Month: March 2010

Bam Bam retains, StrongMan, Electroshock, Lineups

thecubsfan 3 Comments

CMLL (SUN) 03/14 Arena Mexico [Cesar]
1) Bengala, Molotov, Sensei b Artillero, Inquisidor, Súper Comando
2) Bronco, Puma King, Tiger Kid DQ Fabián el Gitano, Leono, Starman
3) Bam Bam b Pequeño Nitro [CMLL MINI]
4) Ray Mendoza Jr., Sangre Azteca, Vangelis b Máximo, Metro, Rush
5) Hijo del Fantasma, La Sombra, Volador Jr. b Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto

Bam Bam retains. There goes that 5% chance. Odd shift heavily in his favor for Monday night in Puebla.

DQ in the second match was for Bronco pulling Starman’s mask.

Strong Man did not beat Tanahashi in the first round of the NJPW Cup. :( Tanahashi still can’t pull a bus, so there’s that. He won with an inside cradle, and Ultimo Guerrero clearly will be using that knowledge to his advantage.

Blue Demon Jr. lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Adam Pearce. I suspect he won’t be without a title for long. Demon did find time to respond to Mephisto, saying he’s not an NWA official, but acting on behalf of them.

Electroshock dedicated his win to all his fans, including his son. Which reminds me to note how he’s covered up his tattoo of Lady Apache with a monster or something. Safe to assume things aren’t going well between them? (I don’t like to go into personal stuff, but when you tattoo it on your chest, it does seem like fair ground.) In this article, “Mr. Kennedy” is identified as a wrestler from California. Huh.

SuperLuchas says LA Park is still on for the XLAW show. Perros del Mal have not said anything, but maybe they made it clear at tonight’s show.

The ranking of importance Ovaciones gives to today’s lucha libre stories: 1) Bam Bam’s title match, 2) Dhani Jones, 3) (and very tiny) LA Park showing up at Rey de Reyes. Which is actually a lot for them when it’s not in the DF area.

This article about upcoming changes on MTV2 includes a random mention of Lucha Libre. Can’t find a word about it elsewhere.

“The original Nacho Libre” says he bares no grudge to Hollywood for using his story. This is not Fray Tormenta, this is the guy pretending he’s been Nacho Libre for 15 years before the movie came out, and he is some kind of great for pulling this off.

SuperLuchas #355 has AAA Rey de Reyes coverage.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Rob has reviews of some Perros del Mal, 2010 FSE, and C3, as well as this weekend’s CMLL.

Lineups

IWRG (THU) 03/18 Arena Naucalpan
1) Dinamic Black vs Halcon 2000
2) Diva Salvaje & Miss Gaviota vs Comando Negro & Kid Tornado
3) Gemelo Fantastico I & Gemelo Fantastico II vs Arlequin Amarillo & Arlequin Rojo
4) Freelance, La Roca, Zatura vs Bombero Infernal, Maldito Jr., Samoth
5) Avisman, El Hijo del Diablo, Gringo Loco vs Black Terry, Dr. Cerebro, Hijo del Signo
6) Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Chico Che, el Ángel, Ultramán Jr.

Odd to have a six match card.

IWRG (SUN) 03/21 Arena Naucalpan
1) Daga & Eragon vs Alan Extreme & Eterno
2) Maldito Jr. & Samoth vs Trauma I & Trauma II
3) Black Terry, Freelance, Leopardo vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
4) Bobby Lee Jr., La Roca, Ultramán Jr. vs Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Veneno

No idea who Leopardo is.

CMLL (SUN) 03/21 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Thundarr vs Titanio
2) Magnum & Samurai vs Drago & León Blanco
3) Metal Blanco & Neutrón vs Ángel del Mal & Ráfaga
4) Lady Apache & Lluvia vs Amapola & Seuxis
5) Máscara Dorada, Shocker, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero

Mistico & Felino win, but don’t get along; LA Park, lineups

thecubsfan 30 Comments

CMLL (FRI) 03/12 Arena Mexico [SuperLuchas]
1) Metálico & Tigre Blanco b Camorra & Durango Kid
2) Dr. X, Hooligan, Nitro b Delta, Diamante, Guerrero Maya Jr.
3) Bracito de Oro DQ Pequeño Warrior [lightning]
4) Fuego, Rush, Stuka Jr. b Euforia, Pólvora, Virus
5) Atlantis, Mr. Niebla, Último Guerrero DQ Blue Panther, Brazo de Plata, Héctor Garza
6) Felino, Místico, Negro Casas b La Máscara, La Sombra, Volador Jr.

Tecnico took the first (campana on Casas, guillotine legdrop on Felino), rudos took the second (Felino on Sombra, Negro on Volador). Mistico was about to finish Volador in the third, but Felino swooped in and stole the pin with a casita. Mistico was unhappy, Sombra & Volador were unhappy about losing, Felino was loving life. Sombra was limping late in the match due to his big toe injury; they really should have him protected that left foot all week.

Ultimo Guerrero faked a foul from Garza for the DQ. Warrior pulled off Oro’s mask for the DQ in that match.

Lots of hurt people beyond Sombra: Euforia & Stuka hurt after a Stuka dive, Bracito de Oro cut on the arm during his match, Dr. X limping thru the second half of his match.


LA Park promo from after last night’s AAA show.

SuperLuchas has a big detailed preview of Dos Leyendas, which is great if a week early.

How concerned is CMLL about Blue Demon “stripping” them of the NWA title? It took ten days for someone to even get a quote from CMLL about it. Mephisto (also here) says he won his belt in the ring, so he clearly still is champion, none of this tournament nonsense. He’d be open to defending the title against people outside the promotion who were up to the standards of the title match, but only people in CMLL are really up to those standards.

A BBC host talks about wrestling Princesa Sujei.

Espectrito talks about the death of his brothers. Box Y Lucha also has an interview with Alex Koslov, interviews with Guadalajara independent luchadoras,

DJ Spectro looks back at the 44th Annniversary show. Lesson learned this morning: never open 8 DJ Spectro pages at once unless you want your computer to grind to a halt for an hour.

Cronicas Y Leyendas looks back at Villano I wrestling despite his father’s wishes, and Signo losing his hair to Latin Lover.

Coco Amarillo Jr. opened a lucha school in Comalcalco.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 03/16 Arena Mexico
1) Bengala, Principe, Robin vs Cholo, Semental, Zayco
2) Eléctrico vs Shockercito, Bracito de Oro, Fantasy, Último Dragoncito, Pequeño Warrior, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Violencia, Astral, Pequeño Universo 2000 [cibernetico]
3) Amapola vs Marcela [CMLL WOMEN]
4) Hijo del Fantasma, Metro, Sagrado vs Averno, Ephesto, Shigeo Okumura
5) Shocker vs Rey Bucanero

Very peculiar card; it’s one they’d run if there was someone to run against, though I’m not sure who that’d be. Bam Bam, Damian, Pierrothito and Olimpico are all notable missing from the cibernetico; it’s like the best of the rest. Astral is oddly listed with the rudos, just to make the numbers work. Should be a pretty good show, but I wonder what caused it.

Friday’s card you know.

CMLL (SUN) 03/21 Arena Coliseo
1) Rayo Tapatío I & Rayo Tapatío II vs Camorra & Mortis
2) Astro Boy, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Bronco, Puma King, Tiger Kid
3) Ángel de Oro, Ángel de Plata, Rush vs Dr. X, Hooligan, Nitro
4) Hijo del Fantasma, Toscano, Valiente vs Euforia, Shigeo Okumura, Vangelis
5) Blue Panther, Héctor Garza, Místico vs Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Taichi

Again, Mistico goes back to being a tecnico (or at least being on the tecnico side) when Volador is not around. Don’t really see how that works but I guess we’ll find out. Mortis is new; there’s one in Tijuana, no idea if this is him or if this is just a fake out.

03/12 AAA TV Results (Queretaro/Rey de Reyes): the return of LA Park

thecubsfan 16 Comments
AAA TV (FRI) 03/12 Plaza de Toros Santa Maria, Queretaro [AAA]
1) Cinthia Moreno, Fabi Apache, Mari Apache b Christina Von Eerie, Rain, Sexy Star
2) Chessman b La Parka Jr., Zorro, Octagón [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
3) Hernandez b El Elegido, Crazy Boy, Kenzo Suzuki [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
4) Marco Corleone b Jack Evans, Ozz, Decnnis [Rey de Reyes, semifinal]
5) Extreme Tiger b Alex Koslov [AAA CRUISER]
6) Joe Lider, Nicho el Millionario, Pimpinela Escarlata b Dr. Wagner Jr., Silver King, Último Gladiador
7) Cibernético b Konnan [lumberjack]
8) Chessman b Marco Corleone and Hernandez [Rey de Reyes, final]
9) Electroshock b El Mesías and Mr. Anderson [AAA HEAVY]
2010 AAA TV Chart
Projected Air Dates (#930, #931)
Mexico: 03/21, 03/28
US: 04/03, 04/10
Where should I start with this? Where do YOU want to start? I think I need a second. You sure can’t complain about nothing happening here. I think inverted pyramid and copious bolding is the rule of the day. Before even that, it might be worth a trip to Dos de Tres’ facebook page, which out did AAA’s own website in live coverage, including video of the biggest events. I’ve tried to link the video in the proper spots.
There were definitely big events, and the biggest was the run-in by L.A. Park, the original La Parka. He showed up after the conclusion of the seventh match, where all the legion’s men (including Hernadnez) and women were fought off by the Psycho Circus, and Cibernetico was able to cleanly defeat Konnan. That seemed to cap off that feud, but the Legion attacked again after the match. Mesias ran out for the save, but a mystery man in a black coat and hood ran in and helped the rudo. As Koslov and Hernandez continued to stomp Mesias and Cibernetico, the man in black revealed himself to be LA Park.
Prior to this match, Dorian Roldan was talking to someone about the start of the Era of Dorian Roldan, and this was now revealed to be LA Park. La Parka Jr. and Joaquin Roldan immediately walked out and had to be held back from fighting LA Park.  Park reminded us he was with Konnan in WCW, and now Konnan brought him back to his rightful place in AAA. La Parka Jr. thanked Dorian for bringing Park here, so he could unmask “this pig”. Parka did his dance in the ring, which angered LA Park, but the Legion held him back.
Hopefully, those involved have learned something from how the Gronda/Gronda feud went, and everyone involved is on the same page about what’s going to happen and how long it’s going to take. Even though it’d be awful fast by lucha libre standards, I would not be surprised to see the mask match happen at TripleMania. It’s a TripleMania main event level match for sure, and there’s no sense in holding it over for a year. Thematically, it might fit better at the Antonio Pena show, but the longer they string it out, the more chances for it to never make it to the finish.
As for that finish…for the last 13.5 years, AAA has treated La Parka Jr. as the one true La Parka. Occasionally, that meant going as far as pretending he was the only Parka that ever existed, and crediting him with the accomplishments of the first. Now that it’s near the end, or close to it for both guys, I would be surprised to see AAA change their minds.
It’s probably not a coincidence Hijo del LA Park is getting his start Sunday. Don’t have the slightest clue how this affects Los Perros del Mal’s plans for LA Park. He could probably work both if both promotions were okay with it, but they never are.
You think reading Park/Parka is confusion, how are those chants going to work?
Buried underneath this is Electroshock winning the AAA World Heavyweight Championship. In a triple threat match, where the first victory carried the day, Electro beat Mr. Anderson with the Electrolock. Mesias was outside the ring, and too slow back inside to break it up, so he lost the title without being directly defeated. Mesias was strechered out after the match. Before the match, Anderson did a promo on the crowd, and may have attacked Arturo Rivers. After the match, Dr. Wagner Jr., Silver King, and Ultimo Gladiador showed up and circled Electro as if they were about to attack. Wagner offered a handshake, Electro thought about it, shook, and Wagner raised his arm in congratulation. It appears they’re back on the same page.
Latin Lover was unaccountably missing from all of this. There’s no explanation from AAA. It appears he either did not show or just decided not to go out there for this match. This is probably the end for Latin Lover in AAA for the time being. I don’t want to say it’s for good, because he always comes back, but he’s probably not back any time soon.
Who challenges Electroshock first? It seems to be certainly Mesias, since the Rey de Reyes winner is Chessman, and I don’t think they’re going to do Electro/Chessman. Chessman won his semifinal with a spear on La Parka Jr. and a super fast count from Hijo de Tirantes (who seemed back to being a total rudo on this show; he was kept out of the title match for that reason.) Marco and Hernandez picked up clean wins in their semis, then feuded with each other in the final. Marco eliminated Hernandez, but Hernandez came back to attack Marco, setting him for Chessman’s superkick to win the tournament. I would guess this means they’ve have more of a plan for Hernandez/Marco than for Chessman’s next match, but we’ll see if plans change.
The other title match saw no change, but apparently some extreme bits. Thumbtacks were used in the Tiger/Koslov match, which led to Koslov bleeding during it. Koslov still manages to sneak in a foul, but Tiger recovered for the win and retained his title.
As expected, Pimpinela Escarlata paid for the assistance of Hermandad Extreme. With Nicho and Lider’s help, Pimpi defeated Los WagnerManiacos (Nicho & Lider on Gladiador) to earn a spot with them. WagnerManiacos were still not sold on this idea after the match, so this story is far from complete. Pimpi did not appear with the rest of the WagnerManiacos at the close of the show.
The women’s match ended with a dive train. After Mari did a tope, Sexi was preparing to do who knows what, but Cinthia snuck up behind her, turned her around, and finished her with a chinbreaker. That sets up the title match for next Friday.
Speaking of, after tonights’ show…
  • Pimpinela Escarlata is probably the person teaming with Dr. Wagner Jr. & Silver King as the new WagnerManiaco
  • LA Park is likely the mystery man teaming with the Foreign Legion against Cibernetico & the Psycho Circus.

Trauma/Angelico, Rey de Reyes, Valiente/CHIKARA, Dorada

thecubsfan 4 Comments
CMLL
CMLL

IWRG (THU) 03/11 Arena Naucalpan [Estrellas del Ring]
4) Barba Roja, Negro Navarro, Trauma II DQ Black Terry, Dr. Cerebro, Hijo del Signo
5) Trauma I b Angelico [SALAVADOR AMERICAS]

Trauma’s the new champion, and video’s already up. Navarros did not not get along with Barba Roja, which led to the DQ.

Didn’t get around to doing a preview for Rey de Reyes, and I’m not planning to run a chat tonight. The plan is to do one next week, but you’re welcome to comment on the shows if you’re hitting F5 all night. Not a lot of news today about Rey de Reyes. AAA noted Hernandez had arrived last night (but not Kennedy/Anderson yet? – odd to do a deal with TNA, when they seem not to be using that guy’s TNA name because no one knows it.)

Ovaciones has an interview with Latin Lover, who pushes himself as the Mexican hero of lucha libre, out to prove Mexican lucha libre is the best by taking the title away from the Puerto Rician and making sure the American doesn’t get it. He’s got no way to talk about Latin as if it he was an outsider, but give him time. Latin also talks about wanting to renegotiate his contract after Rey de Reyes; it sounds like he wants more dates (and more money that goes with it.)

[poll id=”60″]Previews of tonight’s Arena Mexico show: El Sol de Cuatula, Notimex, ESTO, Record. Obviously a lame duck show, but the Bracito de Oro/Mini Warrior lightning match might be going somewhere. In a short interview about that feud, Mini Warrior says he’s disappointed Mascarita Dorada has left CMLL, but Oro’s mask would look good in his trophy case.

Hijo del Santo’s version of the events (in his column in Record, via mariogdl at el martinete): the day before he was supposed to leave, CMLL offered to double Mascarita Dorada’s pay if he no-showed Santo’s tour. Dorada said no, because he had give his word. CMLL then threatened to fire him if he used the Dorada name on the tour, despite Dorada believing he was the one who owned that name. Dorada used the Mascarita Plateada name (Santo owns the name, gave him permission for only one night) on the tour to make CMLL happy, hoping he could patch things up on his return, but no such luck. Santo turns this into a rant about how CMLL’s has a vendetta against him (“warning” the people on this tour that everyone was going to not show up, calling immigration on him on a trip in the US) and steals people’s gimmicks (Mistico/Incognito.)

News reporter types keep asking Volador if Mascara Dorada will be the new member of Super Sky Team, Volador continues to say they’re not taking applications at the moment and Dorada is missing something. The job market is tough right now.

People who are getting jobs: Valiente, who will team with Skayde and Turbo as Team Mexico for CHIKARA’s King of Trios next month.

If you purchase a ticket for Dos Leyenads, CMLL will allow you to attend a public training session for the four luchadors in the mask main event. The session is Wednesday at 4:30 pm, an odd time.

Dhani Jones explains he was just in Mexico to learn lucha libre, but then Bam Bam Bigelow shoved him Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. yelled at his friend and he had to intervene.

Tinieblas is looking for a new Alushe. A bit late in the game for that.

The Gladiatores has a recap of the Park/Rayo vs Demon/Canek show in Chicago last week (which looks like it sold out.)

R de Rudo has a recap of their interview with Halloween, Damian, and X-Fly.

There’s an interview here about the AAA video game, but I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet.

LuchaWorld had Alferdo on IWRG from 02/28, and the latest Slammin’ Stan.

Segunda Caida finds end more 2009 IWRG, this time from 08/13.

Kcidis’ Dinastia Wagner poster meets the Dinastia Wagner.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 03/14 Arena Naucalpan
1) Daga, Eragon, Freelance vs Alan Extreme, Eterno, Hijo del Signo
2) Oficial 911 & Oficial Fierro vs Trauma I & Trauma II
3) Bobby Lee Jr., Suicida, Ultramán Jr. vs Maldito Jr., Samoth, Veneno
4) Black Terry, Chico Che, Dr. Cerebro vs Avisman, El Hijo del Diablo, Gringo Loco
5) Dhani Jones vs Máscara Año 2000 Jr.

Complete changed lineup. Main event is one fall.

Eterno was a tecnico last time here was here. Maybe not now.

CMLL (MON) 03/15 Arena Puebla
1) Centauro de Fuego, Espiritu Maligno, Toro Bill Sr. vs Crazy Black, King Jaguar, Lestat
2) Diamante, Metro, Rush vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus
3) Blue Panther, La Máscara, Sagrado vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto
4) Bam Bam vs Pequeño Violencia [hair]
5) Atlantis, Místico, Rey Bucanero vs Máximo, Mr. Niebla, Volador Jr. [super libre]

Bam Bam has a title defense on Sunday, and a hair match here on Monday. I guess they couldn’t really announce a title match on back to back days, but it does seem like a 5% chance that there’s no Bam Bam by Tuesday.

Crazy Black was a rudo last time he was here. Maybe not now? Centauro seems to be a debut.

CMLL (TUE) 03/16 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Meteoro vs Saturno
2) Astaroth & Idolo vs Acertijo & León Blanco
3) Hierro & Palacio Negro vs Ebola & Máscara Mágica
4) Pegasso & Rey Cometa vs Arkangel de la Muerte & Skándalo
5) Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata, Máximo vs Asesino Negro, Atlantis, Último Guerrero

Brazo de Oro/Asesino Negro feud continues. Saturno goes from the big title match all the way back to the opener.

indy (TUE) 03/16 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Black Poison & Crucifijo vs Infinito & Principe Azteca
2) Mini Rey Sagitario, Neurosis, Rosa Salvaje vs Angel Night, Mini Androide, Orquídea Negra
3) Furor, Galactar, Lover Boy vs Erick el Rojo, Pedro Navajas, Principe de Oro
4) Angel Dorado Jr., Babe Rap, Máscara Púrpura vs Golden Boy, Rey Demonio Jr., Simbolo
5) Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. vs Estrella Dorado Jr., Hator, Monje Negro Jr.

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.

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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/