Month: October 2018

PALL , Lucha Memes (SUN) 09/30/2018 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México [R de Rudo]
1) Maravilla Plateado & Maremoto Jr. b Perro Callejero Jr. & Perro Negro
2) Iron Kid b Dragón Bane
3) Avisman & Black Terry b Eragón & Robin Maravilla
Robin Maravilla was the surprise partner
4) Mike Segura b Freelance
replaced a Fantasma de la Opera/Jessy Ventura match?
5) Corsario Negro Jr. & Drako DQ Cíclope & Miedo Extremo
6) Zeuxis b Belial
Belial was coming in with a knee injury, which Zeuxis took advantage of to win.
7) Templario b Ricky Marvin
Marvin had control most of the match but Templario still won in the end.

Templario/Marvin sounds like it was good. I have no big problem with these two top matches instead of the original (Zeuxis/Marvin didn’t seem interesting, Templario/Belial did) and Segura/Freelance is an upgrade, but I still don’t understand why these changes aren’t advertised. I’m fine being the one person complaining about it.

CMLL (MON) 10/01/2018 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Estrellas del Lucha Libre, Lucha Central]
1) Black Tiger & Meyer b Ares & Fuerza Chicana 
Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Arkalis, Astral, Magnus b El Perverso, Espanto Jr., Policeman 
Magnus replaced Electrico. Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Princesa Sugehit b Reyna Isis [lightning] 
4) Dragón Rojo Jr., Okumura, Pólvora b Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Stigma 
Rudos took 2/3 and unmasked the tecnicos after.
5) Diamante Azul, Kráneo, Michael Elgin b Cuatrero, Dark Magic, Sansón 
CMLL debut of Dark Magic. Tecnicos took 2/3.
6) Cavernario, La Bestia Del Ring, Terrible b Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, Volador Jr. 
Rudos took 1/3. Set up a Cavernario/Volador title match.

I’ve only have seen the semimain as part of the Dark Magic scouting project. It will not surprise you to learn he looked like a US indie guy dropped into CMLL. He did a lot of stuff you’d see in US and not much in Mexico – he did a Stunner late, and his finish appears to be a spinebuster called “the Magic Touch.” He didn’t do much of anything that felt Mexican style – which might be for the best, because he’s supposed to be different and doing it just to do it never looks good. He mostly worked with Diamante Azul for the first two falls and they were adequate, maybe a little smoother than when he faces Elgin more in the third fall. He didn’t show a strong personality, but the idea is obviously for him to look physically impressive and so he did. It’s only one match, and I think he looked like he’d be fine in the Gran Prix, but he also didn’t jump out as a great new star. Dark Magic seemed in the Johnny Idol range of just being a guy.

There’s two title matches and a non-title singles match tonight in CMLL buildings. Arena Mexico has Caristico defending the NWA Middleweight Championship against Gran Guerrero, the brother of who he took it away from a couple months ago. Caristico hasn’t been in a lot of three fall singles matches since coming back to CMLL, and Gran Guerrero hasn’t had many at all. There’s a classic formula for Caristico title matches they could use here, and it may be about how well they can do it for a Tuesday crowd.

This looks better than a usual Tuesday Arena Mexico card, in that there’s more than one promising match. Mistico, Volador and Stuka team up to face Ephesto, Mephisto, and Negro Casas, which should at least be good on the Tuesday sliding scale. Audaz makes an appearance, teaming with the Chavez brothers against Los Revolucionarios and Luciferno.

The undercard is less exciting. The Panther family takes on Felino, Tiger and Puma stand-in Misterioso. The second match has the usual dead-enders and Super Astro. The opener is a low-level minis match.

The show will air at 7:30pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel.

The Arena Coliseo Guadalajara show is usually the better of the Tuesday shows, and still is even with Arena Mexico getting at title match. Guadalajara gets the Atlantis vs Ultimo Guerrero match, the first time they’ve had it in Atlantis’ home arena since 2014. They’re 3-3 in this building all time. Nueva Generacion Dinamita defend the national trios titles against the makeshift team of Esfinge, Triton, and Soberano, who might be in a spot intended for Titan. A title change in either championship match would be a surprise, but they should least be entertaining getting to the expected finish. These two matches should air on TV Thursday and Saturday night locally; the Saturday airing normally airs on YouTube as well.

CMLL announced Friday’s Gran Prix will indeed be an iPPV on internet.tv. It’s not listed on internet.tv as of yet, and there’s no price announced. It’s already been announced as airing on ROH’s Honor Club. If you signed up for the Aniversario thru ROH, your month should still include the Gran Prix. I wouldn’t count on another CMLL show airing on ROH – CMLL may be doing UG/Ciber but ROH only seems to be carrying shows with ROH wrestlers – so you may want to see which option is cheaper if you’re deciding where to watch.

All children’s tickets (from the 11th row back) will be 10 pesos with an adult ticket. That’s about $0.50 in US Dollars.

CMLL looks back at Ultimo Guerrero at the 2007 Gran Prix.

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. will be accompanying the Mexico team at the Gran Prix. He won the 1994 version of the Gran Prix (which was a much different tournament.)

AAA noted Hijo del Fantasma has reached one year as Latin American Champion. He’s defended the title against Rey Escorpion, Texano Jr., and Parka Negra, plus a non-TV defense with Pagano & Mesias. He also hasn’t defended the title in six months and there’s no sign of him defending it any time soon. He hasn’t really even had a feud for the title since January, since the Parka Negra match was just a random title match. I could go for a random title match though.

MLW will have LA Park & Hijo de LA Park vs Rey Fenix & Pentagon Jr. on 11/08 in Cicero (Chicago), IL. I didn’t want to make another trip to Cicero this year but I think it’s happening.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report and this week’s Poster-Mania.

+LuchaTV has a new edition of their podcast.

Lineup

FILLM (SAT) 10/06/2018 Arena San Juan Pantitlan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) ? vs ??
2) Davo & Rakner vs Orión & Tiger Metal
3) Lady Cat & Lilith Dark vs La Chola & Reyna Obscura
4) Chapullin Colorado & Toro Negro Jr. vs Minimo & Mixteco Jr.
5) Centurion, Fly Warrior, Látigo vs Andy Boy, Danger, Guerrero Mixtico
6) Baby Star & Toxin vs Fly Star & Thunder Storm

FILLM shows usually don’t meet the very fuzzy bar of stuff worth mentioning here, but someone’s brought back Mala Hiebra versus the Neza Boys and I approve of that. Main event is Toxin/Fly Star, a feud mostly built in one promotion but seemingly being used by many running indie shows (so maybe people should build more/better feuds?)

CMLL (SUN) 10/07/2018 Arena México
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Oro Jr. vs Espíritu Negro, Grako, Metálico
3) Drone, Fuego, Rey Cometa vs Misterioso Jr., Sangre Azteca, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) El Audaz vs Kawato San [lightning]
5) Euforia, Shocker, Terrible vs David Finlay, Flip Gordon, Michael Elgin
6) Diamante Azul, Niebla Roja, Valiente vs Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe, Matt Taven

Volador is in Juarez, so no rematch with Matt Taven yet. We really have no idea how long any of the foreigners beside Flip are sticking around, but at least we know Finlay & Flip are meant to be tecnicos and the Briscoes are still rudos.

Kawato being here on Sunday is interesting for other promotions. Here, being opposite Audaz at least suggests the possibility of Kawato getting into a feud – Audaz is destined for a big win at some point. This was around the point Takahashi’s trip to Mexico where he first faced Dragon Lee in a lightning match. Kawato/Audaz doesn’t seem to have that potential but that doesn’t mean CMLL wouldn’t try.

CMLL (SUN) 10/07/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Amperaje & Micro vs El Jabial & Paymon
2) Black Sugar & Linterna vs Demonio Rojo & Relámpago Azul
3) El Divino, Mr. Samurai, Tigre Blanco vs Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno, Thunder Boy
4) Luminoso, Magnum, Star Black vs Furia Roja, Gran Kenut, Guerrero de la Muerte
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto vs Esfinge, Explosivo, Tritón

Hijos del Infierno make their way here for unusual DF guys in Guadalajara on Sunday. Maybe they have an additional sponsor, maybe they’re finding extra places to work on the week where the outsiders are taking up some spots.

IWRG (SUN) 10/07/2018 Arena Naucalpan
1) Shadow Boy & Toto vs Chef Benito & Death Metal
2) Black Shadow II vs Diablo Jr.
3) Metaleón, Multifacetico 2.0, Rokambole Jr. vs Capo del Norte, Capo del Sur, Demonio Infernal
4) Hijo del Alebrije vs Hijo de Canis Lupus
5) Imposible, Súper Nova, Toscano vs Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Pitbull, Último Gladiador
6) Leo & Rafy vs Ra-Zhata & Shil-Ka
7) Aramis vs Dragón Bane vs Freelance

Aramis, Dragon Bane and Freelance have been good against each other and they’re getting a main event. It may just be due to the heavyweights not being around, but I hope they make the most of it.

Super Nova/Bengala showing up here is another booking suggesting he may not be an AAA full timer at this point. He’ll be back as Bengala in the same building a few days later.

Lucha Memes (SUN) 10/21/2018 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México
1) Arkonte, Blackout, Demonio Baltazar, Forastero, Kaito, Karazu, Murciélago Infernal, Orión, Poder Guerrero, Rey Del Barrio vs Albatros, Cris Stone Jr., Divo Jr., Dragón Negro, Juan Diego, Manchas, Ojo de Tigre Jr., Psique, Súper Dragón
2) Jeque, Solar I, Tony Rivera vs Black Terry, Judas, Máscara Año 2000
3) Keyra vs Estrellita
4) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Arez, Belial, Impulso
5) Negro Casas vs Virus
6) Shu el Guerrero vs Hechicero
7) Eterno vs Aramis [mask, hair]

Memes’ Coliseo Coalcaoc show is loaded. Eterno and Aramis are two talented guys in search of a signature match (or at least a new-ish one for Eterno.) Hechicero gets to face another legend of el Toreo, one day after facing ZSJ. Negro Casas/Virus and NGD/Indystrongibles should be fun. Keyra versus Estrellita should be target practice.

AAA TV (SUN) 09/30/2018 Plaza de Toros San Miguel, Uriangato, Guanajuato [AAA, Lucha Central, thecubsfan]
1) Dinastía, Drastik Boy, Hijo Del Vikingo b Australian Suicide, King Balam, Villano III Jr. 
9:42. Hijo del Vikingo pinned King Balam (Dizzy)
2) Angelikal, Lady Shani, Niño Hamburguesa b Arez, Lady Maravilla, Parka Negra 
11:54. Nino Hamburguesa splashed Arez
3) Aerostar & Drago b Golden Magic & Puma King 
7:54. Puma King cradled Drago for the pin. Aerostar was frustrated Drago for losing and walked out on him, teasing the end of the team.
4) La Parka & Murder Clown DQ Dave The Clown & Monsther Clown 
6:45. Monster Clown got caught fouling Murder Clown after Dave (replacing Taurus) did the same to La Parka
5) Mamba, Máximo, Pimpinela Escarlata DQ La Máscara, Rey Escorpión, Texano Jr. 
12:16. La Mascara fouled Pimpienla for the DQ.
6) Hijo del Fantasma & Jeff Jarrett b Blue Demon Jr. & Psycho Clown 
9:54. Blue Demon replaced Dr. Wagner, and fouled partner Psycho Clown to set up a Jarrett guitar shot and a Fantasma pin. Rudos (with Los Mercenarios) unmasked Psycho Clown before the exoticos made the save.

I haven’t updated the TV chart lately, but this appears to be airing on December 8 and 15th if the current schedule holds. That would make it the final TV episode of the year since they’d go into holiday programming after – at least on Canal9/Televisa. I don’t think the current schedule will hold but I don’t know what they do instead.

This show was fine, in that range of AAA shows which had good undercard matches, lacking main event matches, and nothing that seemed like it mattered.

AAA probably knew Wagner wasn’t making this show for at least a week since the WON just happened to mention Blue Demon was coming back soon and here he was. They continued to imply Wagner was there until Demon came out as a surprise. In the WON, it was explained Demon was coming back because of a sponsorship deal. There probably is a sponsorship deal, but it came across as they just grabbed the first big name who answered the phone when they found out Wagner wasn’t going to be there. AAA could’ve announced a change, or just a mystery person, and decided that earned goodwill was not worth the effort.

TripleMania was billed as the show where we’d really see Konnan’s storyline start. We’ve only seen small stuff since then. Aerostar and Drago splitting up is a direction (and either the cause or effect of those Aerostar Twitter post last week), and other things are happening, but it’s unclear if any of the stuff like Parka/Murder vs Dave/Monster or Psycho vs Everyone is meant to be going anywhere or is just killing time on a fair show. Revealing the Heroes Inmorrtales card a month ahead of time also sort of reveals most of it isn’t meaningful – Aerostar & Drago are still scheduled to be teaming on that show. There’s been little consequence to anything that’s happened in the four shows since TripleMania, and a lot of stuff going on is the same stuff that was going on before TripleMania. These shows don’t have to be vital to be good, but it’d help.

AAA hyped the 10/19 show in Naucalpan as Twitch exclusive, with the idea it won’t air on TV. AAA did this with a match early this year, maybe it’ll be different this time. The lineup doesn’t feel like it’s any more geared to a Internet audience, or at least I don’t think an internet audience wants – Psycho Clown & Rey Wagner vs Hijo del Dr. Wagner & Electroshock. It’s just the usual random tag matches, some of which may be good and some of which may also include Joe Lider and Pagano. Seems like a missed chance to experiment. The focus is really on drawing a crowd in person, not on Twitch, but I’m not sure random tag matches are that much of a ticket-selling draw either.

There was no mention of the 10/11 show in Aguascalientes, which would be the next streaming show on Twitch. If it’s really streaming on Twitch, which AAA has never confirmed. I wouldn’t make firm plans to watch AAA on that day until something more is said.

IWRG FILL (SUN) 09/30/2018 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr), The Gladiatores]
1) Canibal, Ciber Punk, Dinámico b Águila Oriental, Mandala, Power Bull
Power Bull replaced Eddy Santos
2) Chico del Barrio, Voltex, Votlar b Bisofera, Celestial Boy, Shalom
3) Ángel Estrella, Dranzer, Keiser Drago b Ángel De La Tormenta, Barón Rojo, Carnicero
4) Ra-Zhata, Shil-Kah, Skanda b Arquero, Black Shadow Jr., Toto
5) Black Puma, Chef Benito, Chicanito, Fireman, Guerrero 2000, Lunatik Xtreme, Puma de Oro, Shadow Boy b 19 1/2, Alas de Acero, Apolo, Chris Stone Jr., Dragón Negro, Iron Kid, Manchitas, Psique [Copa Higher Power]
IWRG (Black Terry) vs Lucha Memes (Referee Chiquilin). Lunatik Xtreme replaced Mexica. Alas de Acero beat Xtreme to win with a little help from Psique. The two had feuded during the match, with Xtreme pointing out Alas de Acero was on the IWRG teams before.

Usual FILL show, with a Copa Higher Power that looks like it had a few insane spots and a good turnout of families watching their sons in matches.

indy (SUN) 09/30/2018 Mambocafe Insurgentes, Cuauhtémoc, Distrito Federal [+LuchaTV, MedioTiempo]
Fuerza Guerrera 40th Anniversary
1) Mini Rey Misterio b Pentagoncito, Mini Espíritu
2) Estrellita & Lluvia b Lady Sensación & Rossy Moreno
3) Fuerza Guerrera Hija, Fuerza Guerrera Jr., Imposible b Dragón Dorado, Hijo De Octagon, Lady Apache  
The two Fuerzas were debuted “children” of Fuerza Guerrera, who won via cheating
4) Blue Panther, Fuerza Guerrera, Negro Casas b Carístico, Mano Negra, Octagón
Fuerza snuck a foul in on Caristico.
5) Solar I, Súper Astro, Villano IV b Máscara Año 2000, Scorpió Jr., Skayde
MedioTiempo’s results say no one understood what the finish was supposed to be

Fuerza Guerrera’s children are the news for the show. Like Hijo de Octagon, they’re people Fuerza Guerrera is renting his name out to and not his actual children. No one has actually told me that, but it’s obvious from how it was presented. I don’t think Fuerza and Juventud are on great terms, but new children debuting is probably an additional reason why Fuerza didn’t want his actual son there. Fuerza has tried this before and the other wrestlers haven’t really caught on. The luchadora, who was occasionally and very confusingly listed as “Fuerza Guerrera”, seems to be a late addition since there was only one mystery spot in that match and Lady Apache wasn’t supposed to be involved.

The Memes show happened Sunday, but I all I’ve seen so far is incomplete results on Twitter. Hopefully more turns up tomorrow.

The Saturday Arena Pavillon del Norte show ended with Ultimo Guerrero and local Espartaco making hair versus mask challenges. The Tijuana show he was also listed on just didn’t replace him, turning a four-way into a three-way match with lots of interference and Cibernetico winning. Arkangel Divino, Black Destiny, Black Boy, and Ultimo Maldito were also announced and did not appear.

There’s a lot of people who wear masks in CMLL. Tonight’s CMLL show features the debut of a true mystery man, Dark Magic. Magic has been a big question mark since he was announced for the Gran Prix. He was in IWRG prior and has been wrestling small indie shows since, but this will be the first chance most people will see him. From the little I’ve seen is Dark Magic looks impressive standing, and less impressive when he has to start moving there. That seems like a bad formula for having good matches in CMLL, but it was good enough to get Thunder pushed as a top guy in the promotion. They’ve put Sanson & Cuatrero with Dark Magic, so he’ll have help. He’ll also have another English speaking in Michael Elgin on the opposite side, teaming with Diamante Azul and Kraneo.

The actual main event is LA Park, his son, and Volador facing the sort of Ingobernables of Terrible, Besita, and Cavernario. No Rush this week, so Park will have to brawl with his friends. The frequent Monday night trio of the Panther Kids & Stigma face Dragon Rojo, Polvora and Okumura. (Blue Sr. hasn’t worked Puebla in over a year.) Princesa Sugehit faces Reyna Isis in what could potentially set up a title match. The opening matches are slightly better than usual though Espanto Jr. is still involved.

CMLL will stream the show at 9 pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel.

CMLL’s Gran Prix will air on ROH’s Honor Club, They aired the Anniversario show too. I’m not sure if this means this show will be iPPV for everyone. CMLL hasn’t said anything yet. They announced the Aniversario iPPV on Informa last month, and I’d expect the same again if it’s going to happen.

CMLL announced they’re off in Arena Coliseo this week, so we’ll have to wait for any Gallito/Chamuel battle. Jhonny Gonzalez is boxing their Saturday night instead. That means Dulce Garcia (Sexy Star) will also likely be there. She’s been taking more wrestling bookings of late.

All Japan announced the Lucha Fiesta Tour for 11/3 to11/6. This was the Ultimo Dragon led tour that included Sam Adonis, Diamante, and Caristico last year. I haven’t seen a talent list this year, but Ultimo Panda & Sam Adonis have announced themselves on it.

Tiger Japan, who’s teaming with Draztick Boy against Hechicero & Cavernario, talked about that chance.