quick Friday night notes: LA Park reappears in Arena Mexico, AAA builds towards Verano de Escandalo

https://twitter.com/MarcaClaro/status/997684652142809088

CMLL’s Gran Alternativa final was the story of Friday night, though not the way anyone expected. Flyer & Volador cleanly won the tournament, but were immediately attacked by Los Ingobernables. Who should make the save but LA Park (and Hijo de LA Park), rescuing his family. Park took the microphone and repeated his long running challenge for a mask versus hair match with Rush, working in the same magic words which got Park banned from CMLL in his last stint. The bit came off as if that match, Rush vs LA Park in an apuesta match, was the likely 85th Anniversario main event.

CMLL (FRI) 05/18 Arena México
00:00:28 Astral & Eléctrico vs Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo
00:24:25 Blue Panther Jr., Drone, The Panther vs Okumura, Puma, Tiger
00:46:45 Fuego vs Guerrero Maya Jr. in a lightning match
00:59:40 Ángel de Oro, Mistico, Soberano Jr. vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
01:24:02 Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Kráneo vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible
01:42:31 Flyer & Volador Jr. vs Templario & Último Guerrero in a CMLL Gran Alternativa final

AAA show lacked a singular story focus; even the MAD faction existed but didn’t really advance. If there was one specific trend, it was a great emphasize on building towards matches that were announced for the future – though, it came on card where almost every announced match didn’t occur. The semimain had MAD build up anger between Fantasma and Psycho Clown, the first in-ring time AAA’s really pushed them being opponents as part of the four way TripleMania cage match (where two participants remain mystery.) Faby Apache and Lady Shani also had their first interaction since Rey de Reyes. Their match here didn’t do much for their TripleMania match. Maybe AAA thought the same, since Lady Shani was oddly sent out to be the second for Pagano in the main event (where Wagner didn’t have a second), which gave Apache a moment to attack her post match.

The most effective match was a violent bloody brawl between the OGT and Poder del Norte, with the northern team picking up a much needed impressive win leading into their apuesta match on Verano de Escandalo. The least enthralling set up was Murder Clown attacking Pagano after the main event, a set up for their own match in Arena Aficion a week from Thursday.

There wasn’t much new with MAD on this show. Only Killer Kross wrestled, with Juventud Guerrera appearing post match to stir up trouble for Fantasma & Psycho. Konnan again made an appearance where no one would say his name, this time watching Guerrera & Kross beat up Hernandez, Fantasma & Psycho afterwards. Maybe Konnan’s biggest influence was felt in the opener. Toxin, Latigo, Aramis and Astrolux, all recently from The Crash (though none booked this weekend) made their AAA debuts in an impressive opener. Vampiro continued to appear on AAA shows in his insert box, but never appeared before the crowd.

AAA TV (FRI) 05/18 Polideportivo La Huizachera, Tehuacán, Puebla
00:10:12 Látigo & Toxin vs Aramis & Astrolux
00:29:53 Argenis & Hijo Del Vikingo vs Halcón 78 Jr. & Parka Negra
00:51:17 Faby Apache & Hades vs Ashley & Lady Shani
01:09:19 La Máscara & Máximo vs Histeria & Psicosis
01:29:35 Rey Escorpión & Texano vs Aerostar & Drago
01:53:28 Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly vs Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
02:13:35 Hijo del Fantasma & Psycho Clown vs Hernandez & Kevin Kross
02:31:39 Dr. Wagner Jr. © vs Pagano for the AAA World Heavyweight Championship

Those are all Twitch subscriber only links. If you do sign up now, your month should include the Verano de Escandalo show.

(Full recaps sometime Saturday?)