Month: November 2021

CMLL (FRI) 11/12/2021 Arena México [CMLL, Diario Basta, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports, Mas Lucha, R de Rudo, The Gladiatores]
1) Kaligua, Mercurio, Shockercito b Acero, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia [Relevos Increíbles]   
Peq. Violencia replaced Pierrothito on Thursday
2) Dark Magic, Disturbio, El Coyote b Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma   
Tecnicos are La Fuerza Poblana. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Felino Jr., Okumura, Pólvora b Dark Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Panterita del Ring   
Rudos took 2/3
4) Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero b Euforia, Mephisto, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]   
Guerreros took 2/3, asked Atlantis Jr. to join with them to reform Los Guerreros de la Atlantida and Atlantis Jr. accepted.
5) Hechicero © b Bárbaro Cavernario [CMLL HEAVY]     
One fall match. First defense for Hechicero.

Barbaro Cavernario looked like he went all out in this match.

Atlantis Jr. accepting the offer to join Los Guerreros in a post-match interview would seem to resolve that story, except this is a promotion where tecnico Angel de Oro is still teaming with the rudos and maybe rudo Magnus is teaming with tecnicos. I think I just may be slow in accepting the tecnico/rudo thing is getting faded out. I still feel like it’s much better for luchadors to have a static personality and identity, not to shift radically depending on who they happen to be teaming with that day.

CMLL (SAT) 11/13/2021 Arena Coliseo [CMLL, CMLL]
1) Apocalipsis & Cholo b Leono & Retro
2) Angelito, Fantasy, Último Dragóncito b Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
tecnicos took 2/3
3) Akuma, Enfermero Jr., Espanto Jr. b Cachorro, Panterita del Ring Jr., Sangre Imperial
rudos took 1/3
4) Hombre Bala Jr., Stuka Jr., Titán DQ Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
Hombre Bala’s reward ends with him getting beat up so badly that the ref called an excessive violence DQ
5) Volador Jr. b Gran Guerrero
Volador took 2/3

Bala getting humiliated in his reward match would be something, but it’s probably the first week of a longer program. No video of this show this week. Arena Coliseo might be going like Arena Puebla, where it got a lot of coverage the week they came back and the not much after.

CMLL (SUN) 11/14/2021 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports]
1) Grako b Retro
2) La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi b Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany
3) El Audaz, Esfinge, Magnus b El Coyote, Espanto Jr., Misterioso Jr.
4) Hijo del Villano III, Luciferno, Rey Bucanero b Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa
5) Fugaz, Místico, Titán b Ángel de Oro, Felino, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]

No angle of not this week. Magnus is now teaming with non-Depredaror tecnicos so maybe he’s back to being a tecnico? Maybe Depredadores are meant to be side-less.

Puebla tonight has a rematch of Ángel de Oro, Cavernario, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Felino, Templario. I’m not sure which singles match it’ll be, but Volador always seems like a safe bet.

CMLL (TUE) 11/16/2021 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
2) Arkalis, Retro, Sangre Imperial vs Cholo, Disturbio, El Coyote
3) Diamond, Flyer, Panterita del Ring vs Akuma, Espanto Jr., Okumura
4) Reyna Isis © vs Dark Silueta [MEX WOMEN]
3rd defense
5) Fugaz, Místico, Star Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Templario

The women’s title match could be good. I think Euforia & Templario are supposed to be rivals. Euforia should actually be pointing out to Templario how he got bumped out of his unit.

AAA

I uploaded this week’s AAA show on Twitch. (Twitch makes it hard to find uploads but it’s there.) AAA TV seems to be built on the idea that everyone who cares about AAA is following their social media and will get all their AAA info that way, because the TV show has nothing to say about what’s going on. It seems like they knew the TripleMania Regia lineup going into this show – there’s a Viper/Poder del Norte brawl that happens for no reason outside they wrestle in Monterrey – but the announcers and the production feel no need to explain where this is all going. Maybe it’s too hard to squeeze in a video of the LA Park/Cain Velasquez bit so quickly and it’ll be there later, but there’s no reason I can grasp for AAA never mentioning the Hijo del Vikingo/Kenny Omega match. Instead, they spent two matches getting over the very well-established Hijo del Tirantes/Faby Apache beef, and they don’t have a match scheduled anywhere at any time. Maybe the metrics really are all up and this is working for them, but I do not understand the thought process behind these TV shows.

If you are going to watch, the best use of time is just to watch the mixed tag title match in the main event. There are some overambitious moments – they clearly have a lot of faith in Sexy Star 2 to do things – but the action is pretty fun and the random thrown together teams fell less random in practice.

FTR indeed didn’t make this set of AAA tapings – there were weather issues flying in – so they won’t be seen in AAA until TripleMania Regia. Aerostar was also unable to make it to those tapings, so we may have seen the last of him in AAA this year. He’s not currently on TripleMania Regia. Nothing’s been announced past that, though it stands to reason AAA’s got to tape again this year.

AAA posted a tweet implying Toxin had been let out of an IWRG contract to sign a AAA one without actually saying that. Toxin posted something similar on Facebook. I can’t remember the last time AAA announced someone signed a contract with them, so this is probably more about some favor to IWRG than it is about Toxin.

Adictos al Ring says Rey de Reyes 2022 is taking place in Veracruz on 02/20, which I’m not sure is correct. They previously had the incorrect report that TripleMania Regia was moving out of Monterrey, and there’s no obvious reason Rey de Reyes would move to February next year from its normal March slot. It’s possible there’s a TV taping on that date that’s on the road to Rey de Reyes and it got confused along the way.

Other News

60s/70s/80s star Estrella Blanca (83) passed away Monday morning according to his son on Facebook. Both SuperLuchas and Furia de Titanes have obituaries. You can catch a late career match on YouTube. Maybe the quickest way to sum him up is to direct you to his luchawiki page, and the very long lucha de apuesta section. There are over 200 matches there; he’s given numbers as high as 700. Estrella Blanca was nicknamed “Santo Poblano”, Puebla’s Santo, their local hero. He’s reported to have won hundreds of mask matches; it’s probably either him or Super Munceo who actually won the most. Estrella Blanca was a star outside of Puebla too – his national lightweight championship runs raised the profile of a title that had mostly been left to the small arenas – and reads like he was a pretty good worker. Blanca wasn’t in the top spots in the main arenas, because EMLL just didn’t use lightweights outside the early matches, but his fame made him a great value to bring to all the smaller shows around Mexico. Santo can’t work every date, every show can’t afford Santo, so a guy like Estrella Blanca did a good job of taking up those spots. It’s an intentional connection; his mask design is very similar to Santo, with the namesake white star separating it. Estrella Blanca introduced a whole lot of billed sons – a Junior, a II, a III – in the 80s, and it reads like he took a step back in his own career to try to get them over. None really had the success he did. Estrella Blanca is still well remembered in Puebla. He was honored at Arena Puebla Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show in 2019 and I’m sure he’ll be remembered again tonight. The SuperLuchas article notes Estrella Blanca promised his wife he’d never get unmasked and have his real name and identity revealed, and he apparently held true to the death. His name will eventually come out, but the early articles and condolences on it don’t include it because apparently, it’s not public knowledge.

IWRG , FILL (SAT) 11/13/2021 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Odiseo & Perseo b Desastre & Último Caballero 
2) Rey Aztaroth, Súper Boy, Súper Cometa b Blue Win, Rey Minos, X-Boy Jr. 
X-Boy Jr. ended up hurt
3) Garra Mortal Jr., Guerrero Olímpico, Huitzil b Gran Felipe Jr., Perro de Guerra, Tito Mortan Jr. 
4) Black Dragón II, Hell Boy, Spider Fly b Kenji, Limbo, Skanda 
Black Dragon II replaced Carnicero
5) Black Dragón, Caballero de Plata, Cheff Benito, Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Rey Halcón DQ Eurus, Full Contact, Karma II, Kunay, Minos, Villareal [Copa Higher Power] 
IWRG vs Mi Sagrada Lucha Libre. Dick Angelo 3G defeated Villareal via DQ.

The IWRG team winning by cheating is not usually how these things go.

IWRG (SUN) 11/14/2021 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Kenji b Spider Fly
2) Legendario & Noicy Boy b Limbo & Mosca 
3) Bazooka, Granada, Mafioso b Asterboy, Hijo del Alebrije, Toxin 
Mafioso snuck in a foul on Aster Boy
4) Jessy Ventura b Cerebro Negro 
sets up an IWRG IC WELTER title match on next week’s show
5) Espectro Jr., King Charro, Sick Boy, Símbolo (Monterrey) b Diva Salvaje, Estrella Divina, Hijo del Fishman, Villano V Jr. 
Mafioso attack Sick Boy; they’re actually brothers
6) Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. DCOR Gran Pandemónium, Hijo Del Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. 
Morgans are now Pirata Infenrales in an attempt to talk someone into a feud with the CMLL Infernales. Both teams fought outside for the draw.

The Pirata Morgan Jr. who lost his hair two weeks ago wore a mask for most of this match. So it goes with lucha indies. The Ventura/Cerebro title match is happening on Mas Lucha’s Torneo Mas Suprema women’s tournament next Sunday. No brackets are announced yet; that might be something happening Monday.

IWRG (TUE) 11/16/2021 Arena Naucalpan
1) Blue Win & Rey Minos vs Carnicero & Rey Astaroth
2) Águila Oriental & Neón vs Guerrero Olímpico & Súper Cometa
3) Spider Fly vs Noicy Boy, Sol, Billy Jones, Calibus [IWRG IC Light, #1 Contenders]
4) Big Chicoche & Big Mike vs Corsario Negro Jr. & Drako
5) Asterboy, Fly Warrior, Hell Boy vs Cometa Maya, Elemental, Gravity

The Tuesday flyers shows seem to have been rebranded (after one show) to NGT (Nueva Generacion Talentos) events. This one has a IWRG versus Big Lucha show. I’m not sure if it’s recruitment or training, but whatever the Big Lucha guys are doing seems to be working, they seem more complete than the usual indie lucha wrestler. They were that way before Travis Banks got in the picture, which made it worse that people with potential were associating with him. They’re at least given the impression they’ve separated from Banks, though Banks is still around elsewhere.

Asterboy is the current IWRG Lightweight Champion.

Miguel Reducindo’s Mas Lucha column says ELITE could end up on as Wednesday or Thursday Arena Mexico shows. I think there are additional problems for ELITE outside of day of the week, but either of those days are probably going to be a problem. Miguel pointed out elsewhere that the best ELITE did was when they took over the Sunday shows, which is a better date and also means they’re not the fourth show running Arena Mexico a week.

Robles held their shows at Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera and Arena Lopez Mateos this weekend. They didn’t draw but that’s normal by now; these shows are for one person. The other normal thing is AAA seems not to want their wrestlers to appear on Robles shows, at least in Mexico City. Big Mami did wrestle on the Saturday show in Arena Lopez Mateos. She’s barely been on AAA TV this year, last in August, though she’s still on the rare spot shows AAA are running. Big Mami is a wrestler who’s going to work much better in front of fans than empty arena shows, and I wonder if maybe she’s shifted to a per night deal with AAA for now. Estrellita continued to work for Robles, so she may not be under AAA contract. Goya Kong, who has been on AAA TV a lot the last few months, was advertised and didn’t appear.

Microman did wrestle on both shows, added to the shows in mixed matches against a Mini Fussion. Negocio Traumado joked that they were going to sign Microman before WWE did.

ROH aired Honor For All on Sunday night. I thought Flamita/Bandido on the show was good, but the similar Horus/Bandido match was better. LFI versus OGK was also good and had the big news of the night; Dragon Lee & Kenny King lost the tag team titles. Final Battle, the final major ROH show, is on 12/11. Lucha related matches on that show:

• Dragon Lee seems out of the tag title picture (King already has his own Final Battle match set), so it’s probably a TV title match. He’s defending it against Dalton Castle next week. Either that match sets up a rematch or a challenger shows up.
• Commentary indicated Flamita is facing EC3, a tremendous mismatch of styles
• Bandido will probably be defending the ROH title against Jonathan Gresham on Final Battle, though they keep insisting it’s not definite yet in a way that suggests another title match or something else is happening between now and then.

That 12/11 show is ROH’s last event, but it appears they’ve already taped TV for two weeks after that. Those are going to be the lamest of lame ducks shows; I will definitely watch. The vibe I got from Honor for All is everyone in ROH is staying on message about the promotion returning in 2022, but whatever they’ve heard has them believing Final Battle is it for the group. It may be good news for the rest of you if these ROH bits disappear.

Bandido, Flamita, Rey Hours, La Empresa, Mr. Iguana, Aramis, Aeroboy, and Rok-C are all wrestling in GALLI the night after Final Battle.

Leon Dorado and Centviron had a good match on the MexaWrestling show this past Saturday. They usually have good matches. They also usually challenge each other to a mask match and they did that again. I think they’ve been talking about that match since 2017.

12/18 Lucha Memes Universal at Arena Coliseo

• Batillon de la Muerte vs Los Kamikazes vs Astrolux & Jack Carthweel vs Calibus & Mike vs La Fortaleza
• Solar vs Okumura
• Cancerbero & Raziel vs Black Terry & Avisman
• Perro de Guerra versus Freelance, hair versus hair – new

Both men have lost their hair many times, but I guess now they’ll do it in a new venue.

This is a week old, but maybe still worth sharing. Mary Apache wrestles sparingly these days, almost opposite her daughter Natsumi in tag matches. One of those happened in Nuevo Leon last Saturday. A clip of a post-match incident went viral last week. (I think it was probably the La Desnucadora YouTube channel who recorded it, but it’s not on their YouTube now.) Mary Apache appears to be very upset with her daughter, stalking her around the ring. Other people in the match try to get in the middle. Apache attacks one of them, teenager Reyna Zahori, smacking her, pulling her to the ground by her hair and continuing to go on the attack. The clip cuts off as Natsumi and two other people try to pull Mary Apache off. There’s obviously a lot of people angry with Mary Apache over that attack; she’s said nothing, but she’s been disappeared from another upcoming booking in Nuevo Leon for Lucha Libre Femenil.

DigitalMex has an interview with Lady Apache about her career. She believes she’s been vetoed by major promotions for trying to create a women’s lucha libre foundation in 2014. Lady Apache did worth the 2016 AAA Lucha Libre World Cup but hasn’t been with a major promotion outside of that.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/12/2021 Arena México
1) Kaligua, Mercurio, Shockercito vs Acero, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia [Relevos Increíbles]
Peq. Violencia replaced Pierrothito on Thursday
2) Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma vs Dark Magic, Disturbio, El Coyote
3) Dark Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Panterita del Ring vs Felino Jr., Okumura, Pólvora
4) Euforia, Mephisto, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Hechicero © vs Bárbaro Cavernario [CMLL HEAVY]
first defense

This will air on Televisa on 11/20. Cavernario was just fine in the big match with Felino, Hechicero largely worked an Ultimo Guerrero special the week after, this will be a chance to show what they’re capable of in 2021. These two were great against each other seven years ago, but that’s a long time even in CMLL. Nothing else sticks out as important.

CMLL (SAT) 11/13/2021 Arena Coliseo
1) Leono & Retro vs Apocalipsis & Cholo
2) Angelito, Fantasy, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
3) Cachorro, Panterita del Ring Jr., Sangre Imperial vs Akuma, Enfermero Jr., Espanto Jr.
4) Hombre Bala Jr., Stuka Jr., Titán vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
5) Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero

Volador/Guerrero was set up last week. Hombre Bala’s big reward is to get the same position Sagrado & Gemelo Diablos have been gifted, oh well. He told the press he’s getting a run of main events. It’s Arena Coliseo, you might as well try something.

CMLL (MON) 11/15/2021 Arena Puebla
1) King Jaguar & Siky Ozama vs El Perverso & Prayer
2) Marcela & Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola & Stephanie Vaquer
3) Dark Panther, Fugaz, Stigma vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) Ángel de Oro, Cavernario, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Felino, Templario [Relevos Increíbles]

That’s a main event rematch, but we have no indication of the angle. Only four matches looks strange. It’s the same amount of people who’ve been on recent cards, they’re just combining the 1v1s into a tag. This will be the first Arena Puebla show with 50% capacity, and maybe that’ll start to lead to more people being booked.

TJP & Jeff Cobb will come to Arena Mexico for the 11/19 Arena Mexico show.

CMLL also announced the field for the 11/26 Leyenda de Azul show, which is the next iPPV. The wrestlers included are Angel de Oro, Ultimo Guerrero, Soberano Jr., Barbaro Cavernario, Atlantis Jr., Hechicero, Stuka Jr., Terrible, Blue Panther, Sagrado, Gran Guerrero, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Dark Panther, Dragon Rojo Jr., and Esfinge.

Angel de Oro won last year’s Leyenda Azul, a competition no one remembers. It sticks out that names like Volador, Titan, and Templario are not included. Volador’s rarely participated in this tournament because this has been a heavyweight-focused match, but that doesn’t seem to be the case this year with the likes of Soberano involved. I suspect Cobb and TJP are sticking around through this show and are working a non-tournament match with some of those names. It was actually more surprising for Cobb not to be in the tournament itself.

Soberano Jr. is advertised for that Leyenda de Azul match. He strangely didn’t appear on CMLL Informa after being advertised. CMLL didn’t delete the tweet announcing his name as they do when they want to hide that they announced something, so it was more likely a schedule conflict and not more drama

CMLL (TUE) 11/16/2021 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Cosmos, Temerario, Último Ángel vs Destello, Destructor, Thunder Boy
2) Bello Antuan, El Divino, Mágico vs Gran Kenut, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
3) Bestia Negra, Cris Skin, Difunto vs Joker, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
4) Flash, Gallo, Star Black vs Estudiante Jr., Furia Roja, Satánico
5) Atlantis Jr., Dulce Gardenia, Titán vs Felino Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Mephisto

Estudiante Jr. is a Baja California name who was seen in 2016 ELITE, and I’m not sure why he’s in Guadalajara. Nothing else jumps out.

Lucha Libre Elite still hasn’t done more than share old matches and empty teasers but they have a destination. Mas Lucha says Lucha Libre Elite will return in December with CMLL. The story is Ernesto Santillan of ELITE and Salvador Lutteroth of CMLL mended fences between both companies early in the pandemic and they’ve apparently just been waiting for a good time to return. Lucha Libre Elite was a success in producing weird matches and the occasionally very good one, but also seemed like a financial money pit every time they ran it. They put together expensive shows that they didn’t sell tickets. There’s no reason to expect this will go differently.

AAA

AAA announced the full TripleMania Regia

AAA TV (SAT) 12/04/2021 Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
1) Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla vs Faby Apache, Lady Shani, Sexy Star 2
2) Gran Mazo & Leyenda Americana vs Engañoso & Venenoide
3) Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana vs Abismo Negro Jr., Arez, Psicosis II and Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
4) ? & Laredo Kid vs Dragón Lee (Indie) & Dralistico
5) Dave The Clown, Monsther Clown, Murder Clown vs Diamante Azul (Indie), Puma King, Sam Adonis
6) Cash Wheeler & Dax Hardwood © vs Fénix & Pentagón Jr. [AAA TAG]
may include FTR
7) Cain Velasquez, Pagano, Psycho Clown vs LA Park, Rey Escorpión, Taurus
8) Kenny Omega vs Hijo Del Vikingo [AAA HEAVY]
7th defense

This press conference was held at the TV Azteca studios, hosted by the AAA Azteca announcers. They said this show will air the same night on Azteca at 10:30 pm CT after boxing. That’d be a tape-delayed show, with only a couple matches, and possibly condensed. Vic Martz of Mas Lucha asked about the show airing live somewhere, and the Azteca people steered the conversation back into their airing. I suspect we’ll get more details about other places and ways to see this show before 12/04, just not on an Azteca set.

The noteworthy segment about the press conference was LA Park being revealed as the mystery person in the semi-main trios match. Dorian Roldan had asked fans to message him with the person they most wanted to see, it did seem like LA Park was the most requested name, and LA Park also encouraged people to push for him. Perhaps this was the plan all along, and it worked out very well if that’s the case. LA Park immediately insulted Cain Velasquez and the two got into a scuffle before being separated. LA Park told the press he wants to fight against Velasquez’s MMA style, not him trying to do lucha libre. I have no idea how that match is going to work but it’s going to be a thing a lot of people want to see; this angle was great.

The big shake up in the lineup was the teased Lucha Brothers versus Hermanos Lee match is off, at least for now, and they’ll be in two separate tag matches. That’s good news for the match quality – a three-way seems a waste of bringing in FTR and Hermanos Lee and FTR seem like people in two different planets when it comes to how they see wrestling matches – though it’s going to be a hard pill to swallow for Dragon Lee & Dralistico to swallow. The same applies to NGD. All those guys left CMLL to be top guys and expect to be top guys, so seeing their names in the middle of a big AAA show may not go over well. There’s no great argument to move them higher – the Empresa deal has been a bigger AAA focus and it’s a buffer between the two 2v2 matches – but I would not be surprised to see something changed.

If things do stay as they are, I would like to bet a large sum of money on the Vipers losing their match. It’s nothing against them, it’s just AAA has shown they’re not beating the other two teams. I also strongly suspect FTR are keeping the AAA tag team titles; they’re doing media interviews suggesting Konnan’s talked about keeping them around for a while. Mas Lucha made a point of saying this is FTR’s first match in Mexico, which was also said during the press conference. That suggests they didn’t wrestle on last week’s AAA tapings. Konnan had earlier declared they’d be there with Vickie Guerrero, who was not mentioned at the press conference.

Monster Clown being listed on this show is strange, given there’s a benefit show for his health shows on 11/27 and this show is just a week later. Monster Clown did say he didn’t expect to be out, which now seems like he’s going to try to gut through whatever is happening just to get this payoff.

No Copa TripleMania or similar bit. I’m not sure if AAA’s finally given up on those and that means a lot of people will be left off this show, or if it might get added already. This is already a long card.

AAA gave the impression that Laredo Kid’s partner is an outsider, not an AAA regular to be added.

Gran Mazo and Engañoso are Marvel Lucha Libre Thor and Loki. They had a match on a July taping that ended without a finish due to teleporting. Both men did very little in the match, which did at least conceal their identities. Engañoso appeared briefly on screen after the TripleMania (Mexico City) Marvel Lucha Libre match.

AAA is on Space at 6:30 pm today, but we’ve again not gotten a preview by press time. I do not plan on streaming this on Saturday. I’ll upload it to Google Drive, and I’ll either upload it to Twitch as well or stream it on Sunday.

Other News

IWRG (THU) 11/11/2021 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Limbo b Sol  
2) Kenji & Shalom b Baby Star & Spider Fly  
3) Tonalli b Rey Halcón  
4) Apolo Estrada Jr., Billy Jones, Chris Stone Jr. b Big Boy, Big Chico Che, Big Mike  
win via foul
5) Diva Salvaje, Estrella Divina, Jessy Ventura b Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro and King Charro, Mafioso, Sick Boy   
Jessy challenged Dr. Cerebro to a title match

Estrada’s team follows IWRG orders and doesn’t wrestle Los Negociantes, suddenly get a feud in IWRG. Attendance remains a struggle on Thursdays.

Naucalpan is running a special Saturday show

IWRG , FILL (SAT) 11/13/2021 Arena Naucalpan
1) Odiseo & Perseo vs Desastre & Último Caballero
2) Blue Win, Rey Minos, X-Boy Jr. vs Rey Aztaroth, Súper Boy, Súper Cometa
3) Gran Felipe Jr., Perro de Guerra, Tito Mortan Jr. vs Garra Mortal Jr., Guerrero Olímpico, Huitzil
4) Carnicero, Hell Boy, Spider Fly vs Kenji, Limbo, Skanda
5) Black Dragón, Caballero de Plata, Cheff Benito, Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Rey Halcón vs Eurus, Full Contact, Karma II, Kunay, Minos, Villareal [Copa Higher Power]
IWRG vs Mi Sagrada Lucha Libre

Mi Sagrada Lucha Libre appears to be Demasiado’s group, so I’m a little surprised not to see him booked.

IWRG says they’ll have their 59th Anniversary show on 12/16, with tickets already on sale. That’s usually the place for a big apuesta match;.

Robles Promociones did press on Thursday for their show tonight in Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera. Like most Robles shows, it’s a lot of people booked in matches no one wants to see, based on the idea that all you need is star power. Los Negociantes revealed they got drunk together and it inspired them to form a team.

ROH has Honor For All on Sunday, starting at 6 pm CT. It’ll air on their Honor Club service; if you sign up now, you’ll also get Final Battle under the same $10/month price. Lucha libre matches include

• Bandido vs Demonic Flamita in a no DQ match
• Dragon Lee & Kenny King (c) vs Matt Taven & Mike Bennett for the ROH Tag Team Championship

I believe this show was taped after the news of the ROH changes (though some of the TV still to air is still from a previous taping.) It seems like ROH is sticking with the original plans through Final Battle, but this would be the first show where they might start acknowledging the end of the era. A tag team title change seems likely and I expect Bandido & Flamita will be insane.

GALLI has Ricky Marvin vs Aramis on 11/19, and says Negro Casas will come to the area in February.

AIW has Psycho Clown versus Matthew Justice on 11/26.

11/27 RIOT (Mark Tank)

• Kratoz vs Demonio del Aire vs Prometeo, winner receives a title shot
• Extreme Tiger vs Iron Kid
• Hechicero vs Erick Ortiz (3)
• Muerte Extrema vs Damian 666 – new

I’ve watched 2/3rd of the last show, which is on IWTV, HSWN and Riot’s Pivotshare. Hechicero/Erik Ortiz is great, worth renting the show for by itself.

Pagano and the Ciudad Juarez lucha libre commission announced a tournament of local stars, in a way to get them more national and international exposure. The idea is Konnan will also be checking out the tournament so someone may get an AAA chance out of it. They said 12 wrestlers will participate, but they didn’t actually give a date.

Aeroboy tasks to El Sol de Tulancingo about his Luchando Libre show this weekend, with Arez & Aeroboy vs Jimmy & Dariux in the main event.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

CMLL

The news sites that were briefly covering Arena Puebla appear to have given up. Shockercito apparently kept the CMLL Minis championship over Asturiano, based on Asturiano’s social media posting.

CMLL (TUE) 11/09/2021 Arena México [Box y Lucha, ESTO, Estrellas del Ring, KaiserSports, Marca, Mas Lucha, thecubsfan]
1) Átomo & Chamuel b El Gallito & Zacarias el Perico [Relevos Increíbles] 
2) Eléctrico, Halcón Suriano Jr., Sonic b Grako, Inquisidor, Nitro 
tecnicos took 1/3
3) Dark Silueta & La Jarochita Lluvia b Marcela & Reyna Isis [Relevos Increíbles]  
Team Silueta/Jarochita took 2/3. Silueta beat Isis to set up a MEX WOMEN title match next week.
4) Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus © b Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido [MEX TRIOS]  
fourth defense.
5) Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Templario DQ Fugaz, Místico, Star Jr.  
Fugaz replaced Valiente (injury) earlier in the day. Templario lost his mask while taking La Mistica, causing the DQ and setting up a rematch for next week.

I had part of this show on while working on other stuff. Fugaz seems like he has new gear and has added a couple of new spots, it was nice to see him. The idea of the finish was Templario took his mask off while in the hold to draw the DQ (and with the ref looking the wrong way), but it came off more like a freak thing and a bad referee call. The Templario/Mistico match should be fun if they get to it.

MarcaClaro streamed this show on their YouTube channel, though only Mexican IP addresses were able to watch, which is probably a Claro issue. This was announced only on the day of the show and there was no indication if this would be a weekly deal. It was not a good stream: whatever device they were using to stream the show couldn’t keep up and the video and sound were three seconds out of sync. I tried to fix it in the videos on Google Drive, but it drifted even farther out of place as the show went on. The stream issues – both how it played and being Mexico only – are probably a Marca issue, but it’s still two CMLL streams out of the last four with serious issues.

(I do not plan to stream the Tuesday shows live. I used to be able to air the Marca geo-blocked streams on YouTube, but CMLL will copyright strike anyone posting their video to YouTube now. I’m not going to risk the Twitch channel with CMLL, and the numbers I got from trying other places were minimal. I don’t know that there’s all that much interest in Tuesday CMLL shows live at this point. I plan on putting them on the Google Drive after the fact, though probably not until at least the next day.)

CMLL (FRI) 11/12/2021 Arena México
1) Kaligua, Mercurio, Shockercito vs Acero, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito [Relevos Increíbles]
2) Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma vs Dark Magic, Disturbio, El Coyote
3) Dark Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Panterita del Ring vs Felino Jr., Okumura, Pólvora
4) Euforia, Mephisto, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Hechicero © vs Bárbaro Cavernario [CMLL HEAVY]
first defense

Hechicero/Cavernario could be great. Atlantis Jr. is a bad guy only when the Guerreros are around; perhaps they’re a bad influence. I have no idea why the opener has mixed sides and I’m not convinced there’s a reason. This show does not appear to be streaming, so the matches will first time up on the 11/20 Televsia show.

Barbaro Cavernario and his brothers, Principe Daniel & Demonio Maya, won the Occidente Trios Championships on Tuesday in Guadalajara. The two brothers hadn’t been pushed strongly local until they teamed up with Cavernario.

Microman announced he left CMLL Monday on Mas Lucha’s En+Carados show. Microman hasn’t worked a CMLL show since the Arena Puebla August show, and might have only stayed that long because that date was pushed back a month. He hasn’t wrestled in Arena Mexico since June 25th. Even prior to that, more of Microman’s work was coming outside of CMLL than inside it, which seems like the issue: he wasn’t making enough working for CMLL and they weren’t willing to give the micros more, so he felt he had to go elsewhere. Microman says he talked to heads of CMLL about this, and also believes he’ll be able to keep the Microman name on his own. (I don’t see a trademark on Microman/Micro Man in Mexico by anyone, which is so surprising I had to check in three times.) The CMLL Micros getting about two matches a month, which isn’t really going to be much money for anyone, and Microman mentioned needing more to support his family. Microman mentioned dates for Big Lucha and Robles in Mexico, as well as working with mini-groups in the US. There’s likely an opportunity with AAA – Dorian Roldan once told Mas Lucha that the one person he’d like to have from CMLL is KeMonito, and his son is the next best thing – but AAA didn’t come up in the interview.

The CMLL Micros division will have trouble surviving for the long haul without its biggest star. Chamuel is the name to watch; he’s the best worker, and he’s Microman’s best opponent. I’m not sure if Chamuel can work the US, but he figures to get plenty of work if Microman is wrestling in the US, it’s mostly a question if it’s important to him to be in CMLL or not. The CMLL micro matches always include Chamuel because he’s the guy keeping the matches together; the division might be done without him.

CMLL announced Esfinge as the first name in the 11/26 Leyenda de Plata. The American style of announcing names or matches for a card is announcing a big name first to get people buzzing and a big name at the end, and then everyone else in the middle. I don’t think this has caught on in Mexico, between announcing Esfinge and the matches Lucha Memes has announced for their card so far.

Soberano Jr. will appear on CMLL Informa today. He hasn’t wrestled since May due to a leg injury, though he did find time to blame Ultimo Guerrero for everything that’s gone wrong with CMLL of late. Soberano’s training at Arena Mexico according to his photos, so that situation seems likely to have been diffused by this point and Julio Cesar Rivera never asks about negative things, but that’ll be the tension over the interview. Soberano Jr. already teased a return in time for that 11/26 Leyenda de Plata show on Instagram so that’s probably the intended focus of the interview. Hechicero, Sagrado, Hombre Bala, Robin and Dark Panther will also appear.

Calavera II (Esteban Hernández Meza, 80) passed away Monday, according to SuperLuchas.  Calavera II was a Guadalajara-based wrestler in the late 70s and early 80s, who had a couple of month run in CMLL’s Mexico building in 1983. He’s best known as the father of Oro and Plata, who passed away recently. Current CMLL luchador Oro Jr. is his grandson, and lost both his father and grandfather in a short time. Posts on his Facebook say Calavera passed away from prostate cancer.

CMLL promoted their Discord for the first time in a couple of weeks. I’m still not on there; I get the sense not many people are. CMLL made a point of tagging NFT partner SportsIcon for no obvious, which suggests part of the partnership requirements is to have a Discord. Maybe even a Twitch. SportsIcon hid the stats that show how many of their NFTs have actually been sold, which probably gives you an idea of how well that’s worked out.

AAA

AAA says they’re revealing more details on TripleMania Regia on social media. Lucha Azteca added that it’s a 5 pm CT press conference which they’ll be streaming. They’ve only announced Vikingo/Omega and the Velasquez match so far, with the Hermanos Lee versus Lucha Brothers versus maybe FTR partially announced. AAA should be able to announce the full card, but the TV/streaming details are probably the most important to the people reading this. Definitely to the person writing this, who is still considering two sets of plans which are entirely dependent on what AAA is doing.

Monster Clown talked to Lucha Azteca about his health status. It’s partially kayfabed: he blames the injuries on La Empresa’s attack when that attack was probably a way to write him out after he was already hurt. It does leave open the question of how/when he was hurt. Monster Clown says it’s a low back injury that caused his body to become numb and then in terrible pain. He also contracted COVID-19 while getting treatment, which caused him to lose weight. Monster Clown is thankful for all the support, including and beyond the benefit show on 11/27, and says AAA has helped him with medical and financial support. Monster Clown says he plans on returning to the ring and doesn’t think he’ll be gone for long.

A press conference in Sonora on Tuesday mentioned AAA shows at tourists sites in passing. That sounds like more empty arena taping, which was supposed to have been done with last week. I hope it’s just not-televised shows, but not sure why they’d be running tourist sites without cameras.

Other News

IWRG (THU) 11/11/2021 Arena Naucalpan
1) Limbo vs Sol
2) Kenji & Shalom vs Baby Star & Spider Fly
3) Rey Halcón vs Tonalli
4) Big Boy, Big Chico Che, Big Mike vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Billy Jones, Chris Stone Jr.
5) Diva Salvaje, Estrella Divina, Jessy Ventura vs Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro and King Charro, Mafioso, Sick Boy

Terry’s first match here since July. That’s a lot of people in the main event.

Bandido posted two apology videos about Travis Banks appearing on the Big Lucha show. I didn’t actually watch them; for me, it matters more what he does than what he says at this point, because he wasn’t serious about what he said last time. Bandido probably acknowledged he screwed up, but there’s nothing he can say at this point that could fix it (and the strongly negative reaction to what he said from those people who cared shows it didn’t much change anyone’s mind or improve the situation.) If Travis Banks still shows up in group images with everyone in Big Lucha, then nothing’s changed and he would’ve been better off admitting he was going to keep using Banks in the first place. If Banks is gone, that’s great news for everyone but doesn’t repair the situation.

Ring of Honor’s Week by Week show included a surprise Matt Taven versus Dragon Lee match. That’s build to the OGK vs LFI tag title match on this Sunday’s Honor Club special. The show also hinted as a Kenny King versus Shane Taylor singles match for down the road, which may mean Dragon Lee & Kenny King won’t have a tag title match on Final Battle.

NXT last night aired an angle where Legado del Fantasma tried and failed to recruit a new member. The details are unimportant except for the part where Santos Escobar wasn’t present and wasn’t referred to in the whole bit. He hasn’t been on NXT since losing the North American Title on October 12. (I don’t follow NXT, but it also looks like that was his only match since August.) The former Hijo del Fantasma seems fine on social media, and there’s no known explanation for why he’s not around. The photos suggest he could be on vacation, but just a guess, and WWE would usually come up with an on-screen excuse. This is probably nothing but it was an absence that caught some attention.

(The other thing hanging over this is WWE clearly is in a program of cutting people on a quarterly basis until they get to some headcount, and we on the outside have no idea what that number is. The Legado guys and the Garza family escaped the ax this time, but that just means them – and everyone else who’s not a super vital wrestler – has a new three month period to prove themselves useful before the ax swings again. I don’t feel particularly safe for any of those guys in normal times, and any situation where Escobar would be split from Wilde/Mendoza/Lopez is probably bad news for everyone involved. It’s a very paranoid mindset, so let’s hope this is just nothing.)

Debuting Puerto Rico promotion has a show on 11/20 in Guaynabo including

• Mecha Wolf & Bestia 666 vs Penta & Fenix
• Cuervo de Puerto Rico vs Cinta de Oro
• Riviero vs Australian Suicide
• Black Rose & Paola Mayfield vs Vanilla Vargas & La Destructora Nancy

Suicide & Vanilla seems to have been wrestling in Vanilla’s native Puerto Rico of late. If there’s a way to see to on a stream, it’s not really clear on their Facebook.

GCW announced Blake Christian vs Bandido for their 12/17 Los Angeles show.

12/18 Lucha Memes Universal at Arena Coliseo

• Batillon de la Muerte vs Los Kamikazes vs Astrolux & Jack Carthweel vs Calibus & Mike vs La Fortaleza
• Solar vs Okumura – new
• Cancerbero & Raziel vs Black Terry & Avisman – new

Tickets for this Arena Coliseo debut range from 120 pesos to 960 pesos, which has to be the most expensive Lucha Memes ticket ever. Tickets for normal Arena Coliseo shows run from 120 to 300 pesos. I’m sure CMLL is making it pricey for anyone else to use their building but that’s still a very pricey top number for a promotion that’s had issues drawing of late in smaller/cheaper Coacalco. Maybe they have something big yet to come.

Arena Aficion regular El Exotico went for a slingshot senton to the floor on Sunday’s show, expecting to land on his opponent. His opponent, Maldicion Voraz, decided to move. Exotico landed on the wood floor hard and ended up with serious shoulder and waist injuries. There were apparently pre-existing between the two wrestlers.

Box y Lucha 3494 has an article on everyone lost during the pandemic.

LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.

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.

CMLL

The final card for tonight’s show

CMLL (FRI) 11/05/2021 Arena México
1) Robin & Sonic vs Grako & Inquisidor
2) Espíritu Negro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Akuma, El Coyote, Espanto Jr.
3) La Jarochita & Lluvia © vs Amapola & Metálica [MEX WOMEN TAG]
5th defense
4) Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto vs Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero
5) Terrible © vs Atlantis Jr. [Rey del Inframundo]

This is a Ticketmaster PPV; likely we’ll have decent audio tonight but who’s to say. The daylight savings time difference is still in effect. The show should air on TV on 11/13 and YouTube on 11/21, though there’s a slight chance of something different since it’s a special show.

Atlantis Jr. hasn’t had a singles match in Arena Mexico since 2019. He had one in Arena Puebla a couple of months ago but, unless you live in that city, you’ve never seen him in a three falls CMLL match. His only Arena Mexico 1v1s have been lightning matches. (They’ve also both weirdly been draws – a time-limit one with Templario and a count-out with Villano III Jr.) Atlantis Jr. has been pushed near the top since he’s started, but they’ve never put him in a position quite like this, and it’ll be fascinating to see how he pulls through.

The rest of the card looks like it should be fine but nothing all that special. Los Infernales need to win the semimain unless they’re setting up a match. A tag title change would be a genuine surprise. Espiritu Negro, Guerrero Maya and Rey Cometa may have cool costumes.

Saturday has the previously announced return to Arena Coliseo; they’ve put most of the attention on the “prelim guy gets a main event spot” cibernetico match. Sunday has the final Dia del Muertos Arena Mexico show with nothing special; I guess finding out it Atlantis Jr. will betray his father and go rudo again is the most compelling part.

CMLL (MON) 11/08/2021 Arena Puebla
1) King Jaguar vs Prayer
2) Shockercito © vs Asturiano [CMLL MINI]
6th defense, first since March 2019
3) Halcón Suriano Jr. & Stigma vs Enfermero Jr. & Misterioso Jr.
4) El Audaz, Fugaz, Stuka Jr. vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
5) Ángel de Oro, Cavernario, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Felino, Templario

Maybe Atlantis Jr. is a rudo and it’s a less mixed main event? They’re actually doing the weird sides to give Felino/Cavernario around.

La Infernal, the widow of Villano III and mother of the two Villano III sons wrestling, came back to CMLL in 2019 after a twenty year gap in wrestling. She struggled exactly like you’d expect for a woman who’d been out of wrestling for two decades, and disappeared from CMLL lineups in October 2020. La Infernal returned for a couple of matches in June, then was listed on the final CAR The Crash show this past weekend but didn’t wrestle. La Infernal did attend the show and, in an interview with Mas Lucha, sounds like she’s done with CMLL and maybe with getting in the ring entirely.

AAA

AAA taped Thursday in Taxco, Guerrero, which should cover TV for the weeks of 11/13, 11/20, and 11/27. AAA hasn’t taped more than three weeks in one setting, their wrestlers seem like they’re booked elsewhere today, so there may not be another taping. That would mean TripleMania Regia is airing live on 12/04, because there’d be nothing else new left to air.

this Saturday’s show

• Estrella Cosmica vs Picadura Letal
• Nino Hamburguesa, Octagon Jr., Myzteziz Jr. vs Toxin, Villano III Jr., Argenis
• Abismo Negro Jr., Arez, Psicosis (II) vs Chessman, Psycho Clown, Pagano

They’re back to the normal 6:30 pm CT time. However, if you’re in the US or otherwise haven’t changed your clock, that’s an hour later than normal (like 7:30 pm CT in the US.)

If AAA airs on the normal schedule the following week (11/13), they’re airing heads up against the AEW PPV. I’m also traveling that day; I think I’ll be back in time for both shows, but I’ll probably be cutting it close and I’m not sure there’s a great point in airing AAA live. I may record it and run it on Sunday instead. I’ll let you know.

WWE Releases

Gran Metalik (Mascara Dorada), Lince Dorado, Franky Monet (Taya Valkyrie), Karrion (Killer) Kross, and Scarlett Bordeaux were among those released by WWE. Most will be paid for 90 days and thus unable to wrestle elsewhere. Monet and perhaps Bordeaux are under NXT contracts and are only limited for 30 days; Taya could reappear in AAA just in time for TripleMania Regia if both sides want to do it.

The Lucha House Party duo had previously asked to be let go, though there’s a good chance they would’ve been caught up in this wave of cuts anyway. Their time had just come and gone in WWE, where they didn’t fit in great to begin with. Taya had terrible luck, getting her WWE spot just before WWE pivoted away from using experienced wrestlers. Kross & Bordeaux seemed just to be pawns in some greater dispute between NXT and WWE creative, but there may be additional reasons some wrestlers were let go.

I’m guessing AAA has an interest in bringing all of these wrestlers (and others recently released talent), it’s probably more an issue of if the wrestlers share that interest and if they can work out a financial deal. I don’t know if Taya, just to pick one name, is going to be interested in coming back to AAA or already feel like she’s done all she had to do there. AAA, over multiple creative leads, have been especially high on Kross, giving him a long undefeated streak that never went anywhere. Konnan and his friends were big defenders of Kross as he went to Impact and WWE, and I could see him being motivated to bring Kross back just to prove he could use Kross better than WWE. I didn’t think Kross every really connected in AAA, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t turn. Kross specifically talked about wanting to wrestle Cain Velasquez in AAA, with the promotion shooting an angle on a TripleMania for it (and of course it never going anywhere). A 90 day no-compete would prevent him from being the mysery rudo at TripleMania opposite Velasquez, though those deals sometimes only cover US TV and AAA is infamously not avaible in the US.

I don’t know what will become of Mascara Dorada. It’d be great to see him have matches like he did five years ago against Euforia in CMLL or Rey Escorpion now in AAA. I don’t know if those level of performances are still in him, I’m not sure if he’ll have a great interest in working in Mexico outside of high priced indies (maybe he’s a Robles guy), and I’m not sure if he’s thought it out. The last five years have probably been much easier on Dorada’s body but hard on his brain, I’d guess. A reoccurring bit of Bryan Danielson’s time in WWE is him telling the press he’d really like to wrestle Gran Metalik and WWE apparently refusing to book it, even on a random house show or unimportant TV broadcast. That seems like a something AEW would be willing to do, though Dorada may need to do well to be brought back past that. If he doesn’t catch on somewhere bigger but stays in the US, I could see the new ROH bringing Dorada and Lince Dorado for some dates if their current Mexican talent is no longer unavailable (and if ROH does indeed run in 2022.)

Chile’s Katrina Cortez also was let go. She appeared on RAW as Catalina when they wanted a masked luchadora to match with Sin Cara against Andrade & Zelina Vega. That storyline ended quickly and she was just left adrift for many months. She’s someone who could’ve used a lot of in-ring experience, and that disappeared with the pandemic. Both the brief Sin Cara connection and the tendency of South American wrestlers spending some time in Mexico might mean we’ll see her on some Mexican wrestling shows.

Other News

IWRG (THU) 11/04/2021 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Shalom b Baby Star 
2) Kenji & Limbo b Hell Boy & Spider Fly 
3) Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Tonalli b Akbal, Rey Halcón, Sol 
4) Black Terry & Dr. Cerebro vs Medico Brujo & Sick Boy and Sweet Daddy Soul & Taylor Wolf  
Black Terry replaced an injured Cerebro Negro
5) Diva Salvaje, Estrella Divina, Jessy Ventura b Giant Orión, Hijo del Fishman, Lil Blay 

Attendance seemed minimal. IWRG cycles through a lot of people and it makes it interesting to see who will show up – Taylor Wolf is a Chilean wrestler who was last wrestling in IWRG in 2017 – but also there’s a lot of shows where the fans don’t have much attachment to the wrestlers.

Aerostar and Samuray del Sol lost to FTR for the AAA Tag Team Championship on the 11/03 AEW Dynamite. The match had timing flaws and Aerostar continues to look hurt in every match, but they did lucha things and it was a match that existed for people to do lucha things and FTR to cheat them out of the win. The match was overshadowed by Samuray del Sol thanking the late Brodie Lee in a post-match Tweet and Chris Jericho calling him out for misspelling “John” and Brodie Lee’s widow backing up Jericho while implying Samuray del Sol was just name dropping to get himself over. It both seemed very weird to do publicly and like there was some bigger deal going on privately that we weren’t seeing. I’d be surprised if either guy was back in AEW.

Laredo Kid won a four-way on Thursday’s Impact show, earning a shot at Trey Miguel and the X-Division championship on their November 20th Turning Point show., which is part of their monthly Impact Plus package. It’d be a surprise if Laredo won; they were already building up the next feud in setting up this match.

Bandido defends the ROH World Championship against Alex Zayne on this week’s ROH TV show.

The Crash has its 10th Anniversary show today. They’ve been posting memories of past Anniversary shows on Facebook, and most of the replies have been asking why there has never been an announced lineup for this show. Maybe there are matches they can’t announce for political reasons, but it’s been very strange.

MLW has a TV taping Saturday in Philadelphia. Notable matches include

• Homicide vs LA Park
• Aramiz vs Arez, winner gets a briefcase of cash
• LA Park & Hijo de LA Park vs 5150 for the MLW Tag Team Championships
• Mil Muertes w/Karlee Perez (ex-Catrina) will also appear

MLW has no TV tapings announced past this one until a March (WrestleMania weekend) show in Dallas. Previous WON reporting suggested MLW would tape in Mexico next. Both MLW and The Crash are running on Saturday, so one or the other should announce something by the end of the night.

GALLI has their 500th show on Sunday, including Psycho Clown, Aeroboy and Cody Jones versus La Empresa, and Arez & Aramis against Dante Martin & Mr. Iguana. They’re not on FITE, but the top matches usually turn up somewhere later on.

11/27 RIOT (Mark Tank)

• Kratoz vs Demonio del Aire vs Prometeo, winner receives a title shot
• Extreme Tiger vs Iron Kid
• Hechicero vs Erick Ortiz (3) – new

The second Hechicero/Oritz match took place on the still unreleased 09/18 show. Hechicero has tended to be a surprise on RIOT shows with AAA wrestlers booked to keep him out of trouble with CMLL. Hechicero being announced in advance means either that has changed or the usual Arez/Latigo/Aramis crew may not be working this show.

In Dragon Gate, Diamante will put his mask in a tag match. It’s Diamante & Dia Inferno face Shun Skywalker & Dragon Dia on 12/01 in a mask match where only the loser of the fall loses their mask. Dia Inferno is the most likely loser, though I guess it’s not totally out of the question Diamante may lose as well. (I think it’s more likely Diamante is being saved for a bigger match, either Ultimo Dragon on a Dragonmania or perhaps Shun Skywalker on a big Dragon Gate show.) Inferno’s identity is a secret but can be quickly figured out if you remember any Dragon Gate trainee who came to Mexico for a few months and then disappeared from the face of the earth. The EITA/NOSAWA led NOAH-based Perros del Mal group also appeared on today’s Dragon Gate show.

A “Lucha Libre Elite” Facebook page has been re-posting old ELITE matches on their page, prompting some to believe the promotion may be returning. (There was also a Lucha Libre Elite YouTube channel which appeared to be run by a fan and not done by the promotion; I think this Facebook is actually a promotional run one, but it may just be an ex-employee with the login for all we know.) ELITE as memorable but not at all successful in drawing fans. It also lived as TV Azteca property and Azteca has since switched to working with AAA, though that deal does tend to come up at the end of the year, and AAA’s been in a seemingly unfavorable late night spot. I don’t think Elite is coming back, and I don’t think it’d do better than the last three-five attempts if it does, but there are a bunch of suddenly available people they could build around if they want to make another go at it.

Mas Lucha is opening a Whatsapp group, one for all the fans and one just for the premium members.

The documentary on lucha libre during the pandemic is now available on YouTube.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

CMLL

CMLL (TUE) 11/02/2021 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito b Mercurio & Pierrothito
10:23
2) Apocalipsis & Nitro b Arkalis & Leono
14:01. Rudos took 2/3.
3) Avispa Dorada, La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit b Dark Silueta, Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer
14:16. Tecnicas took 1/3. Vaquerita replaced Marcela
4) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido b Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus
16:11. Depredaores took 1/3 and challenged for the MEX TRIOS
5) Atlantis Jr. b Místico, Gran Guerrero, Volador Jr., Templario, Valiente, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Ángel de Oro, Felino [Rey del Inframundo, #1 Contenders]
20:16. Tecnicos versus rudos teams. Elimination order: Gemelo Diablo I (Valiente), Felino (Volador), Gemelo Diablo II (Angel de Oro), Valiente (Gran Guerrero), Angel de Oro (Templario), Templario (Mistico), Mistico (Atlantis), Gran Guerrero (Volador; botched 3 count by Tigre Infante), Volador (Atlantida after Gran Guerrero tripped up Volador from outside). Atlantis turned rudo late in the match, advanced to face Terrible on Friday.

This seemed to be a fun show live; the crowd was super into Mistico in the main event. It was a fairly annoying show as a PPV. CMLL did not realize they had the announcers muted for the first two matches; they just don’t watch their own shows. They tried fixing it by match three in the most broken way; they sounded static and peaked out the rest of the show. The audio was also a second behind the video, just making it hard to watch. I don’t think this show can air on TV without major fixes, but CMLL’s done weirder. CMLL never acknowledged the issue or offered to make it up to people who purchased the show. It is the usual bit with buying a CMLL PPV: it’s going to work fine most of the time but you’re on your own if it goes bad.

The cibernetico was good as far as those go, considering the annoyance in watching. CMLL’s played around with Atlantis Jr. being a tecnico and rudo teaming with Los Guerreros all year. It’s be great if they picked a direction, and they sure got him booed tonight, but he might be meant to be a tecnico when he faces Terrible on Friday. CMLL’s picked some directions and run with them, so it’s possible this is an actual turn. I’m not sure turning Atlantis Jr. is a great idea – they need more over tecnicos – but I guess at least it’s an idea.

The semi-main was the second best match, though the issues made it harder to watch and next week’s title match will likely be better (if you can find a way to see it.) Los Cancerberos kept the national trios titles in Arena Puebla on Monday, as you can tell by the title challenge setting up.

Everyone else has had better matches. The show was much more about the Dia del Muertos imagery than the matches anyway.

The turnout was strong for a Tuesday and came through loud on the broadcast. It appears CMLL’s eased seating restrictions – the “don’t sit here” stickers seemed to be mostly missing. This show also went well over the recent two-hour limit, so that may also be a thing of the past.

Guadalajara set up a Cavernario family (Barbaro Cavernario, Principe Daniel, Demonio Maya) challenge for the Occidente Trios championships again. Felino Jr. & Negro Casas won the four way family main event.

CMLL Informa has Terrible & Atlantis announced to talk about the Rey del Inframundo, Amapola & Metalica to talk about their tag title challenge, and Oro Jr., Disturbio, and Sangre Imperial for the Arena Coliseo tournament.

AAA 

AEW announced FTR will defend the AAA Tag Team championships on Dynamite tonight against two luchadors who are not the Lucha Brothers. No names have been announced yet, though AEW tends to announce a match during the day on Wednesday and there’s more important things going on that may have diverted their focus.

Other News

IWRG (THU) 11/04/2021 Arena Naucalpan
1) Baby Star vs Shalom
2) Hell Boy & Spider Fly vs Kenji & Limbo
3) Akbal, Rey Halcón, Sol vs Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Tonalli
4) Cerebro Negro & Dr. Cerebro vs Medico Brujo & Sick Boy and Sweet Daddy Soul & Taylor Wolf
5) Diva Salvaje, Estrella Divina, Jessy Ventura vs Giant Orión, Hijo del Fishman, Lil Blay

This is the very fall Canadian (and friends) against the exoticos.

Thursday’s Impact has a Raju Rohit vs Steve Maclin vs Laredo Kid vs Black Taurus four-way match for an X-Division title shot.

The Crash strangely has advertised wrestlers but no matches for their 10th-anniversary show on 11/05. TJ Sports says the main event will be a Pagano/Masada cage match. That seems like something to advertise ahead of time! That also may be the article guessing and not knowing for sure.

ROH’s Honor Club special on 11/14 will include Demonic Flamita versus Bandido in a no DQ match and Dragon Lee & Kenny King versus the OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) for the ROH World Tag Team championship. I strongly suspect the LFI duo are losing the tag titles then; the OGK has been built up as strong challengers, Dragon Lee still has a TV title to defend at Final Battle, it seemed headed that way even with no ROH news. Bennett & Taven have long ROH history and would make a lot of sense in a title match on Final Battle, if that’s the final for this era or for ROH entirely. Flamita will likely be at Final Battle too but this no DQ match with Bandido is probably his last big high profile match and I suspect that match will be wrestled as if it’s the end of that story.

GCW announced Negro Casas for their 12/17 show in Los Angeles. No match has been announced. Bandido is also announced for that show; CMLL’s pulled their wrestler from appearing with Badnido in Mexico in the past, it’s less clear if they’ll do it in the US. Casas is also advertised for a show in Denver this weekend and New York in the next month.

Regular IWRG luchadora Diosa Quetzal told the Sin Referee podcast she’s planning on working a last few agreed upon dates and then retire. Quetzal posted the same on social media. Quetzal seems to be always in the wrestling gossip news, either for something she did well or something she did poorly, and this could be her either being tired of that cycle or fueling it.

New Tijuana lucha libre commissioner Julio César Casillas (TJ Boy) says all wrestlers will need to be licensed in 2022 and that will be one of their points of emphasis. Wrestlers will have until the second week of March to get their licenses renewed and won’t be allowed after that. This includes wrestlers outside the area. Everyone will have to pay a fee and get medical exams, and those with less than five years of wrestling will have to go through a proficiency exam.

Pirata Morgan told En Cancha that his plan is to for him, Hijo del Pirata Morgan and his daughter to go to AAA in 2022 for three years, then leave and go on a two-year retirement tour. I kept waiting for the sign that this was a parody article and Pirata may well have been joking, but there’s no sign anyone else got it.

Luchadors in Cuautla are raising money to buy their own specialized arena.

Back at the start of last month, I mentioned I was going to donate whatever I made on Twitch this month to children’s cancer charity Casa de la Amistad. Subscriptions and ads raised nearly $100 in October, so I sent $100 on its way. It doesn’t seem like much but maybe it’ll help. Never got the sense anyone was keeping tabs on me doing this, but it’s there if you care. I’m still thinking of doing some charity bit like this for TripleMania Regia, mostly because it feels weird to be writing about something and also profiting off it feels like a weird conflict. I got a month to figure it out.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report and this week’s Poster-Mania.

Mas Lucha has the new episode of En+carados.