaTres: Don't trust Rey Bucanero.

CMLL (MON) 01/21 Arena Puebla [ultrachito @ el martiente, hugo999]
1) Forajido & SWAT b Ares & Fuerza Chicana
2) Cerebro Negro, Espiritu Maligno, Negro Navarro b Asturiano, Legionario, Lestat
3) Luna Magica, Marcela, Yeska b Amapola, Hiroka, Mima Shimoda
4) Atlantis, Sangre Azteca, Último Guerrero b Blue Panther, Heavy Metal, Marco Corelone
5) La Sombra, Místico, Rey Bucanero b Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto

Main event was rolling along fine until the third fall, where Bucanero suddenly turned on Mistico. Mistico still managed to beat Averno, so that sets up a title match next week. Atlantis yanked Panther's pants and rolled him up in the the semimain.

CMLL (TUE) 01/22 Arena Mexico
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II b Cyber Black & Perverso
2) Fantasy, Pequeño Olímpico, Último Dragoncito b Mr. Aguilita, Pequeño Halloween, Pequeño Violencia
3) Euforia, Nosferatu, Satánico b Fabián el Gitano, Flash, Metálico
4) Damián 666, Terrible, Texano Jr. b Heavy Metal, La Máscara, Valiente
5) Atlantis, Sangre Azteca, Último Guerrero b Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr.

Bucanero turned his back on his tecnico partners in the third fall, causing their defeat. Who'd figure a passive turn would work better than an active one? Of course, there's no Mistico in this one. Welcome to a month of these finishes. Look, the Infernales all teamed up!

Ovaciones mentions Arkangel, Negro Casas, Okumura, Alex Koslov, Marcela, Princesa Blanca, Amapola and Hiroka all recently traveled to Panama to wrestle there for five days. That explains why some of them were absent for shows last weekend (though not why they were booked for them in the first place.) Arkangel is feuding with local Zandokan Jr. Haven't been able to find more about this.

AAA's preview of Sunday's taping doesn't really have much new info. Argenis is still a mystery. Clowns appear to have won no matches in between tapings (so far.)

TNA's Hernandez & Homicide will work a show in Monterrey on 02/03

CMLL (SAT) 01/19 Auditorio Municipal Tampico, Tamaulipas [Dinamita]
1) Mensajero de la Muerte & Principe Orquidea ?? ? & Darling Boy
2) Baby Lover & Oro Negro b Peligro & Transmetal
3) Brazo de Platino, Máximo, Super Brazo DQ Loco Castillo, Muerte Negra, Sangre Azteca
4) King Boy (Tampico), La Sombra, Sagrado b Damian 666, Sadico (Tampico), Texano Jr.
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Marco Corelone b Atlantis & LA Park

CMLL (SAT) 02/09 Gimnasio Municipal Juarez [Sergio Guzman Velazquez @ box y lucha]
1) ?, Takeda, Trimigistro vs Demonio Negro, Rafaga, Yankee Star
2) Marcela vs Amapola [MEX WOMEN]
3) La Máscara & Mascara Purpura vs Euforia & Virus
4) Crazy 33, Heavy Metal, Negro Casas vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Misterioso II
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., LA Park, Shocker vs el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Héctor Garza, Texano Jr.

taped 01/11 - 01/13, aired 01/19/08

The most interesting thing about this show at the moment is watching the FSE show right after and comparing the Arena Mexico crows. FSE's still lagged into the December death period, so one show has Arena Mexico with something like 1,000 people and the other has Arena Mexico with something like 10,000 people. One looks a bit better. It's about the difference between Fabian el Gitano and Flash.

This was a much longer women's match than usual (or I totally screwed up the time), but it wasn't much better.

Arturo Rivera's column says (the person under the mask of) Blue Demon Jr. lost a court case in the US to the family of Blue Demon. Blue Demon Jr. is said to not have paid royalties for fifteen years, which would be well before Blue Demon Sr. passed away. Demon Jr. probably owes a great much at this point. A similar lawsuit is in progress in the Mexico court system.

Rivera also notes Abismo Negro's going to end up with the Legion. No tecnico turn, but that splits apart all the rudo groups again and gives the Legion a theoretical replacement for Mesias.

Rey Bucanero tells Reforma he full plans on going back to the rudo side and will just try to be a professional while working out this scheduled on the tecnico side. He's got no problem with Atlantis and hopes Atlantis has no problem with him, so they can form an awesome trios with UG.

Reforma also interviews Goddess about her CMLL debut.

CMLL (TUE) 01/15 Arena Queretaro [Kal-el @ el Martiente]
1) Eragon & Luminoso ?? Estrella Dorada & Furia Dorada
2) Amapola & Princesa Sujei b Luna Magica & Marcela
3) Principe Valiente Jr. b Espiritu Negro [WWS WELTER]
4) Alex Koslov, La Máscara, Valiente b Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca, Virus
5) Máximo b Rambo [hair]

Lots of good pictures at the link. Mascara beat Sangre with a campana, so they might be setting up another title match.

RETELLEZ (SUN) 01/20 Gimnasio Municipal Ciudad Juarez [Sergio Guzman velazquez @ box y lucha]
1) Casandro & Rayman b Magno & Mistico (Juarez)
2) Rey Escorpio, Silver King, Super Parka b Máscara Sagrada, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Villano III
3) LA Park b El Hijo Del Santo, Blue Demon Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr.

LA DOJO (SUN) 01/27 Los Angeles [Socaluncensored]
1) Mini Vertiz vs Mini Black Shadow
2) BC Killer vs Robbie Phoenix
3) Kaylo & Thunderwolf vs Big Nasy & Darkside
4) El Piko & Orion vs Chimera & Colossal Chris
5) Kaos & Mongol vs American Ballon & Angel (LA)
6) Chilango, Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr. vs Durango, Impacto, Steve Pain

Thanks to mikeinformer. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children. I guess Volador Jr. is working a double shot that day?

Box Y Luchas 2854 has Wagner ripipng Mistico's mask.

The 2007 Tapatia Awards are ongoing. You can get info about the awards or fill out a ballot right now. The deadline is January 27th

CMLL

CMLL (SUN) 01/20 Arena Coliseo [cmll]
1) Molotov & Sensei b Calígula & Méssala
2) La Nazi, La Seductora, Rosa Negra b Goddess, La Rosa, Luna Magica
3) Ohara, Satánico, Super Nova b Felino, Máximo, Neutrón
4) Marco Corelone, Rey Bucanero, Stuka Jr. DQ Héctor Garza, Mr. Águila, Texano Jr.
5) el Hijo del Perro Aguayo b Volador Jr.

Perro Aguayo Jr. took the Spanish fly! CMLL.com notes this singles match was Volador's 10th anniversary pseudo-celebration (he debuted somewhere around 10/97), so maybe that was just a heck of a gift by Perro. Volador didn't win the match because the ref got distracted, and then Perro yanked Volador's mask and rolled him up for the win.

In the semimain, Texano fouled Marco for the DQ. Super Nova replaced Okumura to lead the rudo side to victory in the tercera, but that's a one night thing. Luna Magica and Rosa Negra were the only two of the scheduled wrestlers to work the women's trios. La Rosa and Goddess ended up making their unannounced CMLL debuts in the same match, so I assume a bus was running late or people were double booked. Goddess is a Canadian, and I do believe you can find photos of her on the wiki.

AAA's put up their results for Saturady's taping, adding a couple details.
- La Parka Jr. announced he'd return to the ring at Rey de Reyes.
- Abismo might have not interfered, and only mocked Niebla for his poor leadership
- The Stones didn't as much win as get destroyed by the Legion so much that the Legion got DQed. That's more what I expected
- Mini Abismo tossed his mask to Mini Divina for a DQ.
- Clowns have 16 wins in a row.

AAA Corsario Blanco (SAT) 02/09 Auditorio Municipal Tampico [El Sol de Tampico]
1) Billy Boy & La Guerrera vs Gran Apache & La Diabólica
2) Antifaz del Norte, Histeria, Psicosis vs Black Master, Bulldozer, Okusono
3) Cibernetico & El Elegido vs Electro Shock & Espíritu

If Cibernetico makes this booking, and the article says it'll be his return from injury, he'll be back from the burns in 2 1/3 months. Long night for Espiritu.

indy (SUN) 01/20 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [rfc]
1) Baby Fox & Rey Imagen vs Criminal & Invasor
2) Aguila Extrema & Virtual X b Dr. Cianruo & Euforia (Monterrey)
3) Dranser & Scravos b Androide & Yaco
4) Iron, La Momia, Principe Diamante b Ramses (Monterrey), Rio Bravo, Tito Santana II
5) Antifaz del Norte & Electro Shock b Charly Manson & Pimpinela Escarlata

Mistico complains about Averno's unwillingness to defend the NWA Middlweight Title against himi to el Sol de Tampico.

Super Luchas #247 has Abdullah the Butcher and Rey & Ultimo shaking hands.

aired 01/19, taped 11/30/07

Of the ladder match was four and a half stars, the mixed tag must've been 13 or 14 stars. That match was great. I can't believe AAA aired a 22 minute match that didn't drag at all. It was always good, quite often better, and got over the big storyline points they set out to achieve:

- Oriental & Cinthia get the next shot
- Fabi & Billy are a quality top team
- but no one can withstand the power of Mari Apache's crippling Michinoku Driver

Mari's gone from looking completely bored and moderately unhappy to be there to the scary top women's wrestler in the group. Ayako has worked her way out of my dislike list for good. Gran Apache/Espiritu mat wrestling was far better than anything I saw last week.

You need to go out of your way to see the four way mixed tag match.

The ladder match was filled with missed spots, mostly missed spots, and moments lacking completely logic. The AAA Tag Team belts were completely and totally buried - Chessman and Charly rejecting them needed to be explained in some way if that was supposed to work at all, but it clearly worked just the way it was shown. The belts are crap that the Hell Brothers don't want to be deal with, and the Mexican Powers having them doesn't mean they're best team in the world - maybe that's even one of the two teams in the tag title match last week, since their joke belts were positioned higher on the card than this.

The mixed tag belts mean something after there match, but I'm not sure any other belt means something given how they were used on this show.

Cage match was okay. There's been better cages matches in AAA of late and this one dragged a bit. It was laid out fine but there was nothing new in this match that we hadn't seen weekly for the last few months. Well, I don't know that Guapos all mooned in those other matches, but I could do without that. They put over the hair stip strong, but I hope Scorpio Jr. doesn't get shaved three Decembers in a row.

Layout of the show was pretty sharp. I'll take 30 minutes of clips to go hype the major angles if it means only one break in a match the rest of the night.

DeportTV highlights focused mostly on the main event, but had clips of the tercera and semimain too. DeporTV's camera seems now to be farther away than ever, but it worked out pretty well for the highlights.

Accion:

CMLL featured the main event Arena Mexico tag match. Mostly Mistico highlights, but everyone else gets a dive (or Guerrero Special in). Finish is shown as totally clean, two men simply beating two men, so Wagner attacking Mistico after the match (and ripping up his mask) has no justification

AAA went with the semimain spot show of Chessman & Charly vs Halloween & Extreme Tiger. Early highlights are of a normal match (with a seemingly pointless ref bump), then Chessman spears Extreme Tiger off the apron and into those wood panels. Charly takes a Halloween sunset bomb into another, and Chessman and Halloween boink heads when going for a spear. They're KOed, and then they're not as much so they can crawl closer together and put a hand on each other, and so it doesn't come off as well as it might if they just did a double in-ring CO or a referee stoppage, but I don't know if those finishes would been as accepted. This did not look as dumb as I'd thought (skipping the finish) in clip form, so maybe it'll be an okay match. I have far more faith Halloween than anyone not named Halloween, it's nearly indefensible at this point.

Other random things

- So I got a bunch of magazines, and see that Blue Demon Jr. becoming president of NWA Mexico was on a cover, before the NWA had announced it, before the CMLL had agreed to any sort of deal? That's so not working out well. Set expectations to minimal.

- Couldn't believe that, the week after the event, the first four pages of lucha coverage in Box y Lucha were on the DTU show. Is everyone who writes about lucha in Mexico convinced there must be a hardcore niche indy and trying to will into existence? I can only figure hardcore promotions are so the anthesis of normal and normal is so overwhelming, people mark out for it despite no hardcore promotion drawing or having a long consistent run.

Or these hardcore promotions do a better job of catering to press than a promotion who just runs every week. That seems reasonable.

- I never got around to linking Dr. Lucha's interview with Ernesto Ocampo from last Friday, because it deserved more than a quick link but I don't get around to doing more than that on a Friday evening. Sorry if you missed it, but blame Dave for not hyping better articles more than the random articles people get posted. I suggested questions for it a long time ago and don't remember which ones were mine, sorry.

The one thing that stuck out to me, that wasn't Ocampo bashing fellow magazine publishers in hilarious ways, was this one

15) There now exist various online-only lucha “magazines” (Halcon, Gladiatores, Pancracio), but none of them attracts any advertising or attempts to profit from their labor of love. Do you think an online-only lucha magazine could exist and yet attract enough revenue, either via advertising or subscriptions, to make it work? I think is possible. The problem with the actual online magazines is their staff. All of them are amateurs, and they think are experts, but in reality are only wannabes. I expect the Super Luchas of the future will be much stronger.

I don't think this was meant to be harsh towards the Gladiatores (since they're the only one of the three who appear to be updating), but it sure came off that way. When I first read that, I was quite defensive, because I put those guys above myself (they go to events and take photos and talk to people, I make sarcastic remarks and occasionally include a picture) and thought it was disrespectful to the work they're doing. Even if magazines increased their sales 10x, I don't think they'd be sending people out to cover every Arena Neza show or all the IWRG shows. The lucha world is vaster than than a magazine staff can cover, and the efforts of people filling those gaps while doing it just as a labor of love should be respected.

On the other hand, Ocampo's still right. They (we) are all amateurs who think they know what they're talking about and may or may not. One of the reasons there's no advertisements on this site is that (to me) it implies you're paying for something with a certain level of journalistic standards, and I appreciate the oppurtinty not to have to live up to those. Would the general public be better off with someone who did? Well, you might not have a "Warrior and Toscano leaving?" story on the sidebar that's since been quite contradicted.

There's some in between ground here that I'm having trouble expressing here and I'm sorry about that.

Anyway, read the Q&A if you missed it the first time.

- WON awards turned up on the net this past week (1, 2, 3). Mistico was 6th as wrestler of the year, Cibernetico was 8th. Mistico was 3rd as box office draw, Cibernetico was 3rd in Most Charismatic, Apache/Billy was 9th for feud. No tag team in the top ten, no one besides Mistico was top ten flyer, AAA was a spot ahead of CMLL in promotion and TV Show, and no move in the top ten.

I was really fired up about the results a few days ago, but now I'm more thinking about how they're just as good every year, so I shouldn't really care too much about it. The general WON audience knows WWE on their own, knows CMLL on their own, knows some of Japan on their own, and know about 1% of lucha besides what Dave mentions. There's some who know a lot more, but they're more than outweighed who don't. The awards, especially the minor awards, shouldn't be taken so seriously.

Konnan's gotta feed better hype about the Air Force more often to Dave. That's the only way they're going to get them noticed. We're counting on you, Konnan!

Previous: 11/22 (Toluca), 11/30 (Ciudad Madero, GdT), 12/14 (Chilpancingo)

AAA TV (SAT) 01/19 Parque de Beisbol, Guanajuato [SuperLuchas]
1) Barba Roja, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. b Killer Clown, Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown
2) Jerrito Estrada, Mini Abismo Negro, Mini Histeria DQ Mascarita Divina, Mini Charly Manson, Octagoncito
3) Billy Boy, Casandro, Mascara Divina, Pimpinela Escarlata DQ Jesse, Nygma, Polvo de Esterllas, Yuriko
4) Alan Stone, Chris Stone, Super Calo DQ Electro Shock, Kenzo Suzuki, Zorro
5) Halloween b Chessman
6) Brazo de Plata, El Elegido, Gronda II b Histeria, Mr. Niebla, Psicosis II

projected air date
Mexico: 01/27
US: 02/16

Not many details yet.

Porky replaced Intocable. Is that an improvement? Abismo Negro appeared to yell at the Vipers for ditching him at leader, and mock Mr. Niebla's poor leadership after they lost the main event.

Chessman accidentally speared Charly to give Halloween the win. This would be a fine build to a tag team title match if the Hell Brothers cared enough to win those titles.

La Parka Jr. appeared before the semimain, and Prez. Roldan threatened to ban the Legion forever if they beat him up on this show. So Parka lived to tell the crowd he plans to return at Rey de Reyes.

Stones over Legion is a bit of an upset, but it wasn't like the Stones actually won the match. Legion got DQed for excessive violence and fouling Alan Stone. They tried to build Zorro here.

Mini Abismo tossed his mask to Divina to draw their DQ.

Clowns now have 16 straight wins.

(Partial) Upcoming Tapings
01/26: Plaza de Toros, Teziutlan
02/01: La Plaza de Relicario, Puebla
02/15: Auditorio Jose Maria Artega, Queretaro
03/01: La Plaza de Toros La Concordia, Orizaba, Veracruz

The 2007 Tapatia Awards are ongoing. You can get info about the awards or fill out a ballot right now. The deadline is January 27th

Highlights will be posted later. SuperLuchas has the AAA taping results, and I'll do the usual post for that in a couple hours. Last week's FSE should be up just after the top of the hour.

Ovaciones writes about Coliseo and Naucalpan lineups for tonight, and notes the 8th anniversary of Raul Reyes' death (though the last line says it happened this year - I think that's a typo.)

In an interview in this week's SuperLuchas, India Sioux says she's not pregnant yet, just trying to get pregnant. Please make your own joke in the comments.

CMLL (THU) 01/17 Arena Neza [Heri 99]
1) Pólvora & Vaquero b Faraon Jr. & Rayo Tapatío I
2) Electrico, Shockercito, Tzuki b Fire, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) Disturbio, Dr. X, Nitro b Ángel Azteca Jr., Leono, Sombra de Plata
4) Blue Panther, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado b Atlantis, Euforia, Último Guerrero

early angle warning: Atlantis was not happy with Rey & Ultimo reaming back up again.

CMLL (SAT) 01/26 Arena Neza
1) Bengala & Estruendo vs Damian el Inmortal & Flecha
2) Principe, Sensei, Starman vs Emperador, Ramstein, Zayco
3) Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca vs Amapola, La Nazi, Medussa
4) Felino, Máximo, Valinete vs Disturbio, Ephesto, Misterioso II
5) Atlantis & Místico vs Rey Bucanero & Último Guerrero [ri]

HMMMMMMMMM.

IWRG (THU) 01/17 Arena Naucalpan [superluchas #247]
1) Tortuguillo Ninja II b Rey Estruendo
2) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II b Comando Gama & Puma King
3) Freelance, Multifacético, Star Boy DQ Black Terry, Kalimari, Nemesis IWRG
4) Bogeman, el Hijo Del Anibal, Pantera DQ Masada, Nosawa, Takemura
5) Hijo del Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. b Villano III & Villano IV

Black Terry got DQed for pulling Multi's mask, and it looks like that fued is replacing the Fantamsa de la Opera stuff. Tokyo Gurentai lost in straight falls when Kalimari ran in. Cien Caras Jr. snuck out after ref bumps to help his 'brothers' win take the main in two falls, which sets up next week's main event.

IWRG (THU) 01/24 Arena Naucalpan [superluchas #247]
1) Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro vs Fantasma de la Ópera, Filoso IWRG, Freelance
2) Bogeman, el Hijo Del Anibal, Multifacético vs ?, Capitán Muerte, Veneno
3) Cien Caras Jr., Hijo del Cien Caras, Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. vs Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V

IWRG (SUN) 01/27 Arena Naucalpan [superluchas #247]
1) Fantasma de la Ópera, Filoso IWRG, Star Boy vs Nemesis IWRG, Trauam II, Trauma I
2) Centauro, Freelance, Pantera vs Capitán Muerte, Kalimari, Masada
3) Bogeman, Multifacético, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs Black Terry, Hijo del Cien Caras, Veneno

CMLL (SUN) 01/27 Arena Coliseo [superluchas #247]
1) Super Camaleon & Super Tri vs Pólvora & Vaquero
2) Fabián el Gitano, Leono, Super Nova vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Loco Max, Nitro
3) La Máscara, Sagrado, Último Dragón vs Ephesto, Olímpico, Sangre Azteca
4) Blue Panther, Marco Corelone, Negro Casas vs Damián 666, Héctor Garza, Texano Jr.

Short a match - a Volador/Perro rematch?

CMLL (FRI) 01/18 Arena Mexico [ESTO, superluchas, Ocioso @ box y lucha]
CMLL (FRI) 01/18 Arena Mexico
1) Bam Bam & Mascarita Dorada b Pequeño Black Warrior & Pierrothito
2) Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus b Fabián el Gitano, Mictlán, Starman
3) Felino & Heavy Metal b Misterioso II & Sangre Azteca [torneo, 1st]
4) Averno & Mephisto b Flash & Último Dragón [torneo, 1st]
5) Damián 666 & Mr. Águila b Super Nova & Valiente [torneo, 1st]
6) Black Warrior & Olímpico b Alex Koslov & Marco Corelone [torneo, 1st]
7) Averno & Mephisto b Felino & Heavy Metal [torneo, qf]
8) Black Warrior & Olímpico b Damián 666 & Mr. Águila [torneo, qf]
9) Averno & Mephisto b Black Warrior & Olímpico [torneo, sf]
10) Rey Bucanero & Último Guerrero b Dr. Wagner Jr. & Místico [pi]

Crowd was noticable more behind Wagner than Mistico. Tecnicos took the first fall, Rey & Ultimo got back to the old ways to win the second. Third fall turned into a dive sequence - Mistico on UG, Rey on Mistico & UG, Wagner on everyone...except UG pulled Rey and himself out of the way, and Mistico took the full brunt of the dive. Mistico was unable to continue, and the rudos beat Wagner for the win. After the match, they tried strechering Mistico out, only for Wagner to attack him.

Wagner appears to still be a tecnico, just not a good teammate because of his giant ego. Super Luchas notes Wagner was still getting a cheers after attacking Mistico. I hope they're not surprised at this point - the Arena Mexico Dr. Wagner fans are die hard fans and will not be swayed.

Meanwhile, CMLL.com's note on the match says "Ultimo Guerrero and Rey Bucanero revived their pact of friendship and unity inside and outside the ring." There's a bit more about this in the cards.

Black Warrior & Olimpico made it farther in the tournament than I figured, but Averno & Mephisto beat to win this block. It's an interesting tease - will they go from beating one (sorta) Guerrero team to challenging another for the titles? (No.) CMLL was kinda vague on the date of the title match before, but they stay today that'll be on 02/01.

CMLL (TUE) 01/22 Arena Mexico
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II vs Cyber Black & Perverso
2) Fantasy, Pequeño Olímpico, Último Dragoncito vs Mr. Aguilita, Pequeño Halloween, Pequeño Violencia
3) Fabián el Gitano, Flash, Metálico vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Satánico
4) Heavy Metal, La Máscara, Valiente vs Damián 666, Terrible, Texano Jr.
5) Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Sangre Azteca, Último Guerrero

CMLL (FRI) 01/25 Arena Mexico
1) Sombra de Plata & Trueno vs Hooligan & Loco Max
2) Felino, Máximo, Stuka Jr. vs Diamante Negro, Ephesto, Misterioso II
3) Alex Koslov, Sagrado, Último Dragón vs Black Warrior, Lizmark Jr., Olímpico
4) Dos Caras Jr. & La Sombra vs Averno & Mephisto [torneo, final]
5) Blue Panther, Marco Corelone, Místico vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero

It's not a relevos incredible match, it's Rey back on the rudo side, even teaming with Atlantis of all people. This happened pretty quick. If you watch the pre-match interview on superluchas, it sure sounds like this is the new status quo, but I'm kinda holding my breath until we make it thru this match without Atlantis and Rey turning on each other.

CAN52 GdR has
01/13: Fabián el Gitano, Flash, Metálico b Arkangel de la Muerte, Nitro, Skandalo
01/11: Amapola, Hiroka, La Nazi b Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca
outside the ring: Nitro, who seemed to elect himself leader of Los Rebeldes as well.

The 2007 Tapatia Awards are ongoing. You can get info about the awards or fill out a ballot right now. The deadline is January 27th

esmas

CMLL (FRI) 01/18 Arena Mexico
1) Bam Bam & Mascarita Dorada vs Pequeño Black Warrior & Pierrothito
2) Fabián el Gitano, Mictlán, Starman vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus
3) Super Nova & Valiente vs Alex Koslov & Marco Corelone and Flash & Último Dragón and Felino & Heavy Metal and Black Warrior & Olímpico and Averno & Mephisto and Damián 666 & Mr. Águila and Misterioso II & Sangre Azteca
4) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Mistico vs Rey Bucanero & Último Guerrero [pi]

Notes from Ovaciones, ESTO, notimex

This isn't the first time Rey & Ultimo have been back together since Rey got turned on June '06. They've been forced to team in matches for Gimnasio Nuevo Laredo, AULL and in Hidalgo this past August. Still, this is the high profile reunion.

Rey's quoted in some of the press coverage as not wanting to go rudo long term, because Ultimo's still challenging him for the CMLL Light Heavyweight title. So all we have to do is convince Ultimo to challenge for one of Wagner or Mistico's titles, and I think we can make this work. Bucanero's also not into parajes incredible matches after losing the hair match with Black Warrior at his side. Ultimo is saying he doesn't care who he teams with, as long as he's fighting Mistico and Wagner, but I don't believe him. He does note Ultimo/Rey were unbeatable as a team, and Rey says they could fight as team with their eyes closed. For their part, Dr. Wagner says he and Mistico had a chat, and he hopes Mistico knows his role. Mistico and Dr. Wagner having a chat must air on TV. Mistico says he'll team without whomever the fans want him to team with.

(Reforma (via Jazzo on el Martiente) writes the same Bucanero/Guerrero conversations with a flipped slant, seeing this as a possible start to Bucanero returning to the rudos.)

I think Averno & Mephisto have the best shot at winning the tag team tournament, followed by Damian/Aguila, Olimpico/Warrior, and Misterioso/Sangre. Tecnicos aren't going to win because a tecnico won last week, but Felino/Metal seem like a good shot at the semifinalsts, followed by Marco/Alex, Dragon/Felino, and Nova/Valiente is least likely.

All the lineups have La Mascara still as Ultimo Dragon's partner, but I think they're just working off the old lineup.

Mistico tells ESTO there's nothing to rumors of him going to AAA or WWE. He says he will fight in the US (and Spain), but only with CMLL. It'd be a dream come true for Mistico to fight or team with Rey Mysterio, but he can't leave the Mexican fans behind and has made no deal with WWE. Mistico's is sure he must win a hair or a mask in 2008. He's going to try different looks, like his black gear, as long as the people like it.

Main event superstar Valiente talks about his career with ESTO. Valiente wants a shot at Dos Jr. and the Heavyweight title, and now I totally want to see that match. He'd also like to work rudo some day.

ESTO's last article is going over the line up of AAA's taping this Saturday, their first one in 36 days.

IWRG (SUN) 01/13 Arena Naucalpan [the gladiatores]
1) Halcón Salvaje b Comando Gama
2) Tortuguillo Ninja I & Tortuguillo Ninja II b Macho II & Rockero del Diablo
3) Ofical Fierro, Oficial 911, Oficial AK47 b Filoso, Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II
4) Black Terry, Capitán Muerte, Cyborg b Fantasma de la Ópera, Freelance, Ultramán Jr.
5) Kai, Kalimari, Yamato DQ Bogeman, Multifacético, Pantera [super libre]

Pantera and Multifacetico dropped Kai and Yamato with martientes, getting DQed evne in a super libre match. This could be the end of Kai and Yamato in Mexico; Shining Road mentions they're back in Japan already.

Box Y Lucha posted a few articles on their site from the magazine, as well as some video interviews
- interview with Veneno, talking about his path to CMLL, or at least how he'd like to tell it.
- La Sirenta hopes to get back into a major company this year. Her theory is "they've got huge rosters, so...why not?"
- people praciticing La Mistica at the gym.
- interview with the Evil AAA Clowns, who claim to be new. No one's easily identifiable. That last group under the clown gear was Los Porros, not sure if these are the same.
- "Mr. Niebla, leader of the Vipers is more about Niebla's path to AAA rather than anything about him leading with the Vipers. He'd like to fight for Elegido's mask this year. For their part, AAA's preview of tommorow's taping heavily hints that Abismo's split with the Vipers will be better explained on the show.

Mr. Reyes has photos from last night's IWRG show.

Yearly licensing has begun in Torreon. It's 200 pesos ($18.28) for new wrestlers and 100 ($9.19) for those already licensed who take care of it in the first two months of the year. All will be required to take a free HIV test.

taped 12/09, aired 01/13 US

Opener was pretty ordinary. Main event had it's moments, but if you cut this show down to the dives at the end, it would've been okay. Trueno worked out fine as a rudo but doesn't generally seem on the same level as the other guys.

(I've dropped the numbers because they're so so wrong.)

taped 11/30, aired 01/12

Tag Team title match was worthless. Also hilarious, when the rudos didn't touch Parka's shoulder during the match but suddenly realized it might be a good idea when it came to the post match injury angle. Air Force/Secta was real good in parts but had it's rough moments. Hope they do get around to the Atomicos feud again.

Main event was probably as good as a match as you'd expect with this crew. Not that it was good or anything, or that the finish made any sense, but they've definitely done worse. Low standards are great for this sort of thing.

taped 01/04-06, aired 01/12/08

Women's match was better than I figured given the crew, though that just makes it okay. Main event had a longer feeling third fall than I expected from this crew, but it was still just a random trios match.

taped 12/30, aired 01/05/08

I actually kinda liked this minis trios better than the ones that preceded it. It's close, though, and I think it's more about the deepness of the minis division more than anything.

Main event was better than it would've been with a less into crowd. Wagner's way over.

The 2007 Tapatia Awards are ongoing. You can get info about the awards or fill out a ballot right now. The deadline is January 27th

A few Reforma important stories, all reposted on el Martiente by Jazzo:

- Tigre Blanco is out a least a month, and maybe for good. His loss of memory after Tuesday's injury lasted for six hours and kept him in the hospital for two days. The doctors diagnsised him with cerebral oedema (brain swelling) and have put him on complete rest. This is the third time he's lost consciousness like this; he'd been out for 15 minutes once and 30 another time, and he sounds very worried about how it's getting worse. Tigre says he's going to wait to decide if he'll return.

- Toscano spoke about his suspension. Nothing is said about leaving CMLL, and instead Toscano talks about how much he wants back in. Toscano has not been told how long his suspension is, but he's running out of money and has a family support, so he's a bit worried. He's sorry for missing the Arena Mexico show and hopes going to the press doesn't get him in more trouble.

- Black Warrior talks about teaming with Olimpico and doens't mention anything about leaving CMLL. Olimpico and Warrior are preparing hard to win the tournament, and would be okay with a title match versus Atlantis & UG, because the titles would be in good hands either way.

RFC says Morishima and Marafuji will be working in Arena Coliseo Monterrey on 02/03, as part of their AAA stint. He also mentions an article in Luchas 2000 this week, where an unnamed family member is thinking about jumping to AAA because of the lack of oppurtinty in CMLL. Astro Boy would be the logical assumption, but he just worked in Coliseo this past Tuesday. There does seem to be plenty of Dr. Karonte's floating around, though I haven't seem them lately.

Ovaciones' main article is a lot of previously mentioned news bits. They do expand on the "Mr. Niebla, leader of the Vipers" headline from Box y Lucha, saying Abismo Negro wanted to strike out on his own for a while. Hopefully, this includes Abismo changing the opening of his music so it no longer talks about him being in the Vipers (or LLL.)

We're also supposed to be going with the idea that the new Clowns have already won 16 matches in a row. Actually, when you consider it was a month between TV tapings, it's not totally implausible. Or maybe we're supposed to pretend these are the same clowns as before and forget their loss?

indy (SUN) 01/20 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [rfc]
1) Baby Fox & Rey Imagen vs Criminal & Invasor
2) Dranser & Scravos vs Androide & Yaco
3) Aguila Extrema & Virtual X vs Dr. Cianruo & Euforia (Monterrey) [lumberjack]
4) Iorn, La Momia, Principe Diamante vs Ramses, Rio Bravo, Tito Santana II
5) Charly Manson & Pimpinela Escarlata vs Antifaz del Norte & Electro Shock

CMLL (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [cmll]
1) Thunder Boy b Milenio
2) Extermiandor & Valentin Mayo b Ebola & Estrella de Jalisco
3) Metal Blanco, Metalik, Metatron vs Danger (Guadalajara), El Egipcio, Infierno
4) Angel Blanco Jr., Sangre Azteca, Texano Jr. b La Máscara, Leono, Tony Rivera
5) Atlantis & Último Guerrero b Rayman & Sagrado [CMLL TAG]

I went over the main event earlier in the week, but CMLL's posted full results for the first time in months. In the segunda, Depredador snuck into foul Ebola while Mayo distracted the ref, then dragged Exterminador on top.

CMLL (TUE) 01/15 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [cmll]
1) Estrella de Jalisco b Fraile de la Muerte
2) Destroyer b Virgo
3) Guerrero Samuari b Guero Loco
4) Magnum & Oro II b Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno
5) Mr. Águila & Texano Jr. b Rayman & Sagrado
6) Malefico, Máscara Mágica, Toxico DQ Leon Blanco, Leono, Tony Rivera

Malefico fouled Tony without the referee seeing it, in the third fall. Leono did see it and fouled Malefico, but of course the referees saw that one.

CMLL (MON) 01/21 Arena Puebla
1) Forajido & SWAT vs Ares & Fuerza Chicana
2) Asturiano, Legionario, Lestat vs Cerebro Negro, Espiritu Maligno, Negro Navarro
3) Luna Magica, Marcela, Yeska vs Amapola, Hiroka, Mima Shimoda
4) Blue Panther, Heavy Metal, Marco Corelone vs Atlantis, Sangre Azteca, Último Guerrero
5) La Sombra, Místico, Rey Bucanero vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto

Latin Lover's side of the AAA royalties issues. He's still a couple weeks away from decided if he's going to Argentina.

The AP wrote about the lucha libre promotion in San Antonio. There's a Piloto Suicida there too, which I think makes four different guys (Laguna, Baja California, Los Angeles/FMLL) active right now using that name. Or one guy who really gets around.

Lucha Shows In The US, Next Weekend

FMLL (SAT) 01/26 Congress Theatre, Chicago, Illinois
1) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Tarzan Boy vs LA Park & Rey Misterio Sr.
also scheduled to appear: Principe Franky, Samuari, Bazooka, Agula del America, Tigre Oriental, Great Malaky, El Reo, Fusion, el Tigre, Impact, Pentagon del Infierno, Angel del Muerte

FMLL (FRI) 01/25 Clara Street Sports Complex, Cudahy, California
1) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Tarzan Boy vs LA Park & Rey Misterio Sr.
also scheduled to appear: Huracan Ramirez, Rosa Slavaje, Sahmmu, Piloto Suicida, Acero Dorado, Chiva USA, El Jaguar del Oro, El Bionico, Ylka, Sombra Infenral, Poder Infernal, Alas de Oro

More info at FMLL.net and a bunch of other sites they mention on the flyer.

LLII (SUN) 01/27 Show Palace, Oceanside, CA
1) China Fox vs Mexus
2) Ruby Gradenia & Socal Crazy vs Matt Twizted & Quimera
3) Phoenix Star & Zokre vs Guerrero de Sangre & Nemesis (LA)
4) Mr. Tempest vs Pandillero II
5) Chilango & Volador Jr. vs Durango Kid & Silver King

Address is here. Doors open at 2, show starts at 3.

Favorite thread of the day: Alvin @ el Martinete wants to know why el Caverneria has lost it's effectiveness, since it not only never works in big matches and usually the person who applies it ends up losing. My theory is people usually apply caverneria when they're on autopilot, tired at the end of big match, and it's a sign that they're not thinking things thru too well. No one wins with it because they use only in that moment of that match, they don't work to master the hold. Old school holds can still work, but you've got to know it as well as La Mascara knows La Campana.

(and now I'm going to badly translate this.)

AAA US: Second half of GdT: ladder match, mixed tag match, and cage match

CAN52: Minis Title match, hopefully. Perros vs Tecnicos, most likely.

FSE US: US debut of Diamante Negro in a match of randoms. Main event is that way too.

---------

CMLL: Listed as a 90 minute show, so tournament and the main event.

AAA MEX: Chilapancigo December taping; Sect vs Legion in the main event. Familia vs Hell Brothers in the main event.

FSE MEX: Triad vs Tecnicos

Cadena3: top 4, as usual.

The 2007 Tapatia Awards are ongoing. You can get info about the awards or fill out a ballot right now. The deadline is January 27th

CMLL (MON) 01/14 Arena Puebla [hugo999 @ box y lucha, El Sol de Puebla]
1) Legionario & SWAT b Espiritu Maligno & Mr. Rafaga
2) Black Terry, Kraken, Siki Osama b Centella de Oro, the Tiger, Tigre Rojo
3) Pequeño Damian 666, Pequeño Halloween, Pierrothito b Bam Bam, Shockercito, Tzuki
4) Alex Koslov, Blue Panther, La Máscara b Atlantis, Olímpico, Sangre Azteca
5) La Sombra, Místico, Rey Bucanero b Averno, Mephisto, Último Guerrero

Mistico beat Averno, and challenged for a shot either of Averno's titles.

CMLL (TUE) 01/15 Arena Mexico
1) Artillero & Súper Comando b Sombra de Plata & Trueno
2) Ángel Azteca Jr., Astro Boy, Tigre Blanco b Apocalipsis, Hooligan, Ramstein
3) Flash, Metálico, Stuka Jr. b Diamante Negro, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura
4) Blue Panther, Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr. b Ephesto, Mephisto, Universo 2000
5) Místico, Shocker, Valiente b Atlantis, Averno, Olímpico

In the third fall, Valiente took out Olimpico with the Valiente Special (his dive), Shocker took out Atlantis and Mistico was left alone with Averno. Mistico is back to consistently winning those, and challenged for a shot either of Averno's titles. Sounds familiar.

Los Rebeldes are 0 and 2. Heck of a start.

CMLL (THU) 01/10 Arena Neza [heri999]
1) Super Camaleon & Super Tri b ? & Bacteria
2) Sensei & Trueno b Apocalipsis & Zayco
3) Bam Bam, Pequeño Olímpico, Último Dragoncito b Pequeño Black Warrior, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
4) Arkangel, Disturbio, Shigeo Okumura b Flash, Máximo, Valiente
5) Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Volador Jr. b Atlantis, Averno, Último Guerrero

indy (SUN) 01/20 Gimnasio Municipal Ciudad Juarez [Sergio Guzman Velaquez @ box y lucha]
1) Casandro & Rayman vs Magno & Mistico (Juarez)
2) Máscara Sagrada, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Villano III vs Rey Escorpio, Silver King, Super Parka
3) El Hijo Del Santo vs Blue Demon Jr., LA Park, Dr. Wagner Jr.

The NWA TV show debuts tonight on the Colours network, which none of you have unless you have Dish Network (and hten it's channel 9407.) However, you can also watch it on the web on their site, and the main event is Hijo del Santo & Rey Misterio vs Nicho & Blue Demon Jr.

Zamora Bone @ el Martinete says an (unnamed) TV show says Latin Lover is upset with AAA for no paying royalities on his merchandise. AAA (in the form of Octagon) says Latin's stuff is just not selling since he's not wrestling any more. I find that a bit hard to believe, since it's not like Latin's gone into hiding.

The 2007 Tapatia Awards are ongoing. You can get info about the awards or fill out a ballot right now. The deadline is January 27th

Ovaciones says this week's CMLL main event has been changed. It's now a parajes incredible match with teams of Mistico & Dr. Wagner versus Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Bucanero. (Mission Accomplished?) The working explanation is CMLL just couldn't get Ultimo Guerrero vs Shocker signed on the dotted line, so this match is a make good. I'd guess Shocker was already booked elsewhere and they forgot, but I guess there's a chance they worried about the drawing power of UG/Shocker.

The updated lineup

CMLL (FRI) 01/18 Arena Mexico
1) Bam Bam & Mascarita Dorada vs Pequeño Black Warrior & Pierrothito
2) Fabián el Gitano, Mictlán, Super Nova vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus
3) Super Nova & Valiente vs Alex Koslov & Marco Corelone and Flash & Último Dragón and Felino & Heavy Metal and Black Warrior & Olímpico and Averno & Mephisto and Damián 666 & Mr. Águila and Misterioso II & Sangre Azteca
4) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Mistico vs Rey Bucanero & Último Guerrero [pi]

Flash replaces La Mascara as Ultimo Dragon's partner, which was probably a typo. Super Nova replaces Mistico as Valiente's partner, which hurts their chances of winning just a bit. Note that Nova is still listed in the segunda, so that has to be fixed, and Black Warrior is still in the tag team tournament, which conflicts with yesterday's rumor.

Perro vs Volador is also official for Sunday.

Today's Arturo Rivera column talks about how great Mistico is, giving him credit for now working his actual family back into his ever changing back story and changing up his gear for 2008.

Obscure World Championship News: Ovaciones and Box Y Lucha says Rayo de Jalisco Jr. will defending the WWA Heavyweight against Hijo de Cien Caras on 02/16 in Centro Social Municipal de Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.

NotiMex previews Shocker/Ultimo Guerrero. Oops. In Reforma (thanks to Jazzo) Shocker talks about beating Perro Jr. for his hair. That's just as likely.

SickMistico @ box y lucha reprints Lucha 2000 interview Marcela. Marcela is on her daughter's school's PTA.

CMLL (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
4) La Máscara, Leono, Tony Rivera b Angel Blanco Jr., Sangre Azteca, Texano Jr.
5) Atlantis & Último Guerrero b Rayman & Sagrado [CMLL TAG]

Rudos got the Atlantida's for the clean win. Looks like now they're going to do the Occidente tag team titles next.

Tecnicos challenged the rudos a trios hair/mask match after their win. Rudos said, no way.

AAA (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Dranser & Scravos b Criminal & Invasor
2) Aguila Extreme b Dr. Cianuro [NORTH LH]
3) Kaientai, Lord Byron, Ramses (Monterrey) b Erick Snake, Insane, Sick Boy
4) Principe Diamante, Rio Bravo, Tito Santana II b Antifaz del Norte, Iron, Virtual X
5) Charly Manson & Hombre Sin Miedo b Pimpinela Escarlata & Zorro

indy (TUE) 01/15 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Flecha (Monterrey) & Mascarita de Fuego vs Jaguar I & Jaguar II
2) Black Panther & La Mancha vs Mercurio & Tequilita
3) Gardenia Azteca & Rosa Salvaje vs Guerrero Negro & Rey Demonio
4) Maravilla Azteca & Pancho Tequila vs Casanova & Corazon Adicto
5) Golden Boy vs Simbolo [super libre]

indy (WED) 01/16 Flores Magon, Oaxaca
1) Lalo El Loco vs Fantasma (Oaxaca)

According to the article, both guys will get a match at Arena Coliseo soon.

CMLL (THU) 01/17 Arena Neza
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II vs Pólvora & Vaquero
2) Electrico, Shockercito, Tzuki vs Fire, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) Ángel Azteca Jr., Leono, Máximo vs Disturbio, Dr. X, Nitro
4) Blue Panther, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado vs Atlantis, Euforia, Último Guerrero

CMLL (SUN) 01/20 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Quazar vs Milenio
2) Golden vs Fraile de la Muerte
3) Estrella de Jalisco vs Impostor
4) Carlo Roggi, Ebola, Lider vs Depredador, Exterminador, Valentin Mayo
5) Gallo, Leono, Tony Riera vs Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
6) Blue Panther, Dos Caras Jr., Shocker vs Ephesto, Misterioso II, Universo 2000

Mascarita Dorada hurt his shoulder in the title match. Mini Damian says Dorada has to work his way back up the ladder.

The Daily Herald profiles Chicago area lucha indy GALLI. Their next show is on 02/10.

Plenty Magazine profiles Hijo del Santo for his work with Wildcoast.

Box Y Lucha #2853 has Mistico's return. In one corner, Mr. Niebla is listed as the new leader of the Vipers. Not sure what that means for Abismo, but wouldn't you just try to elevate Psicosis or Histeria to that level, since they manage to show up all the time?

AAA 01/05/08, taped 11/19/07

I'm trying to think of an overreaching theme to explain my problems with this AAA episode, but it's different things for different matches. The Guapos/Stones feud feels two weeks too long, with nothing much new in months. (I guess the Guapos getting forked was the big deal here, but it didn't feel like it.) The Konnan/Mesias split is far too fast, and feels forced and false. The Mex tag had zero build. The AAA tag is just right, but could use more explanation. Compared to normal, this is normal or better, so I guess it depends on your standards.

Adding match graphics to hype upcoming matches would help. I doubt people watching the show know exactly the GdT lineup. They do know the main event, and that's most of the battle, but there's enough time on this show that they can run down the lineup without giving away the matches in clips.

CMLL CAN52 GdR #110, taped 12/21 and 12/23/07, aired 12/29

This minis match was definitely a step above the previous one. The rudos jumping the tecnios to start the match worked especially well, because Mini Damian and Mini Halloween are great at killing people. At this point in the minis battles, I think you want them controlling most of the action, and the tecnicitos making sudden comebacks with quick moves, like what happened here. Dorada still seems to be a little off with his opponents on his tricker moves, but I have high hopes for the title match (and hopes GdR grabs it somehow.)

AAA 12/29/07, taped 11/15/07

I actually missed the six sided ring here. I guess that means I'm used to watching AAA. The chain match could've used the extra space, especially with four people and assorted interlopers all fighting for room.

The booking of the opener put in a down mood for the show and the whole bit about showing this episode out of order and showing GdT highlights nearly a month before they'll actually air was down right strange, but there were good things on this show. This might have been the best AAA women's match of the year. No one did anything extraordinary, but the people you'd expect to have horrible gaffes did not. And La Parka Jr. falling asleep during yet another Mesias monologue was one of the best moments of the year. I'm not going to miss Mesias too much when he's gone, but I think AAA might.

CMLL CAN52 GdR #110, taped 12/14 and 12/26/07, aired 12/22

The minis match was good, but not as good as I'd hope it'd be by now. There still seemed to be unfamiliarity and lack of chemistry between the ex-AAA guys on both sides working with the CMLL minis. Atomo seems like a work in progress, and the huge size difference between the two teams is occasionally too much to swallow. Despite that, this definitely had it's moments and I'm glad we'll be seeing more of the minis, because they'll keep working together better.

CMLL (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo [CMLL, El Reforma via Jazzo]
1) Fire & Mini Skandalo b Bracito de Oro & Shockercito
2) Dr. X, Pólvora, Vaquero b Sensei, Tigre Blanco, Trueno
3) Fabián el Gitano, Flash, Metálico b Arkangel de la Muerte, Nitro, Skandalo
4) Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto DQ Felino, La Sombra, Máximo
5) Damián 666, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Mr. Águila b Dos Caras Jr., Marco Corelone, Volador Jr.

Main was all about Perro feuding with...Volador. Mistico had been listed in Marco Corelone's spot earlier this week. Perro once again snuck in a low blow on a tecnico and covered him for the finish. Volador challenged Perro to a singles match next week, and it looks like it may happen.

Averno, Ephesto and Mephisto destroyed the tecnicos in the semimain, winning all three falls but getting DQed for excessive violence in the second.

Before the tercera, Loco Max, Hooligan, Dr. X, Nitro, Skandalo and Arkangel announced they're dropping the Guerrero Pandilla name and are now Los Rebeldes. So I guess Hooligan is no longer the final one. Anyway, they announced the group and promptly lost. Way to go!

Tigre Blanco was taken to a hospital after getting hurt in his match, complaining about a headache, loss of memory and dizziness.

Mini Skandalo took Sombrita place. Since Sombrita is doing the gimmick of a former Sombra (and not the current one), it'd make since for him to switch gimmicks, but this looks like the same deal as the Mini Starman a while back: they were short a mini, and grabbed a guy and a spare mask to be a gimmick for a night.

The announced card for next week:

CMLL (SUN) 01/20 Arena Coliseo
1) Estallido & Relampago Azul vs Muerte Roja & Zargon
2) Molotov & Sensei vs Calígula & Méssala
3) Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca vs Amapola, Hiroka, Rosa Negra
4) Felino, Máximo, Neutrón vs Ohara, Satánico, Shigeo Okumura
5) Alex Koslov, Marco Corelone, Rey Bucanero vs Héctor Garza, Mr. Águila, Texano Jr.

Volador/Perro will get added as a main event later in the week.

Note they're back at Coliseo. I dunno. Things I also don't know about: Rosa Negra's a ruda again. Maybe they're going to do a turn this time instead of having her just show up on the other side. Does Satanico ever team with his new pupils anymore?

(RFC) Super Fly will be out a month, after surgery to his right knee. Inevitable.

MBLW (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo San Luis Potosi
1) Black Ventura & Sangre Guerrera vs Gemelo del Averno I & Gemelo del Averno II
2) Aranita, Bat Boy, Gacelak vs Alma Roja, Cuervo (SLP), Gavilan Jr.
3) Coscao Loco vs Apolo Star
4) Bogar, Imperial Jr., Warrior Star vs Cachorro, Demencia, Maligno

Coscao Loco is the SLP Cruiserweight Champion, and Apolo Star is the Welterweight champion, though neither is on the line.

Rayo de Plata (SUN) 01/13 Arena Mexico San Luis Potosi
1) Genesis, Saeta del Ring, Salome, Vision vs Dr. Satan, Leopardo, Tamahawk, Venom
2) Black Fantasy, Fuerza Maligna, Sabu Jr., Tiger boy vs Anticristo, Gato Salvaje, Poder Rojo, Turbo X
3) Cat Mortal, Dragon, Rayo de Plata Jr., Super Boy, Super Light vs Brujo Cosmico Jr., Futuro 2000, Lover Boy, Piscis, Sombra del Miserio

And they have two more matches! I think, if you are a luchadore in SLP on Sunday and you weren't booked, life must suck.

AAA's Dos de Tres Magazine #2 has La Parka Jr.

DELGADO (SUN) 01/13 El Paso, TX [Albert Cerda]
1) Reo II b Flash (El Paso)
2) Peluchin II & Punisher b Firebird & Fuego
3) Baby Juicy & Scorpio 2000 b Blue Man & El Guerrero
4) Epidemia, Galactico, Scorpio Jr. b Imposter Jr., NASCAR, Sexy Francis
5) Magno & Mystico DQ Cinta de Oro & Rey Escorpion

300 people at the show. Rey Escorpion yanked Mystico's mask in the main event. Galactico pinned NASCAR in the semimain to set up a title match.

RFC of lomejordelucha has heard Black Warrior and Toscano (formerly Tarzan Boy) have left CMLL.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Toscano's been suspended from CMLL since his no-shows right before the end of the year double hair match. I believe the WON has been saying Toscano's gone for six months, which seemed to me to be a stiff penalty. No-shows aren't unusual in CMLL, but perhaps it was the proximity to a major show, or other things also going on. I have very limited knowledge of CMLL contracts, but I presume they're just per date pay, and you're get $0 from the company when you're not being booked. If that's accurate, Toscano really has no choice but to leave CMLL to get his own bookings; you can't sit at home unpaid for six months. Toscano was already booked on the FMLL shows in LA and Chicago this weekend, and I'd guess he'd do more of these independent events and eventually head back to CMLL once this all blows over.

Black Warrior went AWOL for part of 2007, taking an unannounced vacation for a few months in the summer. There was never a big explanation when he came back; Warrior just apologized, thanked CMLL for giving him another shot, and pretty much immediately got his spot back (and got a mini.) I think (so I'm guessing from here on out) that actually might have been the problem; Warrior was stuck in one of those near top spots where you're always around the main event, but always just rehashing the same feuds and never getting a new (money drawing) feud. For a guy whose put in a lot of effort to look important after the Mistico feud, it's gotta be disappointing for the company not to match that effort. Maybe it's just similar to Dr. Wagner, from the rudo side.

Assuming this isn't a Park/Wagner thing, where people leave CMLL seemingly just to get a better spot back in CMLL a few months down the line, and Warrior is interested in going to AAA, AAA should rush to pick him up. I can't immediately fantasy book where to put Warrior, but this is the perfect time for them to add a fresh top star and Warrior would fit. Warrior's established his look enough that he probably would be fine getting by as Jesus Toral if CMLL owns the "Black Warrior" name (and I'm guessing they do.) I'd be less excited for Toscano going to AAA - though obviously the name issues aren't there - but that's mostly because I'm sure he'll end back up in CMLL for some reason.

CMLL's a little shorter on the rudo side now. The Guerreros del Atlantida are the smallest they've been in years, with only Atlantis, Ultimo, Olimpico and (maybe) Sangre around to carry the name. If only there was a former member hanging around with nothing to do. (No, not Mascara Magica.)

IWRG (THU) 01/10 Arena Naucalpan [superluchas]
1) Comando Gama b Akuma
2) Halcón Salvaje & Tortuguillo Ninja II b Judas el Tradior & Rockero del Diablo
3) Cyborg, El Hijo del Diablo, Nemesis IWRG b Freelance, Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II
4) el Hijo Del Anibal, Pantera, Veneno b Kai, Kalimari, Yamato
5) Oficial Fierro L Multifacético, Capitán Muerte, Bogeman, Puma King, Coco Verde [cage, loser advances]
6) Tortuguillo Ninja I L Oficial AK-47, Xibalba, Fantasma de la Opera, Cocolores, Septiembre Negro II [cage, loser advances]
7) Oficial Fierro b Tortuguillo Ninja I [cage, mask]

Tortuguillo Ninja I is Daniel Torres Ramirez, who's wrestled as Chamaco Torres. He's from Mexico City and has wrestled for 9 years. In the first match, they teased Multifacetico losing before he left Ofical behind for the win. In the second cage match, they teased Oficial on Oficial violence.

Ovaciones has an interview with Pirata Morgan about Los Piratas. They're pretending to be debuting at the 01/19 AAA TV Taping, not that they really did much in 2007. They're also going with the Hijo de Pirata Morgan and Pirata Morgan Jr. as sons and Barba Roja as a cousin.

Super Luchas #234 has the TNA/NJPW Tokyo Dome show on the cover, and a good interview with Valiente on the inside.

Accion highlights seemed to be cut on the midnight version eastern of the show I watched; GALA was running a few minutes behind so it could have been edited out. If I think to check the overnight rerun, I'll let you know, but I'm sure it was Mistico's return to Arena Mexico and whatever the main event of the Best of show was. In the usual place they stick them, right after the top 10, there was figure skating. Kinda different, but I did find out whatever happened to Suray Bonaly.

DeporTV Highlights

IWRG (THU) 01/17 Arena Naucalpan [superluchas #246]
1) Tortuguillo Ninja II vs Rey Estruendo
2) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II vs Comando Gama & Puma King
3) Freelance, Multifacético, Star Boy vs Black Terry, Kalimari, Nemesis IWRG
4) Bogeman, el Hijo Del Anibal, Pantera vs Masada, Nosawa, Takemura
5) Villano III & Villano IV vs Hijo del Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 Jr.

This is the week for Japanese cameos. I think they're setting up a tag title match in the main event.

AULL (SAT) 01/19 Arena Lopez Mateos [superluchas #246]
1) Cerebro Diabolico, Cybder Black, Ice Man vs New Boy, Rey Marical, Super Tri
2) Hijo del Signo vs Maythor
3) Solar I vs Negro Navarro [CENTROAMERICANO]
4) Fantasma Jr., Kung Fu Jr., Robin Maravilla vs Rey Krimen, Shu el Guerrero, X-Fly
5) Dos Caras Sr., El Fantasma, Villano III vs Black Terry, Onita Santana, Rambo

This is Hijo del Singo's debut match (spoiling WO teasers!), on a benefit show for El Signo. Not sure if he's an authentic son or not. If there's ever a time to sell your gimmick to a fake son, it's when you're in a bad enough finicial situation that people are running benefit shows for you. Pierroth Jr. is listed in X-Fly's spot, but I don't think they mean the CMLL guy.

Superlucha's lineup for 01/19 lists the Hellbrothers/Familia de Tijuana as a Chessman/Halloween singles matches with other as seconds. Probably won't make much difference in the end.

IWRG (SUN) 01/20 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cat Man vs Rey Estruendo
2) Tortuguillo Ninja II & Tortuguillo Ninja III vs Trauma I & Trauma II
3) Filoso, Golem, Star Boy vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
4) Fantasma de la Ópera, Freelance, Multifacético vs Black Terry, Cyborg, Kalimari
5) el Hijo Del Anibal, Pantera, Ultraman, Ultramán Jr. vs Kushida, Masada, Nosawa, Takemura

I'm thinking this is Yurijo Kushida.

LJLL (WED) 12/19 Coliseo Tulancingo
1) Masterson Boy b Mr. Apocalipsis
2) Artikus b Iron Man
3) Slayer b Lanzelot
4) Angelito Azul b Rocky Lobo
5) Dinastia b King Power, Electric Rain
6) Black Fire & Konami b Angel Suicida & Concord

This is the Super Crazy led group with teenagers creating their own gimmicks, with a Spanish Fly finish for the main event.

* info
* ballot
* preview

I'll add more later on.

Hi!

This is the fourth Tapatia awards, designed to honor the best in lucha libre over the past year. We encourage all fans to vote, and let their voice be heard on the previous twelve months of Mexican lucha libre. This voting covers the calendar year 2007. Matches are eligible if they were TAPED in 2007, regardless of when they aired.

We're using the same ballot as last year.

Voting will be held from January 13th to January 27th, subject to change. One ballot per person. Send completed ballots to (and only to) awards@thecubsfan.com. Ballots sent to other addresses or posted may not be counted - please make it easy for me and send the ballots to that address.

Scoring: Categories with first thru third voting will give 5 points for first, 3 points for second, 2 points for third. Categories with first thru sixth voting will give 17 points for first, 12 points for second, 8 points for third, 5 points for fourth, 3 points for fifth and 2 points for second. TIE VOTES ARE NOT ALLOWED. There will be a quiz on this later.

Any match in any location using the Mexican lucha libre style are eligible to be included. Shows in the US and elsewhere using this style are included. Japanese lucha libre promotions such as Michinoku Pro are not included, but Japanese tours by Mexican lucha libre promotions are included. Female and mini wrestlers are eligible for all categories, unless otherwise specified.

Quick descriptions of the awards:
1) Best Wrestler - top wrestler over the last year.
2) Best Match - please include dates, location where possible
3) Best Tecnico - greatest good guy
4) Best Rudo - for the entertaining evil-doers
5) Best Female - women only. Sorry, no exoticos.
6) Best Unit - tags, trios, atomicos, other groups - must've been a team in 2006
7) Best Promotion/Territory - CMLL, AAA, IWRG, AULL, "the group that runs Arena Coliseo Monterrey" or other - specific enough so we can identify a group
8) Best Rivalry - most interesting/exciting/entertaining feud. Can be person vs person, or people vs people.
9) Most Improved - wrestler who stepped up their game the highest from 2006
10) Most Underutilized - wrestler who's deserving of more attention from both the promotion and the fans

I (thecubsfan) am the sole dictator of the awards, and my decisions will be final.

Please cut and paste the ballot to awards@thecubsfan.com. Do not post your ballot in this thread.

For more information, read the 2007 Tapatia Awards Information

Please cut and paste the following ballot to awards@thecubsfan.com. Do not post your ballot in this or any thread. E-MAIL THE BALLOT.

Previous: 12/14 (Chilpancingo), 01/19 (Guanajuato), 01/26 (Puebla, 1)

AAA TV (FRI) 02/01 Plaza de Toros El Relicario, Puebla, Puebla
1) Estrellita, Fabi Apache, Sexy Star vs Ayako Hamada, La Diabólica, Mari Apache
2) Argenis, Billy Boy, Casandro, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Jesse, Nygma, Polvo de Esterllas, Yuriko
3) Decnnis, Scorpio Jr., Zumbido vs Killer Clown, Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown
4) Juventud Guerrera, Laredo Kid, Oriental vs Ron Killings, X-Pac, Zorro
5) Charly Manson, Chessman, Naomichi Marafuji vs Abismo Negro, Kenzo Suzuki, Takeshi Mosishima

projected air date
Mexico: 02/10
US: 03/02

So there's your NOAH stars. Kenzo is there to prove not all Japanese people are awesome wrestlers. I know no one better for the job.

Hey, Laredo Kid lives! Hey, Ron Killings is actually in AAA (for a match.) They've now been doing the the same Night Queens vs Pimpi/Cassi/two random tecnicos match for five months.

(Partial) Upcoming Tapings
02/15: Auditorio Jose Maria Artega, Queretaro
03/01: La Plaza de Toros La Concordia, Orizaba, Veracruz

Previous: 11/30 (Ciudad Madero, GdT), 12/14 (Chilpancingo), 01/19 (Guanajuato)

AAA TV (SAT) 01/26 Plaza de Toros Teziutlan, Puebla
1) Estrellita, Fabi Apache, Sexy Star vs Ayako Hamada, La Diabólica, Mari Apache
2) Mini Charly Manson, Mini Dizzy, Octagoncito vs Jerrito Estrada, Mascarita de la Muerte, Mini Chessman
3) Argenis, Billy Boy, el Ángel vs Killer Clown, Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown
4) El Elegido, Joe Lider, Juventud Guerrera vs Electro Shock, Head Hunter I, X-Pac
5) Charly Manson & Chessman vs Cuervo & Ozz and Kenzo Suzuki & Zorro

projected air date
Mexico: 02/03
US: 02/23

Main is a triangle tag. I don't know why, it just is. They're killing time to till they run the Rey de Rey angle.

Argenis, according to wikipedia, is a work of historical allegory which tells the story of the religious conflict in France under Henry III of France and Henry IV of France, and also touches on more contemporary English events, such as the Overbury scandal. I think that's not the gimmick. They appear to be doing Clown winning streak again.

(Partial) Upcoming Tapings
02/01: La Plaza de Relicario, Puebla
02/15: Auditorio Jose Maria Artega, Queretaro
03/01: La Plaza de Toros La Concordia, Orizaba, Veracruz

(Edit: fixed first round matchups)

CMLL (FRI) 01/11 Arena Mexico [ESTO, ovaciones, HesnupiH @ box y lucha, Mistyk @ el Maritente]
1) Calígula & Méssala b Molotov & Starman
2) Amapola, Hiroka, La Nazi b Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca
3) Pequeño Damian 666 b Mascarita Dorada [CMLL MINI]
4) Villano IV & Villano V b Rey Bucanero & Stuka Jr. [torneo, 1st]
5) Blue Panther & Sagrado b Ohara & Okumura [torneo, 1st]
6) Dos Caras Jr. & La Sombra b Hector Garza & Pierroth [torneo, 1st]
7) el Hijo del Perro Aguayo & Texano Jr. b La Máscara & Volador Jr. [torneo, 1st]
8) Villano IV & Villano V b Blue Panther & Sagrado [torneo, qf]
9) Dos Caras Jr. & Sombra b el Hijo del Perro Aguayo & Texano Jr. [torneo, qf]
10) Dos Caras Jr. & Sombra b Villano IV & Villano V [torneo, sf]
11) Místico, Negro Casas, Shocker b Atlantis, Black Warrior, Último Guerrero

Main event was just two falls, possibly because the tag team tournament had caused the show to run so long. Mistico got Atlantis with La Mistico. Ultimo and Shocker had issues, with UG beat up Monito (who was helped out.)

Dos and Sombra face the winner of next week's tournament winner. Stuka Jr. replaced Valiente for no known reason. Pierroth and Hector Garza did not get along at all during their match. Sagrado was strechered out during his semifinal tournament match.

Mini Damian had talked about keeping the match 100% clean at the press conference, so I guess I should've figured he was going to win by cheating. Mini Halloween jumped up on the apron to distract the ref, and Mini Damian yanked Dorada's mask then cradled him for the win. This isn't over.

Ovaciones says just over 10,000 fans. The minis match and the women's match were specifically praised in press coverage, though the el Martinete report was bored with the women's match.

A group of wrestlers, including Hijo del Santo, Canek, Mil Mascaras and La Sombra, handed out toys and ate pizza and cake with children for Three Kings Day.

Ovaciones writes about Mil Mascaras and Mistico getting their hand prints in the walk of fame. Arturo Rivera spends 80% of his column yelling at Mistico for saying negative comments about Cibernetico.

CMLL (TUE) 01/15 Arena Mexico
1) Sombra de Plata & Trueno vs Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Ángel Azteca Jr., Astro Boy, Tigre Blanco vs Apocalipsis, Hooligan, Ramstein
3) Flash, Metálico, Stuka Jr. vs Diamante Negro, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura
4) Blue Panther, Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr. vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Universo 2000
5) Místico, Shocker, Valiente vs Atlantis, Averno, Olímpico

Coliseo shows are back in Mexico again; I guess road construction is back on? If you're surprised by that Valiente teamup, check out Friday's card.

CMLL (FRI) 01/18 Arena Mexico
1) Bam Bam & Mascarita Dorada vs Pequeño Black Warrior & Pierrothito
2) Fabián el Gitano, Mictlán, Super Nova vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Virus
3) Místico & Valiente vs Alex Koslov & Marco Corelone and La Máscara & Último Dragón and Felino & Heavy Metal and Black Warrior & Olímpico and Averno & Mephisto and Damián 666 & Mr. Águila and Misterioso II & Sangre Azteca
4) Shocker vs Último Guerrero

Averno & Mephisto are the heavy favorites. It's most likely a rudo team to face Dos and Sombra, and they're the best team. Still, I'm hoping the tournament final has a indecisive finish and they rematch Averno & Mephisto against Mistico & Valiente in a full match at some point, becaus that just like tons of fun. No Negro Casas to be seen anywhere here, which throws off my guess. Not sure why La Mascara is getting a second shot in the tournament, they surely could've found someone else for Dragon to team with.

Micltan fans can rejoice about his return from injury.

CMLL CAN52 Guerreos del Ring #112 has
01/06 Coliseo: Amapola, Hiroka, La Nazi b Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca
01/04 Mexico: Mephisto, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura b Felino, La Máscara, Máximo

I was totally wrong here. They've done work on Coliseo during it's downtime, and wrestlers now enter thru a door that looks quite like the one from WCW Saturday Night. So weird. Mexico match is a repeat, right?

CMLL FSE #70, taped 12/02, aired US 12/30/07

You'll have to excuse me, because I'm jumping out of order to get this one up ASAP. It was quite the remarkable show.

Leono/Mr. Mexico's third fall was just about everything I thought it could be (though they weren't just botching spots left and right) and entertainingly horrible by the end.

Maybe this is just one of those things where the customs are different in Mexico than what I expect from US style, but Mr. Mexico's behavior in the closing moments of this match was picture perfect unhappy loser - making an obvious very casual cover after hitting your finisher because you know they're kicking out and making it very clear you weren't actually pinned at the finish are thing you do to show up the matchmakers and opposition. And yet, Mr. Mexico could not have put over Leono stronger after the match. I have no idea what the deal was here.

I also have no idea what was up with the editing. Every single fall in both matches was absolutely savaged by the editing. The opener would've been better served by a highlight package than what was shown here, with momentum change skipped or barely shown, and every fall cut down down to little more than the finishes. It was just as wretched for the Leono/Mr. Mexico, with at least one dive cut out, matches "starting" in unexplainable situations and the finishing sequence never show for sake of a replay.

In exchange for all of this, more pointless promos. It's really nice Mephisto wants Negro Casas' hair, but I really don't care to hear about it unless they're actually feuding and building to a hair match. Stop wasting my time.

This show was horrible and causes me to question why I recap all of these shows.

Voting for the 2008 Tapatia Awards starts on Monday (NOT TODAY - DO NOT VOTE), so I thought it'd be worth a post to throw out nominees and possibly inflict my bias on the voter base. Feel free to persuade people to vote like you in the comments. You can also take a look at last year's winners to remember where we've been and get an idea of where this might go.

Before I get to nominees ideas, I'm still not actually sure about an award existing on the ballot. I'd been thinking about adding Best Mini this year, but upon further reflection...the AAA minis didn't do much this year and the CMLL minis didn't get on TV much till the end of the year. This probably will work for 2008, but I'm not so sure about 2007. Anyone have an dissenting opinion?

Sticking with stuff that's going to be voted on...

CMLL (FRI) 01/11 Arena Mexico
1) Molotov & Starman vs Calígula & Méssala
2) Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca vs Amapola, Hiroka, La Nazi
3) La Máscara & Volador Jr. vs Blue Panther & Sagrado and Dos Caras Jr. & La Sombra and Rey Bucanero & Valiente and el Hijo del Perro Aguayo & Texano Jr. and Héctor Garza & Pierroth and Villano IV & Villano V and Ohara & Shigeo Okumura [torneo]
4) Pequeño Damian 666 vs Mascarita Dorada [CMLL MINI]
5) Místico, Negro Casas, Shocker vs Atlantis, Black Warrior, Último Guerrero

Notimex's article on Mistico's return has been picked up in a lot more places than the usual Friday preview. ESTO's general version has nothing much different. The articles seem to be under the impression that Mistico hasn't been wrestling all week and this is his return from injury.

A story about Mistico's new CD/DVD has him asking fans not to pirate it. Looks like the matches are his mask win over Black Warrior and a cage match. ESTO's version has the song list, so maybe us people who don't live in walking distance of Arena Mexico can make our CDs off iTunes.

Vanguardia's bio of Mistico includes rumors (and clearly indicates them as rumors) about Mistico actually being four different people. This is totally false, yet I paused to consider who would work as the three fake Misticos. Astro Boy, Volador and Flash?

Mistico is quoted as critizing Cibernetico for his relationship with TV/sex show star Sabrina, because of the bad morals it'll teach Ciber's young fans. Well, Mistico is a man of the church after all.

The Minis title match is hyped up in ESTO, and I'd totally steal that picture for this blog entry if I had time today. Virus has apparently passed on his half face painting techniques to the next generation.

ESTO's notes column details Lady Apache's right knee surgery. It took three hours to repeat ligament and meniscus damage, and actually took place on December 22. Maybe they were waiting to see how recovery started before telling anyone? Injury estimate here is 6 to 8 months. They're going with the story that Lady Apache hurt her knee in the title match with Amapola. You may see this as excuse making, but I prefer to see this as warning to all not to mess with Amapola, or she will break you.

I don't think we're going to get a big official 2008 Kick Off Show, seeing as there's no need to promote a return to Arena Mexico when they've been running there all winter. Unofficially, this is it - putting CMLL's Top Three Tecnicos (in their minds) against three of their bigger rivals and a title match AND part one of long tag tournament signals CMLL is back up to 100% effort (relatively.)

I'm more hyped up in this tag team tournament than Robert sounded in the comments. I still think it's going to Mistico and either Shocker or Negro as the eventually challengers, but there's at least a reasonable pool of choices so far. Atlantis and UG being the champs allow the tecnico teams as a challenger, but you can also make the Perros or Villanos work too. If CMLL were interested in running tag team title matches on a regular monthly basis for the Coliseo shows, most of these teams would work for main event opponents. Ohara/Okumura aren't at that level and Pierroth/Hector Garza is an angle masquerading as a tag team, but I'd be very happy to get something like Guerreros vs Dos/Sombra on GdR, because it might turn out to be fun.

Anyway, working backwards, if Mistico's going to get the title shot, they're probably going to face a rudo team coming out of this side of the bracket. Will they tease Perro vs Mistico again by having their teams in the final? I think we're more likely to get the Villanos here, to tease their feud with the Guerreros instead.

I'm totally confident Mascarita Dorada will win the minis championship. They've been steadily building to this since day 1, direct enough that I don't think they're going to bother making this a longer chase. Damian's been strong enough leading up to this, so he won't lose anything by losing here, and Dorada gets crowned as the centerpiece of the division.

I hope they have a plan of what to do next. I've been thinking back on the year, trying to sort out my mental ballot before I get around to opening the votes, and CMLL in 2007 was marked by building up a moment for a wrestler for a couple months, and then not building or capitalizing on the momentum at all. (See: Blue Panther.) Just doing (televised) trios for the next month after this would be fine, but I hope they've already penciled in a date for a title rematch by the end of that month.

and maybe they'll run a cibernetico for the Mexican Minis title this summer? That'd be neat.

In other news...

AAA (TUE) 01/01 Arena Azteca Budokan [the gladiatores]
1) Rey Diamante & Star Boy (AAA) b Clinico & Imperial
2) Principe Gitano I, Principe Gitano II, Rey Neza b Brozo, Golden Bull, Kaburra
3) Demente, Espiral Negro, Ricky Gonzalez b Cristal y Acero, Galactico, Skyderman
4) Mini Oriental b Mini Cibernetico [fan's hair]
5) Gran Apache & Mari Apache b Rossy Moreno & Super Calo [AAA MIXED TAG]
6) Mr. Niebla & Pirata Morgan b Octagón & Oriental

I hope The Gladiatores continue to write about Azteca Budokan shows, because it seems the equivalently of the Arena Neza shows, with interesting stuff going on with the regular midcarders. It's the Moreno's who run this building, right?

CMLL (THU) 01/03 Arena Neza [The Gladiatores]
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Meteoro b Bismart & Miedo
2) Astro Boy & Sombra de Plata b Artillero & Súper Comando
3) Mr. Aguilita, Pequeño Damian 666, Pequeño Halloween b Bam Bam, Electro Shock, Tzuki
4) Arkangel de la Muerte, Dr. X, Nitro b Fabián el Gitano, Felino, Leono
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Sagrado, Shocker b Mr. Águila, Terrible, Texano Jr.

Wagner led his team to 2nd/3rd fall wins in the main. Nitro snuck in a foul on Felino the refs missed.

CMLL (SUN) 01/06 Arena Neza [The Gladiatores]
1) Black Danger & Black Heart b Iron Black & Lobo Azul
2) Chac Moll, Custodio, Piel Roja b Kripta, Lapida, Sepulcro
3) Luis Cirio, Manny Cirio, Tony Cirio b Black Bird I, Black Bird II, Rayo Tapatío I [WLL TRIOS]
4) Bravo del Norte b Rayo Tapatío II [NEZA WELTER]
5) Máximo & Rey Bucanero b Black Warrior & Ramstein

As Robert noticed elsewhere, the belts the Cirio's were defending here very clearly said WMW on them. INDY LUCHA. Bravo del Norte retained his title in the other title match, and his belt had a big piece of tape on it, coincidentally covering where a logo or name might be.

CMLL (TUE) 01/08 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [KrisZ]
1) Magnum b Infierno
2) Satánico b Neutrón
3) Leono & Tony Rivera DQ Malefico & Máscara Mágica
4) Cien Caras Jr. b Asesino Negro
5) Damián 666, Mr. Águila, Texano Jr. b El Gallo, Rayman, Sagrado

CMLL (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Thunder Boy vs Milenio
2) Carlo Roggi & Ebola vs Extermiandor & Valiente Mayo
3) Metal Blanco, Metalik, Metatron vs Danger (Guadalajara), El Egipcio, Infierno
4) La Máscara, Leono, Tony Rivera vs Angel Blanco Jr., Sangre Azteca, Texano Jr.
5) Rayman & Sagrado vs Atlantis & Último Guerrero [CMLL TAG]

This is culmination of a rivalry between these teams. Rayman and Sagrado are still West Tag Team champs and might have defended their titles against this Guerrero team already.

Mr. Reyes' photos of last night's IWRG card include Japanese wrestler "Kalimari" now unmasked. I don't think we ever confirmed who it was, but that should help. Oficial Fierro beat one of the Ninja Turtles in the three stage cage match.

SuperLuchas says the NOAH guys will be in AAA on 02/01 for the Puebla taping. That's a Friday, and I wonder if there's a yet to be announced Sunday taping too.

Slow day. Go read a book while I work on stuff that should be up already (and might be up soon.)

Ovaciones main story is a CMLL press conference to hype up tomorrow's show. I bet there will be more about this tomorrow when ESTO and others put up their notes column, but today's bit focuses on the minis title match. Dorada figures beating Mini Damian in last week's cibernetico proves he's got the talent to take the title tomorrow , while Mini Damian reminds us of his successes in '07 (winning the minis title, winning that year's cibernetico, winning the bodybuilding content) and plans to make '08 even bigger. Reforma (via Jazzo @ el Martinete has a similiar story.

Ovaciones also previews the three stage cage match IWRG is running tonight. It looks like IWRG's lineup page is being updated again, though most of the webpage still doesn't work well for me.

IWRG (THU) 01/10 Arena Naucalpan
1) Akuma vs Comando Gama
2) Halcón Salvaje & Tortuguillo Ninja II vs Judas el Tradior & Rockero del Diablo
3) Freelance, Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II vs Cyborg, El Hijo del Diablo, Oficial AK47
4) el Hijo Del Anibal, Pantera, Veneno vs Kai, Kalimari, Yamato
5) Bogeman vs Capitán Muerte, Oficial 911, Multifacético, Puma King, Xibalva [cage, loser advances]
6) Fantasma de la Ópera vs Oficial Fierro, Tortuguillo Ninja I, Coco Verde, Radiactivo, Nemesis IWRG [cage, loser advances]
7) ? vs ?? [cage, mask]

I think it's too soon for Radiactivo to lose again (though I'd be the house on Multifacético beating him if Radiactivo is losing).

Denver's Westword News has a long article about a local (partly) lucha libre promotion, (the IWF). You know how you can tell they're a real lucha libre promotion? Someone's doing the Huracan Ramirez gimmick!

box

FSE-US: Back to usual here; new episode scheduled for Sunday at 7PM which repeats both 3 hours later and midnight Monday/Tuesday, plus at least six episodes repeat during the week. This week's new episode include the odd match where Trueno works as a Guerrero against Mascara/Sombra/Valiente.

CAN52: Guessing all Sunday matches, which would give an eh opener (though a rare Angel Azteca Jr. TV appearance) and Perros vs Tecs in the main event.

AAA US: Guerra de Tirantes part one, which means Air Force/Dark Family, and the ends of La Parka Jr. and Cibernetico for the time being.

----

CMLL MEX: Listed as three hours, for now. I figure on the torneo, the title match and the main event making it anyway.

AAA MEX: Best of Part 2.

FS MEX: Women's match and random tecnico vs random rudos. If you're been wondering how a Black Warrior/Super Nova fight would go, wonder no longer.

Cadena3: Top 4, as usual.

CMLL (TUE) 01/08 Arena Coliseo [ovaciones]
1) Artillero & Súper Comando b Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II
2) Apocalipsis, Calígula, Méssala b Astro Boy, Sombra de Plata, Trueno
3) Diamante Negro, Euforia, Nosferatu b Ángel Azteca Jr., Stuka Jr., Super Nova
4) Felino, Heavy Metal, Máximo DQ Ephesto, Sangre Azteca, Virus
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Shocker, Valiente b Averno, Black Warrior, Mephisto

Tecnicos took the 2nd and 3rd falls in the main event. Rudos attacked the ref in the semimain to get DQed there. Ovaciones says 5,000 people came to this show, which may be better than all the Tuesday Arena Mexico shows combined. It's way up, for sure.

Maquina Salvaje (Lalo Mercado), a wrestler from the 70s, passed away on Monday and was remembered at this show.

Ovaciones also mentions CMLL, at Arena Mexico, will start selling a CD of Mistico's favorite music, with a bonus DVD of interviews, the Quinta Estacion music video and "some of his most important matches." I wonder what they've picked.

CMLL (MON) 01/07 Arena Puebla [Arena Puebla]
1) Blue Center & SWAT b Toro Bill Jr. & Zigma
2) Fuerza Chicana, Kraken, Toro Bill b Lestat, the Tiger, Tigre Rojo
3) Diamante Negro, Euforia, Nosferatu b Fabián el Gitano, Leono, Máximo
4) Atlantis, Olímpico, Sangre Azteca DQ Texano Jr., Villano IV, Villano V
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr. b Damián 666, Héctor Garza, Mr. Águila

In the main, Garza fouled Wagner, but Wagner snuck in a low blow on him for the pin. Villanos did not get away with a foul in the semimain, drawing the DQ.

Arturo Rivera talks about this past week's Arena Mexico show being delayed due to issues with Ticketmaster - no one could buy tickets or collect them for 20 minutes. Arturo also confirms Cibernetico and La Parka Jr. are not expected to return until March at the earliest.

Mistico's return to Arena Mexico this Friday is getting some attention, though he's been wrestling around the country this week already.

AAA (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Dranser & Scrabos vs Criminal & Invasor
2) Aguila Extreme vs Dr. Cianuro [NORTH LH]
3) Erick Snake, Insane, Sick Boy vs Kaienai, Lord Byron, Ramses
4) Antifaz del Norte, Iron, Virtual X vs Principe Diamante, Rio Bravo, Tito Santana II
5) Charly Manson & Hombre Sin Miedo vs Pimpinela Escarlata & Zorro

Previous: 11/22 (Toluca), 11/30 (Ciudad Madero, GdT), 12/14 (Chilpancingo)

AAA TV (SAT) 01/19 Parque de Beisbol, Guanajuato [Kaled @ box y lucha]
1) Barba Roja, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. vs Killer Clown, Psycho Clown, Zombie Clown
2) Mascarita Divina, Mini Charly Manson, Octagoncito vs Jerrito Estrada, Mini Abismo Negro, Mini Histeria
3) Billy Boy, Casandro, Mascara Divina, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Jesse, Nygma, Polvo de Esterllas, Yuriko
4) Alan Stone, Chris Stone, Super Calo vs Electro Shock, Kenzo Suzuki, Zorro
5) Charly Manson & Chessman vs Extreme Tiger & Halloween
6) El Elegido, Gronda II, Intocable vs Histeria, Mr. Niebla, Psicosis

projected air date
Mexico: 01/27
US: 02/16

Yes, that's really a main event. This is what happens when they lose their top three guys at once. La Parka Jr. is scheduled to make an appearance (and get beat up by Kenzo yet again?) Otherwise, it looks like they're just killing time till the people they want to do stuff with are around to do stuff.

Night Queens/tecnicos might be good becuase those have been good. It'd nice to see the Stones treated as equals to the Legion, but that's got no chance. Semimain will probably turn into a stunt show. How about Charly's non-existent retirement?

No Ron Killings or Teddy Hart or Jack Evans or any other outsider that's been speculated.

(Partial) Upcoming Tapings
01/26: Plaza de Toros, Teziutlan
02/01: La Plaza de Relicario, Puebla
02/15: Auditorio Jose Maria Artega, Queretaro
03/01: La Plaza de Toros La Concordia, Orizaba, Veracruz

You know how to figure out when CMLL posts news this week? Right when I've finally posted today's update.

CMLL.com has announced Mini Damian 666 will defend his CMLL World Mini Estrellas Championship against Mascarita Dorada this Friday at Arena Mexico. If you've been following this feud, it's kinda beside the point for me to tell you what's going to happen. I was kinda concerned there was no minis followup from last week, but I guess they were just saving it for a midweek announcement.

While I'm at it:

CMLL (THU) 01/03 Arena Isabel de Cuernavaca [KrisZ]
1) Mongol & Rudy Gonzalez b Comodin & Zorro Gris
2) Ángel Azteca Jr., Flash, Spiderman b Escandalo, Loco Max, Virus
3) Sangre Azteca b Valiente [MEX WELTER]
4) Heavy Metal, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero b Máscara Año 2000, Olímpico, Silver King

KrisZ amazes me with the results he gets. It's not like I'm not looking too...

I haven't read anything to confirm all week, but if you're keeping track of title histories, I would presume Sombra defeated Euforia to retain the NWA Welterweight Championship last Tuesday in Deportivo Los Soberanos.

As first noted by Cesar on the box y lucha board and confirmed by David Marquez on the NWA's message board, the NWA has entered into an agreement with Blue Demon Jr. to open an office in Mexico and promote NWA branded events. (An official press release is supposed to be forth coming.) Demon's been a featured part of NWA Pro/touring NWA shows in the last year, so it makes sense that he'd been the focal point of any attempt to promote in Mexico.

The Box Y Lucha thread notes Demon and the NWA have been trying to forge an alliance with CMLL for the last six months (CMLL is slow) in the hopes of using CMLL wrestlers on it's events - Mexico at first, and they'd probably want to use them in the US too (maybe this explains CMLL wrestlers working the LA Dojo show this past weekend.) With that in mind, I think the ultimate goal here is something like the Toryumon Mexico/Ultimo Dragon Gym shows currently have; occasional shows using the hosting promotion and CMLL's wrestlers, possibly in CMLL building, to be taped for use in other countries. This certainly does not appear to be a touring promotion, but a series of special events like Todos X El Todos.

I think it's a very smart move by the NWA to attempt to do this thru Blue Demon Jr. It sounds like he's a central figure in this process, but even if he was just a figurehead, NWA Mexico doesn't get as far without people unfamiliar to CMLL. Blue Demon Jr.'s not a CMLL contract wrestler, but he's not a outsider either. It does read like the deal is with "Blue Demon Jr." and not specifically with the family who may own the name, but I don't know what (or if) to read anything into that.

The deal with CMLL isn't signed yet, or I'd be linking to a press release right around here. Without a deal with CMLL, I'm not sure this is a real company. NWA Mexico could run shows with NWA talent and indy Mexican guys, but I kinda doubt it'd be worth it into the Mexico market (since Santo plans to do the same thing and possibly better) or for DVDs. I don't think there's much chance of a fall back plan with AAA, because Konnan's been critical of David Marquez and his promotional efforts in the past. If the CMLL deal happens, then you can start figuring out the minutia (Q: what to do with the NWA titles in Mexico? A: if the NWA wants to pay whatever Dragon paid for them, they probably can have them today) but until then, it's a fictional promotion.

Hope it turns out well.

Ovaciones' website is still down. Pay your bills, everyone. (This does remind me I have a domain coming up due too soon.)

Kaled, who's done those AAA official (I think) blogs, listed some 2008 AAA TV Tapings:
01/19: Parque de Beisbol Aguila Y Maya, Guanajuato
01/26: Plaza de Toros, Teziutlan
02/01: La Plaza de Relicario, Puebla
02/15: Auditorio Jose Maria Artega, Queretaro
03/01: La Plaza de Toros La Concordia, Orizaba, Veracruz

He points out that those are not a complete list for the latter two months; gotta figure there's at least one more in February.

During a discussion of where's Diana la Cazadora on Box Y Lucha foro (answer: here!, Cesar mentions India Sioux is pregnant. Congrats to her and Maximo.

SuperLuchas posted yesterday that NOAH's Takeshi Morishima and Naomichi Marufuji were coming to AAA in January or Feburary. This was apparently big news I mentioned that 16 days ago, quoting someone else, and I think superluchas mentioned it then too. No one actually reads this site, that's okay. I find Big Stars From Japan having a 12 minute joke match less interesting than India Sioux and Maximo having a kid, personally.

Box Y Lucha #2852 has Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Ultimo Guerrero. Even longer ago than the NOAH newsbite, they did a video interview with Crazy Boy about his interview, which I didn't notice until now.

IWRG (SUN) 12/16 Arena Naucalpan [Superluchas #245]
1) Halcon Salvaje & Zeta b Judas El Traidor & Macho II
2) Tortuguillo Ninja I & Tortuguillo Ninja II b Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II
3) Freelance, Kid Tiger, Multifacetico b Capitan Muerte, Hijo de Mascara Ano 2000, Puma King
4) Bogeman, Negro Navarro, Ultraman, Ultraman Jr. DQ Kai, Kalimari, Masada, Yamato
5) Black Terry b Fantasma de la Ópera [IWRG IC WELTER]

In the third fall, Kai ran in to attack Fantasma, Multifacetico ran into attack Black Terry, and Terry ended up winning the title back. Japanese got DQed for excessive violence in the semimain.

indy (TUE) 01/08 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Flecha & Mascara de Fuego vs Jaguar I & Jaguar II
2) Coyote Jr. & Hijo de Trueno vs Destroyer & Pedro Navajas
3) Gardenia Azteca, Rosa Salvaje, Sexy Ruby vs Azteca Warrior, Fomer Love, Sombra del Ring
4) Black Panther & Rey Demonio Jr. vs Angel Dorado Jr. & Corazon Adicto
5) Golden Boy & Pancho Tequila vs Casanova & Simbolo

IWRG (THU) 01/10 Arena Naucalpan
1) Akuma vs Comando Gama
2) Halcón Salvaje & Tortuguillo Ninja II vs Judas el Tradior & Rockero del Diablo
3) Freelance, Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II vs Cyborg, El Hijo del Diablo, Oficial AK47
4) el Hijo Del Anibal, Pantera, Veneno vs Kai, Kalimari, Yamato
5) Bogeman vs Capitán Muerte, Oficial 911, Multifacético, Puma King, Xibalva [cage, loser advances]
6) Fantasma de la Ópera vs Oficial Fierro, Tortuguillo Ninja I, Coco Verde, Radiactivo, Nemesis IWRG [cage, loser advances]
7) ? vs ?? [cage, mask]

IWRG's run this twice before: two cage matches, with the losers of each moving on to a final match, and the loser will drop his mask. I'm going to guess Coco Verde, though there's lot of people who could safely lose their mask

indy (THU) 01/10 Arena Olimpico Laguna de Gomez Palacio [El Siglo de Torreon]
1) Dark Saint & Jerry Brown vs Camorra & Insolito
2) Calakita & Dragoncito vs Pentagoncito & Ricky Estrada
3) Brillante I, El Tackle, Piloto Suicida vs Moro Jr., Mr. Guerrero, Scriba
4) Pimpinela Escarlata, Sexy Piscis, Stuka I vs Dulce Paola, Misterioso Jr., Sexy Francis

So that's an AAA wrestler versus a CMLL wrestler, unless Robert's right and there's a Misterioso Jr. who's not Misterioso II. Each option is a tiny bit crazy and a tiny bit possible (because it's crazy.) This is such big news, I didn't even put in the headline.

CMLL (THU) 01/10 Arena Neza
1) Sensei & Trueno vs Apocalipsis & Zayco
2) Bam Bam, Pequeño Olímpico, Último Dragoncito vs Pequeño Black Warrior, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) Flash, Máximo, Valiente vs Disturbio, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura
4) Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Averno, Último Guerrero

indy (SAT) 01/12 Arena San Jose
1) Andariego & Sicario vs Destructor & Eros
2) Capitan America, Cazador, Gazu vs Dr. Enigma, Dragon Negro, Terrorista
3) Buitre I & Buitre III vs Fisher Boy I & Fisher Boy II [WWA TAG]
4) Solar I vs Negro Navarro [CENTROAMERICANO]

It's not really a WWA title until it has multiple disputed branches. These guys appear to be just borrowing hte name, or WWA stands for something completely different. Solar and Negro are doing the same match a week later for AULL.

IWRG (SUN) 01/13 Arena Naucalpan
1) Tortuguillo Ninja I & Tortuguillo Ninja II vs Macho II & Rockero del Diablo
2) Filoso, Gemelo Fantastico I, Gemelo Fantastico II vs Ofical Fierro, Oficial 911, Oficial AK47
3) Fantasma de la Ópera, Freelance, Ultramán Jr. vs Black Terry, Capitán Muerte, Cyborg
4) Bogeman, Multifacético, Pantera vs Kai, Kalimari, Yamato

Any picture is better with a random payaso in the background.

Puebla wrestler Asturiano has a website with a lot of flash.

El Sol de Tulancingo writes bios for Blue Demon and El Hijo del Santo.

ESTO has a month by month recap of CMLL's 2007.

CMLL.com has mentioned that Friday's tag team tournament is just part one of a three week bit to find new #1 contenders. They'll be another eight teams next week, and the two tournament winning teams meet on 01/25 to earn a title shot versus Ultimo Guerrero & Atlantis.

quick guess at teams
Shocker & Mistico
Alex & Marco
Negro Casas & Heavy Metal - Felino will be on standby
Maximo & Leono - I like to pretend Leono winning hair matches is going somewhere
Mr. Aguila & Damian 666
Averno & Mephisto
Lizmark Jr. & Black Warrior - comedy! Terrible can wrestle here when Lizmark doesn't.
Nosferatu & Euforia

CMLL

CMLL (SUN) 01/06 Arena Coliseo
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II DQ Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Arkangel de la Muerte, Dr. X, Skandalo b Ángel Azteca Jr., Fabián el Gitano, Metálico
3) Amapola, Hiroka, La Nazi b Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca
4) Black Warrior, Ephesto, Sangre Azteca b La Máscara, Máximo, Super Nova
5) Damián 666, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Héctor Garza b Rey Bucanero, Sagrado, Volador Jr.

They're back in Arena Coliseo, and the first match ended in an excessive violence DQ! Always a nice way to reopen a building. Who's that ref in the opener, anyway?

Heavy Metal was MIA, so Sagrado moved up a match and Super Nova got in the semimain. With Damian distracting the refs, Hector fouled Rey and Perro yanked Volador's mask for the win.

Amapola used the ropes to beat Marcela, and they might be fueding again. One match every two months may be the goal for '08.

CMLL (SUN) 01/06 Deportivo Kid Azteca
1) La Máscara, Místico, Sagrado b Averno, Mephisto, Nosferatu

Mistico made a special (early?) return here, because it was for his home district of Tepic on Three Kings Day. This is what aired on Accion last night, and just a very brief clip (enough to note the same bicycle giveaway.) The tecnicos were giving away toys to kids here, same as indy wrestlers were doing in Xalapa and surely many more people elsewhere.

CMLL (SUN) 01/06 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [MedioTiempo]
1) Atlantis, Olímpico, Satánico b Rayman, Shocker, Valiente
2) Ebola b Depredador (Guadalajara) [hair]

Extermiandor, who's Depredador's brother, tried to interfere but failed. Evola wants his hair next.

indy (SUN) 01/06 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Baby Fox & Rey Imagen b Criminal & Invasor
2) Dr. Cianuro b Aguila Extrema [NORTH LH]
3) Kaientai, Lord Byron, Ramses b Dranser, Iron, Scravos
4) Virtual X b Euforia (Monterrey)
5) El Elegido & Hombre Sin Miedo b Guerrero Negro Jr. & Pimpinela Escarlata

VIP (SUN) 01/06 Arena Solidaridad [RFC]
1) Breistar & Gato Fantasma b Azteca Warrior & Black Poison
2) Panterita del Ring II & Tacua b Principe Rebelde & Titanic
3) Dralion & Sky b Nightmare & Turbina
4) Diluvio Negro I & Sergio Romo Jr. b Estrella Dorado Jr. & Raiden
5) Caifan Rockero I, Corazón de Barrio, Silver Star b Hator, Monje Negro Jr., Potro Jr.

CMLL (SUN) 01/13 Arena Coliseo
1) Bracito de Oro & Shockercito vs Fire & Sombrita
2) Sensei, Tigre Blanco, Trueno vs Dr. X, Pólvora, Vaquero
3) Fabián el Gitano, Flash, Metálico vs Arkangel de la Muerte, Nitro, Skandalo
4) Felino, La Sombra, Máximo vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto
5) Dos Caras Jr., Místico, Volador Jr. vs Damián 666, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Mr. Águila

indy (SAT) 01/19 Gimnasio de el Estadio Carlos Serdan Arechavaleta [Notiver]
1) Kato & Nigma vs Acero & Tormento
2) Kronos & La Jarochita vs Bat Boy & Shun Ly
3) Rocco Marvin & Rocky Marvin vs Espectrito I & Pentagoncito
4) Celetial (Veracruz) & Rey Egipto vs Matrix & Triple X
5) Fantasma Jr., Hijo de Huracan Ramriez, Huracan Ramirez, Super Muneco vs Coco Azul, Coco Negro, Hijo del Cien Caras, Silver Star
6) El Fantasma, Tinieblas Jr., Tinieblas Sr. vs el Hijo Del Anibal, El Hijo del Solitario, Villano III

Kinda intersting that Rocky Marvin is wrestling as Rocky Marvin.

No Ovaciones - they've been down all weekend. Not much news otherwise. FSE did appear to be a repeat, but I think it's just going to be one more week of lag unless next week's listings change.

Last week's highlights are up as well.

Accion

CMLL: Wagner vs UG - Wagner's now wrestling in a tanktop and long pants - huh? Wagner snuck in a knee lift low blow to get the iwn, though you missed it if you were looking the wronng way.

AAA: Hell Brothers vs Mesias/Kenzo/X-Pac from Toreo as part of Best Of, Part 1. This is the one Kenzo lost and Chessman bounced off the table.

CMLL (FRI) 01/04 Arena Mexico [ESTO]
1) Flash, Super Nova, Tigre Blanco DQ Diamante Negro, Loco Max, Nitro
2) Mascarita Dorada b Pequeño Damian 666, Fantasy, Tzuki, Pequeño Black Warrior, Pequeño Halloween, Bam Bam, Mr. Aguilita, Shockercito, Fire [ciber]
3) Mephisto, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura b Felino, La Máscara, Máximo
4) Rey Bucanero, Sagrado, Shocker b Atlantis, Averno, Olimpico
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. b Último Guerrero

According to ESTO, Wagner won clean with a cradle, but CMLL says he won via low blow. Ultimo wants revenge, like always.

Olimpico replaced Lizmark Jr. in the semifinal. Rey and Shocker are good friends again.

Final four in the cibernetico were Halloween, Bam Bam, Damian and Dorada, with Dorada getting the clean win.

Nitro yanked Super Nova's mask in the opener. That seems to be reoccuring.

CMLL.com reports Lady Apache will be out six months due to knee surgery. She hasn't been wrestling in quite a while and dropped the title on her way out, so I think they knew this was coming for a while.

CMLL (TUE) 01/08 Arena Coliseo
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II vs Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Astro Boy, Sombra de Plata, Trueno vs Apocalipsis, Calígula, Méssala
3) Ángel Azteca Jr., Stuka Jr., Super Nova vs Diamante Negro, Euforia, Nosferatu
4) Felino, Heavy Metal, Máximo vs Ephesto, Sagrado, Virus
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Shocker, Valiente vs Averno, Black Warrior, Mephisto

This is the one Tuesday show back in Coliseo before they go back to Mexico again.

Apparently, business is picking up next week.

CMLL (FRI) 01/11 Arena Mexico
1) Molotov & Starman vs Calígula & Méssala
2) Luna Magica, Marcela, Princesa Blanca vs Amapola, Hiroka, La Nazi
3) La Máscara & Volador Jr. vs Blue Panther & Sagrado and Dos Caras Jr. & La Sombra and Rey Bucanero & Valiente and el Hijo del Perro Aguayo & Texano Jr. and Héctor Garza & Pierroth and Villano IV & Villano V and Ohara & Shigeo Okumura [torneo]
4) Místico, Negro Casas, Shocker vs Atlantis, Black Warrior, Último Guerrero

Mistico's return match, about a week sooner than I figured. Garza/Pierroth make 0 sense, but 1 of 8 is pretty good. This tournament is a million times harder to pick than the minis one (especially if you assume the main event is the match setting up the next title challenger.) GO BUCAVALIENTE.

CAN52 Guerreros del Ring #110 was a little different than expected
12/30 Mexico: Bam Bam, Pequeño Olímpico, Último Dragoncito b Fire, Pequeño Damian 666, Pequeño Halloween
12/30 Mexico: Dr. Wagner Jr., Negro Casas, Volador Jr. b Averno, Olímpico, Último Guerrero

so, like, there's a cibernetico or something today.

CMLL (FRI) 01/04 Arena Mexico
1) Flash, Super Nova, Tigre Blanco vs Diamante Negro, Loco Max, Nitro
2) Mascarita Dorada vs Bam Bam, Fantasy, Tzuki, Pequeño Black Warrior, Pequeño Halloween, Pequeño Damian 666, Mr. Aguilita, Shockercito, Fire [ciber]
3) Felino, La Máscara, Máximo vs Mephisto, Ohara, Shigeo Okumura
4) Rey Bucanero, Sagrado, Shocker vs Atlantis, Averno, Lizmark Jr.
5) Último Guerrero vs Dr. Wagner Jr.

previews: ovaciones, notimex, ESTO

Most of the previews are hyping up Guerrero vs Wagner, though it appears to be an offseason program that's not actually going anywhere. I'd be surprised if it progressed any more than this, but I guess it's a fine way to kill some time.

The most interesting match is the Pequenos Reyes del Aire, of course. Rob did an excellent detailed preview over on DVDMB.

I agree with most of it. We know this is setting up more Dorada/Damian stuff, probably in a title match in the next couple of weeks, so one or the other is winning this. Either Halloween or Aguila will make it to the final three with them, just to do the 1 on 2 spots, and it's a toss up between Tzuki or Bam Bam for the fourth spot. I think I'll go with Dorada winning but I'm not totally sure.

I think the quality and reception towards the match will be more important as the finish. CMLL should use the minis at least as undercard attraction as they use the women, and I think the minis are on their way as long as this goes as expected. CMLL has moved in this direction over the last month, but they could just be doing it for this Dorada/Damian fued before sinking the minis off TV. A good cibernetico has to improve the chances for the minis getting the same 3-5 TV pushed feuds and frequent TV appearances the women get.

CMLL (THU) 01/03 Arena Isabel de Cuervanaca [Strato_wagner @ Satanico's Mansion]
1) Valiente vs Sangre Azteca [MEX WELTER]
2) Heavy Metal, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero vs Lizmark Jr., Máscara Año 2000, Olímpico

CMLL (TUE) 01/15 Arena Queretaro [TopoDeroso]
1) Eragon & Luminoso vs Estrella Dorada & Furia Dorada
2) Dark Angel & Marcela vs Amapola & Princesa Sujei
3) Principe Valiente Jr. vs Espiritu Negro [WWS WELTER]
4) Alex Koslov, La Máscara, Valiente vs Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca, Virus
5) Máximo vs Rambo [hair]

Maximo or Rambo? Tough call! The poster rips the prices being charged for that level of main event. It's the 26th Anniversary show for the building, but you'd think they could've done much better for a main event.

El Sol de Cuautla talks about Mistico's background. Sort of. They reconcile the different origin stories: he's from Tepito, but run away from home early on to Hidalgo, where he happened upon the home of Fray Tormenta. Everyone thought Mistico was an orphan, until one day they found out his father was Dr. Karonte. Family wanted Mistico back, but Tormenta convinced them it was a better idea for Mistico to live in an orphanage. Mistico came back to Tepito after high school, played for the America futbol club for two years and then decided he wanted to be a luchador. Naturally, his first step was to travel to Japan, where he wrestled as Komachi. He returned to Mexico, changed his name to Astro Boy, and eventually started training at the Arena Mexico school, where he got the Mistico name.

What?

Year to year comparisons don't work as well with AAA, because only 3/5ths of the 2005 show are accounted, for and less before.

Intocable:

Year                              W    L    D    ?    T     %

2004 (partial)                   11    3    0    1   15     78%

2005 (partial)                   13    2    0    2   17     86%

2006                             19   14    1    0   34     57%

2007                              9    9    0    0   18     50%

Cibernetico:

Year                              W    L    D    ?    T     %

2004 (partial)                    5    9    0    2   16     35%

2005 (partial)                    6   15    0    1   22     28%

2006                              9   11    1    0   21     45%

2007                             19   17    0    0   36     52%

full chart after the break

Tournament matches do count, ciberneticos do not.

2007, min 3 matches

Name                                                  W    L    D    ?    Total   %
Místico                                               7    1    0    0    8     87%
Último Guerrero                                       3    1    0    0    4     75%
Bam Bam                                               3    1    0    0    4     75%
Dr. Wagner Jr.                                        2    1    0    0    3     66%
Marcela                                               2    1    0    0    3     66%
Atlantis                                              2    1    0    0    3     66%
Pequeño Damian 666                                    3    2    0    0    5     60%
Amapola                                               3    2    0    0    5     60%
el Hijo del Perro Aguayo                              1    2    0    0    3     33%
Averno                                                1    3    0    0    4     25%
Universo 2000                                         0    3    0    0    3     0%
Lizmark Jr.                                           0    3    0    0    3     0% 

(the 1 ? match is tomorrow's main event.)

CMLL (TUE) 01/01 Arena Puebla [hugo999]
1) Espiritu Maligno, Karisma, Mr. Rafaga b Asturiano, Forajido, King Jaguar
2) Coco Blanco, Coco Rojo, Coco Verde b Fuerza Chicana, Kraken, Siki Osama
3) Astro Boy, Metálico, Super Nova b Calígula, Diamante Negro, Méssala
4) Dr. Wagner Jr., Shocker, Volador Jr. b Diamante Negro, Mascara Ano 2000, Toro Bill
5) Averno b Heavy Metal [NWA MIDDLE]

Lizmark Jr. and Unvierso 2000 missed the semifinal. Very rare non-DF/suburbs appearance for the Romans.

(La Reforma via Jazzo @ El Martiente) CMLL talked up big things for 2008 at their year end administrative dinner. They plan on the first big show in March (like always) and doing something for Atlantis' 25th anniversary (which would be in June.)

Crazy Boy passed on a message to the message boards. No update on his return date.

CMLL ROSFER (SAT) 12/29 Nazareno Etla, Oaxaca [noicias-oax]
1) Nahomi & Zarco b Lola La Texana & Super Maquinita
2) Apolo Jr. & Zorro (Oaxaca) b Jungla 3000 & Vuleo Espacial
3) Challenger Jr., Endeavor, Fantasma Blanco Jr. DQ Lalo el Loco, Puma Rojo, Zorro Jr.
4) Atomo & Mascarita Dorada b Pequeño Black Warrior & Pequeño Violencia
5) Damián 666 & el Hijo del Perro Aguayo b Dr. Wagner Jr. & Universo 2000

Perro yanked Wagner's mask in the main event.

IWRG (SUN) 01/06 Arena Naucalpan [ovaciones]
1) Kai, Kalimari, Yamato vs Bogeman, el Hijo Del Anibal, Multifacetico

AULL (SUN) 01/06 Arena Lopez Mateos [ovaciones]
1) Psicopata, Terry 2000, Yakuza vs Cerebro Diabolico, Epitafio, Herejia [AULL TRIOS]

indy (SUN) 01/06 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Baby Fox & Rey Imagen vs Criminal & Invasor
2) Aguila Extrema vs Dr. Cianuro [NORTH LH]
3) Dranser, Iron, Scravos vs Kaientai, Lord Byron, Ramses
4) Virtual X vs Euforia (Monterrey)
5) El Elegido & Hombre Sin Miedo vs Guerrero Negro Jr. & Pimpinela Escarlata

indy (SUN) 01/06 Arena Solidaridad [RFC]
1) Breistar & Gato Fantasma vs Azteca Warrior & Black Poison
2) Morvius & Tacua vs Principe Rebelde & Titanic
3) Nightmare & Turbina vs Dralion & Sky
4) Diluvio Negro I & Sergio Romo Jr. vs Estrella Dorado Jr. & Raiden
5) Caifan Rockero I, Corazón de Barrio, Silver Star vs Hator, Monje Negro Jr., Potro Jr.

Mistico's record in Coliseo/Mexico matches, each year

Name    W    L    D    ?  Total     %
2003    5    1    0    1    7     83% 
2004   33   10    0    0   43     76%
2005   43   16    0    2   61     72%
2006   61   21    1    1   84     74%
2007   40   19    0    0   59     67%

Ultimo Guerrero

2003   24   20    0    1   45     54%
2004   23   32    0    0   55     41%
2005   33   45    1    5   84     42%
2006   35   52    0    1   88     40% (most matches)
2007   48   48    0    0   96     50% (more most matches)

2007 stats after the break.

there's still some error correction to be done ("Texano" should be in the Texano Jr. pile)

backtracking: Rob's comment said the opener aired this weekend on the main CMLL show - I'm presuming that means everything from Friday but the segunda (saved for CAN52) aired on the main show. Can anyone confirm?

forward tracking: Chui says 01/19 Guanajuato is the next AAA taping. If two weeks of Best Of is correct (plus the unaired 12/14 show), Guanajuato would air on 01/27. An 8 day turnaround seems about right.

AAA ran Guanajuato (baseball stadium) and Teziutlan (bull ring) to start last year in opposite order.

box

AAA US: three way cage match leading into Guerra de Titanes

CAN52: Women's Trios, and Wagner/Negro/Volador vs Averno/Olimpico/Ultimo

FSE: appears to be a repeat. A new episode is listed next weekend, so I'm not sure what's going on here. They may be just be screwing up the descriptions again, I guess.

--------

CMLL-MEX: Ultimo vs Wagner plus two more.

AAA-MEX: Best of, part 1

FS-MEX: you're better of not knowing

CadenaTres: You don't need Pierroth clones to have lots of Pierroth

CMLL (TUE) 01/01 Arena Mexico [ovaciones, CMLL, Alvin @ El Martiente]
1) Pólvora & Vaquero b Super Camaleon & Super Tri
2) Apocalipsis, Súper Comando, Zayco b Sensei, Sombra de Plata, Trueno
3) Astro Boy, Metálico, Super Nova DQ Arkangel de la Muerte, Nosferatu, Skandalo
4) Flash, La Máscara, Valiente b Nitro, Pierroth, Texano Jr.
5) Black Warrior, Lizmark Jr., Mascara Ano 2000 b Negro Casas, Sagrado, Shocker

SUBS: Zayco replaced Ramstein, Flash replaced Heavy Metal, Nitro kinda replaced Universo 2000.

So I guess the bit they're doing for Pierroth matches, since he's commentating for these Tuesday shows, is he comes straight from the announce booth to do the match. This time, Valiente tried to drag him from the announce booth to the ring, and got a microphone to the nose. Valiente and Pierroth got into a fight during the TV open for CadenaTres, Mascara got the pin on Pierroth in their match, and there seems to be an ongoing issue here.

Nosferatu yanked Super Nova's mask in the tercera, allowing the tecnicos to win in two falls.

Speaking of him, Pierroth was interviewed by La Jornada about his addictions to drugs and alcohol during the peak of his career. He says he's been clean for 8 years.

Also, Pierroth is currently scheduled to put his career on the line in Merida on 01/20, against local wrestlers Cachorro Jr.'s hair. I would expect Pierroth to try to maximize the revenue of his last few months of his career (however few or many they turn out to be.) He's surely losing his hair to Valiente or someone else before he finished up.

indy (TUE) 01/01 Deportivo Los Soberanos [El Siglo de Torreon]
1) Brakman vs Diestro
2) Calakita & Nieto del Soberano vs Pentagoncito & Pequeño Violencia
3) La Sombra vs Euforia [NWA WELTER]
4) Misterioso II, Pyscho, Semental, Tony Rodriguez, Último Guerrero vs El Tackle, Hijo del Soberano, Piloto Negro, Piloto Suicida, Stuka Jr. [ciber]

Euforia must've had a rough holiday seasoning, if he dieted all the way down to welterweight. I hope Tackle won the cibernetico again.

The paper also has a nice interview with Euforia, who talks about his first two years in CMLL. He wasn't sure about changing his name or his style (he'd been working as a tecnico) at first, but now does not regret it a bit. He's proud of all the guys from Laguna who've done well moving to CMLL in recent years. Euforia breaks from the pack and hopes NOT to put his mask on the line this year; he doesn't feel he's at the level where it'd mean anything quite yet. Euforia seems like a rational person.

Pentagon I talks about his life after death. He's selling CDs of his greatest matches outside of arenas of late.

La Jornada previews "Mexico Enmascarado", a documentary on the cultural importance of lucha libre, set to come out mid-year. As noted here, 2008 is the 75th anniversary of lucha libre (or the start of EMLL, which everyone decided is close enough), so we're probably due for a lot of retrospective stuff this year.

El Sol de Tulancingo is running a series of articles on the history of lucha libre again: 12/27, 12/28, 12/29, 01/02 There's some interesting stuff here, and there's something intersting stuff (the 12/28 article says the man in charge of WCW when they signed Rey Jr. was Lex Luger.)

Guerreros del Ring #120 is the first part of a year in review.

indy (SUN) 12/30 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Criminal b Rey Imagen
2) Aguila Extrema & Baby Fox b Dr. Cianuro & Invasor
3) Euforia (Monterrey) b Virtual X
4) Dranser, Iron, Scravos b Kaientai, Lord Byron, Ramses
5) Guerrero Negro Jr. & Zorro b El Elegido & Hombre Sin Miedo

CMLL (SUN) 12/30 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [MedioTiempo]
1) Cien Caras Jr., Lizmark Jr., Universo 2000 b Blue Panther, Rayman, Shocker

Lizmark got pinned by Shocker in the final fall. He wasn't the capitan, so the match went on, and Lizmark snuck in to yank Rayman's mask. Cien Jr. covered him for a pin.

indy (TUE) 01/01 Arena Olimpico Laguna de Gomez Palacio [El Siglo de Torreon]
1) Moro Jr. & Oso Negro vs Espacial & Scriba Jr.
2) Brillante I, Piloto Suicida, Sexy Piscis vs Mr. Guerrero, Scriba, Sexy Francis
3) Ephesto, Hooligan, Misterioso II vs Euforia, La Sombra, Stuka Jr.
4) Angel de Oro vs Guerrero Inca