Where do you start when you want to introduce something completely different? The best part of it that you can find.

On Decameter 14th, 2002, CMLL held it's last Arena Mexico (Mexico City) show of the year. Arena Mexico is their home base, like the ECW Arena and Madison Square Garden, and they typically run there Friday, every week. Near the end of the year, they get kicked out of the building to make room for the circus. Arena Mexico isn't the only arena they run, but the promotion quiets down when they don't run it. Each year, to celebrate it being the end of the year, CMLL runs a big main event.

In 2002,, the big main event was Shocker vs Ultimo Guerrero for CMLL Light Heavyweight Title. While I'll save the complete lead up for this match to another time, the important part here is Shocker and his partner (Vampiro) spent the second half of the year chasing Ultimo and his partner (Rey Bucanero) for the CMLL Tag Team titles and were unsuccessful. This time, it'll be Ultimo getting the title shot.

Ultimo Guerrero, wearing a green and black outfit (mask, no shirt, kilt that he'll take off before the match and long tights) enters first. The heels - and I'm guessing you're familiar enough with lucha terms to know I mean the same thing when I say "rudos" - always enter first in CMLL.

Shocker has more of a penchant for creative entrances. Since we're eleven days away, Shocker opts to come out in a Santa Claus suit, complete with two Santa's Helpers valets (wearing not much) to carry the belt, and a bag full of candy to throw out to the kids. Shocker ends trying to be serious while still wearing the cap and coat, and it almost works. After he takes the costume off, he's wearing his normal two toned tights. Somewhat atypical for him, Shocker is wearing an elbow pad on the left arm.

Before the match, we get the CMLL title match standard "group pose for pre-match picture" as the referee talks rules with both men. Oddly, neither man brought a corner man. This is Shocker's 3rd Title Defense - he'd won it 14 months prior, over Villano III.

The first fall begins with a set of lockups that go to stalemates. Frustrated, they start to brawl, but are warned by the referee. Going back to the lockup, Ultimo is able to maneuver into control as they battle thru mat wrestling. In the first fall of an important three fall match in CMLL, the participants usually try to get control on the ground before using the ropes. Ultimo targets the arm, but Shocker is able to use headscissors and a hand stand to keep the match at a standstill. Ultimo looks for a test of strength, immediately breaking one of the wristlocks to take Shocker down with the other, then putting on a hammerlock to apply pressure to the shoulder. Shocker works to escape, even running up the corner buckles for a super armdrag, but Ultimo is able to pull him off the ropes and crank on the arm more. Shocker is able to flip out of the now armbar, but Ultimo is quickly back on it, Shocker not having time to get away. Shocker manages a monkey flip, but Ultimo will not let go of the left arm. Shocker manages to stand up, shove Ultimo into the ropes, and hiptoss over it, but plenty of damage has already been done. Ultimo is quickly up and charging with a clothesline, Shocker catches him for a Rock Bottom, but Ultimo floats over in midair for a Fujiwara armbar on the injuried arm, and Shocker can do nothing but give up. First fall goes 5:10, and Galavision takes a Comerica break.

A one minute break between falls is typical. Often, the side that is controlling will pass up taking a rest break to continue to attack their opposition, but Ultimo gives Shocker room here. Shocker spends his break trying to get life back into that arm. There's a bit of additional game theory in these three fall lucha matches - Shocker is hurting, but he could've battled longer and possibly gotten out of the hold eventually, but he'd have an even larger pain in that left shoulder and still two falls to win. Giving up a fall is big, but leaving yourself a chance to still win the war is bigger.

The whistle - CMLL uses it, instead of a ring bell, for reasons I don't know - blows to signal the start of fall two. Ultimo is immediately running at Shocker, leveling him with a back elbow. He wastes no time in going for another armbar on the left arm, trying to end this right now, but Shocker gets a foot on the ropes. Ultimo is aware enough to just pull Shocker towards the middle of the ring, before trying again - cross armbreaker! Shocker's last hope is to prevent his arm from being fully (hyper) extended, and he manages to do just that with all that he's got left. Ultimo gets frustrated enough to give that hold up, modifying to a standard armbar and bringing them both to their feet. He follows up on the arm work with a running armbar takedown, Shocker landing right on that bad shoulder. The fans start to really get on Ultimo, fearing that their guy might be at his end. Another armbar takedown, and despite a massive SHOCKER chant, it doesn't appear he can get off the mat. Ultimo with a third - but Shocker blocks the takedown, and reverses the move all the way to a pumphandle powerbomb! The crowd rallies after Shocker's first major offensive move of the match, and Shocker himself rallies with a running big boot to Ultimo's face. Shocker batters Ultimo with three more of his trademark Mafia-style (well, whatever they call the Yakuza in Mexico) high kicks, then goes up as Ultimo struggles to his feet. Shocker waits, and downs Ultimo with a (right armed) top rope clothesline! Cover gets 3, and Shocker has tied it up at 1 after a 2:11 fall. The fans go a bit nutty.

Ultimo doesn't look good in between falls, holding his head. The powerbomb, the kicks, and the clothesline all caused a some pain to his cranium, and Ultimo actually slowly falls to the mat after the third fall is started. The referee worriedly checks on him, but Ultimo is insistent on continuing, pushing the referee away as he stands back up. Ultimo and Shocker attack each other with open hand slaps (what knife edge chops are to the US, they are to Mexico.) Shocker is able to duck one of Ultimo's strikes, and gives him self an opening for a set of right hand jabs and a big knockdown punch. Ultimo falls into the corner, and Shocker charges in with a shoulder to the midsection. Shocker backs up for another charge, but meets Ultimo's boot. Ultimo covers, but only a two count. Crowd loud for Shocker again, as both men struggle to their feet. Shocker is thrown into the corner, but manages to leap up when Ultimo follows, and executes a sunset flip out of the buckles for a long two count. Both up again, but Ultimo shoots low for a double leg takedown, and immediately ties on a reverse figure four. It's not one of his signature moves, but one that worked for the situation, leaving Shocker far away from the ropes. This time, Shocker will not give, and tries to pull them towards the ropes. Ultimo tries going the other way, but Shocker keeps it moving and grabs the bottom rope. Five count to break is applied, Ultimo keeping it there for four, much to the annoyance of the crowd. Shocker is slow up, and Ultimo aims to pull him back in the middle to finish him - small package! Ultimo kicks out at two! A quick look at the fans rooting Shocker on before we see Ultimo's next move - he's still the more energetic one - a slam, setting Shocker up for a top rope move. Ultimo sometimes does a top rope headbutt, but he's not in position for one of those - MOONSAULT but Shocker moved! Both men are down now, and this time it's Shocker who shoots low as they get up, using a takedown to run Ultimo into the corner. Shocker works Ultimo over with punches before setting him on the top rope - what's he going to try? Shocker goes up, on Ultimo's shoulders - whatever it was (top rope victory roll?), it's too late; Ultimo stands up and turns Shocker around, but Shocker counters the counter with a top rope 'rana! Shocker is unable to hold the cradle, so he improvises a splash and covers - but it's only two!

Shocker seems to have felt that would have done it, if only he held the cradle, because he sets Ultimo up for another top rope 'rana. This time, he pushed his luck - Ultimo is able to complete block, then grab Shocker - SECOND ROPE POWERBOMB! Ultimo Guerrero trademark right there, and he covers - TWO! Guerrero is in shock - no one kicks out of that move, but Shocker just did. Crowd gets behind Shocker even stronger, figuring if he can survive that, he's got to be able to survive anything. Ultimo is able to get to his feet first, and is intent on keeping Shocker down - clothesline to the head, then a big boot to the back. Ultimo Guerrero sets up Shocker for the only move he knows greater than that second rope powerbomb - an off the top rope inverted superplex (generically known as the Guerrero Special.) Ultimo sets up Shocker on the top rope, facing out, and grabs him - but Shocker reverses in mid move to land on top for a cover - two! Fans were sure that would do it. Both very slow up one again, having taking many drops from the top in this last fall. Ultimo up first - his clothesline is caught and turned into Shocker's spinning back body rack (la reinera, although we've dubbed it the Circuit Breaker) but Ultimo reverses that into his own reinera! Crowd gets louder than I've ever heard them before on this show, because Shocker has no way out of his own move - and he gives up! After a final for of 7 minutes and 10 seconds, CMLL has a new light heavyweight champion, Ultimo Guerrero.

Ultimo shows exhausted exuberance while Shocker tries to recover on the mat. We go to another Comerica break.

As usual, we come back from the last commercial break to get a list of the scheduled participants for next week (though by the time it's edited for US broadcast, not everyone mentioned appears).

Back to the ring, where Ultimo is wearing his new title belt around his waist. He's still very thrilled about it. Shocker is depressed, looking on, but does go up to Ultimo and offer a handshake for a hard fought match. Ultimo accepts, and Shocker raises his arm up as the show comes to a close.
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Of the two years of weekly CMLL TV I've seen, this match is my favorite one on one encounter. The first fall is great mat wrestling that tells a story and serves a purpose. Instead of it just being a formality to get the match started (as it often is in WWE) or an excuse to get to cliched "indy standoff" spots, it gets over three major points for the match:
- Ultimo is targeting the shoulder, and is pretty persistent on those kind of things.
- Ultimo is clearly the aggressor in this match, Shocker has to use that to his advantage
- Ultimo is just a step ahead on the ground, so Shocker will need to find something more to win

The second fall has the typical flaw that bugs me about many of the high profile three fall lucha matches. There's usually at least one, and sometimes the first two, fall that are kept very short in order to make the last fall go extra long. I try to rationalize as part of that game theory, but it's just not what I'm used to. Shocker's fall ending comeback was a great piece of work.

Final fall was a great job of escalating moves, without looking for a excuse screwjob "out" for either guy. They both got in moves, and they built to the finish in such a way that the kickouts, not the moves, were the story. (Only kicking out of the 2nd rope powerbomb slightly strained credibility, because it had been such a sudden death move previously.) It's a benefit here that wrestlers are not locked into finishing holds, because you could believe it might be a three count or a submission with the moves were applied, but it was far from a certain thing. The match could've ended at any time during the last three minutes, and the fans were into each of the near falls.

Shocker is unbelievably great for giving up for his own hold to lose the title. The ending was more dramatic for it, and whatever face Shocker loses for dropping the fall that way (not much - he's in the Rock range of being Untouchable with the crowd at this point, no matter how they book him), it builds up Ultimo Guerrero even more, making a rematch bigger.

The pickyness problems I have with this match are the short second fall and Ultimo not going back to Shocker's arm after it worked for the first fall (as well as the referee being over the top with the Earl Hebner slow two counts), but the match was so good, it's irrelevant to focus on those flaws.

Shocker and Ultimo have had many rematches since this title switch. The only one to make US air did so on, happened on 05/24. (Dave Meltzer liked it better than this one, but he's wrong.) Ultimo has been able to remain champion each time, so far.

Next time, we'll take a step back, look at the current Mexican landscape and where CMLL fits in. (If you can't wait till then, there's more CMLL info back at thecubsfan.com.)