CMLL (FRI) 07/01/2016 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO, SuperLuchas, thecubsfan, TKD]
1) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther b Felino, Puma, Tiger
14:12 Panthers took 1/3.
2) Atlantis, Mistico, Stuka Jr. b Euforia, Mr. Niebla, Terrible
16:19. Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Rey Cometa b Cavernario [hair]
22:59. Cavernario took 2/3 to take Cometa’s hair again, escaping the cavernaria twice before applying it himself for the win.
4) Diamante Azul, La Máscara, Máximo Sexy, Rey Escorpión, Rush, Shocker, Último Guerrero,Volador Jr. b Johnny Idol, Kushida, Marco Corleone, Michael Elgin, Okumura, Sam Adonis, Tama Tonga, Tangaroa [Gran Prix]
50:47. Team Mexico defeated Team Rest of the World. Eliminations went Okumura (by Volador), Rey Escorpion (Marco), Maximo (Tama), Adonis (Rush), Idol (Shocker), Marco (Diamante Azul), Azul (Tanga), Rush (Elgin after Mascara attacked Rush), Kushida (Mascara), Elgin (Guerrero), Mascara (Tama), Tanga (UG & Volador), UG (Tama), and Volador defeated Tama for the win.
This was a really fun show with a great atmosphere. It came off as an Anniversary level atmosphere, with the crowd very much into the Mexico versus the Rest of the World atmosphere. Even Rush got cheered (eventually), and the match itself was better than it looked on paper. It was also the longest match in Arena Mexico I can recall. CMLL would be crazy not to make this resume doing this as a yearly event. Cometa/Cavernario had very high expectations and lived up to them. They can keep doing it every two years and I don’t think I would get tired of it. This is a show I would’ve liked to be in the building for.
It’s not clear how many people were there and watched it. The CMLL recap says 15,000 fans. It didn’t look like 15,000 fans, with big areas of the floor empty and CMLL reluctant to do the big pans of the arena they use whenever there’s a really big turnout. On the other hand, photos of the upper deck showed much more fans than a normal show (though there were sections that appeared empty and maybe closed off.) There seemed to be less talk about the iPPV than usual on Twitter; I don’t think many people bought it this time around, and it’s a shame they don’t have VOD available because people would pick it up after the fact with the good reviews it’s getting.
If you bought the show via Playstation, you didn’t get this show at all. The feed shows Tuesday’s (free) Arena Mexico show instead, according to the two people I know who watched it. That’s no good, and hopefully they’ll give refunds, but CMLL’s entire presence on that system has been a mystery. CMLL’s never promoted it and I’m not sure who’s running it. It’s definitely shown the actual iPPV on past events, but I’d recommend avoiding using in the future unless someone explains what happened in next couple days.
Barbaro Cavernario wants to main event an Anniversary show. Rey Cometa was saddened by losing again. Volador would face Tama Tonga in a hair match, but Tama would only do it in Japan.
TKD also has a review of this show.
DTU (FRI) 07/01/2016 Arena Femenil, Monterrey, Nuevo León [+Lucha, DTU, Lo Mejor de Lucha]
1) Licántropo b Drolux
2) Jimmy, Kevin (DTU), Zuzu Divine b Fly Danger, La Maligna, Tiburón and Destello, Krystal, Niño De Cobre
3) Kastigador & Vengador b El Gio & El Jr.
4) Black Fire © b Moria, X-Zafiro, Lokillo, Tony Iron [DTU AI]
5) Drastik Boy & Ronnie Mendoza b Pesadilla & Rocky Lobo
good match
6) Miedo Extremo b Cíclope (DTU) ©, Sharlie Rockstar, Ángel o Demonio, Ovett [DTU]
Miedo Extremo is new champion!
Miedo Extremo is the new champ. Maybe that’s why his match in Japan’s FREEDOM promotion hasn’t been announced, it could be a title defense. DTU has shows tonight and tomorrow, though this was the one with the title matches. Drastick Boy & Ronnie Mendoza are likely the next tag team challengers (again Titan & Triton) if they can keep winning.
Elite’s big announcement is they’re moving, again. It’s the TV slot this time, and it seems like good news: starting July 16th, the show will air at 9pm on Saturdays. They’re airing movies in that slot, and the show would now be a lead-in to their boxing coverage.
3) Joe Lider & Pentagón Jr. vs Damián 666 & Nicho el Millionario and Monsther Clown & Murder Clown
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. vs El Mesías
6) Pagano vs Psycho Clown
It’s a bit strange, because airing both singles matches this week means the trios title match is the only thing left to main event next week’s half of Naucalpan – or they’re just airing one week of Naucalpan to make up for airing the Lucha World Cup last week.
AAA tapes new TV tomorrow night in Ecatepec. The main event has Psycho Clown and Pentagon Jr. directly against each other, after both have been facing (and losing to) Pagano on recent shows. Pentagon has a shot at a title change, especially if Pagano gets involved. We’re not sure who is all involved in the semimain: it’s Bengala, Garza & Parka versus Damian, Nicho and someone TBA. It could just end up being Pagano or Halloween, or someone new to be added to the group.
The other obviously important match is a #1 contenders Cruiserweight match between Fenix, Drago and Aerostar. There’s no sign of the actual title match on any of the next three tapings, which points to the winner getting a title match (against Hijo del Fantasma) at TripleMania. Aerostar & Drago seem otherwise busy the rest of the moment and Fenix is the favorite. There’s also a Texano vs Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Cage triangle match, where Wagner’s the #1 contender to Texano’s title, and there’s no sign of when that title match would be happening either. Cage might find a way to get involved in it before it happens.
The show starts with an atomicos (with Herodes Jr. debuting and Tiger Cota returning), and the second match brings back the Suicide/Daga feud with Argenis & Lider involved. It’s a 6:00pm listed started time, so results should be coming in relatively early for an AAA show.
LigerFever has a translation (in one two parts) of the latest Podcast BOOM. Konnan mentions Konnan Big’s 2009 appearance on Heroes Inmortales was as a replacement for Latin Lover.
LuchaWorld has an obit for Thunder. Ultimo Guerrero talked about his rival in a Facebook video, saying the match was rescheduled because Thunder was already feeling the affects of the cancer.
Voices of Wrestling reviews this week’s Lucha Underground show.
Segunda Caida watches random Juventud Guerrera.
This Facebook page has photos from yesterday’s Lucha Libre London show. For what it’s worth, Magnifico II looks to have worked the show. There’s video of one of the matches here.
Lucha Libre in Japan
07/02 Dragon Gate: BxB Hulk, Kzy, Flamita [O] beat CIMA, Dragon Kid [X], Peter Kaasa – Flamita’s back in Dragon Gate, even getting the win himself. He’s the new member of the Tribe Vanguard unit, and will challenge for the Open the Triangle Gate championship on July 24th (and will be in Japan at least until that point.)
Lineup
ELITE (THU) 07/07/2016 Arena México
1) La Jarochita & Lluvia vs Keira & Muñeca De Plata
2) El Bandido & Último Ninja vs Heddi Karaoui & Okumura
3) Ángel de Oro, Golden Magic, Máscara Dorada vs El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Karonte Jr.
4) Xtreme Tiger vs Negro Casas [Liga Elite]
5) Carístico & Michael Elgin vs Diamante Azul & Kushida [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Cibernético vs La Máscara [Liga Elite]
Cibernetico, La Mascara and Negro Casas have only had 2 matches in this tournament, so it makes sense they’ll have one here. There’s now no sign of the Volador/Kushida match – maybe he’s facing Caristico instead? That semimain just seems weird. Karaoui saying he’s leaving Mexico and getting booked is just about right.
CMLL (FRI) 07/08/2016 Arena México
1) Astral & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
2) Esfinge, Fuego, Tritón vs Bobby Z, Hechicero, Virus
3) Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy, Rey Cometa vs Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Rey Escorpión
4) Mistico vs La Máscara [lightning]
5) Mephisto, Shocker, Último Guerrero vs Johnny Idol, Kushida, Sam Adonis
6) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Volador Jr. vs Michael Elgin, Tama Tonga, Tangaroa
Top two matches are Mexico versus Foreign Legion. Kushida’s trip feels like a bit of a waste at this point; I would’ve liked to see him in the main event, but that’s about Tama vs Volador. At least Tama finally gets his hands on Atlantis.
Mephisto’s back one week after missing the Gran Prix – how would’ve they’ve handled Rush’s elimination if Mascara didn’t get in the match as a replacement? (Maybe he interferes anyway.)
Hechicero hasn’t been around much of late – this will be his first streaming match since the last day of May – but is back in a good match. Third match should be fun too. Lightning match continues the Munoz/Mascara feud.
