Recapped: 03/04/2016
What happened:
What was good:
Where can I watch it:
Forget the normal format. Dragon Lee and Kamaitachi killed it, again. They nearly killed each other. If you missed the match and are interested enough in lucha libre to be reading this website, you should carve out some time immediately and go watch it over on ClaroSports’ website. This is one of the matches where my other GIFs from the match are like the 15th and 17th most impressive thing to happen; the match was too engrossing for complicated activity like note taking.
The rest of the show was good and this was one of the better CMLL shows of the year. There wasn’t really another must see match of the show, but nothing was terrible and the OK stuff here was better than the OK stuff on other days. There was nothing really surprising in them but the action was good. The two matches setting up Homenaje a Dos Leyendas matches ended with fouls (and the side expected to lose the match winning), and Dalys beat Marcela to set up the expected title match next week. Everything lived up to expectations, which meant a lot with that this match.
The only really new developments are the vignettes continue to exist (even if I can’t remember to always mention them) and the Dinamitas kids continuing to look good. There was no overt moment of remembrance of Hayabusa, though there were moments of either purposeful quiet tributes or incidental indications of his influence in the third and fifth matches.
Match 1: Hombre Bala Jr. & Súper Halcón Jr. vs El Cuatrero & Sansón
Arena México, 03/04/2016
- técnicos
- Super Halcón moonsault Sanson (5:35)
- Hombre Bala Santa Maria Cuatrero (6:01)
- rudos
- Sansón assisted splash Super Halcón Jr. (4:01)
- Cuartrero one armed powerbomb Hombre Bala Jr. (4:30)
- rudos
- Cuartero inside springbaord elbow drop Homrbe Bala (4:28)
- Sansón guillotine legdrop Super Halcón (4:56)
Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 15:27
Review: [good] one of the better openers they’ve had on non-major shows, with both teams looking great and the limitations not really coming into play. Sansón & Cuartero are on the level of Bala & Halcón already, not just in booking but in the ability to have an entertaining match. Everyone likes Sansón, but it was Cuatrero who surprised with the inside springboard elbow drop for the finish. Hombre Bala is so underutilized, but he and Halcón had really good chemistry on this night. Worth checking out.
Match 2: La Vaquerita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dalys, Tiffany
Arena México, 03/04/2016
- rudas
- Tiffany short powerbomb Vaquerita (1:41)
- Amapola Devil’s Wings Princesa Sugehit (2:02)
- tecnicas
- La Vaquerita top rope elbow drop Tiffany (2:06)
- Princesa Sugehit La Mistica Amapola (2:11)
- rudas
- Dalys spinning powerbomb Marcela (5:44)
Winner: rudas (2-1)
Match Time: 9:57
Notes: Dalys demanded a title match.
Review: [ok] this seemed better than usual, but I didn’t expect much from it and didn’t give it as much attention as I might. The shorter time definitely helped. Amapola seemed better than she had as of late, with her spear and corner charge looking better. Tiffany was inoffensive until messing up stopping Sugehit’s dive at the end, and then looked very much not good. Dalys & Marcela had good intensity and their mathc next week will hopefully be better than the lightning match last week.
Match 3: Esfinge, Titán, Tritón vs Ephesto, Mephisto, Virus
Arena México, 03/04/2016
- rudos
- NudoVirus on Triton (3:43)
- Ephesto pin Titan (3:50)
- tecnicos
- Titan splash/Triton legdrop Mephisto (3:20)
- rudos
- Ephesto shoulderbreaker Titan (6:08)
Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 13:18
Notes: Finish was screwed up – Esfinge fell of the top rope when Virus was meant to give him a Rosa Driver, Virus cradled him as Mephisto gave Triton a super Devil’s Wings. They were both maybe supposed to kick out at two, only Triton did not, and Tirantes stopped counting and then started counting again. Titan and Ephesto finished it like they were supposed to come in and finish anyway.
Review: [good] fun match that derailed a bit at the finish. The action before it was pretty solid and I’m not sure how much it was the ref’s fault or if the luchadors screwed something up. Triton and Titan’s third fall dive looked great, and Esfinge’s tope con giro before it was a nicely done surprise. Esfinge looks better with these guys, somehow, and Titan and Tirton were on. Virus needs more time but plays off this guys well and rudos were trying more. Titan’s act on this show as the closest CMLL got to an in-ring Hayabusa tribute; he’s another guy inspired a bit by Sabu.
Match 4: Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy, Último Guerrero vs La Máscara, Rey Escorpión, Rush in a relevos increíbles match
Arena México, 03/04/2016
- Team Maximo
- Air Corleone Rey Escorpion & La Mascara (3:42)
- Team Máximo
- DQ Rush [foul to Máximo] (4:23)
Winner: Team Máximo (2-0)
Match Time: 8:05
Notes: Rey Escorpion wore an Ingobernables shirt. Rush fouled Máximo and shoved down the referee. Rush berated the crowd for cheering for kisses. Rush said he would beat up Máximo like all the Chilangos and dared Máximo to kiss him. Máximo got away and noted he’d already kissed Rush and Rush liked it. Máximo got attacked for that one.
Review: [ok] another angle of a match, but they don’t really need to do anything to build this up. Crowd is into these two characters and the idea of them feuding. The action was really good while it lasted, with tecnico Ultimo Guerrero fine in short distances and Rey Escorpion looking in form. The big match is going to be great.
Match 5: Kamaitachi © vs Dragón Lee for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Arena México, 03/04/2016
- Dragon Lee standing Spanish Fly (2:36)
- Kamaitachi top rope double knee smash (2:04)
- Dragon Lee Powerplex (19:40)
Winner: Dragon Lee (2-1)
Match Time: 24:20
Notes: Marco Corleone and Fuijin are seconds.
Review: [excellent] Again, I don’t know what to say. This was incredible. This felt like much more the gigantic explosion finale to the series, with everything thrown out there (and kicked out of at two) and both men looking like they had nothing left to give by the end. That they were able to pull off the third fall finish (better than the first fall finish!) is some testament to their endurance. The rest of the match was a testament to their insanity. You’re not going to see a crazier spot than the monkey flip off the apron, and there were about a dozen just as crazy (like the German right after it.) This was a slower paced match early on, as Kamaitachi meticulously set up Dragon Lee for violence, but then the pace seemed like it went out the window by the end – it was hard ot tell how much time had taken place when you were recovering from one bit of craziness and anticipating a new one. Again, they topped themselves and again I have no idea how they could possibly do more. I will say I kind of liked FantasticaMania better – maybe because it was a spring, maybe because the surprise of the result meant this would keep on going – but all of these matches out of this world.
Match 6: Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
Arena México, 03/04/2016
- rudos
- Cavernario missile dropkick Mascara Dorada (1:11)
- Mr. Niebla top rope splash Atlantis (1:38)
- técnicos
- Atlantis huracanrana Mr. Niebla (2:06)
- Mascara Dorada Screwdriver Cavernario (2:09)
- rudos
- Negro Casas foul Volador (3:52)
Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 7:39
Notes: Referee was distracted by Monito & Zacarias, missing Casas foul him.
Review: [ok] this seemed fine? Like back in December, there was no way they could follow the Dragon Lee/Kamaitachi match and they knew it, speeding thru the first two falls in particular. Niebla & Cavernario did a lot of comedy and I don’t think anyone really minded the pace. The Casas/Volador match will be good, but it feels like the Máximo/Rush one might be a little more over right now.
