Lucha Azteca7 Elite: 2016-06-24

Recapped: 07/04/2016

What happened: There were eight first round tournament matches, won by Lio Rush, Bram, Tama Tonga, DJZ, Michael Elgin, Sabu, Kushida and Volador.

What was good: DJ Z vs Hip Hop Man and Volador vs PJ Black are worth checking out.

Where can I watch it: It’s on my YouTube channel and still on AztecaDeportes.com if you’re not in the US.

Match 1: Lio Rush vs David Tita in an Elite International eighthfinal
Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: Lio Rush (via Rush Hour, flipping side slam)
Match Time: 8:13
Notes: Shocker mentions Lio Rush winning the ROH Top Prospect tournament.

Review: [ok] this was had some good moments but it was unusually slow for this environment. Maybe it was a bit too much US style, and they needed something faster paced to win over a crowd which wasn’t going to give the foreign guys much respect. Tita didn’t look bad but Rush was the right guy to be moving on.

Match 2: Bram vs Zumbi in an Elite International eighthfinal
Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: Bram (The Brighter Side of Suffering, a lifting DDT)
Match Time: 1:20 shown
Notes: highlights shown only

Match 3: Chicano vs Tama Tonga in an Elite International eighthfinal
Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: Tama Tonga (via Veleno, jumping double underhook DDT)
Match Time: 1:51
Notes: highlights shown only

Match 4: DJZ vs Hip Hop Man in an Elite International eighthfinal
Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: DJZ (rolling DDT)
Match Time: 6:03
Notes: This match appears edited. Fans do not like Hip Hop Man after Argentina destroyed Mexico in soccer.

Review: [good] these guys just went for it on this one, either doing all they could in the time they had, or doing all they could to get themselves a return appearance. DJ Z taking it into the crowd so he could cut a promo and then moonsault off the announcement desk was great. Hip Hop Man had some good offense too, and this could’ve simply used more time.

Match 5: Jinder Mahal vs Michael Elgin in an Elite International eighthfinal
Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: Michael Elgin (Elgin bomb)
Match Time: 2:13
Notes: only highlights are shown

Match 6: Veneno vs Sabú in an Elite International eighthfinal
Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: Sabu (Arabian Facebuster)
Match Time: 5:33
Notes: Sabu’s chair is legal in this match because it’s Sabu. Veneno tries a chair show and Terror Chino takes it away, for he is not Sabu. Sabu is moving poorly.

Review: [below average] This match airing is a sure sign of how big a star they believe Sabu would be, because the flaws in the match itself were hard to miss. Sabu looked old and he and Veneno didn’t seem to be on the same page often. They went to shoulderblocks spots late because it was the simplest thing to do, and I’m still not sure what Sabu was supposed to be doing.

Match 7: Heddi Karaoui vs Kushida in an Elite International eighthfinal
Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: Heddi Karaoui
Match Time: 2:47
Notes: This is shown in highlights, though the longest highlights of the show. Kushida doesn’t seem to be taking it entirely sincerely

Match 8: Volador Jr. vs PJ Black in an Elite International eighthfinal

Arena México, 06/23/2016
Video: thecubsfan

Winner: Volador Jr. (Volador Spiral)
Match Time: 9:10
Notes: PJ Black is wearing his Lucha Underground bandana and doing the same character.

Review: [good] nothing but high spots, even more nakedly than a normal Volador big match. They didn’t start small, they just exchanging big shots until Volador got in the last one. PJ Black showed good athletic ability, which made up for the work between the two not being perfectly smooth – a superkick that turned into a side kick, the Volador Spiral not coming off as big a spike as normal. They’d probably be better with another chance and more familiarity, but they weren’t bad.