CMLL Marca: 2018-12-21

Recapped: 12/21/2018

Matches:

Cancerbero & Raziel beat Robin & Star Jr.
(13:19 [5:32, 3:41, 4:06], 1/3, ok, 00:01:05)

Kawato San, Okumura, Virus beat Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Drone
(11:47 [4:56, 1:25, 5:26], 1/3, ok, 00:22:24)

Esfinge, Titán, Tritón beat Felino, Luciferno, Pólvora
(14:08 [5:13, 3:29, 5:26], 2/3, ok, 00:44:20)

Ángel de Oro beat Mephisto in a lightning match
(6:57, small package, ok, 01:09:15)

Euforia, Rey Bucanero, Terrible beat Kráneo, Stuka Jr., Valiente
(12:16 [5:11, 1:50, 5:15], 1/3, ok, 01:21:40)

Carístico, Diamante Azul, Volador Jr. beat Cavernario, Penta 0M, Último Guerrero
(9:50 [5:21, 4:29], 1/2 DQ, ok, 01:46:43)

What happened:

Penta fouled Carístico to end the main event. Post match challenges led to a non-title Penta/Caristico match for next week.

Thoughts:

The main event had some energy because the Penta/Caristico feud gave them something to work around, though that was still not as hot as it had once been. Caristico & Penta also weren’t as smooth together as they were in previous matches. The match had the chaotic finish CMLL matches are good for, but the rest of it was not special.

Like all the other undercard matches, the semi-main was an easy match with crowd pleasing spots done in similar fashion to many other matches seen regularly. It worked for them, it was not something a regular viewer would care all that much about. Even Kraneo’s great Barney outfit wasn’t as much new as having hung out in the closet for a long time. It was fine.

The lightning match was a standard Angel de Oro showcase, helped by his willingness to break out all his big dives. The small package reversal on the finish didn’t look good, but I appreciate Angel de Oro changing up his routine even slightly. I’m going to miss Mephisto when he’s gone but I’m not really looking forward to his matches right now.

I didn’t like the tercera as much as other outings with the técnicos. They didn’t do a whole lot before the third fall, and these aren’t rudos who are going to make a match interesting on their own. No one was almost killed this week except my attention.

The second match was decent. Kawato looked better here, though his timing was off on his double team with Okumura. Black Panther feuded with Kawato a little bit, but his big brother had a bigger presence in the match until getting pinned at the end. Drone is still willing to throw everything into dives.

Raziel & Cancerbero are back to having forgettable opener matches. Robin continues to try a few things. Star Jr. really didn’t; he seemed to be the ascension starting the year with FantasticaMania and now is just another guy on these shows. He seems a casualty of CMLL not giving enough people opportunities.