Torneo Increible de Parejas tonight, Gallito out of CMLL, AAA Showcenter kickoff lineup

CMLL has their Torneo Increible de Parejas tournament tonight. It’s just a one night tournament after being three weeks every past year. Like every other Friday night show, it’ll air on Ticketmaster Live for 99 pesos.

The Torneo Increible de Parejas has become the most meaningful of CMLL’s numerous tournaments. It’s not because winning means any more than the rest; if you can remember Templario & Volador Jr. won last year, you’re in a special minority. It’s become important the main events tend to be good, and because CMLL’s used it to set up big matches for the rest of the year. I’m not sure if the main event will be as good – one-night tournament blocks make everything worse – but there’s a chance it may be a set-up. Breaking it down by potential:

probably not going to an apuesta match any time soon

  • Hechicero & Sagrado – why are they teaming anyway? neither is a tecnico
  • Soberano & Templario
  • Caveranario & Titan – both of these would be very good but it seems unlikely anyone involved would want to lose
  • Euforia & Ultimo Guerrero – Euforia would be great in a big apuesta match but can’t see them doing it with him and Ultimo Guerrero; it was a surprise CMLL even went back to that feud
  • Mephisto & Volador Jr. – it feels like there are been 10 years of “maybe this will be the year where Mephisto has the big mask feud”

possible

  • Negro Casas & Blue Panther – they’ve done this before! CMLL would get roundly mocked if they put Negro Casas in another hair match, not that they seem to care. It’d be an economic way to have a big match that would appeal to nostalgia. There’s nothing CMLL likes more right now than appealing to nostalgia.
  • Averno & Mistico – speaking of nostalgia. They’ve both early wanted to do it before, really want to do it now since they’ve both come in to CMLL. Everyone would know the finish and most people wouldn’t care. Probably a bit more expensive than the previous match.
  • Atlantis Jr. & Stuka Jr. – it probably wasn’t meant to be as heated as it turned out at the end of Reyes del Aire. Sometimes you back into good ideas and this would be a good idea. It’s also the match that likely requires the biggest guarantee of these three matches

Nothing much is going to happen if CMLL is under capacity limits and/or COVID remains bad enough that people don’t want to go to lucha libre shows. It seems like things are going better on that front, but nothing’s a sure thing. If there’s a big development with any of those three feuds, particularly the last two, then maybe that’s a sign of a more active summer. I don’t count on this show being as fun as last week, it just has a chance to be newsworthy.

The rest of the show includes a Dark Silueta title defense against Lluvia (title change unlikely), Dark Magic joining Ola Negra against Los Canceberos, and Suicida & Panterita del Ring Jr. versus Electrico & Halcon Suriano Junior. These tecnico/tecnico openers feel like a response to AAA’s heavy action opening matches but haven’t achieved at the same level yet. Matches from this show will go up on YouTube in two weeks.

ESTO has an interview with Atlantis Jr., where he’s pretty sure Stuka Jr. is going to betray him tonight. He is correct, that’s what this tournament is. The news is this interview was done in person at Arena Mexico, which I believe is the first time CMLL’s done the weekly media day as in-person event in two years. There have been hints all month that CMLL is rolling back its COVID restrictions and this is another one. I don’t know enough to know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, just a thing that is happening.

Averno also did interviews, though the thing that stuck out to me is how much he’s grown out his hair (and made sure we all saw it by keeping it in front of his face on photos.)

CMLL (SUN) 02/27/2022 Arena México
1) Kaligua & Pequeño Magía vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Polvora
2) Cachorro, Diamond, Sangre Imperial vs Grako, Inquisidor, Raider
3) Guerrero Maya Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Magia Blanca vs Hijo del Villano III, Misterioso Jr., Okumura
Hijo del Villano replaced Nitro on Friday
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Pólvora, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado
Rey Bucanero replaced Hijo del Villano III (moved down) on Firday
5) Atlantis, Místico, Titán vs El Coyote, Felino, Negro Casas

Misterioso is back. Coyote is still headlining, though it’d be weird if any of the guys in the original semimain were in his place. Maybe Rey Bucanero fits but I’d rather see Coyote in 2022, as strange as it is. Also strange is Nitro being removed from the card – he’s usually added to shows. He’s still listed as wrestling on Saturday as of Friday at noon.

CMLL (TUE) 03/01/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Atilius & Rey Uranio vs Aurelius & Maximus
2) Cosmos, Micro, Último Ángel vs Destello, Gran Kenut, Jabalí
3) Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga vs Joker, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
4) Gallo vs Rey Trueno
5) Ángel Rebelde, Halcón Negro Jr., Trono vs Crixus, Difunto, Zandokan Jr.
6) Exterminador © vs Bestia Negra [OCCIDENTE HEAVY]
first defense

Not sure if the end of that main event feud is a title match or if it’s just a stepping stone to a hair versus mask match. Gallo versus Rey Trueno was probably meant to be a tag rematch, but can’t after Flash got hurt this past week.

El Gallito announced he has left CMLL on his Facebook account Thursday. Gallito started as the mascot to Arena Coliseo Guadalajara luchador El Gallo, then became a general-purpose mascot when Gallo left that group for a time. He was brought into the main roster on Kid’s Day 2014 for the launch of the minis division, where he worked as the secondary tecnico to Microman. A running joke on CMLL Informa had host Julio Cesar Rivera & Gallito pretending to be father and son. Microman leaving seemed like it could’ve opened up a bigger role for him, but it shrunk instead. Gallito hadn’t wrestled for CMLL this year; he was booked for the 01/22 show but didn’t appear, and CMLL micros haven’t been around for weeks entirely. There’s probably not going to be a Microman like indie run for Gallito, but it’s not like he was getting a lot of work in CMLL as is.

The CMLL micros division has had some turnover: Microman, Gallito, and Guapito have all left. It seemed like Zacarias may have left as well though that’s not been confirmed. Mije hasn’t wrestled this year and goes long stretches between matches; age and injuries may have caught up to him there. The Micro Gemelo Diablos, Atomo, and Chamuel are listed in Puebla on Monday so they’re still around, and MicroAngel appears to be as well. CMLL can still have matches in this division, but just barely. The division would reach a five-year anniversary on 04/30 and I’m not sure if it’s going to make it that long.

Franco Colombo appeared at an event honoring older wrestlers and showcased a class of students. Colombo confirmed in an interview that he’d left CMLL, calling it a retirement. He’d been part of the programming committee since the late 90s, officially with Panico and Jose Luis Feliciano along with various and changing wrestlers; Colombo seemed to be the third most important staff member. Miguel Reducindo had written about the departure back in January, and this first with other reports of Julio Cesar Rivera being added to that department. Colombo’s been called the uncle of Rush/Dragon Lee/Mistico. Reducindo said they’re not actually related by blood, though I think everyone agrees they’re close. Colombo was there long before they were, or even their father was, but it probably made it tough when they all walked out of CMLL.

I didn’t catch Volador offering Mercurio a spot in Los Depredarors, but Mercurio says it happened and he’s thinking about it.

CMLL has a dedicated NFT Twitter account if that’s something you’re interested in. CMLL and their NFT account only seem to respond to each other, which feels faker than any wrestling match. One of the (few) followers lists themselves as the CMLL NFT community manager, so it’s at least not the same person talking themselves but also CMLL having a NFT community manager is unexpected.

La Jarochita appeared in a video from the Japanese embassy in Mexico, a discussion of the relationship between the two countries. Mil Mascaras also says hello in a brief video.

Guadalajara wrestlers passed along a missing person’s notice for local luchador Leo (Pedro Echeviste Armenta). Leo wrestled in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara off and on from 2009 to 2021 and was still active in other arenas.

Ultimo Guerrero, in promoting his new school, hyped Templario and Bandido as his trainees. It’s true, only notable in that Bandido appears to have been a banned term for CMLL wrestlers over the year lear. (It’s also notable in that this is not his first school, and that previously school is weirdly unmentioned in all the coverage.) The recent debut minis are pictured as Ultimo Guerrero students, which probably isn’t a coincidence.

AAA

One more new lineup, joining the 03/05 Ciudad Madero and 03/13 in Merida.

AAA TV (SAT) 03/12/2022 Showcenter Complex, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo Leon
1) Reina Dorada vs Maravilla [Showcenter Tournament, torneo]
2) Baby Extreme, Dulce Kanela, Komander vs Dinámico, Emperador Azteca, Mamba
3) Taurus vs Hijo de LA Park [Showcenter Tournament, torneo]
4) Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Abismo Negro Jr., Látigo, Toxin
5) Chik Tormenta vs Estrellita [Showcenter Tournament, torneo]
6) Laredo Kid, Myzteziz Jr., Octagón Jr. vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
7) Hijo Del Vikingo vs Flamita [Showcenter Tournament, torneo]

This is the first of the (sort) of monthly shows in the Monterrey area. I’ve got it listed as TV though we really don’t know how it’s airing yet. Multimedios was involved in the promotion and I believe it’ll be taped. It’ll be something we figure out later, just as this tournament is something we’ll figure out later.

One thing we can figure out now is this is close to a regular TV taping, without as many guests appearances as Rey de Reyes. I’m not sure how well it’s going to draw at the expensive prices for this show, but thankfully that’s not my problem. Vikingo/Flamita could be good – Flamita’s leaned so much into the heel act that it’s not as much a guarantee as it would’ve been a couple of years back. Estrellita is officially in a match for the first time since returning at TripleMania, though she’s seemed to wrestle plenty. Monterrey’s Reina Dorada makes her AAA debut; she was associated with Cibernetico in KAOZ as part of the Klan Kaoz group. She and CMLL’s Stephanie Vaquer also tease being in a relationship on social media and in matches; I have no idea if they actually are, just they’re definitely playing it up like a wrestling angle. Ciber’s supposed to be making a special appearance on the show.

The Merida taping was originally at noon and now is at four, probably to accommodate the people who have to work both shows.

Deonna Purrazzo successfully defended the AAA Reina de Reinas championships on Impact last night against Lady Frost.

In the podcast mentioned the last update, Dorian Roldan said he thought fans in the US saw the Lucha Brothers as AEW wrestlers while fans in Mexico see them as AAA wrestlers. I’m not sure if that’s the case, but it’s at least debatable. They don’t appear to be AAA contracted wrestlers, at least since Penta & Fenix appears on the Robles show this past week (which seems off-limits in Mexico) for AAA contracted wrestlers and Penta is advertised for the 03/18 The Crash show.

Many AAA wrestlers (and recent ex-AAA wrestlers are working a weekend of shows in the Los Angeles area, starting tonight in Gilroy. They brought in so many people that those shows are going to draw very well at high prices to break even, and early ticket sales aren’t great.

The WON, in talking about the Business of the Business podcast with Dorian Roldan, was skeptical of AAA’s own plans to tour in 2023 but then did one of his vague statements where he’s clearly been told something by someone in AAA but can only hint at in such a way it’s tough to figure out what he’s talking about. “While that idea [US touring] sounds insane for 2023 and it may be, there is a deal they are working on which would make that far less insane […] it would be the best shot Mexican wrestling would have in the US market since the early 90s.” A TV deal with a major Spanish language station seems to fit that description, though I can’t be sure that’s it. AAA getting US Spanish language TV has been a white whale for many years. They’ve appeared briefly on US networks in the past but never a series that last more than a few weeks, outside of season 1 of Lucha Underground.

I think I’m streaming AAA on Twitch to see if we get the Arcano versus Arcano match, though that’s not completely locked in There’s no real reason to watch otherwise if you’ve seen Rey de Reyes.

The Lucha Libre en Tampico said they’d have big news on the 03/05 Madero taping at noon on Friday. Noon at Friday came and went, but that’s about normal for lucha libre timing.

Other Notes

IWRG (SUN) 02/27/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Sol & Spider Fly vs Águila Oriental & X-Devil
2) Diosa Quetzal & Sagitarius vs Diosa Atenea & Satania
3) Caballero de Plata & Hell Boy vs Cerebro Negro Jr. & Limbo
4) Fulgor, Puma de Oro, Tonalli vs Billy Jones, Chris Stone Jr., Veneno
5) Freelance & Relámpago vs Accion Jackson & Dinámico and Aster Boy & Noisy Boy and Séptimo Dragón & Toxin
6) Cerebro Negro & Dr. Cerebro vs Alpha Wolf & Dragón Bane

There is a Saturday and a Sunday show. It’s a lot of names, that’s all I got. No Banks this week. Dinamico seems to be around Mexico City for a bit.

GCW’s show tonight will include Dr. Wagner versus Homicide. Saturday’s show has Mascara Dorada versus Gringo Loco, in Dorada’s last of three announced matches with the group. The shows are $14 each or $23 for both.

Andrade faces Sammy Guevera tonight for the TNT championship on AEW Rampage.

IWRG says the Aster Boy vs Tonalli match will take place on next Thursday.

Microman’s debut airs on MLW last night.

Angelico announced he tore his ACL late in 2021, though he’s recovered enough that he’s balancing on a beam with each foot eight feet above the ground.

RIOT announced Gringo Loco will debut on their 03/26 show.

John Hennigan, this time as Johnny Caballero, was announced for the 04/01 the WRLD on Lucha show. Laredo Kid will also be on the show.

KAOZ & Mas Lucha, who were already working together, announced they’re going to work together. KAOZ also announced Lady Flammer for their 03/27 show, so I guess AAA wrestlers are still allowed to work there. I guess it’s also possible fake broke up with AAA just to get the attention that day, guess we’ll see when the full lineup comes out.

Boss Fight Studios & Masked Republic are introducing a line of micro luchador figures.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

As part of their 70th anniversary, Box y Lucha is having a contest to write for the magazine. You must live in the Mexico City area to enter.


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