Recapped: 01/03/2017
What happened: Volador kept his title over La Mascara, and Negro Casas and Carístico have issues.
What was good: The last two matches, though the last one is more of a grudging acknowledgment than a strong recommendation. I liked parts of the tercera.
Where can I watch it: It’s on CMLL’s channel.
Match 1: Asturiano & Zaeta Roja vs Rey Apocalipsis & Toro Bill Jr.
Arena Puebla, 01/02/2017
Video: VideosOficialesCMLL
- técnicos
- Asturiano huracanrana Toro Bill (4:52)
- Zaeta Rojo pin Rey Apocalipsis (4:55)
- rudos
- Rey Apocalipsis suplex/ Toro Bill backcracker Zaeta Roja (3:07)
- Toro Bill el pulpo Asturiano (3:43)
- técnicos
- Rey Apocalipsis half crab Asturiano (3:05)
- Toro Bill Dorada Screwdriver Zaeta Roja (3:27)
Winner: técnicos (1/3)
Match Time: 12:05
Review: [ok] if the Battalion worked as much on their in-ring as their presentation, they’d probably be – stuck in just about the same place, come to think of it. Maybe I’m complaining about nothing but my own enjoyment, but I enjoyed them better when they were smoother on double teams than they were here. They didn’t show off a great ability with the técnicos, but then técnicos weren’t allowed to do much. There’s been good openers here in the recent past, but it always feels like it’ll be a great deal of time before the next good one.
Match 2: Arkalis, Millenium, Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Metálico, Policeman
Arena Puebla, 01/02/2017
Video: VideosOficialesCMLL
- técnicos
- Tiger Rojo quebrada Policeman (9:42)
- Millenium legs tied Arkangel (9:46)
- rudos
- Policeman senton Araklis (6:16)
- Metálico nudo Millenium (6:58)
- técnicos
- Arkalis reverse figure four Metálico (3:21)
Winner: técnicos (1/3)
Match Time: 20:05
Review: [below average] way too long and never much good. The tecnicos didn’t do much, but it’s really the rudos who took much of the match without doing anything with it. Not sure if my favorite Arkangel first fall spot was how he didn’t really sell the hold that submitted him, or if how he froze when Millenium was facing the wrong way. Rudos seem to really like doing fake breakups the past week, it’s too bad none of them have been done that well. Millenium’s third fall run was the only part worth watching.
Match 3: Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, Stigma vs Disturbio, Sam Adonis, Skándalo
Arena Puebla, 01/02/2017
Video: VideosOficialesCMLL
- rudos
- Sam Adonis Cattle Mutilation Guerrero Maya Jr. (6:47)
- Disturbio doublle knee smash Rey Cometa (8:29)
- técnicos
- Stigma frog splash Sam Adonis (2:49)
- técnicos
- Rey Cometa frog splash Disturbio (8:56)
- Guerrero Maya springboard reverse tope Sam Adonis (9:03)
Winner: técnicos (2/3)
Match Time: 20:21
Review: [ok] Good midcard division match, though it needed about one more good performance to make it work. Sam Adonis is kind of slumming to be in this match – I liked Disturbio, but he and Skandalo looked slow and not in his league. Still, it gave us more of Rey Cometa trying hard to spark a feud with Adonis and that’s much better than Skandalo and Stigma. The chop fest between them was meant with mostly quiet at the end, which was sad for them. Stigma also joined the bad 619 club. I didn’t realize this one was 20 minutes when I watched it, and I definitely noticed the last one, so that’s better.
Match 4: Ángel de Oro, Titán, Valiente vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Vangellys
Arena Puebla, 01/02/2017
Video: VideosOficialesCMLL
- técnicos
- Titan springboard plancha Terrible (4:12)
- rudos
- Terrible huracanrana Valiente (3:18)
- fall 3
- Vangellys northern lights suplex Titan (3:38)
- Rey Bucanero scorpion Angel de Oro (3:42)
Winner: rudos (2/3)
Match Time: 11:12
Notes: Terrible and Valiente end up too near the ropes on the second fall. Terrible is under them at first and Tirantes won’t count. Terrible scoots back, Tirantes counts, Valiente grabs onto the ropes just after three. Tecnicos argue it for a while.
Review: [ok] this is an OK just to move on. I couldn’t stay interested in this match at all, kept having to rewind to pay attention, and couldn’t remember anything that was done outside a few Terrible spots. This should’ve been cut from the show when they added to the title match, because no one much will remember it have happened anyway.
Match 5: Atlantis, Carístico, Máximo Sexy vs Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Negro Casas
Arena Puebla, 01/02/2017
Video: VideosOficialesCMLL
- rudos
- Barbaro Cavernario pump splash Carisitco (2:00)
- técnicos
- Máximo senton all three rudos (1:57)
- rudos
- Negro Casas foul Carístico (5:02)
Winner: rudos (1/3)
Match Time: 8:59
Notes: The finish saw Carístico shove Casas towards referee Edgar, Casas stop without knocking down Edgar, Casas spin Edgar around, and Casas foul Carístico to set up the winning pin. Carístico demands a rematch next week
Review: [good] liked this more live than rewatching it a day later, but it still seemed decently entertaining. Máximo, Cavernario and even Atlantis to an extent played their personalities up while Negro Casas and Carístico feuded (though not as much directly as you’d expect.) This was shorter than every other match but helpfully had less filler. Nothing earthshaking but good enough for the first match in a feud.
Match 6: Volador Jr. © vs La Máscara for the NWA World Welterweight Championship
Arena Puebla, 01/02/2017
Video: VideosOficialesCMLL
- La Mascara corner double knee smash (1:43)
- Volador backcracker (2:17)
- Volador top rope huracanrana (12:02)
Winner: Volador (2/3)
Match Time: 16:02
Notes: Skandalo and Stigma are seconds.
Review: [good] technically sufficient main event that I couldn’t imagine watching again. Volador seemed ready to do the Volador crazy spot fest match, and La Mascara wasn’t up for it. It was still the your move my move type of match, with La Mascara not really having his moves, or going with big Volador moves instead. The double superkick and the entry to the one campana try were interesting, but La Mascara just still doesn’t have a singles match of his own after all this years. He needs someone to go crazy or to bring their own story to make it work, and Volador didn’t do either of those.
