Reminder: The Tapatia awards for the best in lucha libre are open thru January 28th.
CMLL (SAT) 01/06/2018 Arena México [CMLl, thecubsfan]
1) Fiero, Flyer, Magia Blanca b El Coyote, Templario, Yago 
9:44. Straight falls. Fiero wrestled under the name, and was officially given the Audaz character after getting the win.
2) Pegasso & Titán b Raziel & Virus
24:13. Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Soberano Jr. b Rey Cometa
Rematch of Soberano’s title win. 6:20. Soberano took 2/3. Cometa seemed to be counted down earlier than expected.
4) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Drone, Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr.
16:06. Tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Niebla Roja b Gran Guerrero
18:45. Rematch of 2017 Anniversario mask match. Niebla Roja got the win this time, take falls 2/3. Three count seemed to be a mistake in this one as well.
6) Último Guerrero & Valiente b Cavernario & Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
15:26. Rematch of tournament final. UG & Valiente took falls 1/3, avenging their lost in that tournament.
Show had good matches. I liked the opener the best, but others might prefer Roja/Guerrero or the main. It’s so weird referee Edgar here was doing real three counts regardless of it was the finish or not, when the referee on Tuesday very obviously held up from doing a three count when Triton was hurt. There’s not a lot of consistency.
CMLL’s Facebook will have an interview with Fiero on Monday at noon. CMLL trademarked “El Audaz” on December 15. Fiero was using Fiero (Jr.) before he came to CMLL, so they might not have been able to trademark that one. I don’t know if that’s the specific reason for the name change – they probably wouldn’t bother unless he’s going somewhere – but probably a factor.
CMLL (SUN) 01/07/2018 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Artillero & Grako b Bengala & Sangre Imperial
rudos took 1/3.
2) Pegasso, Stigma, Tritón b Akuma, Arkángel de la Muerte, Disturbio
tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Johnny Idol, Okumura, Sam Adonis b Esfinge, Soberano Jr., Valiente
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr. DQ Cuatrero, Máscara Año 2000, Universo 2000 Jr.
straight falls, Cuatrero fouled Angel de Oro
5) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
Confirmed Diamante Azul appearance! Tecnicos took 2/3.
I know you’re thrilled Diamante Azul is actually back. Not sure why they’re starting a Cuatrero/Angel de Oro feud when they’ll be gone for a while, but maybe it just works out because they’ll face at FantasticaMania. Assuming that ever gets announced.
Zeuxis beat Keyra for the Generacion 21 women’s championship, in a match that didn’t appear to be advertise for Saturday’s show in Irapauto (might have been intentional to get around any CMLL/Crash issues.) LA Park kept their main title in the main event.
A new Twitter user claiming to be Hijo del Vikingo’s girlfriend says he, Angelikal, Villano III Jr., Solaris and Angel Mortal Jr. were not given work for two weeks, complained about it, and now are facing a suspension break for work or working for half their usual fee. All of the posts are accompanied by the same four shots of what appears to be AAA bookings sheets.
You can see one of those Tweets here if it disappears overnight; there’s a couple other ones tagging different AAA people, none of whom would be really that happy about airing this stuff in public. If that situation is true, I could totally understand being very upset about it, but this would be the polar opposite of the way to handle it.
We don’t know if this is a reason person, or if those are the real bookings sheets, or if those are all the real bookings sheets. I can say, at least on posters that we get to see, those guys did disappear for a couple weeks during the busy holiday period. Angelikal only has one match between 12/09 and 01/15. Vikingo has only one match between 12/17 and 01/13. Villano III Jr. has two matches in that stretch. Solaris hasn’t shown up anywhere since 11/25 except for a New Year’s Day booking. It fits the story, though it doesn’t prove it.
Hijo del Santo says he’s not close to retiring. His focus is going to be on getting Santo Jr. more experience. Hijo del Santo’s not going to retire until he and his son team in Mexico City, Santo Jr.’s hasn’t been ready for that, so they’re not that close. (The news here is Hijo del Santo realizes Santo Jr. is not ready and isn’t trying to force it to happen like some fathers have.) Hijo del Santo says that match in Mexico City could happen this year, suggesting July 26 (Santo’s debut) and July 2nd (Hijo del Santo’s debut.)
Jeff Cobb was on PWTorch’s Wrestling Night in America. It’s mostly talk about his indie work, but Lucha Underground does come up. He mentions he’s under a 7 year contract, likes how LU is giving guys more freedom to work elsewhere, and wishes they’d run more frequently since that’s what the fans want. In the past, there’s been hints Cobb wanted to be free of LU. He didn’t seem particularly excited to be doing LU, but seemed like he was figuring on still being there.
AAA put up this week’s show, which includes the top 3 matches from the Luchando por Mexico show.
NJPW has put up the Dragon Lee vs Kamaiatachi match from the 2016 FantasticaMania for free. If you some how haven’t seen it and want to, you really should see it.
MMA Fighting has an article about Goyito Perez making his in-ring debut back on 12/15 thanks to Alberto. He was not technically in the match, but got involved a lot.
Fuerza Guerrera says he’s close to doing the mask match with Octagon in 2018. He is lying.
Tiger de Bengala gave away 2500 toys to children.
Wrestling With GIFs watches back Dragon Lee vs Cavernario from FantasticaMania past.
Lineups
CMLL (FRI) 01/12/2018 Arena México
1) Eléctrico & Stukita vs Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
2) Flyer, Pegasso, Stigma vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Universo 2000 Jr.
3) Blue Panther Jr., The Panther, Tritón vs Sagrado, Tiger, Virus
4) Titán vs Rey Cometa [lightning]
5) Blue Panther, Stuka Jr., Valiente vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Sam Adonis
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone vs Kráneo, Shocker, Terrible
Titan vs Rey Cometa should be good, if it’s not stopped early. Third match too, but this is a pretty evident star power drop off for FantasticaMania.
CMLL (SAT) 01/13/2018 Arena Coliseo
1) Bengala & Sensei vs Camorra & El Coyote
2) Magnus, Oro Jr., Starman vs Espanto Jr., Grako, Inquisidor
3) Shockercito vs Último Dragóncito [lightning]
4) La Jarochita, La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, La Metálica, Tiffany
5) Blue Panther Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Forastero, Hechicero, Pólvora
6) Carístico, Marco Corleone, Stuka Jr. vs Máscara Año 2000, Mr. Niebla, Pierroth
Friday’s the one they’re trying. The other ones feel trying. That’s a hard main event rudo side.
CMLL (SUN) 01/14/2018 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
2) Retro, Robin, Sensei vs Apocalipsis, Hijo del Signo, Templario
3) La Comandante, La Seductora, Zeuxis vs La Jarochita, La Vaquerita, Lady Maravilla
4) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Titán vs Felino, Luciferno, Vangellys
5) Euforia, Mephisto, Sam Adonis vs Carístico, Diamante Azul, Valiente
I really can’t think of anything to say about these shows.
RevoLucha (SUN) 02/11/2018 Gimnasio Nuevo León Unido, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
1) Mini Hator vs Mini Difunto [street]
2) Lord Byron & Psicótico vs Sick Boy & Skam 13
3) Erika Sotelo & Larry Miranda vs ? & ?? [Revolucha WOMEN, tournament]
4) Daga vs Bestia 666, Epydemius, Zumbi [Revolucha CRUISER]
5) Penta 0M & The King vs Garza Jr. & Último Ninja
Revolucha is running more than most indies – maybe one a month – but even then titles seem pointless. It’s hard to imagine these being worth the effort, and it they just exist to dress up otherwise ordinary match.