CMLL H2L lineup, national heavyweight tournament tonight, AAA in Madero Saturday, IWRG Tryout

CMLL

CMLL’s show tonight has the national heavyweight tournament, deciding a new champion.  Sagrado, Akuma, Star Black are in and have low chances of making it out of the first round. Cavernario is a worthy champion but doesn’t make sense for a heavyweight title. Ultimo Guerrero or Gran Guerrero would fit, though they’re likely to be getting the trios titles in a few weeks and are unlikely to win this. That leaves Terrible and Euforia to win the title that doesn’t seem likely to go anywhere.

Other matches on the show include the micros reappearing, and Los Depredadores against Mistico, Soberano and Fugaz.

CMLL took longer than usual to put up the TicketMasterLive link, but it’s the same 99 pesos version it’s been of late. There are TicketmasterLive links for the 03/11 and 03/25 show, but not for the 03/18 Homenaje a Dos Leyenda show. CMLL plays an ad mentioning the show will be streaming every time you click on a page, so maybe it’s just an oversight or an issue with the price.

Seductora’s participation in the women’s tournament is the first time she’s been mentioned in CMLL since last August. She was part of CMLL media day and Seductora explained she’d had a bad case of COVID, leaving her essentially retired for six months. Seductora says she was vaccinated. There were other CMLL luchadors who appeared to catch COVID around that time, and Seductora just got the worst luck. She’s happy to be back training.

CMLL (SUN) 03/06/2022 Arena México
1) Acero & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia
2) Arkalis, Pegasso, Stigma vs Cachorro, Robin, Suicida
3) Dark Panther, Flyer, Volcano vs Dark Magic, Luciferno, Pólvora
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Panterita del Ring vs Hijo del Villano III, Okumura, Rey Bucanero
5) Atlantis Jr., El Coyote, Soberano Jr. vs Stuka Jr., Titán, Virus [Relevos Increíbles]

A lot of Atlantis/Stuka on opposite sides of matches. Dark Magic splitting from Okumura actually seems to have moved him down the cards (or Okumura up.) CMLL is keeping the Puebla trio of Arkalis, Pegasso and Stigma booked together, which is not how they usually treat wrestlers on that level recently.

CMLL (MON) 03/07/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Millenium & Retro vs Guerrero Espacial & Siky Ozama
2) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Espíritu Maligno & Mercurio
3) Marcela & Skadi vs Dalys & Stephanie Vaquer
4) Atlantis, Negro Casas, Stuka Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Místico & Templario vs Atlantis Jr. & Gran Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]

Stuka and Atlantis teaming probably won’t end well, and may just transition into the main event. Templario never officially got kicked out of Los Guerreros but certainly appears to be on the outside.

CMLL (TUE) 03/08/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Espíritu Negro Jr. & Samuray Azteca (Queretaro) vs Persa & Raven
QRO students vs GDL students
2) Bello Antuan, El Divino, Mágico vs Destello, Destructor, Quka
3) Adrenalina, Estrella Oriental, Minotauro vs Bobby Black, Carlo Roggi, Fúnebre
4) Demonio Maya & Principe Daniel vs Javier Cruz Jr. & Omar Brunetti
5) Hera, Miss Olimpia, Valkiria vs Dark Silueta, Náutica, Sexy Sol
6) Explosivo, Fantástico, Gallo vs Maléfico, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
7) Ángel Rebelde, Halcón Negro Jr., Trono vs Crixus, Difunto, Zandokan Jr.
QRO vs GDL

The main event is a rematch last week and maybe setting up a Trono/Zandokan match. Arena Coliseo Guadalajara will honor Gran Cochisse as part of their own Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show on 03/22, which could be the destination for that or the feud in the semi-main. Mas Lucha points out Cochisse was supposed to be honored in 2020 before that show was canceled.

The women’s match was originally on the card. March 8th is the annual International Day of Women, maybe someone noticed a bit late. Hera & Miss Olimpia, Valiente’s daughters, are making their debuts. CMLL continues to give Valiente’s children some work while their father is out.

Not sure if Puebla will also be doing a Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.

CMLL (FRI) 03/18/2022 Arena México
CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, 2022
1) El Suicida, Oro Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Eléctrico, Halcón Suriano Jr., Robin
2) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [final, relevos suicidas]
3) ? vs ?? [mask, hair]
4) Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto and Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado and Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Terrible [CMLL TRIOS, battle royal]
5) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ?????? [CMLL TRIOS, semifinal]
6) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ?????? [CMLL TRIOS, semifinal]
7) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ?????? [CMLL TRIOS, final]
8) Averno & Místico vs TJP (Teddy James Perkins) & Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

CMLL will be able to fill out this card more after the 03/11 show sets the women’s relevos suicidas, but this is the skeleton of it. It’s a little surprising to have a title match and an apuesta match with neither going last. Maybe there’s something coming out of the main event.

CMLL is starting monthly best match polls, where the winner will be considered for being brought back for the best of 2022 show. (Not having people work twice, or not being able to book matches if people leave, will also be a consideration.) The February matches are

• 02/11 Fugaz vs Volador
• 02/12 Dulce Gardenia vs Virus
• 02/20 Fugaz, Stuka, Soberano vs Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Ultimo Guerrero
• 02/22 Atlantis Jr. vs Euforia
• 02/25 Soberano Jr. & Templario vs Mistico & Averno

You can vote here.

AAA

AAA TV (SAT) 03/05/2022 Domo Madero, Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas
1) Drago Kid, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs Argenis, Dinámico (Baja California), Parka Negra
2) Dulce Canela, Komander, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, Xtreme Tiger and Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba
3) Rey Escorpión, Taurus, Villano III Jr. © vs DMT Azul, Puma King, Sam Adonis [AAA TRIOS]
4) Aramis, Myzteziz Jr., Octagón Jr. vs Flamita, Látigo, Toxin
5) Bandido & Jack Cartwheel vs Hijo Del Vikingo & Laredo Kid and Abismo Negro Jr. & Gringo Loco (Indie)
6) Chessman, Pagano, Psycho Clown vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón

This show is listed as starting at 8 pm CT, which means it may start at 9 pm.I’m not sure if this is being streamed. AAA hasn’t said anything, as is their ways. The Merida taping press release said that taping would be streamed, so there’s a reasonable shot AAA’s going back to streaming all their tapings this year. But we don’t know for sure, so I’m not going to mention it much on Twitter unless we find out something, and I wouldn’t advise booking your Saturday night around seeing it. It’ll always be available later.

The taping feels a lot closer to 2019 than the last two years of TV. Lots and lots of people booked, maybe some of it good, maybe some of it happens, probably there will be changes. NGD and La Empresa put their “undefeated (except for DQ)” streaks on the line. I presume NGD is winning, I have no idea how AAA will get out of the trios title match but I’m leaning towards no title change. Semi main has Gringo Loco & Jack Cartwheel’s debuts and could be great. The fourth match has promise too. This one has a chance to be one of those AAA shows where no one knows it’s available (because AAA is not saying anything) and then everyone’s asking for the video the next day.

The Tijuana card is up

AAA TV (SAT) 03/26/2022 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California
1) Arkángel Divino, Destiny, Último Maldito vs Kamikaze, Ryan Kidd, Skalibur
2) Faby Apache, Lady Lee, Lady Shani vs Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla
3) Sammy Guevara & Tay Conti vs Dinámico & Sexy Star and Black Danger & Viva Van
4) Hijo Del Vikingo, Jack Cartwheel, Pagano vs Bestia 666, Genio del Aire, Mecha Wolf
5) Flip Gordon, Rich Swann, Willie Mack vs Rey Escorpión, Taurus, Villano III Jr.
6) Laredo Kid, Psycho Clown, Rey Xolo vs DMT Azul, Puma King, Sam Adonis
Microman will be with La Empresa

A lot going on here. There’s an overall feel of The Crash shows when Konnan was booking with a lot of foreigners (Gordon, Swann, Mack, Guevera, Conti,) in, plus more local regulars (Bestia, Genio, Mecha, Lady Lee, the entire opener, Viva Van ) than are usually booked on AAA shows. It’s probably not that half the roster is busy elsewhere as trying to beat The Crash at the Crash’s own game.

Rey Xolo is the Tijuana Charly alternate jersey mascot. Villano III Jr. was the luchador they used for the photos of the character – his tattoos are hard to miss – but I’m not sure if that means he’ll be in the outfit on this card. AAA is definitely willing to have a guy work twice. TripleMania in Tijuana and AAA working with the Xolo soccer team to promote the show means big things for Rey Xolo, whoever he ends up being.

It’s a little strange to pay for AEW wrestlers to come in and have them working in the third match against people who aren’t normally part of the roster, but they’re setting up the mixed tag stuff for later.

AAA hasn’t said if this show is streaming. It’ll be a late night one if it does; an 8:30 local start means 10:30 pm Mexico City time.

AAA wrestlers were announced for the La Mole comic book convention March 25-27. The convention announced Thursday AAA wrestlers are off the show due to “logistical issues”, which sound like the most predicable AAA issues. Blue Demon Jr. and Cibernetico have been announced as appearing on the March 25th show.

the entire March AAA TV schedule

• 03/05 (Saturday) in Madero
• 03/12 (Saturday) near Monterey – Multimedios show?
• 03/13 (Sunday) in Merida
• 03/26 (Saturday) in Tijuana
• 03/31 (Thursday) in Dallas – FITE?

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter mentions Vickie Guerrero will be back with FTR on the 03/13 show “provided Fenix is ready by then.” That sounds like even AAA doesn’t know if Fenix will be ready for Merida.

Impact has another PPV this Saturday – Sacrifice. Really seems like a short turnaround there. The show includes another Deonna Purrazzo where she’ll defend the AAA or ROH title against a mystery challenger. As always, there is a chance an AAA luchador could show up to make the challenge. No AAA woman appears booked for the taping tomorrow, but no AAA woman has shown up in Impact. Taya is still owed a title shot at some point and there’s no indication when that would be.

AAA and Freefight are doing another streaming play session Friday night. Villano III Jr., Maravilla, Sexy Star, and Murder Clown are scheduled to appear.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 03/03/2022 Arena Naucalpan [Estrellas del Ring, IWRG]
1) Genex jd Tito Moran [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
Matches had finishes but the person moving on was decided by a judging panel
2) Vorvak jd Pequeño Bengala [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
3) Huitzil DRAW Trueno [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
both were eliminated by the judges
4) Backter jd Pequeño Turno [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
5) Nativo DRAW Rey Eclipse [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
both moved on
6) Amnesia DRAW Sumed Black [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
both were eliminated
7) Estrella de Oro jd Heredero Maya [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
8) Vudumax jd Potro, Alkymia [IWRG Tryout, 8f] 
9) Yorvak jd Genex [IWRG Tryout, quarterfinal] 
10) Backter jd Nativo [IWRG Tryout, quarterfinal] 
11) Estrella de Oro jd Rey Eclipse [IWRG Tryout, quarterfinal] 
12) Potro jd Vudu Max [IWRG Tryout, quarterfinal] 
13) Aster Boy © b Tonalli [IWRG IC Light] 
2nd defense

I had this one without paying much attention to it, and it was still noticeable how much they were rushing near the end here. It stuck out more when I was adding timestamps. This was a 7:45 start show that went about four hours in a neighborhood that’s not exactly friendly late at night; the last four tournament matches were done as a sprint: at least two of had a dive to get them going fast, and the judges were simply picking whoever won the match. They did leave Aster Boy/Tonalli a decent amount of time at the end, but that was a building that cleared out quick as soon as it was over. The silver lining is those fans – and there were a lot of them, with family and friends of those in the tournament filling the building – did stick all the way to the end.

I paid more attention to Aster Boy/Tonalli though I’m not sure you need to. It was IWRG lightweights doing the CMLL Volador title match formula: some mat work early, a dive, and then big move/near fall/rest/repeat until it just ended. The set-up match sounds better.

IWRG (SUN) 03/06/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) ? vs ?? [IWRG TRYOUT, semifinal]
2) ? vs ?? [IWRG TRYOUT, semifinal]
3) Bengalee, Diosa Quetzal, Jessy Jackson vs Diosa Atenea, Lolita, Satania
4) Aster Boy vs Noicy Boy, Freelance, Toxin, Puma de Oro
5) Jessy Ventura & Travis Banks vs Alpha Wolf & Diva Salvaje [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Dragón Bane vs Cerebro Negro [IWRG MIDDLE, #1 Contenders]
7) ? vs ?? [IWRG TRYOUT, FINAL]

Yorvak, Backter, Estrella de Oro, Potro are in the semifinals. They didn’t announce the match ups. Bane/Negro winner faces Travis Banks next week.

ROH/AEW

Tony Khan announced he had bought Ring of Honor on Wednesday. The version of the press release on Ring of Honor’s site carefully words the agreement as being in place but not yet completed. Dave Meltzer reported both previous owners Sinclair Broadcast Group indicated they wanted to sell, both WWE and Khan bid on the promotion, and Khan bid was higher. Tony Khan’s own press release made a point of saying he bought ROH in his own money, and not through AEW.

No one really knows what this going to mean, outside of Tony Khan owning ROH’s library. Plenty of people are wishcasting ROH being brought back at AEW’s version of an NXT developmental brand, more because they love the old ROH brand and not because there’s yet any indication that’s actually the plan here. Khan didn’t purchase the contracts of any wrestlers, and he couldn’t because all remaining wrestler contracts would’ve expired on March 1st. Ring of Honor has Supercard of Honor on April 1st and was making new match and talent announcements as recently as day before the sale was made. They are still selling tickets (and selling more of them because this is now the second straight ROH show where people are convinced AEW people will be showing up), though neither press release specifically mentions that show as still happening.

I don’t think anyone outside of maybe Tony Khan and his inner circle knows for sure if that show is still happening and what in general is happening next with ROH. I made a post of all the things questions work asking (and that I felt safe asking on Twitter), because there’s a lot unanswered here. It does seem like the deal came together recently and quickly, so no one might have the answers yet, and figuring them out on a week where AEW has a PPV is probably not easy. Wrestlers like Dragon Lee & Rush appear to be hoping their past ROH ties will get them involved with AEW. AEW has been using ROH Pure champion Josh Woods on Dark shows (and in a bigger role Thursday night after the sale was announced.) ROH Champion Jonathan Gresham has been mentioned backstage at recent AEW events. AEW/Tony Khan clearly has a lot of interest in the first few years of ROH and there’s something can be done with current champions, but I’m not sure how much interest AEW has in the most recent iteration of ROH beyond that. I really don’t know if, or how, this deal will affect Mexican wrestling. 2022 ROH seemed like it wasn’t going to have much connection with Mexican wrestling outside of however the Bandido “title reign” ended, and I’m not sure I see that immediately changing even with Tony Khan taking over.

While I’m actually doing a AEW section, I should note Andrade and Darby Allin challenge Sammy Guevara for the TNT Champion tonight on Rampage. It’s a live version of that show. Andrade lost against Guevara last week, and I think he either wins the title or has some big teased breakup with Matt Hardy tonight. Andrade, Hardy, and Isiah Kassidy face Sammy Guevara, Darby Allin, Sting on Sunday’s AEW Revolution PPV.

Other News

LuchaWorld has a great obituary for Black Man.

DTU on 03/15 has Poder del Norte versus Kaleth, Camulfaje and Blaze, and Aramis vs Lokillo. They’re bringing in Psycho Clown on 04/24, so the agreement between Crazy Boy and AAA seems deeper than just working one show.

RIOT made some changes to their 03/25-26 La Rina tournament.

• Alex Zayne & Demonio del Aire will face each other, after prior opponents, Komander & Rey Horus had to pull out for other opponents
• Aramis versus Gringo Loco has been added as first-round match

Gringo Loco was supposed to be at Big Lucha on 03/25 and RIOT on 03/26, and now he’s just on RIOT both days. I presume Komander is working Big Lucha, though he’s not listed on the card they put out (that’ll be the next paragraph.) I thought Rey Horus would pop up on the AAA Tijuana card but he’s not there at the moment.

BIG LUCHA (FRI) 03/25/2022 Bandido Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Elipse & Orbita vs King & Kong
2) Mexa Kids vs Ministriales
3) Radioactivo & Viajero vs Mil Almas & Potro
4) Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno del Mal vs ? & Limbo and Hijo del Espectro & Hijo del Fishman
5) Skayde & Sussi Love vs Fuerza Guerrera & Hija De Fuerza Guerrera
6) ?, Ciclón Ramírez Jr., Cometa Maya, El Bandido, Gravity vs Bendito, Elemental, Emperador Azteca, Flamita, Yutani [street]

The last Big Lucha ended with a literal street fight between Flamita’s Black Generation and Bandido’s home army after the Black Generation crew destroyed Extasis. He’s the most likely mystery person in the main event. The fourth match mystery spot Gringo Loco’s spot.

04/01 the WRLD on Lucha

• Psycho Clown vs Dr. Wagner Jr. – main event
• Pagano vs Sadika in an extreme match
• Jack Carthweel vs Johnny Caballero
• also scheduled to appear: Psicosis, Hugo Savinovich, Laredo Kid, Drago Kid, ASF, Abismo Negro Jr.

Psycho & Wagner teased a mask versus hair match, which was never going to happen on a WM weekend show unless GCW lost their mind. It’ll be a crazy brawl anyway.

Pimpinela Escarlata was announced for the 04/02 Effy’s Gay Brunch show.

Diamante Negro (Feliciano Hernandez Diaz, 63) passed away on Tuesday from a heart attack according to Box y Lucha.

Arena Lopez Mateos had a feud between Centella Oriental and Villano III Jr. for a few months. It seemed headed to a mask match but stopped suddenly when Centella Oriental disappeared. It turns out Centella Oriental had jumped to IWRG as Akbal and had been wrestling there for the last six months. He announced on Facebook (reposted by Mas Lucha) that he’d be going back to his Centella Oriental identity, saying he’s leaving IWRG and the Akbal gimmick behind on good terms. Maybe they’ll get back to the mask match now.

This name switch is a thing that makes doing a lucha libre match database inaccurate, especially if you’re as distanced (both by miles and by connections) from Mexican wrestling as I am. These sort of gimmick changes probably happen more than I’d ever be able to tell even if I watched everything, and rarely are they noted as Centella Oriental did. Most of the time it’s harmless. A situation that came up about two weeks ago may not be as harmless. Einar el Vikingo became infamous last May after he attacked a child at a wrestling show, with everyone in the Mexico City scene coming together to say they wouldn’t use him. Various Facebook pages (here’s one) found the Facebook page for a masked luchador who appeared last September named Baphomet, and claim there’s private posts that confirm he’s actually Einar el Vikingo. I haven’t seen them. There are photos of Einar and Baphomet in that link post and there’s definitely a resemblance. Baphomet is working the nothing matches on small shows as Einar, though not often. We’ve seen before that the concern in these sorts of situations is solely in convincing potential ticket buyer that whatever happened is a one-off and they’ll take care of the victim in that moment, and the instigator will be welcomed back into the fold as soon as the non-lucha libre press moves onto something else. I don’t know that Einar is Baphomet but it would fit.

Noticias de Sol de la Laguna has an interview with the original Pentagon, who will be honored at a ten-match show in Gomez Palacio this weekend.

A profile of Tabasco luchadora Dark Queen.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.