CMLL
CMLL (FRI) 04/28/2023 Arena México
***Arena Mexico 67th Anniversary***
1) Galaxy, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
2) Capitán Suicida, Neón, Valiente Jr. vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
3) Princesa Sugehit © vs Zeuxis [CMLL WOMEN]
8th defense
4) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Soberano Jr. vs Averno, Mephisto, Satánico
5) Místico, Titán, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero
6) Atlantis Jr. vs Templario, Dragón Rojo Jr. [CMLL Universal, final]
Dragon Rojo still feels like the favorite. It’s going to be a year of big Dragon Rojo matches, it’d be nice if he can come through on some of them. The rest of the show looks alright. I don’t expect a title change. I do expect people to be mean to Mistico in the semi-main only for Mistico to find some way to overcome it all. It’s on PPV as always.
The Copa Bobby Bonales will be awarded to Titan, Mephisto, Lluvia, and La Jarochita. The original idea was the trophy would go to one man, then it became one man and one woman, then one man, woman and trainer, then one man, woman, trainer and mini/mascot, and now it’s just four people. Titan was picked for his international success, Mephisto for his 35 years in wrestling, and Lluvia and Jarochita for the tag team run.
Dragon Rojo says he has a strong rivalry with Templario but his biggest rival is injuries.
Princesa Sugehit says she was surprised to have a title defense on today’s show, but is happy to be part of a big event. This is the first time Princesa Sugehit & Zeuxis have meant in Arena Mexico singles match since their 2017 mask match, and Sugehit believes she’s got to keep her emotions from overwhelming her and costing her a title. (Princesa Sugehit says “Zeuxis lost her mind and left the promotion”, which is a funny way to put it. Zeuxis might even agree.) She’d still like a hair versus mask rematch.
Zeuxis says she feels pressure to make this match against Princesa Sugehit as good as their previous ones. She is happy the fans have embraced her quickly upon her return. Zeuxis also says she feels she has better chemistry with Stephanie Vaquer as a partner than La Catalina, who she feels still needs to learn more about the Mexican style of wrestling.
Atlantis will throw out a first pitch at the San Francisco Giants/San Diego Padres game on Saturday. Ephesto, Mephisto, Panterita del Ring Jr., and Zacarias will also appear at the game. There probably will be some promotion for the MLB games (Saturday, Sunday) as part of tonight’s show.
The winner of the main event Embajador de los Ninos competition on Sunday’s Arena Mexico show will get a belt. Most everyone competition said what you’d expect on the match; Akuma was the one confused by getting kids voting for him (but it probably wasn’t just kids voting.) Volcano revealed his family was following the voting closely, and sending screenshots of their votes to help him surpass Euforia.
Arena Puebla is also running their show on Sunday instead of Monday
CMLL (SUN) 04/30/2023 Arena Puebla
1) Meyer & Rayo Metálico vs Espíritu Maligno & King Jaguar
2) Astro, Galaxy, Shockercito vs Minos, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) El Perverso, Fuego, Prayer vs Pólvora, Siki Osama Jr., Valiente Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido [MEX TRIOS]
fifth defense
5) Atlantis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Místico, Stigma vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr.
Arena Puebla moves again to Sunday for a holiday. I would think the tecncicos are keeping their titles on a Kid’s day show but also CMLL is running a relevos increibles on this show and I don’t quite get that.
CMLL (SUN) 04/30/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Astro Oriental, Avispón Negro Jr., Bello Antuan vs Infierno, Ponzoña Jr., Yaky Boy
2) Johnny Dinamo, Luminoso, Quikka vs Destructor, Gran Kenut, Jabalí
3) Dulce Ktty, Náutica, Sexy Sol vs Atenea, Luna, Valkiria
This is a free show in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara; they’re giving the away the tickets elsewhere, which confused me on where it was being held. Not sure if this is a full card.
This appears to be the first time three of CMLL’s owned venues are running events on the same date since the pandemic. Regular Guadalajara Sunday shows ended there, but even then Arena Puebla never ran Sundays until this year. It’s definitely happened in the distant past (when CMLL was hot enough to run both Arena Coliseo and Arena Mexico on Sundays) but that’s a ways back. I’d have to do more research on this to figure out when it last happened.
CMLL (TUE) 05/02/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Astro Oriental, Eclipse Jr., Minotauro vs Black Boy, Mortis, Ponzoña Jr.
2) Atilus, Maximus, Rey Urano vs Gran Kenut, Jabalí, Mr. Trueno
3) Barboza, Draego, Persa vs Carlo Roggi, Destello, Destructor
4) Brillante Jr., Hijo de Stuka Jr., Stuka Jr. vs Ángel Rebelde, Optimus, Trono
5) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido vs Arlequín, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte
6) Euforia, Hijo del Soberano, Soberano Jr. vs Blue Panther, Cachorro, Dark Panther
Family versus family main event, including people who don’t normally get to main event. Match 4 could be good.
CMLL announced this year’s Copa Junior will take place on May 19th and May 26th. Eight wrestlers will wrestle on the 19th, the last two will advance to a final on the 26th. Those in the tournament
- Atlantis Jr. (last year’s winner)
- Mistico
- Hijo del Villano III
- Dragon Rojo Jr.
- Averno
- Soberano Jr.
- Panterita del Ring JR.
- Volador Jr.
This announcement put some doubt into tonight’s finish: Dragon Rojo is going to win a tournament and the Universal one is the most important, but maybe he could end up winning Copa Junior instead. (Something where Templario, Dragon Rojo and Soberano all win a tournament might make sense.) I still would bet on Dragon Rojo winning tonight, I just now can see some path where they go another direction.
This announcement’s big ripple was to reveal that Sobearno Jr. (as well as anyone else mentioned) would not be participating in NJPW’s Best of Super Juniors this year. May 19th is a league date. The field was officially announced a few hours later, with Titan as the only CMLL-affiliated participant. (Even then, he’s flying the LIJ flag.) It’s vastly disappointing even if it makes sense. This year’s BOSJ is a 20-person field, and NJPW has 18 regular or recurring junior heavyweights. (They have a 19th, Tiger Mask, who is not included.) That left two spots. UK’s Dan Molonoy joined NJPW’s United Empire on a Revolution Pro show. which was an indicate he’d be included. The 20th spot went to Speedball Mike Bailey, who fits in the “surprise last name announced who can be imagined to win the whole thing” role better than a CMLL wrestler. NJPW just doesn’t have room for many outsiders unless they expand the tournament. It’s also a reminder they may not need many outside names to run the All Star Junior festival in a few months.
It’s not all disappointing news with NJPW and CMLL, though. NJPW announced a tournament on 05/21 to decide a first-ever NJPW Strong Women’s champion. It’ll be a one-night, four-women tournament, and one of the match ups is Stephane Vaquer versus Mercedes Moné (ex-WWE Sasha Banks.) It’s not a match anyone expected to have, but it’s a giant oppurtntity for the best woman CMLL has to offer for this spot. There’s no chance Vaquer will win, but she can do much for herself in one night with a good performance.
(It’s worth nothing here that May 21st is around the time when the “two month” investigation into Stephanie Vaquer’s accusations towards Cuatrero should be concluded. It’s not definite – “two months” may be a loose guideline – but it’s possible there’s another chapter in that story around when this match happens. A heck of a time.)
Felino said Pepe Casas made him finish high school, get a baking degree (?) and get a real job before he’d let him go full time in wrestling. Felino was ‘only’ doing it on the weekend until finishing his father’s tasks, and felt it was good for him in the long term. Felino started as “Trope Q” (named after a favorite radio station) in 1982, wrestling with a mask borrowed from a ‘Fantastic’, gear borrowed from Negro Casas and against Invasion II. Felino credits Antonio Pena was coming up with the gimmick. Pepe Casas had eight kids – there are five daughters in addition to Negro Casas, Heavy Metal and Felino.
The first bio video in a new season of CMLL Pekes spotlights Rugido.
AAA
AAA airs the second part of the Lucha Libre World Cup this Saturday on Space. They seemed to be pacing it for a three-episode broadcast.
Takuma and SB KENTo appear to be coming back in AAA. They’re listed as wrestling on May 16th (though the accompanying picture is of Nishikawa.) On the Open the Voice Gate podcast, Jae Church had mentioned Takuma and KENTo had returned to Japan not to (yet) return to Dragon Gate but because it was part of the visa renewal passport. He didn’t know at the time if they were returning to Mexico or elsewhere. La Estrella is said to be back in Japan for similar reasons.
IWRG
IWRG (THU) 04/27/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Zona Ruda]
1) X-Devil b Sol 
Sol replaced Super Boy
2) Águila Roja & Rey Aztaroth b Jhon Tito & Spider Fly
Aguila Roja wants another title match with Spider Fly
3) Aster Boy & Puma de Oro DQ León Dorado & Mr. Leo
Cerebro Negro & Jr. attacked Puma de Oro.
4) Brazo Cibernetico, Brazo De Oro Jr., Brazo de Plata Jr. DQ Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
5) Tonalli DDQ Aramis
ref bumps and lots of other miscellany leading to a draw and the commission ruling it a double DQ.
Tonalli and Aramis was said to be good until the booking kicked in.
IWRG (SUN) 04/30/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Garrobo Punk & Golden Power vs Kenji & X-Devil
2) Spider Fly vs Águila Roja
3) Puma de Oro © vs Cerebro Negro Jr. [IWRG IC MIDDLE]
4) Coco Rojo, Coco Verde, Cocolores vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
5) Tonalli vs Aramis
6) Asterboy, Hell Boy, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Luka, Noisy Boy, Súper Mario 47 vs Cerebro Negro, Gianna Valetta, Heavy Metal, Nozaki, Rocky Casas, Shocko
The main event is another Mexico versus Foreigners match, pretending that the Casas are outsiders. Tonalli and Aramis attempt for a finish again. Payasos are booked for Kid’s Day (impossible to know which ones.)
Mas Lucha is streaming its own show on Sunday. The poster indicates this will go up on the IWRG channel only, probably on delay.
IWRG , LLB (THU) 05/18/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Crazy Clown, El Reptil, Hijo de Súper Brazo, Sparta vs Gato Eveready, Gravedad Cero, Power Bull, Príncipe Centauro
2) Hijo De Brazo De Platino & Sangre Suicida vs Demencia & Soria
3) Oro Blanco, Steve Manson, Voltio vs Eurus, Rey Azteca Jr., Súper Boy
4) Fantasy, Mike Segura, Pantera vs Carta Brava Jr. (LLB), Cerebro Negro, Fantasma de la Ópera
5) Puma & Tonalli vs Lunatik Xtreme & Ovett Jr. and Brazo Celestial & Brazo De Oro Jr.
6) Hijo de LA Park & LA Park Jr. vs Hijo del Alebrije & Hijo del Pirata Morgan
7) Pirata Morgan vs LA Park vs DMT Azul
Normal Lucha Libre Boom show in Naucalpan: Lots of people, should draw well based on the top names. I presume it’s Puma de Oro in the fifth match but it’s just listed as Puma.
Other News
LuchaWorld has the latest Poster-Mania.
This is a very busy week and weekend for shows. Kid’s Day is Sunday, but the traditional “public/private company sponsors free show for children” style of show is happening all weekend, and even earlier in the week. I think more of those posters are visible this year than last because it’s more socially acceptable to run those shows, but I’m sure the vast majority of the smaller shows happen without any internet promotion or discussion outside of the local neighborhood.
There are some more notable shows that should turn up on streams (besides the ones already mentioned)
- “Lucha Rey”, which appears to be a new group, has a show in Mexico City on Friday with Hijo del Alebrije & Lady Shani vs King Balam & Reyna Dorada. That looks to be an eventual Mas Lucha airing.
- Robles Promotions is running in Arena San Juan on Friday with the usual group of indie names; less big names than usual for their sort o shows.
- Big Lucha returns on Saturday with a Big Lucha (Golden Guns & Black Generacion) versus Negociado Tramuado main event. That should stream on Mas Lucha.
- Arena Rey Bucanero on Saturday has Polvora vs Nitro vs Guerrero Maya Jr. Those shows are usually bootlegged.
- Mas Lucha has part two of their Ruleta Suicida tournament, with Saruman vs Dante and Dinastia vs Ultimo Legendario. Again, it’s the fans deciding which two people will be in the mask match on the final show. This will stream live and for free. (The mask match is a subscription show.)
- Arena Lopez Mateos has a normal-looking show on Sunday. It also has the Mas Lucha logo, so it’ll probably stream later.
On Saturday morning, Alpha Wolf & Dragon Bane challenge Yo-Hey & Tadasuke for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships in NOAH. This streams on Wrestle Universe.
Impact Wrestling Saturday in Chicago has Laredo Kid vs Trey Miguel. Black Taurus isn’t announced for any matches.
Gran Sullivan (Norberto Paterno), an Argentina wrestler part of Titanes en el Ring who used many other names, passed away on Wednesday, according to Box y Lucha. Cuadrailatero Catch, a lucha libre Argentina Facebook page, re-posted an old podcast with him among other content.
Veracruz luchador Koga passed away recently. He was wrestling as recently as January.
Former DTU lucahdor Black Fire is teaching a wrestling clinic in Argentina on Monday.
Casandro will be honored on a show in Juarez on May 7th.
Hijo del Vikingo faces jacob Fatu on 05/27 in Las Vegas.