CMLL
CMLL (FRI) 06/16/2023 Arena México
1) Galaxy, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Polvora, Pierrothito
2) Fuego, Futuro, Volcano vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
Futuro replaced Hombre Bala Jr. on Monday.
3) La Jarochita vs Zeuxis [lightning]
4) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Difunto, Hijo del Villano III, Zandokan Jr.
5) Atlantis Jr., Star Jr., Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Templario
6) Místico vs Titán
Mistico versus Titan in a big match should be fun. The tecnicos in the semi-main are the new trios champions and the fact that I have to keep pointing that out suggests their reign may not be memorable. Everything on the undercard is in the usual range of possibly good but not certain to be so. It’ll be on Ticketmaster and then on YouTube on July 2nd.
CMLL (SUN) 06/18/2023 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía vs Full Metal, Minos, Pequeño Olímpico
2) Capitán Suicida, Diamond, Neón vs Brillante Jr., Histórico, Vegas
3) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Sanely vs La Catalina, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
4) Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Akuma [lightning]
5) Blue Panther, Octagón, Volador Jr. vs Felino, Fuerza Guerrera, Virus
6) El Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Stuka Jr. vs Dr. Karonte I & Místico [Copa Dinastia, final]
I’d be stunned if Mistico lost. Last minute Copa Escuelas fill-in Historico gets a second match. He was fine in the tournament, but the circumstances of his appearance made it uncertain if he’d ever appear again.
CMLL (MON) 06/19/2023 Arena Puebla
1) Amnesia, Brave Star, Meyer vs Dreyco, Fénix SO, Rencor
2) Asturiano, El Novato, Millenium vs King Jaguar, Rey Apocalipsis, Siki Osama
3) Sanely vs Hera [lightning]
4) Flyer, Rey Samuray, Volcano vs Difunto, Kráneo, Zandokan Jr.
5) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Fuerza Guerrera, Hechicero
6) Místico vs Stuka Jr.
Why are they booking Fuerza Guerrera in those matches?
CMLL (TUE) 06/20/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Luminoso, Mortis, Quka vs Black Boy, Thunder Boy, Yaky Boy
2) Astro Oriental, Gallo Jr., Ráfaga Jr. vs Johnny Dinamo, Minotauro, Temerario
3) Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II, Micro Sagrado vs Átomo, Chamuel, Mije
4) Arlequín, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
5) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
6) Místico & Panterita del Ring Jr. vs Stuka Jr. & Último Guerrero
There was a lot of news on CMLL Informa. It is all somewhat related to a new July 14th card, which will honor Atlantis for reaching 40th years of wrestling.
CMLL (FRI) 07/14/2023 Arena México
1) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Difunto, Furia Roja, Zandokan Jr.
2) ? vs ?? [MEX WOMEN, final]
finalists decided on 07/07
3) Akuma & Dark Magic vs Espíritu Negro & Rey Cometa [hair]
4) Cavernario, Templario, Virus vs Máscara Dorada 2.0, Metalik, Titán
5) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Octagón vs Averno, Fuerza Guerrera, Último Guerrero
It’s probably notable to see old rivals matched up in the main event as they get close to September.
Metalik is the former Mascara Dorada, who’s US residency situation is resolved after about 21 months. A coming soon video aired on Infroma and this appears to be his first match. He’s expected to continue living in the US and coming back to CMLL from time to time. I don’t expect him to be a regular; I’m guessing it’s something closer to how Rocky Romero’s shown up in the CMLL the last year. Metalik’s purgatory cost him multiple NJPW tours, and hopefully he gets a chance to return to Japan as well.
Mascara Dorada 2.0 is the former Panterita del Ring Jr., who took over the gimmick on CMLL Informa. He appeared with his father, and they discussed Panterita Sr.’s history of changing names (Safari, Hombre sin Nombre, Ephesto) to make the case this is a good thing. I don’t think this is a great thing, I’m pretty sure I’ll be re-explaining who is who on Twitter until I die or Twitter dies, but he’s really good, and they’re going with him so he’ll be fine. Panterita Jr. will continue using that name for previously announcing bookings and begin wrestling as Mascara Dorada 2.0 on the 06/30 FantasticaMania show.
Ola Negra and Atrapasuenos had a rapid acceleration to a hair match. It is on, everyone signed contracts on Wednesday. I’m not entirely sure how it’s going to go, in outcome or quality. The Atrapasuenos are slight favorites to win, though they’re not going to be hurt much by a loss. I trust Rey Cometa in a big match setting and I have the exact opposite feelings about Dark Magic.
The Mexican National Women’s championship is vacant. It’s somehow more confusing than it sounds. Dark Silueta is returning to the ring on the 06/30 show as part of the Las Inferanles trio. (La Catalina will join the opposition.) Dark Silueta is healthy, she’s going to be wrestling, and she could defend the title. She’ll also traveling to Japan from August to early October, and Dark Silueta and Julio Cesar Rivera explained that titles are meant to be defended. She also said she would’ve vacated it sooner but she been in Mexico City to do it. Dark Silueta said she’d like to challenge the winner when she returns. This story doesn’t quite make sense but the belt is vacant. There will be a contenders match on July 7th and the final two will decide the new champion on the 14th.
Dark Silueta didn’t indicate where she’d be wrestling in Japan, though a poster with her in Lady’s Ring on 09/17 was shown. CMLL did mention Silueta’s October return lines up with the same month of women’s wrestling focused shows they did last year (which Silueta missed due to injury.) Silueta revealed she was originally told she’d be out three months with her knee injury, and then they found it was much worse during the operation.
Five matches is short for a major card, so something might get added in the next couple of weeks. The Los Infernales split is still lingering.
Atlantis will also be celebrated on the following Puebla & Guadalajara shows
- 07/17 Arena Puebla: Atlantis, Octagon, Templario vs Ultimo Guerrero, Dragon Rojo Jr., Fuerza Guerrera
- 07/18 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara: Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Mistico vs Ultimo Guerrero, Averno, Satanico
A celebratory mass for Atlantis will also be held in Mexico City on July 13th.
Dark Silueta’s return is not the only change to the 06/30 lineup:
CMLL (FRI) 06/30/2023 Arena México
1) Dark Silueta, Lluvia, Zeuxis vs La Catalina, La Jarochita, Stephanie Vaquer
2) Audaz & Capitán Suicida vs Douki & Okumura
Originally Audaz, Capitán Suicida, Hombre Bala Jr. vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Okumura, changed on 06/14. one fall match
3) Satánico vs Tiger Mask IV
Satanico 50th Anniversary match.
4) El Desperado vs Máscara Dorada 2.0
5) Bushi, Naito, Titán vs Atlantis Jr., Místico, Soberano Jr.
6) Rocky Romero © vs Volador Jr. [NWA WELTER]
DOUKI makes his CMLL debut. He’s wrestled in Arena Mexico a handful of times as part of Dragonmania shows, and probably would’ve been a CMLL full-timer if they had ever offered him a spot prior to NJPW.
I have consistently written that I believe the NJPW wrestlers appearing on this show will also appear on AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door on June 25th. I still believe that to be true, that the NJPW names above will be in Toronto on the Sunday prior.
CMLL Informa also announced the promotion is adding one more title. I know you thought they didn’t have enough of those. It’ll be a Puebla specific championship for those local wrestlers, which isn’t a bad standalone idea. CMLL also could’ve used one of their other two dozen titles for that purpose.
AAA
They went a couple of days without any bad news happening, so that’s a win.
AAA on Space on Saturday
- Brazo De Oro Jr. & Sexy Star vs Flamita & Villano III Jr.
- Octagón Jr. & Rey Horus vs Arez & Komander and Jack Evans & Myzteziz for the AAA World Tag Team Championship
- Aramis & Negro Casas vs Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf
This TV looks the most promising show in a while. I’m heading to AEW Collision, which will start at about the same time. This TV is three weeks old, it can wait another day to watch. It is unuseful for me in particular that the CMLL Friday night show runs into Rampage every week and the AAA TV show will overlap Collision every week.
The Kenny Omega meet and greet for the Tijuana show has sold out. The show is a month away.
An indie by the name of Gran Coliseo is running Auditorio de Tijuana tonight with LA Park, Dralistico, La Besita del Ring, and La Rebelion. I’m not sure if AAA’s policy against working for non-EMW promotions in Tijuana extends to this group, but I also think these guys will be completely unaffected in AAA. LA Park and Rush’s family in the same ring will probably include some reference to Rush’s non-participation in the upcoming TripleMania show there, even if it’s just LA Park complaining about it in a post match promo.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter mentioned Rush is currently not in AEW due to the same delayed visa approval issues that have plagued a lot of wrestlers in the last year. The newsletter also mentioned Rush’s AEW current contract was a one year deal, and it’s said to be up soon. Combine that with Andrade strangely talking about his match in Torreon on Thursday being his last there for the immediate future, and it did have people wondering if they’re looking to go to WWE as a combo deal. Andrade’s deal might go a lot longer depending on if AEW tacks on extra time for Andrade’s injury absence and it doesn’t seem like WWE is bringing in new people in the lead-up to their merger. A lot of this is just trying to make sense of both Andrade and Rush’s statements in the last week and that may be an impossible task.
Andrade did wrestle on Thursday in Torreon. I scanned through it to see if I could find anything interesting. Andrade is coming back from a shoulder injury and wasn’t taped up. He also didn’t appear to do much lifting in the match.
Adrian Marcelo is milking a three-part YouTube series out of his failed Chessman match. The first part is up now. I think most people have moved on but Marcelo revealing the planned angle to kick it off was in fact a planned angle got some attention.
Murder Clown told MedioTiempo says he almost got a gig as a bodyguard for a Shakira concert tour when he was younger. The issue was he was younger, a lot younger. Murder Clown was large early on, so it was only when the security company checked his paperwork for his travel paperwork that they realized they were employing a 16-year-old kid. They were fine with using him in Mexico City but they couldn’t send him internationally as a minor. Murder Clown says he trained with Satanico for six months in Arena Coliseo, then debuted in Arena Naucalpan as Chris Killer. I can’t find any Arena Naucalpan matches for a Chris Killer, but that name does turn up on AAA spot shows in late 2007, right before Psycho Circus debuts. Cibernetico and Roberto Macias (one of the people who helped train him) got him a meeting with Antonio Pena, which got him into AAA.
One of Keeping it 100’s mailbox episodes has a listener question about if we should expect to see more AAA title matches on AEW TV, and if we even might see a title switch. Disco asks the question, then ignores it (and the other part of that person’s question) to make the same complaint about the match he made on Twitter, Konnan disagrees with him, Disco disagrees with Konnan disagreeing with him, and then they move onto the next question.
IWRG
IWRG (THU) 06/15/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Súper Boy b Histeriosis 
2) Águila Roja & Rey Aztaroth b Avisman & Dinamic Black
3) Dick Angelo 3G, Legendario, Shocko b Gannicus, Hijo Del Enigma, Zaeken
4) Bengalee & Demasiado b Bizhota & Sagitarius and Bugambilia & Satania
5) León Dorado & Mr. Leo b Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. [RGR TAG, torneo]
6) Diva Salvaje & Mamba b Asterboy & Travis Banks [RGR TAG, torneo]
A lightly attended show. Dinamic Black returned in the second match and had a notably poor performance.
IWRG (SUN) 06/18/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Águila Roja vs Jhon Tito, Rey Halcón, Fussion [IWRG REY DEL AIRE, #1 Contenders]
current champion Puma de Oro
2) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Látigo & Toxin
3) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. vs León Dorado, Mr. Leo, Rey León
4) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. © vs Bombero Infernal & Mr. Mike [IWRG IC TAG]
first defense
5) Jessy Ventura vs Hijo de Canis Lupus © [IWRG Rey del Ring]
first defense
6) Sagitarius vs Bengalee, Diva Salvaje, Mamba, Ludark Shaitan, Satania, Demasiado, Bugambilia, Bizhota, Zoy Raymunda, Lady Flammer, Lady Maravilla [cage, mask, hair]
This is the Jaula de La Locas show, and so a mas lucha premium show. The first few matches airing for free might is something to check out, match 2 might be the best match on the show. Latigo, Toxin, Maravilla, and Flammer were all booked for AAA TV in Puebla so they must’ve been late adds. Good for them for finding extra work.
Other News
AEW Rampage tonight has Bandido vs Konosuke Takeshita.
This week’s AAA show might have been way down on the priority list even if I didn’t have tickets for AEW. The best AAA match you can see on Saturday night will probably be Hijo del Vikingo vs Laredo Kid vs Arez vs Aramis in Illinois’ Dreamwave Wrestling. That show is sold out, but will air on IWTV.
Big Lucha is also running another Gym show. The tag team tournament continues with SBK & Takuma against Mr. Win & Viajero and Super Nova & Texano Jr. vs Elipse & Orbita in quarterfinals, and a finals on the next show. Bandido teams with Gravity & Potro against Abismo Negro Jr., Cibernetico and Latigo in the main event. I presume this is also streaming on the Big Lucha YouTube channel.
Sangre Texano (Texano Jr. & Super Nova) say they have no plans to go to CMLL or AAA. I like those guys, but this was also a question no one was asking. (Maybe the author of the piece asked?) Texano does say they’re in talks to go to a new country, which makes me wonder if they’re next for NOAH.
The Cassandro bio movie will debut in “select US theatres” on September 15, then on Amazon Prime on September 22. That first date Mexican independence day weekend, and it probably isn’t a coincidence.
Monterrey’s Arena Jaguar announced they’ve reopened and are running shows starting this past Thursday. Wrestling in Monterrey has been at a standstill over the last year due to wrestler licensing requirements, though some venues may have been running shows without advertising them. It’s not clear to me if these wrestlers agreed to take the licensing test or if that requirement has been dropped.
Wrestling returned to Arena Coliseo San Luis Potosi this past weekend for the first time since December 2014. It reads like it’s the same location but maybe a mostly new building; it had some structural issues after the lucha libre stopped and it looks like they rebuilt it as a basketball gym.