Day: April 25, 2018

scouting the mystery people on Verano de Escandalo’s poster

thecubsfan

AAA’s released the lineup for Verano de Escandalo. I’ll maybe write about it tomorrow. For now, let’s drill down on the notable inclusions, the three mystery people on the poster:

Those seem like really shoulder blade muscles (scientific term.) Cage like, but apparently with a more normal haircut. He’s clearly the power guy of the team, who Psycho Clown & Hijo del Fantasma will have to work together to take down. A real challenge.

Seems like the smaller half of the team, kind of like the Robin to the muscle guy’s Batman. Probably a normal power/speed combination going on. The completely white eyes with no pupils will surely be intimidating for our heroes.

shout out to soon to be bald Carta Brava Jr., your glasses look cool

Look at that skull! Look at those eyes! This man, this being is clearly not of the planet Earth. He’s an alien, maybe not Alliens, but definite not from here. Konnan is known for working with every group in humanity, is it possible he’s now transcended the cosmos and made deals with creaturs from other worlds to strength MAD? And what terrible price will we all pay when this deal, like so many others involving Konnan, falls apart? The stakes have never been higher.

Verano de Escandalo is June 3rd and will air on Twitch.

CMLL Sabado Retro: 2018-04-08 

thecubsfan
they get it done, eventually

Recapped: 04/15/2018

Matches:

Magnus & Robin beat Akuma & Príncipe Odín Jr.
(9:39 [3:47, 2:53, 2:59], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Amapola, La Seductora, Zeuxis beat Dalys, Estrellita, Marcela 
(10:02 [4:53, 2:26, 2:43], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa beat Puma, Tiger, Virus
(16:14 [7:06, 2:57, 6:11], 2/3, great, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Ángel de Oro, Diamante Azul, Niebla Roja beat Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Terrible
(11:16 [5:58, 5:18], 1/2 DQ, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Máscara Año 2000 & Negro Casas beat Solar I & Súper Astro  
(12:26 [5:32, 2:54, 4:00], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Atlantis & Blue Panther beat Fuerza Guerrera & Satánico
(18:42 [6:46, 4:29, 7:27], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

What happened:

I feel like I saw this spot every week when they aired from Coliseo, and now not in years

This is the 75th Anniversary celebration for Arena Coliseo. CMLL brought back some legends and uploaded it on one day delay to YouTube. At least for this show, they brought back the old “CMLL” letter sign boards from the 00s Arena Mexico set up and put them above the Coliseo entrance. The building seems like it’s darker in the past, when they usually had a lot less people.

Prior to semimain, El Fantasma appeared to the ring as part of the celebration, and to approve of Super Astro, Mascara Año 2000 and Blue Panther to use their masks on this show. They did make them unmask after the match. Blue Panther does not understand this before his match, and unmasks before it starts. Everyone is baffled. Satacnio does not wear his mask.

Rey Bucanero fouled Angel de Oro for no real reason in the second fall.

The women’s match Estrellita’s return after being off for school for a lot of months. Dalys, filling in, wears a ruda shirt and hugs the rudas before the match. I had planned on watching the entire show but there didn’t seem to be a point in watching this match at that point. Neither Dalys nor the rudas are interesting in fighting each other, and she turns on them in the third fall to get the DQ.

Thoughts:

Cometa reactions are well known enough that the cameraman realizes to zoom

The main event was the more cohrenet of the two legends matches. Everyone still looked very old. Blue Panther & Satanico messed up a sequence right before the end that left them both baffled. Atlantis had trouble getting Fuerza Guerrera up for La Atlantida, and Fuerza is not a big man. They would’ve been better cutting down the time, and coming to an end after the técnicos got in the third fall offense instead of going for more. Satanico and Fuerza still have the presence of stars, and Fuerza was all in on trying to create a mask feud with Atlantis to perhaps get him that mythical payday yet. Blue Panther looked more active here than in the singles match with Hechicero (that I happened to watch this same day) and maybe the best of all four wrestlers. Still, when even the Good legends aren’t having Good matches any more, I’m really dreading these legends shows.

I didn’t grasp what a weird combination of people were in the semimain. They really needed a big guy to brawl with Mascara 2000 or a technical guy to feud with Solar. The problem is everyone is getting old and there’s not enough people left to make sensible matches Negro Navarro would probably be in this match, but may not be back at this point. We were somehow spared a Rayo de Jalisco Jr. appearance, and mayeb that means he’s never going to be back, at least in a match. The effect is this was a different match than usual, not the Navarro/Solar match work draw we’ve seen before, which didn’t really bring out the best of anyone. Super Astro looked fine but really din’t get to do much. Solar & Mascara brawled a lot for lack fo anything else to do, and Mascara really needs to stop trying the step over submission he can’t lock on any more. This wasn’t terrible but it was awkward and the money being thrown in was generous.

Principe Odin has a finish

The story of the fourth match, as I was best able to determine is Shocker is still doing the Guapo gimmick and Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja think this is hilarious. Also, there were slaps to the face. Action was good when mostly revolving around the slaps to the face but never got much better than OK. I wasn’t sure what Shocker was oding half the match, and especially when he got in the way of the monkey flips. Rey Bucanero has become one of the worst guys at catching dives this year and I’m not sure why. I keep seeing him move backwards when he shouldn’t be. I’m not sure why two matches on this Anniversary show had to be total wastes but it is CMLL.

The tercera match stood as among the best that pool of guys will have. The stuff down regularly, like Tiger’s new headscissors counter into a powerbomb or Maya’s armdrags, came off sharp. Audaz looked the best he has on the mat with Virus, coming off as competitive against a guy who usually looks dominant against rookies. Cometa brings more reactions and selling than we usually get when they’re speeding thru these matches. It all added up nicely into something that felt like the best of a this microstyle. I kind of find myself wanting one real near fall to consider these matches great, which is a weird arbitrary rule to separate exhibitions from fights people are trying to win. This really didn’t have one of those, but that’s not what they were going for. They did what they were going for.

The opener was a basic match, only slightly more action than the usual opener. Doing the rudo dives right after the técnicos dives was a ‘surprise’ which didn’t feel like it worked. Robin was wearing the full Brazo outfit for the occasion and was looking in very Brazo shape.

Blue Panther

CMLL Tuesday results, AAA mystery show in Tehuacan

thecubsfan 1 Comment

CMLL (TUE) 04/24/2018 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico b Acero & Angelito LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 24 DE ABRIL DEL 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Acero replaced Ultimo Dragoncito
2) Cancerbero, Nitro, Raziel b Magnus, Oro Jr., Príncipe Diamante LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 24 DE ABRIL DEL 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Rudos took 1/3.
3) The Panther TLDRAW Fuego [lightning] LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 24 DE ABRIL DEL 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
another draw, with no one especially close to winning when time ran out. Both were trying pinfalls use the ropes though.
4) Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Templario b El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 24 DE ABRIL DEL 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Rudos took 1/3.
5) Hechicero, La Bestia Del Ring, Terrible b Ephesto, Luciferno, Máscara Año 2000 LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 24 DE ABRIL DEL 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Hechicero/Ingobernables took 1/3.
6) Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Mephisto LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 24 DE ABRIL DEL 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
straight falls

Fourth match was worth watching.

CMLL has post match promos from Fuego, Templario, Polvora & Dragon Rojo, Hechicero, Terrible & Bestia, Volador & Valiente, and Caristico. Can CMLL get a boom mic so everyone doesn’t have to hold up a tiny microphone when cutting a promo? The idea of Templario joining Polvora & Dragon Rojo in Los Revolucionarios came up thee times in relation with the show. I can’t tell if it a one day obsession or a direction; they are all teamed up in Puebla again next week.

CMLL (TUE) 04/24/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Carlo Roggi, Joker, Mr. Apolo b Black Sugar, Capitán Cobra, El Alteño
2) Espanto Jr., Metálico, Sangre Azteca b Magia Blanca, Pegasso, Stigma
rudos took 1/3.
3) Shockercito © b Mercurio [CMLL MINI]
Shockercito took 1/3. 3rd defense. Money thrown in.
4) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Niebla Roja b Felino, Misterioso Jr., Okumura
tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Atlantis, Mistico, Rush b Cavernario, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero
Atlantis replaced Dragon Lee on Monday. Tecnicos took 2/3.

The minis match to set this up aired last week, so ti’s a good chance of the same this week.

Los Villanos have their own craft beer.

LuchaWorld has a good interview with Garza Jr., who mentions he’s officially no longer with Impact.

+LuchaTV has a new edition of their podcast.

Puma King & Barby’s latest video has them bowling very badly. This was a fun one.

Lineup

CMLL (SUN) 04/29/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Eclipse Jr. vs Frenético
2) Avispón Negro Jr. & Johnny Dinamo vs Destructor & Relámpago Azul
3) Guerrero Samuray Jr., Neutrón, Rielero vs León Blanco, Puma Negro, Ráfaga
4) Mágico vs Mr. Apolo, El Yaqui, Carlo Roggi, Capitán Cobra, Demonio Rojo, Black Sugar, Gran Kenut, El Alteño, Bobby Black [mask, hair, cage]

They’ve been setting up a cage match here for a while, though the Truenos and Star Black were part of it at one point and are not now.

CMLL (MON) 04/30/2018 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano & Millenium vs Ares & Sombra Diabólika
2) Flyer & Pegasso vs El Perverso & Fuerza Chicana
3) Ángel & El Gallito vs Átomo & Guapito
4) Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Templario
5) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Rush vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Rey Bucanero
6) Terrible, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Carístico, Kráneo, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

A B-level micros match? I couldn’t imagine such a thing a year ago. I wonder if they send a micro referee for this one.

Maybe they’ll get around to making a match out of the main event this week.

AAA TV (FRI) 05/18/2018 Polideportivo La Huizachera, Tehuacán, Puebla
1) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
2) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
3) Aerostar & Drago vs ? & ??
4) Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly vs Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
5) Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Rey Escorpión
6) Hijo Del Vikingo, La Máscara, Máximo vs ?, ??, ???
7) Hijo del Fantasma, Pagano, Psycho Clown vs Juventud Guerrera, Kevin Kross, Texano Jr.

Remember when AAA was changing their lineups constantly last year, and Vampiro explained it as local promoters demanding to have a lineup way before they were ready. I guess the local promoter in Tehuacan didn’t have that problem. There’s 3 complete matches of seven announced, including two matches with no one at all. I’m kind of intrigued to see what Rey Escorpion can get out of 2018 Dr. Wagner, and it’s inherently hilarious that OGT and Poder del Norte keep having matches after their last match ever at Rey de Reyes. That’s the sort of thing that happens when a new person is in charge who wasn’t paying super close attention to what was being done before, if that’s what’s going on here.

As far as the mystery people? No hints given out by AAA. The end of the Tijuana show suggests MAD is coming, and maybe all the other people are people coming in with MAD, or people otherwise coming in with Konnan. That’s a lot of people to be coming in.

CMLL will start about a half hour before this show. This is the date of Gran Alternativa final. Maybe put this Friday on your calendar for some more chaos.

1997 Coahuila/Durango lineups added to the luchadb

thecubsfan

I added 1997 lucha libre lineups, mostly from the cities Torreon and Gomez Palacio (and an increasing amount from elsewhere), to the luchadb database a few weeks ago. They’re integrated the different pages of this site, and they’re also just available here. This is a slow continuing project to mine the El Siglo de Torreon archive for lucha lineups and results. This time, I wrote this post before diving into the next year. It looks like I went fast, but it was actually a lot slower.

Events per year:

year events
1990 169
1991 175
1992 181
1993 151
1994 113
1995 144
1996 114
1997 199
1998   9
1999 235

That’s an explosion. I don’t think the lucha scene rebounded. It seems like the paper is just covering more of the smaller shows it might not have before as the page count increases. The visual posters that were the only way the shows were covered are virtually gone, the one up there is the only one I found all year. The non-show writing about lucha libre dries up as well. The last Super Dioses de Lucha Libre national article appears in August, and there’s only handful of local stories in the last few months.

It might also be because I had to do these differently. I usually just use a text search for “lucha”, sort thru the vast majority of articles which don’t have anything to do with lucha libre, and then maybe double check on certain arenas. The text search was broke from July to the end of the year this year. Instead had to find the sports section in each days paper, look for any lucha articles, and go from there. It was slow but it seemed to work, so I’m doing it that way for 1998. It does mean anything lucha libre not in the sports section was missed – like if they covered another area elsewhere in the paper.

Not much news means not much to write about here. There are a few big bios and history pieces. A Polo Torres thinks lucha libre is bad nowadays article leads into a nice bio of a famous wrestler who’s not well known today. A bio of Joe Marin improves on one from a few years prior, revealing the former Mexican lightweight champion was actually born in Arizona. His parents moved to Coahuila months later and registered him as being born there. There’s also a story of him almost dying in a match with Manuel Robles. One with Espanto II talks about him and his brother working their way of a Tuesday shows with a 20 match win streak. Maybe that’s what Magnus needs to do. Gran Markus reveals he was originally Dr. Markus because they thought his body looked a lot the then recently deceased Medico Asesino. They switched it to Gran when he started wrestling in Mexico City. King I talks about wrestling in the US for years, including winning the Tennessee Tag Titles (??) and going to one less and one draw with Lou Thesz. He trained a lot of luchadors, including Blue Panther, Pimpinela Escarlata, and Babe Face.

There’s a big article on the AAA versus Promo Azteca TV war, noting they claim to be promoting different styles of products but look about the same to casual fans even though Promo Azteca says they’re more serious. CMLL is treated as if they don’t exist, but really all the promotions are treated that way – it doesn’t read like they were interviewed for this article. The idea that lucha libre is scripted is off handily confirmed by Mexico City lucha libre commission official Rafael Barradas, but in way to prove not everything is scripted – Gori Guerrero walking out of EMLL rather than drop the NWA LH title to Ray Mendoza is the example.

Pentagon talks about his injury about one year after it happens. The spine injury meant he didn’t get oxygen to the brain for six minutes, which caused a serious brain injury. He remembers nothing about the following two months, it took six months for him to even be able to move his hand, with his condition improving from there. Last year, articles said AAA didn’t support Pentagon. This year, Pentagon says they helped pay for his hospital bills and will be running 2-3 charity shows for him. One of those shows in Torreon gets canceled, though that’s because they’re running one in Monterrey the same day. It seems to get made up late in the year. Late in the year, Pentagon II wrestles locally, and no one treats it as a big deal after fretting about the possibility in 1997.

Local luchador Gran Kalifa (Luis Alberto Salazar Rosales, suddenly passes away at 24 years of age. There’s no details, though it doesn’t appear to be in-ring related.

The lucha libre commission in Torreon, Gomez Palacio and Lerdo have a meeting where they unify on regulations and licensing, trying to get onto the same standard as Mexico City. There’s talk of doing the same with Ciudad Juarez. The 4 promoters given licenses at the time are Rudy Palma (Arena La Ribera), Santiago Valdes (Palacio de la Deportes), Ministro (de la Muerte?) I (Arena Calderon Rocha) and Alberto Dipp of Arena Olimpico Laguna.

Tony Rodriguez and Diamante get profiles before their July apuesta match. There’s one two articles about the 64th anniversary of lucha libre, mentioning plans to bring in Haku & Barbarian from WCW. It doesn’t actually happen.

Mil Mascaras says it’s better to honor luchadors while they’re still alive. Espanto III is remembered one year after his passing.

Super Dioses quick bios