CMLL on CadenaTres: 2015-03-28

recap

taped 2015-03-24 @ Arena México

Metatrón & Molotov vs El Rebelde & Espanto Jr.: [below average] opener like this are why it’s completely fine for Cadena3 to skip openers. There’s nothing botched here, it’s just a match so lacking in excitement that it makes it a struggle to watch. These guys could’ve used less time and less falls. Rebelde was fun, and it was amusing to see him totally show up Metatron in their opening exchange. Metatron also managed to have a dumb looking finisher in the first fall. It did not get much better in falls two and three. Rebelde’s finish probably looked cool if they had an angle that could actually show it without a giant graphic in the way.

Goya Kong, La Vaquerita, Skadi vs La Comandante, La Seductora, Tiffany: [OK] This looked like a really bad idea on paper but it was fine in practice. Seductora did a lot of working taking moves for the técnicas and there was enough Goya related action to make the rest of it worked. Goya’s cartwheel was kind of amazing. Seductora did have some amazingly weird attempts at knee smashes in the second fall. Skadi is the last woman who needs to be flying, attempted all sorts of flying moves, did not get hurt on any of the flying moves, so progress.

Hombre Bala Jr., Pegasso, Súper Halcón Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Okumura, Virus: [ok] It’s unfair to expect every Virus match to be extraordinary; this was not bad, but it was a lot of going thru the usual motions. Pegasso broke out more stuff than usual and Gen11 kept their tag team run until the end (and were immediately shut down because they were facing Arkangel.) This was luchadors facing their trainers kind of felt that way, not in terms of story but that they’re doing an exhibition match they’ve worked thru and is missing the spark of innovation.

Blue Panther, Tritón, Valiente vs Boby Zavala, Hechicero, Luciferno: [good] more life, less routine in this one. This was good from the fun Panther/Hechicero mat wrestling to start and stayed good the entire way (not just picking up for a closing sequence.) Blue Panther versus Hechicero has to happen at some point and this was a good preview of that. Hechicero looked like the best guy in the world going from that to catching everything for Triton. Zavala, completely forgotten by the people in charge, did well here too. Enjoyed how the third fall break ups weren’t just kicks to break up a hold, but moves to break up other moves and keep the match going. Valiente & Hechicero having a double submission draw is incredible rare.

Dragon Lee, La Sombra, Stuka Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas: [good] another fun match, one where Sombra’s attitude and single minded focus on Negro Casas didn’t over power the match. Sombra and Casas had their Strong Style fight (with both coming off at as técnicos and rudos at various times), but the other four had a good match with them. The Sombra/Dragon Lee small interaction were good too, with Sombra doing his usual bits of trying to get others to fight the battles he doesn’t feel like fighting, only Dragon Lee is so young and excited that he doesn’t realize (or care) he’s being used that way. For a guy who doesn’t care if he wins or loses, Sombra was very upset with losing here. Dragon Lee and Cavernario have been kept busy with other feuds, so it felt like a fresh match up even though they had all those great matches last year (and played off them.) Dragon Lee great, and it was kind of disappointing he didn’t get as strong a reaction as he deserves; Tuesday being a small and casual crowd may not work with the style he’s doing.

The Panther vs Misterioso Jr.: [below average] disappointing match. Misterioso took a heavy percentage of it, maybe setting up for The Panther to have a big run near the end, only the Panther crashed and burned on a springboard and they went right to the finish. That made it a Misterioso squash. Misterioso silghtly tried, but I’d pass on seeing any more Misterioso squashes.