Better to break out of the format for this show. The only match I spent time closely watching was the main event, a Volador exhibition disguised as a title match over Mephisto. It was a totally generic Volador match, with nothing novel or creative. It’s still athletic enough that I can’t help but give it something, but it’s more grudging acknowledgment of the effort to do a match that seems so effortless. It’s not any fondness for the match, and definitely not any particular interest in the match itself. There was no particular thought put in the match, it was literally the same match as ever except slightly slower. The crowd did seem up, but weren’t so interested enough to cover up the participants disinterest. There were easily more technical errors in Dragon Lee/Polvora, but the match from Puebla was easily more enjoyable. Mephsito is no Polvora and will just take whatever the match the tecnico gives him, and Volador gave him the checklist of big spots. This surely worked for the tourist and casual heavy crowd and isn’t worth watching if you’ve seen any other Volador singles match.
In a slight defense, this is Volador’s 18th ‘big’ singles TV match of the year; they’re doing him no favors by putting him out there this much.
The rest of the show was in the same mold; very little creativity, everything just going thru the motions and aimed at a fanbase that goes to the luchas once a year. The fourth match was the closest thing to a good match, but it’s just as similarly the same match you see those guys doing twice a week. The first few matches were ramped down, with Soberano the only one doing anything close to high spots.
The worst match was the semimain, where they’re doing an honest to god Mascara Ano 2000/Maximo feud. It’s not clear if it’ll end with a title match or a hair match, but it’s mostly unclear why they’re bothering.
This show is on CMLL’s channel, but go spend your time elsewhere. There’s just a few GIFs and times past this point.Read More
What happened:The OGT continue to dominate the show: they cost the Apaches another match again, they cheated to beat the Xinetez again (with some help from Tirantes.) Psycho Clown and Dr. Wagner had a match, but didn’t have a finish.
What was good:Nothing. The matches are clearly building up the big feuds, but the matches themselves aren’t any good.
Where can I watch it:It’s on AAA’s channel, even if I haven’t gotten around to linking to it yet.Read More
RIOT (SAT) 11/19/2016Arena Femenil, Monterrey, Nuevo León [LuchaMania Monterrey]
1) Kamikaze b Erick Ortiz
2) Hooligan Byron & Kaientai b Dulce Kanela & Larry Miranda Jr.
3) Tony Rodríguez b Alberto Rios Byron & Kaientai attacked Tony Rodriguez post match, setting up a tag team match with a partner of Tony’s choosing.
4) Kratoz b Impulso
5) Séptimo Dragón b Último Ninja
6) Arez & Belial b Drastik Boy & Ronnie Mendoza
Ronnie beat Arez on a previous show, but Arez got the win back here. Main event sounds good, the rest looks promising but don’t really know. Maybe eventually on Powerbomb.tv?
IWRG (SUN) 11/20/2016Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, The Gladiatores]
1) Demonio Infernal & Skanda b Black Dragón & Fire Man Demonio Infernal replaced Vampiro Metalico, Fire Man replaced Cadillac
2) Leo & Mike b Acero & Demonio Infernal
3) Danny Casas, Emperador Azteca, Freelance DQ Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Picudo Jr. Ofificals made their return, replacing Vortize and Violencia. AK47 announced he was retiring back in June but had been working occasionally around Mexico State the last couple months. Danny Casas faked a foul.
4) Diablo Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Relámpago b Chicano, Imposible, Súper Nova Relampago fouled Impossible. Diablos attacked Relampago for attacking their normal partner and said they’d take his mask soon.
5) Axel, Golden Magic, Pantera I b Canis Lupus, Killer Jr., Máscara Año 2000 Jr. challenges followed
Main event sounds like it was violent. I have video up and everything to actually see that, but haven’t checked; in my defense, AYM did find an even less appealing way to shoot the show.
CMLL (SUN) 11/20/2016Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Diplomático b Micro Diplomatico took 2/3.
2) Cosmos & Javier Cruz Jr. b Gitano & Relámpago Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Gran Kenut & Thunder Boy b El Alteño & Explosivo Rudos took 2/3
4) El Divino, Mágico, Sky Kid b Exterminador, Maléfico, Rey Trueno Tecnicos took 1/3, Magico beating Malefico in fall 3.
5) Joker, León Blanco, Mr. Trueno b Frezzer, Nautilius, Neutrón Rudos took 1/3. Leon Blanco pulled Neutron’s mask to win.
Blanco & Neutron get the week off for the Leyendas Inmortales show, but will be having a big match soon enough.
You should go out of your way to see Dragon Lee & Polvora (and nothing else.) The notimex story on the match says Dragon Lee came in with a left knee injury; it was taped and he tried protecting it on the Super Polvora Driver in the first fall and probably just made it worse. He finished the match and looked relatively fine.
Sombra Dibaolika looked better than Hijo de Centella Roja, but then Diabolika has been around for 16 years and Hijo de Centella has been around for about two (and CMLL openers are death) so it’d be a surprise if it was the other way. Debuting guys who are in their mid to late 30s suggests whoever’s choosing which locals work on these shows sees those spots not as ways to create new stars but as filler for whoever passes whatever tests or criteria.
Today’s CMLL show has Volador Jr. versus Mephisto for the NWA Welterweight Championship. They’re usually pretty good, they’re usually about twelve minutes of near falls, and they’re usually the Volador show with Mephisto getting in a powerbomb or a valagueza from time to time to break up the spots. Mephisto beat Volador when Volador was on his way up, Volador’s beaten Mephisto pretty much every time since 2014, including three times already in this reign. This is the first time the match will air on a CMLL outlet in a year: the Puebla one did, but their match on FantasticaMania only aired on NJPW World and their most recent match was on an April non-televised Sunday show. CMLL has been heavily pushing a 2/1 deal on tickets tonight; attendance should be up over usual even if it didn’t have the title match, but hopefully it’ll provide a good atmosphere for the match.
The rest of the show is hit and miss. Yet another minis match opens the show. Yet another women’s match follows; there’s no feud in either division and the matches have rarely been worth watching. Esfinge, Fuego & Soberano face Morphosis, Okumura and Virus in the tercera could be OK, as could Angel de Oro, Rey Cometa, Stuka versus Ephesto, Gran Guerrero and Luciferno. The semimain of Marco, Maximo and Titan versus Rey Bucanero, Terrible and Mascara 2000 will get over will live but probably not as well on YouTube.
Not sure if I’ll have the next update on time tomorrow, so this is a good time to note the CMLL bodybuilding contest at noon tomorrow. The contest is usually preceded by a tumbling exhibition by some of CMLL’s students; it’s always interesting to see which indie guys are training with CMLL at the moment, even if few of them ever debut.
Plantilla Deportiva has interviews with Baronessa and Rey Escorpion, but the most fascinating thing to me is these interviews appear to be taking place in Elite office. Elite having an office with computers and phones and everything is more than I expect. (Also, Rey Escorpion appears to be part of the office.)
Dragon Lee’s match at ROH’s final battle on 12/02 is now Marty Scurll (c) vs Will Ospreay vs Bobby Fish vs Dragon Lee for the ROH TV Title. That’s next Friday, which means CMLL can’t quite run an angle with him this Friday to set up a match next week. (They could still have Pierroth & Mistico have some issues leading to a match the next week, but there’s more of a chance for a big upset than normal.) Dragon Lee’s also still on the 12/04 TV taping in Philadelphia.
CMLL (MON) 11/28/2016Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger, Meyer, Vega vs Ares, Guerrero Espacial, Sombra Diabólika
2) Estrellita, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely vs Amapola, La Seductora, Tiffany
3) Esfinge, Fuego, Stigma vs Puma, Skándalo, Tiger
4) Diamante Azul, Johnny Idol, Máximo Sexy vs Kráneo, Ripper, Shocker
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, La Máscara, Último Guerrero
Sky Team against Guerreros and La Mascara. Third match is one Skandalo from being good. Sombra Diabolika gets a second appearance (and probably was getting it regardless of how last night went.)
PROESA was a repeat. Llaves/Monterrey didn’t air at all. I figured out I’ve just been off a week on the 52MX stuff, so this week doubles it up. Elite didn’t put up their full episode: just go to the Liga Elite channel to watch it.
CMLL Lucha Libre Retro: 2016-11-18
taped 2016-09-17 @ Arena Coliseo Cloud Drive
1) Ángel de Oro, The Panther, Titán vs Hechicero, Puma, Tiger
2) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Luciferno, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-11-18
taped 2016-11-18 @ Arena México Cloud Drive
1) Fuego & Pegasso vs Tiger & Virus
2) Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Bobby Z, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora
3) The Panther vs Okumurain a lightning match
4) Ángel de Oro, Dragón Lee, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
5) Atlantis vs Stuka Jr., Marco Corleone, La Máscara, Máximo Sexy, Diamante Azul, Valiente, Blue Panther, Último Guerrero, Terrible, Máscara Año 2000, Rey Bucanero, Gran Guerrero, Euforia, Hechicero, Kráneoin a CMLL Leyenda de Azul Tournament match
AAA on Televisa: 2016-11-19
taped 2016-11-04 @ Gimnasio Hermanos Carreon, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes Cloud Drive
1) Dinastía, Octagoncito, Venum vs Mini Histeria, Mini Psycho Clown, Mocho Cota Jr.
2) Argenis, Niño Hamburguesa, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Parka Negra, Pirata Morgan
3) Pentagón Jr. vs Johnny Mundo
CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX: 2016-11-19
taped 2016-11-07 @ Arena Puebla Cloud Drive
1) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Stuka Jr. vs Felino, Puma, Tiger
2) Dragón Lee, Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Pólvora
3) Atlantis, Rush, Último Guerrero vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Negro Casas, Volador Jr.in a relevos increíbles match
IWRG Zona XXI: 2016-11-21
taped 2016-11-20 @ Arena Naucalpan Cloud Drive
1) Black Dragón & Fire Man vs Demonio Infernal & Skanda
2) Danny Casas, Emperador Azteca, Freelance vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Picudo Jr.
3) Chicano, Imposible, Súper Nova vs Diablo Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Relámpago
4) Axel, Golden Magic, Pantera I vs Canis Lupus, Killer Jr., Máscara Año 2000 Jr.
