Month: October 2006

If the magazine cover posted in the comments isn’t good enough for you, Super Luchas posted a picture of bald Lady Apache in Arena Mexico review. You know, I’ll add that blog to the rolling headlines list on the side if they get around to posting more than the stuff they already post elsewhere (like, totally agreeing with me about the booking of the CMLL’s women division is a fine start.)

CMLL: Lady Apache vs Hiroka. Hiroka did a top rope moonsault to the floor; Lady Apache and Marcela caught her in such a manner where they were obviously not taking the move at all, which is unfortunate. Also unfortunate is the finish, where Baby Richard has to have an extremely narrow view – he’s looking the pinfall, but he somehow doens’t see directly behind the pinfall, where Nazi is rolling Hiroka on top. The idea is he was looking down at the mat at Hiroka’s shoulders when she was being pinned, but that requires some sort of pinfall vision. Hey, Lady Apache actually lost her hair to Hiroka, I’m not complaining about anything. She cries getting her hair cut.

AAA: Normally, this is highlights from the main event of the show. What aired was La Parkita, Mascarita Sagrada AAA, Octagoncito b Jerrito Estrada, Mini Abismo Negro, Mini Chessman from Triplemania.

It sounds like AAA aired a 3 hour interview/tribute show about Antonio Pena, probably with no new material.

NPR did a short story about Marco Corelone, Dark Angel, and the idea of foreigners wrestling in Mexico. The actual audio’s about 4:30, and expands a little upon the article. I think the Mexican fan has a point – you’re not seeing much in the way of spectacular dives from the likes of Koslov or Kenzo (though Corelone’s superman bit into the ring is great fun) – but then I wouldn’t expect to either.

Delayed reaction: I just realized NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO is linking to THE LUCHAWIKI. My mind, it’s blown. This was a bad day to try (and fail) to update the software, I think. Next time I try to update, I think I’ll look a little closer at the requirements.

In case you’re not a person who reads the comments, CMLL TV in Mexico had

10/08 Coliseo: Hooligan, Mr. Mexico, Ramstein vs Fabian el Gitano, Starman, Texano Jr.
10/13 Mexico: Lady Apache vs Hiroka [hair]
10/13 Mexico: Black Warrior, Olimpico, Ultimo Guerrero vs Heavy Metal, Mistico, Volador Jr.

Robert’s all worked out some off the AAA taping results, which haven’t turned up as a lineup. (luchaworld

10/12
– Cuervo, Ozz, Scoria b Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, Juventud Guerrera
– Alan Stone gave Intocable a martiente in the main event cage match, which should mean he’s off some of the other cards.

10/14
– Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, Juventued Guerrera, Psicosis II b Cuervo, Espiritu, Ozz, Scoria; maybe they’re setting up yet another Atomicos title match?
– Brazo de Plata Jr. replaced Intocable in the bull terrier match, so they wasted zero time teaming up father and son. Rudos won, and if there’s a plan in place, I’d assume it’s for Porky to win the hair match at the end of the year show.
– In the scheduled Gronda II, La Parka Jr., Zorro vs Abyss, Konnan, Muerte Cibernetica main event, Elix Skipper replaced Abyss. Elix Skipper sure seems like an AAA wrestler. Konnan barely wrestled due to injury; I don’t think he’s going to leave TNA because his group there is hot and he’s a key part of it, but you’d have to figure they’ll run an injury angle with him soon to explain why he’s not getting phsyically involved in anymore. (Oddly, a post in that thread suggests that Octagon is one of the people currently in charge in AAA. I wouldn’t figure that, but I’ve read so little about what’s going on now, I’d consider about any possiblity.)

Next taping is Monday, and we’ve got no lineup for it.

I wonder if they’ll end up skipping one of the tapings, because of the tribute/non-wrestling show this week? Then again, the bunching was to set up a Central America/US? tour, and who knows if that’s even on at this point. They may have plenty of time to fill.

CMLL (FRI) 10/13 Arena Mexico Results [ocampo, ova]
1) Tzuki, Ultimo Dragoncito b Mini Violencia, Pierrothito
2) Hombre sin Nombre, Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca b Mascara Purpura, Texano Jr., Virus
3) Damian 666, Halloween, Mr. Aguila b Felino, La Mascara, Maximo
Mascara got carried out after a bad dive.
4) Dos Caras Jr., Groon XXX, Rey Bucanero DQ Kenzo Suzuki, Shocker, Universo 2000
Differing reports if Kenzo or Shocker caused the DQ in the final fall. Shocker wants a title match versus Rey.
5) Hiroka b Lady Apache [hair]
holy carp! It was a total screwy finish, for sure – after changing the referees mid match, the one in at the end missed La Nazi reversing a pinfall to put Hiroka on top, and that got the win – but any loss is a loss when it means you lose your hair. Post match, Marcela challenged Hiroka to her own hair match, but Hiroka only wants title matches at the moment.
6) Black Warrior, Olimpico, Ultimo Guerrero DQ Heavy Metal, Mistico, Volador Jr.
Warrior pulls Mistico’s mask, of course.

This proves I know nothing, as if there were any doubts. Lady Apache is great.

Guerreros del Ring is airing
10/08 Coliseo: La Mascara, Lizmark, Maximo b Averno, Emilio Charles Jr., Mephisto
10/06 Mexico : Dr. Wagner Jr., Mistico, Volador Jr. DQ Atlantis, Black Warrior, Ultimo Guerrero

GALA is airing the first half of VdE

Laredo Kid b Kaoma Jr. and El Apache [dream, toreno, final]
Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, Juventued Guerrera, Psicosis II b Chessman, Cuervo, Escoria, Ozz [sf]
AJ Styles, Homicide, Low-Ki, Samoa Joe DQ Abismo Negro, Charly Manson, Electroshock, Histeria [sf]
Alan Stone, Hator, Scorpio Jr., Zumbido b Intocable, Oriental, Super Porky, Zorro

Seems like someone paid for production.

CMLL (TUE) 10/10 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara Results
1) Neon b Virgo
2) Estrella de Jalisco CO Impostor
3) Nube Roja b Valentin Mayo
4) Mr. Trueno b Idolo
5) Conflictus b Oro II
6) Hijo de Pierroth, Kenzo Suzuki, Pierroth b Metro II, Rayman, Satanico
Kenzo filled in for Eclipse, who’s I’m guessing is hurt.
7) Dr. Wagner Jr., Mistico b Olimpico, Tarzan Boy

AULL (WED) 10/11 Arena Lopez Mateos Results
1) Arkanos, Yakuza b Okawa, Rey Lobo
2) Tortuguillo Ninja II, Tortuguillo Ninja III b Conde Bartok, Militar
3) Halloween, Psicopata, Tortuga Mutante DQ Nick La Muerte, Ultimo Vampiro, Villano III
4) Astro Boy, Mascara Sagrada, Rocky Santana b Dr. Karonte Jr., Heavy Boy, Misterioso II
5) Dos Caras Jr., Robin Maravilla, Ultimo Gladiador DQ Olimpico, Sepulturero, Skandalo
Olimpico pulled Dos’ mask.
6) Mistico, Super Nova, Terry 2000 b Atlantis, Rey Krimen, Sadico
Said to be quite good.

Ovaciones has interview with both participants in the hair match. Lady Apache is looking at this as revenge for the title match, promising to get La Nazi next for her help in cheating. She also emphasizes the need to have a good match, to prove the level they fight at.

Here’s tonight’s full card:

CMLL (FRI) 10/13 Arena Mexico
1) Tzuki, Ultimo Dragoncito vs Mini Violencia, Pierrothito
2) Mascara Purpura, Texano Jr., Virus vs Hombre sin Nombre, Misterioso II, Sangre Azteca
3) Felino, La Mascara, Maximo vs Damian 666, Halloween, Mr. Aguila
4) Dos Caras Jr., Groon XXX, Rey Bucanero vs Kenzo Suzuki, Shocker, Universo 2000
5) Lady Apache vs Hiroka [hair]
6) Heavy Metal, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Black Warrior, Olimpico, Ultimo Guerrero

While the main event, and to a lesser effect (and getting lesser by the moment), Groon are probably expected to draw the house, it’s that 5th match which is the most interesting to me. The Dark Angel/Amapola match was also 5th on the card and the previous two title matches in Arena Mexico have been 4th on the card.

The division is still too new and too unproved to expect it to have any notable impact on attendance; by making it the semimain here, they’re accepting a lesser reaction than they might normally get in the hopes this will help improve the standing. You’ve got to be willing to do stuff like that if you want to ultimately make it meaningful.

The most meaningful women’s match CMLL could do, with things are they are, is Hiroka defending (and losing) the title to Dark Angel, because she’s clearly the most over female in the division. None of this is a secret, and it’s not particularly hard thing to do – CMLL’s actually done a far better job building up Hiroka and her title reign into something important than I expected; she’s had some notable title defenses, she’s been a focal point in trios matches, and even if other women are more talented than her (and some probably are), she’s been fairly pushed as the top person in the group, not just the person who happens to have the belt. If things just stayed as is, it’d mean something for Dark Angel to beat her.

Tonight’s a fork in the road in that plan. This hair match looks like a classic example of a company choosing to reward a respected and politically connected veteran instead of going with the option which would be better for business. If Lady Apache simply gets to even the score, getting a win back to even the score from the title match, they might as well hand her the CMLL Title at the same time, or just dump it; clearly beating the champion in a singles match means they’re not longer a champion, belt or not, and they’re just wasting time.

OTOH, if Hiroka actually takes Lady Apache’s hair, than that’s a credit to Apache, and a sign that they’re going all the way with a championship (which would make 1 championship they’re going all the way with, so I don’t know why I bothered to write this.)

(I always wonder in these situations, if there’s some inside info I’ll never know, but will makes what happens make complete sense and in the absence of it, I’m completely missing the point. It’s tough to make judgments on info I don’t have, that I know for sure.)

One of the reasons I like CMLL’s Women’s Division is it’s booking, believe it or not. There’s a finite number of meaningful wrestlers, there’s usually one ongoing program in the division, and they seem to be progressing in a logical manner. Because it’s “Women” and not more nebulous concepts like “Welterweight”, it seems like they can focus on what they’re doing far better than they do on anything but the top program.

La Mascara defends the National Middleweight title this Monday in Puebla, versus Misterioso. That’s the show’s main event (though they’ve got 2 matches of CMLL talent underneath.)

Mistico told the press on Tuesday that people are working on a film of his life.

I’d be remiss to go thru the week without linking to Rob’s CMLL PPV Music Video.

CMLL (TUE) 10/10 Arena Coliseo Results
1) Artillero, Super Comando b Flash, Super Nova
2) Apocalipsis, Ramstein, Zayco b Starman, Trueno, Valiente
3) Leono, Stuka Jr., Tony Rivera b Arkangel, Hooligan, Loco Max
4) Alex Koslov, Mascara Ano 2000, Universo 2000 b Blue Panther, Felino, Mascara Purpura
5) Averno, Mephisto, Shocker DQ Dos Caras Jr., Heavy Metal, Rey Bucanero
Shocker low blowed Dos for the loss.

IWRG (THU) 10/05 Arena Naucalpan Results
1) Brazo Jr. b Black Jaguar
2) Ave Fenix, Gran Cuchillo b Black Jaguar, Black Stone
3) Astro Boy, Freelance, Tony Rivera b Black Terry, Fantasma de la Opera, Makabro Jr.
4) Fabian el Gitano, Fantasma, Hijo del Fantasma DQ Head Hunter I, Head Hunter II, Veneno
Veneno got DQed for faking a low blow. Rudos accused the referee of Mexican bias.
5) Mr. Niebla, Pantera, Volador Jr. DQ Black Pentagon, Nitro, Okumura
Rudos from the last match here showed up to stomp the tecnicos, so back to back DQs.

IWRG (SUN) 10/08 Arena Naucalpan Results
1) Forastero b Sasaki
2) Ave Fenix, Kid Tiger b Paramedico, Ultra Mega
3) Astro Boy, Fabian el Gitano, Freelance DQ Black Stone, Fantasma de la Opera, Macho II
Macho II fouled Fabian el Gitano.
4) Fantasma, Fantasma Jr., Hijo del Fantasma b Enterrador 2000, Hijo del Diablo, Pierroth II
5) Alex Koslov, Okumura, Ultimo Guerrero DQ Astro Boy, Mr. Niebla, Texano Jr.
Ultimo faked a low blow from Mr. Niebla, got away with it, and even Niebla’s teammates bought it and were angry with him. Sucks to be Mr. Niebla.

LLX is saying it’s next show is 10/22, with Rey Misterio Sr. & Hijo de Rey Misterio vs Nathan Rulez & Derek Sanders as the main event – but they’re bringing in the likes of El Hijo del Santo and Super Dragon for future shows. Uh huh.

Anyway, it’s interesting to note they’re still bringing in So Cal indy guys – and to be perfectly honest, So Cal indy guys who won’t sell a ticket unless they also operate the ticket booth, because who the heck knows who they are? (I didn’t till I looked the profiles up, hence the links) – with Vampiro out of the picture, as people had been suggesting that was (soley) his idea. I don’t think building shows around people (even if they’re awesome) the local fans are unfamiliar with is a way to run profitable indy shows, but maybe they’ve got goals other than making money? I dunno what’s going on here.