CMLL Arena Mexico: 2016-05-24

Recapped: 05/24/2016

What happened: Stuka defeated Ultimo Guerrero to earn a title match next week. The Boricuas somewhat didn’t get along, but still won without a problem. Rey Cometa beat Cavernario again.

What was good: I liked the third match, and the main event was good for the storytelling. Cometa/Cavernario was disappointing.

Where can I watch it: It’s on CMLL’s channel.

Match 1: Bengala & Leono vs Cholo & Espanto Jr.
Arena México, 05/24/2016

1. rudos
   • Espanto Jr. powerbomb Leono (6:16)
   • Cholo step over armbar Bengala (6:54)
2. tecnicos
   • Triangular del Bengala (3:55)
   • Leono half crab leg crank Cholo (4:27)
3. rudos
   • Espanto Jr. top rope splash Leono (3:26)
   • Cholo Driver on Bengala (4:34)

Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 15:55

Review: [below average] CMLL is not a big believer in starting shows off with a hot match, and this was not a hot match. Everyone looked vaguely professional but this was a boring and forgettable match that went longer than it needed to and a had a slow pace. Espanto had fun interacting with people at ringside, that’s was nice for him

Match 2: Eléctrico, Fantasy, Acero vs Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pierrothito
Arena México, 05/24/2016

1. rudos
   • Acero suastica Pequeño Nitro (4:27)
   • Pierrothito half crab Fantasy (5:12)
   • Pequeño Olímpico flapjack Eléctrico (5:40)
2. técnicos
   • Fantasy overhead half crab Pequeño Olímpico (3:13)
   • Eléctrico armbar Pequeño Nitro (3:31)
3. técnicos
   • Fantasy guillotine moonsault Pequeño Nitro (4:50)
   • Eléctrico springboard elbow drop Pierrothito (5:24)

Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 14:35
Notes: Acero replaced Stukita.

Review: [ok] solid if mostly boring match where no one stood out and Stukita was missed. Second fall comeback felt like everyone wasn’t sure where to be, which would make some sense if Acero was supposed to be part of it. (Acero was on the floor hurt during that moment, but came back in to start the third fall.) There wasn’t any explanation for the noticeable botch in the third fall with Fantasy.

Match 3: Esfinge, Pegasso, Stigma vs Disturbio, Puma, Tiger
Arena México, 05/24/2016

1. rudos
   • Disturbio el pulpo Esfinge (5:16)
2. técnicos
   • Pegasso modified Skayde Special Tiger (3:50)
3. rudos
   • Puma double stomp Stigma. (4:05)
   • Puma/Tiger Mouse Trap Pegasso (4:30

Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 13:36

Review: [good] good action packed trios match, only harmed for me by the feed falling into low quality for the entire match. Puma & Tiger are really good, and Disturbio fits in with them as a team, and as an underrated guy. His selling and his timing are both really good. Stigma and Esfinge had their iffy moments, but there were enough explosive sequences to cover them up. These rudo are wasted in this match but they made the most of it.

Match 4: Rey Cometa vs Cavernario in a lightning match
Arena México, 05/24/2016

Winner: Rey Cometa (Canadian Destroyer)
Match Time: 8:01
Notes: Cavernario attacked Cometa as he was entering.

Review: [ok] disappointing; Cometa seemed to collapse while taking a corner clothesline/bulldog out spot, stalled for a while on the outside, and didn’t do a lot when he got in. Cavernario had to carry most of it himself, which provided some action but not as much as you’d expect. Cometa still got it together enough to win the match, but is one of their least memorable encounters.

Match 5: Fuego, Tritón, Valiente vs Misterioso Jr., Pierroth, Sagrado
Arena México, 05/24/2016

1. rudos
   • Sagrado powerbomb Triton (1:22)
   • Misterioso Gori Special Vailente (1:41)
2. técnicos
   • Valiente arm trap half crab Pierroth (2:32)
3. rudos
   • Pierroth middle rope senton Valiente (4:38)

Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 8:51
Notes: Pierroth didn’t get along with his teammates slightly, though it never really harmed him.

Review: [ok] essentially yet another Comando Boricua match, but with the comedy they had been doing stripped out of it now that they’re not friends. This is a match the rudos should’ve absolutely lost, but won because CMLL doesn’t really pay attention to these shows. Tecnicos tried to add some life to it but this was another skippable match.

Match 6: Ángel de Oro, Atlantis, Stuka Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero
Arena México, 05/24/2016

1. técnicos
   • Atlantida on Gran Guerrero (3:27)
   • Angel de Oro La Mecedora Niebla Roja (3:30)
2. técnicos
   • Stuka torpedo splash Ultimo Guerrero (7:10)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 10:40
Notes: Tecnicos rushed the Guerreros, but got the worst of it to start.

Review: [good] This wasn’t an extraordinary action match but it told the story well. Ultimo Guerrero being a classic rudo, messing with Stuka but refusing to get in the ring to him. Stuka showed great fire, UG was dismissive of his opponent. The actually match could’ve gone a lot smoother – I thought it might be done for when UG didn’t catch Stuka at all on the dive to the floor, but he seemed to recover well. Everyone else was well into the background and seemed to do ok but didn’t make much of an impression.