CMLL (FRI) 06/08/2018 Arena México [CMLL, El Grafico, ESTO, Estrellas del Ring, Lucha Central, Ovaciones, thecubsfan]
1) Oro Jr. & Star Jr. b Cancerbero & Raziel 
15:25. Tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Puma, Tiger, Virus b Drone, Fuego, Tritón
14:21. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Audaz, Soberano Jr., Titán
18:42. NGD took 1/3.
4) Hechicero b Stuka Jr. [lightning]
8:28. Hechicero won with Magia Negra
5) Carístico, Mistico, Rey Fénix b Cavernario, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero 
13:32. Tecnicos took 2/3. Rey Fenix’s debut, where he did well and was well over.
6) Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, Volador Jr. DQ La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
14:47. Straight falls, with Rush being DQed for fouls and referee attacks in both falls. Rush is willing to have the singles match with LA Park but Park wants it to be super libre.
This was an enjoyable match without a sure fire standout match. The Rey Fenix match was surely the match of the night, though even then Fenix was showing off more what he could do that no one here does and not going (or needing to go) full out. Every media recap of Fenix’s first match seems to start with the word “exitosa” – successful.
There is a bit of diminishing returns in the Park/Rush trios creatively, but it still seems to be drawing very well.
Post match promos: Star Jr. & Oro Jr., Hechicero, Rey Fenix, Los Ingobernables.
+LuchaTV also posted the press interviews with Rey Fenix, Mistico & Caristico.
Today’s shows include Volador vs Rush in Arena Coliseo & a Mexa Wrestling show with Bandido versus Steve Pain and Zeuxis’ debut with the promotion. Mexa Wrestling has been my favorite indie this year (helped a lot by actually being able to see full matches from a good position via Carxyus’ Facebok)
ELITE posted a short video teasing July 21st in Mexico as a return. While everyone’s understandably making jokes about ELITE disappearing sometime around July 22nd, that 07/21 has also notably already been announced as an AAA taping in Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera. I do not know for sure if AAA is doing a roster split or some other situation where they begin running ELITE shows as a sibling promotion, but the pieces are starting to fit. All those extra AAA TV tapings make sense if they’re actually alternating between AAA & ELITE. It may be a month before a taping, yet we may get another press conference explaining what’s going on before then.
Konnan, at the start of the latest edition of his Keepin’ It 100 podcast, confirmed the AAA/MSG story as something being working on. (It’s also referenced in La Parka’s Record column.) Konnan explains it as a potential deal with a “humongous Spanish station, they’re going to be behind this, promote this, and maybe taping this for a TV show.” It’s not really said if this is a TV or radio station, and if the date is dependent on making that deal. Running a show in MSG with other people’s money is the only way this makes sense for AAA. It may not closely resemble the AAA shows in Mexico; Konnan pitched it as including nostalgia acts as well as new ones, plus people who the New York fans would be familiar with. Konnan also happens to mentions AAA is running the Los Angeles Forum (no date mentioned) and the September trip to Colombia. Konnan wasn’t aware until recently that the Space channel is airing in South America and they’re all interested to see if that helps open the area for AAA tours.
In more general details, Konnan talked about his crazy travel leading into Monterrey: Pachuca for that taping, then to Los Angeles for the Mundo/Taya wedding, then Toronto area for the Impact tapings and then Verano de Escandalo. He was still writing Verano on the way to it, saying a lot of things changed at the last minute. That again suggests Konnan was under the impression Rey Fenix was winning the title in his return and told AroLucha. Konnan pegs the attendance for the show at 7 to 8,000, lower than the WON number. Jeff Jarrett told Konnan he wasn’t in wrestling shape and Konnan totally agreed after seeing him in that match, but was really excited about how that big angle came off and the entire show. Konnan was asked about Vampiro, and said it’s not easy to work with him because Vampiro is all over the place as if he has ADHD, but Vampiro is also on his best behavior because he’s aware he’s on the short leash. I read that as ownership told Konnan that he had to give Vamprio a chance to stay part of the team, and Vampiro may be out the door on his next mistake.
Meta: I’m really not excited by the idea of getting back on transcribing Konnan podcasts again. There usually is some depth to stories that only come out in sparse details (like finding out more about the MSG plan) but it also ends with spending a lot of time writing about stuff that doesn’t end up going anywhere. This one was really easy, it was literally the first thing on his podcast, and I still wasn’t excited to do it. So I don’t know what to do about that.
Lucha Underground posted a Pentagon Dark promo to hype the Lucha Underground Season 4 Premiere. Prowrestling.com has a two part interview with head writer Chris DeJoseph about season 4.
TNT Germany, which carries the first run episodes of Lucha Underground there, announced they’ll start airing Season 4 on 06/16. That’s the same week as in the US, the first time they’ve been that up to date. Canada’s TLN was the only other market doing the same, and I haven’t seen if they’ll be doing it for Season 4.
Bengala announced he has been cleared to return to the ring. Bengala has been advertised on shows, but we haven’t actually seen him in three months, since a March 4th on Rey de Reyes. He went on the reality show with Suicide, Hades and Lady Shani, and suffered the foot injury diving in the water as part of a challenge. Bengala had been teaming with Hijo del Fantasma against Texano & Tirantes when we last saw him. That feud has been dropped cold so I’m not sure where he’ll fit back in.
Hijo de Octagon took America’s mask last Saturday in a cage match. No name announced in that video. America is either a Zamora local or someone just using the gimmick for the night, and was obviously losing the moment they announced the match.
Is Teddy Hart Still In AAA Watch: he’s not listed in AAA’s description of the multiman match from Tijuana. I wonder if they edit out his non-entrance?
Roberto Figueroa confirmed Tiburon is Atlantis Jr.
Lineups
CMLL (FRI) 06/15/2018 Arena México
1) Shockercito & Stukita vs Mercurio & Pequeño Nitro
2) Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, The Panther vs Kawato San, Okumura, Universo 2000 Jr.
3) Esfinge, Titán, Tritón vs Felino, Puma, Tiger
4) Hijo de LA Park, Niebla Roja, Valiente vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
5) Carístico vs Dragón Lee [lightning]
6) LA Park, Rey Fénix, Volador Jr. vs Cibernético, Rush, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
The big story is Puma & Tiger have made it all the way to the tercera they’re not running Rush/Park in a singles yet. I was sure CMLL was going to peak before the World Cup and then go a lot quieter for a few months. You can throw that theory out the door if they’re still saving that match.
Cibernetico is back. It’s his first CMLL match since ELITE’s last return on February 11. I don’t think this has anything to do with this next ELITE return – Konnan & Cibernetico are said not to be close – but a general plan to continue the summer of Friday night guest stars. Cibernetico fits in personality with Rush & Terrible. A better base would’ve been nice for Fenix & Volador.
This 06/15 is believed to be the only free Friday in June for Penta, so don’t count on seeing him very soon despite a tease last night. He’s still be coming, just may take some pateience. Other surprising names may be in the pipeline.
Caristico/Dragon Lee is a rematch of the “Dragon Lee suffers a horrible looking leg injury but turns out to be relatively ok” match from a month ago.
