Who could be the mysterious Dezmond X debuting on this week’s Lucha Underground? It’s so hard to figure out. Beyond the last Medallion match and the title match, the preview mentions more with XO Licious and Jack Evans.
AAA is back on Twitch Friday night. Taping is listed as starting at 8:30pm, so aim for around 9pm (or after the CMLL opener is done). And expect it to go past midnight.
I probably should give up and stop listing IWRG but my heart can’t let go.
The WON has an update on the Rey Mysterio situation: he and WWE are close enough to a deal that they’re discussing which shows he’s already agreed to elsewhere and which ones of those he’s willing to drop. The newsletter specifically mentions Rey as wanting to come back to The Crash to drop the heavyweight championship (assumed to be to Bestia) as well as working All In.
The newsletter also mentions Ultimo Ninja and Garza Jr. were planned to be in NXT already, only there were issues with work visa. Months ago, I was told that ColiseMania would be their last major date in Mexico. That show didn’t happen, and they’re still listed on lineups thru the end of the month. (Scroll down a little bit.) Visa issues would explain it, but it doesn’t seem like they’re moments away from leaving.
WWE is giving “exclusive” stories to media outlets to reveal participants in the upcoming Mae Young Classic over the last couple days. I don’t know it’s happening for a fact, but it seems to me it’s likely idea a place like MedioTiempo and Record might have their own name to announce in the next few days.
So it is indeed an Angel de Oro vs Cuatrero on Monday in a title match, and then the other two brothers in a title match on Tuesday. As usual, the midcard matches could be.
Cancerbero is still on his own. Raziel is gone for five weeks when most people seem to be suspended for three weeks for a minor/first time issue. Maybe there’s more going on.
AAA TV (THU) 08/02/2018 Palenque de la Feria Nacional De San Marcos, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes
1) Príncipe Seir, Titan Xtreme, Xtreme X vs Corazón Forajido, Dark Finder, Discovery
2) Arkángel Divino, Genio del Aire, Último Maldito vs Black Danger, Black Destiny, Mirage
3) Angelikal, Astrolux, Hijo Del Vikingo vs Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
4) Aerostar, Drago, Vanilla vs Bandido, Chik Tormenta, Flamita
5) Argenis, La Máscara, Máximo vs Hijo de LA Park, Monsther Clown, Murder Clown
6) Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly vs Juventud Guerrera, Killer Kross, Taurus
7) Pagano & Psycho Clown vs LA Park & Pentagón Jr.
This appears to be Penta’s his first match on AAA TV in 559 days. Some people have longer layoffs than other. 3 & 4 should be good. 2 is the same six guys as in Tijuana, though there’s a couple of people on the wrong side. We might have a better idea if any of these matches mean anything after tomorrow’s taping, but it appears to have a lot of the ELITE people.
Generacion XXI/Tortas Super Astro at Arena Queretaro on 08/15 will have Penta 0M, Phoenix, and Daga vs Rush, Dragon Lee and Mistico. Dragon Lee had previously mentioned that he wanted to do the Munoz vs Lucha Brothers match in Arena Mexico but it might happen elsewhere due to scheduling. They’ve added Daga & Mistico to make that work on a Wednesday night. It might turn up, at least in +LuchaTV highlights.
Matanza beat Cortez Castro (0:16, Wrath of the Gods, n/r)
Ivelisse beat Joey Ryan for an Azteca Medallion (5:35, code Red, ok)
Killshot beat Son of Havoc and the Mack for Azteca Medallions (9:24, stunner on Killshot, good)
Mil Muertes beat Cage for an Azteca Medallion (7:15, flatliner, great)
Status Check
Champion: Pentagon Dark
Gift of the Gods: vacant
Aztec Medallions: Dragon Azteca, King Cuerno, Ivelisse, the Mack, Son of Havoc, Mil Muertes, one more
Trios Champions: Killshot, the Mack, Son of Havoc
Died This Season (6): Jeremiah Crane (casket), Fenix (casket/lifeforce absorbed), Mr. Pec-tacular (sacrificed), Cortez Castro (sacrificed), Máscarita Sagrada (murdered by Rabbits)
Happenings
Elias is lucky to be in one piece
A classic Medallion moving episode, where more than half of the little gold things got handed out in an hour. It feels like an Ultima Lucha must be coming up, but the season isn’t quite that short. The big match featured two big men, Cage & Mil Muertes, having their first singles match. It was a hazardous match for referees, with all three of the Temple’s regular refs being taken out in short order. (Rich Knox landed hard on one shoulder off a Mil Muertes chokeslam, which could be the cause of the broken collarbone he mentioned during the season.) The match was dangerous for Cage too since Penta hid in the crowd under a King Cuerno match to attack the man who’d sneak attacked him. Cage missed a chance to get into the title shot match – but that seems to matter not at all since Penta offered a title match next week to settle the matter. That seems to be exactly the opposite of what Antonio was going for last week, and we’ll see if that’s picked up.
Mil Muertes got the win and the Medallion and an angsty relationship with Catrina. Catrina’s still in red following last week’s transformation and refused to Lick of Death Cage. Instead, she seemed to motion that death was coming for Mil. Something’s gone broken in that relationship and it’s not clear what.
Speaking of things gone wrong: Killshot is still angry with the world. There didn’t seem to be any great reason for so far this season, so at least tonight’s match gave him one. Antonio Cueto made the inevitable three-way match between the trios champions for two Medallions. Cueto explained only the person who didn’t get the pin would not get a Medallion. (He actually said they would leave empty-handed, but Killshot still had a trios belt in hand anyway.) It wasn’t clear how this would add to the match, and everyone just fought for themselves despite Killshot trying to get the Mack to work together against Havoc. The setup did finally play a role in the finish, where the Mack had a choice of pinning Killshot or Havoc and picked Killshot, denying his friend a Medallion. Killshot seemed to have just enough of both these guys after that stunt.
pounce
The other in-ring action was straightforward. Ivelisse picked up her own Medallion with a win over Joey Ryan, leaving one more to distribute. Cortez Castro made the mistake of returning to the Temple with his cover blown. Matanza sacrificed Castro out of existence, giving Antonio Cueto one less problem to deal with.
There seems to be a new problem on the horizon. Máscarita Sagrada made good on last week’s promise to take the Rabbit Tribe to the White Rabbit. The White Rabbit looks a lot of like Killer Kross sitting in a throne of thorns, with a laughing mini sidekick. Paul London asked for guidance, and the White Rabbit asked for London to kill the man who brought him there. London considered this for a moment, then bludgeoned Máscarita to death with a staff. Máscarita seemed completely unbothered by a man ordering his death and didn’t react at all while London was standing behind him contemplating murder. The Rabbit Tribe have a tendency to see things happening that the rest of us don’t see, so perhaps there’s more to be told to Sagrada’s story. At least for now, he appears true and well dead.
Thoughts
flying Mack
This was a better episode. I just didn’t get into a lot and don’t think I have a lot to say. I think I liked the episode overall but there were details that seemed frustrating in the moment. The first third or so of the show didn’t do much for me.
Making Castro a Matanza sacrifice was a logical move, his character had reached an endpoint after being revealed as a cop and getting revenge on Ryan. The match itself was even quicker than last week and had nothing to it.
Ivelisse and Joey Ryan had more to it. They tried to make it an Ivelisse showcase because she hasn’t been around – both her offense and her ability to take a punch to the face and keep going. The Joey Ryan character is just not interesting right now, just a one-note character who looks interesting in a group of people but isn’t someone I want to see in singles matches. Like Cortez, he doesn’t seem to have a character point to being on this show now.
The trios title champions are really suffering from a vignette explaining what we’re supposed to be thinking here. Or why we’re supposed to be thinking the way they want. Killshot is being presented as the bad guy, but Killshot is also clearly right when he tells the Mack to work together to beat Son of Havoc, a man they’re just being forced to team with. Killshot is clearly wronged when the Mack chooses to pin his good friend at the end of the match, and Havoc & the Mack should be expecting him to be angry about missing a title shot opportunity. The action was good, the storytelling is not there.
Cage is strong
Cage/Mil was fun destruction while it lasted, which felt about half as long as it did. It probably would’ve been annoying to go 15 and have Penta interference end it (even as good as that interference was done), so maybe it’s best to save the bigger match for a day where they could settle it themselves. Penta granting Cage a shot after the loss fits Penta’s no fear character but also diminishes the importance of winning the Aztec Medallions, the thing the show was built around. It also makes the bit last week about Antonio refusing to give Cage a title shot for attacking Penta dumb if that’s exactly the thing that’s going to happen. There’s still time next episode to explain this, but it’s not my favorite plot.
The Rabbit Tribe stuff was suitable weird for them, and a grandiose payoff to something that’d been teased for a couple seasons. The blood splashing Paul London’s face was a bit much, but it’s true to Lucha Underground. I’m not sure how this is going to payoff back in the ring, but I’m at least interested in seeing what happens next.
Asturiano & Meyerbeat King Rocker & Sombra Diabólika (11:07 [5:53, 2:47, 2:27], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Espanto Jr. & King Jaguar beat Arkalis & Black Tiger (10:18 [4:16, 1:59, 4:03], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Astral, Lestat, Star Jr. beatFuerza Chicana, Hijo del Signo, Policeman (13:34 [6:31, 2:30, 4:33], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)
Hechicero, Máscara Año 2000, Templario beat Rey Cometa, Rey Samuray, Stuka Jr. (12:29 [6:29, 3:06, 2:54], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Ángel de Oro, Mistico, Niebla Rojabeat Cuatrero, Mr. Niebla, Sansón (8:24 [4:17, 4:07], 1/2 COR, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
Atlantis, Carístico, Euforiabeat La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terriblein a relevos increíbles match (13:54 [4:07, 4:15, 5:32], 1/3 DQ, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)
What happened:
this was unexpected
Rush pulled off Atlantis’ mask for the DQ, then the rudos did the same to the other técnicos. Rush and Atlantis feuded during the match
After winning in straight falls, Mistico did a promo asking for another fall. So did Niebla Roja. It made it feel like maybe that wasn’t supposed to be the finish. Angel de Oro eventually challenged for Cuatrero’s title.
In the second match, the first fall included Signo pinning Astral while Star Jr. was kicking and punching at Signo. The referee kept counting anyway.
Thoughts:
Los Ingobernables weren’t in a mood to do much, and this wasn’t a técnico side that was going to be interesting on their own. Far more concerning was the clear tease of them setting up a bad Atlantis/Rush match next. Euforia doing spots with Bestia is not quite asking Picasso to go paint a barn, but it does seem quite a waste.
powerbomb neckbreaker
The semimain was a less version of last week’s brawl, with less energy and often seeming boring. It wasn’t really toned down, no one told Mistico & Mr. Niebla to cut out the chair throwing or they didn’t listen. It was more missing a lot of energy. The finish feels like it comes right in the middle of the comeback and the match doesn’t amount to much.
The first fall of the four match was a good warm up, with interesting Templario/Samuray and Hechicero/Cometa exchanges which promised a lot for the rest of the match. And then the rest of the match went about 6 minutes and never ramped up in any way, with the most exciting thing happening being Cometa wrestling without his headband. I’d really like to see Templario and Samuray do some complicated stuff one day. They didn’t get to here. Cometa clipping his knee on a middle rope moonsault was a way for that to go wrong that I’ve never seen before.
Asturiano flew around enough to make the opener slightly better, but it was still not interesting. King Rocker’s corner running boot to end the second fall looked bad, mostly because Meyer wasn’t at all interested in taking it. Rocker is willing to take silly bumps but not working with many people who feels the same. Asturiano wandering around to break up the pin because Diabolika was not paying attention also looked silly.
CMLL (TUE) 07/10/2018Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) Mercurio & Pequeño Violencia b Acero & Aéreo rudos took 1/3.
2) Akuma, Inquisidor, Yago b Magnus, Retro, Sangre Imperial Rudos took 1/3.
3) Pegasso DQ Virus [lightning] Virus was DQed for kicking the middle rope as Pegasso stepped thru them. The middle rope seemed to hit the back of Pegasso’s knee, but he reacted like he was fouled and Tirantes called the DQ>
4) Black Panther, Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr. b Misterioso Jr., Puma, Tiger tecnicos took 1/3.
5) Felino, Rey Bucanero, Shocker b Audaz, Stuka Jr., Valiente Audaz replaced Flyer. Rudos took 1/3.
6) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Ángel de Oro, Kráneo, Niebla Roja straight falls for NGD, setting up Niebla Roja/Sanson next week. Mije was hurt when Forastero tossed him out of the ring to Kraneo, only he tossed Mije too far and Kraneo couldn’t catch him.
There’s also a promo for Pegasso on his victory, and one with the NGD saying they’re ready for to beat Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja again. The fourth match was said to be pretty good.
The Mack & Son of Havoc & someone else for an Aztec Medalion (photo)
Matanza sacrifices someone
I’m not sure if the last Aztec Medalion match is a three-way or if more people just happen to be not shown in the photos. You can see someone’s limbs in the photo but I couldn’t figure out who it was. It’s Lucha Underground, so you’d sort of expect the trios champions to have to face each other. A fourth Medalion may also be in play on this show.
The preview also mentions a follow up on the Rabbit Tribe, so this is going to a pretty busy show. The tag match isn’t specifically revealed to be an Aztec Medallion match, but the preview says there will be three so work it out.
Lucha Underground is likely coming back for Season 5. It likely will be taped in another new location. That’s what I got out of a Marty Elias interview on the Wrestling Compadres Slamcast. (Thanks to Alan for pointing it out.) Season 5 is not official, Elias was very clear and specific that “it’s the rumor” that LU will get another season following the current one, but he was equally clear the show is not expecting to cease production. It appears it’s already being worked on, as Elias mentions people are scouting a new location for next season, and he seemed pretty excited by the (unnamed) place they were looking it. Elias thought it was a strong idea to move around – a wrestling promotion that plays with the arena so much could always use new places to play off so that part stays fresh.
Elias mentions some vague changes internally in Lucha Underground, and news coming at the start of the year. Lucha Underground Season 4 will wrap the first week of November, so it’s possible everyone may be waiting around for a couple months to get the official word.
This season may have ended up going longer. During production, El Rey gave Lucha Underground a call and asked them to up the number of episodes. “When we showed up that day before we started taping at 4:30, we got word from the network that they wanted an additional 26 episodes of season 4.” 26 is a lot of episodes, and Elias may have meant El Rey was looking to bump up the total for the season to 26, adding just 4 new episodes. (LU S4 was believed to be 26 episodes at one point.) Either way, the problem was El Rey made this call to Lucha Underground on the first day of Ultima Lucha 4 taping. It’s a bit of a storyline problem to add episodes at that point, and it was even more of a logistical problem: luchadors have dates elsewhere, and parts of the production was moving over to film a season of The Contender boxing series. LU went back to El Rey, explained the deal, and El Rey said that was ok – they’d just add that episode count onto Season 5. Which is a logical reason to believe Season 5 is likely happening.
Again, this is not official until someone puts out a press release. Things could still happen between now and 2019. El Rey has to exist for Lucha Underground to have a deal with El Rey. Univision owns part of El Rey, so maybe their current financial restructuring is a bigger deal to El Rey’s future than whether Antonio gets over. The channel will still be off Sling this week, and that’s connected. However, knowing the show is probably going to be back should allow for a better Season 5 if they can work on things (work visas, work visas, work visas) in between seasons and aren’t stuck throwing things together in a rush.
AAA posted a short bio video on Drago. This had been airing on the Twitch stream in-between some of the shows.
There will be a free show in Mexico City’s Zocalo on July 21st. It’s part of a celebration of Mexican culture and set up by the Mexico City lucha libre commission. LEGEND & WWS have been announced as participating. No card yet.
That main event should be pretty good (and it’s notable they’re letting them be the main event.) Semimain sets up Atlantis/Rush; CMLL is not bothered by Atlantis’ performances.
Not a good week. Even the stuff listed good wasn’t that strong; you’re not missing anything if you skip everything below. It was a good week to catch up on other stuff, and I’d like to squeeze in another post of that stuff before AAA takes of my life.
recommended matches
rating
matches
TV Show
taped
good
Volador Jr. vs Último Guerrero
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-02
2018-07-02
good
Ángel de Oro, Kráneo, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-03
2018-07-03
good
Johnny Mundo & Taya vs Daga & Kobra Moon
Lucha Underground: 2018-07-04
2018-02-24
Other matches watched
ok
Princesa Sugehit vs Amapolafor the Mexican National Women’s Championship
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-02
2018-07-02
ok
Ángel de Oro, Mistico, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Mr. Niebla, Sansón
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-02
2018-07-02
ok
Audaz vs Universo 2000 Jr.in a lightning match
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-03
2018-07-03
ok
Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto vs Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Stuka Jr.
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-03
2018-07-03
ok
Jake Strong vs Big Bad Steve
Lucha Underground: 2018-07-04
2018-02-24
ok
Mr. Pec-Tecular vs Matanza
Lucha Underground: 2018-07-04
2018-02-24
ok
King Cuerno vs Chavo Guerrero Jr. [Aztec Medalion]
Lucha Underground: 2018-07-04
2018-02-24
ok
Robin & Starman vs Apocalipsis & Inquisidor
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2018-07-06
2018-07-06
ok
La Guerrera, La Jarochita, Marcela vs Dalys, Metálica, Tiffany
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2018-07-06
2018-07-06
ok
Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr., Tritón vs Puma, Tiger, Virus
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2018-07-06
2018-07-06
ok
Atlantis, Flyer, Soberano Jr. vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2018-07-06
2018-07-06
ok
Ciber the Main Man, Scharly Rock Star, The Chris vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2018-07-06
2018-07-06
ok
Penta El Zero M, Rush, Terrible vs Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr.in a relevos increíbles match
CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2018-07-06
2018-07-06
below average
Astral, Eléctrico, Príncipe Diamante vs Akuma, Hijo del Signo, Metálico
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-03
2018-07-03
not rated
Black Tiger, Hijo de Centella Roja, Meyer vs Ares, Guerrero Espacial, King Rocker
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-02
2018-07-02
not rated
Oro Jr., Rey Samuray, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Espíritu Maligno, Príncipe Odín Jr., Rey Apocalipsis
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-02
2018-07-02
not rated
Drone, Lestat, Stigma vs El Malayo, Okumura, Olímpico
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-02
2018-07-02
not rated
Stukita & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico
CMLL YouTube: 2018-07-03
2018-07-03
not rated
Drone, Fuego, Pegasso vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Sangre Azteca
