Luchatitlan to open today, AAA in Tijuana, WrestleMania weekend notes

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 03/31/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring, Kaiser Sports]
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía b Full Metal, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
2) Fuego b Raider [lightning]
3) Capitán Suicida, El Audaz, Panterita del Ring Jr. b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black
Team Suicida took 1/3.
4) Niebla Roja b Magnus [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Valiente DQ Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
straight falls (Malditos DQ in 1st)
6) Místico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Stuka Jr.
tecnicos took 2/3.

I appreciate CMLL doing absolutely nothing of note when I’m out of town. I’ve seen bits and pieces of this and it seemed fine. Not really enough to have a big take.

Tiger Infante (Metalico) also appeared with his medal-winning kid olympic-style wrestlers during the show.

Felino is in tonight’s Arena Coliseo legends match; he noted to Razon that spot would’ve gone to Negro Casas in the past, and it hurt he wasn’t considered on that level. He’s going into the match with something to prove.

CMLL (MON) 04/03/2023 Arena Puebla
1) Astro & Meyer vs Dark Soul & Dreyco
2) El Asturiano & Novato vs Rey Apocalipsis & Siky Ozama
3) Millenium, Pegasso, Rey Samuray vs Disturbio, Inquisidor, Raider
4) Magnus vs Okumura [lightning]
5) Felino Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma vs Capitán Suicida, Dark Panther, El Hijo del Villano III [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Místico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Rocky Romero, Templario

Puebla keeps booking Stigma and Suicida on opposite sides and it hasn’t gotten to a title match yet. Dreyco (usually Dreyko) turned up here prior at the end of 22021 and early 2022.

CMLL (TUE) 04/04/2023 Arena México
1) Galaxy vs Full Metal [lightning]
2) La Magnifica, La Vaquerita, Skadi vs Metálica, Olympia, Tiffany
3) Flyer, Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
4) El Audaz vs Rugido [lightning]
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
6) Atlantis, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Rocky Romero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

Rocky getting the full car wash of bookings. Rugido is the most exciting person in the Rugido/Audaz match up (but that should be a rivalry, I think.)

CMLL (TUE) 04/04/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Astro Oriental, Avispón Negro Jr., Bello Antuan vs Canalla, Demonio Maya, Thunder Boy
2) Carlo Roggi, Destello, Destructor vs Exterminador, Javier Cruz Jr., Maléfico
3) Barboza, Draego, Persa vs Atilius, Maximus, Rey Urano
4) Arlequín, Brillante Jr., Gallero vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
5) Dulce Gardenia & La Fashion vs Bestia Negra & Cris Skin
6) Euforia & Soberano Jr. vs Panterita del Ring & Panterita del Ring Jr.

Father & son tag team main event. Semi-main continues a recent feud. Astro Oriental is a new name (and maybe that’s a new Thunder Boy?)

CMLL (FRI) 04/07/2023 Arena México
1) Acero, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Minos, Pequeño Polvora
2) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Sanely vs La Catalina, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
3) Pegasso, Rey Samuray, Stigma vs Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa
4) Panterita del Ring Jr., Templario, Titán vs Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Niebla Roja [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero [lightning]
6) Místico vs Atlantis Jr., Rocky Romero [CMLL Universal, semifinal]

In theory, CMLL’s running two singles matches with the guys in the main event and we won’t know which one it is until Friday. In reality, they only used those rules last year and might change them again. It does seem unnecessary to have a semi-main lightning match on this show. but I guess anything not to do an atomicos. Rey Samuray gets a Friday appeareance, Sanely steps in Sugehit’s spot in the one feud in the women’s division.

Templario wants Dragon Rojo Jr. in the 90th Aniversaio main event.

Sanely told Sin Mascaras her father (Mano Negra) didn’t want her to become a wrestler because he saw what the luchadoras of his age went through and didn’t want her to go through the same. She’s heard bad stories but says she hasn’t had those experiences herself. I didn’t pick up on it last week, but Sanely had a Black Warrior Jr. themed mask. She mentioned how his death, following an in-ring injury, had hear nervous and scared a bit as she returned to the ring herself.

AAA

Today on Space

NGD vs Thom Latimer, Kratos, Chris Adonis [AAA TRIOS]
Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf vs Blue Demon Jr. & Vampiro [NWA TAG]
Kamille vs Flammer [NWA WOMEN]
Tyrus vs Daga [NWA HEAVY]

This was said to be the better half of the show. Maybe that’s Kamille/Flammer? Tyrus/Daga ended in injury.

AAA announced a lineup for the Tijuana show.

AAA TV (SAT) 04/22/2023 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California
1) Arkángel Divino, Fantastik, Rayo Star, Último Maldito vs Dinámico, Genio del Aire, Kamik-C, Skalibur
2) Niño Hamburguesa & Willie Mack vs Látigo & Toxin
3) Dalys, Octagón Jr., Persephone vs Chik Tormenta, Flammer, Villano III Jr.
4) Hijo Del Vikingo, Jack Cartwheel, Komander vs Emperador Azteca, Gringo Loco, Puma King
5) Juicy Finau, Negro Casas, Rey Horus vs Forastero, Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Sansón
6) Laredo Kid, Pentagón Jr., Psycho Clown vs Antifaz del Norte, Sam Adonis, Taurus

This will probably not be the final lineup; only AAA would announce a wrestler for a match the day after he said he’ll be out 4-6 weeks; Toxin’s not due to back until May.

The main event continues to point towards Laredo/Antifaz in the cage match. Octagon and Villano get to hear up their rivalry in the tercera.

Juicy Finau worked the MLW tapings here and fits the random sort of person who appears on these AAA Tijuana shows. Mascara 2000 gets to be a semi-main guy because they needed another Dinamita. AAA ran an angle to set up Komander and Cartwheel as a team on TV this week and now they’re actually going to be a team. It looks like eight or nine weeks between the setup of that angle and when it airs on TV, but the thought is nice. The Vikingo/Gringo feud resurfaces; I thought there was an outside chance of that being the TripleMania Monterrey title match.

No idea who Persephone is. It’s possible it’s a new AAA character because I can’t find an indie wrestler that’ll work. (Maybe it’s a different spelling and I’m missing it?)

The Luchatitlan project opens today. Sam Adonis had a Tweet up pitching this as “Medieval Times but with lucha libre instead” and that’s a great way to explain what’s happening here. It’s a stage show, something where they’re going to be telling the same story even night for a new audience. The show centers around a character named El Monarca and will be presented in English and Spanish. TV Azteca has a couple phots of the impressive setup. All the wrestlers will be characters created for this show specifically. The hope is this is something. they can franchise to other tourists stops in Mexico and, best case, to the US as well. This idea has been in the works since June of 2020 and took longer because of the pandemic.

AAA’s main contribution to this project appears to be giving insight on the wrestling end. They’re not responsible for the day to day running, which is probably the best for them. Tickets for the show will run from 70 to 109 USD, which are the most expensive tickets for a non-major lucha libre show in Mexico. They’re only seating 600 people a day, so high prices are needed to make this work. They’re going for tourists who have lots of money to spend and want to see lucha libre in a safe environment.

Wrestlers complaining about bad airlines is a social media staple. Lady Shani complaining about Aeromexico – they oversold a flight to Mexicali and she missed the show – got a lot of attention for whatever reason.

Adrian Marcelo’s licensing exam will take place on Wednesday. In letter, that tryout is open to all wrestlers in Monterrey. I wonder if that’ll be something. Dr. Wagner Jr. is against this idea of Marcelo wrestling and wrote as much in his column. I believe he feels that but also that he’s smart enough to want to be part of this story.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 03/30/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha, Zona Ruda]
1) Rey Aztaroth & Rey Eclipse b Águila Roja & Golden Power
2) Avisman b Jhon Tito
3) Lolita b Satania, Dehyna, Hades (AAA), Sagitarius, Dark Infernum
4) Brazo De Oro Jr. b Tonalli
5) Hip Hop Man, Karaoui, Shocko b Asterboy, Gannicus, Hell Boy [EdM Trios]
2nd defense

I heard good things about Brazo de Oro Jr. vs Tonalli, and I hope to catch it when I get back home.

IWRG (SUN) 04/02/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Súper Boy vs Kenji
2) Baby Star, Jhon Tito, Spider Fly vs Hip Hop Man, Karaoui, Shocko
3) León Dorado vs Imposible
4) Asterboy & Hell Boy vs Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr.
5) Galeno del Mal & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Gianni Valetta & Hijo de Canis Lupus
6) Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Morgana, Pirata Morgan, Pirata Morgan Jr. vs Pig Decapitador, Pig Desenterrador, Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor

I probably won’t be hurrying to see this one. Gianna Valetta has returned from Malta.

Travel Notes

I’ve been to three shows so far this WrestleManis weekend, with the Wrld is Lucha coming later tonight. The big points

Hijo del Vikingo is the star of the weekend so far. The Komander/Vikingo/Taurus match was the best of the Mark Hitchcock WrestleCon show on Thursday night, and the Komander/Vikingo was arguably the best from the ROH Supercard show. The Speedball/Vikingo match later Friday night had a spot or two notable that went wrong but sounds like it may have ended up the best match of that show too. Even the Vikingo/Blake Christian match – taped Wednesday, aired on Thursday while other things were going on – was said to be something really good. Tony Khan said he talked to Vikingo after his ROH match and wants to use him more often on his shows.This is all great news for Hijo del Vikingo; he’s established himself as a special performer even beyond everyone else. (This weekend happening the same time as Rey Mysterio Jr. is entering the WWE Hall of Fame has had a lot of people throwing around that specific comparison.) It’s probably not great for AAA in the long term: the timeline of Vikingo going from a regular part of AAA’s roster to a special guest performer like Fenix & Penta looks like it’s going to happen a lot sooner than people might have expected. The short term is great for AAA though: their sales pitch for the three TripleMania shows just needs to be “Vikingo vs [X]” and they’ll have international fan’s attention. AAA did not immediately announce Vikingo’s Monterrey opponent after ROH, which seems like a slight miss. They’ll make up for it if it’s a big enough name, and I know they’re going after some big outside names.
Komander also did well for himself, especially in the Ring of Honor show. He’ll be on Dynamite this Wednesday against Sammy Guevara. (The two were in the mixed tag title match last TripleMania Monterrey, though Sammy was really in that match only by name.) Komander also looks to be getting a more AEW/ROH work in the future if everything can be worked out. In a way, he’s taken off faster than Vikingo. Hijo del Vikingo was on plenty of non-Mexico people’s radars for years, but it was the visa issue holding him back. Komander got attention international attention only in the last year, and made it nearly as far.(It is sad/disheartening that the third equally important part of the match on Thursday, Black Taurus, is relegated to “wrestling Laredo Kid or losing to whoever the X-Division champion is” on Impact now and forever. No one can’t be certain he’ll do any better in AEW/ROH. They’ve got a lot of people and it’s easy to get lost. But, we know what ideas Impact seems to have for Taurus and it would be interesting and they’re not much, it wouldn’t hurt to see him elsewhere.)
The Lucha Brothers won the Ring of Honor tag team champions on Friday night, something that was overshadowed by a horrible leg injury to Dante Martin on the last big spot of the match. AEW has posted positive statements but haven’t said exactly what the injury is. I hope he’s OK, qand I hope it’s not as career-changing as it seemed.The Lucha Brothers moving over to Ring of Honor seemed to be in the plans for a while. Fenix and Penta losing to Powerhouse Hobbs on recent Rampages were classic “we’ve about to move you on, so you can lose on your way out” jobs. The Lucha Brothers just finished the AEW trios title program, don’t really fit in AEW tag title picture at the moment and there’s no real path for them as singles’ wrestlers right now. Going to Ring of Honor is a demotion in visibility, but it’s something new and something that might help interest in that product. (Fenix & Penta were clearly two of the most over wrestlers on the Ring of Honor show.) My guess was the Lucha Brothers were long planned for Ring of Honor; they would’ve fit perfectly as the Briscoe Brothers foils. (This guy who seems to know things agreed.)
If you’re looking to go back and watch things, I’d easily recommend both the Ring of Honor show and the Wrestlecon show. The NJPW/Impact show I went to seemed fine but I wasn’t too into it (I picked standing in a horrible place to see but an easy place to stand for 2.5 hours, and I was ok with that tradeoff.) Everything on the ROH show seemed good, with Komander/Vikingo, the ladder match, Claudio/Kingston and Joe/Briscoe standing out. Gotta have some faith in some of the booking decisions working out long term to enjoy it, though. The WrestleCon show was generally good, with Vikingo/Taurus/Komander, both trios matches and Irie/Speedball workling the best for me. The lucha trios match had focused on making Galeno del Mal a star and that worked out completely; I expect he’s going to pick up a fair amount of non-lucha US indie bookings after this weekend. Crowd was respectful to Ultimo Dragon and Negro Casas and they were fine, maybe good. It felt like there was a (hispanic) portion of the crowd into Casas and the rest didn’t know him as much. A pre-match Chris Jericho video definitely helped.
I’m headed to Wrld on Lucha tonight. It’s listed as a 10 pm start time local; it’s a real lucha show so it’ll probably start late. They’ve added a scramble with Jack Cartwheel, Rey Horus, Willie Mack, Shane Mercer, Mago and Drago Kid. They’ve also never announced a replacement for Toxin, so I assume someone’s getting moved up to his trios spot. (Mago seems to fit best.) This airs on FITE+ and seems like the final notable indie show of the weekend. We’ll see what Vikingo has left with Laredo Kid.
I haven’t seen it, but Konnan’s induction speech at the WWE Hall of Fame was said to be great.
Also didn’t catch the Dragon Lee debut in NXT. I was following along on Twitter and it seemed like there were multiple points where half the people on social media believed Dragon Lee had seriously injured himself, only for him to keep going. Seems normal. Dragon Lee got a big entrance, kept his name (which still surprises me) but didn’t win the North American title.
If, by chance, you ever go through TSA and someone takes your laptop and you end up with theirs, go track down the TSA email address for that airport and send them an email with all the info you have on both computers. It works.