CMLL Line - 10/25/03 (#99)

Notes: JIP, as we start the third fall. Announcers are running down the lineup for next week's cibernetico, but we'll get to that later. Challengers won fall one, champions fall two.

While the other two are down outside the ring, Wagner is biting Satanico's forehead! That doesn't seem to be very healthy. Universo has a new version of his orange sherbet outfit. Satanico gets free of Dr. Wagner and to his feet. Right. Wagner right. Satanico elbow. Jab. Dr. Wagner forearm Satanico right. Right. Right. Going for the mask, so Tiger comes by and (kinda) hits Satanico with a boot. Universo too, and they both chop Satanico. Tiger with a slam, then a sliding through the ropes dropkick to keep Averno down. Spinebuster for Mephisto while he's there. Universo in - whip, spinebuster for Satanico. Universo waves someone in, as Satanico rolls out. Crowd shot - there's the polar bear! - and we come back to see Black Tiger moonsaulting Averno's knees (though that didn't look good either.) Averno/Mephisto double whip, triple pump powerbomb! Everyone cover one two three! (1:14) They need one more, and Universo is in trying to go three on one with open hand slaps. Satanico ducks one, and a three on one slap down is on. Double corner whip, right into Wagner as he comes back in. As Averno and Mephisto put the double armbar on Wagner, Satanico whips Universo into the corner, charge is sidestepped and Universo back elbows Satanico out of the ring. Averno lets go of the hold to dropkick Universo, and Mephisto lets go to 'rana him. Holding for a cover, as Wagner catches an Averno kick and gives him a dragon screw leg whip - one...two...broken up by Wagner. That was quite deliberate. Wagner might have hurt his own leg on that, as he limps a bit before running Averno down with a clothesline. Universo grabs Mephisto as Wagner grabs Averno - powerbomb/Wagner Driver at the same time. Cover one two three. (2:11) Crowd is very happy with the decision. We didn't really get much out of this. Once again, a long trios tournament leads to no change. Champions get their belts back and pose. Well, once Tiger gets over there join them. I think I like this look for Universo better, but it still looks funny. Replays show we missed Mepshito's Slip and Slide tope and Satanico's senton to the floor. Wagner's team goes into the crowd to show off their belts. 

Spectacular Moments:
Lo Doloroso: Tarzan runs right into Vamprio's chokeslam/Rock Bottom, and almost breaks his neck on the landing. Blue Panther is in the ring flash, fearing the worse. Tarzan over rotated, so he came down hard and bad. It looks very scary.
Lo Espectacular: Quance is going get this every week if he keeps doing the Shooting Star Press.
La Llave: Hey, Veneno! Getting put in a wacky lucha submission by Safari!
Lo Admirable: Satanico flattens Ultimo with a senton off the apron. We saw this one last week. 

Notes: The valets are dressed up in Arabian garb again, which is always a nice touch. They're already wearing shawls. Fireworks! In comparison, Los Guapos all CARRY their valets out, Shocker carrying his on his shoulders, Terrible lifting his valet up by her arms (while she balances on his shoulders), and Magica giving pressing his above his head! They all have new black (Matrix) trenchcoats, although Magica and Terrible have cut their shoulders off of them. EVERYONE DANCE! They worked hard on the choreography - it's all set to Lenny Kravitz music we can barely hear (I guess), and they've got it all planned for their walk to the ring too. 

Cage is set up with a door opening to the ramp, though I figure that'll be closed for the match. Cage is on the edges of the ring apron, so they'll have just the normal ring to worth with though I dunno that the ropes will really work for running. I expect a brawl in any case. The rules are that no one can leave till ten minutes are up, but after that, it's fair game. We'll see how much of those ten minutes we actually see, though they have actually cleared a lot of time here to show a bunch. 

I can't remember the last time I called a cage match (Angle/Edge on SmackDown?) and I don't know if I've ever done one with this many people, so I may be a little spotty. Of note - the last time we did something like this one of these (Infernales vs Infernales, 4 v 3, 2 years ago), Mascara Magica lost his mask, mostly because Tarzan Boy left him to die. They may come to the ring as a team, but once those ten minutes go up, the rules make it everyone for themselves.

Fight is on as soon as the Guapos step into the cage. Whistle blows and fireworks EXPLODE from the corners of above the ring, scaring everyone inside and out the ring. After they go off, the camera pans back to give us the shot of the fireworks we were supposed to get. I wouldn't be surprised if someone got burned on that, because a lot of sparks flew in the ring. Announcers laugh in surprise of the firework attack. Taliban takes control early, but is just a brawl. Crowd shot at :30, then we see the Talibanes all trying to climb out - either they doesn't have the concept or that was a might clip - referee waving them off seems to indicate such. Magica pulls Bestia down, then goes for Scorpio and pulls down his tights, mooning half the crowd. Terrible pulls Emilio on to his shoulders (without any nudity) electric chair drop. Now Shocker's climbing up. Scorpio's after him and pulling him from going any further, but that they're ignoring the ten minute stuff is weird. Emilio and Scorpio do some punches in the corner, and Terrible pulls Emilio off the turnbuckle to ram him into the cage a few times. Scorpio stops beating up Shocker to stop on Magica, which gives Shocker a chance to brawl with him. Shocker uses three big boots to get him down. Taliban mange to turn the tide and win the brawl. We're 2.5 minutes in and I'm already thinking that 10 minutes of brawling in the ring might not be a smart idea. Shocker and Magica get run into each other. They're at least not trying to leave now - Scorpio slams Shocker so Emilio can hit a top rope splash on him. Taliban is smart enough no to be a hurry between moves, because they've got all the time in the world. Terrible's held for an Emilio missile dropkick.

Crowd shot, and the audio jump, so I'm sure we've got a clip here. Slow placed brawling, with the Taliban still in control. Ring announcer gives us the 1 Minute Till Exit warning, at 3:53 of what we've seen. Scorpio drops Magica the apron so he can sandwich him between the ropes and the cage. He moves over to help Bestia over Shocker. Emilio beats down Terrible. Announcer gives a "30 to go" and Shocker tries to sneak to the top of the cage, but all the rudos are after him. Well, maybe not - while Scorpio and Bestia pull at Shocker's tights (unlike Scorpio, he's wearing undertights), Emilio abandons his partners to start climbing the cage on the other side. The escape whistle actually blows at 4:43, which means they gave that last minute warning late, I think. Emilio's trying to get out, but Magica is up and grabbing him from going further. Terrible tries to make a run for it but Scorpio pulls him down. Scorpio pulls Magica down, and Emilio comes back down to help stomp. Then, while Scorpio and Bestia are beating the Guapos, Emilio sneaks off again to escape. Terrible tries to grab him, but he's kicked away. Emilio stops to pose halfway over, and taunt the crowd - and Shocker grabs a leg! Scorpio is able to yank him off, and Emilio get to the apron and the ramp (5:44) In the ring, though, 3 on 2 is working. Scorpio is worked over in the corner- corner clothesline, corner boosted forearm. Scorpio takes a corner whip, Terrible clothesline, Magica boosted up dropkick - no! Magica latches onto the cage like he's Spiderman (he does have those tights) and climbs up and over! Pose on the way over - he's not going to lose this one. Meanwhile, Shocker's making a run for it, but Scorpio's right behind him and got his legs. Shocker tries to kick him away, but he's pulled down. Magica is officially out (6:18) as Shocker and Scorpio battle on the cage. Shocker tries smashing Scorpio into the cage, but those smashes don't look good and Scorpio doesn't feel it. Shocker climbs up, but Scorpio has him by the tights. Shocker won't stop climbing, and he's slowly making a getaway. Looks like Bestia is trying to escape too, but Terrible has gotten underneath him. Shocker is halfway over, but Scorpio still has a hold of him. Shocker grabs Scorpio's head and pounds, but Scorpio stops him with a chop. Shocker lean s backwards like he's going to kill himself falling off the cage, but manages to grab on to Scorpio's head to steady himself. They brawl a little more on top, but Scorpio pulls Shocker back down. Scorpio's using headbutts for nothing better. They battle down to the top turnbuckle - Shocker top rope superplex! Terrible and Bestia are both tired, but Shocker has a little left in him - climbing, Scorpio up and lunging, but Shocker's too fast for him! Shocker's over, but now he's leaving back in to make it tough for Scorpio to follow. They're brawling - and Terrible pulls Scorpio down! Shocker's out (8:16) but it's now Terrible against Scorpio and Bestia. Scorpio holds Terrible, but Bestia's chop nails Scorpio! Big boot for Bestia. Crowd shot. Double corner whip for Terrible, Scorpio charges, Terrible moves and spears Bestia. Terrible punches Bestia on the mat - but Scorpio is climbing out! Shocker and Magica, apparently not breaking the rules, climb back up the cage to stop him, slowing him enough that Terrible can grab a leg. Terrible sneaks under neat to hold him as Emilio makes a move to stop Shocker and Magica from getting involved. Bestia tries climbing up Scorpio's back - Terrible takes him down down with an electric chair suplex (with a little help from Scorpio), which frees up Scorpio to get out without contest. (9:29) A referee is let into the ring - the last fall can end by pinfall or submission now, and the bell rings for it (9:53) as Terrible spinebusters Bestia. Terrible goes for a half crab armbar, but Bestia rolls through into a legscissors cradle (with foot on the rope!) one two NO! Emilio argues the count as Terrible charges Bestia - bodyscissors rollup is blocked, st down one two NO! I'm surprised that Bestia didn't put his feet on the ropes, seeing how close he was to it. Terrible trying to rally form the crowd, and they're coming with him. Off the ropes, dropkick. Dropkick. 'rana - no, Bestia powerbomb one two NO! Hebner count there. Bestia suplex - no, reversed into Terrible small package one two THREE! (11:19) Announcers are too busy discussing something to be pumped for the finish till after they know it is the finish. More fireworks, but everyone's knows enough to get away form them this time. Terrible is nearly in tears, he's so happy. Bestia is nearly in tears for other reasons. Wait, Terrible is crying! Wow.  Guapos back in to give him a a hi ten hug. TRIPLE STRUT DANCE! Break.

We come back to see the hair cut in progress. Bestia is very unhappy, and promising to beat up all the fans who are making fun of him. The people with a Terrible banner are happy. We clip away to Terrible being lead away with just hair clipping on his head. Talibanes are still friends. Bestia scares the kids on his way out. Bestia pulls a guy out of the crowd - ah, because he's wearing a Bestia T-Shirt. He brings him all the way back in the ring and to the barber - I hope not for a haircut! Maybe just to meet him.

That's it. No Next Week, actually, but we get (the second half of) a 16 Man Cibernetico.

Rating: Bases on the quality of the finish, ring work, internal/external storyline, consistency and my whims. Also, various other (random) factors that I can't think of right now. 0-100 for matches.

Closing Notes: 

1. Maybe these cage matches would work better if they used War Games type incremental entrances for more heat segments. If that makes any sense.
2. First match I'm glad got clipped, at any rate. They weren't mailing it in, but it was obvious there wasn't much they could do.
3. The Trios Title match was clipped in Mexico - I guess maybe CMLL lost interest it, and that's why we got the Infernales/GdI stuff?
4. As much as I wasn't thrilled with the cage match, at least they showed it.