August 2017 – Page 12

Adonis vs Panther tonight, Gran Prix, AAA/Colombia, Elegido

August 4, 2017August 4, 2017 thecubsfan

Tonight begins a run with a lucha libre event in Mexico City about every other weekend

08/04: Adonis vs Panther
08/12: La Llave a la Gloria Final – ok, this may only be a big deal to me
08/26: TripleMania
09/01: Gran Prix
09/16: Anniversario

There’s room for more, and it doesn’t count shows like The Crash (running tonight in Mexicali) or The Crash or Lucha Memes or MDA (all of which are tougher to count when we can’t count on seeing them.) On paper, this is the weakest of all the major shows – an unproven foreigner against a legend in the final moments of his career. In reality, this might have as loud as any of the shows.

Sam Adonis and Blue Panther main event tonight in a hair versus hair match. It’s Adonis’ first time in a singles main event in this building, and it’s been five years since Blue Panther had this sort of match. The crowd were reacting loudly to Adonis even before CMLL really started going anywhere with his pro-US act, and today’s the test to see if those reactions will turn into ticket sales. There’s mixed success with these sorts of characters, but it feels like this going to be a big deal.

+LuchaTV has an interview with the Panthers and a promo from Sam Adonis. Adonis saying this match is a battle between an idol of Mexican wrestling and Blue Panther is a troll line I would be proud of. The Panther & Blue Panther Jr. being part of the interviews is interesting; it’d make more sense for CMLL if one of the kids were the ones to get the big win over Adonis than a luchador closer to the end of his career.

That is the thing though: as a person who watches wrestling a lot, I’m pretty safely assuming Adonis is winning tonight because there’s more left for a second match and there’s no reason for him to lose before the Gran Prix. (Panther getting the submission win in the lead up is a signal too.) If you’re a casual fan just going to see the match, I think you’re absolutely expecting the Mexican to triumph over the loud American, and I wonder how they’re all going to react if/when that doesn’t happen. Mexican fans like booing Adonis because he’s a fun non-threatening guy to boo, but he might be a little bit more threatening if he takes a legend’s hair. I don’t expect a bad scene, but I do wonder if this going to light up this issue even hotter. The only people who are going to be busier than beer vendors are going to be the security people.

This match up still could use some support, and I had been expecting some sort of title match or other big singles match. CMLL went with the micros instead, and that’s probably the right call for this audience. This show should draw a lot of people who don’t closely follow CMLL but just know a heroic Mexican is going to try to take down an evil American. Those people aren’t going to be all that aware of the history of a Niebla Roja or the Princesa Sugehit/Zeuxis feud. Something with more universal appeal, like four tiny people in wacky outfits in a lucha libre battle is going to get over a lot easier with them.

ClaroSports has an interview with Zacarias, who thanks Ultimo Guerrero for bringing back micro matches.

This is a good show even beyond the two matches, with CMLL doing their usual big show loading up of the card. Fuego, Pegasso, and Drone face Virus, Sagrado and Disturbio in an opener that’s usually about the fourth match on a Tuesday. The NGD face Rey Cometa, The Panther and Soberano, which should be as good as last week’s match. Marco Corleone, Angel de Oro and Diamante Azul face Pierroth, Rush and Hechicero, which sticks out as odd on the card; maybe they just needed to get people on, or maybe they’re setting something up. The semimain is the weekly Niebla Roja/Guerreros match, with Roja teaming with Volador & Caristico against his old rivals.

CultIcon also previews this show. It’ll air on ClaroSports and Facebook normal; this probably could be an iPPV but it’s a free show.

Matt Taven told a fan asking if he’s coming to ROH UK tour that he’ll actually be in CMLL at that time. I think that may be the end my theory of a Ultimo Guerrero/Matt Taven Anniversario match. For one, Taven may not be going to the UK but Ultimo Guerrero is on that tour so it’s not like Taven is going to feuding with him at least at the start. For another, Taven would have to be around 5-6 Fridays for the Anniversario show, longer than he’s been in the past and longer than CMLL usually keeps people. Three Fridays, ending with the Gran Prix, is more normal. The possibilities which aren’t “Niebla Roja vs Gran Guerrero” for the Anniversary show are getting whittled away.

At any rate, that UK tour starts two weeks from today, so Taven and perhaps the other Gran Prix foreigners may start in CMLL on at least by the 18th. The G1 final is on the 13th so the NJPW would be free by then, though probably pretty tired. The next NJPW tour starts on 09/06, only a few days after the Gran Prix, so I could see those guys being saved for last to get a rest.

I think AAA’s trip to Colombia this month is off. AAA announced two tours of Colombia back in April, part of their press conference to announce their partnership with TNA/Impact/GFW. AAA said they’d be going to Bogota on August 8, 9 and 10, and Medallin in October. The Bogota trip were to be free shows as part of an annual summer festival. The program for the festival is out, and AAA is not listed. (An indie lucha group seems to be running earlier in the festival instead.) It could just not be in the program, but it’s also a tour AAA hasn’t talked about in months. They promoted their similar shows in 2015 pretty strong. AAA may have quietly canceled it a while back, and I’m just catching up to it now. Three shows at a free festival is not going to make or break AAA, but these shows seemed to be part of larger plan: AAA’s not had success moving northward, so maybe they could advance the other way instead to build a fanbase in South America countries. This seems a set back in that direction, and it makes me think about how all the countries Vampiro was hopeful about AAA being in (and probably just listing off the top of his head) were in Europe, not Latin America.

Humo announced they’re bringing in Kongo Kong on 09/02.

EMW says their next AAA show in Tijuana is on September 8th.

AAA put up the latest Zona Ruda, with Psycho Clown as guest.

IWRG has a new website!

Segunda Caida reviews the Blue Panther/Sam Adonis lightning match.

TKD reviews this week’s Lucha Underground.

Kcidis draws the Reina de Reinas match.

Sagrado and Disturbio playing ping pong.

Fuego en el Ring has their latest podcast.

An interview with Satillo luchador Boy Rocker Jr., who lost his mask to King Rap last December.

Lineup

AAA TV (MON) 09/04/2017 Palenque Inforum, Irapuato, Guanajuato
1) Big Mami vs Ayako Hamada, Faby Apache, La Hiedra
2) Dinastía, Lady Shani, Máscara de Bronce vs Goya Kong, Marty The Moth, Mini Psycho Clown
3) Aerostar, Drago, Raptor vs Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr., Soul Rocker
4) Argenis, Lanzeloth, Ricky Marvin vs Averno, Chessman, Súper Fly
5) Texano Jr. vs Hijo del Fantasma
6) Kevin Kross & Psycho Clown vs Dr. Wagner Jr. & Pagano

AAA posted this lineup the same day as they posted a Q&A with Vampiro saying AAA will change lineups whatever, so this is sort of whatever. It’s also a taping after TripleMania and a month away, so the chance of it all going down like this is nil. Ayako & Marty being around are the things to take from it; I’d expect at least Marty to be in the Copa TripleMania.

After this card got announced, some Elegido fans complained about him not being used on TV tapings; Vampiro told them Elegido is injured, while Elegido RT-ed the people complaining about him not being used. Elegido’s been booked most weekends (though not this one), and is advertised on a show before this taping. Meanwhile, the local promoter of this taping says Elegido is no longer in AAA. This has been more than you need to know about El Elegido.

CMLL Puebla: 2017-07-24

August 4, 2017August 3, 2017 thecubsfan

Zeuxis & Sanely have a hammer/nail rivalry

Recapped: 07/25/2017

All matches aired live from Arena Puebla

What happened:

Volador wears a Ingobernables jersey and works rudo in the main event, but it dropped after this match. Rush puled Caistico’s mask to win, and a post match argument set up a match between them.

In classic Tirantes form, Shockercito kicks out at 2.9 on a sunset flip and Tirantes counts three and then mocks Shockercito for not kicking out. This sets up a title match for next week.

Matches:

I had three separate GIFs of Tirantes doing something dumb on this show but I’ll just use this bump

Guerrero Espacial & Perverso beat Arkalis & París
(12:48 [5:31, 3:56, 3:21], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Opener had better action and more of it than usual. Tecnicos looked really good in the first fall and rudos did more than the usual time killing. Arkalis did a nice bit of grabbing Guerrero’s arm and rolling him over in the first fall that came off as really slick. Not the greatest flow and this is an anti destroyer pick, but most watchable locals only match in a while.

Shockercito beat Pierrothito in a lightning match
(7:38, sunset flip, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

match was a really good match in their usual style up until the screwed up finish. They both are good singles wrestlers who don’t get to do it much here and have a lot of stuff they can only break out in matches like this. From the opening comedy to Shockcercito’s big dive, this really works. Maybe this might be skippable because of that messed up finish and the fact they’re probably be better next week.

La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely beat La Seductora, Tiffany, Zeuxis
(12:29 [6:32, 2:56, 3:01], 1/3, ok, via Video: VideosOficialesCMLL)

An alright women’s match that’s probably generous to be called OK but I don’t care. Vaquerita looked cooler in her white shirt than her normal outfit, which might say she needs a new outfit. That’s all the deep insight I have on this one.

Ángel de Oro, Stigma, Stuka Jr. beat Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
(14:19 [4:21, 2:27, 7:31], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Effective well worked match with lots of topes. Rudos were finishing out their run strong, looking good as a team and rolling along the match well. The técnicos didn’t stand out but did well. This was the second match of the night where no one understood what was going on because Tirantes messed up a count.

Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas beat Dragón Lee, Mistico, Titán
(9:51 [2:55, 1:26, 5:30], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

This was not too far off from the previous match, but shorter and a less to it. Enjoyable but a good version of the usual match and just not enough of it to recommend. Not a bad effort by any means. Negro Casas versus everyone is good, but we haven’t got to see him much Titan of late and they did well n in the third fall too.

Carístico, Diamante Azul, Euforia vs Pierroth, Rush, Volador Jr. in a relevos increíbles match
(5:59 [2:51, 3:08], 1/2, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

What we learned here is heel Volador wears his hair in a dumb pony tail. This is important info. Volador can also do headscissors while wearing a baseball jersey. I can wear a baseball jersey but can not do a headscissors. They got to next week’s match fine but this wasn’t exactly promising big things in it. The post match promos were good at least.

Casas/Lee is headlining Homenaje a Dos Leyendas 2018

lucha TV preview for weekend of August 3rd

August 3, 2017August 4, 2017 thecubsfan

full size

This week’s Lucha Underground is titled Bloodlines. The preview mentions Captain Vazquez gets a visitor. Maybe we’ll learn more about her mysterious bloodlines, or Dario’s since the FBI is mentioned as meeting him this week.

AAA this weekend has Sexy Star’s return. I’m just as excited as you are. What’ll be interesting to see is if they leave Vampiro’s speech burying Taya in there. It really doesn’t serve any purpose if Taya’s not coming back, it probably just antagonizes the relationship more if it’s aired, and it’s only purpose left seem to be make Vampiro into more of a hero. Admittedly, making Vampiro seem like a hero seems to be the #1 priority of AAA TV at the moment, but maybe they can let that one slide as not to antagonize the situation? They’re still going to look dumb if Mundo just is annoyed enough not to show up up at TripleMania to lose his title, and Mundo knows he’ll be brought back even if he does so because they brought back Sexy Star after she did the same thing.

Edit: I got ahead of myself. AAA this week is still finishing up Puebla, with Johnny Mundo/Texano, Psycho/Pagano and Wagner/Mesias.

Puebla has Stuka vs Mephisto, the most “alright” title match possible.

AAA on Televisa: 2017-07-22

August 3, 2017August 1, 2017 thecubsfan

Recapped: 07/23/2017

All matches were taped at Poliforum, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas on 06/19/2017

Matches:

Estrella Divina beat Pimpinela Escarlata
(5:30, moonsault, below average, Lucha Libre AAA)

Averno & Súper Fly beat Argenis & La Parka
(5:47, Super Fly frogsplash Argenis, ok, Lucha Libre AAA)

Dr. Wagner Jr., El Mesías, Kevin Kross beat Hijo del Fantasma, Pagano, Psycho Clown in a relevos increíbles match
(16:42, Kross pin Fantasma after Texano interference, ok, via Lucha Libre AAA)

What happened:

Even though the main event has been hyped as a trios match for the rest of the show, there’s a graphic for Psycho Clown vs Kevin Kross. The rudo team all come separate, but the tecnico team enter with Psycho Clown. The rudos beatdown the tecnicos for two forever, with Pagano getting his knee wrapped. It lasts long enough that fans actually boo. Comeback finally comes after eight minutes.

After about 15 minutes, Kross and Fantasma were left in. Texano walked down to ringside with his bullrope wrapped around his hand as if a loaded glove, and punches Fantasma in the face with it. Kross was surprised, but cover for the pin. Fantasma and Texano brawl into the crowd, really doing a lot more grabbing and walking than brawling as far as we can see. Everyone else wander out to fight for no real reason – Marty is there, mentioned by name at the end this week. Sangre Chicana shows up to music and punches Averno for attacking Pimpienla (almost falling down in the process.) Wagner hand Psycho hit each other with a chair, and end up wearing each other’s mask for the laugh. Texano ends up with Fantamsa’s mask. This goes on and on and on.

Averno berates the crowd like usual before his match, before they cut back stage where Niño Hamburguesa and Argenis have found Parka laying on the floor. He’s apparently been attacked, though the OGT are all in the ring so maybe they didn’t do it? (At the end of the show, in the usual highlight package, there’s a shot of Vampiro leaving the room and waiving at the camera no – but it comes off more like an outtake than some teaser, especially since Parka’s standing away fine at that point.) Security checks on Parka, then tries to stop Argenis from going to the ring by himself confusingly. The OGT throw the mic to Argenis, who decides to fight 1 on 3 instead. It works, even though he keeps alive by getting a move here and there. Eventually Super Fly smacks him with a clothesline, and all three OGT wrestlers, including the guy in the match, stomp on Argenis. Chessman does leave, and Super Fly and Averno double team Argenis by themselves, but then he helps out when they go outside.

Argenis gets a comeback and a near fall (which the OGT hasn’t bothered with), but Chessman comes into break it up. No DQ. That is Parka’s cue to hobble in and clear house, but Chessman breaks up his pin with a chair. No DQ. Averno fouls Argenis and Super Fly adds a frog splash to that to win. OGT unmask Argenis post match.

Divina attacks Pimpi on the outside to lead into the opener. About 5 minutes in, Pimpinela climbs to the top rope and falls down to the mat without anyone touching her or the ropes. Divina quickly tries a moonsault (that mostly misses) to win.

Arturo Rivera interviews Psycho Clown backstage (right in front of the flags of Joaquin and Antonio) to start the show. Psycho Clown is totally different from usual, with them playing up the Psycho part of Psycho Clown while talking about this rivals. There’s lots of dramatic breathing. Arturo is taken aback by Psycho’s action.

Noti AAA has Ashley & Black Fury talking about participating in La Llave de la Gloria (and thanking the sponsors) as they promote the final tyrout in Ceyala.

Jonny Mundo & Kross have a phone conversation to establish that Mundo wants Kross to win and Kross is frustrating with Mundo ordering him around so much. It’s one of those phone conversations they haven’t exactly been told what the person is going to say and it’s awkward. (Kross: “Stop calling!” Mundo: “Okay, you better be.”) By the end of the show, Kross has stopped answering Mundo’s calls.

Thoughts:

I didn’t GIF Pimpinela falling again because it was too sad but this wasn’t much better and I have no idea why any of it aired

Just a totally skippable episode. Nothing really happens outside of Kross and Mundo teasing problems and AAA being unable to remember which briefcase is supposed to be for the title shot.

The main event was average, hitting all the normal beats, just much longer than usual because everything else went so short. The length didn’t really help it, and it didn’t help the brawl afterwards, it felt like both were really stretched out. (And, despite all that it felt like Fantasma was ignored to give plenty of time to Pagano & Psycho Clown.) It was another thing where they tried to get five angles done at once and got none of them over. Kross actually tried to do things during the very long beatdown, which was ineffective but appreciated.

The tag match was not a tag match but definite a waste of time. Argenis vs the two rudos were fun while it lasted; this would be a decent feud if not for LA Parka and for it not going anywhere at all. Super Fly looked great as usual and Argenis’s comeback bits made this more watchable than the usual one sided long rudo beatdown. The florescent OGT color scheme doesn’t work at all with Chessman’s look but Averno’s talked him into wearing it anyway.

this old legend nearly fell down throwing a punch and I think AAA is going to put him in a ring next month because it’s impossible to learn things

It’s not really a surprise Divina/Pimpinela was a match I didn’t like – the people who decided have very different criteria for what is a good idea to put on TV and believe Pimpinela is so over that the quality of the match isn’t much good. The surprise is how amazingly not over Pimpinela was, especially in strong base of Nuevo Laredo. She got a reaction for the entrance and a bit of one for the rope walk, but the crowd was so dead for the rest of this. It made the middling action look even worse, and Pimpi’s fall looked sad. Divina didn’t impress in this one, and a lot of that was on Divina’s own offense.

Dragons vs Mariachis, La Llave a La Gloria, Super Astros

August 3, 2017August 3, 2017 thecubsfan

IWRG (WED) 08/02/2017 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV]
1) Tentáculo b Celestial Boy
2) Climax Jr. & Shaolin b Atomic Star & Lunatic Xtreme
3) Kempo Jr., Monaguillo, Warrior Jr. b Alas de Acero, Aramis, Kanon
4) Demasiado, Diva Salvaje, Miss Gaviota b Acero, Picudo Jr., Samot[lumberjack]
Samot replaced Demonio Infernal, making his first appearance here since 2011.
5) Anubis Black, Leo, Rafy, Teelo b Eterno, Harry The Sick, Ovett, Taylor Wolf
Anubis Black’s first match here since 2015.
6) Black Dragón, Dinamic Black, Dragón Fly b Diablo Jr., El Hijo del Diablo, Imposible
Dinamic Dragons took falls 2/3 and asked for a Mexico State trios title match after the win

That sounds like a good title match. Harry The Sick (or sometimes Harry Sick) is a Chilean in Mexico like Taylor Wolf.

Record says there are 49 men and 8 women who are advancing to the finals of the La Llave a la Gloria tournament, including the latest winners. That’s the count of only the people who advanced thru the tryouts (and is probably 1 high, if Dalton Bragg is still retired.) That would mean people who’s only link to the tournament was appearing on TV La Llave a La Gloria matches, like standout Hijo del Vikingo, are not among those battling for a shot at TripleMania. In reality, I think Record has no more idea of what’s going on here than we do and no one’s really going to understand the concept at any point. I still think it’ll be ok, because there’s enough good people in here that someone good will win a week from Saturday.

El Son de Leon has a nice interview with local wrestler Shiva, who talks about advancing in La Llave a La Gloria competition in Celaya, thanks the various people who trained him, and mentioned Internacional Pantera (II) talking to him about potentially going to Japan. The only problem is no one named Shiva is listed as advancing in the La Llave a La Gloria tournament from Celaya. He could be the mystery person, he could be listed under a different name, or maybe they just meant advancing from the morning workout to the matches, I have no idea. The date of the interview is before the winners were actually announced.

Vampiro answered some question from AAA fans on Facebook. They did not talk about the Johnny Mundo situation, which is probably for the best.

One of the questions Vampiro is asked is about the always changing taping lineups. Vampiro explains there have been drastic internal changes in AAA, promoters still want matches months in advance, but matches may change because of injuries or people going/not going to tapings or other reasons. The new philosophy of the company is it’s neccessary to change the matches. They know some people aren’t happy, but the feel they’ve been changing the matches for the better. This is along the same lines Vampiro has explained the situation on other shows. There’s not an explanation of why they advertise matches at all, but it’s implied to be a demand of the local promoter.

Vampiro’s also asked where he sees AAA in three years. He sees AAA opening a path to Europe (Italy, Spain, Russia, France, England mentioned), exchanging talent with GFW, Lucha Underground continuing, and going to Japan for the Lucha World Cup. Those are some good goals but they’d need to start soon on building their name up in Europe if they’d want to be successful there in a couple years.

R de Rudo says it’s actually Keira’s REINA title CMLL is deciding, with the idea they took it away because she’s The Crash champion. That’s a different belt than CMLL is advertising on CMLL’s website or what JCR mentioned on Informa, but R de Rudo may still be correct. The key is no one else understands the difference between these stupid and pointless title belts so it’s quite possible neither does CMLL. For what it’s worth, the cibernetico they’re doing this Sunday is one where the final two advance (and get booed for not having a final because this concept gets rejected by the fans every single time and CMLL doesn’t care.)

Super Astros on 08/18 in Arena Naucalpan has announced so far
Hijo de Alebrije, Astrolux, Pegazus vs Kratoz, Kamikaze, Demonio Infernal
Candy White, Diva Salvaje, Cinthia Moreno, Taylor Wolf vs Muneca de Plata, Rossy Moreno, Cerebro Negro, Demasiado
Eterno, Epydemius, Bobby Zavala vs Dr. Karonte Jr., Demus 3:16, Fishman Jr.
Bandido, Emperador Azteca, Ciclon Ramirez Jr. vs Metaleon, Templario, Imposible

That last match could be a CMLL match if CMLL used all the people who went thru their training school.

DJZ has been officially cleared to return to the ring after his injury on a The Crash show fourth months ago.

+Lucha has an interview with Raul Mendoza in WWE. I suspect he’s going to get (another) name before they really start doing things with him.

Volador talks about winning the Universal tournament.

Alberto is part of a FULL show on 09/17 in Tlaxcala.

CultIcon reviews last night’s Lucha Underground and writes about Blue Panther vs Love Machine in CMLL and the AAA rematch.

2017 watch later catch up, part 4 of ∞

August 3, 2017August 1, 2017 thecubsfan

Hey, these are back. This is out of order from the TV show watch order but who cares, it’ll flow better this way.

Arez vs Belial vs Impulso in a three way apuesta match
(WMC @ Arena San Juan on February 26, 29:41, good, via +LuchaTV)

Impulso Fire Driver Belial (23:54)
Belial top rope double stomp Arez (29:41)

I’m probably going to be the low person on this match because match logic is a big deal to me and outweighed the action. I was so frustrated by the opening half of the match. So much time spent with two guys teaming up, than turning one each other when it didn’t really make any sense. It’s like there’s a timer the luchadors can see but we can not in the three ways, and they have to switch alignment as soon as it hits 0:00. There’s no more logic than that and it’s frustrating to watch – even more so when it’s elimination and there’s no reason to attack each other (maybe steal pins, but that’s about it.) Still, this did eventually settle down into something more conventional before the first elimination and the damage and blood leading up to it made those big moves feel more dramatic. I really liked it when it came down to Arez and Belial battling to service the last few minutes, though I think they were both so tired that it looked sloppy on it’s own. This was an ambitious effort that didn’t quite work for me but I appreciated the effort. It is getting to the point where I should probably stop reviewing three way matches because my reviews of them aren’t useful if it’s the same complaints over and over again.

Chicano & Veneno © vs Black Terry & Diablo Jr. for the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship
(IWRG on February 26, 24:07 [13:57, 3:58, 6:12], good, via +LuchaTV)

This was a rare all technical match, with need team event really hinting at being rudos and wrestling a clean title match all the way thru. Veneno is totally serious (probably too serious, maybe don’t need him bleeding off headbutts back and forth with Terry) and Chicano looked good; I was picking this one out more for the other two but they were their equal. There’s not as many highs and lows in this match, Chicano is somehow pinned after doing a move in the third fall, and the finish is typically bad IWRG stuff, but the action leading up that point a good use of time.

a cool set up to a suplex leads to Chicano being pinned

LA Park & Rey Escorpión vs Daga & Penta Zero M
(AULL/Klandestino on March 1, 31:09 [8:23, 10:16, 12:30], good, via +LuchaTV)

There’s a great bit of hilarity on insisting on doing a very traditional three falls match where you’re throwing entire rows of chairs at each other. This match seems to suffer for it by the end, as the match runs out of stream as the third fall goes along and probably would’ve been better without it. It’s got a usual LA Park screwy finish too. It’s great early on, with Penta get thrashed for quite a while and impressively so. He knows how to sell for those kind of brawls and set up the next big spot, something Daga is definitely not as good at (but obviously is going to get a lot of practice at as long as he’s in the indie matches.) LA Park worked hard, and Rey Escorpión is the right kind of partner for a match like this. There’s a great match here with a little editing.

this Daga combo is cool and completely unrepresentative of the rest of the match

Sky Man vs Saturno [MUCHAS LUCHAS CHAMP]
(Cara Lucha @ Arena San Juan on March 3, 20:46, excellent, via +LuchaTV)

Esto es lucha libre – Saturno shows up here, absolutely kills it, and then disappears into the ether for the rest of the year. Saturno’s been well regarded by lightly seen by virtue of the Guadalajara indies being barely visible, but this caliber of match should’ve gotten him and booked anywhere. It’s the kind of match Sky Man and Rayo Star were trying to have when feuding, but Saturno’s just a bit better than them. Just a bit insane too; I don’t know if he knew this was his best shot to make a name for himself, but he’s clearly throwing everything into it from the opening moment, trying to kill Sky Man as much as he’s trying to kill himself. Sky Man meets Saturno on his level, trying to fight fire with fire. The match breaking down into a scrum of punches and gouging on the mat feels completely earned, and that hatred seems to flesh out the match a little bit more than just seeing the spots. Sky Man comes out the winner but it felt like he survived a war rather than conclusively won. This one of the matches of the year to watch.

Black Terry & Diablo Jr. © vs Black Dragón & Internacional Pantera for the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship
(IWRG on March 12, 24:33 [9:46, 7:54, 6:53], great, via +LuchaTV)

I’m just going basically by date on my list, couldn’t remember why I wasn’t doing that before, and then realized it’s because I try to avoid seeing two similar matches in one recap. That’s the case here, as this is not that far off from the other Terry/Diablo tag title match. Those two play very slight rudos here, but it’s still a heavily technical match done in a similar style. This one had the big advantage of no Danny Casas, and I think the kids stood out well here. Diablo Jr. looks really smooth and has some great dropkicks, and Black Dragon impressed with his agility. I’m giving this one a better grade but there’s not a lot that separates the two, they’re both really solid action for an extended period of time, with a bit more drama in this one.

I didn’t mean for this match to be just Black Dragon GIFs but that’s the way it turned out

Imposible vs Emperador Azteca
(IWRG on April 23, 9:41, good, via iwrgtv)

This was much more of a crazy brawl than I would’ve thought, and one that gets better as it goes along (Azteca has a rough start.) I wanted more stuff in ring, but they were entertaining grabbing anything they could to throw at each other. This is a much more Emperador match than usual – no chair sit spot Imposible for one – and he shows some good life. The crowd is really loud for the finish, but it looked messed up, with Emperador clearly kicking out before three on a move that didn’t seem like the thing that would end a match. Emperador made challenges that made sense only if he won too, so it was probably not the designed finished.

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