Volador Jr. vs Negro Casas
(CMLL @ 02/23, great, HVSLuchaLibre)
Negro Casas isn’t going to take top rope headscissors in 2020 (and why should he), so a Volador/Casas match can’t be Volador running through his usual big match. That’s definitely for the best. This becomes something where it is instead Negro Casas throwing all he can at Volador, and Volador just barely surviving. Casas does a great job of working over Volador’s leg early on. Volador sells it a lot more and a lot longer than expected; it becomes a handy reason not to do the usual Volador match while still flying a bit. Casas throws all the new big moves he’s adapted in the third fall, goes back to kicks to the head, but the story stays set that he just doesn’t have enough to beat Volador these days. Casas’ performance shows he actually can go with Volador even if that’s not the message of the match. There’s little Casas touches too, like pulling away the doctor checking on Volador’s knee to check Casas’ own back instead. This is great and different from the matches these two have with others.
Titán vs Templario in a lightning match
(CMLL @ 02/16, 10:00, great, HVSLuchaLibre)
This is the superior of the two matches. The action is not drastically different, but it slightly better in this match. It also just flows a lot better, with Templario going on a big run to set up Titan getting a comeback and less straight back and forth. This was one where being limited to ten minutes meant to have to rush through things to get to everything, and there’s room to improve in a full match. Titan is a nutcase for doing taking the crazy bump at the draw that didn’t affect the finish at all. That was enough for me to rate it higher, though just so. It is possible they mistimed something – that they did the double stomp sequence twice and it seems to be because they didn’t get it right the first time.
Death Metal vs Black Dragón, hair vs hair
(IWRG @ 03/05, 17:08, good, Estrellas del Ring)
This is strong and violent work, but it’s also the CMLL style move turning taking the big match. They’re not going to bleed like this in Arena Mexico, but there’s similar no sense of momentum or moves meaning anything past the kickout they setup. Death Metal is OK, Black Dragon seemed like a guy IWRG was excited as a new prospect a few years ago and hasn’t ever really gotten better. This seems like a good match for them but not a standout one.
Drone vs Hechicero in a lightning match
(CMLL @ 02/09, 7:03, good, HVSLuchaLibre)
The lightning match may have been enjoyable more by CMLL standards, but it was good for throwing everything at the wall. It’s still tough to get a read if Drone is just good at getting in a few exciting spots in a lightning match or would actually be impressive if fully unleashed now. He pretty much stuck to these trios spots, but they worked him in well. Hechicero didn’t get to go deep on settings up yet he did make his big stuff come off big. Hechicero’s springboard slip did hurt the flow of the match and he may want to limit the times he pulls down those straps nowadays.
Villano III Jr. vs Aéreo, mask vs mask
(AAA non-televised @ 03/01, 49:23, excellent +LuchaTV)
Villano III Jr. & Aereo pulled off the drama of a big-time mask match. It wasn’t without its flaws but the emotion of the moment makes it an easy pick for the first exceptional match of 2020. It’s close to an hour, including the post-match, and the length may put over some people. I was worried it was going to lose the crowd, yet they were into every near fall like it was life or death down the stretch. The wrestling held together too despite that length; Aereo looked more robotic early in the match than he did in the dying moments. Villano III was willing to destroy himself down to the last, and it’s Aereo’s dive to doom which really ended things. It definitely helped the finish play out better than it read; Escorpion cheats Aereo but it’s Aereo’s own fault for putting himself in that spot. The sound of the horrified crowd, who didn’t see the match ending coming at all at that moment, almost makes it worth it.
The second fall injury spot wasn’t really worth it, setting up nothing in particular. It also was followed by another long pause for obvious blading (maybe not obvious enough for the medics, who seemed to be checking on them as if they really were hurt.) The match struggled to pick up until into the third fall but had plenty of time to do it. The first fall technical wrestling was unexpectedly well done. It was a nice nod to the past to have Aereo win with an Atlantida and helpfully set up the near ending later on with the same move even for people who didn’t get it.
Villano III Jr. & Aereo fits along with Vengador & Kastigador from last year. Both were local mask matches with the crowd heavily invested into the outcome. This one hung together a little better and had better storytelling, but both had the level of emotion that’s rare outside of an epic mask match.
El Hijo Del Santo & Octagón vs Dr. Cerebro & Fuerza Guerrera
(LLB/GAW @ 02/02, 16:04, good, mluchatv)
I watched the +Lucha version but you’re best looking for one of the other uploads. The two cameras +LuchaTV use come out of sync late in the match. The match itself is enjoyable to see some classic Santo in 2020. He and Cerebro still work well together; if they’re really doing the apuesta rematch teased, it’s going to be must see. Santo is not the guy he was even last decade but there does still seem to be something left in the tank. (Not so much for Octagon. Not really for Fuerza either.)
