Day: March 11, 2010

2009 Tapatia Awards Results

thecubsfan 18 Comments

Hi!

These are the results for 2009 Tapatia Awards. Thanks to everyone who voted, and thanks for those who didn’t for reading this. We had 17 19 voters this year, a substantial moderate decrease over last year. I’ll try to hold it sooner next year. Thank you to everyone who did voted, and thank you to everyone who’s participated in the site this past year.

2009 was the year of Negro Casas in these awards. He was the winner of 4 different awards, including the one of the biggest. AAA, despite finishing a worst in Best Promotion, still managed to steal a surprising award (and an unsurprising one.) IWRG was not able to win any awards, but finished very strongly in many categories. One winner was so talented, they’re no longer employed.

Comments included in the ballots are listed after each award (but only Rob commented.) If I missed yours, or if you have more to say after seeing who won, feel free to post in the comments. That’s always such fun.

Full results from past years: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

This year’s results, after you click on the link.

Read More

mexican national titles: scourge or menace?

thecubsfan 1 Comment

My esteemed colleague over at Luchando Libre posted a column on Wednesday, noting the devaluation of titles (especially in recent days), and suggests a new National Lucha Libre commission should be formed, taking the power away from the DF group and extending it over the entire country to make sure the rules and regulations are actually enforced.

This seems a fine, but impractical solution. I do not presume to understand the business of governing Mexico, but I’d guess they have better things to do with their time. Much in the same way where I’d like it if President Obama pushed a college football playoff system thru for the US, but would actually prefer he take care of one or two other more pressing issues. Lucha libre would definitely benefit from an empowered national commission; beyond titles, universal policies about licensing (which greatly varies from state to state now) and nationwide name registry would cut back on some reoccurring issues. I just don’t think it’s a priority for anyone without some hurricane strength pressure to push it thru, and the stuff with Charly Manson was really no more than a drizzle.

The easier option, and the option I’d slightly prefer, is kind of the direct opposite: box y lucha commissions should get out of the business of promoting national titles. There’s no guarantee of a commission backed title meaning anything any more: very few of the actual champions right now would be considered the best in their weight class, or even the best besides those who have world championships. Most are title holders at most, and the commission has shown no power to force them to do more than that. The commissions have no power over how the titles are being defended in a promotion, and they’re irrelevant in regulating titles matches between major promotions, because that’s mostly a thing of the past.

The championships currently representing the Mexican National Commission of Lucha Libre include

  • 1 belt, the Minis title, in complete disarray – Mascarita Dorada is the rightful champion, but AAA has the belt and isn’t giving it up. This is actually worse than X-Fly/Charly, yet it never gets mentioned.
  • 3 belts held by Octagon & La Parka (the middleweight, cruiserweight, and tag team), which are never defended. A fourth belt, the atomicos team championship, is also sitting in an AAA closet somewhere, despite being vacant and theoretically reverting back to the commission.
  • X-Fly as the best heavyweight wrestler in Mexico. Based on the way the Perros never book the Manson/X-Fly feud for the main event, even they don’t believe this.

By those standards, the belts being held by CMLL wrestlers look pretty upstanding, but even those are rarely defended or strangely held by people who wouldn’t normally belong in that division (but it was easier than just creating another minis title.)

Still, does backing those six titles – jokes on different levels – actually help the commission perform their jobs any better? It seems like the opposite, that these titles mock the credibility of the commission every moment they exist, and the commission appears powerless to fix this. They should be out of the business promoting titles.

The only problem is, if we take away the titles from the commission, it kinda seems like we’re leaving them with just a couple jobs:

  • pestering Silver King
  • props in CMLL angles

In reality, I think they can do a lot of work in protecting the fans – making sure the wrestlers who are in the ring actually should be there, making sure promoters who put on events can actually do it without cheating the fans or the luchadors. That sort of stuff matters a lot more than silly belts no one takes seriously.

http://gritamx.com/el-valor-de-un-campeonato/

Monterrey, Shocker/Bucanero, Sombra injury, Dorada to Perros

thecubsfan 2 Comments

indy (TUE) 03/09 Arena Aficion [Estrellas del Ring]
2) Maldito Jr. & Samot b Brazo Metalico & Chico Che
3) Trauma I & Trauma II b Hermano de la Muerte I & Hermano de la Muerte II
4) Apolo Estrada Jr., Puma King, Tiger Kid b Guerrero Maya Jr., Orux, Semental

1st/2nd match CMLL wrestlers have been showing up here of late, as well as early IWRG guys. In this main event, the Cats got the pins on Maya and Orux for the win, which led to some mask challenges.

LMLL (TUE) 03/09 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [RFC]
1) Zodiaco b Neurosis
2) Dranser & Scravos b Gemelo Muerte I & Gemelo Muerte II
3) Erick el Rojo, Gato Fantasma, Silver Star b Furor, Galactar, Koko Viper
4) Golden Boy, Lover Boy, Rey Demonio, Simbolo b Androide, Corazon Adicto, Raiden, Rey Sagitario
5) Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. DQ Estrella Dorado Jr., Hator, Monje Negro Jr.

Dueling fouls in the main event.

CMLL (TUE) 03/09 Arena Mexico [Fuego en el Ring, CMLL]
1) Disturbio & Zayco b Rayo Tapatío II & Súper Camaleón
2) Dalis la Caribeña, Lady Apache, Marcela b Amapola, La Comandante, Seuxis
3) Cancerbero, Nosferatu, Raziel b Ángel Azteca Jr., Pegasso, Rey Cometa
4) Dragon Rojo Jr., Sangre Azteca, Shigeo Okumura b Ángel de Oro, Metro, Valiente
5) Máximo, Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero DQ Hijo del Fantasma, Shocker, Toscano

Bucanero faked a foul for the two fall win. Marcela got Amapola in the women’s match and asked for a title match. It’s been about four months, it must be time to do that match again.

On Tuesday’s Guadalajara show, Sombra suffered a dislocated left toe, according to Fuego en el Ring. He’ll need a week of rest and have to be evaluated then. It seems like he’ll still be good to go for the mask match, but they may pull him from Friday’s show.

Lots of articles about Mascarita Dorada joining Perros del Mal: audio interview from Perros del Mal, photos from Perros del Mal (so they still do have the WWA tag title – one of ’em, anyway), Perros del Mal video, Estrellas del Ring, Record, Box Y Lucha, Notimex, SuperLuchas, Fuego En El Ring, and ESTO. Mascarita Dorada’s version is he gave Paco Alonso his notice, saying he explained he needed to leave because he needed to get enough work to support his family. Mascarita Dorada says he’s close to Hijo del Santo – they’re talking on the phone all the time – so of course he went on that tour. He may change his name at some point, but he’s says he owns the name “Mascarita Dorada” and the gimmick. Dorada has bookings thru March outside the country, so he won’t actually start with Perros until later.

Pierrothito says Dorada will be fine outside of CMLL, but still wants that mask vs mask match. Pierrothito also says comments by “several people” indicate the minis matches are the best, and he vows to uphold it by giving 1000%. He’ll defend the lightweight title against anyone who’s a lightweight.

The other story getting a lot of attention today is a Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. vs Dhani Jones contract signing. IWRG’s getting extra attention for this bit from the lucha press – EdR, Record, Ovaciones – but it doesn’t seem to have crossed over beyond that. Still kind of surprised they’re actually doing a singles match and not just a trios. EdR notes this match is approved by the commission, so maybe Dhani Jones got his wrestler license this week? (Naaaaah.) Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. revealed his secret past as playing fullback, so clearly a linebacker is his natural rival.

AAA held a press conference for tomorrow’s Rey del Ring, with it’s own site giving it the most coverage. Hernandez from TNA has officially been announced as the mystery person in the Rey de Reyes tournament. Neither TNA guy was there, nor Konnan or Latin Lover. Electroshock and Mesias talked about their opponents; they were respectful towards each other, but denigrated the guys who weren’t there. Mesias said wrestling is just a part time hobby for Latin Lover, and you must be full time to hope to defeat Mesias. Electroshock says he’s lost no sleep about facing Mr. Kennedy, while Mesias noted he was recently fired from WWE and stated Kennedy will not bounce back here.

There’s also an AAA article noting they have no idea what would happen if Mr. Kennedy were to win the title. That’s one of those things you’re better off not saying aloud. Another thing is saying it’s the first time a current guy in one major promotion has challenged for the biggest title in another promotion; SuperLuchas says maybe it’s the first time in the West (“Keiji Muto“), but I’d like to point to WWE’s Tazz winning the ECW title from Mike Awesome. Unless you want to say ECW wasn’t major at that point, which might be right. It hasn’t happened in Mexico because no one’s had The Biggest Title In The Promotion until now.

AAA’s recap doesn’t mention it, but SuperLuchas says they also confirmed NOAH’s Morishima and Ishimori would be challenging for the AAA World Tag Titles next Friday, and Ozz & Chessman would be traveling to AJPW. AAA says they’re not making an exclusive alliance with any one specific promotion, but just trying to bring in new people for new matches. It is kinda amusing, with all NOAH’s injury issues, they’re sending people to work with Joe Lider. Unneccesary risk!

CMLL also held a press conference to talk about the big show they’re running in Michocan. It turns out to be a part of a greater plan to bring more entertainment events to poorer communities. Tickets for this event will be cheap, money from the gate will be used to buy a new roof for the disabled children’s building in he community. and the promoter is planning to do movie screenings and other events.

Estrellas del Ring checks on Pierroth, who recently celebrated his 52nd birthday. He looks a lot more like his old stuff, and he’s recovering speech and memory, but isn’t walking.

Box Y Lucha’s articles include Perro Aguayo talking about his promotion (now teasing a three way mask match, without Santo), Kenzo Suzuki talking about his career, Villano III talks about trouble making entrances, and LA Park accuses Demon and Santo of being hypocrites for always accidentally attacking him and not putting up their masks.

Hablando de Catch looks at a cage being put assembled.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Ras de Lona #89 has more Dos Leyendas hype.

Kcidis illustrates the problem in Rayo de Jalisco vs Zombies.

Lineups

PdM (SUN) 03/21 Gimnasio Nuevo Leon
1) Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V vs Centurion Negro, Karonte, Mongol Chino
2) Solar I, Super Astro, Ultraman vs Black Terry, el Signo, Negro Navarro
3) Groon XXX & Hijo del Lizmark vs Damián 666 & Halloween
4) Charly Manson vs X-Fly
5) Rey Hechicero vs Caifan Rockero I [mask, hair]
6) Konnan Big vs el Hijo del Perro Aguayo

This is the lucha show that’s part of a lucha libre convention. The Villanos are appearing at the convention, which is why they (and the others in the second match) are making an appearance here.

the Perros vs AAA feud that never happened

thecubsfan 4 Comments

This slipped past the past week, but has been discussed on the background a while. It doesn’t seem to have leaked into the general lucha libre spanish language discussion, so maybe it still is news.

There was a plan for the Perros del Mal to invade the 02/05 AAA TV taping in Puebla, starting a promotion vs promotion feud. Rey de Reyes would’ve been unchanged, with the Perros making minimal appearances before then, but the story would’ve taken centerstage leading up to TripleMania. I do not know who specifically would’ve appeared, but it seemed more like the core Perros del Mal rudos (Perro Jr., Halloween, Damian, Mr. Aguila) and not necessarily the guys who’ve left AAA on bad terms (Park, Manson) or those loosely aligned with the group (Santo, Demon.)

Instead, for reasons unclear (but mostly guessed to be the Perros backing out), the invasion never happened, and the whole thing was kept quiet until Olimpico made that random comment about it in Box Y Lucha a couple weeks back. The feud can always be brought – next Friday’s DF show seems like a logical place – but there’s been no specific mention that it would.

The Perros could’ve used the relevance that comes from appearing on Televisa, and AAA could’ve used the buzz and change of status quo the new feud would provide. This kind of feud would required a lot of co-operation and teamwork between rival promotions, not something the wrestling business is known for, and probably is a reason why it’s not happening.

Since dropping their participation in this feud, the Perros del Mal have ramped up their live event schedule, so it seems like they’re making a stronger push to make it on their own.