AAA TV (MON) 06/19/2017 Poliforum, Nuevo Laredo, Texas
1) Máscara de Bronce, Soul Rocker, Venum vs Carta Brava Jr., Lanzeloth, Mocho Cota Jr.
2) Pimpinela Escarlata vs Estrella Divina, Mamba
3) Aerostar & Drago vs Australian Suicide & Bengala
4) Killshot & Marty The Moth vs Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria
5) Pagano vs El Mesías
6) Argenis, La Parka, Ricky Marvin vs Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly
7) Faby Apache, Hijo del Fantasma, Psycho Clown vs Dr. Wagner Jr., Kevin Kross, Taya
Air Date: 07/15 & 07/22
Previewing this lineup – a lineup three tapings down the road, after a major show – is probably a waste of time. I have no understanding why they’re advertising matches and not just only the people who will be on the show
What we can learn from this: Killshot & Marty are coming back even though they were too hot for TV. I wonder if Killshot will wear his mask this time. Johnny Mundo, the guy who holds every title in AAA, appears as if he’ll miss five straight TV tapings and counting. (And I’m not sure it matters, which says something about something.)
Next taping after this would be on 06/30 in Puebla.
AAA starts the Tlaxcala taping, so we won’t know exactly what airs until they post the preview. The matches which set up the Verano main event probably should be first priority at this point, but it’s hard to tell in advance
IWRG should have two shows airing this week (and the Friday show that’s not airing.)
More reviews of selection matches not on my usual TV recap list.
Rush vs LA Park(BARACAL at Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera, Ciudad de México on 03/11/2017, via +LuchaTV, 22:46, GREAT): Another fun Park/Rush brawl, both great at beating each other up and willing to take punishment and bump big for the other. It never got quite to the anything could happen place of last year, but it was still worthwhile in watching their own. The two own the crowd as well as anyone. Park got beat up for about eight minutes, but they didn’t lose the fans and they were fired up when he fired up and fought back. The spear near fall looked awesome, and a lot of stuff looked good, though there was more messy than the other stuff. I’m willing to forgive messy more in a brawl like this. A DQ finish for a mask pull in a match which featured full boxes of bottles of beers being thrown and the referee being punched in the face is a little bit weak, but it’s about normal for LA Park.
they always seem to find these containersLA Park old man topeand a plancha!and a spear! He was feeling it.
Arez should’ve just broken up the pinLaredo Asai moonsault
Daga & Rey Fénix (US) vs Sammy Guevara & Último Ninja(LyC in Arena Coliseo Monterrey on 04/09/2017, via LlavesyCandados, 16:26, GREAT) – a total fireworks show for 16 minutes. It was limited only by not giving the crowd a clear rooting interesting, so they were only ooohing and aahing to the big spots but not really invested in either side winning. This felt like the most complete Guevera match I’ve seen of him, coming across as more consistent than usual and an equal to Fenix – when Sammy almost had him beat, it felt like it something was happening. Fenix & Daga were surprisinglyefficient as a team, though this leaned more heavily to a long string of one on one matches with the other guys wiping out. They could’ve changed the other or dropped some things, the seemingly obligatory Canadian Destroyer spot is treated as a big moment but the match just goes on, but the quality of the moves was really high. Definitely worth checking out.
It takes 10:42 for them to get to the match here – some of that is a Santo promo to sell that upcoming show, but there’s a lot of introductory video packages that don’t add anything. All the LyC videos are still being produced like it’s a TV show and not YouTube, which feels like not understanding the format. You don’t have to sell people on the concept for three minutes when they click on a YouTube link, they’ve already gone out of their way to find you, they’re there. You do have to get it to quick, people are going to drop off quick if you don’t give them something to watch.
I don’t know how he keeps up with the flipsno one gets more destroyed by superkicks than FEnixeveryone downDaga quickly destroying Ultimo NInja
Garza Jr., Penta El Zero M, Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Bestia 666, Damián 666, Nicho el Millionario(LyC & Arena Coliseo Monterrey in 04/09/2017, via LlavesyCandados, 16:45, OK): crowd really dug it, but it went too long for me and was just kind of the Tuesday touring trios match going off the novelty of seeing these guys together in this environment. Standard técnico showcase (most with Bestia, since he’s the only rudo who could move), rudos bringing in weapons, and the técnicos hitting all their trademark spots. Monterrey still hates Garza. Mysterio’s black and gold Rebellion gear did look cool. The reactions may make this more watchable than I’m giving credit here.
Bestia knee smashthis goes less well for Bestia
Diablo Jr. vs Black Dragón(IWRG at Arena Naucalpan on 03/22/2017, via thecubsfan, 5:08, OK): a shortage CMLL lightning style match, which is decent when it starts but hard to recommend when they so obviously get lost and started restarting spots two minutes in. Diablo Jr. is more experienced and it’s hard not see it. Black Dragon isn’t bad either, this is just not his strongest match. In pure AYM form, the names of the announcers are displayed on screen but the luchadors are not similarly identified.
the end
Pantera vs Demonio Infernal(IWRG at Arena Naucalpan on 03/22/2017, via +LuchaTV , 6:09, BELOW AVERAGE): Pantera takes most of the match, Demonio Infernal bleeds, Pantera dropkicks the referee and immediately submits Infernal, but loses on the ref attack DQ. This was useless, a bad choice to watch, and missing the point of having youngsters work with veterans. Demonio Infernral looked bad until the post match brawl, which should’ve been the match. This set up a title match that the crowd audibly didn’t want to see after this match. That title match sounds like it went better, but it’s probably not worth the time investment. This one definitely wasn’t.
IWRG FILL (WED) 05/17/2017Arena Naucalpan [Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), The Gladiatores]
1) Bambino & Satán X b Fly Tiger & Puma de Oro
2) Águila Enmascarada, Atomic Star, Guerrero 2000 b Blue Monsther, Shadow Boy, Voltar Aguila Enmascarda replaced Picudo Jr. (moved up)
3) Eterno & Máquina Infernal b Acero & Picudo Jr. Picudo Jr. replaced Kanon (double booked on the same show!), Eterno replaced Tackle
4) Hijo del Alebrije, Mike, Teelo b Lunatik Xtreme, Skanda, Vórtize
5) Ángel Oriental, Aramis, Black Dragón, Demonio Infernal, Diablo Jr., Kanon, Keiser Drago, Power Bull b Aspirantito Jr. (Guerrero), Boxter, Fandango, Kilvan, Kronoz, Toxin, Tromba, Yoruba [Copa Higher Power] Gym Fill (Black Terry) vs Gym Lucha Libre Boom (Fantasma de la Opera). Said to be a good & evenly matched one of these. Aramis beat Toxin. After the match, a masked team ran in and attacked the IWRG team. They revealed themselves to be Centvrion, Fly Warrior, Latigo, Arez, Mr. Leo, Septimo Rayo (or Glenn Calavera or maybe both), Fly Star and the Fulgores, calling themselves Indy Nation
This sounds like one of the best FILL shows in a while. The cibernetico went well, the undercard has some good stuff, and the angle at the end is something people who might read this site would particularly enjoy. Some of the best young indie guys, some of the best IWRG students from recent years who’ve moved on to other places, coming back an invading group should at least produce a memorable cibernetico down the line. Hopefully a lot more.
SI talked to Vampiro, who repeated that Lucha Underground wrestlers will not appear on Impact, but luchadors who are in AAA and want to work in the US will have another place where they can work. I suspect this includes anyone who works for LU no matter what character they work (or Ricochet would’ve been free to appear in Ring of Honor.) I suspect this is a lot of concern for what will be not that important appearances anyway; AAA will send a match to Impact’s PPV and maybe they’ll work some adjacent TV and that’ll be it.
Vampiro’s also asked if he thinks Lucha Underground’s momentum will be hurt by disappearing for five months. Vampiro not only evades answering the original question, but says the decision to go on hiatus makes sense when you explain it, and then doesn’t explain that either. It’s rock and roll, man. (The correct answer is “Yes! Obviously! But we didn’t have any choice in it and don’t want to cause problems with El Rey.”)
AAA announced the winners of group three of their La Llave de la Gloria tryouts. The biggest name is Muncea de Plata, daughter of Super Porky and sister of current AAA luchadors Goya Kong & Psycho Clown. She actually wrestled on AAA spot shows with her sister in 2008, before they had their masked characters, and turned up on CMLL’s old Ras de Lona program later on as someone who coming soon (but never did) even before that. She wrestled shows for Elite last year. The other women who advanced are Sexy Angel, Hahastari, Black Fury, Lady Dragon, Diosa Atenea, Ashley and Andromeda. That’s eight women in total, out of the 15 who were shown in matches. Only five men advanced. Angelikal, a standout flyer from Torreon and El Bandido’s brother who looked the most impressive at the tryout to me, was among them. The other four are Ciclón Infernal, Royer Boy, Pequeño Petroneo and Pardux (who you might have seen in one of the early matches on the DTU iPPV last December.) As has been the case all along, we don’t what advancing to the next round actually means, or when the next tryout is, or if there’s other ways to advance besides being in a tryout.
La Parka told Vamos Deportes (mentioned on R de Rudo) that Joaquin Roldan was a great boss, so great that he told Parka that his youngest son could use the name La Parka if he wanted. That seems like a thing that never works out ok.
05/18 NJPW: Dragon Lee [4] defeated Marty Scurll [2] in the Best of the Super Juniors. Dragon Lee is the only wrestler in his block to start off 2-0. NJPW likes to book people getting off to good starts and slipping back, but he has 2 wins and they can’t quite take those back. Dragon Lee is now regularly using the Rush corner dropkick spot. Everyone would flip out if he pulled off a La Mistica in a big spot.
Dragon Lee’s next tournament match is on the 21st (Sunday) against Taichi. Volador Jr.’s next match is against Ryusuke Taguchi on the 2oth (Saturday.) Both of those are taped delayed airings on NJPW World (don’t stay up for them.)
Something to watch here is Jushin Liger announced this would be his Best of the Super Juniors, lost his first two matches, and then declared he would not lose again.
Lineups
IWRG (SUN) 05/21/2017Arena Naucalpan
1) Keiser Drago vs Atomic Star
2) Shaolin vs Lunatic Xtreme
3) Oficial AK47 & Oficial Fierro vs Apolo Estrada Jr. & Taylor Wolf
4) Aramis vs Villano III Jr.
5) Black Dragón, Dinamic Black, Veneno vs Cerebro Negro, Heddi Karaoui, Hijo de Pirata Morgan
6) Freelance vs Dr. Cerebro
7) Danny Casas, Imposible, Mr. Electro vs Black Warrior, Trauma I, Trauma II
Black Warrior scheduled back here after appearing in Rey del Ring. Freelance/Cerebro sounds like it’d be good.
Another card as part of the promotion’s 49th Anniversary.
FULL (SAT) 05/27/2017 Plaza de Toros Monumental el Paseo, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
1) El Divino, Reyna Dorada, Shadow Boy vs Ludark Shaitan, Luzbel, Pequeño Warrior
2) Pibe Alfajor & Saru vs Hip Hop Man & La Mosca (Argentina)
3) Garza Jr. vs Mr. Águila, Extreme Tiger
4) Alan Stone, Mr. Elektro, Zumbi vs Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Intocable, Universo 2000 Jr.
5) Blue Demon Jr., Cibernético, Tinieblas vs Pirata Morgan, Rey Escorpión (Elite), Zorro
6) Alberto el Patrón & Hijo De Dos Caras vs Jack Swagger & Silver King and Roy Knight & Zak Knight
The last lineup to come up for the Alberto/FULL tour is the one in his home town. He’ll team with his brother in the main event.
Latin Lover is doing press for these shows and will be the host on them, and says he never said he was retired from lucha libre and “ponders” a return. He had three years of health problems but he says he’s in good shape now and would be open to wrestling if the people wanted it (if a promoter is willing to pay whatever high price he’ll want.) Latin says he doesn’t watch wrestling, citing the deaths of his friends Hector Garza & Perro Aguayo Jr. as some of the reasons.
Let’s put the 02/25 Crash recap here too so it can be found again later. This was a week full of matches that were just there; even the best match had it’s falws. The following week is not a whole lot improved
AAA TV (TUE) 05/16/2017Arena Aficion [AAA]
1) Bronco González Jr. & Hijo Del Vikingo b Concord & Guerrero de Plata Vikingo got the pin with a 630 senton
2) Lanzeloth & Máscara de Bronce b Dalton Bragg & Joe Lider Added match. The last time Bragg was seen, he was attacking Joe Lider, so of course they didn’t get along here.
3) Faby Apache b Ayako Hamada [Reina De Reinas, #1 Contenders] Bonus match two. Faby earned a title shot at Taya at some undefined time.
4) Aerostar, Australian Suicide, Bengala, Drago b Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, El Mesías, Pagano Drago got the win over Scoria. Suicide attacked people on both teams (his partner Begnala last), apparently snapping and turning rudo.
5) Big Mami & Lady Shani b Goya Kong & La Hiedra Mami & Goya replaced Pimpi & Mamba.
6) Argenis, La Parka, Pimpinela Escarlata, Ricky Marvin b Averno, Chessman, Mamba, Súper Fly Pimpi and Mamba were added to the match. Mamba may be a OGT member; it was unclear. Pirata Morgan, who also may be an OGT member, distracted the tecnicos.
7) Monsther Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown b Carta Brava Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., Soul Rocker The Psycho Circus were reunited for one night, with Murder fouling Psycho but Wagner fouling Murder for the win. Mocho Cota attacked the non-Poder del Norte people with a chair after the match.
Air Date: 06/03 & 06/10
The amount of matches added, subtracted and combined left me confused about how many matches actually took place on this show until I put the results together this morning. It’s seven, the same number announced, though only the opener remained unchanged. This another show where the card was public for months and one where they sent La Parka & Psycho to Pachuca recently to promote the original specific lineup, and then gave a different card. I don’t have anything new to say at this, except I’m starting to wonder if maybe AAA doesn’t actually book TV now until the day of the show, because it’s the only reasonable explanation of why they would continue to risk a backlash from advertising matches they’re not going to run. It didn’t hurt AAA on this night, they filled the 2000 seat Arena Aficion, but they continue to play with fire.
Anyway. Seven matches, which probably means the dark match gets dropped and the other two get split up into two TV. 4/6/7 probably should air on the 3rd, since that’s the night prior to Verano de Escandalo and they all tie into (announced) matches there. On the other hand, AAA’s not been so strict about that since these big events are no long on iPPV and a TV show with 2/3/5 would be a bit low on star power. (Can’t think of the last TV taping with two women’s matches where one hasn’t fed into another, by the way.) AAA’s recap doesn’t mention the Ayako/Faby match for what it’s worth, probably indicating even the people who work for AAA are having trouble keeping track of what AAA is doing, but I guess could mean someone changed their mind on it.
Suicide’s turn is not played up much in the recap bit looks like a big deal on video. Suicide turning was teased on TV this week, but it doesn’t seem like great planning to do that turn and the Texano turn within an hour of each other. It really doesn’t seem like a great idea to do the Suicide turn, the Texano turn and have Psycho’s partners turn on him in the same show – and have Joe Lider & Dalton Bragg have issues early in the show. I think – and I may be completely out to lunch – there’s an actual plan and even card for TripleMania and they’re trying to get all the pieces in place for it. The problem is it’s such a big shift from where they were and it’s going to be hard for anyone to keep all the pieces straight, and they’re not helping the situation by distracting from the really important storylines with a lot not so important ones either. Suicide could use a character change, but unless they’ve got a big match planned for him at TripleMania (seems highly unlikely), maybe that’s something that could’ve waited a few months for it to have a wider birth. No one even know who Dalton Bragg is at this point and feuding him with Joe Lider is only going to make them about the 9th most important thing going on. Maybe there shouldn’t be nine things going on, at least not while there’s this big overarching change in direction and your fans are still catching up to it.
Faby/Ayako could be good. I want to see the 630 senton. I’m not really sure I want to see much more from this show.
The next taping will be 05/26, next Friday, in Mexico City.
