April 1, 2017 – luchablog

03/31/2017 AAA TV Results (Neza) – new tag champs

April 1, 2017April 1, 2017 thecubsfan

AAA TV (FRI) 03/31/2017 Arena Neza [AAA, Estrellas del Ring]
1) Neza Kid b Némesis
Unadvertised match. Neza Kid appears to be Freelance this time.
2) Mamba b Estrella Divina
Unadvertised match; both were an atomicos originally. These first two matches may not air.
3) Súper Fly b Niño Hamburguesa
Super Fly interrupted the official start of the show by complaining about Vampiro restarting his match at Rey de Reyes. Nino Hamburguesa interrupted him, and Tirantes announced they had now been scheduled for a match (by Vampiro?). Super Fly won anyway.
4) Bengala, Dinastía, Joe Lider, Lady Shani b Dalton Bragg, Dave The Clown, La Hiedra, Mini Abismo Negro
Shani, who’s now a tecnica without explanation, pinned Hiedra. Dalton Bragg, who advanced to the semifinals of Saturday’s La Llave de la Gloria, also simultaneously advanced to a TV debut. All but the women and the minis were replaced in this match.
5) Argenis & Hijo del Fantasma b Averno & Chessman
Earlier in the night, Texano (Fantamsa’s original partner) announced he had a grade two neck strain and would be out for some time, but vowed not to retire. Argenis was subbed in (his cruiserweight title match was removed), and Chessman & Averno replaced Mesias (in Orlando) and Pagano. Ricky Marvin seconded the OGT team, but accidentally cost them match. Chessman & Averno attacked Ricky after the match, kicking him out and replacing him with Super Fly.
6) Australian Suicide, Dr. Wagner Jr., Lanzeloth, Máscara de Bronce, Psycho Clown b Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Monsther Clown, Murder Clown, Soul Rocker
started out as Lanzeloth/Bronce/Suicide vs Soul/Mocha/Carta, then Wagner & Psycho ran in (to attack the rudos?), then Monster & Murder ran in, then Vampiro made it a 10 man tag. Wagner stole a pin from Psycho Clown to beat Cota.
7) Parka Negra b El Elegido
(inexplicable) added match. Elegido won, but Parka Negra had his foot on the ropes and the referee missed.
8) Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria b Aerostar & Drago © [AAA TAG]
Originally a tag title match, then no longer a tag title match a few days later, then made for the title right before the match anyway. Drago & Aerostar fall on their 3rd defense. Cuervo & Scoria are 18th champions, Cuervo champion for the second time (first with Ozz.) Pagano showed up to congratulate the new champions, then attacked them.

Air Date: 04/08 & 04/15

Hold up a sec. Look at that card. Look at those results again. That is the story: not a single match advertised on this card happened as scheduled. Some of the changes were minor – anyone who had been following along could’ve guessed the tag titles would end up on the line – but most of the card doesn’t resemble anything as advertised. The new creative team seemed to be in control when they announced the card, and it still didn’t resemble what they ended up doing. It’s good to know what the rules of the games are, and the rules here appear to be no matches on AAA TV lineups should be taken seriously at this time, just treat it as a list of names announced for the show.

This show was missing Mesias (which AAA should’ve known a month ago) and missing Texano (which may have been known in advance, and we’ll have a better idea if it’s an angle after today’s TV show.) Still, this is designed chaos, a choice to make changes without explaining them. AAA can’t exactly that Super Fly/Nino Hamburguesa is happening, since the story is it was a surprise match. AAA could’ve easily said Aerostar & Drago were now defending the tag team titles after the Rey de Reyes. They didn’t (and maybe didn’t need to, they sold out Neza anyway), but it shows they’re very much not concerned with explaining what’s going on publicly. It works if people leave happy and come back next time, but they’re taking some risks when Psycho & Wagner get shuffled into 10 man tags and they can’t find a match for Pagano while Elegido & Parka Negra are having a singles match (and program?)

A fan did tell AAA & Vampiro he didn’t like all the changes, and Vampiro explained that part of growing up is changing.

They do seem to explaining these changes behind the scenes. Dalton Bragg’s Facebook indicates he knew he was wrestling on this card a week ago, and was hinting about getting into AAA almost a month ago. Check that timeline; On Friday, Bragg was told he was getting an AAA match. On Saturday, he did the public tryout with AAA. Maybe he’s not actually a ringer in the competition, but I’d think that means the tryout didn’t really mean much for him. Maybe not others.

The ultimate problem with this strategy is the entire year is built around the idea that AAA is definitely going to do Dr. Wagner Jr. versus Psycho Clown, but they’re meanwhile not committing to do any other match. They may do any match, most of the matches announced at Rey de Reyes actually happened, but there always will be reason to be skeptical of Wagner/Psycho as happening as advertised until the moment one of them unmasks, and this gives pause to be a little more skeptical. At the same time, that’s the only feud that hasn’t been changed, continuing with them weirdly teaming up nowadays.

Super Fly added to OGT and Ricky Marvin out kind of explains why the trios titles changed hands. The Apaches may not get around to defending them, but OGT was just about out of changes to lose them. AAA not breaking up Pagano & Mesias might have been to set up them as new tag challengers based on the main event angle; they have to be setting up Pagano for something big for Juarez. The shifting matches obscures the fact that not a lot else seems to be happening. Maybe they’re actually doing a Elegido/Negra program, or maybe that’ll end as quick as it seems to for Cota’s group.

Next taping is scheduled to be on 04/12 in San Luis Potosi. Who knows what’ll happen there.

Matt Taven out cheats Rush and Los Ingobernables, Reyes del Aire next week

April 1, 2017April 1, 2017 thecubsfan 1 Comment

CMLL (FRI) 03/31/2017 Arena México [Culticon, thecubsfan]
1) Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro b Stukita & Último Dragóncito
14:06. Rudos took 1/3.
2) Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis DQ La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi
11:43. Rudas took 1/3, the last by DQ when Sugehit removed Zeuxis’ mask.
3) El Cuatrero, Máscara Año 2000, Sansón b Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther
12:50. Dinamtias took 1/3.
4) Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy, Volador Jr. DQ Kráneo, Mephisto, Pierroth
10:18. Tecnicos took 1/3, the last by DQ.
5) Diamante Azul, Stuka Jr., Valiente b Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero
11:10. Tecnicos took 2/3.
6) Matt Taven b Rush
12:22. Pierroth interfered, but Taven soon after won with his feet on the ropes. Rush demanded a rematch when Taven returns to Mexico, while Taven wants to go after Maximo for the heavyweight title.

Show didn’t suck, but it wasn’t all that great either. In a weekend of too many wrestling shows, it’s one you can skip safely. They made it very clear Taven is coming back and made it sound like that’s happening relatively soon. I would to see more people from ROH, but maybe CMLL has decided not to take chances on unknown people after Yoshitatsu. (They could also do their homework find out about more people. Maybe that’ll happen tonight.)

In a backstage interview, Ultimo Guerrero said he hadn’t had a chance to talk with the Guerreros and didn’t yet know what was up with Niebla Roja.

Today’s Coliseo show is the Arena Coliseo 74th anniversary show, headlined by a non-title Caristico versus Euforia main event. It is the first time they’ve ever done that specific singles match, but a match on a one week build is not much for a historic building’s anniversary show. It is consistent with how CMLL’s treated this show in recent years

73: Rey Bucanero vs Valiente for the NWA Light Heavyweight championship
72: Mistico (II) vs Ripper
71: minis cage (Pequeno Halcon unmasked), Atlantis vs Mr. Niebla

70 was actually a big one; they did Dragon Rojo/Sombra, brought back legends and had a women’s cibernetico. Maybe they’ll go all out for the 75th Anniversary.

Sunday’s Arena Mexico show has Caristico, Dragon Lee and Mistico against Cavernario, Felino and Mephisto. Niebla Roja & Gran Guerrero are scheduled to team in the semimain, which may not go all that well.

It’s otherwise a quiet weekend for high end indie shows, surely due to WrestleMania coming up on Sunday. The only notable show I can find is Octagon’s Legado Dragon promotion returning for a second show on Sunday.

The one show I forgot until I hit post is Ring of Honor’s PPV tonight. You can get it on Fite.TV, and Dragon Lee & Jay White will face Volador & Will Ospreay on the $30 iPPV.

Dragon Lee is headed to NJPW for the Best of Super Juniors. He’s been expected to be part of it, was expected to be part of it last year too, but he also is showing up on advertisements for the tour. There’s only 9 people listed, and there’s usually 7-9 more included, so another CMLL luchador is at least possible. My guess is NJPW would’ve put Volador on the poster if he was coming and it’d be more likely to be someone like Soberano if it even is anyone else, but that’s all speculation. The tour runs from May 17th to June 3rd, so it’s still six weeks away and they may not announced the full field until a couple weeks prior.

Today’s FEW lucha show, which started with CMLL wrestlers and ended up with indie luchadors, sounds like it’s been canceled. The show always seemed to be a very expensive one that didn’t seem to be moving many tickets in a crowded market.

There’s an another article about Sexy Dulce’s boxing career, but this time from someone besides her: Promociones del Pueblo’s director Osvaldo Kuche talked about upcoming fight to ESPN. It’s three weeks away and there’s still no opponent, but they feel like she could be a world champion boxer if she continues on her path. Kuche says Dulce will take no more wrestling matches in Mexico, maybe some independents in the US, which doesn’t exactly match what she’s said. Kuche also says the plan was originally for Dulce to debut in December “but more tests were needed to make sure she was ready.” Dulce’s previously said she was supposed to fight earlier but opponents backed out.

SuperLuchas has an interview with Ignacio Rios, the owner of the Crash, a few days away from their first Mexico City show. There’s not much news here, outside the general idea that they wanted to get into Mexico City first, and then work on getting a TV show. Rios insists everyone’s confirmed for the show; this certainly appears to be a lie since Sexy Dulce keeps saying her match today at SHIMMER was her last for now. (She won, which implies she told SHIMMER she’ll be back at some point.

Pachuca luchador Deluto III passed away. He was an active regular in the region, scheduled on the DTU show in Actopan later this month.

+LuchaTV has a new edition of Aqui esta la Lucha.

Fuego en el Ring has a new edition of their podcast.

Lineup

CMLL (FRI) 04/07/2017 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
2) Princesa Sugehit, Sanely, Silueta vs Dalys, Metálica, Reyna Isis
3) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Stuka Jr. vs Kráneo, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero
4) Carístico vs Cavernario, Mistico, La Máscara, Volador Jr., Mephisto, Máximo Sexy, Euforia, Valiente, Ephesto, Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Dragón Lee, Hechicero, Titán, Gran Guerrero [Reyes del Aire]

Reyes del Aire is back. They’re doing the mix of rudos and tecnicos and what Niebla Roja is at this point. There are some different picks I’d like to see – Soberano really needed to be in it this year – but it looks like a very good field. Barbaro Cavernario is the reigning champion, when they had the final two advance to a match the next week. There’s no explanation of what the rules are this week, and we should probably listen very closely to the prematch announcement.

Sugehit but no Zeuxis in the women’s match.

CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-03-31

April 1, 2017April 1, 2017 thecubsfan

Recapped: 03/31/2017

All matches aired live on ClaroSports. They can be seen on my channel.

Matches:

Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro (1/3) Stukita & Último Dragóncito (14:06 [4:24, 3:37, 6:05], ok)
Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis (1/3 DQ) La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi (11:43 [5:36, 3:04, 3:03], below average)
El Cuatrero, Máscara Año 2000, Sansón (1/3) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther (12:50 [4:27, 2:19, 6:04], good)
Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy, Volador Jr. (1/3 DQ) Kráneo, Mephisto, Pierroth (10:18 [2:35, 5:01, 2:42], ok)
Diamante Azul, Stuka Jr., Valiente (2/3) Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero (11:10 [4:36, 1:58, 4:36], ok)
Matt Taven (2/3) Rush (12:22 [2:42, 2:46, 6:54], good)

What happened:

Stukita will find a way to get in his splash

Matt Taven cheated to beat Rush in the main event. The finish was a bit of nonsense. Taven had Rush pinned clean after the same frogsplash he used to win the second fall. Rush never kicked out, but the referee stopped counting because Pierroth appeared on the apron. Taven got up and brawled with Pierroth, and Rush & Pierroth double teamed him. It’s unclear why this was not a disqualification. They came back in the ring, Taven blocked a single kick, cradled Rush and used the ropes to get the win win. Rush said he’d get his revenge when Taven returned and Taven confirmed he would return, but he was also going after Máximo and the heavyweight title. (My educated guess is Taven’s taking over the role intended for Yoshitatsu, who made that same heavyweight challenge after his match with Volador but is now not expected back.)

Not much else happened. Pierroth got his team DQ-ed in a match they were about to lose anyway by fouling Máximo. Valiente submitted Último Guerrero and repeated his mask versus hair challenge, but only in a backstage interview. Sugehit got her team DQ-ed for unmasking Zeuxis, in a spot that looked messed up. Sugehit struggled for a while to get the mask off and it didn’t feel like the match was supposed to peaking at that moment. No challenges followed for that.

The most exciting development was Reyes del Aire was announced for next week.

Thoughts:

if posters were a thing, a poster of Zeuxis doing this knee smash would be a cool thing

Eh. A few matches around the OK/good line, not a lot higher.

Rush/Taven was the best match on the show, bringing good intenstiy and more drama to a crowd that was more invested into it than anything else. They were not invested in reacting the way CMLL wanted them to react (foreigners who don’t actually do in ring turn are always going to get booed in situations like this), but Taven reacted well to booing. It was just iffy times. Taven has a lot of flashy kicks but they’re literally hit or miss and too many looked like they were missing for me to get to into this. The finish was a jumbled mess. The distraction bit was bad, there was no reason something that’s a DQ every other time wasn’t a DQ here, and they went right to about the same finish they had before hand. Might as well just have counted three on the frog splash and shocked everyone.

Dinamitas/Panthers was the best of the rest. The usual quality match between these two teams, without being the best for either side. It was just an easy match where they both got in their fancier spots and looked better than the Panther’s new outfits. It also had the trademark Panther bit of building up to what seemed like an ending, and then taking it back down a couple notches ot build up again. Mascara was less watching the other guys do double teams, and more integrated as part of the team. I knew Mascara was submitting Panther as soon as the second fall ended and they hadn’t do a spot yet. It makes no sense, but it makes CMLL sense.

There’s nothing much to say about the two upper card trios matches. The semimain was a little better one, but both were the kind of generic trios matches you’d get in the top spots most days of the week. We got a few nice spots, and a moment of nostalgia with Bucanero & UG reunited, but nothing much to write about. The Máximo/Pierroth trios match felt very generic, and the DQ very tacked on for no obvious reason.

The opener was slightly above average on it’s curve, but not enough to rise to a recommendation. It was another match where Stukita came off a star, finding ways to be cool in a match format seemingly designed to make sure no one could be one. Mercurio & Nitro helped by playing off him, but then Mercurio kind of pulled it down with a lot of comedy. He seemed to be entertained and the crowd somewhat. The match slowed down late. Still would take this over most openers.

Sugehit & Zeuxis got in a few of their now normal exchanges and the crowd reacted to their feud, but the match surrounding it wasn’t much at all. Skadi and Jarochita are trying but they didn’t add here. Skadi still has issues with timing and positioning, and Jarochita’s just doesn’t seem effective in her role. Amapola celebrating the ill gotten win was nice but skip this.

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