The biggest match on tonight’s Arena Mexico show is the semifinal. Mephisto defends the CMLL Welterweight Championship against Caristico. The original Mistico won many titles during his first turn, including this same championship from this same opponent ten years this April in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. Caristico’s been kept away from championships in his year plus return (this is actually his first Arena Mexico title match since his famous feud with Volador), and it’s an interesting reading on how much Caristico fits in CMLL’s plans. He’s been used as a top star the last few weeks with people out of town, strong enough to win singles main events in some areans. Mephisto appears to be well thought of by CMLL, but this title isn’t that important, and Mephsito might only be champion because Mascara Dorada could no longer be. Caristico seems to love title matches, so this would mean a lot to him if he wins, and would signal CMLL is going to do more with him going forward. (That also might say something about the status of Elite.)
The main event almost could’ve been on the FantasticaMania tour. Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero (not on the tour) and Barbaro Cavernario take on Mistico, Volador and Dragon Lee. (Dragon Lee should be around for at least another week before heading back to NJPW.) That should be a pretty good match, though it may be a situation where it’s a challenge to follow the title match. Maybe more for time than quality reasons, this looks like the better match.
The fourth match includes the debuting Raymond Rowe from Ring Of Honor, making a one shot appearance as part of a split weekend with Lucha Memes. He’s teaming with Rush, his opponent in Naucalpan, and Pierroth against Diamante Azul, Marco and Maximo. The tercera has a more promosing match, with the young Dinamtias trying to carry uncle Mascara 2000 to victory against the Panthers family. The second match is a women’s match with some of the better names (Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis vs la Vaquerita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit) and the show opens with a decent looking minis match (Shockercito, Stukita vs Demus 3:16, Mercurio.)
CultIcon also previews the show. It airs on ClaroSports at 8:30pm.
An article about Euforia’s match with Mr. Cacao mentions he’s expected back on next Friday’s show. I wonder if Okumura is with him, since he hasn’t turned up on lineups since FantasticaMania.
AAA tapes TV in Toluca. This looked like a normal taping eight days ago, and it may still be a quiet one. AAA TV tapings in between major shows don’t usually have much activity. The two biggest news items coming out might just be what shirt Joe Lider wears and how running in Salon Rojo looks different than the usual Toluca home. It seems to me like a chance to show that exciting and surprising things are still happening in AAA. However, AAA’s been treating the departures as if nothing important has happened at all, and no big reaction to them is necessary. That’s probably what we should expect out of tonight’s taping (which is not streamed and will not start until February 11th, when what’s happened will be closer to old news.) AAA does have to figure out who’s taking Daga’s place in the Latin American title match with Johnny Mundo on Rey de Reyes (and I vote for Fantasma and Texano to combine two titles), but it’ll likely still be a slow steady build to TripleMania.
The main event is Fantasma, Psycho and Texano against Wagner, Mesias and Pagano. There was an apparent tease of a Pagano feud with Mesias and a turn at Guerra de Titanes. That actually makes more sense now, AAA sliding Pagano over into Pentagon’s role. The semimain is Angelico, Australian Suicide, and La Parka versus Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, Zorro. Parka is a sub for Garza Jr. and the match will be less interesting for the change. Dave the Clown, Monster Clown and Murder Clown team with Averno, Chessman (in for Daga/Pentagon) and Joe Lider in the tercera. There’s no stories to either of these matches, and the biggest deal will be what shirt Joe Lider wears to the ring. Lider still being in the Perros del Mal seems like a poor idea, but AAA definitely left the door open them continuing (something like Kahn-Del-Mal showing up to endorse Lider or a new group.) Penta and friends dropping the name quickly causes me to lean towards believing AAA is planning on keeping it, but we’ll see.
Aerostar an Super Fly continue their feud in the tercera. Argenis, Drago, Carta Brava and Mocho Cota round out the trios, which looks like the best match on the show. There’s a women’s tag match with Faby Apache, Big Mami versus Goya Kong, Lady Shani. Shani’s gotten TV wins, but against meaningless people, after about a year of being treated like a meaningless person herself. She could really use the win over Faby Apache to boost her credibility, and Apache wouldn’t be hurt by it. That seems incredibly unlikely though. Apache’s probably there to interfere in other matches. The opener is Dinastia, Lanzeloth, and Mascara de Bronce versus Apache, Mini Psycho Clown and Soul Rocker, which also could be good. The taping is listed as starting at 8:45, so expect results to start to appear around 9:30.
There’s one other show of note tonight. Promociones Contrereas, which has promoted in Mexico State for years (often with AAA wrestlers, now with the son of the original promoter having taken over in the last few months) had a show full of ex-AAA guys scheduled for Arena San Juan Pantitlan in Neza. The main event is now ex-AAA guys from 7-8 years ago (Histeria, Maniaco, Moco de la Merced and Psicosis (II)) against ex-AAA guys from the last few months (Daga, Garza Jr., Penta el 0M, Fenix el Rey). Garza’s mentioned the group will have their new name and group to debut on this show. Garza Jr. posted a shot of him and Zorro headed to Mexico City. It’s nothing; they’re both flying in from Monterrey and catching a ride out to their shows. As often, the luchadors don’t really have a problem with each other, the problem is with the management.
The last AAA show without a Pentagon replacement is the 03/01 in Arena Queretaro. An interview with the promoter says he’s waiting to hear back about who will replace Pentagon, but is sure it’ll be a top guy. I wonder if that interview is actually a few days old. There’s changes announced for the other AAA show the promotion in Celaya (Joe Lider & Texano in for Daga & Pentagon.) Pentagon and Daga have also been wiped from the AAA cartela page, where they often the graphic for one show or another.
AAA and their local promoters have been swift and efficient in changing to cards with those guys. Not sure if it’s because Pentagon was a bigger deal than other people so an announcement was more necessary, or if they’re just gotten better at doing it.
The newest edition of +LuchaTV’s Usted Querian Lucha includes an interviw with Cibernetico, who says Liga Elite is coming back soon.
ASAD, an association of sports lawyers, mention on Twitter that they’re working with Brazo de Oro on some projects for CMLL. Not sure what this could be, but it looks like they were part of the inauguration of the lucha libre exhibit at the Metro Guerrero stop. Brazo de Oro seems like he’s been busy with CMLL projects, as he was also involved in setting up the Dia de Luchador.
Alberto el Patron was declared Mexican Person of the Year at the Premios Ser award ceremony on Thursday. In an amazing coincidence, Hijo de Dos Caras & Dos Caras Sr. also won awards. (This was more a deal where people could pay to eat dinner with celebrities, so it does say something that they thought Alberto was the biggest one they could get it.)
LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.
AAW announced Penta el 0M vs AR Fox for 02/04 in LaSalle, Illinois
Fuego en el Ring’s latest podcast is up.
Wrestling With Words begins a look back at Super Astros.
Lineups
IWRG (SUN) 02/05/2017 Arena Naucalpan
1) Aramis vs Araña de Plata
2) Eterno vs Demonio Infernal
3) Black Dragón & Dragón Fly vs Hip Hop Man & Pibe Alfajor
4) Cerebro Negro © vs Mosca (Argentina) [IWRG IC WELTER]
second defense
5) Dr. Cerebro, Heddi Karaoui, Villano IV vs Herodes Jr., Negro Navarro, X-Fly
6) Máscara Año 2000 Jr. © vs Trauma I [IWRG Rey del Ring]
second defense
7) Mr. Electro & Pirata Morgan vs Golden Magic & Pirata Morgan Jr. [relevos suicidas]
resulting apuesta match will take place on 02/12
Main event is hard to predict, with both Morgans possible to lose the ultimate match. Mascara 2000 Jr. is occasionally in AAA but hasn’t been of late; possible he could be losing his title as part of heading back there. Strange to see Villano IV picking up a random IWRG match. I think I got the Eterno/Demonio Infernal thing wrong at the start (never forming a group, always feuding), though it’s strange to see Eterno that early on an IWRG card.
Discover more from luchablog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.