The Gran Alternativa continues on CMLL Claro.
AAA is just getting to the Monterrey taping on Space.
Tuesday’s CMLL card looks especially painful.
Day: May 10, 2018
CMLL Martes de Nuevo Valores: 2018-04-24
Recapped: 05/02/2018
Matches:
Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico beat Acero & Angelito
(14:51 [7:09, 3:13, 4:29], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Cancerbero, Nitro, Raziel beat Magnus, Oro Jr., Príncipe Diamante
(14:37 [6:06, 2:59, 5:32], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
The Panther went to a time limit draw with Fuego in a lightning match
(10:00, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Templario beat El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa
(13:58 [5:58, 1:31, 6:29], 1/3, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Hechicero, La Bestia Del Ring, Terrible beat Ephesto, Luciferno, Máscara Año 2000
(13:17 [6:56, 2:21, 4:00], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. beat Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Mephisto
(7:50 [4:11, 3:39], 1/2, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
What happened:
Panther was locking on the nudo lagunero as time ran out, and may have gotten it if the match went 10:15.
Thoughts:
There was little drama to the main event. The rudos took control only long enough to set up another wave of técnico offense in the first fall. The second fall didn’t even contain that much, with the almost-Sky Team just running thru the opposition with not much of a fight. The execution needed to be a little bit smoother or more spectacular for me, but it did seem to get money thrown in anyway. A normal two fall match with nothing to it is at least something that should be tried more often.
The fourth match would be worth watching just to see Audaz and Templario work together. They appear to be each other’s best opponents at this point, but have been split apart this year as CMLL focuses on Audaz/Virus instead. Audaz seems most comfortable trying his trickiest moves with Templario, and Templario showed more than his standard routine. Templario being added to the Revolucionarios is the tease right now, but they seemed to make less an attempt to work him in than Puma & Tiger had.
The lightning match was another draw, and another one where having the same side guys worked to the determinant. It would’ve been interesting to see The Panther attempt to be a rudo for a night, but instead we got to see a lot of moves. I generally liked the moves, but could see others – there was no particular flow or story to the moves, they just did as much as they could to get to the 9:50 mark and then had Panther put on his hold. The Panther’s modified 619 kick takes even more of a forced set up than a 619 but it’s The Panther actually trying a new move so I’m not totally down on it.
AAA in Pachuca lineup(s), CMLL in ROH, Penta & Dragon Lee on same show
CMLL and ROH announced Ultimo Guerrero & Titan will appear on the June 2nd New York show. The only other time CMLL wrestlers have been on ROH shows this year was also in New York; ROH have barely used them this year.
The CMLL announcement actually uses the graphic for ROH’s 06/16 show in Dallas, Texas. CMLL wrestlers have been on ROH’s Texas shows last couple years and probably will be again this year. ROH’s preview teases the idea of Ultimo Guerrero challenging for the ROH title against the winner of last night’s Matt Taven/Dalton Castle match. Only, that match didn’t happen last night (due to Castle injury). I’m not sure if the ROH web guy is read in on upcoming matches; maybe don’t take this as more than an idea. They do mention this is a TV taping, not something that’ll air live on their streaming service.
On CMLL Informa, La Guerrera was mentioned to be indie luchadora Guerrera Gonzalez, sister of rarely seen AAA wrestler Bronco Gonzalez Jr.
Universo 2000 Jr. wants to win the Gran Alternativa tournament for his father. Mascara 2000 says they have an advantage by being family, but they would also easily beat the family team Volador & Flyer.
CMLL’s Gran Alternativa look back gets to Okumura stealing a spot from Semental in 2008 and winning the tournament.
Soberano and Negro Casas talk up their match this Friday.
There are interviews with Estrellita and Dalys for Mother’s Day.
In IWRG, Fantasma de la Opera took Cremosito’s hair in a three way atomicos match.
Dragon Lee faces Shane Strickland on 06/08 in PCW. It’s notable because Penta is on the same card (facing Sami Challihan), and CMLL’s previously not allowed their wrestlers to appear on the same cards in the US as Rebellion wrestlers.
DragonMania will air in Japan on 06/10. I still haven’t seen a lineup for the show. PWR’s La Migra will appear in IWRG on 05/27, so they’re likely on DragonMania.
A sidewalk tile was dedicated to the Titanes en el Ring’s Martin Karadagian in Buenos Aries.
Apolo Valdes writes about Dream Matches not always living up to the dreams.
Lucha Talk has a new episode.
Lineups
IWRG (SUN) 05/13/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Arquero vs Power Bull
2) Shadow Boy & Toto vs Atomic Star & Leroy
3) Black Dragón, Dinamic Black, Dragón Fly vs Dragón Bane, Gallo Frances, Lunatic Xtreme
4) Aramis, Hijo de Canis Lupus, The Tiger vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Eterno, Ovett
5) Freelance, Ricky Marvin, Súper Mega vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
6) Emperador Azteca & Imposible vs Trauma I & Trauma II
Top matches might be good? The Tiger & Apolo were talking about forming a group last week so it only makes IWRG sense they’re fighting now.
CMLL (SUN) 05/13/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Amperaje & Avispón Negro Jr. vs Destello & Destructor
2) Capitán Cobra & Tigre Blanco vs Demonio Maya & Puma Negro
3) Black Sugar, El Divino, Mágico vs Mr. Apolo, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
4) Explosivo, Joker, Magnum vs Difunto, Maléfico, Sádico
5) Esfinge, Titán, Tritón vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Hechicero, Pólvora
It’s strange to see CMLL DF wrestlers here. It may be because they’re there the day before: there’s a sponsored show on Saturday. It also may mean they’re moving the Hechicero/Esfinge match to a Sunday.
The sponsored show has been advertised for a while with a photo of Marco Corleone on it. Marco’s not on the card; he hasn’t been on any show during the injury angle on the March 23rd show. Marco’s still the CMLL heavyweight champion, so I’d assume he’ll eventually be back until they take away the title.
CMLL (MON) 05/14/2018 Arena Puebla
1) Astro, Black Tiger, Meyer vs Ares, El Perverso, Rey Apocalipsis
2) Arkalis, Príncipe Diamante, Saurón vs Espíritu Maligno, Metálico, Sangre Azteca
3) Lady Maravilla, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, La Comandante, La Seductora
4) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Rush vs Kráneo, Rey Bucanero, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Ángel de Oro, Mistico, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Mephisto, Sansón
This is not an especially appealing card. Maybe the main will be good.
AAA TV (THU) 05/31/2018 Arena Aficion
1) La Hiedra & Niño Hamburguesa vs Big Mami & Villano III Jr. [AAA MIXED TAG]
Mami & Hamburguesa were last champions
2) Faby Apache © vs Ashley [Reina De Reinas]
1st defense
3) Australian Suicide vs Lanzelot [AAA CRUISER]
2nd defense
4) Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, La Parka vs Dave The Clown, Joe Lider, Parka Negra
5) La Máscara & Máximo vs Histeria & Psicosis
6) Pagano vs Murder Clown
7) Hijo del Fantasma & Psycho Clown vs Rey Escorpión & Texano Jr.
This is a strange one. For one, the local promoter uploaded a slightly different card before deleting it: the Wagner/Wagner title match built up since January was finally going to happen, and Escorpion & Texano were to defend their tag titles. No idea why the Wagners aren’t on the show now; it’s not like there’s a lot of other bookings to take on a Thursday night.
It’s not an appetizing card. Suicide/Lanzelot was good last time and should be again. Ashley/Faby could be good. There’s some hope of the main event. The rest is a demonstration of AAA’s lack of quality wrestlers in their core roster. Pagano/Murder Clown follows up on Pagano blaming Murder Clown for his injury at the end of 2017, but will also be a terrible match. Mascara & Maximo versus Histeria & Psicosis seems sure to be just enough to get by. The fourth is Parka match. The opener is a bad match with mismatched sides for no explained reason; we’ll probably have to wait three weeks for a reason why the match is happening, fit hey don’t just change it the day of the show.
This looks a like the AAA that’s existed all year, and especially before the Tijauna show. No MAD wrestlers, no surprise wrestlers like the other cards announced recently. It doesn’t fit.
CMLL Puebla: 2018-04-23
Recapped: 05/01/2018
Matches:
Espíritu Maligno & Rey Apocalipsis beat Astro & Meyer
(10:53 [5:57, 2:56, 2:00], 2/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Príncipe Diamante & Robin beat El Malayo & King Jaguar
(12:46 [4:54, 3:52, 4:00], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Disturbio, Kawato San, Virus beat El Audaz, Lestat, Tigre Rojo Jr.
(16:31 [7:17, 3:34, 5:40], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Dalys © beat Kaho Kobayashi for the CMLL World Women’s Championship
(10:32, 1/3, good, VideosOficialesCMLL)
-
Dalys campana (2:50)
-
Kaho Kobayashi headscissors armdrag (2:07)
-
Dalys spinning powerbomb (5:35)
Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Soberano Jr. beat Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
(7:11 [1:24, 1:49, 3:58], 2/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Terrible, Valiente, Volador Jr. beat Carístico, Kráneo, Último Guerrero in a relevos increíbles match
(8:45 [2:13, 2:32, 4:00], 1/3 DQ, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
What happened:
Team Volador jumped Caristito from behind to start the main event early. UG was caught fouling Volador in the end
Audaz is stretchered out after taking a Virus Gori bomb on the finish, but it’s clear it’s nothing major on the replay.
Thoughts:
A main event where Último Guerrero works técnico and ends up fouling Volador anyway is not really a great use of time. This was the second of two quick matches to close out a show, which ended quicker than usual despite having more falls than normal. Volador wrestling in a sideway baseball cap was amusing.
The semimain was a perfunctory match to make sure everyone got paid. They sped thru what they did, and maybe calling it OK is generous. Negro Casas’ antics with Diamante Azul were the highlight.
The title match was Kobayashi’s best in Mexico, maybe by a good distance. She showed off a lot more varied offense than we had seen from her during this tour – I can’t recall the reverse DDT and the Shining Wizard coming up before. Kobayashi trying to cut down the bigger woman with anything she could gave it a different feel than Dalys’ title matches, and brought out her best. I liked this a lot more than last week’s lightning match.
Audaz shined in the first few moments of the tercera, with a complex evasion spot getting a strong reaction from the crowd. The rest of the match was solid but not as interesting. Lestat & Tiger Rojo have moments of being good but never a full match of it.
