CMLL
CMLL (FRI) 08/25/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Estrellas del Ring, thecubsfan]
1) Brillante Jr., Leono, Oro Jr. b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Raider 
10:03
2) Fuego, Robin, Valiente Jr. b Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
10:32
3) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black b Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr.
11:05
4) Valiente b Misterioso Jr. [lightning]
5:35
5) Bárbaro Cavernario, Hechicero, Último Guerrero b Averno, Euforia, Mephisto
15:34. Ultimo Guerrero replaced Terrible. Averno unmasked Hechicero for the DQ. Hechicero wants a 1v1 match.
6) Hiromu Takahashi, Soberano Jr., Titán b Atlantis Jr., Místico, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
18:01. Soberano Jr. won via foul. Mistico wants a 1v1 match. Atlantis Jr. replaced Mascara Dorada.
A blah show. Sobearno’s rudo antics were the most interesting thing on the show, maybe the only interesting thing on the show. Ultimo Guerrero and Averno doing little at all before their apuesta match was weird, but maybe a product of a late sub.
Mascara Dorada explained on Instagram that he tested positive for COVID; which explains his absence from Tuesday and this show. He was also originally advertised for the upcoming Tuesday Guadalajara show and pulled from that. He is advertised on next Friday’s show. Other names have quietly been removed from shows; I’m not sure if there are others who tested positive or if it’s a coincidence.
CMLL (SAT) 08/26/2023 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Acero, Aéreo, Galaxy b Mercurio, Pequeño Polvora, Pequeño Violencia
2) Disturbio, Nitro, Vegas b Astral, Cachorro, Eléctrico
3) Diamond, El Audaz, Hombre Bala Jr. b Futuro, Max Star, Neón
4) Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa, Volcano b El Coyote, Kráneo, Pólvora
5) Soberano Jr. & Titán b Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr.
6) Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Niebla Roja b Bárbaro Cavernario, Hechicero, Hiromu Takahashi
Hechicero replaced Terrible
Hombre Bala beat Futuro but I think Bala isn’t a lightweight anymore.
CMLL (SUN) 08/27/2023 Arena México
1) Angelito, Kaligua, Pequeño Magía DQ Full Metal, Mercurio, Minos
2) La Guerrera, La Vaquerita, Skadi b Amapola, Hera, Metálica
3) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico b Enfermero Jr., Inquisidor, Sangre Imperial
4) Guerrero Maya Jr. b Difunto [lightning]
7:01
5) Audaz, Blue Panther, Star Jr. b Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
Audaz replaced Pantera del Ring a few hours before the show.
6) Atlantis Jr. & Volador Jr. b Stuka Jr. & Templario
straight falls
7) Místico © DRAW Hiromu Takahashi [NWA MIDDLE]
6th defense, first since Sep 2022. Double pin finish after Takahashi attempts at winning via foul fouled. Mistico wanted to restart the match, but Hirmou refused. Mistico proposed going to Japan to challenge Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
CMLL streamed this whole show for members, after previously saying it’d just be the title match. The show was overall better than Friday but you really don’t have to go out of your way to watch it. Mistico versus Takahashi was Hiromu playing heavy rudo, so much that it never really felt like a big serious title match. It was fun for Takahashi to play the Mistico enemy of the month, but it also never turned into something more than that (like the Mistico/Titan match did.)
NJPW major singles champions don’t lose singles matches outside of NJPW and Takahashi winning Mistico’s title wouldn’t make much sense, so a draw was the only way to get out of it. It didn’t look like the match up meant anything extra to attendance.
CMLL (TUE) 08/29/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Gallo Jr. & Rafaga Jr. vs Calavera Jr. I & Calavera Jr. II
2) Fantasy, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr. vs Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black
4) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
5) Reyna Isis © vs Valkiria [MEX WOMEN]
first defense
6) Arlequín, Atlantis Jr., Ráfaga vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
It’s a weird looking main event, but its names shuffled there with no Mascara Dorada. The minis make a rare Guadalajara match.
CMLL (TUE) 08/29/2023 Arena México
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Mije & Periquito Sacaryas
2) Eléctrico, Oro Jr., Valiente Jr. vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
3) Arkalis, Pegasso, Volcano vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido vs Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr.
5) Atlantis vs Último Guerrero [lightning]
6) Místico, Templario, Titán vs Euforia, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
This is another card that feels a little bit bigger, maybe because they’re trying to sell these as subcription shows. They weren’t running Atlantis/Ultimo Guerrero singles matches on Tuesdays before (and Guerrero should probably win.) Villanos and Zandokan will be at it again.
CMLL (FRI) 09/01/2023 Arena México
1) Astral, Leono, Robin vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
2) Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Halcón Suriano Jr. vs Crixus, Raider, Vegas
3) Blue Panther Jr. vs Magia Blanca, Fugaz, Magnus, Esfinge, Pólvora, El Audaz, Difunto, Futuro, Espanto Jr., Rey Cometa, Furia Roja [Copa Independencia, semifinal]
4) Máscara Dorada & Templario vs Dragón Rojo Jr. & Titán [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Místico vs Soberano Jr.
Mistico beat Soberano Jr. in a singles match in Arena Puebla last month and beat Soberano Jr. last year in Copa Jr. It’s the first full length match they’ll do in Arena Mexico
Dorada/Tempalrio versus Dragon Rojo/Titan builds towards the Aniversario match. Copa Independence had been announced earlier, but Villano III was part of that group and Polvora is in his spot now. Match Two is Crixus and Vegas filtering into the regular matches.
CMLL and the NFL’s Denver Broncos did a co-promotion last month in Arena Mexico. It’s apparently continuing from there, as CMLL announced. The Broncos’ mascot Miles and “five of his friends” will do something with Tony Salazar before the 09/08 show as a promotional event. In exchange, Mistico, Volador Jr., Atlantis Jr. and Templario will head to Denver for an exhibition match prior to the 10/22 Broncos game against the Packers. There’s a commemorative t-shirt as part of the event and a special Mexico-themed Denver Broncos jersey will be sold in October.
Dragon Rojo talked about his workout and dieting routine with Heraldo Deportes.
AAA
AAA held a press conference on Monday afternoon. There was a brief Komander interview to promote the 09/23 show in Mexico City, but most of the attention was on Heroes Inmortales. AAA ran Guadalajara’s Fiestas del Octobre fair last year, and it was one of their best-attended shows of the year. (That was the show with Laredo, Vikingo, and Taurus and the great crowd shows that are a part of Vikingo’s AEW entrance video.) AAA and Fiestas del October are working together again this year, running a show on 10/01 as this year’s Heroes Inmortales. The lineup leaves a little bit to desired.
AAA TV (SUN) 10/01/2023 Auditorio Benito Juárez, Zapopan, Jalisco [HBO Max press release]
***Heroes Inmortales, 2023***
1) Mini Vikingo, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs Dinámico, Kamik-C, Skalibur
2) Dulce Kanela vs Maravilla, Sexy Star, ?, ??, Lady Shani, Centella, Estrellita, Chik Tormenta [Copa Antonio Pena, semifinal]
3) Forastero & Sansón vs Dave The Clown & Murder Clown and Chessman & Parka Negra [#1 Contenders, AAA TAG]
4) Dalys & Negro Casas vs Abismo Negro Jr. & Flammer [AAA MIXED TAG]
5) Hijo Del Vikingo & Myzteziz vs Dralistico & La Bestia Del Ring
6) ? vs ??
7) Octagón Jr. & Pentagón Jr. vs Qt Marshall & Sam Adonis
One of the trademarks of recent years of AAA is making sure there’s at least one straight ‘great’ action match on the show. I’m not sure what that is here. I think the guys in the main event believe they can be that, but will instead be called on to do a screwy finish to get more heat on QT. (AAA also aired a vignette on TV where Sam Adonis and Dralistico had a shoving fight, which may also play into the main event somehow.) Beyond that – maybe the opener comedy/spotty opener is the best match on the show? Maybe the three way trios match will be in a way most NGD matches in AAA haven’t been? It’s hard to find the thing to look forward. Good matches or even big matches is not really a concern for AAA on this one though: this is a fair show, most tickets are likely going to be free with admission to the fair, they can do whatever and be fine.
Myzteziz & Hijo del Vikingo versus Dralisico & La Bestia del Ring is terrible. The upcoming Hijo del Vikingo versus Nick Gage match in GCW does not appear to be a good mix of wrestlers but at least Gage is over to that fanbase. Dralistico and Bestia del Ring are not Nick Gage. The one thing we can learn is whatever happened with the LFI guys at TripleMania, Rush and AAA must still be on great terms if they’re booking Besita del Ring on shows.
QT Marshall AEW associate Harley Cameron will be in his corner for the main event. I’m sure she’ll get heat. I’m sure about the same amount of people who knew who Aaron Solo will know Harley Cameron.
Octagon in the main event seems to suggest he’s beating Mecha Wolf, Bestia 666 and Drago to win the AAA Latin American #1 contenders match in Mexico City, but it doesn’t have to make sense that way. It sure doesn’t make sense that there’s another #1 contender’s match happening for the tag titles and La Rebelion aren’t included. (I guess NGD are favored?) Dalys & Negro Casas seem locks to end the nothing title reign of Abismo and Flammer, especially since Flammer now has her singles title. It doesn’t seem worth speculating about the Copa Antonio Pena, since AAA’s taught us that every women’s singles match will just be a bunch of interference.
This show will air on Space and Mexico’s HBO Max live. It’s a week earlier than originally announced, which throws off the TV schedule: the Mexico City show will now air out of order, after this Heroes Inmortales. Out of order is the norm though: the Copa Antonio Pena battle royal will air a week after the final if AAA goes as usual. It’s AAA, it’s fine.
PW Insider, reporting on an Impact talent meeting, says wrestlers were told they would be going to be Mexico in November for a taping with AAA. This will air on Impact’s TV, the reporting is unclear if this will be an AAA TV event as well. Impact taped in Mexico a few times pre-pandemic and seemed to plan to do more in 2020 before the world shut down. It usually meant AAA wrestlers in cameos rather and maybe a match or two on the show, rather than the a full crossover show. Impact hasn’t been bringing AAA wrestlers to their shows, and I don’t believe Laredo Kid or Taurus wrestled on their most recent taping.
QT Marshall defended the AAA Latin America on Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage, then again versus Chuck Mambo on Saturday in the UK’s Progress promotion. AAA acknowledged these defenses in ways they don’t always for non-AAA or AEW TV matches. They’re very invested in the QT stuff.
Myzteziz Jr. was in attendance at Arena Mexico on Friday. It’s normal for AAA wrestlers to watch a CMLL show and vice versa, but it’s unusual for them to put it on social media.
Big Lucha
CMLL , Big Lucha (SAT) 08/26/2023 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [Mas Lucha, The Gladiatores]
1) Mr. Win b Nordico, Raider, Odisseo Mendoza, Limbo, Atómico Jr., Ursus Mendoza, Epidemia, Sangre Nueva, Blue Monsther, Doble R, Valentino, Golden Dragón, Auzter, Torito Negro, Steel Dragón, Black Skayde, Helios, Tirano [Torneo Leyenda Viviente]
listed as 20, but we only have 19 names
2) Brujo De Iztapalpa & Viajero b Andrómeda & Carito [relevos suicidas]
Flamita changed the match around to a parejas increibles, where the winning team would get an apuesta match. Mas Lucha says the winners advance to the apuesta match, while the Gladiatores says it was the losers.
3) Skayde b Forneo [last man standing]
bloody match. Foreno could not stand after going through a table.
4) Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo DQ Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
Depredadores unmasked Radioactivo & Morfosis
5) Iku, Orbita, Vengador DQ Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
Vengador replaced Elipse, but Elipse and Jack Evans made the save post match.
6) Bendito, Flamita, Yutani DQ Euforia, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero
excessive rudo behavior
7) Averno & Místico b Templario & Volador Jr.
8) El Potro de Oro b Emperador Azteca © [BIG LUCHA CHAMP]
Potro de Oro won the title. Bandido made a surprise appearance to congratulate him post match; he’d been announced as out of the promotion just a few weeks prior.
The Big Lucha/Bandido continues to be nicest breakup ever. It didn’t seem like Bandido was back, but was just showing up to put a happy face on whatever split happened by appearing one more time. Bandido didn’t appear to have a cast or anything on his wrists, so he may be back wrestling soon.
Potro de Oro winning surprised me; Emperador Azteca seemed like the long-term champion. I’ll have to see how it comes across. (Big Lucha hasn’t said when this is going up, but they started to post the last show on the Thursday after it aired.) Big Lucha won all their matches with the CMLL wrestlers but all of them were DQs, which is not a great sign for that relationship. Jack Evans making a save against CMLL wrestlers on the same night he was on AAA’s TV is strange. I could not find a third source to figure out what was happening in match two, though I think both of those match ups are going to apuestas eventually.
IWRG
IWRG (SUN) 08/27/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Mr. Mike, Ovett Jr., Sagitarius b Águila Roja, Amazonika, Rey Astaroth
Mr. Mike replaced Super Boy
2) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly b León Dorado & Mr. Leo
3) Caballero de Plata, Leo Cristiani, Máscara Sagrada Jr. b Karoui, Mosca, Rey Halcón
4) Cerebro Negro, Hip Hop Man, Ivan Rokov b Lolita, Ludark Shaitan, Satania [EdM Trios, semifinal]
5) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. b Hell Boy, Mr. Leo, Shocko [EdM Trios, semifinal]
Mr. Leo (working twice) replaced Puma de Oro.
6) Tonalli & Toxin b Aramis & Hijo de Canis Lupus
Toxin beat Canis Lupus after a mask pull
The main event was said to be just OK, which is under what those guys should be capable. The one advantage of IWRG is it’s an easy to access platform (on non-subscriber weeks), and it’s a chance to have a match in the way they want where people can see it. The match they wanted to have on this night was a b-match.
IWRG , FILL (TUE) 08/29/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Cosmic & Rossel vs Carnicero & Último Caballero
2) Amazonika & Hatana vs Dehyna & Kali
3) Adrenalina, Cheff Benito, Súper Cometa vs Milagro, Rey Gato, Sumed Black
4) Arceus, Ryu, Tornado vs Black Shadow Jr., Rey Esparatno, Thunder Storm
5) Águila Oriental, Águila Roja, Axoltol, Fussion, Ovett Jr., Rey Astaroth, Súper Boy vs Belial, Black Killer, Caudillo Jr., Dracula Jr., Leyenda Oscura, Misterio Azul, Vali [Copa High Power]
FILL vs Gym Explosion (Tehuacan)
Mas Lucha says they’ll stream this show live on Tuesday, which is different from recent trainee shows. I want to know how Belial ended up representing a gym from Tehuacan.
Other Notes
On Saturday, DMT Azul and Forastero had a match in Arena Lopez Mateos that had a couple of unusual occurrences. They brawled into the crowd, which is anything but unusual, and a fan ran up to Azul and lightly shoved him from behind. The fan appeared to be very drunk. Azul turned around and went after the fan until security swarmed the situation. A commissioner stopped the match because Azul attacked the fan, but that happened many minutes later and maybe after the planned finish (DMT Azul blatantly fouling Forastero.) It read Saturday like maybe Arena Lopez Mateos had ‘discovered’ a new way to get out of all the main event matches they do without a finish. On Sunday on video, it was more clear it was a drunk fan and a commission acting slowly.
Following Sunday’s All In PPV, AEW’s MJF was asked about other international locations he’d like to run. He immediately mentioned Estadio Azteca, professing an unexpected giant love for Mexico and Mexican culture. (MJF does these interviews in-character, but his love of Mexico didn’t fit his normal hatred of everything not Long Island. It was likely a genuine feeling.) Various other international destinations were brought up during the press conference, and AEW chief Tony Khan mentioned they’d be interested in going to all places if it made sense. It’s very unlikely it will make sense for AEW to run Estadio Azteca in the near future; they’ve barely just gotten back on streaming in the country, and they don’t currently have enough of a Mexico fanbase to help fill an 80K building. All In London had a television presence in the UK for years. AEW can revisit this idea when they get that sort of longevity – and when they can go at least one show without the Mexican fans complaining about the commentary.
It would also take AEW booking around a top Mexican star for an extended period. AEW has many great Mexican wrestlers who can be stars, but are mostly there to have an entertaining match and be at least somewhat credible before losing to the actual top stars. Orange Cassidy defends the AEW International Championship against Penta on Wednesday; it will be a shock if Penta wins. I don’t think an AEW show in Mexico City should be lots of Mexican wrestlers or outsiders added in. The success of All In London was because it was the AEW roster for the most part, not because they pandered to the live audience with lots of wrestlers. You do still need some stars, they had Will Ospreay as a top star, and they need someone like that for Mexico. AEW has people who could fill that role, but they need to be positioned in a more special way for a lot longer to get there.
AEW also mentioned they’ll be running WrestleDream on 10/01 in Seattle. It’s an Antonio Inoki tribute show but it also appears to be the start of another annual PPV. Khan mentioned he talked to NJPW about participating and expects they will participate. The ripple effect of it the Mexican talent may be de-emphasized for that PPV cycle since they’re unable to wrestle NJPW wrestlers due to NJPW/CMLL agreement. It appears dependent on if the shows are billed as “AEW WrestleDream” or “AEW/NJPW WrestleDream”; NJPW seems to object if they’re promoting the show, but not if they’re simply sending talent. This situation does feed into the above problem: it’s really hard to build a Mexican wrestler into a top star if they have to disappear for one or two PPVs a year, and it’s probably something that needs a resolution before AEW can consider running Mexico at Estadio Azteca level.
Monterrey referee Oso Panda (Alfredo Alatorre), passed away Saturday. He also wrestled as Kalani.
A profile of Mazatlan’s Andy Blake.
Segunda Caida writes about more 1992 Monterrey.