CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-11-18 

caveman is barbaric
caveman is barbaric

Recapped: 11/18/2016

What happened: Último Guerrero won Leyenda de Azul. Guerrero Maya and Dragon Rojo are feuding again.

What was good:  Everything but the opener was good, with the semimain being great.

Where can I watch it: It’ll be up on my channel soon.

Match 1: Fuego & Pegasso vs Tiger & Virus
Arena México, 11/18/2016

  1. técnicos
    • Pegasso 450 splash Virus (6:42)
    • Fuego huracanrana Tiger (6:48)
  2. rudos
    • Virus elbow drop Pegasso (3:06)
    • Tiger casita Fuego (3:17)
  3. rudos
    • Tiger backcracker Fuego (4:34)
    • Virus nudo Pegasso (5:09)

Winner: rudos (2/3)
Match Time: 15:14

Review: [ok] dictionary definition of an alright match, which was disappointing given the people involved. They worked down to the level of the opener, or at least to the intensity level. Virus getting mat wrestling time seems interesting, but it came off more as Virus putting Pegasso in a hold and Pegasso waiting for another one. It didn’t pick much from there. The third fall was the best, but the Tiger finish on Fuego was so bad.

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Virus will mess you up
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2 for 1

Match 2: Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Bobby Z, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora

Arena México, 11/18/2016

  1. técnicos
    • Guerrero Maya huracanrana Dragon Rojo (6:30)
  2. técnicos
    • DQ Dragon Rojo Jr. [unmask Guerrero Maya] (5:06)

Winner: técnicos (1/2)
Match Time: 11:36
Notes: Dragon Rojo and the rudos had fall 1 won, but screwed around.

Review: [good] On Informa, Guerrero Maya said the feud with Dragon Rojo with done. I guess Dragon Rojo feels differently! They were back to fighting the whole match, to the point of it costing Dragon Rojo when he really should’ve gotten the first fall, and Dragon Rojo finding a different way to cost him in the second. Action was a better than the first match, even if the lengthy first fall kind of meant too much rudo. Drone’s dive at the end was outstanding, overshadowing a good Rey Cometa. Bobby fits in this team, will never be made part of the team.

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super counter dropkick
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dives everywhere

Match 3: The Panther vs Okumura in a lightning match
Arena México, 11/18/2016

Winner: The Panther (frog splash)
Match Time: 8:59

Review: [ok] Panther learned a new move! Good for Panther. Panther actually did a lot more than most, and they had to do a lot because they didn’t really do any mat work to start. This match was really good for six minutes, and then lost a bit of steam with the repated topes (first one were good, the rest less so), but was a watchable match. Okumura drops people on their head in a variety of ways, but also took the Panther dropkick right on the head.

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almost didn’t make it
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Panther tope
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full strength on the dropkick

Match 4: Ángel de Oro, Dragón Lee, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Felino, Negro Casas
Arena México, 11/18/2016

  1. técnicos
    • Dragon Lee huracanrana Barbaro Cavernario (3:55)
    • Angel de Oro mecedora Felino (3:58)
  2. rudos
    • Felino elbow drop Dragon Lee (4:05)
    • Barbaro Cavernario Mammoth Kick Angel de Oro (4:55)
  3. técnicos
    • Dragon Lee double stomp Negro Casas (6:05)
    • Volador Canadian Destroyer Barbaro Cavernario (6:05)

Winner: técnicos (1/3)
Match Time: 14:58

Review: [great] Really quality semimain. Dragon Lee & Volador were both moving a million miles an hour, and the rudos were able to keep up. Negro Casas demanded to fight Dragon Lee at times, and took it to him when he did. Cavernario smacking Volador into the barrier looked totally brutal. Volador’s dive in the first fall nailed Negro Casas, and Angel de Oro’s dive looked very smooth. The final stretch was great, with the Canadian Destroyer looking more spectacular than usual. Not overwhelmingly great, but an entertaining match match.

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Volador tope
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things go badly for Peste Negra
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not sure how his leg made it all the way to the kick
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triple dive

Match 5: Atlantis vs Stuka Jr.Marco CorleoneLa MáscaraMáximo SexyDiamante AzulValienteBlue PantherÚltimo GuerreroTerribleMáscara Año 2000Rey BucaneroGran GuerreroEuforiaHechiceroKráneo in a CMLL Leyenda de Azul Tournament match
Arena México, 11/18/2016

  1. Gran Guerrero Pulpo Guerrero Stuka (7:21)
  2. Máximo kiss Blue Panther (9:00)
  3. Diamante Azul Escuedo Rey Bucanero (12:21)
  4. La Mascara double knee Gran Guerrero (15:31)
  5. Máximo inside cradle Mascara Ano 2000 (17:59)
  6. Kraneo running hip smash Marco Corleone (20:28)
  7. Euforia Nirvanalock Hechicero (22:04)
  8. Atlantis cradle Kraneo (22:47)
  9. Valiente buster on La Mascara (23:11)
  10. Último Guerrero Pulpo Guerrero Terrible (23:48)
  11. DQ Euforia [mask pull Diamante Azul] (24:34)
  12. DQ Diamante Azul [mask pull Euforia] (24:34)
  13. Último Guerrero powerbomb Máximo (25:37)
  14. Valiente headscissors cradle Atlantis (27:07)
  15. Último Guerrero Special on Valiente (34:34)

Winner: Último Guerrero
Match Time: 34:34
Notes: A battle royal set sides.

A: Máximo, Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Euforia, Rey Bucanero, Terrible, La Mascara, Stuka

B: Diamante Azul, Blue Panther, Hechicero, Valiente, Mascara Ano 2000, Último Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, Kraneo

Último Guerrero survived two straight Valiente Busters – which was enough for Valiente to win the Universal tournament over Volador – to beat him in the usual way.

Review: [good] given the participants and the outcome, this is about as good as this match was going to be. The format kept the match moving, kept the more problematic wrestlers out, and let guys like Hechicero and Euforia seemingly be in most of first half of the match (It’s hard to believe people in charge watch these and watch single elimination tournaments and still run single elimination tournaments.) There was some good some spots and some fun moments and not a lot of Mascara Ano 2000; he lasted a long time, but he was mostly just in and out three times before being put away. The last few minutes were so Último Guerrero – crowd knew the finish was coming two moves before it did because it happens the same exact way every time – but it was so UG that it was almost amusing. (And at least Valiente made it to the final.)

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Hechicero is amazing
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Hechicero knee
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Terrible takes out his booking frustrations
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Valiente tope