This is not an AAA week. AAA is planning on running the next three weekends.
CMLL on Marca is a show that could go either way. The tag title match could over-achieve. Titan and Polvora have had great matches in the past. Maybe even the main event will have emotion leading into H2L.
IWRG is broadcasting on Thursday as I type this. They may again next week but it’s hard to tell at this point. The Sunday show is a Monday afternoon show this week.
There are now known 12 cases of COVID-19 in Mexico. Only 1 is still hospitalized. Things can and have changed quick but business is proceeding like normal in Mexico for now. I’m going to trust you to read an implicit “assuming this isn’t affected by the coronavirus” in every paragraph so I don’t have to keep writing it. It is a bizarre experience to be writing about a country where everything seems to be going on as normal while living in one that seems to be swiftly shutting down.
MLW told PWInsider all of their staff and talent is either in Tijuana or Baja California. They did shut down their office on Monday because a case of COVID-19 was discovered locally, but Friday’s TV in Auditorio de Tijuana taping remains on. The ROH shows in Las Vegas, including Mexican wrestlers, are still on at this point.
The announced US travel ban includes Germany on the banned that list. Anyone foreigner there in the last 14 days is not able to travel to the US from Friday at midnight. That means Bandido, Puma King and Taurus will not be able to come to the US after Friday. Bandido is either en-route to the US or has arrived already; he was already going to be in before Friday to work the ROH PPV. Puma King is back in Mexico and I don’t believe his next book in the US is in the next two weeks. Taurus is still in Europe and was not scheduled to return for a week, though the shows he was scheduled to be on may no longer take place. Mexican luchadors typically connect thru the US from foreign bookings, which does not appear to be an option next week. (Taurus also won’t be allowed to work the AAW show on the 20th unless he’s in the US by Friday; that’s less than two weeks from his last day in WXW.) I don’t know how it’s going to work out for him.
A tourist industry event scheduled for Merida from March 22 to the 25th has been postponed over COVID-19 concern. Rey de Reyes is scheduled for the same city a day before. This is not apples to apples. That tourist function was expected to bring in hundreds of foreign visitors, Rey de Reyes will be mostly a local crowd. It is still a concerning sign. Any additional travel ban or concern would also throw havoc into that event. Not only would AAA be at risk of losing Kenny Omega, Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz, but Fenix is US based and Pentagon may be as well for the moment. Flip Gordon missing CMLL’s Homenaje a Dos Leyendas (and the CWE show in Costa Rica) won’t be as big a deal but also seems possible at this point.
IWRG is running another Thursday Night Wrestling tonight, with El Imperio facing Demonio Infernal, Fresero Jr. and Shun Skywalker. I watched the Death Metal versus Black Dragon match from last week’s debut show with this concept – review coming at some point – but the turnout looked good. It came off as dark in photos but as not bad in video. The tables are a fun idea for the crowd but also might turn dangerous the first time a luchador tries to do something silly around them. Metal & Dragon awkwardly brawled in between them to give the crowd a feel of the action but someone’s going to try to do more at some point.
TripleMania tickets are on SuperBoletos. They run from 251 to 7298 Mexican Pesos, which is slightly higher than last year on the high end but same on the low end. That money went a long way in paying for Blue Demon & Dr. Wagner last year. AAA advertising every match having a stipulation does suggest they don’t have a singular match to carry the entire card like a Wagner/Psycho in years past (so maybe keep expectations for LA Park vs Rush in check.)
I don’t think I ever put CMLL prices Homenaje a Dos Leyendas prices here. They are 336 to 1476, the same pricing as the last two years. It’s hard to believe, but the highest H2L prices remain the 2017 show with Diamante Azul and Pierroth in a mask match on top (plus a trios title match and an Ultimo Guerrero/Matt Taven match.)
On CMLL Informa yesterday, Julio Cesar Rivera stated that all of Sangre Chicana’s children were welcome to his tribute on Homenaje a Dos Leyendas. “You know who we’re talking about”, he said. I’m not sure exactly how welcome La Hiedra should feel if CMLL doesn’t feel comfortable saying her name. La Hiedra is currently booked in Cuernavaca that night. AAA could easily replace her for one show, card changes are common. It’s a matter of AAA letting her off that show and if CMLL is sincere about that welcome.
CMLL also pulled the KeMonito & Microman interview from Informa into a separate video. They should probably do this more often.
03/28 RIOT (“Trusa”) in Monterrey’s Arena LLF
Another actor has been cast for the Blue Demon Disney show. The Violet role, the one they needed to find before the show could cast a pilot, has not been decided.
Hijo del Santo talks about his father beating him in 1v1 soccer and helping his son gain confidence in diving off the top rope.
Lineups
CMLL (MON) 03/16/2020 Arena Puebla
1) El Asturiano, Rey Samuray, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs El Malayo, El Perverso, Toro Bill Jr.
2) Marcela, Sanely, Skadi vs Dalys, La Comandante, Metálica
3) Diamond, Stigma, Stuka Jr. vs Disturbio, Hechicero, Sagrado
4) Carístico, Felino, Negro Casas, Terrible vs Cavernario, Euforia, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Último Guerrero vs Forastero
That’s a family main event. CMLL accidentally booked an atomicos in build up for Homenaje a Dos Leyendas (and possibly because they had Soberano & Euforia both booked.)