CMLL
CMLL (TUE) 05/17/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, Mas Lucha]
1) Full Metal, Minos, Pequeño Polvora b Acero, Aéreo, Pequeño Magía 
2) Cachorro, Oro Jr., Robin b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
3) Dalys, Hera, Olympia b Amapola, La Seductora, Metálica 
4) Dark Panther, Esfinge, Panterita del Ring DQ Felino, Hechicero, Terrible
Terrible unmasked Dark Panther
5) Templario © b Soberano Jr. [MEX MIDDLE]
Second defense. Match stopped for medical reasons after three minutes. Templario blocked a Soberano right leg kick with his hands, Soberano suffered a lower leg injury and could not continue. Templario apologized to the crowd and promised to do the match again when Soberano was healthy.
Soberano knew he was hurt even before planted his leg, took one step, and sat down in the corner. CMLL’s doctor and the commissioner came to the ring, checked his foot, and talked to him for a couple of minutes. Soberano repeatedly shook his head no at questions, and the match was called off. Soberano Jr. seemed upbeat on an Instagram story talking about the injury and apologizing for the match not happening, though the severity still was unknown. My initial guess was ankle but it could really be anything with that right foot. Maybe there will be an update on Informa. It is incredible that for all the ‘dangerous’ stuff Soberano does, he got hurt on a blocked kick. Soberano & Templario believed they were going to have one of the best matches of the year and it ended before it got going. That’s wrestling.
It was an unfortunate injury and it’s rare a CMLL main event ends that way. Templario apologized to the fans and seemed to be making an effort to shake as many hands and take as many pictures as possible as a make good. CMLL’s policy appears seems to be along the lines of getting the wrestlers to the back within five minutes of the end of the match and getting the fans out of the arena within ten, which meant last night they were forcing Templario up the ramp as he was trying to fix the situation for the fans. CMLL’s generally stopped using seconds in title matches since the pandemic; maybe if Soberano had one, that person could’ve stepped in to face Templario in a short match just to give the fans something at the end of the night, though it’s unlikely CMLL would’ve thought that way. Again, this sort of injury situation is rare enough that CMLL might not face a similar situation for years, but it would help to have a different response to it next time.
Attendance was minimal for this show, as it appeared to be on Sunday. It’s good the turnout has improved on Friday s(and Saturdays) but the other shows feel like they’re struggling. back It was also so heavily foreign tourist fans that it might be a good idea to ring announcing in both Spanish and English.
CMLL (FRI) 05/20/2022 Arena México
1) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit vs Dark Silueta, Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer
3) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Negro Casas vs Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Fuerza Guerrera
4) Místico vs Volador Jr., (probably not) Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr., Atlantis Jr., Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Mephisto [Copa Junior, semifinal]
Speaking of CMLL shows with unfriendly endings, Friday’s Copa Junior will have two wrestlers advance to a next week’s final. I’m presuming it’s standard single elimination but CMLL hasn’t said. Dragon Rojo, who is not actually the son of a wrestler but has been used in this tournament before, could be moved up to Soberano’s spot. CMLL’s got plenty of other second-generation wrestlers to use as well. The Universal tournament was good and only having ten matches on this show would allow for a good match here. It is a lot of the same people who just were in that last tournament though.
Fuerza Guerrera makes his first post-pandemic appearance in CMLL against a trio of tecnico legends.
CMLL (SAT) 05/21/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Fantasy & Kaligua vs Full Metal & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Leono vs Grako, Inquisidor, Raider
3) Arkalis, Flyer, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) El Hijo del Villano III, Okumura, Pólvora vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
5) Atlantis, Fugaz, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Terrible
Atlantis is wrestling a lot lately.
CMLL (SUN) 05/22/2022 Arena México
1) Bengala & Valiente Jr. vs Cholo & Príncipe Odín Jr.
2) La Guerrera, La Maligna, Tiffany vs La Magnifica, La Vaquerita, Metálica [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Diamond, Stigma, Volcano vs Disturbio, Kráneo, Okumura
4) Dulce Gardenia, Esfinge, Star Black vs El Coyote, Felino, Rey Bucanero
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
If CMLL wanted to break the “no angles on Sunday” run, they could set up a trios title match out of that main event. Or a tag title match out of the semi-main.
Titan lost his opening BOSJ match against El Desperado. He’s winning the in-between non-tournament matches, including a unique victory alongside NJPW’s Robbie Eagles & AEW’s Wheeler Yuta. Titan, like most any guest wrestler in a NJPW tournament, is unlikely to go far. The most interesting thing is if CMLL is going to acknowledge AEW’s existence; they haven’t mentioned this trios match as of this morning. Titan faces GLEAT’s Lindaman in his second match early Thursday morning; Lindaman has a title defense coming up soon and is unlikely to lose before it.
Valiente appeared at a show in his gym on Sunday. He says he’s about half way through his seven month rehab, lacking 25% of mobility in his injured leg, but believes there’s a chance he could return in two months. If he’s halfway through, it may be longer than two months, but it sounds like there’s a good chance he’ll be back before the Anniversary show. Valiente thanks CMLL for their support.
AS took the new CMLL Lucha Tour.
CMLL (TUE) 05/17/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, Fuego en el RIng, Mas Lucha]
1) El Divino, Johnny Dinamo, Mágico b Gran Kenut, Jabalí, Relámpago Azul
2) Bestia Negra, Difunto, Fúnebre b Joker, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
3) Huitzal, Sangre Imperial, Suicida, Valiente Jr. b Obelisk, Persa, Raven, Temerario
CDMX vs GDL.
4) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido b Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico
5) Atlantis & Último Guerrero b Averno & Satánico
Atlantis again challenged Satanico to a title match.
Mexico City goes 2-0, as did the Laguna team. They should meet next week.
AAA
Lady Shani is on a press tour to promote the AAA Mascaras de Freestyle event this Saturday in Mexico City’s Deportivo Oceania. This is an event combining lucha libre with freestyle rap announced about a month back. Viewers of my AAA Twitch stream may remember Space’s freestyle rap competition show from the same commercial played during the show every week for about six months. Anyway, Shani is doing the interviews for this concept because 1) she’s a freestyle rap fan and 2) this is a Lady Shani-produced show. Shani told ESTO that her favorite rapper is Lobo Estepario because of the intensity he shows in his raps feels likes lucha libre, and she sees a lot of similarities generally between the lives of freestyle rappers and luchadors.
The Freestyle show seems like it’s gotten more attention the Showcenter event on the same day, outside of AAA tweets. A large portion of that is because one of those is in M Mexico City and that always means more attention, but it’s also probably a bit because the Freestyle show has a unique concept (and an actual coherent concept, compared to whatever that tournament is supposed to be.) I guess we’ll see on Saturday if it makes any difference with the tickets.
Or maybe we won’t see. The Showcenter events were originally promoted as all airing on FITE, but it’s Wednesday and they’re still not listed for sale. I can’t get a straight answer if Saturday’s show is streaming, which tells me it’s probably not streaming. I don’t expect AAA did a lot of buys for the first show – not streaming would be strong proof – but if they’re not making money from streaming and they’re not selling a lot of tickets, it’s hard to see why AAA would keep running those shows. Most tickets for that show are now 2×1. It seems to have moved some tickets, but there’s sections with three tickets sold.
Lucha Libre in Tampico says AAA will return to Domo Madero on 06/24 for another TV taping. The poster lists Fenix, Penta, Laredo, Psycho Clown, Vikingo, and NGD. The ticket website lists an 7 pm start and prices from 250 pesos up to 1500 for ringside. AAA taped in Domo Madero back in March and has been repeating locations more quickly this year.
AAA posted a video of the Young Bucks bullying Hijo del Vikingo after their match. (The messed-up finish doesn’t come up, which makes me believe it was actually taped before the match.) The Young Bucks tease the idea of Vikingo coming to AEW, Matt challenging for the Mega title, and Omega coming back to get his title. Vikingo kinda just stands there and takes it. I think this video exists just to keep the “Omega is coming back at some point” plate spinning, but there are ways of doing that where Vikingo doesn’t get looked punked out as much. It’s also a video on YouTube that didn’t air on TV as far as I can tell and isn’t a big deal.
Pasala has an interview with Fenix, which seems to be done the same time as the TripleMania mask match tournament.
Other news
IWRG (TUE) 05/17/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Cheff Benito & Rossel b Milagro & Rey Fuego
2) Águila Oriental & Súper Cometa b Carnicero & Steven Manson
3) Ajolotl, Jhon Tito, Spider Fly b Garra Mortal Jr., Skanda, Torito Negro
4) Asterboy, Limbo, Tonalli b Abc, Thunder Storm, Troyano
Tonalli snuck in a foul on Troyano. Rematch challenges followed.
5) Toxin © b Noisy Boy [IWRG MEXICO]
8th defense. Toxin received a new title belt.
Toxin/Noisy Boy was a good night for Toxin. IWRG said they’re going back to running these Tuesday shows every two weeks. It’s hard to see why given how few people showed up for this one, but it did provide work for some trainees.
IWRG (THU) 05/19/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Nativo & Rey Minos vs Rey Aztaroth & Súper Boy
2) Artemis & Therius vs Black Fury & Mary Caporal
3) Freelance vs Tortuga Leo
4) Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Tonalli vs Fly Warrior, Fulgor, Mr. Mike
5) Aster Boy, La Momia, Luka vs Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro, Shocko
Luka is going to become a meme if enough people see him. Semi-main is promising.
IWRG announced Blue Demon Jr. will appear on Sunday’s show, teaming with Jessy Ventura & Diva Salvaje vs Pirata Morgan Jr., Canek Jr. and Fishman Jr. IWRG’s next major show is Festival de las Mascaras on 06/19. That’s the throwback show with wrestlers putting on their old masks and name from the past headlining.
Rey Fenix faces Kyle O’Reilly on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
VSZ announced Drew Park vs Arez for their 05/26 show in Las Vegas.
RIOT announced the new venue for their 06/04 show is Club Mexico Palestino Libanes in San Pedro Garza Garca. The only match announced for the show so far is Arez defending the RIOT championship against Blake Christian. Arez’ name turned up on an AAA/Big Lucha show for the same day, but he seemed to indicate he’d be on the RIOT show instead.
06/19 Republic of Lucha show (Midsommar); tickets here.
- Republic of Lucha (Zokre, Lil Cholo, Danny Limelight) vs Santino Brothers (Slice Boogie, ?, ??)
- Arez vs Fatu
- Dante Martin vs Bandido
- Thunder Rosa & Anakin Rosa vs Skye Blue & Black Danger
- Fenix & Penta vs Johhny Caballero & Daga
That main event was set up as Fenix, Penta & Taya vs Johnny, Daga, and Tessa. Taya’s mentioned she has other obligations as for why she’s not there. Daga seems to be taking more bookings lately.
Aramis faces Shane Haste on the 07/03 PWG show. He’s the only luchador on that show.
Irapuato luchador Juventud Rebelde (Jerry Garcia) was shot to death Tuesday afternoon after wrestling on a show hours earlier. Rebelde was shot five times at close range, and that fact seemed to cause the story to go a bit viral. There are also a lot of photos and video of his body after the shooting, though no report at what caused the shooting. Rebelde was an active local wrestler who’d wrestle in the undercards for AAA & CMLL spot show; the show the night before was a typical one, with lots of ex-AAA and freelance talent on top and Rebelde one of many local luchadors working the opening matches. Box y Lucha mentions he’d rent out his ring for free to help other lucha promotions. U couldn’t find an age; he looked in his late 30s/early 40s.
LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report and this week’s Poster-Mania.