Month: August 2018

Los Ingobernables de Japan members Naito & BUSHI return to Arena Mexico tonight, teaming with Los Ingobernable’s Rush tonight in the match. EVIL is scheduled to be with them, and there’s a good chance La Bestia del Ring and Terrible will join in the Ingobernables fiesta by the time they’re done. LA Park, Volador, and Diamante Azul are the competition, not the Washington Generals, but it’s probably not going to be their night. CMLL crowd reacted turned out and reacted strongly to Okada a few weeks ago. Naito is likely a bigger star to their fans, given his history with their company, so I expect a similar event tonight. CMLL going with a picture of BUSHI where he’s holding a teddy bear is great.

Reporte Indigo has a story on the reach of Los Ingobernables.

Most people are going to focus on the main event. Cavernario/Matt Taven is going to be the match of the night. Cavernario is very good and Matt Taven’s been in his best form in CMLL this run. He’ll technically be the tecnico, but that CMLL crowd is going to be behind the favorite caveman, just as they were in the King Phoenix feud. Cavernario might even actually win this time. This should be something people are excited to see but, like everything associated with the 09/14 card, CMLL’s made people less interested.

Definitely less interesting is the semi-main, another Guerreros versus Klan Kaoz match. These have been the same matches since this feud started, just varying on how much extra the Guerreros want to do and the crowd’s willingness to go along. Something probably needs to happen here to get raise interest in this feud. I’m uncertain what they could do.

One problem with pushing Klan Kaoz as a rudo threat to the Guerreros is the Nueva Generacion Dinamitas exist, are in the match just prior, and would’ve been more exciting title challengers. Instead, they continue to drift, facing the Casas team of Negro Casas, Felino & Tiger. That’s two rudo/rudo matches on the show for no particular reason. Marcela, Lluvia, and La Jarochita and Dalys, Reina Isis and Amapola in a trios match that feels very familiar even if it hasn’t happened in exactly that combination. Arkalis makes his Marca debut tonight, teaming with Robin against Coyote & Akuma. Those guys are capable of having an above average opening match.

This show airs at 8:30pm CT on both Marca and Facebook – though there’s no Facebook link up yet, and Marca’s feed is listed as regionblocked at the moment. This seems like a problem, the kind I usually have to figure out myself, so the bad news for you is I’m probably not streaming tonight’s CMLL on YouTube. I’m going to be at a different wrestling show tonight, not watching this show live. (I also, despite my best efforts, have a fantasy football draft tonight.) I may be able to get the stream started remotely, but both the Marca and Facebook feed died on me last week and I’d have to spend the night glued to my phone to make sure it was working. I recommend you use the Facebook feed when it comes out tonight, or just wait until tomorrow and watch it on YouTube.

Lucha Central has a preview of the show.

Mr. Niebla is off the 09/14 CMLL 85th Anniversario show. CMLL quietly replaced his name with Mephisto on the website. That’s as close as they’ll come to acknowledging Niebla’s performance on Tuesday. Mr. Niebla originally seemed to be suspended for about three weeks for every one of these incidents. The length of his suspensions has grown in more recent years, though there’s no consistent pattern to it. I do expect we’ll see Mr. Niebla back in CMLL but I would not bet on a specific time.

CMLL starts it’s Matt Taven & Cavernario career look backs.

ExpoLucha gets into full gear tonight. They’ll be streaming a Future Legend show on Lucha Central tonight at 10pm CT. Penta, Rey Fenix and Rey Mysterio team up – for probably the last time in at least a while – against Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis and Super Crazy. It’ll surely be the last Rey’s last match with Guerrera & Psicosis for a few years, and who knows if any one of them will be wrestling the next time Mysterio leaves WWE, or if there’s even going to be another post-WWE Mysterio. It’s Lucha Central’s first live streaming show, so cross your fingers, but it looks like a good lineup if goes off without a hitch.

The PALL alliance of promotions has their debut show tonight in Arena Naucalpan. The scheduled main is LA Park vs Rayo de Jalisco vs Mr. Niebla Hechicero. Mr. Niebla has been pulled off this show due to his CMLL suspension. Park is attempting to work both Arena Mexico & Arena Naucalpan on the same night, which can be done but might not mean the best for him in either place. The most interesting match to me is the Tortugas Ninjas vs Kamikazes del Aire vs Freelance/Segura/Dragon Bane three-way tiros match. This will definitely turn in YouTube bootlegs and fits the mode of the shows +LuchaTV has been streaming of late.

“AAA vs ELITE 2” takes places tonight in Tijuana, with local promoter EMW running the show. The main event has Psycho Clown, Puma King, Hijo del Fantasma and Electroshock in a four-way. Damian 666 becomes the latest luchador to go from working The Crash to wrestling for rival local group EMW, teaming with Mr. Aguila against Pagano & Joe Lider. This is not a streaming show, but I suspect it’ll turn up on handhelds. I’m interested in seeing if “AAA vs Elite the concept” is a draw; they’ve done a good job of promoting it locally like it’s an important show.

There’s a rumor going around Facebook – seems to have started here – that Scoria, Cuervo, and Faby Apache are leaving AAA and going independent. Random facebook sources are a stretch to trust.

It would be pretty easy to believe Cuervo & Scoria leaving AAA. They haven’t been on a taping since May and have barely shown up on spot shows the last couple months. They do not appear to be in AAA’s plans and it’s probably time for them to look elsewhere. Faby Apache leaving would be a shock. It definitely seemed like there was a falling out between Faby & AAA sometime last year when she was deprioritized on lineups, but she’s been one of AAA’s featured stars of this year, is the current women’s champion, and her father was just added to AAA’s Hall of Fame. Faby’s also listed on a lot of cards going forward, including the show in Colombia, though all AAA cards are subject to change. That includes Sunday’s taping in Monterrey. You shouldn’t believe this is happening based on what’s been announced so far, but it would be meaningful if the already scheduled Shani/Apache singles match suddenly becomes for the Reina de Reinas championship.

AAA put up Dr. Alfonso Morales and El Apache‘s AAA Hall of Fame inductions on YouTube. That was the part of the show where the stream wasn’t quite working. AAA also put up a Lady Shani vs Faby Apache bathroom fight that took place in Ecatepec that seems a little after the fact now.

MedioTiempo talks to Christian Cymet about the lucha libre museum exhibit coming up on 09/14 to 16th, says Sin Cara will be appearing.

+LuchaTV has the latest Aqui esta la Lucha.

Ciudad Juarez will have a lucha libre expo next weekend.

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

Puma King & Barby’s latest video is about TripleMania.

The Gladiatores has a sit-down interview with Shu el Guerrero.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 09/04/2018 Arena México
1) Sangre Imperial & Sonic vs Apocalipsis & Camorra
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Star Jr. vs Akuma, Espanto Jr., Espíritu Negro
3) Lluvia, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, La Comandante, Metálica
4) Rey Cometa vs Tiger [lightning]
5) Ángel de Oro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Niebla Roja vs Felino, Rey Bucanero, Shocker
6) Diamante Azul, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero

A show. Maybe we can hope for Volador/Cavernario again. Sonic gets on shows two weeks in a row, but Camorra & Apocalipsis still exist.

CMLL has now run Rey Cometa/Tiger three times (and they also had a match in Brazil.) That kind of seems low, seeing as they’ve been stuck in the same place forever. Maybe not the exact same place: Rey Cometa won in 2013 and Rey Cometa won in 2015. Tiger’s got to get this done this year or he may not get another shot until 2021.

CMLL (TUE) 09/04/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Black Sugar, Guerrero Samurai Jr., Mágico vs Frezzer, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte
2) Príncipe Odín Jr., Sangre Azteca, Tyson La Bestia vs El Rielero, Fugaz, Reyko
3) Audaz, Drone, Pegasso vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Okumura, Pólvora
4) Black Panther, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
5) Atlantis, Carístico, Kráneo vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible

Terrible has returned from his back injury after four weeks off. It’s convivent he was cleared to return just as a spot for a main event rudo opened up with Mr. Niebla being gone. Terrible’s probably not replacing Niebla here, he’s taking back the spot Cavernario had, so maybe Cavernario is taking the Niebla spot in Mexico City.

Main event program pointed towards a Rush/Caristico match. It wouldn’t be the greatest idea to have Rush work singles matches before CMLL’s biggest show of the year, but it is CMLL so it could still happen.

Leo Riano’s column in Record says TripleMania drew “close to” 1.25 million viewers on Canal5. This would be the broadcast starting around 11pm, just including the last few matches. (Ratings for shows in Mexico aren’t as easily available as in the US; the couple places I checked didn’t have any numbers for Saturdays, and didn’t go as late as 11pm on the days I checked.) That’s down hugely from last year, but that’s also an apple to orange comparison, AAA wasn’t following a gigantic boxing event this year. It also wasn’t airing on Space as well, though I have no context for how many people would’ve been watching on that channel (or watch it in general.) Riano says both Televisa and AAA were happy with the number. TripleMania aired in the Saturday night slot that’s usually a boxing show and outdrew the rival boxing show on Televisa. Riano believes this might set up more AAA appearances on Canal5 on Saturday nights.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter says TripleMania drew 13,500 people, including giveaways. They reported 17,000 last year. You could see totally empty sections all in straight eyesight of the camera. That means CMLL will likely end up with the largest attended show in Mexico, which I don’t think has been the case the last few years. The 08/03 Casas Anniversary show was listed as “just about 16,000”, and the 07/13 Atlantis one was “14,000”. I’m not sure if the actual CMLL Anniversario will get to 13,500. It’d be a peculiar story if neither of the “biggest show of the year” from each promotion turned out to be the biggest one, but that certainly seems possible.

Titan will be out for a “few days” with a left-hand fracture. He says he picked up on Monday, though it wasn’t checked on Wednesday (after his title match.) Hand fractures usually take more than few days to heal, maybe he’s planning on working around it or it’s not bad. Titan isn’t listed on another show until the September 9th Kaoz show in Monterrey.

The “Mr. Niebla drunk?” story got picked up on some websites. CMLL didn’t address the situation on Informa and there’s been no lineup change. The highlights of Informa, to me person who didn’t actually watch it, was Volador saying he’d prefer a different Anniversario main event and Mephisto having no interest in the winner of the Klan Kaoz/Guerreros match. No one’s selling this show.

Joey (Mercury) Wrestling challenged Matanza to a match next week in a Lucha Underground promo, so Joey Wrestling is not long for this world.

CMLL starts a look back at Volador’s career, with his Rey del Aire wins.

Alex Colon won the DTU Alto Impacto championship from Ace Austin in Rockstar Pro last night.

RIOT has Fanboy on 09/29. Matches announced

• Erik Ortiz vs Skayde
• Psicotico vs Brian Villa – new

Lucha libre shirt company Talivision is opening up a new store near Arena Mexico. The store opens on 09/14 with Penta & Fenix appearing.

AroLucha shows up in a press release from the company who made their LED board. AroLucha itself hasn’t done more than send out some social media since that fundraiser has ended.

Puerto Vallarta is forming a boxing, lucha, and MMA commission.

Lucha Talk has a new episode.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 09/02/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Black Shadow II & Mexica vs Death Metal & Lunatik Extreme
2) Ángel Estrella Jr. vs Atomic Star
3) Ciclón Ramírez, Metaleón, Multifacetico 2.0 vs Fly Warrior, Séptimo Rayo, Violencia Jr.
4) Chico Che, Demonio Infernal, Diablo Jr. vs Ra-Zhata, Shil-Ka, Teelo
5) Aramis © vs Dragón Bane [IWRG REY DEL AIRE]
6) Emperador Azteca, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Mr. Electro vs El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Trauma I, Último Gladiador

It’s Thursday and there was still no IWRG card out, so I was beginning to wonder if maybe IWRG wasn’t running Sunday this week. They are, though the poster visually looks more like an indie show that the normal IWRG one.

CMLL (TUE) 08/28/2018 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central, Ovaciones]
1) Bengala & Sonic b Inquisidor & Yago 
2) Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany b La Maligna, Mistique, Sanely 
Rudas took 2/3. Mistique suffered a leg injury springboarding into the ring, her first action of the match. She was attempting to armdrag Tiffany, who was not close enough, and landed awkwardy. Mistique was unable to continue and most of the match was 3v2.
3) Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., El Audaz b Kawato, Okumura, Virus 
Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Ephesto, Hechicero, Shocker b Kráneo, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. 
Rudos took 1/3. Kraneo replaced Vailente.
5) Mephisto © b Titán [CMLL WELTER] 
Mephisto took falls 1/3 for his 13th defense. Titan’s fourth challenge in this reign.
6) Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero DQ Atlantis, Mistico, Volador Jr. 
2:08. Straight falls. Mr. Niebla was in no condition to wrestle, and Volador pulled off his mask in frustration in the second fall.

Mistique is expected out for about two weeks with a knee injury. Though being out two weeks could mean two days. Mephisto talked about his win. The Gladiatores also had post-match interviews with Titan and Mephisto. The title match was good, though nothing must see when they’ve had a few already.

Mr. Niebla appeared to be in no condition to perform and should not have been allowed to go to the ring. Whoever was running the show was aware, because Niebla did not enter from the top entrance (for fear he’d fall down the stairs?) Niebla did his usual bit of climbing to the top rope to pose, only he immediately lost his balance and fell to the floor. The cameras cut away from Niebla at that part, realizing what was going on. Negro Casas & Rey Bucanero quickly finished the first fall before Niebla could get in the ring, while Volador held Niebla on the outside and untied his mask. The rudos didn’t seem to want Niebla in the ring in the second fall, but he still got in. After a couple moments of being lost, they set up Volador for a handspring double elbow, only Mr. Niebla was way not in the normal position to take it. Volador immediately pulled off Niebla’s mask to end the match and stormed to the back. Volador did it on purpose to end the match early. Mr. Niebla might have known it was coming from the setup. Everyone else seemed surprised, though the rudos had a better idea of what was going on. The match time was just over two minutes, close to four minutes including the break between falls (went longer than usual.)

I don’t know that Mr. Niebla was drunk, but he has admitted alcohol addiction He’s been suspended from CMLL many times for similar incidents. They usually seem to happen on Tuesdays, which may just be because CMLL has a lot less management paying attention to Tuesday shows. CMLL never announces or acknowledges a suspension, Niebla simply disappears from cards for at least three weeks. Niebla hasn’t had a problem this year, but he had CMLL absences last July and October that might have been the same issue. The only upcoming CMLL card is listed on is the Anniversario show. Niebla is also scheduled to be in the main event of the PALL debut show on Friday. He’s worked indie shows while being suspended from CMLL in the past and it’ll be more up those promotions if they still want ot use him. Mr. Niebla was headlining that show, I think, because Lucha Memes and other promotions were really happy with Niebla’s performances on their shows of late.

You can most people who know him really like Mr. Niebla because others with the same issues probably wouldn’t get the same seemingly unlimited chances. It’s not sure if those unlimited chances are helping him.

CMLL (TUE) 08/28/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Carlo Roggi, El Chakal, Mr. Apolo b El Alteño, Rielero, Vaquero Jr.
2) Magnus, Oro Jr., Star Black b Espanto Jr., Espíritu Negro, Guerrero de la Muerte
tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Disturbio, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado b Drone, Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr.
rudos took 2/3
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Tritón b Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
tecnicos took 1/3.
5) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Matt Taven DQ Cavernario, La Bestia Del Ring, Rush
Tecnicos took 1/3, the last when Rush fouled Caristico.

On Saturday, CMLL put up a video saying Magnus would be out two weeks after taking Universo 2000 Jr.’s Black Hammer, which was obviously a worked injury. He was out about two days.

CMLL, being very sneaky as to the outcome of the Anniversario show, has started a series of talking about past big Rush wins in hair matches. And only Rush wins. They mention his 2010 win over Loco Max to start. These things might be more effective is CMLL posted the video of the match. I can do that.

A handheld and slightly edited version of the Caristico title win over Ultimo Guerrero is up on YouTube.

Lucha Underground is up to episode 12 of the season, “Til Death Do Us Part”. That’s not ominous at all! Matches Happenings on the show:

• XO Lishus vs Jack Evans in a No Mas match
• Drago vs Jake Strong
• Johnny Mundo & Taya get married

Ricky Mundo seems likely to mess with the wedding. It’s just not clear exactly how.

AAA officially announced shows for the 09/07 TV taping in Cancun & the 09/08 Hard Rock Hotel show in Riviera Maya, which does not appear to be a TV taping this year. The Cancun show is as was announced a few weeks ago. The September 8 AAA show has Psycho Clown & Fenix against Hijo del Fantasma & Brian Cage. That’s a bit of a problem since the September 8 The Crash show has Penta & Fenix vs Caristico & Volador. The Crash announced first, but I suspect the new AAA champion will end up working the AAA show. Fenix hasn’t said anything yet.

Fenix wants to defend his title against Dr. Wagner Jr.

RIOT has Fanboy on 09/29. Matches announced

• Erik Ortiz vs Skayde – first match

LuchaWorld has the latest news update.

+LuchaTV has a new edition of their podcast.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 09/03/2018 Arena Puebla
1) Arkalis, Black Tiger, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Policeman, Rey Apocalipsis, Toro Bill Jr.
2) El Audaz, Fuego, Stigma vs Cancerbero, Disturbio, Virus
3) Kráneo, Stuka Jr., Volcano vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
debut of Volcano
4) Mistico & Rush vs Gran Guerrero & Último Guerrero and Cuatrero & Sansón and Flyer & Volador Jr.

Lots of stuff going on here. A four-way tag team main event is strange. They seemed headed to something Rush/UG related and perhaps that’ll still be happening. This looks like a short show. The main event will turn into three matches, but they’ll be one fall matches and tend to be on the quick side. It’s possible another match may be added.

Volcano, Kraneo’s new big friend, makes his debut. They’ve changed the spelling not to conflict with “Vulcano”. I would be surprised if Stuka is also a Gorilla but I don’t rule it out.

Toro Bill Jr. makes his first appearance here in 15 months. He hasn’t been a regular since he and Rey Apocalipsis stopped teaming together. If I remember right, at least Apocalipisis and maybe Toro Bill claimed they had no idea why CMLL stopped booking them together, but they also stopped teaming on indie shows as well. They recently reunited on an indie show and now they’re back together here.

Still no sign of Raziel. I think it has to be an injury at this point.

DTU (TUE) 09/11/2018 Arena Aficion
1) Dayami, Destino, Luigi vs ?, Josh Sniper, Zarkoth
2) Hermes vs Jitsu, Devil Boy, Moria
3) Jimmy vs Douki
4) Paranoiko & Pesadilla vs El Exótico & Kevin
5) Kaleth & Tiburón vs Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura
6) Crazy Boy & LuFisto vs Dany Demanto & Mary Apache and Chik Tormenta & Joe Lider
7) Masashi Takeda vs Aero Boy vs Crazy King

The usual Arena Aficion show will have a death match on top. Mary Apache is working these shows but Faby is not, so the Faby/LuFisto match must be happening elsewhere.

LLB , Lucha Memes (SUN) 09/16/2018 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Abadón, Juan Diego, Juan el Ranchero vs El Divino, Hijo Del Brazo De Platino, Ninja de Fuego
2) Lady Maravilla vs Keyra
3) Drako, Fantasma de la Ópera, Ovett vs Ángel o Demonio, Carta Brava Jr. (IWL), Corsario Negro Jr.
4) Alas de Acero, Aramis, Iron Kid vs Belial, Dragón Bane, Impulso
5) Mike Segura & Templario vs Fly Star & Freelance
6) Octagón & Satánico vs Demus & Pirata Morgan
7) Hechicero vs Daga
8) Nicho el Millionario vs Rush
no rules match

09/16 is going to be a busy day and everyone’s starting to fill in their matches. Nicho burned a Los Ingobernables shirt as a setup to this match. I like this card better than the PALL show Friday.

Fly Star’s been trying to get “El Diablo” over as either a name or a nickname since the day after he lost his mask. I’m not giving in yet.