Recapped: 08/09/2016
What happened: Nada. There was nothing built for next week.
What was good: The third match was good, and the lightning match and the semimain was watchable. I was an easy grader today.
Where can I watch it: CMLL has it up here.
Match 1: Acero & Astral vs Pequeño Universo 2000 & Pierrothito
Arena México, 08/09/2016
- rudos
- Pierrothito moonsault counter Astral (3:29)
- Pequeño Universo senton Acero (3:49)
- técnicos
- Astral kneebar Pierrothito (4:28)
- Acero kneebar Pequeño (4:49)
- técnicos
- Acero springboard moonsault Pierrothito (4:46)
- COR Pequeño Universo 2000 [Astral barricade splash] (5:06)
Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 13:44
Review: [ok] I can’t believe they did the barrier smash with Pequeño Universo. It was set up by Pequeño Universo walking over for it, and it didn’t seem to hurt much at all, but it’s more than normal out of Pequeño Universo. They didn’t screw up much, but they didn’t much either – the other big spot was Astral’s moonsaulting into Pierrothito‘s feet, yet not coming anything close to them. I don’t want to think much about this match, and the easiest way to do that is just to write OK and move on.
Match 2: Estrellita, La Vaquerita, Sanely vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis
Arena México, 08/09/2016
- técnicas
- Estrellita tapatia Zeuxis (4:53)
- rudas
- Amapola Devils’ Wings Estrellita (2:53)
- rudas
- Tiffany reinera Vaquerita (2:42)
- Zeuxis La Roca Sanely (3:58)
Winner: rudas (2/3)
Match Time: 11:44
Review: [ok] This is another ‘whatever’ OK. They ended a fall with one of those often used near fall spot that almost never ends the fall, except this time it did. Maybe there’s hope for the stacked up superplex actually being a success someday. In a promotion where everyone beats everyone else indiscriminately, they’re making sure Sanely losses a bunch. They’re doing a lot better job of protecting here in making sure she only does spots that look good on offense. Estrellita had a bad night, missing by a great distance on a dropkick on Tiffany and being on a different page than Amapola on this cradle. There were moments in this match which would below the standard of a basic men’s match, but they did a finish I like so OK.
Match 3: Blue Panther Jr., Stigma, The Panther vs Fujin, Okumura, Raijin
Arena México, 08/09/2016
- técnicos
- Blue Panther Jr. nudo lagunero Okumura (4:17)
- rudos
- Fujin frontcracker/Raijin backcracker The Panther (2:49)
- técnicos
- Blue Panther Jr. outside in dropkick Raijin (6:19)
- The Panther corner springboard dropkick Fujin (7:08)
Winner: técnicos (1/3)
Match Time: 14:14
Review: [good] the extended play version of the now usual trios match between the two, with it going a bit better than usual. I’m ready to see everyone here do more than they’re doing, but this was still pretty worthwhile. Blue Panther Jr. continues to get better (though the headbutts or whatever it was he was trying in the first fall could be improved on.) The Panther’s tope is still pretty great, but now feels like it’s covering up for really not getting a lot better in the last two years. He started out much better, but Blue Jr. seems to want it more. Fujin & Raijin are entertaining as much for their personalities as their wrestling, and their wrestling was pretty smooth here. Stigma is the most variable of the bunch but looked good.
Match 4: Fuego vs Puma in a lightning match
Arena México, 08/09/2016
Winner: Fuego (La Guelaguetza)
Match Time: 7:50
Review: [good] The crowd was really dead for most of this match, which hurt it, but it seemed like a solid match for me. It wasn’t the usual Fuego formula match, and maybe they were waiting for those spots to react. Fuego instead broke out stuff he doesn’t do much at all – the ringpost headscissors was slow but cool looking – and they built for a dramatic finish. I was sure Puma had Fuego, but Puma just can’t get these sorts of wins.
Match 5: Johnny Idol, Rey Cometa, Star Jr. vs Kráneo, Niebla Roja, Ripper
Arena México, 08/09/2016
- rudos
- Kraneo running hipsmash Rey Cometa (5:35)
- técnicos
- Johnny Idol splash Kraneo (4:47)
- Rey Cometa casita Niebla Roja (4:56)
- rudos
- Niebla Roja middle Furia Roja Star Jr. (5:34)
- Ripper spinning slam Johnny Idol (5:39)
Winner: rudos (1/3)
Match Time: 16:10
Notes: Star Jr. replaced Super Porky
Review: [good] maybe another generous grade, because I’m not sure I’ll remember much of this match tomorrow, but the big spots were good spots and they didn’t really run into any trouble. Star Jr. really got the crowd with his moonsault, with his tornillo being nearly as good. Rey Cometa spinning around with Kraneo on his shoulders was amusing as well. This was perfectly fine stuff.
Match 6: Máscara Dorada, Pierroth, Rush vs Shocker, Terrible, Vangellys
Arena México, 08/09/2016
- rudos
- Terrible top rope splash Mascara Dorada (3:50)
- técnicos
- Pierroth bodyslam Terrible (2:11)
- Rush dropkick Shocker (2:23)
- técnicos
- Rush corner dropkick Vangellys (3:34)
- Pierroth senton Terrible (3:34)
Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 9:47
Review: [ok] a going thru the motions main event, lasting less than 10 minutes. It wasn’t a fraud, Mascara Dorada still attempted to tope thru a person, but it wasn’t really anything more than that bar minimum. It’s another one where not a lot went wrong because there wasn’t a lot to go wrong. Rush in particular didn’t seem to be putting much into it, and I’m not sure he was wrong. He didn’t seem like a guy about to be announced as a surprise part of the main event of an Anniversary show.
