Vangellys outcheats Pierroth, Nicho loses hair match, Universal tournament rerturns

CMLL (FRI) 06/23/2017 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO, Marca, Ovaciones]
1) Arkángel de la Muerte & Disturbio b Flyer & Robin
2) Eléctrico, Shockercito, Stukita b Mercurio, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Violencia
3) Estrellita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit DQ Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis
Zeuxis was DQed this time for unmasking Sugehit.
4) Vangellys b Pierroth [lightning]
Vangellys used the ropes to get the win. Pierroth and Vangellys agreed to a hair match. Rush & Pierroth attacked Vangellys.
5) Ángel de Oro, Dragón Lee, Niebla Roja b Gran Guerrero, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero
Gran Guerrero & Niebla Roja feuded.
6) Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone, Volador Jr. b Cavernario, Euforia, Rush [Relevos Increíbles]
Diamante Azul beat Rush

I’ve seen none of this show yet, but it doesn’t sound like it was any better than it seemed on paper. The three feuds prior to the show kept on, but only Vangellys & Pierroth got to verbalize challenges. That’s how CMLL says that’s the one happening soon.

Claro had problems with their feed once again, not getting it running until the second match was going. It looks like it was probably something on the Arena Mexico side this time, since CMLL’s own recording doesn’t pick up until the third match. Still, this only happens on Fridays and never an acknowledgement something was wrong until they’ve got it working again.

Next week’s opener is much better than usual, so I hope they finally get it working. Since the problem always seems with the start of the feed, it’d be smart if they just started it earlier to get it working. Put a countdown timer up there or a logo like NJPW does, but they could at least use it to sort out whatever’s wrong that night.

Post show, Rush said the only mask he’s looking for is LA Park’s. CMLL books Diamante Azuls strong when he’s around, he’s not around much, and Rush/Azul still feels like a backup Anniversario plan if they’ve got nothing better (and if Azul sticks around long enough.)

The Crash (FRI) 06/23/2017 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California [@jorgegccr, 126f, R de Rudo, The Crash]
1) Oraculo b Black Danger
mask match challenges continue with these two.
2) Rey Horus © b Matt Sydal, Lio Rush, Sami Callihan [The Crash CRUISER]
First defense for Horus.
3) Douglas James, Jack Evans, Joey Ryan b Bestia 666, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Mr. 450
Joey Ryan replaced Flip Gordon (ROH). Jack and Bestia continue to make challenges.
4) Jeff Cobb & Keith Lee b Brian Cage & Willie Mack
5) Penta Zero M & The King b La Máscara & M-ximo
Rey Escorpion ran in post match, continuing his alliance with Mascara & M-ximo
6) Nicho el Millionario L Daga, Garza Jr., Damián 666 [hair, cage]
Order of escape was Damian, Garza and Nicho. Garza betrayed Daga to escape, which appeared to be more than usual lucha cage match mishaps post match – Garza may have turned rudo and distances himself from La Rebelion. Nicho said he’d be back in eight months after knee surgery.

Garza was invited to join Los Ingober Indies, which may also be how they’re getting around that trademark. It didn’t appear he accepted, but this was pushed as a situation in progress rather than just a one off thing. Edit: Sure looks like Garza’s quit the group on Facebook.

This show seemed to draw well as usual. Nicho’s booked thru next weekend, so it may be his surgery is still a few days off.

The Crash’s next Tijuana show will be 07/14. That’s only three weeks away, so a lineup might be out next week.

Ultimo Ninja beat Zach Sabre Jr. on last night’s Martinez Entertainment/CTLL show (Texas). ZSJ can’t buy a win in lucha promotions.

The Hijo del Santo/Bandido title match Santo was advertising didn’t happen, or at least didn’t happen on the first day of the tour. They did the Santos over Bandido & Silver King instead in Manchester. That seems more like a last day of tour match.

AAA will air the minis title match, the OGT trios and the main event for the Mexico City taipng today.

Saturday

• Arena Coliseo will have Hijos del Infierno versus Volador, Valiente and Diamante Azul. Mephisto fouled Valiente last week, so that’s the match probably being set up. CMLL usually avoids title matches during the Unviersal tournament, but that one would actually have no effect on the tournament (Mephisto and Valiente would be in either way.)
• Lucha Libre Boom is at Arena Lopez Mateos with Dr. Wagner Jr. versus LA Park, where Dr. Wagner will inevitable indicate he’d like to face LA Park in a mask match maybe more than the guy he’s facing.
• Arena Coliseo Guadalajara has a sponsored show.
• Lucha Libre World & Todo x el Todo finish their England tour tonight.

Sunday

• Arena Mexico will have Caristico, Mistico, Niebla Roja versus Euforia, Shocker and Ultimo Guerrero
• Arena Coliseo Guadalajara has a 10 man cage mask match, with no real obvious loser and a Joker/Vaquero title match.
• Arena Naucalpan has a 3v3 hair match with the Oficials vs the Pirata Morgans. The Morgans are the favorites.
• MDA has Hijo de LA Park & LA Park vs La Mascara & Mxmo, and they’ve said they’ll announce information on their next show with Alberto during the event.

Lady Shani & Zuzu Divine defeated La Hiedra & Lilith Dark to win a women’s tag team in Arena Aficion.

Arena Lopez Mateos will have La Mascara versus Penta 0M on 07/16.

El Hijo del Santo & Rey Mysterio Jr. are among those being advertised for a 09/17 show in Cicero (Chicago). I’m a little skeptical on this one.

Powerbomb.TV announced their title tournament will include a opening round match in RIOT.

Lucha Underground posted a Joey Ryan promo for his match with Taya, full of puns.

Rockstar Pro Wrestling of Ohio is working with ChilangaMask for shows on 09/15 in Dayton, which better explains why ChilangaMask is running that day and 09/16 in New Jersey.

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 06/30/2017 Arena México
1) Drone, Pegasso, The Panther vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, Titán vs Pólvora, Ripper, Virus
3) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Soberano Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Mephisto, Sam Adonis
4) Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Rush vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Volador Jr. vs Dragón Lee, Ángel de Oro, Valiente, Negro Casas, Shocker, Luciferno, Hechicero [CMLL Universal, battle royal]
the Copa Bobby Bonales will also be handed out
6) ? vs ?? [CMLL Universal, 8f]
7) ? vs ?? [CMLL Universal, 8f]
8) ? vs ?? [CMLL Universal, 8f]
9) ? vs ?? [CMLL Universal, 8f]
10) ? vs ?? [CMLL Universal, quarterfinal]
11) ? vs ?? [CMLL Universal, quarterfinal]
12) ? vs ?? [CMLL Universal, semifinal]

The Universal tournament is early; the only time it’s been earlier was the first one in 2009. CMLL will have tournaments on Friday nights for 9 of 13 weeks, or 6 of 7. I guess the good thing is they’re just about running out of them.

CMLL attempts to have exactly 16 champions for this tournament every year. It doesn’t always work out, but CMLL title match changes thru the year are done with the 16 number in mind, especially during the last few months before the tournament. It’s a odd and not useful way to handle championships, and causes situations like Shocker to be tag champion while being hurt for a half year because it’s easier than figuring out which two people who aren’t champions can win the titles instead while still getting Negro Casas in it. And it also means a guy like Shocker has to get back in the ring in time for the Universal tournament, possibly just to have a five minute match. Maybe this would be worth the effort if it meant more, but Valiente’s crazy win last year has long been forgotten – if that level of result isn’t going to have lasting results, then maybe CMLL shouldn’t be booking their year around this tournament.

The placement of this tournament seems to explain how and why they handled the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles like they did: they weren’t going to have time to put them on a Friday show with the Gran Alternativa happening, but they had to get new champions ASAP because of this tournament.

Mephisto, Niebla Roja, Marco Corleone, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Soberano Jr., Atlantis and Ephesto are left for Block B.

Atlantis and UG (twice) are the other former winners. There’s no obvious direction except for Volador & Ultimo Guerrero being in the finals of everything and being on opposite blocks here. Valiente’s win really most everyone in play. (Not you, Luiciferno.)

The final of the Universal tournament will take place on 07/14. That may also be the date for Vangellys/Pierroth.

This is also the Copa Bobby Bonales show, though Copa makes it sound like a competition and it’s more an award for service. Blue Panther (2009), Negro Casas (2010), Atlantis (2011) and Ultimo Guerrero (2014) have been given them in the past. Volador or Shocker would fit.

Super Astro (SAT) 07/29/2017 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Candy White, Diva Salvaje, Keyra, Pegasuz vs Estrellita, Hijo del Alebrije, Lady Maravilla, Yuriko
2) Emperador Azteca, Metaleón, Mr. Leo vs Diamante, Fly Warrior, Imposible
3) Lizmark Jr. & Ninja Jr. vs Fresero Jr. & Máscara Año 2000 Jr.
4) Flamita & Rey Horus vs Trauma I & Trauma II
5) Mr. Niebla & Shocker vs Hijo De Dos Caras & Silver King
6) Gran Guerrero, Mr. Electro, Último Guerrero vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rey Escorpión, Septiembre Negro Jr.
7) Hijo de LA Park & LA Park vs Dragón Lee & Rush

This promotion doesn’t seem to run the same venue twice, one of a number of things unusual about it. For all Rush seems to have the freedom to do in CMLL, it’s only in the indies where he can get people to promote Pierroth under his new name (one they don’t have to pay the original Pierroth to use.)