At the last minute, I had a chance to go to the GALLI show after all. So glad it worked out, because this was a pretty fun show and the promotions seems to be pretty well run. Didn’t take any notes, so hopefully I’m not messing this up too much. (Assume I’m referring to a local guy in all same name cases, and skip to the —– if you don’t care about Chicago lucha.)
GALLI (SUN) 02/10 Addison Community Center
1) Negrocito Fantastico b White Guy From Iowa
2) ? & El Chilango b Bazooka & Funebre
3) Blade b Resitencia
4) Charly Manson Jr. b Gringo Loco, Guerrillero, Pentagono del Infierno, Slayer, Discovery, Guerrerito del Futuro, El Infernal, el Tiger, Aguila del America, Amenza del Siglo, Golden Star [GALLI, royal rumble]
5) Yakuza b Huracan Ramirez Jr. [IWC]
6) Jerry Lynn & Samuary b Isaias Velazquez & Steve Boz
Two guys who drove in from “Iowa, Illinois” who were added to the show. Perfectly fine indy opening match, and Negrocito was actually fantastic.
We were told Mr. Zeus, Chilango’s announced partner, was hurt in training and he was replaced by a man who’s name I’m completely blanking out. Again, another okay match.
Announcer explained this match was happening because they’d been partners last show and turned out each other. That’s a fine way of making your angles mean something for this show – make sure people are aware that angles from last show meant something and are being followed up on here. Blade, the tecnico, won by countout after an Asai Moonsault to the floor. The crowd was totally okay with a countout finish, but Blade was not for whatever reason, and demanded three falls and demanded a mask match.
They negelcted to explain the rules to the GALLI Title match (new title, no prior champ) before they happened, not just to the fans, but apparently to the wrestlers and referees. The referees stayed in the ring (and just got in the ring) for the Rumble, and no wrestler seemed to know that going to floor in any fashion (not just over the top) meant elimination until it happened. That’s totally how (tecnico) Slayer got eliminated – he had one of those moments when you just start dropkicking everyone out of the ring, including referees. Slayer slid out of the ring to pound the rudo referee, but everyone else was aware he should be eliminated. A long argument ensued, and while people were telling him to leave, Slayer came back in and quickly got sent back out to make it a moot issue.
And then Gringo Loco entered the ring, stepped out of the ring and dropped to the floor. Someone smartened him up a little too late. I guess it’s okay if you don’t dropkick the referee first (and if you’re part of the finish.) Charly Manson Jr. had a Pequeno Charly Manson Jr. (8 years old-ish?) who got in lots of armdrags and then was killed by a Gringo Loco boot in perhaps the greatest moment ever. Match ended up wtih a singles match between Manson and Gringo, with Charly quickly winning. He did not get a belt, but did get a bowling trophy. Best spot was Tigre holding onto the outside of the ring post and hanging on for his life while Futuro tried to pry his hands loose. Tigre must’ve fought to hold on for thirty seconds and almost pulled it off.
I don’t think this Yakuza was the same guy from Mexico. The IWC Title Belt is quite modest, and I couldn’t quite see enough of it to figure out what IWC was supposed to stand for. Thought it was kinda weird they’d have some other title match after they just declared a champ (and an intermission), but it worked out perfectly in the end. Charly Manson Jr. was Huracan Ramirez Jr.’s corner man and so got a chance to get in a dive he couldn’t in the rumble. Yakuza’s corner man, Amenaza del Siglo, slipped into foul Huracan Ramirez Jr. and Yakuza got on top for the win. After everyone played a fine game of toss the microphone (and talk on it), the Guy In Charge declared there would be only one title in GALLI and they would unify the belts at the next show.
Main event was US standard tag. I don’t think I’ve seen Samuary before, but he looked good. Lynn was over but not hugely. I think there were a handful of people there to see him, but most of the crowd (~200?) was the normal latino families. After Samuray was stuck in the ring for a long time (and Boz and Velazquez and their unnamed female manager made that work well), tecnicos rallied back to win totally clean, simultaneous finishers to end it.
There was a stunning lack of BS on this show. Being an indy show, it did start late, but there were no interminable pauses during the show – either we got another match, or they told us it was a ten minute intermission and to go buy stuff. (I just realized I didn’t buy the local lucha magazine they were selling there, which is very sad.) There wasn’t pointless chair shots and random hardcore stuff, and not every match ended with people making mask/mask challenges no one belived would happen. I don’t know if any of the matches were *** or above based on match quality (though the Royal Rumble was ***** in entertainment in moments), but this was exactly the type of lucha show I keep hoping to see elsewhere. I’ll be at their next show…
…which is March 16. Different venue this time, Glendale Heights Ramada (if I remember right.) They announced the top two matches, though I’m not totally sure about the main event rudos either.
-) Charly Manson Jr. vs Yakuza, Galli Title vs IWC Title
-) Rey Misterio Sr., Hijo de Rey Misterio, Huracan Ramirez Jr. vs Amenza de Siglo, El Infernal, Gringo Loco
This is the only promotion I’ve ever noticed who actually say “Rey Misterio SENIOR”, so bonus points there. Kids in front of me were still going boinkers like the SmackDown guy was going to be there. Really interested in seeing Hijo de Rey Misterio.
——
Ovaciones says Pierroth is in the hospital. He’s suffering from pancreatitis, due to excess weight. Not sure if this is connected to his previously alluded to health issues.
Ovaciones previews both the Coliseo show today (Garza + Averno & Mephisto = likely tecnico win) and quotes Mr. Niebla promising victory of Abismo Negro at the AAA taping today.
CMLL (SUN) 02/10 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [MT]
5) Misterioso II b Gallo, Sagrado, Stuka Jr., La Sombra, Casanova (GDL), Damián 666, Mr. Trueno, Toxico, Ephesto [ciber, OCCIDENTE LH]
6) Marco Corelone b Último Guerrero
Eliminations:
Casanova (by Toxico)
Stuka Jr. (Damian 666)
Mr. Trueno (Sombra)
Toxico (Gallo)
Damain 666 (Sagrado)
Sombra (Gallo!)
Sagrado (Misterioso, with the ropes)
Gallo (Misterioso, with a low blow)
UG was stretchered out after the main event.
AULL (SUN) 02/03 Arena Lopez Mateos [The Gladiatores, The Gladiatores]
1) Demonio Rojo & Miserable b Enrique Ricon & Soldado del Futuro
2) Hermano Shadow I & Hermano Shadow II b Hombre de Guerra & Mini the Killer
3) Cerebro Diabolico, Epitafio, Herejia b King Star Tiger, Robin Maravilla, Tortuguillo Ninja III
4) Rey Krimen, Sadico, Sepulturero I, Ultimo Gladiador b Psicopata, Terry 2000, Ultimo Vampiro, Yakuza
5) Damián 666 & Mano Negro Sr. b LA Park & Villano III
Damian pinned Park after a low blow. This sets up Mano vs Villano in a hair match soon. Sadico snuck in a foul on Terry 2000.
CMLL (SUN) 02/03 Arena Neza [The Gladiatores]
1) Dr. Trauma & Jimy Boy Jr. b Chamaco Vadillo & Gran Kendo
2) Cosmotron & Okawa DRAW Gringo sin Ley & Turako
3) Black Danger & Black Heart b Ambar & Winners Black
4) Chaco-Mol, Rayo Tapatío I, Starman b Artillero, Chamaco Davila, Dr. X
5) Alex Koslov, Dos Caras Jr., Volador Jr. b Atlantis, Black Warrior, Ramstein
Accion highlights
CMLL: Main event atomicos. You know, when Garza’s accidently kicked teammates for months, you tend not to take it too seriously. They did on this day. It started with Perro having one of this mad swinging bits, except one caught Garza and Garza angrily shoved down Perro. Garza hit Perro back with the low kick that always misses, and the ex-Infernales swarmed him. The first half of the clips heavily teased Averno/Mephisto vs Rey/Ultimo, but breakup stuff was played much more important than the finish. Dr. Morales called it the surprise of the year. Well, it is February.
AAA: NOAH trios. Marafuji looked good, but the clips didn’t make Morishima look much better than your average fat wrestler. They also didn’t air any turn before the finish, only showing Kenzo and Morishima shoving after the fact.
DeportTV vanished before I could see it, but I’m thinking the lucha clips are gone from there. Check when it goes up on their site.