CMLL Azteca US has the Gran Prix show, which had about 2 hours worth of stuff airing. I’d guess they either either the Gran Prix itself lightly edited, or both it and Cometa/Cavernario heavily edited.
Dave the Clown makes his anticipated debut on this week’s AAA Sin Limite. Also, Fenix vs Daga.
Teddy/Tiger went very long, so they might not be able to air 4 matches on Lucha Azteca 7 (Elite). Here’s hoping
IWRG (WED) 07/27/2016 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Guerrero 2000 & Keiser Drago b Fly Tiger & Vardeus
2) Aramis, Fireman, Omega b Araña de Plata, Keshin Black, Skanda
3) Eddy Santos, Juana La Loca, Viajero Jr. b Avisman, Black Dragón, Yakuza
Avisman & Yakuza replaced Galaxy & Hijo del Alebrije.
4) Demonio Infernal b Dragón Fly
Demonio won in straight falls, leaving Dragon Fly blooded.
5) Judas el Traidor, Rosario Negro, Viajero Extremo DQ Black Terry, Hijo del Alebrije, Kanon
Hijo del Alebrije replaced Emperador Azteca. Judas tried to foul Terry twice, Terry stopped him both times, so Judas just faked his own foul for the DQ. Singles match was set up.
Elite tonight has a Teddy Hart versus Xtreme Tiger in a cage, a cage only in the hopes the the novelty of doing a cage match will make up for the lack of star power. (It probably will not, at least in ticket sales, but the match will likely be insane.) TV (and only TV) explained Teddy Hart is a replacement for Bobby Lashley, who “could not come back to Mexico.” Lashley’s price has gone up after signing a new deal with TNA, and I guess that’s a sign that Elite actually has some monetary limit. Teddy takes over Lashley’s results, which would include the June 2nd win in Liga Elite over Extreme Tiger. Everyone faces each other once, so there shouldn’t be another Tiger/Teddy match if any one’s paying attention. People being replaced in a tournament is silly itslef, but if tonight’s Tiger/Teddy counts in the standings, the Lige Elite tournament is officially a farce. In Elite’s favor, I guess, is this tournament has completely failed to get over as a concept and I’d be mildly surprised if anyone else in the press points out how it doesn’t make any sense. They’ll get away with it fine.
The other Elite match, Rey Escorpion versus Mascara Dorada, is also almost a rematch. Escorpion seems to have taken over Negro Casas’ spot in the tournament, despite Casas being back and wrestling otherwise. Casas was supposed to have faced Dorada in Liga Elite on 04/20, but it was the first of his many absences in the match, and Dorada faced La Mascara instead. Escorpion & Dorada should be a great combination, and we’re sure getting some good Dorada matches at the moment.
It’s a good Elite card overall. The semimain is Volador Jr., Angel de Oro & Golden Magic against Diamante Azul, Hijo de Dos Caras and Magno, as Diamante Azul continues to work as a rudo on Thursdays and a tecnico all other days. The tercera is a great looking match with Jinzo & Rocky Lobo versus Tiger & Puma. (DTU praised Ronnie Mendoza for his CWC appearance; Elite is still listing him as Jinzo and said nothing.) The second match is set up to be a technical wrestling fight, between CMLL’s Blue Panther & Hechicero versus Elite’s Heddi Karaoui & Pantera. Pantera wrestled in his mask last time in Arena Mexico, a mask he’s lost in Arena Mexico, and his match did not air on Elite last time. Not sure it’ll air this time either. The opener is a minis match with Astral & Ultimo Dragoncito versus Pierrothito & Pequeno Warrior. Warrior was the worst performing luchador in CMLL before he left in 2014 and hasn’t looked any better on the indies.
Again, CMLL has not put the Elite card on their own website.
ESTO has an interview with Sharlie Rockstar, who says he’s training wrestlers at Gimnasio Starman.
Leo Riano’s column in Record says LA Park & Rush were suspended for three weeks following their performance in their super libre match on the Elite show. It wasn’t for the violence, but specifically for the blood since a sponsor frowns on that. (Edgar’s freakout did happen after it was clear Rush was bleeding.) Riano notes the suspension is dumb and I agree. Rush did appear on the Leyenda de Plata show two weeks ago, so CMLL suspensions must be odd. A three week suspension would mean they’d both be free to appear starting with next week’s Elite show.
The same column mentions the Octagon reality show recently taped in Veracruz, where he decides a wrestler to get his original Dragon Dorado gimmick, will start airing in a month or so on AYM. The winner is already out; you can click here to find out, because it’s a faintly familiar team which is amusing if you remember how he ended up with that name.
Lucha Memes announced Chairo 5 on 09/25 in Arena Naucalpan. The first match is a pretty big deal
1: Volador Jr. vs Rey Horuz
They could have nothing the rest of the show and it’d still be a must see show. They’re again not allowing people to videotape the show, you’ll have to be there or not see it. It’s still unknown when CMLL will hold the Anniversary show; if it’s 09/23, it’s going to be a busy weekend (and that match still might be better than anything on CMLL’s show.)
CMLL’s changed Tuesday’s lineup, where Dragon Lee takes Diamante Azul’s place. I’d guess Diamante Azul is appearing in Guadalajara again as Caristico’s replacement.
CMLL has an articles on Rey Bucanero on his feud with Super Crazy and Maximo and Rey Escorpion’s title match next week.
Ronnie Mendoza says he’s proud of his performance in the Cruiserweight Classic, and would like to return to NXT or Japan. He was very nervous when they told him 2 million people would see his match on the network.
Cross Arm Breaker talks about Negro Casas vs Bestia Salvaje from October 18, 1996.
The new Podcast Boom includes an interview with Blue Demon Jr. (who’s noticeably not on TripleMania so far.)
Box Y Lucha’s today in history update mentions an Angel Blanco/Raul Reyes apuesta match we didn’t have on the luchawiki.
AAA TV (SUN) 08/28/2016 Arena Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal
1) La Parka vs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 [TripleMania Cup]
2) Faby Apache & Mary Apache vs Averno & Chessman
3) Angélico & Jack Evans © vs Matt Cross & Paul London and Aerostar & Drago and Fénix & Hijo del Fantasma [AAA TAG]
first defense
4) Pentagón Jr. © vs Johnny Mundo [AAA LA]
first defense
5) Marty Martinez, Matanza, Mil Muertes vs Dragón Azteca Jr., Prince Puma, Rey Misterio Jr.
6) Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Texano Jr. © vs Cage [AAA HEAVY]
first defense
7) Pagano vs Psycho Clown [hair, mask]
Referee will be picked by winner of match on 08/19.
(Card may not be final; matches as mentioned on Twitter from people watching the press conference, the lineup hasn’t been officially posted as far as I can tell.)
Air Date: 08/28 (probably on local PPV and iPPV internationally), 09/10 & 09/17 on TV.
AAA held a press conference today to announce the lineup for their biggest show. (It was a surprise to us, but not to the press.) I was not around to watch it, but it’s still up on YouTube. AAA had previously formally announced the Pagano/Psycho, Mundo/Pentagon, and Averno/Chessman vs Apaches matches. Yet to air TV episodes set up the Wagner/Texano/Cage match. The other three matches were new today.
There’s quite a few foreigners, as six LU wrestlers (Marty, Matanza, Azteca, Puma, Cross/Havoc, London) appear in addition to the two regulars who might not be here without the connection (Mundo, Cage) to deepen the card. It’s a stronger on paper card for us because of their presence, though I’m not sure how much it’ll mean to the Mexican fans. Lucha Underground does not air in Mexico, only the hardest of international fans watch it, and most people have no idea who these guys are. That is not a guess. Dragon Azteca (or maybe Azteca Dragon Jr.) was a complete unknown to the press when he came in for the Lucha World Cup and had to explain he was Rey Horuz for people to know who he was. Same thing with Mil, but at least he and Matanza will have a distinctive look that makes it easy to get over. Marty should do well in that match, but he’s also been helped by lots of time on Lucha Underground to get the character over. Either AAA needs to do the same (when they don’t do vignettes for their own guys, and when most of Marty’s LU work includes non-person Sexy Star) or no one’s going to have any idea why he’s there. Marty’s probably just there to be the guy who gets pinned and I’m overthinking it, but it’s worth remembering the LU guys are really more a draw for an iPPV audience than the live crowd.
(And I guess it’s possible Marty’s spot might have been PJ Black’s spot if he didn’t take the Elite booking, since he fits in better, but who knows. Match should be great.)
The one person who will be a draw to everyone is Rey Misterio. It didn’t seem like he’d be back after he worked out his last required dates with the Lucha World Cup, given the reported issues with his contract and AAA’s breakup with Konnan. It didn’t make a lot of sense for AAA to use up their last contracted dates with Misterio on the LWC, but they must’ve been pretty sure they’d get him back for TripleMania and they did it. AAA’s hope was to be able to bring Rey back in from the big shows, and having him as the biggest star on the show will definitely help with this one.
Mesias never getting a TripleMania program makes a lot of sense if Mil Muerte’s is booked. It doesn’t seem like AAA announced anything but the luchadors, but there’s places where Catrina, Dario Cueto or Melissa Santos might fit in o the show too.
I feel like we’ve probably pounded the “Jack Evans hates multiman tag matches” joke into the ground, but the man just can’t escape them. Fenix & Fantasma, who are supposed to have a title match (and might get around to it in November), don’t quite make sense as a team but maybe there’s something happening in Toluca to explain it. Perhaps they’re the mystery team, or the foreigners are. It’s strange “Matt Cross” and not “Son of Havoc” is part of the four way tag match. Maybe that was a mistake that’ll be corrected later. Paul London was a agent for Lucha Underground Season 2 and came to Mexico for the Lucha World Cup in the same role. He might be helping out in that capacity again along with his match.
No one besides La Parka was announced for the TripleMania Cup, but AAA was weirdly specific in announcing 11 so they must’ve worked out the other 10 names (and worked out who’s instead working some 500 fan show in Aguascalientes the same day.) Parka is the favorite for all random trophies.
We don’t know who was left off until the rest of the Cup is announced, but there’s the obvious lack of the usual Relevos AAA opener at this point. (It could’ve just not been announced, an eight match wouldn’t be out of line. I don’t know if there’s a formal card being released today, but one hasn’t turned up yet.) The men and the exoticos might be included in the Cup battle royal, but that means no spot for the minis and no women working the show except for the Apaches. It’s inconceivable Taya would be left off a TripleMania. She’s got to be seconding someone, and perhaps that’ll play into the finish of the Mundo/Pentagon match.
The other notable omission is any TNA involvement, after their participation was strongly hinted at during the Lucha World Cup. I wonder if that’s a sign we’ll also not be getting English commentary, or if it’ll be Matt Striker back instead of Josh Mathews. Or something entirely different. (Update: AAA’s Twitter just said there will be English commentary for TripleMania. Details to come.)
I like this card much better than last year. Last year had matches which were obviously going to be horrendous (and were!) and matches where the participants were limited by absurd stipulations. The 4 way tag match will be great. Pentagon/Mundo will be great, at least up to the finish. The trios match will be great. The three way title match should be very good and possibly great. I’m rolling my eyes at the build up, but Apaches vs Chessman/Averno could actually be great depending on how they play it. There has never been a good lucha libre battle royal, but it’s 10 only minutes I’ll live. Pagano/Psycho will be in a style I do not like and not particularly well done, but the crowd will be into it so it’ll work OK. This is a card I’m looking forward to be seeing. TripleMania is missing a earth shaking, must see match, but it’s a strong card given what they’ve got available to them and I look forward to watch it.
There’d been plenty of hints of a quick return for Season 3, and those panned out: today, Lucha Underground announced they’d be back on September 7th for the new season.
40 episodes, Cero Miedo. #LuchaUnderground Season 3 premieres Wednesday, September 7 at 8p ET on @ElReyNetwork! pic.twitter.com/ybdjQ0zNgs
— Lucha Underground (@LuchaElRey) July 28, 2016
From Dusk Till Dawn returning on 09/06, as announced during the LU season 2 final, was indeed the tipoff. That show only goes 10 episodes, but the new strategy appears to be using the original shows to promote each other. This is such a quick turnaround; the show will be back before the Cruiserweight Classic final airs, for comparison sake. I’m confused as to why LU didn’t just announce the date at the end of the season 2 finale, but their audience is small and hardcore enough that I don’t think anyone’s going to miss finding out about it.
40 episodes is the longest season ever, one more than Season 1. This past season was only 25 episode, and there was frustration, both externally and internally, about it not being enough to tell the stories they wanted to tell. That shouldn’t be an issue this time.
If you haven’t been following along, Season 3 has already been completely taped, running from March until June. Chris DeJoseph has mentioning seeing the first episode complete already, and it’s possible more are already done.
I attended the last tapings of this run. Based on what I saw, Ultima Lucha 3 should start airing May 10th or May 17th and the Season 3 finale on June 7th. This season was also notable for matches being taped out of order and even a match or two which may not air. You may want to look for spoilers, and I know I’m going to be spending some time trying to put together a chart of when everything airs, but I also don’t have much hope of being 100% correct this time around. (I’m not sure even LU knew exactly when everything was airing when they were taping it, though it does all seem to make sense by the end.)
The next thing to watch is an announcement of a Season 4 pickup. There’s been talk about LU coming back to film in November, give or take a month, but they haven’t officially even been announced as getting another season of episodes yet. TV networks seem to announce renewals near the end of one season or the start of another one. Announcing a pickup after this start of Season 3 would give them enough time to tape in November, so everything seems to fit. It’d be amazing/crazy for LU to be taping parts of three different seasons in one year, but that’s the way the show works. (Announcements about Netflix or more international pickups would be nice, but there’s been no hint or movement on those in quite a while.)
That’s it. You’ve got August to do what you want, and they’ll see you back in September.
No Elite recap this week because they moved it to Saturday, moving it to next week in this totally arbitrary cut off. I dunno, I realized I have rated Leyenda de Plata higher than Elgin/UG and I’m not sure I agree with myself or this entire process.
AAA TV (FRI) 08/19/2016 Auditorio Benito Juárez, Veracruz, Veracruz
1) Gotita de Plata, Lanzeloth, Venum vs ?, Mocho Cota Jr., Soul Rocker
2) Big Mami, Mary Apache, Niño Hamburguesa vs El Apache, Lady Shani, Taya
3) Argenis, Australian Suicide, Bengala vs Dave The Clown, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Súper Fly
4) ? & ?? vs Aerostar & Drago and Daga & Joe Lider
5) Pentagón Jr. & Texano Jr. vs El Mesías & Hernandez
6) Monsther Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown vs Damián 666, Nicho el Millionario, Pagano [cage]
winning team will choose the referee for the Psycho/Pagano match at TripleMania.
Air Date: 08/27 & 09/03 – one show airs the night before TripleMania, one the week after.
So, Tirantes will be refereeing the apuesta match at TripleMania, until he gets taken out and Piero runs down to make the count, or Tirantes will decided to count three for Psycho even though it makes no sense. Whatever happens, AAA’s always established the referee is the important part and this just continues that.
If anything, this lineup makes me think Psycho Clown might actually stand a chance of winning in Toluca, just so he gets one win to go along with his million losses. He’s not getting that win here. It’s actually a clever stipulation, because they can announce the card before this taping without giving away the result to this match.
Semimain is Pentagon & Texano facing the two Trump guys they won’t face at TripleMania. Mesias not having a sure spot for TripleMania is very odd; maybe he does get added to the heavyweight title match to make it a four way.
There’s a mystery team at the Toluca taping facing Jack & Angelico, so it’s probably the same two guys in this match. A four way between these three teams and the tag champs seems the most likely way to squeeze them onto the card. I have no idea who the team could be, AAA’s done nothing to talk up the opponents, and I’m scared to find out. Broken Clown and Rotten Clown might be free. (We’re missing TNA guys on TripleMania, maybe that’s the way in.)
Dave the Clown gets moved up to the tercera because he’s kind of tall. Be tall, everyone. AAA’s spent all year running in place with Venum and Gran Apache and can’t be bothered to book them in the same match even when they’re on the same show. (Venum is not tall. Neither is Mocho Cota Jr. or Soul Rocker, who would be so much more useful and definitely more deserving to be in the tercera than Dave the Clown.) So they’ll just cost each other their matches, and continue running in place. One of these weeks is going to be a lame duck show, airing the week after TripleMania but having taken place before it, and those would be the weeks perfect for matches which couldn’t ever make a big show. That’s never how it works in AAA though, and the Venum/Apache feud will go onto until they someone gets hurt and they just forget about it.
The mystery spot looks like a spot for a mini rudo; it’s odd it’s not one of the Mini Vipers, and makes feel like there’s a Facebook post I missed. I would not have high hopes for whoever’s in that spot.
Next taping is TripleMania. It looks like that’ll air in order, so the next normal taping might not be as long as until the 09/17 weekend.