CMLL (MON) 05/21/2018 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) Astro, Asturiano, Black Tiger b King Roker, Policeman, Sombra Diabólika 
Tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Arkalis, Magia Blanca, Rey Samuray b Fuerza Chicana, Rey Apocalipsis, Sangre Azteca
Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Blue Panther Jr., Fuego, The Panther b El Malayo, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado
Tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón DQ Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
NGD took 2/3. Mephisto unmasked Sanson for the DQ.
5) Kráneo, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero DQ La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible
Team Kraneo took 2/3, the last by DQ foul, setting up a UG/Terrible match.
Terrible/Ultimo Guerrero is not exactly the direction the main event seemed to be going last week, but it’s an interesting match. It’s also CMLL booking someone in no singles matches, then two singles matches in two days.
A DQ in the semimain as well might mean they’re also setting up a trios title match on 06/04. It’ll be a clear when the lineup turns up.
Ultimo Guerrero defends the NWA Middleweight Championship tonight in Arena Mexico. Ultimo Guerrero should be known for his long title reigns with many defenses. He defended the CMLL Light Heavyweight championship at least 32 times and the heavyweight at least 20 times, and had one tag title reign go 18 defenses. This is ‘only’ his 14th defense of the middleweight title. Long reigns means people challenging multiple times, and tonight’s Stuka’s second shot. Their last title match was two years to the day, because time is a circle in CMLL. I thought that match was good, but both men fall in to routines and you can probably guess how this one is going to go without seeing it.
The title match is the main event. The sure to be quick main event has Mistico, Caristico and Atlantis against the Hijos del Infierno. The entire Panther family take on Shocker, Hechicero, and Felino. Esfinge, Triton and Stigma face Okumura, Virus and Disturbio. There are two more opening matches, and neither looks good. It’s not a good card outside of the title match.
Lucha Central and CMLL have previews of the show. It starts at 7:30pm on YouTube.
Zeuxis announced on Facebook that she was leaving CMLL and wrestling as an independent. CMLL has acknowledges Zeuxis leaving, saying the doors are open for her to return. She’ll be working CMLL dates thru June 4th and out on her own after. Her only remaining shows are tonight in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara and a show in Tabasco on the 3rd, though it’s possible she could still be around for one more week. Announcing it now allows her to start taking booking elsewhere, and Zeuxis makes a point of saying she’s interested in wrestling in USA and Japan in addition to Mexico. Zeuxis is technically the current CMLL-REINA International Championship, but the promotion is at least inactive and maybe dead, and the title hasn’t been mentioned in quite some time.
We talked about this situation on the podcast. Although Zeuxis won her mask match with Princesa Sugehit last year, it’s Sugehit who’s been pushed as the new star of the division coming out of the match. Zeuxis hasn’t been booked much, hasn’t gotten a feud, and hasn’t a notable singles match since. CMLL’s women division never being positioned as a drawing card is a bit of a unbreaking negative cycle: there’s no incentive to push people who are over long term or run angles to get people over because they’re going to be in the same spot, so they stay in the same spot because nothing changes and no one’s really that over. Zeuxis, like a lot of other luchadors, would probably like to be a big wrestling star, and a big WWE star if possible, and wrestling in never ending and never meaningful trios matches isn’t going to get anyone from point A to point B. Dalys is going to be women’s champion as long as she desires, CMLL didn’t seem to want to go back to the Zeuxis/Sugehit feud, and Marcela seems more likely to win a title than Zeuxis at this point. The Zeuxis/Sugehit feud was really good for both people and they did well in it, but CMLL can’t/won’t offer her more and so she’s got to get out if she wants to go up.
Zeuxis is probably going to be doing a lot of indies for the short term. She seems a logicial pickup for The Crash among others. I’d bet on seeing the Keyra/Zeuxis match once again, and Zeuxis finally getting to work in Puerto Rico. Zeuxis and AAA do not seem like a great fit at the moment; their focus is going to be on Faby/Shani and so Zeuxis would have the same issues there. WWE’s running another Mae Young Classic this summer and that’s probably the ultimate goal but I think generally trying to break in the US to make a name there is the plan.
06/02 ROH in New York
- Titan vs Cody (Rhodes)
- Ultimo Guerrero vs Dalton Castle (c) for the ROH Heavyweight Championship
These matches don’t seem to have been promoted yet; I just happened to check the lineup page for this show and found them on there. This is NOT a show that’ll stream live on their Honor Club service, but instead a TV taping that will air later on.
Ultimo Guerrero has a shot of winning the ROH title. The heavyweight championship is not really the drawing card for the promotion at the moment, so a short term reign for a guy who’s not known or around a lot isn’t going to hurt ROH. It would give them some added attention. Castle’s top challenger is Matt Taven, who’s got history with Guerrero and CMLL. They could easily spin it into a UG/Taven match next or a three way. Castle is banged up, enough that he missed his title defense against Taven last week. That could be an excuse for him losing the title and maybe a real reason to give him some time off. Guerrero doesn’t have a strong chance of winning by any means, but it’s a better shot than Titan has against Cody.
Dragon Lee is now 2-0 in the BOSJ tournament, following the grand tradition of CMLL luchadors of getting off to a hot start in a NJPW tournament and then not finishing so hot. Dragon Lee beat Taguchi today. Dragon Lee’s next match is Hiromu Takahashi early Friday morning, where both men will try to die. Should Dragon Lee live, he’s mentioned the other match he’s looking forward to is the one against El Desperado on the final show of the tour.
In an interview in Sinaloa, Johnny Idol noted he hasn’t been in CMLL in two months and didn’t seem to know when/if he’ll be back. It’s noticeable Sam Adonis is back in Mexico this week to work ChilangaMask and DragonMania (still no lineup) but isn’t on any CMLL shows. I think they’re both done in CMLL.
I don’t know the reason. I do know CMLL filed for a US trademark of “MISTICO” on April 12th, after Heroes of Lucha Libre had filed for their own trademark on “MÍSTICO” two months earlier. CMLL filed for that trademark just about the same day they pulled Adonis from the Casas match, and neither he or Idol has been booked since and Mistico & Dragon Lee aren’t on the June HOLL show. Adonis seemed to be the connection between Mistico & Dragon Lee & HOLL, CMLL is sensitive over the ownership of the Mistico name after everything that’s happened with Caristico & WWE, and it’s possible Adonis got the punishment for HOLL’s trademark (regardless if he was or was not had any responsibility for it), and Idol was cut loose because his only role was to fill out the trio they’re no longer running. I haven’t asked around, but the timing matches up. Adonis has mentioned a bunch of upcoming dates elsewhere in the world, and I’d suspect Idol would be looking for non-Mexico bookings too.
The latest ad for the 06/02 HOLL show includes Canek among those appearing.
A Generacion XXI/Tortas Super Astros card this Sunday has Los Traumas versus the Lucha Brothers. I wonder if Zeuxis is the mystery woman on the card.
RIOT has Riotmania on Saturday in Arena LLF
- Low Rider vs Caifan II
- Chik Torementa vs Lady Flammer
- Bandido vs Ultimo Ninja
- Extra Talent-ed (Ricky Starks & Aaron Solow) versus Los Mismos de Siempre (Kratoz & Kamikaze)
- Mr. Iguana vs Erik Ortiz
- UnMexicans (Kaientai & Bryon) vs ???????
The 06/29 ColiseoMania show in Monterrey’s baseball stadium has been suspended. My understanding is a show will be run at later date with a different lineup.
DTU announced Puerto Rico’s Cuervo and GCW’s G-Raver will be coming in for their June shows.
Segunda Caida watches the first Soberano/Negro Casas match.
LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania and the latest edition of the podcast.
Lost in Lucha writes about Atlantis versus Villano III.
Puma King & Barby were on the latest Reyes del Biutiful.
Ave Rex’s blog about his current fitness routine mentions a Tony Salazar concept for neck exercise.
Lineups
IWRG (WED) 05/23/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Chicanito vs Atomic Star
2) Mexica vs Demonio Infernal
3) Lunatic Xtreme & Toto vs Ángel Estrella Jr. & Death Metal
4) Alas de Acero, Aramis, Golden Magic vs Diablo Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Imposible
5) Leo, Mike, Teelo vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
Golden Magic & Hijo del Diablo back here for the first time in a while.
CMLL (SUN) 05/27/2018 Arena México
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) Magnus, Star Jr., Stigma vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Hijo del Signo, Inquisidor
3) Drone, Fuego, Rey Cometa vs Okumura, Templario, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Terrible © vs Diamante Azul [MEX HEAVY]
2nd defense, 2nd against Azul
5) Atlantis, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
Diamante Azul is going to win that title eventually because it doesn’t seem like there’s any other contenders. ight not be on this show.
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