CMLL 12/18 – #162

So. I wanted to started a thread about this week’s CMLL show, but I never could quite find time to finish the recap

(Trying to work through a dungeon on FF2 was more more stress relieving in a busy week than recapping slaps, too.)

Instead, I just watched the rest of the show and took notes while I watched. Did anyone else watch?

Nitro, Dr. X, Sangre Azteca vs Neutron, Virus, Tony Rivera

I actually finished the recap on this one. I was pleasantly surprised on how much time they showed – used to these being two minute lookins. I liked Nitro the best here, though probably would’ve apperiated Sangre more had we gotten to see the finish frog splash live. Tony and Dr. X looked good, but also had a really obvious looking blown spot

Zumbido, Misterioso Sr., Misterioso Jr. vs Olimpico, Okumura, Mr. Mexico

Misterioso is my boy, because he knows I’M NOT WITH THEM. He was pretty cool at the Va Voom shows. I think he may only have one outfit, because he wore the same one here he did for both of those shows.

First fall was more lucha mat work than we usually get on the show, and I’m a fan of that. I appreciated Misterioso and Olimpico doing it a little more aggressively than usual, and going jaw to jaw instead of the standoff.

I expected second fall to quickly end up in a rudo beatdown, so it was a neat switch of pace to see more of a post-comeback “tecnico running thru all the rudos” stage. Okumura obviously has learned from his time here, because he did a fine faked low blow. Beatdown was okay. Acceptable teamwork from a trio I don’t believe teams much, if ever. The crotch on the post spot is getting a little overdone, but it was more hurt by the camera work total exposing Zumbido stopping himself well short. The pinfall set up on Misterioso Sr. looked a bit missed up – the rudos didn’t know if Okumura was going to do at first, and then Misterioso Sr. though he wasn’t getting pinned. Mr. Mexico’s powerbomb on Misterioso Jr. looked especially rough. Good that they got the Mr. Mexico pose pin in. Bad that Zumbido was so unconcerned about his dead teammates, he talked to the announcers. He really need to be turned back.

Third fall beatdown makes me think they needed a flashier rudo on this team. I think all three guys are good guys as solid members of groups, but maybe not good together. Okumura has some good strikes. Misterioso Jr. torture rack neckbreaker on Mr. Mexico looked similar out of control as the powerbomb. They were obviously showcasing him in the ring, and I wish we got better shots of that than going to the outside stuff. Zumbido’s botched tope was scary, one of those ones where you’re just thankful it only went that bad. (If you didn’t see it, he clipped the middle rope with his knee on his way thru the ropes. He luckily stayed horizontal, but he got no forward momentum as a result and flopped to the floor, too short for Okumura to catch; Okumura still managed to get a boot upside the head trying. Shot of him later showed Zumbido busted up from a cut on his head) They were still trying move Okumura back up here, so the rollup finish off Misterioso Sr. works, though they’re really established him as a non-factor in his two appearances this year.

Capos vs Blue Demon Jr/Pierroth/Hijo de Pierroth was nice in Apolo Dantes got on TV for the first time in a long time. And Universo wears the CMLL Heavyweight Championship to the ring. And the surprise Blue Demon Jr. was a neat follow up to last week. But he’s hanging out with the wrong crew. I just have no interest in anything Pierroth related, and little interest in anything Capo related. I got he impression that El Hijo del Pierroth might be entertaining and I like Blue Demon, and I couldn’t find a way to give this much attention. Hate the excessive violence DQ, hate that Demon didn’t care Pierroth unnecessarily cost the team the fall.

The piledriver on Demon was awesome, even though I don’t understand how a DQ wasn’t ruled. Maybe it was a NO DQ and I forget? Maybe Universo’s speech explained it was no DQ?

Stellar Moments: Super Comando and Ramstein’s double team was pretty neat.

Terrible, Hector Garza, Tarzan Boy vs Negro Casas, Shocker, Dr. Wagner

The ongoing process of Terrible trying to figure out who he’s supposed to be is always fun. I think he’d be very promising in an US-style lucha promotion, where he could be more of a monster heel character. CMLL seems to prefer dirty cheating rudos exclusively, which is great for guys like Garza but doesn’t quite fit Terrible; Vampiro’s the only one I can think of who’s booked like a monster.

I wish they had shown more of the TV build to Dr. Wagner’s turn; it’s kinda sudden and out of nowhere for those who are just watching TV, because they only got the little bit about his father’s death, and hints of it during the cibernetico. They at least needed a vignette explaining it, and there should’ve been time on a two hour show. His entrance is neato, though.

Kinda weird week when we get four matches and none start with a beatdown. Which is fine with me. You want to build to Wagner getting in the match for the first time. Crowd seemed extra into this match – they came off as loud on the broadcast, and TV apparently ratchets them down a few decibels.

I can’t believe TNA has Garza
– as a face
– as a guy who doesn’t do mat work

Talk about completely missing the boat. It’s to the point that when I figured out they were building to a Nash/Hall vs Garza/Piper match, I skipped pass thinking “why god why” and tried to figure a way for him to turn heel and it make sense. Or make sense in the TNA way.

I’m not sure what was greater; Garza’s first fall finishing moonsault, or the prayer after the pinfall.

I thought it was good how they teased Wagner might go either way, even into the third fall. Negro’s really got the reversal into the reverse DDT looking good. I don’t like the corner dropkick in the face, because it seems so dangerous for something that means nothing – but maybe that’s the rare case of CMLL camera work actually making something look more brutal than it was. The POSE! was funny. Garza going down his knees to take on Monito while laughing at him, and then selling the punches as huge was fun. Wagner beating Terrible made sense given the (non verbalized) set up, though it was kinda surprising how they had him kickout of Garza’s powerbomb and Tarzan’s nominal finisher. I guess the low blow is a welcome to the tecnicos side – though not much of one, with them leaving and all. They need to explain this all more next week – there’s a match from Coliseo scheduled that could help.

Even with the Capos/Pierroth stuff (which probably wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t numb to it), this was one of the better shows of the year. Opener and second match were good, and the main event was cruising at an easy keeper pace till the cop out finish. Pretty satisfactory.