Hey, these are back. This is out of order from the TV show watch order but who cares, it’ll flow better this way.
Arez vs Belial vs Impulso in a three way apuesta match
(WMC @ Arena San Juan on February 26, 29:41, good, via +LuchaTV)
I’m probably going to be the low person on this match because match logic is a big deal to me and outweighed the action. I was so frustrated by the opening half of the match. So much time spent with two guys teaming up, than turning one each other when it didn’t really make any sense. It’s like there’s a timer the luchadors can see but we can not in the three ways, and they have to switch alignment as soon as it hits 0:00. There’s no more logic than that and it’s frustrating to watch – even more so when it’s elimination and there’s no reason to attack each other (maybe steal pins, but that’s about it.) Still, this did eventually settle down into something more conventional before the first elimination and the damage and blood leading up to it made those big moves feel more dramatic. I really liked it when it came down to Arez and Belial battling to service the last few minutes, though I think they were both so tired that it looked sloppy on it’s own. This was an ambitious effort that didn’t quite work for me but I appreciated the effort. It is getting to the point where I should probably stop reviewing three way matches because my reviews of them aren’t useful if it’s the same complaints over and over again.
Chicano & Veneno © vs Black Terry & Diablo Jr. for the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship
(IWRG on February 26, 24:07 [13:57, 3:58, 6:12], good, via +LuchaTV)
This was a rare all technical match, with need team event really hinting at being rudos and wrestling a clean title match all the way thru. Veneno is totally serious (probably too serious, maybe don’t need him bleeding off headbutts back and forth with Terry) and Chicano looked good; I was picking this one out more for the other two but they were their equal. There’s not as many highs and lows in this match, Chicano is somehow pinned after doing a move in the third fall, and the finish is typically bad IWRG stuff, but the action leading up that point a good use of time.
LA Park & Rey Escorpión vs Daga & Penta Zero M
(AULL/Klandestino on March 1, 31:09 [8:23, 10:16, 12:30], good, via +LuchaTV)
There’s a great bit of hilarity on insisting on doing a very traditional three falls match where you’re throwing entire rows of chairs at each other. This match seems to suffer for it by the end, as the match runs out of stream as the third fall goes along and probably would’ve been better without it. It’s got a usual LA Park screwy finish too. It’s great early on, with Penta get thrashed for quite a while and impressively so. He knows how to sell for those kind of brawls and set up the next big spot, something Daga is definitely not as good at (but obviously is going to get a lot of practice at as long as he’s in the indie matches.) LA Park worked hard, and Rey Escorpión is the right kind of partner for a match like this. There’s a great match here with a little editing.
Sky Man vs Saturno [MUCHAS LUCHAS CHAMP]
(Cara Lucha @ Arena San Juan on March 3, 20:46, excellent, via +LuchaTV)
Esto es lucha libre – Saturno shows up here, absolutely kills it, and then disappears into the ether for the rest of the year. Saturno’s been well regarded by lightly seen by virtue of the Guadalajara indies being barely visible, but this caliber of match should’ve gotten him and booked anywhere. It’s the kind of match Sky Man and Rayo Star were trying to have when feuding, but Saturno’s just a bit better than them. Just a bit insane too; I don’t know if he knew this was his best shot to make a name for himself, but he’s clearly throwing everything into it from the opening moment, trying to kill Sky Man as much as he’s trying to kill himself. Sky Man meets Saturno on his level, trying to fight fire with fire. The match breaking down into a scrum of punches and gouging on the mat feels completely earned, and that hatred seems to flesh out the match a little bit more than just seeing the spots. Sky Man comes out the winner but it felt like he survived a war rather than conclusively won. This one of the matches of the year to watch.
Black Terry & Diablo Jr. © vs Black Dragón & Internacional Pantera for the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship
(IWRG on March 12, 24:33 [9:46, 7:54, 6:53], great, via +LuchaTV)
I’m just going basically by date on my list, couldn’t remember why I wasn’t doing that before, and then realized it’s because I try to avoid seeing two similar matches in one recap. That’s the case here, as this is not that far off from the other Terry/Diablo tag title match. Those two play very slight rudos here, but it’s still a heavily technical match done in a similar style. This one had the big advantage of no Danny Casas, and I think the kids stood out well here. Diablo Jr. looks really smooth and has some great dropkicks, and Black Dragon impressed with his agility. I’m giving this one a better grade but there’s not a lot that separates the two, they’re both really solid action for an extended period of time, with a bit more drama in this one.
Imposible vs Emperador Azteca
(IWRG on April 23, 9:41, good, via iwrgtv)
This was much more of a crazy brawl than I would’ve thought, and one that gets better as it goes along (Azteca has a rough start.) I wanted more stuff in ring, but they were entertaining grabbing anything they could to throw at each other. This is a much more Emperador match than usual – no chair sit spot Imposible for one – and he shows some good life. The crowd is really loud for the finish, but it looked messed up, with Emperador clearly kicking out before three on a move that didn’t seem like the thing that would end a match. Emperador made challenges that made sense only if he won too, so it was probably not the designed finished.
