CMLL Line - 02/14/04 (#115)

Vignette: Pierroth (wearing a T-Shirt with his photo on it and "Who's Next?") tells us that he's going to unmask Universo on 12/5, to humiliate Mexicans everywhere.

Vignette: Infernales - well, the two junior members, Mephisto and Averno - meet at the ring in Arena Coliseo to talk. Their secret handshake has two steps. Averno is upset about a number of things, but mostly because his identity is half Rey Bucanero and half Ultimo Guerrero - no mask indemnity of his own. He's sick of just being Satanico's newest underlings in the Infernales, they should be their own men. Mephisto doesn't really get a chance to defend Satanico before Satanico, seemingly not having heard the conversation, walks over to tell them to get ready for their match, I think. Whatever he said, it didn't seem to put Averno in a better mood, since he didn't even get a chance to say something.

Notes: As usual, I'm pushing this by calling it a match, since we're not even getting a full fall. I had this up as Sagrado as the third, but it's obviously Volador from the clip we see. But I can see how that'd get confused.

We join as Negro is down in the ring and Mephisto is dropping and elbow on him. Averno in while Satanico watches from the apron, Mephisto whip, Averno spinebuster, elbow drop of his own. Not really worth nothing but I will anyway: the picture doesn't appear to be centered in the screen right - there's a back bar on the bottom of the screen. We flash back to what might have been the end of fall one, Averno laying out Volador with his double underhook faceslam - I think the inference is that move is so deadly, Volador's out of this fall too. Back to live, where a three on one is still going on Negro. He's held hanging over the apron by Averno, so Mephisto can knock him to the floor via jumping push to the back. Elsewhere, Satanico pulls Felino back in the ring and rips at his mask. Felino tries to fight free, but Averno and Mephisto are over to help. Satanico sets about enlarging the eye holes, much to the displeasure of the referees. Whip, back elbow for Felino. Jab, jab. Yell at the crowd, back to the mask. Corner whip, Felino reveres, Felino hits a clothesline. Looks like the Junior Infernales got sent back to the apron, because they're not around to help. Whip by Felino, Satanico runs back into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Satanico rolls out, but Felino follows and chases him around the ring.  Satanico heads up the ramp, and Felino has a stand off with him there. Back in the ring, Averno and Mephisto are two on one on Negro. No sign of Volador. Negro takes a corner splash from Averno and corner clothesline from Mephisto. The refs are both watching Felino and Satanico do nothing on the outside, so Averno gets in a questionably low kick on Casas. Double corner, Averno running forearm, Mephisto running back elbow. Double armbar on him, with Casas just inches from the ropes. Meanwhile, Satanico and Felino come back in the ring on opposite sides, and Felino's attempt at a dropkick on Satanico misses badly, with Satanico having to do little dodging of his own. Whip for Felino, reversed, Felino gives him a spinebuster. Reverse figure four! Satanico yells for help, and luckily his men are listening - the hold is stomped and broken up. Mephisto gives Negro an armscissors with facelock, and I take his waving off the hold as tapping out, but figure it out eventually. Meanwhile, Averno had whipped Felino, and now he drops him with a press slam into a Diamond Cutter. Triple whip for Felino now, and an Infernales Bomb. Satanico waves off his men, because he wants to finish Felino himself. Standing figure four pin (2:09) takes Felino out, but Negro's back in to fight for his team, attacking the Infernales as they celebrate. Satanico stops it with a kick, and all three get shots on Casas. Triple whip, Averno, Mephisto both cover and powerbomb as Satanico taunts Felino. One two three (3:34) Infernales sweep. Post match, Satanico v Felino for the Welterweight Title is mentioned by the ring announcer. The Infernales go into the upcoming tournament as strong contenders to win. Which tournament?

Explanation: Our last set of Mexican Trios Champions, Familia de Tijuana (Nicho, Halloween, Damien) were stripped of the titles back on 06/20/03 (93) when Nicho no showed (storyline: plane issues; real: took a higher paying gig elsewhere) a scheduled title defense against the Infernales. Infernales were offered the titles but refused, wanting to win it in the ring. So, months later, we've got a tournament.

As usual, Mexican National titles can be only won by Mexicans (or people who are thought to be Mexican) and are treated as secondary versions of their CMLL counterparts. These Mexican Trios titles follow that form.

The tournament brackets, which in typical CMLL fashion weren't determined till the day of the show, turned out as listed below. Dates are the day the match occurred (each half-bracket's quarters and semis were held on the same day), and show numbers are the recaps the matches will occur.

                   Quarters     Semi        Final
                                           (12/05)

Safari/Felino/Volador------
        (115)              |-----------
Warrior/Olimpico/X---------            |
                             11/21/03  |-----------
Virus/Sagrado/Marvin-------    (115)   |           |
        (115)              |-----------            |
Holligan/Ramstein/Azteca---                (117)   |
                                                   |-----------
Crazy/Alan/Zumbido---------                        |
        (no TV)            |-----------            |
Violencia/Nitro/Loco Max---            |           |
                             11/28/03  |-----------
Infernales-----------------    (116)   |
        (no TV)            |-----------
Panther/Rivera/Blanco------

As you can tell from above, the second group of quarterfinals did not make TV. You can see the full results from the bracket here.

Notes: The Alianza. They spent five seconds thinking of that. I think there's an ongoing debate (just only in my mind) if this is the actual Alianza, or if it was a different group (including Super Comando and not Ramstein) when they first announcing their intentions to dominate the world (via second match wins/third match losses.) Anyway, the fun part of this tournament is they've included guys we rarely ever get to see, and all the Alianza members fit that description. Hooligan, last appearing in a match on #43 (72 episodes ago!), is a British themed guy. Sangre Azteca hasn't appeared in any TV episodes I've covered, I think (though he's frequently in Stellar Moments montages and a PPV that needs a better link) and is a Azteca Warrior. Ramstein also hasn't gotten a match on TV, and he's, uh, German I guess.

No introductions - we skip to everyone in the ring, and the captains being announced. Azteca and Sagrado to start. Lockup, Snap mare by Sangre into a chinlock. Sagrado fights out to a waistlock, and Sangre grabs the ropes. Look at the crowd, oh no. Yep, clip - the other two are holding Virus for Ramstein to dropkick out. You know, Hooligan's wearing green and black here, which is kinda odd. Sagrado comes in, but he's quickly stopped by Ramstein's slaps. Ramstein and Hooligan grab Sagrado in a double armbar for Sangre to dropkick out. Marvin tries to break up things by slingshotting in from behind, but Ramstein and Hooligan casually double back elbow Ricky as he jumps up, knocking him to the floor. Sangre, who paused when the other two were busy, goes back to running off the ropes, but Virus trips and pulls him out. Virus slaps and chops Sangre on the floor as Ricky apparently comes back it to take out the other rudos. Ricky and Sagrado tease simultaneous dives, rudos move, tecnicos back off. Virus and Sangre both end up in and the legal men, exchanging open hand slaps. Sangre kicks Virus, Virus whips Sangre, tilt-a-whirl, no holding Sangre in Tombstone position, but throwing him down in a face first powerbomb. Virus starts to set up Sangre for a Tapatia, but Ramstein comes off the top rope with a sunset flip. Virus rolls with it, popping Sangre with a dropkick. Meanwhile, Sangre's made the mistake of recovering on the middle rope, and Marvin surprises him with a 619. Hooligan manages to get back some control for his team, chopping Virus and knocking down Marvin, till Sagrado is on him with a springboard dropkick. Sagrado with a 'rana that was greatly helped by the referee obscuring the camera man's view as Marvin and Virus keep the other two at bay, one two three (1:44) See you in another year, Alianza. Replays show Hooligan throwing himself in the move, as Sagrado's headscissors came off midway during the process. Not so good. They move on, at any rate. 

Notes: I have no idea what Olimpico is doing, or if Warrior and X are faces or what. We get Black Warrior's entrance music. Yes, Safari does spend time talking to the camera on his way to the ring. Olimpico rushes Safari and, uh, shoves very angrily before we even get introductions, so I guess he's had a falling out. 

Safari and Olimpico have to be backed away from each other before this can get started. CLIP. I hate this show. 

Warrior is coming off (springboard) the top rope with a 'rana, but Felino powerbombs him to the mat. Warrior is stomped out, and Felino nails him with a double jump springboard somersault bodyblock, nice. Back in the ring, it's Volador and Dr. X. Dr. X tries a sunset flip, Volador won't go, Olimpico kicks him over, Volador rolls through and drops an elbow on Dr. X. Meanwhile, Safari finds a dropkick for his ex-friend. Safari's yelling as he chops Olimpico, and he and Volador set up their opponents in opposite corners. Double corner whip is reversed, and Volador and Safari collide. Olimpico clotheslines Safari down and stomps him a few times before going to help Dr. x Beat on Volador. Volador corner whipped towards Safari, but Safari hiptosses Volador so he can sit on the top rope, and then helps propel his partner into a cross body on both rudos. They push Volador off when he tries to cover, so Safari follows with his own cover, but still no cover. Volador with a bodyscissors into a small package on Olimpico (that doesn't seem to be what they started trying to do, but what they finished up with) while Safari gives Dr. X a punch to gut, and his wacky double underhook headscissors submission. Call it at (1:06), and we know our next match now.

Interestingly, Olimpico wants a handshake from his opponents after the match, but they refuse him. Hurt feelings all around. Replays. I'm pretty sure that Volador wanted a bodyscissors bulldog there, and had to pull something out.

Our first quarterfinal winners head out with no music right away for our second match. You'd think since they're all tecnicos, they'd have introductions and handshakes, but Ricky walks into the ring, seeks out Volador, and Volador gives him an open hand slap. Since Volador is not Inoki, that ignites a six way brawl.

Notes: The interesting thing here is that you've got the three guys who were facing the Havana Brothers (who couldn't be in this tournament since they're not Mexican, which I forgot at the time) are on opposing teams here. I think whatever reason they're not teaming might be the same reason Volador wasted no time in slugging Ricky. Or maybe there is no reason, who can say. 

NO one side seems to be winning the brawl, except the referees who are obviously losing by not being out here yet. In a great moment of accidental comedy, Ricky punches Volador in the head, Volador slumps dizzily, and Ricky is worried, even stopping to make sure Volador's okay. And then they decide to go find other battle partners so they're not beating each other up.

Everything slows back down as the refs get there, and  the whistle blows. Ricky plays peacemaker with his previous trios partners, but then shoves Volador. Safari takes offense and shoves Ricky, who stumbles Felino's direction and gests shoved again. Virus, Ricky and Volador have another discussion, but the only clear thing in this world is that we're about to get another CLIP

Whip by Volador on Marvin is supposed to lead to a Safari/Felino double clothesline, but Ricky ducks under and hits a handspring double back elbow to take them out. Clothesline to Volador misses, and Volador takes him down with a nice headscissors.  Ricky rolls out, Volador to the apron, ASAI MOONSAULT! Looked sharp, as usual. Elsewhere, it looks like Safari just dropkicked Sagrado off the apron - Safari tope looks like slow motion, but still works. That leaves what I assume are the captains, Virus and Felino. Felino misses a dropkick as Virus sidesteps and leaves him by. Felino set up on the top rope and Virus open hand slaps him there. Top rope 'rana? SECOND ROPE FELINOBOMB one two three. (1:07) And so, the Welterweight champ beats the SL champ. Also, we've got our first set of finalists. They pose as we check on the losers - Virus is done, Sagrado is being checking on by the doctor. Volador helps Virus up, that's awful tecnico of him. Virus lays back down because he's hurting, but Volador helps loosen him up. Replays - starting off with Ricky hitting a beautiful corkscrew plancha on Volador, which you may note didn't actually happen in the match we saw. And then stuff we did see.

Announcers promo Big Brother as Volador checks on Virus, who is now sitting in the corner recovering. Ricky's back up, and he's looking for handshakes. Felino isn't looking for one, and Safair's not in a handshaking mood today. He says something, because all the sudden he's backing off and the winners are shoving him again. The midcard tecnicos did not wake up on the right side of the bed today, I guess. 

Vignette: Pierroth discusses the upcoming 3 vs 2 match with Silva. Usual. Silva and Pierroth will rule lucha libre after they get Universo's mask. 

Notes: Pass. This match is so exciting, they clip to a previous encounter (and stuff I don't think we've seen), of Silva and Apolo breaking a CMLL sign board with each other. The finish seems screwed up to an extreme degree: Capos have Silva and hit a top rope splash or two, before all piling on to cover, and the referees count one two no - except Silva really didn't kickout. La Nazi comes in, and the referees decide to stop her, despite the fact that Silva is still down and people are still covering him. Mascara eventually stops covering long enough to pull the referees back over, they count again, and this time it's one two three. What was the point of the kickout? Did Pierroth forget to come in to do whatever he was going to do? Who knows. Pierroth is brought in and beat three on one post match. Universo gets to cut a promo on Universo for once.

5 DICIEMBRE! UNIVERSO 2000! [footage of Bulldog having his mask taken off!] [footage of a piledriver on Aguayo here - interesting choice to build up your tecnico] [footage of Pierroth beating Violencia for his mask] PIERROTH [beating Apolo and Markus] SIN PIEDAD. You must go back in time to see it.

Next Week: Wagner, Pierroth, Atalntis, Black Tiger, Mr. Niebla, Porky, Lizmark, Tarzan Boy, Black Warrior, Volador Jr., Negro Casas and more of the best of CMLL.

Replays of the end of the match, and we're out.

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 Note: 

Even knowing they'd only be one fall and even knowing that it'd be probably 4 minute matches, I was excited to see each of the Mexican Trios Title matches. And we get...clipped down to a 1:44. And 1:06, despite having time for introductions. And 5:45 for yet another Silva/Pierroth vs Capos match. That is AWFUL.

I sure hope the TV gets more fun to watch after the focus is off Universo vs Pierroth (or Pierroth vs anyone) in two weeks, because these shows have been boring and lifeless a great deal the last few months, and bits like the tournament coverage this week make it worse by adding the adjectives "disappointing" and "worthless."

They need more matches that you can sink your teeth into. Too much blah, too much too short, too much too bad for too long. It's not worthwhile to keep watching, and surely not reason for me bother to keep recapping.