CMLL on CadenaTres: 2015-02-14

recap

taped 2015-02-10 @ Arena México

Leono, Magnus, Molotov vs Hijo del Signo, Metálico, Nitro: [ok] forgettable segunda stuff outside of Magnus and Metálico working their own feud. Molotov is back, so that’s a thing. He looks like he’s been injured, because he looks like he’s not quite in shape to return. Nitro was too busy posing to actually cover Leono in the first fall, but the referee had the worst possible angle so it was all fine.

Soberano Jr., Starman, Stigma vs Canelo Casas, Okumura, Sangre Azteca: [ok] Straight out of the CMLL generic midcard match generator. Soberano was hurt pretty early in the third fall but it’s not like derailed anything notable. No one was quite sure what the rules were at that point to end the fall, least of all the announcers. Sangre Azteca is very creative when it comes to his costuming, but not so much when it comes to his wrestling. Announcers were too busy screaming to notice it, but Starman had more of an Ultraman mask going on. It brought to mind Metálico switching back to Tigre Metálico when he thought he was in the final days of that mask run. (It lasted a lot longer, not that he knew.) It also may not mean much, Arkangel wears his old mask to the ring all the time. First fall featured mat wrestling between Stigma and Sangre where Stigma kept grabbing the middle rope for balance but the hold didn’t break because they just wanted to get their spots in. I don’t know what the comeback spot was supposed to look like, but it did not look right, like maybe three people were out of position but Soberano’s gymnastics were still enough to turn the tide.

Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado: [ok] Essentially a two fall match, and starting off the actual second fall with a flurry of Panther near falls stretched credibility – it’s hard to believe anyone’s going to win a trios in straight falls in three minutes until it actually happens. (I would’ve been okay with it here.) It ended up a little shorter than usual, but they used up the same amount of time with the post match. Match is alright, but not a lot more than that early finish and the build to next week. “The Panther” feels far less utilized than the other three En Busca de un Idolo final and Dragon Lee in particular. The Kamaitachi feud is a big difference, but he’s treated third in importance when his family and even here the idea is more about the continuned effort to rework Pierroth and the Boricuas (new flak jackets) into something actual useful. This is more normal for how CMLL uses people (by not using them.)

Ángel de Oro, Dragón Rojo Jr., Volador Jr. vs Hechicero, Pólvora, Último Guerrero: [ok] Most lively match of the night by far, with Volador having no idea what to make of this Hechicero and Pólvora and Dragon Rojo occasionally remembering they hate each other. Felt more professional than any other match on the show too. Close to Good, but the finish is ridiculous – UG bulldozes into Tirantes for no reason, and even that is only called a DQ half the time – and makes the match feel like it accomplished nothing. (I’d always wager it was a way out of either Volador or UG having to lose to each other, though UG made sure he got the visual victory over Volador.)

Kamiatachi vs Triton: [ok] Maybe this was actually the most lively match on the show? It’s a bit standard lightning matches – so many dives, so little time – and a bit Kamaitachi craziness. This was all big moves and nothing really in between, and the big moves weren’t quite enough for me to put this in the good column. Could see the case. The finishing bit, with Triton missing the tornillo, Kamiatachi pulling himself up backwards to the top rope, and then coming off with the double knee smash was all very nicely done. The right guy actually won, given who’s got a big match next.