Tag: Dragon Lee

Dragon Lee is CMLL’s new Mistico

thecubsfan 18 Comments
photo by @apolovaldes/MT

At a press conference today at Arena Mexcio, CMLL announced young Guadalajara tecnico Dragon Lee would now be known as Mistico, the second to use that name. Fray Tormenta, the luchador priest who had been said to raise and teach the original Mistico in his original back story, anointed Dragon Lee with the new name. Tormenta had appeared in Lee’s corner last Friday, and explained he was impressed with Lee’s performance (despite losing) to offer him the new name. Dragon Lee immediately accepted and donned the mask.

The Mistico name had previously been used by WWE’s Sin Cara, and his popularity was the driving force behind the last great boom in CMLL business. Sin Cara made a sudden acrimonious departure from CMLL in early 2011, and CMLL indicated at the time that they would one day give the character to a new luchador.

Angel de Oro, also present at this press conference, was the name most often rumored to take over the role. Sin Cara’s cousin, Magnus, was also rumored to be in the running, and his ‘candidacy’ for the (only hinted at) position was a storyline on last year’s El Luchador reality show. Dragon Lee, who has also rumored been mentioned as possibility, appeared on that show as Magnus’ best friend and superior as luchador. Season 2 of El Luchador is currently being filmed, and this development would continue the storyline of the Magnus/Dragon Lee relationship.

It’s uncertain how the casual fanbase will react to a new Mistico. Both AAA and CMLL have a Psicosis luchador at the moment, and both have had La Parkas at times. In both case, it’s proven surprisingly easy to fool the general public, who see the mask and not the luchador underneath. It may not be as easy to do it with ‘the real Mistico’ on WWE TV. The core audience has reacted strongly against all suggestions of a new Mistico. Those same fans do not particular seem to like Dragon Lee, though not quite as strongly as they dislike his brother Rush. CMLL is desperate to draw from beyond their base group of fans, but there is going to be a strong and vocal push back on this move.

Dragon Lee’s change to Mistico was the tail end of the discussion of the En Busca de un Idolo tournament. CMLL presented the four finalists. Dragon Lee finished third, behind fellow Guadalajara tecnico Titan and rudo Euforia, who meet in the final on Friday. CMLL also the winner would receive an all expense paid trip to Cancun, a one year gym membership, a shot at the CMLL title for their weight class, and elevation to the top matches in CMLL. Dragon Lee, as the new Mistico, will be elevated to the top matches and likely will soon win a title match, and those announced awards make it seem as though the plan for this tournament was for Dragon Lee to win this tournament en route to becoming Mistico. As far back as month ago, when all four finalists and their mentors met in a special trios match, Dragon Lee (and Euforia, to a much lesser extent) was showcased as the star of the quartet. In addition, the shadiest portion of the tournament was when Dragon Lee received a surge of fan votes right before the semifinal round ended, saving him from elimination at the last moment.

CMLL’s plans were fouled up by fans of Titan voting for him many times in the public balloting. It was enough to advance Titan from the semifinals to the final four despite a losing record, and it was enough to get Titan to the final match despite another losing record and his only win coming on a reversed decision. CMLL appears to have realized Titan was going to be in the final and decided a natural final against rudo Euforia would be better than one where Dragon Lee might be exposed. The final round was booked accordingly, though there are a lot of peculiar booking decisions in retrospect (Diamante beating both Dragon Lee just before he was to become Mistico and beating Titan right before he went to the final.) In the end, and despite his evident popularity, Titan appears to be least likely to get anything out of this tournament of the four finalists. Third place Dragon Lee is now Mistico. Fourth place Diamante has a new Santo/Zorro Plateado look. Second place Euforia is the expected favorite to beat Titan and get that beach trip and title shot, though a Titan win still is possible.

Dragon Lee’s next scheduled match is Sunday, in Arena Coliseo, on a match that is scheduled to be streamed live on Terra.com. Dragon Lee could be in the new identity then, though they may hold it off until his next Arena Mexico appearance.

Changing Dragon Lee to Mistico is a desperate move. It is highly unlikely to fix anything, and misunderstands why Mistico was so popular in the first place.  It was never as much about the specific name and mask as CMLL seems to believe. A new Mistico pushed and booked like the original might work, but would require a lucahdor as sensactional and steady as the original. Dragon Lee got this far based on his ability and willingness to do spectacular moves, but has proven to be anything but steady. There were, and are, many people better qualified for the position. It will take outstanding effort by Dragon Lee’s opponents to make this work.

(the rest of the news from the press conference to follow)

Charly Manson in jail, Forjando un Idolo, Arturo Rivera, Rey Escorpion?

thecubsfan 3 Comments

Charly Manson

Charly Manson will be in jail until his trial starts. He was brought in a front of a judge to be officially charged for attacking three police officers, aggravated assault, and attacking authority figures. He was not given the option to meet bail, will be in prison for now, and could face up to 15 years in prison (thanks Kris). It may be a long time before we see him again.

No word on his assistant, Adrian Lopez Reyes. He’s listed as 33 years old in this article. I suspect he’s a luchador, because luchadors tend to hang with their own, but no one’s mentioned any other identity. Edit: Apolo Valdes says Adrian Lopez Reyes is not a luchador.

The two police officers attacked are still in the hospital. One was in intensive care with a fractured skull, the other underwent nose surgery and a neck strain. That one may leave the hospital this week, the other one is unclear. A police spokesman explained the police officers were not as well trained in melee combat as the wrestlers, which is why they got the worst of the fight. It doesn’t quite fit with the idea that Charly & friend being very drunk; if you read thru comments on at least one article, it’s being alleged that Charly was under the influence of substances other than alcohol. The articles seem to imply Charly thought the police officers had something to do with his car’s disappearance – this is not unthinkable in Mexico – but it’s completely unclear if there’s any validity to this or if it was just the thought processes of a person under the influence.

Last night, AAA took the stance of being against violence outside wrestling (bold) but also said they’d let the legal process play out before doing anything with Charly. Charly’s scheduled for tomorrow’s TV taping, and probably was on the lineup for Saturday’s show. If he’s in jail, it’s not like they can use him regardless, but I don’t know how AAA doesn’t just fire him right now and make a public show of distancing themselves from him. It’s not like they can’t pick him up later if stories change (he’s got no other options), and AAA needs to show that they’re not running a promotion full of scoundrels. I’m sure people in the know could probably clue me in plenty of scandals that got quieted up in time, but AAA ones seems to always find the press: Charly and Metal’s DUI this year, Octagon’s DUI and the Billy/Mesais/Hijo de Tirantes substance fueled fight with a taxi driver in years past are the ones I can easily remember and I may be missing something. If someone (who mattered) started putting these things together, it’s going to hurt AAA’s image when it comes to sponsors and such. Charly was brought back to AAA as a favor to Cibernetico, and I’m sure Cibernetico doesn’t want to see his friend abandoned at a time like this, but they do have to consider everyone else working at the company who did not (allegedly) break a police officer’s skull and shouldn’t have to pay any part of the price for it.

CMLL (MON) 04/25/2011 Arena Puebla [Cinco Radio]
3) Metal Blanco b Dragon Lee [Forjando un Idolo]
Metal Blanco [4] beat Dragon Lee [3]. Dragon Lee was stretchered out.
4) Delta b Guerrero Maya Jr. [Forjando un Idolo]
Delta [9] sweeps the group. Maya is at 4 points.
5) Shigeo Okumura, Virus, Yoshihashi b Rush, Sagrado, Valiente
6) Hijo del Fantasma, La Máscara, La Sombra ?? Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero
No finish reported. Unknown if Mr. Niebla appeared.
7) Último Guerrero b Hirooki Goto
UG won the first, Goto pinned him with his feet on the ropes (ignored by Tirantes) and UG returned the favor (and Tirantes ignored it again) for the win.

Looking forward to Porra Fresa’s recap.

CMLL confirmed Maya won the second bonus point yesterday, which leads the group standings as
9 Delta
4 Guerrero Maya Jr.
4 Metal Blanco
3 Dragon Lee

The new Guerrero Maya Jr. profile page says he’s advanced and the Metal Blanco profile page says he’s eliminated. That would make sense with Maya beating Metal Blanco earlier in their head to head match. However, there’s still one more bonus point, which would seem to possibly give Blanco the playoff birth. Or, Dragon Lee could win the bonus point and confuse this more.

Tonight’s matches in Group Delta are Fuego vs Magnus and Angel de Plata vs Polvora. The first one is the one that matters; winner advances, loser is out, tie keeps them tied.

Arturo Rivera has left intensive care and is recovering. It’s believed that he’ll eventually be able to return to announcing.

The newest Luchas 2000 teases a new Invasor, which seems like a pointless idea at the moment, but let’s go with it. The luchador is wearing a combo Histeria/Psicsois’ mask. Black Abyss is still hanging around somewhere, waiting to get a new gimmick and a spot here, but the preview mentions international experience. That would seem to point to Durango Kid, who hasn’t been seen under that name in two months. He’s also Histeria’s brother, which makes the partnership obvious.

Speaking of magazines, what do you make of this tweet? I presume we shouldn’t get too attached the box y lucha forum.

Black Terry Jr. has video of Black Terry, Alan Extreme, Dinamic Black vs Bombero Infernal, Comando Negro, Hijo del Diablo: fall 1, fall 2, fall 3

Magnus says his cousin Sin Cara gave him some lessons, which is he has a similar style, but he’s never mentioned the relationship because he feels it’s important to make his own name. Magnus’ father told him he’ll have to work twice as hard to overcome the detractors. Magnus really should take over CMLL booking today, he’ s got a much better handle on it than the people who put him on TV.

Crazy Boy, who’s been missing for the a while, says he underwent knee surgery.

All the mentions of Io Shirai coming in for the Lucha Fan Fest seem to miss that she was actually in Mexico, last year, on TV quite a few times. I don’t think it’s people keeping (very obvious non-)secrets, it’s more of a sign about how little most people seem to pay attention to AAA’s TV.

CMLL in NJPW
04/26: Mascara Dorada (O) & No Limit beat Jushin Liger (X) & Bad Intentions

AAA in AJPW
04/26: Jr. Tag League: Super Crazy (O) & BUSHI [6] b Masanobu Fuchi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (X) [4]
Crazy and Bushi are now in 4th, 2 points out of the lead.

CMLL in REINA
Matches announced for the joshi promotion’s (sort of) debut show on 05/08
4) Takako Inoue, Silueta vs Hiroyo Matsumoto & Tomoka Nakagawa
5) Yumiko Hotta & Manami Toyota vs Hailey Hatred & Seuxis
6) Ayumi Kurihara vs Mima Shimoda – winner gets a shot the CMLL Women’s title
8) Amapola vs Marcela [CMLL WOMEN] – assuming Amapola is still champ (she will be)

Suspect they’re setting up Ayumi vs Amapola, which could be great.

Links

Lineups

CMLL UWE (SAT) 04/30/2011 Arena Lopez Matoes
1) Ángel de la Noche, Hormiga Atomica, Rey Krystal vs Halcon Diabolico I, Halcon Diabolico II, Ronny Ventura
2) Gallo Tapado Jr., Robin Maravilla, Sadico vs Hombre sin Rostro, Kilvan, Yakuza
3) Rey Krymen, Sepulturero I, Terry 2000 vs Cerbero Maligno, Epitafio, Herejia
4) Chucho el Roto, Iron Love, Solar I vs Negro Navarro, Trauma I, Trauma II
5) Atlantis, Escorpion, Último Guerrero vs Ray Mendoza Jr., Scorpio Jr., Villano IV

Kid’s Day show. That main event is extra interesting, because Scorpion Jr. has said he’s not happy about Escorpion using that name. Also, the show will feature a Michael Jackson impersonator.

CMLL (SUN) 05/01/2011 Arena Coliseo
1) Camaleón & Freesbe vs Bronco & Disturbio
2) Guerrero Maya Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Stuka Jr. vs Rayo Tapatío I, Rayo Tapatío II, Virus
3) Rey Escorpion vs Palacio Negro [Forjando un Idolo]
4) Ángel de Oro vs Rey Cometa [Forjando un Idolo]
5) Diamante, Metro, Rush vs El Alebrije, Misterioso Jr., Olímpico
6) Black Warrior, Blue Panther, La Sombra vs Atlantis, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr.

Further complicating the name issue is Escorpion appears to be switching to “Rey Escorpion”. Alexis used the name in his last Forjando un Idolo match, and it’s on the poster here. There is another Rey Escorpion around El Paso – I believe that was the one who was in CHIKARA for a while – but I suspect it’s not a concern here. As for the tournament, the Palacio Negro vs Rey Escorpion match is the critical one; winner advances, loser is out, and a draw is confusing.

Semimain is a pseudo-rematch from this week, Metro replacing Angel de Oro since he’s otherwise needed. The Negro Casas vs Blue Panther bit is dropped here, so it’ll be a Mexican Trios Title match next week for the Fan Appreciation show. (Which also means Angel de Oro’s tournament match can’t take place next Sunday.)

Stuka & Virus in the second match is so odd, but there’s no other place with every other angle they’ve got running here and I’d guess someone wanted to just give them a match, so they and Maya got drafted in the Gen2011 vs Vets feud for a night. I actually have a record of Stuka & Tigre Blanco facing the Tapatios in 2005, but no results was found. Virus actually teamed up with the Tapatios back in 2006 in Arena Neza, and faced them in 2000 Arena Coliseo Tag Team Tournament. (Fugaz was Virus’ partner.)

CMLL (SUN) 05/01/2011 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) ?
2) ?
3) Astro Boy & Tigre Blanco vs Mortiz & Semental
4) Lluvia, Luna Mágica, Marcela vs Estrellita, Princesa Sujei, Tiffany
5) Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Texano vs Máximo, Toscano, Valiente

Maybe they’re actually sticking with the new trio? Nah.

Tapatios vs Bala/Dragon, Panther vs Casas, AAA rain out, DTU

thecubsfan 7 Comments

CMLL (SUN) 04/17/2011 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Disturbio & Mortiz b Freesbe & Principe
Mortiz replaced Semental
2) Dragon Lee DQ Rayo Tapatío II, Rayo Tapatío I, Hombre Bala Jr., Hijo del Signo, Inquisidor, Súper Comando, Super Halcon Jr., Enrique Vera Jr., Artillero[cibernetico]
Eliminations where Artillero (Halcon), Vera (Comando), Halcon (Inquisidor), Comando (Signo), Inquisidor (Bala), Signo (Rayo II). That left the Tapatios vs Dragon Lee & Hombre Bala, the core of htis feud. Rayo I beat Bala, but Dragon Lee defeated Rayo I and was enroute to beating Rayo II again when Rayo I ran back in for the DQ. Bala made the save.
3) Magnus b Ángel de Plata [Forjando un Idolo]
Magnus (3) defeated Angel de Plata (0) with a la de a caballo. Maybe Magnus is just a tribute wrestler?
4) Pólvora b Fuego [Forjando un Idolo]
Counter dropkick for Polvora (3) over Fuego (0)
5) Delta, Toscano, Valiente b Felino, Misterioso II, Shigeo Okumura
6) Blue Panther, La Sombra, Strong Man DQ Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas, Volador Jr.
Niebla did appear. Negro Casas fouled Blue Panther, and they made hair vs hair challenges.

Group Delta kicks off cycle 2 of the Forjando un Idolo match, with the winners (Polvora/Magnus) and the losers (Angel de Plata/Fuego) facing off. 6 points is probably enough to get you thru, and 0 points is probably end to end your hopes.

DTU (SAT) 04/16/2011 Arena Lopez Mateos [Black Terry Jr. (flickr), Estrellas del Ring]
1) Kalek b Joystick, Garra de Aguila, Guerrero Extremo, Arana de Plata Jr.
2) Chica Tormenta b Shitara, Megan, Lily Fighter, Princesa Egipcia [#1 Contenders, Reina De Reinas]
Keira was bumped out of this match for previously unmentioned Princesa Egipico. Chica Tormenta beat Lily Fighter to advance.
3) Keira b Vanely, Yuki Star, Lolita, Vaquerita, Ashley [#1 Contenders, Reina De Reinas]
Keira ended up added to this match, and beat Lolita to advance.
4) Sadico & Yakuza b Aeroboy & Samuray del Sol and Pequeno Cobra & Pesdailla and Black Fire & Ciclope
Black Fire was Ciclope’s unnamed partner, and Pequeno Cobra took his place as Pesadilla’s partner. Story of the match was Samuray del Sol going for a dive, not being caught by anyone, and landed very badly. He was quickly stretchered out and taken to the hospital, and there’s been no update as far as I’ve seen. Yakuza & Sadico beat Pequeno Cobra & Pesadilla.
5) Trauma I & Trauma II b Dark Dragon & Fenix (AAA)
The Trauma’s edecan got to do a strip tease.
6) Mari Apache b Keira, Chica Tormenta [Reina De Reinas]
Mari retained her title.
7) Zumbi b Hormiga, Daga, Flamita
Zumbi eliminated Hormiga, Flamita & Daga beat Zumbi, and Daga beat Zumbi to take it
8)  Violento Jack b Drastik Boy, Chessman, Paranoiko
Chessman had the match won, but put Violento Jack on top of Drastik Boy to give him the win. This was better explained when Konnan appeared. Konnan took the rare opportunity to talk, mentioning how he and Halloween and Damian were hardcore a decade ago, and he had bloody battles with Perro Sr. & Cien Caras, so DTU doesn’t impress him. Crazy Boy came out to defend DTU. Violento Jack was recruited to the Milicia (or maybe just to represent them here), and Joe Lider vs Chessman for the DTU title was agreed upon.

Black Terry Jr. has video of Traumas vs Fenix & Dark Dragon.

Tonight’s AAA taping in Pachuca was rained out. After about an hour of waiting for the rain to stop, the AAA tecnicos came out and Joaquin Roldan announced the show would not happen tonight but instead be postponed on Sunday. (Which means it’ll still be airing on Sunday, if all goes OK.) Konnan led out the rudos to have a brief argument and shove down Joaquin.

I can’t think of a past occasion where this has happened to them, but they run so many of their TV tapings outside (probably more than all the other major companies in the world combined) that it must’ve happened before.

Perro Aguayo will be undergoing treatment for at least a year following the tumor removal, but there’s still no word if it’s cancerous. It’s also unclear if that year of treatment will mean he’s out for a year or will be able to return during it.

Psycho Circus won at Guerra de Promociones.

Forjando un Idolo matches

Supreme and BC Killer claim they only were paid half of what they were promised for the GLC show a couple weekends ago. Promoter only gave them that half up front, but promised the other half the next day, when he would take them to the airport. Next day: No money, no ride. This is the same promoter who was falsely advertising Matt Cross & Necro Butcher, but did some how find the time to update his promotion’s title history on the luchawiki the next day. Maybe that’s why he missed driving those guys to the airport! Priorities, you know.

I’m a big behind on my podcast listening, so I’ve just gotten to Sean Waltman’s (X-Pac) interivew on Figure Four Daily. Bryan was comparing post-Vince McMahon WWE to post-AAA Antonio Pena.

On parallels: “Uhh, Boy, you know what, I guess a little bit, but Bryan, if you were there like I was, you’d see it’s not nearly the same AAA as it used to be, buddy. Uh, um, I just have to tell you that Dorian Roldan is NO – and not even close and never will be an Antonio Pena. Uh, and, he’s got a lot to learn, and he’s kind of a spoiled little shit, and uh, I’m sure he’s going to love it when he hears I called him that, but that’s what he is. And he doesn’t respect his talent, and they exploit the living shit out of their talent, and, uh, and, um, they, you know – good thing they have people like Moody Jack Melendez there, who help write TV, and Konnan is, his body is really broken down now but he still, uh, very very intellgent mind for wrestling, and uh, it’s just that – I see, I see WWE being, coming out, coming out of the other end of Vince being gone in a little better shape than AAA.”

Waltman says he feels CMLL was “in the Stone Age” when he was going to work for them, and figured Vince McMahon would end up owning Arena Mexico. Waltman notes Paco Alonso is wealthy without CMLL and they make money just selling the parking places during the week. He figures either AAA or CMLL might be a development territory. Waltman notes the fans are much more patrotic, and their tickets are much more affordable than WWE.

Waltman calls AAA essentially an indy promotion with a TV contract, and say they’d be done with it. On if he’d ever work with AAA again: “I’m not saying I would never do anything with them again, but they did – they didn’t live up to one, one fricking term of our agreement. And I went back and like no-showed Paco Alonso’s 75th Anniversary show for them, because I made this agreement with them, and they didn’t live up to it. You can’t trust them as far as you can throw them, and that’s the truth.”

Waltman says he wasn’t feeling CMLL – he had short notice on them wanting a singles match, and they weren’t interested any of his ideas. “They had great wrestlers, just a few decent angles would’ve made a hell of a difference in that company.”

Waltman later singles out Zorro & Silver King as good wrestlers and complains about the lack of the psychology and working the right side of the body.

(I do take requests!)

SuperLuchas #410 has Mil Mascaras and Ryusuke Taguchi on the cover. Also, an interview with Hijo del Solitario, who explains the problem with CMLL is they have guys like Dragon Rojo on top and not guys like Hijo del Solitario (“has the experience of an Atlantis or a Mil Mascaras.”) Hijo del Solitario says, if his dad was a 10, he’s a 7. Must be a logarithmic scale. This is all to build up a mask match with El Santo.

Luchas 2000 #566 has Perro Aguayo Jr. on the cover.

LuchaWorld has #10-1 on the Luchaworld 2010 countdown, and KrisZ’s news update.

Links

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 04/19/2011 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Black Metal vs Evola
2) Enrique Vera Jr. & Super Halcon Jr. vs Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno
3) Ángel de Oro, Dragon Lee, Magnus vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Ráfaga, Skándalo
4) Hijo del Fantasma, Strong Man, Toscano vs Averno, Ephesto, Mephisto
5) Máximo vs Volador Jr.

I have no idea how they got there, but that’s a unique main event. Gen11 guys start turning up here this week.

CMLL (SUN) 04/24/2011 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Meteoro vs Relampago
2) Hierro & Höruz vs Bobby Zavala & León Blanco
3) Metatrón & Starman vs Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno
4) Fuego, Sagrado, Stuka Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Shigeo Okumura, Skándalo
5) Hijo del Fantasma, La Máscara, Valiente vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Hirooki Goto, Último Guerrero

Hope Goto and the Guerreros can get along.

First Relampago/Relampago Azul match here since November. Some of the guys who disappeared last fall (around the time Gran Cochisse was let go) seem to be trickling back in openers here. They also just could’ve been bumped out because CMLL has been sending more DF guys here.

CMLL Guerreros del Ring on 52MX #281 (04/09/2011)

thecubsfan
didn't kill himself on this, this time.

taped @ Arena Coliseo, 04/03/2011

file: here
recap: here

Dragon Lee, Hijo del Signo, Hombre Bala Jr. vs Apocalipsis, Escorpion, Semental: Semental is just great. He’s a far more interesting mat worker than guys his age (and tries more than guys much more experienced), he makes the tecnicos look good and he has a good dive. There are four guys in this match who are in Forjando un Idolo, and he may be better than any of them. I’m glad this Team Primera vs Gen11 feud is happening so Semental can get sucked into it, but I’m not sure why he’s stuck at this level. Maybe he just needs to network better? (Apocalipsis is not good.)

Rush vs Rey Bucanero for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship: Expected this to be a small bit of torture and it was actually perfectly acceptable leaning towards good. My faith in Rey Bucanero has been somewhat restored, and Rush held up his end. There is room to improve: Rush’s crushing tope to start the second fall shouldn’t have been blow off so easily, and there were other spots which didn’t go as intended. But when Rush started to climb the top rope, got massively booed (as usual) and flashed a smile back at the crowd, I was sure I was seeing a great rudo in the making. (Too bad CMLL hasn’t figured it out.)