Los Principes debut with a win, TripleMania Monterrey

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 03/18/2024 Arena Puebla
1) Acero & Angelito b Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
2) Meyer b Prayer
3) Futuro, Valiente, Xelhua b El Malayo, Multy, Siki Osama 
4) Arkalis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso b Gemelo Diablo II, Okumura, Sagrado 
5) Rocky Romero, Stigma, Titán b Averno, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
Averno replaced Hechicero on Wednesday. Romero unmasked Dorada, pinned him, and demanded a title rematch.
6) Místico b Euforia 
Averno seconded Euforia. Euforia took 1, Mistico had La Mistica in the 2nd but Averno broke it up for the DQ, Mistico got La Mistica in third.

This show was at an early holiday start time. Both that and the main event looked to contribute to a larger than usual crowd; maybe 80% full. The last early start time (02/05) didn’t seem to draw as well, so maybe a little more credit goes to Mistico.

Asturiano spoke to a high school.

CMLL (TUE) 03/19/2024 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan]
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II b Micro Dito & Mije
10:30
2) Felino Jr. & Okumura b Legendario & Xelhua
14:29.
3) Acero & Angelito DDQ Pequeño Olímpico & Pierrothito
11:27. Angelito unmasked Pierrothito as Pierrothito fouled Angelito as they head to the four way mask match.
4) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Futuro, Max Star, Neón
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Valiente b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible
6:11. Tecnicos took 1 (excessive violendce DQ) and 3.
6) Rocky Romero, Soberano Jr., Templario b Máscara Dorada, Místico, Titán
18:44. New rudo trio gets a win in their debut. Dorada/Romero feude

This was a Friday night effort on Tuesday. Match 4 overcame some obvious early issues for a very exciting third fall. Los Depredadores, Neon, Futuro, and whoever is with them that week just go hard against each other every time. Maybe the first match as a trio motivated the main event rudos, though Mascara Dorada was doing as much as anyone. Match 1/2 were worthwhile too.

Romero, Soberano and Templario are going by “Los Principes.” Soberano’s used El Principe as a nickname.

CMLL (TUE) 03/19/2024 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL, Mas Lucha]
1) Amenaza Negra Jr., Mandala, Obek b La Pesadilla, Rav, Shezmu
2) Adira, Dulce Kitty, Náutica b Diablita Roja, Estrellita Mágica, Lady Metal
3) Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Temerario b Astro Oriental, Gallo Jr., Rafaga Jr.
4) Crixus, Difunto, Vegas DQ Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
Rafaga got eliminated, came back in to attack Crixus for the DQ. GDL rudos challenged for a hair/mask match next week, but it didn’t seem set.
5) Arlequín, Gallero, Halcón Negro Jr. b Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black
Gallero cheated to beat Esfinge, asked for a title match.
6) Atlantis Jr., Flip Gordon, Star Jr. b Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr.

Gallero challenging for an Esfinge title match seems like it gives away the finish of the Esfinge/Zandokan title match on H2L.

No Informa lineup (and I’ve waited longer than usual.)

Stardom announced Stephanie Vaquer as appearing on their 04/04 American Dream show in Philadelphia (WrestleMania weekend.) It helps fill out that lineup while the promotion is dealing with some of their current wrestlers becoming ex-wrestlers. Vaquer appearing on this show means she’ll likely turn up on other shows that weekend.

AAA

Some left over TripleMania thoughts:

PostWrestling confirmed with Triller (former FITE) that TripleMania will be streaming there as a stand alone PPV. That means not part of the monthly subscription. It’s not on the website as of yet.

From AAA’s perspective, this Alberto versus Nemeth main event is “the most successful Mexican wrestler ever against a past world title rival”. The fans who still believe in Alberto see that as a really big deal, and Alberto continuously markets himself as the greatest Mexican wrestler ever based on those title runs. (Alberto disqualifies Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero as Mexican American, and Mil Mascaras’ titles as not being as important as his WWE ones, if you’re asking.) This is attempt to play the big star’s greatest hits, in a similar fashion as CMLL has been doing with Mistico for the last couple of years. Mistico in that role has been a draw, has had very good matches, and doesn’t have a lot of disturbing personal baggage. Alberto believes he’s a draw, believes his matches are pretty good, and believe that because he was never sentenced for any crime, he shouldn’t have any baggage. That last part is never going to be fixed, but Alberto’s got his chance to prove the other two right. AAA’s claimed around 14,000 the last two years, we’ll see how this one does. Everyone else’s interest in this match is totally dependent on how much they’re interested in Alberto reliving his greatest moments.

Beyond that, it’s shocking how little of note is happening at this show. Vampiro’s a big deal if you believe Vampiro is truly retiring and if you Vampiro is a big deal for you, but there’s nothing of consequence on the rest of this show. It’s the kind of big show CMLL would’ve done in the past, doing just enough in the main event to get a good house and filling out the rest with trios matches just to get names on the card. AAA brought back Wagner, but they’re not bringing LA Park or Rush this year. They’re also not doing a tournament this time.

I’ve been focused on the AEW/AAA relationship – I believe there’s a story there that hasn’t been fully told – but I whiffed on thinking about the TNA/AAA relationship. It wouldn’t have been worth discussing if Scott D’Amore and Dorian Roldan didn’t do that alliance contract signing bit, and even TNA not doing much with Mexican wrestlers is old news, but TNA wrestlers not showing up on AAA show still is. TNA wrestlers have frequently appeared on AAA big shows, through multiple ownerships, and there’s none of them here after a deal got announced. D’Amore’s gone, and maybe that simple explanation is the accurate one. AAA’s relied on outside talent booking to spruce up these TripleMania cards, and it’s hurt tis lineup to not have TNA or AEW wrestlers. Nemeth seems to be freelance, Matt Cardona – expected in at some point this year – is also freelance, and that may just be the route for now.

Where would’ve Vikingo fit in on this card? There was a decent gap between his injury and the card announcement, so the show probably got shuffled around a bit. AAA had previously talked about Alberto facing one of three people selected in a poll, so his singles match with Nemeth was likely planned. Maybe Vikingo’s match was completely wiped (and that’s why there’s six matches instead of seven right now), maybe he slid into the Laredo/Octagon/Psycho team somehow. It’s possible there were also some plans for the Mala Fama guys, but it seems more likely they were going to be like the rest of Psycho Circus, NGD, and others hoping to slide into the Casas/Wagner match but probably just left off the card. (Remember when Guerra de Titanes featured Texano introducing a new group of Los Mercenarios, and then they and Texano were never seen again? They are doing the act on Ciudad Juarez shows at least.)

Rush and LA Park are already booked in Tijuana on the day of TripleMania. Juventud Guerrera had his Super X show that day already, which is another reason Konnan need not to have even bothered to ask.

The Laredo, Octagon and Psycho versus QT, Adonis and Parker Boudreaux match is the best chance for a good match on the show. It’s also a trial by fire for Boudreaux,  a match where he’s working with some demanding partners in terms of moves . Boudreaux’s usage – a foreigner coming in with no introduction – is exactly the same thing Konnan’s criticized other promotions for doing. The one consistent thing is Konnan does not feel AAA should be held to the same standards as other promotions; they’re super successful when it comes to business, but then a struggling company with few resources when it comes to getting things done.

There are no additional AAA TV tapings between now and TripleMania. The only news left to announce are the missing people in the Casas/Wagner matches and the show officially going on FITE.

Nic Nemeth seems to be defending the IWGP Global Championship against Tomohiro Ishii on their Windy City Riot show on 04/12. That could be the solution for the AAA title match – Nemeth could use lose NJPW’s title, then NJPW won’t care if he loses in AAA – but Ishii is not a guy who normally gets to beat people like Nemeth. I’m coming off as super negative in this whole section, but I also can’t help but think it really doesn’t matter if Alberto doesn’t want to lose and Nemeth can’t lose, AAA will just do some silliness and to get around it. Maybe the people who really want Dark Ozz to be in a title match will get their wish.

AAA posted the mysterious video from Saturday’s TV taping. An invading rudo super group is a well worn play in AAA’s creative team playbook. It also has been one where there’s little follow through beyond the initial launch; the rudos tend just beat up everyone until they fade away with no payoff. There’s no reason to believe this will be any different, or spend any time speculating who it might involve. It will absolutely get a big reaction when it happens and then there will be no substance to it, because the only intent seems to be to do a thing that gets people talking for a day.

IWRG

IWRG (THU) 03/21/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Sacro & Sky Man vs Príncipe Centauro & Rey Espartano
2) Diosa Quetzal & Shamila vs Kali & Sagitarius
3) ? vs ??
4) Noisy Boy & Spider Fly vs Látigo & Toxin
5) Hijo del Pirata Morgan & Pirata Morgan vs Pig Destroyer, Pig Destructor, Pig Pool

It’s quite weird I’m not sure if there’s a Thursday IWRG card until Wednesday morning. Match 3 will be a mystery until the names come up on the video board. Match 4 has been good in the past.

Other News

Box y Lucha 3595 has Rocky Romero, Mascara Dorada and Rush on the cover.

Lucha Libre Elite says their tickets will go sale on March 22nd. That’s about a week after their kickoff press conference.

The Morelia Boxing, Lucha Libre and MMA commission says there’s a group passing themselves off as the Michoacan Boxing and Lucha Libre to defraud people.

An interview with Hidalgo’s Kimura.