Soberano Jr. wins Leyenda de Azul, Volador remains champion, TripleMania Regia

CMLL (FRI) 11/26/2021 Arena México [AS, CMLL, Diario Baasta, Estrellas del Ring, Estrellas del Ring (video), Furia de Titanes, Kaiser Sports, Publimetro, Quadratin, R de Rudo, The Gladiatores, thecubsfan]
1) Dark Magic, Disturbio, El Coyote b Flyer, Magnus, Robin 
16:18
2) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Marcela b Dalys, Dark Silueta, Stephanie Vaquer
2) Dalys, Dark Silueta, Stephanie Vaquer b La Jarochita, Lluvia, Marcela  
13:43. Rudas took 2/3. Silueta & Vaquer pinned Lluvia & Jarochita, though no challenges were made
3) Soberano Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Último Guerrero, Bárbaro Cavernario, Atlantis Jr., Hechicero, Stuka Jr., Terrible, Blue Panther, Sagrado, Gran Guerrero, Gemelo Diablo I, Dark Panther, Dragón Rojo Jr., Esfinge, Gemelo Diablo II [Leyenda de Azul]     
Battle royal set teams. Order of elimination: Dark Panther (Angel de Oro, 7:54), Esfinge (Stuka, 10:00), Sagrado (Blue Panther, 11:29), Gemelo Diablo I (Dragon Rojo, 13:41), Blue Panther (Terrible, 15:57), Gemelo Diablo II (Gran Guerrero, 18:32), Dragon Rojo (Atlantis Jr., 20:55), Angel de Oro (Hechicero, 22:30), Stuka (Ultimo Guerrero, 23:41), Terrible (Soberano, 25:31), Ultimo Guerrero (Hechicero, 26:40), Barbaro Cavernario (Gran Guerrero, 27:33), Hechicero (Atlantis Jr., 30:16), Gran Guerrero (Soberano, 32:08), Atlantis Jr. (Soberano, 41:04) leaving Soberano Jr. as the winner. Atlantis Jr. wrestled as a rudo.
4) Volador Jr. © b TJP [NWA WELTER]    
16:04 (one fall.) eighth defense, first since March (Bandido)

This was a good show, especially by CMLL Ticketmaster Live standards. Both Leyenda de Azul and Volador/TJP are worth watching when they turn up later, though I wouldn’t go as far as strongly recommending them. Leyenda de Azul was just a well done cibernetico with not a lot of silliness and with a lot of time for the final two. TJP versus Volador followed upon the story of TJP’s knee attacks from last week, which sometimes the crowd seemed bored by and sometimes they were really into. I was less convinced TJP had to win watching the show, though it did still end up like just another Volador feud.

Many of the wrestlers in Leyenda de Azul wore blue or Blue Demon-themed gear. Soberano, in a very red outfit, won the whole thing. He looked 100% like he’d been ready to go for a while and had just been held back to here to come in a big way. Soberano was the last tecnico left for a big chunk of the match, though it got really played up only as it got down to him against Atlantis and Gran Guerrero and the crowd was well behind the idea of him winning. The last nine minutes were just Atlantis & Soberano going back and forth, with the crowd very much wanting Soberano to pull it off and being happy when he finally did. Atlantis Jr. winning would’ve turned him rudo if he wasn’t already; CMLL’s crowd doesn’t seem ready to accept him at that level, though having him continually come close and lose should help – CMLL’s got to convince the fans Atlantis Jr. is earning the big win, not just being anointed by the promotion. It felt like CMLL was pushing both Atlantis Jr. and Soberano Jr. as the new stars of CMLL, just done in a way that didn’t make fans angry with them.

A strange subplot of the TJP match were second Cavernario and Magnus helping TJP catch Volador’s dives. Cavernario was a little more sneaky about it of the two, but it felt a lot like when wrestlers would push Kawato San into position for dive catches or do it for him. It didn’t seem like TJP was unwilling or incapable of doing itself, but they clearly didn’t trust he’d be able to do it by himself and had planned to have help.

Soberano Jr. said he was not leaving CMLL in post-match interviews, which the booking certainly suggests as well. The issue with Ultimo Guerrero seems real – they never interacted in the match, with Soberano noticeably staying away from the action when the usual brawl between both sides broke out – but he seems good with whatever CMLL management he needed to stay good with.

TJP made hair matches challenges towards Volador backstage, but that just seemed like a thing to say.

CMLL announced on this show that the Gran Alternativa will return as December’s tournament. Blocks will be held on Friday 12/10 and 12/17, and the final will take place on the Christmas Day shows. (Both the 12/24 and 12/31 Friday night shows will be pushed back a day as normal for CMLL on the winter holidays.) CMLL announcers implied that the 12/25 final will be the next CMLL Ticketmaster Live show.

Star Jr. (w/Valiente) is the most recent Gran Alternativa tournament. It appeared CMLL taped a Gran Alternativa or similar competition this time last year, but the matches never aired.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias was in attendance.

CMLL (SAT) 11/27/2021 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Pequeño Violencia & Shockercito b Mercurio & Último Dragóncito [Relevos Increíbles]
2) Cholo, Grako, Inquisidor b Cachorro, Leono, Sonic
Rudos took 1/3
3) Akuma, Disturbio, Espanto Jr. b Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma
Rudos took 1/3, the last by cheating
4) Espíritu Negro, Hombre Bala Jr., Rey Cometa DQ Cancerbero, Enfermero Jr., Virus
Enfermero Jr. replaced Raizel, Robin replaced Espiritu Negro earlier in the day. Tecnicos took 2/3 when Cancerbero fouled Hombre Bala.
5) Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia b Bárbaro Cavernario, Fugaz, Titán [Relevos Increíbles]
Team Euforia took 1/3

Hombre Bala’s big run in Arena Coliseo has seen him fouled twice and lost the other time. Maybe it’s safer for him in match 2.

CMLL (SUN) 11/28/2021 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO]
1) Retro b Apocalipsis
2) Grako & Inquisidor b Eléctrico & Sonic
Rudos took 1/3. Inquisidor’s submission is called El Abrazo de Judas.
3) Enfermero Jr., Nitro, Sangre Imperial DQ Akuma, Espanto Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Team Nitro took 2/3. Akuma unmasked Nitro. Challenges followed
4) Kráneo, Panterita del Ring, Volcano b Felino, Hijo del Villano III, Luciferno
tecnicos took 2/3
5) Euforia, Mephisto, Soberano Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Terrible, Titán [Relevos Increíbles]
Team Euforia took 2/3

CMLL posted videos of Stigma challenging Disturbio,  Disturbio challenging Stigma, Akuma challenging Pegasso, Pegasso challenging Akuma, Nitro challenging Akuma, and Akuma challenging Nitro. The holiday cage match is coming back, and probably for New Year’s Day since Christmas seems spoken for. CMLL usually has an idea they want to do the match but may not have the participants locked in, so these are all meaningless challenges. It’s typically all masked people, and unmasked people means it’ll be someone getting a haircut.

CMLL promoted the lineup for Monday in Puebla and Tuesday shows in Guadalajara. The main CMLL account has rarely if ever promoted the Guadalajara shows since their resumption. The common thread between those shows this week is Averno appearing, but the Twitter post doesn’t point that out.

CMLL (TUE) 11/30/2021 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
2) La Vaquerita, Marcela, Skadi vs La Comandante, Metálica, Tiffany
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Disturbio
4) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Stuka Jr. vs Felino, Hechicero, Negro Casas
5) Místico vs Euforia

The same singles match took place in Puebla a month ago, though it’ll be the first time for it to make TV in two years. Assuming anyone gets Heraldo TV. It should air on geoblocked YouTube as well.

KeMonito appears in a music video. KeMonito and Mistico explain NFTs.

Los Micro Gemelos Diablos have what appears to be their first appearance on the 12/04 Arena Neza show. They’re wrestling Chamuel & Micro Nitro, who’s definitely one of the other micros working a second gimmick so Nitro can get his (apparently) required payday off these shows. (It’s probably been MicroAngel, who’s otherwise been used as a referee.) I still believe the Micro Gemelo Diablos are other existing micros but we may be able to tell for sure when that match turns up. In maybe related news, the Chico Temido was supposed to appear on this week’s Big Lucha show (and was CMLL Atomo’s pre-CMLL gimmick) didn’t end up appearing after all.

CMLL wrestlers are participating in Televisa’s Teleton children’s charity campaign this Wednesday.

AAA

I was told to expect a press release today with more details on the FITE PPV today (Monday.) It hasn’t turned up if you’re reading this paragraph. I know there are people in AAA – maybe just one particular person – saying the show will end up being six matches instead of the four being advertised. Neither four nor six really makes sense; if AAA has to save matches for the following week, they’d normally save three matches, every taped show has had three matches all year, so they should be airing five live.

How many matches should air on a PPV is an ill-considered debate either way. If AAA’s interest is making a few thousand dollars, then it should remain as a $20 show, a few hundred people already into AAA will pay for it, and most everyone else will go on believing AAA can’t be watched outside of Mexico. If AAA’s interest is raising their profile to make much more from the rest of the world in 2021, TripleMania Regia makes more sense as a free product to get people back watching AAA again. AAA is not entitled to anyone’s interest just for showing up again on PPV, they’ve got to work to earn it. There are currently NWA and GCW PPVs on the same night as the AAA show and no reason to suspect AAA’s going to do any better than either of them on PPV sales at the moment.

You could make a case this should be a PPV if AAA was still Omega/Vikingo was still on, because Omega would bring in people in a way none of the other people on the show will card. Maybe AAA believes Cain Velasquez will have that same interest, but I’m not sure it’s true for him at this point with the novelty gone. There’s still excitement over Velasquez/Park, but that’s in the existing AAA fanbase and not something new.

Note that even though TripleMania Regia is apparently a worldwide available FITE PPV show, every video promoting the show going up on YouTube is still restricted to viewing in Mexico only. The geoblocks are still up as if the lawsuit is still on. If you can explain what’s going on here, please do. The lawsuit’s history still shows nothing new since September; it’s possible both sides have come to an agreement and just haven’t informed the court, but the whole situation remains strange in normal AAA fashion.

This week’s AAA TV was the weakest of the three episodes in Taxco. The two normal matches weren’t particularly good. The main event was another NGD TV match where they were working with half effort, compounded by another non-finish. The best match was the short Marvel Lucha Libre match. Laredo Kid seemed to be under the Gran Mazo (Thor) mask this time and very much doing that character instead of his normal self. It was entertaining, though not as good as a normal Laredo/Octagon Jr. (Leyenda Americana) match might be. I’m curious if this means both Laredo Kid and Taurus (Venenoide) will be working twice on TripleMania Regia or if others will be subbed in.

The AAA production issues remain. The show’s graphics listed Poder del Norte versus La Empresa instead of the match we got, and they aired a Toxicas segment for the second week in a row instead of an FTR promo teased in the open. The five seconds we saw of FTR in that open is all they appeared on TV prior to this show, the only mention of that match at all. The bigger problem was the middle of the show, which included a sit down interview with Hijo del Vikingo and the announcers hyping his match with Kenny Omega. The talk continued through the second match and before the third match, then AAA inserted the Kenny Omega promo announcing he’d be off the show. Nothing was said about what would happen instead. Omega getting pulled off the show was late notice, after this was all taped, and maybe it’s just really difficult to edit those things off. It still looked low rent. At the least, they should’ve cut out the Vikingo chat about wanting to have a five-star match with Omega and had someone in studio direct fans to AAA’s social media to find out what was actually happening. Instead, the only matches actually promoted for TripleMania Regia were the Marvel Lucha Libre match and the three-way factions match.

The sense I’ve gotten from watching AAA’s build-up to this show – and to most of TripleMania Chilango earlier this year – is AAA believes their fans will find out information about what’s going on through AAA’s social media’s channels and so it’s not important to use TV for that purpose. I think that’s probably true for some promotions – AEW may be that way at the moment, but then AEW works harder at announcing upcoming matches on their TV show than any other promotion I can recall. I don’t know if AAA is a social media first promotion, and I guess we’ll find out more about that this week. In the longer run, viewers can hope AAA returns to their pre-pandemic model of streaming most tapings live so the TV weirdness is irrelevant (though we have no idea if that’s happening.)

AAA called this week’s TV show the end of the 2021 tour, both on the telecast and social media. TripleMania Regia is meant as the start of the 30th Aniversary tour. It also means this show in Taxco is meant to be the last no-fans show, though we’re all just crossing our fingers on that. Space should have the second half of TripleMania Regia on 12/11 and then it’s probably Best of material until AAA tapes again.

AEW will air a FTR/Lucha Brothers match for the AEW Tag Team Championship under best of three falls rules on Friday night’s Rampage show. That’s one day before TripleMania Regia. With no Omega, the idea of seeing the Lucha Brothers versus their AEW rivals is probably the strongest appeal of TripleMania Regia to non-AAA fans, and now those fans are getting to see that match for free a night earlier. Some people will be very happy to buy both, but AAA’s going to lose people who aren’t going to want to spend $20 to see something they just saw for free (and might even be the AEW feud blow-off match.) I think there are bigger problems for the PPV – I can’t emphasize enough how most potential PPVs purchasers do not understand they can buy TripleMania Regia outside of Mexico and will not understand unless AAA or FITE does a major push this week – but giving that match away for a free a day early sure doesn’t help AAA. I know some believe AEW will run an angle on that show to help build TripleMania Regia. Maybe it’ll be different this time, maybe AEW will feel they owe AAA for losing Omega before their big show and help out, but the past pattern is AEW will not mention Impact/AAA PPVs on their broadcasts and believes it’s on those promotions to promote themselves.

TripleMania Regia will go head to head with the Tigres LigaMX playoff game. This happened with a local game at TripleMania Regia in 2019 and probably will happen more often than not as long as TripleMania Regia exists as a December show. Monterrey has two good soccer teams, they’re usually successful enough for one or both to make at least a round or two in the playoffs, and there are usually playoff rounds in early December. This didn’t turn out to mean much to attendance last time around. It won’t be an issue for a 2022 TripleMania Regia since LigaMX plans to end early to accommodate the winter World Cup schedule (and those games will all be played earlier in the day.)

In other futbol news, Psycho Clown said there are more clowns in soccer than there are in professional wrestling. I know America lost in the playoffs and that was a thing and people were upset, but there sure are a lot of clowns in professional wrestling. Psycho Clown got a lot of response from LigaMX teams very quickly, which means either Psycho Clown is very over or this is some sort of promotional bit.

One surprise planned for TripleMania Regia was Junior Dos Santos confronting Cain Velasquez to tease a wrestling match. Konnan mentioned the plan on his podcast, and ESPN MMA reporter Marc Raimondi said he heard the same thing. Velasquez and Dos Santos had fights over the UFC Heavyweight Championship from 2011 to 2013, including the first UFC show broadcast over the air on FOX. Dos Santos has a boxing commitment and couldn’t make the date. It was let unclear if AAA might try the idea another day or if the idea had progressed to the point where they would actually have that match. Konnan revealing it up suggests it’s not something being saved for later. Expect AAA to do attempt other stunts to try to regain attention in the year to come.

Bandido told Record he’s only agreed to the one AAA date for TripleMania Regia as an emergency deal, but they’re planning on sitting down to talk about other possible plans later on. I think it’s possible he could still end up champion despite not being under contract; AAA may not have a singles champion under contract right now. Laredo Kid & Taurus say they’re still freelancers, Deonna Purrazzo is likely just to be in on loan from Impact but not directly under an AAA deal, and I’d guess Omega’s deal was something similar. (Dinastia is still the minis champion and presumably under contract, though he hasn’t been seen on AAA show since August.) WWE doesn’t seem to be signing people as much as they have in the past, so whoever wins the title will probably be available to AAA even without a written deal.

Mr. Iguana did a TV interview to promote TripleMania Regia, which he’s not currently advertised on. He suggests he may show up to root on La Hiedra.

Other Notes

IWRG (SUN) 11/28/2021 Arena Naucalpan [Cronista del Ring, Estrellas del Ring, IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Sol & Spider Fly b Shalom & X-Devil
2) Artemiz (Laguna) & Bengalee b Lolita & Satania 
Bengalee return from injury
3) Hell Boy & Noicy Boy b Mosca & Tonalli 
Noicy Boy picks up a win before his title shot on Tuesday
4) Asterboy, Toxin, Veneno b Arvack, Lil Blay, Sweet Dady Soul 
5) Cerebro Negro, Gigante Orión, Mafioso b Hijo del Alebrije, Hijo del Espectro Jr., Sick Boy 
Orion demanded a title match with Espectro next week. Sick Boy and Mafioso want a hair match.
6) Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro b Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. 
Oficials earned a trios title match with La Pandemia with their win, and also an attack by La Pandemia.

Mafioso/Sick Boy and Pandemia/Oficiales looks like the most likely apuesta matches for the next two weeks.

IWRG (TUE) 11/30/2021 Arena Naucalpan
1) Blue Win & Gran Felipe Jr. vs Mini Vikingo & X-Boy
2) Calibus & Rey Minos vs Perseo & Rey Aztaroth
3) Águila Oriental, Spider Fly, Súper Cometa vs Carnicero, Garra Mortal Jr., X-Devil
4) Black Dragón, Limbo, Rey Halcón vs Caballero de Plata, Hell Boy, Sol
5) Noicy Boy vs Asterboy © [IWRG IC Light]
second defense

They put a lot of flyers on the biweekly flyer show. Maybe could use a few more bases.

RIOT (SAT) 11/27/2021 Arena Femenil, Monterrey, Nuevo León [@thekoko666, RB]
1) Jimmy b Willy Banderas, Gravity (Indie), King Rex, Oni El Bendito
2) Kaientai & Lord Byron NF Origen & Skam 13
other NGX wrestlers inteferred for the non finish
3) Damián 666 b Muerte Extreme [no DQ]
4) Xtreme Tiger b Iron Kid (Estado de México)
5) Prometeo b Baby Xtreme, Kratoz [RIOT CHAMP, #1 Contenders]
6) Hechicero (CMLL) b Erick Ortiz

This show was meant to be the last show in this venue, then it was moved out of this venue at the last minute, then it was moved back to this venue at an even later minute with an announcement they were going to keep running here after all. Sounds fun. I’ve heard the most positive reviews for the last two matches. RIOT announced their La Rina tournament will return on February 11th and the 12th.

Dairux & Zuzu Divine won DTU’s vacant NEXO Tag Team championship. I’m not sure if the title is meant to be a mixed pairs title now, though all three competing for the titles were one man and one women.

Mas Lucha put up a promo with Andrade saying he wants to face Pagano and Dr. Wagner Jr., before he (Wagner) retired. Andrade is facing Pagano and Cibernetico on Friday, or maybe Wagner’s been subbed in and this is a promo for the match.

The Moreno family are looking for help getting justice for a dog who lives outside their Arena Azteca Budokan. Apparently, a police officer showed up and shot the dog for unknown reasons. The Morenos are taking care of the dog and want something done about the police officer.

One time CMLL luchador Raider unmasked Infierno in Saltillo on Friday. Infierno is Walter Alfonso Lomeli Estrada.

Segunda Caida writes about a 2018 ChilangaMask brawl.