AAA taped shows for the first time since TripleMania this past weekend in Tlaxcala state. Tapings took place Thursday at bullring Plaza de Toros Jorge el Ranchero Aguilar in the city of Tlaxcala, and then on Saturday at Hacienda de Santa María Xalostoc in Tlaxco. Mas Lucha has photos of the sets. Multiple episodes of TV were taped at each venue; it seems like five or six weeks depending on how they split everything up. These episodes are not expected to air until the end of this month (weekend of 02/26). It should take AAA through the entire of March and maybe a little into April. Best guess at the next taping is late March.
We don’t have a list of matches that were taped, just bits and pieces mentioned by those were there. Fenix appeared on Saturday’s TV taping; I gather he was in the country already for Pentagon’s birthday. Penta does not appear to have been there. AAA did run angles and taped out of the ring vignettes, though it seems like the early effort is just to restart with very good matches. Jose Manuel Guillen specifically called out Laredo Kid vs Octagon Jr. vs Aramis and Rey Fenix & Laredo Kid vs Taurus & Abismo Negro Jr. on Saturday’s taping. Laredo Kid worked those shows after getting his split open by a chair shot. Arez, Latigo, and Chik Tormenta had matching gear, so they may be a group going forward. Chessman wore hair extensions, which seems like an angle.
El Economista mentions Bardahl (car products) and Sapolio (cleaning supplies) were sponsors for this first show; they suggest a hotel chain or an airline would fit. Durango, Queretaro, Hidalgo and Puebla, and Veracruz were mentioned as upcoming taping locations.
DTU is going on indefinite hiatus. The Hidalgo promotion had been planning on running a show a month to be aired on Mas Lucha. The death of Rey Cuervo/Sangre Imperial, uncle of DTU leader Crazy Boy, seems to have changed those plans. DTU’s hiatus announcement references recent positive tests to people close to the promotion as well as one who lost their life as reasons they’re not going to run. “The statistics that have only numbers are now transformed into names of friends or family that day by day get closer to home.” They don’t have a plan for a return, just telling people to keep checking their Facebook for details later on.
Long time indie luchador Big Ovett was on a ventilator at last report. Ovett wasn’t publically know to be ill until Saturday when one of his sons (Lunatik Extreme) posted a message on Facebook Saturday. Ovett had not wanted people to know, but the situation had turned serious and he desperately needed to raise money for treatment. That appears to be when Ovett went on the ventilator. Sunday, Furia de Titanes posted an interview with Ovett’s wife Giovanna Padron, who said going on the ventilator was Ovett’s decision and his oxygenation levels have improved as a result. Ovett is also responsive. This situation reads like COVID-19, but no one’s said what the illness exactly is. Padron thanked everyone for their support. Many luchadors are auctioning off items to continue to raise money for Ovett’s treatment.
Blue Demon Jr. told Marca Ultra Violet and Blue Demon will air on Disney+ and start filming around New Orleans in August or September, with the plan of debuting at the end of 2021. The first season will be 10 to 12 episodes. “August or September” is usually when TripleMania takes place, so Demon would out of play for that in a normal year. 2021 isn’t going to be a normal year; TripleMania might take place in December again if that’s when AAA has the best shot of putting 20K in Arena Ciudad de Mexico. (It would be unexpected if they can do that in August or September.) I’m not sure if there would be any big plans for Blue Demon this year regardless of the date: there’s no sense in him losing his mask this year (even if he was ever willing) with the TV show coming out, and there’s not an obvious person for him to beat. Demon did not appear to be part of the AAA tapings this past weekend.
In a mild surprise, Rey Horus defeated TJP in his “NJPW Strong” debut Friday. (He’d previously appeared in their Super J Cup.) He’s clearly going to appear there more often, but there wasn’t a next match set up. Mas Lucha asked Rey Horus about his NJPW appearances; he’s proud to have made it to NJPW when Mexican wrestlers have only been able to get there recently through CMLL. Horus says it wasn’t even set up by Ring of Honor either – NJPW contacted him directly to see if he’d be interested. Horus’ next goal is to make to NJPW, though he also still wants to be a star in a national Mexican company.
For what it’s worth, Laredo Kid still had the AAA Cruiserweight Championship when doing press ten days ago, and his title versus title match with Lio Rush was taped months ago. It is entirely possible Laredo Kid lost the title and still has the belt for AAA reasons.
Disney Mexico manager Miguel Vives continues to do a press tour; the Marvel Lucha Libre gets mentioned in each stop. In an interview with El CEO, Vives briefly mentions plans for a video game based on the Marche Lucha Libre characters appearing in AAA. This is the first I’ve seen that mentioned and no other details are known; we don’t even know if it’s going to be a wrestling game or some other sort of game that just is using the same characters. It again shows how much Disney is investing in those characters.
Maximo posted a photo teasing going to Japan. It’d be a big surprise he was actually going, given the hard restrictions at getting into the country for foreigners. I don’t believe he’s been announced for any shows, though it’s possible they’d hold off on announcing him until they were sure he’d be able to make it.
Juventud Guerrera has an original plan to save lucha libre: the third different “new names” lucha libre tournament to take place this year.
CMLL’s Audaz says he never had a chance to meet the UWA’s Audaz (Domenico Bazan), who passed away in 2020. Bazan did apparently find videos of the younger one, though, and told Fantasma he liked CMLL Audaz’s wrestling. CMLL Audaz found out about when he went to get his wrestling license renewed early in 2020.
Dragon Bane & Hijo de Canis Lupus are listed for a GALLI (Illinois) show on 02/21. Neither has been seen since late last year. Their last trip to the US got called off due to a visa issue.
Caristico says he once wrestled eight times in one day, went to the hospital due to exhaustion, got treated, and wrestled the next day.
The Instituto Nacional Electoral – the Mexican elections officials – confirmed luchadors will be able to go on the ballot under their wrestling name and campaign while wearing their masks.
Dalys explained in a CMLL media day interview that she’s been a person who’s always on the lookout for what’s best for the women’s division and feels she speaks for the group. Dalys teased forming a group but mostly wants more women’s matches with emotion.
Hidalgo 80/s90s luchador Piloto Suicida I (Arnulfo Lugo Naranjo) passed away.
Puebla’s Tigre Rojo was given a wheelchair and a walker by the government for help after his recent hip surgery. The article lists his real name and has a photo; he’s never lost his mask as far as I can recall. La Joranda talks to fellow Puebla luchadors Toro de Oro and SWAT, who want the government to do something to support out of work luchadors and for protocols to be established for safely running events.x