Day: October 15, 2019

CMLL (MON) 10/14/2019 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Lucha Central]
1) Espíritu Maligno, Rencor, Sombra Diabólika b Hijo de Centella Roja, King Jaguar, Millenium 
Rudos took 1/3.
2) Arkalis, Rey Samuray, Robin b Black Tiger, Rey Apocalipsis, Toro Bill Jr. 
Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Esfinge, Fuego, Stigma b Misterioso Jr., Okumura, Sagrado 
Tecnicos took 1/3.
4) Stuka Jr. b Templario [lightning] 
5) Carístico, Soberano Jr., Valiente DQ Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón 
Tecnicos toko 2/3. Forastero fouled Caristico
6) Niebla Roja © b Gran Guerrero [CMLL LH] 
Niebla Roja took 2/3 for his 6th defense.

Niebla Roja/Gran Guerrero was said to be pretty good. They’re doing too many Forastero feuds if they’re doing Caristico/Forastero again.

Nothing unusual to be found in today’s Arena Mexico show. Last week was the singles match here, so there’s no feud and not a lot in terms of exciting trios matches. The main is Chavez Brothers & Stuka against Mephisto, Negor Casas, and Terrible. Mephisto is in the main event despite his partners being in the semi-main, so maybe something is coming there. Ephesto & Luciferno team with Templario instead of Blue Panther, Flyer, and Guerrero Maya. Fuego & Disturbio are in the lighting match; Fuego’s won their last three meetings. The opening half of the card is for completists only. The show will start streaming at 7:30 pm.

Guadalajara has Caristico, Soberano, and Valiente against Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero, and Terrible. That seems to be a problem with Terrible also being in Arena Mexico.

Lucha Capital

+Lucha’s podcast went over the details of the Lucha Capital tournament last night. AAA posted some of these same details in a press release. Vampiro also talked about the show on Facebook, though I haven’t listened to it yet. There are 12 trios in the tournament:

1. Poder del Norte
2. Taurus, Willie Mack, Rich Swann
3. Bengala, Puma King, Flamita
4. Pagano, Super Fly, Maximo
5. Octagon Jr., Aerostar, Hijo del Vikingo
6. Dinastia, Drago, Psycho Clown
7. Mamba, Murder Clown, Nino Hamburguesa
8. Argenis, Arez, Mr. Iguana
9. Dave the Clown, Villano III Jr., Abismo Negro Jr.
10. Faby Apache, Lady Shani, Big Mami
11. Ayako Hamada, La Hiedra, Vanilla
12. Lady Maravilla, Keyra, Hades

Neither of last year’s champs (Laredo Kid & Taya) return. No Lucha Brothers; no one from AEW at all. That seems unlikely running on Wednesdays. Including Impact made it doubly unlikely. Australian Suicide mentioned he’d be part of this but isn’t in a match, so he’s likely doing commentary on Facebook comments again. (I would like the job of going to a BBQ restaurant and saying silly things on social media; I’m pretty sure I do that for free as it is.) There are some tippy-top people like Wagner, Demon, Kross, Escorpion who aren’t involved. There are also a few middle and lower people left out: Daga, Chessman, Monster Clown, Pimpinela, Eclipse, Astrolux, Dragon Bane, Aramis, Toxin, Iron Kid, Latigo, and Los Macizos. I wonder if the spot that was Lady Flammer and is now Hades started as Chik Tormenta’s place in the tournament. I think we all can agree Flamita should return to being Nightclaw to complete the cat theme of his team.

Each week will have four three-way matches, featuring a member of a different team. If they stick with this format, you’ll never see these teams together during the early weeks of the tournament. They’ll be fighting on their own.

Men and women will be in the same matches, though they’re heading to different championships. The three men’s teams and the two women’s teams with the most wins will advance to semi-finals. The winning teams will face off among themselves to determine overall men and women’s winners.

The AAA press release mentions the competition will last eight weeks, which would mean a final on 12/04. Eight shows – or seven group episodes and one final – doesn’t seem to work evenly with the tournament structure. Maybe it’ll make sense later.

Since every match is going to be a three-way, the poster seems a pretty good indication of the plans for tomorrow

• Rich Swann vs. Villano III Jr. vs. Ayako Hamada
• Aerostar vs. Drago vs. Flamita
• Nino Hamburguesa vs. Hades vs. Willie Mack
• Big Mami vs. Argenis vs. Maximo

Note this doesn’t fit with what AAA’s already announced. If AAA has four three-way matches, that’s one person per team. There’s no Poder del Norte member listed for the first show, while both Rich Swann & Willie Mack are wrestling. Perhaps they had to double up on that team for availability reason, and it will all make sense later. It’s not a bet I would take.

I’m not a fan of three-way matches in general, so seven weeks of them doesn’t seem ideal. The team format is an easy workaround for not being sure of having everyone available every week.

Other Notes

Cuervo de Puerto Rico posted a message on Facebook criticizing Angel o Demonio for continuing to harass him. Demonio is upset Cuervo blames him for the brick attack. It seems understandable Cuervo would believe that, and that’s what I think. Demonio is also trying to get attention on himself, which Cuervo notes. The thrown brick put Cuervo out of wrestling for nearly a year. It almost killed Cuervo and yet turned out to be a net positive for Angel o Demonio’s career. He’d like to keep the controversy he’s been milking going. Demonio was prevented from wrestling in Mexico State for about a month, wrestled elsewhere, and has latched on entirely to being the “guy who threw that brick from that video.”

Rey Fenix is back in GALLI on 10/27.

Felino is headed to Japan for FukumenMania on 11/27.

MLW has the first of three weeks covering their combined show with The Crash.

Lineups

CMLL (SUN) 10/20/2019 Arena México
1) Robin & Sonic vs. Cholo & Yago
2) Eléctrico vs. El Coyote [lightning]
3) Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Cancerbero, Raziel, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Blue Panther, Kráneo, Volcano vs. Hechicero, Pólvora, Vangellys
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Dulce Gardenia vs. Mr. Niebla, Rey Bucanero, Terrible
6) Forastero, Negro Casas, Valiente vs. Ángel de Oro, Cavernario, Niebla Roja [Relevos Increíbles]

One of the good points of Rush leaving CMLL is it seemed to mean the era of constant CMLL relevos increibles might be coming to an end. There hasn’t been as much lately, didn’t want to see one pop up here.

If CMLL had a real sense of humor, they would’ve booked Electrico vs. Grako instead.

CMLL (SUN) 10/20/2019 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Crixus, Luminoso, Paladin vs. Cris Skin, Mr. Apolo, Thunder Boy
2) Leo, Reycko, Vaquero Jr. vs. Frenético, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
3) Átomo, Gallito, Microman vs. Chamuel, El Guapito, Perico Zakarías
4) Gallo vs. Principe Daniel, Omar Brunetti, El Rielero, Javier Cruz Jr., Exterminador, Maléfico, Furia Roja, Freezer, Bobby Black [OCCIDENTE HEAVY, tournament]

Star Black will be out three to four months from the broken leg, more prolonged than initially expected. They’ve decided to have him vacate the title and choose a new champion, which hopefully means they have an idea for the belt. This match is listed as the start of the tournament, so maybe two people move onto next week.

AAA TV (SUN) 11/17/2019 Auditorio Municipal Josue Neri Santos, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
1) Big Mami, Máscarita Dorada, Niño Hamburguesa vs. Demus, Keyra, Lady Maravilla
2) Mamba, Murder Clown, Pimpinela Escarlata vs. Arez, La Parka Negra, Monsther Clown
3) Daga vs. Taurus, Brian Cage, Flamita
4) Nicho el Millionario, Psycho Clown, Taya vs. Ayako Hamada, Rey Escorpión, Texano Jr.
5) Dr. Wagner Jr., La Parka, Pagano vs. Averno, Blue Demon Jr., Chessman

AAA has Orizaba this weekend for Heroes Inmortales, next Sunday near Toluca, 11/09 in Torreon, and this card in Juarez. It’s not much of a lineup. That’s the pattern. The luchadors aren’t bad; the matchmaking comes off as if AAA is done doing anything for this year. Another Blue Demon/Dr. Wagner main event, another Pycho Clown/Rey Escorpion match, four guys thrown together for no apparent reason in a four-way.