CMLL Arena México: 2016-04-05 

Recapped: 04/05/2016

What happened: Esfinge & Volador Jr. won the Gran Alternativa. And that was it.

What was good: The matches on the second half were generally good, but nothing exceptional. (The tournament block shows were better.)

Where can I watch it: It’s on CMLL’s YouTube channel.

Match 1: Astral & Eléctrico vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico
Arena México, 04/05/2016

1. técnicos
   • Eléctrico springboard elbow drop Pequeño Olímpico (4:07)
   • COR Pequeño Nitro (4:33)
2. rudos
   • Pequeño Olímpico splash Astral (2:39)
   • Pequeño Olímpico a la de caballo Eléctrico (3:17)
3. técnicos
   • Eléctrico cross armed cavernaria Pequeño Nitro (4:26)
   • COR Pequeño Olímpico (4:54)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 12:44

Review: [ok] Olímpico and Nitro took one big bump each before losing to the normal técnico champs offense. We’re well into a rut in these Eléctrico/Astral minis matches, and a Tuesday opener isn’t going to be the thing to break them out of it. The entire divsion feels like it’s been frozen in place for two years and they’re not turning out interesting enough matches to put off changes. These guys seemed like they cared a little bit about this match and match was above average for a Tuesday opener, but I couldn’t find a reason to care that much and they couldn’t get the few fans who were to make much noise.

Match 2: Estrellita, La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, La Comandante, Tiffany
Arena México, 04/05/2016

1. tecnicas
   • La Vaquerita elbow drop Tiffany (6:46)
   • Princesa Sugehit flipping armbar La Comandante (6:52)
2. rudas
   • Tiffany short powerbomb Vaquerita (3:00)
   • La Comandante splash Princesa Sugehit (3:27)
3. rudas
   • Amapola Devil’s Wings Estrellita (5:25)

Winner: rudas (2-1)
Match Time: 15:44

Review: [below average] again, the same sort of match we see from this group every time. Nothing went wrong, because they’ve done basically the same match and removed anything that might be challenging or interesting. They probably should do more comedy because they seem to enjoy doing that and it’d be easier to do while offering something different to the match.

Match 3: Súper Halcón Jr. vs Nitro in a lightning match
Arena México, 04/05/2016

Winner: Nitro (double stump puller)
Match Time: 8:01

Review: [ok] This is one I wrote off a week ago. They did try a little more, but the problem isn’t as much with Nitro trying as Nitro not being able to do it on this level. I hope he’s teaching these guys some subtlety of lucha libre that escape my eyes which require him in there, because I like to think there’s a positive reason for this to keep happening. He’s too slow for a singles match and putting him in more of them now than he ever was when he was in better shape is so weird. Also weird is Nitro winning.

Match 4: Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Disturbio, Puma, Tiger
Arena México, 04/05/2016

1. Panthers
   • Blue Panther Jr. nudo lagunero Tiger (6:07)
2. rudos
   • Puma Cross on Blue Panther Jr. (2:00)
   • Tiger casita Blue Panther (2:24)
3. Panthers
   • Blue Panther Jr. swinging kick Distubrio (6:06)
   • Puma & The Panther double pin (8:45)

Winner: Panthers (2-1)
Match Time: 17:16

Review: [good] notable for them going very long in the third fall after two short falls, and the referee (Bestia Negra) Being utterly and totally confused on the double pin finish and the resulting finish. The third fall leading up to it was the best action of the night so far, blowing thru many finishes, but ending with such an amateur hour result didn’t help. The match was very familiar feeling early on, which also didn’t help.

Match 5: Guerrero Maya Jr., Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
Arena México, 04/05/2016

1. técnicos
   • Máximo pin Mephisto (4:53)
   • Guerrero Maya springboard reverse tope Luciferno (4:56)
2. rudos
   • Hooligan Crash on Guerrero Maya Jr. (3:12)
   • Ephesto shoulderbreaker Máximo (3:12)
3. técnicos
   • Mascara Dorada springboard huracanrana Mephisto (4:27)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 12:35

Review: [ok] this seemed fine, just didn’t have much drama to it. The normal for Dorada is still the extraordinary for anyone else, and he was clearly the highlight of the match. His timing on his dives and the finish was really great, and the powerbomb he took on the apron was crazy. It was fun, but not especially different or memorable.

Match 6: Esfinge & Volador Jr. vs Fujin & Rey Escorpión in the CMLL Gran Alternativa final
Arena México, 04/05/2016

1. rudos
   • Fujin modified Dragon Sleeper Volador (4:42)
   • Rey Escorpión sit down powerbomb Esfinge (4:48)
2. técnicos
   • Nudo Egipico on Fujin (2:52)
   • Volador torito Rey Escorpión (2:55)
3. técnicos
   • Volador backcracker Fujin (10:19)
   • Rey Escorpión La Roca Volador (10:44)
   • Esfinge springboard splash Rey Escorpión (11:53)

Winner: Esfinge & Volador Jr. (2-1)
Match Time: 19:36

Review: [good] fine enough for a Volador epic main event, though probably less spectacular than if he was on his own. Fujin and Esfinge didn’t have many serious problems – they were lost a bit at the end of the second fall, and Fujin got nervous trying to dive when Escorpión hit the ropes – but this was also not a breakout performance for either of them. This was Esfinge’s normal match and seemingly less than Fujin’s been doing in trios. (Maybe he does need Raijin at this point.) Volador & Esfinge had cool looking matching outfits and pulled off a double dive spot, but otherwise these didn’t feel like unified teams or guys having a break out performance. It was just an unusual main event tag match. Esfinge comes off as the next version of La Mascara, a competent but not engaging upper level guy who isn’t going to add a lot to his matches – and Fujin actually didn’t outshine him. This was a good dramatic match, with everyone trying hard and some nice spots, but it didn’t feel like a great end to this tournament.