Month: September 2022

An earthquake measured at 7.6 magnitude took place in Colima, Michoacán, Mexico this afternoon. Colima is near the pacific coast and the center of the earthquake was in a less populated area. The earthquake was felt in Mexico City. It doesn’t appear to have done major damage there, but it also just happened. Earthquakes on this date in 1985 and 2017 did disrupt Mexico City for days, but this epicenter seemed farther away.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 09/16/2022 Arena México [CMLL, El Grafico, El Universal, En El Ring, ESTO, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports, La Jornada, La Presna, La Razon, Marca, Marca, Mundo Deportivo, Post Wrestling, R de Rudo, Record, The Gladiatores, thecubsfan]
1) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa © b Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma [MEX TRIOS]   
third defense. All of Dulce Atrapsuenos beat all of Fuerza Poblana for the win.
2) Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto b Negro Casas, Star Jr., Titán   
19:19. Rudos took 1/3 in the only three fall match.
3) Ángel de Oro b Místico, Volador Jr. [COPA INDEPENDENCIA]     
19:20. winner of 09/02 block (Mistico) vs winner of 09/09 (Angel de Oro & Volador tied)
4) Averno & Fuerza Guerrera b Atlantis Jr. & Dragón Rojo Jr. [seeding battle royal]
3:03. Dragon Rojo replaced Templario on 08/30 (shoulder injury).
5) Averno & Último Guerrero b Atlantis & Fuerza Guerrera [relevos suicidas, semifinal] 
8:21.
6) Atlantis Jr. & Stuka Jr. b Dragón Rojo Jr. & Soberano Jr. [relevos suicidas, semifinal] 
9:49. Stuka rallied back to beat both opponents after Atlantis had been beat.
7) Atlantis Jr. & Stuka Jr. b Averno & Último Guerrero [relevos suicidas, final] 
2:36. Atlantis Jr. this time rallied back to beat both opponents after Stuka had been eliminated.
8) La Jarochita b Reyna Isis [mask]    
18:23. Jarochita won cleanly off her running big boot, surviving a martinete early. Reyna Isis is Yakisry Palacios, 29, 10 years a wrestler.
9) Atlantis Jr. b Stuka Jr. [mask]    
16:17. Atlantis Jr. submitted Stuka Jr. to La Atlantida to win. Stuka Jr. was announced as Omar Alvarado Garcia, 48, 30 years a wrestler.

It was a great show. Stuka Jr./Atlantis Jr. went as well as should’ve been expected. They laid out the tournament for maximum drama and to make that match look like as attractive as an option as possible. The crowd still cheered Stuka Jr. over Atlantis Jr., as also to be expected. The match played off the idea of Stuka coming oh so close to the impossible task of unmasking an Atlantis in Arena Mexico, with Atlantis Jr. doing enough to earn his respect along the way. It felt like a big win when Atlantis Jr. win. And it was still eclipsed by the women’s match, something which exceeded any reasonable every expection. The emotion was off the charts, making up for any faults in execution or a slightly funky finish. It just felt like a huge deal in the moment, something the wrestlers involved will be pointing back towards for years, a match that people who get into wrestling will cite as their inspiration. There were moments in the undercard that were uncreative or a bit frustrating. No one was really thinking about the undercard after the show.

I wrote a full review of the show over on Post Wrestling.

The most controversial moment of the night was Reyna Isis giving La Jarochita a martinete (tombstone piledriver). Jarochita kicked out, with the announcers explaining the long-banned martinete was now legal or at least up to the referee. There are a couple of theories on this:

1. CMLL really did unban the martinete as part of the other modernizations we’ve seen this year and it only came up as a near fall on the Aniversario
2. CMLL didn’t unban the martinete – Isis was going for a shoulderbreaker or something like that – referee Edgar didn’t call the DQ because he knew that wasn’t the finish, and the announcers just did a good job of covering up

This seems like minuta perfect for a conversation on CMLL Informa.

Arena Mexico did appear sold out, with a full upper level. There were scattered seats visible, which seemed more bad luck for scalpers rather than unsold inventory. The usual YouTube media videos are all from different spots than usual, so CMLL might have even sold the usual press section. It was also an event where most people probably left wanting to come back for another big show someday soon. Just a total success.

The reception to this show was strongly positive. The two mask matches got 95% of the talk, and lots of people were happy that CMLL felt like the CMLL of old. The clip of Altantis missing his dive was the most passed-around clip. There were the usual people upset that Atlantis Jr. got the win instead of someone more tenured or less-Atlantis, but there was more push back from others that in the past. The people who shout “he’s not a guy we want” to whomever wins in CMLL have usually be the loudest on social media but they weren’t the only voice this time.

The Aniversario wasn’t seen as widespread as it could’ve been because CMLL’s no VOD policy. Japanese wrestling fans this week were abuzz about a El Desperado/Jun Kasai match that took place on an NJPW-adjacent show. That event didn’t have tremendous interest internationally originally, but the match and the subsequent discussion/hype for the match got people to buy the show later. The top two matches on the CMLL had a reasonable amount of talk after the fact, but there’s no way for CMLL to take advantage of that or to keep the story going. (NJPW stuff is also more often pirated; don’t want to pretend all those people seeing that match paid for it.) This is not new news, this is something I write in some form or fashion after every CMLL iPPV, and it’s probably not changing until Ticketmaster makes a change.

Box y Lucha 3519 has the Aniversario on the cover.

Andrade wrote an encouraging post to Stuka Jr. on Twitter, and thanked Stuka for helping him get into Satanico’s class in CMLL. Both Andrade and Stuka use a peculiar hammerlock DDT and I’ve wondered if one borrowed it from the other or if has a common history in Torreon.

CMLL (SAT) 09/17/2022 Arena Coliseo [Box y Lucha, CMLL, Estrellas del Ring]
1) Mercurio, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia b Acero, Aéreo, Kaligua 
Rudos took 1/3
2) Grako, Inquisidor, Raider b Astral, Cachorro, Leono 
Rudos took 2/3.
3) La Jarochita, La Vaquerita, Lluvia DQ Hera, Reyna Isis, Tiffany 
Excessive violence DQ by Isis.
4) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Esfinge DQ Felino, Fuerza Guerrera, Virus 
Fuerza fouled Atlantis
5) Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero DQ Fugaz, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr.  
Dragon Rojo unmasked Fugaz

Reyna Isis did wrestle with a brace or an elbow pad on her right elbow. Both she and Stuka wrestled in their traditional gear on this show but both also said they’d like to come up with new looks as unmasked wrestlers.

CMLL (SUN) 09/18/2022 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Apocalipsis & Cholo b Bengala & Retro
2) Átomo, Chamuel, Periquito Sacaryas b Micro Ángel, Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo I
Team Chamuel took 1/3. (CMLL recap says ‘the rudos won’, but it’s impossible to know who are the rudos from show to show in this division.)
3) Flyer, Hombre Bala Jr., Robin b Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Dark Panther, Star Black, Volcano b El Coyote, Okumura, Rey Bucanero
Tecnicos took 2/3
5) Negro Casas, Panterita del Ring, Volador Jr. b Cancerbero, Luciferno, Terrible
Tecnicos took 1/3.

Good for Cancerbero & Luciferno getting a main event but it’s striking to see those guys in the last match. The Aniversario was great, it just didn’t fix all of CMLL’s issues.

Today’s Puebla show has Mistico, Soberano, and Stuka vs Atlantis, Dragon Rojo, and Ultimo Guerrero. Tuesday’s Arena Mexico is the special Dia de Luchadors show. I spent about a half hour trying to figure out how to stream it and had no luck. If you have a VPN that’ll work with YouTube in Mexico, let me know.

Soberano went ahead of Rugido in the NWA Middleweight Championship on Sunday following a deluge of votes. Rugido’s fans noticed and put him back ahead on Monday. That may go back and forth until the cut off on Wednesday. I may not know the winner unless CMLL advertises a specific cut off time to check.

CMLL promoted a CMLL spot show in Aguascalientes on 10/06. It doesn’t cost much to post on Twitter but it’s rare CMLL will do it for a show not happening at one of their buildings.

AAA

It was a good week of AAA TV. Both Iguana, Hamburguesa, Charro Negro vs Carta Brava, Takuma and La Hiedra was good, and there’s good potential in a Iguana/Hiedra date skit.  The new Psycho Cirucs did well against Los Mercenarios. The finish is a bit much but Panic Clown fit in fine. The main event wasn’t great but it gave AAA the bloody Pagano visuals they’re looking for. Selling the table bump Pagano does in half his matches as life-threatening was silly and didn’t seem to be believed by anyone beyond the announcers. We were also probably meant to see the “Crazy Boy introduces his new allies” before his allies started appearing in matches last week, but can’t expect AAA to air videos in order. They never did air the Panic Clown introduction video on TV, just put it up on YouTube. They’ll start on the Hard Rock Hotel show next week, which looks good on paper but could be slightly less in reality.

No mention of a TripleMania press conference yet. They did make some TripleMania news. Kenny Omega will not appear at TripleMania. The story of why varies slightly.

• On his podcast, Konnan says he checked in with Kenny Omega and Omega told him he couldn’t appear at TripleMania due to his AEW suspension. Konnan says he asked Christopher Daniels as well and was told the same.
• On his podcast and responding to those comments, Dave Meltzer said Omega was neither booked nor agreed to appear on TripleMania. AAA wanted Omega, Omega never said yes, and the suspension just finally closed that door.

AAA had that press conference where they asked people to tell them if they wanted Fenix or Kenny Omega or someone else, and Omega never mentioned it or mentioned AAA in other fashion. It certainly came off from the outside as if Omega had no interest in coming to AAA at this point in time. Maybe AAA got a different impression from Omega, though my impression matches a lot of what Meltzer reported as Omega’s impression.

Fenix/Vikingo will be outstanding. I wish that was AAA’s first choice. It does not appear it was their first choice.  It doesn’t seem to gain AAA anything by making it clear Fenix/Vikingo wasn’t their first choice. Give them the benefit of the doubt: their first choice might have been a three way, even if Dorian specifically said it would be a one vs one at the press conference.

Putting this out there in public is an attempt to regain AAA some credit – ‘we tried for Omega, it’s not our fault’ – when people get in Mexico get upset with them about Omega not coming in. It’s not their fault, Kenny was the guy who filmed the promo “I’m going to make up to you guys” last year and this year could not or would not actually make up. The Jeff Hardy situation wasn’t their fault, the Thunder Rosa situation is their fault, FTR had had a booking, literally everyone in AEW had something else going on whenever they were asked and Deonna Purrazzo had that wedding. I accept it all. I also accept no one cares about the reason, just the results. The results are what they are. Only actually bringing those people or changing strategies is going to change the narrative. Complaining about rotten luck will win over no hearts at this point, because AAA keeps putting themselves in position to have rotten luck.

That’s not the only TripleMania change. Friday, AAA posted a video of the NWA’s Kamille challenging Taya for the AAA Reina de Reinas championship, so she’ll be taking Thunder Rosa’s place. Kamille said she was responding to an open challenge from Taya, which was not something AAA put out. (AAA hadn’t addressed Thunder Rosa being off the show at all, it just was another AAA news thing that came out through Konnan’s podcast as part of a discussion about AEW.) Taya did accept the challenge on Sunday.

All this shuffling in two of the four matches that have been announced is probably why there hasn’t been an a press conference yet – AAA just didn’t have a full card yet. Maybe it’ll still come this week. The show is 26 days away.

That Flammer/Taya match people hoped would get the TripleMania actually happened already. They wrestled on the MLW taping this past weekend. Seems to be just for the MLW title. No idea if AAA will mention it.

Vampiro and Sexy Star appeared at the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) game on Saturday. AAA teased this as part of a bigger announcement. That fits with the story from last of AAA planning to run a show in Phoenix in December. I wonder if we’ll hear about that whenever AAA does hold that next press conference. It also seems to imply AAA running that stadium, but that’d be insane so maybe there’s more to it.

AAA also posted a photo of the Showcenter Championship and said we’d learn the destiny of the championship on the 10/25 show. Not sure if that means the tournament is ending a couple of months early or if there’s just a twist.

Psycho Clown’s column talks about his grandmother on his mother’s side, who passed away this past week.

Hijo del Vikingo looks to have a US Visa

You know what would be fun? If all this mess over Kenny Omega versus Hijo del Vikingo happening in AAA ended up resolving with Kenny Omega vs Hijo del Vikingo happening on an episode of AEW Rampage. OK, ok, ok, maybe we have different ideas of fun.

It appears Hijo del Vikingo has gotten or is close to getting his US visa. RGR Promotions is advertising him as coming soon on their Instagram. No date is announced. Hijo del Vikingo is scheduled for some meet and greets and press today in Puebla to promote an upcoming spot show, so there’s a chance someone may be able to confirm this one way or another. I’m sure there’s a bunch of US promoters urgently DM-ing to see if it’s accurate. I think it’s probably true; RGR has brought in a lot of Mexican wrestlers the last couple of years and I can’t think of a time where they’ve advertised someone they’ve been unable to get.

Here’s what I think I know about chain of events:

• Vikingo and others were part of a group work visa application put together by Masked Republic and a US indie promotion well over a year ago. That group was has been held up by the US government for unclear reasons. Other group work visas put together by Masked Republic have been approved before or after, and for both Mexicans and Japanese wrestlers. It’s just one specific group that’s been stuck on the slow bus. (It doesn’t even seem like it’d be one specific person that would be the hold up for everyone; the US government refused people in other groups but approved the rest.) This group was scheduled to get an update in October.
• California based RGR also worked on their own group visa, separate from what Masked Republic was doing. The Mexico-based names that showed up on their November 2021 shows are generally believed to people who go in through that approval.
• Some wrestlers believed to be in that Masked Republic group started telling US promoters they could take dates in late September. That didn’t seem to fit with the Masked Republic timeline. It did fit with a rumor of RGR preparing their own new group visa. And Vikingo being advertised as appearing on an upcoming RGR show fits that outcome as well.
  • It costs the wrestlers significant money to apply for these visas, so to do jump to a second group while waiting for a first one is a hard decision. Vikingo seems like he’ll be able to recoup that investment but who knows how this turns out, and you hope it’s the same for the rest of the people in the group.
• No matter who sponsors the group visa – Masked Republic or RGR or whomever – the visa doesn’t limit the wrestler for working with that group. Vikingo will surely work some RGR shows as a thanks but he’s free to sign a deal with whomever.

Sometime late this month or next, Hijo del Vikingo will start showing up in the US. I’d like to see him start in AEW for a short time to get the highest visibility and, if there’s nothing immediate for him to do there, then go to the Impacts of the world after he’s already had a chance to establish himself as a big deal. Maybe it goes a different way and that’ll be fine too. If this visa news is correct, and I reasonably believe it is, I’m just happy he’s going to get a chance to prove himself one or another in the US. He should’ve had this chance a long time ago. Vikingo’s probably on someone’s list for a visa since 2018. It’s finally time to see what he happens when he has one.

The story I most wanted to post on Twitter for the last few years is “Hijo del Vikingo got his US visa.” I got to do that post today – not totally confirmed but pretty close. I’m thinking of retiring completely from this news bit and just focusing on adding 1990s lineups to the luchadb from now on, it’d be so much more peaceful. I’m totally going to predictable angry Twitter posts about the AAA section and no one gets angry with me over Chicago Express lineups. That’s the life.

IWRG

IWRG (FRI) 09/16/2022 Arena Naucalpan [Cronista del Ring, IWRG, Mas Lucha, R de Rudo]
1) Limbo & Rey Halcón b Jhon Tiger & Spider Fly 
2) Keyra b Diosa Quetzal, Bengalee, Satania 
3) Coco Rojo, Coco Verde, Cocolores b Cerebro Negro, Fly Warrior, Maniacop 360 
4) Aster Boy, Noisy Boy, Tonalli b Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Puma de Oro 
Abismo Negro Jr. popped in to distract La Jacuan into a loss.
5) Hijo del Pirata Morgan © b Hijo del Fishman, Hijo del Alebrije [IWRG Rey del Ring] 
2nd defense, rematch from a draw on 08/21. Hijo del Alebrije added to the match mid week.
6) Hell Boy b Caballero de Plata [hair]  
Caballero de Plata lost his hair, announced he was donating to children battling cancer.

The main event was great, though it got over indulgent in ways big Mexican matches can get. They did such a long run of near falls off big moves that it felt they peaked and then kept repeating the beat for a few minutes longer. The CMLL women’s match varied more: there were big move near falls but there were submission spots and other ideas. It was a really strong match, especially considering where they’re at in their careers, and they never lost the crowd. I don’t know that it’s going to travel outside of indie lucha libre circles but it’s easy recommendation.

I was told the opener was worth checking out as well.

IWRG (SUN) 09/18/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Feroz b Spider Fly 
2) India Mazahua & Satania b Bengalee & Therius 
3) Asterboy, Luka, Noisy Boy b Fly Warrior, Nishikawa, Paymon 
4) Tonalli b Puma de Oro [IWRG IC MIDDLE]
2nd defense. Tonalli told Puma de Oro that he should team with himself and Aster Boy instead La Jacuan.
5) Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura b Abismo Negro Jr. & Mc-360 and Gran Pandemónium & Pandemónium Jr.
6) Cerebro Negro Jr. & Oficial Fierro b Cerebro Negro & Oficial 911 [relevos suicidas] 
AK47 was scheduled but injured, 911 took his place.
7) Cerebro Negro b Oficial 911 [ hair]
AK47 lost but 911 was originally scheduled so he was the one who got his head shaved again. 911 and Fierro broke up with AK47 after the match.

Oficial AK-47 apparently didn’t get his hair cut in the ring, as Oficial AK-47 Mas Lucha posted a backstage interview of a his hair cut in progress. AK-47 barely got his hair cut before his partners Oficial Fierro & 911 attacked him, ending their (long-running but recently dormant) trio. That left me wondering if they were getting out of AK-47’s haircut, but Mas Lucha did post a photo of him shaved.

There doesn’t appear to be any ending to to the Asterboy vs El Jacuan feud, everyone’s just randomly turning face. It seems less than satisfying.

Mas Lucha (THU) 09/22/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cometa Maya, El Viajero, Éxtasis, Radioactivo vs Hannya, SB Kento, Shocko, Tirano
2) Artemiz & Princesa Azul vs Princesa Águila & Sakura
3) Karaoui & Zumbi vs Blaze & Camuflaje
4) Hijo de Payaso Purasanta & Payaso Purasanta Jr. vs Hip Hop Man & Mosca (Argentina)
5) Alas de Oro & Alas De Plata vs Accion Jackson & Yutani
6) Ciclón Ramírez Jr. vs Shun Skywalker vs Travis Banks [TWS CHAMP]
7) El Mesías vs Último Guerrero

This is a subscriber only show. The two Mas Lucha shows I’ve really wanted to see this stretch are the Friday IWRG show and the Friday Big Lucha show, and both of those are free. It’s the shows I’ve had no real interest in that are paid. I guess I’m just out of touch.

Other Notes

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

DoradaFan has highlights of Torreon area luchadora Estrellita Lagunera.

Mascara Dorada’s match with Serpentico airs on AEW Elevation tonight on YouTube.

Former AAA wrestler Payaso Soleil (Roberto Hernandez) passed away Thursday after a battle with cancel. SuperLuchas points out his 2002-2004 AAA gimmick was name after Cirque du Soliel, and he teamed with Barnus & Ringling after the Barnum & Bailey and Ringling Brothers circuses. (AAA’s magazine seemed to spell it “Soley” instead.) Those wrestlers didn’t appear on the TV lineups I have, but those aren’t complete. He also wrestled under the name Comando Marino was a big fan of MMA and MMA styled wrestlers, running an MMA group called Radical Hybrid Combat and participating on it as recently as this year.

PWI has an interview with Diamante. I think Diamante’s probably challenging for Dragon Gate’s championship at some point in the next half year or so and I wonder if that’ll get people in Mexico to pay more attention to him; his successful run in Dragon Gate hasn’t gotten much attention until now.

Lunatik Extreme beat Amnesia in a mask vs hair match in Smash Wrestling (Ecatepec) on Friday. Amnesia is Angel Sandrate, 25, 10 years a wrestler. Lunatik Extreme is a young guy who loses these matches often, surprised to see him win one.

Atomic Star is also a guy who loses apuesta matches often. He lost his hair again on Friday in Arena Neza, part of a cage match. Mexica got the win. Atomic Star at least did get his hair cut.

Endeavor defeated Fantasma Blanco Jr. in their hair match in Oaxaca. Fantasma Blanco Jr. is Neftali Orlando Martinez Palacios. This was the show billed as an iPPV, which was weird. That didn’t happen, though it did appear Estrellas del Ring was there to tape the show.

CaraLucha’s show on Saturday went 0 for 6 on advertised matches. The advertised main event was Canek Jr. & Hijo de Fishman vs Dave the Clown & Hijo del Pirata Morgan and ended up being Pirata Morgan & Psicosis vs Coco Rojo & Estrella de Oro. This weekend was tough to get everyone where they needed to be but sometimes I believe everyone wastes time making these poster with lineups.

Masha Slamovich won Lucha Memes’ 4th Battle of Coacalco tournament on Sunday. She defeated Keyra, Astro de Plata Jr,. and Leon Dorado in the eight person tournament. That show should appear on IWTV in upcoming weeks.

(International) Pantera won the main Welcome to Mi Barrio title on Saturday’s show, while his sons lost the tag titles to Payasos Purasantas.

Tijauna luchadora Perla Negra is now going by Kitsune.

We don’t know what name Dark Zorro is going by. KAOZ lucha libre, which doesn’t runs shows, announced that the current Dark Zorro no longer part of their wrestling promotion and is no longer allowed to use that name. They implied they may give Dark Zorro to someone else. Dark Zorro, as a character, lasted just over four months. KAOZ ran 3 shows in that time. (He was the former Dragon Dorado, Ultimo Legendario and Vengador Radioactivo and should consider using a name he owns someday.) KAOZ calls it “a lack of respect and a breach of trust.” My impression is KAOZ has all their guys under contracts to control their booking and to get a piece of the booking fee, Dark Zorro got his own booking and didn’t immediately pay KAOZ and KAOZ decided he must go. His most recent show was The Crash show that Pierroth randomly missed, so maybe something is going on with those two groups; Kaoz doesn’t make it clear what booking caused this. This is all very important to the few people it affects.

Nacion Lucha Libre exists, plans on running a TV taping this weekend. Alberto was supposed to be on Mas Lucha talking about it, but it appears it got cut off due to earthquake – the video cuts off after. Maybe it’ll turn up later. Alberto done a lot of press but it doesn’t feel like anyone’s talking about this return. They still have a few days.

CMLL

Today is the CMLL Aniversario show. Perhaps you’ve heard. The show is sold out, so they only way left to see is via TicketmasterLive (or go talk to a scalper, I suppose.)

• It’s a 5 pm CT start. That’s early. Please remember this.
• It’s no VOD.
• The Angel de Oro vs Mistico vs Volador Jr. is now a normal three way.
  • Mistico was happy about this. I kinda prefer the balls to have two singles matches
• we don’t know who is facing who in the tag team tournament and won’t know until the battle royal.
• it sure seems like it’s either Atlantis Jr. beating Stuka Jr or Soberano Jr. beating Dragon Rojo
• I’d guess it’s La Jarochita beating Reyna Isis but I wouldn’t put any weight on it.

I’ve got a longer preview over on Voices of Wrestling and I’ll be recapping the show for PostWrestling. I’ll probably not be on Twitter as much to get that recap done. You’ll manage.

ESTO continues their Aniversario show interviews with Fuerza Guerrera (who insists he is a normal person and that’s why people like him)

In another interview, Fuerza Guerrera believes he revived Atlantis’ “dead career due to injuries” by feuding with him. Guerrera says he does like Atlantis Jr.

CMLL (SAT) 09/17/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Acero, Aéreo, Kaligua vs Mercurio, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia
2) Astral, Cachorro, Leono vs Grako, Inquisidor, Raider
3) La Jarochita, La Vaquerita, Lluvia vs Hera, Reyna Isis, Tiffany
4) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Esfinge vs Felino, Fuerza Guerrera, Virus
5) Fugaz, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero

Stuka Jr., Soberano, Atlantis Jr., and Dragon Roj in the main event. Fuerza Guerrera and Atlantis in the semimain. They probably would be in the main event if one of them were losing their mask.

CMLL (SUN) 09/18/2022 Arena México
1) Bengala & Retro vs Apocalipsis & Cholo
2) Micro Ángel, Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo I vs Átomo, Chamuel, Periquito Sacaryas
3) Flyer, Hombre Bala Jr., Robin vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
4) Dark Panther, Star Black, Volcano vs El Coyote, Okumura, Rey Bucanero
5) Negro Casas, Panterita del Ring, Volador Jr. vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Terrible

None of the main Aniversario wrestlers here.

CMLL (MON) 09/19/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Meyer & Neón vs Espíritu Maligno & King Jaguar
2) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo & Chamuel
3) Astral & Oro Jr. vs El Perverso & Prayer
4) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido, Volador Jr. vs Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma
5) Místico, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero

Same two feuds (and Ultimo Guerrero) in the Arena Puebla main event. Fuerza Poblana versus Los Depredadores in a rare atomicos might be setting up something. Neon makes his Puebla debut.

The Tuesday Arena Mexico show is the special Dia de Luchadors show, already announced.

CMLL (TUE) 09/20/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Avispón Negro Jr., Bello Antuan, Cosmos vs Bobby Black, Relámpago Azul, Tigre Blanco
2) Jhonny Dinamo, Obelisk, Último Ángel vs Persa, Raven, Temerario
3) Halcón Negro Jr., Optimus, Trono vs Crixus, Nitro, Sangre Azteca
4) Ángel Rebelde vs Huitzil [lightning]
5) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
6) Atlantis Jr., Místico, Soberano Jr. vs Hijo del Villano III, Terrible, Zandokan Jr.

Los Gemelos Diablos are listed as “Los Malditos” on the poster. There is a local indie act that says they have the rights to use Los Gemelos Diablos name, though it’s never come up in the past. Interesting spotlight lightning match.

Guadalajara will also have their own Dia de Luchador show on Wednesday. It’ll be a free show and will include local indie luchadors.

CMLL says voting for the Night of Champions shows ends on 09/21, so I guess we’ll get the winners on next week’s CMLL Informa. The leaders have been nearly static since the voting started. The only three battles under a thousand votes

• the NWA Middleweight Championship (Mistico) has a 340 lead on the CMLL Welterweight Championship (Titan) for the main event spot
• Rugido leads Soberano by 405 votes for the match with Mistico.

Either of those could change with a pretty big push, but I don’t sense anything is coming. These seem less competitive this year and I’m not sure of a specific reason.

CMLL made a lot of announcements for their October shows. The biggest news was the CMLL Gran Prix de Amazonas, which will take place on 10/28. The teams announced

• Team Mexico: Dark Silueta, Dalys, La Jarochita, Reyna Isis, Lluvia, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit
• Team World: Lady Frost, Stephanie Vaquer, Tae Honma, Hikari Shimizu, Alex Gracia, Mei Suruga, Avispa Dorada

That’s 7 v 7. Last year’s Gran Prix de Amazonas was also 7 v 7. This year’s men’s Gran Prix was also originally 7 v 7, then CMLL announced Mistico and Mesias were added along the way. 7 0r 8 isn’t a big deal, except Fabi Apache currently exists as a free agent, this would be the best month for CMLL to bring her in if she was ever coming to CMLL and that’s an announcement that would come separate from this teams. I’ve got no information that she’s coming to CMLL but it’s looming over this setup.

Avispa Dorada returned for a few weeks this time last year to be part of this and it seems like that’s happening again here. Honma was in for a week in 2019 and won a tournament to get this chance. Shimizu lost to Honma but I guess that’s close enough. Gracia was among a group of Texas wrestlers brought to Mexico for a week by Big Daddy (Yum Yum) who all got one match and seemed to wrestle under whatever name was on their passport rather than their normal working name. (Gracia was Alexandra.) Lady Frost is a US indie wrestler who was under contract to Impact and was in the news recently for trying to get out of that contract. Sugura wrestles for a lot of promotions in Japan but is primarly with Gatoh Move/ChocoPro, a group which increased it’s fanbase greatly among Twitter folks with lots of free streaming small room shows during the pandemic. Sugura appeared with Emi Sakura in AEW for a few months and had a match there. She got the biggest social media reaction of those announced, which I would’ve expected but I’m not sure CMLL does.

CMLL also confirmed the dates for the CMLL Universal de Amazonas. La Jarochita won the 2021 competition, Dalys the 2019 version. The blocks will be on October 7 and 14th, with the final on the 21st. Some of the women for the Gran Prix may be in early to fill out those blocks (ciberneticos) or they’ll be smaller matches than usual for a tournament.

That puts the CMLL upcoming Friday schedule as

• 09/16 Aniversario
• 09/23 is probably something involving the finalists tonight
• 09/30 Noche de Campeones
• 10/07 CMLL Universal de Amazonas Block A
• 10/14 CMLL Universal de Amazonas Block B (this is the TripleMania weekend)
• 10/21 CMLL Universal de Amazonas Final
• 10/28 CMLL Gran Prix de Amazonas
• 11/04 is probably a Dia del Muertos-themed show

Satanico accompanied the Guadalajara team for their cibernetico against Puebla on Monday. Mas Lucha caught up with him after the show. Near the end, he’s asking if he might return for another run and Satanico says it’s the opposite – all cycles comes to an end, and he thinks he’s in his last year of wrestling. I’m not sure if we’re meant to take that literally, like he’s meant to retire at the end of the year, or just as a more vague statement. Satanico turns 72 in October.

CMLL is posting congratulatory videos for today’s Aniversario, featuring a lot of famous people I don’t know. Two people I do know are NJPW’s Naoki Sugabayashi and Hiromu Takahashi. Sugabayashi mentions NJPW hopes to do FantasticaMania next year if COVID (and COVID restrictions permit it.) That’s kinda of what we figured; it’s good to hear it, it’s too bad there’s still no definite word. This is usually the time of year where the decision on who would go would seem to be made. Takahashi teases a LIJ coming to Mexico in 2023, which again is something you’d hope to see.

Mascara Dorada

Mas Lucha posted an interview with Mascara Dorada on Wednesday. I suspect it may be a week or so old, because Dorada doesn’t bring up his challenge for mask match to Mistico in there. It’s still pretty recent and in obvious reaction to fans and vloggers who suggested he was abandoning CMLL by working for Impact. Those stories are likely coming back for another run after Dorada appeared on AEW Dark Elevation, in a match to air Monday. Dorada’s main point here is he’s a CMLL and NJPW wrestler foremost, loyally so, and and he’ll work wherever they might as him ask to work. That includes Impact and AEW, but appearing in those places doesn’t change his goals – he wants to go back to Japan with NJPW and back to “my home” Arena Mexico. Dorada mentioned, at least at that time, he had no contact with AAA or AEW and it was actually NJPW who were the first people to reach out when he departed WWE. Dorada has remained wrestling only in the US; he explains he’s waiting for a US green card, it’s taking a long time, and he can’t leave the US (where he plans to be based) until it happens. Dorada seems to suggest NJPW already wanted to bring him there; I think there’s a good chance he was meant to be in Titan’s spot for the BOSJ and that’s an indication now how long this has stretched on. That probably also informs the AEW & Impact work; Dorada likely figured he’d be picking up dates outside of the US by now, he hasn’t, and and he could use the additional bookings. It’s not about jumping to AAA, because he literally can not work an AAA show at the moment.

Mascara Dorada was complimentary of WWE and said every Mexican luchador should strive to go there and learn from it, even if it hasn’t worked out great for everyone. He wanted out because he wasn’t getting to wrestle much or compete for championships, but he also noted WWE paid for the house he was streaming from so he has a lot to thank them for. Dorada was positive on both Vince McMahon and Paul Levesque (HHH), saying Levesque was the one who brought him in and gave him a chance to come back to NXT to have some good matches near the end of his run. In possibly related news, Lince Dorado announced he was not taking bookings into 2023

The Dorada in AEW match was a (spoiler) victory, which means AEW probably has more plans for him. Dorada’s match on Impact against Mike Bailey was fine; it’s weird to do a spotlight mask for Mascara Dorada without him doing a Brillo Dorado, but that’s what happened.

AAA

Space finishes off the AAA Torreon taping on Saturday at the normal time.

• Charro Negro, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs Carta Brava Jr., La Hiedra, Takuma
• Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Panic Clown vs Rey Escorpión, Taurus, Villano III Jr.
• Lady Shani & Pagano vs Chik Tormenta & Cibernético

I delayed airing it last week to fix the audio issues and might do it again if there are audio issues. I wish I knew these things in advance or didn’t have to deal with them entirely.

No TV taping or any other specific big show this weekend. The roster is scattered around the country working various spot shows.

It’s going to be weird if there’s no AAA TripleMania press conference early next week. Or, at least an announcement is happening that week. Today’s WON updates the Reina de Reina title situation: AAA says they tried for Ruby Soho (injury) and Toni Storm (unavailable), so they’re looking outside of AEW. They are still set on getting an US-based wrestler for that spot.

There’s also an update on Octagon Jr. They did a TV angle to set up an eye injury because he really did have an eye injury; he suffered a detached retina on a dive and “was close to needing a retina or corona transplant but through treatment was able to avoid it.” That means Octagon Jr. probably lost some level of vision on the injury and has been working to regain it.

The 11/04 AAA spot show in Aguascalientes show has Lucha Brothers vs Dralistico & Dragon Lee and Vikingo vs Laredo vs Flamita. That promoter often streams the big matches on their Facebook page.

IWRG

Thursday’s IWRG Retro was

• 2000-06-15: Dr. Cerebro vs Ciclon Ramirez vs Bombero Infernal
• 2002-08-01: Guerra C-3 & Zonik 2000 vs Black Jaguar & Maligno
  • IWRG lists this as 2001-02-22; I’m using the luchadb date
• 2000-06-15: Ryo Saito & Multfacetico vs Millonario & Leon del Ring

These are all matches on tape lists but haven’t been put online. Archived footage is something rare to see posted by promotions, so make sure you give these videos a thumbs up and/or a positive comment to let them know you want to keep them doing it.

Segunda Caida has a recap of the first IWRG Retro episode.

Today’s the Hellboy vs Caballero de Plata hair match, which I would be totally excited for if it wasn’t happening straight up against the Aniversario. It has the potential to be the best IWRG match of the year and a career-making match for both people. This is a free Mas Lucha show and a good alternative if you’re not interested in CMLL and want to watch some lucha today.

The poster lists Hijo del Fishman vs Hijo del Pirata Morgan for the IWRG Rey del Ring match. That was weird because Alebrije and Pirata agreed on adding to Alebrije to the match on Sunday, before the poster was released. Turns out Hijo del Alebrije was officially added Thursday night, so it will be a three way.

IWRG (SUN) 09/18/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Spider Fly vs Feroz
2) Bengalee & Therius vs India Mazahua & Satania
3) Asterboy, Luka, Noisy Boy vs Fly Warrior, Nishikawa, Paymon
4) Tonalli vs Puma de Oro [IWRG IC MIDDLE]
2nd defense
5) Abismo Negro Jr. & Mc-360 vs Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura and Gran Pandemónium & Pandemónium Jr.
6) Cerebro Negro Jr. & Oficial Fierro vs Cerebro Negro & Oficial AK47 [relevos suicidas]
7) ? vs ?? [mask, hair]

This is a Mas Lucha premium show. It’d be weird if Cerbero Negro Jr. and Atlantis Jr. got big wins right after each other. Tonalli/Puma should be good before the run-ins. I like that they have the Dragongate rookie wrestling furry  creature Luka for maximum weirdness.

This week’s IWRG Revolucionario featured an update on Teelo. IWRG (and Los Negociantes, separately) were running fundraisers to support Teelo’s drive to get a prothestic leg. He’d lost one in a motorcycle accident. They were able to raise enough money and they showed how he was now able to walk. He was using a cane in the other segment, I’m not sure if he’ll reach his dream of wrestling again, but it’s still great progress.

IWRG’s holiday party will return on 12/02. This was a pre-pandemic tradition. IWRG seems to be putting a lot of emphasis on it’s December celebrations this year because they’re hitting a nice round number of 60 years of promoting. Usually that means a big match, but it’s not obvious what that would be. Bengalee/Satania may still happen eventually but that doesn’t seem like it.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

There are so many shows this holiday weekend. I’m far behind on adding them all –  haven’t even gone through Alfredo’s posters – but it does feel like a ‘normal’ terms of schedule, with as many shows as you might expect pre-pandemic. Kid’s Day had a huge number and one of these weekend days won’t be far behind once I get a total. The Evil Ninja Turtles also seem to be working everywhere at once.

MLW announced the winner of the Flammer/Shani/Dorada/Hiedra winner on Sunday’s taping will face Taya for the MLW Women’s Featherweight championship on the same night. It’s a TV show split up over multiple weeks so that makes sense, though it also means the winner (or Taya) is likely not in the plans past this taping. I hadn’t really thought about it, but MLW should draw really well in a lucha libre venue with a lot of luchadors on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Impact announced an eight-person #1 contenders match for their 09/23 Victory Road PPV, with the winner getting their shot at Impact’s big Bound for Glory show. Laredo and Taurus are both involved, seem like longshots to win. It seems more important to Impact to have a NJPW or AEW person involved in that sort of match than an AAA one.

MexWrestling announced a 10/01 show back at Arena San Juan with Aramis. The show is called “Solo Buenas Luchas”, which is a hard promise to keep. MexaWrestling has not run since New Year’s Day; the person behind it has been focused on IWRG instead.

A preview of the Fantasma Jr. vs Endevaor mask vs mask match.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 09/12/2022 Arena Puebla [Arena Coliseo Guadajara, Arena Puebla, Box y Lucha, Mas Lucha]
1) Espíritu Maligno, Millenium, Sombra Diabólica b Ángel Rebelde (Querétaro), Optimus (Querétaro), Trono (Querétaro)
2) Furia Roja (Jalisco), Guerrero de la Muerte (Jalisco), Joker (Jalisco) b El Asturiano, Prayer, Siki Osama
3) Rey Apocalipsis b Halcón Negro Jr. [lightning]
Rey Apocalipsis replaced Halcon Negro (who appeared to be there but didn’t wrestle.) About 8 minutes.
4) Arkalis, El Perverso, Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Rey Samuray, Stigma b Adrenalina (Jalisco), Bestia Negra, Difunto, Explosivo (Jalisco), Fantástico (Jalisco), Zandokan Jr. 
Order of elimination: Perverso, Adrenalina, Fantastico, Rey Samuray, Explosivo, Pegasso, Difunto, Arkalis, Bestia Negra, Stigma, and Maya defeated Zandokan to win.
5) Averno, Místico, Stuka Jr. DQ Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Fuerza Guerrera [Relevos Increíbles]
Atlantis Jr. accidentally unmasked Stuka Jr. for the DQ.

I read on Twitter there’s a full version of the cibernetico but I haven’t found (and haven’t had time to find it.) Coverage of the Puebla/GDL show was way up than usual and attendance seems somewhat up. They seemed to be into the Puebla/GDL cibernetico at least.

Atlantis unmasking Stuka Jr. by accident is going full circle on this year.

CMLL (TUE) 09/13/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas de Ring, Kaiser Sports, Marca]
1) Oro Jr., Sangre Imperial, Valiente Jr. b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr. 
2) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Full Metal, Minos, Pierrothito 
tencicos took 2/3
3) La Guerrera, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit b Amapola, Dark Silueta, La Metálica 
tecnicas took 1/3
4) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado b Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido 
Malditos took 1/3, only losing the second by DQ.
5) Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Terrible 
Team Cavernario took 2/3

Heard this was a vocal crowd but not a strong show. It didn’t look great on paper.

CMLL (TUE) 09/13/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, thecubsfan]
1) Black Boy, Ponzoña Jr., Raven b Capitán Cobra, Micro, Mortis 
2) Flash, Mágico, Metatrón, Ráfaga DQ León Blanco, Maléfico, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno 
Flash faked a foul from Mr. Trueno
3) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Sexy Sol DQ La Magnifica, Reyna Isis, Valkiria
Reyna Isis excessive violence DQ
4) Bestia Negra, Difunto, Rey Bucanero, Satánico b Felino, Joker, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. 
Satanico & Bucanero fouled Felino & Joker
5) Euforia, Soberano Jr., Zandokan Jr. b Demonio Maya, Furia Roja, Principe Daniel 
Julio Presadio and his band played a surprise performance after the match.
6) Averno, Hijo del Villano III, Místico b Atlantis Jr., Explosivo, Último Guerrero 

This looked very weird skimming through it. A run of two DQs and a foul finish in the middle, people who were taken off the show (Felino) somehow ending up on the show, Hijo del Villano III being sent to town so Explosivo gets a random main event. Difunto did the “carried to the ring in a casket” Espectro entrance, the semimain was followed by a surprise band performance, they shot off confetti for Mistico winning a normal trios match, just an all over the place show.

Hijo del Villano III added did serve as a reminder that, at one point, CMLL was building an Atlantis/Atlantis Jr. vs Villano IV/Hijo del Villano III big match that fell to the wayside. Both Atlantis father and son are still getting their big match, Villano IV is actually getting a big match and Hijo del Villano III just exists. Only Guadalajara still books him as an Atlantis Jr. rival right now.

CMLL said they’re down to 150 tickets left for the Aniversario show. I suspect they’re selling out after Informa.

KeMonito announced he’d make his return to CMLL on the Aniversario show. He’s been out a couple of weeks after minor surgery.

ESTO’s Aniversario interviews continue with Atlantis (“the best arenas are the ones filled with children”) and Atlantis Jr. (who talks about putting on masks and wrestling with his father when they were young.

CMLL Informa has a cast of thousands. The Copa Independencia finalists, Solar, Rocky Santana, El Gallego, Mr. Condor, Hombre Bala and Robin are scheduled.

AAA

TripleMania Mexico City is available to purchase on FITE. It’s $23 USD. The two previous TripleManias this year were $20, the NYC show back in 2019 was $30. $23 seems fine, as long as AAA gets around to announcing some matches. The default link seems to be the English version and they’re listing a start time of 7 pm CT.

I made fun of the FITE description, weirdly translating the names of the wrestlers and spelling TripleMania wrong. They fixed the names. TripleMania is still spelled wrong. FITE still is pretty useful because they sent out a press release to the news sites to announce the PPV was on sale as “new matches announced for TripleMania” and a lot of places ran it without noticing there were no new matches announced for TripleMania.

Battle Championship Wrestling, a group in Australia near Melbourne, announced they’ll have Hijo del Vikingo vs Adam Brooks on their 10/28 show. That’s the first time Hijo del Vikingo has wrestled outside of Mexico; I wouldn’t have bet on that happening in Australia, but Drago & Aerostar have gone to Australia before off the Lucha Underground fame. Every country has different visa rules, Vikingo not being able to get into the US doesn’t really stop him from working elsewhere if the promotion can get him there.

Last week’s Mas Lucha podcast mentioned Hijo del Vikingo missed the Torreon TV taping show due to a flight issue. This week’s podcast mentioned Octagon Jr. is still waiting for medical clearance to come back to the ring; he was close but still not approved to wrestle on this past week’s taping. Hard Rock Hotel’s owners posted a highlight package of the taping.

Did you know NGD has new theme music? You can listen to it here. I would not suggest listening to it.

IWRG

IWRG (FRI) 09/16/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Jhon Tiger & Spider Fly vs Limbo & Rey Halcón
2) Diosa Quetzal vs Keyra, Bengalee, Satania
3) Aster Boy, Noisy Boy, Tonalli vs Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Puma de Oro
4) Coco Rojo, Coco Verde, Cocolores vs Cerebro Negro, Fly Warrior, Maniacop 360
5) Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Hijo del Fishman [IWRG Rey del Ring]
6) Caballero de Plata vs Hell Boy [hair]

Not a lot of help for the main event hair match and this show goes directly up against the Aniversario show. The match should be good enough that I’ll want to watch two shows at once (but probably won’t). The poster has this as a Mas Lucha membership but Mas Lucha explained that it’s actually a free show and Sunday’s IWRG show is the pay one.

Big Lucha

No Big Lucha World this week either. The promotion hasn’t said anything but what I believe they’re putting it on hiatus this month because they’re otherwise busy. They are still running angles on social media, most recently King and Kong wondering if they should be tecnicos or rudos.

Bandido’s Gym will have it’s second annual bodybuilding competition on 12/17.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report and this week’s Poster-Mania. There’s a lot of posters for Friday but somehow I thought there would be even more.

Titanes en el Ring luchador Indio Geronimo (Raymundo Saire Carrasco) passed away on Monday.

RIOT put up the 2021 Arez vs Hijo del Vikingo match. In lesser important news, PWI put out their annual 500 list. Vikingo finished 8th. I haven’t seen the full list, I’m sure someone will do the hard work of writing it all out today, then everyone else will just steal it from them and you’ll be able to find it. PWI uses a June/June calendar and is ranking “who had the best year”, not “who is the best”. Vikingo was mega champion for about half that run, so he was always going to be ranked highly – the unusual think is PWI valued AAA contributions more than past years. It’s recognition AAA ought to take advantage of while they can.

Impact on Thursday:

• Moose & Steve Maclin vs Decay (Black Tuarus & Crazy Steve)
• Mascara Dorada vs Mike Bailey for the X Divison Championship

Dragon Bane and Alpha Wolf wrestle again in NOAH on 09/16, a show airing on their WrestleUniverse service. Extreme Tiger and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. are also in tag matches. Tiger, Wolf, Bane and Ninja Mack have a four-way match 09/21.

Oaxaca’s Arena San Francisco had a 09/18 Endevaor vs Fantasma Blanco Jr. mask match scheduled for a while and will sell it as an iPPV for 50 pesos. No details on how to buy yet. I don’t know if that match is any good, I don’t know how to actually buy the show. It’s just rare to see iPPV offered away from the major cities.

Warrior Wrestling originally announced Briscoe Brothers versus the Lucha Brothers for the 10/02 show. They announced Tuesday night that AEW had asked them not to book that match and the Lucha Brothers will instead face Brian Cage and Gringo Loco. It’s all weird.

JCW announced Negro Navarro for their 10/09 show in New Jersey. That’s a funny idea that probably won’t end well.

GCW announced Komander for their 10/22 (Detriot) and 10/23 (Columbus) shows.

This is two weeks old news, but the Disney “Ultra Violet and Black Scorpion” show is believed to be canceled. That was the show that which originally included Blue Demon Jr. until it was suddenly no longer not. The article mentioning the cancelation speculates Disney may have given up on the show before it even aired.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 09/09/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports, Publimetro, R de Rudo, The Gladiatores, The Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Astral, Panterita del Ring Jr., Suicida b Dark Magic, Inquisidor, Raider  
19:55.
2) La Jarochita, La Vaquerita, Lluvia b Amapola, Reyna Isis, Tiffany    
14:26. Tecnicas took 2/3. isis & Jarochita feuded.
3) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero DQ Averno, Fuerza Guerrera, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]    
14:34. Straight falls. Fuerza unmasked Atlantis, and the rest of his team unmasked the rest of the other team after.
4) Ángel de Oro & Volador Jr. b Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Fugaz, Esfinge, Gemelo Diablo I, Sagrado [Copa Independencia, semifinal]    
33:01. Elimination order: Fugaz (via Esfinge, 5:08), Cavernario (Gemelo Diablo II, 7:02), Esfinge (Sagrado, 10:50), Sagrado (Volador Jr., 12:15), Cavernario (Gran Guerrero, 14:57), Gran Guerrero (Angel de Oro, 21:07) and then Angel de Oro & Volador collapsed on the ramp following back and forth Canadian Destroyers and were both counted out. CMLL ruled both advanced to face Mistico next week.

That double countout in a tournament block final may have never happened before; no one could come up with a previous occurrence. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for one reason (Mistico should get the win, Volador and Angel de Oro are losers), but it’s also just not something CMLL would consider doing before this different 2022. The crowd and I lost interest when they got to the final three of this match and teammates Volador and Gran Guerrero inexplicably started fighting and pinning each other. Angel de Oro and Volador worked long and hard enough to win enough of the crowd back. Last week was still the easily superior block. Volador won the Gran Prix, Mistico won the Universal tournament, perhaps Copa Independencia will be Angel de Oro’s time to shine.

The middle matches were the usual build-up matches a week out. Panterita del Ring Jr./Raider is quickly becoming a must-see match-up. This is really Raider’s rookie year, and he should be in rookie of the year consideration.

CMLL (SAT) 09/10/2022 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Kaligua, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Full Metal, Mercurio, Pierrothito
tecnicos took 2/3
2) Cachorro, Oro Jr., Valiente Jr. b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
tecnicos took 1/3
3) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa b El Coyote, Felino, Okumura
tecnicos took 1/3
4) Hombre Bala Jr. & Robin b Cholo & Disturbio [Arena Coliseo TAG]   
3rd defense (1st on a normal CMLL show)
5) Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto b Negro Casas, Titán, Volador Jr.

Disturbio being in a title match means you can see the full match on Distubrio’s wife’s YouTube channel. (You can see all his matches there.)

CMLL (SUN) 09/11/2022 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Fantasy & Pequeño Magía b Pequeño Polvora & Pequeño Violencia
2) Grako, Inquisidor, Nitro b Leono, Retro, Sangre Imperial
3) Hijo del Villano III, Kráneo, Rey Bucanero b Audaz, Flyer, Volcano
4) Mephisto, Niebla Roja, Terrible b Dark Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Star Jr.
5) Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. b Euforia, Soberano Jr., Titán

A normal Sunday show.

Today’s Puebla show features the Puebla versus Guadalajara matches. It is not stream, at least not any more than usual. I asked and was told on Twitter it was a COVID limitation. (If you’re optimistic, maybe you can hope Puebla streams will return one day after those COVID restrictions have been lifted.) The Puebla team has been wearing the same blue and white color scheme as the local soccer team and Guerrero Maya was encouraging Arena Puebla fans to show up in blue tonight to support them.

CMLL (TUE) 09/13/2022 Arena México
1) Oro Jr., Sangre Imperial, Valiente Jr. vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
2) Angelito, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Full Metal, Minos, Pierrothito
3) La Guerrera, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dark Silueta, La Metálica
4) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Rugido vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
5) Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Terrible vs Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero

It’s unusual for Angel de Oro and Dragon Rojo to work a Tuesday before the Aniversario. Maybe this card was put together a month ago and they weren’t working the Aniversario there, or maybe they’re just being random.

CMLL hasn’t published the official poster for the Aniversario, but we know the lineup now:

CMLL (FRI) 09/16/2022 Arena México
1) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa © vs Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma [MEX TRIOS]
third defense
2) Negro Casas, Star Jr., Titán vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
3) Místico vs Ángel de Oro vs Volador Jr. [COPA INDEPENDENCIA]
winner of 09/02 block (Mistico) vs winner of 09/09 (Angel de Oro & Volador tied)
4) La Jarochita vs Reyna Isis [mask]
5) Atlantis & Fuerza Guerrera vs Averno & Último Guerrero and Atlantis Jr. & Stuka Jr. and Dragón Rojo Jr. & Soberano Jr.
Dragon Rojo replaced Templario on 08/30 (shoulder injury)
6) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [relevos suicidas, semifinal]
7) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [relevos suicidas, semifinal]
8) ? & ?? vs ??? & ???? [relevos suicidas, final]
9) ? vs ?? [mask]

It’s officially Aniversario week, which means some time around Thursday people who don’t follow lucha may realize there’s a big show this week. CMLL’s Gran Prix was a lot of fun and this looks like an easy winner. There’s not an on-paper match of the year, but crowd reactions like that Gran Prix may make a huge difference. I’m still picking Atlantis Jr. over Stuka but I don’t feel absolutely certain about it.

A few floor seats have popped up for Aniversariso show, so CMLL must’ve decided to sell some they were planning on giving away. The grandstands remain open and it’s impossible to tell how many have been sold. I’ve additionally seen people trying to flip tickets on Twitter, which I can not recall seeing prior for a CMLL show but does fit with the sense a lot of tickets were quickly purchased in hopes of resale. If you found yourself in Arena Mexico Friday night, I think there’s still a good chance you’ll be able to find a ticket if you’re willing to pay enough for it.

The Copa Independencia match is likely to be the “pick a ball of the bag to decide a singles match” rule CMLL did earlier this year, not three people in the ring. (Perhaps Informa will clarify this.) This is a 5 pm start. I’m going to keep repeating that all week so I don’t forget. Obviously, a 5 pm start is going to make it tough to watch live for people who live in some times zones (and maybe easier in others.)

Fuerza Guerrera, in an interview promoting the Aniversario, says Octagon will die alone with nothing but his request for 15 million pesos for a mask match. They seem like great friends.

ESTO continues their Aniverasrio interviews with Dragon Rojo, Stuka, and Averno. Rojo said one of his disappointments when he was out of wrestling was never having main evented an Aniversario show. He was a guy who absolutely was being positioned to do so early on and just never got to that level. Averno mentions the one thing about lucha libre that’s bothers him is about how it’s taken away from many moments with his family.

Mascara Dorada would like to face Mistico in a mask vs mask match at the 90th Aniversario. That’s probably not happening. Can’t hurt to ask.

AAA

AAA on Space this week was the first half of Torreon. The main thing you’d come away from it is Flamita versus Bandido is a big deal feud. That match is currently happening in Big Lucha in a couple of weeks, not AAA, but maybe it’ll be both. The two fought at the start of the show, the middle of the show, and then Flamita popped up in the main event to cost Bandido a chance to win the match. That match (Komander, Bandido, Laredo vs NGD) was the best match on a generally good show. Abismo Negro Jr. & Flamita vs Dragon Lee & Dralistico got good by the end though it took a while to get there. Dralistico’s strange instance of being a tag wrestler is the primary reason he and Dragon Lee have had a fun inconsquential run as a tag team. AAA probably could do more with Dragon Lee on his own, probably couldn’t with Dralistico, and they probably need to book both to get either so this good usage. SB Kento, Brazo de Oro Jr., Dinamico and Emperador Azteca has a typically chaotic fourway and did well with it. It was a strange positioning for the visitor from Dragongate – AAA even used the photo of the wrong Kento in his graphic – but he stood out in the match as more polished than his younger and less traveled opponents. He took the pin, which likely upsets Dragongate fans but means almost nothing here. Those TV taping openers are just holding pens until/unless an idea comes up. The announcers pushed the idea that SB Kento was now working with Crazy Boy, so that’s an idea, just one that got no explanation until it was already ongoing.

Psycho Clown noted the debut of Brazo de Oro Jr. in his Record column this week, and called him his “sobrino.” That’s nephew. The AAA announcers were also making a point of calling Brazo de Oro Jr. a fourth-generation wrestler. I’ve always though he was a third generation wrestler – his name is Brazo de Oro Jr. after all – but Psycho Clown and the AAA announcers obviously know better. Luchawiki has him as the grandson of Brazo de Oro so this must’ve come up before and I’m just drawing a blank.

AAA TV (SAT) 09/10/2022 Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo [En Directo QROO]
1) Guardián, Kaotico, Príncipe Cometa b Blackie El Guerrero, Corsario Jr., Tizoc 
2) Aramis & Arez b Komander & Látigo
3) Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla b Lady Shani, Reina Dorada, Sexy Star
4) Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa, Willie Mack b Dave The Clown, Dinámico, Emperador Azteca
Microman was with the tecnicos. Hiedra got involved with the match and kissed Iguana.
5) Laredo Kid & Taya b Christi Jaynes & Johnny Caballero
Las Toxicas attacked Taya after the match
6) Dragón Lee & Dralistico b Hijo Del Vikingo & Myzteziz Jr.
Myzteziz Jr. replaced Octagon and took the pin from Dragon Lee.
7) Pagano, Pentagón Jr., Psycho Clown b Parka Negra, Taurus, Villano III Jr.
Villano IV unmasked Penta after the match.

Every AAA taping is the one I’m sure I’m going to get results for and then then they turn up anyway. Toxicas attacking Taya is hope for Flammer getting that title shot (except for TV rarely setting up anything at TripleMania.) V4 was on the trip to as part of the plane/travel package promotion so AAA did an angle with him. The show seemed to draw well, though it’s a smaller capacity and a whole different financial setup than usual for a show like this. These episodes will air on September 24 and October 1st, likely with a lot of footage of hanging out around the resort.

No sign of the press conference for TripleMania Mexico City yet. AAA usually announces cards a month in advance, but maybe doing it off the resort weekend is too much. There are no announced tapings between now and TripleMania (though there is a Showcenter card on 09/25.)

All AAA TV episodes in 2021 are available on video streaming site Canela.TV. Canela appears based in the US; I presume anyone can see the shows but I haven’t checked. AAA is listed as “3 seasons” but it’s just the 2021 shows split into 20 episode chunks. Those episodes on had already been switched to private on AAA’s YouTube channel, so this deal might have happened some time ago. I don’t recall AAA ever announcing it; I only noticed it because Canela’ Twitter account promoted it on Saturday.

TripleMania Tijuana aired on EstrellaTV affiliates on Friday. EstrellaTV had announced that date for that show way back when the Monterrey show aired, but it hadn’t been mentioned again. Neither AAA or EstrellaTV mentioned TripleMania was going to air until the show had already been on for an hour long. (It wasn’t even listed as “TripleMania” in my cable listings.) Like with the Canela deal, you hope the goal was “AAA gets a nice check for content they’ve already produced” rather than “AAA hopes to expand their footprint”, because these outlets don’t appear to be large enough to capture many new viewers. TripleMania Mexico City will air on Estrella TV on 11/11; I’ve set myself up a reminder to remind you then.

There’s a local advertisement for a TV taping on 12/17 in Tampico. They taped there back in March and June; it’s unusual for AAA to run the same venue for TV three times in a year. A 12/17 taping date typically means it’ll be the first taping to air in January. We’re already discussing 2023 plans, kinda frightening.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 09/11/2022 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Rey Aztaroth b Águila Oriental 
2) Baby Star & Jhon Tito b Kenji & Rey Halcón  
3) Feroz, Paymon, Vértigo b Estrella de Oro, Genex, Spider Fly  
Spider Fly replaced Junta
4) Dick Angelo 3G & Puma de Oro b Bugambilia & Máximo and Asterboy & Tonalli and Nishikawa & Shun Skywalker  
Skywalker and Nishikawa (Dragongate rookie having his first matches in Japan) were added to make this a four-way elimination match. Jaucan and Tonalli/Aster Boy continue to fued.
5) Caballero de Plata & Hijo del Alebrije b Hell Boy & Hijo del Pirata Morgan  
Alebrije pinned Morgan, will challenge Morgan for the IWRG Rey del Ring along side Hijo del Fishman on 09/16
6) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro b Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro [super libre]  
Cerebro Negro & Cerbero Negro Jr. and Oficial AK47 & Fierro agreed to a hair/mask vs hair/hair match for 09/18

Lots being set up for a short time span: a hair match on 09/16, a double apuesta match on 09/18, and and promos all night long for the Mas Lucha show on 09/22. I presume no Thursday night show this week because of the show on Friday night (and almost no one anywhere runs shows on 09/15; that’s a family party night.)

My understanding is Shun Skywalker happened to come to Mexico anyway yesterday and then just went to Naucalapan to see if he could pick up a booking. That also may be why he was in such an incidental role; being Dragongate champion doesn’t travel well to Mexico but Skywalker was used well in IWRG last time around. There was a moment in that fourway where Skywalker looked like he got dropped on his head and and referee Reyes was super concerned. Skywalker was laughing with a fan a minute later. This was greatly entertaining since no one got hurt. Nishikawa looked green even by IWRG standards, throwing him in a four-way in a foreign language may have been a bit too much for him at this point. Hijo del Alebrije looked good in his return match and I assume “Hijo del Alebrije suddenly returns to IWRG” and “Hijo del Alebrije suddenly gets a title match” are related factoids.

Other News

Seemingly new Polling service Mexico Elige published a bunch of Facebook-driven polls in time for Mexico’s Independence Day. The very last question they appear to have asked was on lucha libre. About 50% of the respondents said they’d gone to a lucha libre show. 28% of the respondents said they liked lucha libre, compared to 56% who said they didn’t. (13% were in the middle, the rest had no opinion. The text in tweet has the result reversed.) That 28% isn’t far off from past polls asking people their favorite sports, it’s just usually not displayed with 56% against it.

Dragon Lee & Dralistico won the vacant The Crash tag team titles on Friday in Tijuana. I’m sure it doesn’t matter but I still wonder if they’ll bring those belts to AAA. Dr. Wagner Jr., wrestling in his mask but unmasking after, won the main event by DQ over LA Park & DMT Azul. Pierroth was scheduled but didn’t appear. The promotion didn’t explain anything. Both TJ Sports and Zona Ruda’s recaps speculate that Pierroth working that one AAA show made him off limits to The Crash, even though The Crash booking was announced well before the AAA booking. Dragon Lee & Dralistico would seem to have too much leverage to be prevented from working where they want, at least for now. An undercard tag match (Toto, Lunatik Extreme vs Proximo, Alas de Oro Jr.) didn’t happen due to suspensions. TJ Sports says Toto & Extreme were suspended. Zona Ruda mentions heavy rains shut down a highway and prevented Proximo from making the show. Turnout was said to be good.

Blue Demon Jr. declared the Blue Demon TV show was “99.9% fake.” This was also evident to anyone who watched the Blue Demon TV show, which came off as a period drama where one of the main characters was a luchador and was just using Blue Demon and his wife’s names to make it feel important. (At the time, Hijo del Santo had said he was offered the same show and turned it down. Santo also said he he was working on more authentic version of his father’s history and that’s never gone anywhere.) In other interviews, Demon Jr. has claimed he owns the rights to “Blue Demon Jr.” and his non-wrestling brother owns the right to “Blue Demon” and it was that side of the family who made the TV deal.

Mas Lucha announced both the 09/17 Arena Lopes Mateos show and 09/22 Arena Naucalpan show (no lineup yet) will be Mas Lucha Premium broadcasts, along with the 10/06 Torneo Supremo a few weeks later. There hasn’t been many non-Naucalpan shows as part of the subscriber package. The main event for that Arena Lopez Mateos is Blue Demon Jr. & DMT Azul vs LA Park & Pagano, all four names though guys who work a lot in Mexico City (though not as much with Pagano.) Maybe the draw there is more than it’s live show and those are a little bit more rare than they used to be. Anyway, if you’re going to subscribe, you can get three shows if you do it on Saturday.

Fredo reposted lucha libre-related content from his retro site over on LuchaWorld this weekend. The recap of a lucha libre focused Contrapunto episode  – the famous show where Santo shows his face days before he’d pass away – is definitely worth a read.

Segunda Caida praises Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs Blue Demon Jr.

New Star unmasked Psicotico Xtreme on a show in Tampico Saturday. Psicotico Xtreme is Oscar Iraim Chavez, 25, 19 years a wrstler, from Tampico.

CMLL

Today’s CMLL show is the standard last stop before the Aniversario. The eight men in the main event tournament meet in an atomicos, with old allies and new Atlantis, Ultimo Guerrero, Dragon Rojo Jr., and Atlantis Jr. face the more makeshift combo of Averno, Fuerza Guerrera, Soberano Jr., and Stuka. Fuerza should definitely win. Jarochita & Isis meet in the women’s trios as a build up to their match. The main event is Volador Jr. and seven luchadors who don’t stand a good shot of winning in the Copa Independencia semifinal. The opener is Astral, Panterita Jr., Suicida vs Dark Magic, Inquisidor, Raider, where all three tecnicos may brawl over which one of them gets to work spots with Raider. It’s on TickemasterLive. In-person tickets seem to been moving better than last week but it doesn’t look a big crowd.

CMLL is offering third row Aniversario seats for people who purchase Lucha Tour tickets. No price is mentioned; it’s probably not cheap but it’s also probably the only way to get that close right now. Reyna Isis, La Jarochita, and Ultimo Guerrero will appear. “Gradas” grandstand tickets are still available; it’s impossible to know how many are left from the way they’re sold on Ticketmaster.

The ten luchadors who are risking their mask or hair went on a media tour Wednesday to promote the Aniversario. They took the media on a TuriLuchas bus around Mexico City, like with the Gran Prix, and then stopped in front of the ‘Monumento a la Revolución’ to pose for dramatic photos. Fuerza Guerrera and Atlantis were said to be the most confrontational duo. Guerrera insisted he’ll continue on with his retirement tour even if he loses his mask; next Friday will not be his final match regardless of the outcome. He’s listed on an October show in Aguascalientes.

ESTO continues it’s Aniversario preview interviews with Soberano and Ultimo Guerrero. The latter says he’s had long hair since he left high school and he’d be crushed if he lost it at the Aniversario.

CMLL (SUN) 09/11/2022 Arena México
1) Fantasy & Pequeño Magía vs Pequeño Polvora & Pequeño Violencia
2) Leono, Retro, Sangre Imperial vs Grako, Inquisidor, Nitro
3) Audaz, Flyer, Volcano vs Hijo del Villano III, Kráneo, Rey Bucanero
4) Dark Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Star Jr. vs Mephisto, Niebla Roja, Terrible
5) Euforia, Soberano Jr., Titán vs Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.

Just another random Sunady shows. Niebla Roja and Angel de Oro are more consistently being booked as rudos at this point, as if that matters from show to show.

CMLL (TUE) 09/13/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Capitán Cobra, Micro, Mortis vs Black Boy, Jabalí, Ponzoña Jr.
2) Flash, Mágico, Metatrón, Ráfaga vs León Blanco, Maléfico, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
3) La Jarochita & Lluvia vs Reyna Isis & Valkiria
4) Rey Bucanero & Satánico vs Felino & Negro Casas
5) Euforia, Soberano Jr., Zandokan Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
6) Averno & Místico vs Atlantis Jr. & Último Guerrero

Odd partners to build to the Aniversario show; more normal partners in the third match. Second match continues a feud between older (and occasional) local luchadors. No sign of a big show for Aniversario here.

Arena Coliseo Guadalajara advertised Mascara Infernal, Jason Styles and Julio Pedrosa for this show, and they’re not on the lineup. These guys appear to be central California wrestlers (though I had trouble finding much info about them.) Mascara Infernal commented on the announcement and Facebook denoted him as a ‘top fan’, which means he comments a lot on the Facebook page. That comment seems to have vanished.

CMLL Informa announced a special Dia de Lucha Libre y Dia de Luchador show for Tuesday on 09/20. That’s a holiday set for September 21st, so they’re celebrating it a day early.

CMLL (TUE) 09/20/2022 Arena México
1) Micro Ángel, Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo, Chamuel, Periquito Sacaryas
2) Astral, Hombre Bala Jr., Robin vs Gallego, Mr. Cóndor, Rocky Santana
3) Lluvia, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Dark Silueta, Hera, Reyna Isis
4) Blue Panther, Negro Casas, Volador Jr. vs Hechicero, Negro Navarro, Solar I
5) Gran Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero vs Averno, Mephisto, Satánico

Los Diabolicos, Negro Navarro, Solar and Satanico return, though they’re careful to not put them against each other this time around. Navarro is more active this year but any of those guys could be making their final Arena Mexico appearance without knowing it.

It’s rare wrestlers work both Tuesday and Friday Arena Mexico this year and it’s common that those who lose their hair or mask on an Aniversario show also wrestle the following Friday in Arena Mexico. Averno & Ultimo Guerrero being booked here hints they’re not involved in the Aniversario results. Isis being here is also interesting. This is a special show so those normal rules may not apply.

Dark Silueta hasn’t wrestled since her hurting her knee injury back on August 26th. She mentioned getting physical therapy on Thursday.

These Tuesday shows continue to air on MarcaClaro, which limits their live videos to Mexico only. (I’m not sure if this is a CMLL decision.) I’ve had limited success with VPNs watching those shows. Many of them that say they work for Mexico seem to be found out by YouTube, so you may want to check that it’s working before using one. I’ll probably have it on the Google Drive Wednesday.

CMLL polls for the Night of Champions have remained mostly stale. Rugido has stretched out his lead over Soberano, who’ll need to start pushing people to vote if he wants that title match. Suicida is blowing everyone else away with number of votes, and the race between the two singles title matches for the main event spot is the closests battle. I’m a little concerned about how a show with Rugido/Mistico and Suicida/Titan is going to draw, but that’s the gamble inherent in doing one of these contests and it’s not like CMLL is knocking them dead at the box office every Friday anyway.

NJPW announced they’ll be running their World Tag League and the Super Junior Tag League together from November 21 to December 14th. No names have been confirmed. CMLL wrestlers usually participate in the Super Junior Tag competitions and rarely in the World Tag League. The most recent tournaments to include outside wrestlers were 2018 (Volador Jr. & Soberano appeared) and 2019 (Volador Jr. & Titan.) Based on history, NJPW will likely include Mascara Dorada if Mascara Dorada is available to travel internationally by that time of that tour. Everything else probably depends on working around Dorada’s availability. I always prefer to see younger wrestlers to get experience (and so NJPW just doesn’t treat top CMLL wrestlers like pin eaters), but it’s usually the biggest names they can get dates on.

Netflix Latinoamerica produced a short video to promote Cobra Kai season 5 featuring KeMonito watching the series to train and get revenge on Ultimo Guerrero for the dropkick so many years ago. The video is well done and may also go viral. It also looks like there’s someone else in the KeMonito suit for part of it; he’s more mobile than usual.

AAA

AAA TV on Space this week is at 6:30 pm. They’ll air some matches from Torreon. We probably won’t know which ones until Saturday.

AAA has a taping tomorrow at the Hard Rock Hotel Rivera Maya. Fans who bought the  tourist package left for the shows this morning.

Octagon Jr. is scheduled in his first match since the eye injury angle (which appeared to be a cover for a real injury; he’s been listed on lineups but hasn’t been known to wrestle in months.) Octagon & Vikingo vs Dragon Lee & Dralistico and Aramis & Arez vs Komander & Latigo are two most promising matches on the show. Laredo Kid & Taya vs Christi Jaynes & Johnny Caballero is scheduled; Taya is having a bad travel day. Pagano, Pentagon, and Psycho Clown face Parka Negra, Taurus, and Villano III Jr. in the scheduled main event. It is a resort weekend show and those don’t always have the highest effort for obvious reasons. There’s no connections between this card and anything announced for TripleMania Th.e show should air on 09/24 and 10/01, leaving AAA with one week to fill before the big show. Not sure if that means AAA will squeeze in one more taping or if they’ll just use that week to hype TripleMania.

AAA also has a Showcenter-style show in Merida on Sunday. That’s not expected to be filmed.

Whitepaper.mx has a story about the business of AAA. You can always tell when these business interviews are primarly based on interviews with AAA people (Dorian Roldan is quoted a lot) based on how the New York show is handled. Here, it is “they ran Madison Square Garden and attracted a lot of fans, though not as much money as they hoped.” There’s no mention they didn’t make as much as hoped because they moved the show from the arena to the theatre attached to Madison Square Garden. That reliance on AAA does give us some important insight: Roldan mentions a plan to run a show in Arizona in December as part of the latest attempt at US expansion. The show is mentioned as having a “new format”, with no more details. There are also ideas for a reality documentary show similar to Netflix’s “F1: Drive to Survive”, with the hopes of bringing in new fans similar to what’s happened with F1 in the US. Roldan explains the Showcenter and similar shows also as ways to bring in new fans, or fans who might be more comfortable going to more a modern venue than usual lucha libre arena (and pay more for the experience.) He also says they’re working on with Fibra Uno and Ventura Entertainment on the previously mentioned shows based in Cancun, hoping to turn it into a lucha libre tourist destination.

There’s no update on the Chessman story. He’s posted nothing publically and the Facebook site accusing him hasn’t followed up.

In this week’s WON (and drawing from a podcast episode I haven’t listened to), Konnan expressed some doubt about Thunder Rosa’s injury. His version is Rosa told him originally it was a knee injury, then changed it to back injury in a later conversation and he called her out on that. Konnan said his conspiracy side thinks AEW might have put Rosa on break, though he admits he could be totally wrong about that. He believes she’s really dealing with an injury but there may be more it. The WON itself notes that sort of back injury is something doctors would tell people not to wrestle on, but wrestlers often do. Either way, it sounded like Konnan was frustrated with Thunder Rosa.

Under the Ring has an interview with AAA announcer Larry Dallas.

RoL (SAT) 09/17/2022 Republic of Lucha, South Pasadena, California
1) Black Danger & Látigo vs ? & Zokre
2) Máscarita Dorada vs Demus
3) Matt Sydal vs Lince Dorado
4) Brian Cage vs Willie Mack, Black Taurus (Indie)
5) Taya Valkyrie vs Lady Flammer
6) Penta Zero Miedo & Rey Fénix (Indie) vs Aaron Solo & QT Marshall

This isn’t an AAA show but close enough to put in this section. This Republic of Lucha show will stream live on FITE (past ones have been on delay) for $12 standalone or part of FITE’s $5/month subscription. I’m always a little bit cautious on “first show live streaming show.” Mascarita Dorada vs Demus is always a good time.

Death Triangle (PAC, Rey Fenix, Penta el Zero M) won the AEW World Trios Championships on Wednesday over the Best Friends and Orange Cassidy. It was a good match and a nice moment for them to win, though everything felt weird because of how it happened; there was a gigantic elephant in the room for the show and it could only halfway be acknowledged. I’m not sure what’s next for them as champions and maybe even AEW hasn’t decided yet. It’s possible they could still be champions by the time TripleMania comes around and Fenix could be going for his fourth belt at the same time.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 09/11/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Águila Oriental vs Rey Aztaroth
2) Baby Star & Jhon Tito vs Kenji & Rey Halcón
3) Estrella de Oro, Genex, Junta vs Feroz, Paymon, Vértigo
4) Bugambilia & Máximo vs Asterboy & Tonalli and Dick Angelo 3G & Puma de Oro
5) Caballero de Plata & Hijo del Alebrije vs Hell Boy & Hijo del Pirata Morgan
6) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Dr. Cerebro vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro [super libre]

Cerebros and Oficials continue to feud. Caballero de Plata and Hell Boy with their final lead up match. Maximo making a rare appearance in Arena Naucalpan; he and Bugambilia picked up tag titles in Acapulco.

IWRG announced Mesias and Ultimo Guerrero for a Mas Lucha premium show on Thursday 09/22. I reported it as “no IWRG shows on Thursday’s” but it was actually only the first Thursday and last Thursday of the month (09/29) looking at the graphic closer.

To fill those Thursday, IWRG is airing “IWRG Retro” episode. The first episode includes matches from 2001, 1999 and 1996. It appears to be the show which aired on ESPN2 in Mexico, with the ESPN graphics blurred out and present day announcing. The matches themselves were nothing special, but it was stuff that hasn’t turned up before (the 1999 edit: and the 2001 matches were on a tape list, the 1996 was new.) It’s unclear how much old footage IWRG actually has – did they pick these three matches because they didn’t have a big selection, or do they have a lot and just picked three random matches? They’re likely doing another one of these shows on 09/29.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Bandido faces Kevin Giza on Circle 6’s show in Detroit tonight. It airs on FITE, part of the $5/month FITE+ package or $15 standalone.

The Crash has DMT Azul & LA Park vs Dr. Wagner Jr. & Pierroth.x

MLW added Lady Shani vs Lady Flammer vs La Hiedra vs Reina Dorado to their 09/18 show. Winner faces Taya at some other time. It’ll be great if Flammer is owed a Taya title shot in two promotions.

Warrior Wrestling announced the Lucha Brothers versus the Briscoe Brothers on 10/02. Those shows usually air on FITE.

Fantasma was at a government press conference, talking about how there will be lucha libre as part of a cultural event that’s being held in October. (This is the second time it’s come up, and I haven’t got a handle on it beyond a vague list of names and shows on 10/28 and 1029; we’ll probably hear more later and I’ll go over it then.) This was the first public chance for someone to ask head of the Mexico City lucha libre commission Fantasma about Dr. Wagner Jr.’s intention to put his mask back on. Fantasma basically doesn’t believe Wagner is actually putting his mask back on, saying it would be a huge sign of disrespect to lucha libre and Wagner has a habit of being full of hot air. That’s a fair point when it comes to Wagner.

KAOZ held a press conference yesterday. They promoted video to air later. It has not been posted; I scanned through video taken by media and saw Konnan Big was back. If they announced a date for a next show, they didn’t announce it. They instead announced a new Cibernetico stable “Creaturas del Kaoz”, with Heronia, Charly Manson, Steel Angel and Iron Demon. I presume the last two are Monterrey wrestlers being regimmicked. They also teased the new Pierroth getting his own group. Again, this promotion has no next show date announced.

Critero Hidalgo has an interview of Arena Aficion’s Barkai, billed as the best new wrestler in the arena.

A profile of Veracruz’s Danessa.

A Blue Demon inspired art exhibit opened in Puebla.

There’s a benefit show for Leon luchador Black Evil.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 09/05/2022 Arena Puebla [@Tribuna Deportes]
1) Asturiano, Leono, Sangre Imperial b Black Tiger, King Jaguar, Sombra Diabólika
2) Olympia & Tiffany b La Guerrera & Marcela
Tiffany replaced Reyna Isis
3) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Samuray DQ Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo I, Sagrado
excessive violence DQ
4) Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Soberano Jr. b Hechicero, Stuka Jr., Terrible
Atlantis Jr. tossed his mask to Stuka Jr. to draw the DQ.
5) Cavernario © b Averno [CMLL LH] 
1st defense

I so rarely get full results from Puebla that I almost forgot to post this. Their Facebook page did post the full Cavernario/Averno title match.

CMLL (TUE) 09/06/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports, Marca, The Gladiatores]
1) Minos & Pequeño Olímpico b Aéreo & Angelito 
2) La Guerrera, La Magnifica, Marcela b Hera, La Seductora, Metálica 
3) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Hijo del Villano III, Okumura, Pólvora 
4) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Star Black b Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus 
5) Cavernario, Niebla Roja, Terrible b Blue Panther, Star Jr., Stuka Jr. 

The normal just a show on a Tuesday. The underrated story is how much CMLL has given up doing anything on Tuesday or Sundays. They’re not drawing especially well on those days, though they weren’t drawing especially well on those days when they were trying.

CMLL (TUE) 09/06/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Aurelius, Maximus, Minotauro b Autilius, Logan, Rey Urano 
2) León Blanco, Maléfico, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno b Flash, Mágico, Metatrón, Ráfaga 
3) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico b Cris Skin, Crixus, Demonio Maya 
4) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Sexy Sol b Náutica, Reyna Isis, Valkiria 
5) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma b Bestia Negra, Difunto, Zandokan Jr. [Relevos Increíbles] 
Maya tossed his mask to Difutno to draw the DQ. Teams fought post match, GDL left the Puebla guys unmasked.
6) Diamond, Dulce Gardenia, Panterita del Ring Jr., Volador Jr. b Dragón Rojo Jr., Joker, Misterioso Jr., Principe Daniel 

The Puebla/GDL feud continues, and into next Monday’s show.

CMLL (MON) 09/12/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Espíritu Maligno, Millenium, Sombra Diabólica vs Ángel Rebelde (Querétaro), Optimus (Querétaro), Trono (Querétaro)
2) El Asturiano, Prayer, Siki Osama vs Furia Roja (Jalisco), Guerrero de la Muerte (Jalisco), Joker (Jalisco)
3) Halcón Negro Jr. vs Crixus (Jalisco) [lightning]
4) Arkalis, El Perverso, Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Rey Samuray, Stigma vs Adrenalina (Jalisco), Bestia Negra, Difunto, Explosivo (Jalisco), Fantástico (Jalisco), Zandokan Jr.
5) Averno, Místico, Stuka Jr. vs Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Fuerza Guerrera [Relevos Increíbles]

The GDL vs Puebla return match produces a card for Arena Puebla that looks a lot closer to what Guadalajara has been running all year. Less CDMX talent, the Queretaro wrestlers involved.

As we don’t see Puebla shows any more, I didn’t realize Puebla’s Pequeno Joker hasn’t been wrestling in Arena Puebla since last October. It would be fun to have him come back to confront his Guadalajara opposite.

CMLL Aniversario tickets are down to just the “gradas” grandstand section left; everything else is now sold out. There’s a decent chance the building might be completely sold before the day of the show, and I don’t know the last time that happened. (There’s also a chance a good number of people are going to show up at Arena Mexico with no tickets the day of the show, assuming they can just buy them as usual; the scalpers are going to have a banner day.)

The 09/30 Night of Champions polls remain open, but they appear decided in most categories. Infernales lead Ola Negra by 2213 votes for the trios titles, Suicida leads Rey Cometa by 1283 for the Historic Middleweight championship, Silueta & Ampola lead Marcela & Silueta by 1269 votes in the women’s tag battle, Pierroth has a 1195 vote lead for the minis titles match and Atrapsuenos lead Los Depredadores by 968 votes for the men’s tag titles. All the leaders in those categories continue to get the most votes.

The NWA Middleweight championship is the close one, bouncing between Soberano and Rugido frequently. Soberano’s been ahead three of the days I’ve checked, Rugido’s been ahead the other four, including today. It’s a 47 vote lead. Guerrero Maya is 1036 votes behind Rugido, which is still closer than most of the second place finishes in the other category.

Suicida by far has the most votes for any wrestler at 5839. Rey Cometa has 4556 votes, enough to win almost any other category, enough to win nearly any other category except the one he’s in. That’s been enough to fuel the CMLL Welterweight Championship to the most votes (and the main event position), but the back and forth Rugido/Soberano battle may overtake it as soon as tomorrow.

(All numbers as of a little bit after noon on Wednesday. I haven’t been able to check in at the same time on all of these days.)

CMLL’s only announced Ola Negra for CMLL Infoma today so far.

Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma and Negro Casas are headed to Costa Rica on 10/15 & 16.

ESTO has an interview with La Jarochita and one with Reyna Isis to hype the mask match.

AAA

A post on Hola Nicolas Romero Monday night accused Chessman of being in an improper relationship with an underage girl. The post is not entirely convincing; there’s enough there that it should be looked into it, but it doesn’t seem yet like enough to put Chessman on some list of canceled people. The post seems entirely based on the version of the story from the girl’s mother, who wants her child back. The child was taken away from the home based on allegations of abuse there; she’s now alleging that was done improperly and Chessman has since acted wrongly by enrolling the girl in his lucha libre school and forming a relationship with her. The mother posted a letter the girl wrote for class; she definitely has a crush on Chessman but it doesn’t present proof beyond that. Chessman’s school is paid for by the local government, so Chessman is a government worker in this case. At least one person who I heard from on this said there was some local government politics tied into all of this, though I didn’t really understand how. Chessman’s Facebook page is a bit hard to find; he hasn’t said anything about this situation yet.

Electroshock told Lucha Libre Tampico (pointed out by InfoLuchas) that he was invited to appear on TripleMania Monterrey and Tijuana, but had other booking on those days. He’s hoping he’ll still get the call for Mexico City.

I was mostly joking about this on Twitter, but I do wonder what Kenny Omega reportedly being among many suspended by AEW affects AAA’s build to TripleMania. It’s seemed like that AAA wanted to do Fenix/Vikingo and the “fan poll” was a method of getting there. Omega hasn’t ever acknowledged this TripleMania bit is going on, much less been part of the build towards it in any way. AEW suspending Omega gives AAA another out, if Omega is actually suspended or at least appears to be off limits by the time of the next TripleMania press conference. Fenix versus Vikingo will be outstanding.

IWRG

IWRG says no Thursday night shows this month. Tickets for Sunday shows will be 30% off. There will likely be other shows on other days of the week – the Caballero de Plata/Hellboy match is a Friday – and that may be why this odd schedule.

IWRG is also teasing their wrestlers heading to the US. That’s the RGR deal. RGR helped a group of AAA wrestlers get work visas, and doing the same for IWRG is probably a bigger part of the deal than the occasional Rey Leon appearance in Naucalpan. RGR will probably booked the IWRG guys. I’m not sure how many or how often they want. Latigo & Toxin worked hard in their appearances in Chicago on WrestleMania weekend, but it was also clear very few in the crowd knew their names. (I was told even the announcing on the Saturday show had problems keeping track of which guy was which, and wrestlingdata lists Ciclope & Miedo Extremo in the match instead of them.) Latigo & Toxin are at least in AAA, AAA at least has one (to three) shows each year the fans outside of the lucha libre bubble pay attention to. IWRG has one of those once every three or four years. A Puma de Oro or a Tonalli may get over if a promotion books them regularly, but we haven’t seen most indie promotions be interested in making that sort of investment. Everyone RGR books from IWRG will get a cool trip to California, maybe a weekend of matches, and an experience they get to brag about forever, maybe that’s enough. I hope that’s enough.

I’m coming at this from a unique perspective, of fighting to get people to check out just one exciting Mexican wrestling match for weeks and getting met with mostly indifference, and it makes me overly concenred about how hard it is to get any American (or non-Mexican fans in general) to care about this. RGR does market mostly to Mexican fans and so there might be a better pickup there than the randos who follow me on Twitter. And it’s not my money, so it’s not really my problem.

Other News

LuchaWorld has the latest Podcast, latest Poster-Mania, and the latest Lucha Report.

Big Lucha hasn’t said anything about a Big Lucha World tonight, so assume they’re taking the week off. They did post about their relationship from GALLI.

Nacion Lucha Libre was filming for their TV show on Tuesday.

Faby Apache is headed to LAWE (Puerto Rico) for a women’s tournament on 09/17.

09/18 MLW in Atlanta

• Laredo Kid, Komander, Microman vs Gino Medina, Taurus, Mini Abismo Negro
• Hammerstone vs Bandido for the MLW championship

The MLW preview pushes a Gino Medina vs Microman feud. That was a Gino Medina vs Aramis feud previously. MLW announced a partnership with a media company, which came off to me like there must be some stake in ownership and cash exchanged for the media company to seriously involve themselves. (That’s definitely not said in the article though.) It must be the “new TV deal” that’s been rumored for a while, though it’s not a TV/streaming deal in the way we’re normally thinking – this is the group that’s going to help market them to a TV/streaming company to get that deal. Anyway, maybe the takeaway from this deal is MLW’s looked a bit shaky this year and this deal is a positive sign MLW’s going to be sticking around for a while longer.

Lucha Memes (SUN) 09/18/2022 Coliseo Coacalco, Coacalco, Estado de México
1) Sol & X-Devil Jr. vs Samuray Azteca & Shyrui
2) Vengador vs Titus Alexander
3) Astro De Plata Jr. vs Osiris [Battle of Coacalco, quarterfinal]
4) Masha Slamovich vs Keyra [Battle of Coacalco, quarterfinal]
5) León Dorado vs Judas el Traidor [Battle of Coacalco, quarterfinal]
6) Black Terry vs Vinnie Massaro [Battle of Coacalco, quarterfinal]
7) ? vs ?? [Battle of Coacalco, semifinal]
8) ? vs ?? [Battle of Coacalco, semifinal]
9) ? vs ?? [Battle of Coacalco, final]

Slamovich, Alexander and former Lucha Underground wrestler Massaro are in through a relationship with West Coast Pro Wrestling; Alexander won their recent tournament. Slamovich is also an Impact regular. Memes is missing the young native star that’s exciting people: they’ve got people who’ve been around for a while and people who haven’t yet made much of a name yet. This will go up on IWTV within a couple weeks of it taking place based on recent history.

Zona 23 , GCW (SUN) 10/16/2022 Av. Lopez Portillo, San Francisco Chilpan, Tultitlán, Estado de México
1) Lunatik Extreme, Ovett Jr., Súper Boy, Venganza vs Lince Extreme, Osiris, Tiger Boy, Tiger Fly
2) Terremoto vs Demoledor, Venom
3) Cole Radrick vs Lunatik Fly, Ciber Black
4) Jimmy Lloyd vs Demus
5) Drew Parker vs Cíclope
6) Miedo Extremo vs Alex Colon
7) Pagano vs Joey Janela

Pagano is having a match with Cibernetico that they’re teasing could be the end of both men; he will wake up the next day and go to Zona 23 to have a match. This Zona 23 show will air on FITE on a delay. (The junkyard doesn’t have fiber internet.) So much for my theory about a GCW tag title match as part of this weekend; Colon and John Wayne Murdoch are the new champions, but only one is making the trip. Also skeptical any of these guys will show up on the AAA show the night before, though Joey Janela is no weirder than the some of the other weirdos who’ve ended up on a TripleMania show and might draw some curious onlookers on FITE from people who otherwise have limited interest in AAA. (Joey Janela in a featured singles match no, Joey Janela as one of 15 people in a Copa TripleMania sure why not. Joey Janela as a Marvel Lucha Libre super hero character is the ideal.)

Shocker’s long-awaited jaw operation is slated for October 24th. He told this to the De Todos Menos Futbol radio show. The fateful Diamante Azul/Shocker match that started his jaw problems was 2017, so it’s taken five years to get this point (which included saving up money for the operation). Shocker mentions in this interview that he believes teeth implants he had done weakened his jaw first, making the injury more likely. Shocker also plays it up like he may be told he can never wrestle again after this operation, though it’s hard to believe he’d be wrestling now if he was listening to doctor’s orders about that sort of stuff.

Ex-luchador Fama (Adolfo Escobar) is the new head of the Centro, Tabasco commission following last month’s passing of ex-luchador/commission El Torbellino (Juvencio Alvarez Lopez).

An article on Super Astro’s tortas shop.

There’s a lucha libre film festival in Veracruz this weekend.

A24 has a Martin Karadagian bio.