The rights to the NFL championship are owned by Fox Sports. Televisa’s schedule isn’t affected this week. The weekend programming, including lucha libre, should be going back to it’s “normal” time slot. Except, the normal time slot isn’t CMLL on Saturday for two hours and AAA on Sunday for two hours. It’s still both shows on Saturday, 1 hour for CMLL, and 45 minutes for AAA leading into soccer coverage. There’s nothing but time filler on the air on Sunday, and no particular reason AAA couldn’t have moved back there. AAA’s really going to suffer if this is the new normal; they can’t survive as a TV promotion with that TV.
52MX: Sombra vs Mephisto, which may or may not be the best Sombra match to air someplace Saturday.
CMLL: Assuming the old schedule is picked back up, this show goes back to the 3/5 matches from Fridays. That’s the women’s trios and the Hijos de Averno vs Reyes de Atlantida match. Of note – in this US, this doesn’t air until 11 pm EST due to soccer coverage.
AAA: likely whatever tape was supposed to air last week that no one saw. Since they’ve only aired one week of Guerra de Titanes, that probably means week 2 here. This would be the fifth week with no new content (if you don’t count PPV matches as new), which is a great way to kill all momentuem.
FOX: should be getting 4/6 from Fridays, which means Stuka/the two guys who’ve been here a year but they’re pretending are new talent when everyone know who they are vs Euforia, Misterioso and Okumura, plus Generacion Dorada vs Aguila/Psicosis/Volador (aka new Mistico)
C3: Minis, Tuareg vs Cancebreors, grab bag semimain and Avernos vs Sombra/Dorada/Rush
Mega6: if they air a new episode, this would have Avernos vs Morphosis/Psicosis/Volador trios title match.
Puebla: Pesta Negra vs Atlantis/Panther/Sombra in the main.
ACM: I’d expect they air the Chavana trios match here too.
Perros: didn’t get a check it out tongiht, but they should be onto the Neza show.
CMLL (MON) 01/16/2012Arena Puebla [Porra Fresa]
1) Asturiano & Tigre Rojo b Akron & King Jaguar Tecnicos take 2/3.
2) Apocalipsis, Hooligan, Nitro b Metálico, Molotov, Starman Rudos take 2/3.
3) Diamante, Pegasso, Stuka Jr. b Hijo del Signo, Puma King, Raziel Pegasso replaced Dragon Lee. Tecnicos took 2/3
4) Máscara Dorada, Super Porky, Valiente vs Averno, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero Tecnicos take 1/3.
5) Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas b Atlantis, Blue Panther, La Sombra Rudos take 2/3, Niebla powerbombing Atlantis fro the win.
Other News
In an encapsulating CMLL moment, Volador is in trouble for his variety of masks. Volador explains he is a fan of Spider-Man, and has a collection of comic book cartoons he recorded off TV, so he started using those looks as a way to get attention. It’s notable Volador used the phrase “renew or die” to explain it, as that’s been a specific phrase used towards CMLL itself a lot of late. There are quotes from fans (one saying using different looks is not creative, which is not the less sensible thing said here) who prefer the original look. From what I’ve read elsewhere previously, there are other fans who prefer the original look, but they’re a minority. The problem for Volador is some of those people who do not like him wearing different masks each week are the members of the CMLL programming committee. Panico says they’ve told everyone to keep their original look, because fans are ‘confused’ by changes. Blue Panther says he’s never changed his mask and the best wrestlers – Santo, Huracan Ramirez and Mil Mascaras – never changed his mask. (Mil Mascaras never changed his mask!?!) Volador reveals he’s been suspended for a time for changing his gear (his ban from Fridays?), and responds to Panico’s complains by saying the people aren’t stupid – “how can you change the names of a few luchadors and decieve us by saying they’re new talents when they’ve been here a year and everyone knows who they are.” I’m on Team Volador. Not that I wasn’t already.
CMLL Facebook
The other big CMLL controversy is this ad posted on CMLL’s Facebook. The slogan – “to be a luchador, you must be born in CMLL” – rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. A lot of people are fine luchadors without starting in CMLL’s schools; most of CMLL’s top stars got their actual start someplace beside the CMLL gyms (though all are required to train there.) CMLL doesn’t seem to actually believe this themselves; a bunch of people are being taught by Ultimo Guerrero at Ultimo Guerrero’s gym, which goes without mention here. It’s really just typical empty advertising hype, no different than every major card being one of the greatest shows of all time, and seems to be taken more seriously than it should. CMLL thinks CMLL is great.
I am actually thrilled by this ad. CMLL’s never posted it’s training school numbers, and it’s something I’m asked for with great frequency. Now I can actually give out the phone number! Plus, who knew there was an actual official CMLL school in Puebla? I figured the existing guys were just working out together and would take in an indy guy only when someone retired.
El Manana chatted with Comandante and Zeuxis about their tag team and previous trip to Japan. Comandante again says she really didn’t like Japan, feeling like her life was totally upset, and didn’t like the partner REINA teamed her with at all since she acted jealous and not professional. (That would be Dama de Hierro, who hasn’t been seen in months.) She says she was depressed, losing hair and weight, until she started teaming with Zeuxis and turned everything around. The only thing she misses about Japan is the food.
LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update, including words from Rey Bucanero about MS-1’s passing. (Also, Terrible has been in Canada?)
A poster for a show next Saturday with Blue Demon got some discussion because it looks like Demon is facing off with musician Claudio Yarto, after being very solidly behind Santo against non-wrestlers being promoted in matches. Demon’s since explained that it’s actually Demon’s promotion (the very quiet NWA Mexico) vs Yarto’s promotion (the previously unheard of IWAS – which might a new version of the Revolution Free Style group) facing off.
Cibernetico believes this week’s TV taping is the start of a strong period for Los Bizarros.
FantasticMania
NJPW’s website has been doing a lot of interviews with their wrestlers promoting the show.
Tanahashi mentions how he and Volador were a (so random) tag team in TNA, but then Volador did not remember him at all when he came back to CMLL many years later. Volador apparently looked Tanahashi up on the internet the next day and figured it out.
Nakamura is a big fan of Volador, feels Diamante has a generic look but is a top young talent
Taichi talks about his rival Maximo and suggests Rush will be a future IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenger.
In Mexico, Rush says his youth and hunger for victory will allow him to beat Goto. All the NJPW guys mention Rush in some way. Sombra’s surely going to be coming back to NJPW sometime later and Volador has a good chance to make a name for himself with a strong two days, but it’s pretty clear they feel Rush is the guy who has the biggest crossover potential over the long term. He’s got to start well here to make it happen.
