taped 2014-12-16 @ Arena México
Bengala & Sensei vs Apocalipsis & El Rebelde: [good] Do we have a Bengala/Apocalipsis feud? How random. Apocalipsis tried (badly) to use the ropes to beat Bengala twice in the third fall, and Bengala did the same to beat him for whatever. That and the end of the second weren’t the smoothest sequences, and those moments were the blemishes on an otherwise better than usual opener. Bengala looked like the best opening match wrestler as usual, and Rebelde brought his crazy energy. The other two were fine enough.
Aéreo, Fantasy, Shockercito vs Mercurio, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Universo 2000: [good] Some wrestlers do slow motion spots occasionally, but Pequeño Universo does them all match long. That’s dedication. Universo was as good as the other rudos playing along with Nitro & Mercurio’s games, but they still managed to do some of their usual fun team work and Mercurio had a new wacky walk to show off. Mercurio has become one of my favorite guys and I’m not sure when that happened. Match was fine second match stuff, maybe a little bit better than fine.
Soberano Jr., Star Jr., Starman vs Cholo, Metálico, Ramstein: [good] Better than it had any right to be and close to good (which is pretty much the case for all three matches so far.) These guys got to do more than usual because they were higher than usual and put together a good match. The expectations for Ramstein/Cholo vs Star/Soberano aren’t super high because it’s tough to expect much out of the rudos, but they did enough entertaining stuff and went with the young guys high flying moves well enough that maybe they’ll surprises us all. That stretch of time where Starman wasn’t on this show was a nice break, screaming wise. Metálico trying to wrestle in his broken pants was amusing and very unsuccessful. Metailco was better at working with the vet than the high flyers, and they worked that as much a feud as the actual one. Cholo seems mildly surprised when his offense works, as if being in a feud has given him superpowers he never even contemplated.
Blue Panther Jr. vs Sangre Azteca: [OK] Standard lightning match trading of trademark spots with not a lot more, only Blue Panther Jr. has no trademark spots at this point. (Maybe the powerslam? Nudo lagunero and armbar are really his father’s spots.) He does topes instead, and almost takes himself out on the second. Sangre Azteca changing himself up with the zombie mask on his return was neat, but his in-ring work could use just as much freshening. His trademark spots are well known, because he’s been doing the same couple in every match for half a decade now.
Rey Cometa, Super Porky, Valiente vs Ephesto, Hombre sin Nombre, Mephisto: [OK] I don’t how it’s possible for Super Porky to be on every single show I watch, but I swear it’s the case. This wasn’t a Super Porky Match early, but it was Super Porky making a completely random comeback in the second fall, then Valiente and Rey Cometa making their own comeback. Crowd was into Super Porky spots in the third fall, as always. Valiente’s tope in the third fall was one of his best ever.
Delta & Guerrero Maya Jr. © vs Bárbaro Cavernario & Hechicero for the Arena Coliseo (DF) Tag Team Championship: [EXCELLENT] Completely delivered as a match. The best match during Maya and Delta’s title reign and they’ve had some good ones. Hechicero and Cavernario just brought out the best in them, and brought out aspects to them that aren’t normally shown – especially in CMLL. Guerrero Maya Jr. was half in ChilangaMask mode, more aggressive than normally in these rings. Maya and Hechicero came off as if they had real dislike for each other, and Delta got into the act a little bit too. It wasn’t a big surprise people booed the result, because this wasn’t a normal técnico/rudo dichotomy. (Also, it should’ve taken a little bit more to put down Cavernario at the end, that was too easy.) Hechicero, the best first fall wrestler in a promotion which also includes Virus, does a lot in his normal matches and still finds a way to take it up even higher in the big ones. It’s been a pretty lucky 2014 to get him multiple big matches, but pulling out back to back moonsaults (springboard to the floor, handspring in the ring) stood out. Cavernario and Hechicero looked like beasts, even in the moments when Cavernario was not acting like a savage. Cavernario was great as another more aggressive type. Hechicero in general has forced Delta to be a more varied and complete luchador in the last few weeks. Delta wouldn’t have tried the mat exchange he’s done with Cavernario here and Hechicero in previous matches on his own, and he’s shown an ability to do well there when pushed. There were a few minor communication mishaps, but there were also guys just impressively throwing each other around and really good finishes in the first couple of falls. This was everything it needed to be.
