CMLL (FRI) 11/02/2018 Arena México [CMLL, Ovaciones, thecubsfan]
1) El Coyote & Grako b Oro Jr. & Súper Astro Jr.
Rudos took 1/3.
2) Átomo, Gallito, Microman b Chamuel, Mije, Perico Zakarías
tecnicos took 2/3
3) Hechicero, Rey Bucanero, Terrible b Ángel de Oro, Audaz, Stuka Jr.
Rudos won in straight falls cleanly.
4) Atlantis, Hijo de LA Park, Mistico b Cavernario, Ephesto, Mephisto
tecnicos took 2/3.
5) Sansón © b Templario [Rey del Inframundo]
Sanson took 2/3 to remain Rey del Inframundo champion.
6) Diamante Azul, LA Park, Michael Elgin b King Phoenix, Penta 0M, Último Guerrero [Relevos Increíbles]
Team Park took 1/3.
This show was really good and the show was also very frustrating. Diamante Azul was more of a problem than usual in the main event, but otherwise it was a really good trios match with everyone wrestling hard. Sanson/Templario built to a big third fall that worked out great, and both men came out of the match looking better. Microman stole the show, as usual, in the micros match and the other undercard matches were at least ok and usually good.
The big issue was the stream, as often happens on lucha libre iPPVs. The opening match did not have audio from the arena, and instead played an 8-second loop of drum music from a preview commercial. Someone decided to reboot the streaming computer, which would’ve been fine if they didn’t do it during the finish of the match. The sound was working in time for the second match to start, but the next hour of the video had paused and skip frames – their streaming computer couldn’t keep up with the stream, so parts of the action were just not shown. It eventually seemed to fix itself during the last half of the Rey del Inframundo, but that meant most of the show was not shown at the same quality as the free streams they run three times a week.
Internetv was not offering refunds. CMLL said nothing. All of that is typical. Bad, but typical. If you believe you deserve a refund, the best way to get is to ask from one thru Paypal instead if you used them. The story with lucha libre iPPVs remains the same: if it works at the start, it’ll probably be fine. If something goes wrong at the start, you’ll get no explanation of what’s going on, it’ll take forever to be fixed, and you’ll end up wishing you spent your time elsewhere. You can’t trust them to get it right, because you can’t trust they’ll ever actually watch their own show to see it went wrong. This was one of the best CMLL shows of the year, and I was too annoyed to enjoy it.
As of this morning, the version internetv has of this show remains the low quality one from last night. I wouldn’t buy it unless you’re desperate to see it. That’s also why I haven’t posted a recap yet – the matches are a lot easier to recommend if there’s a good version of them out there.
Just two post show promos, from Rey del Inframundo Sanson and underworld god Amotlamini.
The Leyenda de Plata tournament was announced as taking place on November 16th. The Mascara 2000 anniversary show, the last of the four shows honoring wrestlers CMLL planned to run this year, will take place on November 23rd. Leyenda de Plata usually takes two weeks, so it may also still be going on the 16th. Volador Jr. is the reigning champion; he and Soberano finished up their NJPW tour today with another loss.
CMLL’s running out of time for the Universal tournament, if they’re going to run it this year. It could be possible they want Dragon Lee in it, and are stalling it out in hopes he’ll be back to participate. Exatlon eliminated one more person last night, but there are still 18 people left. At some point, they’re probably going to speed up eliminations to make up for the weeks they skipped them, but there’s still no telling when Dragon Lee will be back.
The Crash has their anniversary show tonight in Tijuana, with Garza Jr. versus Bestia 666 in a hair match, a match that should be good despite having not much of a build. The card is loaded with both names and title matches. The heavyweight title match is brought back with Willie Mack, Mesias, Michael Elgin and noted heavyweight Barbaro Cavernario competiting for it. The tags titles have been taken away from Mexablood so the Lucha Brothers, Fatu & Mecha Wolf, Cuatrero & Sanson and Reno Scum can fight for them. There’s also a women’s title match, a junior title match, and a couple good random undercard matches. There’s always a chance THe Crash will stream it with no warning, but you shouldn’t plan your Saturday around it.
Tomorrrow early morning has a Dragon Gate show with Flamita versus Pac and Bandido versus Dragon Kid for their Open the Brave Gate championship. You can watch the show live starting around 2:30 am CT on their network service. (You can find the start time here for you.) I’ve never used their service, so other people would know better, but my understanding is the shows stay up for about a week before they’re taken down until they air months later on their TV broadcast show. (Kinda of like AAA.) Both those matches sound excellent.
There’s also a chance CMLL will stream Sunday’s Dia de Muertos show on YouTube. It’s not a card you probably need to go out of your way even if it’s free.
MDA Sunday has Blue Demon Jr. vs Rey Wagner, which I think is meant to be AAA’s top feud at the moment, a match they’re saving for a big occasion. It’s probably going to bad, but AAA might be able to determine if it’ll actually draw before doing it themselves.
Lineup
CMLL (TUE) 11/06/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Gemelo Pantera I, Gemelo Pantera II, Luminoso vs Guerrero de la Muerte, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
2) Astral, Oro Jr., Pantera Blanca Jr. vs Disturbio, Furia Roja, Sangre Azteca
3) Black Panther, Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr. vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Atlantis © vs Cavernario [MEX LH]
7th defense
5) Carístico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible
It’s odd to get the Tuesday GDL lineup and the Friday Arena Mexico one, but at least it makes it easy to notice they’re doing the same basic main event.
CMLL (FRI) 11/09/2018 Arena México
1) Arkalis & Príncipe Diamante vs El Coyote & Grako
2) Esfinge, Titán, Tritón vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Virus
3) Kráneo, Stuka Jr., Volcano vs Cuatrero, Hechicero, Sansón
4) Soberano Jr. vs Forastero [lightning]
5) Diamante Azul, Místico, Valiente vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero
6) Carístico, King Phoenix, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Rush, Terrible
King Phoenix will not actually be in this match.
King Phoenix is booked against Kenny Omega and has been for a while on this day. I find it hard to believe CMLL wasn’t already told that. They won’t move up Mistico because Rush in the match. I think it’ll be Valiente like the Tuesdya show, with a Niebla Roja type either in the semimain or taking Stuka’s spot in the tercera as he moves up.
Soberano returns against someone who looks like a great opponent for him. Opener might be good. Coyote & Grako need work but they’re still excited enough about wrestling CMLL to give an effort in an opener. The Titan/Triton/Esfinge team is back together for the first time since Titan’s injury.