Day: May 26, 2015

I got excited by seeing a note on Univision’s site listing a Lucha Underground season 2 dates, assuming it meant a renewal.

It turns out that note has been sitting there for a few weeks and is not confirming the renewal. They’re still working on the show, and those dates (10/28 season premiere) are the working idea of when things are coming back, but it’s still no more official than it was yesterday.

Keep bugging people to watch the show.

CMLL (SUN) 05/24/2015 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Dinamo & Reycko b Mr. Brisa & Thunder Boy
Reycko replaced Tapatio and Thunder Boy replaced El Pirana. Recap states Reycko’s team is the rudos, making everyone opposite sides of what seems to have bene going on here.
2) El Alteño, El Divino, Explosivo b El Yaqui, Gran Kenut, Relampago
Kenut accidentally splashed Divino, leading ot the tecnico win.
3) Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno b Flash II & Magnum
Magnum replaced Flash I, took the loss to Rey Trueno.
4) Silueta b Chik Tormenta [lightning]
Wasn’t announced as a lightning match but worked as one. Silueta beat the debuting indy wrestler Tormenta with a moonsault.
5) Forastero, Pepe Aguayo, Virgo DQ El Cuatrero, Joker, Sansón
Tecnicos were about to win when the Truenos ran in for the DQ.

run-in DQs in the main event – they’re really booking this show like in Mexico City.

CMLL (MON) 05/25/2015 Arena Puebla [Periodico Enfoque]
1) Akuma & Espiritu Negro b Meyer & Paris
2) Arkalis, Lestat, Tigre Rojo Jr. DQ Canelo Casas, Espanto Jr., Metálico
Asturiano replaced Lestat. Tiger Rojo Jr. was knocked out when wrestling Metalico. Metalico stomped him, Tirantes shoved him away, Canelo & Espanto jumped in to stomp Tigre Rojo, Tirantes DQed them all. Tiger Rojo Jr. was stretched out and was said to regain conciousness after a minute and is fine now.
3) Estrellita b Amapola [lightning]
4) Blue Panther, Stuka Jr., Tritón b Boby Zavala, Puma, Tiger
5) Felino, Negro Casas, Ripper b Ángel de Oro, Máximo, Valiente
Ripper beat Angel de Oro, setting up a title match.
6) La Sombra, Marco Corleone, Naito b Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Thunder
Shocker returned, replacing Thunder. Naito wore an Ingobernable shirt, did similar poses.

NJPW explained CMLL’s storylines better than CMLL does: the concept is La Sombra wants his NJPW buddy Naito to be in the Ingobernables, but Mascara, Rush and Marco need to be convinced. Meanwhile, the CMLL.com news update expresses surprise Naito is programmed on the tecnico side at all, given he’s been a rudo every other time in.

Before the Puebla show, they did another press conference for the De Dos De Tres Cuartillas writing contest. Rey Apocalipsis was in attendance, so a person in charge of CMLL was dangerously close to realizing Rey Apocalispsis exists. (Actually, someone with Informa must know to get the Battlion del Muerte mention on last week, but it’s weird to see him around and not be used in En Busca de un Idolo – he’d be the runaway favorite.)

CMLL mentions the En Busca de un Idolo starting tonight. Their preview again states that all the matches will air on Terra. They also say the winner will again get to be part of FantasticaMania. Terra lists their broadcast starting at 7, which is odd because the event doesn’t start until 7:30. The En Busca de un Idolo ciberentico should take place around 8:30 CT.

SuperLuchas posted interviews with Akuma and Boby Zavala. Akuma is all “it’s just great to have the experience of being in this match!” so he doesn’t think he’s advancing. He promises to give it 100% should he actually advance, and notes some people think he should try moving to the tecnico side. Zavala seems more confident about making it and feels like this is his big opportunity to make it. Like everyone else, Boby doesn’t know what the deal is with his alliance with the Revolucionarios, but advancing in this tournament could allow him to be in matches with them again.

Something’s off with Akuma’s age – CMLL (and Akuma!) keep saying he’s 18. His birthdate was previously listed as August 28, 1995, which would make him 19. If it’s just off a year and Akuma is now 18, that means he was doing CMLL TV matches at 16 (and wrestling on Toryumon Mexico shows at 15.)

There’s usually a Wednesday press conference to hype the final eight people in En Busca de un Idolo, go over the judging and anything else. That would make a good time to also announce any upcoming major CMLL show. There’s no sign of either right now.

CMLL posted some card changes for Sunday. Angel de Oro replaces Valiente, and Fuego will replace Super Porky. Also, no one’s working Saturday because Saturday’s show is a boxing event. It’ll air on Canal 5, so it’ll have better TV coverage than every lucha libre show CMLL’s done in a year. The schedule change is strange, because Dark Angel appeared to think she was working in Coliseo that night. Maybe she’s there for other reasons? I assume they’ll have a 12 minute moment of silence on CMLL Informa in place of interviewing the guys in the segunda.

Today’s the second anniversary of Hector Garza’s passing. 

ESPN Deportes asked AAA luchadors about what changes should be made in medical care for luchadors, following up on the issues after Perro Aguayo Jr.’s passing. Myzteziz noted AAA had an ambulance and doctor at shows, saying he suffered a shoulder injury Saturday in Guadalajara and he was only able to compete at the World Cup because there was a doctor at the Guadalajara show. He feels all promotions should offer that care. La Parka claims that his wife tells him that the best cure for a sick or hurt luchador is more wrestling. (La Parka’s wife sounds mean.) Parka says there are many lucha commissions who are not functioning well enough to keep untrained people out and take care of medical issues; he and Apache seem to agree that the Mexico City commission is one of the good ones.

AAA’s official results estimated 17,000 people in attendance at the Lucha World Cup. Other live results went with 15,000. Fuego en el Ring notes the live crowd wasn’t eager to see the third place match, as the show had gone so long and they wanted to see the final. Voices of Wrestling has a lot less positive review of the show, thinking little of the matches and less of the announcing. I think Vampiro was much better than last year’s TripleMania, but it also may just be prolonged exposure to him from Lucha Underground have helped.

A TV version of the Lucha World Cup is scheduled to air at 3pm on Sunday on Televisa Channel 5. That’s a slightly better channel than the AAA show normally airs on. Mexican TV schedules are forever subject to change; that slot currently lists an airing of one of the Incredible Hulk movies right now. Not sure how long the show will be, or if it’ll turn up on YouTube.

ContralonaPR has a sit down interview with Zeuxis, back in Puerto Rico at the moment. She and Amapola have been advertised as working in Arena Mexico Guatemala on 06/21 and she confirms here that match is happening – it’s probably her return. (Hope CMLL doesn’t vacate her title next week.) Zeuxis tells the story of why she decided to get into lucha libre – she went to the 72nd Anniversary show, saw the Dark Angel versus Marcela match, and that’s when she knew she wanted to be a luchadora.

Rob has a music video of 01/27/15 CMLL.

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania and MamaLucha results.

SuperLuchas looks back to a three title match show in 1980.

Lordes Grobet opened a photography exhibit in Saltillo.

WWE currently airs at noon on Saturdays in Ecuador; there’s a campaign to move the show to a non-family hour because of the violence.

Blue Demon takes off his blue mask for a red one to support a political candidate.

Lucha Libre in Japan

05/25 NJPW: Mascara Dorada [4] b David Finlay [0] via Dorada Screwdriver

Dorada actually picked up two wins today; Alex Shelley is out of the tournament with a foot injury so Dorada was awarded a forfeit win. Bigger news is Dorada has a head dropping finisher (one he didn’t totally need to use because Finlay was pretty much done one move earlier.) Match was OK. Cavernario won the (not posted) opening match, nearly braining the one of the rookies with his club after the match.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 05/31/2015 Arena Naucalpan
1) Aeroman & Kanon vs Araña de Plata & Atomic Star
2) Metaleón & Mr. Leo vs Electro Boy & Hip Hop Man
3) Mike, Skide, Teelo vs Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro
4) Imposible © vs Leo [IWRG IC Light]
Imposible’s 8th defense, first this year.
5) Máscara Sagrada, Veneno, X-Fly vs Canis Lupus, Cien Caras, Eterno

Leo going for the gold should be good. Skide? I dunno that Turtle.

CMLL (MON) 06/01/2015 Arena Puebla
1) Arkalis & Zaeta Roja vs Ares & Guerrero Espacial
2) Asturiano, Black Tiger, Flyer vs Artillero, Espíritu Maligno, Súper Comando
3) Hombre Bala Jr., Rey Samuray, Súper Halcón Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Fuerza Chicana, Nitro
4) Dragon Lee, Stigma, Tritón vs Ephesto, Hechicero, Luciferno
5) Ángel de Oro © vs Ripper [CMLL LH]
Angel de Oro 3rd defense.
6) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión

The Revolucionarios going back against the Estatas challenging the Sky Team was the logical progression of putting the trio back together, so I’m mildly surprised it’s happening.

Angel de Oro & Ripper just had a good lightning match so there’s some hope for that match.

Rey Samuray seemes higher than usual.