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I did a video talking about the big stories of 2022 in lucha libre
I still don’t know if I’m streaming new AAA on Saturday.
At some point I may have to make a MOTYC list.
CMLL
CMLL (MON) 12/19/2022 Arena Puebla [El Sol del Puebla, Porra Fresa]
1) Rey Apocalipsis & Siki Ozama Jr. b Black Tiger & Espíritu Maligno
2) Fuego, Halcón Suriano Jr., Príncipe Odín Jr. b El Perverso, Millenium, Prayer
Odin and Millenium feuded going into their 01/01 mask match. Odin got the win.
3) Princesa Sugehit © b Marcela [CMLL WOMEN]
6th defense. Stephania Vaquer scheduled as challenger announced off the show a few hours earlier due to health. Marcela replaced.
4) Hijo de Octagón, Stigma, Valiente b Cavernario, Templario, Yota 
5) Ángel de Oro & Volador Jr. DQ Místico & Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]
Volador faked a foul. Challenges followed.
The first 8 pm start time show drew very well. There are other factors (cheap tickets for kids all month long, increased promotion for this show because of the time change), but the first result was a positive sign. It also drew well despite a Puebla state order Monday morning requiring everyone attending the show to resume wearing face masks. These policies have long seemed to be only enforced upon entering the building; it’s hard to tell anything was different just by looking at photos. I think you’re better off wearing a face mask whenever you go to large public gatherings this winter but that seems a minority view.
Vaquer was still promoting a meet and greet on Friday after missing this show, so whatever kept her off doesn’t appear to be COVID or something else that’ll keep her sidelined for a while.
CMLL (TUE) 12/20/2022 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports]
1) Acero, Aéreo, Kaligua b Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia 
2) Astral, El Suicida, Eléctrico b Disturbio, Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II
3) Guerrero Maya Jr., Halcón Suriano Jr., Hombre Bala Jr. b El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
Both Polvora (took a Bala tope) and Suriano (hurt leg on moonsault?) left the match with medical help
4) Esfinge & Fugaz © b Cancerbero & Virus [MEX TAG]
4th defense
5) Místico, Negro Casas, Titán b Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
This streamed on YouTube with no major problems. The tag title match was fine; they didn’t really go for anything bit but also Fugaz didn’t have as terrible a day as he did last tag title defense. Otherwise, just an average Tuesday show.
CMLL’s YouTube Tuesday stream seems a bit to market attending Arena Mexico shows to casual fans. They had a minor league baseball-like filter on between matches, encouraging people to put on mask to get on screen. They also showcased some of the stands and atmosphere outside of Arena Mexico in a pre-show video. That’s good and helpful content to have. I think they’re still missing portion of the audience by being only thinking of ticket sales. The end of the show could use more information/encouragement for their Ticketmaster Live offerings, for the many people who might want to pay for more but aren’t close enough to do go in person.
CMLL (TUE) 12/20/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Atilius, Maximus, Rey Urano b Black Boy, Estrella Oriental Jr., Mortis 
Team Maximus (all from Ocotlan) got the win.
2) Cris Skin, Destructor, Javier Cruz Jr. b Luminoso, Minotauro, Tigre Blanco
Tigre Blanco replaced Quka, Destructor replaced Gallero (moved up)
3) Lluvia, Náutica, Princesa Tiger, Sexy Sol b La Magnifica, Nexy, Sol (Jalisco), Valkyira
Lluvia replaced Luna on Tuesday morning (debut?)
4) Draego, Gallero, Optimus, Trono b Barboza, Persa, Temerario, Vaquero Fantasma
Vaquero Fantasma replaced JKR. Gallero replaced Angel Rebelde Jr. (moved up) Announcers mentioned the fourth Nuevos Coliseno/Queretaro luchador Halcon Negro Jr. is out due to health issues.
5) Bárbaro Cavernario, Canalla, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel b Adrenalina, El Divino, Explosivo, Fantástico
Cavernario used the ropes to win. Challenges followed.
6) JKR, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero, Zandokan Jr. b Ángel Rebelde, Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa
Rey Bucanero replaced Gran Guerrero on Tuesday morning. JKR and Angel Rebelde added to the match for unclear reasons.
Two CMLL shows streaming on YouTube at the same time was something. the changes here were weird. They added more people to the show at the last second, not like big names, just local guys.
Silueta recently appeared with the local wrestlers and with no visible knee brace. Maybe she’ll be back soon.
CMLL Informa has the Octagons (Christmas show), Raider & Panterita (Gran Alternativa finalists) and Zandokan, Difunto and Millenium (non-CDMX Sin Salida participants). Octagon was pushing the idea of himself versus Fuerza Guerrera as the CMLL 90th Aniversario main event. That probably can’t be all of it, and it would take one of those two men being actual willing to lose, but it’s not out of the question.
Neon believes the cage match structure helps him. He believes that if he and Apocalipsis had a singles mask match instead, Apocalipsis’ great experience advantage would make him the odds on favorite. He still wants to face his rival at the end of the cage match.
Oro Jr. says he wants revenge on Nitro and Zandokan in the cage match and would like to go to the final with either of them. However, if they escape, he is getting right out of that cage and not risking his mask against anyone else.
AAA
Kids now get in free to next week’s Noche de Campeones show in Acapulco. 1 free kid per 1 paying adult, and those free tickets can only be acquired starting Friday. The current ticket sold situation is about what you’d expect for that news: they’ve cut down the areas where they’re selling tickets, and there are a lot of unsold tickets even in the open areas.
AAA announced a 01/21 taping in Queretaro and said it’ll be the first taping of the year. An AAA taping announcement lately means tickets have already gone on sale; they run from 255 to 1155 for this event. Of note, Hijo del Vikingo and Sam Adonis are scheduled to wrestle in South Bend for Warrior Wrestling on the same day of this taping.
Lineups for both Rey de Reyes and Queretaro started floating around Whatsapp and Facebook Tuesday. The local promoter called the lineup “completely fake.” AAA has said the same. The graphics contain spelling errors, poorly photoshopped images, and it just generally doesn’t seem reasonable that AAA has a definitive card for February at this point.
IWRG
IWRG says they’re taking Thursday off. They’re back Sunday:
IWRG (SUN) 12/25/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Jhon Tito & Rey Minos vs Baby Star & Kenji
2) Cerebro Negro vs Hell Boy
3) Jessy Ventura © vs Tonalli [IWRG IC WELTER]
4th defense
4) Cerebro Negro Jr., Diva Salvaje, Hijo de Pandemónium, Oficial 911, Rey León vs Keyra, Pandemónium Jr., Paymon, Puma de Oro, Spider Fly and Black Fury, Gran Pandemónium, Mamba, Oficial AK47, Vaquero Fantasma and Hijo De Canis Lupis, Hijo del Alebrije, Lolita, Rocky Casas, Yorvak [ruleta de la muerte]
I’ve got the 20-person main event listed as teams, but it’s not really teams in the conventional sense. Maybe closer to pools or groups. One person from each of the four pool will start in the ring, anyone getting a pin or submission escapes the match, and someone else from their pool takes over their spot. The last person left in the match loses their hair or mask. The Oficials and Rocky Casas seem like suspects. Black Fury is a masked woman who doesn’t appear here often. I’m not sure if there are three Vaquero Fantasmas running around (California, Guadalajara, this one) or just one guy who is on a Rey Leon-like traveling schedule.
Tonalli, after having his last ever match in IWRG on last Friday, is back on Sunday. Mexican wrestling.
If you want even more Naucalpan apuesta matches, they’re also running a cage match on 01/01. It is a Mas Lucha premium show.
Other News
Mascara Dorada & Lince Dorado are on NJPW Strong’s airing this week.
LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.
Box y Lucha 3532 has Panterita del Ring Jr. & Raider on the cover.
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