Month: April 2019

CMLL (MON) 04/01/2019 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) El Perverso, Policeman, Tyson La Bestia b Arkalis, King Jaguar, Robin 
Rudos took 1/3.
2) Dalys, La Magnifica, Tiffany b Lluvia, Marcela, Sanely 
La Magnifica made her CMLL debut replacing Metalica. Rudas took 2/3.
3) Esfinge, Flyer, Rey Cometa b Kawato San, Olímpico, Tiger 
Tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Carístico, La Bestia Del Ring, Último Guerrero b Euforia, Mephisto, Valiente [Relevos Increíbles] 
Caristico replaced Mistico. Euforia and UG fought during the match. Team UG took falls 2/3.
5) Volador Jr. b Gran Guerrero 
Volador took 2/3. Gran Guerrero seemed shook up at the end of the match and was stretchered out as precaution.

The main event was said to be good. Los Guerreros Laguneros do show a willingness to fight each other if they’re on opposite sides of matches, they’re just not used that way very often.

Mistico is also off Friday’s CMLL show, with Titan in his place. Not sure if he picked up an injury over the weekend or if he’s on vacation.

La Magnifica made her debut in the women’s match. She’s an interesting near-miss story for a slow day. She’s the daughter of Gran Cochisse who has seemed talented but also with some bad luck on timing. She came up thru the Arena Coliseo Guadalajara gym when Cochisse was in charge, and the arena booked more local women’s matches including her & Silueta in the late 2000s than they’ve done at any point. Cochisse getting removed from his position seemed to end her time with CMLL too. She won the AAA Quien Pinta Para La Corona talent search in 2011, alongside Daga and Dinastia. They’ve gone on to have memorable AAA careers. La Magnifica didn’t make it into a match that run. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her say why, but I think she may have left wrestling to have a child, and AAA moved on to other people. AAA did a good job of building her up in a vignette, showing her amateur wrestling medals and teasing a possible feud with Faby Apache but it was just one of those things lost in the shuffle. Magnifica did end up working a handful of matches for AAA from 2012 to 2014 and made one TV appearance, plus a dark match that AAA put up on YouTube. The best thing that came out of her AAA run appears to have been meeting and eventually marrying fellow fringe AAA wrestler Rey Celestial. She moved to his hometown of Puebla to live with him and has apparently decided to say after he passed away in 2017. Magnifica shows up on indie shows, has won the Arena Coliseo San Ramon women’s championship (which is a cup for some reason) and just got announced as working the MexaWrestling show this weekend. It’s the same thing as her apparently retried brother Saturno/Boomerang – there were glimpses of being an upper tier luchador, but both brother and sister never got to a high visibility place where they could prove it.

It’d be great if she got a full-time role in CMLL – both for her and for CMLL, who could use new people. I’m not sure if that’s what this was. This could be Magnifica as an just an emergency fill-in. CMLL’s previously switched the women’s 3v3 match to a 2v2 and sat a woman out if someone’s missing from this match. This seems like a better policy even putting aside Magnifica actually being as good or better than half the CMLL women.

(It’s looked so odd to have one edecan dancing by herself to the music a couple of times in recent weeks when the other regular edecan has been missing. There has to be a woman local to Puebla who can dance on short notice. That’s where I thought CMLL should have an emergency fill-in on call. But luchadoras work too.)

Tonight’s CMLL show looks a little better than usual for a Tuesday. It’s rare to get both the Guerreros and NGD on the same card and that means a lot in a promotion short on capable rudos. (Guadalajara gets a good set of rudos in the main event, but then things drop off.) NGD resume their rivalry with the Chavez Brothers and Soberano, a rematch of one of the best matches of last year and of earlier this year. Guerrero Maya & Triton getting to face Los Guerreros is a treat for them; only usually Titan gets to face rudos that important. The lightning match, Rey Cometa versus Templario, would be much better than anything else on most Tuesday shows.

The bottom half of the card looks a bit more typical. Panthers Family faces Misterioso, Sagrado and Kawato. Cancerbero & Raziel team once again with Hijo del Signo against Super Astro, Star and the returning Metatron. A minis match opens, though Fantasy & Ultimo Dragoncito versus Pequeno Olimpico & Pierrothito may be better than usual.

The show starts at 7:30, and is the final Tuesday show one hour later than usual. There’s only one more show like this; I forgot AAA’s show in Tijuana is actually on Daylight Savings Time since Mexico border towns switch on the US schedule.

In comments taken from last Friday’s post-match interviews, Dragon Lee says he wants to be like Mil Mascaras. He means being a big star in Japan and selling lots of tickets in MSG.

Rush is excited to be on Madison Square Garden, still does not appear to know who he’s facing. I hope this continues all the way thru Saturday and he tries to lock up with the referee because he just doesn’t know. Rush is OK accepting Hijo del Fantasma’s challenge whenever.

Pierrothito feels the CMLL minis have dropped off not because of lack of quality, but lack of opportunity and interest in them. He believes the only way to reverse it is having excellent matches so he had extra pressure on himself going into Sunday’s title match.

NJPW announced Michael Elgin had finished up with them. CMLL is unlikely to bring him back on their own. The dream match with Rayo de Jalisco is unlikely to happen.

Add 06/15 in Cancun to the ever growing list of AAA TV tapings. This is one day before Verano de Escandalo which AAA did confirm yesterday. Maybe the TV Azteca deal gives AAA the ability and the urgency to tape back to back days? Or maybe the poster is misleading? I’m not sure.

Did you know: AAA has a press conference on Thursday but hasn’t publically announced it yet.

Segunda Caida reviews recent CMLL.

LuchaWorld has the latest news update and this week’s Poster-Mania.

Lucha Central writes about Mascara Sagrada vs Black Cat.

+LuchaTV has a new episode of their podcast.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 04/07/2019 Arena México
1) Leono & Retro vs Apocalipsis & El Coyote
2) Estrellita, Kaho Kobayashi, La Maligna vs Dalys, La Comandante, La Seductora
3) Black Panther, Pegasso, Rey Cometa vs Disturbio, Universo 2000 Jr., Virus
4) El Audaz vs Kawato San [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Kráneo, Titán vs Ephesto, Hechicero, Luciferno
6) Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Terrible

Audaz versus Kawato seems like a dangerous idea.

IWRG (SUN) 04/07/2019 Arena Naucalpan
Guerra del Golfo, 2019
1) Puma de Oro vs Guerrero 2000
2) Mexica & Saruman vs Máquina Infernal & Neza Kid
3) Arkángel Divino, Dinamic Black, Eragón vs Eterno, Lunatic Xtreme, Último Maldito
4) Cerebro Negro © vs Demonio Infernal [IWRG IC WELTER]
3rd defense
5) El Hijo De Huracán Ramírez vs Séptimo Rayo, Mosca, Hijo del Alebrije, El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Mike, Death Metal, Diablo Jr. [cage, loser advance]
6) Black Danger (Baja California) vs Súper Nova, Multifacético, Metaleón, Manchas, Rayan, Golden Magic, Imposible [cage, loser advance]
7) ? vs ?? [cage, mask]

The annual three stage cage match show, where someone you sort of know gets unmasked. Manchas, Rayan, Mike, and Death Metal are the most likely suspects. IWRG is more dedicated to their gimmick concepts than pretty much any other promotion in Mexico. Black Danger & Ultimo Maldito are in the Mexico City area working the MexaWrestling show the day before. Maybe Internet.TV will be streaming this is you need to some wrerstling to watch Sunday.

RIW (SUN) 04/07/2019 Gimnasio Coliseo Arena, San Lorenzo Tepatitlán, Toluca, Estado de México
1) Aerodinamyc, Dark Pato, La Fuerza vs Rey Coyote, Sangre Flina, Z-Marverick
2) Guerrero Pantera I vs Guerrero Pantera II
3) Energia vs Fuego Jr.
4) Lilith Dark vs Mary Caporal
5) Demonio del Aire & Epydemius vs Kunay & Rencor Negro Jr.
6) Aramis vs Belial
7) Alas de Acero & Iron Kid vs Aztekita & Sol

These are always interesting shows that show up in 4 minute bits on YouTube channels. I hate that but I probably will watch Aramis vs Belial anyway. Also, no one can agree if it is “Kunay” and “Kunai” so maybe we shouldn’t hate on WCW for changing i’s to y’s as much?

LLR (SUN) 04/14/2019 Arena Azteca Budokan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
1) ? vs ??
2) Sádico & Yoruba vs Criss Stone Jr. & Syrus
3) Dulce Gardenia, Redentor, Rossy Moreno vs Demasiado, Fulgor, Reyna Obscura
4) Robin © vs Halcón 78 vs Imposible [LLR OMEGA]
5) Metaleón & Tiger vs Karaoui & Zumbi and Troyano & Último Gladiador
6) Fresero Jr. vs Cuervo [bull terrier]
7) Gran Guerrero & Último Guerrero vs Trauma I & Trauma II

The big questions here: did Lucha Libre Real get Robin a new title belt? How will they get out of doing a finish in the main event? (Also, is Halcon 78 out of AAA now or on the Super Nova working indies plan?)

LUCHA MEMES , LLB , MDA (SAT) 04/20/2019 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Falcón Jr. vs Shadow
2) Avisman vs Robin Maravilla
3) Jimmy vs Komander (Tamaulipas) vs Dragón Bane
4) Multy & Prayer vs Negro Navarro & Solar I
5) Arez vs Aramis
6) Sharlie Rockstar vs Virus
7) Blue Panther vs Dr. Cerebro
8) Negro Casas vs Trauma II

Concept show here is everything (except maybe the third match) is going to be mat based matches in Negro Navarro/Solar style. I’m interested to see if people want to see a full show of that or if the wrestlers will actually go with the concept, but it is something different.

DTU (THU) 04/25/2019 Arena Aficion
1) Aero Panter & Sky Boy vs Samuray Jr. & Tigre Cósmico
2) Laser, Steel Increible Dragón, Vengador Radioactivo vs Kunay, Mandal, Poseidón Jr.
3) Exótico, Fly Danger, Hijo De Pólux Jr. vs Aaron Sykes, Helio Guerra, Muerte Infernal
4) Kalibus & Moria vs Adrenalina Punk & Jitsu
5) Anthony Greene vs Jimmy, Kaleth, Pesadilla, Camuflaje
6) Dement Extreme, Paranoiko, Tóxico vs Disturbio (Tamaulipas), Poseidón, Tiburón (Veracruz)
7) G-Raver & Príncipe Cometa vs Aero Boy & Crazy Boy and Crazy King & Orin Veidt

First of a late April run of shows with GCW wrestlers. There’s a promo building up Aero Boy & Orin Veidt, so that’s probably coming along the way.

WR (SAT) 03/30/2019 Arena Lopez Mateos [+LuchaTV, R de Rudo, SuperLuchas, The Gladiatores]
1) Flecha Roja, Johnny Montaña, Princesa Azul, Sky b Bastet, Lemuria, Licántropo, Stephanie Vaquer 
2) Daniel De La Cruz b Manuel Rodríguez [shoot fighting]
3) Atomik Star, Ébano, Hijo Del Lancero, Kevin b Espantapájaros, Factor Miedo, Portois Montañez, Saku
The Montanez (with even more family members) attacked Saku after the match
4) Ernesto Manuel b Licántropo
Shoot fighting. Neither was originally scheduled.
5) Herodes Jr., Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Hijo de Sangre Chicana b Epitafio, Leviatham, Tormento and Rencor Boricua, Terror Boricua, Violento Jr. 
6) Black Panther (CMLL), Blue Panther Jr., Pierre Montañez b Eterno, Kawato San, Universo 2000 Jr. 
Francois Montanez challenged Eterno to a title match, with Diamante & Blue Panther Jr. getting involved.
7) Heddi Karaoui & Zumbi b Jean Montañez & Pierre Montañez © and Dr. Cerebro & Mr. Electro 
8) Hijo De Dos Caras & Hijo del Fantasma b Ricky Marvin & Súper Crazy and Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria [submission] 

It was odd that Wrestling Resurecion was talking about doing MMA and lucha libre on the same show. It makes a lot more sense when it is revealed to be another Montanez show; their sponsor was on the ring apron. Not a strong turnout the intended audience are the people in the ring for these.

Lucha Memes (SUN) 03/31/2019 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México [+LuchaTV, Black Terry Jr. (Flickr)]
1) Hijo De Dr. Pólux & Murciélago Plateada b Alas de Acero & Iron Kid and Multifacetico (Puebla) & Prayer
2) Dragón Bane b Hijo de Canis Lupus
good match between the brothers, who weren’t thrilled to fight each other
3) Virus b Flamita
4) Súper Crazy b Aeroboy
5) Aramis b Negro Casas
good match, big win for Aramis
6) Ricky Marvin b Arez
said to be a MOTYC level. Arez challenged Ricky to a hair vs hair match
7) Demus b Gato De Ecatepec [mask, hair]
Gato de Ecatepec is Javier Rodriguez Cruz, 17 years a wrestler

Thank goodness Demus won. Ricky Marvin’s pre-AAA strong indie run was fueled by facing guys like Arez so I can only imagine it was probably pretty good at hard hitting. Meanwhile, Negro Casas is clearly at the point where it does not bother him to lose any match. It is a good place to be.

IWRG (SUN) 03/31/2019 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, The Gladiaotres]
1) Latino & Puma de Oro b Neza Kid & Power Bull 
Power Bull replaced Guerrero 2000.
2) Atomic Star, Black Shadow Jr., Mexica b Auzter, Ra-Zhata, Shil-Kah 
3) Black Dragón, Dinamic Black, Eragón b Ángel Tormenta, Látigo, Mosca 
4) Demonio Infernal b Cerebro Negro 
Cerebro Negro offered Demonio Infernal a title match
5) Death Metal, Karaoui, Máscara Año 2000 Jr. DQ Dr. Cerebro, El Hijo De Huracán Ramírez, Internacional Pantera 
Pantera hit a referee with a tope by accident (or maybe because Mascara pulled him in the way) which caused the DQ. Huracan wants a title match with Mascara.
6) Dragón Bane, Eterno, Golden Magic b Aramis, Imposible, Metaleón 
Metaleon replaced Ciclon Ramirez. Money thrown in.
7) El Hijo del Medico Asesino DQ Hijo de Canis Lupus © [IWRG JUNIORS] 
Extreme IWRG finish: Mascara 2000 was seconding Canis Lupus and kept interfering. Both Lupus & the referee wanted him to cut it out and he was ejected. Mascara just returned to the ringside area anyway and hit Medico Asesino with a chair. Demonio Infernal, Medico’s second, pointed it out and the referee called for a DQ and a title change.

A title switch where the guy who wins the title isn’t even involved in the finish makes for a worthless title. Semi-main was said to be pretty good.

Facebook Zona Ruda says the Arena Coliseo Monterrey on Sunday (Angel Dorado Jr. anniversary cage match with Ultimo Guerrero and other CMLL wrestlers) drew about 500 people, while the Arena Jose Sulaiman show (Blue Demon vs LA Park vs Dr. Wagner) drew about 400. Commenters on the post are blaming the weather and bad advertising for the Coliseo show. Titan & Cavernario had a great match on the Arena Coliseo Monterrey show, and it may show up on LuchaMania Monterrey.

CMLL is running yet another Volador singles match main event tonight, their go to idea when they need a singles main event match and have no great idea. (Keep reading for another.) He faces Gran Guerrero for the first time since the 2015 FantasticaMania. That match was a turning point for Gran Guerrero, proof he could be a part of good singles matches after looking lost as a Guerrero for the year or so prior. It was still mostly a Volador big move exhibition and I’d suspect tonight will be a lesser version of that.

The rest of the card is not that interesting. Bestia del Ring teams with Mistico & Ultimo Guerrero against Euforia, Mephisto and Valiente in a strange semi-main. Esfinge, Flyer and Rey Cometa take on Kawato, Olimpico and Tiger. There’s a women’s match and a mostly locals match to open it up. The show airs on CMLL’s YouTube. This is the final Puebla show that is one hour later for people in the US (and the final one at the ‘winter’ time for people who don’t change clocks, like Japan.)

Lost in Lucha is trying a CMLL recap video podcast format, which is a good idea. This is something I’ve thought do but video editing is scary.

Flamita is now on the 04/04 Impact United We Stand card, facing Rich Swann in an X Division title match. Also, King Cuerno/Hijo del Fantasma is finally officially off the card, replaced by Marty the Moth. That match is still 3 vs 4, though that may be an angle to play out.

Sanely & La Magnifica replace Vanilla Vargas & Christi Jaynes on the 04/06 MexaWrestling show.

Lineup

CMLL (SAT) 04/06/2019 Arena Coliseo
1) Sangre Imperial & Sonic vs Príncipe Odín Jr. & Yago
2) Átomo, Gallito, Microman vs Chamuel, El Guapito, Perico Zakarías
3) Blue Panther Jr., Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Sagrado, Tiger, Vangellys
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr. vs Hechicero, Máscara Año 2000, Rey Bucanero
5) Volador Jr. vs Mephisto
6) Atlantis, Carístico, Valiente vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Negro Casas

It is unclear why this is the Anniversario show and not last week except for the calender. There’s a singles match with no build and a micros match but there’s nothing really special about it.