CMLL
CMLL (FRI) 11/05/2021 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring, Furia de Titanes, Kaiser Sports, Marca, Mas Lucha, R de Rudo, SuperLuchas, The Gladiatores, thecubsfan]
1) Robin & Sonic b Grako & Inquisidor 
15:14
2) Akuma, El Coyote, Espanto Jr. b Espíritu Negro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa 
17:16, Rudos took 1/3. Akuma snuck in a foul on Cometa, Cometa asked for a hair vs hair match
3) La Jarochita & Lluvia © b Amapola & Metálica [MEX WOMEN TAG]
11:25, one fall. 5th defense
4) Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero b Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
12:07, team Cavernario took 2/3. Cavernario pinned Hechicero, asked for a CMLL Heavy title match
5) Terrible © b Atlantis Jr. [Rey del Inframundo]
18:19. One fall.
I spent a lot of time thinking and writing about Atlantis Jr. becoming a rudo on Friday. CMLL apparently did not. That whole angle was played up big on Tuesday, played up big on Wednesday, and 100% ignored on Friday. There wasn’t even a tease of him becoming a rudo. Atlantis Jr. wrestled as a straight tecnico and lost cleanly to Terrible wrestling cleanly and winning him with a fancy cradle. CMLL is booking Atlantis Jr. as if he has a split personality. Whatever tug of war is going on behind his scenes really needs to be settled, it does him no service to be going two directions at once.
The actual match was good. Atlantis got in a lot of big moments and seemed to have the match going his way before he got caught in a cradle. I had a discussion on Twitter comparing Atlantis Jr. and Hijo del Vikingo as similar stars of their company. Vikingo is absolutely more spectacular and I think he’s figured out how to connect better to crowd, but Atlantis Jr. is working the clean crisper style CMLL likes and he’s been treated more like a star. This match continued that; Atlantis Jr. looked impressive even if in the loss, and fans will be more ready for his next big match. I hope CMLL just doesn’t wait so long before doing it.
We’re now one year into CMLL bringing back the national women’s tag titles and I think it’s been a success. Jarochita & Lluvia are bigger stars more for being a regular team than having these title belts, but there wouldn’t be any women’s teams without those belts. Their title matches have shown good effort if not always great execution, and it’s easily been the most life in the women’s division. This defense was also not something that’s going to get MOTYC consideration, it just was a perfectly fun midcard match that showcased the champions well.
Rey Cometa’s challenge to Akuma was said with so much authority that it feels like it’s going to happen. That’s a perfect second apuesta match on a big show or a holiday main event, and it’ll answer a lot of questions about Akuma’s potential. CMLL’s usually out of major shows by this time of the year, but there might be a tiny chance of a surprise. This Friday show appeared to be the biggest turnout since the start of the pandemic and will likely go down as the biggest CMLL crowd of the year. Maybe there’s a wave of Mexico City fans excited to go out and do things again that CMLL could take advantage of for a big show in the next couple of months instead of waiting until spring.
Cavernario/Hechicero seems like a more near term match. Those two haven’t wrestled since they were in the final of the En Busca de un Idolo tournament; they became a tag team for a short time instead.
CMLL (SAT) 11/06/2021 Arena Coliseo [CMLL, Furia de Titanes, Mas Lucha]
1) Bengala b Príncipe Odín Jr.
2) Chamuel & Perico Zakarías b Gallito & Guapito
3) Marcela & Princesa Sugehit b Dalys & Stephanie Vaquer
4) Hombre Bala Jr. b Eléctrico, Robin, Oro Jr., Inquisidor, Stigma, Enfermero Jr., Disturbio, Cachorro, Halcón Suriano Jr., Sangre Imperial, Panterita del Ring Jr. [Torneo La Gran Oportunidad]
Battle royal spit teams to Panterita del Ring, Robin, Electrico, Sangre Imperial, Disturbio, Inquisidor (in for Pegasso) vs Magnus, Oro Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Enfermero Jr., Cachorro, Halcon Suriano Jr. Elimintaions: Cachorro (by Robin), Inquisidor (Enfermero Jr.), Oro Jr. (Panterita), Electrico (Halcon Suriano Jr.), Enfermero (Disturbio), Panterita (Magnus), Disturbio (Bala & Magnus), Halcon Suriano Jr. (Sangre Imperial), Sangre Imperial (Hombre Bala), Magnus (Robin), Robin (Hombre Bala Jr.) leaving Hombre Bala as the winner. Robin & Hombre Bala will receive opportunities in top matches for finishing in the final 2
5) Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero b Felino, Místico, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Gran Guerrero pulled Volador’s mask and pinned him, sets up a Gran Guerrero/Volador match
I’m not really sure what “main event spots in Arena Coliseo (CMLL’s 4th most important Mexico City show of the week”) really means for the careers of Hombre Bala and Robin, though it’s notable they’re getting the chance at all. Drone returning to Hombre Bala Jr. back in August seemed like the beginning of him getting a new chance with CMLL, and winning the title seems like the next. Robin didn’t seem to be affected by his Brazo family members being kicked out of the promotion a few years back, maybe only because CMLL couldn’t take a push away from him that they’ve never really given. I wouldn’t have guessed him to get a chance here either, and so maybe there’s a bigger plan to go along with it.
This was put up on CMLL’s YouTube channel on Sunday evening in a surprise. I have not seen it, though the cibernetico got positive reviews. No indication if this will be a regular thing or just one week. It’d make sense if this was a regular thing. CMLL’s TV shows are usually focused on a handful of matches from one show of the week. The CMLL MVS show was the Puebla show before the pandemic and has instead gotten random leftover matches from other tapings the last few months, sometimes repeats. It would make sense for Coliseo to start airing regularly on MVS now, but CMLL will never say that and we won’t know if that’s the plan until it airs.
CMLL (SUN) 11/07/2021 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring]
1) Acero & Kaligua b Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia
Kaligua replaced Aereo on Saturday.
2) Luciferno, Pólvora, Raziel b Dark Panther, El Audaz, Flyer
Rudos took 2/3, Polvora cheating to beat Flyer. Those two fought and made challenges. Raziel & Luciferno replaced Dark Magic & Okumura (double booked in Queretaro.)
3) Dalys, Dark Silueta, Tiffany b La Vaquerita, Lluvia, Skadi
Skadi replaced Jarochita. Rudas took 1/3.
4) Blue Panther, Star Jr., Valiente b Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
Valiente suffered an injury in the second fall (though it appeared less serious and more the embarrassment over missing a big spot)
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Titán b Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero, Terrible
Polvora has issues with Espanto Jr. last week, Flyer this week. That sounds like a cage match program for the 12/26 (Sunday) show.
Today’s Arena Puebla show has Shockercito defending the CMLL Minis Championship against Asturiano. It would be shocking if CMLL switched a title to a guy they don’t bring to Mexico City.
CMLL (TUE) 11/09/2021 Arena México
1) El Gallito & Zacarias el Perico vs Átomo & Chamuel [Relevos Increíbles]
2) Eléctrico, Halcón Suriano Jr., Sonic vs Grako, Inquisidor, Nitro
3) Dark Silueta & Lluvia vs Marcela & Reyna Isis [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus © vs Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido [MEX TRIOS]
fourth defense
5) Místico, Star Jr., Valiente vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Templario
Mas Lucha noted how quick Rugido has gone from just appearing in Arena Mexico to being in a title match. I think he and the rest of the Depreadors are slight favorites.
Jeff Cobb told Brian Strelleckis of PWChronilce that Cobb and TJP will be going to CMLL after the NJPW Battle in the Valley show. That show is Saturday 11/13. On the Friday night show, CMLL announced the Leyenda de Azul will take place on Friday 11/26. It would make sense for the NJPW guys to be in for that, and maybe the week prior. Jeff Cobb wrestled for AAA (only as Matanza) and The Crash but not in CMLL previously. He seems like an easy bet to get over, especially to the other wrestlers. Everyone in CMLL seemed to really enjoy Michael Elgin and I think Cobb’s going to fit in similarly.
Guadalajara’s show this week
CMLL (TUE) 11/09/2021 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Estrella De Jalisco I, Estrella De Jalisco II, Obelisk vs Conde, Persa, Ponzoña Jr.
2) Adrenalina, Estrella Oriental, Minotauro vs Ángel Rebelde, Optimus, Tromo
3) Espíritu Negro, Flash, Rey Cometa, Zandokan Jr. vs Cris Skin, Difunto, Joker, Vaquero Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Crixus vs Halcón Negro Jr. (Querétaro) [lightning]
5) Explosivo, Fantástico, Star Black © vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel [OCCIDENTE TRIOS]
second defense, rematch
Either caveman and his brothers are becoming champions or they’re setting up a bigger apuesta match, it’s unlikely they’d bother doing that match twice otherwise.
AAA
This week’s TV was the last of the Xalapa tapings and it did feel that way – nothing for the 12/04 TripleMania Regia show has been mentioned yet beyond Cain Velasquez appearing.
The main event of AAA’s TV show has the Vipers lose cleanly to Chessman, Pagano and Psycho Clown, then also lose an attempt at a post-match attack when Lady Shani made the save. They similarly were unable to win at Heroes Inmortales despite having more people. Arez & Chik Tormenta picked up the AAA Mixed Tag Team belts. The issue isn’t that AAA wants to give the new heel unit wins, just they can’t give them wins over the people who it’d actually matter to beat for whatever reason. There’s a bigger picture issue with AAA having five different rudo groups (Empresa, NGD, Poder del Norte, Mercenarios, and Vipers) they’re trying to get over at once, which means someone’s probably not going to get the big wins – the Vipers – and the TV feels a bit repetitive.
(The other issue is Psicosis II looked out of place in this match, though I don’t think that should’ve been a surprise to anyone.)
The Myzteziz/Octagon/Hamburguesa vs Villano III/Argenis/Toxin match was the best of the three, though doing the same brawls they’ve been doing for months didn’t help. The AAA/Marvel deal must still be in place because the matches on this taping have felt like obligatory matches to fulfill some content requirements. There hasn’t been much enthusiasm for the concept since TripleMania though, but it’s hard to separate that from the rest of the TV where nothing is going on.
We last saw Monster Clown on AAA TV at Hereos Inmortales. He was attacked while laying in a doctor’s office by Puma King and DM Azul and hasn’t been seen again. Monster Clown posted a video to social media over the weekend saying he’s out with an injury and announcing a 11/27 Gym Mictklan show to raise money for his medical costs. He mentions neck and hip injuries; it’s noticeable his left arm doesn’t seem to be moving at all in the promo. It is strange that a full time wrestler for a major wrestling promotion needs a charity show to pay their medical expenses. The advertised names are Dave the Clown and ex-AAA people, like Texano and Maximo. The poster does add AAA wrestlers like Chessman, Murder Clown and Drago, though it doesn’t seem like AAA’s involved directly.
The local promoter of an AAA spot show in Metepec, Mexico State – lucha libre collector Christian Cymet – held a press conference on Friday to promote a 11/10 show. Cymet insisted the show would remain on, despite recent public threats from a local criminal group to cause violence if events at the fair weren’t canceled. (This appeared to be an issue between the criminal group and the local government.) The decision was taken out of Cymet’s hand, The entire fair was canceled Saturday because of that criminal threat.
Other News
The Crash returned on Friday night. It was an all surprise card though I’m still not sure why; some of these matches would’ve been a big deal had people known it was happening. Maybe they were afraid fans would be disappointed with no apuesta (or cage) main event. The show still seemed to draw well.
The Crash (FRI) 11/05/2021 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California [SoCalUncensored, TJ Sports]
1) Toto b Dinámico ©, Terror Azteca, Próximo, Skalibur, Kamik-C [The Crash JUNIOR]
Dinamico complained about the fans and demanded better matches. Konnan, apparently the on-screen authority figure now, told him he could be in the cruiserweight title match but would have to win the title or leave The Crash
2) Destiny & Rey Horus b Demonic Flamita & Torito Negro
Flamita unmasked Horus after the match
3) Dinámico b Black Danger, Oráculo © [The Crash CRUISER]
Dinamico won so he can stay in the Crash
4) Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf b Black Taurus & Rey Escorpión (AAA) and Trauma I & Trauma II © and Funny Bone & Súper Beast [The Crash Tag] 
5) Hijo Del Vikingo b Bandido (Indie) ©, Willie Mack, Dragón Lee (Indie) [The Crash HEAVY]
Vikingo beat Bandido to win the title. Bandido praised him and encouraged the fans to support Vikingo against Kenny Omega at TripleMania Regia
6) Pagano b Masada (Texas) [hardcore]
I saw the semimain, which was a lot of fun and also left me with the impression Willie Mack winning the title would’ve gotten the biggest pop. The Tijuana crowd loves him. They went for Vikingo over Bandido instead. I’m not sure how giving Vikingo a win on a non-televised show most AAA fans won’t even hear about helps build him up for TripleMania Regia, but that is the likely mindset. Bandido taking pinfall loses as ROH champion is unusual but maybe doesn’t matter at this point.
The Crash announced their next show as 12/03 with Pagano, Psycho Clown, the LA Park family and Hijo del Vikingo. That’s the night before TripleMania Regia, so many of those names will probably try to get out quickly so they can get on the late-night flight from Tijuana to Monterrey. I’ve taken that flight but I didn’t have to fight Kenny Omega the next day. There was no mention of any MLW involvement on The Crash show, and MLW didn’t say anything on their tapings about going to The Crash, but that show is apparently on. MLW announced they’d be co-promoting 12/03 The Crash show. That means AAA wrestlers may be back on US TV or at least a US YouTube channel.
The Crash’s usual rival in Tijuana is EMW. They’re not the only group there – Cholo de Tijuana runs as well – but The Crash & EMW are the two AAA has switched back and forth with depending on Konnan’s situation. It looks like AAA will still be sending talent to EMW, though their 11/27 Tijuana show is not in the Auditorio.
IWRG (SUN) 11/07/2021 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Baby Star & Spider Fly b Shalom & Vudu Max
2) Lolita & Sagitarius b Amazonika & Diosa Atenea
3) Legendario, Rey Halcón, Sol b Dick Angelo 3G, Mosca, Tonalli
4) Medico Brujo & Sick Boy DQ Black Terry & Dr. Cerebro
Black Terry replaced Cerebro Negro, but Cerebro Negro still showed up to martiente Medico Brujo for the DQ.
5) Súper Nova & Villano V Jr. b Hijo del Alebrije & Veneno and Bugambilia & Estrella Divina and Giant Orión & Lil Bray
Nova wants an IWRG JUNIORS title match with Alebrije
6) Gran Pandemomium, Hijo De Pandemónium, Pandemónium b Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
This is another IWRG show where I know nothing that’s going on, though Nova/Alebrije sounds good. Like CMLL, there are various IWRG big shows coming up in December that are probably linked to challenges being made. I don’t have it up there, but those challenges include something with the Pandemonium and Oficials in post-show interviews.
Negocio Traumado (Fresero Jr. & Demonio Infernal) were scheduled to wrestler Chris Stone Jr. & Apolo Estrada Jr. on Saturday’s Arena Azteca Budokan show. The promotion switched the match to Fresero, Demonio, and Atomic Star against Latigo, Sweet Daddy Soul, and Taylor Wolf. Negocio Traumado claimed Stone & Estrada were told not to wrestle the ex-IWRG wrestlers, and other IWRG wrestlers have been told the same. That’s either a new policy or one only applying to the Mexico City area because Fresero & Demonio wrestled Las Shotas in Acapulco a couple of weeks ago. It also seems like one hard to understand why the wrestlers would go along with: Stone & Estrada aren’t getting pushed much in IWRG and probably aren’t getting paid much either, so why put up with it?
The teams of Demonio Infernal & Fresero Jr. and Texano Jr. & Super Nova are the first announced duos in a NWA Mexico Tag Team Championship tournament. This was billed as a reactivation of the titles, which do not appear to have existed prior. Those four luchadors, Blue Demon and Invasion Indy promoter Erick Sanchez announced a 16 team tournament with a final on 01/01/2022 in Arena Neza at a press conference Friday. The concept is any team can enter, with the idea that even CMLL or AAA teams could participate because the titles are bigger than any promotion. They will not. The other idea is that these will be prestigious championships defended in many places, though the reality is it’s unlikely anyone will care about them any more than any other belts. Blue Demon has introduced various NWA belts in the past, including La Mascara beating him for a NWA Mexico Light Heavyweight belt this New Year’s Day; they’ve all been quickly forgotten.
Blue Demon acquired the NWA Mexico brand as part of his relationship with the company (including his heavyweight title run) in 2008. They ran a handful of big shows in 2008, did poorly, ran occasionally through 2012, and then only once since then. The actual NWA ownership has turned over a few times since Demon got those NWA Mexico rights. The current NWA dissolved all its affiliates years ago. (There’s a chance the current NWA may make a fuss about NWA Mexico does this, but it’s likely just not worth the effort.) These belts have as much connection to the current NWA as the CMLL NWA Historica belts.
I went to GALLI’s 500 show on Sunday. It was long because the ring fell apart in a match, but they started early so I still got home early and for that I consider it a win. Dante Martin & Mr. Iguana versus Arez & Aramis was great as a live experience, hope it translates to video as well. I thought it was a match that would’ve gotten over anywhere and worked very well on this show. Gringo Loco, Golden Dragon, and Atomico Jr. versus Manny Cortez, Torero, Yauko was good too. Psycho Clown was the most popular guy on the show, teaming with Cody Jones & Aeroboy against La Empresa, which set up Puma versus Jones for a future show.
ROH’s TV today has Alex Zayne versus Bandido. I’ve seen it – it’s good, better as a story bout how Bandido’s progressed since they met two years ago.
Mas Lucha and Big Lucha both posted video of the 10/30 show. It’s mostly notable for the Cinta de Oro, Penta, Bandido, and Texano four-way main event. The Mas Lucha length is 1h33m. The Big Lucha length is 1h51m. The difference is the Big Lucha file includes a Extasis & Radiocativo versus Tiranto & Galactico match. The announcers note Galactico is a debuting wrestler. He appears to be a foreigner under a mask wrestling in a familiar style. I guess I don’t know for a fact that it’s Travis Banks, but “Galactico” is exactly what people said he should’ve done from the start (put on a mask to change his identity) and he sure wrestles a lot like Travis Banks. The horse is out of the barn on hiding him though, it’s too late to fool anyone on who he is or what they believe about him. I’m disappointed but no longer surprised he’s still on Big Lucha shows after Bandido specifically said he wouldn’t use him again. Mas Lucha editing him out was the only surprising part.
Rey Triton, ex-CMLL Triton, has been in the US for the last couple of years. He showed up wrestling infrequently and seemed to be mostly working outside of lucha libre. He returned to Guadalajara last month and is back on indie shows there. Talking to Ring Tapatio, Triton says he’s talked to both AAA and CMLL about possibly returning, would prefer to return to CMLL, but they haven’t come to any agreement.
Guadalajara sports writer Mario Ortega passed away recently, according to Mas Lucha. He worked as an announcer for Arena Coliseo Guadalajara shows in the past among many other roles.
Mas Lucha announced the field for their member-only Torneo Suprema Mas Lucha tournament airing on 11/21. The luchadoras involved will be Estrellita, Keyra, Chik Tormenta, Cinthia Moreno, Hija de Gatuebla, Black Widow, Artemiz, and Sussy Love. None of the participants were in last year’s tournament, which was won by Sexy Dulce. (Mas Lucha did the ‘all new people’ bit for the men’s tournament as well.) I think those names are generally in the order of the chances of winning the tournament.
NJPW announced the field for their 2021 BOSJ tournament. No Dragon Lee or CMLL wrestler will participate for the second straight year, likely due to visas restrictions. DOUKI will have to represent all of Mexico. CMLL and NJPW still have not officially announced the 2022 FantastciaMania tour being canceled or postponed, but I don’t think anyone expects it to happen in January.
NOAH will be airing their second NOAH the Universal English language special. The sole Mexico match is a Dr. Wagner Jr. & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. versus DMT Azul & Pagano, which appears to be from the May 29th Arena Campeones (Torreon) show. Notable, they’re not showing Hijo del Espectro or Hijo del Alebrije, who IWRG claimed were touring NOAH in January. IWRG has since stopped mentioning that tour. They’re not airing any IWRG at all.
Segunda Caida reviews some 1989 Coahuila lucha libre.
Discover more from luchablog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.