closed shows canceled but Lucha Memes to go on (maybe), KeMonito on his career, Dragon Rojo’s stalled return

The status of the 04/05 Lucha Memes is unclear. The Mexico State boxing and lucha libre commission updated their statements on Tuesday, prohibiting all events. They specifically include shows closed to the public, which seems to be referring to this Lucha Memes show without mentioning it by name. Lucha Memes had a plan to limit the amount beings in the arena area – everyone would get their temperature taken before coming in, dressing out in the seating area so there’s enough distance for everyone, luchadors leave immediately after their match – but the new regulation seems to prohibit even that. The regulation may not matter; Lucha Memes has told people the show will still go on, though they haven’t said much publicly (and that vagueness may be the best move if they are planning on running anyway.) +LuchaTV posted a news article about closed shows being banned noting it would affect the Lucha Memes show, but still is promoting the Lucha Memes show as happening as normal (or whatever normal is at this point.) Justiciero also posted a letter he sent to the commission, protesting the original shut down, so it seems like he would continue to support a show being run in Coliseo Coacalco.

Memes and +LuchaTV can possibly have this show regardless of the rules. The commission is not going to storm Coliseo Coacalco and tear the ring down. It’s possible the local Coacalco and Mexico State authorities might send someone in law enforcement to break up the show, but they also might not – they might have better things to do. IT does seem likely that the Mexico State commission – already recently weirdly angry with +LuchaTV, Lucha Memes and Coliseo Coacalco for the 24/7 title thing – will make their lives miserable if they defy this order. This again might a lot of words about irrelevant things; the show is still 10 days away and a lot has changed in the last 10 days already.

For their part, Lucha Memes says they’ve received 24 donations. I believe Angel Garza was among those making a significant donation. There’s no mention of exactly how much money Memes has raised. The MedioTiempo article mentions the money will be used to pay rent for the arena in addition to paying the wrestlers. Lucha Memes mentioned on Twitter that they’ll be taking donations (including from international viewers) for wrestlers through YouTube’s SuperChat function. Memes is also going to release the Virus versus Jonathan Gresham match through +LuchaTV from last year’s Battle of Naucalpan to raise money the same way. That’ll get more money to the luchadors, though it means the money has to pass through at least Google and +LuchaTV and possibly Lucha Memes to get to them. Anyone who can donate money through SuperChat probably can donate money through any number of other digital methods, if the wrestlers themselves would make those available. This section comes off as harsh towards Lucha Memes and +LuchaTV but luchadors not doing something individually or as a group is the bigger issue.

Milenio has an interview with KeMonito about his recent viral fame and his career. He’s surprised by the inventiveness of the memes as much as anyone. He also reveals that Vampiro martinete spot hurt more than Ultimo Guerrero kick that set him flipping into a million GIFs, though I wonder if part of that might be selling the devastating effect of the banned lucha libre move. Monito also reveals he was considering retiring on the last Aniversario show, changing his mind after talking to CMLL. It reads like the injuries have added up, he’s probably not sticking around for much longer, and CMLL will retire the character at point. KeMonito also appeared in a video promoting the World Wildlife Fund.

An unexpected side effect of the current quarantine: the producers of the Perro Aguayo documentary say the film is done, but it’s impossible to show it in a theatre right now. It’ll be digitally available eventually but they’d like to follow the usual theatrical release when that becomes possible again.

Dragon Rojo Jr. was supposed to be ready by now, returning from right knee surgery. Rojo tore his ACL and partially tore a PCL among other injuries. His last match was in January 2019 and his recovery was supposed to take eight months, though I’m not sure when he got the surgery. Dragon Rojo was first said to be back in January, then it got pushed a few weeks, and it wasn’t talked about much before the shut-down. Rojo tells Reforma (via Criterio Hidalgo) that the right knee just hasn’t recovered as expected. He’s continuing on with his nutrition and fitness business while hoping more time will help his knee feel better. Dragon Rojo still is set on returning but this reads like there’s a real possibility the knee has healed as much as it will and he’s wrestled his final match. It’s hard to remember, given the many injuries he’s dealt with over about the last decade years, but Dragon Rojo was meant to be one of CMLL’s top stars at this point (and for the last many years), and it just hasn’t worked out.

DragonMania is postponed. All shows in Oaxaca are suspended until further notice. As are all in Monclova’s Arena Tigre Padilla.

Jimmy made it into Japan and was on the Dragon Gate empty arena show on 03/22.

MexaWrestling is teasing an Alberto el Patron appearance on their next show.

A column on the history of Hidalgo’s Lucha Libre Vanguardia promotion mentions local TV used broadcast Tuesday Arena Aficion shows in the 90s. They say it was mostly CMLL luchadors, which suggests it was late 90s (post-LLI/UWA) and I always wonder if an old VHS tape will turn up. This comes up because Vanguardia airs on public TV in the state; it seems to be a different broadcast than the +LuchaTV (like the IWRG situation.)

Dave the Clown says he tried all the sports growing up, including being a black belt in karate. He was taught lucha libre by Monsther Clown & Murder Clown.

Shocker says his goal for this year is another jaw operation.

Ovaciones has an interview with Lady Amazona/Adelita. Rey Apocalipsis picked her for the Arena Puebla gig, and she’s trained in wrestling under (Pequeno) Joker, Pierrothito, and Blue Center.

Saltillo referee/promoter Paco Nino has passed away at age 54. He’d been battling diabetes. Guadalajara luchador Indio Vitela Jr. also passed away.

+LuchaTV has this week’s En+Carados.

CMLL sits down with Blue Panther to talk about his 2012 hair match with Negro Casas. They have 11 people on Informa for some reason.

Puma King has a new video on his family

DoradaFan has highlights of the 03/14 MexaWrestling show and a new highlight video of Audaz.