Month: July 2024

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 07/15/2024 Arena Puebla [CMLL, El Sol de Puebla, Fuego en el Ring, Grada]
***71st Anniversary***
1) Astoreth, Sanely, Skadi b Amapola, Lady Amazona, Zeuxis
Astoreth helped get the win after her father (Muerte Negra) passed away the previous week.
2) Xelhua b Vegas [CMLL BARROCO, final]
Local Xelhua is the second champion of this new annual tournament. His father (00s regular SWAT) seconded him.
3) Rey Samuray, Stigma, Volcano b Espanto Jr., Rey Bucanero, Sagrado
4) Gran Guerrero b Akuma [lightning]
5) Hijo de Octagón & Octagón b Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. [semifinal]
6) Euforia & Soberano Jr. b Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Stuka Jr. [semifinal]
7) Euforia & Soberano Jr. b Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. [final]
8) Místico © b Volador Jr. [NWA MIDDLE]
9th defense

CMLL reported Arena Puebla was sold out hours before the show. Puebla is a walkup town; there have been sell outs, but they’re usually after the doors open. CMLL was very proud of this achievement. Others weren’t as thrilled. Local fans claimed others purchased large blocks of tickets – one commenter on super fan Porra Fresa’s Facebook page said he saw a woman by 65 seats in the balcony, followed by a man buying 90 seats. Those were scalpers, obviously – the ticket office knows what they’re doing when they’re selling 65 tickets to a single person, if that’s what happened. CMLL make their money off the tickets either way and are unconcerned about feedback. The scalpers did make their money, those seats look full, but it did apparently push out of some of the local fans. It appears Porra Fresa himself decided to skip the show rather than supporting scalpers, so he has no videos of the show. He does mention there’s typically about 8 scalpers working around the show, and there were at least 20 on Monday.

CMLL also didn’t post video clips from this show. as they’ve done for the Arena Puebla shows the last few months. That suggests it wasn’t being streamed to the CMLL  The event should air on TV this upcoming Sunday and there’s really nothing to stay about the matches until someone outside the building can see them.

CMLL (TUE) 07/16/2024 Arena México [CMLL, Mas Lucha, thecubsfan]
1) Pequeño Violencia & Pierrothito b Kaligua & Pequeño Magía 
9:15
2) Metálica & Valkiria b La Vaquerita & Maligna  
12:56
3) Fuego b Difunto [lightning]  
9:26
4) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star b Cancerbero, Crixus, Vegas  
10:38
5) Atlantis, Brillante Jr., Flip Gordon b Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido  
12:29
6) Máscara Dorada, Neón, Star Jr. b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible © [CMLL TRIOS]  
13:55. Dorada/Neon/Star become 36th champions. Los Barbaros fall on 4th defense. Despite the loss, Cavernario challenged Neon for his RevPro Cruiserweight Championship title next week, and Neon accepted.

The main event was a better version of the previous week’s match, where the champions kept the match going but really never came close to defeating their young challengers. Running two title changes on two straight Tuesday suggests some urgency in at least getting something done. (Maybe there’s a trios title defense in the plans for Aniversario.)

Neon defending the Rev Pro title in Mexico was also obviously on the To Do list and Cavernario is a name that would mean something to the UK fans in a defense. This title match was good (one big Star Jr. slip near the finish aside) and next week could be better if Cavernario’s up for it.

Match 4 was a good showing by the new champs.

CMLL (TUE) 07/16/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, Mas Lucha]
1) Ángel Rebelde, Optimus, Torno b Rav, Shezmu, Temerario 
2) Adira, Kira, Sanely b Hatanna, Lady Amazonas, Persephone 
3) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio, Virus b Bestia Negra, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Satánico 
4) Star Black b El Gallero 
5) Barboza & Zandokan Jr. b Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. 
6) Euforia, Hechicero, Soberano Jr. b Atlantis Jr., Esfinge, Valiente 
Euforia, Hechicero, Esfinge and Valiente all feuded (and Atlantis and Soberano did on the side.)

Hechicero and Valiente feuding here follows Sunday’s issues. Valiente also has issues with Esfinge from Friday, and Euforia helped boot out Hechicero from Los Inferanles last year. This version of Los Infernales exists in part because Euforia quit Los Guerreros over Ultimo Guerrero getting COVID in 2020 and the whole team getting pulled from that year’s Aniversario as a result. Euforia’s been historically consistent about valuing appearing Aniversario over all else, which fit with his comments last Wednesday on Informa – he doesn’t seem to care particularly about Esfinge but wants that main event. It sure looks like all these guys are going to be part of it this year.

The semmian was pretty good, I think helped by crowd reactions.

CMLL (FRI) 07/19/2024 Arena México
1) Capitán Suicida & El Audaz vs Calavera Jr. I & Calavera Jr. II
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
3) Lluvia, Skadi, Tessa Blanchard vs Hera, Reyna Isis, Zeuxis
4) Atlantis Jr., Esfinge, Hechicero vs Euforia, Último Guerrero, Valiente [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Místico vs Titán, Templario, Neón, Star Jr., Fugaz, Magia Blanca, Virus [Leyenda de Plata, battle royal]

Hechicero and Valiente are matched up in #4, so that’s another sign of it being a real program. Templario switching to the tecnico side last week makes him a favorite here – but last week’s show makes me not too excited for this show. Those who watch the opener for free on Facebook might end up with the best match of the night. (Or maybe I’m just convincing myself this show isn’t special because I’ve got other plans Friday.)

CMLL Informa has

• Angel de Oro (Leyenda de Plata Block A)
• Templario (a tecnico)
• Mascara Dorada, Neon, Star Jr. (new trios champs)
• Valiente (in a bad mood)
• Fugaz, Magica Blanca (Leyenda de Plata Block B)
• Vaquero Jr., Furia Roja, Espanto Jr., Raider, Gallero, Halcon Negro Jr., Nautica, Adira

Stephanie Vaquer is the cover image of Box y Lucha 3612. I totally forget she was a part of the women’s wrestling mural outside Arena Mexico until a couple of people pointed it out on Tuesday. CMLL will ignore her in many ways going forward but that one might be trickier.

AAA

Latin Lover will be part of a Verano de Escandalo press conference later today. That show is still two Fridays away. There’s still a mystery person scheduled to team with Forastero and Sanson in the main event, and Latin Lover may reveal that identity.

Lucha Libre TM points out Fresero Jr. wears a necklace that looks a lot like the eye symbol AAA’s used for their invaders for months. The three people who attacked Octagon Jr. and Psycho Clown this week sure seemed to the match the sizes of Fresero, Demonio Infernal and Atomic Star. If AAA is spending eight months building up the debut of Los Negocios on TripleMania, I can’t argue that AAA is going to be worse if it becomes about Los Negocios because most of you think it’s fairly terrible as it is, and they would bring a certain energy/excitement from Mexico City fans to replace the Origenes guys. I’ve generally given up watching a lot of Mexico indie wrestling because I’ve got no Los Negocios and their counterparts are the dominant influence in that scene and it’s producing a lot of stuff I have no interest in. I don’t think I can stop watching AAA to avoid them, so I may be stuck. Or I may just walk into the ocean never to return. Hard to say.

Other

The promotion that put on that badly attended AAA reunion show says they’re going to run the same concept a second time. Mexican wrestling economics are impossible to figure out.

Vanilla Vargas talked to ESTO to hype a match against Keyra on 07/19, though at no point does the article mention where the match is happening. (It’s maybe happening on the CVW show that day, though the match isn’t actually being promoted. What useless publicity.)

Shocker appeared on TV Azteca said his rehab is going good and he’s on the path to getting his jaw fixed. He’s been on that path since it was broken seven years ago.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 07/12/2024 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO, FDDE, The Gladiatores, The Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Crixus, Espanto Jr., Vegas b Fuego, Valiente Jr., Xelhua   
8:09
2) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther b Akuma, Difunto, Zandokan    
13:34. Panthers took 2/3, fall 2 by DQ.
3) Averno, Euforia, Soberano Jr. b Esfinge, Titán, Valiente   
9:59. Straight falls. Esfinge hit Valiente twice by accident in the second fall, and Vailente fouled Esfinge on purpose to give Esfinge the win. Valiente stormed off without further explaining his actions.
4) Templario DQ Último Guerrero    
14:25. UG unmasked Templario mid powerbomb for the DQ. Templario declared he could no longer stand to team with the rudos and would be a tecnico going forward. He also challenged Guerrero to a mask versus hair match. UG gave no response.
5) Máscara Dorada & Stigma b Ángel de Oro, Brillante Jr., Flip Gordon, Futuro, Villano III Jr., Volador Jr. [seeding battle royal, Leyenda de Plata]  
6) Flip Gordon b Futuro [Leyenda de Plata, 8f]  
3:41
7) Ángel de Oro b Brillante Jr. [Leyenda de Plata, 8f] 
4:44
8) Volador Jr. b Villano III Jr. [Leyenda de Plata, 8f] 
4:35
9) Máscara Dorada b Stigma [Leyenda de Plata, 8f] 
4:36
10) Ángel de Oro b Flip Gordon [Leyenda de Plata, quarterfinal] 
4:08
11) Volador Jr. b Máscara Dorada [Leyenda de Plata, quarterfinal] 
3:13
12) Ángel de Oro b Volador Jr. [Leyenda de Plata, semifinal]    
5:12

There were a lot of things happening on this show – a surprise tecnico turn, a possible rudo turn, Angel de Oro getting a win over his most recent big rival and over the guy who took his hair last September – but they all sort of rammed into each other collectively. Getting Angel de Oro those two wins meant to turning Leyenda de Plata into a single elimination tournament (for only the second time ever), and one that was gasping for more time. Every match was about four minutes and lacked energy, extra disappointing when they’re doing stuff like “the first ever Mascara Dorada/Volador match.” These block nights are often saved by a great match in the block final, but CMLL was rushing so much that didn’t even happen (and neither man seemed that enthused for trying it anyway.) The tournament would’ve been a drag to a better show and took down one that was mostly building to other things.

Templario has been frequently on the tecnico side of relevos increibles matches for months, and worked as a tecnico in previous singles match (the Oku one stands out), so CMLL had been preparing for this turn for quite some time. Templario’s got the style to work as a tencico, and his team with Mascara Dorada on FantasticaMania was a good example of what he could do. It is still a negating of the big angle from FantasticaMania Japan five months ago, where Soberano and Templario put aside their feud to form Los Principes with Rocky Romero. Are those two going to go back fighting again? Whatever’s happened there, CMLL doesn’t seem to want to talk about it.

Both match 2 and 3 featured very long control periods by the rudos to set up a tecnico comeback; they were onesided matches. The Panthers made their big comeback, the best part of their game, but it felt like the match ended abruptly. The tecnicos sort of got their comeback in match 3, but it was also a lot of Esfinge causing his partner Valiente to lose his mind. I doubt CMLL wrestlers (or other personnel) are talking over their match layouts but that’s one where both would’ve been helped by being a bit different.

CMLL (SAT) 07/13/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) Full Metal & Pequeño Violencia b Fantasy & Galaxy
8:14.
2) Pólvora b El Audaz [lightning]
8:31
3) Kira, Skadi, Tessa Blanchard b Hera, Persephone, Reyna Isis
14:48
4) Espíritu Negro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa b Felino, Felino Jr., Rey Bucanero
12:12
5) Flip Gordon, Fugaz, Star Black b Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Magia Blanca
12:23
6) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Titán b Ángel de Oro, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr.
14:11

A good show to have in the background doing other stuff. The most interesting parts of this show where the announcers addressing things not on this show. They reacted to the news of the new women’s champion live, pushing the idea that someone on the CMLL roster would have to fight to bring the title back into the home promotion’s hands. Julio Cesar Rivera also brought up Hijo del Pantera’s performance during the Felino’s match and indicated that he’d be back at some point.

CMLL , NJPW (SAT) 07/13/2024 Mt. Pleasant High School, San Jose, California [FDDE, thecubsfan, NJPW] Attendance: 906
1) The DKC b Adrian Quest, Viento, Cucuy
8:31
2) Okumura & Satoshi Kojima b Magnus & Rugido [MLW TAG]
9:32
3) Willow Nightingale b Lluvia, Viva Van [CMLL WOMEN]
10:13. vacant title (Stephanie Vaquer left)
4) Hechicero & Virus b Bad Dude Tito & Zack Sabre Jr.
13:56
5) Yota Tsuji b Bárbaro Cavernario
14:09
6) Gabe Kidd b Último Guerrero [NJPW STRONG]
12:11. Kidd challenged Lio Rush for his next title match in Washington DC.
7) Douki & Místico b Rocky Romero & Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
24:38. Mistico challenged DOUKI to an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

FantasticaMania was both a hot show in terms of crowd reactions and a hot show in that it appeared scorching in that building. Getting good performances given the conditions was impressive, and there was a lot of good on it. I thought everything on this except for match 2. (Kojima and Okumura didn’t seem like they were keeping up well with their opponents.) The guys in the main event went a lot longer than I thought, going for a an epic match to top a fun evening. Volador and Rocky of course had problems at the end. I’m not too sure how to take the post match challenges because I’m not sure they have a finish there. Mistico’s probably not losing, Mistico’s probably not winning unless NJPW is going crazy hard to build up that multi-promotion WrestleDream show. CMLL did the “Mistico goes to a draw finish with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion” last year with Takahashi.

Guerrero/Kidd was the hard hitting chop battle style of UG match, the type that he used to do a lot when he was wrestling indie matches. It reminded me of those Caifan matches. Other people got more out of the Cavernario/Tsuji match then I did, though I still thought it was good. Hechicero/Virus vs Tito/ZSJ never hit at the mat work level of Virus/ZSJ’s interactions last year or Hechicero/ZSJ this year, yet it still was a really good back and forth intense match.

It was odd seeing both a fourway scramble and a three way match on a CMLL themed show, but such is the way it turned out. The women’s title match worked well enough and the pro-Mexican crowd was still happy to see Willow Nightingale win. The announcers avoided mentioning Stephanie Vaquer’s name during the title match. Nightingale did mention Vaquer by name in her post-match interview, pointing out she did beat Vaquer back at Homenaje a Dos Leyendas as proof she’s a worthy successor to this title. I hadn’t thought about that finish since it happened, but I suppose there’s a chance CMLL planned to do a Vaquer/Nightingale match later this year. CMLL doesn’t always follow up on those things, but it works out. There’s no hurry for CMLL to get Nightingale back in CMLL to defend or lose the title. CMLL has no urgency around any title being defended. (Vaquer’s final defense of this title was in December 2023 against La Jarochita; neither of those women currently are wrestling in CMLL.) She’ll likely participate in the October run of shows, if not sooner, and it’s fairly likely the new CMLL World Women’s championship defense will instead happen outside of CMLL – either in AEW or a NJPW US show.

I’m less certain what’s next after Willow. I don’t think it’s Lluvia – she stepped to Willow post match as if to set up the match, but that seemed more like her doing a usual lucha bit of trying to get heat back after not winning. (See Mistico in the AEW Casino Gauntlet match; I don’t think we’re getting that match with Ospreay.) The bigger picture question is what the purpose is of the CMLL World Women’s title is now. If Stephanie Vaquer doesn’t go to WWE, I think NJPW US uses that belt just like they were using the Strong title, Vaquer defending against a variety of challengers until she met a really big name. Nightingale could slide into that role, if NJPW US still wants to keep doing that bit and Nightingale is not too busy with AEW. I kept thinking Tessa Blanchard would end up getting the title, but that doesn’t seem to work along a plan to use it in NJPW – they’ve shown no interest in using her for obvious reasons. (It’s also possible CMLL will be hesitant to give Blanchard or Catalina a title bit, concerned that non-Mexicans are more likely to leave if a WWE offer comes up.) If NJPW decides to move in a different direction, would CMLL prefer to try to make a star out of someone the fans haven’t seen at the level, or go back to safe hands? Princesa Sugehit should be back soon, was champion until she needed neck surgery, and would be a safe (if unexciting) champion.

The DKC was said to win a spot on the 2025 FantasticaMania with his win here, which was the first – and only – indication that a 2025 show was definitely planned. Drawing 900 people, even with more on PPV, seems tough for the amount of expense it takes to put a show like this together. Hopefully they can build bigger for next year.

CMLL (SUN) 07/14/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito b Pequeño Polvora & Pierrothito
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Leono b Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
Astral suffered an injury but finished the match
3) El Audaz, Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso b Dark Magic, El Coyote, Sagrado
4) Virus b Hijo del Villano III [lightning]
around 9 minutes
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Star Jr. b Magnus, Mephisto, Rugido
6) Gran Guerrero, Hechicero, Stuka Jr. DQ Fugaz, Místico, Volador Jr.
Fugaz replaced Volador. Hechicero and Valiente ripped up each other’s masks, Hechicero eventually got Valiente’s off for the DQ.

If we take the Hechicero/Valiente issue here as meaningful, CMLL’s arrived at four “pairs”, eight overall, the same format they used for the 90th Aniversario.

1. Esfinge & Euforia
2. Volador Jr. & Averno
3. Templario & Ultimo Guerrero
4. Hechicero & Valiente

One issue is this was an angle on a Sunday night show, and Aniversario angles tend to be on Friday shows. Hechicero hasn’t been booked on a Friday night show since May. That fact also hints at other issue: CMLL hasn’t really featured Hechicero as an important person. He seemed much more likely to be left off the Aniversario show than be booked into a main event. Valiente too, but Valiente’s action on Friday indicated something is up with him.

The Friday lineup reveal will be a big indicator – if Hechicero’s on that show and across from Valiente, then maybe there’s more into it. And, if more people get involved, this becomes more likely a tag match.

CMLL (TUE) 07/16/2024 Arena México
1) Kaligua & Pequeño Magía vs Pequeño Violencia & Pierrothito
2) La Vaquerita & Maligna vs Metálica & Valkiria
3) Fuego vs Difunto [lightning]
4) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star vs Cancerbero, Crixus, Vegas
5) Atlantis, Brillante Jr., Flip Gordon vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
6) Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible © vs Máscara Dorada, Neón, Star Jr. [CMLL TRIOS]
4th defense

Four defenses is a good number of this Barbaros unit, and Dorada/Neon/Star as the exciting young flippy team could work. Less certain if CMLL will have title changes on a Tuesday two weeks in a row.

CMLL Mexico City (VideosOficialesCMLL) did file a copyright claim against CMLL Guadalajara (Martes de Glamour) on YouTube, as seen on one of the old videos that had been only on Fan Leyenda, so it was the CMLL on CMLL violence it appeared to be. The Guadalajara side is claiming not to know why that happened and the Mexico City isn’t talking.

Guadalajara’s Optimo, who returned to ring last month, says he was out after knee surgery. He had been training with Franco Colombo and then later with Virus and Hechicero.

AAA

AAA on Space aired half of the June Mexico City taping. Things that aired.

• Vipers (Abismo Negro, Fiscal, Taurus) versus Aerostar, Brazo de Oro, Karis La Momia
  • Slight story of Fiscal having problems with Abismo and walking out the team. Fiscal was back with the Vipers showing no issues in multiple segments the rest of the show. Brazo de Oro Jr. continues to look good in his occasional appearance, especially here against Abismo. Karis and Fiscal looked more shaky. Match over well good, and longer than AAA usually gives these matches.
• Los Vipers told Latin Lover they actually did not like him coming back and had problems with him, Konnan, and the traitor Cibernetico. Hijo del Tirantes suggested he was now the sexiest man in wrestling and attempted to prove it via dance.
• Dinamico was distraught over his fellow Las Canchillas being angry with him about leaving them to join La Fraternidad. He appears to still be a rudo.
• Octagon Jr. won a fourway over Galeno del Mal, Dinamico and Drago, pinning Drago with the moonsault powerslam. It was good but also every fourway ever. Drago and Dinamico briefly worked together and then Dinamico betrayed him to try to sneak a win.
• Mesias, Espiritu and Escoria attacked Octagon Jr. after the match. They’re now the Apostoles del Mesias, and Mesias himself beliefs Octagon Jr. is unworthy of holding the Latin American championship.
• Cibernetico and Cuervo came out to make the save, leading right into their match with the Apostoles. (The cameraman filming the promo was caught unaware, and stood in the ring for a half a minute as the match was going on around him.) It was a generic brawl, with Cuervo taking out the underlings with an attempt at a tope through a table and Ciber pinning Mesias. Los Vipers hit the ring to attack and bloody Cibernetico, with the Apostoles looking a little annoyed but deciding not to get involved.
• Octagon Jr., during a post-show interview about Mesias’ attack, got attacked by three people who are part of the Eye group. (The eye symbol also came up briefly during Latin Lover’s in-ring segment.)  Psycho Clown briefly stopped the attack but then also got beat down.

AAA’s been doing attacks by the “Eye” group for seven months now, but this is the first time they’ve actually done one on camera. The general idea is to keep these identities secret until the big reveal, though one of the attackers was wearing a garish NBA 2023 All Star jacket. It looked like something Los Negoicios would wear or maybe Los Macizos, but those are wild guessing. Wearing a jacket like that also makes sense if the real purpose was to hide some tattoos. One of the other people was wearing the AAA track pants with the promotion logo on it. This is  AAA, so it’s unsafe to assume the people who were the attackers in this angle will be the people revealed to be part of it at the end. Last year, the mystery person angle was two people attacking Pagano, and then the big reveal was just one person (Texano, who was booked in a different state at the time of the original angle.) AAA seems like they’re building to a reveal in Mexico City so at least this is almost done. I almost wrote “at least it’s almost over” but I don’t get the sense this angle is over.

The rest of the TV was clearer than the live reports: the Cibernetico/Mesias feud is done for now, Mesias is moving onto Octagon, Cibernetico is moving onto the Vipers. Secta & Vipers are already in the Mexico City cage match, Octagon and Mesias have no announced match.

Unimas aired the women’s match and main event from Juarez, same as the first episode of that taping on Space. There were intra-show ads promoting that TripleMania Tijuana will start airing on Unimas on 07/27. That’s right on their normal schedule, but you’d otherwise have no idea a TripleMania was coming up in the air order based on the TV.

Space started airing promos for Verano de Escandalo. The second half of the show will air live on 08/02 (Friday), as usual for AAA big shows.

Legend put on an AAA Reunion show Saturday in Arena Lopez Mateos. It was more names from the 90s era of the promotion, with a couple of nice touches. El Fiscal worked as “Winners Jr.” in honor of his father’s original character. Marisela Pena came to the show and was honored. The main event featured at least five different Payasos. No idea what relationship those clowns actually had to the real clowns (and some of the other characters on the show were likely portrayed by non-originals.) The idea of this show was to play off the AAA Origenes nostalgia and ticket boom – except this show didn’t sell tickets at all. Arena Lopez Mateos looked much emptier than normal. Some of that was probably the WWE show happening the same time, though the audience for WWE and 90s AAA seems like a small overlap. My guess is fans will buy tickets to see the older wrestlers in big numbers only when they’re presented in the context of a ‘real’ AAA show, and with a few more big names (Cibernetico, Mesias) than this show.

WWE

WWE sold out Arena Ciudad de Mexico show on Saturday, then did about the same in Monterrey on Sunday. Stephanie Vaquer ended up not simply appearing on the shows, but wrestling as well – she defeated Isla Dawn on both cards. (It seemed an indication of what WWE’s management has seen from Vaquer that they had her do the same promo she did on Mercedes Mone in Arena Mexico.)

Vaquer’s headed to NXT next and – if the contract is as good as it’s said – the plan is likely to keep her in NXT for about the same and then to move her up, same as Dragon Lee. It just may be some time before she shows up in NXT and she may have to return back to Chile while awaiting her work visa.

There was no sign of any AAA involvement on either WWE show.

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 07/14/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Histeriosis & Willy Banderas b Calibus & Sacro 
2) Mr. Mike & Rey Aztaroth b Auzter & Iron Kid 
3) Freelance, Luka, Multifacetico Jr. b Abigor, Rey Halcón, Yorvak 
Freelance and Mr. Mike fought post match.
4) Estrella Divina, Veneno, Vudu Max b Diablo Jr., Imposible, Sádika 
5) Hijo de Pandemónium b Vangellys 
sets up a rematch for the IWRG Rey del Ring
6) Látigo & Toxin b Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. © [IWRG IC TAG] 
Cerberos fall on their eighth defense

Other News

A GoFundMe has been set up for Fray Tormenta, who needs money for medical bills. It is linked to on his Facebook page, which is said to be managed by one of his children.

There was the Puebla luchador named Muerte Negra who passed away this past week and an upcoming lucha libre movie named Muerte Negra that (again) got attention, but these are unrelated Muerte Negras.

Segunda Caida has watches a Komanchi Mistico match.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 07/12/2024 Arena México
1) Fuego, Valiente Jr., Xelhua vs Crixus, Espanto Jr., Vegas
2) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther vs Akuma, Difunto, Zandokan
3) Esfinge, Titán, Valiente vs Averno, Euforia, Soberano Jr.
4) Templario vs Último Guerrero
5) Ángel de Oro vs Volador Jr., Máscara Dorada, Flip Gordon, Brillante Jr., Futuro, Villano III Jr., Stigma [Leyenda de Plata, final]

This looks like a really strong show. It’s a solid group of names in the Leyenda de Plata, though maybe not many suspects. Mascara Dorada is probably not repeating, Volador Jr. is probably going back to his Averno issue, so that leaves Angel de Oro and perhaps Flip? Templario and Ultimo Guerrero should be great, and there’s chances for the two trios matches prior to it as well. Xelhua will at least be fun in the opener.

Meanwhile, MLW will have a free stream on their YouTube channel with Atlantis Jr. versus Okumura in the Opera Cup. Mistico versus Magnus will be taped to air at a later date.

CMLL (SAT) 07/13/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) Fantasy & Galaxy vs Full Metal & Pequeño Violencia
2) El Audaz vs Pólvora [lightning]
3) Kira, Skadi, Tessa Blanchard vs Hera, Persephone, Reyna Isis
4) Espíritu Negro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Felino, Felino Jr., Rey Bucanero
5) Flip Gordon, Fugaz, Star Black vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Magia Blanca
6) Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Titán vs Ángel de Oro, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr.

Maybe something comes out of the main event but this doesn’t appear to be the strongest CMLL show of Saturday night.

CMLL , NJPW (SAT) 07/13/2024 Mt. Pleasant High School, San Jose, California
1) Adrian Quest vs The DKC, Viento, Cucuy
2) Willow Nightingale vs Lluvia vs Viva Van [CMLL WOMEN]
vacant title (Stephanie Vaquer left)
3) Yota Tsuji vs Bárbaro Cavernario
4) Bad Dude Tito & Zack Sabre Jr. vs Hechicero & Virus
5) Último Guerrero vs Gabe Kidd [NJPW STRONG]
6) Okumura & Satoshi Kojima vs Magnus & Rugido [MLW TAG]
7) Douki & Místico vs Rocky Romero & Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]

This is a 20 USD PPV on NJPW World but separate from the monthly subscription. (You do not need to subscribe, you do not get it live as part of the subscription – it goes up like a month later.) It’s a 7:30 pm US CT start. My recollection is NJPW World streams take a little bit of time to go up on VOD. There are still some tickets remaining; I think it’ll end up selling out but it turns out this was the right (small) size venue for this show, unfortunately.

There’s not a lot of drama in the bigger matches, though they should all be solid. DOUKI and Mistico are now heavy favorites in the main event; the new Junior Heavyweight champion is not taking a loss in his first match since winning the belt. Kojima & Okumura and Gabe Kidd are heavy favorites to retain their titles, though I’m intrigued to find out what exactly a Gabe Kidd/Ultimo Guerrero match. Lluvia is a solid favorite to become the new CMLL women’s champion but Van and Nightingale have a chance; CMLL’s obviously going to be bringing in foreigners for around the women’s Gran Prix (and definitely now one more than they thought they were bringing!)

The middle matches are probably the most intriguing. Tsuji/Cavernario is a weirdo match up. ZSJ/Tito vs Virus/Cavernario on the NJPW show last year was one of the best matches no one talked about after (because the Mone stuff defined that show), and Hechicero is a pretty good sub for Cavernario. 20 USD is a pricey when CMLL fans are already 35/month for YouTube, but those two alone would’ve got me in the door.

CMLL (SUN) 07/14/2024 Arena México
1) Shockercito & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Polvora & Pierrothito
2) Astral, Eléctrico, Leono vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
3) El Audaz, Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso vs Dark Magic, El Coyote, Sagrado
4) Virus vs Hijo del Villano III [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Star Jr. vs Magnus, Mephisto, Rugido
6) Místico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Hechicero, Stuka Jr.

Virus in a singles match could be fun (if we see it.) Hechicero is back in Arena Mexico for the first time since his match with Blue Panther over a month ago.

CMLL (TUE) 07/16/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Ángel Rebelde, Optimus, Torno vs Rav, Shezmu, Temerario
2) Adira, Kira, Sanely vs Hatanna, Lady Amazonas, Persephone
3) Bestia Negra, Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Satánico vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio, Virus
4) Star Black vs El Gallero
5) Barboza & Zandokan Jr. vs Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr.
6) Atlantis Jr., Esfinge, Valiente vs Euforia, Hechicero, Soberano Jr.

Esfinge/Euforia feud over here. Zandokan has taken sides with his fellow pirates against the Villanos. Star Black/Gallero follows a foul from last week.

Thursday night, I went to throw last Tuesday’s Guadalajara show in my database. I’ve been doing it with both the CMLL official channel and the previous Guadalajara “Martes de Glamour” channel. The GDL one stopped putting up the videos on their channel for a few months after CMLL switched to it’s current tiered system, then restarted it again the last few weeks. The Martes de Glamour channel did a peculiar thing of putting up the Fan Leyenda show exclusive FantasticaMania show about a week after it aired, and I couldn’t figure out why. When I clicked Thursday, I found that the latest video was unavailable, because the entire channel had been terminated for copyright claims.

That channel going down for copyright strikes is so weird. YouTube seems to issue strikes for video issues; they’ll issue warning or block individual videos for music issues, but it’s only video piracy that gets a channel taken down. The only YouTube account that would be able to terminate CMLL’s Martes de Glamour channel for copyright violations is CMLL’s VideoOficialesCMLL channel. No one else would have the rights to that video and, if they did, that main CMLL channel would’ve gotten strikes as well. CMLL did warn at least one person they would start issuing copyright strikes on certain videos, so I know there was a plan to start striking videos – but why their own sister channel? When CMLL issued copyright takedowns on my Google Drive, it was solely contained to the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show that was Fan Leyenda exclusive, so that may have been the trigger point. Why was the Fan Leyenda video on the Guadalajara in the first place, and why wouldn’t the Mexico City side just get them to take it down instead of filling a copyright strike? All the Guadalajara shows (and a few more ) were streamed Facebook as well, so that video isn’t gone completely. It’s just gone from YouTube unless the strikes are reversed.

CMLL’s Men Gran Prix takes place on 08/23, as announced a while back. This is typically an 8 person versus 8 person match. CMLL announced it’ll be instead 10 versus 10 match, the biggest they’ve ever tried for that sort of match. It might also end up being one of the longest matches in the history of Arena Mexico.

CMLL Informa included the official announcement of Chris Jericho versus Mistico for 09/13 Aniversario. Jericho made the challenge, Mistico agreed that it would be a great challenge but he was looking forward to it. CMLL probably could’ve drawn an extra big crowd by putting Jericho/Mistico on a separate show, but it fits Jericho’s motivations to have him part of the biggest show of the year. There was less English-speaking push back to the match than I was expecting; I’m not sure if other things were distracting them or if they got it out of the system. The reaction in CMLL social media is mostly positive, although so many matches Mistico matches were teased that there’s people disappointed they didn’t get their favorite.

CMLL Informa also included Esfinge and Euforia talking about a possible Aniversario mask versus mask match. The dynamic seemed to be that Esfinge wants to face Euforia, and Euforia doesn’t really care about Esfinge but liked the idea of being in Aniversario match. No contracts were signed. Those two seem certain be connected at the Aniversario show but there’s probably an additional format – a mini tournament or an revelos suicidas match with Volador and Averno. I feel the same about a Esfinge/Euforia mask that the people who don’t like Chris Jericho feel about a Jericho/Mistico match on Aniversario.

CMLL did have Vegas and Xelhua on to promote the Arena Puebla Annivesary show. That would’ve been a moment to announce the show was streaming. Nothing was said along those lines, so expect that’s not going to happen.

CMLL Informa did not touch on Stephanie Vaquer’s departure. They’ll have a couple of more times to address it – whenever the new women’s champion does her first interview, and whenever they decide on what to do with the tag titles – but it’s likely Vaquer no longer exists in the history of CMLL. I’ve written often, and probably will again, about how Corazon de Leon is part of Arena Coliseo banner of stars through the decades. I was looking at that banner last Saturday and thinking of the people who aren’t there. That banner went up before Andrade returned to CMLL, so no member of Los Ingobernables – not Sombra, not Rush, not La Mascara, not even Marco – are part of that illustration of CMLL history. You can go a little farther back and not see a Negro Casas – who had as many great matches in CMLL has anyone – and not see a el Hijo del Santo – who was heavily responsible for lifting CMLL out of it’s post-AAA attendance issues. Both have opposed CMLL, both no longer are honored or remembered in CMLL’s version of history. Not all defectors are excluded – Jack O’Brien is listed towards the beginning of the chronological history, presumably because the people making the decisions either have long forgot that he ran opposition shows in much the same way AAA did, or they’ve long stopped caring – but CMLL is continuing rewriting it’s history. It’s up to everyone else if they want to go with CMLL’s story or try to tell a more complete one.

RevPro officially announced Stephanie Vaquer was off their upcoming shows. They’ll have replacement names to come. The WON adds on that CMLL was generally aware Vaquer was interested in WWE and that she would want to go there, but they were caught off guard by her leaving without fulfilling her dates (the two with RevPro included.) Gala Lutteroth gets a rare name check, mentioned as helping Vaquer out outside of the ring and believing she and Vaquer were more friends than employer/employee, and found out differently.

There’s also a little bit more on the timing of Stephanie Vaquer departure. The Wrestling Observer says NJPW found out Monday that Vaquer would no longer appear, after signing the contract on Sunday or Monday. No one’s got a great reason for why she still ended up working on Tuesday. The timing of everyone finding out is still interesting to me. Konnan ending an AEW rant regarding no-shows with “what comes around, goes around” line right before Vaquer ends up no-showing a bunch of shows – in a podcast that would’ve been taped over a week ago – makes me wonder. Maybe it’s a coincidence or something else hinted, or maybe he knew well in advance of everyone else.

There’s a lot of questions to be asked coming out of this situation, many of which I’m not sure if we’ll ever get an answer. Was Vaquer talking to WWE before Forbidden Door? Did AEW have their own deal in place to make sure she worked that show, or was her appearance there reliant on her (now obviously not as binding) NJPW/CMLL deals? Could WWE have pressured Vaquer not to work that AEW PPV, and did they? Is Konnan comment an indication he knew about this WWE/Vaquer deal before CMLL or NJPW did? Was the information just a matter of Konnan knowing everyone and everything or a more specific conversation? Is this an indication of WWE passing along information to possible promotional partner AAA? Why was WWE OK with Vaquer working that match in Guadalajara when she was a signed WWE wrestler by then?

I’m intrigued if Vaquer shows up on the WWE show in Mexico City in Saturday as an explanation of why she was left CMLL immediately, even though it doesn’t really matter. She’s told CMLL and NJPW she wasn’t working FantasticaMania on Saturday regardless if she’s sitting front row in Arena Ciudad de Mexico or just spending a Saturday night at home.

There’s another part of this story I need to emphasis here – none of this drama about how Vaquer left will matter in the least if she does well in WWE. She’ll never deal with CMLL or NJPW or anyone else if this deal goes the way both Vaquer and WWE hope it goes – she’ll have a good career, and then will be forever the WWE Chilean legend. If it doesn’t work out, that miss on the highest stage will define her career far stronger than the last week.

My only really hot take out of all this is CMLL should spend the rest of the year building Kira to be the top star in the women’s division. Kira is also not really ready to be the top star and it may not work out, but if CMLL waits for her to get better, other people may notice as well. Her style gives her a star quality, makes her stand out compared all the other women they have, and also may eventually sideline her if they wait too long. CMLL’s big choice coming up is if they want to continue pushing women’s wrestling forward with a new generation of wrestlers, or if they’re content with it being a more ceremonial title, sometimes going to a talented wrestler and sometimes going to politically connected wives or girlfriends. Vaquer got people excited to see women’s matches on CMLL shows and Kira’s got the best chance to do that again.

Puebla luchador Muerte Negra (who also used the name Mini Black Magic) passed away on Thursday, according to Facebook page Mano a Mano. Arena Puebla luchadora Astoreth is Muerte Negra’s daughter; she was previously announced as wrestling this coming Monday in that arena.

TKD points out the CMLL Sunday September 15th show Arena Mexico show has been bumped to Monday September 16th. CMLL usually goes dark on September 15th to align their shows with the Independence Day holiday.

CMLL posted a photo of Euforia giving Diablo Rojo’s pitcher Trevor Bauer a mask in honor of him striking out 19Ks in a game. Euforia’s a big baseball fan, CMLL’s tied in with Diablos Rojos prior and Bauer has been one of the Mexican baseball league this year. Bauer has also been accused of sexual assault by at least four different women. (One of those women has since been charged with fraud.) Bauer is in Mexico for the same reasons as Travis Banks and Marty Scurll, an attempt to de-blacklist themselves by re-building their name elsewhere after being accused (though not charges) with heinous acts. Bauer’s been more successful at it then the wrestlers or really most people in his position – he had an unusually strong social media following for a baseball player prior to his charges, and he’s been able to convince his ultra loyal group of fans that all the charges are false. It still struck me as notable CMLL would post a photo with Bauer when they shy away from the others. (Banks was one listed for an Arena Coliseo Guadalajara card and wiped from existence.) Most of the difference is probably that Bauer’s been great in that Mexican baseball league, and that league – and a lot of the press around it – have made a conscious decision not to talk about the reasons why he’s playing in the Mexican league from the moment he showed up. That press has decided it socially acceptable to do things like take a photo with him. I expect that if Bauer wants to show up to be celebrated at Arena Mexico, CMLL will happily accommodate him.

In perhaps related news, CMLL’s latest podcast is with Tessa Blanchard. (This is a bit mean; nothing Blanchard has been accused of comes close to what Bauer has been accused off.) There’s a point in the conversation where Blanchard talks about her goal being to defeat Stephanie Vaquer for the CMLL women’s title. Her name made it on a CMLL program one more time. Blanchard’s latest version of the story that landed her in Mexico – while she owns up to having a really big ego and wasn’t a great person – she doesn’t have a racism in her heart and was  unfairly painted as one on the night of her biggest match. Blanchard paints it as people brought a story from the past to get her on that night. The way I remember of the sequence of events was Blanchard expressing frustration and annoyance that the other women in wrestling weren’t rallying around her as she was about to win a major men’s championship, and the other women in wrestling taking social bringing up her previous racist comment as part of the reasons they weren’t supporting for her.

AAA

AAA on Space should start the June Mexico City tapings. The poster is here, the results are here if you want spoilers. It’s the first week of a taping, so no idea what’ll air. AAA on Unimas will start the Juarez taping; that’s a taping where they could just air one week to catch up a little.

My suspicions remain high that something’s up with with WWE and AAA, but I lack any proof or hard evidence something’s happening for sure on the Saturday night Arena Ciudad de Mexico show. That starts at 8 pm local time (about a half hour after CMLL), if you want to be on the lookout for news. The WON having a random line of “I don’t think [AEW creative team] QT Marshall is going to work in Mexico any longer even though AAA is high on them” seems to be an indicator of where the wind is blowing. There’s no mention of where that would leave Satnam Singh or Komander.

Vampiro is listed as appearing on a show in Italy in October 12th. It’s not really breaking news that Vampiro is going to keep wrestling past his retirement announcement, but I’m still uncertain if the general Mexican fans understand that. I don’t know if they’ll feel duped come August or if the halo that’s forever around Vampiro – “ah, it’s Vampiro, we know he’s not telling the truth but we love him anyway” will persist. I guess when I put it like it that way, I know he’ll be fine.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 07/11/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Fauno b Drakula Ng
2) Guerrero Mixtico, Hijo De Silver King, Simon Blanco b Calibus, Tornado, Willy Banderas
3) Príncipe Centauro b Multifacetico Jr.
Centauro wants a title match
4) Bendito & Tonalli b Hell Boy & Hijo de Canis Lupus
Mala Fama got involved.
5) Águila Roja, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Puma de Oro b Arez, Látigo, Toxin
New trios is named El Barco del Pirata and won after Hell Boy & Canis Lupus got involved.

IWRG put up a poster for Festival de la Mascaras next Thursday. No card for Sunday. I haven’t seen a mention of them skipping that date.

IWRG (THU) 07/18/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Tortuga Leo & Tortuga Mike vs Avisman & Bombero Infernal
2) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Oficial 911 & Oficial AK47
3) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
4) Cerebro Negro, Internacional Pantera, Veneno vs Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
5) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
6) Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool vs Mega, Omega, Súper Mega
7) Cibernético vs Dr. Wagner Jr.

This is the Festival de Mascaras show, so everyone will be back in their old masks for the night.

Saturday’s logjam

all overlapping:

• CMLL’s normal Arena Coliseo show
• AAA’s normal Space TV show
• CMLL/NJPW’s FantasticaMania show
• WWE at Arena Ciudad de Mexico
• Big Lucha’s Big Bang show, which may or may not stream

Thankful AEW isn’t booking anything lucha libre wise for Collision this week. (They do have Rey Fenix vs Angelico vs Komander vs AR Fox on AEW Rampage.) I’m planning to follow the FantasticaMania show the closest and then will pick up the rest when I have time.

Other news

I hinted earlier this week something about the identity of the mystery “Hologram” wrestler teased on AEW Collision. Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam was the first to report that it was Aramis under a new identity, which I can confirm. There are parts of his story I differ on; the vignettes were actually filmed a while back, I don’t think there’s a hacker aspect to it, and obviously Aramis actually left AAA December – he posted about on social media at the time and his exit was part of the story of young wrestlers leaving AAA. (AAA seems to have stopped that story, to their credit.) PW Insider reported that deal was signed in February, which fits more with what I’ve heard. My understanding is Aramis hoped he’d land a US deal this year and that was a factor in him not wanting to sign an AAA contract that could complicate that. It appears to have worked out for him.

To clarify – Saturday, I decided to keep the Aramis news because Aramis and AEW have been here before and I kinda didn’t feel like it was real until he got to the ring. Back in late 2019, AEW signed Aramis to a limited per date contract, they came up with a new gimmick for him, brought him in to a taping to measure him for his new gear and – then it just never happened. His per-date contract expired in 2021 without all the dates being used up. The timing suggest COVID, but it went cold between AEW/Aramis. The WON wrote about Aramis after that 2021 contract expiry, I wrote a bit more here, and then I recall getting a, uh, series of strongly worded messages from an AEW official who said it was first a long delay and then a denial of a work visa that was at fault if I remember correctly. This time again, Aramis signed something with AEW, got a new gimmick, got near gear, actually shot videos for the debut – but I wasn’t going to count on it happening until it really happened. Sure, the vignette airing should be a pretty good sign he’s actually going to debut – but for reasons no one outside of AEW understands, Scorpio Sky seems to get re-introduction vignettes on that same show every few months and never actually debuts. I wasn’t going to confirm it Aramis in AEW until I actually saw Aramis (or whatever his name is) live actually in AEW ring because I just didn’t feel sure it was real until then. Of course, once other people found out – and it seemed to be suddenly a hot topic Wednesday – it was dumb to play dumb about it. I’m not confident if I was totally perfect in how I handled this one, but at least you might understand my thinking.

(That visa conversation stuck in my head, as has the million seeming ones around Lucha Underground. When I thought ‘there’s no way Vaquer leaving for WWE any time soon’, it was with that work visa delay in mind. It may still be an issue; if it’s not, it suggests that signing was all the way longer.)

The WON mentions WWE is still actively interested in expanding to Mexico, and they’ve floated out the idea of using space at the Mexico City UFC Performance Institute to train people. There are plenty of gyms in Mexico where wrestling is taught alongside of combat sports. It does not real like WWE plans for a self-contained school and local promotion, which I guess would mean people would train at the WWE Mexico City school and inevitably call themselves WWE wrestlers as they do things on indie shows that WWE would and would not be happy about. This comes off as a underthought out pitch.

NOAH has a much hyped Galeno del Mal & Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Alpha Wolf & Dragon Bane match tomorrow morning. That’s a 31 USD PPV, and you have to download their app to purchase it. The show will eventually go up on their WrestleUniverse.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 07/08/2024 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Grada, Porra Fresa]
1) Astoreth & Lady Metal b Diablita Roja & Hera 
2) El Malayo & Rey Apocalipsis b El Perverso & Prayer
3) Vegas & Xelhua b Arkalis, Astral, El Audaz, Eléctrico, Multy, Pegasso, Rayo Metálico, Valiente Jr. [CMLL BARROCO, semifinal] 
Order of elimination: Rayo Metalico (Audaz), Electrico (Arkalis), Audaz (Pegasso), Arkalis (Vegas), Hombre Bala (Astral), Pegasso (Valiente Jr.), Valiente Jr. (Xelhua), Multy (Vegas) leaving Vegas & Xelhua for next week.
4) Ángel de Oro, Hechicero, Templario b Flip Gordon, Neón, Star Jr.
5) Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. b Akuma, Atlantis Jr., Místico 
Volador beat Mistico via mask pull, asked for a title match next week. Gran Guerrero earlier got away with a foul on Akuma.

I was sure there was a title match being set up for next week. I had the wrong one. Adding a title defense to Mistico/Volador makes a little different than other Mistico singles matches. It’s possible Akuma/Guerrero could set up a title match next week, though it’s rare CMLL books that way of late.

I was a little worried CMLL had gone cold on Xelhua given his lack of Mexico City appearances, but he’s gone far here and he’s back in Arena Mexico on Friday. Now to worry about where Forneo’s gone. People disappear for all sorts of mysterious reasons. (I wrote that line Tuesday afternoon, had no idea.)

CMLL (TUE) 07/09/2024 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico b Acero & Aéreo
8:49.
2) Diamond, Retro, Robin b Grako, Inquisidor, Sangre Imperial
14:49
3) Capitán Suicida, Guerrero Maya Jr., Volcano b Cancerbero, Kráneo, Okumura
13:16.
4) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star b Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio © [MEX TRIOS]
17:08. Indestructibles fall on their 2nd defense. Futuro, Bala and Star are the 44th champioins.
5) Atlantis b Blue Panther [lightning]
6:47. Atlantis won via well applied cradle.
6) Máscara Dorada, Neón, Star Jr. b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible
10:02. Tecnicos challenged for the CMLL Trios championship.

I was sure Los Indestructibles wouldn’t lose to as random a trio as this, but I guess that’s the right way to end the accidental surprise title reign. The rudos have won matches with a triple cavernaria, but got it turned against them and lost there. The match itself was very CMLL formula for a big trios match, done well enough though very familiar. It was Good, especially for a Tuesday show, but there may be better days to come in this new reign. Futuro is now a double champion. Hombre Bala Jr. wins a national title, something that seemed very likely early in his career and very unlikely for the rest. My guess is this is quietly the end of the Neon/Futuro/Max Star team – these guys will be plenty busy together and Neon seems to be moved up away from them. This match is probably also the end of Los Indestructibles in serious title contention, though they’ll surely stick together.

Atlantis was unusually good (for 2024 Atlantis) in his lightning match.

CMLL (TUE) 07/09/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Bello Antuan, Cosmos, Último Ángel b Eclipse Jr., Thunder Boy, Yaky Boy
2) Chamuel, Kemalito, Periquito Sacaryas b Átomo, Mije, Tengu
3) Adira, Náutica, Nexy b Emperatriz, Lady Shadow, Miss Guerrera
4) Dulce Gardenia b Ráfaga [lightning]
13:42 minutes (lightning matches are 15 minute time limit here for some reason)
5) Barboza, Gallero, Zandokan Jr. b Brillante Jr., Fugaz, Star Black
Gallero beat Star Black after a mask pull
6) Stephanie Vaquer b Tessa Blanchard [lightning]
7) Esfinge, Místico, Volador Jr. b Averno, Euforia, Templario

Stephanie Vaquer was emotional after her match with Tessa Blanchard, atypically so for her. She broke character to hug her rival and signal to the crowd. It came off like a goodbye. It was one. CMLL announced Stephanie Vaquer was leaving CMLL and NJPW for “personal reasons” immediately, and would not being making her scheduled appearance at FantasticaMania USA in San Jose on Saturday. La Planchitas subsequently reported Stephanie Vaquer had offers from both AEW and WWE and choose WWE. That report says the deal “will not be made official in the new few hours or days” but is expected to be a multiyear deal. Vaquer later announced her own departure from CMLL, saying she was leaving through the front door. She apologized for not appearing on upcoming shows, saying it is due to the “terms between the companies.” Vaquer never says she’s going to WWE, but that’s the only destination her statement can be referring to. Vaquer thanked CMLL’s Salvador Lutteroth for his positive words and also thanks her friends and colleagues.

Fightful has since reported Vaquer was at Sunday’s NXT show. That also means that when Record posted a story Sunday saying Vaquer was deciding between AEW and WWE, Vaquer had actually already decided on WWE. Record subsequently got to announce she was taking the WWE deal. While Record is a generally reliable source, they’ve been a promotional partner of AAA for years and AAA and Record have used each other get out favorable stories. Take that for what you will.

I’m stunned this signing happened so quick; Vaquer being in NXT on Sunday means it came together in under a week after Forbidden Door – or that this was in the works well before Forbidden Door.  Record’s statement about it not being made official suggests there’s still paperwork and maybe visas to go, there’d be no need to finish up with CMLL now to if that was all there was to it. WWE has a show in Mexico City on Saturday. I’ve got more about it in a bit, when I previously thought about it connected to different stories. Record’s report – “not official in a few hours or a few days” makes it sound like the Vaquer signing is still a ways off from being announced. Yet, everything in this process is moving fast, and WWE wanting to get Vaquer out in front of that crowd would fit with their style of announcements and the speed in getting this done. Booking issues aside, Vaquer literally could not go to San Jose for FantasticaMania if part of the deal in her WWE signing is appear in Arena Ciudad de Mexico that same Saturday night. Even if WWE just wanted that date and otherwise was fine with Vaquer finishing up well, it would be impossible to explain why Vaquer was missing that show and title defense beyond a WWE signing – that would force all these announcements to come out now. (CMLL working with AEW would also encourage WWE to do this signing in a way that most inconvenienced CMLL.)

Vaquer leaving without working her finals international dates – notably both this FantasticaMania show and the RevPro show – also means her relationship with CMLL is not ending well, regardless of what Vaquer says. As mentioned in the last post, CMLL is willing to let people out of their contracts if they get a big offer, but part of it is CMLL wants them to leave in a positive way. They don’t want to be posting “she’s quit and now we’re changing these cards”, they want the “graduation” moment of Mascara Dorada/Metalik’s departure, or Dark Angel’s Farwell match to go back farther. Vaquer’s match happened without CMLL telling anyone it was her last match, that’s not how they want to do things.

CMLL’s announcement mentions Stephanie Vaquer will be giving up the CMLL Women’s World and Tag Team championships. The singles title will be decided in a three way on Saturday’s FantasticaMania including scheduled opponent Lluvia and new participants Willow Nightingale and Viva Van. My assumption is Nightingale was added to for star power reasons, and Van was added to be the actual person defeated by new champion Lluvia. CMLL and NJPW immediately had new FantasticaMania match graphics ready for this announcement; this was a change they were aware was coming prior to this morning and were just waiting for Vaquer to finish up in Guadalajara to announce it. There is no mention of how the tag team championships will be decided. Those belts were created to be something for two teams – Lluvia & La Jarochita and Zeuxis & Vaquer – and neither of those teams currently exist. Now looks like a point to downsize back to one women’s tag title championship.

Stephanie Vaquer was great for CMLL. CMLL was great for Stephanie Vaquer. She sharpened her skills, figured out her personality, and got international opportunities. She also brought her Mexican opponents up to higher levels, and got people who never even would’ve considered paying attention to the CMLL Women’s division (or CMLL entirely) to see it out just for her. Vaquer set a higher standard, and CMLL got behind for doing so. CMLL was also supportively publicly and privately in her case against Cuatrero. Vaquer was full time with CMLL for about four years, maybe less once you throw out the pandemic stoppages. She going to be remembered for what she accomplished even in that time. It’s up to the other women and CMLL itself if they want to continue pushing that division forward.

The other part of this signing is if WWE is going to go hard after any CMLL (or AAA) wrestlers that gets over on US TV, it’s harder for CMLL to put people on AEW. WWE were well aware of Dragon Lee before he was on AEW TV, but it was AEW TV that seemed to cause them to make the move. WWE knew of Vaquer before she wrestled on Forbidden Door, but that seems to have been the factor to get them to jump on it. It’s partly not wanting to be left behind – if AEW has enough of an interest to use them, then WWE is going to have an interest (and vice versa) – but it’s either going to require a change in approach for CMLL contracts or a change in how their wrestlers are visible. I don’t think the AEW/CMLL relationship is in any great danger – the Jericho announcement tonight is good proof of that – and I don’t think WWE will ever be interested in signing every CMLL (or Mexican) wrestler who gets over in AEW. It does highlight a big issue with CMLL contracts and the general Forbidden Door concept; the other promoters don’t want it to be an audition but it has become one.

Apart from professional wrestling, I’m thinking a lot about how Stephanie Vaquer signing with WWE and moving to US as a result may affect her ongoing domestic violence case against former partner Cuatrero. He’s been held in jail since last April on bail, because the judge believes he has the potential to harm Stephanie Vaquer if released and because his social media follows have threatened her. We have very limited information on the trial – just occasional leaks about pre-trial motions – and have no idea when it might resolve. Vaquer moving to the US means Cuatrero is less of a threat to her; even out of jail, she’ll be a country away (and he may not be able to leave Mexico.) There’s still the very real social media threats. It’s additionally going to be tougher for her to continue participating in this trial if she’s no longer Mexico based – Zoom and Teams and other video meeting software does exist, but there’s emotional disconnect as well.

It’s long seemed like a likely resolution to this case was Vaquer working her way to a full time job in the United States, Vaquer deciding to focus on her new life rather than continue to fight this battle, Cuatrero being released with no real resolution, and both sides forever claiming they were the wronged party. I don’t know if that’s how that part of the story will conclude, but it moved on big step closer to that kind of ending today.

Friday’s lineup:

CMLL (FRI) 07/12/2024 Arena México
1) Fuego, Valiente Jr., Xelhua vs Crixus, Espanto Jr., Vegas
2) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther vs Akuma, Difunto, Zandokan
3) Esfinge, Titán, Valiente vs Averno, Euforia, Soberano Jr.
4) Templario vs Último Guerrero
5) Ángel de Oro vs Volador Jr., Máscara Dorada, Flip Gordon, Brillante Jr., Futuro, Villano III Jr., Stigma [Leyenda de Plata, final]

A rare Friday night with just the main men’s division; no women, no minis, no micros (though they’ll still work as mascots.) The Averno/Volador feud gets a week off with Volador being in the tournament, but Esfinge and Euforia are stuck together.

CMLL (MON) 07/15/2024 Arena Puebla
***71st Anniversary***
1) Astoreth, Sanely, Skadi vs Amapola, Lady Amazona, Zeuxis
2) Vegas vs Xelhua [CMLL BARROCO, final]
3) Rey Samuray, Stigma, Volcano vs Espanto Jr., Rey Bucanero, Sagrado
4) Gran Guerrero vs Akuma [lightning]
5) Hijo de Octagón & Octagón vs Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. and Euforia & Soberano Jr. and Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Stuka Jr.
6) Místico © vs Volador Jr. [NWA MIDDLE]
9th defense

CMLL previously announced this lineup on Informa. The changes are the main event becoming a title match and Vegas/Xelhua set as the tournament final. (I’m not sure Guerrero/Akuma was a lightning match previously.) Vegas/Xelhua will not air on TV based on it’s position. However, CMLL did stream the Arena Puebla Anniversary show last year so perhaps it’ll turn up again.

CMLL Informa tonight has

• Mistico
• Mascara Dorada, Villano III Jr. (Leyenda de Plata)
• Ultimo Guerrero & Templario (match on Friday)
• Esfinge & Euforia (feud)
• Neon (RevPro)
• Star Jr., Max Star, Hombre Bala Jr. (new trios champs)
• Vegas & Xelhua (Barroco championship)

CMLL posted another emoji teaser, then later confirmed it’ll be a Chris Jericho video announcement tonight on Informa. I expect that video to include Jericho naming the date for a match with Mistico, which Mistico will obviously accept.

There’s really just two meaningful options for that Mistico/Jericho date to “Aniversario” or “any other Friday night*.” CMLL could probably get an additional giant crowd by putting Jericho on a separate show; Aniversario is going to draw well with or without him. My guess is Jericho’s preference is to be on the biggest CMLL show of the year, and CMLL would benefit in ways beyond ticket selling from having extra attention on their biggest night. My impression is it’ll be on Aniversario, but I’m not reporting that as a fact.

(* – ok, “any other Friday night” means not the 07/19 Leyenda de Plata final and not the 08/23 Gran Prix, and probably not the 09/06 pre-Aniversairo show. Which does start to cut down the options.)

Mistico talked about his faith with “Desde La Fe.” I would’ve paid attention but someone shows up and started training in the Arena Mexico ring about 17 minutes in and I spent my energy on trying to figure out who it was. Seems about Angelito’s height and agility.

An interview with Guadalajara’s Adira to hype the 07/20 Mexico City versus Guadalajara show.

Box y Lucha 3611 has Felino and Esfinge/Euforia cover.

AAA

There is no AAA news today.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 07/11/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Drakula Ng vs Fauno
2) Calibus & Tornado vs Guerrero Mixtico & Simon Blanco
3) Multifacetico Jr. vs Príncipe Centauro
4) Hell Boy & Hijo de Canis Lupus vs Bendito & Tonalli
5) Águila Roja, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Puma de Oro vs Arez, Látigo, Toxin

That could be a good IWRG show but I don’t trust them.

Other News

WWE is in Mexico this weekend. They’re running Saturday in Arena Ciudad de Mexico and Monterrey. Cody Rhodes versus Santo Escobar will headline; Escobar hasn’t had the best of luck in Arena Ciudad de Mexico. (Not the mask loss, the title loss, or the other title match loss, being booked in that bad cage match was the bad luck.) The Mexico City show has sold out, and there were few tickets left for Monterrey last I checked. This will likely cue up another round of discussions about a WWE PPV or a TV taping. This would also be a good time to announce any deal with AAA if there’s anything to it, though it is hard to believe AEW would allow Singh and Jarrett to appear on TripleMania if AAA signaled it was working with WWE. (And if AAA really is working on a deal with Indian group, they may value Singh more than any WWE deal at the moment.)

Lucha Libre Acapulco posted an alarming message on their Facebook: “La Arena Coliseo (Acapulco) to close it’s doors.” It is less alarming in the comments; they’re closing their doors to do some remodeling and fix the roof. The shows there – about once every six weeks – will go on pause after a show on August 4th. That Arena Coliseo Acapulco building was a regular CMLL stop from when it was opened in the late 1950s until the 2000s, and has seen starts and stops since then.

Mas Lucha caught up to Galeno del Mal before he heads back to Japan for NOAH. Galeno says this tour is just a week long, and they’re talking about him possibly returning in September. Galeno reveals this tour almost didn’t happen, because someone stole his passport and visa at TripleMania Tijuana. (It’s not clear if he meant literally at the building or at some other point during the trip.) He was totally depressed for two and a half weeks, thinking he was going to miss NOAH and his GCW dates, but his mother and sister helped him reassemble al the paperwork he needed.

Galeno thanks CIMA and Mr. Suzuki for being the first to bring him to GLEAT but he’s NOAH from now on. NOSAWA talked to Galeno when he was working the All Japan tag league, telling Galeno he’d like to pair him with his brother in NOAH someday. His brother passed along a more firm offer to join, during the period where Wagner3 was champ, and told him he needed to make an “adult decision.” Galeno worked the dates he agreed with GLEAT but decided to pass on a June tour wiht GLEAT, and talked to NOAH about coming in instead. Galeno is excited for he and his brother’s match against the Golpeadors on 07/13, saying the fans told him that same match they had in The Crash was a “10 out 10.”

Galeno says AAA did talk to him about a longer term agreement after his two appearances, but he’s only agreed to the TripleMania Mexico City date at this point. Galeno says, being 22, he just wants to work everywhere he can right now – the implication is he’s not interested in being full time with a Mexican company right now. Galeno talks later about wanting to be ready for anything that comes up, it being matches in Japan, in AEW, in WWE, wherever. That gets to talking about how that NOAH show will also include WWE’s AJ Styles, and Galeno hopes that leads to WWE people getting a look at him too.

An article on the El Salvador lucha libre scene. I haven’t seen a poster from local building Arena Triple C in years, but apparently it is still running. It’s one of those micro promotions where there’s a bunch of different no longer updated pages Facebook and it’s rough to find an active one.

A visit to Arandu’s school in Tijuana.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 07/05/2024 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO, FDDE, Fuego en el Ring, The Gladiatores, The Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Astral & Eléctrico b Inquisidor & Sangre Imperial  
10:13.
2) Espanto Jr., Okumura, Raider b Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma   
14:29
3) Tessa Blanchard b Persephone [lightning]   
9:40
4) Felino & Felino Jr. b Hijo del Pantera & Pantera  
12:20. Felino 40th Anniversary match. He was given a plaque before the match by a group that included actress/singer/politician Rocio Banquells.
5) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero b Hijo del Villano III, Templario, Villano III Jr.   
10:47. UG snuck in a foul on Templario. Templario demanded a match next week against his old teacher and UG agreed, but warned him that he didn’t teach Templario all he knows.
6) Ángel de Oro, Averno, Euforia DQ Esfinge, Star Jr., Volador Jr.  
10:26. Straight falls. Euforia fouled Volador and tossed his mask to Esfinge, all unseen by the ref, to draw the DQ. Esfinge demanded a mask/mask match with Euforia at Aniversario. Euforia didn’t agree and attacked Esfinge again.

The trains keep on track. Esfinge is the first actually bring up the September date. CMLL fans on Facebook are starting to believe this is headed to a cage match. I’m going to have to cancel all of Mexican wrestling if both AAA and CMLL headline their biggest shows of the year with cage matches. Back in reality, it doesn’t seem like the fans in Arena Mexico thought the Euforia/Esfinge stuff was a big deal yet.

I thought for a moment that Ultimo Guerrero/Templario was going to be added to that Aniversario list. For now, it was just an angle to set up a singles match next Friday along side the cibernetico.

Villanos/Guerreros match was best of the night. Tessa/Persephone was laid out to showcase Persephone, surprisingly, and did that job well. Hijo del Pantera was working for four people in his first (and maybe only?) CMLL Arena Mexico appearance.

CMLL (SAT) 07/06/2024 Arena Coliseo [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr. b Diamond, Leono, Retro 
13:59
2) Dark Magic b Capitán Suicida [lightning] 
9:44, win via elbow drop
3) Brillante Jr., El Audaz, Volcano b Pólvora, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado 
13:24
4) Lluvia, Skadi, Tessa Blanchard b Hera, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis 
13:03. Hera was DQed for choking Skadi out (and not releasing by five.)
5) Flip Gordon b Bárbaro Cavernario 
12:15. Gordon won cleanly with a new move. Cavernario shook Flip’s hand after but motioned for a hair/hair match.
6) Averno, Euforia, Soberano Jr. b Atlantis, El Hijo de Octagón, Octagón 
12:20. Rudos unmasked Atlantis after the match.

Flip versus Cavernario was pretty good, maybe a little less than Niebla Roja but still another solid Flip outing as a singles. Flip wins a lot more of those singles match that I realise, but I was still surprised to see get the win (with a new finish) here. As always, if they were serious about doing a hair match, they wouldn’t be making the challenges in Arena Coliseo.

CMLL (SUN) 07/07/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Chamuel & Periquito Sacaryas b Kemalito & Mije
2) Crixus, Dark Magic, Vegas b Fuego, Robin, Valiente Jr.
3) Blue Panther Jr., El Hijo De Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring b Cancerbero, El Coyote, Virus
4) Atlantis, Star Black, Valiente b Kráneo, Magnus, Mephisto
5) Gran Guerrero © b Terrible [CMLL HEAVY]
fourth defense, first this year
6) Ángel de Oro, Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr. b Flip Gordon, Máscara Dorada, Neón

No surprise in that title defense.

AMX aired matches from the 06/23 show, the Sunday show of the FantasticaMania week. (I’m trying to put the AMX Sunday stuff in this playlist, because they don’t always show up on my playlist.) Averno/Rocky Romero is worth checking out, a good three fall match where Romero is actually a tecnico. ZSJ/Magnus versus Mascara Dorada/Mistico is interesting for the novelty of the match.

(There’s a Puebla playlist too. Can’t stop repeating my mistakes, I guess.)

CMLL (TUE) 07/09/2024 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Diamond, Retro, Robin vs Grako, Inquisidor, Sangre Imperial
3) Capitán Suicida, Guerrero Maya Jr., Volcano vs Cancerbero, Kráneo, Okumura
4) Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio © vs Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star [MEX TRIOS]
2nd defense
5) Atlantis vs Blue Panther [lightning]
6) Máscara Dorada, Neón, Star Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible

Los Indestructibles have no easy title defenses but that tecnico trio would be unexpected champions. The semi-main is Atlantis’ first singles match of the year; he and Blue Panther win to a time-limit draw in the most recent and only singles meeting (2021).

Record reports Stephanie Vaquer has offers from AEW and WWE. Her Forbidden Door performance made this the expected outcome. The only question was how long it would take until one group made an offer and the other group was compelled to counter as to be not left out. Record says Vaquer is expected to decide in “a few days”; that’s not always a literal unit of time.

A source tells me Vaquer is under contract to CMLL at the moment, and has significant time left on that contract. The length of her contract is also not expected to matter much. CMLL has let wrestlers out of their deals when they have a big US offer, as long as they’re kept in the loop about the situation. Mascara Dorada/Metalik handling his departure to WWE so CMLL could say goodybe was the good ending, Rush posting a video from ROH declaring he’d left CMLL was the bad ending. CMLL wants to avoid is the Mistico to WWE situation, where they came off publicly as foolish and unaware that he had left the promotion, but the leaving itself for a better deal is not going to cause any trouble. Vaquer has a lot of loyalty towards CMLL, but any serious offer from AEW and WWE will likely be more than CMLL is willing to pay.

Vaquer has not confirmed the story, nor given any indication of which company she might prefer. She has history with both WWE – a tryout many years ago – and AEW. Vaquer has compelling reasons to go each promotion,  We also have no idea what each company is offering her, if the story is correct. There are plenty of people on social media who will tell you she’s going to [X]; I’m going to tell you we don’t have near enough information to pretend that we know.

I would’ve liked to see Stephanie Vaquer remain full time in CMLL for longer. I would’ve also liked to see original Mascara Dorada, La Sombra, Dragon Lee, Fenix and others stay in Mexico. Mexico-based wrestlers have been getting scooped up by US groups who are spending more on wages for a long time now, and there’s no reason to expect that to change soon. (This disparity is not a recent phenomena; there’s stories of prominent Mexican wrestlers going to the US to work with shaky groups in the 1960s because of the pay difference.) The one recent change change is AEW exists, and so there’s two groups rushing to scoop up the next international star partly just to makes sure the other group doesn’t get them. Vaquer became the next person in that spotlight with her performance against Mercedes Mone at Forbidden Door.

My guess is this is going to remain a slow moving situation hanging in the background for a bit. Vaquer’s got a title defense against Lluvia on Saturday on the FantasticaMania US card, but I’d be surprised if that was any sort of title change. Even if Vaquer signed quickly, visas and paperwork always take a while. Dorada/Metalik was around for months after he signed, and those visas were moving a lot quicker then. I’d bet Vaquer will be still around and headlining Arena Mexico come women’s wrestling month in October.

Atlantis Jr. appeared on Saturday’s Ring of Honor tapings, facing Serpentico in a ROH TV title defense. It’s unclear if that match is airing this Thursday or next Thursday; ROH has no TV tapings this week so they’re going to split up some matches.

Fuego en el Ring mentions Guadalajara’s Barboza has been gone since February because “he was on a tour of the US.” I was unaware of him wrestling in Mexico, but Facebook page Entre Cuerdas noted Barboaza was wrestling on a California show this past June 30th. I barely see Los Angeles lucha libre lineups nowadays, so it’s possible he’s been there.

This may only affect me and the person who commented a few weeks ago, but MVS appeared to move Guerreros del Ring two hours later on Saturday, a 5 pm Mexico City start. Their schedule indicates this is permeant change. That show was airing around 1pm last year, and it keeps getting moved later and later in the day. (The show remains mostly airing Tuesday matches that are already in the CMLL subscription package.)

The July 20th show in Oaxaca that was billed as Mistico and local wrestler Rasputin in a mask versus hair match is now a tag match with Misitco & Futuro against Magnus & Rasputin.

AAA

AAA announced a tour of Spain for November

• 11/21 Madrid (Palacio Vistalegre, 15,000 seats)
• 11/22 Bilbao (Arena Miribilla, 10,000 seats)
• 11/30 Barcelona (Pabellon Olimpico, 12,760 seats)

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for pre-sale, for everyone else Wednesday. Ticketmaster hasn’t posted the prices, but someone else says they’re running between 35 to 220 Euros excluding fees. (That’s about 38 to 238USD.) There was no indication these shows were happening until today.

The impression I get from fans in Spain is they’re happy to get AAA lives, but surprised and maybe a bit confused at picking those large venues. The first two are places WWE ran in the 2010s. AAA does not have TV or any other presence in Spain. This seems like, to be polite, a very ambitious concept that will be challenging to pull off.

These AAA international shows are typically sold shows, with a promoter in the local country taking the risk and AAA getting paid a pre-determined guarantee. Sometimes the shows work well, like the first time AAA went to Columbia. Sometimes they do not work well, like every other time AAA’s gone to Columbia. (They have stopped going to Columbia.) These shows are going to happen as long as the local promoter feels they’ve sold enough tickets to make it worthwhile, and running those large venues is part of trying to get to that needed ticket number. It’s a Ticketmaster show, so there may be a seat map – I don’t know if Mr. WrestleTix will be checking on this one but it’ll be something to stare on Wednesday. The wrestlers and the Spanish fans I’ve seen pretty excited about these shows and I hope they work out for them, but it’s hard to believe this is going to work for out for AAA exactly as announced on Day 2.

CMLL had a tour of shows in Spain in 2008; there was a quote from Panico saying CMLL was looking at running shows in “France, England, Germany, Turkey, Austria, Romania, Hungary and Israel.” CMLL did not end up going to all of those countries, of course, and never returned to Spain after this run. CMLL did make it to France; there was a engaging story about what a disaster that tour was on a long gone website.

An early version of the press release also had 11/29 in Valencia listed, but that seems to be removed from the final cities. The press release mentions Lady Shani appearing. Shani is currently pregnant and is unlikely to be in the ring by November.  (The press release also misspells Shani’s name.) Blue Demon Jr. and Psycho Clown are also listed as appearing but not in the poster. Hijo del Vikingo is pictured, and it’s likely he’ll be healthy by November. AAA annually runs a taping in Juarez in mid/late November, so either it’ll take place on 11/16 this year or it seemingly won’t include a lot of regulars.

AAA on Space wrapped up the Juarez taping. All the matches felt like the people were trying hard, but none of them really totally hit. There’s match construction issues with a lot of AAA matches; they don’t feel like they’re building to anything, they’re not saving the bigger stuff until last, they’re often just doing stuff until they hit their time cue. The Casas/Psycho versus Forastero/Sanson match wasn’t quite as good as their Saltillo match, though the crowd did react strong to the title change. The Dinamico, Drago and Laredo Kid still feels inorganic – we’re being told these guys have been friends but we haven’t seen it – but they did address Skalibur & Kamik-C being upset with Dinamico for ditching them. The new tecnico group – La Fraternidad – versus the Vipers was the best match, though I still didn’t think much of the new Taurus in this one. (AAA also did a quick Vipers promo really just to tease Fiscal and Abismo having problems; it seems like AAA feels like their fans won’t understand the context of that conflict until AAA sets it up themselves.) Kamik-C & Skalibur versus Colmillo de Plata & Garra de Oro had some good moves but wasn’t deeper than that. I was surprised the Money Machine guys lost (again); maybe AAA thought they couldn’t both take away Kamik-C & Skalibur’s trios partner and have them lose on the same show.

AAA on Unimas finished up the May Mexico City taping. They’re going to the Juarez taping next. That’s not the way it aired in Mexico (Tijuana aired first) but sort of makes more sense. As much as anything in AAA makes sense or is connected together.

Vampiro had his “last ever match in Arena Neza” on Saturday night, which appeared to be a sell out. That long retirement tour gimmick has drawn so well I hear Honda spokesperson John Cena has stolen it. The nerve of some people.

Konnan’s podcast had a lucha libre section to go over the TripleMania lineup. There’s a couple of nuggets in there. AAA billed the Vampiro match as “cinematic”, which has previously meant a pre-taped and edited. Konnan says the Vampiro match will instead be a live backstage bit. When asked why, he said “that’s just the way they want to do it.” Raj Dhesi & Satnam Singh being in the tag title match has seemed, but Konnan seem to explains it: AAA believes they have a chance to do something really big with India.

The podcast goes into lots of digressions, as always, including a discussion of Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti’s failed tag team title run. (It sounds like there’s some brief edits in this section, though maybe it’s just noise from all the different connections.) Konnan says Conti missed one show (12/28/2022) because AEW need Conti to fill in for someone. Konnan says Tony Khan asked him not to mention the name of the woman Conti was replacing on his podcast, so Konnan referred to her as “some chick”, and Khan ended up being offended by that. This leads into a discussion of if “chick” is offense or not. The 12/28 show is the “Dragon Lee beats FTR and then announces he’s going to WWE” show, so the “chick” comment was likely part of a long list of things Khan was upset with AAA at that moment.

Talk about Atlantis Jr. winning the ROH TV title leads into a discussion about Konnan complaining about the level of talent AEW offers to CMLL (top guys) compared to AAA (people on ROH), and the amount of AEW people who’ve no-showed AAA cards over years. (AAA in the past has said they don’t care about their own people missing shows.) He shifts to say they don’t actually need those AEW guys because they sell out everywhere and that they’ve done great with people like QT Marshall. Konnan wonders why AEW treats CMLL better than AAA, allowing that perhaps CMLL is easier to deal with, but also very much expressing the sentiment he’s been wronged and AEW screwed with AAA. The segment ends with Konnan ominously saying: “I’m going to be very vague – what comes around goes around, have your little fun while you can.”

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 07/07/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Histeriosis b Sacro 
Histeriosis replaced Súper Boy
2) Diablo Jr. & Mike b Freelance & Tornado 
3) Estrella Divina, Keyra, Shamila b Danessa, Mary Caporal, Sádika 
Divina challenged Sadika to a match
4) Águila Roja, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Puma de Oro b Luka, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly 
Toxin and Latigo appeared before the match to challenge the new Pirata Morgan trio.
5) Diablo Jr., Ivan Rokov, Vangellys b Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium 
Diablo Jr. replaced Misterioso. Vangellys won via mask pull
6) Hell Boy & Hijo de Canis Lupus b Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. and Látigo & Toxin 
Hell Boy & Canis Lupus won and asked for a tag title shot. Cerberos said sure and did the match right then.
7) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. b Hellboy & Hijo de Canis Lupus [IWRG IC TAG] 
7th defense. Mala Fama said they were still looking for a title match.

Other News

AEW aired a vignette teasing a mystery character, who may be named Hologram or Hologrm. Mas Lucha, who normally is not in the habit of reacting to AEW videos, made special note about that video along on their Twitter and Facebook. I said some things on Twitter about this bit and people tried to explain things back at me, sometimes using rather impolite language. How does that usually turn out?

Total nerd stuff of the weekend: Kevin Kleinrock sent me some lineup pages of a 1995 Box y Lucha he got last week. The issue he was right near the beginning of CMLL running that year’s Gran Alternativa. The 1995 and 1996 versions of those tournaments were the most complex versions: CMLL broke up the rookies in blocks, had them face each other in round robin matches, and the top two in each block would earn a spot in the eight team elimination tournament that everyone knows. CMLL’s since repeated this concept for competition like En Busca de Un Idolo and the diehards love it – it’d be a big deal nowadays with everything stream. Everything didn’t stream in 1995, of course. Almost none of the matches made TV, many of them happened at shows that weren’t taped. The only reason the luchawiki has any details on that tournament is because a poster on newsgroup RSPW (kids, ask your parents what a newsgroup was) happened to jot down the standings tables shown on the April 1st, 1995 CMLL TV episode. A few results came in from TV and magazines, but most of the tournament results were an actual mystery.

Except, inputting those “new” lineups Kevin had passed along, I realized there was just enough data to figure out pretty much all of the matches in three of the groups. It really was just a logic puzzle, just something to process through step by step. It was a fun way to kill a couple of hours, and it’s why you’ll see some 1995 results with oddly detailed explanations of outcomes. It’s also why I probably didn’t get back to your DMs or emails about very specific lists you wanted to create. Also I don’t like creating those lists.

(If people were smart and every really wanted to run me off, the way to do it isn’t complain about me on social media or a podcast, it’s to give me a good logic puzzle or a pages of old Mexican wrestling lineups that haven’t been put in a database. This was both! It was the best.)

Figuring out the results to a 1995 tournament got topped on Monday though. A Twitter user posted a photo of the lucha libre themed bathroom at the new-ish Mexico City airport. This lucha libre theme was new – there was a whole genre of daily article about how much people hated that this airport existed back a couple of years ago – but they seem to have made some slight changes so it was first unveiled. They’ve added giant sized lucha libre posters to the floor. I looked at the photo, a lightbulb went off, and sure enough – that poster closest to the camera is an IWRG show I didn’t have in the luchadb. It’s in there now, thanks to a bathroom floor. I would like a better shot of the Tijuana posters that seem to be farther away, but I generally do not endorse the idea of taking photos in a public bathroom.

Segunda Caida watches El Hijo del Santo versus El Dandy.

A story about a lucha libre duck maker. He doesn’t make real ducks (that would be odd), they’re small keepsakes that are apparently a thing in Mexico, he’s been doing lucha libre versions and sells them outside of Arena Mexico.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 07/05/2024 Arena México
1) Astral & Eléctrico vs Inquisidor & Sangre Imperial
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma vs Espanto Jr., Okumura, Raider
3) Tessa Blanchard vs Persephone [lightning]
4) Felino & Felino Jr. vs Hijo del Pantera & Pantera
Felino 40th Anniversary match
5) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero vs Hijo del Villano III, Templario, Villano III Jr.
6) Esfinge, Star Jr., Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Averno, Euforia

This week’s CMLL Informa was one of the least newsy shows in a few months. Roberto Lopez Olivera filled in for Julio Cesar Rivera, which may be connected to the new lack of match announcements. A big chunk of the show was CMLL luchadors talking post-Forbidden Door about their participation, which did set up the one important part: Mistico brought up his invitation to Penta, so it’s something CMLL wants fans to believe is happening and not just an idle AEW point. This led into a discussion about all the rivals Mistico has at the moment: Penta, Magnus, Volador, Averno, Hiromu, Jericho and he’d still very much like to wrestle Claudio Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson too.

Meanwhile, there’s tonight’s show. Volador and Averno are on opposite sides of the main event after feuding the last few weeks. Esfinge and Euforia are on the opposites sides after feuding the last few weeks. CMLL recent booking history suggests that when people are feuding in main events in July, there’s an excellent chance they’re going to be having an apuesta match in September.

This next bit is going to sound like a match problem, I promise you it’s not. There’s two trains chugging along right now. One train has “Mistico versus [X] on the Aniversaro” on board. The other train has “Esfinge/Volador vs Euforia/Averno” as its cargo. Those two trains are going full speed, and they’re going to collide in four to six weeks when that main event gets announced – unless CMLL does something to divert one of them first. CMLL has been much smarter about handling these things in the last couple of years, hitting the switch to avoid big mess, but they’re still not perfect at it. Perhaps the best to hope for is those two trains end up running in parallel – that we end up getting both ideas on 09/13. If that’s not the case, if CMLL is n0t going to deliver a big Mistico match, they urgently need to start adjusting expectations. Mistico’s comments on Wednesday was instead shoveling a lot more coal in the train engine. I hope they know what they’re doing.

Tonight’s show is a pause before Leyenda de Plata takes over the Friday lineups for the rest of the month. The rest of the card is “this could be fun but it doesn’t seem to mean anything” stuff. The Villanos may drive the Guerreros insane in the semi-main. Felino gets his moment in match four. Persephone has her biggest singles match so far against Tessa. Raider will probably not get to be as awesome this week. The opener is a bunch of a people who don’t get Friday bookings.

Coming up this weekend:

CMLL (SAT) 07/06/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) Diamond, Leono, Retro vs Dr. Karonte I, Dr. Karonte II, Enfermero Jr.
2) Capitán Suicida vs Dark Magic [lightning]
3) Brillante Jr., El Audaz, Volcano vs Pólvora, Rey Bucanero, Sagrado
4) Lluvia, Skadi, Tessa Blanchard vs Hera, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis
5) Flip Gordon vs Bárbaro Cavernario
6) Atlantis, El Hijo de Octagón, Octagón vs Averno, Euforia, Soberano Jr.

Flip/Cavernario could be pretty good. Suicida/Magic could be pretty bad. I’ve checked the numbers and they say the Karontes and Diamond aren’t on every Saturday but it sure feels that way.

CMLL (SUN) 07/07/2024 Arena México
1) Kemalito & Mije vs Chamuel & Periquito Sacaryas
2) Fuego, Robin, Valiente Jr. vs Crixus, Dark Magic, Vegas
3) Blue Panther Jr., El Hijo De Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring vs Cancerbero, El Coyote, Virus
4) Atlantis, Star Black, Valiente vs Kráneo, Magnus, Mephisto
5) Gran Guerrero © vs Terrible [CMLL HEAVY]
fourth defense, first this year
6) Flip Gordon, Máscara Dorada, Neón vs Ángel de Oro, Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr.

Neon filtering back in this weekend. Terrible seems unlikely to win. Given how little Gran Guerrero is doing with this title, I still think Yota beating him for it last year would’ve been the more interesting move. Not sure how they would’ve gotten off of him, but getting it off Gran Guerrero doesn’t seem like an important title change at this point.

CMLL (MON) 07/08/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Astoreth & Lady Metal vs Diablita Roja & Hera
2) El Malayo & Rey Apocalipsis vs El Perverso & Prayer
3) Arkalis, Multy, Pegasso, Rayo Metálico, Xelhua vs Astral, El Audaz, Eléctrico, Valiente Jr., Vegas [CMLL BARROCO, semifinal]
final two advance
4) Flip Gordon, Neón, Star Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Hechicero, Templario
5) Akuma, Atlantis Jr., Místico vs Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.

Akuma continues to get main events opposite Gran Guerrero, before their announced singles match next week. The tournament final is likely to be one CDMX and one Puebla luchador.

CMLL (TUE) 07/09/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Bello Antuan, Cosmos, Último Ángel vs Eclipse Jr., Thunder Boy, Yaky Boy
2) Átomo, Mije, Tengu vs Chamuel, Kemalito, Periquito Sacaryas
3) Adira, Náutica, Nexy vs Emperatriz, Lady Shadow, Miss Guerrera
4) Dulce Gardenia vs Ráfaga
5) Brillante Jr., Fugaz, Star Black vs Barboza, Gallero, Zandokan Jr.
6) Stephanie Vaquer vs Tessa Blanchard [lightning]
7) Esfinge, Místico, Volador Jr. vs Averno, Euforia, Templario

The Voaldor/Averno and Esfinge/Euforia feuds head this way. Rooting for Vaquer to win if only so I don’t have to read the outrage. (None of this matters.)

Chris Jericho talked about his return to CMLL on his podcast. His version of it was his Corazon de Leon matches with Titan and Atlantis Jr. were just something to do when his idea for a team with Kenny Omega fell apart (Omega injury) and his team with Sammy Guevara didn’t work out (Guevara suspension.) Those matches put the idea of returning to CMLL in his head, and seeing the reaction the BCC/Sydal team got convinced him it was time to do it. He and Rocky Romero talked about it, and came up with Mistico as the best opponent. CMLL sent back the idea of a tag team match, which Jericho wasn’t feeling, and they agreed to a singles match. CMLL and Jericho have agreed on the date, but he didn’t reveal it. Jericho said he’d be sending in a video at some point, which sounded like may be the date announcement. Jericho talked about the match as if it was just going to be a one off, no more than that.

Jericho says he flew in to Mexico the afternoon at the show, and CMLL snuck him into the building after the show started. He wore a BUSHI mask to the building, then switched to the Mistico mask for the spot. He met Salvador Lutteroth III and Panico there. Jericho pointed out Panico was also the booker 30 years ago when Jericho was still working there. Jericho also got paid in envelope by the same person (“Marco”) who paid him 30 years ago. Jericho said it wasn’t as much about the money as wanting to do this fun return.

Mascara Dorada appeared briefly on CMLL Informa to announce CMLL plans to open a school teaching olympic-style wrestling. The whole video last 20 seconds and there were no more details about it. Dorada was a decorated teenage wrestler who may have pursued it at a higher level if pandemic didn’t happen. (You don’t see it at all in his style.) CMLL had had olympic-style wrestling coaches in its professional wrestling schools

CMLL posted a social media tease which appears to mean Atlantis Jr. will show up in AEW soon. As ROH TV champion, you’d think that would be the case.

DOUKI won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship from El Desperado earlier Friday. This was a surprise; it was Desperado’s first defense, Desperado himself had picked DOUKI as a challenger and it seemed like just the opening of a long title run. DOUKI’s rise from indie Mexican luchador to NJPW regular to NJPW champion has been as remarkable as what Diamante or Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. has done with their title wins in the last year. DOUKI is scheduled to team with Mistico against Rocky Romero and Volador Jr. on next week’s FantasticaMania USA show. The original reasoning for that team up was DOUKI and Mistico having some words on the FantasticaMania Japan shows. Mistico have another person on his Aniversario wish list by the time the match ended.

Part of the reason I included direct links to those hidden CMLL shows in the last post was to see if anyone in CMLL was monitoring these posts to see what was being said. Those links are all still working, no one’s flipped them private, so at least no one with the power to do that seems to be paying attention. They clearly do on Twitter posts, but they do not click the links.

Which is fine by me. It makes it more comfortable to write some things here. CMLL’s privately reached out to at least one person asking them to take down CMLL video before they copyright strike it. This is an older video – not one of the many copies of ZSJ/Hechicero floating around if you know where to look, but something from the 00s. I was not told why CMLL asked to take down the videos, but my assumption is CMLL will be adding them to their Classic del CMLL in the future. That is probably going to be the trade off for getting those classics: some of the freely available stuff will likely start to disappear. Most of it won’t ever turn up on an official site, because CMLL appears to neither have the time nor the incentives to upload as many as a fan is going to do. I don’t want to start any panic on this, I think it’s probably just going to be a few videos here and there and I very much appreciate CMLL reaching out to people to take down videos instead of just issuing strikes. But, and this goes for any sort of content on the internet, if it’s important for you to have it, you should try to make a backup of it just in case.

AAA

AAA on Space will have part 2 of the Juarez taping. They’ve got three matches left with AAA wrestlers and two additional matches with local people they could choose from. AAA on Unimas will continue the May Mexico City taping.

AAA posted clips of Nic Nemeth defending the AAA Megachampionship against Eddie Colon in WWC. When el Hijo del Vikingo was champion, part of the fee in outside-of-Mexico companies booking him was that those companies were supposed to send AAA a video of Vikingo’s match so they could use it. The companies did at first, AAA didn’t use any of them, and those companies just stopped bothering with it. I suspect this title match made it to AAA’s YouTube channel because it’s WWC and Hugo’s involved.

Big Lucha

Big Lucha (SAT) 07/13/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal
1) Auzter vs Súper Nova, Cobarde
2) Ricky Marvin & Sussy Love vs Lady Apache & Skayde
3) Jack Evans, Mexicano, Orbita, Viajero vs Elipse, Iku, Monsther Clown, Vengador
4) Big Tao Tao, Emperador Azteca, Limbo vs Carta Brava, Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana
5) Cometa Maya & Radioactivo vs Arez & Látigo [Big Lucha MIXA]
6) Hijo del Pirata Morgan vs Texano Jr. [Big Lucha CHAMP]

Super Nova got the golden ticket, but it’s his brother challenging for the title on this one.  Semi-main looks really good. The Elipse group – and he’s clearly meant to be the leader – is now just “Los Locos” with Jack kicked out. Not thrilled with the second match.

Big Lucha posted a series of videos sort of explaining the deal with Black Generation. Emperador Azteca called Big Tao Tao, Limbo and Tonalli in for a secret meeting in Arena Big Lucha to offer them spots in the group. The first two have accepted, Tonalli hasn’t appeared yet. Tonalli has posted status updates from the gym, so he’s around – he hasn’t been seen much since signing that contract with KAOZ in May (and KAOZ running one show and going quiet again.) That vignette has a cameo from someone who seems to be Bendito, so he may be back in the group as well. Bendito leaves a mask I could not identity in Arena Big Lucha. A follow up video has Emperador Azteca saying they want one more member and pans to a shot of Flamita mask in a display case, so that story isn’t done yet. Flamita is still on tour with Dragon Gate – they’ve got their big show of the year on 07/21, so he’s not returning before then.

Meanwhile, GLEAT announced Emperador Azteca and El Bendito would return to Japan for their promotion on August 21st and 25th. Neither has been in GLEAT since January. GLEAT’s run a Black Generation International group without any Mexican wrestlers for some time, Big Lucha and GLEAT seemed to stop working with each other, GLEAT and AAA announced they were working with each other – to say this follows a logical course of action would be a misstatement.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 07/04/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Sacro & Shamila b Histeriosis & Kali 
2) Rey Aztaroth & Simon Blanco b Auzter & Rey Espartano 
3) Ivan Rokov b Freelance 
random match
4) El Bendito, Pequeño Centauro, Rey Halcón b Multifacetico Jr., Noisy Boy, Spider Fly 
Mexaboys and Multifacetico lost, then they (and a little bit the other guys) got beat up by masked men who revealed themselves as Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Aguila Roja and Puma de Oro.
5) Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool b Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr. [EdM Trios] 
first defense

I could’ve spent my July 4th catching up on IWRG. I did not. Pigs retained the titles in the main event. I’m not sure why the new rudo trio bothered with masks for their run-in; there was zero reaction when Pirata revealed himself.

IWRG (SUN) 07/07/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Sacro vs Súper Boy
2) Freelance & Tornado vs Diablo Jr. & Mike
3) Estrella Divina, Keyra, Shamila vs Danessa, Mary Caporal, Sádika
4) Luka, Noisy Boy, Spider Fly vs Águila Roja, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Puma de Oro
5) Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium vs Ivan Rokov, Misterioso Jr., Vangellys
6) Cerebro Negro & Cerebro Negro Jr. vs Látigo & Toxin and Hell Boy & Hijo de Canis Lupus

That main event looks to be good but I fear it’ll end up being a “everyone stop fighting so we can carefully set up these two chairs and arrange a board on top of it” match.

Other News

I was out wandering around listening to podcasts on July 5th. Wasn’t many of them because most people are treating this as a four day weekend. One of the podcasts taped ahead with “top stories of the first half of the year” – and I realized that’s the sort of filler content I could absolutely put here. So, those top Mexican stories:

1. CMLL continues on it’s upswing
   • Lots of well attended Sunday shows, lacking as many top end matches but the average shows have still done well. Starting to benefit from the length they’ve kept this going: it takes about time for non-watchers to hear enough positives to start following, and that’s started to happen about a year and a half into this good period.
2. AAA leans heavily into Origenes/Vampiro retirement
   1. The big ideas came from outside AAA’s creative department but it doesn’t matter as much who came up with as them working – fans have been excited to see the names from them back. Part of the reason is those fans see those 40/50 year olds as “the true stars”, and AAA’s made no significant progress at creating new stars this year. The Origines concept, or something like it, is almost certainly going to extend in 2025 because it’s working and there’s no guarantee anything else will. AAA’s replaced some talent who’s quit this year with other people, but no one’s more over than they started the year.
3. CMLL pulls into a tighter relationship with AEW and various other international promotions
   1. CMLL started showing up on AEW TV last year, and the successful Andrade/CMLL appearance seem to have laid the groundwork for more movement. CMLL’s gotten big gates out of guest appearances, at the price of some of their wrestlers losing on shows most of their fans aren’t really following. AAA’s gotten a firm stigma of a second place promotion – even if there’s ways you can argue the numbers, CMLL getting the big AEW names and AAA getting those who aren’t featured on TV makes AAA seem like the runner up.
4. AAA returns to US TV on Unimas
   1. A long time goal achieved. Would be higher up if there were clear indications anyone was watching this (no numbers three weeks into it) – the goal is for AAA to do well, get on Univision and get really paid, but no one seems to have any idea how close they are to it. If AAA has a positive story to tell here, they haven’t told it yet.
5. Latin Lover returns to AAA, becomes Director of Talent
   1. This has gotten by far the biggest press attention of AAA this year, and there’s been lots of talk of big changes. Those changes haven’t been seen yet. Like the Unimas deal, this has chances of becoming the biggest story of the year or a weird footnote by December.
6. Hijo del Vikingo suffers knee injury, misses TripleMania season
   1. Vikingo had been working some level of hurt for years so it was not unexpected his body finally said no mas, but it still was devastating for AAA to lose their one young star and one sure reason to watch every AAA big show. AAA’s made a half effort to replace him with Octagon Jr., who is good but not the eye catching talent as his sometimes partner.
7. CMLL ends the Friday iPPVs and moves to a tiered YouTube system
   1. The era of TicketmasteLIve or other strange providers has ended and streams are (mostly) better quality and more consistent than past years. There’s also more content available with the addition of partial and later full Saturday Arena Coliseo shows. There are still some notable flaws. Paying 25 or 35 to watch a single Friday night show is a big barrier to new viewers, and there’s no real story why the Monday and Sunday shows are being kept out of the package.
8. Indies largely roll in place.
   1. Pigs and Negocios still are the dominants Mexico City indie acts, a bit more stale than they were a year before. IWRG has benefited from Mala Fama, Aramis and others passing through but isn’t a much watch. Groups like KAOZ and ELITE did their typical big return shows and vanished immediately after. Big Lucha continues a slow decline. The Crash puts a toe in the water to try streaming, does it weakly, and then seems to back off after a couple months – same old story there. Lucha Memes continues to exist in a bubble universe, not talked about beyond the 100 or so people who go and the handful of people watching on IWTV. RIOT makes the biggest news when Rey Destroller passed away on their show, something the promotion seems unfairly blamed for but still hangs over them. MexaWrestling returns, but it’s unclear why or what distinguishes it now from the two dozen other groups around Mexico City. Promotions like Lucha Libre Boom and AVE continue to draw well, but there’s real identity or new ideas coming out of this scene. It’s still a lot of people just trying to copy other more over acts.

Back to actual news.

The Crash’s next lineup:

The Crash (FRI) 07/19/2024 Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Baja California
1) Aztec Fly & Rey Furia vs Khavall & Psycodelia
2) Gallo Xtreme © vs Chris Nasty [The Crash JUNIOR]
3) Anubis, Destiny, Noisy Boy vs Hellboy (Estado de México), Hijo de Canis Lupus, Tonalli
4) Demonio Infernal (Estado de México), Fresero Jr., Trauma I, Trauma II vs Forastero, Sansón, Súper Nova, Texano Jr.
5) Mamba, Misterioso Jr. (Laguna), Tinieblas Jr. vs Alan Stone, El Hijo del Solitario, Mr. Maldito
6) Bestia 666, Extreme Tiger, Rey Horus vs ?, D Luxe, Mecha Wolf

I don’t think I’m following the main event scene coherently

• two shows ago, Bestia formed a new La Rebellion with Daga, Taurus, and D Luxe
• D Luxe and Bestia worked TripleMania Tijuana as rudos
• one show ago, Bestia left/got kicked out of La Rebellion and formed a new Familia de Tijuana with Rey Horus and Extreme Tiger.
• I have no idea who is the rudo and who is the tecnico in this match.

I just generally don’t get what the point of these intricate storylines when there’s no way to follow them and there’s no sign anyone is here for that. When you’re doing Tinieblas Jr. and his rapping mascot matches in 2024, you’re really doing a heavily intensive storyline match. All of this is dancing around a Bestia/Mecha match which is probably happening in November if it’s happening at all.