CMLL Puebla: 2019-07-29

Recapped: 07/30/2019

Matches:

King Jaguar & Meyer beat Policeman & Sombra Diabólika
(12:46 [6:06, 3:38, 3:02], 1/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Marcela beat Metálica in a lightning match
(9:08, double underhook piledriver, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

El Malayo, El Perverso, Virus beat Eléctrico, Millennium, Rey Samuray
(11:56 [6:35, 5:21], 1/2, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Felino, Hijo del Villano III, Tiger beat Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Stigma
(15:36 [4:02, 5:18, 6:16], 2/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Stuka Jr. beat Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
(12:12 [2:36, 6:07, 3:29], 1/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Dragón Lee, La Bestia Del Ring, Rush beat Carístico, Euforia, Volador Jr. in a relevos increíbles match
(12:47 [2:58, 3:36, 6:13], 1/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

What happened:

Dragon Lee challenged Volador to a title match, as did Virus did to Electrico.

Thoughts:

It was strange to see Volador as the tecnico and Dragon Lee as the rudo in the main event, though that’s clearly what it had to be given their partners. Dragon Lee can play rudo fine, but Volador’s better at it and can control the pace a little better that way. They did a bit here to build to next week’s match, though not enough to give an idea of what it might be (and they might switch back to the other way when it happens.) Caristico seemed enthusiastic to face La Bestia del Ring, which is very weird, and there was more effort than usual for an Ingobernables Puebla main event.

Rating everything OK is dumb for many reasons, but also because it implies all the matches are about the same. They weren’t all the exact same matches this time. The Tiger led match was a hard-working match if just a bit too generic to stick out in any way. The Hijo del Infierno match had little going on, with the rudos doing just about nothing while in control, but had a loud crowd helping everything seem much bigger than it was.

The women’s match was the best of the three, though still had flaws that I couldn’t get past. This is a big advantage in hindsight, but the women’s lightning match feels like something not intended to set up a second match. Marcela & Metalica blow thru all the build up near falls in this match, with only the finishers left in a near ten-minute match. They also completely crush each other on the top rope moves, making the match feel a little brutal. There’s still too much getting in position for the next spot rather than fighting. Marcela totally whiffs on a springboard plancha bit to no reaction for Metalica, and Marcela’s brutal double knee drop gives her control for roughly ten seconds before it’s Metalica’s turn to do a spot. This did work for the live crowd and it was borderline match for me.

Virus and Electrico interactions actually seemed to be kept to a minimum in the trios setting up their title match. They were the key points of each fall but Virus wasn’t in a whole lot besides that, letting the locals take most of the match. Virus looked super impressive in his time, Electrico less so. The biggest reaction of the match was really for King Jaguar getting knocked out of the ring and seemingly knocking the tray out of vendor’s hands at the end of the first fall. CMLL never acknowledge it but the crowd sure got into the mess.