CMLL Mini Line - 07/17/04 (#138)
Welcome To The Show Vignette: Dr. Wagner Jr.
Someone sprung for a new open, new music and new bumper footage! Unsurprisingly, a lot of old footage is reused. I liked the old music better.
Vignette: The graphics for the vignettes are better, though. Oh, you don't care.
Los Nuevos Aliados De Los Guerreros. And who would those new allies be? Rey and Ultimo congratulated Sangre Azteca and Koreano on leaving Shocker. Azteca thinks it's a natural match, the warrior of the Aztecs (and I guess the Koreans) vs the warriors of, uh, everyone else. Koreano complains Shocker didn't recognize he was more Guapo. Ultimo enlists these two to take the war to the remaining Guapo 2004 trainees and prove they're the best. If they can do that, they'll be official Guerreros.
No third fall opener this week.
Match 1: Tarzan Boy, Ultimo Guerrero (c), Dr. Wanger vs
Canek (c), L.A Park, Shocker
Arena Mexico, 04/30/04
Winner: tecnicos
Match Time: 9:13
Approx Rating: 83 (some nice spots, but nothing totally exciting)
Other Match Notes: Tarzan gets his own entrance and three valets. Ultimo gets his own entrance. Dr. Wagner gets his own entrance, but I think you figured it out already. Lots of fireworks, because this is the Arena Mexico anniversary show. Park is wearing the awesomest possible Batman costume over his normal one. This made the match already. Canek gets second entrance; this is his reappearance at Arena Mexico. Shocker is now using In Da Club. No prematch attack. Oddly, Park's actual outfit has a Spiderman theme. He's quite the superhero. Lots of discussion before we get started, and definitely a clip. Big crowd, though. They don't list names or captains here, which is fine because I could hear them this time, but I hope they do it times where it's not as obvious.
We pick up with Wagner laying outside the ring and grabbing his head, though it appears his allies are in control of the match. How odd. At any rate, Tarzan and Ultimo are killing Park. He's now got "Park" and "Original" written on his tights. Shocker is the next victim, and before I can figure out why his pants look like chaps this week, he's actually ducking a double clothesline and turning around the beatdown. Former tag champs get the best of GdI, culminating in dives. That leaves Wagner and Canek. Canek gets in a backdrop. Slow to the top (I think that'll be a pattern!) but he still lands the plancha. Two count. Wagner returns the backdrop, and sets up in the corner for Canek to get up. Waiting, gentle dropkick to the knee region. Gentle Wagner Driver! Feet on the ropes for no reason to get three. (1:58) It was nearly a normal front slam. You understand, but you're not thrilled to see it. Like Park grabbing his knee on the outside. Replays of the dives and the finish.
Rudos control as they start fall two. Wagner goes for Canek's mask, enlarging the ye holes as usual. Monito got laid out there, although we only see the after effects. Here's another clip? That's fine, because the beatdown didn't have any energy to it at the moment. Announcers push a phone contest dealio - I can only guess a new season of Big Brother. Tarzan opts for legdrop on the normal slingshot team spot with Ultimo. Canek is brought in, and Wagner leaves him to his backup. Double suplex is blocked? I outthought myself, guessing communication mishap, but it Canek actually did block it, before getting a double suplex of his own! What the heck! I guess he's got the super strength. While Wagner celebrates the double suplex he hard and didn't see, the tecnicos storm the ring. Canek knocks Wagner off the ropes and to the apron before posting him. They head to the floor, while Shocker and Park are pretty aimless in the ring. The brawl outside is obviously the thing we're supposed to care about here, and Wagner does his best to make it look intense. Finally, Canek comes back to his corner and Shocker and Ultimo start it up in the ring. Her, it's their spot! Hey, Ultimo get a clothesline in anyway. These fake chaps are really bugging me. Park helps his partner verse a whip, and Shocker flips Ultimo on a running boot. Tarzan tries to return the favor for Ultimo, but ends up taking a kick from Park for his effort. Shocker Cradle on Ultimo, corkscrew moonsault on Rey, and we've got a double pin to tie it up. (3:33) Break.
Wagner is out in the crowd getting a kiss on the mask? Okay. One crowd shot later, he's standing in the ring and getting dropkicked by Canek. Wagner sure can move. I sure hope there was a reason he was standing there like a totem pole and waiting for that dropkick. Canek gets revenge on Wagner's mask times two, but Ultimo puts it to an end with a kick. Rudos triple team on Canek, but Canek manages to side step while lifting his leg up for a clothesline on Tarzan. Canek cleans house, ending with a dramatic press slam on Wagner. Give him credit for doing it, even by a small margin. Canek misses a senton, which gives Wagner an opening. An exchange later, Wagner has a backslide for a two count. Canek gets the better of a brief chop exchange, and takes them both out of the ring with a clothesline. That leads the seconds to come together in the ring, Park and Shocker looks like a fun tag team, which is still kinda surprising. They go up for double splashes (Park with some froggy action), and they both connect - for two! Kinda surprised there, although it didn't feel like a finish. "I'm too strong for your clotheslines - and I'll clothesline you the third time" bit. Stereo 'ranas turn into stereo powerbombs with feet on the ropes and Wagner helping from outside, but Canek breaks it up. Shocker boots Ultimo out of the ring, while Tarzan somehow gives Park a German Suplex. Wish we saw the end of that one. Tarzan tries another one near the ropes, and tosses Park to the apron and to the floor (Park tried to improve his landing and slipped, maybe making it worse.) It wasn't a big enough spill to keep Park down even momentarily, as he's up to the apron and Tarzan tries to German Suplex him off there! Park, the one who's remembering this isn't NOAH, back elbows out of it and returns to the safety of the ring, to be used as a springboard by Shocker into a tope con giro to take out Tarzan. That leaves Ultimo and Park, with the crowd loud for Park. Park pulls off the bodyscissors bomb and that's good enough for three. (3:42) So that's why he was captain. Canek and Wagner head in the ring to continue the brawl, Wagner's mask completely coming off to the point where he has to cover up his face with hand. They get backed off into a standoff, and nothing's settled there.
Vignette: Who else would sign balloons for kids day before Atlantis? That couldn't have been grammatically correct
Stellar Moments. Valentin Mayo connects on a top rope senton for Star Man. Astro Boy whips out Ramstein with a slingshot corkscrew plancha. Sombre de Plata uses the Satellite submission on Mesala. (They keep referencing the Brazos on that.) Mascara Magica beat Terrible, which means he's surely going to win again this week. Zumbido's big springboard plancha on Super Crazy.
Match 2: Terrible vs Mascara Magica in a hair/hair match
Arena Mexico, 04/30/04
Winner: Terrible
Match Time: 84 (too short, predictable action to start, but more drama at
the end than I thought)
Approx Rating: 7:13
Other Match Notes: As per recent bits, Ultimo Guerrero is Terrible's back up. Short delay before Mascara Magica's entrance. The problem with this match, besides Terrible being the up and coming guy and Magica being the eternal midcarder, is the inability for anyone to perceive Magica being anything more than a warmup on the way to Terrible/Shocker. Even here, he's announced as the Guapos Vice Principal, which just establishes him as Not The Guy. I don't know what you do about it. Magica, not giving into doubt, walks to the ring purposely to meet Terrible on the apron for a right, and gets the better of it. early Shocker's his corner man, and they actually start the match before they get it in the ring.
Whip, spinning back elbow by Terrible. Whip, kneelift. Whip, side backbreaker. All Terrible. All whips. He's happy. Maybe with the whips. Whip! spinebuster. (The new falls graphic is sweet.) WHIP! Powerslam. No cover. Pose. Dance! OFF THE ROPES, probably missing a clothesline as we gaze at Shocker, and Magica hits his clothesline. Look at Ultimo, look at Magica throw away Terrible by the hair. Is that a hair whip. Must be. Terrible open hand slaps back, off the ropes, armdrag by Magica, turning it into the pinning posion of last week one two three! (1:41) Well now I - no, still can't believe. Maybe if he wins another fall, I'll believe he can win. Magica celebrates like he's a winner, at any rate. Replays.
Terrible is hesitant to start the next fall, and he should be if he's going to miss dropkicks like that. Magica's clothesline isn't enough to take Terrible down, but Terrible's clothesline is enough to take Magica down. Magica ducks the next one, drop toe hold, elbow off the ropes. Magica off the ropes, clothesline. LEGDROP ON THE LEG! TWICE! Terrible manages to use the ropes to get up and kick Magica away. He makes the mistake of coming off the ropes, missing a clothesline, and taking a spear. THRICE! Magica's looking to end this quick. Charging and backdropped to the apron, but Magica gets in a shoulder to the midsection and turnbuckle smash. Still on the apron. Forearms. Ad for a call. Top rope 'rana caught and turned into a nice sit down powerbomb one two three. (1:44) That was quite sudden, but now it's all down to one. People who wear Terrible shirts mile slightly. Kids with no arms flex. It's quite a scene.
They get going while we're looking at the ring girl. Terrible misses a charge and takes himself out of the ring, and Magica wakes no time in toping him. Both guys are down on the outside, so we look at the dive, then look at the corner people trying to get them back in the match. Another replay of the dive. Looks like we missed Magica getting in first and thinking Terrible wasn't going to make it, and then probably Ultimo helping Terrible make it in time. Whatever the case, Magica's celebrating and has his back to Terrible, who crushes him with a clothesline. Cavernaria! Magica's holding on but hurting. Crowd's rooting for him, and Terrible loses his grip. Both guys down and tired. We miss what set up a pinfall when checking out the woman with the big arm muscles, great. Another crowd shot. Magica's down for some reason, but Shocker's rallying the crowd. Terrible Wagner Driver! He's going up! Fans are going nuts. Top rope splash MISSES! Magica jumps on top of Terrible and covers one two NO! Fans thought that was actually it. "MAG IC A!" Magica tries for a fisherman's suplex, blocked, Magica unblocks it with knees, fisherman suplex connects, referee has to run all the around the hold before counting, then decides the arm hook around Terrible's head is keeping his shoulders up. Magica has to hold the bridge for about six seconds before Terrible breaks out. Magica dropkick, dropkick, 'rana one two NO. Fans are into the near falls. Shocker giving advice to Magica. Terrible strikes first with a kick. Suplex - no, jackhammer. One two THREE. (3:48) Ultimo comes in to celebrate as the victory sinks in with Terrible. We go to commercial about 10 seconds after the finish. Some advice Shocker gave.
Next Week: Atlantis, Mascara Magica, Ultimo Guerrero, Zumbido, Terrible, Canek, Black Tiger, Super Crazy, Tarzan Boy, Shocker, LA Park.
We come in time for Mascara Magica to get his hair cut. He's not happy, arguing the count first, then cutting the first bits of hair himself. Terrible alternately mocks Magica's whining and laughs manically. Magica finally relents to get his hair shaved off. He seethes as we watch most of it come off before the show ends.