Pagano & Omega win at TripleMania, CMLL gifts Bandido/Volador for Christmas, EDM curfew

AAA TV (SAT) 12/12/2020 Arena Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal [Debate, ESTO, Lucha Central, Marca, Mas Lucha, Post Wrestling, R de Rudo, SuperLuchas, Voices of Wrestling]
TripleMania XXVIII
1) Dinastía, Máximo, Mr. Iguana b Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana 
16:00. Cota pinned Iguana, who was shaken up after a dropkick to the head.
2) Fénix & Pentagón Jr. © b Myzteziz Jr. & Octagón Jr. and Rey Escorpión & Texano Jr. [AAA TAG] 
14:18. Rey Escorpion took out Penta’s knee with a bat. Penta left the match, but returned in time to get a win. Mercenarios, with Taurus, attacked post match. Hijo del Vikingo returned to make the save.
3) Lady Shani b Faby Apache, Lady Maravilla, Chik Tormenta, La Hiedra, Hades, Big Mami, Pimpinela Escarlata, Mamba [Copa TripleMania Femenil] 
23:10. Royal rumble rules. Shani & Maravilla started, followed by Hiedra, Mamba (surprise), Hades (now dressing as a Kitsune), Chik Tormenta (who threw out Hades quickly), Big Mami (surprise) and, Pimpinela (surprise). Eliminations: Hades, Big Mami, Chik Tormenta, Mamba, Pimpinela, Faby Apache, Hiedra and Shani submitted Maravilla after a long one on one.
4) Monsther Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown b Blue Demon Jr., Hijo de LA Park, LA Park 
11:40. Demon and the Parks had issues, leading to the Clowns winning. Park, limping after a Murder Clown dive gone wrong, brawled with Blue Demon after the match.
5) Terror Purpura & Venenoide b Aracno & Leyenda Americana  
12:06. The Marvel Lucha Libre debut. Aracno was Lio Rush, Leyenda Americana was Daga, Terror Purpura was cage and Venenoide Taurus. Purpura won with a foul on Americana and a Drill Claw on Aracno. Rudos continued to attack post match until the lights went out, came back on, and La Estrella Cosmica (Lady Maravilla) appeared post match.
6) Kenny Omega b Laredo Kid [AAA HEAVY]  
23:36. Omega beat Laredo with a middle rope One Winged Angel after a small distraction by Michael Nakazawa. Vikingo seconded Laredo Kid.
7) Pagano b Chessman [hair]  
23:50. Pagano beat Chessman with an Air Raid Crash off the stage, with Los Mercenarios, Los Jinetes del Aire and Lady Shani got involved during the match.

TripleMania was a success. Not everything worked perfectly, but enough did. Dorian Roldan on last week’s Mas Lucha podcast emphasized how the last match strongly affects how people view the entire show. The insanity of the last match overpowered any cold feelings about watching a show in a (nearly) empty Arena Ciudad de Mexico and created a few memorable moments. Omega/Laredo lived up to high expectations and the opening two matches exceeded them. There was a soft middle and I’m not confident about the Marvel Lucha Libre concept yet. It was still a strong show.

Pagano & Chessman probably did more damage to themselves during most of their match. That’s always what the match was going to be. The big stunts either worked or looked so crazy that it didn’t matter it didn’t work. There wasn’t a lot of logic in it – doing two potentially career-ending table spots in a row and then just going back in the ring for some Moves was the peak – but you don’t put Chessman & Pagano in the main event and expect them to do algebra for twenty minutes. If anything, the parts of the match I liked the least were when they were trying to do a ‘real’ wrestling match in the early going. I’m guessing there was some pressure (to them, maybe internally) to prove they were good enough “wrestlers” to be in the main event. It was fine but they didn’t really have to prove anything to anyone and anyone who was going to be critical later wouldn’t have their mind changed by a suplex early on. You can start this match  when Pagano dives into a ladder and not miss all that much. This match is an Excellent grade; my idea for an Excellent grade is one of the lucha libre matches of the year where everyone who watches wrestling should see, and that definitely applies here.

Laredo Kid & Kenny Omega was fantastic in a completely different way. It was no surprise that Laredo could keep up athletically with Kenny Omega, and he showed more by getting drama off the leg submission work in the last few minutes. Laredo’s been a big impact move and, while I assume most of the leg work stemmed from ideas to reverse the One Winged Angel, he made his atypical submissions look dangerous. All the stuff Laredo regularly does went very well and he got destroyed a couple of times by Omega’s knees. There are still knocks on Laredo – he didn’t show a lot of personalities (though it’s tough to connect with the crowd when they’re not there.) There seem to be a few US fans upset Laredo got his arm up after the three count, though it has been a non-issue in Mexico.

Laredo Kid, or someone under his name, put up a poll Sunday asking where fans would like to see him. AEW was leading NJPW and ROH. WWE as not an option, amusingly. If nothing else comes from this for Laredo Kid, at least he looked like a world-class wrestler. (It is Laredo Kid, so I fully expect nothing to come from this.)

Kenny Omega nominated Hijo del Vikingo as his next challenger in a post-match interview. This was not an AAA interview and AAA hasn’t pushed the match itself, but everyone is understandably very excited about that possibility. As surely as the sun rises in the east, Daga has also posted a challenge for the title on Twitter. I don’t expect to see Omega back in AAA until Rey de Reyes at the earliest, and that’s presuming Rey de Reyes can even happen as normal. AAA’s got to have a show on the schedule before I can get too wound up about who’s challenging for the title next.

AAA seemed to make a point to get Vikingo a few moments on this show, even if they didn’t find him a spot on the card. I would’ve liked to see Vikingo wrestling in a match but they still made him seem special and important.

The Marvel Match didn’t seem as impressive as the hype had built it up. The match itself was less exciting than many of the prior matches and the presentation didn’t come off as a bigger or even simply different deal. There didn’t seem to be unity on if the masked men should try to hide their identity in their wrestling style; Lio Rush’s strategy of just doing what he normally does well seemed to work better than Daga’s attempt to switch it up (and be less impressive as a result.) It was strange to see the heels win in the debut, but they’ve obviously got a lot more plans for these characters. I’m not confident they’ll see them out. I think there was mild fan interest, but I didn’t see the corporate interest expected. The Marvel Latin America Twitter account had nothing about the match and I didn’t find anything on other social media accounts. This is a Big AAA Idea so I’m skeptical how long it lasts always, but this didn’t feel like the start of something with lots legs.

The Psycho Circus versus LA Park, Hijo de LA Park, and Blue Demon match felt like it fulfilled the purpose of getting these people on the show, keeping the Park/Demon issue alive, and not much else. It was a style of match that didn’t work without a live crowd, but there was also not much here for people to stay interested in. This seems like a causality of trying to fit people in the show in a hard year to get everything done. Copa TripleMania Femenil was similar; AAA took care of people by getting them involved, but at the expense of the match. Mamba, Pimpinela and Big Mami got to be on the card, by extending an already too long match. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it was the one match on the show that significantly undelivered in match quality.

The tag team title match did go as expected, with probably the most action of any match tonight. It doesn’t appear AAA’s getting Full Health Lucha Brothers, but they’re getting Full Effort at least. If there’s a Los Mercenarios/Los Jinetes del Aire match on a major AAA show next year (and without some weird finish), it’ll probably be one of the best matches of the year. They’re just locked in against each other. Likewise, it feels like the Iguana/Poder del Norte stuff is leading to an important match down the line, but now is just a lot more moves than casual fans expect from AAA opener. I think no one outside of AAA thinks much about Poder del Norte, are impressed when they see them, and then just forget about them again. They’re always this good, it still surprises occasional AAA viewers went they see them.

I’d go great/great/ok/ok/ok/excellent/excellent for the match ratings. I’ve seen people go higher on the Marvel match and lower on the Psycho Circus and Copa TripleMania matches, with stronger consensus on the other four.

No tickets were sold for this show, but there were apparently a small amount of fans in off-camera – maybe no more than two dozen. I’m uncertain if they were sponsors or other VIPs. They were audible a few times during the night but never shown. AAA smartly decided to keep their cameras pointed towards the entrance set and big screens, making the room feel a lot smaller than it was in reality.

There were some technical problems early on in the show – the YouTube feed didn’t start until just before the start of the match. Perhaps that was a music rights issue, though it didn’t seem to work. AAA has turned the full TripleMania show private on their social media channels, though any minimal amount of searching can lead you to the entire show on unofficial channels. AAA did put up a version of the show with no entrances or in between segments. I originally believed this was the full in-ring action but that’s incorrect. Each match gets cut down to about ten minutes.

The full version of TripleMania was marked for revenue share because of at least three songs. Though further editing suggests there were additional motivations, but I think that’s a factor in the decision to remove the show. I did not keep a list of the music, but it stood out that the Lucha Brothers theme was one of them. I’d guess the matches will be back up when they’re broken up as AAA TV episodes, though sometimes those matches still don’t air in full. Again, if you want to see this show, it is not particularly hard to find it.

LA Park says suffered a knee injury from Murder Clown’s dive gone wrong. He does not believe it is serious, but it kept him from dancing with his daughter at her 15th birthday party today. Murder Clown sent an apology to LA Park’s daughter. I didn’t hear about any other injuries. Iguana was shaken but was telling people he was fine later in the night. Hugo sold the Chessman guitar shot big but was OK.

Hijo del Vikingo looked good for a guy who hasn’t had a match for half a year. Rey Escorpion has been gone even longer and you wouldn’t know it. These guys have been in training but I think we take it for granted how hard it is to jump back in after the unnaturally long absences lots of wrestlers are going through this year.

The Cineapolis movie theatre airing of TripleMania will actually take place on Christmas Day at noon at two theatres. Unspecified luchadors will be in attendance. This seems like a fun idea most years and there’s absolutely no way I would go to it this year.

We don’t know when the next official AAA show will be. AAA earlier talked about taking the AutoLuchas concept to other locations and that may be more viable in the short term than in an arena taping. We’re still months before AAA gets back to anything approaching a normal schedule; this may just be the halfway point.

There is an AAA adjacent show announced, however. Concert promoters OCESA, who’ve dabbled in lucha libre in the past, are putting on a Rock & Lucha show the Sunday after Christmas on Ticketmaster Live. AAA hasn’t mentioned the show so far and probably has little with putting it on, but they are sending four matches:

AAA , OCESA (SUN) 12/27/2020 Distrito Federal [Prensa Ocesa]
1) La Parkita & Octagoncito vs La Parkita Negra & Mini Psycho Clown
2) Lady Shani vs Hades
3) Argenis vs Tito Santana, Mocho Cota Jr.
4) Octagón Jr. vs Texano Jr.

Lost Acapulco, Nana Pancha, Chingadazo de Kung Fu and De Nalgas will perform. (I am ignorant about their music.) This a totally unessential card, even by 2020 standards. The matches are promising if this a show where the luchadors are expected to try; there’s no knowing. The show costs 162.25 MXP ($8 USD) on Ticketmaster Live, starts at 7 pm, and there is no VOD as with all Ticketmaster Live shows. It seems worth a look if you’re searching for something to do but again not too important.

CMLL Christmas Day Lineup/Bandido status

CMLL (FRI) 12/25/2020 Arena México
1) El Gallito & Microman vs Chamuel & Perico Zakarías
2) Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero © vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón [CMLL TRIOS]
fourth defense (previous fourth defense scheduled for Homenaje a Dos Leyendas)
3) Volador Jr. © vs El Bandido [NWA WELTER]
seventh defense. originally scheduled for 09-25, postponed due to Bandido COVID-19 infection
4) Carístico vs Místico, Ángel de Oro, Atlantis Jr., Felino, Soberano Jr., Negro Casas, Mephisto, Niebla Roja, El Felino Jr., Stuka Jr., Star Jr. [Copa Jr.]

The CMLL Facebook special on Friday night announced the added title match. Julio Cesar Rivera and Alexis Salazar noted these types of announcements have tended to be bad news lately before explaining this one would be good news. Bandido versus Volador was originally scheduled for Aniversario, but was pulled due to Bandido’s COVID-19 infection.

Bandido was announced as being off the Ring of Honor PPV (and surrounding TV tapings) earlier in the day due to a COVID-19 positive test, so the stream focused on assuring fans Bandido was not ill. The situation apparently is that Bandido tested positive not specifically for the virus, but for the antibodies that indicate his body is or was fighting an infection. Those antibodies apparently can stay in a victim’s system for up to six months after they contract COVID-19. The Maryland commission will allow people to wrestle as long as those antibodies are under a certain level, but Bandido’s test exceeded the threshold. ROH, being aware Bandido was months past getting infected, indicated they would’ve let Bandido wrestle if it had been up to them. The State of Maryland is probably not following the CMLL Aniversario lineup as closely and weren’t going to let Bandido wrestler without a quarantining there for a week. That wasn’t possible with ROH’s schedule. This will probably be smoothed out by the next set of tapings.

Bandido, for his own peace of mind, took a blood test back in Mexico. It came back negative. Bandido worked the CMLL TV tapings this week, took his required test there, and that also came back negative. Bandido says he feels fine and expects to have no issue facing Volador on Christmas. CMLL’s pushing Volador versus Bandido as “the most anticipated match of 2020”; it may be no coincidence they announced this a day before TripleMania.

(Flamita hasn’t talked about his situation publically. The popular specular is it is a similar story; he had COVID-19 – maybe without even knowing – and the test found the effects of a past infection, not a current one.)

The card itself is CMLL throwing everything they can at a show short of an apuesta match in hopes they can get fans to buy one of these things. It’s the popular minis, a tournament (with Felino Jr.’s debut under that name), a long awaited dream trios match, and a dream singles match. (CMLL’s website lists the Copa as the main event, the poster seems to indicate the singles match) As long as CMLL and Ticketmaster haven’t already killed their PPV market, this should do their best numbers since Aniversario. And it must need to do well for CMLL to be compelled to put forth this level of lineup; this is a major show lineup, so they’re looking for major show revenue.

(As usual, this is all moot if Mexico City shuts back down and forced CMLL to do the same. CMLL would probably hold over the lineup until they can resume)`

IWRG Results & Mexico State Curfew Leading To Changes

IWRG (SUN) 12/13/2020 Arena Naucalpan [Mas Lucha]
1) Baby Star Jr. b Halcón Mágico 
2) Charro Negro & Puma de Oro b Atomic Star & Fulgor I 
3) Avisman & Hijo del Alebrije b Karaoui & Súper Nova 
4) Capo del Norte & Capo Mayor b Demonio Infernal & Fresero Jr. and El Hijo del Medico Asesino & Galeno del Mal 
The mystery wrestlers from last week showed up after the match, suplexing one of the Capos through light tubes. They then attacked Fresero & Demonio backstage
5) Hijo Del Espectro COR Puma King, Hijo de Canis Lupus 
Espectro won by the rarely seen IWRG countout, getting in the ring as the other two brawled.

This was a normal show prior to two bigger shows. That’s the idea, and it’sunclear if they’ll get there.

Starting today, all non-essential businesses in Mexico State must close at 5 pm. This is an attempt to combat the rising spread of COVID-19 infections in the state. Mexico State has permitted lucha libre events, with fans at 30% capacity and COVID-19 testing for wrestlers, though enforcement has varied depending on municipalities. This curfew is scheduled to last two weeks, through Christmas. It is possible it’ll be extended longer.

The first immediate impact is the 12/19 LEGEND show at Arena Lopez Mateos (“Perros del Mal versus Guerreros del Atlantida”) has been canceled. IWRG is moving their shows up two hours to a 1:45 pm start time in hopes of finishing before 5. Invasion Indy is running Arena Neza on 12/27, though now starting at 3 pm instead of the usual 6 pm for Sundays. (3 pm still seems too late.)

This curfew covers Christmas Day, where there are always a few shows. Fewer have been announced this year for obvious reasons, but Arena Lopez Mateos was planning their makeup anniversary show that day. Arena Mamas Luchas has a big show with CMLL talent on 12/19 that’s also scheduled to start at 3pm, which also feels like it’s due for a change this week. (I can’t really imagine how hard Christmas is going to be in Mexico; people are going to be caught between unhappy and unsound decisions.)

There are non-Mexico State changes as well. Kriminal Lucha Libre, which was intending to run a show in front of fans in Mexico City where such things are currently not permitted, has now said their next show is indefinitely postponed. Their explanation is they’ve decided the COVID situation has become too bad. It has become worse, but it was already very bad when they were talking about running last week; it’s a safer bet their venue backed out and they haven’t been able to find a replacement. DTU’s Aniversario show in Tulancingo has been moved to 12/27, which I believe is a week later than originally scheduled. The announcement mentions health issues; I’m not sure if there’s a temporary curfew in Hidalgo too.

Meanwhile, IWRG’s Marcos Moreno was recognized for his family promoting in Mexico State for 58 years. The award was from “Awards Gente Importante”, which translates to the Important People Awards. What a name. The Facebook page for these awards came into existence less than a week ago, so this may be a bit.

Other Notes

Monterrey 80s/90s star Blue Fish (62) passed away on Saturday. SuperLuchas reports he’d been in bad health for a while due to complications from diabetes, including both of his legs being amputated, damage to his cerebral arteries, and partial loss of sight. Cancha’s story said Blue Fish was in the hospital for ten days before returning home, which reads like they let him pass away at home rather than expected he was going to recover.

Guatemalan luchador Condor Azul passed away on Friday.

Rey Horus lost in the first round of the Super J Cup, as dictated by the law saying all Mexicans must be eliminated in the first round of US tournaments.

Dragon Lee announced he and his wife will soon be parents soon.

Box Y Lucha 3452 has Volador, Bandido and Pagano on the cover.

A bio of Oaxacan luchador Fito Cisneros. I think this paper is set on doing nothing more than 80s luchador bios each week but it’d be nice if they could track down Fuego.

Segunda Caida reviews the 11/10 Lucha Time Ricky Marvein/Epydemius match.

LuchaTalk returns to talk about TripleMania.

Lineups

Vanguardia (SUN) 12/27/2020 Explanada Franky, Pachuca, Hidalgo
1) Falcón Fire vs Devitt Rodríguez
2) Cíclope & Dayami vs Billy & Murdock
3) Drolux & Moria © vs Látigo & Símbolo Azteca [BMLL TAG]
4) Arez vs Dragón Boy, Aron Sykes, Lobo Blanco
5) Crazy King & Miedo Extremo © vs Calibus & El Mago and Jitsu & Rey Dragón [VANGUARDIA TAG]
6) Gasparín vs Aramis

Vanguardia seems to be making a point of mixing the lesser-known wrestlers with the indie stars. It makes for a lesser exciting card in the short term but hopefully will develop some new names over time. Gasparin gets a big chance to be one against Aramis in particular.