CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-07-08 

Recapped: 07/08/2016

What happened: Volador defeated Kushida in a very good match to keep the NWA Welterweight Championship. La Mascara & Shocker beat up Mistico

What was good: The main event and the segunda are worth going out of your way to say, and the opener was good as well.

Where can I watch it: It’ll be on my channel, and the main event is already up here.

Match 1: Esfinge, Fuego, Tritón vs Bobby Z, Hechicero, Virus
Arena México, 07/08/2016

1. rudos
   • Virus legscissors on knee Fuego (6:09)
   • Hechicero reverse monkey flip/Zavala dropkick (6:30)
2. técnicos
   • Esfinge jumping spinning toe kick Hechicero (4:02)
   • Fuego reverse Indian deathlock with armbar Virus (4:12)
3. técnicos
   • Bobby Z dropkick Triton (4:26)

Winner: técnicos
Match Time: 15:08

Review: [good] As much an action packed opener as CMLL’s going to do on a non-major show. Triton got in all his big moves, including the crazy headscissors of the apron. Esfinge’s stuff looked on target. The rudos weren’t as show but got in cool spots; Virus’ submission in the first fall came out of nowhere. Match came to quite a sudden end, but Hehicero’s finish was pretty impressive.

Match 2: Máscara Dorada, Rey Cometa, Titán vs Cavernario, Dragón Rojo Jr., Rey Escorpión
Arena México, 07/08/2016

1. rudos
   • Dragon Rojo anti-air missile dropkick Mascara Dorada (4:19)
2. técnicos
   • Mascara Dorada torito Rey Escorpión (3:46)
3. técnicos
   • Titan kneebar Dragon Rojo (9:32)
   • Rey Cometa Canadian Destoryer Barbaro Cavernario (9:38)

Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 17:43
Notes: Dorada had his ankle checked out after his dive at the end of the match, but seemed to be OK.

Review: [great] totally delivered, from Dorada/Escorpion quickly decesdning into slaps to the insane last seconds of this match. This was a really good crew looking very on, and working well together. Dorada taking that backdrop to the floor was crazy, but it was also one of like three different insane things he did. He’s not wrestling like a man concerned about getting hurt before his WWE shot, that’s for sure. Cavernario and Cometa lightly feuded, but it didn’t seem like it was meant to be a big match going forward.

Match 3: Mistico vs La Máscara in a lightning match
Arena México, 07/08/2016

Winner: Mistico (DQ)
Match Time: 4:27
Notes: Mistico got a visual win off a La Mistica when the ref was down, and Shocker ran into help Mascara beat up Mistico. The referee saw it and gave the win to Mistico.

Review: [ok] nearly a nothing match. Mistico got in a few of his big spots to make sure it wasn’t actually nothing, but it was means to get to the DQ finish and get Shocker more clearly involved in this feud. Still, if this is part of the anniversary show, you’d hope for this match to be hotter and for them not to be walking thru the finish.

Match 4: Mephisto, Shocker, Último Guerrero vs Johnny Idol, Okumura, Sam Adonis
Arena México, 07/08/2016

1. Foreigners
   • Okumura hanging DDT Mephisto (2:19)
   • Johnny Idol springboard moonsault Ultimo Guerrero (2:39)
2. Mexico
   • Shocker middle rope elbow drop Sam Adonis (3:08)
3. Mexico
   • Mephisto super Devil’s Wings Okumura (5:46)
   • Shocker Villano Cradle Johnny Idol (5:54)

Winner: Mexico (2/3)
Match Time: 11:41

Review: [ok] Couldn’t follow the action of the previous two trios, though it had some good moments and the start and the end were pretty good. Shocker did not look very well in this match or running down to the ring in the previous match. Idol is OK as a rudo but better as a técnico. I was surprised Okumura took a big finish in what was otherwise an unimportant match. Adonis was pretty good and really threw himself over the barricade before the finish – that was less of a surprise.

Match 5: Atlantis, Diamante Azul, Máximo vs Michael Elgin, Tama Tonga, Tangaroa
Arena México, 07/08/2016

1. Foreigners
   • Michael Elgin slingshot splash Diamante Azul (3:58)
   • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa Guerilla Warfare Atlantis (4:45)
2. Mexico
   • Máximo kiss Michael Elgin (4:26)
3. Foreigners
   • Tama Tonga foul/mask pull Diamante Azul (5:04)

Winner: Foreigners (1/3)
Match Time: 14:15

Review: [below average] Disappointing match and the weakest of the night easily. Elgin was game and had fun with Máximo, and Atlantis was doing missile dropkicks, but the rest of this match wasn’t much. Tama & Tanga had their weakest performance and seemed not in it. Diamante Azul had some bad misses and looked sloppy

Match 6: Volador Jr. © vs Kushida for the NWA World Welterweight Championship
Arena México, 07/08/2016

1. Kushida armscsissors (1:58)
2. Volador backcracker (5:16)
3. Volador reverse frankensteiner (14:30)

Winner: Volador (2/3)
Match Time: 21:44
Notes: Fujin & Mephisto were seconds.

Review: [great] Fun title match if different than expected (and not purely the regularly Volador spot show.) This was slower paced than Volador’s big title matches, but worked well around Kushida both going for the arm and cutting off Volador’s big spots to do his own. It still plenty of big spots and had some strong drama leading up to the finish in the third fall. It didn’t have the emotional of last week’s main event – I haven’t thought CMLL’s done a good job of building up Kushida specifically on this tour and I think the lack of heat was a consequence – but the guys wrestled it like it was a huge main event. Kushida’s attacks on Volador’s left arm fit in Volador’s style because of the big moves Kushida worked into destroy it, and Volador kept up selling it thru. Kushida took the backcracker in the second fall superbly and the third fall finish wasn’t far behind.