CMLL
CMLL (FRI) 05/12/2023 Arena México
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II, Micro Sagrado vs Átomo, Chamuel, Periquito Sacaryas
2) La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi vs Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
3) Magia Blanca vs Fugaz [lightning]
4) Atlantis Jr., Esfinge, Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Euforia, Hechicero, Mephisto
5) Dragón Rojo Jr. © vs Templario [CMLL MIDDLE]
second defense
6) Místico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero
The main event should be fun. It also should be interesting, as Soberano and Ultimo Guerrero are back in the same match for the first time since January. Ultimo Guerrero and Soberano seemed to be under a secret prohibition from interacting during the match in that last match and previous ones in 2022 – when one came in the ring, the other one seemed to be on orders to stay out. (CMLL’s never acknowledged it; most people covering the shows ignored it – which means it’s probably a situation that everyone’s heard about but are dissuaded from acknowledging.) UG & Soberano are booked together in this main event and also the one on Saturday, so maybe things are back to normal. Can’t even be sure with lucha libre.
I lean towards Dragon Rojo retaining his title to make it seem like Templario is even in more danger. (Templario is also already national middleweight champions, and double singles champions of the same division are rare.) This sort of defense is what CMLL often does as part of selling people on a mask match, though I don’t think this feud is hot enough to make it work. What we’ve seen hasn’t been good enough. This is a difference between the presumed big CMLL and AAA matches. I don’t think there’s a thing AAA can do to convince fans Sam Adonis has a chance to unmask Psycho Clown, but I do believe the wrestlers can do enough to make the match feel like it’s going to be special anyway. I’m not confident Dragon Rojo and Templario can do the same, though I guess this is the chance to prove otherwise.
The bigger curiosity about the title match isn’t who has the belt at the end of the night, but why the match is happening now. This feels like something CMLL would do to put the final touches on the Aniversario main event in August, or maybe July. It’s May 12. I know things about May 12th. One thing I know about May 12th is it doesn’t happen in August. Maybe it’s CMLL just getting their work done early because they’ve got months of tournaments to take up time. (Copa Junior starts next week.) Maybe CMLL, in a round number year, wants to announce the date much earlier than usual and it would help to have a set match go with it. The dream – and something that has “hole card on the river” low odds – is CMLL is making this Dragon Rojo/Templario match way before the Aniversario show because it’s also happening way before the Aniverasrio show and another (better) match will be happening then.
Match 4 could be fun. The lightning match has a chance to setup a title match either way. (It’s the Claudio/Fenix match from AEW, except not quite that.) The show is on PPV as always. It’ll go up on YouTube on 05/18 05/28 as always.
CMLL (SUN) 05/14/2023 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía vs Minos, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
2) Astral vs Oro Jr. [lightning]
3) Pegasso, Rey Samuray, Stigma vs Futuro, Max Star, Vegas
4) Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Volcano vs Kráneo, Rugido, Zandokan Jr.
5) Atlantis, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Averno, Hechicero, Templario
6) Gran Guerrero © vs Yota [CMLL HEAVY]
2nd defense
Half of this show will air on May 26th. Other matches may air the next day, or on a TV show I can’t get, or not at all entirely. Guerrero/Yota will probably be among those airing on May 26th but there’s no certainty to it. Yota said on Informa that he wants to be active in both CMLL and NJPW at the same time. I don’t think that’s happening and I’d be surprised if he won the title on Sunday.
CMLL (MON) 05/15/2023 Arena Puebla
1) Angelito & Rayo Metálico vs Dreyco & Mercurio
2) Fuego, Neón, Valiente Jr. vs Hijo del Perverso, Perverso, Prayer
3) Princesa Sugehit, Sanely, Skadi vs La Catalina, Reyna Isis, Stephanie Vaquer
4) Atlantis Jr., Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Averno, Mephisto, Templario
5) Místico vs Bárbaro Cavernario
Caveranrio has been causing problems for Mistico for the last few weeks.
CMLL (TUE) 05/16/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Luminoso, Mortis, Quca vs Black Boy, Thunder Boy, Yaky Boy
2) Estrella de Jalisco I, Estrella de Jalisco II, Último Ángel vs Obelisk, Raven, Temerario
3) Gallero, Hombre Bala Jr., Robin vs Barboza, Draego, Persa
4) Brillante Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr., Pólvora vs Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
5) Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. vs Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico
6) Místico & Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Averno & Soberano Jr.
More Soberano big-brothering Panterita in the main event.
On Informa, Virus, Cavernario and Stephanie Vaquer talked about their appearance on the 05/21 NJPW Strong show. The Informa segments seem quicker in the past so there’s not a lot to say. Cavernario noted this was his 8th show or tour with NJPW, and felt like he really learned a lot in his first few. Virus wants to prove to Zack Sabre Jr. and everyone that there are good mat wrestlers in Mexico too. (That’s the general theme; it’s more about proving CMLL has good wrestlers too more than the outcomes.) Stephanie Vaquer says she always trains hard in case an opportunity comes and has worked even harder after hearing about the tournament. She’s looking forward to wrestling Mercedes Moné and then doesn’t know who she’d face in the final (she named Momo Kohgo but blanked on “the one from AEW”.)
Averno still wants Mistico’s mask. This is such an easy match, something that seems obviously profitable. It is impossible CMLL hasn’t just done it. If I manage to last forty more years, I’ll still be confused CMLL just hasn’t booked that match.
Hijo del Villano III still doesn’t like Atlantis Jr.
Titan won his opening match against TJP in NJPW’s BOSJ this morning. This was a free show; their match starts at about 1h38m. Titan wrestlers Taiji Ishmori early tomorrow morning.
Marcela and Skadi did interviews around Mother’s day. Marcela hasn’t wrestled since mid-March; she mentions here she had a right knee operation.
Sexy Sol (Rocio Elizabeth) talks about being a luchadora and a mom to a 9 year old.
Nitro is returning to France’s APC promotion to teach lucha libre from July 3 to 10th. This was an annual thing until the pandemic.
AAA
AAA has a new TV episode Saturday! It’s a taping that’s been in the can (in the external hard drive?) for 35 days but new content is still new content. They’ve announced the matches
- Mini Vikingo vs Fulgor vs Baby Extreme vs Jack Cartwheel
- Dave the Clown, Murder Clown, Panic Clown vs Chik Tormetna, Latigo, Psicosis
- Damian 666, Pentagon Jr., Nicho el Millonario vs Abismo Negro Jr., Cibernetico, Taurus
This show takes place before TripleMania Monterrey. Not sure how they’ll handle it.
MedioTiempo has an interview with La Infernal and Villano III Jr. for mother’s day; that’s the AAA son, when she had previously been doing interviews with the CMLL son. They noted it was the first time they did an interview together. La Infernal was 23 years younger than Villano III when they got married and says she gave up her wrestling career because she just liked being a mother more. She said she told her sons she’d come back for just two years (and she did end up doing just about two years, though it never seemed like a plan.)
IWRG
IWRG (THU) 05/11/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Kenji b Águila Oriental 
2) Aero Queen & Sagitarius b Estrellita Lagunera & Kali
Estrellita Lagunera & Kaly replaced Dehyna and Satania.
3) Éxtasis, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly b Águila Roja, Mr. Mike, Rey Aztaroth
4) León Dorado & Mr. Leo DQ Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr.
Cerbero Negro unmaked Leon Dorado for the DQ.
5) Tonalli b Elemental
Tonalli will face Ultimo Guerrero on Sunday.
6) Hell Boy, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Travis Banks b Axel Carter, Saime Shan, Shocko
Match 3 was said to be good, match 5 good but maybe not as good as expected.
IWRG (SUN) 05/14/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Kenji vs Golden Power
2) Jhon Tito & Mr. Leo vs Axel Carter & Saime Shan
3) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs Karaoui, Nosaki, Shocko
4) Hell Boy & Puma de Oro vs Heavy Metal & Rocky Casas
5) Tonalli vs Último Guerrero
6) Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Hijo de Canis Lupus [IWRG Rey del Ring]
5th defense
This is a free Mas Lucha show. Tonalli/Ultimo Guerrero is the big news. I’m still confused as to what the deal is with Tonalli. It sticks out that Tonalli hasn’t wrestled in three weeks (since the start of the Aramis feud) and hasn’t wrestled in Arnea Mexico since March 21st. Maybe something happened and he’s not in with CMLL at the moment? That’s just a guess.
Whenever “Axel” is listed on the IWRG card, I must remember to adjust the name so it doesn’t go in the luchadb as a match for “Axxel, El Nieto del Santo.” (He’s still wrestling sparingly.) I wonder if this UK Axel knows of the Mexico Axel. UK Axel probably has no control of how he’s being listed on IWRG cards.
Other News
LuchaWorld has this week’s Poster-Mania.
On Thursday, Mas Lucha announced they’d soon be posting GLEAT shows. They deleted the tweet a few hours later. I have no idea what happened. Mas Lucha