CMLL Grand Prix iPPV: 2016-07-01 

Recapped: 07/01/2016

What happened: Team Mexico defeated Team Rest of the World in the 2016 edition of the Gran Prix. Volador Jr. defeated Tama Tonga for the victory, despite Rush and La Mascara turning on each other. (Those two rise to the top of the list for Anniversary match.)

Bárbaro Cavernario once again defeated Rey Cometa in an an excellent match.

What was good: Everything, with the top two rising the MOTYC level

Where can I watch it: Sigh. An editing version will air on Azteca in about a month. I’d suggest tracking down the show however you can find it.

Match 1: Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Felino, Puma, Tiger
Arena México, 07/01/2016

1. Panthers
   • Blue Panther Sr. anklelock Felino (4:37)
   • Blue Panther Jr. nudo lagunero Puma (4:37)
2. Tigers
   • Puma Kingdom the Panther (1:51)
   • Tiger reverse figure four Blue Panther Sr. (2:49)
3. Panthers
   • Blue Panther Jr. German suplex Tiger (6:16)
   • The Panther springboard dropkick Puma (6:46)

Winner: Panthers (1/3)
Match Time: 14:12

Review: [good] usual quality match between the two teams which worked fine as an opener. If anything, it was a little bit too usually – they’ve thrown these two teams (or close to these teams) against each other frequently for big shows, and the matches are starting to feel a little repetitive. I could see the three tope spot coming, but the crowd still dug it a lot.

Match 2: Atlantis, Mistico, Stuka Jr. vs Euforia, Ephesto, Terrible
Arena México, 07/01/2016

1. técnicos
   • Stuka torpedo splash Terrible (4:23)
   • Mistico torito Euforia (4:34)
2. rudos
   • Terrible powerbomb Stuka (5:06)
   • Ephesto shoulderbreaker Atlantis (5:06)
   • Euforica Special on Mistico (5:06)
3. técnicos
   • Atlantis casadora cradle Euforia (7:09)

Winner: técnicos (1/3)
Match Time: 16:49

Review: [good] total and unadulterated Mistico exhibition, which was fine by me. He got I all his big moves, and the crowd had no problem cheering him for it. The other five guys did a good job setting him up, and everything went well. The only surprise is he didn’t get the win at the end too. It’s about time to advance him into a singles promotion and see if it works.

Match 3: Rey Cometa vs Cavernario for the hair
Arena México, 07/01/2016

1. Rey Cometa Canadian Destroyer (2:14)
2. Barbaro Cavernario Rosa suplex (2:15)
3. Barbaro Cavernario cavernaria (18:30)

Winner: Barbaro Cavernaraio (2/3)
Match Time: 22:59
Notes: Stuka Jr. and Monito were with Cometa. Cavernario escaped Cometa’s attempts at a cavernaria twice before locking on his own for the win. Cavernario made belt motions before

Review: [excellent] a totally worthy sequel to their match from two years ago. Both guys threw everything they had and then some into a back and forth fast paced match of big moves. Everything went right, and they kept the crowd into it for a very long third fall. Some of the near falls were great; they had made with the 450 one, and the timing on Cometa’s missed dive was fantastic. The ending sequence, with Cometa getting the Cavernaria not once but twice and Cavernario just barely escaping, was especially well done.

Match 4: Diamante Azul, La Máscara, Máximo Sexy, Rey Escorpión, Rush, Shocker, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. vs Johnny Idol, Kushida, Marco Corleone, Michael Elgin, Okumura, Sam Adonis, Tama Tonga, Tangaroa in a CMLL Gran Prix Tournament match
Arena México, 07/01/2016

1. Volador frontcracker Okumura (13:52)
2. Marco Corleone Air Corleone Rey Escorpión (19:52)
3. Tama Tonga jumping cutter Máximo (21:15)
4. Rush Rush Driver Sam Adonis (23:39)
5. Shocker Villano cradle Johnny Idol (25:27)
6. Michael Elgin powerbomb Shocker (27:38)
7. Diamante Azul blockbuster suplex Marco Corleone (28:44)
8. Tanga Loa back suplex powerbomb Diamante Azul (30:16)
9. Michael Elgin powerbomb Rush (32:28)
10. La Mascara campana Kushida (34:35)
11. Ultimo Guerrero pulpo Guerrero Michael Elgin (39:57)
12. Tama Tonga jumping DDT La Mascara (41:15)
13. Volador springboard splash + UG cover Tanga Loa (43:43)
14. Tama Tonga cutter Ultimo Guerrero (45:30)
15. Volador spanish fly Tama Tonga (50:47)

Winner: Team Mexico (50:47)
Match Time: 50:47
Notes: La Mascara & Rush worked together early, but turned on each other early. Rush dropkicked Mascara out of the ring, only for Mascara to come back and kick Rush twice to set up Elgin’s powerbomb. Rush returned to unmask La Mascara, who was then easily beat by Tama Tonga’s DDT. Shocker helped La Mascara to the back. Match came down to Volador & Tama, with Volador winning cleanly and giving a victory speech.

Review: [excellent] fun dramatic match that never felt as long as it actually was. The match started off hot with the team versus team brawls, and they were able to carry that emotional all the way thru. They gave this so much time that everyone got their moments, and there wasn’t the rapid fire eliminations normally seen in cibernetico matches. Elgin’s style stood out among the foreigners. Tama always seems to fit in well in his appearances, and was a good pick to make it all the way to the final. Kushida going out earlier, and getting beat by La Mascara of all people, definitely was a surprise and a little bit of a disappointment. We still haven’t seen him go full speed for a whole match, but there’s time left. Diamante Azul almost justified his existence with his suplex catch of Marco. Volador came off as a super hero by the end. There are surely going to be matches with better action, but the emotion of the crowd carried it a lot.