May 31, 2017 – luchablog

Lucha Underground 3×20: All Night Long…Again

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 thecubsfan

the matches

Johnny Mundo and The Mack went to a draw in an All Night Long Match for the Lucha Underground Championship (37:05, 3-3, great)

4:18 Johnny Mundo Fin de Mundo (1-0)
5:40 Johnny Mundo rope assisted cradle (2-0)
10:42 the Mack powerbomb (2-1)
18:11 Johnny Mundo DDT onto backboard (3-1)
22:15 the Mack Stunner (3-2)
30:22 the Mack pin after a sit down piledriver thru a table (3-3)
37:05 time ran out

Happenings

this is probably a lot less fun than it looks

This one won’t take long. There was simply the one match – not even some vignette coming in from a break or to close out the slow. It was just Johnny Mundo and the Mack in an All Night Long match.

Mundo went up to a 2-0 lead, picking up the second pinfall by using the ropes (which also used to escape from a few pins.) Mack got one fall back via powerbomb. Mundo soon after pulled off his springboard tornillo to the outside, only to clutch one of his lower legs on landing. The announcers believed it to be a serious injury and the medics brought out a stretcher. Mack went as far to shake Mundo’s hand out of respect, only for Mundo to (predictably) jump up fine and surprise Mack with a DDT to take back his two fall lead.

Mundo started running and taking it outside to run out the clock. He fought to the top of the steps, only to get strapped to the backboard and slid all the way back down to the ring. He ran down the hallway to escape – only it really wasn’t him, but PJ Black dressed up as Mundo to lead Mundo on a brief wild goose chase. Black & Mundo worked over Mack until Son of Havoc made the save. Havoc eventually banged on Dario’s door to request a beer, which powered the Mack up to land a Stunner to cut the lead to 3-2.

just when Sexy Star was moving onto a post wrestling career

Mundo & Black regained control of the match again with the help of kendo sticks, then demanded the band play a victory tune to celebrate. Instead, a member of the band jumped off the stage to plancha the rudos, and revealed herself to be Sexy Star in disguise. Havoc & Star cleared out Black, and Mack tied up the match following an Air Raid Crash thru tables.

The match went back and forth in the last few minutes, with a ladder and table in play. Mack placed Mundo on the table and went up the ladder to put him thru. Ricky Mandell ran in, grabbing Mack to save his hero. Havoc & Sexy Star were able to pull him away and Mack landed a giant ladder splash, but time ran out as the winning pin was counted.

Dario interrupted the post match to declare he would not allow a draw in his Temple, and Mack & Mundo would continue their match next week under sudden death (or, “normal”) rules. Mack gave Mundo a Stunner to end the show.

Thoughts

The All Night Long match got to the level of a very good Lucha Underground match at the end. It didn’t feel like it was always going to get there. Coming back from a break with a match with a purposefully slower start (at least by LU standards) so they build towards the end required extra patience from a fanbase that was probably impatient to see the show already. The first half of the match eventually worked for where they were going, but it didn’t come off as really important right away. It was really the chaos of the last segment or so which took the intensity of the match up to that next level.

I find myself thinking a lot about the context this episode will be seen in. For people watching it tonight, it’s airing in the context of a five month hiatus, where people are eager to see their favorite guys again (and didn’t see them unless they’re one of about seven people.) If you’re someone binging this show later on Netflix or wherever, that’s not much a concern. Johnny Mundo’s injury bit is probably also doesn’t poke out as much too if you’re watching it on a service without commercials, since it was just a minute or so before a break and a little bit of time after. It really pokes at you if you’re watching the show live, where there were a few more minutes of commercials to think about how obvious it was fake injury spot and how unconvincing it was for the announcers to “break character” on the scheming rudo doing something that anyone who’s watched wrestling has seen a million times. (That spot needs to go in a storage warehouse for a long time. Mack shaking Mundo’s hand was a nice touch, but it’s consistently bad TV. They got some of the reaction they wanted live, but it was TV death.) I think this is an episode overall that worked good on TV, but probably is going to be much stronger as #20 of 40 and not #1 of 21.

that backboard provides less neck protection than you’d guess

Not that it didn’t have it’s flaws. Hey, if you couldn’t find time to air Sexy Star post title win speech on TV (the best part of his title win), you probably can just end the show on the count and make the Dario thing a YouTube/social media exclusive. It’s silly to have someone talking about the match going all night long, and the match not going when the night still is. It’s not enough to sabotage the match for me but the forced nature of the finish might due it for some.

Sexy Star’s interference spot was really well done. Son of Havoc should’ve asked for multiple beers. Son of Havoc getting involved was just sort of weird, but that’s a spot where the break might have helped the show – most people were willing to roll with the idea Worldwide Underground had done something to Son of Havoc to explain this, since they couldn’t remember what happened five weeks ago anyway. (I suspect that spot was written with Angelico in mind instead, or the Angelico & Son of Havoc vs Jack Evans/PJ Black match was originally intended to be much more in general.) Mack’s splash thru the table should be one of those Lucha Underground clips replayed forever, but I kind of wish they didn’t end the show with the stunner. Just like we’re used to seeing a heel fake an injury and attack the surprised face, we’re used to seeing the face who comes up short in the title match and lays out the champion ever not actually win the title in his next chance. I’m eager to see more people around next week, and I’m sure it’ll be a good match, but they did more to convince it won’t be a title change.

CMLL Martes de Nuevo Valores: 2017-05-23

May 31, 2017June 1, 2017 thecubsfan

Recapped: 05/27/2017

All matches were scheduled to air live from Arena Mexico. However, issues with CMLL’s internet connection meant the show was not put up until Wednesday afternoon. It’s still the Tuesday date up there for simplicity.

Matches:

Grako & Yago defeat Magia Blanca & Sangre Imperial (12:25 [6:17, 2:26, 3:42], 1/3, ok)

Shockercito, Stukita, Último Dragóncito defeat Mercurio, Pequeño Universo 2000, Pequeño Violencia (14:42 [6:37, 3:44, 4:21], 1/3, ok)

Dalys, Reyna Isis, Tiffany defeat La Vaquerita, Marcela, Skadi (13:20 [6:30, 1:41, 5:09], 2/3, below average)

Drone beat Disturbio in a lightning match (8:37, ok)

Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas defeat Blue Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Johnny Idol (10:44 [3:53, 1:54, 4:57], 1/3, ok)

Hechicero, Rey Bucanero, Terrible defeat Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Titán (10:33 [6:05, 4:28], 1/2, ok)

What happened:

even Marcela seemed stunned at Skadi’s dropkick

Hechicero commentates on half the show and then has his match, which is odd here – usually it’s someone who’s off the whole night in the booth. Comandante helped Terrible cheat Marco out of the second fall for the win, setting up a singles match for next week.

In the opener, Sangre Imperial mishears the count and stops covering after two when he has the second fall won with a moonsault. Referee Pompin is visibly distressed, lets it go in the moment, then insisted on counting out Yago after he rolled out.

Thoughts:

This didn’t have the usual Tuesday main event showcase match, but it worked fine as a quickie feud set up instead. It’d be cool if CMLL just kept booking Hechicero and Titan in random trios matches so they could do really cool exchanges like they did to start this match. It’d be cooler if they could just book them into a proper feud, but I think I ask for much more than I’m ever going to get in general. Terrible/Marco next week should be fine if that’s what we’re getting.

Niebla/Felino Peste Negra is never much good for match quality and this was no different, but using Niebla’s normal fall off the apron to set up a Maya dive was smart. Helped that Maya absolutely nailed the tope. Niebla & Maya worked well in the third fall too. I can’t explain it. The best Johnny Idol has looked in his entire run in Mexico is in a 90 second exchange with Negro Casas here in the third fall. It may just be that Negro Casas is awesome.

The lightning match had some nice moments, some good spots that felt borrowed from other matches and didn’t totally fit here, and some that totally worked. It took a while to get where they wanted to go and it wasn’t so great before it got there, turning it into an average match. Drone still is missing something to fly a little higher.

In the minis match, Shockercito and Mercurio were doing a nice variation of the one arm powerbomb sequence, and the director cut to the crowd in between it. Tough to care all that much that way. This was Pequeño Universo’s first TV match in four months. He went thru April without any matches at all. It’s still weird CMLL has dozens of people training and can not find anyone better to use, but they’re hardly using him at this point. He doesn’t even get to hang around the new Dinamtias like the Pequeño Ingobernables. The last 30 seconds of this are pretty fun and you probably should avoid the rest.

The novatos match was more fun than the usual opener, if maybe not solid enough to make it good. They could get there with some more work, and it’s clear they don’t really need the veterans to help them get thru this match (and that the match was better without them.) I’m afraid to get ahead of myself on Yago. He’s no sure bet to be someone important, but he’s clearly good enough to a regular here and there’s no obvious reason he should’ve been gone for months. He probably needs a better finish than the one he’s got.

Maximo & Mascara debut in The Crash, LU returns tonight with Mack & Mundo

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 thecubsfan 5 Comments

Maximo & La Mascara/stills from The Crash’s Facebook

CMLL (TUE) 05/30/2017 Arena México [CMLL, CultIcon]
1) Artillero & Hijo del Signo b Bengala & Leono
2) Estrellita, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely b Metálica, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Puma, Tiger, Universo 2000 Jr. b Esfinge, Oro Jr., Starman
4) Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, The Panther DQ Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Sagrado
Sagrado pulled Blue Panther Jr.’s mask for the DQ.
5) Gran Guerrero, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero b Blue Panther, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr.
6) Marco Corleone b Terrible

Sounded like a solidly OK show. Universo 2000 Jr. introduced himself to CMLL by face planting on a tope (but otherwise was OK.)

La Mascara & Maximo debuted last night for the Crash in Queretaro as a surprise. They ran in during the Flamita vs Septimo Dragon vs Rey Horus three way match and again in the main event, leading to another verbal confrontation with Penta 0M and La Rebelion. There’s video of part of that here, and Crash posted videos with Maximo and Mascara cutting quick promos.

There’s a couple of moving parts here. Mascara & Maximo may have simply picked The Crash over going to AAA, since Crash gives them more freedom to work their own indie schedule, especially when they can do a run of all the recent ex-AAA guys who are around. La Mascara also seemed to be a favorite of The Crash ownership when the promotion was still getting along with CMLL. Konnan not only was careful not to say too much about this situation on his podcast, he actually specifically said he was told not to say too much; it’s fair to assume the deal was in the talking stages for a while. La Mascara & Maximo are being put in a top spot against La Rebelion immediately; it’s going to be a challenge for them to keep up with Fenix & Pentagon in the ring and on the mic, but it’s going to keep them strong.

At the same time, there’s at least a hint that AAA might not be as interested in them as we thought, or at least sees them as untouchable for the moment. La Mascara & Maximo were originally scheduled to be part of a main event in Arena Lopez Mateos on June 24, teaming with LA Park and Dr. Wagner. That match has been changed to simply LA Park and Dr. Wagner. SuperLuchas reports AAA caused this change: AAA does not want their wrestlers on the same shows as Maximo & La Mascara, fearing potential PR problems. This flies counter to the public statements of AAA people supporting Maximo & La Mascara, and easily explains why they weren’t at Friday’s show – if AAA considers those guys too radioactive to even work with on an indie show, they’re not putting them on their TV right now.

Mascara & Maximo will probably be part of Friday’s The Crash show in Tijuana in some way. Maximo did change his Facebook name but Crash still has listed as simply “Maximo”, and La Mascara still as La Mascara. Like Psicosis II and Alebrije and others, they’ll probably be able to get by fine using their CMLL trademarked names on the indies and would only change them if they were on TV. (Which leaves what they do on Friday a little bit of a mystery, since The Crash aspires to be on TV but doesn’t appear to be all that close to it and may not care either way.)

The Crash show does appear to have sold out Arena Queretaro. It’s listed as a 3,700 seat building, though it seemed closer to Naucalpan size when we were there. Either way, it’s a good start for them in a new town. No results of course, because writing results for a show is too much to ask for. The Crash is headed to Oaxaca on July 2nd.

Robin says he was in Houston at the time of the car vandalism. I asked around the weekend this happened and was told he was there, but Robin would know where he was better than I would. Robin says he’s staying with CMLL and that certainly makes sense given how things have worked out. Robin would not benefit from joining Maximo & Mascara the same way as he would if they joined AAA. A new shot on a different TV show might work, but he’d be stuck working the same level if he just went to the indies right now. Robin’s not likely to get a great shot in CMLL right now, he wasn’t really getting one anyway, but he’s better off waiting to see how this pans out.

Lucha Underground finally returns tonight. I’ve completely forgotten how I write LU previews, it’s been so long. This will be episode #20 (of 4o) of the third season, “All Night Long…Again”. Matches on the show

the Mack vs Johnny Mundo (c) in an All Night Long (iron man) match for the Lucha Underground championship (clip of the match)

That’s the only match. The story here is Prince Puma was able to beat Mundo in this match because he’s Prince Puma and in absurd shape, but the Mack is a different kind of absurd shape and might not last. CultIcon breaks down the matchup. Paste Magazine has an somewhat in character interview with the Mack. I’ve written a cheat sheet to help you remember what what was going on back in January and a piece on where things are right now with the bigger issues around the show.

The in-ring portion of tonight’s Lucha Underground show was taped April 24, 2016.

DTU’s May/June tour starts tonight. They’ve got seven shows in about eleven days, with this first batch including wrestlers from Game Changer Wrestling. Tonight’s show is in Arena Actopan. They’re teasing mystery extreme luchadors showing up at some point.

CMLL has an article talking about the history of the Gran Alternativa. There’s nothing new, so it’s mildly interesting for who does get mentioned (Semental, today’s Black Taurus) and who doesn’t (Tony Rivera is still a non person.)

AAA announced a deal with the La Chilanguita restaurant chain to promote each other. That’ll include airing the AAA TV show in the restaurant. One of the Mexico City chain stops will also sell tickets for TripleMania, which seems completely unnecessary if the next paragraph is accurate. This same chain had a deal with CMLL around the time of the Anniversary show last year.

In an interview at the show, Dorian Roldan claimed TripleMania is 80% of sold out. It was just 75% sold out this weekend, so AAA is claiming they are selling hundreds of tickets a day months away from the show and months since anything was announced. AAA should write books about how they’re pulling it off because they’re rewriting the business of promoting events. There’s been nothing specific done to hype this event other than the same promo for Psycho Clown versus Dr. Wagner which airs on TV every week. I’m not sure why the 12th week of that promo is getting so many people to buy that were on the fence now. It sure is amazing.

Dorian said we’ll hear about the rest of the matches for TripleMania soon, and hinted they’ll have some sort of match honoring the history of AAA by bringing back names from the past. That’s certainly fitting for a 25th Anniversary, but, you know, the Villanos versus Psycho Circus comes to mind. Maybe they’ve learned how to do it better this time.

There’s no Naucalpan show tonight, but there is a political party sponsored show in Arena Neza.

An AAA spot show in Sinaloa scheduled for yesterday was postponed instead. The local promoter said the wrestlers had to work another shows. It’s strange they wouldn’t know that in advance. (There wasn’t another AAA show listed on their site.)

Guadalajara’s Muchas Luchas promotion returns on 07/02 with Ramses (Silver King) vs LA Park vs Rayman.

The June 11th Powerbomb.TV Break the Barrier main event will be Puma & Tiger vs Guerrero Maya Jr. & Skayde (replacing Triton.)

FloSlam mentions Pro Wrestling Revolucion’s next show on their service will be on June 17th. Rey Bucanero will be on that FloSlam show, which is a rarity for someone who has an upcoming ROH date.

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

The Box Y Lucha commission of Cuernavaca celebrated one year of existence.

Latin Lover compares acting and wrestling, says it’s easier to find friends in wrestling.

An restaurateur owner in Oaxaca hopes to open a lucha libre museum.

Lineup

CMLL (TUE) 06/06/2017 Arena México
1) Bengala & Sangre Imperial vs Artillero & Espanto Jr.
2) Acero, Aéreo, Eléctrico vs Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
3) Fuego, Johnny Idol, Stigma vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Virus
4) Titán vs Ephesto [lightning]
5) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Cuatrero, Máscara Año 2000, Sansón
6) Stuka Jr., Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Felino, Mr. Niebla

Volador’s not making this show either if he wins his BOSJ block. That may not be an issue.

Titan/Ephesto is an odd mix.

CMLL (TUE) 06/06/2017 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Alteño & Star Black vs Nautilius & Ráfaga
2) Cosmos, Shockercito, Stukita vs Mercurio, Pierrothito, Relámpago Azul
3) Magnus, Star Jr., Starman vs Puma, Sangre Azteca, Tiger
4) Ángel de Oro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Sam Adonis
5) Atlantis, Carístico, Marco Corleone vs Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Terrible

I hadn’t really considered the return of TGR trios matches and I’m not totally enthused for that. Caristico is listed back, even though he missed the show here this week.

CMLL Puebla: 2017-05-22

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 thecubsfan

his hair used to look a little like this

Recapped: 05/27/2017

All matches aired live from Arena Puebla.

Matches:

Ares, El Malayo, King Jaguar defeated Arkalis, Espíritu Maligno, Zaeta Roja (18:28 [7:38, 5:42, 5:08], 2/3, ok)

Marcela, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely defeated Amapola, Reyna Isis, Tiffany (15:32 [8:53, 2:55, 3:44], 2/3, below average)

Ángel de Oro, Johnny Idol, Stigma defeated Dragón Rojo Jr., Niebla Roja, Pólvora (11:22 [5:40, 5:42], 1/2 straight falls, ok)

Marco Corleone, Máscara Año 2000, Mr. Niebla beat Pierroth, Ripper, Rush in a relevos increíbles match (13:16 [3:16, 2:37, 7:23], 2/3, ok)

Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero beat Atlantis, Mistico, Valiente (9:20 [5:06, 1:06, 3:08], 1/3, ok)

What happened:

Ripper replaced La Mascara in the semifinal. Pierroth pulled out the referee when Niebla had Rush beat with a powerbomb. Rush followed by pulling off Niebla’s mask for the DQ. Rush work Niebla’s afro and taunted Niebla after the match, including hitting him with the stretcher.

Niebla Roja wrestled the fourth match as a traitor, frequently helping the técnicos and stopping the Revolucionarios. They attacked him too, and kept attacking him after the match when he turned over a Dragon Rojo sunset flip to give Angel de Oro the straight fall win. Angle de Oro made the save for his brother.

Ares was a fill in for Camorra in the opener.

Thoughts:

Something happened with the video in the main event, where it jumped from the set up to the third fall finish to a few second after. It seemed about right. You didn’t need to see it. You probably would’ve forgotten about it if you did anyway. This wasn’t much of a show.

They’re mid storyline on a couple matches (Rush/Niebla, Niebla Roja’s turn), and none of the other matches were anything. The spark of the Guerreros/Mistico/Valiente matches wasn’t there with Atlantis, who slipped while trying the Atlantida. (Atlantis is still OK, but it was a reminder this is Mexico and we’re probably not going to see his run end until well after it should’ve.) The women’s match was no good. The opener went too long. There should be at least one good match on every CMLL show, but there wasn’t on this one.

the matches

Happenings

Thoughts

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: