Soberano & Caristico advance to Gran Alternativa final, CMLL LH title decider tonight

CMLL (FRI) 06/09/2017 Arena México [CMLL, CultIcon, Marca, Ovaciones, thecubsfan]
1) Arkángel de la Muerte & Metálico b Príncipe Diamante & Robin
16:07. Rudos took 1/3. Tiger replaced Arkangel
2) Estrellita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit DQ Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis
15:12. Straight falls. Zeuxis was pinned but came back in to attack and unmask Princesa Sugehit.
3) Guerrero Maya Jr. b Misterioso Jr. [lightning]
5:40.
4) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero b Atlantis, Dragón Lee, Mistico
Rudos took 1/3.
5) Oro Jr. & Soberano Jr. b Raziel, Flyer, Canelo Casas, Drone, Astral, Akuma [Gran Alternativa, battle royal]
5:16.
6) Canelo Casas & Negro Casas b Astral & Valiente [Gran Alternativa, 8f]
4:45.
7) Akuma & Pierroth b Drone & Niebla Roja [Gran Alternativa, 8f]
8:07. Pierroth gave Drone a modified piledriver and fouled & unmasked Niebla Roja. Vangellys came out of the crowd and attacked Pierroth with a bat after the match, then smashed the safety barrier door on Pierroth’s shoulder many times.
8) Flyer & Volador Jr. b Mephisto & Raziel [Gran Alternativa, 8f]
6:53.
9) Carístico & Soberano Jr. b Ángel de Oro & Oro Jr. [Gran Alternativa, 8f]
7:58.
10) Canelo Casas & Negro Casas b Akuma & Pierroth [Gran Alternativa, quarterfinal]
Forfeit win; doctors & commission would not let Pierroth wrestle due to his shoulder injury
11) Carístico & Soberano Jr. b Flyer & Volador Jr. [Gran Alternativa, quarterfinal]
8:28
12) Carístico & Soberano Jr. b Canelo Casas & Negro Casas [Gran Alternativa, semifinal]
6:37. Caristico & Soberano face Ultimo Guerrero & Sanson next week.

This seemed like a good show, but Claro picked the week to change how it streams the show and it worked poorly for the whole show. Hopefully they’ll have it right next week, but there were some good matches that were hurt by the bad experience on video. It seemed like the people live were having a good time.

Akuma wants revenge on Vangellys for costing him his Gran Alternativa chance. He’s got at least as good a chance of besting Vangellys as Vangellys has at besting Pierroth. Akuma is only the second person to be eliminated from the Gran Alternativa without losing a match. Semental was the first, when Yujiro refused to team with a Mexican and beat him up with the help of Okumura in 2009.

AAA’s preview of today’s TV episode notable does not include the Faby Apache/Ayako Hamada match. That happened with a match on the Tlaxcala taping and it ended up airing anyway, but it’d be notable since it was meant to be a #1 contenders match.

SoloWrestling has an interview with Black Taurus, who says he left AAA for reasons like being told he’d be one of the first AAA guys on Lucha Underground and not getting the spot, and being relegated to working the relevos AAA matches with women and minis after being promised a big push. He feels he was a Konnan project and they weren’t going to do much with him after Konnan left. Taurus says Konnan’s talking to him about going to Impact; I’d suspect he was one of the potential options for the spots that went to Garza & Laredo, and might be an option for future an LAX opponent.

Seattle’s Defy Wrestling announced a partnership with The Crash. Maybe The Crash can send Defy their wrestlers and Defy can send The Crash their ability to record their shows for a streaming platform.

Pesadilla talks about X-Law.

Saturday shows

• Arena Coliseo has a match for the CMLL Light Heavyweight championship. I now think it’s actually for the title and not stage 1 of something bigger, and I’m afraid to make a guess after how unusual CMLL booking has been this week. I would go with Cavernario because Cavernario is great even if there’s no way he’s a light heavyweight.
• Lucha Libre y Pasion, a Facebook group that mostly pirates PPVs, is bringing in big names for their own show. Main event is scheduled to be Jeff Cobb & Fenix vs Juvy & Super Crazy, with Horuz/Evans, AR Fox/Aeroboy, Flamita/Sadico and Imposible/Ciclon Ramirez/Emperador Azteca

Sunday shows

• Arena Mexico has a regular show with a Mistico, Marco and Atlantis versus Bucanero, Terrible, Shocker main event
• Guadalajara has the Star Black versus Nautilius mask match, Star Black is a heavy favorite.
• Naucalpan has the Traumas & Imposible versus the Oficials & Black Warrior + a Latigo/Freelance match
• There’s a benefit show for Mascara Sagrada Jr. at Arena Azteca Budokan
• Skayde & Guerrero Maya Jr. take on Puma & Felino on Powerbomb.TV’s Break the Barrier show, and Fly Warrior is in a four way match with Chuck Taylor, Kenbai, Jigsaw. The show starts at 2pm ET and is going to be a long one, and should be up on VOD soon after it airs. Powerbomb.TV is a subscription service, but you watch it for no cost if you sign up for a free trial.

NJPW is also expected to announce their G1 field on their show Sunday (early Sunday Mexico time.) It’d be a surprise if any CMLL luchadors were included. They may also announce the lineup for the Los Angeles shows in the next couple of days, where Volador, Titan & Dragon Lee have been announced.

Lucha Underground posted an Aerostar promo about Drago’s betrayal. Given LU’s usual booking, they seem a good bet to meet somewhere in the Cueto Cup, maybe even next week.

Former Mexico State Lightweight champion Castorcito passed away on the 7th.

A priest/luchador who’s not Fray Tormenta.

Segunda Caida reviews LU episode 3×13 (the one with the Black Lotus Triad)

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 06/16/2017 Arena México
1) Magia Blanca & Sangre Imperial vs Raziel & Virus
2) Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stuka Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Misterioso Jr., Pólvora
3) Kráneo, Pierroth, Rush vs Shocker, Terrible, Vangellys [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Dragón Lee vs Cavernario [lightning]
5) Ángel de Oro, Diamante Azul, Niebla Roja vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Negro Casas
6) Carístico & Soberano Jr. vs Sansón & Último Guerrero [Gran Alternativa, final]

This show looks pretty good. Main event could be great, Dragon Lee/Cavernario is always really good and other matches have chances. The poster is interesting too, done close to the style of the Elite Arena Mexico shows rather than the traditional ones.

Vangellys told the press he was going solo, against Los Ingonbernables and TGR. So, he’s teaming with TGR anyway.