2018 CMLL on NJPW World (second half)

This is part 2 of this feature on Sunday CMLL matches deep in the NJPW World archives. Apparently, I have a part 3 coming now! This was all written up around 01/14.

Michael Elgin, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
(CMLL @ Arena México on 09/30, 8:31, ok,NJPW)

NGD don’t get to wrestle outside heavyweights that much, so this stuck out as a chance to see how that might work. It doesn’t really work out that way. Elgin is the only one putting in a lot of effort. NGD and Elgin do not smoothly mesh here. This is a standard B-show main event, a few high spots and not much more.

Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Valiente vs Cavernario, Rey Bucanero, Terrible
(CMLL @ Arena México on 10/28, 9:35, ok,NJPW)

This is the start of the Niebla Roja/Rey Bucanero issue. It feels no different than most CMLL B-show insta-feuds, with Bucanero cheapshotting Niebla Roja for no reason and ducking a fair fight most of the match. Bucanero is doing a little more here than usual but there’s no special connection. Vaeitne’s tope on Cavernario at the end is pretty strong.

Flyer vs Dragón Rojo Jr. in a lightning match
(CMLL @ Arena México on 11/04, 6:02, ok,NJPW)

Dragon Rojo loses Flyer on a spot early, angrily stomping him with then spot doesn’t work, and this match feels like it’s going sideways quick. It does improve from there, especially with Dragon Rojo nifty pulling thru a roll thru spot, but these two guys have enough individual shakiness that doesn’t get solved by putting them together. Flyer hesitates on the Asai moonsault a lot, to the point where it would definitely be a personal twist on a regular move if it made any sense. They have a decent layout on a match, it just doesn’t come together smoothly. It could’ve been worse, all considering.

Carístico, King Phoenix, Penta 0M vs Ciber, Gilbert el Boricua, The Chris in a relevos increíbles match
(CMLL @ Arena México on 11/18, 13:59, good,NJPW)

Maybe the best CL4N/Gilbert match in CMLL in 2018? They all had small moments where things didn’t look great, but they were putting in a lot of effort and going things we didn’t see from the other matches. The Chris looked the best, mixing it up with Fenix will and pulling out a rolling dropkick of all things. Gilbert seems to be in the least of anyone, leaving me wishing they did more with him and Fenix for old times’ sake. This was not Fenix and Penta top performance but they showed enough that first-time viewers – which appeared to be most of the people commentating this match – came away impressed. Easy fun match that would be fondly considered if it was streamed on a Friday and not behind the paywall of another promotion’s subscription site.

Rush & Terrible © vs Diamante Azul & Valiente for the CMLL World Tag Team Championship
(CMLL @ Arena México on 11/18, 16:15, ok,NJPW)

They went thru the usual bits of a big match and the effort was there, but there wasn’t enough to this match to overcome my dislike for one of the wrestlers. Diamante Azul had an expensive mask for his big match and not really the performance to match. He missed the very stationary target on his big dive and his backbreakers weren’t any better. I wish I could be so impressed by him Azul being big as the people who promote him because it is not fun to see him as a bad wrestler makes matches worse just because he’s big. This felt like they wanted to give Diamante Azul a world title but don’t have a lot of confidence in him being on his own. They still tried to make it his big moment and he still struggled.

Niebla Roja vs Rey Bucanero, hair vs hair
(CMLL @ Arena México on 11/18, 21:16, ok,NJPW)

So, is the problem here is that this is a match built around Rey Bucanero getting beat up a lot and he can’t really have a good match that way in 2018, or is the problem that they’re doing that style of match in the first place. This would’ve been a very exciting 2004 Rey Bucaneo match that’s a struggle at times and never settles into a story beyond “here are some moves.” Like all recent Rey Bucanero big matches, he’s willing to try and it’s just his inability to execute and their unwillingness to take a different track that limits how interesting it came to be. If you want to see a similar match to what other people have done, just in a less exciting fashion, then this will still work for you. It worked for the fans, who seemed very into the drama of what seemed like an obvious result. Niebla Roja is more popular than it seems or Bucanero has a lot of credibility to them. Myself, I can’t tell you it’s really worth your time to watch this match, though at least it’s not nearly as long as the video file suggested. They give the haircut plenty of time.

Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr., Tritón vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Universo 2000 Jr.
(CMLL @ Arena México on 12/02, 12:15, below average, NJPW)

I have no idea why they decided to air this show. There’s nothing much on it. The Super Astro/Espiritu Negro lightning match is not shown but might be the only promising match. This match did remind me there was a point where Sagrado cared and was good. I think that person went away sometime in 2108. A relatable situation. The lowlight of this match is Universo 2000 apparently rolling out the wrong side of the ring, so Esfinge sets up for a corner moonsault to the floor, than just stands there posing when there’s no one in the zipcode. CMLL cameras help out not all by focusing on him, and never showing Triton dive on the other side of the ring. It could not be more awkward. Universo and Esfinge fail at a takedown a moment later. This is a bad night.