The CMLL Aniversario show is tonight. The show happening tonight seems like strange news, with people being unaware this is the week. The show is going to do fine because the show always does okay. Still, there’s no anticipation for it approaching past years. I guess one thing you can say is having an unclear result of the main event has not seemed to build extra excitement for the show. The loser is likely one of Negro Casas, Gilbert, and Big Daddy. Nothing feels an absolute outcome as did Volador & Taven losing last year or Niebla Roja losing the year before that. The extra uncertainty doesn’t help if no one cares much about the outcome in the first place.
It should be a good show because CMLL big shows generally are good. The trios title match has lots of good people, Microman & Chamuel have their bit down, and the combination in mixed tag match should work well. The opening match should be much better than usual. The cage match and women’s title match have a chance to be stinkers. There are chances of hope. Some cage matches have been saved with a good one fall to end it. Metalica’s motivated to do better than last time. It’ll be fine.
I’ve got a more extended preview over at Voices of Wrestling. It does descend into me urgently waving red flags about the Dragon Lee & Rush situations for a bit.
CMLL hasn’t acknowledged anything as far as streaming outside of the show not airing live. They haven’t mentioned FITE. Last year, they waited until 5 pm to say anything at all, so I consider it a blessing that we got the “won’t air live” bit early. What we know right now:
- If you want to watch live, you can sign up to Ring of Honor’s Honor Club service for $10/month. They’ll be streaming Aniversario on their site and thru Fite. They’ll also be putting up an English language version of the show later in the week.
- ROH is airing their PPV tonight as well, but you do not get access to that without paying extra. You’ll get access to their 09/28 show with Rush & Dragon Lee vs. PCO & Brody King, and at least a couple more for the rest of the month. Honor Club does auto-renew, so you’ll have to cancel it yourself.
- If you are okay with waiting, Aniversario will likely go up on CMLL’s YouTube channel sometime this weekend, probably early Saturday morning, like every single week.
- I’m not streaming the show. Maybe someone will if you search the internet.
If you want to watch it live, figure out how to sign up (and then cancel) for Honor Club. If you don’t want to pay for it or deal with ROH, do something else with your Friday night. It’s not ideal, but it’s also not difficult. This main event is also not Atlantis versus Sombra so you’ll be OK even if you don’t figure it out.
I don’t expect a lot of people will end up paying. It’s the same problem as InvadingNY. The standard price of a lucha libre show on the internet is $0.00. No one wants to pay for something that’ll be free later, even before we get into the lineup. I think any decent buys for this would be a bonus. This stream is more about building up ROH’s tape library and their relationship with CMLL than a one night number.
Lucha Central has a preview of Aniversario.
Big Daddy told the press that he would win the cage match because everyone else has a lot of money and he does not, so he’s more hungry for a win. He claimed he’s Mexican now and will be in CMLL to win all the titles. I assume Big Daddy is sticking around after this show, but I’m not sure. Negro Casas detailed his many injuries to Heraldo de Mexico, while also declaring he would continue to wrestle as long as he can still move. Diario Basta has an interview with Cibernetico (most experience with cages matches), Negro Casas (getting out of there ASAP) and Cavernario (issues with Volador.)
ROH has their Death before Dishonor PPV, starting an hour before CMLL. This show is not included in the Honor Club subscription; you have to pay an additional $20 (or sign up for a full year of their premium subscription.)
The big match on the show is Matt Taven defending the ROH World Heavyweight Championship against Rush. Rush is wildly expected to win, with the build all but declaring he’d win here. Matt Taven also may be leaving ROH soon No Mexican has ever won the ROH World Championship. The last Mexican to win the main championship of a significant US promotion I believe is Pentagon Jr. (in both Impact and LU depending on taping vs. airing.) Dragon Lee may be in Las Vegas for the show; he is wrestling on tomorrow’s taping.
Bandido & Mark Haskins also face the Briscoes for the ROH Tag Team Championship. My guess is that’s probably a tag title change, but it’s not close to a sure thing like the Rush one.
Rush & Dragon Lee say they have an announcement on Monday. Rush’s YouTube channel is scheduled to launch Monday. That news is likely all there is to it, but any other career news would fit too.
One more show tonight: AAA & EMW are running in Tijuana with an AAA vs Indies concept show. This event won’t stream but may turn up on YouTube channels later on. Jake Atlas was listed in the opener but he’s ended up in APW (with Fenix & Penta) instead.
Last night…
DTU (THU) 09/26/2019 Arena Aficion [+LuchaTV, CuadrilateroTV, DTU]
1) Jitsu b Samuray Jr., Gran Cobra, Vengador Radioactivo, Dragón Suicida
2) Hijo De Dr. Pólux Jr. b Sobredosis, Lunatik Fly, Mc Hardbody, Hard Boy
money thrown in
3) Hijo Del Picudo & Nigma b Exótico & Pesadilla and Brazo Celestial & Brazo Cibernetico Jr.
Vatos Locos took advantage of the Panther brothers distracting the Brazos.
4) Aero Panther, Dragón Bane, Drolux b Fight Panther, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Moria
Brothers vs Brothers (so Drolux and Moria are brothers?) Money thrown in.
5) Calibus b Blue Panther Jr., Brazo De Oro Jr.
Brazos got involved in the finish, teasing a match with them and the Panthers.
6) Camuflaje & Penta Zero M b Crazy Boy & Crazy King
Penta beat Crazy Boy. Penta asked for a tag title shot with Camuflaje in December.
The Brazos/Panthers stuff seems like a change in directions, but a definite direction. I’m surprised they’re getting another date on Penta. DTU’s next Arena Aficion show on 10/24, including Blue Panther, Cachorro Lagunero (the third son), Arez, Ricky Marvin and Puma King as well as wrestlers from Future of Honor.
The WON said AAA’s conventional PPV buys are now thought to be up to 300-400, which would be an increase of about 500% percent. That doesn’t include PPV purchases due to FITE. 300-400 seems about right for a promotion that didn’t do much advertising in the US.
Shocker returned to his YouTube channel Wednesday to deny he’s in rehab. Shocker disappeared from the public for three months, with El Planchitas saying it was because Shocker was on rehab farm. Shocker promised a longer update explaining where he’s been. Shocker looks thinner and still hasn’t had the jaw surgery to fix the injury from last year. A relative of Shocker had earlier said Shocker’s disappearance was due to being self-conscious about his looks in his current shape.
Guadalajara’s Sports Council handed out awards to luchadors on 09/25, a delayed celebration of national lucha libre day. Arena Coliseo Guadalajara mentioned the awards their wrestlers won:
- Novatos: Principe Daniel & Johnny Dinamo
- Revelacion: Fugaz
- Best Rudo: Difunto
- Best Tecnico: Vaquero Jr.
- Best Luchadora: Silueta
- Best Star Luchador: Star Black
- Career recognition: Exterminador & Malefico
- Best Match: Fugaz, Reycko, Explosivo vs Difunto, Frezzer, Guerrero de la Muerte
- This match looks to be a Sunday match on 09/08, apparently the first show of the post-Magnum era. It didn’t get much of a mention at the time.
El Planchitas says Nacion Lucha Libre is considering bringing Cuervo de Puerto Rico to a show in November. That would be a good press move for Alberto’s company though it has to last that long for it to matter. Planchitas is also on a “the real villains were everyone besides Angel o Demonio” bit.
An article has Heroes of Lucha Libre returning on 12/09. It’s a mistake. This lineup appears to be the 2017 event with a confused author thinking it’s happening this year. This promotion, which you probably forgot before this paragraph started, ran three shows between 2016 and 2017. Their Facebook hasn’t been updated since April.
LuchaWorld has the latest news update.
The University of Arizona will have a course on Mexican Super Heroes, which will include discussion of luchadors.
Lineups
CMLL (MON) 09/30/2019 Arena Puebla
1) Astro, Dark Soul, Millenium vs Fuerza Chicana, Joker, Rey Apocalipsis
2) Oro Jr., Súper Astro Jr., Tigre Rojo Jr. vs El Malayo, Perverso, Policeman
3) Metálica vs Sanely [lightning]
4) Átomo, Gallito, Microman vs Chamuel, Guapito, Perico Zakarías
5) Flyer, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Hechicero, Templario, Terrible
6) Carístico, Místico, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
The Microman/Chamuel continues to go around the loop. Metalica/Sanely seemed like a title match on Monday. That’s now dependent on Metalica still being champion.
CMLL (TUE) 10/01/2019 Arena México
1) Bengala & Leono vs Apocalipsis & Cholo
2) La Guerrera, La Maligna, Lluvia vs Dalys, La Infernal, Tiffany
3) Drone, Fuego, Pegasso vs Misterioso, Sagrado, Tiger
4) El Audaz vs Virus [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Kráneo, Volcano vs Felino, Hechicero, Rey Bucanero
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Soberano Jr. vs Forastero, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
Audaz vs Virus is a good idea; the only one they’ve done so far was an untelevised match in Arena Coliseo. Almost nothing else here seems like a good idea.