Day: July 29, 2019

PALL (SUN) 07/28/2019 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV]
1) ? b Fantasma De La Opera Ii 
2) Aero Panther, Dragón Suicida, Vengador Radioactivo b Fight Panther, Mandala, Samurya Jr. and Lady Pink, Optimus, Radioactivo 
3) Black Dragón, Chico Che, El Divino, Golden Dragón, Shadow b Amnesia, Extreme Fly, Mr. Chivo, Súper Nono, Vaquero De Texas Jr. 
Chico Che snuck in a foul on Super Nono
4) Calibus, Cobre, Jitsu, Moria, Pesadilla b Aspirantito, Atomic Star, Belial, Impulso, Mike Segura 
5) Aeroboy & Draztick Boy b Kid Silver & Marshe Rockett and Eterno & Toxin 
Toxin was the surprise wrestler.
6) Carta Brava Jr. (LLB), Fantasma de la Ópera, Mike Segura b Camuflaje, Crazy Boy, Malkriado 
Camuflaje replaced Poseidon. Mike Segura was the Lucha Libre Boom mystery wrestler. Fantasma beat Crazy Boy by foul to continue their feud, with rematch challenges.
7) Dragón Bane & Hijo de Canis Lupus DQ Trauma I & Trauma II 
Traumas DQed for fouls/mask pull.
8) Pagano b Demus, Crazy King, Wotan 

Seemed like a good turn out for what was essentially a Lucha Libre Boom show with DTU participation. Haven’t heard much on the matches; this is one of those ITV shows where it’s streamed but they don’t advertise it (or at least not any place where I spot it.)

I watched the fifth match primarily to have something to talk about. There’s some good moments and some that don’t quite come together, but overall fun. Chicago’s Rockett working as a giant is a trip but comes off well. Aeroboy & Draztick Boy have talked a lot this year about wanting to get something as a tag team going and you can see how that would work well if they found a place to give them some momentum at it. I also checked out a bit of the tercera to see how Golden Dragon did. He did well, his opening exchange was had some nice stuff.

Excelsior has an interview today with Sofia Alonso. It appears to be her first outside media appearance since the death of her father and Sofia becoming CMLL president. Sofia is her was his only child and she mentions he did things with her that he would’ve done with a son: Paco showed her how to shoot a gun at age 6, taught her chess, took her to F1 races, and of course to lucha libre. She remembers feeling like Alice in Wonderland when she was backstage at lucha libre events, seeing people like Gigante Silva, Atlantis, Universo 2000, Cien Caras, Blue Panther, and Negro Casas. She has her own collection of masks given to her when luchadors would visit her home and says the family itself has a private collection of lucha libre artifacts.

Sofia Alonso did not always plan on running CMLL though. She calls it a happy accident, something she couldn’t imagine leaving once she started, “la lucha libre es mi vida.” She instead left Mexico to study in England from 2012 to 2015, earning a masters degree in sociology with studies in gender & international development. She planned on working on gender equality back in Mexico before she got involved with CMLL about three years ago. Sofia was in charge of the advertising sponsorships, the relationships with TV networks, the partnerships with foreign companies and with the tourism departments until she became in charge of everything upon her father’s death. Paco Alonso had Sofia shadow him, so she has familiarity with the programming, press and production areas which now are also her responsibility. They have meetings every Friday and she doesn’t want to sit in her chair, she doesn’t feel like a substitute.

Sofia describes her challenges are to make sure the luchadors feel calm working with her and that CMLL remains “serio y stable”. She wants to work with the existing departments to keep their existing level of performance and see where they can evolve. Sofia says this is a big challenge but it’s a big opportunity to continue her father’s work.

Sofia’s asked how she was picked to be in charge of CMLL. She simply says “no one else knows what to do like I do.” Almost all the rest of the Lutteroth family lives in Baja California and she was the only one family member working in CMLL with her father. Sofia’s asked if people have questioned a woman being in charge of a business which consistents mostly of men. Sofia acknowledged that’s been asked while definitively stating there’s no man who could do this job better than she can. “This is not a matter of gender, but of knowledge and competence for the position.”

Sofia’s long term goals include the continued international expansion of lucha libre. They have to continue tours outside the country as well as being on over the top (OTT) services in other countries. They’re looking to make new alliances and boost talents. She’s asked about other promoters in Mexico and doesn’t see them as legitimate competition – they don’t have 86 years of history, they didn’t give birth to Mexican wrestling, they’re not comparable.

I feel good about the direction of CMLL in the long term after that interview. I also feel like it’s going to be an interesting next few years.

CMLL’s Arena Puebla show has a couple of feuds carrying over from last week. Mephisto fouled Angel de Oro last week in the semi-main. They meet again, with basically the same crew. Mr. Niebla replaces Lucifierno, teaming with Ephesto and Mephisto against Angel de Oro, Niebla Roja, and Stuka. Metalica cheated to defeat Marcela last Monday and match up again in a singles match. Metalica defeated Marcela in under five minutes last time they did this lightning match, leading to a title match.

The main event has an incredible trios of Caristico, Volador, and Euforia against the Munoz family team of Dragon Lee, La Bestia del Ring, and Rush. That’s probably more about the family teaming than the odd team on the other side. The Panthers team with Stigma against Felino, Tiger and Hijo del Villano III. Malayo & Perverso team with Virus against Electrico, Millennium, and Rey Samuray. Local heroes King Jaguar & Policeman team with Meyer and Somrba Dibaolika respectfully in the opener. The show streams at 9 pm on CMLL’s YouTube channel.

Cain Velasquez is said to be arriving in Mexico tonight around 7 pm. (This seems the most likely flight.)

Azteca says TripleMania will start airing on their channel at 9 pm. The show is scheduled to start at 8 pm, so they’ll probably be missing the first two matches. That still leaves a lot more show than Televisa has shown in past years. Space is starting their broadcast at 8 pm. I assume Azteca is doing their own broadcast, so that means there will be three different teams going.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 08/04/2019 Arena Naucalpan
1) Arquero vs Neza Kid
2) Atomic Star, Auzter, Puma de Oro vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Mosca, X-Corpio
3) Jessy Ventura & Pasion Cristal vs Demonio Infernal & Eterno and Herodes Jr. & Hijo de Pirata Morgan [lumberjack]
4) El Hijo del Medico Asesino vs Hijo del Alebrije
5) Látigo vs Séptimo Dragón, Dragón Bane, Freelance
6) El Mesías & Máscara Año 2000 Jr. vs Hijo De Dos Caras & Mr. Niebla and Trauma I & Trauma II
7) Hechicero vs Hijo de Canis Lupus

Hechicero outside of CMLL is more interesrting of late. Fifth match should be good too.