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.
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Well they trademarked “Maximo Sexy” but not “Maximo”, that is why his name was changed right? So he’d be okay to just be “Maximo”, as for a maskless wrestler being known as “The Mask”… well yeah, #LuchaLogic
What is up with Triton? Out of GALLI and off the Break the Barrier show?
AAA are probably waiting until/after Triplemania because they don’t want to call attention to video of Psycho Clown unmasked before the apuesta match. Maybe they can work Impact… Aron Rex vs. Maximo? (Sin) Mascara vs Garza Jr in an Ultimate X match where the winner must retrieve and PUT ON a pair of breakaway pants.
What’s up with Ricky Marvin? Is he definitely gone? Was he at that AAA house show?
I think Impact would stay away from these guys because of the legal situation and I’m not sure how serious their interest is in The Crash (especially without them getting TV.)
You got me to go search, and it looks like Ricky DID work that house show. So I have no idea what to make of the thing on the AAA taping.
CMLL trademarked Maximo Sexy because they were unable to get the trademark for Maximo because another (non-lucha) company had it – so I would think Maximo and whichever company puts on TV would run into the same issue.
Triton seems like he’s returning to Mexico very quickly. I don’t know the situation, but I guess that means he might show up in CMLL.