07/08: Coliseo, Konnan, Monterrey, Merida

CMLL (SUN) 07/08 Arena Coliseo [Alvin @ el Martinete, Ovaciones, CMLL]
1) Rayo Tapatio I & Rayo Tapatio II b Caligula & Messala
2) Bam Bam, Pequeno Olimpico, Ultimo Dragoncito DQ Mr. Aguilita, Pequeno Damian 666, Pequeno Halloween
3) Leono, Sagrado, Tony Rivera b Eclipse, Misterioso II, Okumura
4) Mascara Ano 2000, Sangre Azteca, Ultimo Guerrero b Alex Koslov, Marco Corelone, Volador Jr.
5) Dos Caras Jr. b Universo 2000 [CMLL HEAVY]

Dos won clean. He actually tried for the press slam into a German suplex, but that wasn’t happening on Universo. He got a small package instead. The idea is the Heavyweight title is the missing piece to turn Dos from a top guy to a top guy people actually pay to see. That would be nice, but I see a couple problems here

– this is a Coliseo feud, taking place on FSLatin America in Mexico. I dunno ratings in Mexico, but it seems like only a fraction of the audience that watches the main show (much more accessible) would see this. If you really wanted to make this mean something, you do in Arena Mexico, you do it on the main TV show, and you do it on Friday so it makes all the lucha magazines this week. Unless they spoiled the finish to the magazines to get them to hype it, this won’t be covered till next week, right as they’re selling TripleMania coverage

– As sarcastically pointed out in the comments and assuming they follow up on this (and they should), who could Dos Jr. wrestle that would actually be interesting? Universo again? No. (though we’ll get some of that, and this match was said to be better than expected.) Lizmark Jr.? No (though we’ll surely get some of that.) Eclipse? (Gosh no.) Corelone’s a tecnico, thankfully.

There’s a big hole in Mexico where good heavyweights should be (though that problem seems to be global for wrestling.) They could always have Light Heavy type rudos wrestle Dos, but there doesn’t seem to be any obvious Step 2 to this plan.

In the minis match, Damian fouled Bam Bam. Usually challenges after the match, nothing agreed to. He got a small package instead. The show drew close to a sell out.

Some notes from Konnan on last night’s Wrestling Observer Live, as mentioned in the comments. Much of the show as Chris Benoit and other talk. Very little on TripleMania itself – they ran over a list of US guys expected in, and most of the rest of the AAA talk wasn’t event specific.

– The Planned US Expansion continues on…being planned. Usual bit about being an untapped market, drawing well for other promoters even who don’t have AAA’s sensibilities. They plan to have 4 US PPVs in ’08, which I took to mean Rey de Reyes/TripleMania/Verano de Escandalo/Guerra de Tiantes rather than them running shows in the US that air on PPV.

AAA plans on doing shows in the US in ’08. The guy who got them on the Warped Tour is going to be promoter for the US shows. The idea of the Warped Tour is just to get their name out there. AAA may end up creating a splinter promotion for the US shows, depending on regulation issues, but the same people (Konnan) would be in charge.

– Konnan talked highly of Dorian Roldan, making the transition from a college student who came to AAA shows and work concessions to a workaholic who has a hand in the storylines. Konnan said something like “now we have storylines, we used to just have a lot of run-ins”, which made me laugh out loud. It’s totally true.

– Konnan likes what they’re doing now – he cited the Air Force members by individual names and he likes the Hell Brothers as a group, but wants to continue improving. Production is emphasized, as always. (There’s more he said here, but I want to relisten to it to get it right before committing to it.)

Based on his comments during another part of the show, I think you’ll see AAA bring in some US indy guys/(gals?). He’d for sure bring in some TNA guys if they were freed from the their TNA contracts. Konnan is actually still under TNA contract for a year, but he figures as long as he doesn’t wrestle in the US, it’s not worth TNA’s time to fight him about it.

– Rikishi and Black Pearl are confirmed for coming in for TripleMania

– Abismo & Niebla were off TV due to rehab.

– Octagon showed up to a TV taping drunk, and Konnan took him off TV as punishment. That’s how we’ve ended up with Juvi/Fuerza.

– Konnan’s kidney surgery will not be until after TripleMania (and the Leon taping), assuming his donor matches him. He wanted to do it this week, but AAA asked for him to be around for TripleMania. He’s going to be in the hospital for three weeks, and then new a couple weeks after that to get in shape, but hopes to be in the ring soon after. (That would be – late August/September?)

Konnan figures the tecnicos will get a huge reaction when they finally get him to take a bump. I think the tecnicos will get a big reaction, but it’s more because he’s a star and he hasn’t taken a bump in a while. Konnan’s interfered a lot and the tencicos haven’t got anything back on them, but Konnan’s interference is always when all the rudos are beating up all the tecnicos – it never changes the match, and gets lost in the fifteen other things going on. But we’ll see how it plays out.

AAA (SUN) 07/08 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC
1) Barba Roja & Hijo del Pirata Morgan b Invasor & Mercurio
2) Aguila Extrema & Rey Imagen b Monje Negro Jr. & Pirata Morgan Jr.
3) La Chola, Monsther, Rey Infernal b Brazo, Estrellita, Virtual X
4) Histeria b Extreme Tiger and Oriental [bull terrier]
5) Antifaz & Hator b Pirata Morgan & Sangre Chicana

CMLL EU (SUN) 07/08 Poliforum Zamna de Merida [yuka lopez @ el martinete]
1) Halcon Rojo, Halcon Rojo Jr., Lobo Salvaje b Amenaza Roja, Anubis, Estrella de Fuego
2) Arkanos & Imperio Dorado b Angelito Vengador & Torinito
3) Dark Angel & Luna Magica b Hiroka & Mima Shimoda
4) Averno & Mephisto b Hijo de Solitario & La Mascara
5) Atlantis, Hector Garza, Olimpico DQ Heavy Metal, Mascara Purpura, Mistico

Dos Jr. was scheduled in the main event, but of course he was elsewhere. Purpura got bumped up, and Soliatrio was put in his place.

CMLL (SUN) 07/15 Auditorio de Tijuana [RFC]
1) Kid Azteca, Pandillero I, Pandillero II vs Extasis, Silver Star, Star Boy
2) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Sangre Azteca vs El Camaleon, Hijo de Rey Misterio, Rey Misterio
3) Damian 666, Halloween, Mr. Aguila vs Alex Koslov, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado

El Sol de Tlaxcala has a brief preview of the 07/28 taping. Not much more than Mesias and Cibernetico will be fighting (like every show) and Tinieblas Jr., Zorro, Intocable, and La Parka Jr. will appear.

Super Luchas #220 has the WWE tour.

Team Skayde In Japan, DAY 1 (07/08 Dragon Gate Arena) – via DGUSA
1) Super Shisa (Pentagon Black), Jorge Rivera (Skayde) b The Tuborman (Turbo), Shisa Boy
4) Naruki Doi, Black Thunder b Tozawa, Matt Sydal

Should I know who Shisa Boy is? I think I’m supposed to. Slippin’.

I swore I saw Toryumon Mexico results, but I can’t remember where. Maybe I’m just thinking of Black Terry’s video.