Miercoles Elite begins, Esfinge & Volador advance in Gran Alternativa, LU/Hulu, Demon/AAA

CMLL (TUE) 03/29/2016 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan, Yahoo! Deportes]
1) Astral & Shockercito b Mercurio & Pierrothito
14:38. Tecnicos took 1/3. Astral replaced Stukita.
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Magnus, Súper Halcón Jr. vs Canelo Casas, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado
Magnus replaced Delta on Monday. 11:27. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Atlantis, Mistico, Valiente b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
about 8:07. Tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Golden Magic & Warrior Steel b Raijin, Esfinge, Yago, Stigma, Sansón, Pegasso [Gran Alternativa, seeding battle royal]
3:47
5) Máscara Dorada & Pegasso b Sansón & Terrible [Gran Alternativa, eightfinal]
5:03. Pegasso actually won!
6) Mephisto & Yago b Pierroth & Raijin [Gran Alternativa, eightfinal]
4:33. Pierroth was still a Boricua.
7) Esfinge & Volador Jr. b La Máscara & Stigma [Gran Alternativa, eightfinal]
7:29.
8) Golden Magic & Rush b Mr. Niebla & Warrior Steel [Gran Alternativa, eightfinal]
4:59.
9) Máscara Dorada & Pegasso b Mephisto & Yago [Gran Alternativa, quarterfinal]
3:08.
10) Esfinge & Volador Jr. b Golden Magic & Rush [Gran Alternativa, quarterfinal]
5:59
11) Esfinge & Volador Jr. b Mephisto & Yago [Gran Alternativa, semifinal]
9:05. Esfinge & Volador Jr. advanced to face Fujin & Rey Escorpion next week.

Tournament is worth watching. Golden Magic was treated like a normal CMLL luchador and may be one. Yago has promise; it’s too bad Rebelde isn’t around to form a team of opening match Infierno-citos. Warrior Steel is an enormous man who provide good GIFs in the years to come.

There seems to be ample evidence Esfinge is not all that interesting, but I suppose he gets another chance to change perceptions on Tuesday. Just being in the final against Fujin suggests Esfinge is in line for a FantasticaMania appearance; they’re likely to keep fighting for a few more wins.

Pegasso actually won! (His 450 is still not very good.) Rush dismissively unmasking Esfinge should go in the highlight reel of great Rush moments.

Tonight is yet another CMLL affiliated show, though not one that’s streamed. It’s the debut of the Wednesday Elite shows, which will be taped for Azteca7 in Mexico. There’s been local promotion and a little bit of ticket giveaways for this show – they’d like a really big crowd for TV even more than for the gate.

The main event of the show is Bobby Lashley versus Rush. Lashley has previous appeared on an AAA TripleMania to no great recognition, and is a replacement for Brian Cage who hasn’t been promoted much outside of the poster and a short video. Rush was entertaining with Warrior Steel last night, so I think he and Lashley will be able to work something out. The match is listed as part of the Liga Elite tournament for the Elite heavyweight championship, but the tournament hasn’t been explained so I’m not sure exactly what it means

Extreme Tiger versus Mascara Dorada is also part of Liga Elite, and a rematch from just a few weeks ago in Lucha Memes. (Tiger won that one.) Cibernetico, Zumbi, Caristico, Volador, Mistico, Maximo and Marco Corleone have been listed in the 12 man field in promotional material. That’s 1 short of 12 person field, assuming they don’t make any other changes. I’d expect a lot of changes, just because it’s Elite, that’s what happened last time they tried this, and this seems even looser organized than that. The card also has Atlantis & Caristico versus Ultimo Guerrero & La Mascara, Golden Magic & Rocky Lobo vs Tiger & Puma in what sounds like a really good match, Zumbi, Emperador Azteca, Metaleon versus Fujin, Raijin and Heddi Karoui and a women’s match. That sounds like enough material for a couple of TV shows, and the advertisements for CMLL Informa have suggested they’re moving back on Wednesday next week. (Then again, every time Arena Coliseo moves, it’s also listed as a one time ever only thing.)

I’m still stuck on Elite not having a press conference to promote this show. They’ve had press conferences to promote the Morenos, Jinzo and Rocky Lobo. All wonderful individuals, but the bar seems low enough there that you’d promote Lashley showing up, or the new TV deal, or explain what the deal is with the heavyweight title. It really just could be usual lucha libre promotional randomness, but with the persistent talk of outside wrestlers jumping to Elite – none so specific and firm enough to report, but consistent enough that I’d be a little surprised if there wasn’t a surprise – I keep maybe there’s a big reason they’re waiting for that big roll out press conference.

Lucha Underground tonight has episode 10 of season 2, “El Jefe is Back”. Matches announced

• Angelico, Ivelisse, Son of Havoc (c) vs the Disciples of Death for the Lucha Underground Trios championship
• Mariposa vs Sexy Star

There’s a title match set up by a speaking segment early. Part of that segment is already online. There’s one more match which hasn’t been announced yet, and one of those matches has a stipulation not yet announced.

Lots of people seemed to think the Disciples were killed by Mil, but they are indeed as alive (if they’re meant to be alive ever.) You only seem to die in Lucha Underground if Matanza rips you apart, or if you’re stuffed in the casket. I would only believe someone is gone from Lucha Underground if one of those things happen.

WrestlingInc reports Lucha Underground is close to a deal with Hulu which would cover Season 1 and 2, with an option for season 3. Lucha Underground had previously been said to a deal for a digital platform beside Netflix, and Hulu’s the best alternative. The article says the deal isn’t done.

WrestlingBuds had an interview with Lucha Underground’s Eric Van Wagenen about Lucha Underground. It starts around the 1:11:00 mark. Van Wagenen has had a busy 2016: he started working on the Apprentice the day after Ultima Lucha II, and started back on Lucha Underground the day after Apprentice wrapped. (He says he’s had one Saturday off in 2016.) Van Wagenen explained the quick turnaround as part of a philosophy of putting as much of the money on the screen as possible – by not having to tear everything down and put it back up, that money could instead be used for more episodes in Season 3. Both the host and Van Wagenen mention the show is getting close to reaching the 100 episodes mark, faster than they thought. That’d mean Season 3 would be 33 hours long, or we’ve all just got confused counting.

They talked about Austin Warfare a bit, with Van Wagenen saying they had 1000 happy people and one person who failed to move when Mil Muertes yelled “Move!” There’s no plans to air it, but clips might show up in social media. He notes an overall belief in leaning towards being cool over clarity at times, specifically citing Vampiro’s mysterious covered car in the desert. He mentions Robert Rodriguez has had some influence on the look of the vignettes. And they talk about how spoilers for Season 3 might not be as big of an issue because they’re taping so much out of order; Van Wagenen says he has all the scripts, but even he’s not always sure which match goes with which they’re taping things.

Eric Mutter guesses at who might fight Matanza at Ultima Lucha II.

Fenix versus Pentagon Jr. was announced for the 04/20 Royal Road debut show, the AAA/LU match they had earlier teased. It’s the obvious match to pick because it’ll be very good, but Fenix’s nose injury might mean he’s still unable to fly by that point. (Fenix definitely would want to go whatever his condition, but you can’t get on a plane with a recently fixed nose.) I’d think AAA would have communicated this to Royal Royal already if this was actually off, so maybe I’m worrying for no good reason, but there’s a chance it gets changed.

R de Rudo says a source told them Blue Demon Jr. missed Rey de Reyes due to AAA having a problem arranging his travel. The post goes onto to say Demon’s unhappy with AAA and would go to Elite if they made an offer. Don’t do it Elite! AAA having problems flying people to their shows seems like a serious issue but I’m ok with it in this case and I’m skeptical about this story; it feels too much like Demon realizing he’s not in the mix in AAA and pitching himself for a new spot.

LuchaWorld has the top 10 for a weekend. I think it’s going to be tough move Matanza from the #1 position.

DoradaFan has highlights of Gran Alternativa Block A.

Segunda Caida reviews Blue Panther, La Máscara, La Sombra vs Atlantis, Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero

Samurai TV will air Homenaje a Dos Leyendas on April 12, at 10 pm.

A video interview with Flyer.

Dark Fire & Payaso Infernal are happy with their recent trip to Arena Coliseo Guadalajara.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 04/05/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
Homenaje a Dos Leyendas 2016 (Lutteroth & Asesino Negro)
1) Gallo, Magnum, Príncipe Daniel vs Artillero, Maléfico, Ráfaga
2) Fuego, Stigma, Tritón vs Sangre Azteca, Skándalo, Virus
3) Vaquero Jr. vs Espectrúm [hair]
4) Atlantis, Titán, Valiente vs Kráneo, Olímpico, Ripper
5) Carístico & Mistico vs Cibernético & Último Guerrero

Full lineup, mostly just with the hair match. Principe Daniel seems to be treated like a DF guy on this show, since he’s opposite of Artillero.