Jericho/Bandido for the ROH title on AEW Dynamite, AAA in Juarez on 11/20

This is the second post today. Scroll down for the weekend stuff.

I mentioned earlier how Big Lucha is the “it” Mexico indie promotion of the moment and how other groups want to associate themselves with Big Lucha to help get themselves over. I didn’t realize that extended to AEW.

AEW announced Bandido will challenge Chris Jericho for the Ring of Honor championship this Wednesday on AEW’s Dynamite show in Philadelphia. Bandido lost the Ring of Honor championship to Jonathan Gresham on the April 1st Supercard of Honor show. That match was put together when Sinclair owned ROH, though Tony Khan had taken control of the promotion by the time the match happened. Bandido hasn’t been booked in the wider Khan-verse since that time. That match seemed to go well, and fans have been asking about seeing him. There are many AEW/ROH people already, and there may be reasons beyond Bandido himself that he’s not been back. It would be cool if this was the start of a regular Bandido run in Dynamite but I’m only thinking of it as a one-off for now.

This Jericho/Bandido title match seems to exist primarily to add some authenticity to Jericho’s new ROH title reign by having him face a former champion. There are not a lot of recent former champions to choose from at the moment. Jericho beat Claudio Castagnoli, and the rematch is probably being held off. Jonathan Gresham had his falling out with AEW. Rush is an option but he’s taken a few high-profile losses in AEW lately. PCO and Matt Taven are working for Impact and may not be available. Jay Lethal and Dalton Castle are around but not pushed at world singles challenger level.  Jay Briscoe is apparently under contract but also apparently can’t be used on TV. It would be really funny to book a Davey Richards or a Low Ki versus Chris Jericho match to see what would happen and I encourage that sort of lunacy, but you can also see why AEW might not want to do that. Bandido’s a good pick but also maybe the only fitting pick if AEW’s looking at it that way.

(On AEW, Daniel Garica is teasing quitting Chris Jericho’s stable. Daniel Garcia also beat Bandido for the PWG title not that long ago. AEW is a place where everything that happens anywhere may count, so maybe that’s a subplot that comes up.)

I suppose no Big Lucha World this week. Big Lucha actually should do a watch-along of the match from the gym for fun. And maybe Bandido and Emi Sakura can exchange tips on how to build a cult internet following for your non-US boutique promotion.

There’s also an AAA taping lineup announced for Juarez in November. It’s further announced then usual, but it probably was building off the Juarez marathon show this weekend.

AAA TV (SUN) 11/20/2022 Gimnasio Municipal Josué Neri Santos, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
1) Aéreo, Cobarde, Microman vs Arez, Mini Abismo Negro, Rey Horus
2) Reina Dorada, Sexy Star, Sussy Love vs Flammer, La Hiedra, Maravilla
3) Jack Cartwheel & Willie Mack vs Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf
4) Bandido, Hijo Del Vikingo, Octagón Jr. vs Flamita, Gringo Loco, Villano III Jr.
5) Pagano, Pentagón Jr., Psycho Clown vs Rey Escorpión, Sam Adonis, Taurus

Five matches is not six, the amount AAA needs to tape to get two weeks of TV out of a single taping. That meant something gets added or a dark match gets shown on tapings this year. It would be my pick just to do Octagon Jr/Villano III Jr. and let the other guys do a 2v2, so at least one of these singles feuds has a singles match. That doesn’t seem to be AAA’s preference.

Psycho and Adonis seem paired up past TripleMania. Gringo Loco may actually wrestle Hijo del Vikingo. AAA booked the same Carthweel/Mack vs Bestia/Mecha match back in Sinaloa in July. The sides in the opener are strange.

Hijo del Vikingo is pictured as champion – but it’s AAA, so that’s more likely to be whatever image they handly to use and not an indication of title match plans.

My guess is this airs December 3rd and 10th; it could end up being the last first run footage to air on Space this year. That’s just a guess, it’s hard to know for sure this far out.