Day: November 16, 2008

of Cibernetico and t-shirts

thecubsfan 9 Comments

The big story I’ve ignored all weekend are rumors about Cibernetico leaving AAA. The story goes, the angle with Cibernetico quitting the promotion after Konnan takes control is not purely angle, Cibernetico’s unhappy about Konnan’s influence and so he wants out. This rumor was floating out there before this weekend – SuperLuchas normally ignores AAA (because AAA wants certain rights about how it’s covered, and SuperLuchas would prefer to ignore than assent), but passed along this rumor in this week’s magazine.*

That was written before AAA’s tapings wrapped up. In the main event, billed as Cibernetico’s last match there before officially leaving. (He’s actually booked on a spot show tomorrow, another on Wednesday, another on Sunday…) After his match, Cibernetico put on a Perros del Mal shirt, breaking the internet message boards in half.

You could read this a couple of ways
– Cibernetico’s bringing Los Perros to fight the Legion
– Cibernetico’s joining the Los Perros promotion (which ByL says will debut on 11/30)

They’re pushing it towards the second, but…this is a year of doing a lot of WWE knockoff angles. That’s not what they’re doing here – it’s a WCW knockoff angle instead.

Cibernetico = Brian Pillman.
(sorry to those were just vastly offended)

Cibernetico is meant to have left AAA, according to the storyline, so it’s logical he’d be wrestling some place. He could put on a CMLL shirt, but CMLL could shoot it down in a second**. If you’re Perro Aguayo Jr., you’re so thrilled you get mentioned on a show people watch to remind everyone you’re still out there, you’re more than willing to play along with AAA’s angle for your own benefit.

In the interest of making the storyline look legit to those who don’t believe these sorts of storylines, they tease that it’s really really, and have Cibernetico wear the shirt. If they can string it out long enough, and Perro Jr. has his act together enough, maybe they even have Cibernetico work the first Perros show, just to prove the point. Whatever it takes to make people believe Cibernetico’s really gone, so his (inevitable) big return seems like a bigger deal.***

AAA’s current goals publicity goals appear to are to get gossip people to talk about them and work the internet, and this fits with both well.

In the short term, AAA and Cibernetico are going to do whatever it take to make you think Cibernetico’s somehow escaped the script and really will not be coming back to the company to put things back the way they always are.

In the long term, Cibernetico’s coming back to AAA and putting things back the way they always are. There’s always the chance things don’t turn out like they plan (see Pillman), but there is a plan here anyway.

* – this was mentioned in the last page Caida Extra sidenotes, which are often the most interesting part of the magazine. I understand why the whole magazine isn’t this way, but it doesn’t prevent me from craving more of it.

** – they could, but CMLL could also buy into it like goofs, but they still wouldn’t be the rebellious outsiders so nevermind

*** – you might notice, this is exactly what CMLL wanted to do with Perro Jr. before things fell apart there. Also, this makes the Perros promotion ECW, though I don’t want to guess who’s New Jack

11/16: IWRG, Lineups

thecubsfan 1 Comment

IWRG (FRI) 11/14 Arena Naucalpan [SuperLuchas #290]
1) Avisman b Imperio Azteca
2) Eragon & Fenix b Anubis & Shuriken
3) Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro b Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
4) Capitán Muerte, Fuerza Guerrera, Toxico AAA b Fantasma Jr., Multifacético, Pendulo
5) Arlequin & Hijo de Pierroth DQ Head Hunter I & Veneno

Main event was supposed to be a title match, but the Capos were MIA and it turned into a pseudo #1 contenders match instead. Arlequin’s team won, but only because Head Hunter was more interested in gouging his opponents and the referee with a fork than actually winning the match.

Multifacetico is said to have had a bad night. Toxico pinned him. Black Terry snuck in a foul on 911 for the pin, and wants a title shot.

Speaking about Friday’s main event, Toscano says he wasn’t surprised he got turned on, and he’ll just go back to teaming with the Guerreros and getting revenge. Toscano admits he has no idea what the Averno faction is supposed to be called. At first, I was going to mock him for this, but then I thought back to watching the last two weeks of the main TV, and there’s no way you’d know from that; if it’s been mentioned at all, it’s not been treated like anything important. Even though the Perro shirt ripping bit was show very briefly in between replays, and I’m not sure anyone who didn’t already know to look for it would have understood what was going on.

For next year’s anniversary show, Mistico wants a mask match with Averno or Ultimo Guerrero. If he can stay healthy that long, maybe they can talk about it. Perro Aguayo Jr., the usual name for these sort of challenges, goes unmentioned.

Ovaciones is under the impression Dr. Wagner Jr. will show up for tonight’s Arena Coliseo show. (Or did show up, by the time you read this.) They also pass along the rumor that the Morenos sisters – Cinthia, Esther, Rossy – are coming back to CMLL. Cinthia makes no sense, given she’s mixed champion in AAA at the moment. I have no doubt the other two would want into CMLL after trying to get independent bookings for a while, but I’d presume it would depend on how many friends they have to help them in. It’s worth noting here that a couple of Villalobos affiliated women are working Puebla’s show tommorow, so maybe there’s some deal being set up here.

Of more importance, also in Ovaciones, IWRG mentions they’ll wrap up their year on 12/22 and go on vacation until 01/02 or 01/04. The big question: when is my vacation? Seriously now.

There’s also a story about Blue Demon’s next show being a benefit for those dealing with childhood cancer, but here (and in other articles), they’re saying the show is today when it was previous mentioned as being pushed back a week. Unless I’m just confusing two shows, which is very possible.

SuperLuchas #290 has Canek vs Antonio Inoki from 1979 on the cover, which is actually a fair representation about this week. The website also has a post about an South American tournament in Peru. I know CMLL will never ever tour any place outside of Mexico since the Spain tour flopped so bad we’re supposed to forget it happened and forget that they were supposed to be on tour #3 by now, but why isn’t any regularly running in South America? That would seem to be a much easier sell, CMLL’s done some work in Panama this year, and there’s not three other ‘world’ promotions overexposing wrestling there.

With CMLL and AAA pre-empted for golf (and, for once, CMLL sure did things better – everyone knew they were being pre-empted, no one knew AAA was), Accion’s only lucha highlights were of WWE. Not the main event, not the title change, but the women’s match between Beth Phoenix and Mickie James, which was a horrible match between the two. Someone must’ve decided they just wanted women on, I guess.

The winner of the Freestlye Fitness contest was ex-ECWer Brooke Adams. Dark Angel did not make the top 5.

El Sol de Hidalgo interviews a local mask maker.

La WagnerMania looks back on Angel Blanco.

LuchaWorld has a cool new design, KrisZ’s news update, and Robert on 06/30/06 AAA TV and 07/08 and 07/15/06 CMLL TV.

AAA has their AAA recap.

Lineups

IWRG (FRI) 11/21 Arena Naucalpan
1) Halcon 2000 vs Soldado del Diablo
2) Chico Che & Eragon vs Nemesis IWRG & Shuriken
3) Goleador, Jack, Multifacético vs Capitán Muerte, Fantasma de la Ópera, Xibalva
4) Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
5) ?, Dr. Wagner Jr., Zumbido vs Head Hunter I, Máscara Año 2000, Veneno

Semimain may be a title match by the time it happens. As always, I would presume

Reyes del Ring (SAT) 11/22 Explanda de la Escuela 18 de Marzo Actazingo, Puebla
1) Deslizador de Plata, Gay Clown, Spider-Man vs Anthrax, Exterminio, Nekro
2) Mascarita de Oro & Rey Parkita vs Mini Cibernetico & Mini Espiritu
3) Mascara Virtual, Pendulo, Super Mascara vs Brian, Johnny Boy, Joshua
4) Crazy Star, Linda Star, Martha Villalobos vs Ayako Hamada, Lady Metal, Lady Warrior
5) Groon XXX, Meteoro, Pegasso Extreme vs Barba Roja, Pirata Morgan Jr., Zumbido

Well, it’s not quite IWRG, but give me another week and Barba Roja will be there. This is really only posted for that guy in the opener.

PROLLM (SUN) 11/23 Coliseo Coacalco
1) Cyrus & Thunderbird vs Betos Boy & Espejismo
2) Alma Negra & Forastero vs Espartano I & Espartano II
3) Aguila Guerrera & Lobo Metalico vs Niebla Negra I & Niebla Negra II
4) Daga, Huizar, Maverick vs Federal I, Federal II, Sepulturero I
5) Freelance, Magnifico, Romano vs Calígula, Judas el Traidor, Méssala

Freelance vs Romanos seems like a dream match.

CMLL (SUN) 11/23 Arena Coliseo
1) Molotov & Trueno vs Puma King & Tiger Kid
2) Astro Boy, Fabián el Gitano, Tigre Blanco vs Dr. X, Hooligan, Nitro
3) Flash, Leono, Stuka Jr. vs Euforia, Nosferatu, Satánico
4) Mictlán, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Sangre Azteca
5) La Sombra, Mascara Dorada, Místico vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto

Well, that’s some show. If they subbed in (say) Hijo de Fantasma & Hijo de Farano for Mictlan and Leono, I think Rob would have to fly down to Mexico just to make sure the top 3 got taped. Nice to see they’re just picking up the Arena Coliseo Tag Title feud like they didn’t even forget it for a week.

CMLL (SUN) 11/23 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Quazar, Samurai, Thunder Boy vs Azazel, Milenio, Relampago
2) Virgo vs Neon
3) Olímpico vs Virus, Terrible, Texano, Negro Casas, La Máscara, Axxel, Hijo del Fantasma, Blue Panther, Shocker [Copa Diablo Velasco]

Shocker being in a main event here probably means he’s showing up again real soon (if he shows up here.)

Super Crazy is listed as working Arena Azteca Budokan on 11/30, an AAA show.

11/15 AAA TV Results (Cuernavaca)

thecubsfan 18 Comments

AAA TV (SAT) 11/15 Lienzo Charro Buenavista, Cuernavaca, Moreloes [AAA]
1) Cinthia Moreno & Tiffany b Estrellita & Fabi Apache
2) Joe Lider & Nicho el Millionario DQ Alan Stone & Chris Stone
3) Alex Koslov, Rocky Romero, X-Pac b Billy Boy, Crazy Boy, Ultimo Gladiador
4) Jack Evans, Mesias, Teddy Hart b Escoria, Espíritu, Ozz
5) Konnan, Rellik, Zorro b Cibernetico, La Parka Jr., Silver King

Projected Air Date (#863)
Mexico: 11/24 – maybe, we’ll have to see how not airing an episode this weekend changes things
US: 12/14 – possibly likewise

Oh, where do we start with this one?

Show opened up with Konnan, Jack, Teddy and Zorro. in the ring, and in suits, to celebrate AAA’s takeover. Edit: Konnan gave Zorro the AAA World Mega Title, but Zorro rejecting it, wanting to win it by beating Cibernetico. (Maybe Zorro’s turning tecnico?)

Roldan appeared to demand to the urn back. Konnan brought out Rellik, who had been keeping it all along. They gave Roldan the urn, and Roldan promised he still had a surprise. That surprise was NOT Alex Koslov showing up, pointing out he’s Russian, and asking to the join the Legion, though that is what happened next. And that was just a ruse to distract the Legion – instead of just attacking him for attacking them the previous taping, they thought about it – allowing X-Pac and Rocky Romero to douse them with buckets of water. (Picture this as an extremely low rent version of Steve Austin getting the Rock, Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon with a hose from a beer truck – someone clearly saw it on the RAW 800th episode celebration a few weeks ago and must’ve been sad when they couldn’t find an actual truck. Not sad enough not do it, of course.)

Anyway, this set the tone for Konnan appearances all over the show. It’s been said in emails, it’s been said it comments, but it’s gotten be written in bold up here just so it’s clear: if you believe Konnan when he says he’s ONLY booking the stuff he’s involved with right now, Konnan is now booking ALL of AAA because everything in AAA revolves around Konnan. And it will continue, for some time.

Women’s match had the rudas win again. Seems like they’re having Estrellita/Fabi not get along. There’s no Konnan involvement here, so this stands a good chance of being clipped out. Maybe they did a backstage vignette where Konnan welcomes Tiffany back to make it work.

Stones pinned Hx, again. Their title reign is going a lot like Familia de TJ’s – rarely defend the titles, lose all the non-title matches possible, win only when the impact is completely marginalized, inevitable lose the belts after one member of the team no-shows a taping (hasn’t happened yet, but that’s a gimmie.) After the match, Konnan paid off the Hermandad (dunno why; makes me think I have the finish wrong, but I could swear they say the Stones win) and led them into beating up the Stones for being dancers. overturned the finish, disqualifying the Stones for dancing.

DGM vs Mexican Powers & Billy was said to be a good match, but who knows. DGM won, which at least makes sense. You can guess who lost – I mean, if you’re guessing Gladiador, you have to start thinking about why I’d bring this up if he lost and then realize they just put Billy back on TV so they could have him lose again. After the match, Konnan appeared with Jack & Teddy to get some revenge, but DGM left thru the crowd. I don’t know how the Legion could’ve possibly prepared for such a thing, since DGM does that every single time.

Konnan did not actually appear in the semimain, but was most of the story – Konnan earlier forgive Mesias for his fall out with the Legion and invited him back in. It’s unclear if he’ll actually do it or not (perhaps someone figured out, if they want people to realize Mesias is a tecnico, he’s got to turn on some rudos at some point) but he got along with his partners well enough to extinguish the Ozz/Dark Family push on this show. That went nowhere fast.

Konnan appeared in the main event. So did Cibernetico, which is another post entirely. (That I haven’t gotten around to writing it as a big breaking story is not accidental, and hopefully a hint.) For no reason I can figure besides a show of power, Konnan replaced Hijo de Tirantes with Pepe Casas as referee for this match. They’re both tecnico referees, and Casas called for a DQ when Zorro fouled Parka. (Again, at least that’s how the recap reads.) Zorro fouled Parka for a DQ, but Konnan ordered Hijo de Tirantes to ignore the DQ and give his team the win. Silver King replaced Super Fly, lost just the same.

After the main event, ex-Prez Roldan appeared once more, and announced the AAA Board of Directors (yes, Konnan won complete control of the company – except there’s a board of directors that’s never been mentioned and didn’t exist until five seconds ago that also has control; this is also a WWE bit) have instituted a special enforcer to make sure people didn’t interfere in other people’s matches – Vampiro. Yes, back already, in a position where he’ll be a top guy but unlikely to take any bumps.

You’ll notice, if you read this all again, not a single person interfered in someone else’s matches. Rudas won clean. Stones won clean. DGM won clean. Mesias won clean. Tecnicos won by DQ in the main event, but that was due to someone in the match – no interference. They brought in someone to stop interference…after there had been no interference. Fine, fine job. Edit: I guess the idea is this will stop Konnan from overturning finishes, but if he’s supposed to be in control of the company, I can’t see why it would.