IWRG (WED) 09/03/2014 Arena Naucalpan [Estrellas del Ring, The Gladiatores]
1) Capitán Muerte b Black Niko
2) Insólito I & Insólito II b Alfa & Omega
Insolito wins in his debut.
3) Anubis Black & Matrix Jr. b Alan Extreme & Látigo
4) Chucho el Roto, Ironía, Yakuza DQ Ciclon Black, Hip Hop Man, Tony Rivera
AULL vs Neza. Three quick falls. Both refs were looking at dives, and Tony & Yakuza both faked fouls. Referees gave the win to the AULL team.
5) Canis Lupus, Eterno, Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 b Diva Salvaje, Kenshi Kabuki, Relámpago
Rudos took 1/e. Eterno and Kabuki feuded, Eterno defeating Kabuki (with some help from Hijo de Mascara) in the third.
A good night for evil, though fourth was a bit of a gimmie.
Lucha Underground sent out a press release announcing they’ve signed Karlee Perez, who wrestled as Maxine in WWE. They’ve been also said to sign Ricky Reyes, B-Boy and Tough Enough Guy #1. (Tough Enough Guy #2 may have also signed, judging by Twitter.) That gives them enough material for more press releases, but it seems like you’d probably want to announce someone with a big name first (if they had one) and they instead they went with Maxine. I watched a lot of that iteration of NXT and enjoyed Maxine in both her season and the wacky wrestling soap opera the show turned into at the end of it’s first run, but you have to be a hardcore WWE fan with a good memory to have any idea who she is. Maybe she’s a bigger star to the people putting the show together, since she did have a run in WWE and the other people did not? Judging from the names included, it does seem like the best way to get in on this ‘lucha libre’ show is to have a minor role in WWE. The other thing worth noting is Maxine appears to be someone trying to break into Hollywood while keeping a toe in the wrestling business – wrestlingdata’s only lists one match for her in the two years since she’s left WWE – and so she’s less likely to be concerned about being restricted from wrestling elsewhere.
A photo of the arena also turned up, which fits the underground fight arena theme I’ve been hearing of late.
An instagram plug for the Lucha Underground mentions you’ll be able to buy beer, food, and they’ll have live bands. Live bands! I believe about 99% of live band performances at wrestling shows have been terrible, but I may be underplaying it. Beer means no kids, all shows are 18 are older. They are also not promoting the AAA name. I don’t think they’re using the AAA name on air, but you could still stick on the poster to interest people. (And/or pictures of the lucha stars, since they knew they were on the show before they put that out.) I also haven’t seen that flyer in Spanish anywhere. No one sees this as an issue, because the Hispanic Spanish speaking family who’s parents grew up watching lucha libre and who’s kids would enjoy running around lucha libre masks is NOT who is being targeted here. This is for (generally) white guys and girls wearing black t-shirts, assorted hipsters and whatever plants they bring in.
If you’ve been following, you probably should know how to feel about this project already: lucha libre In Name Only, but really a California US style indy project which happens to be bringing in Mexican names and will use them on top (at least at the start.) Maybe it’ll be fun, maybe everyone will make a lot money, both of those things would make me happy, but I think I’m writing about this show because it happens to have AAA people. The thing we don’t know is how AAA feels about all of this; there’s a lot of things they still do in Mexico because those are things you do in Mexico even if they don’t fit their vision – maybe they’d be fine with something totally different even if it wasn’t the exact different they thought it would be?
There’s also this bit, regarding the contract situation
On 8/29, the casting agent brought in a new group of talent and had them cut promos and read scripts to replace any of the wrestlers in the current scripts in case they don’t sign.
I think tapings are happening this week, with whoever they have.
AAA and NyxMobile introduced AAA branded cell phones at a press conference/wrestling show yesterday. It looks like AAA branded phone models (Fly Mini and Quo), with artwork on the outside and special AAA photos and video in the phones (likely similar to the phone subscription package they’re also doing.) Phones include La Parka, Cibernetico, Psycho Clown, Perro Aguayo and Octagon – AAA gets to still use his image even though he’s not there.
Tercera Caida has an interview with Alberto el Patron and with Dhani of LuchaMemes and ChilangaMask to talk up those shows. AAA (and TerceraCaida) seemed to always use the name “Alberto el Patron” and not “Alberto Del Rio” – maybe AAA did get a legal letter about that at TripleMania, or maybe they’ve just decided to start moving on. Otherwise, it seems like Alberto’s unencumbered by his WWE exit. It sounds like the no-compete that his lawyers got waved was the entire thing; there’s a lot of talk of him starting up on indy shows in the near future. Dave Meltzer has said Alberto has enough on WWE (prior incidents?) that the promotion doesn’t want to go after him for fear of the what he’ll say. (Maybe the same is the reason why there was no response to Rey.) That probably means he’ll be starting working on indies soon. TV groups, especially a promotion like Lucha Underground which seems to be very concerned with legal cover and liability, may want an actual written proof WWE won’t do anything. It doesn’t doesn’t sound like that has actually happened or is expected to happen.
There will be a press conference today at 5pm for the ColiseoMania show on 09/28. Meanwhile, Roberto Figueroa says TNA has contacted Arena Coliseo Monterrey with interest in using El Hijo del Ninja & Rico Rodriguez. A long time ago, TNA brought in Konnan Big but I don’t think he ever made it to the main TV show. My hunch is TNA is looking for additional Latino wrestlers to make themselves attractive to more TV networks. The article notes there is interest but they may have to do a tryout and haven’t signed yet. I suspect we’ll hear more about this at that press conference.
This might also be discussed on the Mascara vs Cabellera #4 Podcast, which has been covering ColiseoMania, only it’s not really a podcast because it’s a not a show with an RSS feed that I can download to my portable audio player so I’ll never known. It’s a YouTube show!
CMLL Informa had a panel discussion on Atlantis versus Ultimo Guerrero, the biggest mask matches in recent history (Santo/Shadow was actually aired on video! but not tape! whyyyyyyyyyy) and other Anniversary show issues. One of the big questions for the panel was the future of Atlantis and Ultimo Guerrero: if they lose, would they retire? The panel leaned towards Atlantis retiring, but Atlantis himself says he will not retire after the match, win or lose. Ultimo Guerrero does not appear to be asked that question, just talking about how he’s confident he will win. Informa itself emphasized how both men had won major tournaments this year. Ultimo Guerrrero won CMLL Universal and Atlantis earlier won Leyenda de Azul.
There was no mention of the Cometa/Cavernario feud on CMLL Informa, not even in the show ending video package. Why run angles if you’re not going to mention them? The show did mention Volador, Mascara Dorada and Valiente would be on the card, against opponents to be announced
CMLL Informa also announced the special show days and times for 09/16 (Independence Day) shows. As is normal, they’ve moved a show scheduled for the day before to the holiday – Puebla will move from Monday to Tuesday for and start a 3pm, which might allow the people on that show to get back to Mexico City in time for a 5pm show there. Puebla moving to Tuesday really is annoying if, let’s say, you were planning on going to the building for the first time ever, would really have liked to see Rush & Marco vs (probably Terrible & Rey Escorpion), have somewhere else to be on Tuesday and have no idea what you’ll end up doing on Monday now. Just a hypothetical.
Segunda Caida reviews 06/28/14 Lucha Azteca.
Keira talks her busy Sunday, where she’ll be fighting Arez in the morning and fighting LuFisto and Lady Flammer in the evening. Hope she survives the experience.
Rush doesn’t understand why Casas & Shocker want keep fighting him, since he humiliates them every time, but he’s got no problem keeping doing it.
Texano wants revenge in Pachuca.
Hechicero, while pointing out he’s interviews in the newest Luchas 2000, talks about his path in to CMLL.
More on the plan to break the world record of most people wearing a mask on the subway on 09/21 in Mexico City.
Lineups
IWRG (SUN) 09/07/2014 Arena Naucalpan
1) Dragón Celestial & Metaleon vs Araña de Plata & Hip Hop Man
2) Diva Salvaje, Miss Gaviota, Saruman vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Avisman, El Hijo del Diablo
3) Dr. Cerebro, Golden Magic, Kenshi Kabuki vs Canis Lupus, Trauma I, Trauma II
4) Máscara Sagrada, Pantera, Toscano vs Cien Caras Jr., Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Universo 2000 Jr.
5) Hijo De Dos Caras © vs Demon Clown [IWRG IC HEAVY]
First defense
Proud Canadian Demon Clown has been pretty terrible and Hijo de Dos Caras is a main event guy (only) because his name is Hijo de Dos Caras. That main event will be special.
Who’s the best heavyweight champion in Mexico? I’ve chronicled Terrible’s repeated failures. Texano just lost the biggest match at the biggest show of the year and needed extraordinary help to win any match this year. Hijo de Dos Caras is not good. The national championship is vacant (and may never be filled again.) I don’t really have an answer here.
indy (SUN) 09/21/2014 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Pegazzuz & Shibata vs Discoria & Ironía
2) Vanelly © vs India Mazahua, Sexy Angel, Dulce Luna, Diosa Atenea, Princesa Mohicana, Sexy Girl, Lady Dragon [Copa WWS GODDESS STAR]
3) Arandú & TJ Boy vs Freelance & Mike Segura and Belial & Impulso [X-LAW TAG]
vacant championship? Arandu & TJ Boy were champs back in 2005, other matches were held without them since
4) Gallego, Rocky Santana, Romano Garcia © vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro [AULL TRIOS]
Consgrados seemingly won the trios titles on 08/10 (no result recorded but were title challengers.)
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Mil Mascaras vs Canek & Villano IV
The answer to the previous question might be in this main event, and that’s just sad for everyone.
Third match looks nuts. Hope the TJ guys are in for more than one day.