Andrade keeps winning, expanded CMLL Best of schedule, AAA Queretaro

CMLL

CMLL (MON) 12/25/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Kaiser Sports, thecubsfan]
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II b Chamuel & Periquito Sacaryas
8:52
2) Acero, Galaxy, Pequeño Magía DQ Aéreo, Fantasy, Pequeño Polvora
9:56. Fantasy unmasked Acero as cage match build
3) Rugido b Hombre Bala Jr. [lightning]
8:08
4) La Jarochita, Marcela, Skadi b Dark Silueta, Hera, Reyna Isis
13:03.
5) Atlantis, Blue Panther, Valiente b Felino, Hechicero, Sagrado
12:17
6) Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. b Averno, Soberano Jr., Templario
14:50

This is a free CMLL show and is an easy watch if you’re dying to check out CMLL and don’t want to pay for it or find it through other means. It was also mostly forgettable with a happy main event.

It’s unclear what CMLL is doing with the New Year’s Day show.

CMLL (MON) 12/25/2023 Arena Puebla [Mano a Mano]
1) Fénix SO & Siky Ozama b Meyer & Millenium
2) Olympia & Persephone b Estrellita Mágica & Lady Metal
3) Arkalis, Pegasso, Rey Samuray b El Perverso, Pólvora, Prayer
4) Blue Panther Jr., Dark Panther, El Audaz b Crixus, Difunto, Felino Jr.
5) Esfinge, Fugaz, Star Black b Dragón Rojo Jr., Hijo de Stuka Jr., Terrible
6) Andrade el Idolo, Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr. b Euforia, Místico, Stigma [Relevos Increíbles]
Andrade beat Mistico via foul. Challenges followed.

This show was said to be a sell out, all around Andrade’s return.

CMLL said this was a subscription show and did tape it, but it hasn’t turned up as of the time of this post. It’ll probably be on the channel soon enough. It was probably the right call not to stream it after the last stream from Puebla didn’t go well, but also CMLL’s capable of saying “this is for subscribers but not live” and just doesn’t do those thingsg.

CMLL (TUE) 12/26/2023 Arena México [CMLL, Excelsior, Kaiser Sports, thegladiatores.com]
1) Meyer & Xelhua b Dr. Karonte I & Felino Jr.
Felino Jr. replaced Dr. Karonte II
2) Grako, Inquisidor, Sangre Imperial b Astral, Eléctrico, Valiente Jr.
3) Neón b Raider [lightning]
9:35, very good match
4) Magia Blanca, Magnus, Rugido b Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso, Stigma
5) Flip Gordon, Star Jr., Valiente b Bárbaro Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Terrible
6) Andrade el Idolo & Soberano Jr. b Atlantis & Atlantis Jr.
Andrade and Soberano snuck in fouls. Andrade’s wife was at ringside again. Andrade said he’d return to take Atlantis’ mask if he felt like and that Soberano Jr. would take Atlantis Jr.’s mask.

Neon/Raider was great again, and the main event was an enjoyable character match. Andrade is clearly enjoying his time.

CMLL (TUE) 12/26/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [Arena Coliseo Guadalajara]
1) Adira, Dulce Kitty, Náutica b Atenea, Estrellita Mágica, La Pantera
2) Astro Oriental, Gallo Jr., Príncipe Dragón, Rafaga Jr. b Calavera Jr. I, Calavera Jr. II, Eclipse Jr., Temerario
3) Barboza, Draego, Persa b Leo, Omar Brunetti, Vaquero Jr.
4) Brillante Jr., Crixus, Star Black DQ Bestia Negra, Gallero, Halcón Negro Jr.
win via foul
5) Hijo del Villano III, Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr. b Arlequín, Difunto, Esfinge [Relevos Increíbles]
6) Andrómeda, Persephone, Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis b Dark Silueta, Lady Shadow, Sexy Sol, Valkiria [Relevos Increíbles]
7) Máscara Dorada & Místico b Averno & Furia Roja

Everyone seemed to be a festive party mood, especially match 5. Good turnout for both Tuesday shows.

CMLL switched to promoting the Best of 2024 shows to a three week event, instead of two. Maybe we’ll hear more about those on Informa.

CMLL Informa today has

Mistico, Atlantis, Templario, Hechicero, Reyna Isis: ??
Stephanie Vaquer & Jarochita: title match
Pierrothito, Mercurio, Angelito, Pequeno Magia: cage match

CMLL (FRI) 12/29/2023 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Hatanna, Katara, Magia Azul vs Adira, Dulce Kitty, Náutica
2) Estrellita Mágica, Lady Amazona, Lady Metal vs Alondra, Andrómeda, Lady Shadow
3) Dulce Gardenia & La Fashion vs Furia Roja & Guerrero de la Muerte
4) Adrenalina, Explosivo, Fantástico © vs El Malayo, Rey Apocalipsis, Siki Osama Jr. [OCCIDENTE TRIOS]
3rd defense
5) Atlantis Jr. & Flip Gordon vs Bestia Negra & Soberano Jr.
6) Maléfico vs Exterminador, Black Boy, Destructor, Javier Cruz Jr., Rumbero, Yaky Boy, Thunder Boy, Maximus, Atilus, Rey Urano, Demonio Rojo [mask, hair, cage]

A special Friday show in Guadalajara, probably streaming for free. The main event is the same opening match apuesta cage match CMLL ran in January, though I’ve got even less idea who will win. Match 5 is listed a revelos incredibles but everyone’s on the correct side.

CMLL (SAT) 12/30/2023 Arena Coliseo
1) Micro Gemelo Diablo I & Micro Gemelo Diablo II vs Átomo & Chamuel
2) Andrómeda, La Vaquerita, Magia Azul vs Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany
3) Espíritu Negro, Fuego, Rey Cometa vs El Coyote, Okumura, Pólvora
4) Dark Panther, Star Jr., Valiente vs Akuma, Dark Magic, Sagrado
5) Atlantis Jr., Titán, Volador Jr. vs Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr., Templario
6) Máscara Dorada vs Bárbaro Cavernario

Dorada and Cavernario headline the final CMLL show of the year. Not much going on anywhere on 12/31.

Notably, no 01/01 Sin Salida lineup yet. Maybe some of those names with no reason to be on Informa will figure in a match for it.

Atlantis Jr. very much wants to be in 2024 NJPW G1. He felt he’s learned a lot in 2023 by wrestling people of different styles and wants to do more of it.

Prestige Wrestling (Los Angeles) announced Mascara Dorada versus Rey Horus for their 02/25 show. You may remember Rey Horus (and Bestia 666) popped up in The Crash and working The Crash means they’re done in AAA if you follow all this closely. CMLL typically doesn’t follow that stuff closely. Maybe it’s just slipping by because it’s a US show, but I take it as a sign there’s been a conversation between Horus and CMLL.

A report about spending by Mexico’s Federal Judiciary Council on non-judiciary things mentions the government agency bought 2,465 tickets for the CMLL Father’s Day show for 960,758.40 pesos. That’s about 400 pesos a ticket, which is a little odd – only the front two rows cost that much.

AAA

AAA put up a listing for a 01/20 show in Queretaro on their website. It’s been up there for a couple of days, Facebook pages noticed it over the weekend, but it’s not a place that has had much news since the latest redesign. Maybe that’s changing. The page just has the top half of the poster, no matches or ticket listing. AAA posters follow a pattern, so it’s easy to read what matches are scheduled. It’s a very unofficial lineup, just truly an assumption:

AAA TV (SAT) 01/20/2024 Auditorio General José María Arteaga, Querétaro, Querétaro
1) ?, ??, ??? vs ????, ?????, ??????
2) Faby Apache & Pimpinela Escarlata vs La Hiedra & Maravilla
3) Hijo Del Vikingo, Myzteziz Jr., Octagón Jr. vs Aerostar, Mr. Iguana, Súper Fly
4) Dave The Clown, Murder Clown, Panic Clown vs Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Dark Scoria
5) Chessman vs Electroshock
6) Pagano & Psycho Clown vs Cibernético & Zorro

This is another Retro branded show, which appears to be the AAA theme for 2024. A Retro theme doesn’t sound promising regarding the fresh ideas AAA or the good matches they’ve lacked in 2023, but maybe it’ll create a nostalgia-based attendance boost. Match 3 could be good but the rest does nothing for me as is, so I hope I got the lineup wrong.

AAA Retro is unlikely to be “current AAA wrestlers against former AAA wrestlers” all year. This is a bit of a guess, educated and not, but I think the AAA Retro concept will eventually re-introduce some older AAA characters with new (or current) luchadors. Think Abismo Negro Jr. and Octagon Jr., though maybe not even the junior. It fits Retro theme, and it gives AAA a little more control of the wrestlers.

IWRG

AAA , ROSALES (MON) 12/25/2023 Arena Naucalpan [IWRG]
1) Faby Apache & Lady Shani b Diva Salvaje & Jessy Ventura
2) Daimo, Galio, Golden Jecket, Kingoo b Rey Halcón, Skayler, Toxin, Visonario
3) Astuto, Mini Charly Manson, Mini Psycho Clown b Aerostar, La Parkita, Máscara de Bronce
4) Dave The Clown, Dizzy, Murder Clown, Panic Clown DQ Abismo Negro Jr., Joe Lider, Súper Nova, Texano Jr.
5) Hijo Del Vikingo b Taurus [AAA MEGA]

Vikingo/Taurus was said not to be as good as the US ones and still the best match on this show. This appears to have been a sell out, Arena Naucalpan is believed to have a capacity of 2,300, and so this Taurus/Vikingo match would’ve been in front of more people people live than their one at Final Battle. (The ticket revenue is surely different.) IWRG put up a link to stream the show and then deleted it before it got started. It’ll likely get up sooner.

Vikingo made his double bookings. Pigs didn’t make their tripleshot; they were in Mexico City as their match in Arena Lopez Mateos was happening.

IWRG (MON) 01/01/2024 Arena Naucalpan
1) Bengalee vs Sádika, Sagitairus, Satania, Amazonika, Kali [IWRG WOMEN, #1 Contenders, cage]
2) Low Rider vs Spider Fly, Abigor, Tornado, Rey Halcón, Freelance, Vaquero Fantasma, Águila Roja, Histeriosys [El Cofre de Tesoro, cage]
3) Keyra vs ? [IWRG WOMEN, cage]
4) Tonalli vs Dr. Cerebro Jr., Puma de Oro [cage, hair, ? CHAMP]
5) Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr., Heddi Karaoui vs Aster Boy, Hijo del Alebrije, León Dorado [seconds hair, cage]
Reyes Rosas (Cerebros) and Sonrisas (Leon Dorado) have hairs on the line
6) Hijo de Canis Lupus vs Hijo del Fishman, Rey Espectro [IWRG IC HEAVY]

This is the annual Guerrero de Acero show. Every match is a cage match. The actual matches are usually not good but the concept sells out the building. The cage matches themselves have different rules: the main event is “first person who climbs up and grabs the belt” match, the opener is “first one who escapes gets the title shot later in the night.” Cofre de Tesoro is their money in the bank gimmick.

Other News

This has nothing to do with anything, but I was watching the “highlights” of Canek’s match on Monday, where he slowly moved out of the way of chopping spots and stuck his arm out for opponents to take a hip toss bump. Atlantis, around the same time in Arena Mexico, was more mobile but also reliant on a lot of spots where he moved just enough for his opponents to run into each other. Maybe we don’t give La Parka AAA enough Hall of Fame credit for being an innovator in the space of “bluffing your way through a wrestling match when you physically can’t do much of what you used to do.” The types of wrestlers who would’ve been critical of Parka’s performances basically wrestle the same way he does now.

Mil Mascaras talks about his career, says he spoke to the governor of New York City (maybe he means mayor) to get permission to wrestle masked in Madison Square Garden. In a second article, Mil mentioned he’s living in the United States and it’s tough to keep up with Mexican wrestling there. So I hear. He considers himself an active wrestler.

Kaoz Lucha Libre is promoting Matt Cardona and Marty Scurll for their March 24th show. No tickets are on sale yet and Kaoz has a recent poor track record of running their shows. Cardona is one where it’s tough to figure him meaning enough in Mexico to be worth the cost of bringing him in. Monterrey does have a good amount of US/foreign-wrestling interested wrestling fans who will show up for things like this (see the chants for Tommy Dreamer at Ultraclash) and maybe Cardona will be a big deal to them. The Cardona Facebook post does have a lot of positive comments.

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