Recapped: 07/30/2016
What happened: a Rey Escorpión (over Mascsara Dorada) & Teddy Hart (over Extreme Tiger in a cage) won Liga Elite matches, though “Teddy Hart” (in the form of Bobby Lashley) had already beaten Extreme Tiger.
The Liga Elite standings table at the end of the show either has a lots of errors, or they canceled out many matches.
What was good: Dorada/Escorpion is the match to watch.
Where can I watch it: It’s on my channel.
Match 1: Ángel de Oro, Golden Magic, Volador Jr. vs Hijo De Dos Caras, La Máscara, Magno
Arena México, 07/28/2016
- rudos
- Magno tornillo Angel de Oro (5:36)
- Hijo de Dos Caras top rope double stomp Golden Magic (6:15)
- tecnicos
- Golden Magic flying armscissors Hijo de Dos Caras (2:41)
- Angel de Oro mecedora Magno (2:45)
- rudos
- La Mascara campana Volador (9:12)
Winner: rudos (1/3)
Match Time: 18:12
Notes: Brazo de Oro is referee, making his debut on the show as a referee in a match with his son. He seems to be struggling to figure ut where to stand.
Review: [below average] This started bad and got all the way up to OK. Magno and Angel de Oro had anti-chemistry in the first fall, got better later on, and the finishing kick was very clunky. Camera switching still couldn’t hide how badly Dos missed his double stomp (and standing around doing nothing just drew attention to it.) They should never do the press slams into gutbusters again. Every time they lifted Volador to drop him on something, it was really too obvious he wasn’t landing as safe as possible. Kind of wild to see Golden Magic submit Hijo de Dos, even in just a middle fall, since it’s not a finish I’d expect to see in IWRG when they were both there. Those two being matched up wasn’t a clean idea the rest of the time, Dos was the worst guy in the match. I’m tired of seeing the stacked up superplex on every single show, and the finisher breakup stuff that followed it was so forced looking.
Match 2: Jinzo & Rocky Lobo vs Puma & Tiger
Arena México, 07/28/2016
- técnicos
- Jinzo 450 splash Puma (7:58)
- Rocky Lobo moonsault Tiger (7:58)
- rudos
- Puma Kingdom Rocky Lobo (1:50)
- Puma & Tiger mouse trap Jinzo (2:15)
- fall 3
- Jinzo suplex backcracker Puma (4:20)
- COR Rocky Lobo (4:41)
Winner: técnicos (1/3)
Match Time: 14:54
Notes: Tiger indicated he’s got a right shoulder injury after taking a Jinzo tope con giro. Jizno and Tiger go back in for their finish, and Tiger does not return.
Review: [ok] Disappointing match, with way more errors than you’d expect from these four guys individually. They just missed on a lot of spots tonight, from the first fall on down. Rocky Lobo seemed to have the most trouble, but no one got out clean. This get to OK only because they kept going, and because the last few minutes were more what I expected. Hope they get a rematch to do better.
Match 3: Rey Escorpión vs Máscara Dorada in a Liga Elite match
Arena México, 07/28/2016
Winner: Rey Escorpión (La Roca)
Match Time: 16:23
Review: [excellent] Mascara Dorada flying around and landing crazily, without a care in the world. This wasn’t a one man show, Escorpión was there to almost murder him repeatedly. Escorpion’s catching wasn’t so great here either, but he’s a more eyecatching and creative opponent for these type of matches than Mephisto and others. He seems like he could hang inverted off the ropes on the way out forever, and deciding to pull out an inverted frankensteiner was amazing. That was just one of the many insane landings Dorada took; the powerbomb is the one that’ll be remembered, but the moonsault block flip on to his shoulders (and near his head) was even more out there. He’s going out hard.
Match 4: Teddy Hart vs Xtreme Tiger in a cage match and in a Liga Elite match
Arena México, 07/28/2016
Winner: Teddy Hart
Match Time: 11:12
Notes: They are finishing checking on the cage even as Teddy walks to the ring. This is escape only, no pinfalls or submissions. The referee (Edgar) is not even in the ring, instead standing on the outside. This confuses Teddy repeatedly, as he tried to go for pinfalls when none are possible. The doesn’t appear to be a waiting period before escape, as both guys try climbing up right away (which makes Teddy’s confusion even more confusing.) Tiger has a chance for a win, but dives on Teddy instead. Teddy wins a few minutes later.
Review: [ok] just some moves, and then a finish. The stipulation didn’t help them as much hurt it, as they had no particular ideas on how to build drama and only did (or were allowed to) use the cage a few times. Teddy’s matches here just slow move exchanges and this was lots of those exchanges. When those moves are not moves done really well or really new, it can drag, and it dragged here.
