WrestleHolics Video: Best of Los Guerreros Del Infernales, Tape 1

So, while I was in a tape buying mood, getting 5 episodes of TV I figured I'd otherwise miss (and which ended up airing by the time I got done recapping them anyway), I grabbed WrestleHolic's best of Guerrero Del Infernales 2 tape set. I haven't seen most of the matches and with Rey and Ultimo involved, I figured they'd be pretty good.

The first set of matches on the tape are from a summer 2000 CMLL Tag Team Title Tournament. Hijo Del Santo and Negro Casas had been the champions, but Santo hadn't been working in CMLL for a while, so they vacated the titles and planned to give them to the winners of a 16 team tournament. Two one night eight team brackets were set up to come up with the finalists, and the plan was for the determination match to happen on PPV.

At the start of the tape, Ultimo and Rey are part of the Infernales, with Satanico as the partner/mentor. They got slotted into the bottom half of the tournament. They're a promising midcard team who would be expected to perform moderately well in this tournament, but are not favorites. (You can see the complete tournament brackets and results at prowrestlinghistory.com.)

Vignette: Rey Bucanero and Ultimo Guerrero prep for their tag match by wrestling each other in a in-ring workout session, as well as working out their celebrations. They're going to be the winners of the tag team tournament because they're the best tag team, don'tcha know.

CMLL Tag Team Tournament, Bracket B, 1st Round Rey Bucanero/Ultimo Guerrero vs Felino/Tarzan Boy (June 30th, 2000 - I think)

While Rey and Ultimo have the same music as always ("We Will Rock You" by Queen), Felino and Tarzan Boy have the lights of Lite Rock with them. This is Tarzan Boy as Generic Muscle Face that we all must love. MUST LOVE. He'll see better days. Rey pops him off the apron so they can work over Felino alone to start the match. Whip, flapjack by Ultimo and there's the bell.

Rey boots Felino in to the corner, leaving him open for a running back elbow and a running elbow. Felino rolls out, so Tarzan's pulled in. Warning to stop double teaming is ignored. Double whip, Rey with a flapjack into a split legged faceslam. Ultimo prefers nice and easy stomps. Rey celebrates while continuing to ignore the referee, while Ultimo works Tarzan in the corner with much hair pulling. Hair mare, pulling him around by his hair so Rey can kick him. Rey and Ultimo work Tarzan over on the ropes, then give him a double whip and double boot. Rey and Ultimo celebrate, but Felino takes the opportunity to sneak in the ring. Ultimo sees the dropkick coming and moves, but Rey doesn't. Corner whip, reverse, Ultimo kips out of the corner but gets clotheslined. Rey tries a clothesline of his own, but it's ducked and he takes a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ultimo has an opening to work in a chop, but a whip and flapjack is reversed into a headscissors. Felino's now the one who's posing. Tag to Tarzan Boy, though the rudos are taking a discussion break on the floor. Rey comes in, and the open hand slap battle is on. Tarzan ducks one and hits a wheel kick. Muscle pose, whip, reversed, clothesline is sorta blocked and Tarzan hits a diamond cutter. Are the fans booing Tarzan Boy here? As Rey rolls out to recover, Ultimo is right into with open hand slaps to take his place. Tarzan's body is especially muscularly enhanced in this match, putting today's Tarzan to shame. Ultimo with a corner whip, Tarzan jumps to the top rope and armdrag Ultimo as he comes in. Ultimo is so taken by the preposterous armdrag, he rolls out. Tarzan is winded, so he tags in Felino. Rey back in for his side. He wants a handshake, but takes a single leg. Off the ropes, over, and Ultimo surprises Felino with a back elbow. Double whip on Felino, double press into a side slam. Double Fujiwara - no, they roll backwards into a double hammerlock! Neat. (3:05) Tarzan is quickly taken down 2 on 1. Double whip leads to a double flapjack for him. Double wheelbarrow suplex leaves Tarzan flat on his back, and they finish him with a straight jacket double boot choke. (3:33) Ultimo and Rey celebrate advancing. Here are the replays. This was a good one-fall tournament match. 66 (sliding tournament scale in progress)

2nd Round - CMLL Tag Team Tournament
Rey Bucanero/Ultimo Guerrero vs Villano IV/Villano V

Same night. Villanos have scary villainous music. And very shiny masks. They got here by beating Gran Markus Jr. and Pimpinela Escarlata. Infernales do not punk them out.

Rey and IV (I'm guessing - darn matching outfits with no markings) - Rey misses a dropkick, then takes an armdrag on ropes exchange. Another armdrag, and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and Ultimo has to come into prevent this from going bad quick, hitting IV with a clothesline, then back elbowing V as he comes in. Ultimo with a kick, underarmbar, V climbs the corner while still in the hold and comes down with an armdrag. V off the ropes, Ultimo's hiptoss is blocked, V's is not. Ultimo gets to his feet, shoulderblock, off the ropes but V takes him down with a rolling shoulderblock, I guess. Neither V nor the cameraman sees Rey coming with a missile dropkick to temporary stop the Villano tide, but a double team clothesline goes bad and the Infernales are on the floor. Villanos running - duel topes! Everyone getting counted out - let's watch a replay. Now I have no idea who's who again, thanks a LOT. Everyone slow to get in and no one's made it yet. Looks like the Infernales are going to make it, and so are the Villanos. Everyone's tired - Ultimo and (let's say) IV are in the ring first, and Ultimo clotheslines him down. Taunting the fans. Chop to IV, bulldog headlock but he's pushed off into Rey's boot. Villano with a bulldog headlock, but he's pushed off into the corner, Ultimo slowly charges in but IV kips up and out and Ultimo turns around into a powerslam (a bit slow to get in position) one two no. Meanwhile, Rey's walks right into V's crucifix roll up one two no. Everyone is slow now. All four in the ring, and there's the stereo corner whips, but Infernales reverse them both and (eventually) dropkick both Villanos down. Double whip on IV, Ultimo hits a back elbow, rolling him for a Rey bodyscissors to a double team face first powerbomb/split legged faceslam combo. Rey ties the legs while Ultimo pulls on the arm - that's a submission! (2:52) V brought in, and it looks elementary - double clothesline, double rolling legbars! Rolling back the other way for a double crab - that's it! (3:18) That was some neat stuff. Ultimo and Rey do their celebration we saw earlier - they practiced it for good reason! Rey and Ultimo's wacky submissions to end this make it a little better than the last one. 68

Semi Final (or Final of Group B) - CMLL Tag Team Tournament
Rey Bucanero/Ultimo Guerrero vs Hijo De Lizmark/Lizmark

Hahaha, the entrance cues get screwed, and the Lizmarks start to come out to Rey and Ultimo's music. Lizmark's valet cracks up as they wait on the stage for the rudos to pass. Ultimo collapses on the ropes to remind us that this again is the same night. When I say Lizmark, I mean the older one, okay? Dos Lizmarks beat Universo 2000 and Cien Caras in round 1, and Blue Panther and Bestia Salvaje in round 2.

Rey and Ultimo try going after the tecnicos right after the introductions to find a middle point of their earlier strategies. Lizmark is disposed, and Hijo takes Poetry in Motion in no time. One crowd shot later, we're going to end game. Ultimo has Lizmark in a double underhook facelock, while Rey is putting a standing figure four on Hijo. Lizmark's won't give immediately, so Ultimo and Rey look at each and strengthen the submissions - Rey drops down into an reverse figure four, and Ultimo drops Lizmark into mat head first. Both immediately give it up. (:31) Ultimo takes his sweet time letting go, but has just enough to celebrate with Rey after the match. Hug! Steiner pose! Rey makes the I want the Belt (not the belt I already have) motion. The post match replays and the Lizmarks acknowledging the crowd after the winners have left seems to go on longer than the match. No rating - way too short.

Clip to a (how do I say this politely?) valet who's current look is not beneficial to her aseptic appeal. Anyway, she points to the entrance, for it's time for

CMLL Tag Team Tournament Finals
Rey Bucanero and Ultimo Guerrero vs Mr. Niebla and Emilio Charles (August 4th, 2000)

Rey and Ultimo are seconded by Satanico, who looks oddly like Apolo Dantes here. Shaved head, that's it - he'd lost a hair match to Tarzan Boy recently. They do the Steiner pose with Satanico AND get fireworks. Emilio is noticeably limping on his way to the ring, something wrong with his right leg. Villano IV is their backup.

It takes some sorting out and myself look at a couple sources to figure out exactly how this sorts out, but I think this is what the commission, the ringside doctor, and Dr. Alfonso Morales decide:
- Emilio is too hurt to be cleared.
- Since Emilio can't wrestle, his team loses by DQ automatically
- Titles can change on DQs in lucha libre, so Rey Bucanero and Ultimo Guerrero win the titles by default
- However, since we've got to have a match, Rey and Ultimo will be forced to face Mr. Niebla and Villano IV
- This is NOT a title match

Emilio isn't happy he's not getting his title match. Infernales aren't happy they have to defend the titles. But is what it is. Ultimo and Rey get a hold of their new titles, and promptly put them to use, cracking Niebla and IV's heads. Ring the bell.

CMLL Tag Team Champions Rey Bucanero and Ultimo Guerrero vs Mr. Niebla and Villano IV in a non-title match

Emilio and Satanico are sent to the back as Rey and Ultimo work the beatdown. It takes them a while to get to ringing the bell. The Infernales helpfully fill by beating the tecnicos out of the ring. Satanico takes the title belts with him, to illustrate them not being on the line. Emilio is unhappy about being out and slowly limps away. Rey works Villano IV over with corner punches, then drags him over so Ultimo can throw Niebla head first into his partner. Villano IV out, and they work on Niebla together. Niebla's mask is a lot more impersonal here -fake eye holes will do that. Double whip for Niebla, Ultimo corner whip, Rey hits the assisted clotheslines, Ultimo hits a running sit on Niebla to finish him off. Ultimo kicks Niebla out as Villano tries to come back in, but he's quickly stopped. Double whip, double drop toe hold, double elbow drop. Double dropkick to take him back up. Rey and Ultimo celebrate because they are totally in control. Niebla comes back in but is still no match - double press powerbomb, and there's the straight jacket boots to the face. Niebla is no match. (2:09) Villanos turn - double corner clothesline for him, and there's the rolling legbars, rolling back into a double Boston Crab, and Villano surrenders. (2:38) Rey and Ultimo are dispatching their opponents with machine like efficiency here. Replays

Rey and Ultimo celebrate on the ramp as Villano IV and Niebla try to pull themselves together. They're still feeling the first fall, and the second is under way. Rey and Niebla to start - Rey would like a handshake. Niebla doesn't take it, so he gets kicked. Run into Ultimo boot. Ultimo antagonizes the fans as Rey takes Niebla down with a snap mare. Front facelock, then an armbar. Niebla tries to open hand slap out of it, but Rey takes him down with a kick to his knee. Ultimo in - double whip, double back elbow. Niebla rolls out and Villano IV blocks Rey from going after him, but it only leads to him getting double teamed instead. Ultimo holds Villano on the ropes so Rey can punch him from the apron - there's the illegal choke. Corner whip for Villano IV, corner whip for Ultimo into a clothesline. Rey punches Villano n the corner, then holds him for a Ultimo boot. Villano out, Niebla back in - Ultimo and Rey tell him to bring it. When he doesn't, Rey tries a kick - it's caught as Ultimo leaves the ring. Niebla spins him, whip, tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ultimo sees the comeback coming and cuts it off immediately by kicking Niebla down. Ultimo grabs Niebla and places him stomach first on the top rope - Rey charges and gets thrown up into a super corner splash! That worked so well, Ultimo grabs IV to do it again. This time, it'll be Ultimo doing the splash - but IV moves just in time and Ultimo gets posted. Now the comeback is on - Niebla is punching Rey down in the ring while Villano IV posts Ultimo on the outside. Rey tells Niebla to bring it on and gets kicked hard in the chest many times. Maybe he wants to rethink that - appears so, as he's leaving the ring and trying to escape in the crowd. Niebla follows, kicks him, and brings him back to get posted. Meanwhile Villano IV is stomping Ultimo down on the ramp. Niebla and Villano IV slip in to prevent a count out, but Rey pauses first to yell at the crowd before going in. Ultimo recovers and does the same. Rey and IV in - Rey want a handshake again and still isn't getting it, so goes for a kick. Grabbing Villano, but IV uses a kneelift (let's pretend it hit) and a step over headscissors. IV off the ropes, Rye misses a clothesline, Villano hits an armdrag. IV blocks a clothesline, is a little surprised by that, and hits a clothesline. That looked a little off. Hard knee strike to the ad on the mat by Villano, and Rey goes out. Ultimo takes his place, and immediately gets a standing spinning heel kick to the gut. Villano Cutter! Ultimo rolls out holding his head. Niebla tagged in and he's pumped, but he has no opponent. Ultimo back in - look to the crowd, clothesline for Niebla. Another look at the crowd. Corner whip, Niebla slides out, Ultimo slides out after, Niebla in, Ultimo in, Niebla loads up the slap, Ultimo protects high and gets the kick to the butt. There's the big slap. Corner whip, reversed, Ultimo hits the clothesline and tags Rey. Corner whip the other way, Ultimo charges into a boot and gets knocked down, Niebla charge out, gets a monkey flip but turns it into a tope on Rey. Clothesline for Ultimo, while IV clothesline Rey out. Niebla going up - moonsault to the floor! IV with a whip on Ultimo, armdrag, armdrag, Octopus! Ultimo gives! (5:57) IV out to help his partner back in. Will Rey get back up in time? He can't get up - he can't get in time. (6:24) Formula says "Comeback either leads to immediate victory or rudos take the fall", so this finish kinda surprised me. Replays.

In between falls, we have another chat with the Doctor about Emilio's status. He's still not cleared. Thanks for that.

Niebla paces the ring while the champions get themselves motivated for this last fall. Ultimo in - circle and Ultimo lunges to hit a clotheslines. Chop, corner whip, charge in and Niebla hits a boot. Niebla charges out, monkey flip but Niebla lands on his feet (and then stumbles, but we'll give a B for effort.) Whip for Ultimo, and he takes an armdrag. Niebla off the ropes, Ultimo tries to backdrop him off but Niebla uses that wacky top rope rebound armdrag. Ultimo is slide out, and Rey misses his clothesline shot, getting a shoulderblock. Niebla off the ropes, Rey tries to wave him by and slide him out of the ring, but it's only Rey who goes out, with Niebla managing to handspring the ropes to stay in the ring. (Except he didn't hit the ropes just right, almost going out through the middle and top rope but getting just enough of them to bounce back to his feet.) As Niebla celebrates not killing himself, Rey and Villano have works on the outside, leading to Rey getting slapped down. Their words escalate and they decide to take this inside - Rey with punches, but IV ducks and hit his own punches to knock Rye down. Open hand slap proves more powerful than all that. Release Northern lights! Oklahoma roll one two no. IV grabs Rey in a front facelock and yells - DDT! Seated abdominal stretch and Rey is in trouble, but he manages a foot on the ropes. Tag to Niebla, whip, Niebla hits a clothesline. Figure four! Rey's far from the ropes, but he's trying to crawl to them. He's got a long way to go, so he tries rolling it over - Niebla rolls with him to stay on top, but Rey gets the ropes. Niebla won't let go, though - he uses the ropes to pull him and Rey up and over the bottom rope, taking the hold all the way to the floor! No rope break there! Of course, no win there, as they're both being counted out. Niebla won't let go though. IV watches it, then spots Ultimo and beals him off the apron onto his partner! Tecnicos are ticked, and Rey's in a lot of pain. Ultimo is back up for his side, fighting Villano with chops. Corner whip, charge in, IV moves and Ultimo takes the knee bump to the floor. IV stats to go for a dive, but really pulls up this time because Ultimo isn't there when he wants him. Niebla tagged back in, but it doesn't look like Rye's ready to come in for his side - instead, Ultimo and Niebla have an open hands alp battle. Ultimo shoulderblock, off the ropes, Niebla handspring elbow but it misses - Ultimo just barely sidestepped it. Rey's recovers enough to come in and help - Ultimo holds Niebla, Rey off the ropes, and the clothesline hits his partner. Ultimo is knocked to the ropes, so Niebla grabs Rey - there's the Nelbina. Niebla gets it locked in, but before Rey can give up, Ultimo's back in and clotheslining Niebla out of the ring. IV tries to counter himself, but his dropkick is sidestepped. Ultimo hits a high dropkick with help from Rey, then boosts Rey up for a suicide flying double axhandle on both the tecnicos. The count out is on - but is Ultimo going up? OUT OF CONTROL CORKSCREW PLANCHA ON EVERYONE! That was a completely out of character and an out of control dive - the referee is quickly out after him because there's legitimate concern about his left arm. Everyone getting counted out now. Rey stops to check on his partner but comes in, as does Niebla. Rey charge at Niebla misses a clothesline, under the leapfrog and right into a monkey flip to the floor! Thank god Ultimo got up and caught him on the way down, or that would've been it. Niebla is pumped - Villanos sizing them up. This time he's going for the suicide tope for real - and it connects on Rey. Niebla is pumped, but perhaps uncertain about what he should do. He looks to the fan for encouragement? Off the ropes, TOPE but it hits IV! IV is sent into the legs of the front row people, and Rey and Ultimo quickly give Niebla a flapjack, face first on the apron. Villano is rudely thrown back in by the champions - double whip, Ultimo back elbow. Rey picks him up - there's the face first powerbomb/split legged faceslam. Rey with the standing Indian deathlock and Ultimo with the inverted surfboard - IV gives! (6:36) Rey and Ultimo celebrate for a bit, and signal one more to go. Niebla crawls in on his own, but he's quickly met by Ultimo. Whip, back elbow, there's the double team face first powerbomb out Ultimo lets go and goes to celebrate to soon - Niebla reverses into a bodyscissors, then into the Nelbina! Ultimo doesn't see it, assuming the cheers are for Rey's win - but it's all tied up! (7:18) It's only when Ultimo turns around and realizes who's standing does he put together what must've happened. He's quite a bit worried now. Ultimo spends time giving the crowd worried looks, then charges out with a clothesline. There's his Stretch Muffler, a trademark move but not enough to get Niebla here - he shakes loose. Crowd going nutty for Niebla right now - Ultimo isn't sure what to do. Corner whip, charge in but Niebla's long gone and Ultimo goes in chest first. Niebla slaps him and loads Ultimo on the top rope - superplex? YES! Niebla covers as Rey yells to his partner one two NO! Both are showing signs of this long match, but Niebla isn't giving up. Slam. Going up? There's a brief thought about it, but he heads for the moonsault - and Ultimo crotches him. Ultimo up behind him, GUERRERO SPECIAL! Ultimo wastes no time in covering one two three! (9:34, 18:36 total) Rey raises his partner up because Ultimo just won this match. He also kinda lost it, but let's think positive. Here's a replay of Villano IV getting beat, Niebla not getting beat, and Ultimo winning the whole thing. This was pretty matter of fact for the first fall, but got going by the middle of the second fall and all of the last fall. 91

Vignette: In the CMLL offices, Rey and Ultimo may have their belts, but CMLL Commissioner-Type has the contract for the match against Niebla and Emilio. It's still happening, once Emilio is happy. The Doctor is there to tell us that Emilio is now healthy. I love how Rey's wearing his face makeup for this, more even than Ultimo is wearing his mask. Rey and Ultimo say they may have to defend these titles, but they still are the champions.

CMLL Tag Team Titles
Rey Mysterio & Ultimo Guerrero (c) vs Emilio Charles Jr. & Mr. Niebla (late 2000)

This is the rematch of the match that never was, obviously. Atlantis is seconding the tecnicos, Satanico is of course with his pupils. We skip introductions and go right to the match. Champions wear their gold/red outfits, challengers opt for teal.

Rey and Niebla to start - they circle, with Niebla feigning attack via forward roll. Rey is not amused. Lockup, Niebla waistlock, Rey turns it into a headlock. Niebla breaks the hold and takes Rey down, sitting on his legs. Rey can't get up, so he pulls Niebla down, then over for a cover and a one count. Both up, circle. Lockup, Niebla with a armbar, Rey reveres, Niebla reverse with a forward roll an drags Rey down into a cross armbreaker. Rey is trying to block the extension of his arm, but Niebla got a good trip. That not working, Rey rolls it over, slipping his arm free to tie Rey's legs. Rey lets go, to instead grab both arms in pre-surfboard motion, but Niebla reverses to a headstand headscissors to escape. Break. Crowd shot. I hate when that happens. Hey look, it's a totally different part of the match when we're back? Ultimo is trying to clothesline Emilio but it's only getting him pumped up - enough to clothesline Ultimo on the next pass, and Rey as he comes in. As Emilio finishes his pumped up celebration, Ultimo and Rey realize that 2 is better than one and both clothesline him. Corner whip, Niebla flips his partner to the apron and kicks down Ultimo as he comes in. There's the monkey flip turned into a tope spot (it plays less interesting when you see it in back to back to matches), and Niebla puts the Nelbina on Rey. Meanwhile, Emilio barely connects on a missile dropkick - Ultimo wisely sells it, but no too long. Emilio off the ropes, 'ran! one two three and they finish at the same time. (2:22) Standard babyface fall win.

Second fall is about to start, but we watch Emilio having a discussion with the doctor and the commissioner, who are standing outside the ring. I'm not sure what this is about and, from the looks of it, neither is Emilio. At any rate, a second later, my tape clips to Emilio running out of the ring to attack a retreating Ultimo, and getting ambushed by Rey. They brawl with him a little bit, then turn their attention to Niebla in the ring. As the champs work over his partner (corner whip, clothesline, jumping heel kick, jumping sit), Emilio is now talking to the announcers. I guess he was in the neighborhood. Niebla escapes the ring, but Emilio to come in - we miss a bit watching a replay of the sit, but it's safe to say Emilio is faring no better than his partners. Elbow drops and a double dropkick seems to confirm that. There's the Steiner pose. Quick look at Emilio outside, and we might have had a mini-clip to Niebla coming and catching a Rey boot before it hit. Or Niebla is really fast. Rey breaks free with a chop though, and a slam. Both Ultimo and Rey head up to the same corner - double splash! one two three. (1:52) Emilio is back in and stopped immediately - double whip, double spinebuster, double crab. (2:11) When they get rolling there's nothing stopping them. Double splash spot was nice so let's show it again.

Ultimo and Rey talk strategy to start the fall, but move just in time to avoid a dropkick from Emilio. The problem is, while they're stomping Emilio out of the ring and to the apron, they've totally neglected Mr. Niebla. Niebla hasn't neglected them - running slingshot clothesline to the both of them! Rey goes tumbling off the ramp, so Niebla dive bombs him with a somersault senton!  Emilio splashes Ultimo too, and all for are down and out thirty seconds in. Replay of the clothesline, because it was pretty neat. Good replay shows it was actually a Thesz press that Emilio hit. All four back in the ring now - Emilio and Niebla go for stereo victory rolls one two NO. Tecnicos pause Rey and Ultimo with strikes, then are off the ropes. Rey sits down to pin Niebla on a bodyscissors cradle, Ultimo blocks a Emilio 'rana with a powerbomb, and they both put their feet on the ropes one two NO. The timing was a bit off there - refs had slightly different counts. Quick replay of that, then we take a look back where Niebla and Emilio are both doing that pumped up stuff - rudos charge and take tilt-a-whirl backbreakers. Niebla and Emilio try to high five each other but they're so excited they completely miss many times  - oh no, they're doing their mocking of the Rey/Ultimo pose, completely with Niebla doing Konnan's old Dog Peeing version. Niebla with a double leg for Rey as we take a long shot to completely take me out of the action. At any rate, it look like while Niebla's got the better of Rey, Ultimo is loading Emilio up on the top rope - Niebla spots this just in time and pulls Ultimo off on to his own shoulders. Crowd shot. Niebla with an electric char suplex, Emilio with a splash one two NO! Rey with a crucifix rollup on Niebla CROWD SHOT ARGH When we look back it appears as Rey and Ultimo have just given up on submission holds they were trying. Ultimo charges, 'rana is dropped into a powerbomb. Niebla with a shoulderblock, quebrada bodyblock but Rey's sidestepped. Rey grabs Niebla in a reverse figure four while Ultimo reveres a pick up into a small package on Emilio - one two three! (2:41) Niebla gives! (2:51, 6:24 total) Here's a plethora of dives they edited out of the version we saw, thanks for that. Champions get to wear their belts with out dispute. Satanico and Atlantis have words, leading to threatening towel snapping, but not much more. Ultimo and Rey do a post match interview to confirm they are the best tag team in the whole entire world. Rey says Niebla and Emilio are good, but they're the BEST.

This was a bit of a disappointment, with the clips totally mucking up the last fall in particular. It seemed like the pace was still better of last match, but the bits we saw and we didn't were so scattered it's tough to say. I can only rate what I saw, and that was a frustrating 81.

Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero (c) vs El Hijo Del Santo and Negro Casas - CMLL Tag Team Championship (12/15/00)

Rey gets the normal Queens music, but Ultimo gets his own lightning infused entry before they play the music again. Oooookay. I guess it's wacky PPV stuff. They're wearing the vampire collar outfits here. Wacky light job for them on them in the ring and doing the pose. Yea, everyone getting lighting bolts and an entrance video before they come out. Fans are thrilled to see Santo, as you might just expect. Santo gets smoke effects and doesn't have to waited for his partner. Wait, why is he coming out before his partner? Who can say. The dramatic lighting effects do not lead in well to Negro Casas' music. He gets a random blinking lights. The graphics introduce the champions first, while the ring announcer introduces the challengers first. They realize it and just cut out the graphics. They introduce the seconds, Felino for the tecnicos and Satanico for the rudos, but Rey and Ultimo point to the ramp and clarify for the ring announcer; they have a substitute second, Tarzan Boy. No sign of Satanico. Tarzan is helpfully wearing a CMLL T-Shirt marked "Second" and will hold the belts. On his way to the ring, Tarzan patiently explains to the fans that he'd be happy to deal with their boos right now, but Rey and Ultimo are calling him to the ring and he really must go. This is right after the turn. Before we can get any further, Ultimo and Rey demand microphone time - they are the champions of the world and someone should play another Queens song for 15 seconds to point that out right now. That's my explanation of why it happens, anyway.

First fall. Santo seems ready to start, and it takes a little longer to sort out that Rey will for his side. Rey is easily distracted by the Santo supporters. Ultimo asks them to quiet down, but it doesn't seem to work too well. Circle. Lockup, no immediate advantage, then Santo with an armdrag takedown into an armbar. Back up, back down with an another armdrag. Holding in that armbar on the mat, so Rey uses the headscissors reversal, trying to free his arm in the process. Santo is already trying to bridge out - headstand to negate the hold, and the kip out, nice. Both try to get to their feet, but Santo catches Rey in a front facelock first. Rey manages to spin out and tries one of his own - Santo spins, Rye spins with him, Santo spins, Rey doesn't spin quick enough and he ends up in a seated abdominal stretch. Santo works  a leg pick while Ultimo worries about an early submission. Santo can't get it tight enough on, and Rey slips out to standing knee submission. Not getting enough pressure there, Rey switches to a Boston Crab, but makes the mistake of not hooking Santo's legs under his arms. Instead, they're sandwiching his neck, leaving the opening for Santo to use a grounded spinning headscissors to escape. Break. Rey takes his time to get a new plan, a little bit worried about that lest scissors. One hand lockup - Rey immediately uses it to take Santo down into an armbar. Turning him over for a cover one two no Santo rolls out. Rey tries for a facelock, nod ice, armbar does work. Santo tries to armdrag, but it's blocked, and Rey hits an armdrag of his own. Grounded crucifix cover one two no - Santo reverses to a hammerlock. Rey tries to stand up out of this, and Santo relents back into the collar and elbow lockup. Rey slips behind for a standing switch, but can't get Santo down. Santo reverses to a headlock, but can't pull Rey down. Rey turns out of it to a double wristlock, then to a headlock. Rey takes a moment to antagonize the fans - he's winning right now - but Santo slips out and gets a front facelock. Rey uses a leg trip to get free, double leg press to hold Santo down one two Santo gets a shoulder out and uses another grounded headscissors to take Rey down, locking in the scissors to keep Rey from being free. This leaves Santo on the ground, so Rey gets another one count out of it before dragging them to the ropes. Rey can't shake loose of the leg vice, so he puts his feet on the ropes - Santo takes his time letting go, only doing so when getting a double wristlock instead, monkey flip and both men are pinned and locked - one two DOUBLE BRIDGE. Still the double wristlock is on - both men try rolling backwards at each other, with Santo getting the best of it but taking a follow up monkey flip from. At the 5:05 mark, we have the first instance of someone running the ropes. Santo gives waved into them by Rey, but comes right back with an armdrag. Leg trip, zero cover, leg trip, zero cover, leg trip zero count, standoff. Fans give applause - at least here they had five minutes of wrestling building it up. Santo wants a handshake - I guess Rey accepts but we don't see it. Partner change - Ultimo and Casas in. Ultimo is offended that they're chanting for his opponent. Circle. Lockup, a lot more violent one then previously. Ultimo with a waistlock, Negro is taken down but tires to get free. Lockup in the corner, the break is forced but Ultimo gives no room before laying in with open hand chops. When he finally is backed off, that gives Casas an opening to fight back, open hand slaps flying back and forth. As usual, Ultimo takes the cheap way out, and ends the confrontation with headbutts. Warning him? Hmm. Ultimo pays little attention -  head and arm suplex! One two no. Whip for Casas, Ultimo puts his head down too soon and gets kicked in the chest. Casas with a set of knees to the chest and a standing enziguri to the back of the head. Casas tags Santo back in - Rey covers for his side. Rey off the rope, over, under, into the monkey flip. Santo charges, waved by, and comes back with the spinning headscissors. Rey ends out of the ring, so Santo charges- - tope! No let down in the ring - looks like Casas just missed a dropkick when we look back, and Ultimo levels him with a clothesline. Corner whip, corner clothesline. Suplex. Corner whip, but Casas charges right back out with a clothesline of his own. There's the La Majistral - one two three (7:47)  Santo has Rey back in the ring and takes him down - Camel Clutch and he's gone. (7:52) Challengers have won here, and with their trademark moves - it's looking good for them. Multiple replay of the tope, or as others might call it "flying neck compression"

Tarzan Boy is advising his team on strategy as we get ready for the second fall. He almost forget his towel. I guess the straggly was let Rey distract Santo and Ultimo can jump him with a clothesline. Ultimo gets on a hammerlock now, Santo looking for an escape and ends up finding a headscissors. Off the ropes, and a there's a spinning armdrag. Ultimo slides out for his own safety. Casas tagged in and Rey doesn't want to come in - he doesn't like the way this one is coming. But he has no choice, and gets ready for punching. By kicking Casas first, of course. Off the ropes, clothesline. Yell at the crowd. Kick Casas in the chest, and again. Off the ropes, running kick to the chest. Off the ropes, boot to the head. Now Rey's feeling good. Off the ropes, and Casas pops up and levels him with a boot to the head. Not so good. Cass starts to go for the Half Crab, and Ultimo comes into break it up - they can't chance it at this point. Clothesline leaves Casas. Santo is in grabbing Rey, as Ultimo props up Casas in the corner for chops. Rey manages to turn the tide on Santo in a way we don't see, and the champions stomp him down. Double whip, double boot. Back over to Casas, as Felino checks on Santo. Double whip, double drop toe hold, double elbow drop. Double whip, double dropkick and pose. Hey guys don't forget - too late, Santo dropkicked them out of the ring. Now Casas is leveling them both with chops and big boots.  Rey accidentally hits Ultimo, Casas grabs Rey for the Santo tope, Tarzan forearms Casas from behind, Rey slips free and Casas takes the Santo tope! Rey and Ultimo give Santo no time to recover, quickly throwing him back in as the referees check on Casas. Double press slam, double elbow drop. Double Boston Crab - Santo gives! (3:25) Will Casas even make it back in the ring? HE seems out of it but on his feet. OH NO CLIP - well, at any rate it looks like Casas made it back in but Ultimo and Rey are beating him down. Double whip, corner clothesline, corner clothesline. Double hanging suplexed. Double one foot cover! One two three (4:00) They're a pair of Jerichoholics, I guess. Fans aren't thrilled. Replay of the Tope Gone Wrong - Casas ended up in a front row seat there. The time in between falls get clipped out.

Ultimo and Rey are beating a glassy eyed Casas with kicks as we come back in. Ultimo works in the boots to the head, then backs off to celebrate - and Casas is up with a clothesline. Ultimo falls in the corner, so Casas backs up Bronco Buster almost goes horribly bad when Casas hits his foot on the middle rope, but he lands safely even if looking dumb in doing it. Casa and Ultimo have their right hand battle, with neither man getting much of an edge. Till Ultimo gets in an eye poke, and then denies and involvement. Step over armbar, but Casas isn't giving yet. He's no where near his corner , but Ultimo sense it'll take more and lets go - there's a side suplex one two no. Whip, reversed, Casas lands his dropkick to the knee! Ultimo is in much pain, and Casa is suddenly back in control. Kicks to the chest - camera man blocks off out angle, but we see enough to get the point, I guess. Casas gets him down - is that an STF?  Not locked in enough, because Ultimo is steadily moving towards the ropes - and he's got them. Casas is forced off by the rudo referee to prevent shenanigans. Ultimo is near his corner, so Casas brings him all the way to the other side of the ring, snap mare, tag to Santo, and Santo hits a top rope elbow drop one two no. Santo puts on a hammerlock to keep Ultimo from escaping - over to a Camel Clutch! Rey rushes in to break it up. He stays in as Ultimo sneaks out - whip, head down too soon and Santo delivers a knee lift to the head. Armbar, Santo with his leg DDT in the reverse cross armbreaker! Rey is in a lot of trouble but fighting to turn to the ropes and stay in it. Can he get there? He keep spinning but he's too far away - he tries to flip it over and manages to loosen the hold. Santo lets go, to bring him back up - and back down with the Leg DDT again. This time, Rey gets to the ropes pretty easily - Casas stomps on the legs for daring to touch the ropes. While Santo goes out, Casas kicks Rey in the chest. Ultimo in to kick him - Tiger Bomb one two NO. Both men down, but crowd rallying behind Negro. Casas punch is avoided, Ultimo with a shoulderblock, 'rana one reversed one two Santo breaks it up. Santo on Ultimo as Casas roll out - whip, reversed, Santo with the up and over sunset flip one two Rey breaks it up. Rey kicks Casas off the apron to the floor top sop him from showing up, then gets back to his corner. Santo grabs Ultimo but the mask and pick him up, but we misses what he does - a slam? Santo going up, as Casas comes back in to stomp Ultimo and try and stop Rey from coming in. Rey boots Casas down, then runs into a boost from Ultimo, crotching Santo on the top turnbuckle in the process. Ultimo and Rey set up their moves - Guerrero Special, face first powerbomb (whoa, does that mean Rey actually has a finish?). Ultimo covers Santo one two three (6:00, 18:47 total) Rey puts on a crossface on Casas and get the call at nearly the same time (6:03) Crowd appreciates the match, though they're not thrilled with who win. Well, the rudo bellringer is, but he's alone on this one.

Off the top of my head, I liked the Fall '01 better and the Spring '02 as much....87. I probably could be convinced higher.

Rey Bucanero and Ultimo Guerrero vs Satanico and Shocker for the CMLL Tag Team Titles (summer '01?)

I believe this is the pre-(new) Infernales period, where Satanico was teaming up with any tweener he could find to win the Infernales name back. This match is from Monterrey. They use a three camera setup, which isn't as visually interesting as the normal TV show. Color's a little drained out too

We join as introductions are being finished, in the midst of a brawl. Doesn't appear to be seconds for either side. Rey and Ultimo are getting the advantage via brawling on the outside. Ultimo brings Satanico in, giving him enough time to take off his vest before he gets top stomping. They go to an open hand slap battle, then Satanico rallies back with his right hand jabs. Ultimo drops to his knees, so Satanico gives him a knee smash, but is taken down by a kick to the back from Rey. Rey holds Satanico down for Ultimo - facebite! Right on the scarred forehead, yeech. Shocker is being kept out of the ring by Rey. Whip, back elbow by Ultimo, Satanico hits the mat and the mat barely moves. It seems like this is quite a stiff mat, as it barely moves on the bumps. Satanico stands back up but gets booted down. Ultimo pauses to taunt the fans, and misses Rey punching Shocker as he comes in. Rey works over Shocker in the corner and leaves him there to taunt, but Shocker's got more left than Rey thinks - Right, right, right, Shocker gets him with knees and chokes him down in the corner. Ultimo using a chinlock on Satanico, then picking him up to open hand slap him out of the ring. They brawl on the floor as Rey works over Shocker. Barely on camera, it looks like Satanico runs Ultimo in the post- Rey notices and goes out to help his partner which much brawling. They double team brawl Satanico down on the outside, then turn their attention back to Shocker in the ring. Rey's in first, Shocker catches the kick but that leaves him open for Ultimo. They take turn with open hand slaps. This has been all brawling for 3 minutes. GdI take a break to taunt the fans. Double whip, double boot. Rey with an armbar while Satanico brawls his way back in the ring - Rey notices and stops him with a kick. Double whip for Satanico, double back elbow. Ultimo with an elbow drop, and dropkick. Ultimo covers with his feet on the middle rope - one two three. (3:55) Shocker is upset and out of the ring. Rey is waiting for him to come in and knocks him down the second he does. Rey with something that looks A LOT like a piledriver, hmm. One two three. (4:18) Well that was odd. GdI celebrate, beat down.

Clip to the second fall, where it looks like the rudos are still in control via brawl. Maybe not - back in the ring, Satanico is laying waste to Ultimo with hard right hands. Rey gets back in time to prevent and things and stops Satanico with a knee lift. Rey and Ultimo grab an opponent for a bulldog, but they both get pushed down. Satanico knocks Ultimo out of the ring as Shocker and Satanico work over Rey, tossing him around by his hair. Satanico holds Rey for Shocker to dropkick, but Rey manages to move out of the way and Satanico is thrown from the ring. Rey with an open hand slap for Shocker, but Shocker is saying no. Another, and Shocker is still standing. A third does the trick and Shocker is down to his knees. Kick - is caught, and Shocker hits a clothesline. Kiss his biceps. Corner whip, reversed, Rey hits a corner clothesline. Corner whip, Rey hits another corner clothesline. Rey celebrates. Backing up, charge and he takes a drop toe hold into the middle buckle. Rey up and pausing Shocker with a shoulderblock, off the ropes, but Shocker with a rolling back elbow to knock him down. Shocker waits for Rey to get up, corner whip, corner clothesline, bulldog out! Shocker off the ropes, big boot to the head. Rey out to the floor, so Shocker jumps to the bottom rope, springboards to the outside of the second rope and dives to the floor with a corkscrew plancha! Ultimo and Satanico back in the ring and brawling. Ultimo barely gets the edge, corner whip and Satanico gets in two boots. Satanico out - inverted bulldog. Running inverted bulldog again. Satanico is pumped - and he's going for Ultimo's masked. Satanico is being warned but it doesn't deter him from untying it. Ultimo is defenseless - luckily, Rey has enough in him to come in and break it up. Satanico is kicked to the outside as Shocker comes in - Ultimo cuts him off with a chop, corner whip, pre-move celebration, Ultimo charges in and gets booted. Rey is looking the crowd and celebrating, Shocker charges out of the corner, Ultimo tosses out, Shocker lands a flying forearm to Rey's back. Ultimo is distracted by Satanico coming in, so Shocker can easily put Rey in the Circuit Breaker break as Satanico gets a backslide on Ultimo one two three. (double finish 3:42) Shocker and Ultimo work over the opponents a little bit more before they can escape out of the ring.

Clip. A brawl (of course) breaks out as we start the third fall. Rey misses a punch and nails the ring post at one point. Ultimo and Satanico brawl. Ultimo and Shocker brawl. Shocker and Satanico hold the ring - but Ultimo tries coming in, and Satanico punches him some more. After two falls of it, the referee has had enough of the illegal punches, providing Ultimo a change to get back in control. Corner whip, Satanico lifts Ultimo up and drops him back down. Elbow drop one two NO. Satanico with a 'rana! one two NO.  Satanico pounds the mat in frustration. Going back for the mask - he's got it half off but he's warned about a DQ - Rey in to break it up with a kick. Rey stays in and puts on a surfboard-alike. Shocker waits, then breaks it up with a clothesline. Satanico rolls out as Shocker can't decide how he wants to grab Rey - Eye of the Shockercane! One two NO! Shocker goes for the camel clutch, Rey doing everything to prevent his arm from being hooked in - but they are! This is very much not good, and Ultimo is into break it up with a kick to the face. Whip for Shocker, drop toe hold, double elbow drop. Double whip, double boot, celebration, Ultimo goes to the mat so Rey can take the monkey flip into a somersault plancha on the outside. Back in the ring, it looks like Ultimo just dropkicked Satanico. Cover with feet on the rope again one two - this time the referee notices it. Ultimo, upset about the referee actually doing his job, pushed him away. Clothesline for Satanico. Clothesline misses and Satanico hits a spinebuster as the referee recovers in the corner. Satanico goes for a leg submission, but Ultimo kicks him away - then throws his mask off at Satanico! Ultimo goes down and covers up. The referee is up, he looks at Ultimo, he sees no mask, he sees the mask over by Satanico and he makes assumptions. (3:47, 11:47) That's it. Well, not before lots of talking by both sides and a threatened beatdown of the referee, but he gets away okay.

This was a lot of brawling and not a lot of wrestling. Satanico and Shocker can often make that work, but it was too much and too aimless for me really to get into it. 83

Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero (c) vs Satanico & Averno for the CMLL Tag Team Titles (August 8th, 2001)

Ah, now we're getting into stuff I've seen. I already recapped this one back in -3 and gave it an 84. I liked it a bunch, but there was enough ticky-tack screwyness to take it down. Still, Tarzan Boy's surprise return and Averno rising to the level of the other four make it worthwhile.

And that's all for Part 1.

Part 2 features 4 matches I've already recapped, but also matches from Toryumon and Wrestle-One matches that should be great.

cmll@thecubsfan.com