CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2017-01-27

Recapped: 01/27/2017

What happened: Mephisto kept the welterweight title over Carístico. Carístico noticeably has lost his ability to win big CMLL matches when there’s anything on the line, but the quality of the match was the story.

Raymond Rowe and Rush didn’t get along, but didn’t fight, prior to their Lucha Memes match. (CMLL didn’t mention the show, but they were clearly working an angle to build up that show.) That match actually built up the Diamante Azul/Pierroth rivalry, also taking place this past Sunday, with Pierroth unmasking Azul.

What was good: Most everything. The title match is the one must see match, and the Ingobernables match was the weakest, but this was pleasant overall watch.

Where can I watch it: Check my Twitter feed (except for the opener, where I had stream issues.)

Match 1: Shockercito & Stukita vs Demus 3:16 & Mercurio
Arena México, 01/27/2017

1. técnicos
   • Stukita casadora bomb Demus (6:53)
   • Shockercito pin Mercurio (7:02)
2. rudos
   • two man piledriver Stukita (3:43)
   • two man neckbreaker Shockercito (4:05)
3. técnicos
   • Shockercito reinera Demus (5:17)
   • Stukita quebrada Mercurio (5:41)

Winner: técnicos (1/3)
Match Time: 16:48

Review: [good] as entertaining an opener as you’re going to see on a normal show. Stukita and Shockerito looked great and the rudos were right there. First fall Stukia doing interesting mat wrestling things is good, third fall Stukita doing planchas off barricades (which I guess aren’t dives!) is just as good. Demus & Mercurio were more serious, less comedy and more hitting the técnicos with big moves. Finishing moves looked great. One or two spots (like the first fall finish) didn’t go well and CMLL opener style means there wasn’t anything near falls or drama over who’s winning, but it still was a lot of fun.

Match 2: La Vaquerita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis
Arena México, 01/27/2017

1. rudos
   • Amapola Devil’s Wings Princesa Sugehit (6:16)
   • Zeuxis Spanish Fly Vaquerita (6:260
2. tecnicas
   • Vaquerita top rope senton con giro Zeuxis (2:51)
   • Princesa Sugehit La Mistica Amapola (3:01)
3. tecnicas
   • Dalys spinning slam Marcela (4:38)

Winner: tecnicas (2/3)
Match Time: 14:05

Review: [good] Zeuxis was so good in this match that it made a slightly above normal women’s match a lot more watchable. Her big spots – Spanish Fly, the tope, even the usual dropkick spot after Dalys pulled someone down by her hair – all looked really sharp. The other people weren’t bad and new Vaquerita’s outfit is a better look for her. They’re not going anywhere with these but this group can have a solid trios match.

Match 3: Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Forastero, Máscara Año 2000, Sansón
Arena México, 01/27/2017

1. rudos
   • Mascara Año 2000 tirabuzon The Panther (4:33)
   • Forastero ramp springboard dropkick Blue Panther Jr. (5:15)
2. técnicos
   • The Panther huracanrana Mascara Año 2000 (1:40)
3. rudos
   • Mascara Año 2000 standing octopus Blue Panther (5:24)

Winner: rudos (1/3)
Match Time: 12:19
Notes: Forastero replaced Cuatrero.

Review: [good] energetic match between the two young teams. They kept going at a fast pace, especially surprising the third wheels. Forastero again made the most of an opportunity for a bigger spotlight; I’m not the ramp running actually helps at all on the springboard dropkick he did, but it did make it more fun. There was no real drop off in the team work going from Sansón/Cuatrero to Sansón/Forastero. Blue Panther Jr. looks better here than he did in Japan (not a high bar) and The Panther was better than usual. Finish decision was absurd but everything before it was fun.

Match 4: Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy vs Pierroth, Ray Rowe, Rush
Arena México, 01/27/2017

1. tecnicos
   • Marco Corleone Aero Italia all three rudos (4:35)
2. técnicos
   • DQ Pierroth [Diamante Azul] (4:47)

Winner: técnicos (1/2)
Match Time: 9:22
Notes: Rowe had moments of not getting along with his teammates, but never a turn.

Review: [ok] This broke the streak of good matches, but it also wasn’t quite as bad as it could’ve been when they were pushing Diamante Azul/Pierroth. There was only one move they did where I had no idea what they were doing. It was good they had Marco in there to work with Rowe, because he didn’t look near as comfortable with anyone else. He looked fine, but it wasn’t the easiest or best situation to get him over. (If he’s only in for one match, I guess it doesn’t really matter all that much.)

Match 5: Mephisto © vs Carístico for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Arena México, 01/27/2017

1. Mephisto Devil’s Wings (4:07)
2. Carístico headscissors into a small package (1:39)
3. Mephisto super Devil’s Wings (11:51)

Winner: Mephisto (2/3)
Match Time: 11:41
Notes: Princesa Sugehit & Zeuxis are seconds. Mephisto might have fouled Carístico before the finish – Carístico didn’t sell it as one

Review: [great] Both guys looked really good here, with this being among Caristico’s best performances in CMLL alone. He was on all match and doing a lot, and the dive off the barricade to set up move back in was a nice addition. Mephisto was working hard too, and it felt like they wanted to make this match special. Carístico losing these matches is not as surprising as it might have once been, but they could’ve used one more hope moment for Carístico before he climbed up to his death. More of this Carístico would be good.

Match 6: Dragón Lee, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
Arena México, 01/27/2017

1. rudos
   • Barbaro Cavernario pump splash Dragon Lee (6:17)
   • Gran Guerrero Pulpo Guerrero Volador Jr. (6:24)
2. tecncos
   • Dragon Lee hanging double stomp Barbaro Cavernario (2:22)
   • La Mistica on Gran Guerrero (2:22)
3. técnicos
   • Volador super huracanrana Último Guerrero (4:17)

Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 13:03

Review: [good] very much the all star trios match that could’ve been done in Japan, and worked fine in this context. Gran Guerrero was a fine enough stand-in for Euforia, even trusted to take the two big headscissors spots (Mistico’s diving to the floor, Dragon Lee off the apron.) It gave Cavernario a slightly easier night, though there’s still no real reason he should be in the ring at this point. Luchadors are weird. Crowd got into the highspots and the big finish with all three luchadors (and Monito) hitting big moves. This wasn’t a big deal but a nice way to end the night.