CMLL
CMLL (FRI) 06/24/2022 Arena México
1) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black
2) Magia Blanca vs Diamond, Inquisidor, Rey Cometa, Ángel Rebelde, Suicida, Astral, Rey Samuray, Principe Daniel, El Perverso [MEX WELTER, cibernetico]
3) Stuka Jr., Titán, Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Cavernario, Templario
4) Euforia & Soberano Jr. vs Gran Guerrero & Último Guerrero [Copa Dinastia, final]
This show is on Ticketmaster Live, though frequent purchasers should check their email to see if they got a free link to the show earlier this week. The card went from bleh to very promising by making the Welterweight tournament a cibernetico. Cibernetico are generally better matches, especially given the iffy and less experienced wrestlers in this match, and it also just saves so much more time for the rest of the card. And the rest of the card looks good. I think we can safely assume the main event will be the usual 3.5 star Ultimo Guerrero big match. The semi-main has the Stuka/Atlantis feud surrounded by a lot of good names. The opener even has a chance of being interesting. This could be a good night.
My understanding, by all CMLL’s said so far, is the cibernetico is to crown a new champion (and not a “final two meet next week.”) CMLL’s peculiar tournament bookings patterns also involve their tournaments generally all staying in the same calendar month and we’re out of June days. Suicida and Astral both picked Rey Cometa as their biggest challenge; he’s obviously the highest ranked guy in this match and everyone would be happy with him being champion again. I think Magia Blanca winning his first title is a little more likely since Cometa is already national trios champion.
Euforia says he was hoping for Niebla Roja & Angel de Oro to make it to the Copa Dinastia final; he really liked their title defense against Maya & Star and the Roja/Titan match. He’d also like to stop wrestling Ultimo Guerrero; he wants out of his shadow and to prove he’s a good wrestler on his own merits. Euforia also mentioned he’d like to be in the Gran Prix and he’d like to face Atlantis in a mask just because beating him would be a huge deal.
Ultimo Guerrero says Gran Guerrero was going to be “Ultimo Guerrero Jr.” but Paco Alonso decided that Ultimo Guerrero was too young to have a junior. Guerrero would’ve been 41 at the time. They came up with the Gran Guerrero name the next week. UG mentions he expects to be in the Gran Prix, and is being sure to stay healthy so he can be in it.
Today’s show will include a ceremony with “Asociación Mexicana de Lucha Contra el Cáncer y Oncoayuda” (a Mexico anti-cancer group), with a message encouraging those who are fighting cancer.
CMLL pulled Rey Bucanero from all shows this weekend. Magnus replaces him on Saturday, Felino on Sunday. Bucanero seemed fine for 2022 Rey Bucanero at the end of Tuesday’s Guadalajara but 2022 Rey Bucanero has a lot of miles on him. He was the youngest wrestler in the match but others were moving better. Cholo is also off Saturday after his head injury on Tuesday (Okumura in) and Star Jr. is out for Fugaz in the main event. There’s a CMLL staffed show at Arena Coliseo Acapulco on Saturday as well, making subs a little harder to find.
CMLL (TUE) 06/28/2022 Arena México
1) Fantasy, Kaligua, Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) La Guerrera, Marcela, Skadi vs La Seductora, Metálica, Tiffany
3) Diamond, Magnus, Rugido vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
4) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Cancerbero, Felino, Luciferno
5) Stuka Jr., Titán, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Euforia, Hechicero
The third match is a rematch from last week. The main event could be good, but it’s also a Tuesday.
CMLL announced the Leyenda de Plata tournament would return in July, with a specific focus on middleweight wrestlers. Titan won last’s competition. This one will be the usual three-week deal: blocks on July 15th and 22nd, final on July 29th.
This Leyenda de Plata announcement also confirms the Gran Prix is in August. Also, there will be all of two weeks between tournaments. My new theory about CML’s never ending tournament is it too is a tourist ploy; “there’s a big tournament final tonight” is an easier thing for a tourist guide to sell than “these two people you’ve never heard of are finally going to have a match.”
CMLL also announced they’re opening the forbidden door to booking anything of note on a Sunday show. This is the 30th year of the Pequeno Estrellas division, and so the annual celebration will be a three-week tournament with the loser losing their mask or hair. CMLL’s split this into a rudo/tecnico groups
- 07/17 (Sunday): Full Metal, Pequeno Polvora, Pierrothito, Pequeno Olimpico, Pequeno Violencia, Minos, Mercurio
- 07/24 (Sunday) : Aereo, Angelito, Fantasy, Ultimo Dragoncito, Shockercito, Acero, Pequeno Magia, Kaligula
- 07/29 (a Friday): the apuesta match, same as the Leyenda de Plata final.
Pequeno Violencia and Aereo are always threats to lose matches like this. This division is also full of older masked wrestlers and CMLL doesn’t put much effort into it. It’s a smaller version of the AAA ruleta de la muerte tournament: maybe not how any of the guys pictured losing their masks, but they’re unlikely to get a bigger payoff or spotlight than in this tournament so it may make sense for someone unexpected to take the opportunity. It doesn’t look like we’re seeing that in AAA and we may not see it here, but it’s still worth keeping in mind.
Ticketmaster has CMLL links to purchase all the Friday shows for July up for sale now, at the same 99 pesos point.
AAA
AAA has two notable shows this week. The first is a regular TV Friday in Madero:
AAA TV (FRI) 06/24/2022 Domo Madero, Tampico, Tamaulipas
1) Aramis, Drago Kid, Komander vs Draztick Boy, Jessy Ventura, Mamba
2) Flamita vs Dinámico, Willie Mack, Emperador Azteca
3) Lady Shani, Sexy Star, Sussy Love vs Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla
4) Mr. Iguana & Niño Hamburguesa vs Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf
5) ?, Charly Manson, Heavy Metal vs Abismo Negro Jr., Cibernético, Látigo
6) Hijo Del Vikingo & Laredo Kid vs Taurus & Villano III Jr.
7) Pagano, Pentagón Jr., Psycho Clown vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
This card has already gone through one revision. Not sure if it’ll happen again. The main event is NGD’s first TV match in months, and first after rumors of them leaving came out. They still haven’t lose to anyone.
The Semi-main should be great, but we’re really going to find out if Villano III Jr. is good or just along for the ride. I expect it’ll be another old familiar name in the fifth match as the mystery person. Iguana has been trolling La Rebelion on Twitter for a while. Match 2 was a Mack/Flamita singles match that’s been turned into a four way. Draztick is currently filling in for Diva Salvaje in the opener, though that’s weird enough to change again. I’d prefer Aramis, Drago Kid (attempting to make it here from the US) and Komander vs Draztick, Flamita and Dinamico and the exoticos vs Willie and Azteca but no one’s dumb enough to have me book their shows.
my guess at the upcoming TV schedule:
- 06/25 (tomorrow): Tijuana part 2 (matches that didn’t air on Space)
- 07/02: Puebla part 2???
- 07/09: Madero part 1
- 07/16: Madero part 2
but no one really knows for sure. Even AAA thought they had an episode airing last week which didn’t air.
AAA also has Showcenter card #3. This is the last lineup that was promoted.
AAA TV (SUN) 06/26/2022 Showcenter Complex, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo Leon
1) Villano III Jr. vs Komander [Showcenter Tournament, torneo]
2) Aramis, Laredo Kid, Willie Mack vs Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
3) Flammer vs Christi Jaynes
4) Arez & Fénix vs Abismo Negro Jr. & Johnny Caballero
5) Dragón Lee vs Jack Cartwheel [Showcenter Tournament, torneo]
6) Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa, Pagano vs Chessman, Sam Adonis, Taurus
AAA has ceased promoting the actual lineup. We all had doubts that lineup would happen as is when it was announced, but I assumed it was because Fenix would be working the AEW show. That was definitely wrong. It’s Poder del Norte’s participation which appears to be the issue now.
I’m not sure if this is a TV taping, a surprise YouTube upload, or something else entirely. It’s not a PPV. It’s possible AAA could slip this on TV before Mazatlan. Even with running fewer main tapings, AAA is taping more “TV content” than they can currently air and at some point one of those Showcenter tapings won’t air on either PPV or TV. I’m not sure if this is that point. I want to see some of these matches but I couldn’t even guess as to when that’ll be possible.
I’ve been fortunate to have people send in results or find them elsehwere. I would love to get them for these tapings too, but also maybe don’t expect that’ll happen.
AAA’s Aguascalientes promoter says Verano de Escandalo will take place on August 5th in Arena San Marcos. This is a TV taping and will probably have a few good notable matches. Rey de Reyes aired as a PPV, so this may be one, or AAA may have cut out running all non-TripleMania PPVs.
At the end of TripleMania, Matt Hardy appeared to grab a microphone to say something but didn’t get the chance before fireworks went off. He talked after the cameras stopped and posted it on Twitter, apologizing for Jeff Hardy not making and praising Hermanos Lee. Matt Hardy also said reports about a possible knee injury were incorrect and he’s fine. That’s good news. Hardy was also positive about the experience on his own podcast this week. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter claims the Hardy/Caballero break up at the end of that match was to lead to a singles match between the two “but who knows if it’ll happen.” It should not happen.
The five way did win the Wrestling Observer match of the week award, which appeared to be the primary reason it existed. It did not get the five stars they were going for. The WON noted they got a lot less feedback for this show than the previous iPPV.
Dr. Wagner Jr. is suppoting Villano IV in his mask match.
IWRG
IWRG (THU) 06/23/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Rey Aztaroth & Skanda b Cheff Benito & Rey Minos 
did not air on the stream
2) Mary Caporal & Satania b Bengalee & Diosa Quetzal 
Quetzal wanted a rematch
3) Demetiro El Gladiador b Dragón Fly ©, Black Dragón, Caballero de Plata, Aviador Jr. [AIWA ARGENTINA CRUISER]
Demetrio ends Dragon Fly’s six year (and seven defense) run. This title may be going back to Argentina germanely.
4) Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Tonalli b Asterboy, Freelance, Noisy Boy
Noisy Boy was powerbombed through a board and stretchered out
5) Demasiado, Miss Gaviota, Zoy Raymunda DQ Diva Salvaje, Estrella Divina, Jessy Ventura
Jessy Ventura hit Zoy Raymunda with a chain for the DQ. Building to the Jaula de las Locas in July.
I think that’s probably the end of that title in Mexico. One down, thousands to go.
IWRG (SUN) 06/26/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Spider Fly vs Águila Oriental
2) Estrella de Oro & Genex vs Limbo & Rey Halcón
3) Caballero de Plata & Legendario vs Cerebro Negro Jr. & Hellboy
4) Coco Rojo, Coco Verde, Cocolores vs Fly Warrior, Mafioso, Shaun Moore
5) Puma de Oro vs Noisy Boy
6) Cerebro Negro, Dick Angelo 3G, Tonalli vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
Cerebro Negro & Tonalli are feuding so their odds of winning appear low. Payasos seem to be sticking around for a moment.
IWRG posted a video feature on Teelo, who lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident. He still hopes to come to the ring in some fashion. There have been wrestlers with one arm in Mexico (Muerte Bucanera most famously) and I’ve heard of a promotion in Japan where various wrestlers with physical limitations have wrestled. I don’t know of someone with one leg wrestling in Mexico. The July 5th show IWRG show will be a fundraiser to help raise money for a prosthetic leg suitable for high impact athletic conditions.
Other
I’m going to try to for a weekend news post, just to help me with time management this weekend.
AEW Rampage tonight has Rey Fenix versus Andrade, a match worth going out of your way to see. The two had a PPV match on a TV show and there is news after.
Hijo del Santo missed last weekend’s Lucha Maniaks show with an unspecified injury. He still appeared to say he would be back soon.
LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report, with a good Guerrero Maya Jr. story.
There was no Big Lucha World this week, but they say they’re coming back next week.
Arez vs Myron Reed vs KC Navarro aired on the latest MLW YouTube upload. Bandido ended up missing his match on the MLW taping in New York Thursday night due to injury. Sexy Star (2) was mentioned as coming in on that taping. Full results can be found here. That MLW TV episode also mentioned that New York taping was their “season finale.” MLW has had season finales and other concepts in that slot before, though no future tapings are currently listed on their website. MLW leverages their “insight about the greater wrestling scene” into getting favorable coverage of their promotion, so I’d expect some spin on how this season ending is actually a good thing soon. It’s a little concerning it wasn’t out there in advance.
Black Taurus faced Andrew Everett on Impact’s Before the Impact.
Dragon Lee & Dralisitco wrestle in House of Glory on Saturday. Laredo Kid makes the actual Impact show next week.
Aramis is off the 07/01 PWG show. I was told he has another booking in Mexico that took priority, though I haven’t seen a poster for it. That also means there’s no Mexico-based wrestler on a PWG event for the first time since February 2018. That card looks like another era of PWG and it feels like PWG may be heading into a new one (though I expect Mexican wrestlers will be back on the next show.)
GCW announced Tony Deppen vs Komander on 07/15.
Taya, who is the current AAA Reina de Reinas champion, MLW Featherweight champion and Impact Knockout Tag Team champion, goes for the PWR Women’s Championship on July 30th.
Hijo del Espectro Jr. is now wrestling as Rey Espectro. This appears to have changed earlier this month because he was promoted for last weekend’s Arena Jalisco show under that name. This Espectro and a previous Espectro Jr. had a falling out earlier this year over rights to the name, so a name change was always likely. He hasn’t been in Mexico City much since that name issue came up. There are two many “Rey”s and the name lacks all creativity, but it’s at least less wordy than the old name.
Shocker has long said his jaw injury came from a Diamante Azul kick. In a recent interview, with former CMLL TV interviewer Tania Rincon, Shocker revealed there was more to that injury. (Shocker does so many interviews that it’s possible he’s said this prior and I just didn’t catch it.) Shocker got six teeth implanted in his mouth and was told to rest a month. He instead wrestled Diamante Azul later that day, and that’s when he got hit in the face. He also got hit by Marco Corleone in San Luis Potosi a week later, and then his jaw fell apart the next day as he was eating a quesadilla. Shocker is back to saying he’s not sure when he’s getting the surgery, it depends when he raises the money.
The video of the Masked Republic Boss Fight Studios action figures is cool.
Super Luchas has an article on 13 year old Super Crazy Jr., the daughter of the original.