CMLL Arena Mexico: 2016-05-03 

Recapped: 2016-05-03

What happened: Mephisto continued his new success by defeating Mascara Dorada for the CMLL Welterweight Championship. (Mephisto is now the favorite to put up his mask at the Anniversary show, though it’s still a long way away and it’s not totally clear who he’d face.)

What was good: The main event, really. Dorada/Mephisto was great. The women’s match was the only thing watchable from the undercard.

Where can I watch it: It’s on CMLL’s YouTube channel. Note the stream went out during the show, and the end of the third match wasn’t broadcasted and doesn’t appear on the VOD (unless they edit it later.)

Match 1: Acero & Aéreo vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Universo 2000
Arena México, 05/03/2016

1. técnicos
   • Aereo flipping armbar Pequeño Universo (3:50)
   • Acero suastica Pequeño Nitro (4:12)
2. rudos
   • Pequeño Universo senton Aereo (2:45)
   • Pequeño Nitro hammerlock Acero (3:01)
3. técnicos
   • Aereo anaconda choke Unvierso (3:46)
   • Acero missile dropkick Pequeño Nitro (4:49)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 12:02

Review: [below average] boring match of limited highspots and even more limited luchadors. Pequeño Universo had trouble taking Aereo’s armdrags, which meant even the little stuff they didn’t look good. Acero did look better than Aereo, is the better forgettable mini técnicos.

Match 2: Magnus, Robin, Sensei vs Akuma, Canelo Casas, Metálico
Arena México, 05/03/2016

1. tecnicos
   • Sensei cross armbreaker Metálico (8:25)
2. rudos
   • Akuma valagueza Magnus (5:01)
3. técnicos
   • Magnus camel clutch Metálico (3:09)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 16:35

Review: [ok] another quiet trios match, though there were a couple of better high spots this time. They didn’t do a lot still, and the match dragged with the rudos in charge. Could go with either grade. Metálico got a new outfit, so that’s nice. Metálico tying Sensei to the ropes Octagon-style and Akuma untying him right away showed the lack of chemistry on that side. Magnus looked sharp. Some of the stuff Robin does looks very clean and smooth, but the overall package needs more.

Match 3: Soberano Jr., Star Jr., Stigma vs Raziel, Okumura Sangre Azteca, Virus
Arena México, 05/03/2016

1. técnicos
   • Soberano huracanrana Raizel (6:09)
   • Stigmatica on Virus (6:38)
2. rudos

• Virus nudo Virus Soberano (4:06)

3. técnicos
   • DQ ??? (at least 5:00, probably around 8)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: ~18:00
Notes: DQ is unknown

Review: [no rating] This was a little bit underwhelming until the stream died in the third fall. Again, like the other matches and last night, it didn’t feel like everyone was going full speed and the match was missing some life. It didn’t feel any great loss by missing the end of this match.

Match 4: Marcela, Princesa Sugehit, Skadi vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis

Arena México, 05/03/2016

1. tecnicas
   • Skadi middle rope dropkick Zeuxis (5:34)
2. rudas
   • Zeuxis corner knee smash Skadi (2:57)
   • Tiffany face first powerbomb Marcela (3:46)
3. tecnicas
   • Princesa Sugehit pendulum backbreaker Tiffany (1:33)
   • Marcela Michinoku Driver Amapola (2:33)

Winner: tecnicas (2-1)
Match Time: 11:53

Review: [good] surprisingly good, with Marcela, Amapola and Zeuxis looking really sharp and others raising to the moment. Skadi is getting better or getting protected better. She doesn’t do everything even OK, but she’s got enough that they can have a good match around her. She and Zeuxis worked off each other better than expected most of the match. The reverse tope spot looked good. Tiffany didn’t get much in the way either.

Match 5: Stuka Jr., Súper Porky, The Panther vs Bobby Z, Ephesto, Luciferno
Arena México, 05/03/2016

1. rudos
   • Ephesto pin Super Porky (3:06)
2. técnicos
   • Stuka Jr. inside cradle Bobby Z (3:42)
   • The Panther inside cradle Luciferno (3:42)
3. técnicos
   • Super Porky back splash Ephesto (2:30)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 9:18

Review: [below average] Back to Super Porky means back to everyone else not doing much and getting the night off. Porky doesn’t pass the ball much. Panther & Stuka did big moves near the end and not much the rest of the match. Porky looked like he has of late. Crowd liked it much than I did.

Match 6: Máscara Dorada © vs Mephisto for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Arena México, 05/03/2016

1. Mephisto Devil’s Wings (2:22)
2. Mascara Dorada top rope frankensteiner (2:04)
3. Mephisto super Devil’s Wings (11:57)

Winner: Mephisto (2-1), new champion
Match Time: 16:23
Notes: Stuka & Ephesto were seconds. Tirantes was referee.

Review: [great] another super match with Dorada going all out in the third fall. I’d say there wasn’t a lot that separated this from the one two months prior, except the deathly Dorada back first landing on the apron (a call back from their first ever really crazy spot) and the third fall near falls seemed a bit more dramatic. It’s still a really exciting match, and one where they made the super Devil’s Wings seem believable for the finish (a recovery after how often it’s been used as a near fall) and I’d say to watch this one of the two if you haven’t watched either. I wished they’d varied it up a little more in this one to separate them and you may feel this is a bit of a repeat if you watch both. Still, there’s plenty worth seeing.