AAA in Aguascalientes, Liger farewell & LA Park return in Arena Mexico tonight

AAA TV (THU) 07/18/2019 Palenque de la Feria, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes [AAA]
1) Dark Finder, Discovery, Marvel ?? Rey Sombra, Triham, Xtrem X
locals match, not shown on stream
2) Astrolux & Freelance b Impulso & Low Rider 
9:07. Astrolux pinned Low Rider after a 450 splash. Added match, essentially replacing Cage/Kross.
3) Lady Maravilla, Látigo, Parka Negra, Último Maldito b Arkángel Divino, Big Mami, Dinastía, Eclipse 
14:08. Ultimo Maldito replaced Eterno (moved up) and Arkangel Divino & Latigo surprise added to the match. First AAA TV match in months for Arkangel & Maldito (who may have left the promotion for a time.)
4) Golden Magic & Lady Shani b La Hiedra & Villano III Jr. 
10:10. Shani beat Villano III with a jumping spinning DDT, though Villano III was clearly in the ropes
5) Chik Tormenta, Dave The Clown, Tessa Blanchard b Faby Apache, Niño Hamburguesa, Taya 
9:21. Tessa beat Taya with a hammerlock DDT after Tirantes previously slow counted Taya (and then fast counted for Tessa.) Chik Tormenta replaced Keyra.
6) Aerostar, Laredo Kid, Puma King b Averno, Chessman, Eterno 
12:31. Eterno replaces Daga (moved up). Puma King beat Eterno with a code red. Monster Clown destroyed Aerostar after the match.
7) Daga & Taurus b Cody Rhodes & MJF 
14:00. Daga replaced Cage (moved to a singles match, then off the show anyway due to injury). Daga & Taurus pinned MJF. Cody attacked both of them post match, only for Rey Escorpion & Texano to attack him.
8) Dr. Wagner Jr., Pentagón Jr., Psycho Clown b Blue Demon Jr., Rey Escorpión, Texano Jr. 
15:30. Texano Jr. replaced Kross (moved to a singles match, then didn’t appear at all). Wagner won with a Wagner Driver. Los Mercnarios attacked Wagner after, allowing Cody to appear and make the save.

This was an overall good show with nothing terrible, one match that didn’t work at all. Everything from match 2 (the stream opener) to 6 had hyperactive people working very hard, sometimes with mixed results. Villano III Jr. had a performance for the ages, switching from taking huge bumps to giving them out. Referee Piero & security appeared to want to restrain Villano III Jr. from doing any more at one point, only for him to explain to them that he was really done with the big crazy moves and was setting up Golden Magic’s comeback instead. Aerostar had a good night until he slipped on Destello Azul (Brillo Dorada) attempt at the end of his match; he seemed shook up but got to his feet enough so Monster Clown could beat him up. The stream opener had some major issues at times but the overall card was a good reminder of how deep AAA is even on a show where Vikingo and Myzteziz aren’t around.

Daga & Taurus versus Cody Rhodes & MJF did not work. It wasn’t a lack of effort but it wasn’t the right match for that crowd or presented to them in a way they care. A Los Mercenarios & Konnan promo early in the show tried to get Taurus over as the rudo in the feud, but the crowd did not respond to Cody as a tecnico. It didn’t help that his partner was flipping off the fans and acting the heel for most of the match.  Like the Young Bucks debut at Rey de Reyes, this felt like an artificially inserted AEW segment that’ll produce useful content for a web series and not something which naturally fit on AAA show. (They even did hot tag psychology, which will make a lot of sense in an AEW video package but never gets over when Americans do it in AAA.) It did get better with the Young Bucks return and I’m sure it’ll get better when Cody is on a team with Psycho Clown instead at TripleMania. They really needed someone like Psycho Clown teaming with Cody here too. This was just one match so I feel like I’ve wasted too many words on it, but it does feel like the presentation of AEW in AAA could be improved to fix these issues. (They really need to do something to explain who Kenny Omega is for the many AAA fans who have no idea why they’re supposed to be excited about him at TripleMania.)

There were things – Monster Clown/Aerostar jumps to mind, but Los Mercanarios also set up a bunch of title matches in the opening promo – building to a show that is not TripleMania. AAA sure has a lot of important shows planned for the last third of this year, so they do need to be building past TripleMania. But it is AAA, so there’s always a little bit of concern these are loose threads that will never be sown up. It doesn’t really hurt the TripleMania build to announce now that Monster Clown and Aerostar are having their match at MSG or LA or Heroes Inmortales. That’s also just not the way AAA does things.

Wagner beating Demon is the usual “guy who’s losing the big match-winning the one in the lead up” bit we’ve come to except. Nino Hamburguesa appearing to care more about Big Mami than Lady Maravilla might be the galaxy brain version of that trope.

The building appeared to be a sell-out, though I never thought to check out the upper reaches. The crowd was more responsive than previous shows in this building, though they died off a bit late in the show, especially in the AAA/AEW match.

AAA is off until TripleMania on August 3rd. This was a very long night, ending around 1AM. That one starts an hour longer. Prepare for it to end around the same time.

AAA says they’ll have a big announcement today at 2 pm. It’s probably a Psycho Clown mask giveaway.

Tonight’s CMLL show is Jushin Thunder Liger’s farewell match to the promotion. Liger came to Mexico when he was considered too small and young to wrestle in Japan, training in Arena Mexico. He impressed quickly and made a much bigger name for himself in Japan. Liger (often spelled as “Lyger” in Mexico, I randomly go back and forth) has returned to periodically Mexico over the years. His longest runs were in 2010 and 2011, where he spent many months a top figure in the promotion. Liger won the 2010 CMLL Universal tournament over La Sombra and participated in the cage match on the Aniversario show that year. Liger’s 2011 return included a title match loss to Dragon Rojo and his most recent match against Ultimo Guerrero.

Liger will face Ultimo Guerrero again tonight as well as Caristico and Negro Casas in the first-ever Relevos CMLL match. It appears to be a simple four-way match, which CMLL has run on big occasions in the past, just with a fancy new name. The only difference they’ve mentioned is that instead of two people randomly starting the match, it’ll be Jushin Liger and whoever he chooses. When the person in charge says they’re looking for new ideas, might be worth a shot to make the old ideas sounds like they’re new.

Tonight’s the end of Liger’s story in CMLL. The story for the rest of the summer may start in the semi-main. Dinastia Munoz (Rush, Mistico and La Bestia del Ring) are facing the returning LA Park and his two sons. CMLL’s Aniversario show is 8-9 weeks away, there is no obvious match for that show. I’m reluctant to believe LA Park versus Rush is actually happening. CMLL’s gone down that road before and bailed off it. Actually convincing LA Park to put his mask which he’d almost surely lose is an incredibly challenging task. LA Park’s been featured prominently in MLW and his usage there suggests they expect him to be in a big masked way when their first PPV takes place in October. It is LA Park, so anything is possible, but I’d be prepared for this to be a violent brawl that doesn’t lead to anything definite.

LA Park seemed to say Salina de la Renta is debuting tonight as well. LA Park and his are part of de la Renta’s Promociones Dorada group in MLW.

The rest of the CMLL card is also a big show lineup, as this is the big monthly event. (CMLL commentary might give a hint of the next one, which seems to be the Gran Prix.) The fourth match is a rare 4v4 match for CMLL, where NGD unusually team with Volador Jr. against Templario, Gran Guerrero, Euforia and his son Soberano Junior. We got a bit of Sobreano with Los Guerreros recently and it was pretty good. This match looks very promising.

Marcela & Amapola, the CMLL women’s rivalry of the first part of this decade, will have their first title match in Arena Mexico since 2011 in the third match. I understand why they’re doing this match, but it’s also a subtle indictment of CMLL’s inability to recruit, train and improve luchadoras that they still have to go back to this match for a big show. A title change is highly unlikely. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja team with Esfinge against Ephesto, Lucifierno, and Hechicero. That’s usually Mephisto’s spot, who did appear in Arena Puebla earlier this week. The show opens with Sonic & Super Astro facing Cancerbero & Raziel.

CMLL starts at 8:30. It’ll air on Marca (new link) and on their YouTube. I’ll also stream it on my YouTube.

Jushin Thunder Liger did a press interview on Thursday in addition to the CMLL Facebook appearance. There’s also a video interview with MedioTiempo. Liger said, when he first came to Mexico, Paco Alonso was surprised someone had traveled from Japan to train as a luchador. He was impressed enough to waive Liger’s gym & training fees. Liger mentioned he trained with Rafael Salamanca and Halcon Ortiz. Halcon and Liger got to talk on Thursday, with Halcon presenting his former student with a mask. Liger says watching Dragon Lee and Titan fight convinced him he no longer had the speed to fight with them and his time has passed. Liger said two Mexican wrestlers he admires are Negro Casas (had the most spirit in the ring) and Perro Aguayo (seeing him was the best.) Liger mentioned his retirement match will be on the January 5th show, the second of the two Tokyo Dome shows. Not sure if that had been out there. Liger said some CMLL wrestlers may be invited.

Black Terry (as Guerrero Maya), Aeroboy, and Esfinge posted tribute masks to Liger they plan on wearing. I’m sure there will be a lot more. Aeroboy mentions watching Liger matches when he was young (the one Hayabusa and in WCW are mentioned) and playing with him on the Nintendo 64. He feels very privileged to get to face Liger on Saturday, knowing many other luchadors would want the same moment. Ultimo Guerrero mentioned he was impressed with the reaction Liger got in Ring of Honor when he was there.

Okumura and Kawato both mention they would’ve liked to be involved in Liger’s final match but are happy just to attend the card. Kawato hopes he’ll have a chance to face Liger in a singles match back in Japan before he retires.

Lucha Central has a preview of the Arena Mexico show.

Hijo del Villano III called Atlantis Jr. “a spoiled little boy.”

Super Nova said he left AAA due to lack of opportunities and hopes for more chances as now as an independent.

Arena Coliseo Guadalajara is hosting dancing classes now.

Black Label Pro announced Rey Horus vs Taurus for their 08/24 show in Crown Point, Indiana.

Zeuxis hasn’t wrestled much lately; her last known match in Mexico was April. She is scheduled to wrestle in Puerto Rico this weekend. I may start believing in a Mae Young Classic curse in Mexico. Zeuxis went from a mask win on the Aniversario show to being a near-forgotten person. Princesa Sugehit hasn’t been seen in six weeks since suffering a concussion, though she is advertised on a show on August 1st.

MexaWrestling “Summer Course” on 08/10 in Arena San Juan Pantitlan

• Marcela vs Lady Flammer

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Segunda Caida writes about all the Pierroth matches in WWE.

Lineup

AAA , ELITE (FRI) 08/09/2019 Domo de Zumpango, Zumpango, Estado de México
1) Samoano & Tonga vs Fly Warrior & Mr. Leo
2) Faby Apache & Goya Kong vs Diosa Quetzal & Rossy Moreno
3) Argenis & Mocho Cota Jr. vs Karonte Jr. & Zumbi
4) Hijo Del Vikingo & Myzteziz Jr. vs Astral & Golden Magic
5) La Parka & Parka Negra vs Electroshock & Verdugo
6) Dave The Clown & Psycho Clown vs Trauma I & Trauma II

Just noting the AAA/ELITE concept continues. This, like the previous show, is listed as a TV taping. No idea when or where (or if it really is happening at all.) Monterrey’s KDNA says they’ll also have an AAA/ELITE show on 08/11 with Canek.