CMLL on Marca: 2019-05-24

Mistico watching those NJPW matches

Recapped: 05/24/2019

Matches:

Cancerbero & Raziel beat Magnus & Robin
(14:35 [5:16, 3:47, 5:32], 1/3, ok, 00:01:17)

Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Fuego beat Kawato San, Misterioso Jr., Virus
(12:20 [5:11, 4:02, 3:07], 2/3, ok, 00:22:46)

Amapola, Dalys, Metálica beat Estrellita, Kaho Kobayashi, Princesa Sugehit
(10:17 [3:26, 2:02, 4:49], 1/3, ok, 00:44:46)

Euforia, Gran Guerrero, Templario beat Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr., Valiente
(13:07 [4:19, 3:12, 5:36], 1/3, good, 01:03:34)

Cuatrero, Forastero, Máscara Año 2000 beat Felino, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero
(10:26 [4:57, 5:29], 1/2, ok, 01:26:46)

Místico beat Cavernario
(19:21, 2 DQ/3, great, 01:49:02)

  1. Cavernario headscissors armtrap cradle (2:01)
  2. DQ Cavernario mask pull (3:05)
  3. Místico La Mistica (14:15)

What happened:

almost final Virus lightning submission win?

Gran Guerrero & Euforia (but strangely not Templario!) ran in to attack the Dinamitas in the second fall when they were triple teaming Último Guerrero. NGD were briefly unmasked. UG & Mascara went back and forth on the microphone after the fight was broken up.

Kaho & Amapola talked up their hair match after their trios match.

Thoughts: 

The main event delivered CMLL’s dream Místico match. He looked spectacular, nothing went wrong, and he was the cheered victorious hero in the end. This was the match they’ve been looking for him since the moment CMLL gave him the Místico character. It only took seven years to get here but it happened! Cavernario continued his all-world run by helping Místico look as clean as possible in between getting in his own devastating offense. I’m not sure we needed everything we got here, including the big splash at the end, but it did work to pull in a crowd that was lukewarm all night during the build-up for Juicio Final. They finally got something that was big in itself for this show, with both men making it feel big time with their performance. I think there’s another level here – Místico showed that he had enough offense from his big trios matches to have a big single matches but didn’t really go beyond the expected – but if this is as good as it gets, it’s still pretty good.

Soberano tornillo

The build to Último Guerrero versus Mascara Año 2000 is 30 seconds of standing and trading punches, which Mascara loses most of the time. I’m not really sure what that match is going to be. The match here wasn’t much but a set up for the run-in, Felino & Negro Casas existing to be taken out and vanishing during the post-match.

Nothing fancy to the fourth match, but it was a rare chance to see the non-UG Guerrero show they can work as well as a team without the big boss. The direct Euforia/Soberano match ups were kept few but Gran Guerrero & Templario did well basing for the younger person in that family. Stuka & Valiente stuck to the usual but pulled it off efficiently until they were destroyed at the end. This overall came together as a lesser version of the super flying técnico teams against the Guerreros, and that kind of just was what it was.

Kawato travels by air

The women’s match was just Amapola & Kaho feuding. It was good enough to make me believe next week’s match might be good, but not enough to make this week’s match good. It’s hard to imagine it going long and it probably would be best at a one fall match, but they did enough that maybe they can figure something out. Estrellita still has unlimited rights to do topes whenever she wants.

Virus submitted two técnicos in about thirty seconds of the first fall of the segunda, which seemed like a set up to an interesting bit of Virus domination leading into next week’s big retirement match. And then everything else wasn’t interesting and Virus ended up taking all the técnico finishes in the third fall. This was a slightly less exciting than usual segunda in the end and I’m not sure why.

The opener started with a regular Cancerbero match. They ran thru their offense to no great reaction, not that the técnicos were that interacting with the crowd that much either. Magadan yelling after the finish had more energy than this match, which was mostly executed fine but missing any spark.

Estrellita tope

2019 indie catch up, part 6 of ∞

everyone in the pool

Volador Jr. © vs Bárbaro Cavernario for the NWA World Welterweight Championship
(CMLL GDL @ 03/05, 9:27, good, thecubsfan)

I think Volador’s problem is overexposure. Here I am seeking out more Volador matches to watch. Who’s the real villain? This is a lightning match in three falls form, with two finishes that never are one and selling near doom two minutes in to the third fall. You do get most of the dives, though Volador thankfully cuts Cavernario off from the most dangerous one. It is really just one more Volador match, which might be good and I’m jaded or might be only ok.

Silver King style dive

Galactar, Rico Rodríguez, Silver Tiger vs Imposible, Súper Nova, Yoruba
(Revolucion Lucha Libre @ 03/09, 14:04, good, Estrellas del Ring)

I think a Hector Godfrey one might be longer but there are days where it is not worth the time to go thru 6 different versions of the match to see which one is complete. (Maybe I should go back to not linking to more than one video per match from him?) All these micro-promotions with their interchangeable rosters may not do a lot for me but they were working great for this crowd, who totally got into the brawling parts of the match (and post-match.) Super Nova’s fire helped with that crowd reaction. Yoruba’s tope was really good. On the other hand, Imposible did so little in this match that stood out that I was sure it was Emperador Azteca in the match until I looked at the lineup. Doing two different chop standoffs in the last minutes kind of slowed the match down too much for me besides being repetitive. Still, this was better than the random collection of people would respect.

Yoruba got a bit of him

Lilith Dark vs Ludark Shaitan
(IWRG @ 03/10, 7:40, good, Internetv Deportes)

Didn’t think much of this early; Lilith messes up an early exchange enough for Ludark to cut her off, and there’s another awkward moment shortly after. This match also made me wonder if the chop exchange spot has become the Guerrero/Malenko roll up  sequence of a new generation. This turned with some hard hitting corner dropkicks, Lilith had a nice looking suplex and Ludark totally killed her in the end. Not the strongest recommendation but still a bit worthwhile.

i was people would stop switching camera angles during moves

Aero Boy & Súper Crazy vs Black Taurus (Indie) & Dragón Bane
(Lucha Libre Real @ 03/15, 8:05, good, Estrellas del Ring)

Fast paced if obviously edited match. Aeroboy & Taurus is a matchup I haven’t seen a lot of despite them both being around the indies for the last few years. They seemed to work well together, even if a thing here or there looked off. Super Crazy did not seem particularly thrilled with young Dragon Bane when Dragon Bane wanted to do something on the ramp. Crazy really didn’t do a lot besides lock the finish in, but he really locked the finish in.

Dragon Bane can do a cool headscissors

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Alas de Oro, Alas De Plata, Diamante
(FILLM @ 03/16, 11:55, good, Estrellas del Ring)

A solid NGD trios match, not really slipping from their CMLL effort levels. The técnicos didn’t do anything special for me but their timing was good on offense. Rafael el Maya looks like he got walloped by a foot for the ref bump here. Might have been a trick of the camera angle but it still was impressive. I’ve noticed an Estrellas del Ring pattern of cutting the first fall to 20 seconds in these matches. It is not a pleasant pattern.

this started bad but ended up properly painful

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Esfinge, Titán, Tritón for the Mexican National Trios Championship
(18:16 [3:51, 3:02, 11:23], 2/3, great, thecubsfan)

A very fun trios title match that builds in stages. It’s just a normal weekday match between these two teams for a while, then they go past that to do some of the usual title match bits, and then they find a bigger higher dramatic level in the last section. It doesn’t feel like anything special at first but has the time to get there, in a way to seen with most of these Guadalajara title matches. The técnicos get the necessary one big near fall moment, but that’s not the end of it, they keep attacking. The OneAtos team wearing matching gear – that I can’t even remember if they had before – was a nice touch to make it feel like a bigger match. The finish is pretty definitive on which team is on a different level, though they had to work to get that win. This might be the best Guadalajara match all year.

maybe the smoothest he’s pulled this off

Mistico/Cavernario headlines CMLL show tonight

Mistico is frequently treated as one of the most important tecnicos in CMLL. They make a point of having him enter after Volador and Caristico in matches. Mistico always is in a big spot at FantasticaMania and rarely loses singles matches. He just rarely has singles matches to lose. Tonight’s Arena Mexico singles match is his first three fall one since 2017. (He only had a lightning match in 2018.) It makes for a weird dichotomy where Mistico is treated like a tope guy in CMLL but rarely has those big match moments. Part of that might be due to the crowd reaction. The more vocal parts of CMLL’s fanbase have never warmed to the second Mistico, booing him loudly on every big show no matter how big or small his role. I wonder if another part of it is CMLL just not having the faith in Mistico to deliver in a big match after his motorcycle accident of 2014; he’s never been pushed the same way since coming back. This match seems like it more fell in place than anything – maybe it was Taven/Volador, and maybe it still would’ve been Volador/Cavernario given CMLL’s love of Volador’s match. Mistico got the chance he doesn’t usually get, and maybe he can do well enough to get more chances.

Mistico’s beaten Barbaro Cavernario in the two previous matches they’ve had, including one in Puebla in back in 2016. He probably will again tonight, though how they get there will be the interesting part. In another year where there’s still no obvious Anniversario match late into May, Mistico vs Cavernario for September is as reasonable as a dozen other options. Cavernario’s been asked about this week and said he’d be willing to do it, and Cavernario’s last year of wins would give some doubt to the finish. A surprise Cavernario win tonight would point in that direction as well.

The two big Juicio Final matches have some build up tonight. Ultimo Guerrero and Mascara 2000 meet in the semi-final. Guerrero teams Negro Casas & Felino while Mascara teams with his nephews Cuatrero and Forastero. Kaho and Amapola wrestle in the third match of the card, with Estrellita (first Friday night match this year), Princesa Sugehit, Dalys and Metalica involved.

The lesser two Juicio Final matches are also referenced. Gran Guerrero & Euforia challenge for the tag titles on that show next week. This week, they get one half of the tag champions, Valiente, in the fourth match. (Diamante Azul may have been planned to be in that match; he was said to be injured when he missed the Kaoz show Sunday in Monterrey; Azul hasn’t wrestled in CMLL itself in a month.) Valiente teams with Soberano & Stuka against Gran Guerrero, Euforia and Templario in the best looking undercard. One week before he puts his career on the line, Virus teams with Misterioso & Kawato against Blue Panther Jr., Fuego, and Black Panther. The one match with nothing going on is the opener, Magnus & Robin against Raziel & Cancerbero, though perhaps it’ll continue Magnus’ new Twitter character of complaining about crazy things indie wrestlers do somehow.

The show will stream on Marca & Facebook (no link yet.) It’ll probably stream on YouTube as well, though not in the US. I’ll likely stream it.

Lucha Central has a preview of the show.

Hype for Metalico & Virus doesn’t have anything new but does allow me to correct something from yesterday. The “hair” part of that stipulation match seems to have been dropped sometime between Sunday and Wednesday. It is now only a retirement match.

Blue Panther received a recognition of sports merit from the sports committee of Mexico City.

On this week’s Keepin’ It 100, Disco Inferno quizzed Konnan on the top AAA storyline.s Here is what Konnan came up with

  • Blue Demon vs Dr. Wagner Jr.
  • Lucha Brothers vs the Young Bucks
  • Jinete del Aire & La Parka vs Los Mercenarios
    • Konnan explains they’ve been feuding for three months following Los Mercenarios attacking La Parka’s brother and this will culminate at Verano de Escandalo
  • Nino Hamburguesa & Lady Maravilla & Big Mami
  • Faby Apache vs Hijo del Tirantes

Konnan also is high on the Killer Kross/Puma King feud and explained the in-ring segment from this past week was to set up Kross as his hired gun going against Pentagon when he returns in June. Kross vs Pentagon is a match Kross has talked about wanting for a long time. Konnan seemed to indicate Pentagon would be around more at that point. (Verano de Escandalo looks like the last AAA taping in June right now, so maybe Konnan meant July? Though, at this point, I’ll believe the Lucha Brothers will be in AAA for a non-AEW match when I see it.)

RIOT announced the format for the tournament on their 08/23-24 Reina en el Cerro de la Silla shows. It’ll be a 12 person tournament, with six first-round matches on Friday night, then semi-finals and finals on night two. The winner will become the first RIOT champion. Night two will also have non-tournament matches which won’t be determined until after the first round.

Pro Wrestling Revolution seems to indicate the mystery people on the CMLL Sunday Guadalajara show are their wrestlers. Perhaps under different names than usual?

LuchaWorld has the new Lucha Report.

Lineup

CMLL (TUE) 05/28/2019 Arena México
1) Bengala & Sonic vs Inquisidor & Yago
2) Águila Blanca, Magia Blanca, Oro Jr. vs Akuma, Dick Riviere, Nitro
3) Drone, Fuego, Star Jr. vs Sagrado, Tiger, Universo 2000 Jr.
4) Audaz, Blue Panther, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Hechicero, Pólvora, Vangellys
5) Atlantis, Flyer, Kráneo vs Felino, La Bestia Del Ring, Templario
6) Rush vs Ángel de Oro

That main event is first time ever. Templario working semi-mains is good for him but I’d rather see him and Vangellys swapped to increase a chance for a good match. Star Jr. & Sagrado follow up from their lightning match in a trios match. Dick Riviere and Aguila Blanca are the French wrestlers in for the weekend.

CMLL Martes: 2019-05-07

this is “Tuesday Arena Mexico Effort” in GIF form

Recapped: 05/09/2019

Matches:

Mercurio & Pierrothito beat Acero & Aéreo
(13:57 [4:40, 4:50, 4:27], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Pegasso, Stigma, Súper Astro Jr. beat Cancerbero, Metálico, Raziel
(13:53 [6:30, 2:48, 4:35], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Sagrado, Tiger, Universo 2000 Jr. beat Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Tritón
(9:56 [3:22, 2:28, 4:06], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Audaz beat Misterioso Jr. in a lightning match
(4:48, mask pull/foul DQ, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Flyer, Stuka Jr., Titán beat Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
(11:45 [4:16, 2:09, 5:20], 2/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Ángel de Oro, Carístico, Niebla Roja beat Euforia, La Bestia Del Ring, Terrible
(9:59 [2:58, 2:05, 4:56], 2/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

What happened:

Acero apparently hurt his right knee on his second fall winning moonsault of the opener. He’s not in immediate obvious pain, but disappeared from sight for a couple of minutes and then is loaded on a stretcher. He hasn’t appeared again since this match.

Thoughts:

half of what is great about this is it’s not another headscissors off the apron

The main event was like the rest of the show, an easy match to get the crowd to react while also not sticking out in anyone’s mind. Carístico probably doesn’t like the Tuesday payouts as much but is one of the better técnicos at working that sort of tourist-friendly match. The Chavez brothers seemed to be trying. I enjoyed the low effort double clothesline by Terrible and Bestia.

The Titan trios match was less than I would’ve hoped. There wasn’t much flying until the third fall, with the second fall being the surprise pin done here occasionally. The técnicos did come thru with a normal comeback run in the third fall but this was just a generic Tuesday match.

Misterioso wasn’t going to be a great base for Audaz, or at least wasn’t motivated to be much of one on this night. Audaz did his solo evasion and his dives, but trying to a fancy armdrag didn’t work. Misterioso didn’t take much of the match, but he also ended it rather early. Audaz is a great highlight wrestler but still hasn’t put together a great match together. It wasn’t going to happen in this matchup but it ought to be happening in CMLL sometime soon.

this is a good idea and they’ll have another decade of being in these matches to get it down better

lucha TV preview for weekend of May 24th, 2019

full size

If you need a wrestling show on Saturday night, AAA has you covered. The Queretaro show starts at 8, or about 1 hour after the Double or Nothing PPV proper begins.

I’ve talked myself into believing Mistico vs Cavernario on CMLL Marca is going to be bigger than it probably will be.

AAA on YouTube is six TV tapings behind, so it is probably about time for them to be airing just one week of tapings an episode.

CMLL Puebla: 2019-05-06

perhaps Misterioso’s best work this year

Recapped: 05/09/2019

Matches:

Espíritu Maligno & King Rocker beat Ares & Guerrero Espacial
(12:30 [6:51, 2:01, 3:38], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

El Malayo & Fuerza Chicana beat Asturiano & Millenium
(10:51 [6:03, 2:10, 2:38], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

King Jaguar, Star Jr., Tritón beat Disturbio, El Coyote, Nitro
(10:39 [4:33, 2:01, 4:05], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Esfinge, Kráneo, Volcano beat Hechicero, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado
(13:25 [3:15, 3:10, 7:00], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero beat Atlantis, Místico, Soberano Jr.
(11:30 [6:09, 1:54, 3:27],
1/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Volador Jr. beat Carístico
(14:55, 1/3, good, VideosOficialesCMLL)

  1. Volador inside cradle (2:45)

  2. Místico superkick (2:17)

  3. Volador mask pull small package (9:53)

What happened:

Volador attacked Místico before the start of the match and manipulated referee Edgar often. Volador completely strips Carístico of his mask in the second fall but gets away with it. He does it again for the pinfall in the third.

Thoughts:

I guess it worked!

Carístico was fired up and showed it thru a lot of dives in the main event. Volador was also present. That’s probably too harsh, Volador did a bit too, but this was Carístico working a closer to max effort than Volador. Volador did rudo bits, early and late, but never felt really into the match despite the dramatic near falls late. The Destroyer spot was cool. I’m probably downgrading it based on what I feel like it could be rather than what it actually is; the ceiling should be much higher but this was still better than any other match on this show.

The semimain was an alright match. They seemed to do stick more to mat work in the first fall, the ending came very quick in the third fall, Soberano looked like the best guy on this team. It didn’t interest me a whole lot.