CMLL draws well on a Tuesday show, New Year’s Day lineups, AAA year opening show

CMLL

Mas Lucha points out a Soberano Jr. Instagram post proclaiming himself, Templario and Atlantis as the new faces of CMLL and says Volador & Mistico’s time is over. (Negro Casas, the sixth person in the match, didn’t come up.) A generation battle could work but it doesn’t quite fit with the current CMLL nostalgia focus. Mas Lucha reports Soberano’s team won by DQ.

CMLL (TUE) 12/28/2021 Arena México [Box y Lucha, CMLL]
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito b Mercurio & Pequeño Violencia
Pequeno Violencia needed medical help
2) Eléctrico, Robin, Sonic b Apocalipsis, Cholo, Inquisidor
tecnicos took 2/3
3) La Vaquerita, Marcela, Skadi b Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany
4) Felino Jr., Hijo del Villano III, Pólvora b El Audaz, Esfinge, Fugaz
Rudos took 1/3.
5) Atlantis, Star Jr., Titán b Felino, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero

Not a lot of news, as normal for this time of year. Pequeno Violencia took an elbow to the head on a Ultimo Dragoncito tope con giro late in the third fall and was bleeding significantly from the head – they didn’t give it a good look on the stream. Mercurio got pinned, Pequeno Violencia half came in, and Olimpico called off the match before he got in. I think the elbow may have given Pequeno Violencia concussion-like symptoms and he made the call to take himself out; his effort to get in seemed more to talk to Olimpico than to continue the match.

CMLL drew an impressive crowd for a Tuesday Arena Mexico show. It would’ve been a good turnout for a Tuesday show even prior to the pandemic. Last week’s show was said to draw about 600; this one looks like three to four thousand. I can’t put a finger on why; maybe just people looking for something to do during the holidays. It at least suggests good things for Saturday.

CMLL (TUE) 12/28/2021 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Mas Lucha]
1) Avispón Negro Jr., Capitán Cobra, Temerario b Destello, Destructor, Thunder Boy
2) Gallito Tapatío, Micro Gemelo Diablo I, Micro Gemelo Diablo II b Átomo, Chamuel, Perico Zacarías
3) Flash, Omega, Star Black b Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno, Zandokan Jr.
4) Stephanie Vaquer & Valkiria b Náutica & Sexy Sol
Valkiria pulled Natuica’s mask to pin her.
5) Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga b Bárbaro Cavernario, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel
6) Dulce Gardenia, Místico, Soberano Jr. b Averno, Black Warrior, Mephisto

The Micro Gemelo Diablos started in December and have now wrestled seven matches in CMLL arenas in 2021. Microman, who was in CMLL most of the year, wrestled six matches. In the past, CMLL (and/or the wrestler union) has had limits about how often new luchadors were allowed to wrestle. I wonder if the Micro Gemelo Diablos were brought in from another line of athletic activity, that’s why they quickly got the highspots (and not a lot else) and the tradeoff for getting them was promising them a lot of work. It’s just a guess, I don’t know anything but that’s a strange stat.

That ends the 2021 year for CMLL. There are more indie shows for Wednesday and Thursday, but nothing big and nothing at all on Friday.

CMLL (SAT) 01/01/2022 Arena México
1) Halcón Suriano Jr. vs Sonic [lightning]
2) Dark Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Cancerbero, Espanto Jr., Virus
3) Princesa Sugehit © vs La Jarochita [CMLL WOMEN]
4) Místico, Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. vs Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]
5) El Audaz vs Pólvora, Dulce Gardenia, Okumura, Sangre Imperial, El Coyote, Espíritu Negro, Disturbio, Stigma, Akuma, Pegasso, Nitro [mask, hair, cage]

This is a Ticketmaster Live show for 230 pesos/11.18 USD.

There’s no real favorite to lose their hair in the cage match. In a matter of speaking, CMLL’s played this well in giving a lot of possible options. I just don’t know that anyone’s that excited to see any of those outcomes. It’s probably a hair, with only Nitro really having a chance of losing his mask this way if CMLL doesn’t believe his body could handle a singles match. Nitro’s union leadership deal probably means he’s getting a big payoff at some point, so there’s a chance this is it. Dulce & Okumura could get singles matches of their own, so the loser is likely coming out of Disturbio, Espiritu Negro, and Akuma. I’d guess Disturbio if I had to guess someone, but I don’t feel strongly about it.

Atlantis Jr. back to teaming with the Guerreros. Jarochita/Sugehit could be good, as could the first two matches. Raziel is still missing, believed out with COVID for quite a while. Suriano/Sonic could be an action opener. I’m not particularly excited about the main event but this looks like a good card.

CMLL (SUN) 01/02/2022 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Angelito & Shockercito
2) Diamond, Magia Blanca, Magnus vs Dark Magic, Enfermero Jr., Espanto Jr.
3) La Jarochita, Lluvia, Reyna Isis vs Dalys, Princesa Sugehit, Stephanie Vaquer [Relevos Increíbles]
4) Hombre Bala Jr., Kráneo, Volcano vs Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado
5) Soberano Jr., Titán, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Terrible

Not sure why only the tercera is a relevos increibles match. That could set up a tag title match.

CMLL (SUN) 01/02/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Atilius & Rey Urano vs Aurelius & Maxiums
2) Adrenalina, Estrella Oriental, Minotauro vs Destrucción, Onix, Sombra Dorada
Coliseo vs Jalisco
3) Bestia Negra, Difunto, Omega vs Draego, Reggae Boy, Reycko
Coliseo vs Jalisco
4) Explosivo, Fantástico, Gallo vs Makabre, Rey Tritón, Sniper
Coliseo vs Jalisco
5) Blue Panther & Cachorro Lagunero vs All Carrillo & Zandokan Jr.
6) Bárbaro Cavernario, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga [super libre]

The return of CMLL Sunday Guadalajara shows includes a lot of Arena Jalisco names, including ex-CMLL star (Rey) Triton. This is his first match here since quitting CMLL in September 2019; it seems longer. The Furia Roja team beat the Cavernario team last night to set up that main event. These shows are meant to be weekly from here on it; the week starting January 2nd will be the first full CMLL schedule since March 2020.

CMLL announcer Roberto Lopez Olvera announced he’d beaten COVID on Twitter. I don’t usually follow him on social media, but apparently, he’s been deal with it for the last two weeks based on previous posts. CMLL had Hechicero as a fill-in announcer for the Christmas Day show, which also could’ve been because Miguel Linares’ mother (and Mickey Linare’s grandmother) passed away.

CMLL Informa has Coyote & Euforia to talk about the Gran Alternativa and Polvora, Audaz, Okumura to talk about the cage match and Sonic for some reason. Sonic is scheduled to work the opener on 01/01 but that usually doesn’t mean an Informa appearance, so maybe something additional is happening.

AAA

AAA TV (SUN) 01/30/2022 Polifrum Zamna, Mérida, Yucatan
1) ? & ?? vs ??? & ????
2) Komander, Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa vs DMT Azul, Puma King, Sam Adonis
3) Dulce Canela, Faby Apache, Pimpinela Escarlata vs Diva Salvaje, Jessy, Mamba
4) Laredo Kid © vs Willie Mack, ?, Dragón Lee [AAA CRUISER]
11th defense, first since May
5) La Hiedra, Rey Escorpión, Villano III Jr. © vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón and Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana [AAA TRIOS]
third defense
6) Hijo Del Vikingo, Octagón Jr., Pagano vs Abismo Negro Jr., Cibernético, Látigo
7) Fénix & Pentagón Jr. vs Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood © [AAA TAG]

AAA officially announced this lineup Tuesday night. There’s changes, with Aramis & Taurus most notably removed from two title matches. PWG’S BOLA is 01/29 and 01/30; it would’ve been technically possible for them to get from Los Angeles to Merida for an early afternoon taping but it would’ve been a stretch (and it would’ve been a spoiler for how they did in the tournament.) La Hiedra got moved up from the women’s match, which may end up as making up the bonus match. Aramis’ spot in the cruiserweight title match remains empty at the moment. I hope they give Parka Negra the spot.

AAA also said this would be the first taping of the year, so they’re off for a month more. The Mexico City tapings will probably air 01/22 and 01/29, and this show the week after. AAA’s given no indication they’re going back to airing these live. We actually don’t even know if they’re staying with the same TV partners; those deals usually come up at the end of the year and AAA keeps any news regarding them quiet.

Other News

I’m not sure if there will be a normal update on Friday; I can write it, not sure anything’s going to happen worth writng about. I do have the Tapatia awards ready to go so maybe I’ll roll them out. (Any suggestions/changes are welcome.) I also have a bunch of recaps I never posted.

IWRG (SAT) 01/01/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) 1 vs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 [cage]
wrestlers from Lucha Time, MexaWrestling and GALLI
2) Aster Boy vs Freelance, Puma de Oro, Billy Jones, Sol, Legendario [cage, IWRG REY DEL AIRE, #1 Contenders]
3) Jessy Ventura vs Toxin [IWRG MEXICO]
belt will be hanging like a ladder match
4) Hijo del Espectro vs Dick Angelo 3G, Hijo De Dos Caras, Hijo del Fishman, Canek Jr., Súper Nova [cage, IWRG JUNIORS, #1 Contenders]
the first person who escapes (after 10 minutes) wins a title shot on 01/08 against Hijo del Alebrije
5) Dragón Bane © vs ? [IWRG REY DEL AIRE, cage]
6) Satania vs Bugambilia, Benga Lee, Hijo del Alebrije, Alpha Wolf, Diva Salvaje, Cerebro Negro, Tortuga Leo, Akbal, Oficial AK47 [hair, mask, cage]
last person left loses their hair

This is another Mas Lucha subscription show. I think there are more losing suspects in the IWRG cage match; Alebrije, Wolf, Diva are the only ones who feel totally safe. Jessy Ventura seems a lock to finally win the IWRG Mexico title from Toxico.

El Siglo de Torreon has a report on Andrade’s return to Arena Olimpico Laguna, an arena he first wrestled in when he was 13. I don’t know what the capacity is of that building is, but I’m pretty sure they exceeded it.

The Lucha Brothers will team with Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus and Christian Cage against FTR, Matt Hardy and Private Party on tonight’s AEW Dynamite. AEW’s been circling around a Lucha Brothers/Jurassic Express tag title match for a while, and it might get set up here for next week.

RIOT’s 02/11-12 La Rina participants

Notable Dia de Inocentes prank stories

The luchadoras of Lucha Libre Femenil, led by Diana la Cazadora and Nahomi, held a press conference to bring attention to their show being shut down back on the 17th. Their focus is on the behavior of lucha libre commissioner Gerardo Cortez Orozco, who also wrestled as Pegasso (not the CMLL one); they’re angry about him coming into the dressing room, demanding the women change clothes while he’s there, and making rude comments while they changed. The women of LLF feel the commissioner shut down their show out of spite for them pushing back on his treatment, and not for legitimate reasons. They want him and the head of the commission removed, with women put in those places. They’re also looking for all wrestling licenses to be renewed immediately at no cost (they’ve been unable to renew them at all during the pandemic), the government to assist in getting and paying for immediate attention in case of injury, and that commissioner’s respect human dignity going forward. Monterrey promotions LLF, LLU, RIOT, Kaos, Rompiendo Madres, Arena Jaguar and Lucha Time are supporting these requests – that’s most of the groups that run in Monterrey. KAOZ has since said they didn’t actually sign on to this. Cazadora noted they’ve been ignored by government officials so far and plan to have a protest next if they’re not heard.

Lunathor Jr., a luchador who appears based in Mexico City, announced he’s changing his name to Baby Daddy. For whatever reason, there are a lot more Mexican wrestlers with names that sound unappealing in English than English-speaking wrestlers with names that are unappealing in Spanish. Maybe this was a Dia de Inocentes joke I didn’t get.

MedioTiempo points out a recent Arturo Rivera YouTube interview where he talks about his start in lucha libre announcing. He was drafted into covering a show with no previous knowledge, which seems like the story of most everyone who ended up calling the shows on Televisa. It’s impressive that the 90s CMLL/AAA announcers are as well-liked as they are, because announcers without experience usually end up loathed by the diehards. It probably helped that Rivera, Alfonso Morales, and Leobardo Magadan (who’ve all told similar origin stories) seem to have gotten those first shows when lucha libre wasn’t allowed to air on TV in Mexico City; they got a chance to improve when fewer people saw them. Rivera also said Morales couldn’t stand Rivera’s style at first and claims he’s currently vetoed by AAA for working with Robles. Rivera’s said different things about his relationship with AAA in the past and AAA hadn’t used him in a significant role for years.

LuchaWorld has the latest Poster-Mania and the latest Lucha Report.

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