CMLL Mini Line - 04/10/04 (#123)
Vignette: Shocker invites YOU to try out for Guapos U 2004. Even masked guys have a shot this time, but it has to be some smoking mask.
Match 1: Ultimo Guerrero (c), Rey Bucanero, Super Crazy vs
L. A. Park (c), Vampiro, Shocker
Arena Coliseo, 01/16/04
Winner: Park (8:27)
Approx Rating: 85 to 88
Other Match Notes: I forget that Super Crazy is using "Crawling" and it surprises me every time. Park (white this week) has gone back to non-Lou Bega music. Park got the top of his mask ripped off at some point. Ultimo took a backdrop on the ramp after the post second fall comeback. Third fall started with some tag team dive faking -> dancing by Park and Shocker. Really obvious major clip in the third fall. GdI's attempt at pinning with feet on the ropes didn't work. Crazy went for an Asai moonsault, he flew at a weird (low?) angle, Vampiro moved and Crazy landed on his feet on the outside. Lots of near falls by Shocker on Ultimo broken up by Rey, before Park would take him back outside. Rey was kinda too late a couple times.
Finish sequence was severely messed up:
I have no idea what was supposed to happen there, but that wasn't it. Match might've hit 90 with a better finish, but shows a lot of promise for the tag team title match. This is the beginning of the Shocker/Park vs Ultimo/Rey push, obviously, and they lay down post match challenges after the match.
Stellar Moments
Vignette: Ultimo Guerrero psyches up an uptight Tarzan Boy for his title match, next. Tarzan is prepared, but just a bit nervous - about going to Japan to defend the title. Ultimo promises to come with him.
Match 2: Tarzan Boy vs Atlantis (c) for the Tohoku
Junior Heavyweight Championship
Arena Coliseo, 01/16/04
Hey, if it's a title match, I guess I'll do play by play. As we just saw Ultimo Guerrero, Tarzan Boy's second is Apolo Dantes. Logical. They mention Atlantis last defending this against Perro in his introduction. Shocker is Atlantis backup. It's still an ugly looking belt for my dollar. Tarzan weights in at 93 KG. They almost forget to work in Atlantis' weight, but it's 94 KG.
Fall 1:
Circle to start. Tarzan feigns a charge in, then we've got a lockup. Break, with Tarzan maybe having a slight advantage. Atlantis' left shoulder is still taped. [clip]
Tarzan has Atlantis in a grounded headscissors as we return. Atlantis is able to escape via headstand, but Tarzan Boy grabs the ropes to ensure no follow up. Both up, both circling. Lockup, no, Atlantis with a takedown, grabbing Tarzan's left leg. Atlantis turns around, facing away from Tarzan, and sits down on the leg before yanking it to stretch out Tarzan's knee. Tarzan tries to slip away, but Atlantis grabs the other leg and hooks Tarzan in a modified figure four. Atlantis isn't happy with that, letting go of the right leg to stand up and apply a toe hold. Tarzan reaches at him from the mat, grabbing Atlantis' throat and knocking him away. Tarzan wastes no time in returning the favor, toe hold, sit down on the leg and yanking on it. Atlantis is better prepared better for this, slipping his right leg around Tarzan's head and hooking him in a rana pin, one two no. Stand off. Circle. Lockup, Atlantis grabs a top wristlock and slips behind, inverted snap mare (weird!), Tarzan lands on his feet, Atlantis with the quick leg trip and the zero second cover. Atlantis off the ropes, into a standing spin kick to the midsection from Tarzan. Tarzan takes time to let the fans know what he thinks of them, and then waits for Atlantis to get back up. Another standing spin kick, but this time Atlantis catches the leg. Tarzan swings and misses with a right hand, and Atlantis lowers the leg enough to backdrop Tarzan, but Tarzan holds on for a sunset flip one Atlantis rolls through. Tarzan with a nice monkey flip but Atlantis lands on his feet, Atlantis off the ropes, Tarzan misses a clothesline, Atlantis monkey flip, Tarzan lands on his feet but stumbles after, Atlantis bodyscissors roll, only holding onto one leg one two NO. Tarzan hits Atlantis hard with a chest slap. Forearm to the back. Atlantis shoved into the corner, chest slap, corner whip, corner clothesline. Tarzan loads up Atlantis, and drops him with a fireman's carry. TO the apron, slingshot legdrop. Is that all? No, Tarzan isn't even thinking pin, grabbing Atlantis again. Front suplex! One two three. (3:03) Of course the challenger wins the first fall; it's all part of the champion's strategy. Tarzan seemed to be carrying Atlantis through parts of this fall and it was neat to see.
Fall 2:
Wow. She's got quite the sign. Anyway, the match. Tarzan's pointing at the people in the crowd to point out his first fall win.
Atlantis and Tarzan tentatively reach out towards each other, lock hands, and whip each other. Tarzan goes over Atlantis with a leap frog, then turns around right in time to get nailed by a cross body, one no. Tarzan stops Atlantis with a dropkick to the knee, and Atlantis is asking for time to recover. Tarzan ignores this, following up with a chest slap. Corner whip, corner charge, Atlantis steps out and tosses Tarzan face first into the corner buckle. Monkey flip! Atlantis charges Tarzan, Tarzan tries a tilt-a-whirl and Atlantis armdrag out of it! You don't do that to him. Tarzan clotheslined out, Atlantis running - TOPE! Corner men try to talk the life back into their men - where are the towels? Are these men not professionals? For shame. Actually, it looks Shocker at least as his but isn't think to wave it. Replay of the tope. It was good. Atlantis waits for Tarzan Boy inside the ring, and meets Tarzan with a punch as he gets to the apron. Tarzan blocks that, forearm for Atlantis, turnbuckle smash for Atlantis, forearm for Atlantis, and Atlantis is staggered. Springboard dropkick is side stepped! That would've been it. Atlantis jumps at Tarzan Boy - PAY DIRT! That's IT. (1:56) Atlantis is in no hurry to let go. I don't believe he asked anyone here what his name is, but one never can be sure. High ten for Shocker, as Apolo checks to see if Tarzan is alive. Replay of a great move. The way Tarzan is not working on Atlantis' shoulder probably means it's kinda serious.
Fall 3:
Shocker is slow in leaving, but gives Atlantis one heck of a pep speech before he does.
Reaching out for each other again, though we'll take a look at the ring girl instead. I think Atlantis must've charged, as he's taking a drop toe hold from Tarzan in the background. Choke on the top rope by Atlantis. Whip, back elbow and Atlantis is knocked down. [CLIP]
Atlantis grabs Tarzan in a small package, and Baby Richard leaps over the rollup to count - only for Tarzan to escape before he can count. Tarzan's kinda confused by that leap. It was sorta unnecessary. Atlantis takes advantage for another small package, and this time Richard doesn't leap, just counts, one two th-NO. Both men are seemingly more tired than the 50 seconds of fall we've seen. Imagine that! Long long crowd shot here but it doesn't feel like we skipped ahead. Back to see Atlantis deliver one, then two tilt-a-whirl backbreakers to Tarzan. Atlantis dropkicks him out, and he's going up? PLANCHA! Tarzan is flattened. Apolo and Shocker nearly get into an argument, but Shocker keeps his distance as Atlantis gets to his feet away from Tarzan. Replace of the dive, and back to see Atlantis bent over - did Tarzan just kick him? He looks up, but he's walking the other way. Both men getting in, just in time, except Atlantis elects to stay on the apron. Tarzan charges and gets a shoulder to the gut for his trouble. Atlantis off the top, cross body hits but Tarzan rolls through, one two NO! Both Tarzan and Atlantis need confirmation there. Tarzan off the ropes, dropkick will take Atlantis out. What's Tarzan going to do? SPRINGBOARD PLANCHA - except Tarzan almost slipped on the top rope, then came about 4 inches short on the dive and took more of the brunt of it then he was hoping. Both men are down, and I think Atlantis strained that shoulder a bit more. Replay of the dive isn't really a good thing in this case, because it exposes Atlantis taking his own dive there. Back live, Apolo and Shocker really are getting into an argument this time, mostly about Shocker waving his towel in the wrong direction. Tarzan in first, Atlantis looking at the crowd before getting in. Tarzan is half out of it and paying no attention, Atlantis victory roll, but Tarzan pulls it back the other way one two thre-NO! Atlantis thought he lost it there. Tarzan charges him and it's all he can do to drop him with the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Atlantis signals to the crowd, Atlántida! He's got hooked! Tarzan gives! Atlantis wins! (3:45) Crowd is thrilled. Atlantis celebrates, then gets his belt back. Shocker is can't keep from bouncing in happiness. Kinda odd.
Winner: Atlantis, and he retains the championship, in 8:44
Rating: 88 (need a bit more unclipped; as good as they've done in the dramatic
near fall department, though)
Post Match: Replays, and closing.