AEW stars Cody and MJF will be appearing at an upcoming AAA television taping.
It was announced that the two will be teaming up to take on Brian Cage and Taurus at a television taping in Aguascalientes, Mexico on 7/18. There is a backstory, as it was Taurus who attacked Cody when he made his initial debut for AAA at Rey de Reyes back in April, cementing the relationship between AEW and AAA. While MJF and Cody have competed in Mexico in the past, this will be the in-ring debut for both in AAA.
The main event of the TV tapings will be a trios match, with Dr. Wagner Jr., Pentagon Jr and Psycho Clown taking on Blue Demon Jr., Killer Kross and Rey Escorpion. As of this writing, this is the last television taping before TripleMania on 8/31, where Dr. Wagner Jr. will face Blue Demon Jr. in a hair vs. mask match in the main event.
The television tapings will stream live on AAA’s Twitch page with both English and Spanish commentary.
Impact Wrestling closed their set of tapings with night two at Fronton Mexico in Mexico City on Saturday. Here’s what happened on night one if you missed it.
X-Division Champion Rich Swann defeated El Hijo del Vikingo in a non-title match
This was a great, must-see match and a great showing for Hijo del Vikingo, who got a big reaction from the crowd. Swann pinned Vikingo after a 450 Splash.
After the match, oVe came out to confront Swann. Sami Callihan talked about the history between he and Swann, saying that he was always there for him, more than his family, and so Swann owed everything he had achieved to him. Callihan offered Swann to join oVe, but he rejected the invitation.
There was no clear interference from either Grace or Yung, but the finish saw Grace take out Yung, distracting Allie who left her guard down for Hogan to roll her up for the win.
Trey Miguel (w/The Rascalz) defeated Rohit Raju (w/Raj Singh and Gama Singh)
This was an action packed match that got a good amount of time. Miguel got a better reception from the fans and won with a top rope meterora.
Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie defeated Tessa Blanchard in a street fight to retain
These two women went out there looking to give it their all. The spots in the match were not particularly violent in nature, but looked brutal live. There was a big board in the ring that they were not able to break even after a second spear against it. The finish saw Valkyrie hit a double foot stomp from the top rope onto Blanchard, who laid on a table. The crowd reacted well to the weapon spots and were behind the champ.
Willie Mack defeated Ethan Page
In a short match, Mack pinned Page after a stunner.
Impact Champion Johnny Impact defeated Moose, Killer Kross, and Brian Cage in a four-way match to retain
This was another great must-see match with four big dudes going all out. The fnish saw Impact hit Starship Pain on Moose while Cage hit the Drill Claw on Kross, but Impact covered Moose a second earlier so he won the match. Cage and Impact faced off afterward.
Psycho Clown defeated Fallah Bahh
Like on Friday, the reaction to Psycho Clown wasn’t favorable. He won with La Magistral.
Sami Callihan defeated Puma King
King had a great reaction from the fans, while Callihan was a heat machine. Callihan pinned Puma King after a piledriver in a great match with a lot of time.
Eli Drake and Eddie Edwards defeated The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz)
The finish saw Drake hit the Gravy Train on Xavier after hitting him with Edwards’ kendo stick behind the referee’s back. After the match, Edwards complained to Drake about using the stick to win. Edwards brought out the stick to begin with, so I’m guessing he was just jealous someone else used it.
Lucha Brothers (Pentagon and Fenix) defeated LAX (w/Konnan) to become the new Impact World Tag Team Champions
The Lucha Bros got a big match entrance with Chinese dragon dancers. This was about as good as the Homecoming match, if not slightly better. The crowd was hot for the Lucha Bros, and when some fans started an ‘Impact Wrestling’ chant, the Cero Miedo chant would overtake it. The finish saw Pentagon pin Santana with the spike Fear Factor, while Fenix hit a Tope con Giro on Ortiz on the outside.
After the match, all four men embraced.
The show ended with all the babyfaces coming out to celebrate with the Lucha Brothers. They got an ‘Impact Wrestling’ chant going, and stayed for a while taking pictures with the fans and high-fiving all around.
Xplosion Tapings —
Fallah Bahh defeated Raj Singh (w/Gama Singh)
Bahh was really over with the crowd and pinned Raj after a Banzai Drop.
Jordynne Grace defeated Su Yung
Grace pinned Yung after a Pumphandle Half Nelson Driver.
The evolution of WWE’s relationships with promotions they’re friendly with continued to take shape this past weekend. Five WWE-contracted wrestlers were in action for EVOLVE last Friday and Saturday: The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford), Fabian Aichner, Kassius Ohno, and Mustafa Ali. Killian Dain made a surprise appearance for ICW in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday, defeating Mikey Whiplash after it had been advertised that Whiplash would be facing a wrestler from WWE.
One week ago, the Survivor Series was to be headlined by Brock Lesnar vs. A.J. Styles and Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch in battles of the Raw and Smackdown brand champions.
But just days before the show, two unrelated incidents saw both main events that were heavily-looked forward to change.
And in doing so, one of the key matches at WrestleMania, possibly the main event, was also established.
Right now the plan is for Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch to headline WrestleMania. After the injury to Lynch on 11/12, a fractured nose and a concussion from a punch by Nia Jax during an in-ring Raw vs. Smackdown women’s brawl, she was out of the match that, due to the promos on both sides, was the most looked-forward to match on the show.
The next day, both Vince McMahon and Rousey decided that the best course of action was to do the match at WrestleMania. Rousey and Lynch immediately went at it hard on social media, even though Rousey’s new opponent on the PPV is Charlotte Flair.
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John Cena will appear on the Graham Norton show this Friday on BBC One to promote his upcoming movie with Jackie Chan.
Pro Wrestling
There was a scary incident last night at a PALL event outside Mexico City. It was a match between Angel o Demonio and Cuervo, from Puerto Rico. There was a spot in the match where after Cuervo hit Demonio with multiple chairshots, Demonio went to the back, grabbed a cinder block and threw it right in the back of Cuervo’s head. Cuervo went unconscious and the match was stopped. Last word is that Cuervo will be undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot.
The Mid-South Coliseum, home to Memphis wrestling for decades, has been saved after over a decade of being in limbo. A new tourism development zone plan that was passed yesterday by the state will pave the way to restore and renovate the building, which was closed down in 2006.
A new documentary on the life of Owen Hart, simply called Owen, is being worked on by Curate Films. It will be done in cooperation with Martha Hart and the Owen Hart Foundation.
Lucha Brothers vs. The Hart Foundation will headline MLW’s Never Say Never event on December 13. It will be a TV taping.
ROH is asking for Final Battle attendees to bring in an unwrapped toy to donate for Toys For Tots.
UFC/MMA
Ahead of their show this coming weekend in Beijing, UFC announced yesterday that they will be opening a giant 93,000 square foot facility in Shanghai similar to their performance center in Las Vegas. Dana White told ESPN in an interview that the goal of the facility is not only to find and recruit Chinese and other Asian athletes, but also find a future world champion.
The Honolulu Police Department has launched a second degree assault investigation following an incident involving Rachael Ostovich that left her hospitalized with what is being reported as a broken orbital bone. MMA Fighting is reporting that the male suspect is allegedly her husband Arnold Berdon, also a MMA fighter. Ostovich was scheduled to face Paige VanZant on January 19 on the first UFC ESPN+ card, but she is now out of that fight. Ostovich has also filed a restraining order against Berdon.
UFC on FS1 this past Saturday scored 630,000 viewers, finishing 14th for the night.
The appearance of Los Ingobernables de Japón in Arena Mexico has been altered a bit due to an injury.
The original match was slated to be Tetsuya Naito, EVIL and BUSHI vs. L.A. Park, Volador Jr. and Diamate Azul. However, the card for the 8/31 show was posted today on the Arena Mexico Twitter account, with Rush taking EVIL’s spot in the main event. The poster noted that EVIL would be a valet for the Ingobernables instead.
Dave Meltzer mentioned on Twitter that EVIL is currently suffering from a knee injury, which may be why he’s off the card in an active capacity. It isn’t known how serious the injury is, but he was recently announced for the Destruction events that will be taking place next month.
The co-main event of the 8/31 card will have a singles match between two of the participants in the 85th Aniversario main event, as Matt Taven will take on Barbaro Cavernario. Ultimo Guerrero, Euforia and Gran Guerrero will also team up to take on Ciber the Main Man, The Chris and Scharly Rock Star.
CMLL has released the full card for their Aniversario show next month.
The biggest news is that after months of hype between Rush and L.A. Park, the match is officially not happening. During today’s press conference, it was revealed that Rush will instead team with Barbaro Cavernario to take on the team of Matt Taven and Volador Jr in a hair match. L.A. Park will appear on the show, but instead will be in the co-main event as he will team with Hijo de L.A. Park and Caristico, squaring off against King Phoenix (Fenix), Penta El Zero M (Pentagon Jr.) and Dinamate Azul.
The rest of the card consists of trios matches. Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero and Euphoria will defend the CMLL World trios titles against Ciber the Main Main, The Chris and Sharlie Rockstar in what will be the only title match.
Here is the full card for the 85th CMLL Aniversario show, which will run in Arena Mexico on September 14:
Volador Jr. and Matt Taven vs. Barbaro Cavernario and Rush in a hair match
Caristico, L.A. Park and Hijo de L.A. Park vs. King Phoenix, Penta El Zero M and Dinamate Azul
Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero and Euphoria vs. Ciber the Main Man, The Chris and Sharlie Rockstar for the CMLL World trios titles
Mistico, Atlantis and Soberano Jr. vs. Sanson, Cuatrero and Forastero
Niebla Roja, Ángel de Oro and El Audaz vs. Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas and Felino
Princesa Sugehit, Marcela and Jarochita vs. Reyna Isis, Dalys and La Maligna
It was announced today that for the first time, the Los Ingobernables de Japon stable will be making an appearance in Arena Mexico.
CMLL announced today during a press conference that Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI and EVIL will make an appearance at the Friday 8/31 Arena Mexico show. They will be taking on the team of Volador Jr., LA Park and Dinamate Azul. Although Naito and BUSHI have made appearances for CMLL in the past, this would mark their first time they are coming in as a group. It would be EVIL’s first time appearing for the company.
In addition to the LIJ announcement, CMLL also announced that The Briscoes and David Finlay will compete in their CMLL Gran Prix tournament on October 5. Four more foreign wrestlers will later be announced on their talk show, Informa.
Los Ingobernables de Japon is an offshoot of the Los Ingobernables stable in Mexico, which currently consists of La Bestia del Ring (Pierroth), Rush and El Terrible.
Big announcements for All In continue as a top indy prospect has been added to the card.
One half of the Young Bucks Matt Jackson announced this afternoon on Instagram that Bandido is the latest wrestler to join the upcoming independent show set for late summer.
A standout independent wrestler in Mexico since his debut in 2014, Bandido has gained ground in the US indy scene in 2018, regularly working for PWG in California. He’s also set for their Battle of Los Angeles tournament, where he will face T-Hawk in the opening round At twenty three years old, he’s travelled all over the world, including most recently working dates for Dragon Gate in Japan.
In addition to Bandido, it was recently announced during the latest episode of Being the Elite that Hangman Page will face Joey Janela at the event. Kazuchika vs. Marty Scurll has also been announced.
All In will take place at the Sears Center Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on September 1st.
Australian Suicide won a battle royal for the 2016 Copa TripleMania featuring La Parka, Elegido, Taurus, Hernandez, Pimpinela Escarlata, El Hijo del Pirata Morgan, Daga, Super Fly, Zorro, and Mamba
Battle royal didn’t last very long, with La Parka being the final man eliminated. Last two in the ring were Daga and Australian Suicide, and it turned into a singles match. I guess this is similar to the Gauntlet for the Gold TNA used to do.
Lots of fast-paced action. Suicide hit a really cool shooting star press to the floor.
Australian Suicide won with a corkscrew but Daga had his foot on the ropes. He was awarded the cup after the match, but Daga jumped him, destroyed the trophy, and took off his mask.
Averno & Chessman went to a no contest with Mary & Faby Apache
This wasn’t bad when it was just a wrestling match, but it was also full of interference and weapons and there wasn’t a finish to boot. Gran Apache was the special referee. The women jumped the men at the start and ran wild.
Heel ref action started as Gran Apache stopped his daughters from doing anything, allowing the men to jump them from behind. Faby did a cool hurricanrana to the floor but was posted by Averno. Averno was about to hit one of the sisters with a bottle, but Gran Apache stopped him, which got him sent packing by the rudos.
Faby was about to pin Chessman after a hurricanrana but Averno hit her with a light tube. Gran Apache made the save, but then Ricky Marvin came out and laid him out with a chair. Marvin then bit his forehead when he was busted open. Faby was somehow busted open as well. No finish it seems as Faby was stretchered out and Gran Apache went to the back.
Drago & Aerostar defeated Paul London & Matt Cross, Hijo del Fantasma & Garza Jr., and AAA Tag Team Champions Angelico & Jack Evans to win the titles
Fenix no-showed, so Garza Jr. took his place. Largely a stunt show, but a fun one with a bunch of cool dives. Aerostar has the coolest entrance gear. Fantasma and Garza did stereo moonsaults to wipe out two teams.
Matt Cross did a Sasuke special that connected on the outside. London hit a shooting star press but Fantasma broke it up. Fantasma took him to the outside and did a suicide dive, then Aerostar followed with a huge tope that largely sent him into fans past the barricade.
Aerostar did a big corkscrew dive, wiping out most of the teams as London went to do something on the top rope but Drago misted him, kept rolling him around, then pinned him to with the match.
They did their Hall of Fame ceremony next. They inducted “Love Machine” Art Barr, as well as Dorian Roldan himself in what I guess was a surprise. I didn’t know you could induct yourself in your own hall of fame.
Johnny Mundo defeated Latin American Champion Pentagon Jr. to win the title
Solid match. Taya cut a promo before the match saying tonight would be Perromania. A lot of it was Mundo working on Pentagon and taking him out with some big moves, including a corkscrew to the outside.
Mundo missed Starship Pain, which allowed Pentagon to lay him out. Hernandez grabbed Pentagon but Mundo superkicked Hernandez, then superkicked the ref. Pentagon hit the double footstomp and went for the Pentadriver, but the referee was still down.
Taya came into the ring and turned on Pentagon, hitting him with a low blow. Mundo covered for the win and the title.
Vampiro came out with the Lucha Underground guys for the next match and cut a promo, then introduced Rey Mysterio Jr.
Rey Mysterio Jr., Prince Puma, & Dragon Azteca Jr. defeated Matanza Cueto, Mil Muertes, & Marty “The Moth” Martinez
Another match that had a lot of good action. Dragon Azteca in particular looked really good. Matanza and Muertes were good in playing the heel monsters. Muertes and Matanza were going for stereo powerslams, but Azteca and Puma slid from behind and managed to send them to the outside. They tripped up the Moth then did a double dive to the floor.
Mysterio, Puma, and Azteca picked up the win.
Simon Pegg was on the video screen doing a short promo for Star Trek Beyond, or as it’s known in Mexico, Star Trek: Sin Limites.
AAA Mega Heavyweight Champion Texano Jr. defeated Brian Cage and Dr. Wagner Jr. in a triple threat match to retain his title
This was also pretty solid, though the stream wasn’t perfect for all of it. Cage was going for the screwdriver when Texano transitioned into a roll-up and got the win, retaining the title.
Psycho Clown defeated Pagano in a mask vs. hair match
I wouldn’t say this was a bad match, but it was more spectacle than a wrestling match. Tons of weapons and dangerous moves used throughout, sometimes to the point of overkill. It’s something different enough that it stands out, but it went just a little too long for what it was supposed to be.
They took each other out with a bunch of dives in the early part of this match. Psycho Clown’s mask was ripped up and he was already a bloody mess as there were steel chair shots and barbed wire already in play.
They brawled to the outside where Psycho Clown laid out Pagano with a Spanish fly from on top of the barricade on top of a bunch of chairs… ouch.
Big senton to the floor by Psycho Clown took out Pagano. Both guys were busted open now. Psycho Clown, channeling Abdullah the Butch, grabbed a fork and stabbed Pagano on the forehead.
Pagano went for a splash on a prone Psycho Clown, but he dodged at the last moment and was sent through the table. Pagano countered back with a back suplex onto a table in the corner of the ring. Psycho Clown splashed Pagano from the top rope while covering himself in barbed wire, then hit a Canadian Destroyer. He followed that with a powerbomb onto two chairs, then took out another table.
Oh, here we go — thumbtacks were introduced and Psycho Clown suplexed Pagano through the table. Psycho Clown was about to make the cover when suddenly Damien and Nicho (original Psicosis) hit the ring and laid him out.
Dr. Wagner Jr. then came out to make the save. They hugged it out, but it was a swerve as Wagner laid him out as well. Pagano covered and heel ref Tirantes Jr. made a fast count, but Psycho Clown still kicked out. They set a table on fire. As they were setting this up, Psycho Clown recovered and speared Pagano through the table and pinned him, saving his mask.
Dr. Wagner cut a promo after the match challenging Psycho Clown to a mask vs. mask match. They did the same promo last year but with Caristico and Rey Mysterio Jr. and that never came to fruition. These kind of challenges usually don’t pan out. After both Psycho Clown and Pagano cut promos, Pagano’s hair was cut.
Not a bad show at all. Can’t speak for those that listened to English commentary, but aside from some stream issues here and there this was was a million times better than the trainwreck that was last year’s show.
I should mention that I watched the version with Spanish commentary. From what I understand, I picked the right choice as reports were that this was not Matt Striker’s night. Just all of his normal quirks that turn people off were well represented, apparently.
– Vampiro opened up the show giving us an update after the conclusion of season one: Dario Cueto’s whereabouts are unknown, and Katrina is in charge of the Temple
– There is a throne where the live music was last season, and champion Mil Muertes sits stoically the whole show watching on.
Trios match
– Drago & Bengala & Famous B vs. Cage & Cortez Castro & Cisco
Drago & Bengala & Famous B win when Drago pinned Castro. Cage then turned on Castro and Cisco and played to the crowd.
Fenix vs. King Cuerno for the Gift of the Gods Championship
Cuerno pinned Fenix with a package piledriver. Good Match.
Ivelisse vs. Angelico vs. Son of Havok for shot at the Lucha Underground title
Ivelisse pinned Angelico with roll up.
– Muertes left his perch and a match quickly commenced between him and Ivelisse. Angelico and Son of Havoc are cheering her on and The Disciples clean house and leave Mil Muertes to demolish Ivelisse. There was an armbar spot that put Mil in danger but Mil recovered and shortly afterwards pins her. Katrina comes in to do her lick spot but does not do it; she then commands Mil to finish the job. He is about to kill Ivelisse when Prince Puma runs in, grabs her and runs off. As Puma is talking crap to Mil, Pentagon Jr runs out to a huge pop, does a lung blower, sets up the arm break spot, and “breaks” Muertes’ arm. Pentagon was super over.
Day Twp —
Killshot vs. Johnny Mundo
Great match. Mundo nutshot followed by the end of world moonsault. There were two ref bumps prior to the finish.
Mundo cut a promo about Alberto El Patron not coming back after the beating he gave him at Ultima Lucha and how he had the best match at Ultima Lucha and deserves a shot at the title. Cage interrupted him and talked about his match and how it was better and how he wants a chance at Mil Muertes. They shoot barbs back and forth and Johhny plays to the crowd. He was a heel so the crowd renamed him Johnny Puto.
Mack vs. PJ Black
This was PJ’d debut. Good all-around match although PJ botched one spot as he slipped on the rope. Mack wins with the RKO out of nowhere.
Handicap Match: Disciples of Death vs. Pentagon and Puma
Pentagon pinned Purple Disciple after Puma lands a his 450 splash Pentagon and Puma didn’t get along, after the match they teased Pentagon breaking Puma’s arm but it didn’t happen.
Luis Urive, the former Mistico who is now wrestling as Mistic 2.0, is at Arena Mexico for tonight’s show.
He is not booked on the show, although he will be on the Lucha Libre Elite show on Sunday in his first match at the arena in four years. He may do a interview to promote the show and or shoot an angle.
Observer correspondent Robert Bihari reports that Urive will be wrestling on an iPPV show that CMLL is doing at Arena Mexico a week from tonight in his first CMLL match, where he would be opposite members of Los Ingobernables.
Mistic 2.0 and Volador Jr. are scheduled to headline Sunday’s show at Arena Mexico against Los Ingobernables members Rush & La Mascara, which was expected to draw one of the biggest pro wrestling crowds this year, although because Mexico is such a heavy walk-up market you never know for sure ahead of time.
Tonight’s show will air live at www.ClaroSports.com at 9:30PM ET, but it may be geo blocked in the U.S. Some weeks it is and some weeks it isn’t, and nobody ever knows for sure until the show starts. But next week’s show as an iPPV will be available in the U.S.
Dr. Wagner Jr. is off tonight’s Arena Mexico show, as well as next week’s anniversary show, meaning that both big outside attractions who have greatly picked up attendance, Wagner and L.A. Park, are gone after two shows.
Marco Corleone will replace Wagner Jr. at next Friday’s anniversary show.
CMLL claims that Wagner Jr. called the office and said that next week’s show “didn’t suit his interests.” CMLL then told him not to bother coming.
Wagner Jr. and Park were there to be back in the spotlight for a few weeks, feud with each other, and continue that feud on independent shows forever. With Park being fired last week, Wagner Jr. figured there was nothing to build his future business staying.
