Month: November 2023

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/17/2023 Arena México [AS, CMLL, Kaiser Sports, Publimetro, The Gladiatores, thecubsfan, thegladiatores.com]
1) Andrómeda & Skadi b Hera & Olympia    
8:39.
2) Último Dragóncito b Mercurio © [CMLL MINI]    
12:02. Ultimo Draogncito 16th champion, 3rd time for him. Mercurio falls on his 7th defense. Dragoncito submits Mercurio to his own hold for the win, then the two agreed to a hair match.
3) Hechicero & Stuka Jr. b Atlantis, Ángel de Oro, Star Black, Esfinge, Volcano, Último Guerrero, Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible, Niebla Roja, Sagrado [Leyenda de Azul, semifinal]    
28:44. Final two advance. Order of elimination: Sagrado (by Star Black), Volcano (Hechicero), Star Black (Stuka Jr.), Esfinge (Cavernario), Terrible (Angel de Oro), Angel de Oro (Ultimo Guerrero), Niebla Roja (Atlantis), Barbaro Cavernario (Stuka Jr.), Ultimo Guerrero (Atlantis), Atlantis (Stuka Jr.) leaving Stuka Jr. and Hechicero as the final two.
4) Gran Guerrero © b Euforia [CMLL HEAVY]    
16:17. 3rd defense. Cold match.
5) Flip Gordon, Máscara Dorada, Místico b Star Jr., Titán, Volador Jr.   
18:03

The main event was good, if not among the best. CMLL gave Flip Gordon a short intro at the start of the show. The ciberentico was good too, moving people in and out well, though it was strange to make Atlantis a focal point in the end. Dragoncito defeating Mercurio when and how he did was a shock, but seems to fit in to the cage match build. (They did challenges like it was a singles apuesta match coming up between, but that’d be pretty surprising.) Skadi & Andromeda may have something as a team.

Gran Guerrero defended his match in post-match interviews, saying the fans didn’t appreciate the real heavyweight action and were negative because they weren’t flying around. (Guerrero did at least two dives himself.) Guerrero also declared this was fine because he’s a rudo and those boos support him. The crowd chanted “otro lucha”, which was not exactly booing for rudos. Gran Guerrero worked as hard as I’ve seen him in months and clearly wanted it to be a great match, but he and Euforia were a bad mix and it was a super cold match. Neither is very over or and neither has much charisma, it was just was a long match that didn’t draw in the fans. CMLL would swiftly looking for a way to fix Gran Guerrero or get the belt off of him if this was a championship that mattered in the same way heavyweight championships matter in other promotions. It does not matter in CMLL. That’s why it ends up with a Gran Guerrero in the first place.

CMLL (SAT) 11/18/2023 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Angelito & Kaligua DQ Minos & Pequeño Violencia
Minos unmasked Kaligua
2) Astral, Oro Jr., Valiente Jr. b Grako, Inquisidor, Nitro
Astral left with an injury
3) La Jarochita b Dark Silueta [lightning]
4) Felino, Misterioso Jr., Rey Bucanero b Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa
5) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Cancerbero, Kráneo, Luciferno
6) Titán, Valiente, Volador Jr. b Templario, Terrible, Virus

Nothing much notable here.

CMLL (SUN) 11/19/2023 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Acero & Aéreo DQ Minos & Pequeño Polvora
Polvora unmasked Acero
2) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
3) El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora b Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma
Coyote challenged Guerrero Maya to a MEX MIDDLE title match
4) El Hijo De Blue Panther, Hijo de Octagón, Star Jr. b El Hijo de Stuka Jr., Felino Jr., Hijo del Villano III
5) Máscara Dorada b Hechicero [lightning]
6) Místico, Octagón, Titán b Averno, Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr.

If Coyote gets the match (and he probably is), this would be his first singles title match. Hechicero/Dorada sounds like it went well.

CMLL (SUN) 11/19/2023 Arena Puebla [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Hela & Shitara b Diablita Roja & Mania 
8:50
2) Black Tiger & Meyer b Fénix SO & Hijo del Perverso 
12:38
3) Reyna Isis b Andrómeda, Skadi, La Vaquerita, Lady Metal, Enigmática, La Catalina, Amapola, Lady Amazona, Astoreth [Copa Mujeres Revolucionarias] 
17:12. Order of elimination Enigmatica (by Catalina), Astoreth (Lady Metal), Vaquerita (Catalina), Lady Metal (Lady Amazona), Lady Amazona (Skadi), Andromeda (Reyna Isis), Skadi (Catalina), Catalina (Reyna Isis)
4) Stephanie Vaquer & Zeuxis © b La Jarochita & Lluvia [CMLL WOMEN TAG] 
10:45. 2nd defense
5) Atlantis, Pantera, Solar I DQ Felino, Rocky Santana, Satánico 
12:29.
6) Templario © b Volador Jr. [CMLL MIDDLE] 
15:08. First defense. Mr. Rafaga seconded Volador; he last appeared in a match here in 2010.

CMLL streamed this. Or tried to; the first half of the show was a rough viewing due to frame rate issues with the stream. They restarted it before the women’s tag title match, which was good time. It, and the main event, were two good matches on the show. The cibernetico was fine for what it was. The women’s tag match was a lot of action, like the Aniversario show, with it going pretty well. Templario and Volador was a very Voaldor title match, with lots of big moves and back and forth until Templario finally hit his move for the win. It was good physical effort if not a creative effort.

The CMLL Gran Prix tournament was a rarity for coming down to the two people on the same team. It’s now the start of a pattern. The Leyenda de Azul had three people left on one team when the last team was all done. The Copa Mujeres Revolucionarias was rudas versus tencicas and came down to teammates Catalina and Reyna Isis.

No Puebla show on Monday. There is a CMLL spot show in Lerma, Mexico State.

CMLL (TUE) 11/21/2023 Arena México
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo & Chamuel
2) Aéreo, Angelito, Kaligua vs Full Metal, Pequeño Violencia, Pierrothito
3) Andrómeda, La Vaquerita, Skadi vs Amapola, Olympia, Persephone
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
5) Flip Gordon vs Templario [lightning]
6) Místico, Titán, Valiente vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Mephisto, Terrible

Everyone’s going to be very sad if Flip beats Templario. I expect everyone to be sad.

CMLL (TUE) 11/21/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Atilus, Maximus, Rey Urano vs Abigor La Pesadilla, Relámpago Azul, Rumbero
2) Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Hijo del Calavera vs Fúnebre, Mortis, Ponzoña Jr.
3) Adira, Dulce Kitty, Náutica, Sexy Sol vs Enigmática, Lady Amazona, Mayahuel, Shitara
4) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico vs El Malayo, Rey Apocalipsis, Siki Osama Jr.
5) Bestia Negra, El Gallero, Halcón Negro Jr. vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
6) Euforia vs Hijo del Soberano, Panterita del Ring, Máscara Dorada, Último Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Hijo de Stuka Jr. [cibernetico]

It’s easier to do the all Laguneros cibernetico with Soberano Jr. is out of town. Why they’re doing it in Guadalajara at all is a harder question to answer.

CMLL (FRI) 11/24/2023 Arena México
1) Brillante Jr., Fuego, Oro Jr. vs Grako, Nitro, Sangre Imperial
2) Arkalis, Rey Samuray, Stigma vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
3) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
4) Lluvia, Reyna Isis, Tessa Blanchard vs Dark Silueta, La Jarochita, Stephanie Vaquer [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Hechicero vs Stuka Jr. [Leyenda de Azul, final]
6) Místico & Octagón vs Atlantis & Volador Jr.

This is one of the weakest on paper shows of the year. It’s going to take one of those undercard trios matches coming up strong to save it. Hechicero/Stuka is a safe bet to be good and may be much better than that. Blanchard is wrestling Vaquer on 12/02 Tijuana, so match four is just a question of if CMLL wants to have that match happen two days in a row or if Blanchard is going to be around long enough to hold the title match to 12/08. It’s happening, just a matter of when. Rey Samuray hasn’t been around much since July, so interesting to see him get a title mtach here.

“Z” was indeed Zandokan Jr., who debuted Sunday in NJPW as Yota Tsuji’s surprise partner. They’re going with the story that Zandokan Jr. gets to join LIJ if he and Tsuji win the World Tag League. They will probably not win the World Tag League.

Mascara Dorada & Ichiban defeated Rocky Romero & Barbaro Cavernario in MLW on Saturday. I heard it was both the best thing on the show and not something you need to go out of your way to see.

CMLL and Hertz car rental announced a partnership. Fans who come to Arena Mexico will get a discount of up to 60% off a car. Hertz advertisements were visible during Friday’s show. (Note the image the news site used for the more-or-less press release was of Luchatitlan.)

AAA

Space aired the second half of Guerra de Titanes live on Sunday night.

AAA TV (SUN) 11/19/2023 Gimnasio Municipal Josué Neri Santos, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua [AAA, thecubsfan]
***Guerra de Titanes, 2023***
6) Octagón Jr. b QT Marshall © [AAA LA]
10:33. Octagon Jr. wins the title. Marshall had the win after a Fear Factor, pulled Octagon up. Octagon nearly won, second Sam Adonis pulled the referee out. Pentagon hit QT with a bottle, Octagon landed the 450 splash to win the title. QT loses after his first defense in Mexico. Pentagon and Konnan yelled at Adonis and Marshall for daring to call themselves Los Gringos Locos.
7) Mecha Wolf & Psycho Clown DQ Sam Adonis & Texano Jr.
12:47. Mecha Wolf replaced Pagano, who appeared at ringside. Masked men attacked Psycho Clown when he had the match won when Samuray VIP, Steven Juarez and Aereo all ran in to attack Psycho and apparently join Los Mercenarios.
8) Hijo Del Vikingo © b Dralistico [AAA MEGA]
17:30. Vikingo won with the El Cuerno del Vikingo. Dralistico won a match on 10/18 in San Luis Potosi. 22nd defense when announced, 7th in AAA.

Dralistico/Vikingo was good, the only really notable thing on the show. (Maybe the tag title match will be as good next week.) Dralistico had one noticeable slip running up the corner for a plancha, but otherwise did fine. His problems are more his limited and repetitive offense, and Vikingo managed to use that as part of the match – Dralistico went for one Destroyer too many and it cost him. Vikingo’s had four TV title defenses in AAA this year, all were good/great, and none feel like a contender for the Mexico match of the year. That’s a disappointment. It still was much more fun than heavyweight title match CMLL offered.

Mecha Wolf had a singles entrance video, which seems to back up the idea Bestia 666 is gone from here. Mecha Wolf replacing Pagano was never really announced, just treated like something that everyone already knew was happening. (Can’t say I did.) Having all these Juarez guys join feels like this was something just for local shows there that’ll only be followed up next time AAA goes there, but it’s impossible to know. They pushed them as new Los Mercenarios with La Hiedra and Taurus. The fans pelted the ring with garbage during the post-match.

Octagon Jr. got the win with his move and got a good reaction for it. He also felt like maybe the fifth most important person in the segment. If AAA follows up on it, it should still mean something.

Sam Adonis wrestled in a shirt promoting the porn site SexMex. The site seemed pretty happy with it. I would’ve told Adonis that it was a funny gag but asked him not to actually do it so I didn’t have to answer calls from sponsors the next day. AAA didn’t have a problem with it, obviously – he wore it seconding Marshall, then came back out with it for his match, so everyone in charge would’ve seen it and didn’t have a problem with it. It did remind me of a story from the first TripleMania, where Heavy Metal decided it was a very metal idea to wear a shirt with “FUCK YOU” written on it. It was a very metal idea, so metal AAA had to cut the match from TV for obscenity reasons. The video of the match did make it out eventually, maybe through Japan, and you can see it on YouTube. (There was nothing obscene about Adonis’ t-shirt, it was just a corporate logo.) I believe Metal got in trouble for it, but I feel like it’s the same deal there – it’s not like Metal was hiding a message on his shirt, it was there in very bold print, and people in charge just ignored it until they got heat for it later and needed to pass the heat along.

Both Konnan and Pentagon lit Sam Adonis and QT Marshall up post-match for daring to call themselves Los Gringos Locos. Maybe there was a pre-match promo we missed; on TV, they only used the line once on TV months ago. (It did get replayed a bit.) I kept waiting for the promo to be setting up something, but they were just yelling at the rudos for their temerity to use such a sainted name. Marshall losing the title and the announcers pointing out Harley Cameron didn’t appear as advertised felt like a write-out, but the WON previously indicated they wanted to keep QT around. QT’s last promo on AEW TV was talking about how he would be defending the AAA Latin American belt there, so it seems like some plan changed.

I don’t have the undercard results yet outside of NGD winning the tag team titles from Arez & Komander. I don’t know what Arez’s short-term (and maybe longer) future is in AAA following the MLW situation. Arez causing AAA to get blamed made AAA look bad, and AAA tends to hold grudges over that. The Arez/Komander tag title win looked at the time like something done with no plan or thought beyond “get this belt mentioned on AEW TV” when it happened, and it played out that way. The only teased feud was for a match that didn’t happen, the two never teamed with each other but it did get a mention on AAA TV. This tag title run probably doesn’t make a top 10 of most illogical choices AAA made this year and I totally see the justifications for ending it here and moving onto NGD, but it’s a perfect example of the nonsense that has been AAA’s booking this year (and longer.)

The Lady Shani/Chik Tormenta match was switched to a cage match, something advertised locally but never mentioned on TV. Attendance looked pretty good, close to full, about the same number they do in Juarez for this annual taping.

Space advertised the upcoming Rey Mysterio Jr. cartoon going into every break. That’s going on HBO Max in Mexico.

Still no sign of next Sunday’s show on FITE. It’s going to air eventually. Impact/TNA mentioned they’ll be airing it in upcoming weeks (during the Laredo/Taurus/Guerrers vs Rascalz match which aired this past week, which was good) and AAA figures to have it on the first few weeks of December. It’s really just a question if we’ll be able to pay to see it earlier, and if AAA will be doing a thing they said they would do. Impact’s very brief mention of the show made it sound like it was only TV, and everything else points to that.

IWRG

Sunday’s Lucha Libre Boom drew well, as it always does for LA Park and Dr. Wagner in this arena:

IWRG , LLB (SUN) 11/19/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Mas Lucha]
1) Guerrero Jaguar & Ska Boy b Black Spider & Demonio Gato
2) Macho I, Macho II, Macho III DDQ Demencia, Octacio Gaona, Reptil
referee attacked
3) Príncipe Centauro DDQ Arashi, Hijo De Sparta, Oro Blanco, Argus
mask pulls
4) Bengalee, Princesa Azul, Tackle b Mary Caporal, Medieval I, Reina Oscura
5) Hell Boy, Relámpago, Tonalli b Carta Brava Jr. (LLB), Cíclope, Miedo Extremo and José Caporal, Lunatik Extreme, Ovett Jr.
Relampago replaced Puma de Oro (appears done here)
6) Mocho Cota, Súper Comando, Tito Santana © b Hijo de Canis Lupus, León Dorado, Mr. Leo [IWRG IC TRIOS]
first defense
7) Charly Manson, Dr. Wagner Jr., Mr. Elektro b Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, LA Park Jr.
lots of fouls, Wagner got his last (and a fast count)

They’re back on Wednesday with another NGT.

IWRG , NGT (WED) 11/22/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Acerus & Silver Kid vs Milagro & Rey Gato Jr.
2) Águila Oriental & Ryu vs Rey Aztaroth & Súper Boy JR.
3) Bengalee & Danessa vs Kali & Sagitarius
4) Auzter, Fussion, Tornado vs Centvrión, Gannicus, Rey Espartano
5) Águila Roja & Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Noisy Boy & Spider Fly

Puma de Oro is the latest luchador apparently out of IWRG. His last match was 10/29, and he claims he wasn’t paid for his last few matches. He says asked IWRG officials about it, they kept telling him they’d get back to him, and then they just stopped talking about him.(He posted Whatsapp conversations as proof of the non-payment.) When he went to Arena Lopez Mateos on 11/17, he was told by the commission that IWRG was trying to get him suspended. Puma de Oro says he has no idea why they’d be trying to block him from working elsewhere when they’re not giving him bookings and never gave him contractually stipulated pay raises. Puma de Oro had been working more non-Naucalpan dates of late, and maybe that’s part of the issue here. This story hasn’t blown up as much as past acrimonious departures.

IWRG’s new Retro episode has a “old TV frame on it. It’s cute for an intro, it’s a waste of space for watching something on YouTube.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha (SAT) 11/18/2023 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [Big Lucha, The Gladiatores]
1) Atómico Jr. b Zenky, Auzter
2) Mr. Win & Tirano b Black Skayde & M2R
3) El Potro de Oro © b Mr. Electro [Big Lucha World]
2nd defense
4) Viajero DRAW Brujo
double pin
5) Elipse, Iku, Orbita b Cometa Maya, Morfosis, Radioactivo
6) Rey Horus b Action Jackson, Jack Evans
7) Bendito, Black Andrómeda, Emperador Azteca b Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Dark Scoria
Earlier, Flamita said he’d return soon and challenged Mr. Big for a match in December where both sides would put up their 50% share of Big Lucha and the winner has full control. More challenges followed the main event.

The Dark Family didn’t appear to help draw; it would be a surprise if they did. They’re just the opponents of the week. The year end show seems like a bigger test, with both the Viajero/Brujo mask match and whatever they’re doing for control of the promotion. They’ll start going up on Big Lucha’s channel as soon as this week.

Other News

Black Danger, Tempestad, Hijo del Torando, Gengis Khan Jr., Skalibur, Kabuki, Kamik-C, and referee Catrin are all suspended from wrestling in that city by the Tijuana Lucha libre Commission for six months. All worked a private show for an unlicensed promoter. Vice President of the commission, Juan Manuel Cardona, told Zeta Tijuana they saw the show being advertised on Facebook and expected to hear from the promoter but never did. The commission set out a warning the Friday prior to the event that they were aware of the show and anyone working on the show would be punished. The wrestlers worked anyway, so now they’re not allowed to wrestle again until May. Manuel Cardona said it is a safety commission; if a promoter isn’t licensed, they can’t help the wrestlers if they get hurt or help with payment if the promoter refuse to pay them. Skalibur, even before the suspension was announced, wrote on Facebook “if you don’t put food on my table you can’t control where I work“; he was aware of the commission warning but doesn’t feel like they should have a voice in the matter.

Kamik-C and Skalibur are AAA TV regulars and part of the Mexicali/Tijuana feud AAA’s been doing all year (really for years) on EMW shows at Auditorio de Tijuana. They’re strangely not on the upcoming show. Black Danger has appeared on AAA TV over the years, and I wonder if they all end up moving to Mexico City for a while for work. They also may just wrestle in Mexicali, which seems to be under a separate commission. State/City commissions generally don’t honor each other’s suspensions, which is one of many flaws with the current system.

Ciudad Juarez luchador Aguila Roja Jr. passed away on Saturday. He wrestled in the 2010s.

Segunda Caida writes about more Monterrey lucha libre.

CMLL

Tonight’s show:

CMLL (FRI) 11/17/2023 Arena México
1) Andrómeda & Skadi vs Hera & Olympia
2) Mercurio © vs Último Dragóncito [CMLL MINI]
7th defense
3) Atlantis vs Ángel de Oro, Star Black, Esfinge, Hechicero, Volcano, Último Guerrero, Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible, Stuka Jr., Niebla Roja, Sagrado [Leyenda de Azul, semifinal]
final two advance
4) Gran Guerrero © vs Euforia [CMLL HEAVY]
3rd defense
5) Flip Gordon, Máscara Dorada, Místico vs Star Jr., Titán, Volador Jr.

The main event should be good, though I liked it better in the previous form. I can only understand putting that semi-main on a Friday night show if a title match is planned. The Leyenda de Azul ciberentico could be many combinations, and might be good. Mercurio/Ultimo Dragoncito should be good. Andromeda on a Friday night seems like fun. It’s a 6 USD PPV.

Flip Gordon

The big news from Informa was CMLL introducing Flip Gordon as returning to the promotion on tonight’s show. This will be Gordon’s first match in CMLL since 2018. (He was scheduled on the March 20th, 2020 Arena Mexico card, among the first canceled by the pandemic.) Gordon said he wasn’t in CMLL for a tour, but for a “long season.” Gordon got married to a Mexican woman and moved to the country earlier this year, so he will be around for a while.

Gordon’s last appearance with a major Mexican promotion was with AAA in 2022, teaming with Daga against Pentagon Jr. & Hijo del Vikingo in the latter’s US debut. Gordon was an inexplicable inclusion, and never worked for AAA again. AAA seemed to be saving bigger Vikingo matches for another show; they also have not run in the US since that show.

Flip Gordon was a very popular US indie wrestler five years ago, peaking around the time of the first All In. Gordon’s growth in popularity was due in large part to the surge of interest in the Being the Elite YouTube show. Gordon re-signed with Ring of Honor before the idea of AEW fully came into existence, and largely floundered without that connection to the Elite. He’s not had much visibility post-ROH either, with some brief stints in NWA as the most high profile work. There still are a batch of wrestling fans who became fans (or became bigger fans) during that era where Gordon was a hot star, and they hope he’s the next surprise signee every time AEW teases a new name. This news is explicitly not that; Gordon is not signing with CMLL to get to AEW. There is a much larger (and vocal) group of fans who believe Gordon is a complete idiot, due to a pattern of underinformed and thoughtless social media posts over the years. Lots of wrestlers – lots of people – have similar thoughts, few were also dumb enough to put those thoughts out on Twitter for everyone to read. Maybe a bit more now. Those things seem to matter a lot less to Mexican audiences.

As a wrestler, Gordon doesn’t obviously offer anything that many current CMLL wrestlers already provide (and offer better) in a skill set. He is different from most of the people who are around by being an English-speaking American, and variety always helps a bit. Gordon also has friends and supporters; there are plenty of Americans who came to Mexico and want to get in CMLL, and almost none of them end up in an Arena Mexico main event.

Other CMLL

MLW on Saturday has Rocky Romero & Barbaro Cavernario vs Mascara Dorada & Ichiban. Their show streams live on FITE+ (and stays up there in case you’re watching another PPV that happens to be at the same time.) It does not look like Cavernario or Dorada are booked for the TV portion of the taping, unless they’re in a battle royal.

CMLL (SUN) 11/19/2023 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Minos & Pequeño Polvora
2) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
3) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
4) El Hijo De Blue Panther, Hijo de Octagón, Star Jr. vs El Hijo de Stuka Jr., Felino Jr., Hijo del Villano III
5) Máscara Dorada vs Hechicero [lightning]
6) Místico, Octagón, Titán vs Averno, Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr.

This is the Sunday show that’s not streaming. Mascara Dorada versus Hechicero may air on 11/29.

Stephanie Vaquer told the press she wants to defend her singles women’s title against Tessa Blanchard, Thunder Rosa, or Mayu Iwatani. Vaquer also responded to a week-old Thunder Rosa match on Twitter, accepting a match. Rosa is still out of the ring; reports seem to differ if she’s healthy or not, but she’s not wrestling yet. Iwatani is probably not coming to Mexico outside of Gran Prix and (for political reasons I don’t understand) CMLL doesn’t seem to use Stardom women on their shows. Blanchard is booked on the CMLL-affiliated Lucka Libre show on 12/02 in Tijuana; CMLL figures to book her back in Arena Mexico around that time.

Denice Salcedo also has an interview with Stephanie Vaquer.

Crixis’ is an industrial engineer, or at least it was until he moved to Mexico City to wrestle full time. He would get in workout sessions during lunch break, sometimes wearing his training gear under his work gear because he didn’t have time to change.

AAA

AAA has Guerra de Titanes on Sunday. The top half of this show will air on Sunday (starting at 8:45 pm Central Time), and the rest will air next week. The show airs live on Space and HBO Max (not in the US.) Matches scheduled:

• QT Marshall versus Octagon Jr. for the AAA Latin American Championship
• ???Pagano??? & Psycho Clown vs Sam Adonis & Taurus
• Hijo del Vikingo vs Dralistico for the AAA Mega Championship

Hijo del Vikingo will be defending the AAA Megachampionship on Sunday for the 7th time on AAA TV show. I was for reluctantly moving the title off Vikingo at TripleMania Mexico City as a necessary evil – at some point AEW is going to sign Vikingo and AAA needs to transfer as much as of Vikingo’s spotlight to someone else while they can. Dralistico is not that person, since he’s under AEW contract as well. There’s a decent chance AAA sees things differently: they have no buzz and a title change certainly would get some. They also don’t really seem to have any direction for Vikingo and this title after the Omega feud. (There’s been attempt to keep the Gringo Loco feud warm in the last three months.) Dralistico is also being featured on AEW TV for this PPV cycle and, as much as the AAA booker may have become infamous for criticizing AEW booking on his podcast, AAA booking often follows AEW’s lead on who to focus on.

I think the general fan sentiment is Vikingo is surely winning, to those who even know this match is happening. I don’t share that confidence after a year of closely following AA.

I have no idea what AAA will do in the semi-main. I assume Pagano’s not wrestling, but the man is crazy. AAA’s said nothing about his status, though I’m not ever sure that helps them disguise the situation to fans buying tickets. It’s Pagano in Juarez, those fans are going to know the real deal. The Latin American championship match is about QT Marshall and Pentagon, and Octagon just happens to be the challenger. The gimmick is pushing QT Marshall as the best champion ever. It works for a heel when the fans are supposed to know he’s not actually defending the title. AAA and Marshall are playing it like he’s a face, heroically defending the belt all over the place. It probably doesn’t make a difference either way.

(No TV show on Saturday because of the live show on Sunday.)

I was wrong; the tryout this coming Tuesday is open to anyone, including those who got rejected this past week. The process for past AAA tryouts has been open auditions for a while, then one or two cutdown stages. The process for INJUVE contest with Big Lucha was one open audition, and then weekly cutdown stages until getting to the winner. This one seems to be going more the AAA method, which is fine if didn’t seem to be what I read in the rules. AAA posted a list of 44 people who did advance, listed by their assigned number instead of a name. Estrellas del Ring has a 38-minute video on the first tryout if you’d like to watch and match numbers with familiar faces.

IWRG

IWRG , NGT (WED) 11/15/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Súper Boy b Steve Manson
2) Black Shadow II & Rey Aztaroth b Águila Oriental & Tornado
3) Noisy Boy b Kali, Danessa, Sagitarius, Mr. Mike, Fly Star
4) Águila Roja © b Cerebro Negro Jr. [IWRG IC Light]
first defense. Spider Fly and Noisy Boy asked for title matches. Hijo del Pirata Morgan came up to support Aguila Roja and challenge the MexaBoys to a tag match.
5) Rey Halcón & Toxin b Dr. Cerebro Jr. & Spider Fly

A lightly attended show. It probably wouldn’t work either way but these might be more interesting if they tried a new concept instead of doing all the normal IWRG stuff with the younger people.

IWRG , LLB (SUN) 11/19/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Sparta vs Príncipe Centauro, Hijo De Sparta, Gravedad Caero, Arashi, Oro Blanco, Eurus, Argus, Súper Boy
2) Macho I, Macho II, Macho III vs Demencia, Octacio Gaona, Reptil
3) Bengalee, Chris Stone Jr., Princesa Azul vs Mary Caporal, Medieval I, Reina Oscura
4) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
5) Hell Boy, Puma de Oro, Tonalli vs Carta Brava Jr. (LLB), Cíclope, Miedo Extremo and Fandango, Lunatik Extreme, Toto
6) Mocho Cota, Súper Comando, Tito Santana © vs Hijo de Canis Lupus, León Dorado, Mr. Leo [IWRG IC TRIOS]
first defense
7) Hijo de LA Park, LA Park, LA Park Jr. vs Charly Manson, Dr. Wagner Jr., Mr. Elektro

A normal Lucha Libre Boom show. It would be weird if the IWRG trios titles came home on someone else’s show, but not too weird. Princesa Azul showed up at the AAA tryout and seems like name that should be in one of the big 2’s women’s divisions next year.

IWRG said the registration for the 2024 Tryout starts on 11/26. The IWRG 61st anniversary show will be on 12/17.

Other News

TJ Sports has a profile of (Black) Destiny. He’s thinking about relocating to Mexico City next year in hopes of becoming a big star. Zeta TJ also has an interview with a The Crash wrestler, Gallo Extreme.

Big Lucha has its latest show on Saturday. The main event is Black Family versus Black Generacion. Delta Forces versus Los Locos del Evans may be the best match. This will turn up on their YouTube channel later.

Box y Lucha has more 1955 Box y Luchas for sale.

A 300 page book on the life of Blue Demon (Blue Demon: Ídolo mexicano sin límite de tiempo) was introduced at a press conference on Tuesday. The book was promoted on Informa as well. The name is the same as an exhibit last year. The article says the book is available on Museo del Estanquillo website; I can find a story on the exhibit but not the book.

El Sol del Acapulco has an interview with the former El Esclavo. He was a 25 year old fruit vendor who had moved to Acapulco and repeatedly was robbed when he happened upon Arena Coliseo Acapulco. He was blown away by what he saw and decided to become a luchador. It’s not as nice a story that he got the name “The Slave” based on his skin color. He says he lost his mask to El Centauro, and retired after hurting both his legs on a dive.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 11/13/2023 Arena Puebla [CMLL, El Sol del Puebla, Mano A Mano, Porra Fresa]
1) Diablita Roja & Mania b Enigmática & Hela
debut of Mania (the final woman of the new class of women to debut)
2) Centella Roja & Hijo de Centella Roja b Espíritu Maligno & Sombra Diabólika
3) Perverso & Prayer b Diamond & Robin 
4) Arkalis, Pegasso, Rey Samuray b Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr. 
5) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio © b Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr. [MEX TRIOS] 
first defense
6) Místico, Stigma, Templario DQ Averno, Magnus, Volador Jr. 
Straight falls. Rudos fouled Stigma and unmasked Templario, setting up Volador/Templario or next week.

CMLL photographer/everything Alexis Salazar going to this show faked everyone out. He normally would show up for a title change, but Los Indestructibles cleanly made a defense instead. The main event result is a definite change of direction from last week, as happens in Puebla

CMLL (TUE) 11/14/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, PubliMetro]
1) Fantasy, Pequeño Magía, Shockercito DQ Full Metal, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito 
Olimpico unmasked Fantasy to kick off another round of mask match challenges.
2) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Neón b Crixus, Difunto, Raider 
3) Espanto Jr. b El Audaz [lightning] 
4) Averno, Mephisto, Zandokan Jr. b Fugaz, Star Jr., Valiente 
Averno appeared to pick up an leg injury but finished the match.
5) Stephanie Vaquer © b Lluvia [CMLL WOMEN] 
first defense
6) Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. DQ Ángel de Oro & Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles] 
straight falls. Atlantis Jr. wore matching gear with Soberano and the two got along fine. Soberano tossed his mask to Volador to draw the DQ.

This main event didn’t make much sense on Saturday but it fit together by the time it happened. The goal was to justify Soberano Jr. and Atlantis Jr. as a functioning team for the World Tag League. Atlantis Jr. started the show with an interview about how sometimes the fans boo him, and then worked as a rudo with Soberano Jr. the entire match. Announcers pushed a story about how Soberano and Atlantis were friends (which isn’t something we’ve seen.) The CMLL duo will probably be more tecnicos when they work in Japan, but it gives both NJPW and CMLL an explanation of why they aren’t breaking up every match.

The match itself wasn’t much, just character work. I thought Lluvia/Vaquer was a bit of a disappointment; a cold match for the most part. Lluvia was unable to engage the crowd in her challenge, and even repeatedly arguing with Olimpico couldn’t get people to care. (Olimpico’s not really good at that sort of interaction.) The match was executed fine but wasn’t really memorable. You’d get more entertainment out of match 4 and 2.

CMLL (TUE) 11/14/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Eclipse Jr., Shezmu, Temerario b Obek, Rav, Último Ángel 
2) Ángel Rebelde, Optimus, Trono DQ Infierno, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno 
3) Andrómeda, Lady Shadow, Miss Guerrera DRAW Diablita Roja, Estrellita Mágica, Lady Metal 
4) Barboza, Draego, Persa b Felino Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr. 
5) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther b Bárbaro Cavernario, Canalla, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel 
6) Dr. Karonte I & Místico DQ Bestia Negra & Templario 

I caught up with sleep rather than watching this. It was probably fine.

CMLL (SAT) 11/18/2023 Arena Coliseo
1) Angelito & Kaligua vs Minos & Pequeño Violencia
2) Astral, Oro Jr., Valiente Jr. vs Grako, Inquisidor, Nitro
3) La Jarochita vs Dark Silueta [lightning]
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Felino, Misterioso Jr., Rey Bucanero
5) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido vs Cancerbero, Kráneo, Luciferno
6) Titán, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Templario, Terrible, Virus

Terrible still around. The semi-main has an odd mix (though seems notable all those rudos are above Bucanero and Felino on the depth chart.)

CMLL (SUN) 11/19/2023 Arena Puebla
1) Hela & Shitara vs Diablita Roja & Mania
2) Black Tiger & Meyer vs Fénix SO & Hijo del Perverso
3) Andrómeda vs Skadi, La Vaquerita, Lady Metal, Enigmática, Reyna Isis, La Catalina, Amapola, Lady Amazona, Astoreth [Copa Mujeres Revolucionarias]
4) Stephanie Vaquer & Zeuxis © vs La Jarochita & Lluvia [CMLL WOMEN TAG]
2nd defense
5) Atlantis, Pantera, Solar I vs Felino, Rocky Santana, Satánico
6) Templario © vs Volador Jr. [CMLL MIDDLE]
first defense

Monday is Revolution Day in Mexico, so Arena Puebla runs a day earlier at the holiday 5 pm start time. CMLL will also surprisingly stream this show for subscribers. It fits as a special show, but I wasn’t counting on another bonus stream until the holidays. The main event is for Templario’s title, not Volador.  The legends, or at least maybe the ones who can move a little bit better, are in the semimain. I don’t believe they actually participated in the 1910 revolution. The tag team title defense is one of three women’s matches on this show. The higher volume of women’s matches on these CMLL shows have caused the women wrestling of the world to hold CMLL up as a model to the rest of the world to still generally ignore CMLL women’s wrestling as they’re not the stars or looks they’re interested in. I am disappointed we get a chance to see Puebla locals and it’s a Black Tiger match. I’m good on Puebla Black Tiger matches.

No lineup for Arena Mexico Sunday yet.

People on Twitter are saying one of NJPW’s sites accidentally and briefly revealed Zandokan Jr. as Yota Tsuji’s partner for the World Tag League. I did not see this and could not confirm this myself, just totally missed it if it happened, but everyone seems sure it happened. “Z”‘s first match 11/19, so we’ll know for sure then – if not revealed earlier.

Voices of Wrestling has an interview with the director of the Kemonito: The Final Fall documentary. There’s a lot of insight on the film and KeMonito, and the fun bit that when she asked CMLL for footage, they just told her to take whatever she could find off YouTube. (She did visit CMLL’s archives, which are set to be very disorganized.) That documentary is available online right now as part of a package of documentaries for 13 USD.

Today’s Informa guests:

• Atlantis Jr – World Tag League
• Euforia – Heavyweight Title Challenge
• Stuka Jr., Angel de Oro, Niebla Roja, El Sagrado, Volcano, Esfinge – Leyenda de Azul
• Lluvia & La Jarochita – Tag Challenge in puebla
• Pequeno Estrellas – cage match?
• Rugido & Sangre Imperial – bodybuilding contest?

Former CMLL wrestler Solomon Grundy is running a GoFundMe to raise money for his mother’s funeral expenses and his own dialysis. It’s bare bones, but his Twitter has a link to it and the Twitter seems real.

AAA

AAA held their first Lucha X el Barrio testing for their talent search on Tuesday. INJUVE said they had 156 people tryout, 132 male wrestlers and 24 women. The info I had read seemed to indicate it’d only be fitness testing, but they did in-ring as well. ESTO has an article on the tryout, which sounded like a normal tryout. The ring mat looked cool. Photos show a lot of names familiar from Mexico City wrestling. It’s funny that the previous INJUVE talent search contest was for the winner to get a contract in Big Lucha, and this contest has a bunch of people from Big Lucha trying out. AAA doesn’t really need to a wide scale talent search to find Calibus or Caballero de Plata, but wrestlers like that would be better off coming in to AAA rather than just being thrown on TV like Belcegor or the new Drago. The next stage of the tryout on 11/21; those who advance are supposed to find out in the next few weeks.

I will not be streaming Sunday’s AAA show after all. I’ve been kindly forewarned that attempting to stream AAA show will get my channel instantly shut down. I still think it’s burning money for AAA to run a Vikingo title match that’s Mexico-only live, but it’s their content to do (or not to do) whatever they want with it. You’ll be able to find if you try hard enough and I’ll still be watching it, but I won’t be linking to it. It’ll turn up on YouTube eventually.

I know one of Konnan’s recent podcasts asked why Mexican wrestling isn’t as big in English language discussion as wrestling elsewhere. There are a lot of reason for it, but none bigger than “no one outside of Mexico can actually watch the big shows.” That’s not a Konnan problem either; it’s whoever decided that going six months without an English-language broadcast was a viable idea. I don’t really have great hopes for this show on Sunday – I’m more interested in it because it could turn out Important than good – but it’s a complete and total failure by AAA not to have it broadcast in English at least to keep English language interest in AAA warm.

It’s probably too late. Even on the scale of “no one talks about lucha libre”, there’s no talk about this show. I’m sure the people who will attend will have a great time, but the general interest in AAA and specifically this Guerra de Titane show is close to nil. It’s a problem that people outside of Mexico can see this show, but it’s a much bigger problem that almost no one outside of Mexico cares to see this show or even knows that it’s happening.

Sunday’s show is not actually AAA’s final show of the year. That’s the following Sunday at the Showcenter, the crossover show with TNA with all 2v2 tags, but that’s the third cross over show (Lucha World Cup, NWA) AAA’s done this year and they’ve all felt non-cannon. This UltraClash show was promoted as being on FITE, it hasn’t turned up yet. AAA’s been slow at getting that info out in the past, so it may be nothing. AAA’s sharing that poster on social media with the lineup cropped out, which has meant the lineup is going to change in times past. (On the other hand, they’re not giving that treatment to the Juarez lineup, so it could just be random.

Luchatitan has a Thanksgiving themed show on 11/24. They’re running these ‘special’ shows precisely every three weeks, with about four AAA names added to the daily performers.

Other Notes

Los Angeles’ The Globe Theatre, most notably the home of PWRG since mid 2018, told those who booked the building that they were closing immediately. There were great lucha libre matches in that building, and it’s the place where Bandido really made his name. PWG itself is on hiatus until 2024, and it’s far too soon to know where they’ll end up running.

Cibernetico stars in a commercial for mobile game Warcraft Rumble. That seems like something that would’ve gone through AAA or CMLL in years past and directly went to Cibernetico right now.

Laredo Kid, Black Taurus and Juventud Guerrera face Trey Miguel, Myron Reed and Zachary Wentz on Impact Thursday. This is a match on the actual show, not the free portion on YouTube.

Criterio Hidalgo has a good interview with El Mago about his career.

The Puebla government held a press conference to promote the 12/03 licensing exam.

Wrestlers and promoters in Cancun presented the idea to declare lucha libre part of the state’s official cultural hertiage.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/10/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Esquina Caliente, Excelsior, Kaiser Sports, The Gladiatores, The Gladiatores (video), thecubsfan]
1) Futuro, Neón, Robin b Crixus, Raider, Vegas   
2) Pequeño Magía, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito  
12:07. Dragoncito beat Mercurio to set up a title match next week.
3) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther b Hijo de Stuka Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr.   
13:54, Panthers getting their revenge for last week.
4) Atlantis Jr., Esfinge, Titán b Bárbaro Cavernario, Templario, Terrible  
15:44. Titan return from Japan.
5) Averno & Euforia b Ángel de Oro & Gran Guerrero   
13:03. Angel de Oro was a late announced sub for Stuka (ankle). Euforia beat both Oro and Stuka in the third fall to set up a CMLL HEAVY match.
6) Soberano Jr. b Volador Jr.   
24:00. Soberano drove to the front door and walked in with two women and 1 security person (an unmasked Tyson La Bestia.) Volador jumped the barricade to attack him, but Soberano snuck around and attacked Volador. Exceptionally long third fall (19 minutes.) Soberano snuck in a foul on Volador for the win , then said he’d beat all the top names in CMLL.

One of the big CMLL questions the last few months was if any of the native talent would see what Rocky Romero was doing with big character bits and try to adapt it for their own characters. Soberano was paying attention. His car entrance is something that’s been done a hundred times in US wrestling, even a bit AAA’s done in the past. It stood out so much more in CMLL for the same reason it stood out for Romero: that sort of showmanship is just so out of the ordinary in the serious and stable CMLL. It’s something that I think will play as “kinda cool” to people who just dip in to CMLL, and something that made Soberano look like the biggest possible star if CMLL’s all they watch. Everyone can’t be doing these things or they’ll be a little special, but they certainly help if there’s any idea for them every so often. (And it’s also greatly helped by CMLL’s willingness to go along with these ideas, ones they may have been more resistant to in the past.)

Soberano did a lot of character work in the main event, and it was not the strongest moves match. It’s probably what it needed to be in his first match as a full-time rudo; he needed to win by a foul and then claim it as a clean win. The fans were totally into booing him and his antics. This character shift might sacrifice a bit of quality but it’s created someone the fans want to see beat.

In his post match interview, Soberano Jr. declared himself the #1 enemy of CMLL. I’ve read that I was that in the past so I wish Soberano luck in taking over the role. Soberano claimed his mask was the most valuable in CMLL, more so than Atlantis. He threw out a challenge to Mistico for a mask versus mask match at the 91st Anivesario. Soberano really wants to be in the 100th Aniversario main event but doesn’t think Mistico will last that long. He’s clear that he’s not joining Los Infernales and not teaming with his father Euforia, they’re both walking their own path. Soberano spoke about leaving Mexico next week (as he did in his post match promo, we’ll get to that in a sec) but returning with a new trio. I’m hesitant to believe this, luchadors are fond of talking about big plans that never come through, but I’m willing to believe there is actually a plan there.

Both the ladies Soberano and the bodyguard seemed like accessories for the entrance, not full time characters. Box y Lucha has a shot of Soberano about to attack Volador as their cover this week.

All the matches were good. The semimain was the weakest one; Gran Guerrero was positioned as the tecnico and he’s just not suited in that role. Panthers/Villanos was strong for a second week (though Dark Panther seemed to be working with one good arm) and the opener was spectacular as usual. AAA was in a pre-pandemic where they had so many young guys who would be The Guy but Hijo del Vikingo existed so they were fighting for second best. Same thing now in CMLL Neon would be the guy everyone in CMLL would be excited about if Mascara Dorada didn’t existed, and maybe it’d be Futuro if Neon didn’t exist. There’s a lot to be excited about.

The NJPW US show went about as should’ve been expected. Vaquer and Iwatani had a pretty good title match. TJP & Mistico was about the match you expected that to be, though I guess that depends on what you expected it to be. I read Mexican fans say it felt like a good US-style match and heard US fans say it felt like something they’d see in Arena Mexico but without that crowd. The crowd was part of the story with this show; 1000 fans seems good for an NJPW US show with Shingo Takagi on top but it was in a 6000 capacity building. They turned the building dark to hide the emptiness. You could still feel the emptiness and it hurt the atmosphere. The opening trios was meant to be a Mascara Dorada showcase, to the point that I can barely remember anything Tiger Mask or Ultimo Guerrero did. Unfortunately, Dorada had one of the messier nights of his career and was off on a lot. Hechicero did a great job of trying to salvage things and I’m not sure if it stuck out as much to NJPW fans as a result, but Dorada just wasn’t himself. Maybe the NJPW logo got him nervous. Mascara Dorada and Rocky Romero grappled over the Historic Welterweight Championship after their match and they teased that title match in promos as well. It’s just impossible to know where with Rocky; it could be CMLL, it could be NJPW, it could be MLW. NJPW US itself is off until January.

That’s not all of the NJPW news though. NJPW announced sixteen teams for their World Tag League tournament and sitting there in Block B is the CMLL team of Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. In post match interviews, Soberano had talked about leaving the country for some reason but never specified where. I didn’t even consider it’d be the World Tag League. No CMLL wrestler has participated in World Tag League since Rush teamed with Naito in 2016. There’s been no all CMLL team in World Tag League since 2012, with Diamante Azul and Rush. NJPW seems to use the World Tag League as a tryout for people who may be used more in the future. (Diamante Azul never wrestled in NJPW again.) This Soberano Jr. and Atlantis Jr. was obviously put together before CMLL decided to go rudo with Soberano, and I don’t know if he and Atlantis will ignore it for the entire NJPW tour or if it’ll be anarchy. (Most likely, they’ll ignore the storyline until the final day of the tour.) If Soberano decides to try to win, the team has a shot of making the tournament. It’s a top 2 advance out of the block situation. Hiroki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi, the current IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team champions and probably have one spot locked down. El Phantasmo and Hiklueo are the NJPW Strong tag team champions but aren’t as guaranteed to advance, there’s a chance for an upset there.

One of the other teams in the block is Yota Tsuji and a mystery person. NJPW usually lists mystery people under the name of “X”. Tsuji has insisted on referring to the mystery person as “Z”, says it’s a friend from his overseas travels, and that person will not actually be joining LIJ. If it’s a person from CMLL, the two people who would fit are Zandokan (has a Z) and Terrible (Tsuji’s #1 CMLL wrestler.) Zandokan is basically still a CMLL rookie and getting a NJPW tour of any kind would be amazing is amazingly unlikely. Terrible has worked World Tag League before and knows the assignment. Either (or any other CMLL wrestler) would figure to take a lot of Ls for their team.

CMLL (SAT) 11/11/2023 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Grako & Inquisidor b Eléctrico & Oro Jr.
2) Angelito, Fantasy, Kaligua DQ Full Metal, Minos, Pequeño Polvora
Full Metal unmasked Kaligua for the DQ.
3) Cancerbero b El Audaz [lightning]
4) Dulce Gardenia, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa b Akuma, Dark Magic, Espanto Jr.
5) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black
6) Atlantis, Octagón, Volador Jr. b Bárbaro Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Terrible

Lots of minis DQs to come. I had to double check I had the lightning match result right.

CMLL (SUN) 11/12/2023 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Dr. Karonte I & Dr. Karonte II b Diamond & Valiente Jr.
2) Capitán Suicida, Fuego, Hombre Bala Jr. b Inquisidor, Nitro, Sangre Imperial
3) Difunto b Misterioso Jr. [lightning]
4) El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora b Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma
Polvora won with a mask pull on Maya. Fuerza Poblana demanded a rematch.
5) Panterita del Ring, Valiente, Volcano b Kráneo, Rey Bucanero, Virus
6) Máscara Dorada, Místico, Titán DQ Hechicero, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero
Hechicero fouled Dorada, setting up a singles match between them.

Dorada/Hechicero could be great if they can smooth out the problems from Texas. Match 4 might be heading to a title match (Maya is still national middleweight champion.)

Guadalajara also had a free charity show on Sunday that streamed on YouTube, but you’re reading this sentence because I haven’t had time to assemble the results from several social media posts.

It’s not streaming, but the trios championship match in Arena Puebla is a rare title change opportunity on a Monday night. At least one we might see coming.  The arena will have a new look tonight: a group of artists have been painting a mural on the side of the building. ESTO says the mural was done by 16 artists from the Lumen Creacion y Difusion Cultural collective and spans 40 meters.

CMLL (TUE) 11/14/2023 Arena México
1) Fantasy, Pequeño Magía, Shockercito vs Full Metal, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
2) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Neón vs Crixus, Difunto, Raider
3) El Audaz vs Espanto Jr. [lightning]
4) Fugaz, Star Jr., Valiente vs Averno, Mephisto, Zandokan Jr.
5) Stephanie Vaquer © vs Lluvia [CMLL WOMEN]
first defense
6) Ángel de Oro & Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

Not in favor of Soberano teaming with a tecnico already. Vaquer/Lluvia could be good. Match two should be pretty good, as could be the opener.

CMLL (FRI) 11/17/2023 Arena México
1) Andrómeda & Skadi vs Hera & Olympia
2) Mercurio © vs Último Dragóncito [CMLL MINI]
7th defense
3) Atlantis vs Ángel de Oro, Star Black, Esfinge, Hechicero, Volcano, Último Guerrero, Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible, Stuka Jr., Niebla Roja, Sagrado [Leyenda de Azul, semifinal]
final two advance
4) Gran Guerrero © vs Euforia [CMLL HEAVY]
3rd defense
5) Máscara Dorada & Místico vs Titán & Volador Jr.

Another strong card, though again it’s weird to see Volador on the effective rudo side after being a tecnico this past Friday.

Euforia is a strong favorite to win the title. Gran Guerrero is not around a lot and not really impressive when he is around. Mercurio seems unlikely to lose his title but it’s also the mini title so it can change hand at any time without hruting things.

The Leyenda de Azul is harder to figure. It’s surprising they went down from 16 to 12, and they could go in plenty of directions for the final two. Cavernario is probably not winning after winning Rey del Inframundo, though it doesn’t rule him out from going onto the final. Volcano, Sagrado and Atlantis would be poor ideas for a singles match but etyer other combination seems possible.

Box y Lucha has an interview with Terrible from the CMLL Tunel. He confirms what’s seemed apparent for the last couple of months: Los Ingobernables are done. He says the concept just didn’t work with this combination, but they split on good terms and Terrible has positive things to say about both Angel de Oro and Niebla Roja. He believes he, Dragon Rojo and Cavernario will be a better fit, though they still need to figure out a name.

AAA

Laredo/Taurus/Dralistico from AAA TV was good and interesting, though also a bit destroyer. Laredo and Taurus did a lot; it wasn’t their best performance but it was a strong one for each. Dralistico did a little more Destroyer variations. Dralistico got the win. Maybe AAA sees something I’m missing, maybe they just think it’s a fresher match with Vikingo. I just see him as a guy who brings little to the table except for being a star (never the top star) in the rival promotion when it went through a down period, and has picked up since the moment he left. I also think there’s a realistic chance AAA puts the Mega title on him this Sunday; Laredo or Taurus would’ve been so the obviously the better match that Dralistico’s only makes sense in that spot if AAA believes he’s the better draw or the one they want to have the title going forward. On the other hand, it’s AAA so it doesn’t have to make sense.

(I think the idea that Dralistico might beat Vikingo for the title might stun most people who don’t follow AAA – first, that the match is even happening, and later that AAA would make that move. There is no buzz. There is the logistics of Dralistico working in Los Angeles on the AEW PPV the night before; he should make it to Juarez by midday.)

Las Shotas versus the opening match crew was a bunch of moves with no flow. Shotas wore Halloween costumes, which didn’t make a lot of sense for a show airing on November 10th. No one on these AAA shows has a good sense of making them feel current by the time they air. The announcers referenced Willie Mack wrestling Samoa Joe for the Ring of Honor TV championship a couple of times. That happened just four days prior to the taping, but it was a four week old distant memory by the time it airs. (AEW Collison also only airs on competition streaming network Vix, so it’s unlikely most of the intended audience would’ve known about it anyway.) Mack/Octagon versus NGD was fine; NGD glaring walking around to set up reversals is one of those reasons I’m not too high on them these days. This was a dead taping in front of an indie level crowd so maybe I should cut them so slack for lesser effort but it happens a lot with them. I did have the results wrong on that one; it was Mack who took the pin, not Octagon. Don’t take that as meaning Octagon Jr. has a chance to win; AAA aired a (cell phone?) filmed bit from a recent AEW taping where Penta and the QT crew had issues again. Nothing meaningful is happening in that feud until Penta gets his third match with Marshall, either in AAA or in AEW.

Dalys, Negro Casas, Chessman and Latigo will be judges for the INJUVE Lucha X El Barrio talent search contest. The fitness test part of the competition takes place Tuesday morning.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 11/12/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG, Zona Ruda]
1) Adrenalina & Súperboy b Águila Oriental & Auzter
2) Lolita & Satania b Danessa & Sagitarius
Danessa replaced Diosa Quetzal
3) Caballero de Plata, Tornado, Último Legendario b Mr. Mike, Rey Aztaroth, Rey Halcón
4) Cerebro Negro Jr. b Dr. Cerebro Jr., Fussion, Gannicus, Yorvak [IWRG IC Light, #1 Contenders]
5) Hijo de Canis Lupus, León Dorado, Mr. Leo b Mocho Cota Jr., Súper Comando, Tito Santana
Tecnicos want an IWRG TRIOS chance.
6) Águila Roja & Hijo del Pirata Morgan b Hell Boy & Shocko and Noisy Boy & Spider Fly and Cerebro Negro & Tonalli

If Cerebro Negro Jr. wins the title on Wednesday, I’ll actually get to adding his profile to the luchadb.

IWRG , NGT (WED) 11/15/2023 Arena Naucalpan
1) Steve Manson vs Súper Boy
2) Águila Oriental & Tornado vs Black Shadow II & Rey Aztaroth
3) Noisy Boy vs Kali, Danessa, Sagitarius, Mr. Mike, Fly Star
4) Águila Roja © vs Cerebro Negro Jr. [IWRG IC Light]
first defense
5) Dr. Cerebro Jr. & Spider Fly vs Rey Halcón & Toxin

This is the first of an unknown number of Nueva Generacion Talents show, which cost a lot less to attend and likely pay accordingly. Match 3 is listed as a “free for all”, and I’m not sure how that differs from normal IWRG.

BIG LUCHA

This week’s Big Lucha World is very much worth checking out if you’re interested in that promotion. The second match, Helios versus the returning Bendito, was a pretty strong showcase of what Bendito can do as a base if he focuses on it. There were some amazing spots. Morfosis and Ryu Orochi in the opener had some good moments. The main event didn’t work as well for me but it was otherwise what I want out of these short shows.

Other News

Metalik took to Twitter to deny refusing to lose Komander. He praised Komander, said the story wasn’t true, and he was not interested in telling the story.

Pahuca luchador/promoter Emilio Hernandez Noble (74) passed away on Sunday. He ran shows at Deportivo/Arena 11 de Julio, though it doesn’t sound like he was the person running them there currently. He wrestled under the names Pantera Negra and El Genio.

AVE says they’re running Trauma I vs Wotan in a mask match in February 2024. Wotan’s been announced for big mask matches that haven’t happened prior though.x

ESTO interviews Mexico City Dark Ludgia, who is 16 and talks about all the time he’s been out due to injuries already. His long term plan is to go to UNAM and study dentistry so he has something to fall back on.

GCW is bringing in Andrade in for some dates in December and January. I found about this by reading my Twitter mentions after being offline for a few hours and seeing a whole bunch of “wow”/”great!” type posts and then sadly realizing they weren’t reacting to anything I did.