Recapped: 2020-01-17
Matches:
Akuma & Espanto Jr. beat Retro & Robin
(11:22 [4:13, 3:20, 3:49], 1/3, ok, )
Avispa Dorada, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit beat Amapola, Metálica, Tiffany
(15:33 [7:08, 3:15, 5:10], 2/3 DQ, ok, )
Black Panther, Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr. beat Espíritu Negro, Pólvora, Vangellys
(15:56 [6:01, 3:21, 6:34], 2/3, ok)
Templario beat Rey Cometa in a lightning match
(6:58, super powerbomb, good)
Atlantis Jr., Kráneo, Valiente beat Ephesto, Mephisto, Rey Bucanero
(13:48 [4:55, 3:47, 5:06], 1/3, ok)
Diamante Azul, Místico, Volador Jr. beat Gran Guerrero, Shocker, Terrible
(9:48 [5:08, 4:40], 1/2 DQ, ok)
What happened:
Gran Guerrero unmasked Mistico this week for the DQ, setting up a singles match next week.
Vangellys & Blue Panther feuded but weren’t involved in the finish. (This was like the recent Angel de Oro/Felino issue.)
Amapola was eliminated in the third fall of her match but broke up a Marcela pin on Tiffany. Metalica suffered a leg injury near the end of the first fall (trying to catch Marcela’s apron dive) and was attended to at the end of the third fall.
Thoughts:
The main event was on the level of last week, maybe a little more since the tecnicos got to do more before they got to the DQ spot, but the same sort of match. The tecnicos did their hot spots late, Gran Guerrero powerbombed Místico hard earlier, Terrible and Shocker also picked up a paycheck. Diamante Azul has done that ramp clothesline for years but isn’t great at the timing when he starts it; everyone had to freeze for a few seconds to wait for him to get there.
The semi-main was a predictable match, though one the crowd comfortably enjoyed. Valiente connected very hard on his tope. Atlantis Jr. has his routine down and varies from it as little as anyone else in CMLL, but it’s still an exciting routine. Mije and Monito being in the same corner was an odd situation.
Templario lost Rey Cometa on a catch powerbomb spot, but they nailed everything else. Their lightning match here held together better from move to move. The handspring Destroyer looked great; I’d say to save it as a finish, but I’m not sure if the timing would be right without anyone beyond Templario. Cometa’s tornillo looked cool, and Templario gave him a big shot on the powerbomb.
The Panthers seemed to get the most of their match that was possible. That’s not a high ceiling, but they’ve got their bits down. Black Panther’s tope looked cool, Blue Panther Jr. is using his cartoon physique for impressive power spots, the crowd always gets behind the older Blue Panther. Vangellys & Panther feuding but not being involved finish gives hope a boring feud may go away. Espiritu Negro didn’t look out of place in this match, which seems to be the case when most of the first/second match goes up. There’s not a big difference between them and third/fourth rudos at this point.
Amapola & Marcela didn’t have anything to do with each other until the finish. Metalica’s injury dominated the rest of the match. The disqualification may have been a way to get out of it if Metalica couldn’t do the planned finish. However, that did not appear to be the situation – Avispa’s dive onto Metalica ended the match for both of them. Metalica being so hurt made it more surprising she was able to base for Avispa Dorada’s two great spots. This match was another Dorada appearance where she got in those two spots and no more. It wasn’t because the rest were doing exciting things.
There was no particular speed in the opener and nothing much to take from it. Retro did a big two-person slam, and the tecnicos never got in another move. It’s quite a way to make that move look pointless. At least this opener was over quick.