Tag: Averno

looking back at Averno in CMLL

thecubsfan 4 Comments

Averno’s time with CMLL wrapped up this weekend. He was never got to be the top figure, and rarely was even the top rudo, but he was a key part of the promotion for the last decade. Averno was elevated when he became Mistico’s default opponent, and turned that into a long stretch as a top of the card gatekeeper for young high flying tecnicos. He’s going to AAA to one again fill that first role, but hopefully gets to a little of that second role as well.

Here’s 15 (!) matches to recap his CMLL career.

2001-06-19: Rey Bucanero & Último Guerrero vs Averno & Satánico

There’s not much of Rencor Latino listed as airing on TV (this is the earliest known match in the database, this one has a much more interesting group of people). Rencor Latino was used previously by Averno’s father, and he begin using the name himself in dying days of the UWA. That’s not a well remembered time, and so Averno usually gets lumped in as a CMLL trainee despite having started elsewhere. Rencor Latino quietly worked opening matches for a few years before being swept into Satanico versus his pupils Ultimo Guerrero and Rey Bucanero. Satanico had spent the last few months recruiting rivals to help him take back his Infernal group name from the students who had turned on him and taken the identity with them. Satanico couldn’t get the big win that way, so he eventually decided to switch tactics and recruit new soldiers to battle his old ones. Rencor Latino walking thru Satanico’s (cheesy special effect) fire to become Averno is one of the most remembered vignettes of the period.

This match is early on from that feud, with Satanico & Averno fighting Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Bucanero. Avenro’s the least important guy in this match, out matched for the moment by the much more experienced Ultimo Guerrero and Rey Bucanero team. He’s also wearing his first Averno mask, a split Ultimo Guerrero/Rey Bucanero mask. It works thematically, but looks a bit ugly. (It still wasn’t his worst Averno mask.) The Satanico’s Infernals versus Rebel Guerreros feud was one of CMLL’s great succeses of this time period, using Satanico and the long history of the Infernales name establish a whole bunch of guys as meaningful players, and they had to pull it off despite some injury absences. Mephisto, seen briefly in the skit before the match, suffered an arm injury in training just before he was supposed to debut. Toscano (then Tarzan Boy) suffered a neck injury earlier and wouldn’t be back for a while longer. Mascara Magica, seen threatening Averno late in the match, ended up getting pulled into the feud as a replacement – and ended up in the long run with about a two year run as a upper level tecnico which wouldn’t have otherwise happened.

2004-10-01: Atlantis, El Hijo Del Santo, Místico, Negro Casas vs Averno, Rey Bucanero, Tarzan Boy, Último Guerrero

Footage, especially footage that is freely available on the internet, is scarce at this point. I’d like to link to Hijo del Santo versus Averno, a match designed to give Averno credibility even in a loss so he’s someone a little more important before the Mistico run begins. This will have to do as a replacement match. It’s all about the young guy in the silver mask, as everyone bends over backwards to make it clear Mistico is the new star. Mistico gets the last entrance, his veteran legend partners insist on letting him start, and the announcers shower with him praise. Averno is moved up to the top mix as a body product, and gets a few moments of getting the better of Santo and Mistico. BONUS: everyone looks much older a decade later, except Atlantis stopped aging at some point.

2005-01-30: Mistico vs Averno

Mistico, under the name, debuted in the summer of 2004 and won the Gran Alternativa soon. That win marked Mistico as someone for the future, but it was the 2005 New Year’s Day win over Averno for the NWA World Middleweight Championship which declared the future was right now. That match never aired. It was a Sunday, which wasn’t being used for TV and so the match probably wasn’t taped.

This was the first defense, off in Guadalajara. Title matches taken through out the country tend not to vary all that much, so I suspect this might not be that far off from the original. There’s still raw at this point, and everything would good refined and improved over the next couple of years. Averno does a lot more flying here than he would as years went by, but his holding together headscissors skill is already present. Mistico has a few detracting slips, but also an incredible tornillo. The crowd is already treating like to Mistico like a star, and absolutely lose their minds when he wins. (This show doesn’t seem to have drawn much mroe than Guadalajara does of late, but that’s change soon.) THIS referee is still in this building too. Bonus fun: Dos Caras Jr. as Mistico’s buddy!

2005-04-01: Atlantis & Blue Panther vs Averno & Mephisto

Again skipping a lot of years here due to lack of available video. (I don’t have a good Generic Red Averno & Generic Black Mephisto match to share, but you can check that lacking look out here.) Averno and Mephsito had already become a strong tag team, Atlantis & Blue Panther were only tag team champions as part of a former enemies who were not friends deal, and this title change seemed overdue by the time it occurred. Mephisto and Averno became a team of two luchadors with one mind, completely in sync with each other and always on the same page, even as Mephisto would add a lot of muscle as time went on. This match featured a lot of spots which would always go wrong for them going right this time, including actually connecting on the top rope swandive headbutt spot. Despite the usual bit of cheating, they win the tag team titles in the cleanest way possible, with Averno even beating Blue Panther with his own armbar.

2006-05-13: Okada & Milano Collection AT vs American Gigolo & Trent Acid vs Bruto Issei & Okumura vs Averno & Mephisto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPuvk28u2P0

There is no historical importance to Averno in this match at all, I just thought you should see it given that lineup. That’s a real lineup to a real match that happened at the first DragonMania, because Ultimo Dragon is a well traveled man with an eclectic group of friends and known associates. NJPW top star Okada is a trainee in dark hair and the third most interesting person on his team, behind Milano and his monkey Venezia. The match is not much, as they start with the comedy spots and then continue with many more comedy spots. Averno and Mephisto get disqualified and leave early after crotching the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion into the post in the one time a year that’s a disqualification.. Okumura is still in Mexico, somehow. Trent Acid passed away a couple years ago. Issei and Milano both retired due to injury, though Milano is around NJPW as a commentator. I haven’t seen Gigolo’s name in a while, but I’m sure he’s working hard someplace. Both referees are still in CMLL!

2009-01-16: Sombra & Volador Jr. vs Averno & Mephisto

It’s Averno & Mephisto in a showcase for young tecnicos. This is their native habit, expect to see it most of the rest of the way. Sombra crashes and burns on a tornillo to the floor early on, and is left with one working shoulder the rest of the way. It would takethe impossible for Volador & Sombra to win the tag titles on this day, but this continues a pattern of Sombra pulling out the impossible.

(Also, this was the end of good times for Sagrado, as his trio with Sombra & Volador is quickly dismissed and he returns to midcard purgatory until this day.)

2009-06-15: Ultimo Guerrero vs Averno

The Infernals/Infernales feuded ended with Satanico’s group taking the name. Averno & Mephisto later decided to boot Satanico out of the group themselves, which caused Guerrero & Bucanero to crow about being right all along – and then everyone was just friends going forward. Those four didn’t cross paths as opponents much after than, instead teaming with each other in usual CMLL mix and match fashion. Still, there’s a case to be made that Ultimo Guerrero was the biggest obstacle to Averno’s career, since they were similar types of rudos only Guerrero was always a little bit heavier and a little bit more of a star. Averno couldn’t even permanently leapfrog him on the rudo totem pole without either one of them joining the tecnico side, and neither man was cut out to be a tecnico for any long stretch. This match, the end of a short Puebla feud, is their one known full length singles match. They’d trade decisions wins in the CMLL Universal tournament in 2010 and 2011.

2009-07-21: Hijo del Fantasma vs Averno

Hijo del Fantasma biggest shining moment in CMLL comes by defeating the guy who might soon be his stablemate. This is the era of Fatnasma inexplicably wearing the K-Swiss logo on his mask for reference. This is also the era when Hijo del Fantasma was a rising star in CMLL, before Whatever Happened, Happened. The match itself is not super great – falling into a pattern of trading moves that happens in some Averno matches – but the large Tuesday crowd is thrilled for the title change.

2011-01-23: Mistico vs Averno

Skipping from (almost) the first one all the way to the last one. Don’t worry, you can go back and find plenty more, or you can just wait a few weeks and see plenty of new ones. Both guys know this, the main event of the first FantasticaMania, is Mistico’s final match with CMLL. Very few others know, but they got out with the classic version of their match compressed into one fall. Mistico ends the show by declaring Japan his second home and challenging Averno to return to Japan to do this match again. That’s all just talk for the crowd, but I’d be very surprised if that didn’t happen this year. (Though the mask/mask part might not work.)

2011-03-18: Averno vs Mascara Dorada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi66pd0ixGU

Averno wins the title from Mascara Dorada in what appears to be the start of a mask versus mask feud with Mascara Dorada. Averno suddenly has other places to be, so he’s cashing in a mask he won’t soon need. Unfortunately, Mascara Dorada gets an offer to go to Japan for three months, and is suddenly unavailable for months. This is a tease of what could’ve been, but instead the win goes elsewhere and Mascara Dorada is still lacking that career defining win. Dorada’s since noted he was supposed to be in the mask match, but I wonder if he knew that prior to accepting the NJPW trip. It would say a lot about how things in CMLL were looking at that moment if he did.

2011-06-17: La Mascara vs Averno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-jXmmIsTuY

La Mascara first and only (so far) singles main event in a main show after the market had already cratered, no significant semimain event, plenty of word out about Averno’s planned departure and CMLL generally having a scatterbrained and panicked year following Mistico’s defection. Tony Rivera and friends attempted a blockade of the show, protesting the working conditions. CMLL got them to disappear a few hours before show time (and the whole thing has never been explained or mentioned again), but they still caused many hours of speculation about the big show being canceled. All that worked against the show, and they still managed to draw 13,500. This show won’t be remembered much a decade from now, because it didn’t happen in March or September and La Mascara has still never become a draw, but it’s really one of the biggest CMLL successes in the era.

The vignette building this up, emphasizing La Mascara wasn’t just fighting a satanic demon man but also two decades of Brazo failure, were the best job CMLL Has done in building up a match in this decade. La Mascara lacks much depth as a luchador and was exposed by the many rematches, but he and Averno put enough together here to give the fans a memorable match.

2011-07-15: Hijos del Averno vs Generacion de Oro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUU1I_XoPI8

Just four weeks later, everything flips. La Mascara, Mascara Dorada (returned!) and La Sombra seem like they’re headed to a record establishing ninth known defense while Averno is wrapping before heading to WWE. Only, Averno beats La Mascara with La Mascara’s own campana, the Hijos del Averno win the world trios titles for the first and only time, and it’s a clear a monkey wrench (or a failed drug test) has change the course of events. Looking back, it’s obviously plans had changed as far back as the 4th, when Averno kept the middleweight title over La Mascara in Puebla, but this trios title change made it definite Averno was staying around for a while longer.

There’s not a lot of trios matches on this list. The Hijos del Averno were in the argument for the best trio for large portions of their run, but the trios championship seems to go more often to teams who need help getting into that argument. Ephesto, added onto to Averno & Mephisto long after those two had started being a team, always felt like a third wheel as well. They evolved into a good team, but a lot of it was Ephesto learning to do the Averno/Mephisto spots rather than adding something new, and the tag team generally felt like the better formation. This was their big moment together, a few moments after it seemed they were no longer meant to be together. The silver lining is it gave Mephisto, Ephesto and CMLL an extra two and half years to figure out exactly what they would do if they were no longer all together.

2011-09-16: La Sombra vs Averno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8N4bON6gUo

CMLL had spent the spring building up Averno for his big match, and spent the summer doing La Mascara/Averno rematches. Months of treating Averno like a top star put him in great position for one more big loss. This time, the breakthru win goes to La Sombra, following up his two 2010 mask wins by winning the tournament to declare himself the best in the promotion. This was the signal Sombra was meant to be the (a?) Mistico replacement, and who better to face him than Mistico’s old opponent. Being the new young star right after the last one left comes with some pluses and minuses, but this match is all pluses. It stands on it’s own as an excellent final (and was my pick for best match of the year), but Sombra’s dynamic performance is a breath of fresh air after all the repeatitive drudrgery of the La Mascara feud.

2011 is probably the best year of Averno’s career. Maybe also the most disappointing.

2013-09-13: Blue Panther vs Averno

CMLL’s secret most interesting non-feud for quite a while was Blue Panther versus Averno. For whatever reason, when they were matched up in a routine trios, they frequently broke out of that routine with different mat work, fall structures and finishes. It was rarerly an official feud, just a random Tuesday when Panther and Averno happened to be matched up and wanted to do something out of the ordinary for their own purposes. They finally got to match up full time and for real leading into the 2013’s apuesta match with submission only rules. I have quibbles with the finish, wanting to see a cleaner or more direct win than occurred, but the match was well worked the rest of the way, in a type of match which hadn’t been done in that building. They’re telling a story in very bright primary colors – Averno’s a rudo, so he’s dumb and will forget the rules and must cheat to win – but the level of lucha libre performed may it one of the best matches of the year.

2013-12-01: Averno vs Titan

And this was one of the best feuds of the year. It was really simple: Titan’s almost good enough to win, but Averno baits him into the same mistake every time and beats him just because of it. Only this time, Titan finally finds the will to survive his mistake and come back to win. (Ironically, both Averno and Mephisto have gone the other way with their finisher, where it’s been kicked out so many times that the survival doesn’t get the reaction any more.) This is Averno helping another young high flyer to put it together in Arena Mexico, his defining role for many years.

Infierno en el Ring set for 07/19, Santo surgery

thecubsfan 1 Comment

The CMLL press event had the expected amount of news. CMLL Gaceta has the only wrap up I’ve seen, though a lot was mentioned back on Twitter

  • Infierno en el Ring was officially announced for 07/19. That’s a week later than earlier speculation. The ten men in the cage match are the ten men you’d expect: Shocker, Rush, Máximo, Blue Panther, Super Porky, Negro Casas, Averno, Mr. Águila, Rey Escorpión, Rey Bucanero. Averno and Blue Panther were the last to sign (among the people who actually showed up, no Brazo de Plata), both challenging each to another apuesta match should they survive this one. That match would be a one fall submission match with no ropes no ropes break, and is unlikely to actually happen no matter what goes on here. Mr.
  • A 35th Blue Panther Anniversary show will be held on 08/16. The main event is Blue Panther, Atlantis and Negro Casas vs Solar, Negro Navarro and Black Terry. That should be outstanding.
  • Marco Corleone announced his knee injury was not as severe as previously reported, and he’ll be back in August. That’s way ahead of the initial schedule. He also said that any enemy of Rush is an enemy of himself and Maximo.
  • More En Busca de un Idolo shuffling. Shocker and Rush argued about who was running the tecnico team. Mr. Niebla takes over for Terrible with the rudos (just Vangelis.) Like last year, all the participants will come back for a cibernetico after the tournament, on 07/26. There was no mention of any prize for the winner.
  • Taichi starts on 07/26, and the CMLL travels to Japan (REINA, NJPW) were mentioned.

Ray Mendoza Jr. also held a press conference for his show on the 20th. Not much news on that one. There’s CMLL luchadors all over the lineup, but they none appeared at the press conference. Hijo de Pirata Morgan challenged V5 to a hair vs hair match, and V5 said no.

In his weekly Record column, El Hijo del Santo explains he was hurt so much by LA Park’s martinete, he had surgery – to his intestines, because of the pressure the move put on his abdominal region. Riiiiight. This sounds like Santo  previously had surgery scheduled and decided to weave into this match. He’ll be out for 45 days.

AAA sent out an interview with Nino Hamburguesa talking about Sunday’s match in Ecatepec as his TV debut match. It’s not his TV debut match; he wrestled in the opener of the March 3rd San Luis Potosi Sin Limite taping, which eventually aired on Fusion. This Sunday’s match in Ecatepec is also an opener and may also end up on Fusion or not aired at all.

NJPW’s Kizuna Road iPPV is tomorrow morning. It’s starting at 4:30 am Central Time, with the CMLL Tag Team Title match taking place around 6am. I think I’m watching this live.

This week’s Tercera Caida was filmed before a live audience in Arena Queretaro, with the American Wolves and promotes Carlos Maynes. DTU’s 4 show weekend tour starts tonight in that building and will eventually air on TVC Deportes.

Mascara Dorada & Sagrado beat Mr. Aguila & Mephisto in Cuautlancingo, Puebla on a show sponsored by local political candidates.

Bill has highlights of 07/19/12 IWRG.

A different kind of unmasking.

Santo/Wagner/Park, Consejo vs Wolves/Tomahawk, Titan/Averno, Charly Manson

thecubsfan 3 Comments

indy (SUN) 06/30/2013 Arena Solidaridad [KrisZ, LuchaMania]
1) Caballo Dorado, La Coronela, Solovino b Black Hanibbal, Destructor, Mini Hator
2) Atomo, Crazy Demon, Demonio del Caribe b Dark War, Norteño, Norteño Jr.
Demon used the ropes to win.
3) Ciber Payaso & Mortifero b Ángel o Demonio & Obett and Chamaco Gurrola & Galactar
Less extreme than you’d expect (maybe because of Santo?) Payaso used the ropes to get the pin.
4) Diluvio Negro II, Orquídea Negra, Silver Star b Koko Viper, Mongol Chino, Sergio Romo Jr.
Romo fouled Silver, Diluvio fouled Mongol, ref counted that second pin.
5) Trauma I & Trauma II b Cerebro Negro & Dr. Cerebro
Best match of the night. Trauma II beat Cerebro Negro with a Canadian Destroyer.
6) LA Park b El Hijo Del Santo, Dr. Wagner Jr.
Complete brawl, into the crowd and mark ripping. LA Park complained about Santo getting involved in a match with Wagner & Park before the match and warned him he’d pay if didn’t back out. Santo didn’t back out, and LA Park gave him a martinete. Wagner got the pin somehow. Santo was strechered and taken to the hospital. Park powerbombed Wagner thru a table after 10 more minutes for the win. Wagner was also strechered out, though not before LA Park mimed burying him.

The latest on the Hijo del Santo injury storyline is he says he went under surgery this week and will be back in the ring in September. Pretty good turn around on neck surgery to be back in two months. Despite this, his Record column is still coming out tomorrow. For his part, LA Park blames Santo for getting involved in his fight with Dr. Wagner Jr.  Park doesn’t try to pivot the feud to Park vs Santo, which is peculiar because Santo seems to be setting that up as the replacement match. Easiest explanation is a Santo/Park/Wagner/??? four way with the fourth guy losing their mask.  CFan Deportes uses the opportunity to write about famous martinetes in lucha libre.

FLM (SUN) 06/30/2013 Auditorio Siglo XXI, Yucatan, Merida [Estrellas del Ring, R de Rudo]
1) Angel Vengador & Torino b Mensajero del Diablo & Rebelde Punk
Announced match had been Fly Warrior, Shadow, Tornado (DF) vs Belial, Fly Metalik, Metaleon.
2) Ángel del Misterio, Niño Hamburguesa, Psico Kid b Dragosth, Golden, Juana La Loca
Psico Kid’s team represents ICHIBAN, the other team are members of Demencia Dorada. Gargola, Nino Hamburguesa and Dave the Clown dropped from the ICHIBAN side.
3) La Magnifica & La Sádica b Demasiado & Faby Apache
Demasiado replaced Keira. Magnifica was Sadica’s surprise partner. Juana La Loca distracted Demasiado for the loss.
4) Argenis, Fenix (AAA), Yuta b Argos, Crazy Boy, Pentagón Jr.
Nino Harmburgesa will be with Crazy Boy
5) Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Silver King, Texano Jr. b Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, Tomahawk T.T.
Foreigners took fall 1, Consejo fall 2. Referee Copetes fouled the other referee (who was helping the foreigners) and helped the Consejo team win.

photo by CMLL

CMLL (TUE) 07/02/2013 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Molotov & Oro Jr. b Apocalipsis & Camorra
2) Hijo del Signo, Nitro, Nosferatu b Hombre Bala Jr., Soberano Jr., Súper Halcón Jr.
Nitro replaced Disturbio. Rudos took 2/3, helped by a Soberano error.
3) Hijo del Fantasma, Sagrado, Tritón b Misterioso Jr., Puma, Sangre Azteca
Tecnicos took 2/3. Phantom Attack on Misterioso.
4) Virus b Bushiroad [lightning]
Virus won in six minutes and looked dominant.
5) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Tiger b Fuego, Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr.
TRT took 1/3, won with a Tormento Guerrero.
6) Máscara Dorada, Titán, Valiente b Averno, Pierroth, Volador Jr.
Tecnicos took 1/3. Titan beat Averno again, and Averno finally conceded to a title match.

Averno accepted the challenge over on YouTube. Titan says he’s still the real champion.

CMLL (TUE) 07/02/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [@acogdl]
1) Esfinge & Smaker b Évola & Exterminador
Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Artillero & Súper Comando b Leo & Sky Kid
DF rudos beat GDL tecnicos, taking falls 2/3.
3) Dalis la Caribeña, Goya Kong, Silueta DQ Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sugheit, Zeuxis
Tecnicas took 1/3. Blanca dropkicked the ref by mistake. Goya & Blanca challenged each other post match.
4) Shocker DQ Mr. Águila
Aguila won the first with a moonsault, Shocker pinned him in the second, and Aguila tried to sneak in a foul on Shocker but was caught for the DQ.
5) La Máscara, La Sombra, Rush b Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
Tecnicos took 2/3.

Princesa Blanca took Goya Kong’s mask, but is now stuck feuding with her for the rest of time. A genuine monkey’s paw situation.

CMLL has a press event Thursday at noon. It’s the usual bit of not announcing it publicly ahead of time, but bits and pieces leaked out.

  • The Infierno en el Ring cage match should be announced. We know the participants (the 10 guys in the cibernetico on Friday), and the only thing left is to say if it’ll be on 07/12 or 07/19.
  • Another major show will take place on Friday August 16, likely involving the same group of independent luchadors seen on the Arena Coliseo Anniversary show.
  • Marco Corleone teased a positive injury update which will be announced Thursday.
  • Titan vs Averno will definitely be spotlighted. Guerrero Maya plans on challenging for the Arena Coliseo tag team titles next Sunday, so maybe that’ll be officialized here. That show will probably also be an Arena Mexico one.
  • There should be updates on the En Busca de un Idolo tournament and CMLL’s recent adventures in Japan. It’s possible CMLL may mention their participation in the G1 tournament, since NJPW will be releasing the full list of participants in about 15 hours later.

There’s probably a bit more than that. It sure looks like there’s also a cage match coming in Puebla (on 07/14 or 07/21) and that’s something that should be stated here. Something spotlighting the Estetas makes sense.  Ideally, they’d go as far as announce the Anniversary show date as well.

AAA had a video interview with Electroshock last night, talking about how he got interested in lucha libre, the origin of his character and Charly Manson’s status.  One summary says Charly has still never been formerly sentenced and no one knows how long he’s in for.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Links

Lineups

DTU (SUN) 07/07/2013 Autolavado VM, Tulancingo
1) Kalibus vs Corazon Latino, Yuta, Sacristan, Mantra, Factor Miedo, ?
2) JC Maclean & La Magnifica vs ? & Zuzu Divine
3) Ángel del Misterio & Príncipe Halcón vs Jhonky & Jorge Kebrada
4) Black Fire & Slayer Pack vs Crazy King & Principe Escorpion and Lanzeloth & Rocky Lobo and Miedo Extremo & Pequeno Cobra
5) Aero Boy, Cíclope, Paranoiko, Violento Jack vs Artikus, Drastik Boy, Hormiga, Principe Orion
6) Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards vs Crazy Boy & Joe Lider and Hacker & Kaleth

One more DTU show, also supposed to be taped by TVC Deportes. Autolavado = car wash parking lot, but this setting looked great when they showed clips from the most recent DTU show here.

IWRG (SUN) 07/07/2013 Arena Naucalpan
1) Freelance & Galaxie vs Araña de Plata & Fulgor
2) Dinamic Black, Dr. Cerebro, Freeyser vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Oficial 911, Tomahawk
3) Astro Rey Jr. vs Imposible, Dragón Celestial [IWRG IC Light]
title is vacant, final survivors from a three way last week
4) Trauma I, Trauma II, Veneno vs Fuerza Guerrera, Máscara Año 2000 Jr., X-Fly
5) Negro Navarro vs Solar I [FMLL MASTER]
Negro is listed as champion

I’ve seen that match! It’s a good match.

indy (SUN) 07/07/2013 Arena Coliseo San Luis Potosi
1) Galactar Jr. & Vandor vs Metal & Neurosis
2) Dragon Fury, Magnifico (slp), Rey Deimante vs Gemelo I, Gemelo II, Judoka
3) Aster Boy, Meteoro (slp), Turbo Kid vs Cachorro, Kukuxklan, Mensajero
4) Divino, Faraon De La Meurte, Oro Azul vs Black Extreme, Drack Conde, Extrem Fly
5) Bogar vs Virus [CMLL SL]
Virus is champion. Fourth known defense.

For real. Could Bogar become the Super Lightweight champion of the world? He’s got more of a chance than you do (unless you’re Virus.) First known defense of this belt since last October.

CMLL (MON) 07/08/2013 Arena Puebla
1) Asturiano & Fresbee vs Blue Center & Espanto Jr.
2) Leono, Pegasso, Robin, Stigma, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Disturbio, Espíritu Maligno, Inquisidor, Siki Ozama Jr., Skándalo
not listed as a cibernetico, but ten man tags usually are in CMLL.
3) Bushiroad, Diamante, Tritón vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus
4) La Máscara, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión
5) Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Shocker vs Mr. Niebla, Pierroth, Último Guerrero

They teased Skandalo & Espiritu Mailgno vs Stigma this past Monday, so probably more of that here (and no new main event program until that’s resolved.)

CMLL (TUE) 07/09/2013 Arena Mexico
1) Molotov & Sensei vs Apocalipsis & Inquisidor
2) Dalis la Caribeña, Estrellita, Luna Mágica vs La Vaquerita, Tiffany, Zeuxis
3) Máscara Dorada, Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr. vs Namajague, Rey Bucanero, Tiger
4) Averno vs Titán [MEX WELTER]
Averno is champion. First defense.
5) Atlantis, Máximo, Thunder vs Mr. Niebla, Niebla Roja, Pierroth

If you go with the theory that Titan, La Mascara and Rush won the trios titles more by happening to be around the week CMLL decided they needed to do a trios change, then maybe it has little effect on the outcome here. Or maybe Averno just wins to keep the titles spread out. Should be really good either way, and the tercera does not look bad either. Namajague’s worked as a Terrible replacement before.

CMLL (TUE) 07/09/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Metatrón & Virgo vs Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno
2) Leo, Starman, Stigma vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Ráfaga, Skándalo
3) Goya Kong vs Princesa Blanca
4) Guerrero Maya Jr., Hijo del Fantasma, Super Porky vs Olímpico, Psicosis, Sangre Azteca
5) Mistico, Shocker, Valiente vs Felino, Mephisto, Volador Jr.

A show!

IWL (TUE) 07/30/2013 Arena Aficion
1) Lolita, Medics III, Payaso Terror, Peligro vs Pasion Kristal, Pentagón Jr., Perico, Sexy Lady
2) Arkanos, Kid Jaguar, Shadow vs Centinela, Medics 1, Quimico Jr.
3) Argenis, Drago (AAA), Fenix (AAA) vs Freelance, Pantera I, Suicida
4) Infierno Kid, Ojo Diabólico Jr., Último Vampiro vs Aeroboy, Cíclope, Drastik Boy
5) Carta Brava Jr. I, Cerebro Negro, Fantasma de la Ópera vs Loco Max, Tony Rivera, Zumbido and Black Terry, Dinamic Black, Dr. Cerebro
6) Monster Clown, Murder Clown, Psycho Clown vs Ángel o Demonio, León Rojo, Obett [IWL TRIOS]

Only 41 luchadors on this show, anorexic by IWL standards. IWL appears to only have one main event. Tercera could be good if given time (and everyone shows up, which is not always the case with the ex-IWRG trio.)

Sombra keeps the IWGP IC championship, Infierno en el Ring announced

thecubsfan 2 Comments
this needs to the be the wiki picture/photo by CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 06/28/2013 Arena Mexico [CMLL]
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Súper Halcón Jr. b Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Namajague, Shigeo Okumura, Virus b Pegasso, Starman, Tritón
Starman’s trio are apparently Los Cadetes del Espacio, a team name used extensively in AAA previously. They did not wear matching gear and showed no indication they were meant to be a new trio, and lost their debut match. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Averno, Dragón Rojo Jr., Mr. Niebla b Blue Panther, Máscara Dorada, Mistico
Titan was announced, but was replaced by Blue Panther on Monday. Panther received his award from the Durango Congress before the match. Rudos were DQed for excessive violence in the first. Niebla beat Mistico in the second, and Panther submitted Averno to the nudo lagunero in the third (with Averno giving up before Panther even got him off the mat!) Averno and Panther challenged each other after the match. Panther wanted a date for a hair match, Averno would only accept if it was a one fall submission match.
4) Valiente b Fuego [En Busca de un Idolo]
Valiente won in a hurried feeling match. Judges seemed okay with it; Valiente scored a 10, 7, 8 and 7. for a 32. Fuego scored a 8, 8, 7, 8 for a 31. Tirantes’ harshest criticism were for referee Bestia Negra, who stopped and restated his count during the finish because Fuego’s shoulder was slightly off the mat.
5) Vangellys b Stuka Jr. [En Busca de un Idolo]
Vangelis ripped Stuka’s mask open and submitted him, putting a kneebar on Stuka’s bad leg. Judges loved Vangelis, giving him a 10, 10, 9, 10 for a 39. Tirantes was critical of Stuka for wrestling hurt, and Stuka scored a 8, 9, 8, 3 for a 28.
6) Negro Casas, Shocker, Terrible DQ Máximo, Rey Escorpión, Rush [Relevos Increíbles]
Straight falls. Rush got his team disqualified in the first, then fought with partner Rey Escorpion to cause his team to lose in the second. Negro, Shocker, and Escorpion challenged Rush to hair matches, but the match was preceded by a Infierno en el Ring teaser video.
7) La Sombra b Volador Jr. [IWGP IC]
Mistico and Averno were seconds. Volador had a Superman outfit on. Sombra took the first fall with a Dragonrana, Volador Jr. tied it up with a Spanish Fly in the second, and both guys kicked out everything in the third. Volador finally fouled Sombra, pulled his mask, and covered. Referee Rafael el Maya counted three, then awarded the match to Sombra by disqualification. Usual challenges followed between these two after the match and fought a bit more. La Sombra made his first defense.

CMLL honored edecan Anabel, who is leaving that role, with an in-ring ceremony including Panico and Guerrero del Futoro. I can’t recall CMLL doing this before for an edecan or a luchador leaving the promotion. It’s very mysterious to us, though I’m sure there are people behind the scenes who know exactly why this was done.

CMLL updated the point table for the first week of En Busca de un Idolo, right after week two finished. Putting it all together:

145 Valiente (40 on fan poll)
122 Vangellys (5 on the fan poll)
96 Stuka Jr. (34 on fan poll)
85 Fuego (17 on fan poll)

Stuka is 0-2, Vangellys is 2-0 and yet Stuka will be ahead of Vangelis if the poll numbers are the same next week. Vangellys needs a big turnaround in the polls to have a chance.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 07/05/2013 Arena Mexico
1) Camaleón & Sensei vs Cholo & Disturbio
2) Dark Angel, Luna Mágica, Marcela vs Amapola, La Seductora, La Vaquerita
3) Diamante Azul, La Máscara, Thunder vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Mr. Niebla, Pólvora
4) Stuka Jr. vs Fuego [En Busca de un Idolo]
5) Valiente vs Vangellys [En Busca de un Idolo]
6) Shocker vs Rush, Máximo, Blue Panther, Super Porky, Negro Casas, Averno, Mr. Águila, Rey Escorpión, Rey Bucanero [cibernetico]
7) Atlantis, Mistico, Titán vs Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero

That’s the usual cibernetico before a cage match. July 12th seems like the date for the cage match, though it could slip one more week.

Avernos defeat Estetas to set up title match, Cibernetico on his bald head

thecubsfan 4 Comments

CMLL (MON) 06/24/2013 Arena Puebla [El Popular, Poblanerias]
1) Bengala & Milenium b Cholo & Siki Ozama Jr.
Bengala submitted Siki.
2) Amapola, La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugheit b Dalis la Caribeña, Lluvia, Luna Mágica
Devil’s Wings on Dalis for the win.
3) Bárbaro Cavernario, Espíritu Maligno, Skándalo b Black Metal (Guadalajara), Pegasso, Tritón
Metal & Cavernario’s debut in this arena. Skandalo Driver on Pegasso.
4) Shocker, Stuka Jr., Super Porky b Kráneo, Morphosis, Psicosis
Porky senton on Kraneo.
5) Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto b Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Valiente
Rudos jumped the tecnicos before the match and took the first fall. Mistica on Averno tied it up. Rudos destroyed the tecnicos mask in the third fall, but no DQ was called and the Avernos went on to win. It set up a title match next week.

Title match should be really good. I’m not linking to it, but El Popular’s cover photo has Valiente’s face exposed (rudos in the process of ripping it to shreds.) That’s not a good deal. You can track it down if you want but I don’t want to multiply it here.

The usual video post is delayed. I’m hoping to get it up today, but the power keeps going off and I find the process of uploading video goes better with electricity. It’ll go up eventually.

Cibernetico says he acknowledges his loss, but wants the public to consider how it happened. He likes his new bald look and may even keep it, but he remains the god of wrestling.

MT has a story on Averno crashing the Blue Panther press conference. Averno says the first mask he had as a kid was Blue Panther’s, but now he wants Panther’s hair. This caused some changing to the booking; Blue Panther is going to be at Arena Mexico Friday to presented with the Honor of Sporting Merit award from the Durango congress, and takes Titan’s place on the show. Panther will still work the same number of the matches this week, so he’s pulled off tonight’s card in Guadalajara and Apolo Dantes says Sagrado is in. It’s disappointing the Valiente/Blue Panther vs Virus/Negro Casas match won’t happening, but CMLL has other priorities.

In AULL, Cerebro Maligno defeated Herejia to set up an AULL Light Heavyweight Title match. Lady Apache is now working segundas on AULL shows with the building 15% full. (On the other hand, it’s really great for the other women she’s working with to include someone who knows what they’re doing.)

IWL, which at one point had a big falling out with Arena Lopez Mateos as was making a point of running their shows in Tlalnepantla as competition, is back to running in Arena Lopez Mateos. Show will take place “in late July or early August.”

CMLL Puebla on TVC Deportes will actually air today at 4pm. It was moved for futbol, as usual. However, the site that used to host the feed has changed homes and drastically scaled down the number of feeds. TVC shares a feed with 3 other channels and that feed isn’t working now.

Rob has highlights of 05/21/13 CMLL.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update and news on Tales of Masked Men being nominated for awards.

Links

Lineup

CMLL (SUN) 06/30/2013 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) El Divino & Virgo vs Évola & Magnum
2) Esfinge, León Blanco, Metatrón vs Acertijo, Espectrum, Infierno
3) Black Metal, Gallo, Leo, Super Popular vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Exterminador, Maléfico, Ráfaga
4) Azteca de Oro vs Demonio Rojo [mask]
5) Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Valiente vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja
6) Atlantis vs Último Guerrero

Super Popular is my new favorite luchador. He is everyone’s new favorite luchador. (Maybe he’s a sponsored luchador?)

Mask match is a true toss up.

CMLL (MON) 07/01/2013 Arena Puebla
***Arena Puebla 60th Anniversary***
1) Aéreo, Fantasy, Último Dragoncito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Warrior, Pierrothito
2) Leono, Robin, Stigma vs Espíritu Maligno, Inquisidor, Skándalo
3) Bushiroad, Hijo del Fantasma, Máximo vs Felino, Negro Casas, Puma
4) Atlantis, La Máscara, Shocker vs Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.
5) Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Valiente vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto [CMLL TRIOS]
Estetas del Aire are champions, first defense.

That’s not Diamante Azul vs Rey Bucanero, but I think the Puebla people will be okay with that replacement main event. Only one Puebla regular on the show, Espiritu Maligno in the semimain. A bit concerned they’re heading to the Arena Puebla regular end game with him.

Titan beats Averno with one arm, Mistico out three weeks

thecubsfan 3 Comments
photo by CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/16/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL, MT, Yahoo! Deportes]
1) Camorra & Disturbio b Bengala & Robin
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso, Super Halcon Jr. b Hooligan, Raziel, Virus
Rudos could not get along, lost in straight falls. Raziel & Virus attacked Hooligan & Isis after the match.
3) Mephisto b Diamante [lightning]
Mephisto won in 4:50.
4) La Máscara, Rush, Shocker b Felino, Negro Casas, Volador Jr.
La Mascara replaced Diamante Azul. Tecnicos took 1/3, Shocker escaping a casita and putting Negro in the reinera for the win. Volador did not work well with his partners.
5) Titán b Averno [MEX WELTER]
Titan came in as champion. Seconds were Super Halcon and Mephisto. Averno won the first with a Devil’s Wings, Titan tied it up in the second. About 10 minutes into the third fall, Averno swung Titan into the barricade, and Titan badly hurt a shoulder badly. Doctor checked on Titan but the match continued. Titan was unable to use that arm the rest of the match, but survived a top rope Devil’s Wings and won with a tirabuzon (he knows a hold!) to keep his title. Money throw in after the match.
6) Atlantis, La Sombra, Mistico b Euforia, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero
Diamante Azul replaced Mistico, who appeared in his shoulder brace and said he’d be back in three weeks. Tecnicos took 2/3.

Three weeks is quite a much better prognosis than two months. He’d be back in time for a Year End show, which may not be a coincidence…

Links

Lineup

photo by CMLL

CMLL (FRI) 11/23/2012 Arena Mexcio
1) Soberano Jr. & Stigma vs Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Ángel Azteca Jr., Pegasso, Starman vs Hijo del Signo, Hooligan, Virus
3) Ángel de Oro, Hijo del Fantasma, Rey Cometa vs Misterioso Jr., Namajague, Shigeo Okumura
4) Máscara Dorada vs Mr. Águila [lightning]
5) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Super Porky vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto
6) Atlantis, La Sombra, Shocker vs Tama Tonga, Terrible, Tiger

…but it really doesn’t feel like they’re 2-3 weeks from a major year end show, more like they’re already past the year end and just killing time until they restart again.