AAA finishes up Nuevo Laredo with, uh, another Pimpienla singles match, a tag match that’s really a handicap match, and a usual AAA main event.
Lucha Underground finishes up the second round of Cueto Cup, and Rey/PJ is the first non tournament match on the show in about seven weeks. The preview says we’ll learn more about Son of Havoc and Son of Madness; LU showed a vignette with them way back at C2E2, and I think it’s finally airing.
CMLL Claro should be an interesting show, but don’t miss Virus/Cometa on Tuesday.
IWRG (WED) 07/19/2017Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Power Bull b Celestial Boy
2) Atomic Star & Matrix Jr. b Ángel Oriental & Voltar Matrix (a name usually used by one of Bombero Infernal’s sons, and maybe not always the same one?) reappeared for the first time since April 2016
3) Climax Jr. & Shaolin b Lunatik Xtreme & Warrior Jr. straight falls
4) Aramis, Gallo Frances, Hijo del Alebrije b Kempo Jr., Monaguillo, Pantera del Japon Kempo & Monaguillo are from Juarez.
5) Leo, Mike, Rafy, Teelo b Dragón Yuki, Ovett, Relámpago, Taylor Wolf
6) Cerebro Negro, Eterno, Hijo del Pantera b Black Dragón, Dinamic Black, Dragón Fly Hijo del Patnera replaced Tyson La Bestia, who didn’t work either show he was advertised here this week.
CMLL’s Anniversary show will be September 16th.
That’s unusual because it’s a Saturday, not a Friday. It’s appears to be the first time CMLL has held an Anniversary show outside of a Friday in over 50 years. September 16th is Mexico’s Independence Day. It brings a lot of extra people to Mexico City, and CMLL is running it on that day in hopes some of those extra people check out their show. The hope of drawing tourists is probably why they made the announcement in July (which we all prefer but is unusual for CMLL.)
Maybe the date is also an admission that CMLL’s plans for the Anniversario show are not going to be strong enough to draw from Mexico City alone. We still have no idea what will be the main event for their show. There’s no Atlantis. Soberano/Misterioso, Zeuxis/Sugehit, Adonis/Panther and Gran Guerrero/Niebla Roja all look like the secondary apuesta match on an Anniversary show, not a main event. Ultimo Guerrero/Niebla Roja is maybe a main event, but that’s a stretch. It’s possible something from the 09/01 Gran Prix could spin into an Anniversary main event (Ultimo Guerrero/Matt Taven?) but it’d be setting up the biggest match of the year in under two weeks likely using a guy who’s barely known by most of CMLL’s audience. CMLL’s got two months to build something, but they’ve got to figure it out pretty soon.
September 16th is the same night as the next Canelo Alvarez fight. CMLL is running their holiday start time of 5pm, expecting to be done well before the fight so fans could catch both. Both events are being held on that day for the similar reasons.
Independence Day Eve, which falls on a Friday this year, is usually an evening spent with family or at neighborhood parties. There’s nothing in the way of public events in Mexico City because promoters/organizers believe it’s an impossible night to draw people (and they’d also just like to spend time with their families.) If CMLL was going to run the Anniversary show that weekend this year, it had to be on the Saturday.
The CMLL Anniversario date traditionally moves around, it’s not been glued to September 16th in the past. Other promotions have seized on September 16th to run their own shows on that date in recent years. There were shows in most every major building around Mexico City 09/16, including local promoters using AAA talent in about three different buildings while AAA itself had it’s Hard Rock resort show the same day. I’m not sure how it will play out now that CMLL is now running their biggest show on that day as well. CMLL did run a bigger than usual show on 09/16 last year, and that didn’t stop anyone else from running. Maybe it’ll be the same again this year. Maybe someone will try to run a post-Anniversario show. This isn’t WrestleMania and isn’t as planned out that way, so that seems unlikely. I keep thinking someone should try running the 15th just to try, but everyone else thinks that’s just not going to happen. I suspect it might be that Sunday has a ton of shows.
If you’re thinking about going to Mexico City for the show and want to go to indie shows, I’d suggest trying to stay the full day Sunday and fly out Monday. The other issue is Mexico City closed the airport to arrivals around midway on 09/16 last year because there was a holiday fireworks show going on. The delay, plus traffic around Mexico City, ended up meaning we were a little late for the 5pm Arena San Juan show. Didn’t really matter, but may matter more for an Anniversary show, especially if you like to walk around and look at the souvenirs. I have no idea if they’re doing that fireworks show again this year, but if you’re going and planning on checking in at a hotel before the show, I’d look at arriving before noon. (And hotels on Paseo de la Reforma have worked out fine for us, though you can probably find cheaper ones elsewhere.)
If you’re one of the many people who are not coming, CMLL will put this show up on the internet in some way. They’ve done delayed iPPVs most recently and maybe they’ll do it again.
TripleMania Lineup Coming Soon
AAA told the press that the TripleMania lineup will be announced this upcoming Tuesday, July 25th. Which is a little odd, because this week’s Zona Ruda ends with the announcers explaining the press conference will be held this Friday and they’ll be going over the card on next week’s show. The Tuesday date turned up later, so I’m think it’s the right one and something changed. My guess is whoever’s flying in to represent GFW couldn’t make it on Friday.
What they’ve got:
Psycho Clown versus Dr. Wagner Jr., mask vs mask
Hijo del Fantasma vs Texano Jr. vs Johnny Mundo???? (c) for all the AAA belts
something with the GFW/Alberto people.
probably something with Kevin Kross and Vampiro unless they’re needed in the above
probably Pagano versus Mesias in a some sort of prop destroying match
some sort of dream battle royal with Lanzeloth (his briefcase match)
likely the deciding Aerostar/Drago/Raptor versus Poder del Norte match for the AAA Trios titles
something with Sexy Star since they just brought her back
something with the La Llaves de la Gloria winners
That’s 9, which may be one too high and there’s still no OGT/La Parka group guys. Maybe some of the matches get combined – the Llaves winners get into the battle royal.
This puts a deadline on the situation with Mundo. Vampiro’s said things, Mundo’s said things, but neither them nor AAA officially have said he’s off this show or done with the promotion. AAA would want their triple champion at the TripleMania conference under normal circumstances (not just to talk about the title match, but also to promote himself, Taya and Drago appearing on GFW spot shows in early August.) In this situation, they kind of need him there to prove he’s going to work, or at least a new video message confirming his participation, or they need to announce what they’re doing without him. Johnny Mundo’s name simply being on AAA lineup doesn’t necessarily mean anything at this point.
Johnny Mundo’s name is still on Friday’s EMW show in Tijuana, and the promotion told fans yesterday that Mundo would still be there while simultaneously replacing Taya with Sexy Star. The main event is scheduled to be Mundo defending all three titles against Fantasma and Texano, and it seems almost incumbent for AAA to do a title change if they actually have the opportunity. It’s probably not what they had planned, titles never change hands at spot shows, but who knows what the situation is going to spiral into by next time they have the chance. AAA usually sends one staff person to spot shows manage the show (and make sure they get their money); it’s probably Piero since he’s mentioned as referee on the show. It won’t be Vampiro, so that tension won’t be there. Mascara de Bronce isn’t scheduled to be there, but he’s not scheduled to be anywhere, so they could make up a reason for him to have the briefcase and cash it in if it’s that important for him to be champion. I can’t imagine allowing Mundo to leave with those belts if he’s really going to be there, but it’s not like AAA’s stuck with sensible moves so far.
(It’s also possible AAA or Mundo simply haven’t told EMW that Mundo won’t be there. Mundo hasn’t said anything about the show on Twitter. He did unpin the anti-Vampiro tweet to go back to promoting his movie, but he didn’t exactly delete them either.)
If you want to be hard about it, none of the other names being on the AAA card really mean anything. The question the media should ask is “are any of these matches really going to happen?” given AAA’s disinterest in promoting the actual lineup of matches they’re planning to present this year. These press conferences draw a lot of casual media who definitely are not paying attention to AAA that closely, so it may not get asked.
You know, Sexy Star did say she was planning to box again in August. Nah. Naaaaaaah. (Maybe?) Please no.
Other Things
CMLL added Marco Corleone & Johnny Idol to the World Team for Gran Prix. There’s one more open spot, they’re averaging one name per week, so it’ll probably be announced next Wednesday – maybe on Informa, but it also might be time for a press conference.
The WON mentions CMLL has started to put pressure on ROH to not allow their guys to work for The Crash. CMLL’s case is ROH is their partner and should only work with them. The case of every sane person is CMLL has zero product knowledge about ROH and has appeared to express zero interest in bringing in any one besides Matt Taven from ROH. This would to mainly affect the Young Bucks – Marty Scurll and Cody have both worked The Crash shows but I’m not sure if they’re under exclusive contract and the Bucks are clearly the big deal for the Crash. If CMLL was willing to give to book the Young Bucks at the same price they’re getting from The Crash, it would be a fair trade, but there’s no sign they’re interested – it seems like they’re just trying to hurt a potential competitor.
Lady Maravilla was on Informa, was on +LuchaTV and talked to MedioTiempo about starting with CMLL on Friday. Depending on the interview, she’s either joined CMLL full time or she has the chance to join full time depending on his way.
As part of the usual bit of burying someone who left, Leo Riano wrote that Taya was demanding more money and a private locker room, in addition to refusing to work dates, and AAA decided to let her go. Taya’s denied all of this and Riano’s track record is poor when it comes to these type of stories. It’s a funny way to try to bury someone; Taya was their top female star who’s also in more demand elsewhere, her asking for more money would not have been an reasonable demand. The idea of the story is to get us to side with management, but I’m probably going to side with the wrestlers 90% of the time in these sort of disputes and I suspect most educated fans would do the same – just go back up a few paragraphs and look at the Crash/CMLL story again – but I think they’re expecting the AAA fans to buy into the idea that Taya’s TV character is her real character.
AAA is indeed having one more tryout for La Llave de la Gloria. However, and for no obvious reason, it’ll be held in Celaya instead of Mexico City. The tryout is is Saturday July 29th and you have to re-register if you’ve done so before. This also sort of means AAA can’t be announcing exact TripleMania lineup, since in theory the people in this match will still have a chance to earn a shot on the show. In theory, anyway.
AAA is off Front Runner TV in the UK “indefinitely”. People watching the show believed it was because the commentary was so bad. AAA’s never going to achieve their dream of being a presence in the US without a reliable English language team that people don’t hate.
CaraLucha KDR (FRI) 07/21/2017Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) Astrolux vs Black Metal, Torito Negro, Black Warrior Jr., Arceus, Solaris, Tihegus, Stukita Asalto Aereo match
2) 1 vs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 [royal rumble] billed as 40 man and a 20 minute time limit
3) El Bandido vs Flyer, Templario champion of Elite (Bandido) versus champion of Kamicazes del Ring (Flyer) vs champion of CaraLucha (Templario) – no titles on the line
4) Fly Warrior, Fulgor II, Glenn Calavera, Jerry Calavera, Látigo, Séptimo Rayo vs Ciclón Black, Demente Extrem, Draego, Sky Man, Taigo, Toro Negro Jr. Indy Nation vs others; Latigo may be out of Indy Nation
5) Ancla, Corsario Negro, Drako, Rayo Star vs Pandemoium, Sádico, Terremoto, Yoruba
6) Andy Boy & Guerrero Mixtico vs Luantik Fly & Lunatik Extreme and Fly Star & Toxin and Íkaro & Sonic
7) Dr. Cerebro & Herodes Jr. vs Diamante Azul & Skayde
Full lineup for the very busy benefit show for Danger. I don’t know how you have a 40 man royal rumble that goes 20 minutes or less but I hope people play to find out.
CMLL (MON) 07/24/2017Arena Puebla
1) Arkalis & París vs Guerrero Espacial & Perverso
2) Shockercito vs Pierrothito [lightning]
3) La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely vs La Seductora, Tiffany, Zeuxis
4) Ángel de Oro, Stigma, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
5) Dragón Lee, Mistico, Titán vs Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Euforia vs Pierroth, Rush, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Matches 4 & 6 are rematches (or rematches of what the match was supposed to be), the minis match comes from last week’s mini match, Sugehit/Zeuxis in the third match and a good semimain.
LLB (SAT) 08/05/2017Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Hijo De El Brazo De Platino, Kid Jaguar, Kronoz vs Macho III, Macho IV, Macho V
2) Atomic Star, Fandango, Ninja de Fuego vs Dragón Bane, Toxin Boy, Tromba
3) Ángel o Demonio, Fresero Jr., Ovett vs Fantasma de la Ópera, Halloween, X-Fly
4) Drastik Boy vs Belial, Suicida, Arez, Eterno, Freelance, Emperador Azteca, Sádico, ?
5) ? & Carístico vs Flamita & Mr. Niebla
Flamita & Mr. Niebla have slightly different styles.
