CMLL Puebla: 2016-05-16

still didn't work
didn’t quite work

Recapped: 05/16/2016

What happened: Marco Corleone defeated Rush in the main event (though Rush gave away the middle fall with a DQ.) Hijos del Infierno kept the trios titles.

What was good: The main event was the best match on the show, with the two prior make it just past the good line for me.

Where can I watch it: It’s on CMLL’s YouTube now, and will be on 52MX a couple weeks from now.

Match 1: Black Tiger & Millenium vs Akuma & Espanto Jr.
Arena Puebla, 05/16/2016

  1. técnicos
    • Millenium tope con giro Akuma (5:45)
    • Black Tiger huracanrana Espanto Jr. (6:03)
  2. rudos
    • Akuma giant swing/Espanto powerbomb Millenium (1:38)
    • Akuma powerbomb Black Tiger (1:52)
  3. rudos
    • Espanto Jr. top rope splash Millenium (2:57)
    • Akuma valagueza Black Tiger (3:17)

Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 11:12

Review: [ok] a Akuma/Espanto dominated match, something no one really asked for or wanted but it happened anyway. They got out quicker than usual, and it’s not like they were preventing an exciting match from Millenium (who didn’t look good) and Tiger (who’s on this show literally every week.) The rudos had slightly okay teamwork.

ouch
ouch

Match 2: Hombre Bala Jr. & Star Jr. vs Rey Apocalipsis & Toro Bill Jr.
Arena Puebla, 05/16/2016

  1. Batillon
    • Toro Bill backcracker Hombre Bala (8:59)
    • Rey Apocalispis Indian Deathlock Star Jr. (9:30)
  2. tecnicos
    • Star Jr. corner boost dropkick Toro Bill (3:28)
    • Hombre Bala rope flip Spanish Fly Rey Apocalispis (3:48)
  3. tecnicos
    • Hombre Bala Jr. Michinoku Driver Toro Bill (3:57)
    • Star Jr. tornillo moonsault Rey Apocalipsis (4:33)

Winner: técnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 17:51

Review: [ok] first fall really dragged, going too long with not a lot going on. The Batillon are best as a team, but their teamwork was more about getting their second involved than anything they were doing in the ring. Star Jr. didn’t have a strong match, but it didn’t seem to bother his confidence. This is an easy skip.

Star Jr. headscissors
Star Jr. headscissors
Hombre Bala dive splash
Hombre Bala dive splash

Match 3: Astral, Eléctrico, Shockercito vs Espíritu Maligno, Mini Joker, Saurón
Arena Puebla, 05/16/2016

  1. rudos
    • Espíritu Maligno dropkick to the head Eléctrico (5:53)
    • Mini Joker modified reinera Shockercito (6:09)
  2. técnicos
    • Eléctrico top rope elbow drop Espíritu Maligno (3:35)
    • Shockercito reinera Mini Joker (3:38)
  3. tecnicos
    • Saurón motocicleta Astral (3:55)
    • DQ Saurón [excessive submissions] (5:21)

Winner: tecnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 14:08
Notes: Saurón submitted Astral, but refused to stop applying holds until Pompin shoved him down. (This seemed to be a planned finish.) Saurón demanded a title shot and Astral accpeted

Review: [ok] This is a tough night for duso, because the ones in this one didn’t really impress me either. Saurón was also the least of all three, and somehow is the one getting the program. (He’s a long time guy with a mask, which might be a hint.) Tecnicos were generally fine but I’m kind of falling a sleep at this point.

wacky dance GIF
wacky dance GIF

Match 4: Fuego, Rey Cometa, Soberano Jr. vs Kráneo, King Jaguar, Boby Z
Arena Puebla, 05/16/2016

  1. rudos
    • King Jaguar pulpo Fuego (4:13)
    • Bobby Z dropkick Sobernao (4:30)
  2. técnicos
    • Fuego springboard splash Kraneo (1:52)
  3. rudos
    • Kraneo legdrop Rey Cometa (6:02)

Winner: rudos (2-1)
Match Time: 12:24
Notes: Soberano, in a generic black mask and outfit, replaced Super Porky. He was wearing a black plain mask and what appeared to be Mephisto pants, so he probably wasn’t expecting to work today. King Jaguar & Boby Z replaced Morphosis & Olímpico.-

Review: [good] the most fun match so far, with the rudos working well early and the técnicos entertaining fighting back. Kraneo was the star of the match, as he frequently is whenever Super Porky no-shows. This time, he got to bully the skinny técnicos around, and reacted well to Fuego’s usual bits. Soberano’s normal offense fit in this match perfectly and he came off as a star. Wish it didn’t take a no-show for him to get this spot, but there sure are a lot of them lately.

mystery man tope con giro
mystery man tope con giro

Match 5: Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto © vs Ángel de Oro, Stigma, Stuka Jr. for the Mexican National Trios Championship
Arena Puebla, 05/16/2016

  1. Hijos del Infierno
    • Luciferno Crash on Angel de Oro (5:20)
  2. técnicos
    • Angel de Oro outside in moonsault Mephisto (0:27)
  3. Hijos del Infierno
    • Stigma huracanrana Luciferno (6:26)
    • Ephesto shoulderbreaker Stigma (6:53)
    • Mephisto super Devil’s Wings Angel de Oro (7:37)

Winner: Hijos del Infierno (2-1)
Match Time: 13:24

Review: [good] A fine if not extra ordinary title change. We in internet land thought a title change was happening, but I’m not sure the fans in the building believed it, or got to the point where they really cared that much. That’s despite a good effort from those involved, with Angel de Oro looking particularly sharp. The match itself was very title match cliché (stacked up superplex!) but at least they twisted it a little bit by having Stigma win in a spot that’s always used as kickout. There wasn’t enough here for the match to stick out, but it was fine as a title match.

still champ
still champ

Match 6: Rush vs Marco Corleone
Arena Puebla, 05/16/2016

  1. Rush corner dropkick (1:39)
  2. DQ Rush [foul to Marco] (2:18)
  3. Marco Corleone inside cradle (3:35)

Winner: Marco Corleone
Match Time: 7:32

Review: [good] simple but strong match, with both guys doing only a few things but doing them well. They even had a story, with Rush not taking Marco as seriously as he should, punting the second fall, and paying for it when Marco outsmarted him. They didn’t a lot of big moves and near falls, but they sold what they did was done pretty seriously, looked good and fans were pleasantly surprised with the result. Best match on the show.

well timed clothesline
well timed clothesline