Lucha World Cup announcements, Konnan on AAA, Graver Consequences tonight

CMLL (TUE) 05/10/2016 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO,thecubsfan]
1) Astral & Fantasy b Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
11:45. Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Cancerbero, Raziel, Sangre Azteca b Leono, Sensei, Star Jr.
12:09. Rudos took both falls cleanly!
3) Fuego b Disturbio [lightning]
Fuego small packaged Disturbio in 7:48.
4) Fujin, Okumura, Raijin b Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, The Panther
11:38. Rudos took 1/3.
5) Hechicero, Kráneo, Sagrado b Ángel de Oro, Hombre Bala Jr., Tritón
15:30. Rudos took 2/3. Hombre Bala replaced Super Porky, but landed on his head on a match ending Asai tornillo and was stretchered out.
6) Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy, Stuka Jr. b Euforia, Último Guerrero, Vangellys
12:09. Tecnicos took 2/3.

Not a super interesting show, though the semimain was better than expected with no Porky. It appears they’re not letting Brazo de Plata work back to back shows, which is a great idea but then they should stop booking him on back to back shows. Hombre Bala’s landing looked not great, and there’s no update on his status so far.

Tonight’s Elite show has Caristico versus Ultimo Guerrero and Volador versus Xtreme Tiger in Liga Elite matches. Caristico and Ultimo Guerrero’s singles match in Puebla was quite good and this should be the same. Volador and Xtreme Tiger have run into each other in the past, including in the previous aborted attempted at a Lige Elite, but this is their first singles match. Volador and Dorada was fun and Dorada and Tiger was really good, so this figures to out well too.

The trios match in the middle is the Parks versus the Hell Brothers. The Parks versus the Ingobernables worked better than expected, but I’m not sure they can pull it off again. The non-TV matches include a under explained match setting up an Elite Middleweight Championship; the official preview doesn’t seem to have any more of an idea than we do. We’re guessing it’s seeding, and perhaps they’ll actually make TV when the new title is actually on the line.

Today’s Lucha Underground episode is episode 16 of the season, Graver Consquences. Matches on the show

• Joey Ryan vs Cortez Castro vs Mr. Cisco for an Aztec Medallion
• Ivelisse, Son of Havoc and TBD vs Dragon Azteca Jr., Prince Puma, Rey Misterio Jr. (c) for the Lucha Underground Championship
• Mil Muertes vs Matanza (c) for the Lucha Underground championship in a Graver Consequence match

The opener is for the final Aztec Medallion (which means Dario will be able to hold a Gift of the Gods match as soon as next week.) Angelico’s still out of action, and will be for a while, so the mystery in the second match is who will end up as the third partner. There are four caskets in the main event and no one’s quite sure why.

Edit: I forgot about this until I hit post, but Lucha Underground actually posted a teaser of Mascarita Sagrada vs Joey Ryan, and a teaser of the three way with Joey Ryan. Spoiler? I don’t really want to type “three way with Joey Ryan” ever again so let’s move on.

AAA held a press conference for the Lucha World Cup. They made the choice to announce some of the teams, but didn’t mention anyone coming from the US or Canada, simply announcing the Japan teams and some of the Mexico teams. These are the teams as they were announced.

Men’s Division
1: Japan/NOAH: Taiji Ishimori, Naomichi Marufuji, Mayback Taniguchi
2: Japan/Ouduo/Zero One: Masato Tanaka, Akebono, Ikuto Hidaka
3: Mexico/AAA: Pentagon Jr., Texano Jr., winner of Ricky Marvin/Nicho/Hijo del Pirata Morgan on Saturday
4: Mexico Leyendas: Canek, La Parka (AAA), ???
5: Mexico Internacional: Rey Mysterio, ?, ??
6: US (TNA): ?, ??, ???
7: US (LU): ?, ??, ???
8: Rest of the World: ?, ??, ???

Women’s Division
1: Japan: (WAVE/OZ) Aja Kong, Yuki Miyazaki, Natsu Sumire
2: Mexico: Lady Apache, Mary Apache, Faby Apache
3: US: ?, ??, ???
4: Canada: ?, ??, ??? (definitely Taya in this group)

Black Terry, Solar, Villano V, Mascara 2000, Universo 2000 and Cien Caras were announced as judges for the awards. (It’s a little notable for the Dinamitas to show up here with Cien’s kids just starting in CMLL, but it’s really just a one off appearance.)

Lady Apache’s appearance will be the first for her in an AAA related show since 2005. She’s been on the indies since leaving CMLL in 2012. It’s strange timing for a return after her spouse Electroshock walked out of the promotion just a few days ago, but I don’t know what their status is at the moment.

The last legend spot seems like it should go to Blue Demon Jr., and Demon’s Victoria can was shown during the presentation. (Then again, so was Sexy Star.)

There’s no word yet when the rest of the people might be announced. This show no longer being on PPV might play into the missing names. This won’t be on PPV, so TNA’s announcer being part of it or using it to promote their own PPV is mostly out of play (it may still air on iPPV, to a smaller audience) and maybe that’s changed the deal. That wouldn’t explain the LU guys. They also might just be waiting for a different venue to get more attention, since announcing names intended to attract a US/Canada audience ought to be done at an English language press conference.

Konnan talked about his departures from Lucha Underground and AAA on this week’s MLW Radio podcast. It’s basically the first half of the show. Konnan explained he didn’t want put his cohost Court Bauer in a tough place by talking badly about AAA/LU while Court was still working with them, but now Court’s not. Konnan didn’t have much to say about LU – there was even a brief, unexplained mention by Court that Konnan was supposed to be back on the show in Season 3 or 4 – and mostly directed his ire at AAA. Much of the material was similar to Konnan’s podcast from this past weekend, but this time in English.

Konnan’s complaints were almost all the Roldans, who he feels were gifted a wrestling company he (Konnan) helped Antonio Pena build, and the Roldans don’t know what they’re doing and lie and scare the wrestlers to keep them in line. Konnan comes of as if he believes he was the one person keeping the promotion from completely falling apart, with the Roldans causing most of the problems. Konnan said most people are afraid to say something, even those who are left, because they don’t want to hurt their chance of working there again. He’s not concerned about that.

Konnan brought that AAA told Lucha Underground to have their lawyers warn the AAA luchadors that if they worked for anyone besides AAA in Mexico (including specifically Konnan), they’d be violating contracts and removed from Lucha Underground. Konnan does not believe this is the truth, but calls the wrestlers too scared to try AAA and find out. Konnan also brings up situations with Mini Charly Manson & Hijo del Fantasma trying to leave, though whatever the situation with Mini Charly Manson is not explained. Konnan says Fantasma received a WWE offer and had previously been told he’d be let out of his AAA deal whenever he wanted, but they’re not holding him to a 7 season deal which Dorian signed on behalf of the first wave of AAA luchadors. (It’s implied the later AAA luchadors may be under different deals, or at least got to sign them themselves. Also Fantasma’s back injury is from going thru a table.) Konnan also mentioned Dorian Roldan claims to be majority owner of LU but is actually a minority owner, which may play into all of this.

Konnan talks about the Octagon situation, emphasizing how the Roldans were very close friends with Octagon until they totally turned on him. Konnan said he’d been trying to sign Flamita for years, but then Dorian would stand him up for meetings or keep him waiting for hours and was confused when Flamita would go off to work in Japan instead.

Konnan and Dorian engaged (?) in some passive aggressive subtweeting after the podcast came out.

Lucha Memes will have CH4IRO (Chairo 4)  on 06/19 in Arena Naucalpan.

+LuchaTV has the Tortugas Ninjas and Comando Elite challenging for mask matches. For what it’s worth, the new Ninja Turtles movie premieres in Mexico on June 5th.

RobViper has RobViper has highlights of 12/29/09 CMLL and 03/19/93 AAA as well as Metatron and Mascara Dorada highlights

LuchaWorld has this week’s top 10 rankings.

RIOT’s on 06/11.
1: Belial vs Drastick Boy
2: Arez vs Jinzo

WWE announced it’s Mexico tour dates for the year. They’re coming twice, though not repeating the same cities. They’ll visit Puebla (Saturday August 27) & Leon (Sunday August 28) during the summer, and go Merida (Friday December 2), Mexico City (Saturday December 3) and Monterrey (Sunday December 4) during the winter.

Long time Chicago area lucha libre referee El Apentias is close to retiring.

Apolo Valdes talks about life after wrestling for luchadors.

Australian Suicide hypes his title match and his feud with Daga.

06/11 Nuevo Laredo has AAA guys (Demon & Garza) in the main event and CMLL guys (Stuka, Delta, Dragon Rojo and Niebla) in the semimain.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 05/16/2016 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Millenium vs Akuma & Espanto Jr.
2) Hombre Bala Jr. & Star Jr. vs Rey Apocalipsis & Toro Bill Jr.
3) Astral, Eléctrico, Shockercito vs Espíritu Maligno, Mini Joker, Saurón
4) Fuego, Rey Cometa, Súper Porky vs Kráneo, Morphosis, Olímpico
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto © vs Ángel de Oro, Stigma, Stuka Jr. [MEX TRIOS]
Hijos del Infierno 4th defense.
6) Rush vs Marco Corleone

Marco won by DQ when they ran this singles match in Arena Mexico.

Angel de Oro just lost his title, Mephisto won an extra one, the CMLL laws of championship balancing indicate a change is likely Monday night.

Second match could be fun. Minis are higher than usual, and it’s a CMLL vs Puebla match. It’s a little early for Puebla Anniversary season.

CMLL (TUE) 05/17/2016 Arena México
1) Aéreo & Último Dragóncito vs Demus 3:16 & Mercurio
2) Flyer, Robin, Star Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Canelo Casas, Metálico
3) Soberano Jr. vs Sangre Azteca [lightning]
4) Blue Panther Jr., Oro Jr., The Panther vs El Cuatrero, Sansón, Skándalo
5) Blue Panther, Dragón Lee, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Bobby Z, Mephisto, Vangellys
6) Máscara Dorada, Stuka Jr., Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero

Main event could be very good. Dragon Lee seems listed as being back a week ahead of schedule. The Dinamita kids replace Fujin & Rajin agaisnt the Panthers this week. CMLL has a ton of news people and yet they can’t find theri way to even this show.

CMLL (TUE) 05/17/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Explosivo & Vaquero Jr. vs Linterna & Mr. Apolo
2) El Divino, Sensei, Starman vs Cancerbero, Furia Roja, Raziel
3) Estrellita, Marcela, Skadi vs Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis
4) Ángel de Oro, Súper Porky, Titán vs Kráneo, Olímpico, Ripper
5) Atlantis, La Máscara, Rush vs Rey Escorpión, Shocker, Terrible

Rush cheated to beat Terrible this week in a singles match, which sets up a trios match?