AAA TV (FRI) 02/09/2018 Palenque de la Feria Nacional De San Marcos, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes [2018 is Lucha, AAA]
1) Ashley & Faby Apache b Estrella Divina & Lady Shani
Faby picked up the win when Estrella Divina betrayed Shani. Faby is still being mean to Ashley.
2) Australian Suicide b Hijo Del Vikingo [AAA CRUISER]
first defense. Suicide won with his fireman’s carry gutbuster. Suicide attacked Vikingo with the belt after the match, Angelikal made the save.
3) Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria © b Joe Lider & Parka Negra [AAA TAG]
made a title match, and Parka Negra was a Perros del Mal member in Mr. Aguila’s absence. First defense.
4) La Máscara & Máximo b Aguascalientes Local 1, Aguascalientes Local 2, Corazón Forajido, Discovery, Príncipe Seir, Xtrem X
Maximo sent an open challenge to anyone to face them, which led to a half dozen unidentified local wrestlers coming to the ring. Maximo said he was joking, but they attacked and beat up his and his cousin for minutes before they made the comeback. Appeared to be an official match with a referee and all, though strange.
5) Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly DRAW Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
Crowd brawl, ending with one member of each team being pinned at the same time after being fouled. Piero ruled it was a draw. Vampiro forced both teams to accept a TLC (and lamps) match for Rey de Reyes with the trios titles on the line, and it will be the last match between tehse two teams. Money thrown in.
6) Angelikal & Hijo del Fantasma DQ Dave The Clown & Texano Jr.
switched to a tag match (Angel Mortal & Bengala dropped). Vampiro tried to eject Tirantes as referee but the commission overruled Vampiro and let him stay. Tirantes attacked a security official and took handcuffs to tie Fantamsa to the bottom rope while they destroyed Angelikal. Angelikal bled heavily and was strechered away. Bengala made the save (which was apparently a DQ), though he was also put thru a table before Fantasma made his comeback.
7) Dr. Wagner Jr. © DQ La Parka [AAA HEAVY]
Switched from a Wagner/Psycho vs Hernandez/Mundo tag match. Mundo did not appear, and was only mentions as the person Wagner beat to win the title. Parka was DQed when Blue Demon, Hernandez and Hijo del Wagner attacked him (you read that right), AAA recap says Parka was about get the win. Wagner thought the Demon group was on his side, only for them to attack him too. Scoria, Cuervo, Shani, Vikingo, Maximo, Mascara, and Psycho Clown all tried to make the save and were beat up (Psycho unmasked.) Demon was revealed to be the reason/person who convinced Hijo del Wagner to go against his father.
You can watch the entire show here. It’s a slow weekend, so maybe I’ll get to adding Twitch link support to the database soon. I ended up paying more attention to the CMLL show, but the second and fifth matches sound like they were worth going out of your way to watch.
Blue Demon is more or less the Johnny Mundo replacement. It probably doesn’t change star power. It does change match quality, since Demon hasn’t been good in a long while and was never that good in the first place. Still, if this means the TripleMania four way cage match is Psycho Clown, Hijo del Fantasma, Blue Demon and LA Park in a mask match, AAA should be able to sell out Arena Ciudad de Mexico easily at good prices. It might even be the reason why AAA didn’t commit to a building. Arena Ciudad de Mexico is about 20K max, and that match has a potential to draw to a giant bullring or soccer stadium if the prices are affordable. (The potential drops off a lot of Texano’s putting up his hair instead of Fantasma’s mask, or if there’s a lesser name replacing LA Park.)
This does mean AAA probably knew Mundo wasn’t going to be at this show since at least two weeks ago at Guerra de Titanes, and possible even longer than that. The local promoter’s Facebook had Blue Demon, Mascara and Maximo as coming on Thursday, and yet they all kept out on putting the old poster out. This is a dishonest practice, and also one that seems like it hurts AAA in the short term. AAA had never put La Parka in a title match because they knew it would be bad, and they knew he wouldn’t want to take a loss. Both things were accurate. Still, the crowd was as into La Parka as any one on this show, to the point of being a rare crowd that was against Dr. Wagner. No offense to Johnny Mundo, but there were probably more people who’ve come to this show if AAA had simply announced La Parka going for the title than they tricked into coming by promising Mundo when he wasn’t going to be there. I don’t know why AAA shoots themselves in the foot like this.
(Don’t get me wrong, that match was terrible. And the eventual Demon/Wagner match probably won’t be a lot better.)
There is no chance Hijo del Fantasma versus Texano at Rey de Reyes will be any good. AAA’s made it very clear that they love this story how it’s going and so the match in Puebla will be pointless outside of whatever Tirantes is doing. This is the last we’ll see of Fantasma & Texano until that show. They’re not on the 02/25 taping, which takes place in the middle of what I believe to be the Lucha Underground tapings. (Which also implies that everyone on that taping will not be on Lucha Underground – or at least won’t be on that weekend of shows. Wagner’s not booked on 02/25. Neither is Suicide, Poder del Norte, or any of the women.) Anyway, I feel like it’s a lock that Fantamsa/Texano will randomly have a match in season four of Lucha Underground that’ll go about seven minutes and will be better than whatever they do at Rey de Reyes.
Three straight inconclusive finishes to end the show, with a bizarre segment prior to it. I think the idea was the locals who would normally work the dark match still go to work the show, just in an non-traditional way. I wonder if the era of Twitch means the dark matches all have gone away.
A jobber tag team with random members who have no connection to the original group does not honoring Perro Aguayo Junior. Let’s not even pretend. It’s about wringing every last dollar out of people willing to spend on that merchandise. With Elite starting up tomorrow, Mr. Aguila might have decided to head there.
The lower bowl looked mostly vacant when this show started it. It filled in a bit, either with people coming late or people moving down from the upper level. (That sounded pretty full, but I never saw a good shot of it.) It still seemed about half full by the end.
The next AAA TV taping is that 02/25 show, from Apizaco, Tlaxcala. It’s a Sunday 5pm start.
At his charity press conference, Alberto el Patron said he was close to returning to AAA. Alberto says he and Dorian talked over coffee about dates and events he might work, but wants AAA to put it on paper. It seems like a deal for TripleMania – said here to be in August – though Alberto’s been talking about returning to AAA since last year’s TripleMania. They probably don’t even need him if they have Demon & Park, though that doesn’t mean they won’t stop trying to get him.
Mamba got a new tattoo in honor of El Apache.
CMLL (FRI) 02/09/2018 Arena México [CMLL, CultIcon, thecubsfan]
1) Hijo del Signo & Yago b Magia Blanca & Magnus 
12:14. Rudos took 2/3.
2) Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis b Kaho Kobayashi, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit
13:22. Rudas took 2/3. Kobayashi Arena Mexico debut.
3) Máscara Año 2000 & Shocker b Mr. Niebla, Terrible, Euforia, Cuatrero, Sansón, Forastero [natl pi, battle royal]
4:26
4) Atlantis & Mr. Niebla b Ángel de Oro & Cuatrero [natl pi, eightfinal]
7:03
5) Rush & Terrible b Forastero & Stuka Jr. [natl pi, eightfinal]
7:50
6) Carístico & Euforia b Dragón Lee & Sansón [natl pi, eightfinal]
5:55
7) Marco Corleone & Shocker b Blue Panther Jr. & Máscara Año 2000 [natl pi, eightfinal]
3:34
8) Rush & Terrible b Atlantis & Mr. Niebla [natl pi, quarterfinal]
7:41
9) Carístico & Euforia b Marco Corleone & Shocker [natl pi, quarterfinal]
2:45
10) Rush & Terrible b Carístico & Euforia [natl pi, quarterfinal]
2:00
11) Diamante Azul, Mistico, Volador Jr. b Cavernario, Kráneo, Último Guerrero
6:48. Tecnicos took 2/3.
This was streamed on Facebook like normal, but region blocked on the Claro website. The Claro website is also streaming the Winter Olympics for the next two weeks, so I suspect this might be a problem again next Friday. It’s really not that hard to watch things on Facebook, but I’ll run a YouTube stream if it’s blocked and I’m around.
First two matches, Rush/Terrible vs Forastero/Stuka and Caristico/Euforia vs Dragon Lee/Sanson were the matches to watch from this one. Dragon Lee versus Caristico felt like they both thought they’re never going to have an actual singles match so they might as well do the spots they would’ve done in one of those in this tag match. Mr. Niebla looked bad in this first match, fine in his second one. Kaho, like Kawato, was kept out of the action a lot and was just in to hit big moves or take big moves.
Rush was pitching Terrible on joining Los Ingobernables in the post match interview. Terrible seems to be focused on this tournament for the moment. If the plan is for Terrible to join the group, they should absolutely win the tournament next week. If this is just a two week thing that’ll never be spoken about again like the Volador stuff, then obviously they should be losing this final. That puts some real stakes to next week’s match: will Los Ingobernables no longer be bad all the time? will Terrible get something to do? or will Ultimo Guerrero & Volador reign supreme?
(If you want to overthink things, you can now look back at CMLL bringing back the national heavyweight title, having Terrible win it, and having him defend it a few times was a way to build to this moment. Or, it could be just CMLL randomness.)
CMLL writes about the history of the Homenaje a Dos Leyenda shows.
On his Facebook, Miguel Reducino posted a group photo with Atlantis Jr., Black Warrior Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Super Astro Jr. and Brazo de Oro Jr. as possible future CMLL wrestlers. It’s hard to tell how close they are to that future, but I guess all are training with CMLL now.
Miguel also mentions the CMLL 85 years of lucha libre book is for sale on Gandhi.com.mx. Unfortunately, it is not available to buy online at this point (and I’m not sure if they do international shipping.) It does list a whole bunch of bookstores in Mexico which have the book.
Electrico must not have been cleared to return yet from the injuries he suffered last week. He was removed from today’s Arena Coliseo lineup. Magnus will now take on Oro Jr. in the tecnico/tecnico lightning match.
Rey Misterio Jr. made a surprise appearance (on video) on today’s NJPW show. He challenged Jushin Liger to a match on their upcoming 03/25 LA show. I’d assume that was a match made a while back (before they sold tickets out on day 1), though it still being on suggests Misterio isn’t headed back to WWE in the short term.
Octagon was inducted in the Toluca international sports Hall of Fame. Octagon is not from Toluca, though he probably wrestled there hundreds of times when it was the regular Thursday show for AAA. Octagon was honored for being an example of “fighting spirit, dedication, and professionalism.” Ok.
Mi Pasion x Lucha visits the Santo art exhibit in Puebla on the day Hijo del Santo visited it.
LuchaWorld has the latest edition of the podcast.
Lineups
Revolucha (SUN) 02/11/2018 Gimnasio Nuevo León Unido, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
1) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
2) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
3) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
4) Keyra vs Lady Flammer vs Sucii Love vs Hija de Karonte [REVOLUCHA WOMEN, tournament]
5) Daga vs Bestia 666 vs Epydemius vs Zumbi [REVOLUCHA CRUISER, tournament]
6) Penta 0M & The King vs Garza Jr. & Último Ninja
I feel like I posted this lineup because I’m sure I mocked a promotion that may run six times a year creating titles. Just make these tournaments, don’t be the silly promotion who has belts which don’t mean a thing because they’re defended once every six months in third from the bottom matches.
That silliness aside, the matches they’ve announced sound pretty good. Main event looks great, and also might follow up on the hint of a split between Garza & Ninja in Tijuana.
These matches will eventually get posted on Revo Lucha’s Facebook page in TV quality, but I don’t check Facebook as much as I check YouTube and never think of looking for them.
CMLL (FRI) 02/16/2018 Arena México
1) Stukita & Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio & Pierrothito
2) Fuego, Stigma, Tritón vs Kawato San, Puma, Tiger
3) Niebla Roja vs Soberano Jr. [lightning]
4) Atlantis, Carístico, Diamante Azul vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Kráneo
5) Ángel de Oro, Dragón Lee, Mistico vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
6) Último Guerrero & Volador Jr. vs Rush & Terrible [natl pi, final]
This is a good card? That tournament final was great last year, NGD versus the tecnicos should be fun (and maybe something they can run back as a title match.) Niebla Roja versus Soberano is a unique match up, second match should be pretty good and opener is one of the better possible minis matches.
MDA (SUN) 02/18/2018 Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Greco Baez & Quinto Elemento vs Ninja Jr. & Vazco Jr.
2) The Tiger & Toscano vs Furor & Galactar
3) Dulce Sexy vs Ludark Shaitan
4) Rey Horus vs Laredo Kid
5) Xtreme Tiger vs Juventud Guerrera
6) Cibernético & Rush vs Kevin Kross & Zorro
Stepping up to the place to defend MDA against the MAD invaders are…two people who are barely in MDA. Some of those matches look good, anyway, though it’s unlikely we’ll see them.
DTU (THU) 02/22/2018 Arena Aficion
1) Baby Star Jr., Fly Danger, Mini Flash vs Devitt Rodríguez, Hard Boy, Irving El Travieso
2) Drolux & Junior vs Billy Gamer & Toto Gamer
3) Paranoiko vs Mr. Cóndor
4) El Exótico & Pesadilla vs Adrenalina & Kevin
5) Negro Casas vs Draztick Boy, Cobre, Jimmy
6) Dalys vs Marcela vs La Magnifica
7) Aero Boy & Violento Jack vs Cíclope & Miedo Extremo and Halloween & Ovett
DTU’s big base show is probably more notable for the possible return of Negro Casas, who hasn’t been in the ring since breaking his rib on New Year’s Day. If he’s good to go, his match should be pretty good.
With Aeroboy, Violento Jack, Ciclope and Miedo Extremo making names for themselves in the US, I wonder if a DTU iPPV would do better now than it did back in 2016. It also may be wrestling has moved on from the single iPPV model and it would have to be on a streaming service. This is a show I’d make time for if it was live and may not get to otherwise.
