Day: August 10, 2015

AAA TV (SUN) 08/09/2015 Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal [thecubsfan]
***TripleMania XXIII***
1) Dinastía, Drago, Goya Kong, Pimpinela Escarlata b Daga, Mamba, Mini Psycho Clown, Sexy Star
Pimpinela got the win, in a match not as good as usual mixed openers (and not close to last year’s version)
2) Villano III, Villano IV, Villano V b Monsther Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown
retirement matches for Villano III & Pepe Casas. V3 and V5 wore their masks for the match. Casas and Copetes were referees, with Casas only dropping down to count the winning pin. Bad match, Villanos struggling. V4 snuck in a foul on Psycho Clown for the win, which annoyed the other Villanos.
3) Averno, Chessman, Cibernético © b Angélico, Fénix, Jack Evans and Hijo del Fantasma, Pentagón Jr., Texano Jr. [AAA TRIOS, cage]
Made a cage match early in the week. Rules were a modification of cage match rules, with the belts hanging from a metal scaffold in the center of the ring (and almost reachable by jumping; cage seemed smaller than usual, or just smaller in person.) Quick match with mostly high spots in the time they did. Chessman was knocked off the side of the cage into tables, but landed badly and hurt his knee. Fenix did a moonsault off the top of the cage. Angelico leaped from the side of the cage to the metal scaffold, but was kicked off before getting the belts. Averno knocked Fantasma down, and carefully unhooked a belt to win.
4) Blue Demon Jr. & La Parka b El Mesías & Electroshock
Blue Demon 30th anniversary match. Crowd was a little into Demon when he appeared, but these four had a completely ordinary TV match (for them, which is not so good) and Demon submitted Electroshock for the win.
5) Alberto el Patrón b Brian Cage [hair, cage]
Incredibly, Tirantes was the referee again for this match. Essentially the same match from Verano de Escandalo, with Fenix and Fantasma as seconds (for a Fenix dive) and Tirantes not going full heel until late and not nearly as much. This time, Alberto kicked out of a powerbomb thru a table, fouled Cage, and put him in the armbar for the win (thanks to Maya.) Cage was shaved in the ring, then attacked Alberto but ended up laid out under the Mexican flag. Best match and more over match of the night.
6) Rey Mysterio Jr. b Myzteziz
Myzteziz descended from the ceiling, Rey had a winged outfit. Myzteziz worked rudo the entire match. Crowd was not nearly as into it as expected, with sporadic whistles and not as many chants for Rey/Myzteziz. Myzteziz bled, landed the 619 to a big boo, and surprisingly lost completely clean to a Misterio Mistica (second time he tried, much better that time.) Joe Lider, Pentagon Jr. and Averno attacked both men for no obvious reason, complete with staple gun spots, but the tecnicos rallied and sent them away. Rey offered a handshake, but Myzteziz spit in his face instead and attacked Rey. Myzteziz turned fully rudo, saying he was embracing the boos, angry the fans were supporting Misterio over him in the match. Myzteziz challenged (semiconcious) Rey to a mask match. Konnan brought the three rudos back a second time to attack Rey, then offered a place in La Sociedad. Myzteziz rejected it, saying he wanted his want to be solo. Myzteziz started to leave, then took a Perros del Mal shirt from someone (a fan?) and put it on. Myzteziz joined the rudos in attacking Rey for a long time before they were finally dragged away.

Air Date: 08/16 and 08/23?

I can’t speak to the US and iPPV issues. I’ve see Twitter, so I know it was nothing but issues. From a live perspective, every match underdelivered. We were having “we’ve definitely seen worst shows than this, right?” discussions on the way back to the hotel. This was a terrible show for new viewers, with stuff not making sense or done in a way that would drive new fans away from the product. You can at least argue the semimain shenanigans ended with a huge pop for Alberto. The mess that was the post main event finish didn’t work for anyone. Alberto & Cage and Rey & Myzteziz were Good, but they needed Great or Excellent to save the show and didn’t get it. The stuff that looked bad was really bad. The stuff that looked like a waste of guys was a waste of guys. It may not mean a lot because the show was a production disaster, but they weren’t messing up a good show by any means.

AAA made a lot of money tonight, filled a big building with a lot of expensive tickets. Maybe that’s enough to consider it a good night. It felt like anything but. I really want AAA to make it, in Mexico and everywhere else, but tonight felt like a failure that’ll haunt them for some time. This was a dispiriting night for lucha libre.