Announcers discuss. There's a lot of them, so a lot of discussion. Karla is looking colorful.
Match 1: Dalys la Caribeña, Dark Angel, Marcela vs Amapola, Mima Shimoda, Princesa Blanca
Arena Mexico, 04/05/2011
rudas
Winner: técnicas (2-1)
Match Time: 7:37
Rating: above average
Notes: joined in ring. Terror Chino is referee.
1: Match beings with Mima and Dalis on the mat, and Dalis top getting untied from around her neck when escaping a headscissors. She gamely keeps going (and the outfit is so tight that is doesn't move an inch), but referee eventually calls time to for he to get it back on. Fixing it takes a bit longer, longer than Mima and Dalys end up back in. Thing progress to a Marcela run of offense on both ruda champions, completely dominant. Amapola pulls Dark Angel in, and it goes no better for her. Dark Angel tricks Amapola into dropkicking Mima off the apron, then lands the tope on the Japanese ruda. Técnicos rush in, just to immediately get beat. Oops!
2: Beatdown, all setting up each other for moves. Dalys gently falls on the middle rope, and gets destroyed by Amapola's running sit. On the second cycle thru, rudas send Marcela and Dark Angel to the corner, but they move when Amapola charges, and Amapola spears the post. Plancha by Dalis, and the other técnicas land their finishes for the fall. Boos.
3: Teams still sorting themselves after the whistle. Mima takes a double underhook backbreaker and a bridging pin from Marcela, but manages to kick out. Exchange led to Dalys and Marcela in and exchanging moves and kicks outs. Dark Angel breaks up one to roll up Amapola, and Blanca does the same a few moves later. They're going full speed here. Angel sends Blanca out and goes for her plancha again, but Amapola trips her off. Amapola scoops up Dark Angel, but Dark Angel reverses it to a headscissors cradle and the técnicas hold off the other rudas for the surprise 3.
Match 2: Pierrothito vs Astral for the Mexican National Lightweight Championship
Arena Mexico, 04/05/2011
Pierrothito mecedora (2:30)
Winner: Pierrothito
Match Time: 8:52
Rating: good, if abbreviated
Notes: Joined just as the prematch instructions are concluding. Maya is referee.
1: Rowdy fan section has a huge Astral banner! That seems unlikely. These two lockup and start going, Pierrothito getting Astral's back for a sleeper on the mat, but Astral standing up and thrown Pierrothito off, then bridging while d holding the legs for a pin attempt. That doesn't work, neither does Pierrothito’s try. Bucanero is promoting upcoming lineups. Astral gets in a neat jumping snap mare counter, and manages to counter Pierrothito's usual quick drop toe with one of his own (warding off the bridging inverted facelock), but misses a clothesline and gets sucked into one Pierrothito armdrag. Pierrothito holds onto the arm, and wraps Astral swiftly into a mecedora variation. Done with ease, really, and spectacularly so.
2: Pierrothito drops Astral with a wheel kick right off the bat, but Astral kicks off. Crowd gets into Pierrothito's strong chest slap. Over the shoulder lift, drop into a spinning faceslam, and Astral kicks out again. Astral finally gets in an armdrag, cartwheeling directly into a dropkick to the head in a neat spot. (Boos, of course.) Springboard headscissors sends Pierrothito to the ropes. Astral points to the crowd again, and runs past Pierrothito to roll to the ropes. Pierrothito swings at Astral, and Astral decides it's easier to backflip to the floor than to duck. Astral celebrates his personal silliness, and Pierrothito does the Silver King dive on to him. That'll learn you! I should mention that Bengala is Astral's second, since he just stepped in front of the camera. Pierrothito in first, Astral kicks him down as he charges, springboards to the top rope, turns around on the top rope, and backflips in. This man loves backflipping to his feet, if only there was a way to use that for some offense. Pierrothito off the ropes, he tries a casadora, but Astral drops him face first. Astral off the rope – inverted bridging chinlock! Pierrothito rapidly gives up to his own trademark submission.
3: Pierrothito is in charge to start, slapping Astral in the corner. Backing up gives Astral a movement to get free, and Pierrothito's charge misses. Astral slaps Pierrothito back, but he's clearly distracted by the boos. Corner whip, Pierrothito blocks, Astral kicks him, whip, Astral charges, Pierrothito moves and Astral hangs himself on the top rope. Pierrothito kicks him to the floor, then heads out to the ramp. Rudo waits two thirds of the way up, waiting, running, and Pierrothito tope con giro off the ramp doesn't really make I tall the way there – Pierrothito's body hits Astral, but his head and neck seem to land on the floor first. Pierrothito grabs his neck and is hurting, but doesn’t seem to be injured. Replay of Pierrothito wiping himself out. Looks like he rolled enough to protect himself, but it was not fun. Pierrothito is in after replays, Astral pulling himself up. Astral in, off the ropes, lifted on Pierrothito’s shoulders and dropped for a face first powerbomb. Pierrothito elbow drop and taunt. Which ropes is he going to run off? To the left, to the right, and back – but Astral takes him down with a dropkick to the knee. (Everything Astral does is met with furious boos.) Figure four headscissors, but Pierrothito shoves him off. Mortiz, Pierrothito's second, is concerned. Obvious clip, jumping to Astral dropping Pierrothito with a fisherman's suplex for two. Astral really has to use other people’s popular holds here, no one really knows what he does, that's going to make this tough. Astral off tossed up by Pierrothito and dropped in a sit down powerbomb. One two NO. Fans thought that might be it. Both guys slow up – did we get another edit here? Astral off the ropes, Pierrothito’s catches and flips him up in a Gori Stretch. While Astral give? No, he breaks, armdrags Pierrothito, ties up the legs, strikes a double bicep pose (mega boos) and adds on abdominal stretch. Legs aren't really hooked at all, and Pierrothito frees himself, getting behind Astral for a side cradle in one motion one two three. That was sudden, but Pierrothito just out smarted the challenger.
Crowd approves of Pierrothito winning
Match 3: Delta, Hijo del Fantasma ©, Metro vs Euforia ©, Raziel, Vangelis
Arena Mexico, 04/05/2011
técnicos
Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 13:54
Rating: OK
Notes: No entrances. Referee is Terror Chino, I think.
1: Opening pairs are Vangelis/Metro, Delta/Raziel and Fantasma/Euforia. The horns on Delta's mask are becoming more pronounced lately. Fantasma is wearing a faded yellow version of his normal outfit. He likes colors. Delta gives Raziel some lousy headscissors, and Raziel running from the ring and runs halfway up the grandstand. I can't blame him from fleeing from Delta. Fantasma's shake is too much to be shown on C3, or the camera angles have me believing that. Fantasma tope on Euforia, Other técnicos finish with submissions.
2: Delta blows a wheelbarrow back flip escape spot. It was a tough spot, but he still got it wrong. Cartwheel over the ropes headscissors works better. Metro including Fantasma eating the giant armdrag, and Raziel taking the monkey flip and the running corner senton. Fantasma's run doesn't last – he goes spilling out to the ramp when Euforia pulls down the middle rope, and Vangelis immediately this his thru the ropes spear to start the beatdown. Delta tied in the ropes for a Vangelis dropkick. Metro takes a inverted powerslam from Vangelis. I did not expect this match to feature Vangelis. Double suplex on Fantasma by the Cancerberos, Vangelis top rope splash, two man campana on him, and I bet he's the captain.
3: Beatdown. Nice double armbar/leg pick on Metro to set up a Vangelis dropkick. Just brawling from there for a while. Metro starts the comeback quickly by ducking a double chop. Vangelis and Euforia boot him out, Delta planchas them both, they miss a double clothesline, Delta walks up the corner and moonsaults Raziel. Fantasma dropkick Euforia, Vangelis whips him and charges, Fantasma moves and Vangelis spears the post. Metro is still getting in position, but eventually lands his ramp tope con giro. Fantasma and Euforia left, time for Fantasma to take off the shirt. Euforia flips Fantasma to the apron, but Fantasma swing kicks him from there and runs up the ramp. Ghost Lariat connects, one two three.
Fantasma celebrates by doing the John Cena salute. As usual.
Match 4: Valiente vs Pólvora for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship
Arena Mexico, 04/05/2011
Super Pólvora Driver (4:46)
Valiente seated armbar (2:59)
Valiente layout double knee gutbuster (12:11)
Winner: Valiente (2-1)
Match Time: 19:56
Rating: good
Notes: Pólvora is 76 kg, Valiente is 78 kg, right at the limit. Fantasma is Valiente's second, and Pólvora has Inquisidor (which finally gave away his previous identity.) Referee is Terror Chino.
1: Handshake to start. Lockup, Pólvora fights for and gets a waistlock. Valiente into a wristlock. Pólvora takes Valiente down and grabs a leg, but Valiente escapes, traps a leg, and puts a toe hold on the other one. Pólvora out into a headlock. Crowd behind Valiente. Pólvora rolls Valiente onto the mat and puts on an elbow lock. Valiente frees himself with a headscissors submission. Both back up their feet, Valiente rolls with an arm and a leg, and puts on a half crab. Pólvora escapes to a toe hold, Valiente counts with a hammerlock. Back up, but Valiente spins Pólvora to the mat, covers, one two no. Up and circling. Pólvora distracted by the crowd. Pólvora has a fan section! Valiente trips up Pólvora and ties his legs around him. Pólvora quickly escapes to an elbow lock on the mat. Valiente bridges and turns to get away, only to get armbarred again. Armwringer. Valiente armdrag, elbow lock of his own. Pólvora rolls Valiente on his back for a two count, but Valiente escapes that in time and floats to a headlock. Pólvora tries to get free, sweeps Valiente's feet out and covers him for zero. Both up. Valiente back up, Pólvora charges and tires a monkey flip, Valiente lands on his feet. Pólvora charges again, Valiente moves, and Pólvora this the corner. Valiente sets Pólvora on the top rope – danger! - and Pólvora sneaks in a jab to the midsection. It takes a big show of strength for Pólvora to lift Valiente up all the way for it, but Pólvora manages to get him in position for the Super Pólvora Driver, but Pólvora immediately finishes it. Camera nicely frames Hijo del Fantasma watching this is from the camera; he knows his guy is done as soon as his face hits the mat. One two three for the challenger, though Valiente does try to kick out.
2: Pólvora sends Valiente in the rope, and back elbows him. Pólvora is feeling pretty good about the situation, and lets the crowd know. Chest slap sends Valiente in the corner. Punch to the midsection. Whip, Valiente cartwheels out of it, waits for Pólvora, Pólvora kicks deflected, Valiente flips off him, sends Pólvora into the ropes, and backdrops him. Valiente figured up, charges Pólvora flipped to the apron, but back in with an armdrag. Pólvora out the other side and Valiente following – crushing tope sends Pólvora tippling over the front row and into the second! Replays. Pólvora rests in the front row while Inquisidor waves a towel towards him. Valiente grabs his challenger, slaps him good, and throws him in. Valiente looks around before going in. Valiente grabs Pólvora, Pólvora powers out and slaps him down. Crowd chanting for Valiente. Pólvora takes his time following up, and runs right into a fireman’s carry. Valiente slaps the top buckle, climbs up, moonsault, Pólvora moves, Valiente lands on his feet (though almost doesn’t), Pólvora charges, Valiente armdrags him and rolls him around into a headscissors on the mat, an then a seated armbar. Pólvora is finished, and this match is tied.
3: Joined with Pólvora dropkicking Valiente. One foot pin! One two NO. Pólvora tells the crowd to calm down; they do not. Slap. Whip, Valiente back, right into a flapjack. One two no, kickout sends Pólvora into the referee, who gets annoyed with Pólvora. Both up, Valiente lunges, Pólvora catches him in a goozle – chokeslam! Step over double armbar, and Valiente's in trouble. He's just not going to give, and shoves Pólvora away. Pólvora slow following up yet again, and Valiente grabs an armbar, forces him down ties up both, and puts his knee on Pólvora's face. It's a very improved looking thing, but it holds Pólvora down. He scoots on the mat, getting to the bottom rope, where Fantasma and Inquisidor almost have an issue. Valiente with a modified half crab (Pólvora is on his side, not his back, but Valiente is still pulling his leg up), and this time Inquisidor actually breaks up the hold by tripping Valiente up. Terror Chino was looking at Pólvora and missed it. Slap sends Pólvora in the corner. Valiente holds him by his chin while he rallies the crowd. Corner whip, reversed, Valiente back with his double jump headscissors. Pólvora starts to roll out, holds up on the apron, and Valiente decks him with a dropkick to the face. Pólvora grabs his head, as Valiente follows with an Asai moonsault! Don't see that much out of him, usually doesn't need a third dive. Replays.
Valiente gets to the apron first, but Pólvora yanks him to the ground and stomps him. Pólvora gets in first instead. Pólvora gathers his breath as Valiente crawls on the apron near the corner. Pólvora charges, Valiente slaps him away. Up top – plancha meets counter dropkick! Except, as always, Pólvora is a bit too busy antagonizing to stop Valiente from rolling out. No matter, Pólvora will go the apron, pose, and got to the top – rudo plancha to the floor. Both men down. Pólvora makes it in first this time, looking in better shape. Valiente gets on the apron, but Pólvora dropkicks him right back out. Pólvora points at some fans and raises his arms. Valiente up, and Pólvora boots him. Pólvora suplex in, Valiente small package, one two NO. Valiente casadora cradle one two NO. Both slow up. Valiente 'rana, one two NO. Both slow up, but Valiente is spinning his arm to warm up for a big clothesline. Pólvora ducks, dropkick to the knee, running frog splash (!) one two NO. Pólvora grabs Valiente, powerbomb, one two NO. They are resting on the mat between each pin, but they've also been getting up pretty quick. Crowd way behind Valiente. Pólvora slaps Valiente's in the corner multiple times, then back s all the way up. Charge, Valiente moves, Pólvora hits the corner post on the way out. Time for Valiente – running cross ring, Valiente Special connects! Now I can believe this match could actually end.
Valiente makes it up first, while Inquisidor gets weaned for helping Pólvora get back to the ring. Pólvora taking every second the can to get in, and I think Inquisidor helped pushes him in. No matter, Valiente kicks him, grabs him, cuts his own throat, and drops him with a spinning fisherman's suplex! One two NO. Both guys tired. Pólvora makes the first move, lifting Valiente into a torture rack, but Valiente slips down the backside one two th-NO. Fans and announcers thought that was the finish. Now very slow back up. Valiente up and waiting for Pólvora. Both charge, Pólvora knocks Valiente down, zero count, Pólvora runs Valiente over again, zero count, Pólvora charges a third time, but Valiente picks him up and spins him around – Valiente buster! Hijo del Fantasma is so happy. One two THRE-NO. Both up, Valiente goes for another – and it lands again! One two THREE. That was a bit odd, but okay. Might have been a clip right before the finish.
Fantasma gives Valiente a ride to the ropes, and helps put on his belt. Replays.
Valiente talks about his win. Pólvora talks about the match – he's content he had a great match, but would have liked the title belt. He's going to work harder.
Match 5: Blue Panther, La Máscara, La Sombra vs Atlantis, Dragón Rojo Jr., Último Guerrero
Arena Mexico, 04/05/2011
técnicos
Winner: técnicos (2-0)
Match Time: 5:57
Rating: very short
Notes: Entrances. This one can't be going too long. Rudos broadside La Mascara from behind, nearly knocking him off the ramp, and stomp a mudhole in him. That'll save some time. Sombra hasn't even entered yet. Looks like he's thinking dive off the stage, but they clip ahead to the whistle. Referee is Maya.
1: Beatdown. Rudos eventually take it to the ring for combo spots. Crowd is very much louder for the rudos. Triple faceslam for Sombra. Atlantis misses a corner charge on Máscara, and the técnicos are all the sudden able to come back. Sombra boosted dropkick sends the other two out, and Máscara and Sombra land big topes. Atlantis is stuck in with Blue Panther and not happy about it. Panther makes faces for the crowd, takes down Atlantis, and get the nudo lagunero easily. Mascara keeps brawling with Ultimo Guerrero around the ring.
2: Técnicos still revenge brawling with the rudos. Sombra goes after Dragon Rojo's mask for a while. Everyone settles down in the corners, so they can compete for reactions. Técnico fans are much louder here. UG manages to cheap shot Sombra here too. Sombra turns things around pretty well, and he and Mascara get the better of UG and Dragon Rojo. Double dive is teased again, but the técnicos just slide out and brawl with the rudos on the floor. Sombra forearms Dragon Rojo in the face, while Ultimo Guerrero is too busy posing on the steps. Panther and Atlantis restart in the ring, Panther escaping a monkey flip and giving Atlantis two quebradora con giros. Shoulderblocks sends Atlantis out, and Sombra comes in to flips his partner into a pescado. Other four in, and técnicos quickly drop the rudos in front of the corner. Stereo rope flip moonsaults! One two three. Straight fall win.
Clip to post match challenges. Sombra wants a tag team title match, and La Mascara wants it in Arena Mexico. UG accepts for next week.
Replays, announcers wrap up and we're done.