2018 watch later catch up, part 2 of ∞

Metaleon

Recapped: February/March 2018

Leo, Mike, Rafy, Teelo vs Astrolux, Hijo De Panther, Pumita, Torito
(Mexa Wrestling @ Arena San Juan Pantitlan on 01/27, 11:58, good, via Carxyus)

The match proper starts at the 7:35 point of the Carxyus video. This video picks up the lights flickering off and on kind of too well. With the abandoned building lightning and teenage wrestlers fighting giant ninja turtles, this had an odd vibe. It was still a fun match, with the Turtles at least trying every crazy idea the youngsters had and adding their RAW 25 tributes in between. Not everything worked, and the match never really peaked, but it was a fun match for an indie show. Mike either needs to cut back on the pizza or Astrolux probably shouldn’t try slamming him again.

that didn’t quite work right

 

tornillo off the balcony
out of here

Metaleón vs Centvrión in a falls count anywhere match
(Mexa Wrestling @ Arena San Juan Pantitlan on 01/27, 23:25, great, via Carxyus & Adrian Martinez)

This match showed the strengths and weakness of the current lucha video ecosystem. Carxyus’s version has the most complete available version of this match, a steady cam from the second deck, which makes it my default choice. On that video, this match comes across as more creative and interesting than Metaleon & Centvrion’s XMW match from last year, but also still a bit of a lot of moves without much to them. Carxyus couldn’t capture the finish from his vantage point, so I watched the Adrian Martinez version to see it. This match is cut down about 33%, but the violence of the match comes much clearer up close. You can’t really appreciate the pound they give each other, especially on the outside, without that upclose view. This felt much more like a war from ringside, which I suspect it felt like in the building. My hunch is the best way to go about seeing this match is to don’t be lazy like I was, and ask Black Terry Jr. if he’s offering the full version of the match get the total feel. I really liked how Centvrion & Metaleon made much more use of the falls count anywhere than most Mexican matches do. I wasn’t as big a fan of Centvrion taking a driver thru a wood panel and quickly recovering to the do the same to Metaleon. This feud is based n them being equalys, maybe even down to them both wearing white for this match, but there is a point where you can go too far with that.

Metaleon code red
board fight

Lunatic Xtreme vs Demonio Infernal, hair vs hair
(IWRG @ Arena Naucalpan on 01/28, 11:15, good, via IWRG tv,)

Notes: Demonio Infenral is counted down for three after a package piledriver, where he obviously got his shoulder up by three. It’s not even particularly close, though it is the shoulder away from the referee. The commissioner quickly decides the match needs to continue, though it takes a little time to get to that decision.

Review: [good] A good effort that wasn’t a complete match. Both guys are willing to do extreme stuff to themselves and to each other. They were just too set on doing those bits that there wasn’t much else to third fall besides quickly hitting finishing moves. They had some ideas in mind for visuals but not drama. The mix of brawling and in-ring stuff felt better in the first couple of falls (and all the time in between falls) and the third fall didn’t work as well. Both guys are still young so this seemed about as complete as it should be. Everyone seemed to react too smoothly to the third fall bit for it to be an unplanned mistake, but maybe they just handled it well.

this seems like a fun ride
this too
not this
or this

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Alas de Acero, Aramis, Iron Kid for the Mexican National Trios Championship
(Lucha Memes @ Arena Naucalpan on 02/05, 17:59, good, via hector godfrey)

The Kamikazes were a more into the title match than the NGD, to no great surprise. This is a big match for just one of these teams. Sansón, Cuatrero and Forastero are up for taking the offense of the smaller indie guys. This just goes from an opening half which doesn’t amount to much, to técnicos running thru some offense, and to a dry “your turn/my turn” exchange of near falls. Even though most of those near falls don’t feel all that near, it is the best part of the match and they did come up with one convincing big near fall to the end. This was enjoyable and is worth a look, but it didn’t have the drama of a big match.

Kamikaze dives
NGD playing toss the luchador

Corsario Negro Jr. & Drako vs Centurion & Fly Warrior
(Mexa Wrestling @ Arena San Juan Pantitlan on 02/10, great, 11:23. via Adrian Martinez)

La Fortaleza are a fun team when they’re knocking around thinner opponents. Centvrion & Fly Warrior are the unlucky opposition for a while here, just getting hammered for the first few minutes before finding their way to a comeback. A crazy comeback, involving a Gori Stretch/tope spot that may be was not well considered. There were really hard chops and some spectacular moves in this match. What really separated this match was the smooth way they transitioned from one set of actions to another. There were many whips went wrong, there were reversals to set up other spots and moves flowing into each other. I’m not sure where to rate this, but is is worth your time as a fun indie match.

not sure if this was how they planned the landing
teamwork!
Centvrion gets hit by a bus

DTU Visoria final w/Cobre, JimmyMini FlashAdrenalinaLokilloRey GladiadorKastigadorMoriaKevinVengador, SadikoRey Volador
(DTU @ Arena Neza on 02/17, 16:02, good, via DTU Facebook

This video was condescend for time and edited out some blown spots (though still made it obvious that’s what they were doing, which kind of defeats the point.) What was left as a fun cibernetico style match. Everyone got a turn early on, they did some big dives, and big moves eliminated people quickly. Jimmy, Cobre and Moria looked like the best three in this particular match, so it worked out nicely that they were the last three. Any three would’ve been acceptable winners. Jimmy’s the easiest to root for, Cobre seems very fast, and Moria had the biggest spots. I think I would’ve picked Jimmy to send to Dragon Gate but not by much.

Jimmy stepping into a DDT
dive to the Casas side
Cobre

Cavernario & Volador have not much of a match, Drone returns tonight

CMLL (MON) 03/05/2018 Arena Puebla [CMLL, CultIcon]
1) Black Tiger & Meyer b Fuerza Chicana & King Jaguar LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 5  DE MARZO DEL 2018 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Rey Samuray & Tigre Rojo Jr. b Akuma & Espanto Jr. LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 5  DE MARZO DEL 2018 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Audaz, Stigma, Tritón b El Malayo, Puma, Tiger LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 5  DE MARZO DEL 2018 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Hechicero, Kráneo, Stuka Jr. DQ Johnny Idol, Sam Adonis, Titán[Relevos IncreíblesLA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 5  DE MARZO DEL 2018 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 1/3, Adonis fouling Kraneo.
5) La Bestia Del Ring, Mistico, Rush DQ Diamante Azul, Euforia, Mr. Niebla[Relevos IncreíblesLA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 5  DE MARZO DEL 2018 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Munoz took 2/3, the last by DQ when Niebla fouled Pierroth.
6) Cavernario DQ Volador Jr. LA MEJOR LUCHA LIBRE EN VIVO DESDE LA ARENA PUEBLA 5  DE MARZO DEL 2018 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
straight falls. Cavernario won the first fall clean, then the second by hitting Tirantes in the back and convincing Tirantes that Volador had did it. Very quick match. Title matches coming.

The third match was the best match on the show. Three straight DQs to end the show is never good. I haven’t timed it yet, but the main event match seemed around five minutes and never got far along. It was Volador being in his sixth match of the long weekend and Cavernario’s second singles match of three, so they might have decided just to take it as easy possible to get thru. It also might have been Volador’s nose injury flaring up. It still was disappointing, and the problem here is the programming department – that match shouldn’t haven’t been booked this week with all they had going on, and definitely should’ve be scrubbed after Volador got hurt. Doing three straight DQs prior to it isn’t much good either.

Drone is scheduled to return tonight to Arena Mexico. He’s in the fourth match, teaming with Fuego & Guerrero Maya Jr. against Disturbio, Misterioso and Sagrado. It should be a safe place to have a good match, but I have no idea what we’ll see out of Drone after being quietly suspended for a month and a half. Drone has not wrestled since the end of the FantasticaMania tour, and after a video of his poor performance and strange post match interview went viral. CMLL’s been doing more of their own post match interviews of late, and it’ll be interesting if they let Drone talk.

Gran Guerrero, Marco Corleone and Mascara 2000 faced Kraneo, Rush and La Bestia del Ring (Pierroth) face off in the main event. Last week’s show seemed to point towards a Mascara/Bestia feud, which would be terrible. It is also a hilarious main event for something CMLL insists on calling “Martes de Nuevo Valores.” It looks a lot more promising in the semimain, with Audaz moving up to team with Dragon Lee and Soberano against the Hijos del Infienro.

The lightning match is Arkangel de la Muerte versus Hijo del Signo. That’s a bad combination. Aspiring trios partners Flyer & Magnus team with Principe Diamante against Metalico, Principe Odin Jr. (Artillero) and Sangre Azteca. The opener is another opening minis match, with Stukita & Ultimo Dragoncito against Mercurio & Peqeuno Nitro in a near rematch of Friday.

Meanwhile in Guadalajara, Cavernario faces Atlantis in his third singles match in three days. The silly match in Puebla at least ensured Cavernario won’t lose all three matches, but he’s unlikely to wrest the Mexican Light Heavyweight Championship from Atlantis in their first ever singles match.

CMLL detail work at work: they posted recaps of the 2000 Homenaje a Dos Leyendas (Atlantis vs Villano III) and 2002 (Veneno vs Gran Markus), but not the 2001. The 2001 was Universo 2000 taking Perro Aguayo Jr.’s hair, which seems relevant to the Dinamita main event coming up.

Caristico says he wrestled in Cuatutla despite being injured. There’s still no mention of what this injury is.

Next Sunday’s lineup:

CMLL (SUN) 03/11/2018 Arena México
1) Magnus & Robin vs El Coyote & Yago
2) Fuego, Pegasso, Star Jr. vs Hijo del Signo, Inquisidor, Nitro
3) Blue Panther, Drone, Stuka Jr. vs Johnny Idol, Okumura, Sam Adonis
4) Sansón vs Hechicero [lightning]
5) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Valiente vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Shocker
6) Diamante Azul, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]

Main event is a rematch from this past week. Sanson/Hechicero seems fun. Not much else does. Maybe the opener. Drone is booked again.

Other Notes

The Crash continues to advertise Rey Mysterio as appearing on their show next Saturday. Depending on the severity of the injury, it’s possible Rey may actually be able to wrestle in that match. It may not be the smartest health decision but it’s obviously not the first time Rey’s wrestled thru injuries. At this point, though, I don’t think The Crash is any more sure about it than everyone else. They’re handling it exactly like the Matt Riddle situation, where plenty of people are asking about Rey and Crash is saying nothing.

Hijo de Octagon finished five on Azteca’s Extalon reality show and is holding a press conference today to talk about his future plans. (Extalon, like the AAA one mentioned, is in the Survivor genre of reality shows with a greater focus on athletic challenges.) Azteca would probably want him to be a big part of the Arena Azteca show, only no one’s sure if that show still exists.

A theme park review site has some notes on the AAA Arena in Guadalajara. It’ll seat 500 people, and they have a store similar to Arena Mexico to sell some merchandise.

Indie lineups

03/24 MexaWrestling (MexaWar) at Arena San Juan has

Penta & Rey Fenix will face Jack Evans & Teddy Hart on the 04/07 Pancakes & Piledrivers show in New Orleans. This is a Saturday morning show with pancakes. I’m going to lose track of the WreslteMania weekend shows soon.

Pura Raza says their next show will be in April.

Chilanga Mask returns on 05/20 in Coliseo Coacalco

More Links

Dr. Landru of the Gladiatores is doing a month of Perros del Mal photos on instagram. Landru worked in press for the Perros del Mal promotion and was close with the group when they joined AAA. His most recent photo is of the Rey de Reyes sword Perro Jr. won in 2012. The description mentions Perro only had the sword for a short time; he left it in his vehicle before a show in Toluca, and returned to find someone had bashed the window in and taken the sword and some t-shirts. It hasn’t been seen since.

Lucha Sorpresa has some match recommendations from the last month.

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania and the latest Lucha Report.

AAA’s 2018 TripleMania set for August 25, Alberto el Patron to appear, record ticket prices

AAA

AAA announced this year’s TripleMania will be held on August 25th in Arena Ciudad de Mexico as part of a press conference today.

The big news from that press conference was the announcement of Alberto el Patron’s return to the promotion. He’ll wrestle at least at TripleMania, in a singles match against “an international wrestler” to be named later. Patron, who’s now also going with “El Presidente” as a nickname, will make media appearances on March 15th and 16th to talk more about his plans.

Alberto el Patron was close to appearing on last year’s TripleMania show. AAA and Patron could not reach an agreement over money for that show. Negotiations seemed to continue off and on past that show. Dorian Roldan hinted about an Alberto return earlier this year. Record/AAA’s Leo Riano talked about happening Record. Roldan and Alberto have had talks at recent Impact tapings, which led to Hijo del Fantasma working Patron’s charity show in February and to this announcement.

Alberto’s biggest public complaint about AAA after this 2014-15 run was the disorganized way the promotion was run. Sunday’s Rey de Reyes suggests that hasn’t really be fixed. Alberto will be facing a yet to be named non-AAA wrestler on TripleMania. I assume Alberto’s picking is actually going to be picking his opponent. We’ll find out more on those media appearances, but this sets up to all Alberto to be self contained from the rest of AAA (except for how much time they give him for his match.)

It’s a busy day for Alberto news. PW Insider says Alberto recently visited WWE about a return. Alberto’s deal with Impact is said to be close to expiring, and he’s also talking about staying with them. Alberto remains in demand because of the lack of latino draws in the US. It’s debatable if Alberto has actually drawn in a meaningful fashion, but he’s a former WWE world champion and that’s close enough for WWE.

(In related news, today’s Record has an interview with WWE’s Sin Cara. He wishes Mexican and Latin wrestlers more  had more chances to be in main events. He’d like it for himself, or to do it as a team with Kalisto or Gran Metalik.)

The TripleMania XXVI card now stands at

  • Hijo del Fantasma vs Psycho Clown vs TBA vs TBA in a four way mask match
  • Lady Shani vs Faby Apache, mask vs hair
  • Copa TripleMania XXVI
  • Alberto el Patron vs an international wrestler

Arena Ciudad de Mexico had some shaky internet today, and it seemed to cause the press conference feed to be cut off early. The bulk of what we saw was focusing on Psycho Clown and Hijo del Fantasma building up their for way match. It may no longer be a cage match; Fantasma was petitioning for the bit to be dropped “so the fans could see the action better” (or so the guy with the cool dive could actually do the cool dive.)

They made a point of challenging people not in AAA right now for that extra spot. Psycho brought up Atlantis, Mr. Niebla and LA Park. Fantasma brought up Rush, though Dorian Roldan had earlier stated it would only be masked people in the match. Atlantis will never be in AAA. Mr. Niebla probably should leap at taking this payoff is really being offered. CMLL has been so loyal to Niebla that it’s unlikely he’ll go. LA Park remains a real option, as does Blue Demon. Those two spots will almost have to come from outside of the current AAA if they’re to be big names. Only La Parka of their current roster comes close to fitting as a big enough star to be in that match.

Tickets will go one sale tonight. The prices have gone up this year, 305 pesos for the cheapest ticket and 5124 ($274 USD) for the closest. CMLL’s gone higher on the low end (363 for last year’s Anniversario), but not anywhere close on the high end. The 5124 ringside ticket appears to be the most expensive ticket for lucha libre in Mexico, surpassing the 4680 cost for last year’s TripleMania ringside ticket.

Last year’s high price was attributed after the fact to Dr. Wagner Jr. getting the biggest payoff for a mask loss ever. It’s even higher even this year. AAA has added expenses of Alberto, his chosen opponent, and the loser of the Shani/Faby match. It still suggests they’re planning for a big payoff for someone, which means it also probably won’t just be the cheapest guy in the mask. AAA doesn’t need high ticket prices to pay for Dave the Clown’s mask. Or even Fantasma’s. Or maybe even Psycho’s. This is an inversion of our usual beliefs about cage matches: it’ll be the biggest star who’s most likely to lose their mask, not the smallest one. AAA’s going to take a big profit off those ticket prices, but they could’ve taken the same big profit by just lowering the amount they were going to pay to a regular AAA wrestler. It’s not going to be a regular AAA wrestler. If LA Park or Blue Demon really do end up in this match, then they become the favorites to be unmasked.

(“Blue Demon” is one of the most merchandised characters in lucha libre. It helps to have a real Blue Demon masked out there. If he shows up in AAA, LA Park would become the most likely suspect.)

Lady Shani did not appear at the press conference. Australian Suicide, Lady Shani, Bengala and Hades (the former Hahastary) are headed out in the wilderness today to film the Reto 4 Elementos reality show judging from social media. The show is scheduled to start airing on March 19th on Canal 5 in Mexico. The show will air on Unimas in the US at some point. I’m not sure exactly how they’ll be gone filming the show. There are some indications it they’re not expected back until April. Shani & Suicide are next scheduled on a 04/02 show in Leon and none of the four are on TV tapings for this month.

AAA also announced their Cuernavaca taping lineup, which will be the next show to air on Twitch.

AAA TV (SAT) 03/17/2018 Unidad Deportiva Miraval, Cuernavaca, Morelos
1) Dinastía, Dragón Solar, Pardux vs Bronco González Jr., Fetiche, Mini Histeria
2) Mamba & Pimpinela Escarlata vs Ashley & Estrella Divina
3) Histeria & Psicosis vs Monsther Clown & Murder Clown
4) Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria © vs Joe Lider & Mr. Águila [AAA TAG]
3rd defense (2nd on TV)
5) La Máscara & Máximo vs Averno & Chessman and Carta Brava Jr. & Mocho Cota Jr.
6) La Parka & Pagano vs Dave The Clown & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.

That’s not good. Opener should be fun. Semimain are OGT and Poder del Norte having a match right after their Last Match Ever. Usually that takes a couple matches. That main event is going to be terrible.

That’s the Saturday night show, one of three tapings in eight days.  They’re in San Luis Potosi three days later.

AAA TV (WED) 03/21/2018 Domo de San Luis, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
1) Mamba & Pimpinela Escarlata vs Ashley & Estrella Divina
2) Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, La Parka vs Joe Lider, Mr. Águila, Parka Negra
3) Aerostar, Drago, Hijo del Fantasma vs El Mesías, Rey Escorpión, Texano Jr.
4) La Máscara, Máximo, Psycho Clown vs Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., Pagano, Vampiro vs Blue Demon Jr., Dave The Clown, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.
6) 1 vs 2345678 [Copa Perros del Mal]

This is a much more loaded card, as Lucha Underground tapings end on the 18th and San Luis Potosi usually gets big shows. It’s the same mixed opener. And Cuervo/Scoria vs Perros del Mal, with whoever Parka Negra turns out to be. The fifth match looks unpleasant. The Copa Perro del Mal is probably Twitch/live only. A lot of these matches are going to be Twitch/live only unless AAA suddenly gets a lot more TV time or is OK with their TV being so backloaded that matches are airing three months after they’re taped.

AAA TV (SUN) 03/25/2018 Arena Jose Sulaiman, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
1) Mamba & Pimpinela Escarlata vs Ashley & Estrella Divina
2) Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria vs Monsther Clown & Murder Clown and Joe Lider & Mr. Águila
3) Hijo del Fantasma vs La Parka Negra [AAA CRUISER, #1 Contenders, bull terrier]
4) Aerostar & Drago vs Rey Escorpión & Texano Jr.
5) Máximo, Pagano, Psycho Clown vs Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly
6) Dr. Wagner Jr. & La Parka vs Blue Demon Jr. & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. and Hernandez & Vampiro [Copa Leyendas]

It’s the same opener again! They’ll really going to get it worked out well. Some of the other stuff is similar too, and the main is a dire.

Fantasma’s match seems beneath him at the moment. That match, and Fantasma/Suicide, are potentially good, but AAA’s treating the Cruiserweight championship like a 1st/2nd/3rd match title right now. I’m all for rebuilding it. Making it third on the card where a guy who never wins a match is in line for a shot doesn’t rebuild it. The bigger priority is treating Fantasma as a big star and being in that spot does not help with that.

Bigger picture: that’s three tapings, all on Twitch, within eight days. I’m going to watch everything, because I’m a person who thinks deeply on Parka Negra win statistics. You are a dedicated follow of lucha libre to be reading this website and making it this far on this post and still you should not even attempt to watch all of it. Twitch isn’t as easy to pick and choose as YouTube because everything goes behind a pay wall pretty quick, but pace yourself and don’t feel any need to watch all of this. Check out that Cuervanaca opener on Saturday if you’re around and then get away from it until those good matches on Wednesday, or you’ll be sick of this promotion on Sunday.

AAA really doesn’t need this much television taped in such a short term. I don’t think Twitch cares how many live events they’re showing either. This seems as a way to keep the local promoters happy – the San Luis Potosi & Monterrey appear to be among the strongest – and so AAA’s helping out the gate by bringing the TV cameras there. If this is the one time they do it, it’s going to be fine. If three tapings in a short time become a regular thing, people will start to learn the same lessons as they have with CMLL, where watching all repetitive streams feels unnecessary.

new lucha videos for the weekend of March 2, 2018

Guadalajara aired but my recording messed up.

IWRG Zona XXI: 2018-03-04
taped 2018-02-28 @ Arena Naucalpan – Mega/YouTube
1) Dinámico, Dranzer, Puma de Oro vs Bisofera, Carnicero, Chef Benito
2) Fireman, Full Contact, Hijo Del Bombero vs Black Puma, Guerrero 2000, Power Bull
3) Ángel Oriental, Haziel, Toto vs Atomic Star, Hijo del Alebrije, Skanda
4) Kanon, Mike, Teelo vs Dragón Yuki, Leroy, Liderk
5) Aramis, Diablo Jr., Eterno, Lunatic Xtreme, Shadow Boy vs Dragón Bane, El Divino, Pachucho, Ram El Carnero, Shado and La Mosca, Máscara Magica Jr., Motocross, Orión, Príncipe Negro and Ángel Estrella Jr., Death Metal, Guero Palma, Marduk, Taurino in a cage match

CMLL Lucha Azteca: 2018-03-04
taped 2018-02-23 @ Arena México – Mega
1) Niebla Roja vs Soberano Jr. in a lightning match
2) Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, Dragón Lee vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
3) Último Guerrero & Volador Jr. vs Rush & Terrible in a National Parejas Increible final 

IWRG Zona XXI: 2018-03-05
taped 2018-03-04 @ Arena Naucalpan – Mega/YouTube
1) Lilith Dark & Luna Mágica vs Cristal & Dulce Luna
2) Rokambole Jr. & Villano V Jr. vs Black Warrior & Warrior Jr.
3) Ricky Marvin vs Dr. Cerebro
4) Ovett, Trauma I, Trauma II vs Aramis, Hijo del Pantera, Internacional Pantera for the seconds hair