CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-05-20

Recapped: 05/20/2016

What happened: La Mascara outcheated Rush, challenged Rush to a hair match, and challenged Pierroth to put up his mask too. (Shocker’s involvement was downplayed this time.) Cometa and Cavernario resumed their feud, with Cometa demanding a title match.

What was good: Lots of stuff! I really liked the Cometa/Cavernario trios match, and the second and fifth match weren’t too far behind.

Where can I watch it: It’ll be up on my channel on Tuesday, it’ll be on other people’s channel quicker, and the main event is on Claro’s site.

Match 1: La Vaquerita & Lluvia vs La Comandante & Tiffany
Arena México, 05/20/2016

1. tecnicas
   • Lluvia corner dropkick Comandante (5:11)
   • Vaquerita elbow drop Tiffany (5:20)
2. rudas
   • Comandante electric chair suplex Vaquerita (3:22)
   • Tiffany hair pull caballero Lluvia (3;256)
3. rudas
   • La Comandante chokeslam Lluvia (3:32)
   • Tiffany short powerbomb Vaquerita (3:44)

Winner: rudas (2-1)
Match Time: 13:00

Review: [ok] this was fine, all things considered, until it the last couple of minutes where things didn’t look so good. The match would’ve been better shorter in general, but there were a few good spots (the electric chair suplex at the end of the second fall looked harsh.) Tiffany had some rough moments. She’s not working against the match like the her male equivalents, but she’s not able to carry the youngsters by any means either.

Match 2: Esfinge, Fuego, Tritón vs Hechicero, Puma, Tiger
Arena México, 05/20/2016

1. tecnicos
   • Fuego Flashina Hechicero (6:13)
2. rudos
   • Tiger backcracker Triton (4:02)
3. rudos
   • Hechicero Mad Scientist Bomb Esfinge (4:43)
   • Puma Stretch on Fuego (5:00)

Winner: rudos (2/3)
Match Time: 15:15

Review: [good] really energetic trios match, with the rudos looking like world beaters and the técnicos mostly keeping up with them. Tiger & Puma are a great duo and Hechicero works well with anyone – his teammates, or as a Fuego rival during their frequent run-ins during this match. (Their run in the second looks great, and Fuego made the reverse monkey flip seem killer.) Triton had a really good match, both with his headscissors and a tight 450 before the finish. Esfinge must be a nice guy because everyone seems to like him despite his struggles. There were a few moments that didn’t go smooth, though they deserve credit for saving the comeback spot when the headscissors didn’t go right. A lot of fun.

Match 3: Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Cavernario, Misterioso Jr., Pólvora
Arena México, 05/20/2016

1. rudos
   • Misterioso One Winged Angel Stuka (6:40)
   • Pólvora Driver on Stuka (6:46)
2. técnicos
   • Stuka crossed leg tapatia Pólvora (3:46)
   • Titan cross armbreaker Misteiroso (4:22)
3. técnicos
   • Rey Cometa Canadian Destroyer Cavernario (5:07)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 16:15
Notes: Money thrown in. Cometa challenges Cavernario to a title match. Barbaro didn’t

Review: [great] just slightly better than the last match, with everything working or working well enough, and Cavernario just being super the who way. He did the big physical things (like the dive to end the scond fall), but the small ways he annoyed Cometa and his general timing were perfect too. Everyone else held up their end, with Cometa very good as his rival in particular. Titan had a nice match, with a different surprise second fall finish on Misterioso (who worked harder than usual) and Pólvora & Stuka were solid. This match had more of an edge to it with the Cavernario/Cometa feud, and it’s a really good back to back series.

Match 4: Ángel de Oro vs Dragón Rojo Jr. in a lightning match
Arena México, 05/20/2016

Winner: Dragon Rojo (double stomp)
Match Time: 8:36

Review: [ok] I didn’t pay a great deal of attention this one, distracted by other things, but the way the crowd died despite ethem doing big moves doesn’t seem like a great sign. I had no strong desire to go watch this back, but it seemed like they just couldn’t do anything to keep people’s interest in between those big spots. Rojo seems to be more comfortable moving around and was trying to have a good match; maybe Rey Escorpión dumping him is motivation.

Match 5: Atlantis, Mistico, Valiente vs Euforia, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero
Arena México, 05/20/2016

1. rudos
   • Ultimo Guerrero senton de la muerte Atlantis (5:09)
   • Euforia Special on Valiente (5:21)
2. técnicos
   • Atlantis bodyscissors cradle Negro Casas (1:24)
   • Valiente Indian Deathlock Ultimo Guerrero (1:26)
3. técnicos
   • Atlantida on Ultimo Guerrero (4:43)

Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 11:30

Review: [good] a lot of this was another Mistico exhibition match in a row of them lately, but he’s doing so very good with them that it makes them all worth watching. Ultimo Guerrero & Euforia shared responsibility as Mistico victum in this match and both did well. Mistico won over a crowd ready to boo him, as he seems to be doing a lot of late. The other guys were relegated to smaller roles, but Valiente busted out a springboard headscissors hasn’t been doing much. I liked the earlier two matches slightly better than this, but this was pretty good too.

Match 6: Pierroth, Rey Escorpión, Rush vs La Máscara, Shocker, Terrible
Arena México, 05/20/2016

1. Team La Mascara
   • DQ Rush [ref attack/mask rip] (4:11)
2. Team La Mascara
   • La Mascara foul Rush (6:41)

Winner: Team La Mascara (1/2)
Match Time: 10:52
Notes: Rush pulled Mascara’s mask, but Mascara covered up and fouled him while the referee was distracted.

Review: [ok] Rush & Mascara definitely brought the emotion, and the crowd got behind Mascara, but they didn’t look nearly as sharp with each other as Rush & Sombra last year. It should get better in time, and getting people to care is the first step. Terrible tried hard and looked good, and Rey Escorpión is still a fun toady (and was amusing in his interaction with Tirantes on the finish.) This was good when Pierroth and Shocker weren’t involved, but they were involved a lot and look like they’ll keep being involved.