Month: July 2015

IWRG (SUN) 07/19/2015 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Dragón Celestial & Mr. Leo b Araña de Plata & Imposible
2) Apolo Estrada Jr., Avisman, El Hijo del Diablo b Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Emperador Azteca
Apolo got away with a foul a Hijo del Diablo.
3) Canis Lupus, Danny Casas, Negro Navarro, Veneno b Coloso Chris, Eterno, Golden Magic, Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Hijo del Pantera, Hip Hop Man, Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Pantera,Príncipe Orión, Súper Nova, Universo 2000 Jr. [IWRG IC TAG, seeding battle royal]
4) Coloso Chris & Príncipe Orión b Oficial 911 & Oficial AK47 [IWRG IC TAG, quarterfinal]
5) Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 & Universo 2000 Jr. b Eterno & Hip Hop Man [IWRG IC TAG, quarterfinal]
6) Hijo del Pantera & Pantera II b Golden Magic & Súper Nova [IWRG IC TAG, quarterfinal]
7) Danny Casas & Veneno b Canis Lupus & Negro Navarro [IWRG IC TAG, quarterfinal]
8) Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 & Universo 2000 Jr. b Coloso Chris & Príncipe Orión [IWRG IC TAG, semifinal]
The Crazy Americans win streak comes to a truly random end.
9) Hijo del Pantera & Pantera II b Danny Casas & Veneno [IWRG IC TAG, semifinal]
10) Hijo del Pantera & Pantera II b Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 & Universo 2000 Jr. [IWRG IC TAG, final]
The Panteras become 27th champions. Pantera II is a two time champion, having won previously with Felino in 2007.

Really don’t understand why the Crazy Americans just didn’t lose in the final, or at least lose to the people who were winning the tournament. I wish I could understand IWRG.

Hijo del Pantera may be in Mexico going forward; he wasn’t listed on Wrestle-1’s most recent roster, and his last match was losing to former partner/current rival Andy Wu in what could’ve been a blow off to his character. Wrestle-1 isn’t much watched – in Japan or by American fans of Japanese wrestling – but Hijo del Pantera got positive reviews while he was there.

Sexy Star appeared in nude photos fir ESPN’s Body issue. Photo may not be safe for your work. She is not listed in the contents of the US magazine, so I’m not sure if she appears in a Latin American version of the magazine or if she was cut out.

A Familia de Tijuana/Vipers (Psicosis vs Psicosis) match in Tijuana went to a no contest when the commission stopped the match.

Gran Guerrero beat Espanto Jr. by DQ on WMC’s show. A women’s match on the show saw Skadi hurt her arm and Lady Maravilla fracture a knee (while working with Skadi, though it’s unclear if she had anything to do with it.)

Black Terry Jr. has photos of Sunday’s ChilangaMask show.

There’s video of the Ultimo Guerrero vs Black Terry match (but I haven’t watched it yet so I don’t know if it’s edited.)

Matt D @ Segunda Caida starts a review of Volador Jr.’s 2015.

Ciclope’s trio beat Violento Jack’s trio in Tlaxcala.

Crazy Frank beat Mortiz in a fourway with Halloween and Nicho in Tijuana.

Lady Apache beat Rossy Moreno in Xalapa, as they continue to tease a hair match.

Astral & Relampago took a loss in Chicago, teaming with local Eros against Skayde Jr., Guerrerito del Futuro and Super Dragon (not that Super Dragon.)

Profile of Pachuca luchadors Ray Castillo Jr. and son Kulikitaka.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 07/26/2015 Arena México
1) Bengala & Robin vs Camorra & Cholo
2) Esfinge, Star Jr., Tritón vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Hijo del Signo, Nitro
3) Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola [lightning]
4) Aéreo, Astral, Eléctrico vs Demus 3:16, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
5) Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
6) La Sombra, Marco Corleone, Rush vs Euforia, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero

I was wrong yesterday: it was Aereo in the lightning match, not Acero. Aereo’s the unmasked mini, so is Pequeno Violencia, minis never get to be in the fourth match unless there’s an apuesta match coming. The question is if they’ll do it next week, or if Aereo versus Pequeno Violencia is actually going up against TripleMania.

It probably won’t be alone. They seem to be setting up something with the Guerreros versus Ingobernables. Given recent patterns, it’ll most likely Ultimo Guerrero versus Rush or Sombra.

CMLL (SUN) 07/26/2015 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Rey Halcón vs Micro
2) Javier Cruz Jr. & Star Black vs Black Sugar & Demonio Rojo
3) Metatrón & Neutrón vs Gran Kenut & Relampago
4) Frezzer, Magnum, Virgo vs El Yaqui, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
5) Esfinge, Gallo, Omar Brunetti vs Joker, Ráfaga, Sádico

The main event is listed as having the biggest stars in Guadalajara, which – yep.

CMLL (SAT) 07/18/2015 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Aéreo b Pequeño Universo 2000
2) Magnus b El Rebelde
3) Soberano Jr. b Inquisidor
CMLL recap says Soberano fast counted Inquisidor.
4) Nitro b Starman
Nitro won with La Roca.
5) Tritón b Okumura
450 splash.
6) Delta & Guerrero Maya Jr. b Hechicero & Luciferno
Tecnicos took 2/3.
7) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys b Blue Panther, La Máscara, Máximo

CMLL (SUN) 07/19/2015 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Metatrón & Robin b Espanto Jr. & Espiritu Negro
2) Acero Aereo DQ Pequeño Violencia [lightning]
Pequeno Violencia fouled Acero Aereo.
3) Hombre Bala Jr., Stuka Jr., Súper Halcón Jr. b Artillero, Hijo del Signo, Súper Comando
Stuka replaced Starman.
4) Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus b Fuego, The Panther, Tritón
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto b Atlantis, Blue Panther, Titán
Rudos took 2/3, Mephisto beating Atlantis.
6) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja b Dragon Lee, La Máscara, Volador Jr.

No mention of any Volador/Mascara issues. They’re really doing Violencia vs Acero as the random summer minis feud. I dunno.

Lucha Mutante (SAT) 07/18/2015 Deportivo 18 de Marzo, Gustavo a Madero, Distrito Federal [@TKD_117, +LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (flickr), Imparables del Ring, Kronosport, Masno a Mano]
1) Ekuz DCOR Payaso Loco
Lots of mask ripping and bleeding (especially for an opener.) Reports differ if Ekuz won or if it was a double countout after a Spanish Fly.
2) Pólvora b Jinzo
Jinzo replaced Hijo del Pantera. Polvora Driver for the win. Good match.
3) Titán & Tritón (CMLL) b Aeroboy & Violento Jack
very good match. Compadre Extremos wanted a rematch
4) Metaleón & Mr. Leo b Dragosth & Juana La Loca and Mike Segura & Toxin Boy and Leo & Rafy
Segura replaced Fly Star. Mike & Teelo were listed on the poster, but the Ninja Turtles appeared to be Rafy & Leo. Leo took the loss. Rain soaked the mat, but did not seem to stop the luchadors from diving.
5) Wotam b Core
Ludark appeared but could not wrestle due to a knee injury. Core replaced her, was stretchered out after a hard hitting match.
6) Último Guerrero b Black Terry
They were able to dry the ring before the main event. very good match, money thrown in.

Main event sounds like it went very well, with the tag match being the other standout. This wasn’t taped by the usual source.

Chilanga Mask (SUN) 07/19/2015 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México [+LuchaTV, TKD_117]
1) Dragonfly b Ironía and Hijo Del Angel
Dragon Fly was added to the match and won.
2) As Charro & Toxin Boy b Dragón Celestial & Electro Boy
As Charro replaced Toxin Boy, Dragon Celestial replaced Saru.
3) Dorada Jr., Reggae Boy, Sangre Jr. b Fulgor I, Fulgor II, Iron Kid
Dorado Jr. gave Fulgor I three german suplexes for the win
4) Caifan & Dr. Cerebro b Trauma I & Trauma II
very good match
5) Pantera I b Aero Boy
6) Impulso & Juana La Loca b Freelance & Suicida and Alas de Acero & Aramis [semifinal]
tournament was split into 3 team semifinals. Good match. Juana beat Freelance with a Destroyer. Best match of the tournament.
7) Ophidian & Silver Ant b Saru & Teelo and Emperador Azteca & Psico Kid [semifinal]
Saru replaced Rafy. Psico Kid replaced Dragon Celestial and betrayed Emperador Azteca.
8) Ophidan & Silver Ant b Impulso & Juana La Loca [final]
Team CHIKARA won the tournament, to boos.
9) Ray Rowe b Bárbaro Cavernario [submission]
good match. Rowe wanted a bigger opponent (somewhat literally), throwing out challenges to Rush and Masada.

Foreigners won both big matches. I’d guess that means it’s Masada who’s coming in to face Ray Rowe, becuase he’d be the stranger name to pick if there wasn’t already a plan. Sounds like Traumas vs Cerbero/Caifan was the best match, but there were many good matches.

Ultimo Guerrero says his win over Rey Escorpion is revenge for losing his mask and the start of a new story for him. He’s not going anywhere for a long time.

SuperLuchas looks back to Bronco and Mikro being unmasked (on separate shows.)

Imposible, Centvrion and Emperador Azteca will be representing Naucalpain in Guadalajara on 08/09.

A four way title match in Veracruz, with four different titles on the line, ended with everyone counted out. They did mask match challenges after. It seems so dumb to me; if they’ve shown you how willing they are to get out of one stipulation, why would you buy in on a bigger one?

The Crew are booked in New York on September 12th, so Lucha Underground isn’t back that weekend. Really, Wrestling Observer Newsletter said some guys were told they were free to take bookings in September, so this isn’t a big surprise. I believe they’ve said it takes 3 weeks to turn around an episode. Assuming that doesn’t change for season 2, the latest they could start taping and still air an October debut is October 4th. In reality, we’ll know a lot sooner than that (people will start taking bookings for October, no announcement of positive deals), but that’d be the deadline for a start even close to what was originally planned.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update

This is one annoying column.

Payaso Pretextos, who has only existed for about a month, puts his mask on the line in Arena Aficion. Can’t imagine what’ll happen.

Lucha Libre In Japan

07/19 NOAH: Super Crazy defeated Hajime Ohara [GJHL]
Crazy also gets off to a winning start. Ohara appeared to have a knee injury after the match; if he had to forfeit, that would hope Bengala & Crazy’s chances (as they’re both in the same block.) Their next match is the match against each other, on the 22nd.

NJPW also said some vague things about unifying wrestling around the world, which may include CMLL.

CMLL (FRI) 07/17/2015 Arena México [CMLL, SuperLuchas]
Sin Salida, 2015
1) Ángel de Oro & Stuka Jr. b Misterioso Jr. & Pierroth
16:07. Tecnicos took 1/3. Angel de Oro shoved Stuka at one point, but it didn’t seem to go anywhere.
2) Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis b Dark Angel, Estrellita, Princesa Sugehit
21:36. Rudas took 2/3, Dalys using the ropes to beat Dark Angel for the second straight week.
3) Delta b Hechicero [En Busca de un Idolo]
9:03 Hechicero replaced Blue Panther (no reason given; he received 0 points and will be last place); Hechicero specifically did not get any points in the tournament and was not judged. Delta won with a pin after Hechicero missed a moonsault (with about 30 seconds left; finish looked odd but it may have been a time issue.) Diamante Azul was guest judge. Delta scored a 6 (Diamante Azul), 6 (Gladiador), 5 (Shocker), 6 (Tirantes) for 23 and will finish in seventh place.
4) Esfinge b Canelo Casas [En Busca de un Idolo]
5:43. Esfinge used Nudo Egipico again for the win. Esfinge scored a 8 (Diamante Azul), 8 (Gladiador), 8 (Shocker), 10 (Tirantes). Canelo Casas scored a 7, 7, 7, 8 for 29, and will finish sixth unless something strange happens.
5) Ephesto, Mephisto, Negro Casas b Dragon Lee, Mistico, Valiente
21:30. Rudos took 2/3, Casas beating Mistico clean with a casita.
6) La Sombra, Marco Corleone, Rush b Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Volador Jr.
15:00. Ingobernables took 2/3, Sombra fouling Volador after earlier fouling Atlantis (and Rush getting away with unmasking Diamante Azul.) Ingobernables worked as complete rudos. Volador & Diamante Azul challenged Sombra & Rush to lucha de apuestas. Sombra responded without directly answering.
7) Último Guerrero b Rey Escorpión [hair]
22:01. Rey Escorpion took fall 1 with the sit down powerbomb, Ultimo Guerrero the second with a Pulpo Guerrero and the third with a Guerrero Espcial. UG bled from the nose after an early punch exchange. Escorpion had to be held in place by referees to take his hair cut.

Attendance looked surprisingly good. The lower bowl appeared to be full and there were people in the upper section. Maybe they broke five digits? This also was a crowd who came to see Ultimo Guerrero, loudly supporting him in the main event, even more than the two Anniversary matches.

Rey Escorpion says he won’t rest until he retires Ultimo Guerrero. Ultimo Guerrero says that’s not happening.

Current En Busca de un Idolo standings

470 Boby Zavala*
466 Guerrero Maya*
376 Esfinge

344 Flyer*

329 Disturbio*
321 Canelo Casas
300 Delta
253 Blue Panther

Flyer was given 3 extra points in the judging for no particular reason. He continues to lead the polling, and will pass Esfinge as long as he shows up on Tuesday. It remains a Disturbio/Esfinge battle for the last second round spot. Disturbio trails Esfinge by 47 points, which is a win and typical judging number. Normally, we’d think he would get another edge from the fan polling, but Esfinge actually leads him by a decent amount as of Saturday afternoon. Disturbio may catch up, but it’s hard to see him picking up 20+ points in fan poll; if CMLL simply wants Esfinge to advance, then all they need to do is have Boby Zavala defeat Disturbio on Tuesday. The polls usually close early on the final week; Disturbio has until Wednesday noon to move ahead.

Blue Panther Jr. not showing up for one of the biggest shows of the year seems totally unprofessional. (Even if he was injured, he should’ve been there to say he was injured. It’d almost have to be some extreme family reasons not to show up.) If this was a major company in the United States or Japan, he wouldn’t be working for them any longer; probably many minor ones too. It’s a different culture in Mexico, where promoters (and fans) are expected to be accept luchadors not showing up, with no real reason ever given.

On that same note, Mr. Niebla no-showed a card he was scheduled to main event in Nuevo Laredo last night, and was replaced by Hijo de LA Park.

AAA announced the Villanos will face the Psycho Circus at TripleMania. This plays off the otherwise unexplained Villano IV/Psycho Clown interaction on TV last week. It’s being billed as Villano III’s farewell match. It’s lucha libre, so it probably isn’t his last one (and Villano V is coming back from his own farewell matches to be involved.) If the media and fans buy in on the idea of Villano III actually retiring, it could be a big deal.

PWInsider followed up their story on Hernandez’s contract issues with more details, including some from the Lucha Underground side. It appears TNA never checked themselves if Hernandez actually had a release, only made Hernandez sign a contract stating that he did. Hernandez might have thought he did, or thought the verbal release he got was good enough. Lucha Underground says they were actually in the process of working on his release, but it had not been issues and definitely would’ve included Hernandez staying off TV until after Ultima Lucha. (It might have also included him staying off TV for a longer period after.) It’s Hernandez appearing on both shows at once which set all off this off. TNA told Hernandez that he needed to sue Lucha Underground if he really believed he was released; Hernandez did not, and TNA cut him and cut his footage at that point. Lucha Underground says they were never offered money to buy Hernandez out, which TNA claims they were. (That part is weird – if TNA is losing guys because they can’t afford to pay them the same as they used to, why would they bother to buy a guy out of their contract right now?) The net effect is TNA’s not going to use Hernandez and LU is probably also not going to use Hernandez – he tried to work both and ended up with neither.

Today is the first Lucha Mutante show, with Ultimo Guerrero main eventing against Black Terry. ChilangaMask runs on Sunday, with a Raymond Rowe/Barbaro Cavernario submission match. The Guadalajara trio of Sangre Fria Jr., Dorado Jr. and Reggae Boy have a promo talking about their match versus the Fulgors and Iron Kid.

CMLL’s Sabado Retro main event is La Mascara, Maximo and Blue Panther versus Rey Bucanero, Terrible, and Vangellys.

Mil Mascaras won in Arena Aficion on Thursday.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Pierrothito is wrestling in Chicago today. He hasn’t been in Arena Mexico since April; he was advertised for Tuesday in Guadalajara but was replaced by Pequeno Nitro.

SuperLuchas looks back to Vampiro taking Pirata Morgan’s hair.

DJ Spectro looks back at the time Solitario got in trouble for winning a mask match.

Lucha Libre in Japan

07/18 NOAH: Bengala b TAKA Michinoku [GJHL]
Bengala gets a win to start of the tournament.

Lineup

CMLL (FRI) 07/24/2015 Arena México
1) Oro Jr. & Soberano Jr. vs Akuma & Espiritu Negro
2) Acero, Shockercito, Último Dragoncito vs Demus 3:16, Mercurio, Pequeño Nitro
3) Dragon Lee, Máximo, Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Felino, Rey Bucanero
4) ?, Guerrero Maya Jr., Negro Casas vs ??, Boby Zavala, Virus
5) Volador Jr. vs La Sombra
6) Diamante Azul, Shocker, Último Guerrero vs Rey Escorpión, Rush, Thunder [Relevos Increíbles]

It’s been three months since the last Volador/Sombra match so CMLL could wait no longer. Rush & Azul are matched up in the main event.

Fourth match is the usual midway trios match for En Busca de un Idolo. Maya & Casas are clinched. Two of Flyer, Disturbio and Esfinge will fill the other spots – so, whatever happens, it’ll be three of Virus’s students and only one of Casas’.

CMLL BOOM (THU) 07/16/2015 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), Mano a Mano]
1) Comando Negro Jr. & Robin Maravilla Jr. b Esparta & Kid Jaguar
2) Kilvan, Rey Lobo Jr., Shadow, Yoruba b Aramis, Atomic Star, Fly Star, Toxin Boy
Listed as Resistencia vs Turtles, but it ended up as Kriminal Boys and friends instead. Match had problems, still got money thrown in.
3) Freelance, Mike Segura, Pantera I b Arez, Belial, Impulso
Money thrown in. Both teams agreed to a team versus team apuesta match.
4) Black Terry, Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata b Carta Brava Jr. (IWL), Cerebro Negro, Fantasma de la Ópera and Ángel o Demonio, Eterno, Ovett[super libre]
Fantasma and Terry feuded and bled. Terry’s team beat Fantasma’s.
5) Crazy Boy & Pesadilla DQ Felino & Negro Casas
Crazy fouled Casas
6) La Máscara, La Sombra, Marco Corleone b Máximo, Último Guerrero,Volador Jr.
Ingobernables took falls 1/3. Sombra snuck in a foul on Volador.

Looked like another good turn out for Boom in this arena. They’re running about one a month on a Thursday, which would put the next show around August 13th.

Today is CMLL’s second major show of the year, Sin Salida. It’s a one match card, Rey Escorpion versus Ultimo Guerrero. It’s been the focus of CMLL’s main TV show the last month, which is great except for the part that no one in Mexico can watch their main show. They’ve done their best anyway, but it doesn’t feel like there’s a great bit of anticipation for this match; it should be the biggest turnout for CMLL in Arena Mexico since Dos Leyendas, but tonight does not seem like a huge event.

CMLL’s preview quickly mentions Escorpion & UG’s partnership and breakup, and Ultimo Guerrero’s history of groups and bad breakups. They’re trying to push the idea that Ultimo Guerrero always loses the breakup rivalry. He’s going to win tonight. He’s just not going to lose in his first hair match. Rey Escorpion will lose hair matches, and probably had expected to lose his hair to Maximo sometime last year before that feud just stopped. Escorpion was gone from CMLL before this feud started. I presume he’s staying around, but he’s got no big feud next and CMLL continues to bring up Ultimo Guerrero & Thunder.

There’s not much of not on this card. The semimain is Diamante Azul, Voaldor Jr. & Atlantis vs Rush, Sombra and Mascara. (CMLL seems aware tecnicos versu Ingoerbnabels is better than rudos versus Ingobernables, but still don’t want to do it much.) Mistico’s required appearance has him in a trios with Dragon Lee & Valiente versus Mephisto, Ephesto and Negro Casas. CMLL’s begun promoting Lee & Mistico as a tag team, and this could start them going towards Shocker & Negro Casas. The women remain locked in the segunda spot even on a bigger card, and the opener sees Pierroth booked at appropiate level for once, joined by Misterioso against Stuka & Angel de Oro.

Tonight’s En Busca de un Idolo Week 7, the last week of the first round. Delta versus Blue Panther is a battle for last place, largely irrelevant. Esfinge versus Canelo Casas is critical. The loser of that match is virtually eliminated, the winner will have a shot depending on what Disturbio looks on Tuesday. Esfinge is in a much stronger position (Canelo needs a lot to go right to advance), but he’s not getting near the poll support as Disturbio this week and it might be the same the next week. Esfinge’s path to advacning is a win here, a Disturbio loss, and a much better judging score. Esfinge needs to see 8s and 9s tonight to have a hope of overcoming the poll result.

Segunda Caida reviews Dragon Lee, Pegasso, Rey Cometa vs Kamaitachi, Okumura, Virus from last November.

Fenix is happy for his trip to London.

Lady Apache and Rossy Moreno hype up a show today in Orizaba with a hair match challenge that’s probably not happening.

SuperLuchas looks back at Mil Mascaras’ debut in Arena Mexico, 50 years ago today.

Dragon Lee, Chico Che, Oriental versus Los Traumas and Mazambula, a real match.