Day: June 10, 2022

Copa Dinastia begins, Sagrado sidelined, AAA TV notes

thecubsfan 6 Comments

CMLL

Tonight’s CMLL show is the first part of Copa Dinasita. The Panthers won last year’s edition and didn’t go on to do much, though Blue Panther Jr.’s eye injury may have caused that. It’s a tournament that hasn’t meant much and so anyone can win. The safest pick is Euforia & Soberano winning to face Los Guerreros down the line, but this doesn’t need to build to anything. Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. could go through instead. I’d be surprised if it was Volador & Flyer or Rey Cometa & Espiritu negro, but there’s not really stopping CMLL from using them. Cavernario, Stuka and the returning Titan versus Fugaz, Negro Casas and Terrible is the only undercard match of note and that may be noteworthy only because it puts Stuka in the building with the ability to cost the Atlantis family a match at some point.

It’s on TicketmasterLive as usual. Ticketmaster sent me a notice they were refunding the show from two weeks ago, which took about a week and half longer than they said it would. It doesn’t look like it’s hit my credit card yet.

CMLL (SUN) 06/12/2022 Arena México
1) Leono & Retro vs Cholo & Príncipe Odín Jr.
2) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, La Vaquerita vs Amapola, Hera, Olympia
3) Dulce Gardenia, Hombre Bala Jr., Panterita del Ring vs Kráneo, Magnus, Okumura
4) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs El Coyote, Felino, Mephisto
5) Gran Guerrero, Soberano Jr., Último Guerrero vs Hechicero, Templario, Volador Jr.

Nothing got followed up from last Sunday, so the no angle streak continues.

CMLL (TUE) 06/14/2022 Arena México
1) Micro Ángel, Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo, Chamuel, Zacarias el Perico
2) Acero, Aéreo, Kaligua vs Full Metal, Minos, Pequeño Polvora
3) Esfinge, Flyer, Star Black vs Cancerbero, Hijo del Villano III, Pólvora
4) Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja vs Guerrero Maya Jr. & Star Jr. [CMLL TAG]
third defense
5) Averno, Euforia, Mephisto vs Gran Guerrero, Terrible, Último Guerrero

That title match should be pretty good. Los Micro Gemelos are back and then so is micro division. The micros aren’t as much split into tecnicos and rudos as “guys we trust doing flying moves” versus “guys we trust catching those flying moves.”

CMLL (TUE) 06/14/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Obelisk, Persa, Raven vs Espíritu Negro Jr. (Querétaro), Samuray Azteca (Querétaro), Temerario
2) Joker, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. vs Ángel Rebelde, Halcón Negro Jr., Trono
3) Bestia Negra, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte vs Destructor, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Cris Skin, Crixus, Flash
5) Bárbaro Cavernario, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel vs Dark Magic, Okumura, Zandokan Jr.

The big story coming out of last week’s Guadalajara show was supposed to be the angle to set up the main event, which likely sets up a trios match or a Zandokan title defense next week.

No sign of Fuego on any upcoming cards and he wasn’t mentioned on Informa, so his match listing in Monterrey this upcoming weekend remains a mystery.

Sagrado, in a Facebook comment, apologized for attacking a fan on Tuesday in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara and explained his actions. He said those fans (which included a boxer) were throwing coins at the wrestlers. This wasn’t tossing coins after the match for a good match, this was throwing objects to hurt the wrestlers. Sagrado confronted them about it and told them to be more respectful, he says they responded in a disrespectful fashion, and he punched them. SuperLuchas says one of the other fans threw a beer in Sagrado’s face before he attacked, which I didn’t see on the video. I haven’t been able to find that Facebook comments myself, but I think it’s probably a real one. Sagrado followed up with an apology on his own Facebook page, fully taking responsibility for his actions and accepting an unspecific sanction towards him by CMLL. He also said that would be the last he talked about it.

CMLL Guadalajara eventually removed the full show from their Facebook page, but the clip of Sagrado’s fight had already started to get picked up by news sites Wednesday night. There didn’t seem to be any change in Sagrado’s status to that point – Los Gemelo Diablos talked about him as normal on CMLL Informa earlier Wednesday – but CMLL did start to take action on Thursday. Templario quietly replaced him in Monday’s Arena Puebla show, Sagrado’s only announced CMLL booking.

It appears Sagrado is suspended, not fired. Sagrado probably would be fired if he did this outside of Mexico, though his reaction is understandable if what he said happened did happen. The fans involved would also be banned from the arena forever, which might happen here in Mexico but we’re not likely to hear about it. The less talked about issue here is the lack of security: they should’ve gotten involved if objects were being thrown at the wrestlers, and they should’ve gotten involved when Sagrado confronted the fans. Sagrado made his own decision on how to handle the situation and he shouldn’t have the chance to make the decision. The security’s not really useful even after the fight gets started, it’s the other wrestlers and the referee who are getting involved.

CMLL announced Titan is the first member of the Mexico Gran Prix team. The date for the show is still to be announced. This 8v8 Mexico versus the World match has usually included some NJPW names; usually either lesser heavyweights or junior heavyweights who aren’t needed in Japan at that moment. Those wrestlers are typically free during NJPW’s G1 tournament, which runs this year from mid-July to mid-August. Titan talked very positively about his time in NJPW’s Best of Super Juniors tournament, feeling it was his best tour personally.

CMLL Informa also interviewed Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Arkalis and Pegasso as the new expanded Fuerza Poblana. Pegasso hasn’t wrestled since the end of March; he explained he fractured an elbow on a 450 splash. Polvora suffered a fractured jaw on the move too; he was out about a month. Pegasso indicated he’d be back sometime this month.

CMLL announced Dalys & Stephanie Vaquer are headed to Japan. It was said on Informa to be about a two months stint. CMLL announced a 07/28 show with micro promotion/magazine Lady’s Ring. Ice Ribbon said they’d be on their 07/31 show.

Volador said Flyer will get be a Depredador if they win Copa Dinastia but they’ll remain family no matter the outcome. Flyer says he’s asked a lot about why he isn’t in his uncle’s group and just tells people everything happens at the right time. The unstated bit is Volador’s Los Depredadores are those he feels work the hardest and Flyer has not worked hard enough in Volador’s eyes in the past. Both alluded to Flyer working harder of late.

Zacarias, doing press this week, mentioned he was 29 and had been in CMLL now for 12 years. That bird was a teenager when he first started to appear on CMLL.

Silueta told the press Wednesday joining Los Depredadores didn’t change her relationship with Satnaico and Los Infernales. Satanico had thrown out the idea of Silueta leading a female version of Los Infernales and Silueta is still open to that concept but there aren’t other women who she thought would fit with it at the moment.

Espiritu Negro & Rey Cometa said they’re training about 30 wrestlers in Queretaro.

Mystique is listed among the available for photos at the 06/19 father’s day show in Arena Mexico. She also did one of the pre-show tours for CMLL a few weeks back. Mystique announced she was stepping away from lucha libre last June while keeping a tie to CMLL. She was prone to mistakes as in-ring wrestler but seems much better suited for this out-of-the-ring fan interaction and hosting work. It would be unusual for CMLL to have a luchadora in a permanent non-wrestling role like this, which makes me think this is instead a sign she’s back in training for a return.

I’ve heard of wrestling shows being brought in for adult jails before, but I don’t think I’ve heard of one for a children’s jail prior today. It kind of makes more sense there. 73 children from four detention centers got to watch a CMLL show as part of getting them used to being reintegrated into society.

Mexico’s World Trade Center is hosting some sort of CMLL VR experience. I’m not sure what this is from the teaser video but I’m sure we’ll hear more of it.

AAA

AAA is on Space back at 6:30 pm. It’ll be the first part of the Puebla show. AAA usually waits until Saturday to announce the matches, but they’ve been generally airing the matches in order this year. A good guess is:

  • Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Maba vs Baby Extreme, Drago Kid, Kommander
  • Dinamico, Draztick Boy, Emperador Azteca vs Abismo Negro Jr., Arez, Psicosis
  • Aerostar, Drago, Myzteziz Jr. vs Argenis, Parka Negra, Toxin

I’m not planning on streaming the TV show ‘live’. It overlaps with the ExpoLucha show and I’d like to just watch that.  I’ll try to stream it some other time this weekend, haven’t really thought about when.

Next week is going to be slightly confusing. Here’s what I know so far

  • Space is airing a regular AAA TV episode at 7:19 pm CT. This should be Puebla part 2 (so Fenix Aramis/Taurus/Latigo)
  • The TripleMania Tijuana show is listed at 9 pm CT

My plan is to stream the normally AAA TV show next week if it does indeed air before the PPV (though you may have to sit through a scrolling “no this is not the PPV, you can go buy it on FITE” banner.)

AAA announced another TV lineup; this is the fourth upcoming show we know now, which hasn’t happened in a while.

AAA TV (SAT) 07/02/2022 Centro de Usos Multiples, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
1) Baby Extreme & Komander vs Emperador Azteca & Mini Abismo Negro
2) Estrellita, La Hiedra, Maravilla vs Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba
3) Aerostar, Lady Shani, Myzteziz Jr. vs Argenis, Chik Tormenta, La Parka Negra
4) Jack Cartwheel & Willie Mack vs Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf
5) Hijo Del Vikingo, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs Gringo Loco, Látigo, Toxin
6) Bandido & Pentagón Jr. vs Dragón Lee & Dralistico

Bandido/Pentagon vs Dragon Lee/Dralistico could be pretty good. Gringo Loco’s wanted to wrestle Vikingo again for a while. The third match is the usual feuds (Argenis/Myzteziz and Aerostar/Parka) and it might mean something that Shani & Tormenta are part of it. Mini Abismo (Jr.) has had that gimmick in the US but is only making his AAA TV debut many months later.

This looks to air on Space on July 13 & 20th, though it’s hard to be certain. From a live perspective, AAA will have four taped events over the next three weekends.

AEW announced the Hardys versus the Young Bucks versus Jurassic Express in a ladder match for their Wednesday night Dynamite. Jeff Hardy has had a recent run of injuries. AEW’s announcement of this match was met with appreciation for how good the match could be and apprehension of putting the Hardys in another potentially physically taxing match. The Hardys are scheduled to be on the TripleMania Tijuana show that Saturday. There’s nothing AAA really can do about this outside of internally working out their backup plan if either Jeff or Matt are unable to wrestle on Saturday and crossing their fingers that they won’t have to use it. AAA’s preview pushes the idea of this as a possible great match, but it probably doesn’t need to be to leave the fans happy. If the Hardys can even just make it to the Meet & Greet, that’ll be enough. Hermanos Lee/Hardys as a match has no particular excitement to me, so I’d be fine with them just taking it easy to get through it.

Meanwhile, Los Hermanos Lees talked about watching the Hardys on TV and wanting to give them their best Mexican match. Dralistico mentions hoping this can open doors for them internationally. AAA’s been doing a batch of video conferences to promote this show over this past week. Lady Shani told the press she feels she’s missing a mask win in her career and would like to take La Hiedra’s mask in Tijuana.

Konnan’s Keepin’ it 100 podcast this week had a Masked Republic minute segment for the first time in weeks. It turned out useful if you were looking for a spirited debate about Gavin Newsom as a candidate for California’s governor and the US political process, but there wasn’t much lucha libre talk outside a brief plug for Expolucha. (There’s a lot of joking at Kevin for only turning up when it was time to promote his show.) Disco Inferno talked about two minutes about Vampiro’s commentary on that Triplemania, having just discovered the blooper video that’s was posted four years ago.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

ExpoLucha is airing their Saturday show live at 7:00 pm CT. Dragon Lee vs Laredo Kid, Super Crazy vs Ultimo Dragon and Arez & Black Taurus vs Fightmare & Lince dorado headline the show. Astrolux & Psicosis (Nicho) vs Damian 666 & Demus might be good, Demus is usually Astrolux’s best opponent. The show is available on FITE as a $15 standalone purchase or as part of FITE’s $5/month FITE+ subscription. Masked Republic/Expo Lucha ran a PPV in this same building eight years ago and it was a good time, and I suspect this will be the same.

MLW aired Aramis vs Gino Medina in a lumberjack strap match and Octagon Jr. versus Matt Cross. Those were the last matches I saw taped in Dallas; the vignettes actually appeared to be added later from the next taping in Philadelphia.

Rush told Lucha Libre Online that he’s currently on a per-date contract with AEW. Tony Khan, not a dummy! Rush is definitely someone better to see how he fits in for a while before locking down a long agreement, and Rush will probably be on his best behavior. There’s a danger of someone signing Rush away but Rush doesn’t seem make or break to AEW that it’ll hurt them.

JCW announced Negro Casas & Gringo Loco vs ASF & Volador Jr. for their 07/10 show. That’s going to be a tough one to do if CMLL sees it and realizes Gringo Loco is on AAA TV. It may fly under their radar.

The US will no longer require a pre-flight COVID test for people entering the country starting this Sunday. I’ve heard of some close calls of luchadors (and US wrestlers returning) trying to get into the US and having issues with getting a test. There also been luchadors who’ve might have not realized they had COVID except for that test being a requirement.

Bengalee got knocked out by a misaimed clothesline last weekend in Arena Lopez Mateos.

Dr. Wagner Jr. is selling a World Cup edition of his mask.

Approximately 200 people marched in the street to demand more information in the case of the missing luchador Sexy Lola in Acapulco. His sister says the police have provided no information since Lola went missing on Saturday.

The head of the Tuxtla Guiterrez spoke out positively about Daniel Aceves’ proposed new lucha libre regulations (national commission, wrestlers getting a pension) in a radio show appearance.