Day: September 10, 2013

1. CMLL appears to have lost their Televisa TV slot. Their show has not aired the last two weeks, with Box Y Lucha reporting the show was canceled for low ratings. (It’s plausible, but Televisa is sticking very frequently rerun programming in it’s place, which seems very unlikely to be doing a better number.) CMLL appears to have been caught totally caught off guard, losing the first half of the Universal tournament in the process. They have expanded their internet streaming broadcasts to Fridays, but that’s no substitute for an over the air show on one of the biggest stations in the nation. AAA has been aired as scheduled, despite not being listed on Televisa’s programming guide the last two weeks.
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi won the annual CMLL Universal championship, defeating Okumura (a sub for strongly pushed young tecnico Diamante Azul), strongly pushed young rudo Dragon Rojo, top young tecnico Sombra (via distraction) and top young tecnico/rudo/whatever Rush. It was a strangely booked tournament unless there’s some big payback coming back for CMLL. The Rush/Tanahashi match was a struggle for two falls but picked up at the end.
3. CMLL concluded it’s build to the 80th Anniversary show. The big in-ring additions are the Revolucionarios vs Estetas trios title match and the Negro Casas, Shocker, Terrible versus Marco Corleone, Rush, Vangelis relevos increibles match (where Rush’s mindset is in question.) The big out of the ring news is the show airing live on Terra.mx, which appeared to be a decision made even before the TV issues came up. CMLL has built the individual Atlantis/UG, Sombra/Volador and Panther/Averno feuds strongly, with the rudos winning most of the time in the mask feuds and Panther defeating Averno just about every time in their issue.
4. AAA continued it’s slow build to Heroes Inmortales announced to be 10/18 in Puebla, somewhat competing against a WWE show in Mexico City that night.) Psycho Clown finally beat Texano Jr. in a trios match where Psycho Clown could only beat Texano Jr. and would never get a title shot if he lost. Elsewhere on the cards, AAA continued a three way feud between La Secta, Perros del Mal and AAA tecnicos and may secretly be doing a tag team tournament. Dinastia and Mini Abismo agreed to a minis title match, but that one takes place before AAA’s next major show.
5. CMLL’s 09/01 show, with a scheduled main event of Atlantis vs Tanahashi, was canceled due to a ongoing series of teacher’s strikes. The strikes threatened other shows and may have affected attendance.
6. WWE announced a return to Mexico in mid October, hitting Queretaro, Guadalajara, Mexico City (on a Friday) and Monterrey.

• Hijo del Santo canceled the planned September Zocalo show (with Park vs Santo vs Wagner in a mask match) quietly on Twitter, as expected.
• Charly Manson was sentenced to 7 years and 4 months for his attack on two police officers.
• IWL announced third 3rd Anniversary show, to take place the day after the CMLL Anniversary show, will have a main event of LA Park vs Canek vs Dr. Wagner vs Justin Credible.
• Puerto Rico’s WWL ran two shows in northern Mexico. Both drew poorly despite names (Mil Mascaras, John Morrison, Carlito, various Boricuas) but WWL doesn’t seem to operate under normal revenue constraints.
• Super Nova underwent knee surgery (attributed to multiple attacks by the Trauma brothers), but may be back by the next one of these.
• Golden Magic & Centviron turned rudo in IWRG to challenge Dinamic Black – but Golden Magic went to a double countout against Dinamic Black in their title match.
• Black Terry defeated Guerrero Maya Jr. in a return to their old feud on August’s ChilangaMask show.
• New champs: Los Traumas (IWRG IC TAG), Oficial 911 (IWRG Rey del Ring), Gringos VIP (IWRG IC WELTER)
• Titles kept: Piratas (IWRG IC TRIOS), Marcela (CMLL WOMEN), Polvora (CMLL WELTER)

WWL (SUN) 09/08/2013 Arena Coliseo Monterrey [LuchaMania Monterrey]
1) Canek Jr., Heddi Karaoui, Zumbi b Laredo Kid, Super Laredo, Vengador Radioactivo
Heddi replaced Chessman. Vengador went for a 450 on Zumbi, but Zumbi avoided and landed one of his kicks for the win.
2) Taya Valkyrie b Ivelisse Vélez [lumberjack strap]
Luchadors from the opening match worked as lumberjacks. Taya won with help from Rico Casanova.
3) Damián 666 b Chessman
Chessman replaced Heddi. Bestia 666 helped his dad to the win.
4) Apolo & Hercules Gomez b Mr. E & Sexy B and Crazy Boy & Joe Lider
Billed as a Los Mamimtos tag title defense and was one for most of the match. Apolo beat Mr. E with a Rock Bottom, only Mr. E put his foot on the ropes before three and the referee missed it. Rico ruled the result stood but the titles would not switch hands because the foot was on the ropes (?!?). Iveliesse pulled down Rico’s pants.
5) Huracán Castillo, Miguel Perez Jr., Savio Vega b Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown
Los Boricuas reunited to face the Psycho Circus in revenge for TripelMania (where the clowns actually lost, but I guess Richard Negrin was unhappy about it?) Richard Negrin was with the Boricuas, Mini Clown was with the AAA team – until Apolo and Gomez clown-napped him. Monster and Murder gave chase and the Boricuas beat Psycho Clown.
6) Blue Demon Jr. b Carlito, La Parka Jr. [PWR HEAVY]
Demon is champion. Said to be a short, not good match. Demon submitted Carlito.
7) Monster Pain DQ John Morrison [WWL HEAVY]
Monster Pain is champion, third defense and none particularly successful. This time, Morrison unmasked him and got DQed for it. Morrison argued Monster Pain is not Mexican so that rule shouldn’t apply.
8) Hijo De Dos Caras, Mil Mascaras, Sicodélico Jr. b Cien Caras Jr., Máscara Año 2000, Universo 2000
Short main event, Mil landing the plancha for the win.

Amusing to see the guy challenging for AAA’s mega title lose on this show and all the Puerto Ricans beating the Mexicans on this show (but Canadians still win!), but I suppose it doesn’t matter much. Attendance was way down from the July show, now a slightly bigger than usual ACM show.

Today’s  CMLL show has not much. Main is Shocker, La Mascara, and Diamante Azul versus Terrible, Tiger and Pierroth. Marcela faces Princesa Blanca in the lightning match, which always could set up a title match for next week. If they’re looking for insta-feuds for next Tuesday, Virus is all the way up to the semimain to team with Gran Guerrero & Ephesto versus Guerrero Maya, Delta and Angel de Oro. (I let myself believe they could do a Virus versus Guerrero Maya title rematch next week. I should not think those things.)

A 80 years of lucha libre photography exhibit opened in Mexico City yesterday. It’s an 120 picture outdoor exhibition, with all the photos blown up to 180 cm to 120 cm. They’re actually hanging on the fencing around Paseo de la Reforma, so open 24 hours and free to the public. CMLL and the Culture part of Mexico City government. This was a big deal – big enough for Paco Alonso to appear and say a few words. Mistico, Dragon Rojo, Marco Corleone and Shocker represented the luchadors. The exhibit will be up thru January, then travel elsewhere.

I’m on Figure Four Daily later today to talk about the CMLL Anniversary show. Wednesday’s update will be up early, late, or not at all.

AAA posted the first part of their interview with Jack Evans and Angelico.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Relampago got hit by a car while riding a motorcylce. He’s on crutches and in a neck brace.

Psycho Clown talks about his title shot.

Daga says Joe Lider is no match for his youth.

Yoruba ran a show to honor his father, who passed away four years away.

Only 19 of the 49 hopeful luchadors who participated in the Puebla licensing exam were accepted. Next exam will be in 2014.

Lucha Libre in Japan

09/10 NJPW: Tiger Mask IV, Jushin Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Makabe, Hiroshi Tanahashi [O] b Rey Bucanero [X], Tama Tonga, Bad Luck Fale, Karl Anderson, and Prince Devitt
Tanahashi is back with the big Red belt (which may be shown more in NJPW than it’s ever been seen in CMLL.) Bucanero is taking loses in build up matches to the tag title match. I would put the chance of a tag team title change at 5-10%.

(CMLL has to be getting Tanahashi and Liger coming back THIS YEAR in exchange, right? I have no inside info, but a title change at FantasticMania 2014 really doesn’t do much for CMLL.)

Zeuxis faces Shuri (Wrestling New Classic) for the vacant REINA Women’s World Championship, and could become a triple crown champion. This was the title Yumiko Hotta held before she quit the company (and announced the company was closing.) REINA created the REINA International title afterwards, but apparently are going to bring back the old title so they can have 3 singles title for about 6 full time wrestlers. CMLL! (They do bring in a lot of guests.) The more curious bit: why was Zeuxis wearing a Hogan t-shirt when she won the tag titles?

Cuervo appeared at the All Japan press conference for their upcoming tournament, saying he wanted to prove himself in as a singles luchador. It’s a good goal. His first round match versus Low Ki is tomorrow.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 09/15/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Brillante & El Divino vs Relampago Azul & Samael
2) El Ídolo vs Jocker
3) Black Metal & Esfinge vs Sky Kid & Smaker and Espectrum & Infierno and Exterminador & Maléfico [OCCIDENTE TAG, semifinal]
winners face Los Truenos next week
4) Ángel de Oro vs Misterioso Jr.
5) Delta, Gallo, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Ishii, Shigeo Okumura

Random singles match! I’m not sure which tecnico team will advance.

CMLL (MON) 09/16/2013 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Paris vs Centauro de Fuego & Siki Ozama Jr.
2) Bam Bam & Último Dragoncito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico
3) Pegasso, Starman, Stigma vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Hooligan, Nitro
4) Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr., Super Porky vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión
5) Atlantis, La Máscara, Máximo vs Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero
6) Mistico vs Volador Jr.

They’ve been setting up the holiday main event for a few weeks. Show has a special 6pm start time, in case you might have had thought about, say, watching half of the RCH show (5pm start) and finding a way here (way too far away.)

Paris was the masked Tony Rivera in 1994/1995 UWA. There was a Puebla local Pairs who popped up on an AAA spot show a few weeks ago, and this must be him.