CMLL Recap (#173)
GALA Air Date: 06/18/05
Recap Date: 06/18/05

This is part two of CMLL's Best Of What Didn't Air From 2004 special. It's also the first new (relatively speaking) CMLL episode to air in three months.

Barely an open, no dancing ladies or hello bit, no upcoming lineup bit, not even introductions for this match, we come in mid-sentence and there's not even an opening whistle; I was pretty sure CMLL had somehow started 5 minutes before the hour and I was only going to figure this out later, but apparently not.

Match 1: Olimpico, Averno, Mephisto vs Felino, Volador Jr., Mistico
Arena Mexico, 06/18/04

  1. rudos
  2. tecnicos
  3. tecnicos

Winner: Tecnicos
Match Time: 12:51
Approx Rating: good introduction
Other Match Notes:
Check that date out - it took exactly a year for this match to make it to the US.

Why This Match Is Important: This is Mistico's debut match, which was decently hyped at the time. It's the second match of the Cage of Death '04 card (which was much more packed the 2005 edition) and at this point, we're just hoping he reaches Volador Jr.'s level, in push and highspots. A year later, he's main eventing this show, so I guess that worked out well!

Olimpico, not a tall fellow, pantomimes to Mistico that he's going to kick him like a midget. I think that's what he's pantomiming. He then wanders into the tecnico corner and get swiped, ha. Okay, Mistico and Olimpico. Lockup, break. Lockup, Olimpico with a waistlock, Mistico's drop down, Olimpico with a front facelock, Mistico reverses to an armbar, Olimpico rolls him to his feet, Mistico grabs a leg in the process, sweeps out the other leg, and drops on him with a splash, one two no. Someone's digging the cane camera tonight. Lockup, Olimpico armbar, into a hammerlock. Mistico tries to escape and gets armdragged to the mat. Back up, Hammerlock by Olimpico, Mistico wings himself into a extra spinning headscissors. Circle. Lockup, Olimpico with a facelock. Crank. Mistico spins to get free, Olimpico tries to take him back down with a snap mare, Mistico flips thru and lands on his feet. Olimpico can't believe that. Olimpico drop toe hold, elbow drop to the back, and tying up his legs. Float over into a headlock. Mistico rolls on to his back, breaks free, kick is caught, Olimpico tries a cradled back suplex, Mistico again slips free and lands on his feet, and again Olimpico is surprised. Olimpico tells Mistico to bring it, Mistico shoulderblocks Olimpico, and Mistico's woozy? Olimpico is tough, I guess. Mistico off the ropes, Olimpico surprises him with a monkey flip, but of course Mistico flips thru. Olimpico is wondering why they didn't give this guy a cat nickname, as he only lands on his feet. The two great things right here are Mistico perfectly sticking the landing on these escapes, and Olimpico looking shocked when they happen. Mistico ducks a clothesline, off the ropes, spinning headscissors, dive tease. Crowd appreciates him. Volador and Averno in. Averno gives us his best scary guy face. Circle. Lockup, sorta break, sorta into the ropes. Lockup, Averno with a STO-like leg sweep, Volador tries to pick him off with a headscissors from the mat, but Averno slips free. Volador kips up, and armdrag Averno down. Averno tries a right hand, but Volador uses it to armdrag him, and then pulls him into a half crab. Mephisto and Olimpico are straight into break that up, but Felino and Mistico rush them back of the ring - where they beg off, ha. Hands behind their back, not trying to do anything. Felino and Volador have words with Averno, who's also not attacking, then urge on Volador. Volador charges, and Averno pops him with a back elbow. Chest slap. Whip, reversed into a Volador forward legsweep into a kneebar - but the rudos aren't going to let that one stand, and break it up in no time. All six men in and fighting now, with the rudos managing to clear out the ring and get the better of it. Volador is left in and beat by all three. Double whip, waved by double back elbow, rolls up, and held for a running Olimpico knee. Felino tries to jump at someone, but doesn't get much on it. Whip, Olimpico back elbow,. Whip, Olimpico spinebuster drop, and Felino's held leaning on the ring to get knocked to the ground by an Olimpico dropkick. Mistico in and thrown around -and quickly thrown out. Volador back in and getting worked over. Whip, triple pump powerbomb, pick him again and throw him down again! Everyone grab a limb! And cover one two three. (5:25) Working over Mistico, which is good because I don't know who the captain is. The cameraman, shooting many shots of the crowd, seems to think Volador is it - we come back in time to see Olimpico stop giving Mistico a crab, so that's it. (5:56) The replays help explain what we missed: Mistico took a double hiptoss off the ropes, and Olimpico finishes him off while Averno did his Dr. Wagner impersonation.

Volador is down and resting on the ramp as we start. He has some interaction with the ring girl we don't get to see. Felino slips in the ring and tries to cradle Mephisto for a quick pin as the whistle blows, but the other two are paying too much attention to let it happen. Felino gets beat down. Whip, double backdrop, and Olimpico is flap jacked on top. Olimpico drops Felino out. Volador in and getting beat. Whip, waves by, double back drop for him, He's held up for a springboard Olimpico dropkick. High tens around, and posing. Mistico tries to break it up, but doesn't last long whip, waved by, double press slam, and dropped onto Olimpico's upraised boots! Mistico's beat on the ropes, and Olimpico tries the GdI sit - but Felino and Volador yank him out of the ring. Averno tries to help and gets taken out. Inside the ring, Mistico gives Mephisto a spinning headscissors, and calmly pulls off a handspring moonsault over the ropes and to the floor! I think that's a Sasuke Special, but whatever it is, it's pretty awesome. Everyone's getting counted out, but Felino and Averno are back in and avoiding each others moves. Averno gets caught by Felino on a wheel kick attempt, Felino hangs him from the top rope, and Volador guillotines him with a top rope legdrop! One two three. (2:31) Olimpico tries to help out and gets caught in a weird kneebar by Felino, and that's enough take care of him. (2:35) Break.

Rudos are huddling on the outside as the fall starts. Olimpico and Felino, who I believe are the captains, start this one off. Shoulderblocks, no one going down. Shoulderblocks, no one going down. Olimpico ff the ropes, over, over, dropped by a kick to the knee. Elbow drop by Felino, off the ropes, clothesline (in theory - he didn't actually throw one) ducked by Olimpico, Felino whips Olimpico, powerslam by Felino, tag to Mistico, Mistico springboard splash one two NO broken up. Mephisto working over Mistico with chops, whip, Mistico ducks under a clothesline, hops onto Mephisto's shoulder, and scissors him to the mat. Mistico gets back dropped to the apron, blocks Mep's punch, forearms him back towards The ring, and springboards into an armdrag. Dive tease - stop at the ropes, and Mistico dives into a headscissors! He's hitting his moves great right now. Averno and Volador. Averno getting the early advantage and dropping Volador with a high flapjack. Averno taking his time, celebrating. Chest slap, whip, flapjack, but Volador flips off Mep's feet to his feet. Volador waves b on the run, tilt-a-whirl reversed Volador armdrag, and there's a 'rana one two NO. After another ducking a clothesline that's not there spot, Volador reverses an Averno 'rana into a powerbomb, one t- both rudos break it up. They head for the tecnico corner, but Mistico drops Mephisto with a top rope plancha one two NO.  Felino got knocked to the floor, and right now it's all three rudos on Mistico. Double whip, Mistico tossed up in and powerbomb down by Mephisto one two NO. Mistico still isolated. Whip, tossed up by Averno, but this time Mistico 'ranas Mephisto. Olimpico is standing there right there watching, but Felino yanks him out while the count starts, one two NO. Felino works over Olimpico on the outside. Mistico misses a clothesline on Mep, Mep puts him in a full nelson, Averno takes forever to starting charging, so no duh Mephisto gets hit with the boot. Averno charges, Mistico waves him by twice, and Volador sends him out of the ring with a dropkick to the knee the second time. Time for Volador's dive? Top rope Asai Moonsault! Felino Double jump somersault bodyblock! That takes care of the ex-Infernales, leaving Mistico and Olimpico in the ring. Mistico's dropkick misses, and he's slow up. Olimpico waits for him, clothesline half spins out Olimpico. Olimpico looking to finish him off. Spinning flapjack. Olimpico says this is it. Tying up Mistico's leg - but getting pulled into a small package on two THREE! (4:20) Tecnicos go nuts. Olimpico can't believe it. Replays all around.

Match 2: Pierroth, Okumura, Rey Bucanero vs LA Park, Shocker, Super Porky
Arena Mexico, 07/09/04

  1. tecnicos
  2. rudos
  3. tecnicos

Winner: tecnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 10:08
Approx Rating: Fine, but nothing special.
Other Match Notes:
No entrances.

Why This Match Is Important: Got me.

In fact, it's kinda hard to not roll thru this pretty quick. This might be fine, but I imagine there's better out there I haven't gotten to. Porky looks like he lost a hair match a week or two ago; La Arena lists a 06/25 hair loss to Halloween in Tijuana, so there you go. There's a big clip early. Pierroth and Porky sequence, with Pierroth accidentally hitting La Nazi on the "hold 'em while I hit 'em" spot. Porky gives La Nazi a big kiss to make up for it, and Nazi now wants to vomit. Okumura and Parka, and this time, La Nazi takes a running boot, before getting murdered by a Park dive! I think he was going for the tope into an armdrag, and that wasn't going to work. Shocker and Porky are more than enough to take care of the tecnicos, with Shocker quickly getting Rey into a half crab. (2:25) Park, on a murdering rampage, brains Pierroth with the corkscrew moonsault to pick up that pin. (2:33) Okumura gets the big sit for completion's sake. Replays. Break.

Park is clowning around with Pierroth as we return. STRUT! Pierroth doesn't appreciate it. Park took Pierroth's mask long ago, and now almost took out his heart with a hard chest slap. Pierroth does this elaborate frozen-stroke victim sell of the chop, which is hilarious the first time. DANCE. Then they they do the world's worse zero cover sequence, which Park merciful ends with a jumping enziguri. Rey wants Porky, and gets Porky. Porky is too fat and too fast for Rey. Rey takes the crazy backdrop to the floor because he is crazy. Shocker gets stuck with Okumura. Or he doesn't, as the rudos start the beatdown. Beatdown on Shocker is a bit unorganized, but eventually Okumura gets dropped on Shocker for the pin. (3:17) Looks like he's the captain. Park gets crotched on the ring post after the fall. Double suplex on Porky! They cover him too, huh. (4:28) And now they stop to celebrate. So maybe Park's the captain - I dunno.

Beatdown goes on. Rey's handing it to Park in the front row. Looks like they untied his mask at some point, because it almost comes off. Inside the ring, the other two rudos give Shocker a double suplex. Rey is trying to lift Porky back in the ring, but can't quite do it - Nazi helps him out.  Slingshot somersault senton. Rey's back to working over Park while the other two work over Porky. Look at Que Monito. Missed corner charge turns it around. Park takes Rey on a tour around the ring for beating.  Steps - not used, because he's warned against it, I guess. Porky with the apron dive onto Pierroth and Nazi. Okumura was in the area, and wisely got out of the area. Ew, he's laying on top of La Nazi. Now's not the time for that! Okumura and Rey accidentally hit each other it and get sent to the outside. Dive, dive - Monito wants to dive? Monito plancha is caught! Park's slingshot corkscrew plancha gets NOTHING! Okumura was standing too far away from the ring and didn't make an attempt to adjust, so Park hit the floor and hit it hard. He's grabbing a leg while Rey and Shocker are in, and probably here to finish it up. Quick look at Park - he's in a lot of pain and both he and a referee are frantic in getting the doctor over there. Shocker gets a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, bodyscissors cradle into a standing reverse figure four - and it's over instantly. (3:07) Shocker takes his time to let go, but he does it in time to keep the win. Park's shaking on the floor and it's getting a bit scary - great time for a break.

Match 3: Ultimo Guerrero (w/Mephisto) vs LA Park (w/Mascara Sagrada) for CMLL Light Heavyweight Title
Arena Mexico, 09/17/04

  1. Park standing crucifix submission (2:48)
  2. Ultimo front superplex (1:05)
  3. Ultimo reverse bodyscissors powerbomb (5:10)

Winner: Ultimo (retains title)
Match Time: 9:03
Approx Rating: Good, but not as great as you'd hope it to be. (87)

Why This Match Is Important: Title match not previously seen (except we did see the finish on a Stellar Moments.) Plus, it should be pretty good.

Other Match Notes: Park is weighing in at 97.5 KG. They say it "97 Kilograms and 500 grams", which is so weird to my mind. That's 214.95 pounds; I wonder if that's effectively the limit. Ultimo is at 95 KG (209 lb). There's everyone posing with the belt. I'm so sad we didn't get entrances here, but I prefer more of the match. Referee giving instructions to both wrestlers.

Both not in a hurry to lockup. The Polar Bear is here for this match! You know it's a big show when the Polar Bear is in the rabid tecnico fan section. Feeling each other out, lockup, Park with a front facelock. Holding it. Ultimo get a single leg to reverse, and cranks the leg. Park reversed, rolls on to Ultimo's back and puts him in a chinlock. This overhead camera angle isn't very good for this type of action. Ultimo rolls Park on to his back, but his shoulder aren't down. Break. We take a look at the big crowd. Ultimo trying for a cross armbreaker as we turn back, but Park's blocking it, keeping his arm from being extended. Ultimo tries a headscissors from the mat, but Park slips free. Park hooks Ultimo in a reverse bodyscissors and rolls to the side for a sunset flip cradle, one two no. Ultimo trying the deep leg hook, one two Park reverse one reversed one two NO. Ultimo's sent back and to his feet, and tries to dive back onto Park, but Park moves out of the way. Park dives at Ultimo, Ultimo moves, and we have a standoff. Crowd loud for Park. Feeling each other. Lockup? No, Ultimo gets a wristlock. Park gets a double wristlock and takes control. Monkey flip, but Park holds on, and both sets of shoulders are done. One two shoulders up! Both guys roll back at each other, Ultimo trying another headscissors from the mat but getting pushed away. Ultimo instead takedown Park, rolls him backwards (Park headstands in the process), tries a hipblock takeover (Park lands on his feet) and gets armdrag. Ultimo right back up with a clothesline. Waiting for Park to get up, but maybe that was a bad idea; Park reverses a clothesline into a standing crucifix submission. That's it, instantly. (2:48) Replays and break.

Guys come out running for the second fall. Ultimo off the ropes, over Park, stop short and chopping. Ultimo gets the worse of that, being sent into the corner. STRUT! Park turns back to Ultimo and gets a boot. Ultimo out, but Park armdrags him. Park charges Ultimo, and gets tossed to the top rope - and comes back with a top rope headscissors. Park with a very loose powerslam one two NO. Park saying this is it! Waiting for Ultimo to get up, and then going for the reverse bodyscissors powerbomb! Ultimo manages to slip out, and rushes to the corner. Up top the second rope, but Park meets him there with chest slaps. Ultimo fights him off, and drops him with a second rope front suplex one two three! (1:05) That was sorta short, but okay. Replays of the finish. This fall was short enough, there's no need for a break - but we can do ads by zooming in on the new floor.

This is it. Crowd reaction pose off. Ultimo lets it go four times before attacking Park with chest slaps. Park turns it around in the corner, and really lets Ultimo have it. Uno dos tres quatro cinco seis STRUT. Ultimo tries a clothesline, Park ducks, Park gets in a boot, rolls over Ultimo's back, sweeps the leg, and lands a springboard somersault senton one two NO. Look at the crowd. Park is working over Ultimo in the opposite corner with chops. Park calling for the end again, as he sets up Ultimo on the top rope. Topre rope 'rana is almost immediately blocked, Ultimo locks his hands and superbombs Park to the mat! Park had his head dangerously down the moment before Ultimo went for the powerbomb, and that could've been extremely painful. One two (Mephisto grabs Park's leg to hold him down!) NO! Both guys slow up, so I wonder if we've missed some action here. Both guys really slow up. Park standing first. Charging Ultimo in the corner, and getting set on the top rope. Ultimo tries to chest slap him up there, but Park blocks it with a kick and kicks Ultimo down. Top rope moonsault bodyblock! One two NO! Slow count there. Park calling for something. Doing quite a bit of posing. Reverse bodyscissors powerbomb! One two NO! Park can not believe it! He's really upset about this. Look at the crowd. Park heading up - but he gets crotched by Ultimo. Nice that they finally show ups the match. GUERRERO SPECIAL! Park got splattered  on that one! One two NO! Mephisto, angered at that count, throws his towel at the ref. The ref throws the towel back, and warns him to stop the hennaing. Both guys up - Ultimo reverse bodyscissors powerbomb! One two THREE! (5:10) Yea, they cut this fall in half, that's disappointing. It was good, but this turned in to an exhibition of big moves and kickouts than a dramatic final fall. Rudos celebrate. Park has to be helped by the doctor - I think he was hurting after that Guerrero Special. Ultimo gets his belt back on. Many replays of the finish.

Match 4: Canek vs Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs Universo 2000 vs Dr. Wagner Jr. in a mask match
Arena Mexico, 09/17/04

Loser: Universo 2000
Match Time: 13:41
Approx Rating: Memorable, but not especially great.

Why This Match Is Important: Duh.

Other Match Notes: We get entrances! Canek is in full Mayan gear, and accompanied by el Hijo del Canek. Canek gets microphone time to introduce his kid, who will be debuting in CMLL soon after this. Rayo gets spinny fireworks. Rayo's got extra special gear. They play a movie of Universo horse riding on the white entrance sheet, but it doesn't turn out well. He's doing rope tricks! This is quite unique. Ah, of course, he comes thru the screen as his fireworks go off. They mention him beating Pierroth, as well as piledriving Rayo and Perro Sr. at various times. Dr. Wagner's Bad Medicine starts with an ambulance siren, awesome. You can hear Wagner getting cheers. Rudos attack before the bell, of course, and we're off.

Everyone in the ring and brawling, tecnicos turning it around by reversing whips and sending Universo and Wagner into each other. Rudos turn it back around, by shaking off the tecnicos when they go for bulldogs. Let's start the mask ripping! Rayo's getting his eye holes enlarges, once again. Same for Canek. They're sticking with the rival match ups. Universo's feeling good , going to the top rope early! Top rope splash on Rayo one two NO! Look at the crowd. Universo all the way up, top rope splash, but Canek moves! Don't know where Rayo and Universo have gone. Canek covers one two NO. Canek clotheslines Wagner out, but gets attacked from behind by Universo. He's going for the Black Hammer - and you'll not the ref is telling him not to do it - but Rayo breaks it up. Rayo going after Universo's mask in revenge. Announcers don't seem sure what would happen if a disqualification took place right now. Rayo whip, head down too soon, Universo small package one two NO. Universo clothesline, Rayo reveres it into a crucifix rollup one two NO. Rayo pushes Universo in the corner and works him over with a chest slap. Bulldog is shoved off, Rayo goes for the reverse tope, Universo has see that and moves out of the way. One two NO. Universo works over Rayo with kicks and chest slaps. Whip, head own too soon, and Rayo slaps him in the back. Ray powerbomb one two THREE. (4:00) Yea, this got clipped too. Rayo's pumped. Universo kicked out at 3.00000000001 there. Rayo leaves to a Rayo chant. Break. (4:34)

Canek has Wagner covered as we return. One two no. Canek with a gutwrench suplex, one two NO. Canek had to work for that one. Tecnico announcer wants Universo vs Wagner very badly. Canek small package one two NO. Canek with a grounded crucifix one two t-NO. Universo's disappeared; not sure if he's eligible to pick a pinfall here. Wagner trying to get his breath back - and Canek inside cradles him, one two NO! Both slow up but this time, it's Wagner who takes advantage with a reverse rollup and back bridge. Both sets of shoulders down - one two NO. Wagner smashes Canek with a dropkick to the had, and he rolls out right in front of Universo. Universo's got no problem working him over. Senton on the floor! Lots of stomps. Are they counting Canek out? Universo getting warned not to interfere, so he must not be eligible until some one else comes in. Universo picks up Canek and throws him back in. Wagner's sorta conflicted. Slam. Wagner feeling it, and heading up. Top rope  - no, Canek tosses him off! Canek came back awful quick here. Wagner to the other corner, , Canek comes to grab him, Wagner small package one two THREE (7:48) Wagner is thrilled and relieved. Universo wastes no time in covering Canek, but we waste time seeing it. One two NO! Universo wants a faster count, as you might expect. Wagner's getting a strong face reaction. Universo gives a corner whip, and a running shoulder to Canek's midsection. Wagner is doing the Wagner pose on the ramp. Universo tries another running shoulder, and spears the post. Universo slowly making his way back in the ring, and meat by Canek with punches. Suplex in - no, no, yes. Looks like he had trouble bringing him over. One two NO. Whip, Canek puts his head down too son, Universo with a small package one two NO. Universo with a reverse bodyscissors into a sunset flip cradle one two NO. Slapping Canek on the back again. Camel Clutch into a pin one two NO. Universo with a slam. He's calling for it. Senton. Now he's going up? Being very careful. Top rope splash but Canek rolled out of the way! Canek covers one two NO. No reaction on the kickout there. Canek and Universo up. Universo charges, and Canek backdrops him. Short clothesline. Clothesline. Cover one two NO! Universo knocks Canek down, and starts to head up. Very slow. Looking at the crowd too much - and getting armdrag down. Canek holds on, and maneuver Universo into the Rings of Canek! Will Universo give? Mascara Aņo 2000, Cien Caras, and the Old Man In Black are out. There's been no cornerman in this match, but I kinda figured they'd make an appearance. Canek lets go to confront them.  The Old Man threatens to hit people with his cane, and the group is warned away from interfering. Uh oh, Canek's not paying any attention and Universo is getting back up. Universo with a kick, BLACK HAMMER! Universo tapped the referee on the way down, and he turned around to see Canek's head get piledriven! Universo puts on a half crab, the referee tapes him on the shoulder, Universo celebrates, and the referee goes over to Canek, and raises his arm! That's it. (13:41) Universo realizes what happened and wants the referee dead. Universo complains, but the referee is sure that's a piledriver. Confetti and fireworks ad a loud face pop for the reaction. The doctor is in to check on Canek, who still hasn't moved a minute later. Universo has got the microphone to complain it was no piledriver, but the referee is not changing his mind. Universo argues for a long time, but no one's opinion changes.  Canek sits up, and Universo stomps him. Universo yells at the people, yells at the commissioners. They start to untie Universo's mask, he starts to leave, and they warn him no to to. So Universo takes it off himself, and levels the referee! Stomps, taking the referee to the floor, and beating him up there. Back in, and beating up Canek. Universo leaves the mark and stalks off. They give his real name, Universo Dos Mil, after he's left. Replays of the hammer, and we break.

Join the Atlantis fan club! No, really. I'm not taking down the address.

Next Week: Shocker, Atlantis, Terrible, Tarzan Boy, Mistico, Olimpico, Brazo de Plata, Rey Bucanero, Volador Jr., Sagrado.

A couple more replays, and we're out.