EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Lucha Central and Masked Republic.
By El Cultico
Your eyes do not deceive you! After nearly two months, a move, scheduling conflicts, and the last ever edition of the FIFA World Cup (remember kids, say no to private equity in your football), I have a free Thursday night to review IWRG Thursday Night Wrestling! Honestly, it would’ve been last week, but Arena Naucalpan was taken over by one of those co-promoted shows with CMLL where the last few matches don’t air, and thus I was delayed a week. What a pity! Nevertheless, I’m back in the saddle and, admittedly, a bit out of the loop given everything that’s going on. As such, there won’t be the usual intro, as we’ll save that for next week. Still, it’s a night to do something special, and that something special is a running diary! I haven’t gotten a chance to do one of those since I started reviewing IWRG, I suppose there’s no time like the presence. Will it go well? Will there be some AEW Collision thoughts included because I’m watching that show before this one? And will I be able to control my anger when I see El Hijo del Dos Shits…I mean El Hijo del Dos Caras in the main event? Find out on the next exciting episode OF IWRG Z! Huh, guess there was some of the usual intro there after all.
9:55: We are live, the Pepsi’s are chilled, the Pizza Pringles are on the shelf, and Daniel Garcia and Will Ospreay are going toe to toe in the center of the ring to close out AEW Collision. If I’ve learned anything from these last two nights of AEW in Detroit, it’s that AEW should run a PPV in Detroit, have a several week residency in Detroit, and maybe even hold All In in Detroit while they’re at it. Seriously; these people react to AEW shows like me every time I watch the Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma trailer.
9:58: Ospreay just finished off Garcia with a Hidden Blade. Terrific stuff. Anything is possible, but I think it’s going to be hard for anything on IWRG to top that match, this show, or last night’s show. And before you side eye me, remember that Komander won a match on this Collision. KOMANDER! I haven’t checked to see yet, but him winning a match on AEW TV may have led to luchablog dying of shock. Speaking of shock, Mark Davis just arrived and is attacking Ospreay! They’re brawling into the balcony, and I can hear Wisin el Dog and Darby Allin crying tears of jealousy watching this.
10:00: Shitty Greg (Trent Beretta) and Rocky Romero have gotten involved, allowing Davis to get the advantage and to piledrive Ospreay on the floor. They’ve brought Ospreay back to the ring and the only question is whether Kenny Omega comes out to make the save, or if he comes out to watch Ospreay get whooped.
10:02: The answer is none of the above! Ospreay fought all three off and sent Davis, Rocky, and Shitty Greg running to the hills. Ospreay then gets on the mic and…they’re doing a Mexico City Street Fight in Arena Mexico?! Now that’s new. CMLL doesn’t allow street fights in Arena Mexico; the last time I saw something like that there was that legendary match between LA Park and Rush a decade ago, and that match got Lucha Libre Elite kicked out of the building! Does this mean AEW will be kicked out too? I guess we’ll find out. Anyway, good show. Everyone cheered. Roll on snare drum. Curtains. Onto IWRG!
10:07: Still a few minutes till the stream starts, which allows me to reference Pink Floyd: The Wall, a great album, a great movie, and still not as good as “Pigs: Three Different Ones.” But then again what is, amirite?
10:10: Still waiting! We’ve gone from Pink Floyd to Sum 41.
10:12: STILL WAITING! Tell ’em Dame Dolla.
10:14: And here we go! Show is live…of course this IWRG so we still have a few minutes of ads, shots of Arena Naucalpan from the outside, and the commentator introduction before we get to the action.
10:17: Nothing like getting ready for this show by arguing with some dude on Bluesky who tried to claim luchablog is a whiner for, let me check my notes, wanting his favorite luchadors to do well in an American promotion.
10:22: Not only did we get a rare promo segment to start the show, but it was a women’s promo segment! Did IWRG actually start giving a damn about the luchadoras during my hiatus? The segment was pretty standard; Kali came out wanting a title shot against Saggitarius, they exchanged words, Saggitarius tried to attack, and Kali ultimately got the best of Saggitarius and her minion. I’ll take it. Anything to give the women more time.
10:26: First match up is Kikiri Boom and Angel Kid vs. Sangre Dorada and Fauno. I’m familiar with three of the four, but not Kikiri Boom, who honestly sounds like a Legend of Zelda character. Let’s hope he’s as good as most of the Zelda games.
10:30: So far, Angel Kid has nearly botched a backflip and a springboard arm drag, but somehow landed both of them. Oh how I have missed you IWRG!
10:31: Kikiri Boom was looking good until Fauno and Sangre Dorada tried the Cope and Cage launching Spear spot. Much like the Kingdom of Heaven theatrical cut, it needs some work.
10:33: One thing that hasn’t changed about IWRG since I’ve been away; these rudo sequences in the opening match are still rather lifeless. Nothing wrong with what Dorada and Fauno are doing (aside from the spear), but their offense isn’t exactly dynamic. Doesn’t help that Angel Kid is falling off the ropes before Fauno can hit a strike on him. Looked worse than me and that guy on Bluesky slap fighting in Cubs’ mentions a few minutes ago.
10:34: The comeback is on! And it’s…okay. Just a few standard moves really. Come on guys, do some flips. Get crazy. GET NUTS! Where’s Michael Keaton when you need him?
10:35: As soon as I said that, Angel Kid tried a Dragon Rana dive. He sadly messed it up and was caught for a Fauno powerbomb. Fortunately he recovered almost immediately, he and Kikiri made a comeback, and won the match with Kid hitting a 450 on Dorada while Kikir hit a moonsault on Fauno. I have seen matches you wouldn’t believe; this isn’t one of them, but it will surely be lost in time like tears in rain. NEXT! **
10:42: IWRG is following up their luchadoras themed opening segment with an all luchadoras match. This would be the craziest thing of the night if I hadn’t seen the Insane Clown Posse and Rhino throw ice water on Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong an hour and a half ago. Anyways, we’ve got Lady Cat and Saggitarius teaming up to take on Lilith Dark and Kali, and this is reminding me that I missed my girl Diosa Quetzal competing in a cage match during my hiatus. Excuse me; I must go look into a mirror and sob.
10:46: We’re off, and it’s Saggitarius and Kali going at it until Saggitarius escapes to the floor. Not since the English were scared to play Mexico in the Azteca have I seen such cowardice!
10:50: Lilith Dark now finds herself in the ring Saggitarius, and got the advantage with a mid rope rana that sent Saggitarius heading for the hills. Been a lot of that so far; Saggitarius gets some shine, the tecnicas get control back, and Saggitarius retreats, Orcs whenever the heroes charge in Lord of the Rings style. Seriously, has there ever been a softer side than the Orc armies? One army charges at them and they suddenly start getting the same face the San Antonio Spurs got when the Knicks made that comeback in Game 4.
10:52: Rudas have taken control. Saggitarius looks good (except when she’s doing corner knee strikes, woof) and Lady Cat is looking all sorts of just kind of there. Then again, it’s hard to see what she’s doing when the camera is following Saggitarius and Kali around on the floor doing the most basic brawling known to woman.
10:54: Cat and Saggitarius were going to go for a double dropkick attack on Lilith, only for Kali to pull Saggitarius from the ring. They’re now brawling, the camera is focused on him, and poor Lilith and Cat are kept to the small box screen. This is what happens when you’re not the IWRG Intercontinental Feminil Champion I suppose.
10:55: Lilith just punted Lady Cat in a place no one should be punted in. I will offer no further comment at this time.
10:56: Saggitarius turned the tide briefly with a spear on Lilith, only to eat a Front Cracker from Kali. Lady Cat broke up the pinfall, hit a corner attack on Kali, but had her fall broken up by Lilith. They went back and forth for a moment before Lady Cat bridged out of a Lilith pin…and then proceeded to eat some slaps in the corner and a VICIOUS shotgun dropkick.
10:58: Two straight tecnica wins! Lilith pinned Lady Cat with an Angel Wings, and more importantly, Kali scored a pinfall over Saggitarius with a somewhat sloppy Rolling German Suplex. Not the greatest match I’ve ever seen, but it had more oomph than the opener, probably because Kali vs. Saggitarius feels like something to look forward to. Kali hammered that home with a promo after, with Saggitarius (I think) accepting her challenge. ** 3/4.
11:01: I could use a water.
I didn’t mean that kind of water!
11:06: Managed to refill my water bottle, get some Pizza Pringles, AND get back in time for the next match. What is the next match? Aguila Roja and Rey Halcon of Revolution Crew teaming with…ugh, Jasper Faster is still here?! Talk about real “dragon meme with the last one looking like a doofus” scenario. They’re taking on Histeriosis, Goleador, and Halcon Suriano Jr., which gives us a chance at having our first good match of the night. Yes, even Jasper shouldn’t be able to hurt this one (and actually he may help, cause he can be good. Why did I just admit that, it goes against my gimmick of hating him!).
11:12: Remember when Halcon Suriano Jr. was awesome as Stukita in CMLL, changed his gimmick to get a better shot at moving up, never happened, and now he’s been a lucha nomad since? Pepperidge Farm remembers! No, I am not above doing such things, even as Suriano does some cool stuff with Halcon and Jasper to start the match.
11:15: Goleador just had his turn to have a good sequence with the rudos, and it’s clear between him and Halcon Suriano that one guy has got it and one guy doesn’t. At least neither of them flipped right onto their ass entering the ring like Histeriosis just did. Woof; and he’s usually one of the better guys on IWRG!
11:16: My reverse jinxing powers remain undefeated! I criticize Histeriosis, and a second later he hits a gorgeous springboard rana and a great suicide dive. If you can believe it, that was the first dive of the night. An hour into a lucha show and only one dive? If I wanted to watch wrestling cosplaying as lucha, I’d watch WWE’s presentation of Lucha Libre AAA!
11:17: The rudos took care of Goledar and Suriano, allowing Histeriosis and Halcon to do more cool stuff before Halcon caught a Springboard Rana attempt into an awesome powerbomb. Goledar then came back in and uh…the less said about his dive attempt the better.
11:19: A pretty poor Aguila Roja destroyer on Goledar allowed Suriano to break it up and put Roja in an Armbar. Jasper broke that up, and the next thing you knew he was hitting Suriano with a Pop Up Cutter, with Goledar breaking up the pinfall by shoving Roja into Jasper. Somewhere, the Young Bucks are nodding, and also shaking their heads at how poorly their trademark spot was done.
11:20: A few pinfall reversals lead to Suriano sending Roja and Jasper to the floor, allowing Goledar to hit a nice flip dive, the nicest thing he’s done all match. Suriano comes off with at high cross, leaving Halcon and Histeriosis alone. Histeriosis went for his rope walk dive, but Halcon was pulled away by Revolution Crew ally Multifacetico Jr., which the referee missed tending to everyone outside. Before you could say “another IWRG match with interference?!”, Halcon came off the top with a Crucifix Driver, pinning Histeriosis for a rudo victory. Not as clean as it could’ve been (with Histeriosis having a rough night), but not bad. Also not quite good though. ** 3/4.
11:23: Big night for promo work on this show. Halcon has a mic and wants a shot at Histeriosis’ IWRG Reyes del Aire Championship. And you’ll never believe this, but plucky tecnico Histeriosis accepted. I’m shocked. SHOCKED! That match has a shot at being good. That is with the caveat of Histeriosis getting over whatever funk he was in tonight.
11:26: Is it time? YES! LOS STRIPPERS BIG ARE UP NEXT!
11:33: I’ll rephrase; Los Strippers Big will be next after this never ending barrage of video packages and highlights ends. Seriously IWRG; if I wanted all of this, I’d just turn on WWE. Or walk out of my house and keep walking, as that type of lucha taking over means they’re no place in the wrestling world for me.
11:36: Five years later, the ads have finally ended and…oh come on Mr. Announcer dudes, stop talking and let me have my Los Strippers Big match! I don’t ask for much.
11:37: We’re getting entrances! PRAISE BE!
11:39: I almost forgot! Los Strippers Big will be taking on Gunji (still doing his “Drunken Master” gimmick), Lunatik Xtreme and Super Boy. So this is a bit of a family affair, giving Ovett Jr., Lunatik, and Super Boy are brothers (all are the sons of the late Ovett). And it appears that Halcon Suriano Jr. is doing double duty, as he’s coming out with Ovett Jr. and Big Mike now. I never knew that ole Stukita was into the whole stripper scene!
11:44: Those aforementioned family ties seemed to pop up at the start, with Ovett Jr. being a bit wary of fighting Super Boy. Fortunately Big Mike will, and the two showed off some nice ground work. You got to love Big Mike. He’s never going beyond the level he’s at now, but in terms of overall skill, there’s few luchadors in the business as sound as him.
11:46: Suriano now in with Gunji, which would suggest that Ovett Jr. will have to cross paths with Lunatik in a few minutes. Meanwhile, Gunji is slipping on the ropes, cause you know, he’s the drunken master. Is it wrong that I’ll never be comfortable with that gimmick after watching the whole “Scott Hall is drunk” deal in WCW nearly 30 years ago?
11:47: OVETT AND XTREME ARE IN! There is some hesitancy here, but mostly on Xtreme’s part. Will they tangle…yes! And they look good, with Xtreme nailing a nice shotgun dropkick when Ovett went to do a handspring, given the rudos the advantage.
11:48: Almost got a nice look at Suriano’s face thanks to Gunji doing too good of a job at unmasking him.
11:50: The rudo beatdown rages on, and interestingly it sure seems to be more focused on Suriano and Big Mike than Ovett. And that seems to be getting to Mike, as he visibly just brushed Ovett aside on the floor. DISSENSION IN LOS STRIPPERS BIG?!
11:51: I guess Ovett took Big Mike being mad at him personally because he just started the tecnico comeback with some really sick sequences. Super Boy is now trying to calm him down, leading to Mike coming in and just throttling Super Boy before getting in Ovett’s face again. Suriano is now trying to play peacemaker, but Mike now seems to be unwilling to do anything with Ovett, refusing to do any double teams.
11:53: You can understand Mike’s feelings after seeing Super Boy charge him and attack while Ovett just…watches on. Nice teamwork there! Super Boy sends Ovett and Suriano to the floor and gets a nearfall on an End of Heartache type move. Suriano is then in, hitting his three moonsault spot from the Stukita days, with Xtreme breaking that up. He hits a short arm clothesline, leading to OVett breaking up the pin and sending him outside.
11:55: Ovett gets a nearfall on Gunji with a Death Valley Driver. Gunji then grabs his sign, breaks it over Ovett’s head (apparently not for the DQ) and hits a planca on the floor. Suriano follows up with his own plancha, leaving Big Mike and Super Boy alone. Except he’s not alone, as Super Boy hits a Wheelbarrow Suplex right into a SUPREME Lunatik double stomp, giving the rudos the win. Best match on the show so far. *** 1/2
11:57: More promo time as Mike refuses Ovett’s offer to help him up. Super Boy is screaming at his brother, then gives the mic to Lunatik; I’m not the best Spanish speaker, but my guess is they’re trying to get Ovett back to their side to reunite the brothers. Mike grabs the mic, and has something to say to Ovett too. That’s all for now though as everyone leaves the ring; if this was a normal promotion, we’d be getting Big Mike and Ovett vs. Super Boy and Lunatik coming up, with Ovett being faced with a massive choice. Since this is IWRG, we’ll probably get more teasing of this before it’s a) forgotten or b) remembered and done in four months. Could go either way!
12:00: IT’S THOSE DAMN ADS/VIDEO PACKAGES AGAIN!
12:04: The packages are done, it’s Lucha Random time and BAH GAWD IT’S TOXIN! That is a very strong start here, as Toxin is great. Naturally this means he’ll probably be facing Veneno or someone just as bad.
12:06: Oh thank Cthulhu, Toxin’s opponent is Cerebro Negro. Not only is he not Veneno, but Cerebro is also pretty good! We’ll see if they click, but this could be a real cracker, as the Brits would say.
12:09: We seem to be having connection issues here, but there’s none between Cerebro and Toxin so far, with the veteran sending Toxin to the floor and then into the stands with a really nice tope suicida!
12:48: So you may notice there’s a lot of time between updates here! Unfortunately, we had some technical issues, and everything I wrote after 12:09 was lost. A pity; I had a really great Batman meme in there, which fortunately I can share later because I saved it on my computer. Alas, that’s not more important than the lucha, and there were some big developments to close this show. First, Toxin and Cerebro Negro were working really well together before the match was called off after Toxin appearing to injure himself on a crunching tope suicida he delivered to Cerebro. I’m still not sure if this was a legit injury or not; Latigo came out to check on his partner and was attacked by Revolution Crew (who also briefly put the boots to Toxin), leading to Cerebro making the save after much debate, and forming an alliance with Latigo. If that was an angle, it was well done, if a bit sad that they had to cut short what looked like a good match for that. If that was IWRG covering for a legit injury, they did a hell of a job, and hopefully Toxin isn’t hurt to serious.
The main event was then El Hijo de Dos Caras, Aquiles, and Falcon Fire taking on Hijo de Canis Lupus, Multifacetico Jr., and Rey Mictlan iof Revoluion Crew n a match with five really good workers and one, if you’ll forgive me, turd. I have never ben a fan of El Hijo de Dos Caras (see what I referred to him as earlier), and he did nothing to change my mind here; he moved okay, but his strikes sucked, his moves sucked, and he often reminded me of 2026 Rayo de Jalisco Jr., who is nearing 70 last I checked. So he wasn’t good at all; fortunately everyone else was, with Revolution Crew pinballed off Caras to make him look good, had some good sequences on their own, and meshed well with Aquiles and Falcon Fire, who were giving all they could to make this work. It was the best match on the show and the best match I’ve probably ever seen Caras in. The bar is in hell, but hey, better to not be in hell (unless you were Lucifer Mourningstar of course). Oh, *** 1/2 by the way.
So that’s this week’s show! It could’ve gone better, both from a running diary point of view (damn technical issues!) and from a show point of view. As was the case when I was last watching IWRG, the opening matches weren’t much, things got somewhat better as we went along, but nothing ever reached great, or even really good. Frankly, the only big change was that there were a lot more angles on this show; IWRG is definitely looking to build to some big matches, and with Festival de la Mascaras coming up, I can understand why. To be fair, the angles were all pretty good, but they lost a bit of steam by there being so many of them; one or two is good, five or six makes makes them blend together like a fever dream. So yeah; not the best show. But there’s always next week, and we will be back next week to see if things improve. Oh, before I forget, here’s that Batman meme I mentioned!
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