CMLL Arena Mexico: 2016-04-19

Recapped: 04/19/2016

What happened: Mephisto annoyed Mascara Dorada into giving him a singles match. Dragon Lee was on, off and on the card. He didn’t end up wrestling much.

What was good: Nothing really. Maybe the semimain.

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

Match 1: Leono & Metatrón vs Cholo & Inquisidor
Arena México, 04/19/2016

1. rudos
   • Cholo powerbomb Metatron (7:26)
   • Inquisidor reverse figure four (7:56)
2. tecnicos
   • Metatron casita Cholo (3:57)
   • Leono leg crank half crab Cholo (4:39)
3. rudos
   • Cholo frog splash Leono (3:23)
   • Inquisidor valagueza Metatron (3:54)

Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 16:29

Review: [ok] I dunno. Leono seems to be trying but it was kind of working his favor. Metatron appeared to be an actual human being with emotions and not a badly programmed luchador robot during portions of this match. Cholo did a strut and a frogsplash. Inquisidor didn’t suck. That’s better than average for these. I wouldn’t recommend watching it at all, but I don’t want to knock it. Leono and Cholo failed at a hiptoss but it’s a low bar.

Match 2: Magnus, Robin, Star Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Hijo del Signo, Metálico
Arena México, 04/19/2016

1. tecnicos
   • Star Jr. moonsault tornillo Arkangel (10:15)
2. rudos
   • Signo top rope splash Robin (3:37)
   • Arkangel pin Magnus (3:54)
3. rudos
   • Metálico spinning DDT Magnus (4:08)

Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 18:17

Review: [ok] Usual glacial paced segunda, which suits these veteran rudos much more than the técnicos. It gave me time to ponder when Magnus’ arms became so gigantic. He made the DDT finish looked good. Arkangel must be a good trainer at slowly demonstrating holds. Robin and Magnus should get matching gear if they’re going to team every week.

Match 3: Blue Panther Jr., Hombre Bala Jr., Súper Halcón Jr. vs Disturbio, Nitro, Sangre Azteca
Arena México, 04/19/2016

1. tecnicos
   • Hombre Bala headstand kneesmash Sangre Azteca (3:36)
   • Super Halcón Jr. hanging DDT Disturbio (3:36)
2. rudos
   • Disturbio double knee smash Blue Panther (5:07)
   • Sangre Azteca Estecas Mexicanas Hombre Bala Jr. (6:38)
3. técnicos
   • Blue Panther Jr. nudo lagunero Nitro (7:30)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 17:44

Review: [ok] disappointing (and maybe too highly rated), something that generally wasn’t much better than the previous match despite the presence of Bala & Disturbio. It was just another slow paced rudo dominated the match with a few dives because they’re allowed to do dives, and following two other matches which weren’t much interesting made for a hard watch.

Match 4: Esfinge vs Sagrado in a lightning match
Arena México, 04/19/2016

Winner: Esfinge (powerbomb)
Match Time: 9:45

Review: [below average] the closing portion of this match included Esfinge botching two big spots to the point where it was hard to figure out what the original plan was, and then almost dropping Sagrado on his head on the finishing powerbomb before getting it back together. It’s hard to give that an OK. His dive looked good, as did Sagrado’s corner powerbomb. It’d feel like Esfinge for exposed here if we didn’t have a bit of an idea he’s over head at the moment already.

Match 5: Blue Panther, Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Hechicero, Morphosis
Arena México, 04/19/2016

1. rudos
   • Morphosis elbow drop Blue Panther (4:59)
2. tecnicos
   • double pin Morphosis & Fuego (1:55)
   • Blue Panther suastica Hechicero (3:12)
3. técnicos
   • Blue Panther fujiwara armbar Gran Guerrero (5:01)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 13:12

Review: [good] closest thing to a watchable match but even this one had trouble holding me into it. Morphosis seemed OK and the twists in the match helped, but this felt like a Tuesday night version of what might be a really good Friday match. I thought for sure Blue Panther submitted to Hechicero early in the third fall, which would be a weird Panther layout twist he hasn’t tried yet. The double pin before the finish and the surprise armabr are definitely his trademarks.

Match 6: Dragón Lee, Máscara Dorada, Stuka Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
Arena México, 04/19/2016

1. Hijos del Infierno
   • Mephsito powerbomb Dorada (3:48)
2. Hijos del Infierno
   • Ephesto Roll on Dragon Lee (3:35)
   • Mephisto foul Mascara Dorada (4:30)

Winner: Hijos del Infierno (2-0)
Match Time: 8:18
Notes: Dragon Lee announced he wouldn’t be on this show a few minuted into the show. A half hour later, he said plans had changed and he was on the road to the show. He did very little in the short match. Ephesto distracted Tirantes to set up Mephisto’s mask pull. Dorada demanded a 1v1 match next week and Mephisto agreed before taking Dorada’s mask.

Review: [ok] nothing close to to last week’s match. There was obviously some screwup that kept Dragon Lee in a match he didn’t think he way in any more. Can’t be totally sure they’d do a lot more with a fully healthy Lee or a replacement, but the match really didn’t get much of a chance. Dorada/Mephisto should be fun, but this show wasn’t.