CMLL on Televisa - 11/22/08

Match 1: Euforia, Nosferatu, Sangre Azteca (c) vs Hijo de Fantasma, Maximo, Sombra (c)
Arena Mexico, 11/21/08

  1. rudos
  2. tecnicos
  3. tecnicos

Winner: tecnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 15:14
Approx Rating: Good
Other Match Notes: No entrances. Sangre has his belt. Refs are Bestia Negro and Terro Chino.

1: Mat pairs are Sombra/Sangre, Fantasma/Nosferatu (brief, Nosferatu out classed), and Maximo/Euforia (usual.) Euforia ends up with a bridging pin of Maximo, exposing more of Maximo's backside then we really need to see, and Sangre adds a dropkick to Maximo's backside. That starts the beatdown, which and the fall is over quickly. Maximo never got up after taking the dropkick, despite Nosferatu trying too pick him up to set a move. Nosferatu gave up and just pinned him. Rudos held Sombra for extra stomping and Sangre shoved the ref a little bit, but apparently not enough to get that DQ. 

2: Beatdown continues. Fantasma takes a low bow dropkick form Sangre. Sombra gets a double dropkick to head. Someone needs to see if they can work a trios match without a dropkick, just to see if it's still possible. Fireman's carry toss into a gutbuster for Sombra too. Maximo is held on the ropes forever and tries to get out without taking anything, but Sangre just wants to talk to him forever. This takes so long, Sombra comes in so he can take a backbreaker and picks him up. Fantasma in and kicked own. Maximo's walked 3/8ths around the ring for a corner whip, while Euforia takes Fantasma on the outside and slams him on the apron. Corner whip the man already. No, kicks. Lots of talking. What do you know, Maximo counters the corner charge and throws Sangre into the corner. Euforia tries kicking Maximo, and Maximo grabs the leg and holds him there so Fantasma can (eventually) add the flying into the ring DDT. Nosferatu took a headscissors in here too. Sangre lands seated in the corner, and Maximo gets in the running but bump. Crowd wants one more., but Sombra drops Sangre in position instead, and hops to the top rope. As he's getting set, the other tecnicos fly thru the rope at that corner for topes on the Infernales. Rope Flip moonsault doesn't have the most impact, but works enough for three.   

3: Showcases start with Sombra (headstand headscissors, front flip to the apron into a headscissors on Euforia, and pretty easily too.) Euforia lands right in front of Shocker and His Dad, who surely will sit in the front row without nothing noteworthy happening. Announcers make a "Shocker = Dorian Gray", and it's best to make that joke before his suit comes off. Sangre/Maximo comedy. The fun part is Sangre being completely baffled on how he could keep losing the exchanges. Hijo de Fantasma/Nosfreatu is rudo bullying, until Fantasma goes for a corner sunset flip, and completely misses. Oops. You know, I'd rather see that than the same crowd shot for the fifteenth time this show. Whip, Fantasma comes back with a spear (on Nosferatu?). Sangre powerslams Fantasma, Sombra breaks that up with a springboard legdrop. Sombra wins a chop exchange and lands a walk up the ropes headscissors to send Sangre out. Sombra runs up the corner for a dive, but Euforia dropkicks him off and to the floor before he can do it. Maximo gets Euforia with a waistlock cradle for two, and a inside cradle for two. Maximo aims for more, but Sangre trips him and pulls him out. Euforia runs over to help, but Fantasma cuts him off with a shoulder and a sunset flip. Nosferatu tries to break that up, but accidentally gets his partner. Fantasma has a nice dropkick, sending Nosferatu into the corner. Corner whip, Fantasma kicks Nosferatu way, then charge out for another sunset flip. Nosferatu counters this one too, and everyone's surprised there's no one there to accidentally hit him. Sombra is a beat late with an off the top rope 'rana. Fantasma tries to cut off Sangre with a clothesline, misses and Sangre lands the dropkick just in time. Fantasma grabs Sangre, Sombra kinda sorta dropkicks his partner by mistake (actually might have missed).  This leaves the captain standing in the ring, and they're so ready to go, they've got look at the fans for ten second first. Sangre charge into a big hiptoss to the floor. Euforia in and kicking Sombra down, but Sombra uses leverage from there to leap to the top rope, and leap  off with a moonsault to the floor. that flowed well. Maximo gets tossed to the apron, but comes back with a kiss. Fantasma slams the stunned Euforia, and Maximo adds a top rope frog splash. One two three, Fantasma walking on top of the pin to boost up into a 'rana on Nosferatu. One two three.

Interview with the fans, lineups, blah blah

Match 2: Toscano, Negro Casas, Mr. Niebla (c) vs Mascara Dorada, Marco Corelone (c), Hector Garza
Arena Mexico, 11/21/08

  1. tecnicos
  2. tecnicos

Winner: tecnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 11:34
Approx Rating: angle
Other Match Notes: Joined as the rudos while the rudos have already attacked the tecninicos. 

1: The rudos attacked Pato Soria in the stuff they clipped out, which would seem to not be stuff you'd clip out, but whatever. Shocker's taking off his suit jacket and is angry, but nothing of 's come of it so far. Normal brawling beatdown, except Corelone's giant enough to get his own comeback. And Garza just kinda walks thru the ring unimpeded instead of selling any pain. They show a replay of what we missed - Niebla & Negro attacking Pato while Shocker's away (why?) and Shocker comes over throwing fists. Rudos get away before he really gets there. Brawling. While Toscano (still with his shirt on) choke Toscano in a corner, the other rudos leave Garza all the way on the steps and walk back to the ring. Corelone pops back to life and gets them with a plancha on the ramp. That starts the comeback. Dorada gets Toscano with a spinning headscissors, then brawls with him on the outside. Negro sells being dead in comedic fashion, while we watch Dorada clothesline Toscano inside the ring. Rudos stall and regroup. Dorada goes thru the rudos with springboard spinning armdrags, until Niebla cuts him off wit a clothesline and dances. Dorada gets Niebla with a springboard reverse tope, which the crowd doesn't like, and follows him out with a springboard tope con giro. Dorada seems to be having mask issues. Rudos kick Corelone out to the apron, but Garza sneaks in for a backbreaker, then holds both rudos for Corelone's Superman dive. Garza adds a springboard moonsault, and that's the fall.  

2: Rudos in no hurry to start the second fall. Garza gets beat, then does his Koslov impersonation. Negro, who's been doing muscle poses with Corelone all match, finally gets a reaction off of Garza, but also gets shoved down. When Corelone and Negro face off again, and Corelone shows off his biceps, Negro smells his armpit. Corelone has learned to do chest slaps! Corelone has learned to kick Negro hard in the back of the head! That looked good, I hope it was just Negro making it look good. Marco also appears to be doing Batista's machine guns bit. Niebla eats the stone punch, Toscano the springboard clothesline. They can't help but to go to a shot of a women between each Corelone move, so you know what's the reaction is supposed to be. Negro gets Corelone out, but Corelone catches him on the silla, but Dorada tries a plancha and accidentally hits his partner. Garza tries a moonsault, and both Niebla and Toscano catch him and slam him. Toscano shoves Niebla for no reason, Niebla insists on grabbing Garza, equally for no reason. When Toscano goes up, Niebla shoves him off and to the apron, then goes up himself. Garza lets us know he's not dead, but Toscano crotches Niebla anyway. Niebla falls to the mat, Garza covers him as Toscano shrugs, and that's Niebla. Toscano gives Garza the stop sign, asks not to be hit, wipes the mat clean (best part ever) and falls down to take the pin. Garza takes the one foot pin, but not quickly enough - Negro comes in and attack his partner, and Niebla comes in to help. I think this is a DQ here, though they don't get around to calling it.

Toscano falls out of the ring, rudos give chase, and Shocker is already waiting to hit them as they come out of the ring. Negro takes one shot from Shocker, and then they skip ahead to Pato laying out Negro with one punch as Negro gets the better of Niebla in the ring. Shocker, Toscano, and the tecnicos end up in the ring. Crowd chants for Shocker, who takes off shis shirt. and starts after the rudos again, who run to the back. Toscano starts to talk off, then comes back as the tecnicos get their arms raised. Tecnicos corner Toscano, as Shocker comes back. Toscano waves for Shocker to come over here, I guess he's trying to say this was a plan al along with Shocker? Shocker doesn't seem certain of this and isn't looking to accept Toscano's handshake, and - uh, they cut out before the angle is over. 

Mr. Niebla contest plug. Shocker & Toscano shake, and hug. They're fired up. Tecnicos, bored, go to leave, but Shocker insists on them shaking hands with Toscano. Toscano even does Corelone's hipswivel to get him to come back. Garza has to think about his forever, but accepts. Corelone and Toscano shake hips rather than hands. I guess Shocker and Pato aren't staying for the main  event?

Stellar Moments
- Sensational: Marcela missile dropkick
- Combo: Lady Apache tripped on to the ropes, and Amapola adds a running sit to the back, then the backbreaker/facebreaker moves on the other two. It's like I recapped this match.
- Spectacular: Dark Angel plancha to the floor. They didn't tape any more matches, did they?
- Painful: Misterioso gives Mictlán La Rosa. Dragon Rojo's powerbomb on Valiente might have been more painful.
- Lance: Valiente Special on Misterioso.  

Match 3: Averno (c), Mephisto, Terrible vs Mistico (c), Dos Caras Jr., Blue Panther
Arena Mexico, 11/21/08

  1. tecnicos
  2. rudos
  3. tecnicos

Winner: tecnicos (2-1)
Match Time: 16:57
Approx Rating: Okay.
Other Match Notes: Rudo entrances, which is quick because they're in as a group.

1: How many different shirts does the rowdy tecnico section bring per show? Clipped to mid Panther/Averno mat section (Averno getting owned.) You know how to actually get someone over as a mat technician? Have one of these moves work, someone giving up "before they're supposed to" in a fall. Panther has Averno in a bow and arrow that's prefect there, but it can't work because that's not how this works. Rudos end up stomping a mudhole in Panther. Dos comes in and is wild kicks everyone, even though he rolls the wrong way to avoid a senton. Mistico get Averno with a springboard headscissors, and then doesn't really get enough distance on a handspring moonsault dive to the floor, but is able to push off the apron and hit Averno. Kinda hit the ropes on the way over, but Landed on his feet fine, scared the heck out of the announcers. Blue Panther beats Terrible with a wristlock (in 2008! there's another way to get a mat technician over.) Dos Cara's armbreaker did feature the pointless waistlock setup. 

Next Week: Mistico, Niebla, Hector Garza, Shocker, Mascara, Toscano, Averno, Terrible, Dorada, Volador, Negro, Maximo, Mctlan, Sangre Azteca - so they were thinking they'd get three matches on the air, I guess. 

2: Rudos in no hurry to start. Know the feeling. Mistico vs Terrible. Mistico notes the height difference, and decides Dos can try instead. Wait, isn't Mistico the tecnico? Terrible gets yanked around by his hair a lot. Mephisto purchased Perro's mad furry of strikes at the same garage sale that Garza got Koslov's stop sign., I think. Announcers discuss what kind of dog Mephisto is, if he's that totally bald. Dos takes care of both Mephisto (enziguri) and Averno (backbreaker), before getting terrible with an enziguri on the apron. Dos throws Baby Richard out of the way so he can pose in the corner. That seems a bit unnecessary. Místico/Averno starts with Averno walking out, and goes down hill for him form there. Both Mephisto and Averno are thrown around, and again we have boos overpowering cheers, only once he does offense. Nice extra spin headscissors to send Averno out, anyway. Panther is last, and eating up his opponents on the mat. Mistico and Averno end up back in again, and Místico quickly gets another spinning headscissors, but a springboard one turns into a powerbomb, and Averno hurks him up for another powerbomb. Rudos rush the tecnicos to prevent a save, and that's a clean win for Averno.  

3: Beatdown. Rudos beat Mistico up to the stage, and Mephisto teases giving Mistico a martinete up on the entrance area., but Mistico fights free and falls on top. Mephisto switches to teasing a press slam off the entrance set, but Mistico fights free of that too. Mephisto ends up kicking him off that stage to the stage below. That's still pretty dangerous, though Bestia Negra will allow it. Mistico is left alone as the rudos beatdown Panther in the ring. Mistico fires up, walks to the ring, and walks to his corner. I figured he'd fly in the ring for something, but he rudos are holding Panther forever and just thinking about hitting him. No hurry. Mistico waits to do whatever springboard move he's going to do, while grabbing his right leg (which I think hit first on that dive, but he could be just selling it.)  Mistico gets brought in, and reverses a whip into headscissors on Averno. Rudos kick him down and out. Dos gets worked over next, Terrible biting him. Dos ducks a clothesline (huh?), and , and Mistico gets that springboard headscissors on Terrible, boosted headscissors on Mephisto, fireman's carry escape headscissors on Averno. Mistico topes Averno, landing safely in the front row. Other rudos are whipped into each other, and tecnicos make a star in the ring. Rudos holding, out, just long enough for Mistico to get get a up and over sunset flip sorta kind in the middle. Referee is slow count, one two rudos break it all up. Rudos take care of the other tecnicos and drop Dos for with a spinebuster. Triple middle rope swandive headbutt misses, improbably. Tecnicos get submissions while Mistico gets Averno with a springboard 'rana, one two no. They want this to be epic near fouls and it's not coming off that way to the crowd. Mistico crawls out of the ring, then crawls back in the ring, so they're a bit lost right here. Averno gets a powerbomb with his feet on the ropes, and the other rudos slowly repeat, but tecnicos all escape. Crowd chanting for Mistico, as he and Averno slide out. Panther shoulderblock Mephisto out, Dos superkicks Terrible out. Panther gets Mephisto with a tope, and Dos waits, waits, waits, any time now, Dos finally runs up the ropes does a plancha off the ring post. That almost took out Tony. Mistico comes in with a plancha on Averno, gets backdropped to the apron, but fights back with swinging kick. Springboard 'rana blocked and powerbombed, one two no. Mistico off the ropes, La Mistica, that's it.

Dos cares Panther on his shoulders, who cares Mistico on his shoulders. They go wit this for about three steps before deciding to bail. Only one Tony drawing today, just long enough for you to wonder why he's wearing two different pairs of sunglasses, inside. Replays, announcer promo, so he can tell us Lucha Libre is an art and a science. They do get around to getting over the angles from the show. More replays.