11/28-29 Lucha Times

box. Guess who STILL isn’t getting the newly available Latino channels? This guy right here. They were supposed to be on my cable system on Halloween. I’m all out of candy.

(Wait, no, Twix bars. Not a big fan of Twix.)

AAA-US: the amazing debut of Mantra (who hasn’t been seen since.) Mesias vs Wagner in a trios, Alex/Teddy/Zorro vs Marco/Pimpi/Rocky

52MX: CMLL Air Force vs Tuareg, Cancerbros vs Dorada/Maximo/Rouge

CMLL: top 3 means a No Limit/Terrible/Texano rematch, plus Guerreros/Niebla vs Strong Man/Shocker/Garza

AAA: Looks to be 2 hours slot, so figuring just the top 4. Maybe not even, depending on how much time went to the big Cibernetico angle. Low chance of the minis airing, high chance of the Mesias/Latin/Marco vs Lider/Konnan/Nicho trios.

CMLL-FOX: women, and Mistico/Garza/Panther vs Atlantis/Negro/UG

AAA-FOX: repeat of last week.

C3: top 4 from the results I hasn’t seen

Puebla: 3:30pm start this week, maybe with enough romo for all five.

Monterrey: Wagner/Electrshock vs Nicho/Ozz.

IWRG: they skipped a week last week, so now they’re six days behind – Dinamitas vs Angelico, Alebrije, Hijo del Lizmark

Puebla, Guadalajara, Mendoza

Negro Casas/CMLL
Negro Casas (and everyone else)/CMLL

CMLL (MON) 11/23 Arena Puebla [R de Rudos, sportimes]
1) Asturiano & King Jaguar b Ares & Sauron
2) Diamante, Guerrero Maya Jr., Lestat b Aguila Guerrera, Artillero, Súper Comando
3) Eléctrico, Mascarita Dorada, Shockercito b Pequeño Damian 666, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Warrior
4) Atlantis, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero b Blue Panther, Brazo de Plata, Máximo
5) La Sombra, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. b Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto

Main event went less about 10 minutes. Straight falls for the tecnicos, setting up a Volador/Averno NWA Middleweight title match for next month.

CMLL (TUE) 11/24 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Metatrón & Nube Roja b Katana & Relampago
2) Metatrón & Saturno b Acertijo & Egipcio
3) Fabián el Gitano b Neutrón, Hierro, Palacio Negro, Horus, Arkangel de la Muerte, Ángel del Mal, Skándalo, Infierno, León Blanco [cibernetico]
4) Shocker & Toscano b Terrible & Texano Jr.

Shocker pinned Texano with a German suplex, then demanded a shot at the NWA Light Heavyweight Championship. That’s not the title that I thought they were headed towards, but OK. Texano accepted and it’ll be on for next week.

Fabian el Gitano beat Arkangel to win a random cibernetico. Arkangel losing to Fabian el Gitano is why the Tuareg can not be my group of the year.

CMLL (TUE) 12/01 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Divino vs Exterminador
2) In Memoria & Malefico vs Angelo & Metatrón
3) Acertijo, Asesino Negro, Drago vs Astaroth, Hierro, Metal Blanco
4) Brazo de Plata, Máximo, Sagrado vs Atlantis, Naito, Yujiro
5) Shocker vs Texano [NWA LH]

Beside the title match, this show is notable for CMLL moving closer to it’s goal of a full show of people with only one name. (Also, No Limit with their hair in GDL for the last time?)

All we need now is someone to challenge Mephisto for the NWA Welterweight Championship next week for the complete set. I nominate, uh…Metro! Why not.

CMLL’s posted photos but not results from the Arena Mexico show. Looks like usual attendance (bad.) I can work out the finishes to all the matches except the main event (which almost looks like Dorada won by countout.) It would seem like that’s the only one that should matter, but that’s sadly wrong – the Cancerberos lost to the Angels. They’re not going anywhere, and I’m starting to wonder if I should be mentally ranking the Tuareg ahead of them.

Tickets will go on sale for Terrible/Texano vs No Limit today. Prices are 40 to 400 pesos ($3.10 to $31.08USD), which seems significantly cheaper than comparable major shows. That’ll help.

The CMLL bodybuilding contest was supposed to be today, but I haven’t heard anything about it since it was announced. Presume it’s still on.

Ray Mendoza explains to R de Rudo that CMLL wanted Okumura in with No Limit for the hair match feud – because they wanted the Hijos del Averno to have an actual chance. The ex-Villano V would just wipe the floor with those guys.

SuperLuchas reposts a quote of Mistico sending well wishes out to Pierroth, while he was in town working Arena Isabel.

One of the writers for The Gladiatores got punched in the face at Arena San Juan Pantitlan show. That sucks.

AAA (SUN) 11/29 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [LMdLL]
1) Golden Boy, Rey Demonio Jr., Simbolo vs Angel Dorado Jr., Sky, Street Boy
2) May Flowers, Pasion Kristal, Yuriko vs Black Mamba, Caifan Rockero I, Rey Infernal
3) Joe Bravo, Tigre Cota, Tito Santana vs Aerostar, Babe Rap, Máscara Púrpura
4) Hombre Sin Miedo vs Sobredosis [mask]

Also, Lo Mejor de La Lucha has Latin Lover, Mesias, and La Parka Jr. vs Dr. Wagner Jr., Silver King, and Ultimo Gladiador as the main event of the 12/06 TV taping here. It’s the last taping before Guerra de Titanes, and that’ll be the last show of the year for the AAA affiliated Cantu promotion shows in Arena Coliseo Monterrey. They may have the full lineup tomorrow.

the top 6 stories of the last 2 week

  1. Dr. Wagner Jr. & Mesias to meet in a dome cage match at Guerra de Titanes, in Mesias’ last shot
  2. Texano & Terrible vs No Limit will meet in a hair match is set for 12/04
  3. Konnan and Cibernetico to have unsanctioned street fight Guerra de Titanes
  4. CMLL & NJPW talk about talent sharing in Mexico, including the 01/04 Tokyo Dome show.
  5. CMLL beats AAA in TV ratings, two straight weeks
  6. Okumura upset Maximo in a hair match on 11/15

Question of the fortnight: does CMLL even know they beat AAA in ratings two straight weeks?

More on those stories, and others, after the link
Read More

Coliseo, AAA taping schedule, LA Park

CMLL (SUN) 11/22 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Artillero & Súper Comando b Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II
2) Dark Angel, Estrella Mágica, Star Fire b Mima Shimoda, Yezca, Zeuxis
3) Pegasso, Rey Cometa, Starman DQ Dr. X, Hooligan, Loco Max
4) Máscara Dorada, Máximo, Rouge b Euforia, Pólvora, Virus
5) Blue Panther, Héctor Garza, Místico b Atlantis, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero

CMLL’s recap says “if not for the loss, it would’ve been a perfect debut for Cancerberos.” That is true, but the loss takes away pretty much all of it. CMLL!

The recap says Mr. Niebla wrestled in the main event, but Negro Casas is in all the pictures. Oh well.

Rudos got DQed for taking Starman’s mask.

AAA’s listed it’s final TV tapings for the year. It’ll work something like this:

                  MEX   USA
11/20 Orizaba         11/29 12/12
??/?? ??????????      12/06 12/19 - nothing announced
12/06 Monterrey (ACM) 12/13 12/26
12/11 Madero          12/20 01/02
                      12/27 01/09
Best of #1?           01/04 01/17
Best of #2?           01/11 01/24
12/18 Chilpancingo    01/18 01/31

(They haven’t announced the Best Ofs, but let’s assume they just do them as they normally do. The Chilpancingo date is confirmed.)

Not sure what the deal is with the one missing taping; there’s nothing for the 12/06 weekend. They tape Arena Coliseo Monterrey the same day, but not until hours after the show airs. Either they’ve got one more they’re about to announce really soon, they’re planning on airing a rerun, or they know they’ll be pre-empted this weekend or next.

In CMLL, tonight’s the Mascara Dorada vs Negro Casas main event. ESTO has the preview.

The director of the CMLL France (EFM) tour says “it’s not been a total success, but a victory

In Reforma, LA Park wants to be credited as the best hardcore wrestler there is. He talks about traveling to ECW and WCW to face the best wrestlers in matches with barbed wire, fire, explosions, and tacks. I must’ve missed that Nitro. Park says extreme isn’t hitting someone with light tubes, it’s gotta be something where your life is in danger and the audience leaves happy. Park talks about how long the memories of his matches with Sabu & Sandman will last with his fans.

Cronicas and Leyendas looks back at Art Barr, 15 years later and Canek vs Inoki.

Des de Ringside talks to Pasion Cristal about his career.

DJ Spectro reposts his interview with Vulanco.

Penisular Quadrilaterial reposts their Box Y Lucha article about Yucatan wrestlers Rayo de Plato and Drako.

Kcids has sad Atlantis/Ultimo Guerrero break up. The really crazy thing about this, if this sticks (not sure it will, what other rudos is solo UG going to be teaming up anyway?), we all they’d do the big split one day to get Atlantis back to the tecnico side, and perhaps to have UG get his mask. Guess not?

Random Fire sighting! Note, he’s wearing his mask. Apparently, a lucha libre match was part of Japanese day on a street in Mexico City. Shrug.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Ras de Lona #73 has tecnicos vs rudos in futbol!. This match pretty much illustrates the differences in ages between the two sids.

IWRG (THU) 11/26 Arena Naucalpan
1) Dinamita Kid vs Comando Negro
2) Eragon & Miss Gaviota vs ? & Vampiro Metálico
3) Exodia, Pendulo, Ultramán Jr. vs Dr. Cerebro, Gringo Loco, Oficial Fierro
4) Avisman vs Bushi [IWRG LIGHT]
5) Angelico, Pantera, Super Porky vs Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Oficial 911

Like Sunday for Rayo, this is for Panter’s 25 years of professional wrestling. He just hit 24 on 11/05.

indy (SUN) 12/13 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [LMdLL]
1) Angel Dorado Jr., Gato Fantasma, Sky vs Dralion, Furor, Lover Boy
2) Coliseo 2000, Gato Volador, Hijo del Ninja, Zodaico vs Astro Jr., Bengali, Dark Shadow, Koko Viper
3) Black Spirit, Diluvio Negro II, Potro Jr., Tigre Universitario vs Difunto I, Difunto II, Vaquero Romo, X-Fly
4) Hijo del Rey Misterio, Incógnito, LA Park vs Charly Manson, Damián 666, el Hijo del Perro Aguayo
5) Silver Star vs Diluvio Negro I, Pierko el Boricua [mask]

11/29 AAA Lucha Libre Premier (Six Flags Mexico)

AAA LLP (SUN) 11/29 Six Flags Mexico [AAA]
1) Fabi Apache, Jennifer Blake, Mascarita Divina vs Mini Histeria, Rain, Sexy Star
2) Marco Corleone, Pimpinela Escarlata, Rocky Romero vs Decnnis, Kenzo Suzuki, Polvo de Esterllas
3) Dr. Wagner Jr., El Mesías, Extreme Tiger vs Chessman, Teddy Hart, Electroshock
4) Alex Koslov & Cibernético vs Crazy Boy & Jack Evans

projected air date
Mexico: 12/05 (rerun on 12/12), 12/19 (rerun on 12/26)
US: does not air in the US

Had to make sure to use the colors here. In fact, had to throw in a couple more colors to point out the WagnerManiacs and the completely unclear status of Cibernetico at the moment.  These teams are completely divorced from alliances – that has to be the point, right? Even though there’s nothing on the website to actually point that out? Either that, or the CMLL match selecting hat has jumped. There’s not one match with everyone on each side getting along.

Relevant point standings, as counted by AAA

15 Jack Evans
15 Dr. Wagner Jr.
12 Pimpinela 
11 Marco Corleone
09 Elegido
09 Mesias

A wrestler can theoretically pick up a maximum of 7 points per show (3 points for the win, 3 points for the direct pinfall/submission, 1 point for the arbitrary Move Of The Show), leaving just these 6 as possible winners coming into this final taping. Obviously, Elegido’s not on the taping, so cut it down to 5.

Even more so, cut it to 4 – Mesias has no chance of winning. Even if Mesias picks up all 7 points, goes to 16 and everything else goes in his favor, he’ll still get passed by his partner Dr. Wagner Jr., who will get to 18 with a Mesias win.

As for the other four

– Marco has to get the direct pinfall to have a chance to take the championship, and Jack & Wagner have to lose their matches for Marco to do better than tying.

– If Pimpi gets the direct fall and the bonus ponus point, Wagner & Jack can’t simple have their teams win, but need to either pick a direct pinfall or a bonus point of their own.

– Jack & Wagner are about equal, and the favorites.

Jack seems like the best bet. He’s not stuck with a partner who he’s feuding with and has a good shot of picking up a bonus point. (Until they change the whole system again to give Mesias the win.)

Among the women…

06 Faby Apache
06 Rain
03 Mary Apache - not on this show
03 Koa - not on this show
02 Sexy Star
00 Jennifer Blake

Which ever side wins the opener is the high women. Blake and Star can’t catch up, with pushing Fabi & Rain higher past them.

The only minis who have points aren’t on this show. Perfect.

France, Guadalajara, IWRG, Super J

CMLL EFM (SAT) 11/21 Dock Oceane, La Havre [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Marcela b Hiroka
2) Dragon Rojo Jr. & Nitro b Hijo del Fantasma & Valiente
3) Sagrado & Stuka Jr. b Misterioso II & Sangre Azteca

There was also a match between French locals. Recap says Stuka is popular in France, which historically hilarious.

CMLL (SUN) 11/22 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Fuego en el Ring]
1) Cuca b Halcon Furia
2) El Divino & Metatrón b Ebola & Exterminador
3) Astaroth & Magnum b Dragon & Egipcio
4) Horus & Neutrón b Ráfaga & René Guajardo Jr.
5) Fabián el Gitano, Gallo, Metro b Arkangel de la Muerte, Mr. Trueno, Skándalo
6) Terrible, Texano Jr., Vangelis b La Máscara, Shocker, Toscano

Texano got Shocker for the pin. Fuego has an interview with Rene Guajardo Jr., who hopes to one day win the NWA Middleweight Championship, since his grandfather held it 8 times. (Hmm, we’re missing two.)

IWRG (SUN) 11/22 Arena Naucalpan [Al Filo del Ring]
2) Exodia & Tortugillo b Alan Extreme & Hijo del Signo
3) Black Terry & Jack b Oficial 911 & Oficial Fierro
4) Bobby Lee Jr., Suicida, Ultramán Jr. b Dr. Cerebro, Fuerza Guerrera, Gringo Loco
5) Hijo del Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000, Máscara Año 2000 Jr. DQ Angelico, El Alebrije, Hijo del Lizmark

Lizmark fouled Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., and the recap think he’s headed to the rudo side. First time the tag champs (Jr. Capos) have been around in months.

Ultraman stole Bobby Lee’s pin on Fuerza Guerrera in the semimain, which sets up a match between the two tecnicos where the winner will get a shot at Fuerza and his IWRG Welterweight championship.

Black Terry was an injury fill in for Freelance, which is kinda odd because of the match they’ve got set up next week:

IWRG (SUN) 11/29 Arena Naucalpan [Luchas 2000]
3) Jack & Oficial 911 vs Freelance & Oficial Fierro [relevos suicidas]
4) Ultramán Jr. vs Bobby Lee Jr. [#1 Contenders, IWRG IC WELTER]
5) Hijo del Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Tóxico vs Angelico, Hijo del Lizmark, Rayo de Jalisco Jr.

Main event is a 35th anniversary to Rayo Jr. He started in 11/1975, so my math says 34, but whatever.

I’d suspect Freelance was going to lose, but if he’s hurt?

Maybe they’re setting up a big title match show to end the year? This title match, the trios champs are feuding, they can always do something with the lightweight title, the tag team champs are back in town.

Box Y Lucha 2949 has Mesias vs Dr. Wagner. Even though that’s the 4th big match between those two in 6 months, the magazines still think it’s bigger deal than the Texano/Terrible vs No Limit hair match (and they’re probably right.) Box Y Lucha also has a story on a company planning to promote lucha libre (AAA and indies) in China. Their first show would be in May of 2010.

NJPW announced 14 of the 16 wrestlers for the Super J Cup and Sombra isn’t on the list. He’s still rumored to be one of the last spots. I’d feel better about that rumor if I thought it was coming from someone besides me, and it kinda is: NJPW’s article about the meetings in Mexico specifically mention Sombra (and Texano) as guys they’d like to bring over, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’d be in the tournament. I know SuperLuchas said this past weekend that Sombra was confirmed for the tournament, but I believe they were sourcing a purolove post (scroll down to Osaka Pro, 21.11.2009), which just had Sombra on a list of 4 names that had been rumored for the show.

Sombra still could be in the tournament, I just feel less certain about it. He’s surely going over to NJPW some point soon.

If I’ve accomplished nothing else, I managed a paragraph linking to articles in four different languages. So there’s something. And, I dunno why I’m worried about looking dumb about this, since no one else who’s mentioned this has credited me with bringing it up. I’m off the hook!

Speaking of NJPW and stuff I’m just making up, Jushin Liger is headed back to this continent on 01/30 for PWG’s Kurt Russellmania (and Wrestlereunion 4); perhaps that’ll be about the time he’s expected back in CMLL.

I’m still not yet buying the rumors of Los Romanos as Raciel & Cancerbero of the Cancerberos – it seems like too much wishful thinking, I’d need to see it myself to believe it regardless – but it is nice to know Raciel is a misspelling of Raziel, a Jewish Angel of Mysteries. Hey, maybe it’s Jeque.

Over on Box y Lucha, Black Terry Jr. posts Dr. Wagner on the cover of Dog Planet, with the random dog Electroshock had on TV that one time. Perhaps that whole bit was just get in ring photos for a magazine shoot.

Luchas 2000 #497 has the hair match and Konnan/Cibernetico. Nothing on Wagner/Mesias on that one.