CMLL Mexico: 2016-08-02 

Recapped: 08/02/2016

What happened: Máximo kept the heavyweight championship over Rey Escorpión. Dragon Rojo & Guerrero Maya feuded.

What was good: The last three matches were all enjoyable. Avoid the first half of the card.

Where can I watch it: It’s on CMLL’s channel.

Match 1: Acero & Eléctrico vs Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Universo 2000
Arena México, 08/02/2016

  1. rudos
    • Pequeño Nitro splash Eléctrico (5:09)
    • Pequeño Universo senton Acero (5:29)
  2. técnicos
    • Eléctrico huracanrana Pequeño Universo (3:23)
    • Acero suastica Pequeño Nitro (3:35)
  3. tecnicos
    • Acero snap mare Pequeño Universo (3:50)
    • Eléctrico springboard elbow drop (4:15)

Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 13:19

Review: [bad] The less said the better. Pequeño Universo takes all my criticism about the women’s match looking not enough like a fight, and does all the moves even slower. The way he ended the match was Pequeño Nitro was mailing this one in big time, though it’s not like anyone really did all that much. Everyone was just walking around.

at no time was Pequeno Universo ever taking this move
at no time was Pequeno Universo ever taking this move

Match 2: Leono, Magnus, Oro Jr. vs Canelo Casas, Metálico, Nitro
Arena México, 08/02/2016

  1. técnicos
    • Oro Jr. moonsault bodyblock Canelo Casas (7:46)
    • Magnus senton con giro Metálico (8:03)
  2. rudos
    • Canelo Casas release half nelson suplex Magnus (6:18)
    • Nitro piledriver Leono (6:27)
  3. rudos
    • Metálico powerbomb Oro Jr. (4:05)

Winner: rudos (2/3)
Match Time: 18:35

Review: [ok] way too long match that probably gets a better grade than it should because I stopped caring and check out. These rudos love to do all the moves that should be disqualifications for cheap heat, but the heat fades away pretty quick. Oro and Canelo looked as tentative as always. Magnus spent a lot of time watching from the apron.

random Magnus GIF
random Magnus GIF

Match 3: Hombre Bala Jr., Soberano Jr., Tritón vs Disturbio, Skándalo, Virus
Arena México, 08/02/2016

  1. rudos
    • Triton guillotine legdrop Skandalo (5:22)
    • Distubrio double knee smash Soberano Jr. (6:01)
    • Virus modified figure four Hombre Bala Jr. (6:18)
  2. técnicos
    • Hombre Bala ramp dive splash Virus (3:27)
  3. rudos
    • Skandalo Driver Triton (3:37)

Winner: rudos (1/3)
Match Time: 13:22

Review: [ok] match was building well and then there was a Skandalo Driver and it was over. The técnicos looked really good, which made it all the more frustrating they got lost and got less time than the last match. The sudden end did play into the pattern of having different/creative finishes, and I really liked how they used the Hombre Bala ramp splash as a finish this time. Skandalo wasn’t even a big obstacle until they lost. This was a missed opportunity.

Match 4: Ángel de Oro, Guerrero Maya Jr., Titán vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Luciferno, Pólvora
Arena México, 08/02/2016

  1. rudos
    • Dragon Bomb on Guerrero Maya (5:04)
    • Luciferno Clash on Titan (5:22)
  2. técnicos
    • Guerrero Maya inverted tope Luciferno (3:07)
    • Titan modified figure four Dragon Rojo (3:08)
  3. técnicos
    • Titan Inmortal Cradle Luciferno (8:05)
    • Guerrero Maya huracanrana Dragon Rojo (9:01)

Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 17:31
Notes: Guerrero Maya & Dragon Rojo feuded. Dragon Rojo was limping a bit in the second half of this match.

Review: [good] exciting trios match with everyone putting forth a very strong effort for a Tuesday show. The crowd was at it’s loudest as this match got going, and normally middling rudos Pólvora & Lucifierno worked up to the level of the técnicos in this match. Guerrero Maya & Dragon Rojo may be feuding simply to be feuding, but that gave this match a direction and intensity it might not have otherwise had, and a finish that played off the first fall unlike what we usually get at this part. This was better than the title match for me.

 

Match 5: Dragón Lee, Johnny Idol, Valiente vs Cavernario, Okumura, Sam Adonis
Arena México, 08/02/2016

  1. técnicos
    • Valiente Buster on Okumura (5:17)
    • Johnny Idol quebrada Cavernario (5:30)
  2. rudos
    • Sam Adonis top rope splash Johnny Idol (6:32)
    • Barbaro Cavernario pump splash Valiente (6:45)
  3. tecnicos
    • Dragon Lee double stomp Sam Adonis (2:53)

Winner: tecnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 15:08
Notes: Okumura replaced Negro Casas. A dive train breaks out late, and Sam Adonis waits on the middle rope for his turn for a while. And a while longer. And when he’s finally got people ready to catch him, Dragon Runs over, trips him up, and gives him the hanging double stomp.

Review: [good] Fun match with a good group of guys, even with out Casas. Johnny Idol and Sam Adonis fit in better in this match than the last time we saw them, though they it helped they had some good people to work with, and I really enjoyed the finish. Dragon Lee & Cavernario looked good and the crowd got into their spots (though not enough of them against each other). This wasn’t the A match, but there were still doing quite a bit.

Match 6: Máximo Sexy © vs Rey Escorpión for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Arena México, 08/02/2016

  1. Rey Escorpión sit down powerbomb (3:37)
  2. Máximo reverse cradle (1:06)
  3. Máximo kiss cradle (7:37)

Winner: Máximo (2/3)
Match Time: 12:20
Notes: A foreign photographer followed Máximo thru his entrance, oddly. Seconds were Skandalo and Hombre Bala. Máximo praised Escorpión after the match, who didn’t want the praise.

Review: [good] a well done version of their usual match, rather than something special for the occasion. Máximo and Escorpión broke out all their usual offense, and just missing any sort of story to make it feel special. Máximo seemed to go farther in his title matches with Euforia, and Escorpion’s recent match with Mascara Dorada obviously overshadows this. While parts of the match were well executed, especially the finish, this wasn’t exactly the standout match I hoped for.