Month: August 2003

Hi, remember me?

My lucha connection lost Galavision, so no more (free) CMLL for me. Oh well, it wa a good run.

RIP Free CMLL, October ’01-August ’03

Anyway, here’s the lucharepresentation in this year’s PWI 500

14. El Hijo Del Santo
27. Shocker
36. Hector Garza
41. Mr. Niebla
52. La Parka
55. Dr. Wagner Jr.
84. Rey Bucanero
90. Juventud Guerrera
94. Latin Lover
96. Black Tiger
109. Heavy Metal
112. Felino
134. Nicho El Millionario
141. Ultimo Guerrero
145. Damien 666
176. Alebrije
185. Octagon
193. Mascara Sagrada
197. Negro Casas
200. Electro Shock
209. Rey Myterio Sr.
278. Super Crazy

I’m sure I missed some names, so work that comment button.

Other news: Villano IV, Villano V, and La Fiera (remember him?) have all gone independent and are booked for some AAA shows. The Villanos could possibly work for CMLL again down the line, but it looks like Fiera is done with the company.

For those that can’t get enough lucha, IWRG started up a 2 hour block each Saturday night from 10-12. The one IWRG show I’ve seen had some great wrestling, but was presented like an actual sports show (official stats before each match, ringside reporters) and had this strange sterile quality about it. The crowd was small and very quiet. It was weird. If I have to resort to buying tapes, I may pick up a few of these.

No working DSL at home has slowed me down a bit…

Some news bits from CMLL.com
– Speculation that Shocker vs Tarzan Boy hair/hair and Pierroth/Violencia hair/mask match will co-headline the 9/19 Arena Mexico show. I’m pretty sure the first one is set, and the second will probably happen. They hope to sell out the building.

– Havana Brothers – the two that are left – finish up in Mexico on 9/19. No return date at this time, though it sounds like they’d be very welcome back.

– They’re pushing a Perro Jr/Negro Casas vs GdI feud at Arena Coliseo – probably a title shot there soon. Rey is also feuding with Vampiro again, and has challenged for a NWA LH Title match on 8/31. It’d be cool if he won (just so we could get a non-break way of having Ultimo/Rey, and Rey really deserves some singles credit) but I don’t bank on it happening.

– Atlantis is back in Mexico, having won Michinoku Pro’s Mask League Tournament.

This is just a little nudge for people that may be curious about lucha, but don’t get Galavision. Over in the usenet group alt.binaries.pro-wrestling, the shows from 5/11 are posted. The AAA is there in full now, and the CMLL looks to showing up slowly but surely. I’ve got the CMLL show (the Japan vs. Mexico ciibernetica) arriving soon from wrestleholics, so I’m not going to bother grabbing that one, but the AAA one interested me enough to grab. As per usual with the fed, the minis are the highlight. They also have the infamous 6-sided ring, which is must-see if for nothing else than the novelty of it.

Here’s a nice recap of last weekend’s show in Chicago.

Mr. Niebla did defeat Apolo Dantes to retain his CMLL Heavyweight Title on Sunday. CMLL.com says it was contrversal decision (expect rematch?)

CMLL.com pushes a Cien/Rayo feud as well. Could be a stepping stone back to the Universo/Rayo feud but I can’t see anything big (like mentioned before) happening in time for the 9/19 show. Doesn’t seem like enough time to hype it.

You know how sometimes you think you’re losing your mind, because you see someone wearing a belt that looks like Blue Demon but that can’t possibly be right, but then it is? No? Never mind.

CMLL.com is mentioning that another big annivesery show will be held on 9/19, though no matches are announced. However, the 8/12 Observer mentions that a big mask/mask has been planned: Universo 2000 vs Rayo De Jalisco. Although it may be off – Rayo’s head injuries from earlier this year have been plaguing him – the Observer actually has what was (is?) the planned finish but I don’t want to give it away, unless I can figure out spoiler tags.

Havana Pitbull #2 (Puma Kid) has been called back to NJPW-LA to fufill commitments there. My underinformed guess is that Inoki might be using him for that Jungle Fight show, though no card has been announced there either. The group itself is listed as being around till “September”, so Quance and Rocky could be gone soon too.

Arena Mexico Lineup this Friday
– Shocker vs Tarzan Boy
(TB helped UG beat Shocker for the Blue Demon trophy two weeks ago, and Shocker got caught giving him a low blow last week. Tease of hair/hair, but both seem to have dates with Vampiro for that match)
– Perro Aguayo Jr., Vampiro and Negro Casas vs Black Tiger, Ultimo Guerrero and Rey Bucanero
(Black Tiger and Perro Aguayo Jr. have issues)
– Mascara Ano 2000, Universo 2000, Violencia vs Pierroth, Emilio Charles, and Bestia Salvage
(They’re pushing the Violencia/Pierroth feud – fear for his mask, wonder if they’ll remember the Metro title)
– Havana Brothers I, III, Safari vs Zumbido, Super Crazy, Nitro
– Mini Olimpico and Mini Brazo de Oro vs Mini Violencia and Fire

Observer also has the lineup for the 9/28 Atlanta lucha show
– Pentagon vs el Hijo Del Santo
– Super Porky & Brazo de Oro & La Parka vs Los Villanos IV & V & Felino
– Dos Caras Sr. and Lizmark Jr. vs Ultimo Guerrero & Negro Casas
– WWWA Women’s Title Match: Ayako Hamada (c) vs Princesa Sugeith
– Pequeno Violencia vs Pequeno Pierroth
– El Sicodelico Jr. vs Masada

Dos Caras Sr?

Haven’t found results for last night’s Coliseo show, but my money is on Ultimo retaining his title.

EDIT: fixed the name of the trophy

I’ve got a new post up at the Wienerboard with a look at some older lucha. The Best of El Hijo del Santo. It’s got the When Worlds Collide match, the much-loved singles match with Psicosis, and Santo’s heel turn. Probably the highest quality (match-wise) tape that I’ve looked at so far.

There’s also Todd Gerth’s summary of lucha action in Chicago. Not a whole lot of familiar names for CMLL fans, but the rudos rudo, Apolo Dantes is supposed to be there on the 23rd.

I’ve got a fresh order in at Wrestleholics, and since the two missing weeks (79 and 82) in TheCubsFan’s recaps were both on the same 2 hour tape, so I added this one into the end of an 8-hour tape. So, for those that couldn’t live without knowing what happened in all those Sadam matches, it is your lucky day. Other than that, lots of Bucanero & Guerrero.