Leyenda de Azul tonight, IWRG title change

CMLL

Tonight’s card:

CMLL (FRI) 11/25/2022 Arena México
1) Retro & Valiente Jr. vs Inquisidor & Nitro
2) Dark Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
3) Hijo del Villano III, Rugido, Volador Jr. vs Blue Panther, Felino, Felino Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Atlantis vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Euforia, Yota, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Kráneo, Valiente, El Mesías, Último Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, Sagrado, Rey Bucanero, Volcano, Esfinge [Leyenda de Azul]

The Leyenda has a high floor (it won’t suck) and a low ceiling (it won’t be great.) Mesias or Ultimo Guerrero seem like the winners since they’re the focus, but there’s not a lot to this one and a half dozen other people could win if there’s no plan on following it up.  The third match is weird but it doesn’t seem like they’re setting up anything. We can dream about the second match setting up a Virus/Panterita Jr. match; it probably will be the match of the night. Retro having issues with his partners might pop up in the opener. This is the usual Ticketmaster Live show.

CMLL (SAT) 11/26/2022 Arena Coliseo
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Violencia
2) Astral, Cachorro, El Suicida vs Cholo, Enfermero Jr., Raider
3) Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr., Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Magnus
4) Blue Panther, Dark Panther, El Audaz vs Mephisto, Misterioso Jr., Okumura
5) Stuka Jr., Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Euforia, Yota

A show. Audaz has quietly returned to action.

CMLL (TUE) 11/29/2022 Arena México
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo & Periquito Sacaryas
2) Oro Jr., Retro, Robin vs Disturbio, Nitro, Zandokan Jr.
3) La Magnifica, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Olympia, Tiffany
4) El Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr., Panterita del Ring vs Felino, Felino Jr., Misterioso Jr.
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado

I know Los Malditos have been used in main events before but this feels like a lineup that only helps when the actual stars are all booked on two other shows that night. I guess you can’t actually hurt Tuesday shows with weak lineups at this point, they’re already dead.

CMLL (TUE) 11/29/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Cosmos, Mágico, Metatrón vs Demonio Rojo, Javier Cruz Jr., Minotauro
2) Estrella de Jalisco I & Estrella de Jalisco II vs Temerario & Último Ángel and Persa & Raven and Eclipse Jr. & Obelisk [Torneo Talentos Tapatios]
3) Barboza, Optimus, Trono vs Canalla, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
4) Magia Blanca vs Ángel Rebelde [lightning]
5) Halcón Negro Jr. © vs Rugido [QRO MIDDLE]
6) Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. vs Euforia & Soberano Jr. and Blue Panther & Dark Panther and Valiente & Valiente Jr. [Torneo Herederos]

A problem with this building is there is no place information is shared about these shows outside of the poster being released and the shows themselves. Perhaps somewhere on the commentary, they explained what the deal is with this father/son tournament. I didn’t hear it, there’s no one else covering this shows, and there’s no other explanation, so I’m just sort of guessing. My guess now is they’re doing the same sort of round robin style as they did with the schools tournament earlier this year. That doesn’t really work with four way matches but I suppose it’s not so important.

CMLL December tickets go on sale Saturday, which meant CMLL spent a bit of Informa talking about upcoming plans

• December 2 (Friday) is an important show with no details yet.
  • obviously, this will be announced in a few hours
• December 9 (Friday)
  • this is expected to be a Mexico vs the World theme, Lady Frost & Lince Dorada are the two names known to be back for that show
• December 25 (Sunday) will be a special show
  • Tickets do not go on sale yet for that, so they’re waiting for another announcement – maybe the cage match
• January 1 (Sunday) will be a special show
• January 6/13 (Fridays) will be the Best of 2022 shows

Titan & BUSHI defeated TJP & Francesco Akira in their 3rd Super Junior Tag League tournament, moving to 2-1. That also means Titan & BUSHI are very likely to challenge for the junior tag team titles again soon, rather as winners of this tournament or soon after. (Losing the tournament and getting a title shot on FantasticaMania might also work.)

On CMLL Informa, Difunto mentioned he’s actually a fourth-generation wrestler, the great-grandson of Rito Romero. I’m sure that must’ve been said on commentary before but it was the first I heard of it. Magia Blanca, Suicida, and Hijo del Villano III all found out they were going on FantasticaMania when they saw the announcement video.

AAA

AAA on Space is back at 6:30 pm this Saturday and I should be able to stream it live. The description says it’s the Showcenter finale. It would make sense if AAA aired the four tournament semifinals this week:

• men’s semfiinal: Laredo Kid vs Villano III Jr. vs Toscano
• men’s semifinal: Hijo del Vikingo v Taurus vs Puma King
• women’s semifinal: Lady Shani vs Sexy Star vs La Hiedra vs Artemiz
• women’s semifinal: Dulce Kanela vs Zeuxis vs Chik Tormetns vs Lady Flammer

They could also just air all the women’s matches this week and all the men’s matches next week, who knows. It does set up the famous Laredo/Vikingo rematch will air the same day as the Tempe show.

No taping this weekend.

Noche de Campeones (12/28 Acapulco) is now listed on FITE. It’s $22.99, the same price as TripleMania Mexico City. It’s not as good of a card. They will have English commentary in person for that show. 12/03 Tempe is not listed on FITE as of yet.

The Smashing Pumpkins announced Wednesday “The World is a Vampire” festival. It’ll debut in Mexico City on March 4, 2023, and will include AAA vs NWA matches. Both AAA and NWA played this as a bigger deal than just some random matches on a music festival The NWA name means something in Mexico, but the Billy Corgan NWA product itself has no visibility.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 11/24/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cosmic b Nubilus, Osogbo 
No Kalu, so a tag became a three way.
2) Balak, Cheff Benito, Último Caballero b Güero De Tijuana, Skanda, Yetti 
3) Milagro, Rey Eclipse, Taurino b Legado, Nativo, Rey Minos 
4) Águila Oriental, Águila Roja, Ajolot, Hell Boy, Jhon Tito, Kenji, Rey Aztaroth, Súper Boy b Adamarino, Cometa Boy (Puebla), Makro, Pequeño Joker (Puebla), Rey Kratos (Puebla), Súper Tiger (Puebla), Tiger Boy (Puebla), Tigre Fly (Puebla) [Copa Higher Power]  
FILL vs Gym Cuchillo. Hell Boy beat Pequeno Joker to win for the home team. Cuchillo wanted a trios match with Hell Boy, Black Terry and a third.
5) Spider Fly b Aster Boy © [IWRG IC Light]  
New champ, win via surprise small package. Aster Boy falls on his 7th defense.

The Copa Higher Power is almost always the main event, so that card change was a hint something was happening. This Cuchillo showed up out of nowhere earlier this year with the gimmick, so this bit at least revealed he’s got some Puebla ties.

IWRG (SUN) 11/27/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Jhon Tito vs Baby Star
2) Sagitairus vs Artemiz [IWRG IC WOMEN, quarterfinal]
Artemiz taking the spot originally announced for Sagitarus
3) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Hell Boy & Kairos
4) Mr. Leo, Paymon, Tonalli vs Dick Angelo 3G, Puma de Oro, Rocky Casas
5) Big Boy, Big Chicoche, Big Tackle, Relámpago vs Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor
6) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr. [EdM Trios]
7th defense

There’s a decent chance of a title change in the main event or a setup to a match on the IWRG anniversary show. Maybe both. Semi-main is interested for having the pig team listed as facing some people speculated to be the pig team. Didn’t catch an explanation of why Artemiz is replacing Maravilla, but I guess there was just a conflicting booking.

IWRG , EXOTIC (THU) 12/01/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Jhon Tito vs Rey Halcón
2) Hijo De Histeria & Histeriosis vs Baby Star & Spider Fly
3) Brazo Celestial, Brazo Cibernetico, Brazo De Oro Jr., Hijo del Brazo vs Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor
4) Big Mami, Máscarita Sagrada, Microman vs Baronessa, Gallito, Guapito
5) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba vs Bugambilia, Máximo, Pimpinela Escarlata
6) Blue Demon Jr. & Hijo del Fishman vs Cibernético & DMT Azul

I’m not sure who is running “Exotic Promotions.” My guess was Mamba, but there’s no indication there’s anything special going on there Tuesday.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha World (FRI) 11/25/2022 Bandidos Gym, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Viajero vs Anarko
2) Elipse & Orbita vs Iku & Vengador
3) Jack Evans vs Sol

Back tonight at 9 pm. It’s another Locos Evans focused show, the last before the big cage match next Friday.

Other

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Super Astro Jr. was one of two wrestlers to earn a chance in NOAH following a tryout last weekend. That is a great spot for him; his ideal usage is to be the equivalent of Fuego for NJPW somewhere else, just show up to be entertaining 2-3 times a year.

Faby Apache, promoting upcoming Robles appearances, said CMLL using “Faby” was to avoid trademark issues. Faby Apache says no one in AAA has said she can’t be Faby Apache, it was more being safe than anything. I haven’t seen any sign Faby Apache is actually trademarked.