top six stories of the last two weeks

1. CMLL canceled last Friday’s Arena Mexico show. A nearby protest around the Televisa office closed off nearby streets, and CMLL pointed to that and “security” as reasons for the cancelation. The arena itself was still accessible; it would’ve been possible for CMLL to run a show, but with some nusiances. The Friday night show is a taping for Televisa and Fox Sports, and no announcement has been made (or is expected to be made) of what will air instead.
2. the previous Friday night, Terrible broke glass over Rush’s head and challenged him to a hair match. Rush accepted a few days later, but the two will not interact for a month while Rush is off to Japan for the G1.
3. Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. beat Dr. Wagner Jr. on the last TV taping prior to TripleMania. The idea was for a very similar visual, Mascara shattering a glass bottle over Wagner’s head just as his father had done to Perro Aguayo in 1995, but Mascara let go off the bottle and it just bounced off Wagner’s head. Mascara Jr. appeared confused as to what was next, and was directed to just pin Wagner by his father. The taping otherwise did not have much news beside the debut of a new rudo trio, the Devil Rockers.
4. Kurt Angle was added to TripleMania, as Jeff Jarrett’s partner. The deal came together late enough that AAA didn’t announce it at the press conference for the show, but in TV interviews the following days. The promotion has been doing a lot of media work ahead of TripleMania, where plenty of expensive tickets remain.
5. CMLL announced Tiffany and Marcela will square off in a hair match the same day as Mexico City. Their match will be taking place just after TripleMania gets started. CMLL declared it was just a coincidence that their match was scheduled the same day.
6. The new Mistico continued to do interviews to promote his debut this Friday. Despite the CMLL programming committee saying Mistico would only be working their owned arenas and working in the middle of the card, Mistico is scheduled for daily matches around the country for at least first few weeks. CMLL’s been heavily promoting the Mistico debut this Friday on their television, by far the strongest build for anything since last year’s Mascara vs Averno’s mask (and arguable beyond that.) Misitco will team with Valiente and Angel de Oro (who had been offered the character) to face Euforia, Ephesto and Mephisto in his debut.

Other News

• The Lucha Libre Expo lineups were announced. CMLL, who’d been on the shows the last five years, will not put on a card this year. Depending on the source, CMLL either declined due to scheduling conflicts or because none of the promoters are being paid for their shows this year. CMLL will do autograph signings. AAA will tape TV from the expo on Sunday and the usual indy promotions will be putting on their usual shows, but the event is weaker this year.
• CMLL announced their Sunday shows in Guadalajara would move to 12:30 pm to avoid running against home team soccer games. It doesn’t quite make sense, since the team isn’t home every week, but is likely just another attempt to improve attendance.
• people who kept their titles: Dragon Rojo Jr., Cien Caras Jr., La Mascara, Prince Devitt. This is a sad list.
• a 50 man battle royal was announced. Medico Asesino Jr., last seen in FCW, will make his return to Mexico in this match.
• Metalico broke his leg, will be out until mid September
• Super Halcon Jr. won a title in Hidalgo, and Diamante did the same in Guadalajara, as CMLL comes closer to it’s apparent goal of a belt for everyone in the promotion.