Month: September 2024

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 09/06/2024 Arena México [CMLL, Excelsior, Kaiser Sports, Telediaro, The Gladiatores (text), The Gladiatores (videos), thecubsfan]
1) Dark Magic, Espanto Jr., Raider b Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Xelhua  
8:31. Raider’s first match as an official part of Ola Negra
2) Reyna Isis, Sanely, Zeuxis b Hera, La Catalina, Tessa Blanchard [Relevos Increíbles]   
12:03.
3) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. b Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero   
13:24.
4) Templario TLDRAW Soberano Jr. [lightning]   
10:00. It was technically a time-limit draw, but Soberano was stretched off following the last move of the match, so he would’ve been done regardless.
5) Titán b Averno, Star Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Dulce Gardenia, Zandokan, Dark Panther, Crixus [Copa Independencia, semifinal]   
Eliminations: Hijo del Villano III (via Zandokan, 8:02), Dulce Garcenia (via Dark Panther, 9:38), Crixus (via Star Jr., 13:20), Zandokan Jr. (via Titan, 15:54), Star Jr. (via Titan, 21:14), Dark Panther (via Averno, 21:14), Averno (via Titan, 32:54), leaving Titan as the winner. He faces Mascara Dorada next week. Averno was stretchered out after taking the double stomp in the back.

Very early in Titan’s career, he had a series of matches with Averno. They were outstanding matches and also really seemed to help push Titan into becoming a well-rounded wrestler. (Here’s one.) CMLL gave us a glimpse of that old rivalry more than a decade later, with those two going over eleven minutes as the final two. Last week’s cibernetico was stronger up front than this one, but Averno & Titan had Mascara Dorada & Templario beat in the drama to decide the winner. It helped a lot that, like this week, there was true uncertainty over who would advance and big stakes in getting that win; these have been uncommon CMLL tournaments in that way. Dark Panther went farther than most expected, but it really just was a product of a big gap between the three people who most saw as having a chance of having an Aniversario singles match (Averno, Titan, and Star Jr.) and five people who could’ve replaced by any other five midcarders who didn’t make the tournament cut. Someone had to finish fourth.

Soberano Jr. versus Templario was very good but one not even close to being done in ten minutes; CMLL’s booking a lot of these. Averno’s “injury” in the main event seemed like selling the finish. Soberano seemed more legitimately hurt. Soberano wrestle without issue the next day. CMLL stretchers people out all the time, and you have to lean towards it being nothing because it is most of the time.

Guerreros/Tecnicos was a very professional tercera, though it wasn’t the best possible match they could do. The women’s match was alright. (I have no memories of it a couple of days later.) Raider got the big win in his first match with Ola Negra. He’s a fitting replacement for Akuma, in that it’s clear he also should be doing something more useful than hanging out with Espanto Jr. & Dark Magic.

CMLL (SAT) 09/07/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) KeMalito & Micro Sagrado b Chamuel & Tengu 
9:38
2) Amapola, Candela, Olympia b La Vaquerita, Maligna, Tabata 
15:12
3) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star b Okumura, Sagrado, Vegas 
11:52
4) Kráneo, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero b Blue Panther Jr., Hijo de Blue Panther, Volcano 
17:23. Blue Panther Jr. replaced (?) Blue Panther on Friday.
5) Templario b Dragón Rojo Jr. [lightning] 
7:42.
6) Máscara Dorada, Místico, Neón b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. 
18:50

I had no great expectations for this show, after seeing a lot of wrestling over the weekend. It turned out to be a worthwhile watch. Matches 2, 3, and 5 were all good, and all seemed like wrestlers had planned on putting together a specific match rather than just winging it. (Matches 4 and 6 were winging it.) Templarioa and Dragon Rojo went fast and hard, very specifically playing off last year’s mask match. The women’s match especially felt like a Friday one, clearly having been worked out move for move and maybe even practiced one or twice prior. It came together; Candela continues to show promise in her scattered appearances. Los Viajeros del Espacio better have cool outfits on Friday, it is a big part of their gimmick to do so.

It looked like a good turnout on Saturday too.

CMLL (SUN) 09/08/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Leono & Retro b Enfermero Jr. & Sangre Imperial
2) Astral, El Audaz, Valiente Jr. b Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
3) Hijo de Stuka Jr. b Hijo del Pantera [lightning]
8:10.
4) Akuma, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II b Felino, Felino Jr., Rey Bucanero
The Gemelos did some light cheating to help set up Akuma’s win.
5) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido, Vegas b Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther
second time Los Depredadores have defeated all four Panthers, and they didn’t even have Volador this time.
6) Atlantis, Flip Gordon, Místico b Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero
Atlantis & Flip replaced Mascara Dorada & Titan on Friday.

The Depreadores played up being 2-0 against the Panthers, so that could be going somewhere. Magnus also demanded Blue Panther find a grandson or nephew or another son so they could have a 5v5 match with Volador.

CMLL (TUE) 09/10/2024 Arena México
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito vs Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Astral, El Audaz, Valiente Jr. vs Capitán Suicida, Diamond, Eléctrico
3) Hera, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi vs Metálica, Reyna Isis, Sanely [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Magia Blanca vs Difunto [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Flip Gordon vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr.
6) Atlantis Jr., Neón, Star Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr.

The main event is this non-title, but they’ll likely be back with a trios title match on 09/17. Soberano seems to have settled in as a trios partner for Hermanos Chavez; CMLL’s booking those three together a lot. Match five is a bunch of people bummed not to be booked on Friday. Difunto has been on a roll lately.

CMLL announced the final undercard match on Saturday afternoon; it’s about the names you’d expect:

CMLL (FRI) 09/13/2024 Arena México
***CMLL 91st Aniversario***
1) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
2) Neón, Star Jr., Templario vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr.
3) Máscara Dorada vs Titán [Copa Independencia]
4) Willow Nightingale © vs Zeuxis [CMLL WOMEN]
first defense
5) Atlantis Jr., Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. vs Kojima, Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero
6) Hechicero vs Esfinge vs Valiente vs Euforia [mask]
7) Chris Jericho vs Místico

That is the final match order. Either of the last two matches would’ve worked as the main event, and CMLL is saying they believe Chris Jericho’s return is the biggest possible thing on the show. This will be a controversial decision; the diehard CMLL social media posters loudly complain about the men in the mask match being disrespected by going second to last. CMLL must feel putting Jericho and Mistico last ensures the more casual fans don’t leave early. I figured there would be push back about this decision when the card order got announced and it’s been a bit louder than I expected; it may be a story to watch the rest of the week.

I’m a bit surprised Willow and Zeuxis are following Dorada/Titan; Willow is drawing the short straw this week. Everything else is where I’d expect it. Match two is the final match added, which meant names like Barbaro Cavernario, Atlantis, Blue Panther, Stuka Jr., Gran Guerrero, Flip Gordon, Dragon Rojo Jr., Averno, Terrible, Mephisto, every CMLL mini, and every CMLL woman not named Zeuxis will not appear on the show.

Okumura wrestles Adam Priest on the Saturday’s MLW show. That show, which will have the semifinal and final of the Opera Cup with Mistico, looks to air free on YouTube again. Mistico’s schedule is already pretty packed this week and I wonder if he’ll end up going to Lexington, Kentucky this Wednesday for AEW Dynamite; running something to build up Friday in AEW seems like the preferred Jericho play.

India Sioux and Candela are off the 09/28 LLMX show in Mexico City’s Gym Micktlan. The press release brings up both of them being on CMLL’s roster. It’s not especially clear to me if this is CMLL not wanting them to work with someone on that show, or if they’re actually booked by CMLL on that day. That press release lists Bengalee as the booker for at least that show.

Zeuxis on the CMLL podcast

I haven’t been watching/listening to the CMLL podcast much since it went up, but the trailer for this past week’s Zeuxis interview grabbed me – it ended with her saying she’d reveal why she left CMLL in 2018. I still didn’t truly believe she’d give an honest reason. CMLL people tend to be tight-lipped about these things, but at least the spin would be interesting. I was hoping I could get at least one paragraph out of it. If you weren’t around in 2018, Zeuxis was coming off winning Princesa Sugehit’s mask in 2017 but also appeared visibly unhappy during her matches in the months that followed. Princesa Sugehit got pushed harder than Zeuxis following that mask match, and I guess that was part of the issue. Zeuxis left CMLL, worked one taping in AAA, it didn’t go well, and she floated around doing occasional indies (and one additional AAA date) until returning in 2023.

Zeuxis gave a genuine reason why she left. She said she was having issues with a specific luchadora, who was using her political power to ensure Zeuxis would never surpass her. The situation became so bad that Zexuis no longer enjoyed working at CMLL; it affected her work, and she felt her declining work was disrespectful to the people. She eventually went to then CMLL boss Paco Alonso, explained her issues with the other wrestler and asked to leave for a year to refine her passion. Paco Alonso agreed, but Zeuxis didn’t believe she ever really was coming back, and that’s why she broke CMLL rules (worked for AAA.) therapist. She also started seeing a therapist herself, which she believes has helped her and believes is as vital to a person as eating. Zeuxis’ story on her return feels like it’s missing a piece: she says she cried when she got told she could return but then says she called the office four or five times as soon as she heard (some) news. She explained her situation to then-boss Salvador Lutteroth, talked about the person who had caused her to leave, and mentioned that other women had felt the same about that person but feared speaking up at risk of their jobs. Lutteroth agreed to bring Zeuxis back.

It is glaringly apparent Zeuxis is talking about Dalys, even if she purposefully avoids mentioning any identifying details. Dalys was in the midst of her long world champion reign when Zeuxis left, and Zeuxis often teamed with Dalys in her final days as her sort of junior partner. Dalys had that power because CMLL didn’t want to offer her husband Negro Casas, and it was apparent she used that power. I didn’t pick up that it was specifically Dalys who caused Zeuxis’ problems, but it makes a lot of sense in hindsight. Zeuxis figured she’d never return to CMLL because Dalys would be there forever. She was shocked as the rest of us when Dalys and Negro Casas jumped to AAA but also immediately realized CMLL’s locker room became a lot less toxic – that’s where “calling the office four or five times” came in. It’s a strange sequence of events, but CMLL deciding to stop booking Negro Casas on Fridays and Psycho Clown convincing his father-in-law to jump to AAA led to CMLL’s women’s division getting a lot better. Dalys appeared to be bad news, observed from the outside, but it’s another level to get people inside to confirm it. (Of note, none of this story seemed surprising or unbelievable to host Alexis Salazar.)

There’s a lot more in that podcast, more than I expected. Stephanie Vaquer is also never mentioned by name – she only shows up a clip of the tag title match – but she’s still talked about. Zeuxis used a common CMLL phrase – “no one is indispensable” in regards to her departure from CMLL. She brings it back up herself later, noting she’d recently used it to the media about someone who had left CMLL, and fans had taken it as an insult or a jab. She says she didn’t mean it that way; it’s just a reality of the situation and the reality of the situation when she left, too. CMLL found other people and just moved on all the same. CMLL people are indispensable as long as they’re not a problem, but CMLL has rules and a very good school from where they can always replace anyone who leaves. All the wrestlers just have to keep it in mind.

In the middle of the podcast, Alexis Salazar broke the news to Zeuxis that she was on the Aniversario show challenging Willow for the title. I’ve been quietly told that at least some of the “surprise’ announcements on CMLL Informa are pre-announced to the wrestlers to prepare their reactions better. Zeuxis seemed genuine and surprised by this match announcement. On the other hand, CMLL’s been choosing the guests for this podcast based on having a big match for them, so why did Zeuxis think she was on the podcast this week? They’re ten episodes in, and the guest is always about to be in the news that week.

Zexuis mentions she enjoyed learning about different wrestling, whether it’s her tours in Japan or wrestling Americans in their style. Host Alexis Salazar mentions that when CMLL brought in Lady Frost in 2022, Zeuxis saw her performance and complained to Alexis about CMLL not bringing in women like that when she worked for the company. Zeuxis would like to see more women from AEW in CMLL, both for the different styles and so the Mexican women can show what they can do against outsiders with a different audience. Zeuxis praises Toni Storm, Hikrau Shida, and Deonna Purrazzo in particular. The Dark Angel/Marcela championship match got Zeuxis into lucha libre, and her favorite international wrestler is Manami Toyota. She was amazed at what Toyota was still doing at her older age.

Fun fact: Lluvia and Zeuxis made their official debuts on the same show—in a women’s prison. It’s Mexican wrestling.

(One thing bugs me about this podcast. Someone goes through the effort of pulling clips from all the different matches that come up on the show. A few look like ringside video footage Alexis took while covering the show, but most seem to come from TV footage. Why not just post the matches and put together a playlist for subscribers? Most of the hard work in finding the matches in the first place, you might as well get something extra out of them.)

CMLL videos recently posted onto DailyMotion

MVS had an unaired Sunday match from 09/07

• Barbaro Cavernario vs Ikuro Kwon

Televisa Puebla aired matches from 09/02

• Lluvia & Tessa Blanchard vs Persephone & Zeuxis
• Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr.
• Hechicero vs Esfinge vs Euforia vs Valiente

AAA

The Hugo/JBL interview from TripleMania aired this week on Space. Hugo mentioned this as the last thing he had done for AAA, which makes it all the funnier that JBL started the interview by promising Hugo that he wouldn’t be fired. Two days later, Hugo was cut loose. Hugo didn’t seem to know at the time that was the end for him, but I’m sure someone had an idea when they put that line on the air.

JBL – referred to by his WWE names throughout – explained he came to AAA to support Nemeth and was invited by Konnan and Dorian Roldan. The big idea is he was so impressed by the Nemeth/Alberto title match that he saw AAA as an intelligent investment and suggested hinted at buying the company soon. Despite that, JBL thought Alberto, Nic Nemeth, and Jeff Jarrett were the only good wrestlers in AAA. (He doesn’t seem like an intelligent investor if he doesn’t know two of those guys don’t work for the company.) JBL said all the other Mexicans are snowflakes, are worthless, and none of them are draws. It’s an interview where it’s clear AAA has no idea what they were doing in this story; nothing was set up, but they wanted to put something out on social media to get heat out of JBL burying the AAA roster.  You can tell Konnan helped script, because “snowflake” is a crutch phrase of his. No one caught him referring to Dorian Roldan as “Darrin”, or perhaps he thought the husband from the 1964 sitcom Bewitched runs Lucha Libre AAA.

An AAA show in Toluca this weekend was said to be a sell out. That’s one city that was really strong for AAA for years,

IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 09/08/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Vanilla Vargas b Shamila, Demonio, Princesa Azul 
2) Lobito & Tornado b Alan Extreme & Príncipe Centauro 
3) Cerebro Negro Jr. b Multifacetico Jr. 
win via unseen foul
4) Águila Roja, Hysteriosis, Rock Power b Arashi, Spider Fly, Willy Banderas 
5) Aquiles, Luka, Veneno b Abigor, Rey Espectro, Rey Halcón 
6) Vangellys & Vengador b Hellboy & Hijo de Canis Lupus and Látigo & Toxin 
challenges followed

IWRG doesn’t post results now; they post videos of the matches’ finishes on Instagram and Facebook. They posted the finish of the opener, where both people blew the move and nearly got seriously hurt. Someone must’ve smarted up the social media team a few hours later, and they went back and deleted everything.

Thursday’s show has only random matches announced.

Other News

Friday’s The Crash show is hardly worth mentioning, or if I mentioned, it would just sort of bury it. They’ve given up on uploading these shows again, they put Mustafa Ali over in the main event though I suspect he’s not coming back there ever again, they did a DQ finish in a casket match, none of this matters. Attendance was pretty good, maybe short of a sell-out, but close to 90%. Besides Ali, Riddle and Elijah (Elias) were the big ex-WWE names.

There was a current WWE name on The Crash show, too. WWE’s Jayden Carter, who long ago was part of La Rebelion in the Crash as Lacey Lane, sat front row in a seat marked “special guest.” She got physically involved in that casket match between old Rebelion members Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf. Carter slapped Mecha Wolf and threw a drink in his face. It’s rare for active WWE people to get involved in non-WWE shows. I don’t think this is a TNA partnership deal (or even the deal AAA would like to have), but I would bet Carter/Lane figured no one in WWE pays attention to Tijuana wrestling or would mind her limited cameo. Mecha Wolf is probably particularly low on WWE’s list of people they’d go out of their way to help after an incident with a suspicious knee injury on a long-ago episode of 205 Live. That incident happened in a match with Mustafa Ali, who later buried Mecha Wolf on Twitter. I suspect this The Crash show is one of the first shows they’ve worked on since then. Maybe they had a chat.

(This is not meant to be a dig on those guys, but it sticks out to me that AAA spent matches on two TripleManias trying to get over a feud between Bestia/Mecha Wolf. Neither are around AAA TV more so there’s no benefit there and, and they’re teaming up next Monday in Arena Lopez Mateos so it’s not like it got over elsewhere. The feud still seems over in Tijuana, but AAA failed to get anyone to care, or at least anyone who books them on shows. They’ll probably do a breakup angle anyway. That match also used to have Komander and now has Hijo de Canis Lupus in that spot.)

The 09/14 Big Lucha show at the Mexico City race track seems to include almost no Big Lucha wrestlers. Some may be masquerading under the SpeedFest themed gimmicks but it’s also feels like their guys are actually working elsehwere.

“I recognize that when my physical abilities are not 100%, I will decide to retire”, said 57-year-old Xalapa luchador Eslabon Perdido. He doesn’t seem himself not being 100% anytime soon, saying he could wrestle between two and four more years.

Segunda Caida watches some IWRG Retro.

La Masa and Vicente Viloni of 100% lucha are reuniting in a streaming show.

There’s a new lucha libre art exhibit in Queretaro.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 09/06/2024 Arena México
1) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Xelhua vs Dark Magic, Espanto Jr., Raider
2) Hera, La Catalina, Tessa Blanchard vs Reyna Isis, Sanely, Zeuxis [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero
4) Templario vs Soberano Jr. [lightning]
5) Titán vs Averno, Star Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Dulce Gardenia, Zandokan, Dark Panther, Crixus [Copa Independencia, semifinal]

The Copa Independencia doesn’t seem quite as strong this week, but the people who have little chance of winning are really good at getting crowd reactions. Templario/Soberano will be really good and I promise I’ll get over their failed partnership after it isn’t mentioned tonight. The tercera looks great. The women’s match is odd sides, and I’m not sure why they bothered given what’s booked next week. The opener is the “debut” of the new trio.

I think Titan is likely not winning tonight because he was a guest on CMLL Informa on Wednesday. This is a very dumb and particular take, borne out of watching an unhealthy amount of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre content, but here I am and here is that take. The tell is Julio Cesar Rivera likes to have different guests each week and doesn’t like to have the same guest on back-to-back weeks. On some level, he is also part of the CMLL creative team; his CMLL Informa interviews push the feuds along, so he has to know where they’re going. Cesar Rivera’s pattern is to have tecnicos and rudos on to preview each block of the tournament, and he could’ve easily picked a Dark Panther (who was already at the arena doing press on Wednesday) or a Star Jr. if he already knew Titan would be on next Wednesday. “No repeat” is not an absolute rule. A few people have shown up back-to-back weeks, but it’s a rarity, enough that it should be considered a red flag against Titan’s chances tonight.

Hechicero hyped the Aniverasario match and said you can’t compare Mexican wrestling to US wrestling because they’re separate.

Zandokan is excited about his chances in Copa Independencia and says he learned much from losing to Averno.

Crixus says he doesn’t want to be seen as a one-dimensional heavyweight; he wants to prove he can fly and put on submissions as well. He’s also hoping that being a real heavyweight will give him a chance to represent CMLL in NJPW or elsewhere.

Willow Nightingale appeared on CMLL Informa to announce she’d appear on Aniversario. Much to my surprise, CMLL announced she’d defend the women’s championship on 09/13. She’ll face Zeuxis. The women’s title match, the Copa Independencia and Jericho/Mistico totals up to 3 singles matches on the show. CMLL ran three singles matches last year, which was very unusual, but one of them came out of a relevos suicidas. They had three singles matches book in 2020, but that was a Night of Champions deal. The last time CMLL had three singles matches booked on an real Aniversario was 1984. (They also sold out that year.) CMLL hasn’t explained what the seventh match will be, but it’s mostly likely a match including male wrestlers they’re holding back until after tonight’s show. That would mean Zeuxis will be the only women on the CMLL roster booked on their biggest show of the year.

The safe assumption was Willow Nightingale would lose the title to whoever she defended it against in Mexico first. A luchador would get a big win over a foreigner to restart the title after Vaquer’s departure. I don’t feel completely confident in Zeuxis winning, though. She’s not a safe former champion, she’s not someone who has been pushed hard on her own. (If you recall, the reason Zeuxis is CMLL at all is because Dalys jumped to AAA, they needed a new ruda partner for Vaquer, and so Zeuxis got to return.) I think Zeuxis would be a good champion, fans would respond positively, but I don’t feel as 100% safe in her winning as I would be for other names in this spot – I’m stuck on the idea of building Willow up for a bigger defeat down the line. I suppose that, if you really want to go galaxy brain on all of this, Zeuxis being champion would fit perfectly with Mercedes Mone come to Mexico in October, since they worked together before in AEW. Zeuxis could get the win back that may have been meant for Vaquer, if that was happening at all. I’ve now twisted myself into circles in this paragraph so I’ll just aburptly end it.

Zeuxis is on the CMLL podcast this week.

Chris Jericho also appeared on CMLL Informa, talking normally about his match with Mistico, returning to CMLL, wrestling in front of a full house. Jericho said he’d beat Mistico in first on Aniverasrio, then for his title, and then for his mask. None of that is happening. Without being rude, it seems like it would be overly challenging for 2024 Chris Jericho to make middleweight, but it is obviously not the plan.

Jericho was a little more convincing when he said he’d like to wrestle in CMLL more than once and against many different luchadors. Chris Jericho versus Kenny Omega was a big deal for NJPW. Mistico versus Chris Jericho won’t be quite as a big deal – I can explain the reasons another time – but it’ll still be a pretty bright spotlight. Jericho wrestled a few more times for NJPW after that, and I think you’d find most NJPW fans say they didn’t find those appearances quite as valuable. The goal there though was more business reasons, and Jericho having a match with the big four NJPW wrestlers of the time made some sense on that level. I think there’s some logic in Jericho remaining a draw for CMLL after his match with Mistico, but there are also limitations. NJPW runs big buildings with space to grow, CMLL is running a smaller big building and are already running up against the ceiling on a few of them. If CMLL cared about selling digital goods or physical merchandise, Jericho could help even beyond the tickets. CMLL doesn’t seem to be that concerned about that sort of stuff, so Jericho (and all of AEW wrestlers) possible effect is limited if CMLL continues to be strong otherwise. They’re the cherry on top.

CMLL announced Leyenda de Azul will return in November. I’m not sure why they announced that two months ahead of time, but I hope it helps you make any November plans.

Ola Negra officially announced Raider as the new member. He teams with Dark Magic and Espanto Jr. and repalces Akuma. Dark Magic and Espanto Jr. look really cool, and then have bad matches in the second and third spots on the card. Dark Magic seems as lost as the day he arrived, and Espanto Jr. is quick to anger and forget what he’s supposed to be doing. Akuma and Raider are the ones with potential. It was nice to see Akuma escape the team, but not as lovely to see Raider drawn in as his replacement.

The Guadalajara show went up on Thursday. CMLL hasn’t explained it, won’t explain it, but that just appears to be the new home for it now.

This week’s matches on AMX

• Angelito, Kaligula, Peq. Magia vs Pequeno Olimpico, Pierrothito
• Hijo del Pantera, Star Black, Volcano vs Akuma, Felino Jr., Kraneo
• Atlantis Jr.. vs Davey Boy Smith

Mascara Dorada and Titan will appear on RevPro’s Global Wars UK on 10/19 in the Doncaster Dome.

NJPW announced that the Super Junior Tag League will take place from October 24th to November 3rd, and the World Tag League will take place from November 19th to December 8th. Only Titan appeared in the Super Junior tag league last year, and Soberano Jr. and Atlantis Jr. wrestled in the World Tag League.

Atlantis Jr. participated in a government presentation to encourage children to read.

India Sioux is returning to CMLL

India Sioux will return to CMLL, starting on the 09/22 show. She’ll team with Skadi and Tessa Blanchard against Dark Silueta, Hera, and Reina Isis.  CMLL and Sioux referred to it as a full return. India Sioux is Hombre Bala Jr.’s sister, daughter of Hombre Bala, and a previous 70s India Sioux. Rey Bucanero is her cousin, and she’s often been wrestling along with a “Princesa Sioux”, billed as her niece. She started in 2004, first showing up in IWRG, then wrestling regularly in CMLL from 2004 to 2009 outside of missing a few months due to injury. Her last TV match was on “VEO”, and it’s been so long I can’t recall what VEO was. India Sioux basically retired in 2009; she wrestled here and there and a bunch in 2015, but she seemed like she was done, and maybe just sticking around for a mask loss.

India Sioux retired because she married Maximo, and they wanted to have kids. They did – a son and a daughter, I believe – and were a family for many years. In 2022, Record reported the Mexico State attorney’s office charged Maximo with domestic violence. The report mentions Maximo was drunk, the acts happened in front of their kids, and neighbors heard and called the police. India Sioux, in a since-removed Facebook post, said she was separating from Maximo and alleged Maximo was a drug addict and an alcoholic. Maximo, in an also deleted Facebook post, rejected that he was the bad guy in the situation (though he did not directly address the addiction charges.) The one thing they seemed to agree on was that they were done with each other.

It appears divorcing Maximo, as well as her kids getting a little older, got India Sioux back in the ring more often. She started wrestling about once a month even before the divorce, but upped it to about once a week last year. (I’ve got her at 42 announced matches so far this year.) Sioux has the history and the family in CMLL, so it is not out of character for Arena Mexico to bring her in. Still, when CMLL teased the return of a luchadora earlier in the day, India Sioux was not my guess. She wouldn’t have been a top 25 guess; it was 15 years ago when she was last around, and there were no hints of her returning.

2004 India Sioux was part of the Dark Angel + Amapola + Marcela restart of the CMLL women’s division. She was young, had a cute look, and that’s always enough to see some potential. That era was well before lightning matches, well before streaming, and well before the women were featured all that much. India Sioux did get one spotlight match, defeating Medussa in a mask versus mask match in Arena Coliseo. My recap from the time mentions I didn’t have high hopes for that match going in – I think Medusa, who isn’t the US woman, wasn’t much good at that point – and was pleasantly surprised with how it turned out. I’ve seen bits and pieces of India Sioux since she’s been wrestling – she was in the 2023 Torneo Supremo among other places – and she’s been fine though unremarkable. She still has tecnica qualities about her, and probably will get a good following upon her return. I would’ve liked to CMLL invest in a younger wrestler, but I will wait and see how this goes.

I thought CMLL “return of a luchadora” bit would refer to Marcela. She got hurt March 2023, missed most of the year after surgery, returned in December, suffered another leg injury in April, and hasn’t been mentioned much since. I expect we’ll get an update one way or another in October, but it’s concerning she’s been gone for so long again.

AAA

AAA says Unimas will air the last match of Vampiro and Copa Bardahl this week. AAA on Space will have the long-delayed part two of Verano de Escandalo. Who will earn a title shot to face Flammer at TripleMania three weeks ago? The answer will not surprise you.

Chik Torments joins Sexy Star as women are upset with Latin Lover over his comments that AAA women don’t train enough. Tormenta questions how Latin Lover even knows how much they train since they don’t all do it in the same place. She admits she’s always been chubby, but she’s never been limited in being strong and fit for wrestling, and a fitness model body doesn’t mean you’re a luchador. Latin Lover went with a “my words were repeated incorrectly and out of context, you’ll see I’m right if you understood what I said” reply in a reply on Instagram. It’s not going well for him right now.

Latin Lover made his comments about AAA women being out of shape and not training enough while announcing a women’s three-way match on the upcoming Monterrey taping. Latin Lover may know AAA’s roster but not other people – he didn’t have Julissa, Valentina, Masha or Natalia in mind when he opened his mouth. Dalys has her faults, but physical fitness is not her issue. That leaves the only other person in the match, La Hiedra. I watched the six way women’s match from Verano de Escandalo when it aired on Unimas this past week, and the editing of entrances on that show is AAA will air about five seconds of an entrance video and five seconds of the person walking to the ring. The La Hiedra shown in the (very dated) entrance video and the La Hiedra shown walking to the ring appear to be two different people. Her body has changed dramatically. Some people enjoy the newer version of La Hiedra. More power to them, but it’s also clear Latin Lover had La Hiedra on his mind when talking about luchadoras not training and not being in shape. I guess it is clear if you watch the whole press conference, it’s less clear if you see the clip that was cut out of it, and that’s likely how most people (including the other AAA women) are seeing it. Still, it is no big secret that was a shot at La Hiedra; the Facebook meme people have gotten the message for sure. Hiedra has not addressed anything about this topic outside of posting a supportive photo of Chik Tormenta, but she’s now Mexican wrestling Facebook’s top target for memes. Latin Lover is correct about La Hiedra’s fitness, but Latin Lover has also incited fans to harass her now about it because his mouth moved quicker than his brain. If Latin Lover’s actual goal was to get La Hiedra training more regularly, antagonizing other people who work for AAA was probably not the most effective way to do it. Latin Lover’s problem is La Hiedra doesn’t have enough discipline, and I think he’s correct. Latin Lover could desperately use some discipline on what messages he’s putting out and how he’s doing them, and he doesn’t seem to have anyone he’s going to listen correcting him on that. Same with La Hiedra, I’m sure.

Latin Lover can not stop talking, though, and has less of a filter than even Konnan. In a Facebook live video, Latin Lover said two CMLL women had agreed to jump to AAA and warned people who said he was making things up not to disbelieve him. I thought the Micros Gemelos moving from CMLL to AAA was a foolish move, but women moving to a promotion that sees booking women as an unfortunate obligation seems just as ill-advised. (Tiffany made that move, has got booked once.) The other aspect is that CMLL has women training in Guadalajara and Puebla who are probably frustratingly far from making the actual CMLL Mexico City roster but might be billed as CMLL women in the right light. It would make more sense for them to jump, but they’re not going to get booked.

El Fiscal, who has been in AAA for roughly five minutes, decided it would be a good idea to weigh on this weight issue. He comes down on the side of “wrestlers should have impressive physiques.” That probably will not endear him to all of his colleagues. Fiscal no doubt feels indebted to this AAA management team for giving him huge opportunities early in his career and wanting to show support, but you can not post. You don’t have to participate in the discourse publically.

Vampiro is beefing with a member of the Kumbia Kids music group. Look, I’ve explained a lot in this post. I can’t explain this one. I have limits.

Mistakes Were Made

TNA advertised KUSHIDA/Laredo Kid for this Thursday’s Impact. I had actually looked for spoilers for this set of tapings a few days prior, because I like to keep tabs on what they’re doing with Laredo Kid even if I’m not watching it. Didn’t find them this time around, which was my first mistake, but that meant the first time I heard about Laredo Kid versus KUSHIDA was when I saw Impact promote it. I’m critical, often, about TNA’s usage of Mexican wrestlers. They’re under no obligation to push anyone, TNA should book whatever’s going to help their business the best. Still, if jobbing out the Mexican talent, and then pushing them to the spotlight whenever TNA feels like they need them to draw latino fans comes off as cynical and should be pointed out as such. And if they go the other way, and give a Laredo Kid a real shot, then it’s worth giving TNA a shot too.

TNA is on AXS, a channel that just stopped broadcasting to my cable system one day. I figured I ought to pay to watch it once – if I’m going to be loud about something I thin they’ve done wrong, I need to go as strong the other way when I think they’re doing it right. (This was a better idea when I thought TNA still had their $1/month plan on YouTube; that got canceled last week in favor of a $10/month TNA+ plan for a bigger bucket of content.) I had no expectation that Laredo Kid would beat KUSHIDA or that TNA would even give the match a significant amount of time. If I got eight minutes of a new match, that’d be good enough for me and probably good enough for Laredo to find a way to get over.

Laredo Kid didn’t get minutes. He got about three. The announcers spent about half of the match talking about other TNA things and about a minute talking about how KUSHIDA was a great, rounded wrestler. Laredo Kid was also there. They were maybe just about to talk about him when he finally got to do something – except that was the end match. Josh Alexander, who is either a heel or headed that way (I don’t care), hit the ring for no obvious reason to take out Laredo Kid and toss him out of the ring like as if a sack of very unwanted potatoes. KUSHIDA got to put up a fight because TNA was pivoting to KUSHIDA and ended up wrestling Alexander instead. Laredo Kid simply ceased to exist. I stuck around for the match, not paying attention to it, to see if commentary touched on Laredo Kid’s role or even somehow got involved in the match later. Of course that didn’t happen, of course Laredo Kid ceased to exist in the universe the moment he got tossed out of the ring. Laredo Kid is not an actual person with motivations in TNA; he’s a disposable masked man.

The world needs disposable masked men! Serpentico does a great job in that role in the greater AEW/ROH universe. (Serpentico also won a feud this year, so maybe this in unfair comparison for him.) Laredo Kid is a disposable man when it comes to the matches and someone TNA shoves out there to media rounds as they go back into another Latino market. AEW does not beat Serpentico in a minute and then has to go on the radio to talk about how great it is to work for TNA. Professional wrestling is an insincere business, but it’s tough to rival TNA’s usage of Laredo Kid.

Laredo Kid knows all this, too. I’m not in his head, and I haven’t talked to him, but I’ve seen him for so many years that I think I know a little bit about how he thinks. I think he really would rather be anywhere else, and I think you see that any time he goes on a spree of posting highlights on Twitter and tagging as many people as he can think of – “notice me, get me out of here.” (You really see it when he starts to tag promotions.) Laredo Kid wasn’t on Lucha Underground, he wasn’t hanging around NJPW, he’s not related someone in demand, and people who run US promotions are generally clueless when it comes to Mexican wrestling, so he’s got to sit and watch who aren’t near as good as him – Dralistico, Gravity and Metalik to name three, and I could name more – get spots in AEW while working once a month in TNA. I think Laredo Kid realizing hanging out in TNA isn’t doing anything for him, is probably making it harder for others to take a chance on him. He’s got a ticking clock on his career, but also, he’s got a family to take care of, and he’s just not going to turn down work that might help support him. So, he’s going to keep working, keep taking those three minutes matches and the paychecks that come with them, and just pray he’ll someday get the same break his buddy The Beast Mortos did. I hope it works out for him. The 10 USD I spent on TNA+ was a big blow to my hope that it ever will.

(It bears pointing out that AAA, both in podcast form and behind the scenes, has very strong feelings about how AAA-affiliated talent should be used in AEW. Those feelings don’t seem to be expressed or enforced regarding “partner promotion” TNA.)

Anyway, I made the mistake of trusting TNA with my money. I expect it will be a long time before I make that mistake again.

Other News

Tarzan Ramirez (Jose Guadalupe Martinez Ramirez, 77) passed away on Monday. He was a Queretaro based luchador in the 70s and 80s. His last match was said to have been in 2012, though it sounds like that was a one-off return, having been retired from full time wrestling many years prior. He also promoted shows.

Violento Jack says he’s returning to Mexico for a tour in November, though he notes he has no idea what he’s doing with a tour of Mexico and his pal Aeroboy actually is the one putting it together for both of them.

Fightful reported AEW registered trademarks for both “The Clone” and “El Clon”. I don’t know any more on this than you do; it sounds like something Hologram related, there are people who would be fun in that character, but I haven’t heard anything about any 0ther luchador coming in to AEW.

El Universal has an interview with La Insaciable, who’s been wrestling for about two months.

La Copa interviews Hidalgo’s Barkai, who mentions traveling to Guadalajara to train with Satnaico.

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 09/02/2024 Arena Puebla [CMLL, Depor Puebla, El Sol de Puebla, Porra Fresa]
1) Espíritu Maligno & Rencor b Amnesia & Blue Shark
2) Arkalis, Rey Samuray, Xelhua b Grako, Multy, Vegas 
3) Persephone & Zeuxis b Lluvia & Tessa Blanchard
straight falls, setting up a tag title match
4) Atlantis, Flip Gordon, Star Jr. b Bárbaro Cavernario, Terrible, Zandokan Jr.
5) Volador Jr. b Atlantis Jr. 
Volaodr Jr. won cleanly after cheating to beat him last week
6) Esfinge b Hechicero, Euforia, Valiente 
Again worked reverse elimination style, with Hechicero and Valient winning theri way out and then Euforia sneaking in a foul on Esfinge.

In the two preview matches, the two veterans most likely to lose (Euforia, Valiente) have won the final pinfall, while the person who seems most likely to win (Esfinge) has lost both times. These results aren’t typically played up much outside of Puebla; it’s only the most diehard fans who know them.

Tecnico Atlantis losing the lead-up match and then losing the singles match is unusual CMLL booking. The sell-out streak ended last week, but the run of strong turnouts seems to have gotten more local press to cover these shows than in the recent past. There was a point where I couldn’t find results for these shows, and now there are at least three media outlets (plus Porra Fresa) covering it semi-regularly.

CMLL (TUE) 09/03/2024 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Acero & Aéreo b Full Metal & Pequeño Polvora 
6:16
2) Capitán Suicida, Eléctrico, Robin b Grako, Hunter, Inquisidor 
13:34
3) Kira, Skadi, Tabata b Amapola, Metálica, Olympia 
16:58. Tabata return from elbow surgery.
4) Barboza, Difunto, Zandokan Jr. b Explosivo, Fugaz, Star Black 
12:57. Rare CDMX appearances for Explosivo and Barboza.
5) Valiente b Bárbaro Cavernario [lightning] 
9:46
6) Atlantis Jr., Neón, Star Jr. b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. 
12:03. Angel de Oro again snuck in a foul on Atlantis to give his team a win. Tecnicos wanted a rematch.

I watched this whole show but couldn’t get locked into most of it. It was a me issue. Match four seemed the best of the bunch. They’re still going somewhere with the Angel de Oro/Atlantis stuff, but I’m less sure than ever. Atlantis Sr. once again brought up on Sunday about wanting the tag title match with his son for Aniversario, despite his son being announced for a match. That doesn’t seem like it’s actually happening, but CMLL must have something in mind with all these finishes.

CMLL (TUE) 09/03/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, Fuego en el Ring, Mas Lucha]
1) Rav, Shezmu, Temerario b Astro Oriental, Obek, Último Ángel
2) Gallo Jr., Ráfaga, Rafaga Jr. DQ Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Satánico
DQ for mask removal
3) Pelon Encapuchado b Arlequín [lightning]
4) Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. b Bestia Negra & Vaquero Jr.
5) La Catalina, Lluvia, Tessa Blanchard b Dark Silueta, Persephone, Zeuxis
Dark Silueta left with an injury
6) Flip Gordon, Máscara Dorada, Titán b Furia Roja, Gallero, Halcón Negro Jr.

CMLL still hasn’t explained why the live Guadalajara streams ended, but they appear dead now. Expect it to turn up on Thursday with music that won’t cause copyright issues.

A rare CMLL spot show in Cabo San Lucas drew a sell-out. Mistico & Atlantis Jr. wrestled Soberano Jr. & Templario in the main event.

CMLL (SUN) 09/08/2024 Arena México
1) Leono & Retro vs Enfermero Jr. & Sangre Imperial
2) Astral, El Audaz, Valiente Jr. vs Apocalipsis, Cholo, Disturbio
3) Hijo del Pantera vs Hijo de Stuka Jr. [lightning]
4) Felino, Felino Jr., Rey Bucanero vs Akuma, Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II
5) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido, Vegas
6) Máscara Dorada, Místico, Titán vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero

That lightning match is interesting, though AMX rarely airs the Sunday lightning match. (A typical week would have matches 2, 5, and 6 airing.) Vegas gets to team with Los Depredadores but needs more four-man teams to face if Vegas is going to be an actual part of the group.

CMLL (SUN) 09/08/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano & Blue Shark vs Prayer & Sombra Diabólika
2) Astro vs Inquisidor [lightning]
3) Espíritu Negro, Pelon Encapuchado, Stigma vs Felino, Felino Jr., Rey Bucanero
4) Lluvia & Tessa Blanchard © vs Persephone & Zeuxis [CMLL WOMEN TAG]
first defense
5) Atlantis, Flip Gordon, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Averno, Niebla Roja
6) Esfinge, Hechicero, Último Guerrero vs Euforia, Soberano Jr., Valiente [Relevos Increíbles]

Normally, the main event would involve the four people in the mask wrestling exclusively against each other. The slight issue is that would mean Ultimo Guerrero and Soberano would have to wrestle, and that still appears impossible. I’m surprised CMLL didn’t swap Averno and Soberano.

Espiritu Negro wrestling without Rey Cometa or Dulce Gardenia feels odd. It may be that way for a while; Rey Cometa (on IG) announced he had surgery on one of his testicles. He described it as precautionary. No idea how long he’ll be out.

CMLL Informa’s announced guests

• Chris Jericho (Aniversario)
• Mascara Dorada (last week’s Copa Independencia)
• Titan, Dulce Gardenia, Crixus, Hijo del Villano III (this week’s Copa Independencia)
• Reyna Isis (bodybuilding)
• Espanto Jr. & Dark Magic (Ola Negra reshuffling)

Chris Jericho talked to the Mexican press from home on Thursday, so this could be a longer version of that chat or another more recent one. (It surely won’t be live; he’s typically busy on Wednesday.)

Today’s CMLL Informa will also probably round out the Aniversario show. It’s a balancing act: CMLL may not be able to announce the final match if there’s still someone alive on Copa Independencia to be included, but it would also be atypical for CMLL not to have all the matches on the Aniversario card a week ahead of time. Maybe it’ll be as simple as “the last spot in this trio will be determined after Friday”, but the other five names in the match are announced.

That current lineup:

CMLL (FRI) 09/13/2024 Arena México
***CMLL 91st Aniversario***
1) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star vs Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido
2) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
3) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
4) Máscara Dorada vs ?? [Copa Independencia]
5) Atlantis Jr., Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. vs Kojima, Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero
6) Chris Jericho vs Místico
7) Hechicero vs Esfinge, Valiente, Euforia [mask]

I expect match 2 to be a women’s match—maybe with a guest start. Match 3 is cramming in some of the people who aren’t booked. There isn’t a ten-man tag or battle royal on here, so people will be still left out.

Mistico will face Bad Dude Tito in the semifinals in the MLW Opera Cup on 09/14 in Atlanta. He seems likely to win. The other semifinal is TJP versus KENTA, and Mistico looks to be the favorite to win the entire competition at this point.

Reyna Isis has been wrestling less often lately as she trained for a fitness competition. CMLL noted her participation in the Wellness Bikini Principiantes category, though the press release doesn’t mention any ranking. They also note a Shirly Tirado as finishing third in another category. I don’t know the CMLL connection there.

Atlantis, Sanely, Felino Jr., and KeMaltio appeared at a fundraiser for the Un Kilo de Ayuda charity.

AAA

AAA TV (SUN) 09/29/2024 Gimnasio Nuevo León Unido, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
1) Tiger Universitario Jr. & Tigre Universitario vs Hijo del Solar & Solar I
2) Alan Stone, Bello Stone, Zumbido vs Dulce Kanela, Jessy Queen, Pimpinela Escarlata
3) Dinámico vs Charro Negro, Redimido, Tosscano
4) Dalys & La Hiedra vs Masha Slamovich & Natalia Markova and Julissa & Valentina
5) Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Panic Clown vs Abismo Negro, El Fiscal, Psicosis
6) Hijo Del Vikingo, Laredo Kid, Octagón Jr. vs Belcegor, Emperador Azteca, Taurus
7) Cibernético, Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz vs ?, El Mesías, Pierroth Jr.

This was announced at a press conference Monday. Actually, what happened is AAA said they’d have an announcement at 5 pm, so I made sure to be at my computer ready to absorb all that big AAA news. No news was posted, naturally. AAA’s Facebook posted about a 30-second video, but I just moved on with my life. I was wrong in thinking this would be the Guadalajara announcement, but I can at least show up on time. Mas Lucha posted the press conference on Tuesday and pretended like it was live.

From a viewer’s perspective, there’s not a lot to this taping. Hijo del Vikingo returns against guys who aren’t pushed. Abismo is still teaming with the Vipers despite turning on them in the main event in TripleMania. AAA advertised a mystery rudo teaming with Mesias and Taurus in Torreon. Presumably, the same person will debut three weeks later. Pierroth Jr. (the former El Divo) hasn’t appeared on AAA TV in two years, but that’s a common part of this taping. KAOZ is locally promoting it, and their names are sprinkled in here. They’re probably booking Julissa & Valentina and may be responsible for Slamovich and Markova. Julissa,

The real story is AAA and KAOZ are explicitly running this taping in hopes of “defeating” the CMLL & Alto Voltaje show in Arena Monterrey on the same night. AAA generally seems to have a bee in its bonnet over CMLL praise for having good attendance this year and AAA not getting that same credit. AAA doesn’t get credit because most AAA discussions start and end with how terrible their shows are, but getting to brag about beating CMLL in Monterrey head-to-head will mean a little something to them. AAA may additionally have a particular issue with Alto Voltaje running at the Showcenter last time. AAA believes they have exclusivity on that facility; RIOT had a date in another space at the same venue a couple of years ago, and AAA encouraged the building owners to push RIOT out. Alto Voltaje did end up running the Showcenter, so maybe AAA figures the next best thing is to damage their turnout enough where they might give up running. KAOZ is involved because KAOZ likes to talk about being part of Big Things. This taping also saves KAOZ the effort of putting on their own show, something they have only accomplished once in the last fourteen months.

That CMLL/Alto Voltaje show at Arena Monterrey seemed like a terrible idea to start with (and when Alto Voltaje first said they were running it in June.) It’s been a long time since CMLL shows have drawn really well in Monterrey, they didn’t draw anything special on that May card in the Showcenter, and the lineup isn’t going to draw people in. Mistico versus Hechicero for a title created for that show will probably be good, but it’s not an arena show. I think most people reading this blog would probably rather see the CMLL show than the AAA one, but the fact that on is a taping – so it “matters” – and the other is just a random show- is a big difference to people buying tickets. Superboletos indicates fans have only bought a few hundred tickets so far.

The Alto Votlaje people generally seem like dreamers without wrestling business sense. Their statement referencing the KAOZ show hypes the competition and brags about soon bringing in wrestlers from the US, Japan, and Canada for future shows. The last thing for Alto Voltaje needs do is to put the hype on future shows. They’re implicitly permitting the fans to skip this show for AAA because the even bigger shows are down the road. That’s just not smart.

Running a TV taping on 09/29 is about the most illogical time to run one. AAA will have no fresh TV for 09/28, and could benefit if this show was scheduled a week or two earlier. They also already have a TV for the following week: the Verano de Escandalo special will air live. (This Monterrey taping will air out of order in Mexico, probably not until 10/19.) The only reason to run on this date is to beat CMLL, and they will. They’ll draw about 5,000 to their building, and Alto Voltaje will be lucky to draw a third of that, so AAA can call it a win. Maybe it’s an even useful win if they can use it to convince someone to invest in the company or whatever it is they’re trying to do. Meanwhile, CMLL will have drawn 10,000+ people to Mexico City for the Night of Champions show on Friday prior and will be utterly unconcerned about whatever happens in Monterrey.

(The announcement of this show does explain why the 09/01 show wasn’t announced as a TV taping; they didn’t want to confuse the market, and they would rather the fans who will only go to one TV taping to go this 09/29 show.)

The press conference included Latin Lover as the AAA representative, which was a bit awkward given that the people who run AAA beat him up on the last show. Latin explained the storyline and could’ve saved some time by explaining that it was a cut-and-paste job from WWE. (Ciber started needling Latin about his lengthy explanations.) Marisela Pena is playing the role of Linda McMahon, who still has power over the promotion and is supporting Latin, so he’s still part of the organization and has power. This is also the same as Dorian Roldan’s previous run as a heel owner, where it was Marisela and Joaquin opposing him. Another highlight was Latin explaining the CMLL women train or wrestle three times a week, and that’s why they’re in better shape, but the AAA women will get better. I don’t know how or why he wandered into that, and the KAOZ promoter  (Alonso Botello) sitting next to him immediately jumped into salvage and defended Julissa & Valentina as people who are always training. We can all guess which AAA woman Latin Lover was talking about needing to get in better shape, but – in thinking he was avoiding trouble by not naming names – he said it in such a general way that all of the women could see themselves as targets. Sexy Star had a mildly annoyed response on Instagram on Wednesday. Konnan, Dorian, and Alberto ran this vast conspiracy to humiliate Latin Lover and they probably could’ve just given him some rope and time to let him do it himself.

In the same style, Latin said AAA will be touring the US in the first third of 2024. He’s brought it up as a possibility before, said it was definite here, and it still seems unlikely to happen in any meaningful way. Put aside AAA’s long US history and just look at this year. AAA seems super cautious about running any location with a risk. They’ve run the Mexico City and Monterrey areas 9 times so far and everyone else in the world 6 times. If AAA decided they can’t run Puebla or San Luis Potosi or Veracruz or Merida, how would they feel comfortable running Phoenix or Dallas? It only happens if someone else is paying AAA’s bills. (It also requires applying for work visas, which would probably need to be starting now if AAA is going to lock in early 2025 dates. Or they’re just going to hope the wrestlers do their own work.)

AAA will bring back the Autoluchas concept on October 11th. Rather, they’ll be doing a sponsored show for sponsor Bardahl on October 11th, and the car oil company will be giving away tickets. Autoluchas was more enjoyable than empty arena lucha during the early portion of the pandemic, but I’m surprised to see the concept come back in 2024—even with a car sponsor involved.

Laredo Kid faces Kushida on Thursday’s Impact. That sounds great. Less fantastic is TNA has removed its YouTube subscription this past week in favor of moving everyone over to their TNA+ service. Will I pay $10/month to watch one probably very good match, trusting that TNA didn’t mess it up some way? Maybe???

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 09/05/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Faunto vs Ikaris
2) Shamila & Vanilla Vargas vs Demonia & Kali
3) Willy Banderas vs Águila Roja
4) Luka, Spider Fly, Tornado vs Abigor, Alan Extreme, Hysteriosis
5) Aquiles, Hell Boy, Veneno vs Cerebro Negro, Látigo, Toxin

At some point, I should probably figure out why there’s someone named Aquiles who’s main eventing these shows suddenly.

Other News

Box y Lucha 3619 has Villano V on the cover. Dr. Lucha also shares his memories of Villano V in his blog this week. He points out that Villano V was doing well as Rokambole before taking the family number and wonders if he may have done better on his own. The mass in Villano V’s memory will take place on Monday.

CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 08/30/2024 Arena México [AS, CMLL, Fuego en el RIng, Kasier Sports, Telediario, The Gladiatores, thecubsfan]
1) Fantasy, Shockercito, Último Dragóncito b Mercurio, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito   
9:16
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Xelhua b El Coyote, Felino, Felino Jr.    
16:38
3) Lluvia TLDRAW Persephone [lightning]    
time limit draw (though it seemed like Lluvia was meant to have won)
4) Esfinge, Místico, Volador Jr. DQ Averno, Euforia, Yota   
11:37. Straight falls. Tecnicos won the first in 24 seconds, then Euforia ripped off Euforia’s mask and knocked down referee Edgar a couple of times. Euforia said he’d end Esfinge and take his mask on Aniversario.
5) Máscara Dorada b Templario, Neón, Star Black, Stuka Jr., Akuma, Difunto, Villano III Jr. [Copa Independencia, semifinal]   
26:47. Star Black (via Akuma, 10:43), Villano III Jr. (via Neon, 12:37), Difunto (via Stuka Jr., 15:26), Akuma (via Templario, 17:27), Neon (via Mascara Dorada, 18:31), Stuka Jr. (via Templario, 19:48), Templario (via Mascara Dorada, 26:47), leaving Dorada as the winner. He advances to the final on the Aniversario

The main event was Great. Dorada and Templario have fought a lot and could use some new ideas, but they have really good chemistry. (It’s part of why it’s a shame Templario is a tecnico now.) Having those two at the final made for legitimate drama, CMLL could’ve easily picked either of them for the big showcase singles match on 09/13 and every near fall felt real. All these ciberneticos exist in three acts, and the best act of this one was the first, the period before the first elimination. A lot of wild action, people who don’t get a lot Friday main event attention (Star Black, Difunto) getting in big moments, and the flow of the match staying steady throughout.

Mascara Dorada versus Titan feels like the right match for the Aniversario. It’s not completely out of the question CMLL would book Star Jr. or Averno to come out of that block, either would seem likely if this was a tournament ending on any other show. Dorada and Titan have had outstanding matches before, and it’s the big match to do for the biggest show of the year.

Villano III Jr. mentioned honoring Villano V in a mid-show promo, and that was the only direct reference to Villano V I caught on the show. There was no moment of remembrance, even with Villano IV there as a commissioner. CMLL didn’t have a time crunch, they could’ve gotten it in, and just made the decision not to do it. They also obviously didn’t change their booking of the cibernetico, with Villano III Jr. going about as expected. There wasn’t a strong negative reaction to it, and I guess that’s one great advantage of the current CMLL set up. A heavy tourist crowd isn’t going to be informed enough to be upset about something like that.

Euforia’s had a lot of pretty good and great matches in his career. (The three way with Valiente and Esfinge, airing over this past weekend, was another one.) The work Euforia is doing as a rudo, as a personality, in the build to Aniversario continues to be outstanding. He cut Esfinge to pieces in his post match promo, as he continues to do any time he’s asked to talk in ring. No idea if he always had this in him and just never got to do it, or if it’s just getting this close to Aniversario that’s bringing it out of him. Maybe Euforia’s best promo prior to feud was the one where he ripped Ultimo Guerrero for costing him an empty arena Aniversario match by getting COVID and quit Los Guerreros, so perhaps that show truly does mean a lot to him.

Lluvia and Persephone was going fairly well until about the nine and half mark. It was like they suddenly realized they were going long and completely paniced. Persephone blew whatever power move she was going for, then rush and slipped on her springboard frogsplash. I don’t recall her slipping on a springboard ever before. Lluvia set Persephone up for her caught in the ropes dropkick, seemingly the planned finish, but there was absolutely no way she was going to it all done in time. Sure enough, the clock struck 10 just as the three count started. Hitting a winning move as time runs out is a pretty standard draw finish, but it was pretty obvious by reactions of everyone that a draw was not the plan here.

Prisca Awiti, a Mexican silver medalist in Judo, was honored on the show. Mexico doesn’t win a lot of medals at the Olympics – 3 silvers and 2 bronzes this past year – so anyone who does win a medal becomes a big sporting star in that country. Awiti has a Mexican mother and a Kenyan father and grew up in London, so she had choices in which country to represent, and it meant a lot that she picked Mexico. Enough so that her simply showing up and getting a Mistico mask got covered as a new story.

Both of the CMLL matches on the NJPW show were enjoyable. ZSJ/Titan was great. “Zack Sabre Jr. versus luchadors” gets thrown around as a styles clash but it actually is a good mix with the right luchadors. The guys who have good training in the basics and can still do it mesh very well with Sabre’s style. (This worked well with Titan, it’d probably work well with a Mascara Dorada, and it probably won’t work well with a Fugaz.) Hechicero & Virus was another weird mix on paper, but both teams figured out what the other team did well and let them do it. The CMLL guys got over in both matches and they flowed well. 20 USD is a big ask for a show with just two CMLL related matches and where you already know they both lost (Hechicero & Virus are not tag team champions, maybe should’ve led with that) but both are worth checking out if/when they pop up on NJPW World as part of the regular subscription.

CMLL (SAT) 08/31/2024 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Leono b Inquisidor [lightning]
9:51.
2) Enfermero Jr., Infarto, Sagrado b Diamond, Retro, Robin
16:06. Infarto & Sagrado replaced the Dr. Karontes (double booked?)
3) Dark Panther, Hijo del Pantera, Volcano b Kráneo, Rey Bucanero, Vegas
15:33
4) Metálica, Reyna Isis, Zeuxis b La Catalina, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi
14:41. Rudas took 2/3.
5) Averno b Zandokan Jr.
13:56. Averno out-rudoed Zandokan, slipping in a foul for the win.
6) Atlantis Jr., Hechicero, Star Jr. DQ Dragón Rojo Jr., Flip Gordon, Valiente [Relevos Increíbles]
13:37. Valiente unmasked Hechicero, and said he’d beat him on the Aniversario show.

Earlier in the week, Averno talked up his match with Zandokan as showing the up-and-comer heel what a true rudo is like. He lived up to it: Averno jumped Zandokan on the way to the ring, shredded his mask, and won via blatant cheating. It was great. Zandokan didn’t take the loss well. It’s sort of amazing Averno beat Yota and Zandokan in the same week but I’m not complaining.

The main event was good by Sunday standards.

Something is up with these lightning matches. There used to be a fair bit of five minute, six minute and seven minute matches. When even Leono and Inquisidor are teasing the ten minute draw, they’re clearly being told to go long for whatever reason.

CMLL (SUN) 09/01/2024 Arena México [CMLL]
1) Átomo & KeMalito b Chamuel & Tengu
2) Arkalis, Astral, Valiente Jr. b Alom, Grako, Hunter
3) Pelon Encapuchado b Disturbio [lightning]
4) Dark Magic, Espanto Jr., Raider b Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring b Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Mephisto
Mephisto wore a Villano V tribute outfit.
6) Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero b Máscara Dorada, Titán, Volador Jr.
Naito was shown watching the match from the crowd.

On Wednesday’s Informa, Akuma and Julio Cesar Rivera talked about Akuma no longer being part of Ola Negra. It’s a tricky story to tell, because the entire Ola Negra/Atrapsuenos feud was about Espiritu Negro leaving Ola Negra to go do better thing and his old partners being angry at him. Akuma’s basically doing the same thing but tried to make it clear he was leaving the group on better terms. (The reality is CMLL moved Akuma up to a higher position and aren’t doing it for the other two.) Espanto Jr. & Dark Magic have been teaming with Raider a lot lately, and invited him to join the Ola Negra group after their win here. Raider said he needed time to think about it, and Espanto Jr. warned him not to take too long. In 2024 CMLL, that probably means it’ll be resolved on CMLL Informa this Wednesday. They’re all together against Friday, so that’ll likely be the first official match.

Naito sat in the last row of the floor bleachers, usually reversed for the press. Like most of the press, I can only assume that he’ll post video highlights of each match on his YouTube channel tonight. Naito also popped up in Titan’s post-show promo.

CMLL (TUE) 09/03/2024 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Full Metal & Pequeño Polvora
2) Capitán Suicida, Eléctrico, Robin vs Grako, Hunter, Inquisidor
3) Kira, Skadi, Tabata vs Amapola, Metálica, Olympia
4) Explosivo, Fugaz, Star Black vs Barboza, Difunto, Zandokan Jr.
5) Valiente vs Bárbaro Cavernario [lightning]
6) Atlantis Jr., Neón, Star Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr.

The main event is almost the trios champions after the tag champs and Soberano. The undercard feels like there’s a third CMLL show going on Tuesday taking away a lot of names. Tabata’s back after elbow surgery, her first match since May. Barboza appeared in the Torneo de Escuelas, disappeared (injury?) soon after, and this is his return to Arena Mexico.

CMLL (FRI) 09/06/2024 Arena México
1) Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma, Xelhua vs Dark Magic, Espanto Jr., Raider
2) Hera, La Catalina, Tessa Blanchard vs Reyna Isis, Sanely, Zeuxis [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Último Guerrero
4) Templario vs Soberano Jr. [lightning]
5) Titán vs Averno, Star Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Dulce Gardenia, Zandokan, Dark Panther, Crixus [Copa Independencia, semifinal]

This week’s cibernetico looks good, if not as strong as last week. The tercera should be great. The mixed up teams in match 2 feel like they should be a prelude to whatever women’s match CMLL Is booking on 09/13, but I can’t figure out the direction.

Templario and Soberano only getting ten minutes seems a crime, though it’s also a rudo act for them to be back fighting after doing the big team up angle six months ago and then dropping it a month later. I would like it better if they were still a team, but I’m asking CMLL to finish the story somehow instead of pretending it didn’t happen because (presumably) they got upset with someone.

CMLL made a point of introducing Xelhua separately from Fuerza Poblana. Perhaps that can also be resolved on Wednesday.

CMLL (SAT) 09/07/2024 Arena Coliseo
1) KeMalito & Micro Sagrado vs Chamuel & Tengu
2) La Vaquerita, Maligna, Tabata vs Amapola, Candela, Olympia
3) Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr., Max Star vs Okumura, Sagrado, Vegas
4) Blue Panther, Hijo de Blue Panther, Volcano vs Kráneo, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero
5) Templario vs Dragón Rojo Jr. [lightning]
6) Máscara Dorada, Místico, Neón vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr.

The main event looks good. The semi-main is last year’s Aniversario match. Candela returns in match 2. I think Olympia is the best worker in that match in 2024, which is just wild to think about. Micro Sagrado is still here even if his partners have left.

CMLL matches that didn’t make CMLL’s YouTube this week

from 08/18 Arena Mexico

• Capitán Suicida, Espíritu Negro, Rey Cometa vs Dark Magic, Espanto Jr., Okumura
• Blue Panther, Fugaz, Star Black vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Kráneo
• Ángel de Oro, Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada vs Flip Gordon, Mansoor, Robbie X

from 08/26 Puebla

• Yota vs Averno in a lightning match
• Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Templario vs Magnus, Rugido, Volador Jr.
• Esfinge vs Euforia vs Valiente

AAA

AAA on Space finished TripleMania Mexico City coverage with the tag title match and the cruiserweight title match. The new content wasn’t that interesting: a Komander promo from before his match, interviews with Cibernetico and the Jarrett team both bragging about their wins, and a teaser of JBL/Dorian/Konnan/Alberto scheming briefly before kicking the cameraman out of the room. I presumed JBL was a one-and-done, and his comments to SlamWrestling about his appearance suggested no set plans past that TripleMania. JBL has since appeared in GCW, TNA, and OVW, so the man’s clearly looking for some work, and that might mean he’ll pop up in AAA again.

AAA TV (SUN) 09/01/2024 Showcenter Complex, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo Leon [Lo Mejor de Lucha]
1) Brillante RB b Reycko, Black Raven
2) La Momia b El Original, King Charro
3) Estrellato & Líder b Epydemius & Sayurs
4) Centella & Pimpinela Escarlata b Adelicious & Dulce Kanela
5) Kento, Nobu San, Takuma b Emperador Azteca, Octagón Jr., Oni El Bendito
said to be a great match
6) Dinámico, Drago, Laredo Kid b Antifaz, El Mesías, Pierroth Jr.

This was indeed a TV taping, and AAA simply chose not to announce it as such. It’s a weirdo promotion. Attendance appeared to be down, but it wasn’t a strong lineup. It was about AAA doing the cheapest show they could get away with doing, and then not improving on it once it fell backwards into being a TV taping. Only when entering the results did I remember Dinamico, Drago, and Laredo Kid were meant to be a trio. These matches should air 09/14 and 09/21.

AAA will be back in the Showcenter on 11/03. Last year’s final show of the year was the TNA/AAA Ultraclash show, and the tournament final was the year before. There were no hints this time of any big plans for that date.

AAA TV also advertised Heroes Inmortales as taking place 10/06 with no venue listed. That date is a Sunday, and Space usually carries the show live, so AAA will be airing a day later that week. The no venue bit is weird, but it may make sense a few hours after this goes up. AAA has a press conference at 4 pm to talk about “their next show”, which is this date. The first October show has been part of Jalisco’s “Fiesta de Octubre” fair for the last few years, with AAA running at the big Auditrio Benito Juarez in front of a huge crowd. (It’s a sold show, most of the tickets are free with admission, it looks great on TV.) That Fiesta de Octubre has been holding off announcing the acts for the Auditorio Benito Juarez until September, and it definitely is September now. AAA will probably announce the full lineup for that 10/06 Heroes Inmortales show as well; the big question will be how many of the acts that were pushed strong on TripleMania (Alberto, Riddle, the Indians) will be on the next AAA big show.

AAA on Unimas had part two of Verano de Escnadalo. I don’t remember this bit airing live, but Unimas aired an in-ring segment which just seemed to exist to tell you Latin Lover and Konnan were now friends as a way to set up the ‘surprise’ turn. Not a single person was actually surprised. The second half of the AAA TV tapings usually airs everything that didn’t air live, it’ll be hilarious if they air this angle after they’ve done the split. Unimas aired the mixed tag and Los Guapos/Exoticos match. Both were funny. Crazzy Steve was working so hard in the mixed tag match, seemingly stoked to get to work with Negro Casas and trying to impress to get more bookings here. He was trying to do good while a not-good match was happening all around him. The Guapos match seemingly existed to write Scorpio Jr. out of the act. He suffered a knee injury so Bello Greco (Chris Stone Jr.) could run out and replace him. The Scorpio Jr. injury was obviously a work, but also Scorpio Jr. generally doesn’t move good and isn’t a TV wrestler at this point. Bello Greco got to do this big save, had a great moonsault, and seemed like maybe AAA was doing something – and then he gets submitted by Jesse Queen to lose. Unclear how that works since he wasn’t actually in the match to start, but I guess you can just sub for people whenever you want in AAA.

The Unimas show also airs on US network TUDN – except, after the first few weeks, AAA disappeared from the late night time slot it was advertised in. TUDN still listed it on the spot, but soccer was airing instead. After weeks of this, UTDN finally updated their guide and AAA appears to be on at 3pm ET Mondays. If someone in AAA reads this paragraph, it’ll probably be the first they know of this switch.

In a series of Q&As on his Instagram Stories on Sunday, Karis La Momia Jr. confirmed he wasn’t the La Parka at TripleMania (he was in Monterrey that day), he expects that gimmick will be given to someone else, and he’s out of AAA. My assumption is that AAA believed for years that they could talk Karis Jr. into taking his father’s gimmick, but he continued to insist he wanted to chart his own path, and AAA eventually just decided to cut ties and move on. Karis has not looked TV ready in his debut after many years on live events, but AAA could also just have been frustrated with him for refusing to take the gimmick and creating a headache for them. Karis seems like he’ll have no issue with the person who takes over the La Parka gimmick. It just remains to be seen if the fans feel the same way.

Mucha Lucha Atlanta announced Hijo del Vikingo for their 10/13 show. Right now, the first Vikingo match still appears to be the 09/17 show in Arena Aficion. It stands to reason that if he’s working that show, he’ll probably turn up on the weekend before – those days leading into Mexican Independence Day are among the busiest days of the year in terms of numbers of shows – and just the poster hasn’t turned up yet. He’ll likely be on that 10/07 AAA TV taping. The big question is when he’ll return to the AAA/ROH universe. Or, I guess, if he’ll make his return, given how much closer they’re working with CMLL since Vikingo got hurt in February.

At the WWE PPV this Saturday, WWE wrestlers Dominic Mysterio and Liv Morgan wore gear with the AAA eye symbol. Konnan wore a Judgement Day t-shirt as part of the Eye reveal angle at TripleMania. I don’t follow WWE closely enough to know if this new configuration of the Judgement Day is otherwise using that eye symbol or if it’s supposed to be a wink toward the AAA angle. Very few people picked up on it,; AAA’s big angles just aren’t over to a broad audience and definitely not to people who watch WWE shows. It’ll get more attention when this paragraph gets picked up by different content sites, I suspect.

Laredo Kid did not win the X-Title on TNA’s PPV. The only clip I saw of him in the match was him being press-slammed to the floor.

IWRG

They “sold out” (probably free tickets) another political candidate show on Saturday. The confusing part to me is not the full Arena Naucalpan, but Mexico just had elections in June. This guy already won!

IWRG (SUN) 09/01/2024 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Drakula Ng & Súperboy b Arceus & Fauno
2) Princesa Azul & Shamila b Danessa & Demonia
3) Aquiles, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Hijo Del Silver King b Gran Pandemónium, Hijo de Pandemónium, Pandemónium Jr.
4) Cerebro Negro Jr. b Multifacetico Jr.
5) Tornado & Willy Banderas b Águila Roja & Hysteriosis
6) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba b Arez, Látigo, Toxin

Big Lucha

Big Lucha (SAT) 08/31/2024 Arena Big Lucha, Iztapalapa, Distrito Federal [Estrellas del Ring, thecubsfan]
1) Peace Man b Pablo Rivas 
2) Brujo & Zenky b Platino & Reiyel 
3) La Brava & Marishka b Lady Wind & Sussy Love 
4) Tempo b Auzter, Estrella de Oro, Uzumaki, Morfosis 
5) Black Skayde, Elipse, Vengador b Cósmico, Helios, Nordico 
Black Skayde is officially part of Luchas Locos and La Brava joined as well.
6) Big Tao Tao, Limbo, Tonalli b Mr. Win, Orbita, Viajero 
14:59. official debut of Tonalli as part of Black Generaction
7) Flamita b Emperador Azteca 
19:01. Black Generation unsuccessfully got involved, then attacked Flamita post match. Viajero, Orbita and Mr. Win made the save.

One of the original themes for Big Lucha was trying to be “Dragon Gate Mexico.” It didn’t work; I’m unsure everyone involved believed that vision, but I’m uncertain if it ever would’ve taken. Still, for at least one night, and with Flamita coming back here from his first Dragon Gate tour in years, that original flavor felt back. The new Big Generation team looked strong as a unit in a better thought-out match than most indie trios matches. Big Tao Tao worked as a monster. Tonalli was just as smooth as a wrestler, a cut above most people in this scene. This was a better place for him to showcase it than most of the random matches he seemed to be doing; there was some organization and direction here. Flamita/Emperador Azteca started off with Flamita running cross ring to boot Emperador Azteca in the face and didn’t let up. I enjoyed goofing around Demonic Flamtia, but very serious killing machine Flamita is even better. The cruficix bomb reversal spot was one of the craziest of the year, but it was mostly a match about Flamtia being one of the best wrestlers in the world at whatever he was doing. The aspect I enjoyed the most in the match is the Black Generation did a few interference spots and it didn’t matter at all. They all hit him with clotheslines, and Flamita was right back on offense. They threw power in his face, and Flamita didn’t even sell it for one second. That Flamita is just on another level, he shrugged off that cheap junk like bullets bouncing off Superman. You want to give the fans someone to cheer about, you do things like that.

I can’t vouch for the rest of the show, didn’t watch it, but the top two are worth your time. Flamita/Emperador Azteca is go out of your way to see.

Todo x el Todo

El Hijo del Santo’s busy media tour took him to Leon over the weekend, where he promoted the 10/06 show. He doesn’t really say anything (or get different questions) than he does in all the other interviews, but they’re making an honest effort to promote them.

Other Notes

According to Box y Lucha, retired micro luchador La Hormiga Atomica (Domingo Rivera) passed away on Sunday. Microman’s gimmick is that he’s only 100 cm tall. Hormiga Atomica was billed as 75 cm, the smaller luchadors ever, tiny even for the batch of micros working at the time, and he suffered physically for it. He did not have a long career, starting in 1988 and ending in 1999, losing time due to injury and coming along just as the style was about change from US-style small-person comedy to Mascarita Sagrada super-heroics. Hormiga Atomica fit in the first character, but not as much the second. As you might figure from the translated name, his gimmick was taken from the Hanna-Barbera character Atom Ant.

Scorpio Cholo, Legionario, Bello Armando, Lalo de Linche, el Olimpico, Avipson Verde, Avispon Verde Jr. will be added to the Ciudad Juarez Hall of Fame on Friday

There’s a new lucha libre photo in Xalapa.

A photo of new Monterrey subway workers went viral because one of the new subway workers appears to be ex-luchador Konnan Big.