Ovaciones goes with NJPW referee Tigre Hattori as the big story for today’s CMLL show. Hattori is working tonight as part of a retirement tour. He doesn’t have a huge connection with CMLL, but he’s been part of the NJPW team who works with CMLL as part of their alliance. It’s a nice honor for him, everyone seems to like him. It also says things about the excitement level for a Friday night card when the most interesting bit is a referee from another promotion having a one-off appearance. I hope Hattori does well, but I also hope he just does the lightning match so he’s not out there trying to figure out CMLL rules. The best-case scenario here is we all get to enjoy CMLL making a bigger deal out of Hattori’s retirement than NJPW did for Lyger’s US retirement.
There’s nothing else going on tonight in Arena Mexico, just some matches. The matches might be good, but it also may be a lot of action we’ve seen a lot before. There are no feuds going on. It might be a good crowd because of the 2×1 ticket deal. The rotating main event tecnico trio lands on Mistico, Volador, and Soberano this week. They face Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, and Negro Casas. Star Jr. remains in a high position, teaming with Titan and Stuka Jr. against NGD. Angel de Oro & Felino are in a lightning match. They’ve split the other two matches.
The natural storylines are a return and a farewell. Kawato San makes his first streaming appearance, returning to CMLL just in time for the NJPW officials to see him. He teams with Okumura & Hechicero against Atlantis, Dulce Gardenia and Audaz. Shoko Nakajima finishes her CMLL tour by teaming with Princesa Sugehit & La Jarochita against Dalys, Tiffany and Reina Isis. Retro & Sonic open up against the dreaded team of Hijo del Signo & Espanto Junior. The broadcast starts at 8:30 pm, MarcaClaro will be streaming it, and I’ll be streaming their stream.
Lucha Central has a preview of this show.
CMLL’s annual show of wrestlers whose best days are long behind them (and also a few who are still good) will be coming up in about three weeks. Romano Garcia/Mr. Condor of Los Diabolicos says his group is wrestling in Arena Mexico on December 6th. Skayde also says he’s booked. It has to be the annual Leyendas show, which does draw a lot of fans to see the old names for one night but also makes one wonder how safe it is for some of the participants to be in the ring. CMLL is in a rut, so something unusual and even ill-considered can’t be all bad.
I’m not sure when Skayde has ever wrestled a regular CMLL show prior. He was an El Toreo guy and then floated thru other promotions. He has wrestled in Arena Mexico as part of DragonMania shows. Skayde has also wrestled under a dozen different identities so I’m likely missing something, but I couldn’t find a previous CMLL Arena Mexico match for him.
CMLL also has you covered for pictures of Star Black’s healing leg. He’s hoping to be back in early January.
Polvora introduces Mini Polvora to the world. Polvora is about three inches taller than Mini Polvora, who is the former Manitas de Seda.
This week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports Penta & Fenix are starting as AAA regulars as opposed to working mostly indies in “four to five weeks.” That may be correct. It doesn’t seem correct because Penta’s got an indie booking on 12/28 in Puebla. It also seems weird because AAA’s last TV taping of the year is the 12/14 show, 4-5 weeks away from whenever that news was received. They appear to be off until January after that Guerra de Titanes show. Penta & Fenix starting working more with AAA in 2020 seems plausible if it’s happening at all.
Impact is back in Mexico City near the end of January according to this week’s TV show.
Australian Suicide is a fashion guy.
Punisher unmasked Super Tigre in Arena Aficion. Super Tigre is Luis Miguel Silva, 53, 32 years a wrestler, originally from Mexico City.
Vampiro started a new YouTube channel.
LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.
Lineups
AAA , CAPITAL (WED) 11/20/2019 Pinche Gringo Barbecue, Miguel Hidalgo, Distrito Federal
Women: Big Mami vs Vanilla, Lady Maravilla
Men: Willie Mack vs Bengala, Mocho Cota Jr., Pagano, Aerostar, Murder Clown, Niño Hamburguesa, Arez, Abismo Negro Jr.
I still don’t sense many people are interested in the Lucah Capital Season 2 tournament format but it is worth nothing everything has made sense in this AAA tournament so far. All the people announced are all the people who should have a match left. It gets complicated once they move onto the semi-finals but most AAA tournaments are a mess by this point.
CMLL (MON) 11/18/2019 Arena Puebla
1) Black Tiger & Policeman vs Ares & Guerrero Espacial
2) Halcón Suriano Jr. & Robin vs Apocalipsis & Toro Bill Jr.
3) La Magnifica, La Maligna, Princesa Sugehit vs Dalys, La Metálica, Reyna Isis
4) Ángel de Oro, Dulce Gardenia, Stigma vs Hijo del Villano III, Okumura, Templario
5) Niebla Roja © vs Mephisto [CMLL LH]
7th defense
6) Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
It’d be a big surprise if Niebla Roja lost. More Caristico main events. Not sure if there’s meant to be a feud to go along with the opening match rudo versus rudo feud. Just like with Mexico City prelim feud, there’s often a locals feud in Puebla (that peaks during the week or two where this building is not televised.)
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Penta is off the Puebla show .. because promotor says he didnt make a video…
I can’t believe how seated the Arena Mexico crowd is when the show is clearly over and winners announced. They stay seated for the mic work then start leaving.
At a WWE show it’s the opposite. It’s a sprint to leave first.
Because it’s all foreigners who have no idea the show is actually over. You gotta get out there, Keith. It’s incredible to see how few Mexicans are at these shows. If there is ever a shooting or some sort of crime that puts the area of Arena Mexico on the list of places tourists shouldn’t go – CMLL is beyond fucked.
@Rob Thanks Rob. Now it makes sense.