CMLL Gran Prix, Lucha Underground tonight, AAA LWC in Puebla

CMLL (TUE) 05/24/2016 Arena México [thecubsfan]
1) Cholo & Espanto Jr. b Bengala & Leono
15:55. Rudos took 1/3
2) Acero, Eléctrico, Fantasy b Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
14:34. Tecnicos took 2/3. Acero replaced Stukita
3) Disturbio, Puma, Tiger b Esfinge, Pegasso, Stigma
13:36. Rudos took 1/3.
4) Rey Cometa b Cavernario [lightning]
Cometa won in 8:01 with a Canadian Destroyer
5) Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado b Fuego, Tritón, Valiente
8:51. Rudos took 1/3.
6) Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, Stuka Jr. b Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero
10:40. Straight falls. Stuka pinned UG and demanded a title shot next week. UG accepted in English.

There was some stuff that was good, but it was a show that could be skipped without missing too much. They had their cake and ate it too in the semifinal, with the Pierroth not getting along with his partners but the trio essentially still being the same Boricuas as always. I’m guessing they didn’t do a bigger breakup because we’ll still be getting more of these matches to come.

CMLL announced Dragon Lee would be out three weeks with a right knee strain. That’s what he had last month too. It suggests the injury didn’t get enough time to heal, or there’s something more severe that he’s trying to work thru. (As RobViper pointed out, the parallel here is to Rush and Mistico II’s repeated shoulder injuries, which kept coming back until they had surgery.) I hope Dragon Lee takes all the time he needs to recover, and the people around him don’t let him hurry back.

Stuka Jr. replaces Dragon Lee on Friday. That main event seemed to set up a return of the La Mascara/Dragon Lee feud, and maybe Mascara will feud with Maximo instead. Diamante Azul replaces Dragon Lee on Sunday, which is the saddest change. Ultimo Dragoncito also replaces Astral on Saturday.

CMLL announced the Gran Prix tournament will return at some point soon. The idea of the tournament has been Mexico versus the World, though they haven’t actually done it all times. (It’s also sometimes been a one night tournament and sometimes a cibernetico.) CMLL’s press release says this one will have eight Mexicans and eight foreigners.

The article plays up the great history of the tournament, a tournament CMLL’s forgotten to run since 2008. Previous winners are Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (1994), Head Hunter A (1995), Hijo del Santo (1996), Steel (1997), Apolo Dantes (1998), Mascara Magica (2002), Dr. Wagner Jr. (2003), Atlantis (2005), Ultimo Guerrero (2006 & 2007), and Alex Shelley (2008). Ultimo Guerrero was runner up to Shelley in that last one too, in what was designed to set up a Shelley/Sabin vs Guerrero/Casas apuesta match (but CMLL & TNA couldn’t make a deal.)

CMLL could always scrounge enough local foreigners (Marco, Okumura, Raijin, Fujin, Heddi Karaoui, Johnny Idol & American Sweetness from DTU, Rocket?) to get to eight if they wanted to go route, but the rumor is people are coming in from NJPW and maybe even ROH. Dr. Landru says he’s heard there’s people from Ocenaia, Canada and the US confirmed for the tournament, and mentions a former CMLL tag champion and member of the Bullet Club The preview plays up King Haku being the runner up in the first match, with a photo of him with his son Tama Tonga from this year’s Gran Prix, and Tama fits that criteria.

The Gran Prix was talked about on the show last night, promoting it like it’s the next major CMLL event. I guess it’s possible it could be an iPPV.

There’s no ELITE show today. They’re scheduled to be back next Wednesday. No card has been announced yet.

Today’s Lucha Underground episode is the 18th of the season, “Enter the Mundo”. Matches announced

• Mascarita Sagrada vs Joey Ryan – clip here
• Cage vs Chavo Guerrero (c) for the Gift of the Gods championship
• Prince Puma, Dragon Azteca Jr., Rey Mysterio Jr. (c) vs TBD

That clip might look familiar, they accidentally shared it a couple weeks ahead of time. Hope no one got fired. The trios match is listed in the show preview but no opponents are mentioned.

AAA held a press conference in Puebla to promote the 06/03 Lucha World Cup show taking place in that city. There wasn’t much news; it was more to get all the local Puebla media to mention the show and seems successful on that front.

Dorian did mention the Lucha World Cup would be on iPPV. There’s no details yet on where the iPPV would be, how much each show costs, and if they’re (still) doing English announcing. The quote makes it sound as if they’re not doing traditional PPV even in Mexico. iPPV only would give them the freedom to go as long as they’d like. Nine days to go.

Melissa Santos says she’s part of the Lucha World Cup.

RIOT on 06/11 in Arena Femenil Monterrey
1: Belial vs Drastick Boy
2: Arez vs Jinzo
3: Violento Jack vs Byron vs Tony Rodriguez
4: Erik Ortiz vs Rico Rodriguez

Chairo 4 on 06/19 in Arena Naucalpan
1: Impulso vs Freelance, hair vs hair
2: Keria, Aeroboy, Demasiado vs Mini Multifacetico, Brole, Prayer
3: Alas de Acero, Aramis, Iron Kid vs Soberano Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Star Jr.

The AMLL alliance of promoters in Torreon, Gomez Palacio and Ciudad Lerdo will be running a series of events to set up a support fund for injured luchadors. Luchadors will have to train two times a week to be eligible, but won’t have to pay – the promoters will be responsible for it. They’re also going to create a unified championship over all these gyms.

Dragon Rojo really wants to wrestle Carisitco.

R de Rudo has an interview with Sadico.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 05/31/2016 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Demus 3:16 & Mercurio
2) Flyer, Magnus, Sensei vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Hijo del Signo, Nitro
3) Blue Panther Jr., Soberano Jr., The Panther vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus
4) Blue Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Hechicero, Kráneo
5) Último Guerrero © vs Stuka Jr. [NWA MIDDLE]
fifth defense
6) Diamante Azul, Máximo Sexy, Mistico vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto

Stuka has no chance of winning – his big move involves going to the top rope, that’s not a good idea with UG –  but maybe he’ll get an interesting match out of it. Fourth match could be good.

CMLL (TUE) 05/31/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Mágico & Magnum vs Kempo Dragón & Príncipe Kisho
2) Oro Jr., Robin, Vaquero Jr. vs Akuma, Espanto Jr., Joker
3) Eléctrico, Fantasy, Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Universo 2000, Pierrothito
4) Ángel de Oro, Esfinge, Valiente vs Cavernario, Furia Roja, Sagrado
5) Máscara Dorada, Rush, Titán vs La Máscara, Shocker, Terrible

Rush turned tecnico by turning on La Mascara. Hey, if he didn’t team with Pierroth, it might be plausible.

Furia Roja is strangely high on this card. Something is up there. The Sinaloa guys get an opener.