NGD
NGD posted a message on Sanson’s YouTube channel Wednesday night. It was all positive, thanking CMLL for the support and saying they’re looking forward to new challenges. There was no hint of them going to AAA, no suggestion they might change names. The Lutteroth and Alonso families were thanked by names, the programming, and media departments in general. No specific luchadors were named.
The reality of the situation appears that NGD was leaving CMLL on their own, CMLL discovered it, and CMLL decided to beat them to the punch by announcing they had mutually agreed to part ways. I guess that’s technically true. I am not sure if NGD’s plan originally had them working Arena Mexico on Friday and then showing up on TripleMania on Saturday, but cutting them lose made sure the second half will happen. Battle Campal, which seems to work with the LEGEND group and usually is plugged in on Hidalgo news, was the first to report NGD signed with AAA and will appear on TripleMania. The WON implies the same about them on TripleMania and I’ve been separately told to expect to see them on Saturday. Signing is another matter: AAA limits where people can work in a less restrictive but similar fashion. There’s no sense in signing a contract with AAA if you just leave another company for more freedom. Konnan isn’t directly asked about NGD appearing on his podcast but does say he’d be very interested in working with NGD and Soberano Jr.
The issue is money, as always, and more specifically the money for outside bookings. As reported in the WON, NGD wanted to take bookings on indie shows where AAA talent was also booked, CMLL told them no like they tell everyone else no and NGD eventually decided they’d be better of on their own. CMLL’s policy of restricting where talent could work was viable when CMLL stars were making good money on CMLL’s own shows and there was enough outside booking interest for CMLL only shows to supplement those. CMLL’s own shows aren’t doing well, there’s less CMLL-only booking interest as a result, and those bookings seem to be going a few powerful people.
Outside bookings (not CMLL arenas) for selected wrestlers in 2021
26 Ultimo Guerrero
14 Lluvia
14 Nitro
3 Sanson
1 Cuatrero
1 Forastero
Maybe Ultimo Guerrero and Lluvia simply work harder for bookings than anyone else, though it’s hard to imagine Nitro is included on these shows for any reason beyond his union leadership role. If NGD isn’t making money working CMLL shows, and isn’t getting a lot work outside of them, what’s the reason to stay? The allure of wrestling in Arena Mexico is and has been a big draw to aspiring wrestlers for generations, but not when it’s barely full, the atmosphere is bad and the wrestlers themselves are bored working the shows.
This talent drain is going to continue until CMLL can improve their business. Many CMLL defenders rightfully point out the company has had other low moments in their 88 year history and recovered to great success. That is inarguable, but the missing piece is that improvement happened for a reason, they made changes in hopes of improving, and eventually one of them worked out. It doesn’t feel like CMLL’s accepted they need to make those changes. It’s just going to get worse until they try something.
The next situation to watch is the NJPW deal. September has been the month in years past where NJPW officials come to Mexico City to decide who’ll go to FantasticaMania the following January. There was no FantasticaMania this year and traveling to Japan for foreigners is very difficult. Maybe it’ll get better by January, I hope it does get better, but it’s impossible to tell now and that makes planning these things just as impossible. Those NJPW bookings are big money for many top CMLL wrestlers and losing them for a second straight year may lead to more names checking out. I think we’ll be talking about whatever NGD does on Saturday; the bigger issue is CMLL’s ship is already taking on water and there’s an iceberg in their path.
TripleMania
It’s Saturday! My long VOW preview is up now. The good stuff should be really good.
I’m not going to write all the things I’ve written like eight times about where you can see this again. You should know by now if you read this blog. Just join me on Twitch if you don’t know better by now, or look at AAA’s schedule if you’re in Mexico. Maybe if you’re a weirdo, try watching the last two matches on AAA’s TikTok. Maybe if you’re in southern Texas, you might be able to get on Azteca7 starting around 11, but it’ll probably be on a delay
The show is scheduled to start at 8 pm CT. AAA is not great at schedules! Space says they’ll air their usual documentary preview starting at 7:30 pm, and I’ll have the stream going by then. The idea is to stick with Facebook for the main show so we don’t lose anything to a commercial break, but I’ve had to plan a few different back up plans.
Rob and I may do a post-game Como Estaz on the show after, not guaranteed yet. We’ll see if either of us are in one piece after TripleMania.
I do plan on sticking TripleMania on YouTube later, but it’ll probably be many hours later – it’s going to be a huge file – and I’m sure you’ll be able to find other people who’ll have it up much quicker.
AAA typically has both a pilgrimage/march to a pre-show mass and a press conference on Thursday or Friday to get attention. It’s not a normal year so I didn’t expect a march. That press conference is happening today, though it seems to just the Marvel lucha libre faces and a view at the set-up for Arena Ciudad de Mexico so far. Arcano seemed to be Vikingo. Most of the in-arena footage is of the set, though it looks like part of the idea is to show taped-off seats and other COVID protections; it’s very important for fans to believe this building is a safe place. AAA wrestlers have done a lot of press on Azteca TV networks and tickets remain available. The quotes from the wrestlers in articles the last couple of days have generally been taken from past press conferences.
Kenny Omega is wrestling tonight on AEW Dynamite. I presume he’s flying in to Mexico. AAA missed out on Jeff Jarrett one TripleMania because of plane delays; I hope Omega gets a direct route on Tony Khan’s jet.
On his podcast, Konnan said AAA’s having weekly meetings with Marvel people about Marvel Lucha Libre breaking down all the details. He believes this has helped learn a lot. I’m not sure what they could be talking about most weeks when there are no new Marvel Lucha Libre matches, but it at least means they’re still working together. Konnan also insists AAA is going to start moving on angles and “tie up a lot of loose ends that we started before.” We’re getting the Argenis/Myzteziz match at long last, I believe it. (I’m not sure I believe it.)
Chilango has a profile of Hijo del Vikingo, who was an industrial mechanical engineer student who started failing out after he started getting close to AAA through La Llave de la Gloria. Vikingo says he lost confidence after the match and didn’t believe he was going to get the winner’s contract after their TripleMania; he was the only person watching that show who believed that.
CMLL
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports there was talk “a few years back” about WWE buying CMLL. It does not appear this is an active discussion, though it’s relevant up because everyone’s fairly wondering about the future of CMLL. The WWE hold up was CMLL wanted to sell their buildings along with it, and WWE didn’t want to pay for old buildings. A few years back suggests this was likely when Paco Alonso was alive, prior to the current management. WWE’s philosophies on buying companies elsewhere seemingly has changed (and continues to change), though company officials have talked about establishing something in Mexico as recently this year. WWE buying CMLL at any point would be devastating to the Mexican wrestling scene and likely not work out well for WWE either. (Given how the CMLL lifers pushed out Sofia Alonso, a WWE suit coming would need to clean house to survive – but they’d be left with little knowledge of the market.) The report mentions WWE felt like if they owned CMLL, they had their top talent and could also easily recruit AAA’s top talent.
Not sure where to put this because it crosses multiple sections, but it’s as good here as anywhere. Miguel Reducindo has an article talking about the NGD situation among other stories. He’s critical of Soberano (not mentioned by name), Dragon Lee and Rush among others for benefiting from CMLL politics and only coming out against it when it no longer benefits them.
Miguel also mentions the possibility of Andrade being accompanied by Alberto for his match at TripleMania. I had someone ask if Alberto on this show was a possibility to me earlier this morning and I dismissed it immediately because Alberto’s not going to be worth anything to AAA. Maybe I’m a dummy and AAA booked him anyway – Alberto showing up at no cost just because he’s so desperate to get his name out there might make some ense. I wonder if the AEW people would have issues with Alberto appearing; I’m sure some AEW fans would be angry though I’m not sure if it rises to something AEW would have to address.
Nothing much to say about tonight’s CMLL show that wasn’t said already. Hechicero said this will be his first Friday main event, which seems impossible. They look to have sold more than 1,000 of the 1,500 tickets usually available. That show is going to be more memorable for those who weren’t on the show than anything CMLL seems to be doing. The show doesn’t stream and should go up on YouTube around 08/27.
The CMLL YouTube full show which should go up this week is the Templario/Titan final, except that one went up right away. Not sure if they’ll put up anything at all. Televisa should be airing last week’s show, which would mean the NGD on CMLL TV after they’ve quit. Maybe CMLL will get them to edit it out. Cuatrero & Sanson may appear on the AMX show tonight as well if no one at CMLL’s fixed it.
CMLL (SUN) 08/15/2021 Arena México
1) Último Dragóncito vs Pierrothito
2) Arkalis & Retro vs Apocalipsis & Inquisidor
3) Cachorro, Pegasso, Stigma vs Akuma, Enfermero Jr., Espanto Jr.
4) Luciferno, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Esfinge, Rey Bucanero, Valiente [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Atlantis, Felino, Místico vs Ángel de Oro, Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
Apocalipsis & Inqusidor are back around, with three spots opened up. Enfermero is going to get a chance just because they have to give new people chances. The main event is a relevos increibles for more Cavernario/Felino, and it’s not really one because Angel de Oro is actually a rudo and Felino is a tecnico for the moment. (The best thing about the September news is there’s an end date to that.) The semimain is a relevos increibles for no reason.
CMLL (MON) 08/16/2021 Arena Puebla
1) King Jaguar & Millenium vs El Malayo & Siky Ozama
2) Arkalis & Pegasso vs Akuma & Espanto Jr.
3) La Jarochita & Lluvia vs Reyna Isis & Stephanie Vaquer
4) Stigma, Titán, Valiente vs Felino, Felino Jr., Hechicero
5) Carístico, Místico, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Templario, Último Guerrero
CMLL seems to be setting up a Women’s Tag Title defense here when they already have one scheduled for the Aniversario show. It’s a dumb thing they’re doing to themselves.
The locals get the opener match back to themselves. Arkalis was added to main CDMX roster, just hasn’t worked all that much, so maybe Puebla bookings will help him.
An article about Hombre Bala Jr.’s character change mentions that he’s one of only three of the “Generacion 2011” class of rookies to still be with CMLL a decade later. The article is incorrect. Signo and Magnus are around. Enrique Vera Jr. didn’t last long, Super Halcon Jr. suffered a career-ending injury, Bobby Zavala got fired, but the “Dragon Lee” in that group is the current CMLL Mistico, not the ex-CMLL Dragon Lee.
Magnus explained his rudo switch as “having nothing to lose”, which seems correct. He couldn’t have any idea how well timed the move would turn out to be, there are more empty spots.
IWRG
IWRG (THU) 08/12/2021 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Limbo, Tirano, Vudu Max b Chef Benito, Cyber, Legendario 
2) Bengalee & Lady Lee DQ Amazonika & Satania 
Bengalee was wiped out on a missed dive and the rudas got an excessive violence DQ on Lady Lee.
3) Caballero de Plata, Hellboy, Kenji, Lunatik Fly, Sol, X-Devil b Ambu, Carrillo, Hernan, Manchas, Secreto Negro, Shamu
Tryout vs WTMB. Order of elimination: Lunatik Fly, Hernan, X-Devil, Carrillo, Ambu, Kenji, Sol, Manchas, Caballero de Plata, Secreto Negro, Shamu, leaving Hellboy as the winner.
4) Aster Boy, Legendario, Toxin b Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Tonalli
scheduled as a five way, Legendario was added to make a trios. Brothers Legendario & Dick Angelo feuded.
5) Abismo Negro Jr., Hijo del Espectro, Hijo del Fishman b Diva Salvaje, Hijo del Alebrije, Jessy Ventura
sets up Abismo/Alebrije for the IWRG Junior next week.
The viral moment from this show is Bengalee intentionally missing on a tope and going head first into a barricade. That’s not a spot I’d recommend but it has worked out for others. Semi-main was said to be good.
IWRG (SUN) 08/15/2021 Arena Naucalpan
Guerra del Golfo, 2021
1) Halcón Mágico & Lady Lee vs Amazonika & Legendario
2) Apolo Estrada & Chris Stone Jr. vs Hijo De Pandemónium & Pandemónium Jr.
3) Toxin vs Hijo De Dos Caras, Hijo del Fishman, Hijo del Alebrije, Diosa Quetzal, Tonalli, Bengalee, Hijo De Picudo, Puma de Oro [cage, semifinal]
4) Hijo del Espectro vs Satania, Aster Boy, Canek Jr., Diosa Atenea, Kariel, Alex Black, Abismo Negro Jr., Big Chico Che [cage, semifinal]
5) ? vs ?? [mask, hair]
The annual cage match show seems to have slightly different rules. IWRG cage matches traditionally have a rule where everyone has to stay in the cage for ten minutes before they’re allowed to escape, and then the last person left loses. The fine print this time says the first two cage matches will now end in fifteen minutes; luchadors got a five-minute window where they can escape, or they lose. Multiple people can lose from each match and advance to the final. That final cage match will just have one person who loses their mask or hair. I like the idea in theory, it keeps these matches from dragging on forever, but I wish the announcers the best of luck in trying to explain the concept. (I think I’d also tweak the times so the window was larger; like you’d have to wait only seven minutes and get seven minutes to escape.)
IWRG’s apuesta problem is they’ve trained their viewers to expect a disappointing outcome. Adding serial hair match losses Big Chico Che and Veneno, who haven’t otherwise been part of this feud, makes the make less appealing. They may not even be losing – this might be a way to get a mask off one of the women – but no one knows it and no one wants to go home (or close the window) unhappy because they paid to see a big match and ended up seeing Veneno bald once again.
This is a Mas Lucha Premium service, though Mas Lucha Premium appears to just be a $8/month IWRG Big Show service. I guess it’s worth it if you really like IWRG and have to see everything. I’d be thrilled with that over what we’re getting with CMLL and AAA rather than what I’m doing so far, it’s just positioned oddly by calling it a Mas Lucha service. The selling point of Mas Lucha is having promotions from all over the world in one place, the premium service mainly has just one promotion (and older shows from other promotions with no curation.)
Other News
I don’t think I did a great job on the Masked Republic visas story from earlier this week. Masked Republic did a lot of work to get those wrestlers in line for getting work visas. In talking with a person who has more knowledge about this process than me, the wrestlers still have to go through their part of the process, including interviews and background checks. That will take a while to schedule and get done, and they can still get denied if something comes up at this stage. Masked Republic got the wrestlers in position to have the visas, but some officials could still throw a monkey wrench in the process. I thought it was simple as signing some papers and waiting for the final paperwork to arrive and it’s a little bit longer road than that.
Konnan, also on his podcast, said he thought Lucha Underground lead writer Chris DeJoseph would likely be working with him on Aztec Underground. DeJoseph had worked with MLW years ago. He and Konnan didn’t seem to have the greatest relationship, which contributed to Konnan leaving LU, so this is not something I would’ve expected. Konnan spoke about trying to build relationships instead of blowing them up in relationship to working with The Crash again, and maybe this is a bit of the same.
This came up a while back: a press release for Mexico’s soon to arrive TNT Sports mentioned they’d have lucha libre coverage. This updated press release says it’ll be AAA content and implies it’ll be part of exclusive content. At this point, I still think it’s nothing more than some shows on Space get “TNT Sports” branding while still being on the same channel.
AAW added Arez versus Laredo Kid to their 09/02 show. If it’s like the AutoLuchas match, people are going to be blown away. Only standing room tickets are available; recent shows have already aired on FITE.TV
GCW added Juventud Guerrera versus Super Crazy to their 09/04 show. I’m much less excited for that one, though I think the GCW crowd will enjoy it no matter how it goes.
Alberto went after Rush on Twitter, starting a back and forth over a few days. Both are specifically naming the Pepsi Center, so he’ll be added to the August 26 show there. I’m a broken record: tickets aren’t selling for that show. Announcing a straight-up (no Carlito) Rush versus Alberto match might help, but a better plan might to wait to run this angle until after TripleMania. Rush messing around with Alberto means he’s less likely to be on TripleMania.
Chavo Guerrero is off Robles 09/04 show, which was announced after he started with AEW and never made sense for that reason. They’ll announce a replacement tonight and Rush might make sense there as well. Tickets still aren’t on sale for that show.
LuchaWorld has the Lucha Report.