Month: May 2013

IWRG (SUN) 05/12/2013 Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), The Gladiatores]
1) Dragón Celestial & Fulgor b Galaxie & Seiya
2) Imposible & Picudo Jr. b Diva Salvaje & Miss Gaviota
Picudo gave Gaviota a back cracker in the third.
3) Alan Extreme, Apolo Estrada, Canis Lupus COR Centvrión, Freyser, Golden Magic
Rudos all did dives in the third fall, and Canis Lupus was the only one of the six to make it back in!
4) Danny Casas, Niko, Súper Nova b Chico Che, Dinamic Black, Tony Rivera
Tony Rivera’s first match here since October. Niko (and Fandango) replaced Eterno. Rudos took 1/3, Nova pinning Dinamic Black using the ropes to pin him. Nova feuded with Dinamic Black during the match and challenged him for a (double) title match.
5) Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Toscano b Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II
Negro Navarro submitted Pirata in the second, Toscano & Hijo de Pirata beat the Traumas in the second, and Pirata Morgan surprised Negro with a hold to beat him in the third. Both fathers exchanged challenges for the IWRG trios (Piratas) and tag (Negro/Trauma I) titles.

I had this on my TV while I was working on other stuff last night. LAS ended up airing 2/3/4, then cut away to a rerun instead of the main event, then cut back to ending after the main event. It was a new way to be strange. I wonder what (or if) the ‘TV networks forcing AAA to do exclusive wrestlers’ affects the AAA guys who appear on IWRG TV.

Super Nova and Dinamic Black were basically having their own match for large stretches of the semifinal. Tony Rivera seemed to be in a crazed mood, or maybe that was just his Tony Gym shirt.

CMLL LLA (SUN) 05/12/2013 Gimnasio Nuevo Leon [LuchaMania Monterrey]
1) Gato Fantasma & Sky b Pedro Navajas & Vudu
2) Bengali, Difunto I, Difunto II b Golden Boy, Rey Demonio Jr., Silencio
Difunto I snuck in a foul on Golden Boy.
3) Monje Negro Jr., Potro Jr., Tigre Universitario b Angel Dorado Jr., Charles Lucero, Máscara Púrpura
Tiger pinned Lucero. They feuded.
4) Atlantis & Máximo b Averno & Último Guerrero
Tecnicos won clean. Atlantis (30 years) was honored before the match, and there was a moment of applause for Hector Garza (not present.)
5) Mistico TLDRAW La Sombra, Volador Jr. [LLA AZTECA]
Mistico came in as champion. Match was announced as a 30 minute time limit, with both Sombra & Volador unhappy about it since there had been no time limit in previous matches when they held this hot potato title. Sure enough, this went to a time limit draw. Luchadors asked for extra time, but the promoter would not budge. The commission announced that a time limit draw meant the title was vacant (?!?!). The luchadors then asked if they could continue the match without it being a title match, the commission gave them OK, and it turned into a hardcore match until they just stopped.

That sure reads like they wanted the belt off Mistico but weren’t allowed to have him lose. Only Ultimo Guerrero gets to do that. No, wait, Averno too. I guess it’s more important to protect a guy in a building you run 3 times a year than the ones you run twice a week.

Black Terry Jr. also has photos of an outdoor show with CMLL and independent luchadors on Sunday.

Carlito vs Shelton Benjamin headlines a show in Sonora on 05/19.

Rico Rodriguez hypes up his match with Super Crazy.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 05/19/2013 Arena Mexico
1) Bengala & Fresbee vs Herodes Jr. & Ramstein
2) Aereo, Bam Bam, Shockercito vs Demus 3:16, Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Warrior
3) Fuego, Hijo del Fantasma, Hombre Bala Jr. vs Misterioso Jr., Puma, Virus
4) Delta vs Pólvora [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Super Porky vs Boby Zavala, Dragón Rojo Jr., Rey Escorpión
6) Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Valiente vs Negro Casas, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero

Valiente is going to have a busy May and June. Dorada goes for win #2 in a row!

Zavala gets another semimain. Polvora should be concerned.

Bam Bam hasn’t been seen in 3 months, which might have to do with his behavior in his last match.

CMLL (SUN) 05/19/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Brillante & Meteoro vs El Piraña & Thunder Boy
2) Azteca de Oro & El Divino vs Demonio Rojo & Évola
3) El Hippie, Esfinge, Halcón de Plata vs Demonio Maya, Exterminador, Sádico
4) Ángel de Oro, Sagrado, Smaker vs Maléfico, Shigeo Okumura, Shinsuke Nakamura
5) Diamante Azul vs Mephisto

The Smaker/Nakamura match you’ve been waiting to see!

TxT (SAT) 05/11/2013 Gimnasio Juan De La Barrera [Black Terry Jr., DJ Spectro (Facebook), Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports (main), Kaiser Sports (rest), R de Rudo (rest), R de Rudo (Women), Yahoo Deportes! (photos)]
1) Bobby Lee Jr. & Poseidon (TxT) b Imposible & Maquina Infernal
2) Esther Moreno & La Cholita b Diosa Maya & Violeta [quarterfinal, ruleta de la muerte]
La Cholita is a La Chola, using a slightly different name for reasons unexplained. Possible debut match for Violeta, an unmasked luchadora. Esther & Cholita beat her up strongly thru the match. Esther submitted her with a tapatia.
3) Chik Tormenta & Lady Apache b Cristal & Rossy Moreno [quarterfinal, ruleta de la muerte]
Crowd was unhappy with this match, booed.
4) Cristal & Rossy Moreno b Esther Moreno & La Cholita [semifinal, ruleta de la muerte]
No explanation of why Esther & Cholita were in this match despite winning the last.
5) Esther Moreno b La Cholita [final, ruleta de la muerte, mask, hair]
Cholita pinned Esther Moreno. The promoter came to the ring for what the fans thought was a hair cut, only to announce the match was two out of three falls. (No announcement was made before the match, and the tournament had been one fall.) Fans were livid. Esther won the next two falls and unmasked Cholita as Maria Cristina Valle Flores, from Tijuana, 26 years a luchadora, no age given. She announced she’d be retiring at the end of the year.
6) Angel Blanco Jr., El Hijo del Medico Asesino, El Hijo del Solitario b Huracan Ramirez, Rayman, Villano IV
Huracan Ramirez replaced Atila Jr. Angel Blanco used a foul on Rayman to win. Hijo del Solitario challenged V4 to a mask match, which V4 had no problem accepting.
7) LA Park DQ Dr. Wagner Jr.
Park took 1/3. LA Park put a Wagner shirt on a chair, set it on fire, and hit Wagner with it, same as their Naucalpan match. Lots of chair shots. Both ripped masks and bled, and both got away with fouls during ref bumps. Wagner splashed the ref (Black Terry) when Park used Terry as a shield. Wagner immediately gave Park the Wagner Driver, Terry counted 3, then called the DQ. Crowd and Wagner were unhappy with the decision.

Luchador Abogado del Diablo, who recently lost his foot in a motorcycle accident, was honored on the show.

The building does not appear to have come close to selling out. DJ Spectro is the only one who gives a number, saying a little over half full. (The show also started more than a half hour late.) They got out of announcing a mask match after by having LA Park miss the press conference, with the commissioner saying Park was being treated for blood loss and could not attend. Wagner claimed everyone saw him win the match, he should’ve been declared the winner, and he wanted the mask match signed now.

LA Park has won the last three known singles matches with Dr. Wagner, which may suggest the finish they’ve got planned if they were to get a promoter for the mask match. It doesn’t look like it’s happening any time soon based on the turn out.

Every report I saw was confused and unhappy with the women’s tournament, and mentioned the fans felt the same way. They didn’t have a problem with Esther winning, but her team winning but continuing on in the tournament and the final match being made suddenly 3 falls got the fraud chants. KaiserSports says it was mentioned to be a three fall final at the press conference, but I don’t think most of the fans were at the press conference. Apparently, some of the luchadoras were not paying attention, because half of them came in to ring (from watching at ringside) to celebrate Chola’s ‘win’. I do think it was intended to be a 3 fall match and they just did a poor job of communicating it. I’m sure the Morenos are in charge of the women here, and Esther the programmer was hurt by Esther the luchadora’s unwillingness to lose to anyone but her sister.  They teased Rossy Moreno & La Cholita vs Esther Moreno & Lady Apache as a double apuesta match no one is going to pay to see.

El Hijo del Santo wasn’t on the TxT show – because he was in California, winning Pro Wrestling Revolution’s tag team championship with Blue Demon Jr. from La Migra. TxT announced Demon would be on their next show (June 22nd).

CMLL (SUN) 05/12/2013 Arena Coliseo [@therealfredo, CMLL]
1) Metatrón & Sensei b Apocalipsis & Cholo
Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Metálico, Super Halcón Jr. b Cancerbero, Hijo del Signo, Raziel
Tecnicos took 2/3. Metalico and Signo heavily feuded, ripping up each other’s masks. Metalico submitted Signo in the last.
3) Demus 3:16, Pequeño Warrior, Pierrothito b Pequeño Universo 2000, Stukita, Último Dragoncito
Pequeno Universo replaced Stukita. Universo hurt his knee early (or came in hurt) but worked thru it and did not turn on his partners during the match. He did attack them after. Rudos took 1/3. Pierrothito hyped his new boss Pierroth in a post match interview.
4) Blue Panther TLDRAW Virus [lightning]
Complete mat wrestling match, neither man hitting the ropes and hitting a strike. They were battling for holds as time ran out, but not as though they were about to beat each other, but as if they might have still been an undecided battle with ten more minutes. Fans threw money in and they hugged after the match.
5) Kráneo, Rey Bucanero, Rey Escorpión b Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., Super Porky
Rudos took 2/3, aided by a Bucanero foul on Porky.
6) Felino, Negro Casas, Shinsuke Nakamura b Máscara Dorada, Rush, Titán
Tecnicos took 2/3. Rush and Nakamura faced off often during the match. Dorada escaped a Casas casita and used one of his own for the win. Dorada challenged Negro for a title shot after the match. Negro made fun of Dorada’s slow speech and declared Dorada would have to beat him 3 times in a row to get a shot.

Negro Casas is familiar with how CMLL books title feuds! Three wins in a row would put the title match on June 2nd. They’re back in Arena Mexico on 05/19, so Negro might be out of luck.

It looks looks the other tecnicos are continuing Marco’s bit of being nice to the mascot to set up Rush brutally kicking him spot. Or at least Titan did it here. Titan promised to win the BOSJ in the post match interview. I’m holding him to that!

Nakamura was good, and I’m not just talking about his pre-show dancing. Rush vs Nakamura still seems to be happening, but not on a Sunday soon.

Virus vs Blue Panther is exactly what you’d want it’d to be and a time limit draw was the right finish. More of the ‘VIP’ lightning matches should be time limit draws, instead of top guys losing meaningless matches in seven minutes, but this one needed to be a draw more than most.

Tough night for Dragoncito. A loss, got attacked after the match, and the team he was supporting with bodypaint lost 3-1 in the playoffs.

CMLL (SUN) 05/12/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [@acogdl]
1) El Yaki & Relampago Azul b El Tapatío & Índigo
Yaki’s first match here since October. Indigo replaced Explodivo. Rudos took 2/3.
2) Black Metal, Javier Cruz Jr., Virgo b Espectrum, Infierno, Jocker
Tecnicas took 1/3, Virgo on Infierno.
3) Esfinge, Leo, Smaker b Exterminador, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
Tecnicso took 1/3. Esfineg pinned Exterminador.
4) Stuka Jr. b Ráfaga
One fall? Stuka torpedo splash for the win.
5) Comandante Pierroth & Mephisto DQ Diamante Azul & Thunder
Mephisto pulled Azul’s mask for the DQ.

As discussed here in the comments and over on Twitter, the belief is Comandante Pierroth is the ex-Toro Blanco/Poder Mexico, father of Rush & Mistico, and regular character on last season’s El Luchador. Most importantly, he’s the brother of CMLL office member Franco Colombo. If correct (and the tattoos they didn’t bother to cover up seem to match up), it’s an awful choice on every single level, and an indictment of CMLL’s programming processes. As fans, I’m disappointed because a guy who wasn’t any good ten years ago is going to be wasting my time in main events, but it’s the other luchadors who should actually be angry. CMLL is about to run a tournament based around midcarders who’ve never become main eventers, as if it’s the major problem is with the midcard  luchadors themselves, and not CMLL passing them over to give main event spots to luchadors who have nothing going for them except who their family relations.

AND – if you wanted to use Toro Blanco in a big role for whatever reason, I’m 100% sure he’s more valuable as “Rush & Mistico’s father” than “clone gimmick no one wants to see.”

AND – how can you not bother to cover up the tattoos? I know there are some people who are going to be unhappy with me for revealing an identity, but there’s nothing here to ‘reveal’ if they’re not concealing an identity.

I’ll do the AAA results in their own post when their recap comes out, but the big news from the show is Texano Jr.’s title match challenger is Chessman. Texano again said he wasn’t taking Heavy Metal’s challenge but accepted Chessman’s. This is usually the set up to an authority figure making it a multiman match (or making a Metal vs Chessman match if this was the US), but there’s no mention of anything like that. Chessman vs Texano would be great, but I can’t imagine it’ll happen without another change, it’s just too odd. They also set up a La Parka & team vs Villano IV & team match for TripleMania, where new Consejo member Villano IV is bringing in a team of indy guys. That almost makes sense. Anyone want to take bets against Ray Mendoza Jr. having another last match?

CMLL Gaceta says the En Busca de un Idolo matches will air on their regular TV shows (Fox Sports & Cadena3). Of course, the reality TV show last year was supposed to air on Cadena3 and ended up dumped on Fox Sports + instead, so we’ll see.

The Bizarros Facebook page (which looks like a fan page and maybe not official) says Mamba was recently attacked. No mention of the severity, but they mention it in the same bit about Billy el Malo.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Rob has highlights of 03/29/13 AAA.

Links

• The lineup for the CMLL vs Indy show (the show set up by CMLL guys running in on a show last month) will be announced at a press conference tomorrow.
• SuperLuchas has an interview with Rey Escorpion.
• Cronicas y Leyendas writes about mask maker of the ’30s Don Arnulfo Lopez.
• Profiles of Sonora luchadors Mexican Wolf and Dark Crow.

Lineups

Lucha Fan Fest (SAT) 06/01/2013 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Cazador, Epiedmia, Vortiz vs Aramis, Moria, Shadow
2) Arumi vs Felina, Bastet, Baby Star
3) Danny Boy, Gran Apache II, Robin vs Gallego, Rocky Santana, Romano Garcia
4) Cuchillo, Kahoz, Rambo vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Skándalo, Soberano Jr.
5) Averno & Ephesto vs Aeroboy & Violento Jack
6) La Máscara, Rey Escorpion (CMLL), Rush, Terrible vs Brazo de Plata, Rey Bucanero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

This is the Lasser Benefit show, with an afternoon autograph signing session include many more people. Possibly more matches to be added.

 

CMLL (FRI) 05/10/2013 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Pegasso & Stigma b Guerrero Negro Jr. & Inquisidor
2) Goya Kong, Marcela, Silueta b La Seductora, Mima Shimoda, Tiffany
Mima’s first match here since November. Tecnicas took 1/3.
3) Hijo del Fantasma, Rey Cometa, Valiente b Namajague, Shigeo Okumura, Vangelis
Tecnicos took 1/3. Valiente & Hijo del Fantasma, both in the upcoming tournament, worked toether to get the win.
4) Dragón Rojo Jr. b Ángel de Oro [lightning]
Dragon Rojo Dragon Bomb in 7:35.
5) Blue Panther, La Máscara, Máscara Dorada DQ Boby Zavala, Comandante Pierroth, Rey Escorpión
Debut for the new Pierroth, with his Comando Caribeno. Pierrothito threw a cookie sheet or platter to Pierroth, who hit La Mascara with it for the DQ.
6) Atlantis, La Sombra, Mistico DQ Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.
Gran Guerrero’s debut. Rudos DQed for Volador taking Sombra’s mask.

They did the male dance bit, as usual for Mother’s Day, before the fifth match. Matches 2 & 6 were taped for Fox Sports.

Gran Guerrero and Pierroth were both said to look bad. It seems like CMLL is trying to get the new rudos  on top to work with all the young tecnicos they’ve pushed to the top in the last few years, but maybe ones who aren’t quite ready. There also seems a less concern about new top luchador being as solid or complete. Thunder’s had his problems too.

TxT holds their once a month show today, with a LA Park vs Dr. Wagner singles match that is supposed to lead to a mask match soon. No one should believe they are actually doing a mask match soon. Plenty of good tickets are still available.

The card also has a 8 woman tournament with the ultimate loser losing their mask or hair. The announced teams are Rossy Moreno & Cristal, Esther Moreno & La Chola, Lady Apache & Chik Tormenta, and Violeta & Diosa Maya. If they’re playing this out like usual, the final apuesta match is one between the teams. I know people figure Lady Apache came here to do the apuesta matches she never quite got around to in CMLL but, if she’s doing it tonight, she’s doing it with Chik Tormenta. She’s more likely doing it later.

Villano IV goes from working TxT today to AAA taping tomorrow in Durango. He teams with Consejo vs the Psycho Circus, while the Bizarros & Park take on the Perros. Maybe TripleMania matches will be made?

Martin pointed out Terra posted the complete schedule for En Busca de un Idolo. It follows the exact same format as last year. Stuka/Tiger & Fuego/Vangellys lead on Friday, then on Tuesday, Valiente/Sangre Azteca and Hijo del Fantasma/Misterioso. You have six more days to make your predictions! They’ve also got a page on the point system. It’s the same as last year (where match results matter very little compared to judging and polling), and it reads as though Terra will be handling the polling this time. That might prevent the ballot box from being stuffed as it was the last two years of these contests. It also appears the official spelling of Vangelis’ name is now Vangellys.

There’s a video preview for next weekend’s ChilangaMask show.

The Villano V retirement show is already up.

Bill has highlights of IWRG 03/29/12.

Violento Jack & Aeroboy are rumored to be facing a CMLL team at Lucha Fan Fest. That report has the opponents as Stuka Jr. & Soberano Jr. I’ve heard a different report that it’ll be Averno & Mephisto.

Amigo para Siempre has a show said to be taped for AYM Sports next Sunday.

A photograph’s story on the Lucha Va Voom show in Las Angeles last week.

Promo for next Friday’s Arena Mexico show.

Porra Fresa has a preview of Monday’s card.

R de Rudo has a look at lineups this weekend.

Lineup

IWRG (THU) 05/16/2013 Arena Naucalpan
1) Serpiente de Oro vs Dragón Celestial
2) Centvrión & Golden Magic vs Eita & Tomahawk
3) Chico Che, Dinamic Black, Dr. Cerebro vs Cerebro Negro, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
4) Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. vs Cien Caras Jr., Eterno, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.
5) Factor vs Carta Brava Jr. [IWRG JUNIORS]
Factor is champion. First defense.

Eita & Tomahawk are back. Matches 2/3 could be fun.

CMLL (FRI) 05/17/2013 Arena Mexico
1) Molotov & Sensei vs Akuma & Apocalipsis
2) Pegasso, Starman, Tritón vs Hooligan, Nitro, Skándalo
3) Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, Sagrado vs Kráneo, Namajague, Olímpico
4) Fuego vs Vangelis [En Busca de un Idolo]
5) Stuka Jr. vs Tiger [En Busca de un Idolo]
6) Rush, Super Porky, Thunder vs Averno, Mephisto, Volador Jr.
7) Diamante Azul, La Sombra, Máximo vs Negro Casas, Pierroth, Shinsuke Nakamura

Pierroth moves up even higher. Tercera looks good.

IWRG (THU) 05/09/2013 Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), Estrellas del Ring]
1) Fulgor b Chris Star
Chris Star, debuting, replaced Serpiente de Oro
2) Alan Extreme & Imposible b Saruman & Seiya
3) Factor, Rayan, Spartan b Centvrión, Dinamic Black, Golden Magic
Factor challenged Dinamic Black to title matches, but Dinamic Black wasn’t interested.
4) Danny Casas, Eterno, X-Fly b Chico Che, Dr. Cerebro, Toscano
Eterno & Danny Casas are not friend but are not fighting.
5) Carta Brava Jr. b Trauma I, Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Apolo Estrada Jr., Freyser, Cien Caras Jr., Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Súper Nova, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Trauma II [IWRG JUNIOR, #1 Contenders]
Junior Dinimitas worked together to attack everyone at the start and eliminated Apolo Estrada Jr. All the other luchadors worked together to attack the Dinimitas, eliminted Cien Caras Jr. Final four were Trauma I, Hijo de Pirata, Carta Brava Jr., and Super Nova. Everyone expected Trauma I and Pirata to be the final, but they were the next two eliminated. Carta Brava Jr. gave Super Nova a Cerbero Driver for the win. Carta Brava Jr. faces Factor for the IWRG Juniors title.

Estrellas del Ring also has an interview with Dinamic Black (who wants a mask match with Carta Brava) and Spartan (about his career.)

Tonight’s Arena Mexico show is built around debuts. Gran Guerrero debuts, at least under that name, in the main event trios match. He’ll team with his brother Ultimo Guerrero and Volador Jr. vs Atlantis, Sombra and Mistico. It’s a big spot for someone who appeared to be working openers not too long ago. Comandante Pierroth, who’s identity is less a certainty, debuts by teaming with the winning Gran Alternativa team to take on Blue Panther, La Mascara and Mascara Dorada. Rey Cometa & Namajague’s feud continues, and Mima Shimoda makes her return in the women’s match. This CMLL’s Mother’s Day show, so expect the usual male dance performance.

This is the last show on Friday night for more than two months with just one lightning match; the format will be changed around for En Busca de un Idolo.

Ana Gutierrez of R de Rudo has an interview with Misterioso Jr. about his participation in the tournament. It’s mention that Fantasma leads off with Hijo del Fantasma on 05/21. The full schedule hasn’t been posted anywhere yet.

C Fan Deportes has a video interview with Gran Guerrero.

Rob has highlights of 11/29 and 12/06/2002 CMLL.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

IWL has a cage match on 05/25 with Gronda XXX, Tony Rivera, Zumbido, Star Boy Jr., Asesino Negro, and the Clown Corp