AAA’s press conference today was focused on their international plans.
The main part of the press conference featured guests from Impact Wrestling. Bobby Lashley, Eddie Edwards, Davey Richards, and Moose (who was there) were announced as appearing on TripleMania, and Jeff Jarrett said one of the Impact titles would be defended at TripleMania on August 26th. (Lashley is the current heavyweight champion, though that could obviously change. Edwards & Richards were a team which recently broke up.) They made sure to say the matches had not been determined. It was also announced AAA luchadors will appear on Impact Wrestling’s Slammiversay PPV on July 2nd. Hijo del Fantasma & La Parka attended the press conference, but they were again careful to say it had not been determined who would appear.
There was as much focus on the out of the ring alliance as the interchange of talent and titles. Dorian talked about Fight Network and Impact Wrestling’s reach around the world, with the idea that they’d help AAA get similar distribution. Jarrett and Ed Nordholm spoke about cross branded shows, and the press release is even more specific about it: there’s plans to tour together this fall. It’s not made clear where they’d be doing touring . (SuperLuchas got the impression it would be Mexico, +LuchaTV got the impression it’s in the US. The latter makes more sense but no one said.) AAA will help Impact’s TV show get into Latin America & South America, while Impact/Anthem will get AAA’s show into other countries.
The phrases “The Crash” and “Lucha Underground” were not said during the press conference, of course. AAA going in with Impact on tours would seem to take their attention and interest away from running Lucha Underground live shows. Or does that even matter – can AAA use the Lucha Underground name or characters on their own for shows if it’s not on TV? I don’t even know at this point. There’s definitely a reading of this that’s not positive for LU – or for the guys who left, because this would give AAA enough bodies not to have to concern themselves with the Pentagons and the Sexy Stars for now – but I don’t know if necessarily turns out that way. Plenty of LU fans are upset or concerned on Twitter, while Vampiro’s noting his role in Lucha Underground and saying this is a great day for everyone. (Vampiro also may be pitching the LU live shows as ‘Vampiro Invasion Tours”.) My take away is there’s a lot of competing interests and it’s hard to figure out how they’re all going to work in concert, which was kind of my belief before all of this.
The Fight Network might want to start their part of the deal with AAA with giving more prominence to AAA on their own network or making sure it’s airing; it appears to be off the schedule now. I don’t want to over state my own importance in this, but there are groups lesser tied to internet visibility that make a greater effort to remind people like me that they exist. The concept that this AAA show is important and valuable is a big part of this alliance, but no one involved is promoting it as important and valuable on an English language side. It should be a situation me and people with similar interests as me are getting weekly reminders about this show in Canada, even if we can’t get it. As it right now, I don’t know if the AAA show in Canada still exists unless Rob mentions it on Twitter. That’s should be an easy thing to fix, and a good barometer of how hard they’re working at this.
There were also talk of other international dates for AAA. They’ll go to Bogota, Colombia on August 9, 10 and 11th and Medellin on dates in November. AAA ran shows at the Palacio de los Deportes in 2015 as part of an annual fesival and had wanted to return; Dorian’s mentioned the potential of Colombia as a new market for AAA and running live shows there is part of it. If they can get into Colombia, they may be able to open the door for Impact as well.
There was also a surprise announcement of AAA returning to October. Their show last year drew well, but there were rumors of finance issues behind the scenes. Hayashi helped put that show together, so him showing up The Crash was interrupted as a signal he wouldn’t be working with AAA any more. The shows also seemed to be put on with help for Akebono, who’s currently having some very serious medical issues. AAA did not mention who they’d be working with this time
Dorian Roldan’s title has changed to Executive VP of Enterprise Development for AAA. It’s the saddest way to change a job, and Dorian talked about his father at the start of the press conference.
Of note, this was a press conference on AAA’s international aspirations and there was no mention of the Lucha World Cup. I think that’s as close a confirmation to it not happening. The thing is, I thought it wasn’t happening because they didn’t have partners in Japan and with Impact, but they’ve got the Impact relationship back and they apparently have a Japan relationship. It’s always been Victoria who paid for it, and maybe that’s the issue? I dunno. But I don’t expect to see it in 2017 since it hasn’t been mentioned.
CMLL (SUN) 04/16/2017 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Domingos Familiares]
1) Quca b Micro
2) Black Sugar & Capitán Cobra b Destello & Destructor
3) Gran Kenut & Payaso Infernal b Dark Fire & El Alteño
Infernal & Fire were in fron Sinaloa for the first time in over a year.
4) Nautilius & Star Black DQ Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno
Rey Trueno saved his brother with a mask pull and a foul on Star Black, drawing the DQ and setting up a rematch next week.
5) Omar Brunetti, Sky Kid, Smaker b Frezzer, Furia Roja, Mosco X Fly
X-Fly’s first match here since New Year’s Day
That tag match in the semimain is this week’s semimain event.
CMLL (MON) 04/17/2017 Arena Puebla
1) Arkalis & Vega b El Perverso & Rey Apocalipsis 
2) Joker, Pequeño Nitro, Pierrothito b Astro, Eléctrico, Último Dragóncito
3) Drone, Espíritu Maligno, Stigma b Disturbio, Olímpico, Policeman
4) Kráneo, Ripper, Sam Adonis b Johnny Idol, Máximo Sexy, Titán
5) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Mistico b La Máscara, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero
Dragon Lee landed on his head on his dive at the finish of the match, which left Mistico & Caristico both very concerned. Dragon Lee seemed fine and somewhat confused why his teammates were worried.
6) Rush DQ Atlantis
Atlantis took 2/3, the last when La Mascara ran in for the DQ and beat down.
Rush/Atlantis was good, seemed worth rewatching. Which is good since I’m going to do that.
Maximo versus Terrible for the heavyweight championship headlines tonight’s Arena Mexico show. Maximo won this title back from Terrible two years ago in a great match and they had a good rematch later in 2015. Maximo finds another level in title matches, and Terrible’s a guy who seems to have potential to do more than what CMLL’s given him the last couple of years. This match should at least be watchable and might even turn out to be the best CMLL match of the week.
The semimain will probably be more angle than match, as Niebla Roja teams with Ultimo Guerrero for the first time since he started having problems with the other Guerreros. Those two and Euforia will face Dragon Lee, Marco and Mistico. Fuego and Virus have a lightning match. They’ve had many. Since 2012, this is their eight lightning match. Fuego has won the last six, most recently in July.
Misterioso, Sagrado and Tiger take on Pegasso, Soberano and a mystery person in the tercera. CMLL’s preview continues to falsely advertise Triton in the spot even though there’s no chance he’ll be there; he’s still in Chicago. The question now is if the people in charge have even noticed Triton is gone and will have someone on his level as a replacement (a Panther or Esfinge) or haven’t noticed at all and will have to call in the first person who can make it to the show with their gear. Edit: I forgot to change the whole paragraph when they finally out Starman in the spot. Triton being replaced by Starman, a guy who’s been in the same spot for twenty years, is a strong indication Triton made the right move. Once that’s sorted out, that match should be more about the Misterioso/Soberano issue.
Electrico, Fantasy and Ultimo Dragoncito face Pierrothito, Mercurio and Pequeno Nitro in the minis purgatory division. Sensei, Bengala, and Principe Diamante take on Akuma, Hijo del Signo and Inquisidor in a rare opening trios. (If the main event is a singles, they add people into the card elsewhere.)
CultIcon also previews the show. It airs at 7:30pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel.
Guadalajara has a Ingobernables versus Atlantis, Caristico and Diamante Azul main event.
Fiero and Cholo replace Sangre Imperial & Templario on Tuesday. Fiero’s yet another guy who debuted and then disappeared off the face of the earth who’s making returning.
A CMLL article randomly teases Zeuxis versus Princesa Sugehit for the Anniversary show in September. I don’t trust CMLL to even remember that feud in September. All I got out of this isn’t not happening any time soon and the red filter they used on the picture is really cool for that shot.
Okumura was scheduled to have neck surgery earlier today. The CMLL/NJPW partnership is working here: NJPW’s doctors are helping to evaluate his neck injury. Okumura is planning to recover in the hospital, then return to Mexico and send CT scans back to his doctors in Japan every month. He hopes to return to CMLL by the end of the year (and be in the ring for next year’s FantasticaMania), but there was concern this injury could end his career.
After his win on Sunday, Dragon Lee told the press he’ll have a surprise in coming days. That’s the generic thing luchadors say all the time, but I suspect it’s the BOSJ announcement in this case.
Generic article to hype Friday’s AAA taping in Tijuana. It sure seemed like AAA added Johnny Mundo this show, but they’re not mentioning it at all in the advertising for the show. Mundo would seem to make a difference in Tijuana (close enough to get people to come down from the US) and in general (or why would you be making him triple champ), but they’re still using the old poster which doesn’t have him on it.
The early poster for Verano de Escandalo doesn’t seem to reveal any matches (and still has Texano with the belt he doesn’t have.)
Ducle Garcia’s debut boxing opponent was revealed by Cancha last night: Yaneli Hernández, in a four round fight. It looks like Hernandez has been training for a fight for a while on her Facebook, so it’s possible everyone involved knew what the match was and it was just kept quiet until now for their own reasons. Hernandez has a 6-16 record on BoxRec, having lost her last seven bouts including one just six weeks ago. Her last win was over a women who came into the match 0-1 and hasn’t fought again. I don’t think anyone expected the ex-Sexy Star to face tough competition in her first match, and it’d be unfair to her if she had to with her lack of experience. As bad as that record is, there’s not many women who are boxing in Mexico at that weight, though there’s a very obvious money fight if Dulce Garica can win a few fights.
RIOT announced a new show on 05/20 (Lo Mismo Pero Com Mas Sillas – The Same But With More Chairs) in Arena Femenil Monterrey
Jimmy Lloyd was announced for DTU’s June/July tour.
RobViper has a music video of 08/21/16 ELITE.
+LuchaTV’s podcast has Reyes de Biutiful as guests, so it’s a merging of the lucha podcasts.
LuchaWorld has the latest Poster-Mania.
AAA’s put up this week’s episode.
Lineups
CMLL (MON) 04/24/2017 Arena Puebla
1) Lestat, París, Zaeta Roja vs El Malayo, Guerrero Espacial, Sombra Diabólika
2) La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Esfinge, Fuego, Soberano Jr. vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus
4) Ángel de Oro, Johnny Idol, Titán vs Cavernario, Felino, Mr. Niebla
5) Atlantis, Carístico, Volador Jr. vs La Máscara, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero
Reset week. Usual bit of names in the main event which could set up a singles match. Sugehit & Zeuxis again in the women’s match.
Lucha Memes MDA (FRI) 04/28/2017 Arena Naucalpan
1) Alas de Acero, Aramis, Iron Kid vs Baby Star, Dragón Fly, Galactar
2) Titán (CMLL) vs Rey Horuz
3) Zack Sabre Jr. vs Negro Navarro
4) LA Park vs Súper Mega
5) Rush vs Black Terry
Full card for Chairo 10. The opener should be fun and they’re overall going with a shorter card than usual. Those four singles matches are all big enough to be a main event on their own.
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