Zumbi out of CWC?, Black in Elite international tournament tonight, Mascarita Dorada

CMLL (TUE) 06/21/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Martes de Glamour]
1) Linterna & Mr. Apolo b Capitán Cobra & Johnny Dinamo
Rudos took 2/3.
2) Oro Jr., Pegasso, Stigma b Metálico, Sangre Azteca, Skándalo
Tecnicos took 1/3. Oro beat Metalico, who seemed to have the match won.
3) Furia Roja, Hechicero, Sagrado b Ángel de Oro, Esfinge, Tritón
Rudos took 2/3, Furia Roja unmasking Esfinge and pinning him for the win. This sets up a mask match next week.
4) Diamante Azul, Rush, Titán DQ La Máscara, Rey Bucanero, Vangellys
Tecnicos took 2/3. Rush fouled Mascara, Mascara fouled Rush, ref caught only the second.
5) Atlantis, Máximo Sexy, Mistico b Ephesto, Luciferno, Mr. Niebla
Scheduled to a Mexican Trios title defense, but Mephisto (injury) was replaced by Mr. Niebla and no title match was held. Tecnicos took 1/3.

This means Mephisto didn’t get on the bus to Guadalajara, so they likely knew he wasn’t going to be on the Gran Prix show when they were doing Informa talking about the Gran Prix. It just didn’t come up. (They also could’ve just announced the title match being off on Informa to let people in Guadalajara know. But nah.)

The official CMLL story is Mephisto strained his groin worked on Sunday in Naucalpan. I’d believe he made it worse there, but Mephisto was obviously hurting before that point. Mephisto will be out 2-3 weeks, with La Mascara taking his place on the Mexico Gran Prix team. That confirms Pierroth/La Mascara won’t be happening on 07/01, which seemed to be the case as soon as the announced Cavernario/Cometa.

I still don’t believe they’re saving Mascara/Pierroth for the Anniversary show.

IWRG FILL (WED) 06/22/2016 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Araña de Plata, Lilith Dark, Skanda b Chica Pantera, Magic Dragón, Voltar
2) Discordia, Enigma, Guerrero 2000 b Pequeño Dragón, Pumita, Rey Destello
3) Águila Oriental, Keiser Dragón, Omega b Adrenalina, Keshin Black, Osiris
4) Blue Monsther, Geo, Mike b Acero, Hip Hop Man, Picudo Jr.
Acero and Hip Hop Man argued over who in charge, which spelled their defeat.
5) Aramis, Dragón Fly, Fireman, Galaxy, Hijo del Alebrije, Kanon, Shadow Boy, Zatura b Ángel Guerrero, Ares I, Ares II, Camaleón I, Camaleón II, Fight Panther, Guerrero Azteca, the Tiger (Tamaulipas) [Copa Higher Power]
Gym FILL (Black Terry) vs Gym Promciones del Norte (Apolo Estrada Jr.) Camaleon II, Guerrero Azteca, The Tiger replaced Angel Dorado I, Pirata Negra, Rey Nocturno. Match came down to Shadow Boy and Tiger, with Apolo helping his guy to win.

Hip Hop Man is working as an extra coordinator (and occasional luchador) on the upcoming Blue Demon series and very much enjoyed the most recent Mexico soccer game, according to his Twitter.

Zumbi appears to no longer be in the Cruiserweight Classic. His profile is no longer on the website, replaced by Chicago area wrestler (and occasional GALLI luchador) Mustafa Ali. There’s been no other acknowledgement or explanation of what’s going on. The rumor, and I’m emphasizing rumor because a) I haven’t heard it first hand and b) I suspect we’ll be able to confirm the story or get the right one sooner rather than later, is WWE saw that Zumbi was also booked in Elite and wouldn’t let him no-show that date to work for them. The thing is, Zumbi was taken off the Elite poster – he’s not on it now – so there’s reason to be skeptical of that as the reason.

PJ Black is on the poster and is indeed in Mexico as Elite advertised and working the Elite show tonight. This does not appear to have affected his Lucha Underground status, except that he’s almost surely losing tonight, since he’s probably needed back in LA on Saturday. (They could always just scheduled matches to give him Friday off.) When PJ was listed on the poster, the expectation is AAA would force him off the show as they did with Cage. That hasn’t happened, so there must be some different circumstances – it’s can’t be that all LU guys are prohibited from working Elite, but maybe just those who had worked in AAA? Or were offered more work in AAA? It definitely suggests AAA has less control of LU than previously believed.

Just about everyone for the tournament seems to be in Mexico. Michael Elgin, DJ Z and David Tita were in yesterday and did some press. FWIW, the WON says Elgin is expected to defend his title against Ultimo Guerrero sometime during his trip to Mexico. Tama Tonga and “Tanga Roa” (closer!) arrived today.

The full filed for the Elite tournament is as Tama Tonga (listed as from Tonga), Lio Rush (USA), Kushida (Japan), Bram (England), PJ Black (South Africa), Camacho (Puerto Rico), David Tita (Cameron), Jinder Mahal (India), Volador Jr. (Mexico), Veneno (Panama), Heddi Karoui (France), Sabu (Saudi Arabia), Michael Elgin (Canada), and DJZ (Philippines). It’s 14 names for what originally listed as a 16 man tournament. The format of the tournament is assumed to be single elimination, but Elite doesn’t generally explain those sorts of details ahead of time. The show starts at 8pm tonight and should air Friday on Azteca. The finals are on Saturday.

Arez, of the Indystrongibles, has decided no longer to be “Arez”. He’s leaving up to the fans to pick between his two choices for new names: Aken orSaharawi. Saharawi is his real name. Aken is the Egyptian ferryman of the underworld, though I’m not sure if that’s where he got the name. Either way, there so many people using Ares/Arez in Mexico that there’s some real benefit to changing his name once he gets it established. If we can only get the Relampagos to do this next…

Mascarita Dorada told Apolo Valdes that he enjoying working in WWE for the last three years, even if couldn’t fully show his talent. He knew going in that Americans would see minis as clowns and not real wrestlers, but feels he some new chances, including being in the Royal Rumble and being on PPV (the WeeLC match.) Dorada says he’s thankful for WWE supporting him when it came to medical issues, including surgery on his knee, and singles out Alberto Del Rio as someone who spoke up for him. Dorada says he’s got a lot of work in the US, but would be open to returning to Mexico in August if the deal is right now. He doesn’t see retirement coming soon.

Ricochet doesn’t seem to believe he was offered the money MLW Radio reported he was offered.

TKD and Eric have reviews of last night’s Lucha Underground.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report and the latest LuchaWorld Podcast.

So Cal Uncensored has a good interview with Jeff Cobb, who may or may not be Dario Cueto’s brother in his free time.

Konnan Big vs Rush is official for Sunday. They should have the stretcher and neckbrace outside the ring to load Konnan Big after he gets dropped on his head.

Fly Warrior hypes up the CaraLucha main event on Friday. We need to get DJZ to CaraLucha, he’d be so good on that show.

Villano III will be honored at AAA Cantu Nuevo Laredo show on Monday. He’s not wrestling.

Leo Riano says CMLL is high on Johnny Idol & Sam Adonis.

Hijo del Santo is interviewed about his one man play. That is not a joke sentence.