A new member of the Don Callis Family has been revealed ahead of challenging for AEW gold this Friday night.
In a video uploaded late on Monday, Rocky Romero announced that CMLL wrestler Volador Jr. has joined the Don Callis Family ranks. The faction will attempt to gain the AEW Trios titles on Friday when Volador, Hechicero & El Clon take on Mistico, Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey in the main event of CMLL’s Arena Mexico show.
The 45-year-old Volador is a long-time CMLL star who has made frequent NJPW appearances over the years, including featuring in multiple Best of the Super Junior and Super Junior Tag League tournaments. He debuted for AEW in 2024 and MLW in 2025.
Mistico, Knight & Bailey became the new AEW Trios Champions when they defeated Don Callis Family’s Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis this month at Revolution 2026. That same night, it was announced that Mistico is now under a dual contract with AEW and CMLL.
Last week, the Don Callis Family was dealt a blow when it was announced that Josh Alexander will need to undergo knee surgery and miss an extended amount of time. Fletcher also could be dealing with an injury as he was wearing a walking boot after wrestling on AEW Collision this past weekend.
The April 3 Arena Mexico card also includes AEW’s Thunder Rosa teaming with Marcela & India Sioux for a six-woman tag match against Persephone, Princesa Sugehit & Olympia.
An injury has forced MLW to make a change to its Opera Cup 2025 tournament.
With Zandokan Jr. out of action with a knee injury, he will no longer be able to continue in the Opera Cup. MLW has announced that fellow CMLL luchador Star Jr. will be replacing him in the tournament, setting the stage for a Volador Jr. vs. Star Jr. matchup in the quarterfinals. That will take place at MLW’s Slaughterhouse event in Long Beach, California on October 4.
“MLW President Cesar Duran has activated Star Jr. as the alternate to replace Zandokan Jr. A standout in CMLL, Star Jr. enters the Opera Cup fresh, healthy, and amid a career-defining year in Mexico. His lightning-quick offense and relentless drive have made him one of lucha libre’s most talked-about rising stars,” the promotion wrote.
“Opposite him will be one of Mexico’s most decorated luchadores: Volador Jr. The CMLL main eventer made his MLW debut this past Saturday, defeating Titan in an explosive opening-round bout that electrified Long Beach. Representing his faction Los Depredadores — alongside Rugido and Magnus — Volador Jr. enters the quarterfinals looking to continue his path toward Opera Cup glory.”
Zandokan had defeated Blue Panther Jr. in the first round before being sidelined by his knee injury requiring surgery.
Here is the updated Opera Cup tournament bracket:
Left side —
Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero
Austin Aries vs. Paul London
Right side —
Volador Jr. vs. Star Jr.
Satoshi Kojima vs. Bishop Dyer
All four quarterfinal matchups are happening at Slaughterhouse, which will be held at Thunder Studios in Long Beach and is set to air live on YouTube and beIN Sports.
The Opera Cup trophy has been won by Davey Boy Smith Jr., Tom Lawlor, Davey Richards, and Mistico during its history in MLW.
“It’s a proving ground — not just for glory, but for legend,” MLW wrote about the tournament.
Ring of Honor returns to Friday night once again for a short episode that is airing both on YouTube and HonorClub.
In a CMLL trios showcase that is becoming a signature of ROH, Volador Jr., Hechicero & Barbaro Cavernario challenge former ROH Men’s TV Champion Atlantis Jr., Fuego & Neon.
In a Pure rules bout, Queen Aminata takes on the returning Allysin Kay.
Ahead of Sunday’s Anarchy in the Arena bout at AEW Double or Nothing, Marina Shafir goes one-on-one with Laynie Luck while the main card is rounded out by Gringo Loco vs. Blake Christian.
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Episode 117 of ROH on Honorclub kicked off with the ROH Women’s Forever Champion, Athena. Athena told us that she has entered Billie Starkz in the upcoming Women’s Pure Championship. Under Pure Rules, she can’t receive any help, so Athena said she was on her own, and that she expects Starkz to win!
Marina Shafir defeated Laynie Luck
To tap in the 2-ft putt, Laynie’s luck might just have run out as she takes on Marina Shafir. Shafir has made a habit of decimating anyone who gets in the ring with her and has not lost a singles match since 2023. Luck has not actually won a Ring of Honor match since 2021. I admire the tenacity, but I don’t see either of those stats having much of a chance of changing here.
There was a definite contrast in styles to this match. Luck had flair and color, while Shafir’s style employed more murder than anything else. Shafir locked in an armbar right off of the Code of Honor, twisting Luck in ways that did not seem natural.
Shafir dragged her to the middle of the ring and Luck tried to flip Shafir onto her back, but only got a two count. Luck tried to pull Shafir out of the ring, but got a triangle choke for her trouble. Shafir delivered a snap suplex and sent Luck into the corner for some deep shots.
Shafir will be in Anarchy In The Arena this sunday and that was all the commentators really cared about. In the ring, Shafir locked in an STF. Luck actually managed to power out of it, but her comeback was short lived as Shafir quickly got her into Mother’s Milk and Luck was forced to tap out.
Match Result: Marina Shafir defeated Laynie Luck
Blake Christian (w/ Lee Johnson) defeated Gringo Loco
Christian has been on a red-hot streak in ROH, being undefeated in singles matches since July 2024. In fact, his only loss has been as part of a six-man match for the ROh TV title way back at Final Battle 2024. He’s one of the most successful heels in ROH right now, but now he’s up against someone like Gringo Loco, who almost earned a shot at the ROH World title in a Proving Ground match a couple of weeks ago. Christian and Loco have a lot of history on the indies so this should be a banger!
Christian jumped Loco before the bell, stomping him in the corner. Christian’s strategy was to keep Loco off his feet, but that only lasted so long. Loco could easily match Christian in speed, and the two traded lucha-style moves all around the ring.
Loco went up top for a split-legged moonsault, but Christian kicked out at two. Loco seemed to over power Christian, knocking him down with some huge strikes. Loco went up top again, but Christian joined him and slammed Loco’s face into the turnbuckle, sending him out of the ring.
Back inside, Christian took over with a series of Judo throws and a big leg drop. He began toying with Loco, which came back to bite him when Loco nailed a spin out flatliner. The punches flew and it looked like Loco was going to put this one away when Christian reversed the momentum with a 450 double stomp from the top rope. Only a two count though.
Christian took a trip to the 619 area code and hit a poisonrana. He set up Loco in Vanilla Choke Zero and Loco tapped out in the middle of the ring, preserving Christian’s 2025 undefeated streak.
Match Result: Blake Christian defeated Gringo Loco
Pure Rules Match: Queen Aminata defeated Allysin Kay
There is an impending tournament to crown the first ever Women’s Pure Champion in ROH and Aminata is sure to be a main player in those brackets. She even said as much in a promo last week. Kay is a likely participant as well, but her last ROH appearance was a loss to Aminata back in January.
For those not in the know, in a Pure Rules match competitors are allowed one closed fist warning and three rope breaks. There is a 10 minute time limit and if there is any outside interference it’s an immediate DQ.
Kay had a size advantage over Aminata, but Aminata has been brushing up on her technical skills, quickly locking in a reverse submission, causing Kay to use up a rope break just :45 seconds in. Kay tried to get an armbar in the middle of the ring, but Aminata reversed it into a face lock. Kay dragged them both to the ring ropes, using her second rope break at 2:05.
Kay followed that up with a straight shot to Aminata’s face, earning her one closed fist warning. Kay tried to over power Aminata with a series of shots and slams. Aminata rolled to the outside to regroup, but Kay followed and worked her over by the barricade.
Aminata fought back though and tossed Kay back into the ring. Kay tried a butterfly slam, but Aminata kicked out. Aminata delivered some big forearms, but Kay rolled through and locked in a head scissors. Aminata powered out though and got her with a headbutt. Aminata tried an inside figure four and at 6:06, Kay tapped out, making us 3-for-3 on submission finishers tonight.
Match Result: Pure Rules Match: Queen Aminata defeated Allysin Kay
-Serena Deeb, Aminata’s first round opponent whenever the Women’s Pure tournament starts, cut a promo from the back. Deeb wondered what she has to show for her five years in AEW/ROH and she is tired of pretending to be happy about it. She isn’t here for anything but proving she’s the best at professional wrestling. She said that the ROH Women’s Pure Championship was made for her and she was made for it.
The so-called (by me) Crisis of Infinite Luchadores that ran through ROH this spring returns in this six-man bout! Former ROH World Television Champion Atlantis Jr teams with CMLL;s Fuego and 1/3rd of the CMLL Trios Champions, Neon. Literal caveman Cavernario heads up his team with Los Infernales member Hechicero and 27-year veteran Volador Jr.
Volador and Fuego kicked things off, with Fuego tossing Volador out of the ring. Cavernario took his place, and met with a similar face. Even Hechicero found himself right back on the outside when facing Fuego.
Caervnario and Atlantis faced off next, with Volador and Hechicero coming in for a triple team while Fuego and Neon, uh, watched. Atlantis managed to distribute backbreakers to them all though and tagged in Neon. Volador volunteered to face him, but it wasn’t long before Cavernario and Hechicero tried their hands. Neon got a similar triple team treatment until Fuego managed to run off the other team.
Cevernario delivered a missile dropkick in midair as Fuego was thrown backwards by Volador. The timing was perfect. Atlantis jumped in to avenge his teammate but Hechicero and Volador knocked him down with a reverse monkey flip double kick. Yes, that’s what it was.
Atlantis fought back though, hitting Cavernario so hard he did the worm. Atlantis dove through the ropes and hit Cavernario into the barricade as in the ring, Neon and Fuego took out Volodor and Hechicero.
Cavernario dragged Atlantis back into the ring and hit a big DDT, but could only get a two count. He tried a springboard drop but Atlantis blocked it and hit a frog splash from the top rope. Atlantis picked up the win while Neon and Fuego held Hechicero and Volador to the outside. Bueno Lucha!
Match Result: Atlantis Jr., Fuego & Neon defeated Barbaro Cavernario, Hechicero & Volador Jr.
A CMLL trios showcase match is now on the docket for this Tuesday’s AEW Dynamite taping in Austin, Texas.
Former Ring of Honor men’s TV Champion Atlantis Jr., Mascara Dorada & Templario will face Soberano Jr., Volador Jr. & Magnus in the match. It’s assumed it will be taped for next week’s ROH TV show as it has yet to be formally announced for Dynamite.
Of the six, only Soberano Jr. and Templario have yet to appear on either AEW or a Tony Khan-era ROH show.
CMLL talent is also scheduled for this Saturday’s AEW Collision in Houston, Texas, as Sammy Guevara, Dark Panther & Fuego vs. Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario & Soberano Jr. was announced on Thursday.
As of this writing, only two other matches have been announced for Tuesday’s taping which is being done due to the crew heading to Australia for Grand Slam Australia:
AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/MVP) defend against The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn)
After making their presence felt on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, four of CMLL’s top stars will compete in an eight-man tag team match as part of this Friday’s AEW Rampage.
Mistico, Volador Jr, Mascara Dorada & Hechicero will take on Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels.
Initially seated at ringside, the CMLL wrestlers attacked Jon Moxley after his win over Jeff Hardy to open Dynamite, beating down the former AEW World Champion in a four-on-one attack before their eventual Friday opponents ran down to help out.
Hechicero is scheduled to face Moxley’s Blackpool Combat Club teammate Bryan Danielson on Saturday’s Collision while a trios match between the BCC and CMLL wrestlers will take place next Wednesday.
Friday’s show will also feature AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill in non-title action against Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver. Starks & Bill will defend against Sting & Darby Allin on next Wednesday’s Dynamite.
In singles action, Willow Nightingale will take on Queen Aminata, who has been a frequent competitor on both AEW and ROH TV as of late. Aminata is 0-15 all-time in AEW while Nightingale is 3-1 in her last four.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy and Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) will also be on hand to share some thoughts.
The new additions join the previously announced Private Party vs. Top Flight rematch.
Here’s the full lineup for Friday:
AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Dark Order (John Silver & Alex Reynolds) in a non-title match
Willow Nightingale vs. Queen Aminata
Mistico, Volador Jr, Mascara Dorada & Hechicero vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels
Orange Cassidy & Best Friends promo
Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin)
The debut of several CMLL stars in addition to a tag team rematch are official for this Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage.
Initially announced on Friday’s Rampage and expanded upon during Saturday’s Collision via a video package, Volador Jr, Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Hechicero will be involved but the actual match was not announced.
The bout(s) are a further extension of the CMLL/AEW partnership that began last October when Mistico made his AEW debut in a match against Rocky Romero.
¡La próxima semana 4 súper estrellas del CMLL participarán en #AEWRampage!
A rematch between Private Party and Top Flight was also confirmed after a backstage confrontation on Friday’s Rampage.
The two teams did battle earlier this month in Private Party’s first match since Marq Quen returned from injury. The manner in which he and Isiah Kassidy won the match didn’t sit right with Dante & Darius Martin, setting up their second meeting.
Here’s the current Rampage lineup that will be taped after Dynamite this Wednesday in New Orleans:
Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin)
Volador Jr, Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Hechicero in action
This week was a special edition of Fusion as Salina de la Renta was in charge. The matches were taped in October at the famous 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, plus a special showing of Volador Jr. vs. Rocky Romero from CMLL NJPW Fantastica Mania from June this year. Joe Dombrowski and Matt Striker announced the matches.
Jesus Rodriguez, the master of ceremonies for the night, introduced Salina but she was quickly interrupted by Ichiban and his interpreter looking for a shot at Romero and the MLW Middleweight title. Instead of Romero, Ichiban was forced to face Rodriguez immediately.
Ichiban defeated Jesus Rodriguez w/Salina de la Renta
Ichiban continued his quest for the heavily hinted Middleweight title shot by extending his undefeated streak to four wins. He previously put away Tracy Williams, Nolo Kitano and Love Doug, and took little time to put away Rodriguez here.
To give him credit, Jesus did keep Ichiban floored initially by using his size advantage to slow the pace. Salina also got her shots in from ringside when she could. She distracted Ichiban with powder and then choked him on the ropes behind the referee’s back.
Ichiban made a brief comeback with a jawbreaker and missile dropkick but Rodriguez floored him again. Rodriguez missed a middle rope moonsault, which let Ichiban come back again with a bulldog and his face-first finisher to pick up the pinfall win.
– After the match Romero and Janai Kai jumped Ichiban and Romero dropped him back first onto a seated chair.
– Salina had some big news about the upcoming MLW Fightland show. She announced that Romero would team with CMLL Light Heavyweight champion Barbaro Cavernario to take on Mascarada Dorada 2.0 and Ichiban. Plus she later announced that Jacob Fatu would challenge Alex Kane for the MLW World title at Fightland.
Highlights of Rocky Romero defeating Volador Jr to retain the CMLL World Historic Welterweight title (taped in Arena Mexico in June 2023 at CMLL NJPW Fantastica Mania).
– Salina introduced the new MLW Featherweight champion “Kick Demon” Janai Kai, fresh from defeating Delmi Exo for the title at MLW Slaughterhouse. We saw a highlight video of Kai’s array of kicks and strikes.
– Delmi Exo then confronted Salina backstage and said she will get her rematch. The cameras followed Salina where she then met Mister Saint Laurent as they brokered a deal: Salina got exclusive documents from when MSL was MLW Vice President, and MSL got a guaranteed title shot for a member of his World Titan Federation whenever he wanted.
– Mance Warner and 1 Called Manders were drinking beers in the parking lot and talking about their title shot next week. Salina interrupted but she was then interrupted by Jacob Fatu who ended up getting a future dream match in Mexico against Mistico.
– MLW World Heavyweight champion Alex Kane met with Salina for the big Fightland announcement. Salina brought out Kane’s next challenger, Jacob Fatu. The two went face-to-face as the crowd chanted “Holy Sh*t” and Fusion went off the air.
Next week:
– The Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders) will challenge The Calling (AKIRA and Ricky Shane Page) for the MLW Tag Team Titles in a tag team tables match.
ROH was live from Villa Park, Illinois on Saturday for the second of their Global Wars Espectacular shows with CMLL. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman were the commentary team for the night.
Austin Gunn defeated Dante Caballero in a Top Prospect tournament semifinal match
The winner of this match is to face Dak Draper in the Top Prospect finals. Riccaboni noted that Caballero is a former MCW Heavyweight Champion. Austin Gunn is Billy’s son. He wore pretty much the same gear and had a man-bun. He played arrogant kid heel in this match. Caballero took a swig from a flask before the match.
Once these two got going it was pretty good. Brian Johnson, an ROH Top Prospect, came out and got on commentary for about 30 seconds for a brief, boisterous promo. He’s a graduate of the new ROH Dojo. His promo came out of nowhere and was sort of rambly, and he brought up “pesos” for some reason, or implied his strong distaste for them.
Towards the end of this, Caballero did the whiskey mist spot that Yoshinobu Kanemaru does, but he missed and got the referee. Gunn hit what I think was supposed to be a famouser next and that was that.
Gunn will face Draper in the Top Prospect tournament finals. This was leaps and bounds ahead of the Top Prospect match from the show in Michigan on Friday night.
Silas Young & Josh Woods defeated Okumura & PJ Black
The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brawler Milonas) came out and did guest commentary for this. The gimmick with Young and Woods is that Young is mentoring him and trying to make him tougher and meaner, but Woods just can’t help but be a nice guy. He’d high-five fans and Young would scold him. He tried to shake the other team’s hands before the match but again Young had stern words for his new associate.
Woods and Okumura were in together first and had natural chemistry together. Young later told Woods to get out of the ring so he could show him how it’s done against Black. Woods made his way back in later and did some cool suplexes. The crowd had the energy of a public library. A lot of sections in the back were empty.
Okumura used an exploder suplex on Woods at one point, and it looked fine, but the crowd had zero reaction until they realized they should probably be clapping there. Woods used an armbar with a headscissors neck-crank to tap Okumura to win the match.
The Bouncers came to the ring afterwards and celebrated. Young was hesitant but eventually took a beer and gave Woods and The Bouncers a cheers gesture before heading to the back.
Sumie Sakai & Jenny Rose defeated The Allure (Angelina Love & Mandy Leon) by DQ
This was all a big setup for Maria Manic. Rose and Sakai ran through the crowd and jumped The Allure before the bell. They had a few minutes of tornado tag-style action before the referee could get one in and one out of the ring.
The match finished when Love sprayed perfume in Rose’s face, which saved Leon from tapping to Rose but also got them disqualified. They didn’t seem to care.
Sakai went after them after the match but got laid out. For some reason they brought out a table and set it up in the ring, but the lights went out. Maria Manic appeared in the ring and The Allure ran away. Manic then threw the ref out of the ring and chokeslammed one of the ring crew guys through the table. The crowd sounded like they liked this a bit.
ROH Television Champion Shane Taylor and Joe Hendry went to a 15-minute time limit draw in a Proving Ground match (Hendry receives a future TV title shot)
Despite the flat finish, this was a great match. There was a hilarious cut to Riccaboni and Coleman waving their arms back and forth to Hendry’s sickeningly catchy theme song. They wrestled for grips at the beginning of the match, up until Taylor paused to tell Hendry that he didn’t come here for “this bullsh*t chain” but was here to throw hands.
They eventually started lighting each other up with chops, which got the crowd more interested. Taylor is so agile, never moving like we expect him to.
They brawled on the outside next. Taylor laid some heavy shots in before they had another chop battle up against the barricade. They went pretty hard here. Taylor kept breaking the count so they could keep fighting outside the ring. Hendry’s chest looked like raw chicken by the end of this. Taylor talked a lot of trash and you could hear everything because of how quiet the crowd was. Thankfully, Taylor knows how to talk.
Hendry started flailing uppercuts at Taylor and later landed a big falling lariat on him. The crowd finally came around at this point and was into it. There were a couple close near falls from here on out. Taylor landed a big swinging flatliner that knocked both wrestlers out for a few moments.
A huge moment came when Taylor went for a running crossbody and Hendry caught him in midair and did a huge fallaway slam. The crowd was louder than it had been all night. They basically brawled until the bell rang, but ROH didn’t announce any time-checks, so I’m not sure if the crowd knew what happened.
Hendry was throwing knees at Taylor in the corner when the time limit expired. The crowd turned when ring announcer Bobby Cruise explained what had happened, that the time limit was up and that since it was a Proving Ground match, Hendry would now receive a shot at the Television title in the future.
The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe) defeated The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brawler Milonas) and Rey Bucanero & Hechicero in a three-way tag match
This was a crazy brawl starring the Briscoes and Hechicero. The crowd loved those three tonight. Team CMLL and The Briscoes teamed up on The Bouncers at first. This turned into a crazy brawl quickly. Hechicero kept getting chants from the crowd. He looked excellent, but Bucanero looked like he was wrestling in slow motion. He almost ate it completely on a tope con giro
Bruiser did the “I didn’t bite, I ain’t got no teeth!” spot that I think one person caught.
After The Briscoes won, they shook hands with Bucanero and Hechicero.
Rush defeated Barbaro Cavernario
Really good but short match. This felt like the real start of the show. The audience finally sprung awake, and once Rush and Cavernario got into it they exploded. Rush was on fire.
The crowd sounded like they were unfamiliar with Cavernario, but he never gave up on them and kept trying to get them to rally behind him. They did once he started doing dives. He did that cool tope he sometimes does through the top and middle turnbuckles, from one side of the ring to the other.
Rush smashed Cavernario in the face with a flying forearm and Cavernario shot a gob of spit up into the air, to the amusement of the crowd. Rush won after a stiff Bull’s Horns dropkick in the corner.
Jeff Cobb, Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham defeated Caristico, Stuka Jr. & Triton
This was a great car crash match. All cool flying moves or innovative power moves. Triton wore long pants tonight, compared to the borderline thong he wore the night before, which Caprice Coleman even felt compelled to comment on here. Caristico had a ton of Kinesio tape on his back.
Everyone in the match was in and out quickly — lots of action and everyone looked great, or “smooth as peanut butter” as Coleman put it.
Cobb had Stuka Jr. in a vertical suplex hold for what had to be more than 30 seconds. Stuka later came back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the massive Cobb. People lost it when Cobb did a simultaneous Samoan drop-fall-away slam to Caristico and Triton.
Team CMLL came back quickly and did a triple tope suicida, which triggered a “lucha” chant. Triton did a sit-out fireman’s carry driver that wowed everyone who saw it — “holy hell,” indeed, Ian Riccaboni.
Lethal and Gresham hit a modified Cornette Cutter for the win, “modified” because Triton bumped on his back instead of his face. It looked fine though.
Colt Cabana defeated Dalton Castle, Kenny King, and Marty Scurll in a four corner survival match
King came out wearing a bandage over his head and eye. When King won his match on Friday night, he rolled out of the ring and face-first into the camera on the floor. They tried making an angle out of this and King accused the cameraman of conspiring with the Great Muta in a secret effort to blind him. He also called out PCO during this promo on the entrance stage.
This was a lot of improv and comedy wrestling when it got started. They found their rhythm midway through the match. King did a bunch of spots but missed because he was trying to sell the idea that he couldn’t see. He started doing a bunch of moves and finally ripped the bandages off, but Cabana poked him in the eyes, then King accidentally schoolboyed the ref.
The crowd erupted again before Scurll was about to do the chicken wing, but Castle shot in with a high knee strike. Castle then planted King with a big German suplex, but Cabana got the win after he timed a moonsault perfectly to land on Castle as he fell with the German.
ROH World Champion Matt Taven defeated Volador Jr. to retain his title
Taven and Volador squared off here after losing their hair together at CMLL’s 85th Aniversario last summer, with Taven turning against Volador.
Taven shoved Volador and said this was his house and it wasn’t Arena Mexico. There sounded to be a number of female fans in attendance that loved Volador. It looked like Volador busted his nose open — he had a little bit of blood above his lip. Taven blasted Volador with a hard dropkick through the ropes to the floor, then a wide tope over the top rope. Taven shines at this faster tempo, plus Volador’s size allows the slightly bigger Taven to lay in more effective-looking offense.
Volador rallied back later and did another huge tope con giro over the top. Volador somehow stays completely still in midair as he floats over on those topes, it often looks unreal. They started exchanging bigger moves back and forth and Volador was able to get the crowd loud behind him when he hit the Volador Special frankensteiner from the top, then a running Mexican Destroyer for two. His nose was still bloody and the camera closed in on it.
Volador went for a moonsault, but Taven put his feet up. When Volador went for another Volador Special, Taven knocked him from the turnbuckle so that he laid draped over the top rope. Taven grabbed him in a headlock and then spiked him with a draping Climax to put him away.
This was a really good match with a clear heel and babyface story that was easy to follow. The crowd was pretty into it throughout and especially at the end.
Villain Enterprises (PCO, Brody King & Flip Gordon) defeated LifeBlood (Bandido, Mark Haskins & Tracy Williams) in a Chicago street fight
Gordon attacked Williams with a chair before the match, so then Williams grabbed the mic and suggested they have a Chicago street fight, to the complete satisfaction of the crowd.
Every wrestler started throwing weapons into the ring, mostly chairs. They had a six-man chair duel before everything spilled to the floor. Gordon grabbed a black kendo stick from under the ring, then him and Williams, who had his own kendo stick (not custom like Gordon’s), had another duel.
The rest of this was a long thread of weapon match spots, and if that’s your thing it was pretty good. The crowd liked this but still the low attendance killed any heat these guys would try to conjure up.
PCO did a big cannonball onto a pile of folding chairs. King put Williams through a table in the corner and the crowd started chanting “this is awesome.” PCO later returned and buried Williams under a pile of chairs before attempting a moonsault that Haskins broke up. King ended up planting Haskins onto the pile of chairs with a back suplex.
Later, Bandido tried doing a sunset flip powerbomb from the apron through a table on the floor, but the table was way too close to the apron and Bandido actually had to go through it to break the fall. The crowd didn’t seem to know who got the worst of the move.
The match ended after Flip Gordon landed a Flip 5 on a few unfolded chairs in the center of the ring.
Final thoughts —
This was a much easier watch than night one of the tour. The crowd was quiet until the matches with more CMLL-heavy talent showed up.
Taven and Volador had a hell of a match, and the Team ROH vs. Team CMLL six-man tag was fun to watch. Taylor and Hendry had an above average match despite a weak crowd and flat finish. Rush vs. Cavernario was great but unfortunately too short, and Cavernario was able to get over a little bit by the end.
The Chicago street fight got over live, it always does, but after a while the impact of the violence comes off as less impressive on the screen. It didn’t have much rhyme or reason, but it sounded like the match that was most popular with the crowd. It was a good booking decision to put it on last, if anything.
The final Global Wars Espectacular show will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday.
A World title match is set for ROH’s Global Wars Espectacular tour with CMLL.
ROH and CMLL have announced that Matt Taven will defend his ROH World Championship against Volador Jr. at the Global Wars Espectacular show in Villa Park, Illinois on Saturday, September 7. The tour also has stops in Dearborn, Michigan on Friday, September 6 and Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday, September 8.
Taven turned against Volador at last year’s CMLL anniversary show, with them losing to Rush & Barbaro Cavernario in a hair vs. hair main event.
Taven has been ROH World Champion since defeating Jay Lethal and Marty Scurll in a ladder match at G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden this April.
In addition to Volador, CMLL’s Stuka Jr., Triton, Cavernario, Hechicero, Rey Bucanero, and Okumura have been announced for all three Global Wars Espectacular shows. Caristico will be in action at the Villa Park and Milwaukee events.
The Dearborn show is taking place at the Ford Community Center, Villa Park is at the Odeum Expo, and Milwaukee is at the Potawatomi Casino. The events will stream live on HonorClub.
We’re doing polls this weekend for both NJPW G-1 shows in Osaka and TripleMania, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from each shows to [email protected]
We’re also looking for reports from Pittsburgh tonight for the Main Event tapings and anything else not on the live show from Raw as well as last night’s Raw show in Erie, PA and the Impact shows the last two nights in Southern California to [email protected]
Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped Tuesday night in Detroit.
NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX FROM HAMAMATSU AT 5:30 A.M WEDNESDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Joseph Currier looks at the successes and failures of WWE’s latest nostalgia episode.
WWE went back to the nostalgia well for last week’s Raw Reunion episode.
The show featured dozens of returns and was capped off by Steve Austin, Ric Flair, and Hulk Hogan all making appearances. Austin led a toast to Monday Night Raw to close the episode, with all of the returning wrestlers coming out and taking part in what was genuinely a sincere moment. Austin didn’t give out stunners to anyone. There was no one to come crash the segment. He spoke about all of the returners being a family, and it was intended to be a real celebration for all of them.
Raw Reunion also included an increasingly rare appearance by John Cena, D-Generation X, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall saved Seth Rollins from AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, Bray Wyatt attacked Mick Foley and put him in the Mandible Claw, and there were nine 24/7 title changes. R-Truth started and ended the night as 24/7 Champion, with Drake Maverick (twice), Pat Patterson, Gerald Brisco, Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle, Madusa, and Ted DiBiase holding the title between Truth’s reigns.
The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has details on WWE’s second quarter financials. Financially, things look great. But product popularity continues to fall, slowly but steadily.
We cover how WWE was able to beat most projections and bring in higher profits in the second quarter, even with most key metrics showing declines.
We discuss how the company’s finances look going forward, as well as two big television deals on the horizon.
We also have news on what could end up being the most important pro wrestling show of the year, AEW’s TV debut. We break down the two key busiess aspects to the story, and discuss what those in the TV industry expect in terms of ratings for the show.
We cover Jerry Lawler’s lawsuit against Hardeman County, TN regarding the death of son Brian one year ago.
The new issue also covers C.M. Punk and the rumor mill that seems to follow him everywhere. We talk about the reaction to his discussion of AEW in a recent interview, as well as those who say they expect him to go back to WWE.
We also have the latest on the SummerSlam card, and how the show is doing on the secondary ticket market. We also cover how the other WWE shows in Toronto that week are doing in terms of ticket sales.
We have coverage of UFC 240 from this past weekend, and have business notes on nthe show, and also detailed television ratings for the prelims.
There’s also a run down of the ratings of all the major TV shows, along with detailed demo info for the WWE shows and results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I are back tonight talking Raw, G-1 and the rest of the wrestling and MMA news. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]
The bouncer who stopped the shooter in Dayton, OH at the door of a bar was area independent wrestler Jeremy Ganger. Ganger is a close friend of James Yun, who many of you will remember as Jimmy Wang Yang.
For Raw, There will be a Miz TV segment with Shawn Michaels which will likely introduce Bill Goldberg in some form. Natalya & Trish Stratus vs. Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch, The Iiconics vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Devlle vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane for the women’s tag team titles and Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade have been announced for the show. The women’s tag title match was previously scheduled for the SummerSlam card, but was pulled from that card and will take place tonight instead. Brock Lesnar is also appearing. Stratus is also booked tomorrow in Detroit for Smackdown.
Probably the match of the night will be on the CMLL You Tube page live with the show starting at 10 p.m. Eastern with Volador Jr. vs. Dragon Lee for the NWA middleweight title from Arena Puebla.
We’ve only got ten tickets left for your show on 8/31 in Chicago at 11 a.m. More details can be found here.
WWE
A story on Shawn Michaels. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
UFC
The UFC is working on finalizing a Johnny Walker vs,. Corey Anderson fight for the 11/2 show in Madison Square Garden. We’ll talk tonight about the ramifications of this fight on tonight’s show.
Polo Reyes vs. Kyle Nelson and Martin Bravo vs Steven Peterson have been added to the 9/21 show at Arena Ciudad in Mexico City. Bravo won TUF Latin America 3.
MISCELLANEOUS
On one of the Harley Race shows we did, on how Race indirectly led to a record gate in St. Louis as they were booking Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich on June 12, 1982 at the Checkerdome, but they wanted Kerry to beat Race for the Missouri state title. Race changed the booking to the title would change via DQ, so he lost the title via DQ. The finish was flat so the decision was that Kerry wasn’t strong enough without that win, so they went to old standby, Dick the Bruiser, for the bout with Flair, which drew 19,027 and was the last great main event of Bruiser’s career. Kerry was moved to the semi teaming with David to beat Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell. (thanks to Paul Sosnowski)
OWE has announced it will be holding a tag team tournament in the U.K. in September and there will be an AEW team in the tournament.
Hoosier Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Columbus, IN: Cooter DDQ Scarecrow, Ace Jackson b Duke the Nuke, Lightning Bolt b Flash Flanagan, Dodo Brown b Guy Lombardo, Buck Sexton & Dynamite Dillen b Vic the Bruiser & Omega De to win tag titles, Fireball b Clint Poe, Tim Lutz b Butcher Manson to keep HPW title. Next show is 9/7.
CWA on 10/12 in Hot Springs, AR at the Convention Center Hall D.
MLW has tickets on sale for its 12/5 show in New York at the Melrose Ballroom at www.OperaCup.com This will be a television taping featuring the first Opera Cup tournament since 1948 in New York.
ADCC is running the submission fighting world championships on 9/28 and 9/29 at the Anaheim Convention Center. This is the same weekend Bellator is running at the Forum. Some of the names announced as competing are Mucus “Buchecha” Almeida, Gordon Ryan, Yuri Simoes, JT Torres, Ruben “Corinha” Charles, Gabi Garcia and Bia Mesquita. Andre Galvao vs.; Felipe Pena is the superfight. Galvao is a two-time world champion and Pena is one of the most grapplers in the world.
Ignite Wrestling on 9/14 in Vero Beach, FL at the Walking Tree Brewery with Aaron Epic vs. Erick Stevens for the Ignite title.
The oldest lucha libre promotion still in existence celebrates 85 years with their anniversary show in Arena Mexico. A hair vs. hair tag team match headlines what is traditionally the grandest CMLL show of the year at the “Cathedral of Lucha Libre” in Mexico City.
Rush teams with Barbaro Cavernario against Volador Jr. and Matt Taven in a match where each team puts their hair on the line in the main event. The apuesta match is the finale on a six-match card with CMLL regulars and a supporting cast of outsiders.
Independent luchador LA Park appears on another major lucha show as teams alongside his son — Hijo de LA Park — and Caristico tonight. They face a team comprised of CMLL’s Diamante Azul and the indie darling Lucha Brothers. Penta El Zero M and Fenix (billed as “King Phoenix”) continue a trend of them appearing on some of the highest profile shows of the year not run by a public traded company.
Los Guerreros Laguneros defend their CMLL Trios Championship against a challenge by outsiders from Klan Kaoz. In the title match, Ultimo Guerrero leads Euforia and Gran Guerrero against Ciber the Main Man (Cibernetico), The Chris (El Zorro) & Scharly Rock Star (Charly Manson).
Elsewhere on the card, the legendary Atlantis teams with Mistico and Soberano Jr. to face La Nueva Generacion Dinamita. Also, two more trios matches round out CMLL’s 85th anniversary show.
The card will stream live on ROH’s HonorClub. Likewise, the show is available as an iPPV for $10 US via internetv.tv.
Follow along with our live coverage beginning approximately at 9:30 PM Eastern.
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The show began with a canned intro that included a video package and new graphics. A women’s trios match opened the card.
Jarochita, Marcela & captain Princesa Sugehit defeated Reyna Isis, Metalica & captain Dalys
The tecnicas won the first and third falls to take the match. The captains decided the first fall when the tecnicas started off strong. Dalys looked to fire up after reversing a double suplex — only Sugehit caught her in an octopus hold to submit the ruda captain.
The rudas went on to even the score in the second fall. Metallica jumped off the top rope into a senton bomb to eliminate Marcela via pinfall. A moment later, Reyna springboarded into a Vader Bomb to pin Jarochita.
A tecnicas made a comeback in the third fall. Marcela off the top with a double foot stomp set up her applying La Tapatia on Reyna for a submission. Meanwhile, Jarochita submitted Metalica with a Muta Lock.
Audaz, Niebla Roja & captain Angel de Oro defeated Felino, Mephisto & captain Negro Casas (w/ El Perico Zacarias)
In the first fall, an Audaz springboard splash to the outside led into the tecnicos scoring dual submissions. The brothers — Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja — submitted Casas & Felino with campana holds.
La Peste Negra (“The Black Plague”) plotted their revenge during the second fall. Felino eliminated Audaz via pinfall after an avalanche powerbomb off the ropes. Mephisto then suplexed Neibla Roja off the ropes onto his own brother. Mephisto then covered both brothers in pinning Neibla Roja for the rudos to take the second fall.
The tecnicos made a comeback that led to a trifecta of dives. Felino was eliminated with a Bubba bomb and a submission hold. Audaz then submitted Mephisto with a cross-armbreaker for a tecnico win.
La Nueva Generacion Dinamita cosplayed as bullriders for their entrance. The New Dinamitas later spurred their way to victory. They took an early advantage in the first fall. Forastero eliminated Soberano via submission using an armbar. Sanson held Atlantis in a backbreaker for a springboard elbow drop from Cuatrero similar to the old Demoition finisher. Cuatrero pinned Atlantis for the Dinamtas to win the first fall.
The rudo onslaught continued until a tecnico comeback led to a parade of dives. The tecnicos would go on to win the second fall to tie the score.
Atlantis got to shine before more wild dives. Soberano executed his tornillo splash on Cuatrero. Forastero springboarded into a dive on Soberano. The captains then squared off. Sanason had Mistico in a Torture Rack that he turned into a sit-out super powerbomb to pin the tecnico captain.
Scharly Rockstar (Charly Manson), The Chris (El Zorro) & captain Ciber the Main Man (Cibernetico) defeated CMLL Trios Champions Gran Guerrero, Euforia & captain Ultimo Guerrero to win the titles
The outisders won the CMLL trios titles in an upset with a screwjob foot on the ropes finish. Although Los Guerreros Laguneros are normally rudos, they were the defacto babyfaces in this feud against the outsider faction. Klan Kaoz triple-teamed Ultimo Guerrero to win the first fall. Ciber pinned Ultimo Guerrero for the invaders to gain the lead.
A Laguneros rally led to a flurry of offense by the home team. Euforia then submitted The Chris — while Gran Guerrero also submitted Rockstar with a stretch muffler. The defending champs tied the score at one fall apiece.
The Guerreros faction ran wild in the third fall. After a series of highspots, the dust settled and the captains faced off. Ciber tackled Ultimo Guerrero and went for a cover. Ciber cheated to win by putting his foot on the ropes for leverage. The referee counted to three and awared the titles to Klan Kaoz. The crowd seemed somewhat stunned. So was I. Guerreros protested with the ref and officials at ringside — but to no avail. The decision was final. The titles had changed hands. The invaders raided a championship.
Diamante Azul, King Phoenix (Fenix) & captain Penta El Zero M defeated Caristico, El Hijo de LA Park & captain LA Park
LA Park wore a Predator mask and costume during his entrance — which is fitting with the new movie debuting in theaters. The Lucha Brothers were once kids that revered Arena Mexico, and now their journey brings them back again to the same hallowed building. This time they are on the winning side in a featured match in the venue they so revered. What a storybook moment of dreams turning to reality.
In the first fall, the father and son duo scored a pinfall for their trios team. Before that, Penta was sent into the front row by a tope from Caristico. Hijo de LA Park went on to pin Phoenix after a wicked-looking double underhook driver. LA Park speared Azul for the other pinfall.
A wild brawl erupted in the second fall. They fought around ringside and up the aisles. Park was whipping people with his belt. The Lucha Brother launched into a double team comeback. They screwed up one spot, and the crowd let them know about it. They still popped when they were successful on a second try. Fenix gave his brother — Penta — a super Frankensteiner off the top to the floor on awaiting bodies. In the ring, Azul submitted the opposing captain when he applied a camel clutch on Park.
The third fall saw all kinds of highspots. Father and son got nearfalls. LA Park did a tope suicida — which is crazy for his age and size. Hijo de LA Park did a flying crossbody into the front row on Phoenix. A false finish led into the actual finish. A parade of dives gave way to a Lucha Brothers tandem attack. Phoenix jumped off the top rope with a double foot stomp to spike Carstico into a package piledriver from Penta. As Penta pinned Caristico, Pheonix delivered a Fenix Driver on Hijo de Park for the deciding pinfall.
Rush & Barbaro Cavernario defeated Volador Jr. & Matt Taven in a double hair match
Rush & Cavernario had by far the coolest entrance of the night with dancers and elaborate costumes. They went on to win the first and third falls to take the hair of Volador & Taven. Rush & Cavernario were seemingly the crowd favorites on this night to a vocal majority of those in attendance. Volador got booed by proxy because he was teaming with Taven. The crowd seemed to loath any thoughts of Taven possibly winning. Volador was somewhat protected despite losing. Taven cost Volador the match, and then turned on him in an angle afterwards.
The long mane of the caveman remains intact. Likewise, arguably the most coveted hair in lucha libre also remains alive with Rush. The first two falls went quickier than the lenghtly third fall — which was filled with dives, highspots, and false finishes. During the actual finish, Taven caught his own partner — Volador — with a kick to set up the deciding pinfall. Taven then turned on Volador after the match. Both still left with their head shaved.
The first fall began with a brawl in typical Rush fashion. Cavernario went on to pin Taven. Rush hit a basement dropkick on Volador to pin him. Rush & Cavernario continued their dominance into the second fall. They taunted with a tranquilo pose and push-ups. Taven & Volador fired up. Volador springboarded into a super Frankensteiner on Cavernario. Taven then jumped off the top rope with a frog splash to pin Cavernario. Volador superkicked Rush — setting him up for a backstabber from Taven to score a pin. That evened the falls.
The third fall was a highlight reel of action. The trading of near falls began with Rush giving Taven an exploder suplex into a corner. Taven countered moments later with a bulldog DDT. Cavernario joined in the exchange of near falls after giving Volador a crucifix buckle bomb. Cavernario followed that with a fisherman’s suplex for a two count on Volador. Volador reversed another crucifix attempt to cradle Cavernario. Rush made the save with a shotgun dropkick to break up the count.
The trading of near falls continued. Rush and Cavernario cleared the ring. Rush then flew into a tope con hilo on Volador. Cavernario followed with tope through the turnbuckles on Taven. The momentum would soon shift when Taven and Volador made a comeback. Taven moonsaulted off the top to the floor — and Volador did an Asai moonsault. A frog splash by Taven led into a double near fall.
Cavernario & Rush soon cut off their opponents as much of the crowd cheered. Cavernario did his crazy splash off the top to the floor on Taven. Volador and Rush squared off — but Rush powdered. The crowd showered Rush with boos for practically the first time during the match. The audience would soon pop for a flying crossbody from Volador as he dived off the top into the front row. The madness kept going as Taven did a flip dive over the ropes to the outside.
Going into the finishing sequences, Cavernario submitted Taven with La Cavernaria. Volador got his feet up to block a Cavernario splash. He then executed a Canadian Destroyer on Cavernario for a pinfall. That set up sudden death where a pinfall on either Rush or Volador would decide the match.
Taven went for a disaster kick — only to hit his own tag partner instead. That left Volador defenseless as Rush hooked him and delivered a Jay Driller for the final pinfall.
Taven turned on Volador immediately after the conclusion of the post-match pyro. Confetti fell around them while Taven soon realized he too would be losing his hair alongside Volador. Taven tried to flee, but Volador dragged him back into the ring for the head shaving. After Taven had his head shaved, Volador too let the barber cut his locks and shave his head.
Closing thoughts —
While the card lost a lot of anticipation in the buildup, the show itself delivered on action. The atmoshpere was that of a supercard, but not the biggest show of the year. The tone and vibe was never on par with some previous CMLL anniversary shows. The drama was never high enough to deliver that emotional crescendo seen in classic apuesta matches. Nevertheless, this as an easily enjoyable card with some great matches.
Aichi was home to the B Block finals of the 24th Best of the Super Juniors tournament this morning.
Will Ospreay has made it to the finals for the second year in a row from the A Block — with everyone in the opposite block at six points going into the last night of competition, anyone can wind up facing him in the finals on June 3rd.
Prelim matches —
– Taka Michinoku & Taichi defeated Hirai Kawato & Jushin Thunder Liger when Michinoku submitted Kawato with a crossface.
– SANADA, EVIL & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Ricochet, Dragon Lee & Juice Robinson when SANADA submitted Dragon Lee with the Skull End.
– Bad Luck Fale & Guerrillas of Destiny defeated David Finlay & War Machine after Fale hit Finlay with the Grenade.
– Yujiro Takahashi, Kenny Omega & Marty Scurll defeated Gedo, Will Ospreay & Kazuchika Okada following Takahashi hitting Gedo with the Pimp Juice DDT.
Tournament matches —
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated El Desperado by countout
This was fine. It was full of the stuff you normally see in Suzuki-gun’s matches on this tour, but it was never bad.
Taka Michinoku cornered Desperado for this match, while Taichi decided to corner Kanemaru. They started off slow, but it soon became a brawl with Desperado attempting to use a chair on the outside. Kanemaru threw him into the crowd and body-slammed him on the floor.
Taichi teased the whiskey spot, but after some counters accidentally sprayed Kanemaru. Desperado built his momentum with a big suicide dive. He tried for a brainbuster on the concrete floor, but instead Kanemaru countered with a reverse DDT on the mat.
The referee started counting. Desperado tried to climb in to beat the count, but Taichi pushed Michinoku into Desperado, sending him to the floor. Kanemaru beat the count and won the match.
Desperado wasn’t too happy about the result, even though everyone wanted to make up after the match. Desperado eventually obliged.
This eliminated ACH, Volador Jr., and El Desperado from contention based on tiebreakers.
Ryusuke Taguchi defeated ACH
Taguchi worked on ACH’s behind early. ACH countered that with two atomic drops and a cheap shot to the nether regions.
Taguchi came back and kept it on the ground, now working on ACH’s legs. He mounted a comeback until Taguchi connected with a knee. ACH tried to low blow him, but Taguchi used his thighs to block it. Taguchi continued to work him over, using a lot of butt-based offense.
ACH finally connected with a superplex. More back and forth and reversal after pin reversal followed until Taguchi countered one more roll-up with one of his own for the win. It was a solid match, but it wasn’t anything special.
Taguchi, BUSHI, and KUSHIDA remained as viable block winners.
BUSHI defeated Tiger Mask IV
This was okay. There were a few good spots, but otherwise it was just kind of average.
Early in the match, BUSHI took a chair and tried to use it, but the ref stopped him. Undaunted, he continued to work over Tiger Mask, leveling him with a missile dropkick. Tiger Mask tried to mount a comeback, and despite BUSHI going after his mask, managed to take him to the floor with an arm drag.
Tiger Mask caught BUSHI in a waistlock sleeper-type move until he was able to get to the ropes. BUSHI managed to knock the ref down and dropkicked Tiger Mask in the leg. He got a chair, threw it at Tiger Mask, and landed a Codebreaker, but it didn’t work. The MX, however, did.
That left it between BUSHI and KUSHIDA, which led us to the main event.
KUSHIDA defeated Volador Jr.
Great main event. These two worked really well together and it led to a great back-and-forth match with some great spots. At times it felt like a contest to see who could match who and that added to the excitement.
Some mat wrestling early led to some quick back and forth. KUSHIDA bailed to go to the outside — wrong move as Volador met him there with a giant tope con hilo. Not too long after that, however, the tides were turned and KUSHIDA came back with one of his own.
KUSHIDA went for a charge, but Volador jumped over him, landed his knees on KUSHIDA’s back, and utilized a reverse monkey flip. Volador went for a dive, but KUSHIDA caught him with an armbar in mid-air. KUSHIDA went to attack Volador on the apron, but Volador instead hopped over him and met him on the floor with an Asai moonsault.
Volador looked to build momentum, but KUSHIDA caught him, sending him to the floor. KUSHIDA went for something off the top rope, but Volador met him there — which gave KUSHIDA the opportunity to take him to the floor with a super rana. KUSHIDA went up, though again Volador Jr. met him there and landed a super rana of his own for a near fall.
Volador spiked KUSHIDA with a reverse rana, but KUSHIDA trapped him in an armbar — only for Volador to counter. He went for a la magistral cradle, though KUSHIDA countered with a roll-up for another near fall. KUSHIDA landed the La Mistica and sunk in the hoverboard lock, then while still in the move hit Back to the Future for the win.
That makes it Will Ospreay vs. KUSHIDA in the Best of the Super Juniors finals on June 3rd.
Ospreay came to the ring to cut a promo. He said he’s out here to congratulate KUSHIDA. He knows that he can beat him and needs to prove it. As much as he respects him, he will not let him stand in his way. Please bring your best, because it won’t be enough and I will be back-to-back Best of the Super Junior.
KUSHIDA’s response was simple: Let’s go crazy. The two had a staredown as Ospreay left. KUSHIDA said a few more words then left as the show went off the air.
A son honored the memory of his father with a tribute inside the cathedral of lucha libre in Mexico City on Friday night. For the main event, La Mascara and Volador Jr. headlined a CMLL card at Arena Mexico in what became a memorial to Brazo de Oro on the day of his passing.
The Friday card was only the beginning of a busy weekend for lucha libre with Children’s Day (el Dia del Nino) on Sunday. CMLL also has a show that day with a heavily-promoted mascot tag team match geared towards drawing kids. Likewise, countless smaller independent shows in various rather random venues over the weekend are all part of festivities related to Children’s Day.
Plans for a weekend of focusing on youth became altered upon the death of a legend. Fate intervened in changing the theme of the Friday night card from focusing on the children to honoring the legacy of a father.
Legendary luchador Brazo de Oro passed away yesterday morning. That evening his son, La Mascara, was scheduled to headline against Volador Jr. in the main event at Arena Mexico.
Though he could have understandably canceled because of the death in his family, La Mascara instead chose to honor the memory of his father by performing in a venue where Brazo de Oro is known as a beloved figure in the history of lucha libre. He is from the the legendary Los Brazos trios and the famed Alvarado family. La Mascara looked to carry on that legacy as the show must go on.
The legacy of family was on display elsewhere on the show during a weekend that celebrates the next generation. The finals of a tournament involving second generation luchadors culminated in Soberano Jr. winning La Copa Junior Nuevo Valores. In addition, the rest of the undercard featured trios matches with a minis tag match opening the show.
Joining the announce team as the opening match began, luchadora Amapola provided guest commentary during the card.
Electrico & Fantasy defeated Pequeno Olimpico & Pequeno Nitro
The tecnicos won after dropping the first fall then winning two straight. For the first fall, Nitro assisted with a dropkick so Olimpico could pin Electrico. Meanwhile, Fantasy was counted out of the ring to give the rudos the opening fall.
The tecnicos evened the score in the second fall with Electrico pinning Olimpico after a Spanish Fly while Fantasy submitted Nitro. To end the third fall and decide the match, Electrico jumped off the middle rope with a guillotine lionsault to pin Nitro. Olimpico was also counted out.
La Metalica, Sanely & captain Estrellita defeated Marcela, Zeuxis & captain Dalys
The story of the match was Marcela’s teammates turning on her. Their opponents swept them in two straight falls.
They all took turns squaring off at the start. The rudas then went on to dominate in the first fall. Estrellita took out Dalys with a tope suicida before Sanely rolled up Zeuxis for a pin after a sit-out bomb. Metalica also flew into a senton bomb and pinned Marcela.
The tecnicas made a comeback heading into the second fall, or at least they all seemed like tecnicas at first. Dissension within the team emerged after some miscommunication stirred the pot. It boiled over when Marcela inadvertently hit Dalys with a missile dropkick, and they began to fight amongst themselves.
The ruda team swooped in as Estrellita rolled up Zeuxis with a schoolgirl as Sanely did the same to Dalys for dual pinfalls, winning the match in two straight falls. Angry over losing and blaming Marcela for the loss, Zeuxis and Dalys put the boots to her afterwards as they stomped on Marcela.
Soberano Jr. defeated Sanson to win La Copa Junior Nuevo Valores tournament
For the finals of the tournament, the luchadors had seconds in their respective corners. Dragon Lee was the second for Soberano and El Cuatrero was in Sanson’s corner. En route to winning the Copa Junior tournament final, Soberano won the first and third falls.
Soberano executed a guillotine lionsault to pin Sanson in the first fall. Quickly retaliating, Sanson jumped off the top rope with a guillotine knee drop to pin Soberano in a short second fall.
They went on to trade big moves in the third fall. They even brawled on the ramp, where Sanson took a running powerslam. Soberano followed that by leaping high off the stage into a plancha. Back at ringside, Soberano leapt off the barricade into a senton in the aisleway dividing the ringside seats.
Soberano practically flew all over the place heading into the closing moments. Sanson had cut off Soberano only for Soberano to launch into a quebrada. From there, he hoisted Sanson for a jumping sit-out piledriver before pinning him in the deciding fall.
Winning the tournament of second generation luchadors, Soberano celebrated with his trophy commemorating La Copa Junior Nuevo Valores. The cheerful atmosphere was remarkably different a few moments later.
The triumph of the Copa Junior gave way to a more somber occasion afterwards. Officials and fellow luchadors joined La Mascara in the ring to honor the memory of his father, Brazo de Oro. A video tribute aired and Mascara said a few words. Other luchadors also joined him in a chant for Los Brazos.
Marco Corleone, Diamante Azul & captain El Valiente defeated Kraneo, Ripper & captain Hechicero
After some shenanigans at the outset, the rudos dominated a quick first fall. Hechicero pressed mascot KeMonito overhead and teased hurling him into the crowd. In the ring, Kraneo pinned Corleone and Ripper pinned Valiente to capture the fall.
The rudos continued their onslaught until Corleone fired up as the tecnicos made a comeback. Azul and Valiente rushed into the ring and Corleone ran down the ramp to leap over the ropes into a crossbody on all the rudos. All three tecnicos covered the rudos for a dogpile pinfall, winning the second fall.
The mascots got involved again when KeMonito splashed Kraneo. The rudo mascot, Mije, taunted Corleone at one point. Later during the finish, Corleone press slammed Mije high into the air and he crashed down onto Kraneo.
Corleone then covered Kraneo while Azul used a German suplex with a bridge on Hechicero. They simultaneously pinned them to end the third fall and win the match. The tecnicos fought back from defeat to win a crowd-pleasing trios match.
Though the match itself was entertaining enough, arguably the most spectacular flyer in the match was mostly overshadowed by his teammates. The story of the match involved Dragon Lee slugging it out with Casas while Mistico and Caristico got to shine with their flying arsenal.
Despite only being part of a subplot within the body of the match, Dragon Lee did eventually get to shine in the finish by scoring the deciding fall.
The tecnicos were like a proverbial house of fire at the outset, leading to a dive by Dragon Lee. The rudos quickly put out the fire as Mephisto pinned Mistico and Cavernario pinned Caristico in the first fall.
A brawl erupted in the second fall and the rudos had a triple-team advantage on Dragon Lee. Caristico flew in to make the save, followed by Mistico flying in as well. In a double submission to win the second fall with each applying La Mistica, Mistico submitted Cavernario and Caristico submitted Mephisto.
As the third fall began, Mistico and Caristico mirrored each other again with both doing planchas leaping off the stage with major hang time as they glided down to the entrance ramp.
Caristico and Mistico did more dives as the action built to Dragon Lee squaring off with Casas. Perched on the turnbuckles, they fought into the finish. Dragon Lee jumped off the top rope with a double foot stomp as Casas hung in the ropes. Lee covered Casas for a pinfall on the team captain to win the third fall.
La Mascara defeated Volador Jr.
No matter what outcome was originally planned nor what direction was intended for this main event singles match, that all changed with the passing of Brazo de Oro. Whether or not he would have otherwise done so, La Mascara almost had to go over here in this match on an emotional night where the promotion was paying tribute to his late father.
Mascara and Volador went on to showcase their talents in a good enough main event considering the circumstances. Normally a rudo as part of Los Ingobernables, the character dynamic for La Mascara was different than usual with the crowd sympathetic to him over the loss of his father.
Before the horn sounded to start the match, Volador rushed towards Mascara on the ramp and they began brawling. Not long into the first fall, Mascara was pummeling Volador until suddenly Volador caught him with a superkick. Volador followed with a lung-blower to score a pin in the opening fall.
Having taken the first fall, Volador went into the second doing handsprings, followed by a running leap over the ropes into a dive on the floor. Mascara countered with superkicks along with running double knees in a corner, scoring a sudden pinfall on Volador in another quick fall.
The climactic final fall began with them brawling around ringside and out into the crowd. They whipped each other into the barricade and fought in the front row before eventually getting back into the ring. The action spilled outside again when Mascara did a tope suicida, followed by a plancha off the top to the floor.
Mascara climbed the turnbuckles and missed a senton bomb with Volador rolling out of the way. Volador went up the ropes to spring into a quebrada, but Mascara got his feet up to block it.
They traded near falls and Mascara argued with the referee about the count. Mascara held on and stayed hooked after delivering a superplex, rolling through to execute a brainbuster for another near fall. Mascara ran up the turnbuckles again only to get caught with a spectacular Frankensteiner.
They each went to the air once more before Mascara tied up Volador in a submission hold. Volador submitted and Mascara won on an emotional night for himself and his family.
The crowd showered Mascara with love and chants for his father as the show closed. Before leaving, Mascara went into the crowd to grab a banner with a message about Brazo de Oro. He brought it in the ring and displayed the banner. Mascara left the ring clutching the banner that honored his legendary father, ending a tribute to Brazo de Oro on the day of his unfortunate passing.
