Month: June 2018

CMLL (FRI) 06/29/2018 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central, Marca, Ovaciones, thecubsfan]
1) Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo b Magnus & Príncipe Diamante 
11:29. Rudos took 1/3.
2) Disturbio, Kawato San, Okumura b Pegasso, Star Jr., Stigma 
14:12. Rudos took 2/3.
3) Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. b Ephesto, Mephisto, Templario 
10:12. Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, Niebla Roja 
14:49. Rudos took 1/3. Amapola, Mascara 2000, Tony Salazar and Dr. Jose Narro Robles, the former dean of the UNAM university and current Mexico Secretary of Health were given the Copa Bobby Bonales were honored.
5) King Phoenix b Cavernario 
19:00. Cavernario took fall 1 by countout after the splash to the floor. Phoenix took falls 2/3.
6) Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. DQ Ciber the Main Man, Sharly Rock Star, The Chrizh 
10:13. Cibernetico is Ciber the Main Man and Zorro is the Chrizh. Klan Kaoz was DQed in the second fall for mask remove, then DQed in the third fall when Penta el Zero M ran in to attack Penta. They fought and cut promos on each other.

CMLL post-match promos: Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo (will form a team if the fans want it), the Copa Bobby Bonales winners, King Phoenix (satisfied with the match and getting revenge on Cavernario), Klan Kaoz (challenge everyone), Penta el Zero M (coming for Caristico’s mask) and Caristico (vs Penta). Box Y Lucha posted the general media interviews with Caristico (thinks his partners are jealous), Penta (likes the idea of a Caristico/Penta and Park/Rush doubleheader at the Anniversario show), and Klan Kaoz.

Penta’s debut got a huge reaction. I thought Caristico got too much on him for their first interaction in Arena Mexico. It probably doesn’t matter. They’re not doing the mask match but they are probably going to have a heated singles match at some point. Maybe not next week, and probably not the week after since Penta is booked elsewhere. CMLL seems to be not using LA Park at this moment because he’s working out the AAA/ELITE show, which would suggest neither Caristico nor Penta are the main event surprise for that show.

Phoenix/Cavernario was worth going out of your way to watch. Phoenix getting the W means CMLL got bigger plans; he’s sure to be on the Anniversario in some form at this point. (Maybe Lucha Brothers vs Dragon Lee/Caristico?) Cavernario should get some bigger plans too – the boos for Phoenix were more about CMLL fans wanting some more for their caveman.

Klan Kaoz didn’t look at the wrestling level of CMLL main events. On the other hand, they’re bringing in Rayo de Jalisco and Octagon in a couple weeks so maybe that doesn’t matter.

Volador is very much the odd man out right now. He looked very unhappy about it in the main event. He attacked Caristico with Zorro’s cane (only after Zorro didn’t get the idea to do it first) even though they’re supposed to be partners in something that didn’t look like part of the plan. Volador was clearly frustrated during the match, showing most life when he got the crowd to chant at Klan Kaoz.

Negro Casas was supposed to wrestle for CWA in Puerto Rico today. Instead, the promotion says Negro Casas was arrested entering the country for not having a proper work visa. There’s no word about his current status, though the promotion writing “hopefully we can bring him in later” does sound like they don’t believe it wasn’t serious. It also seemed like they thought it was a mistake Casas made, not them.

All Pro Wrestling announced Titan will face Flip Gordon in the first round of next Friday’s King of the Indies tournament. Dragon Lee’s first-round match is still to be announced.

LuchaWorld has the latest edition of their podcast.

A brief article on the Santo museum in Tulancingo.

Lineup

CMLL (FRI) 07/06/2018 Arena México
1) Robin & Starman vs Apocalipsis & Inquisidor
2) La Guerrera, La Jarochita, Marcela vs Dalys, Metálica, Tiffany
3) Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr., Tritón vs Puma, Tiger, Virus
4) Atlantis, Flyer, Soberano Jr. vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
5) Ciber the Main Man, Scharly Rock Star, The Chris vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
6) Penta El Zero M, Rush, Terrible vs Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

The main event really doesn’t make any sense – Valiente & Volador are emphatically not Caristico’s friends. CMLL may have changed a lot this year but their booking still doesn’t always have to make sense. At least Penta is an upgrade on La Bestia del Ring.

I’m making a lot of the bad Klan Kaos names because they are very bad. I know the pattern because it’s happened a lot the last few years: someone shows up in CMLL with a strange new name, everyone points out how dumb it is for about two weeks, and then we get used to calling a grown human “Caristico” after a while. These names are absurdly bad. They rely on you knowing the real identity of the wrestlers while being stuck in the mindset that everyone has to have a gimmick name. That’s not really necessary, and it’s actively counter produce here. Just call them Cristobel Martinez and Jesus Luna and Octavio Lopez, and everyone who doesn’t now who those people are will figure out quickly enough, and you won’t look like dopes in the process.

This may all be a moot point if they can’t have a better match than last night. If they can’t be good with the Guerreros, there’s not a lot of hope. The following week card (07/13) is going to be different looking with the celerbation of Atlantis anyway. I wonder if they’ll sneak Tiburon onto the card?

3th & 4th matches should be good. La Guerrera hasn’t made an appearance since her sole streaming match on May 8th, so she’s a surprising inclusion here. But then she can’t be any worse than the tag team of Apocalipsis & Inquisidor. Maybe tune in late.

Of note: if Mexico gets past Brazil on Monday (and gets past the World Cup round of 16 for the first time since 1986), they’d play their quarterfinal game against Japan or Belgium earlier this night.

After five weeks of LA Park versus Rush, CMLL goes a different direction tonight. Cibernetico, Zorro and Sharly Rock Star debut as Klan Kaoz. It’s a faction started in the Zorro-led Kaoz promotion in Monterrey that’s only one run show so far, so right now it’s just an easier way of saying “here are some people you might remember from a certain era of AAA.”

Cibernetico & Sharly have been on CMLL shows in the past, while Zorro hasn’t been around Arena Mexico in nearly two decades. All are sort of comparable to Rey Bucanero at this point in their career. Cibernetico was a bigger star than Bucanero, but all four are similar long past their physical primes. You can count on them to show effort in a big match, like tonight’s debut is, but they also shouldn’t be expected to have great matches. All probably could offer lucha libre a lot more with their minds than their bodies, but the economics of the Mexican wrestling business has left them still in the ring. They’re not at all a good stylistic match for Caristico, Volador, and Valiente – either a younger guy needed to be added to Klan Kaoz or an older guy needs to be added to the tecnico side – and it’s tough for me see past that to figure out if this is going to draw or not. With this match, both AAA & CMLL are kind of both running inter-promotional feuds against promotions which don’t really exist – CMLL against a variety of ex-AAA guys, AAA against ELITE as a stand-in for CMLL. I’m not sure if there’s still enough interest in this era of AAA to bring curious people to Arena Mexico, especially following the much bigger Park/Rush matches.

King Phoenix and Cavernario should bring some curious independent onlookers, curious to see what Fenix will do in his singles opportunity. I think there’s more pressure on Cavernario, who didn’t seem like he could keep up with one of the skilled luchadors in the world last week. Cavernario has the reputation of being one of the best wrestlers in CMLL and often lives up to that, but Fenix has gotten his own rep as one of the best by adapting well with people who aren’t working his usual style. Cavernario’s got to show that ability tonight.

A lot of solid matches without anything big for the rest of the show. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja (maybe) team with Atlantis to face NGD again. Maya, Cometa, and Stuka take on Ephesto, Mephisto and Templario, which should be a nice chance for the young rudo. Okumura, Kawato San and Disturbio take on Pegasso, Star Jr. and Stigma in the second match, and Magnus & Principe Diamante face Espanto Jr. & Hijo del Signo in the opener.

Beyond the matches, Amapola, Mascara 2000 and Tony Salazar will receive the Copa Bobby Bonales award. Pheonix/Cavernario is listed as a full three fall match, so this figures to be a long show.

Lucha Central has their own preview.

As always, the Friday night show is supposed to be streamed on Marca and Facebook. Both appear to be regionblocked at the moment, which means I’ll probably be streaming on Twitter. Check the pinned Tweet for info later.

Dragon Lee will be wrestling on the NJPW CEO show tonight. He teams with Taguchi to face Roppongi 3K. The entire show will stream for free on CEO’s Twitch channel starting at 7 (though I think the main card may not start until 7:30.) I’m not sure about match order, but I think Lee’s match will be on before the CMLL show starts or just about the time of the opener. I’m not sure if it’ll be available later.

Niebla Roja is also listed as teaming with Mistico against Rey Bucanero & Shocker in Tijuana tonight. I suspect he works Arena Mexico and not that date. Shocker is listeda as working about 4 different shows in that area of the country this weekend. Today would’ve been the show of the ColiseoMania show, which would’ve meant Fenix wouldn’t be in for this show.

CMLL had a non-streamed press conference yesterday with Atlantis & Octagon, talking up Octagon’s appearance on Atlantis’ 07/13 anniversary show. They’re also doing the bit where they hype it as Octagon’s first match in Arena Mexico since leaving for AAA. It’ll be his 9th Arena match over the last three years, and his second CMLL Arena Mexico show. He last appeared on the legend’s show in November 2017, where he was loudly booed by the crowd.

Impact announced a Pentagon Jr. vs Sami Callihan mask versus hair match on their 07/22 Slammiversary PPV. Pentagon is surely winning. It is funny that now AAA has a mask match that could mess with their big main event (even done by a partner), while they’re running a mask match that could mess with CMLL’s big main event.

Garza Jr. posted video of him working out at home, so I don’t think he’s in NXT.

Lucha World has the latest Lucha Report.

+LuchaTV has a new Aqui esta la Lucha.

Segunda Caida reviews LA Park vs Caristico in ELITE.

Excelsior has an interview with Tony Salazar.

Principe Diamante & Star Jr. were on Marca’s weekly CMLL interview.

EMW will have Psycho Clown vs LA Park vs Hijo del Fantasma on 07/27 in Tijuana.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 07/03/2018 Arena México
1) Stukita & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Príncipe Diamante vs Akuma, Hijo del Signo, Metálico
3) Drone, Fuego, Pegasso vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Sangre Azteca
4) Audaz vs Universo 2000 Jr. [lightning]
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto vs Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Kráneo
6) Ángel de Oro, Diamante Azul, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón

Diamante Azul is back and the Flyer/Forastero feud is not. Audaz and Universo 2000 Jr. does not seem like an especially great fit for either of them but maybe we’ll be surprised.

Trying to sort out the LA Park news is complicated at this point. Both AAA & CMLL have different stories. At the AAA/ELITE press conference, Dorian Roldan was asked about Rush versus LA Park happening at the CMLL anniversary show. Roldan said he believed it’s impossible for that to happen this year, sometimes life gives surprises, but he did not think it would happen this year. Some people believed Roldan was being sarcastic in that remark. Meanwhile, on yesterday’s CMLL Informa, Julio Cesar Rivera issued a statement on behalf of the promotion saying LA Park was not fired from CMLL and was not suspended from CMLL. The door is open for him to return whenever he’s finished his dates with “the other company.” Rush also passionately accepted LA Park challenge hair versus mask for the Anniversario.

As best I can figure out, CMLL does not want the indie luchadors they’re featuring to be wrestling on both their shows and AAA shows at the same time. If they’re serious about LA Park returning only when he’s finished with AAA, that means we will not see him again in Arena Mexico until at least August 31, just two weeks before the potential mask match. They’re also going out of their way to make it clear LA Park is welcome back and trying to speak only positively of him, which suggests LA Park is still the one in control of this process. Meanwhile, it’s absolutely in AAA’s interest to sell the idea that the only place you’ll see LA Park put up his mask – and maybe the place you’ll see him lose it – is on their own TripleMania show. It’s confusing, and that benefits AAA. If you’re hoping for clear answers, you’re probably not getting them until the TripleMania main event is over, and that’s great news for AAA.

EMW announced Fenix working their AAA 07/27 Tijuana show. Fenix has noticeably not been listed on any of the AAA TV taping so far. I’d assume he’d also have to leave CMLL shows once those start.

CMLL announced the Copa Bobby Bonales honorees will be Mascara 2000, Amapola and Tony Salazar. I guess they’re adding a retired wrestler to each year (though they’re kind of there already with Mascara.)

Today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter said Garza Jr. has been in NXT. Garza Jr. was supposed to be in NXT in June, so that seems logical – just a little surprising that Garza Jr. be there for a week and it wouldn’t get out at all. I know all luchadors aren’t as well known in the US but Garza’s not afraid to give away those secrets himself. The newsletter went as far as to say Garza Jr. might have been on the NXT tapings, and that part is definitely not correct. Ultimo Ninja was expected to go to NXT with Garza. There’s no mention of him, but he’s a masked dude who wouldn’t be quickly identified unmasked so not as big a deal.

WWE seems like they’ve been more flexible about letting people start with them while finishing out last few dates this year in the US but not sure if that applies to Mexico. It seems unlikely Garza would be on the 07/14 Crash show if he’s really in NXT. Ninja is listed tonight in Saltillo, and Garza is listed Saturday in Tlaxcala, and I’d think those would be highly questionable if they’ve made it to Orlando. Both were listed on the since-canceled ColiseoMania show which would’ve taken place this Friday, and Garza is advertised as far out as the 07/22 Revo Lucha sort of make-up show. Revo Lucha is as close to Garza as anyone, so I assumed Garza wasn’t going that soon after all once he showed up on that poster. Something doesn’t add up.

RO Wrestling in Salon Citlali/CAR The Crash on 07/14

• Eterno vs Tiger for a Houston Championship?
• Soberano vs Aramis

When I saw the Houston championship listed in that first match, I thought this show was happening in Houston and was unsure why individual match announcements were being made for luchadors in a town we never see lucha libre from. Now I’m more confused why they have a Houston championship on the line.

Lucha Memes in Coliseo Coacalco (Chairo Bill Vol. 4) on 07/22

• Lolita vs Keyra
• Aaron Sykes & Helio Guerra (DFW) vs Dr. Polux Jr. & Murcielago Plateado (G21)
• Totem I & II (Xalapa) vs Multifacetico & Prayer (Puebla) – new

This is an eclectic group of matches. These matches may be good but I’d think a bigger Mexico City attraction has to be coming.

MexaWrestling in Arena San Juan Pantitlan (Mextasis) on 08/04

• Bandido & Flamita vs Steve Pain & Eterno
• Toxin vs Fly Star, mask vs mask

Those are strong matches.

Dragon Lee takes on ACH in California’s PCW Ultra on Friday 07/27, so that’s another Friday Dragon Lee won’t be working in Arena Mexico.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 07/02/2018 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger, Hijo de Centella Roja, Meyer vs Ares, Guerrero Espacial, King Rocker
2) Oro Jr., Rey Samuray, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Espíritu Maligno, Príncipe Odín Jr., Rey Apocalipsis
3) Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola [MEX WOMEN]
fifth defense
4) Drone, Lestat, Stigma vs El Malayo, Okumura, Olímpico
5) Ángel de Oro, Mistico, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Mr. Niebla, Sansón
6) Volador Jr. vs Último Guerrero

The two singles matche were set up last week. The fourth match seems like punishment for someone.

CMLL (TUE) 07/03/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Magnum, Star Black, Vaquero Jr. vs Carlo Roggi, Difunto, Guerrero de la Muerte
2) Maligna, Mystique, Princesa Sugehit vs La Comandante, La Seductora, Reyna Isis
3) Esfinge, Titán, Tritón vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Kawato San, Pólvora
4) Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas vs Flyer, Soberano Jr., Valiente
5) Carístico, Dragón Lee, Mistico vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero

No Soberano/Cavernario quite yet. No Flyer/Forastero either if he’s wrestling here and not in Arena Mexico.

Klandestino (SAT) 08/04/2018 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Flyman, Kalibus, Súper Terry vs Mantra, Mordok, Súper Dragons Jr.
2) Keira & Reina del Sur vs Lady Maravilla & Lolita
3) Alas de Oro, Centella Oriental, Mexica, Yakuza vs Danger, Loquillo, Sádico, Yoruba
4) Emperador Azteca, Golden Magic, Iron Lover vs Hijo de LA Park, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pitbull
5) Dragón Lee vs Laredo Kid, El Bandido, Daga
6) LA Park & Rey Wagner vs Rush & Terrible

This is a ways off but a good lineup – and notable for being on the same night as an AAA TV taping. It looks like it might an AAA/ELITE deal too, only the notable ELITE names are here. With no TV deal announced, maybe it’s a sign of changing plans?