PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

LUCHA LIBRE COMES TO QUEENS, NY LIVE REPORT: SUPER PORKY, EL HIJO DEL SANTO, BLUE DEMON JR. AND MORE

This is Nick Knowledge reporting from Queens, NY on a local lucha libre show that went under the radar for most fans. Yet this night club, called La Boom, drew a bigger crowd than most independent shows not associated with either ROH or DGUSA.   This was a standing room only crowd. I'd go so far as to say it was a fire hazard.   There were 2 huge lines outside the building. The crowd was not allowed in until after 2pm, even though doors were scheduled to open at 1pm.  Most people I spoke to on one of the lines outside the building, didn't even know that the main event was advertised as El Hijo Del Santo vs Blue Demon Jr. All they knew was that "Super Porky" Brazo De Plata was on the show. So it's safe to say that Super Porky drew this house all by himself.nnTicket prices for this event were ridiculously expensive. I've never heard of $50 general admission seating for an independent show!   The audience, as expected, was predominantly Mexican & loud (very loud) for everything on the show (good or bad).

I would like to take this moment to say that the heel referee, on hand for 3 out of the 4 matches, was busier trying to get himself over than the matches. Unfortunately, this is something that has plagued Mexican wrestling for several years now. This is something that, when done more than sporadically, can only hurt the wrestlers involved, the fans' entertainment and the industry in general.

The matches themselves went as follows:

1. Azriael vs Bandido Jr vs Danny Demanto

This was the opening match with locals that is commonplace on most shows in Mexico. I got to speak briefly with both Azriael & Bandido Jr. before the show. They didn't know if they were going to be in a singles or tag team match. I'm assuming from the way things turned out that they weren't told until just before the show started. It certainly didn't help the confusion when the ring announcer referred to Azriael & Bandido as a tag team, only for Demanto to come out by himself.    It was unfortunate that none of the 3 spoke, nor understood, Spanish since the DJ at ringside (who added an interesting flavor to the event) was trying to hype up the crowd. He asked who was for the tecnicos (faces which in this case were Azriael & Bandido Jr.) & who were for the rudos (I guess Demanto counts as more than one). The only 1 of the 3 who really tried to work the crowd was Demanto. The other 2 seemed to be thrown off by such a raucous crowd. I have to say that Demanto was the star of the match as he played the rudo quite well. It was obvious they didn't need to do much to get a reaction out of the audience but Demanto was the only one (aside from the heat-seeking heel ref) who seemed to realize it. All he had to do was some hip swivelling for the crowd to react accordingly, calling him a hamburger (sounds much funnier in Spanish) & numerous expletives.   The ref made a fast count on a what was clearly a nearfall when Azriael hit an Eddy Guerrero-style back drop suplex on Bandido for the first elimination of this three-way contest. Azriael ended up power bombing Demanto for the final pinfall at 9:40. This got an enormous reaction as it was clearly no small feat. Azriael bowed to the crowd on his way out but Demanto clearly stole it.

2. SWAT Kat vs Bazooka (2/3 Falls)
   
God was this awful! The pace of the match, as well as the action, itself was horrible. What stuck in my mind from this match, besides the ridiculous finish of the third fall, was SWAT Kat getting caught up in the ropes attempting a 619. This was a pee-in-your-pants funny moment.   The heel ref, whose name I never got nor cared to, was WAY too involved. There was more posing & trying to work the crowd than action. When a wrestler is good enough at his craft that he can knows how to do this well. That is one thing. These 2 clearly weren't equipped to do so. A forgettable match than ended when the referee got a school boy on Bazooka & SWAT Kat count the pin then the ref raising the tecnico's arm in victory.

At this point, there was the first of two 20-minute intermissions. This is when I found out that Cassandro was a no-show & that the midget singles match would be ruined as it was announced that there were 2 more matches left. The names the ring announcer mentioned didn't include my favorite transvestite wrestler (Cassandro). This was very disappointing as he is one of the top ten workers in Mexico today.

There were masks being sold in upwards of $50. I didn't bother to find out what a T-shirt cost because I was already sporting my El Hijo Del Santo T-shirt (with sparkles).

3. "Super Porky" Brazo De Plata. & Tzuki vs Aguila de la America & Octagoncito

Originally there was to be a singles match between midget superstars, Mascarita Sagrada & Octagoncito. It was changed to this mixed tag team match & Mascarita Sagrada (the second       version) was in his alternate gimmick of Tzuki. Octagoncito (a tecnico) worked rudo along with his partner, Aguila, which is a character based off a Mexican soccer league team of the same name. The crowd gave Super Porky an Elvis Presley-level reaction as his theme music of Looney Tunes played.   Based on the fact that there were so many families at this show, I was timid about getting overly excited & accidentally cursing. That thought process quickly changed after I heard Porky & Octagoncito curse like sailors throughout the match (and even afterwards).   The match was a disaster from the start as Aguila seemed out of place & Porky was making blatant audible calls during the whole match. The match, as expected, was all comedy spots, which was a shame as the midgets only got to take a few dives & a few other spots.

Then came the second & final intermission of the afternoon.

Finally came the main event, but wait....

4. El Hijo Del Santo vs Blue Demon Jr. vs Oliver John

The main event was turned into yet another three-way elimination match with the appearance of Oliver John. He was sporting tights that read border patrol. He also said that everyone in the audience were illegal & he wanted to see their ID. The ringside DJ added to this by announcing that Oliver John was representing "La Migra". The crowd ate it up & boo'd him more for being a gringo & not speaking Spanish than because his character was representing the INS.

Blue Demon, Jr. made his way to ringside next to, what can only be considered by this fan as surprisingly, the second biggest pop of the night. El Hijo Del Santo, as expected, was the last one to make his entrance. I was taken back by the lack of reception he received. While I nearly lost my voice cheering, few others joined me.

Before the start of the match, Santo got on the mic & lambasted the ring announcer for referring to the match as one-on-one contest. The match started with Demon & Santo chain wrestling before Oliver John tagged into the match.   Predictably, the Mexican stars took turns getting their spots in on Oliver John who only got temporary control with brawling, heel tactics and rudimentary power moves. That was a real shame since I've seen enough of Oliver John's matches to know that he can really go. John was eliminated first by a double-team submission that was reminiscent of legendary Mexican trio Los Misioneros De La Muerte. While Demon had John in a scorpion deathlock (what is known in Mexico as cangrejo japones or "Japanese crab"), Santo placed Oliver John in an abdominal stretch variation.
It was finally down to the 2 Mexican heroes & they didn't disappoint. They exchanged holds, dives and other assorted highspots before John made his way back to ringside, sporting a Santo mask. He tripped up Demon, causing him to fall prey to Santo's finisher, el a caballo (or horseback/AKA camel clutch) at 19:25.

Once El Hijo Del Santo was announced as the winner, Blue Demon Jr. claimed Santo & Oliver John were in cahoots. This led to the obligatory challenges by all three. Demon said that Santo can't beat him cleanly & that all John wants is the NWA World Heavyweight Title, which he can't have. John never denied it & said he wants his title shot. On a side note, I find it humorous for Blue Demon Jr. to call anyone a gringo since he himself is a blue-eyed blond who looks less Mexican than me.

Then Santo & Demon went back & forth on the mic with mask vs. mask challenges. Santo made the absurd comment that whenever Demon wants to sign on the dotted line that Santo will face him in a mask vs. mask match in Madison Square Garden. Demon countered Santo's absurd comment with one of his own. Demon boldly asked what MSG had that this (night club) didn't. At this point, Santo & (much of) the audience nearly groaned in unison.

Then in a pot calling the kettle moment that was meant to be a worked shoot comment, Santo countered back with: "So you can't complain that the house is too small to get a big enough pay off for losing your mask." Being such a diehard Santo fan myself & equally diehard Demon detractor, I popped big for that one!

After the show, there was an enormous line to get autographs & pictures with El Hijo Del Santo, Blue Demon Jr. & Super Porky. I would have loved to get my picture taken with El Hijo Del Santo, but I was standing on what could only be described as more of a mass of humanity than an organized line.

Overall, the show only went about 2 hours but I enjoyed the unique atmosphere & seeing one of my teenage wrestling heroes, El Hijo Del Santo, in his first northeastern U.S. appearance in 9 years.   

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet