AAA
One more time: TripleMania Chapter 1 from Monterrey takes place Saturday at 8 pm CT. It’s on FITE for 20 USD. There’s English and Spanish announcing, you can switch between broadcasts during the show (though it may be a bit trickier on the app than the web.)
I wrote the typical long preview for Voices of Wrestling. I’ve found myself more concerned about the tournament matches and more convinced nothing else is going to really matter if Fenix, Vikingo, and the Bucks knock it out of the park. I’m also just convinced Konnan ran an angle on The Crash show to set up Fenix vs Vikingo fully knowing he was actually planning on running that match at TripleMania Tijuana instead and we’ll see that start to play out Saturday night.
AEW Dynamite had good news on Fenix. His arm is still wrapped, but he looks ready to go for Saturday. I’m not as sure about Sammy Guevara. He missed on a move, landed hard, and it appeared AEW’s medical crew spent most of a commercial break debating if they were going to let him continue. He did, but the WON confirmed Guevera was injured but is uncertain of the severity. I think there’s a pretty good chance Guevera doesn’t wrestle on the show and the mixed tag match is changed again.
Taya and Deonna Purrazzo will have their rematch for the AAA Reina de Reinas championship on their May 7th Impact PPV show. (Impact runs a lot of PPVs!) I Purrazzo’s Mexico commitments are probably finished after Saturday.
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. says he wants to avenge his father’s mask loss to Blue Demon, and he’ll retire if he loses his mask.
Larry Dallas announced he signed a contract with AAA. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports it is 18 dates with an AAA option for 18 more. 11 Showcenter events plus 3 TripleManias and maybe 5 Rey de Reyes level events would fit in a year, though AAA could also just use him on all the tapings if they want. Dallas and Joe Dombrowski will be in Monterrey for TripleMania, as they will be for all the TripleManis.
There is a next TV taping finally announced:
AAA TV (SAT) 05/28/2022 Explanada Malltertainment, Puebla, Puebla
1) Baby Extreme, Drago Kid, Komander vs Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba
2) Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana vs Dinámico, Draztick Boy, Emperador Azteca and Abismo Negro Jr., Arez, Psicosis
3) Aerostar, Drago, Myzteziz Jr. vs Argenis, Parka Negra, Toxin
4) Faby Apache, Heavy Metal, Octagón Jr. vs DMT Azul, Puma King, Sam Adonis
5) Fénix vs Látigo, Taurus © [AAA LA]
third defense
6) Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Pagano vs Flamita, Rey Escorpión, Villano III Jr.
Fenix seems unlikely to be available. AEW is in Las Vegas from May 25th to May 29th for Double or Nothing and other tapings, and typically the entire roster stays in that city for the whole PPV stretch.
The rest is the miscellaneous killing time TV stuff – like the third match are the feuds that have been spinning their wheels for a full year. The second match is Draztick Boy’s first appearance here post-pandemic; he’s been El Mago for about a year and a half now and I’m unsure if AAA knows. Hope that means he’s also in the Showcenter mix.
The upcoming Space schedule looks like
- 04/30: Monterrey TripleMania live (I’m not streaming this)
- 05/07: Monterrey week 2
- 05/14: Monterrey week 3
- 05/21: ????
- 05/28: ????
- 06/04: Puebla Week 1
- 06/11: Puebla Week 2
- 06/18: Tijuana TripleMania Live (also not this)
I’ve heard another May taping exists for that spot, but I don’t have a date or location locked down. May 14th would make sense as a date based on that schedule. We’re also waiting on a date for the May Showcenter event, but figure on it coming out as soon as Saturday’s TripleMania broadcast.
The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals visited AAA as part of an NFL Mexico promotional tour on Thursday.
CMLL
CMLL (FRI) 04/29/2022 Arena México
Arena Mexico 66th Annivesary
1) Panterita del Ring Jr. & Stigma vs Halcón Suriano Jr. & Suicida
2) Dark Silueta, La Jarochita, Princesa Sugehit, Stephanie Vaquer vs Dalys, Lluvia, Marcela, Reyna Isis [Relevos Increíbles]
3) Rey Bucanero & Último Guerrero vs Averno & Mephisto
4) Atlantis Jr., Gran Guerrero, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Negro Casas, Stuka Jr. [Relevos Increíbles]
5) Templario vs Místico vs Titán [CMLL Universal, final]
This seems like a safe bet for a really good show. Any combination of the two Universal singles matches should be interesting, there’s at least a little doubt over who’s going to win. It feels like it’ll be a huge moment if Templario or TItan beat Mistico and the crowd will be very happy to see Mistico. This should be the best-attended Arena Mexico of the year and maybe the best until the Gran Prix; CMLL is offering 10 peso upper-level tickets for children to help fill the place. That also seems to point to Mistico winning, but we’ll see.
A big crowd is a good time to do a lot of Stuka Jr./Altantis Jr. feuding, so that’s surely the focus of the semi-main. I’m not sure how much Rey Bucanero left and Mephisto hasn’t been wrestling much of late, but there’s probably enough there for them to play the hits. The women’s atomicos will likely be very well planned out and get over well. The lightweight guys in the opener keep coming close to putting it together for a full match and are entertaining when they don’t.
This is the usual 99 pesos TicketmasterLive show. That’s a little bit of a surprise, a tournament final is usually the 250 price point.
Mistico, Dalys, Pantera del Ring, and Ultimo Dragoncito will recieve the Copa Bobby Bonales from Daniel Aceves on the show. Aceves remains an important person in Mexico’s sports governance and CMLL stays close to him and continually honors his 50s/60s era luchador father. The most recent idea is one man, woman, and a trainer would be honored, with KeMonito honored in the 2021. Maybe Ultimo Dragonicto is the trainer this time but they still wanted to award four people.
CMLL (SUN) 05/01/2022 Arena México
1) Retro vs Apocalipsis
2) Arkalis, Halcón Suriano Jr., Leono vs Cholo, Grako, Inquisidor
3) La Magnifica, La Vaquerita, Skadi vs Amapola, La Seductora, Metálica
4) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black vs Cancerbero, Luciferno, Virus
5) Gemelo Diablo I, Gemelo Diablo II, Sagrado vs Felino, Hechicero, Terrible
Just a show. The semi-main reminds me CMLL hasn’t said what they’re doing with the trios titles.
CMLL (MON) 05/02/2022 Arena Puebla
1) Meyer vs Black Tiger
2) Dr. Karonte I & Dr. Karonte II vs Rey Apocalipsis & Siki Osama
3) La Guerrera & La Magnifica vs Hera & Olympia
4) Halcón Suriano Jr., Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Disturbio, Hijo del Villano III
5) Averno, Titán, Volador Jr. vs Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Terrible [Relevos Increíbles]
It looks like Volador versus Angel de Oro or Niebla Roja is coming up here.
The second match is a Toro Bill Jr. tribute. Rey Apocalipsis was Toro Bill Jr.’s partner in Arena Puebla, and they also teamed with Siki Osama Jr. as a trios version of Batillon del Muerte on the Puebla indies.
CMLL (TUE) 05/03/2022 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Bello Antuan, Cosmos, Último Ángel vs Gran Kenut, Jabalí, Tigre Blanco
2) Omar Brunetti, Optimus, Trono vs Bobby Black, Carlo Roggi, Javier Cruz Jr.
3) Ángel Rebelde, Espíritu Negro Jr., Halcón Negro Jr., Samuray Azteca vs Obelisk, Persa, Raven, Temerario
4) Hera, La Magnifica, Olympia vs Náutica, Sexy Sol, Valkiria
5) Cris Skin, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno vs Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte, Ráfaga
6) Dr. Karonte I & Dr. Karonte II vs Adrenalina & Fantástico
That’s a lot lower star power than Mexican City’s sent for these Tuesday shows. Maybe something is happening in Arena Mexico? Also looks like the school’s tournament is not single elimination.
CMLL announced the May tournament will be Copa Junior VIP. That’s second/third generation wrestlers and the important ones for being the VIP version. There will be an elimination round on May 20th and the final on May 27th.
Mascara Dorada faces TJP on this Saturday’s edition of NJPW Strong. (This airs on NJPW World, maybe wait until Sunday to subscribe so you don’t get charged twice.)
NJPW’s preview bills Dorada as a CMLL wrestler, though he still hasn’t made his way to Mexico. I’d really like to see Titan and other CMLL wrestlers get in the upcoming Best of Super Juniors, but I suspect Dorada is being brought over is going to check that box for NJPW. The field may be announced as soon as Sunday’s Wrestling Dontaku show.
On Informa, Julio Cesar Rivera indicated CMLL is planning on running the Gran Prix this year. No date was announced. That’s the Mexico versus the World cibernetico that’s included Ring of Honor and New Japan wrestlers in the past, along with some total randoms. No ROH this year, with that promotion being absorbed by AEW. It seems a safe bet some NJPW wrestlers will be in, though TJP, Jeff Cobb and other non-Japanese talent seem more likely than the natives. There are enough foreigners hanging around Mexico (hanging around Bandido’s gym in particular) that CMLL might be able to get to “Okumura, Dark Magic, and six more” without necessarily needing to work with other promotions, though I do believe there will be some NJPW involvement. That’s also going to be the moment where we find out what CMLL believes about Travis Banks.
El Manana has an interview with Dulce Gardenia.
Negro Casas was awarded the Microfono de Oro from the Asociación Nacional de Locutores, which seems to honor a luchador this way once every few years. Electroshock won this award in 2012, Blue Panther won it more recently, I don’t have the list.
Robles/Rush
The bullet points from Rush’s press conference
- he’s back starting this weekend
- LFI now considers itself a promotion though there are no plans to run shows
- Rush’s wife is now part of La Reina Ingobernable and is in charge of internationalizing the group
- You may remember her as the authority figure from Federacion Wrestling
- Dementor unmasked himself as Vangellys, with a hairstyle similar to Bestia del Ring. He’s now officially part of LFI.
- Rush said some stuff about being the only person who could unmask Park to make sure people would actually write about the rest of this too.
This was just a well-produced idea to get attention after Rush has been on the sidelines for eight months with no real news. Vangellys as Dementor was a terribly unkept secret. This was pitched as renovated Los Ingobernables but it’s the same as usual.
Rush’s comeback starts this week with Robles promotions shows in Mexico City, Merida, and Cancun. There’s rarely any info on the Robles shows outside of Mexico City and I’m not expecting this weekend to be different; they’re only notable in that they mean Rush will not be in Monterrey for TripleMania. Dralistico & Dragon Lee have talked a lot about Rush joining them in AAA. That seems like an inevitability, given Rush’s lack of options and AAA’s desire to have as many big names as possible. Just probably not this weekend.
The Mexico City Robles shows are not officially recorded, but there are usually a dozen different YouTubers shooting from the stands and media reports on the results. There are also usually visible sections of empty seats which go unreported about (but likely is the reason this group started with Alberto as the face, switched to La Mascara, and now is with the ex-ENESMA guy around.) It’s hard to believe Robles can possibly draw enough to cover the costs of running this show, but it’d be a big feather in Rush’s cap if he could get them closer than usual. Rush, La Bestia del Ring, and Vangellys headline against Chris Masters, Marco Corleone, and LA Park. Dragon Lee & Dralistico team up with Bandido against Taurus, Flamita and odd third wheel Carlito. (It’d be must-see if they moved someone like Ricky Marvin up into Carlito’s spot.) Dark Angel makes her in-ring return in a trios match among other action.
Marty Scurll was added to the Saturday show at some point (teaming with La Mascara against Juvy & Fuerza.) He’s in Mexico City already Friday, so there’s a decent chance he’ll be added to the show. It’s not great that the rest of the wrestling world’s rejects finds a spot in Mexico and that the rest of the wrestling has so many rejects.
Other News
This is the busiest weekend of the shows in Mexico so far this year, and probably in the last three. I’ve found 83 shows on Saturday and 70 shows on Sunday, with a bunch more to enter. Kids Day coming on a Saturday plus Mexico treating COVID like it’s over just makes for a really active weekend.
Haven’t seen the NOAH show but the Dragon Bane/Alpha Wolf/Ninja Mack match went very well. I was worried they wouldn’t be able to transition back to the high spot style NOAH was looking for, but I needed not worry based on the GIFS.
IWRG
IWRG (SAT) 04/30/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Rosel & Último Caballero vs Milagro & Súper Boy
2) Águila Oriental, Nativo, Rey Minos vs Kenji, Rey Cometa (Iwrg), Rey Eclipse
3) Jhon Tito, Sol, Spider Fly vs Astaroth, Garra Mortal, X-Devil
4) Jack, Luka, The Mummy vs Fly Warrior, Fulgor, Mafioso
5) Cerebro Negro Jr., Hell Boy, Leo, Limbo, Noisy Boy, Puma de Oro, Tonalli, Wagner Kid vs Abc, Blue Tiger, Laser, Pasion, Rebelde, Tacle El 85, Thunder Storm, Troyano [Copa High Power]
FILL vs Gym Ultimo Guerrero
Ultimo Guerrero can’t be booked in this arena due to CMLL rules but, apparently, he can bring his (non-CMLL?) students. Thunder Storm very much wrestles like an Ultimo Guerrero trainee and should do well with some of the FILL guys. Luka in the semi-main is debuting. IWRG can’t decide if the guy he’s teaming with is La Momia or The Mummy; there’s probably a goofy license reason for that. This show is starting around 4 CT, so it should finish up right around TripleMania Monterrey.
This is the 95th High Power tournament. It’d be cool if IWRG had a big plan for 100 but sometimes what I think are big plans and what lucha libre promotions think are big plans are two different things.
IWRG (SUN) 05/01/2022 Arena Naucalpan
1) Calibus vs Rey Halcón
2) Genex & Legendario vs Baby Daddy & Limbo
3) Hijo del Pantera & Pantera Jr. vs Chris Stone Jr. & Hell Boy
4) ?, Big Boy, Big Chico Che vs Ra-Zhata, Shil-Ka, Tortuga Leo
5) Dinamic Black, Freelance, Noisy Boy, Relámpago vs ?, Dick Angelo 3G, Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Puma de Oro and Accion Jackson, Shaun Moore, Shocko, Veneno and La Momia, Mafioso, Medico Brujo, Sick Boy [Zona de Ejecuion]
6) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Mamba vs Fly Warrior, Fulgor, Mike
That’s a lot of people. Zona de Ejecuion starts with one person from each team in the ring and getting replaced when they get defeated if I recall correctly.
Other News
MLW had Gino Medina, Arez, and Mini Abismo Negro vs KC Navarro, Aramis and Micro Man on this week’s episode.
VXS tonight on Fite (7 pm CT) for $13.
Kinda interested in how both of those go, not sure I’m going to have the time to watch them.
05/01 PWG
- Bandido (c) vs Daniel Garcia for the PWG Championship
- Black Taurus vs Black Christian
- Aramis vs Konosuke Takeshita
I think there’s a decent chance Bandido will lose the PWG title on this show. Not anything about him or his future, but it’s about time. PWG hasn’t sold out so it’s hard to argue this is still working even if Bandid’s not the reason.
Disney’s Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion debuts on their cable channel on June 3rd, and they posted a trailer on Thursday for Superhero Day. April 28th is apparently superhero day, I’ll try to buy someone a cake for it next year) This was the show originally announced with Blue Demon instead of Black Scorpion. (Demon said he had issues with the production, the change came after Demon was accused of spousal abuse, I don’t know if either or neither was the reason for the change.) The original pitch talked about as a strongly lucha libre concept. They’re wearing luchador outfits and there’s a scene with a ring, but it seems much more a standard superhero show in realization.
In a similar fashion, Bad Bunny will be playing Marvel comic character El Muerto in an upcoming movie. There’s some controversy here: Muerto is Mexican, Bad Bunny is Puerto Rican. Muerto is also a luchador in his (very limited) comic book appearances so that could show up in his movie.
Occasional IWRG luchadora Diosa Atenea says she’ll be retiring on the 05/15 WWS show.
An entertaining story on a 1999 US indie staffed show passed off as a WCW event in Peru.
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