Voting for the 2020 Tapatia awards for the best in lucha libre is open until 02/01
CMLL , NJPW (FRI) 01/10/2020 Osaka Prefectural Gym 2, Osaka, Japan [NJPW]
Attendance: 1052
1) Fuego & Ryusuke Taguchi b Douki & Kanemaru
8:00. Fuego beat Douki with La Guelaguetza.
2) Euforia, Luciferno, Namajague b El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Uemura
8:34. Namajague beat Uemura with a German suplex.
3) Flyer & Soberano Jr. b Negro Casas & Tiger
6:30. Soberano beat Tiger.
4) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Titán b Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
10:10. Angel de Oro defeated Cuatrero via mercedora.
5) Dulce Gardenia, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tsuji b Bushi, Hiromu Takahashi, Naito
10:08. Takahashi beat Tsuji.
6) Carístico, Kojima, Stuka Jr. b Bárbaro Cavernario, Okumura, Último Guerrero
11:30. Okumura 25th Anniversary match. Okumura defeated Stuka via cutter.
CMLL posted promos with Okumura, Negro Casas & Tiger, Flyer & Soberano Jr.
The show is up here. I didn’t stay up for this one. The reviews make it sound watchable, the times make it seem quick. The results are generally what you’d expect: build-up for feuds and young lions taking losses. Tiger taking the loss in his pinfall suggests he’s not going to be racking up good results the rest of the way.
The start of FantasticaMania means the start of some not so great CMLL shows. There’s a couple of watchable shows tonight, but it’s not a strong show by any means. Diamante Azul, Mistico and Volador face Gran Guerrero, Shocker, and Terrible in the main event. Shocker’s looked slightly better in his most recent return, but still is one of the least mobile people in the promotion. Atlantis Jr., Star Jr. & Valiente against Hechicero, Rey Bucanero and Templario is the best bet for a good match. This would be the stretch to at least experiment with Hechicero in main events but it doesn’t seem like that’s ever an option.
The Panther Family faces Ephesto, Felino, and Vangellys in the fourth. CMLL Informa (via Alfredo’s recap) had Black Panther continuing to pitch a rudo turn. It’s also something obviously worth trying given the lack of depth on the rudo side, but there’s no current reason to expect it to happen. It’d likely have to be the whole family turning, family members on opposite sides are tough to book if CMLL is still enforcing the “no fathers & sons can fight” policy. Blue Panther Sr. mentioned his third son, currently wrestling as Cachorro Lagunero, will likely be debuting in CMLL soon with a new name. Blue Sr. had previously mentioned staying in the ring long enough to get that third son started, but now it sounds like he may be saying for a lot longer.
Esfinge faces Universo 2000 Jr. in the lightning match. There’s a women’s match with Marcela, Princesa Sugehit and Lluvia against Amapola, Tiffany, and La Comandante. Fantasy and Shockercito open up against Pequeno Violencia and Mercurio, who’s getting a lot of Friday nights since returning. The show streams at 8:30 pm and I’ll have it streaming if it’s blocked in the US.
Lucha Central has a preview of this show.
There is no update on the Psycho Clown/AAA story. It’s still hard to fathom and it wouldn’t be a surprise if it just went quietly away.
Psycho hasn’t addressed the situation, but he did mention he’s had a hacking issue with his Instagram so maybe he’s got other things going on. Psycho Clown’s next scheduled match is tomorrow in Gomez Palacio, but that looks like a (rare) indie date. The next definite AAA date for him is January 15th in San Luis Potosi, but it’s likely he’s working AAA shows before then and the poster just hasn’t made it to the database yet. Psycho Clown works an incredible amount of dates; with Parka out (and likely done), there’s a lot of work that’s fallen to Psycho Clown.
+LuchaTV dropped the full Taurus vs Michael Elgin match and highlights of Jonathan Gresham versus Virus from Battle of Naucalpan. The context here these are all matches nominated as part of their 2019 Match Of The Year voting. Taurus & Elgin had been released as part of a full show before, that’s just making it easier to watch. None of the matches from the Battle of Naucalpan have been released until this point. I guess the idea is people wanted to vote for it in the poll, so it was ok to release highlights of the match for a match of the year poll, despite the promotion having said no highlight or any footage would be released. It feels like the decision to release the highlights was made on a whim of including it in the poll, which feels like the whole show could’ve been released had they wanted to do it. It’s never too late for good wrestling but that show won’t ever get the credit it deserves because of how it was handled – the match had zero votes when I checked this morning.
Lector24 has an interview with Intocable. He suffered a spine injury while competing in AAA and mentions that Antonio Pena paid all his hospital bills and paid for his rehab. He considered Antonio Pena a friend, but also he was a big star and they needed him.
Lucha Memes vs MexaWrestling 02/03 @ Coacalco
- Jimmy (Lucha Memes) vs Toxin (MexWrestling)
- Garrobo Punk & Gremlin vs Fly Warrior & Principe Aereo
- Rey Apocalipsis & Toro Bill Jr. vs Metaleon & Centvrion – new
Microman faces Chamule on the 02/12 & 02/13 Lucha Va Voom shows in Los Angeles.
Dragon Bane & Hijo de Canis Lupus are headed back to NOAH from 02/16 to 03/08. They did well last time, mostly wrestling with each other.
VultureHound has a good interview with Daga, including him talking about why he never wanted to wrestle with a mask.
Bandido goes to Puerto Rico to face El Cuervo on 01/25. ROH announced a WrestleMania weekend show in Tampa on 04/04 and, at least for now, Bandido is not listed as part of that show. That reads like Bandido has not yet put pen to paper on any deal for April, at least as far as ROH is concerned. Rush & Dragon Lee are announced for that ROH show.
RobViper has a write up on the best 30 matches of the 2010s.
Segunda Caida watches LA Park vs Blue Demon, which I still need to do.
LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.
Veneno wants a hair vs mask match with Ultimo Dragon.
On Patreon, Pharr from Heaven has an interview with Dave Meltzer about Eddie Guerrero’s career.
Rush’s latest video covers Dragon Lee’s wedding.
Lineups
CMLL (MON) 01/13/2020 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano, King Jaguar, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Ares, Centella Roja, Policeman
2) Astro, Kaligua, Shockercito vs Espíritu Maligno, Joker, Pierrothito
3) Black Panther, Esfinge, Stigma vs Dark Magic, Kawato San, Olímpico
4) Kráneo, Valiente, Volcano vs Máscara Año 2000, Rey Bucanero, Universo 2000 Jr.
5) Diamante Azul, Místico, Volador Jr. vs Felino, Gran Guerrero, Templario
CMLL allows Felino & Templario in the main event, or just Shocker & Terrible has the night off. The second match is a rematch; they may be setting up Shockercito versus Pierrothito on 01/20.
CMLL (TUE) 01/14/2020 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Mercurio & Pequeño Violencia
2) Eléctrico, Magnus, Oro Jr. vs Grako, Inquisidor, Nitro
3) Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs Dark Magic, Misterioso, Sagrado
4) Drone vs Templario, Rey Cometa, Kawato San, Príncipe Diamante, Akuma, Black Panther, Hijo del Signo, Star Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Esfinge, Disturbio [Reyes del Aire]
5) Místico vs Mephisto
It’s strange to run a Reyes del Aire when the last two winners (Angel de Oro, Titan) and the next couple of guys likely to win (Soberano, Audaz) are in Japan. This is CMLL needing a proper a semi-main without having enough “stars” around, no more thought than that. Cometa or Star Jr. seem like the favorites with Templario having an outside chance.
LLB , GAW (SUN) 02/02/2020 Arena Naucalpan
1) Divino, Príncipe Davo, Ska Boy vs Demonio Gato, Hijo De Brazo De Platino, Slash
2) Príncipe Aéreo & Pumita vs Atomic Star & Baby Star and Hahastary & Lady Cat
3) Fresero Jr. & La Heroína vs Fuerza Guerrera NG & Hija De Fuerza Guerrera
4) Big Chico Che, Big Mike, Big Ovett vs Carta Brava Jr. (IWL), Cerebro Negro, Fantasma de la Ópera
5) Trauma I & Trauma II vs Dragón Bane & Hijo de Canis Lupus
6) El Hijo Del Santo & Octagón vs Ángel Blanco & Fuerza Guerrera
Santo & Octagon together for the first time in, uh, a month. (They were together in Texas last weekend.) Old Santo rival Dr. Cerebro is not booked but teasing showing up anyway on YouTube.