2019 catch up – luchablog

2019 watch later catch up, part 16 of ∞

December 27, 2019December 26, 2019 thecubsfan

Arez © vs Aramis for the RIOT Championship
(RIOT @ 11/02, 21:25, great, Luchamania Monterrey)

I was concerned when the martinete reversal spot kept going. These two pride themselves on being creative and different that they can detour themselves into absurdity. That spot wasn’t totally coming together either, which could’ve derailed the match. It really didn’t. (Though, in the long gap between writing this and posting it, that bit seems like the only thing remembered from the match.) They got a lot of time for the match to develop, giving them an occasion to try ideas and still pull it back a bit. This was a little slower-paced than expected, possibly because they were going long. It also allowed them to pull the crowd into it strong by picking it up in the last few minutes. The Aramis tope felt like a turning point that turned up the intensity. That got that intensity even while mostly eschewing the usual cliches – it’s not even just that they stayed away from doing shoulders, they stayed away from doing long chop/forearm exchanges. The attacks towards each man’s shoulders felt a lot more impactful as something different and played well into the submissions they were trying to win bye. I think the guys have an even better match in them if they keep progression but this is an easy recommendation to check out.

Cavernario © vs Forastero for the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
(CMLL @ 11/02, 15:39, great, thecubsfan)

Cavernario/Forastero stands out because it’s leaps and bounds better than all the other Forastero matches, strong enough that it’s not impossible to imagine why CMLL might think Forastero was worth so more shots. He shows a lot more aggression against a rudo than he has against those tecnicos, bitting at Cavernario’s face and hitting hard with big boots. He pulled out the double jump springboard dive not seen much, and definitely not seen with the tecnicos. Maybe a lot of it was Cavernario, who is smooth and quick and held the match together over two botched spots late. Maybe a big chunk of it was a crowd very loud for a match they had no real reason to be very loud about. This still had a lot more thought and effort into it than those rest of those matches and it’s so confusing.

Tromba vs Sádico
(MDA @ 11/10, 15:00, good, LuchaTV)

Early on in this match, it seemed disappointing that this wouldn’t be three falls. The submissions holds they were doing look good but couldn’t end a match that early. And then the match ended because it actually was three falls. Sadico continues to have a few gems every year despite being unheralded. He and Tromba had some elaborate and interesting sequences, especially the one on the outside in the second fall that led into a german suplex. It didn’t always pay off quite that well, and the crowd wasn’t really into this, which made it hard to rate it for higher. It’s an easy match to like because they had a lot of ideas, they just couldn’t quite get them all to work. The ending was odd; there was a submission spot that seemed like it could’ve ended to a ref stop, it didn’t, but the match ended unrelated about thirty seconds later. This was more interesting than good and wanted me to see more of Tromba.

Soberano Jr. © vs Templario for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship
(CMLL @ 10/06, 14:32, great, thecubsfan)

There have been a few Templario/Soberano singles matches this year and danger of them being repetitive. They did mix it up here, trusting they could get some counter spots and submissions over in the first couple of falls. It seemed successful for this crowd, made the match feel a bit different than those others, and got made those usual big spots feel bigger. They did end up doing destroyers, but they did other moments not expected from them. I’m watching this the same weekend as the Audaz/Templario match and there’s a substantial difference there in inventiveness. The finish was designed to make everyone unhappy and has to be considered a massive success. Still, this is worth watching even if you’ve seen a lot of these guys already.

they’ve pulled this off better but this was still cool

El Bandido, Flamita, Neza Kid vs Dragón Bane, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Súper Nova
(Invasion Indy @ 11/15/2019, 12:54, good, mluchatv)

This one mostly fell around the “fun but not totally vital” matches. These names being involved are slightly hampered by Neza Kid & Super Nova being the focal point. There’s entertaining stuff but it doesn’t really peak. The brief Flamita & Dragon Bane tiff was worth watching. It also remains amusing to see Freelance do very specific Freelance things while pretending (?) to be someone else. Not sure if the Neza ring is small, the wrestlers making big movements, or me just noticing it more often, but there were a lot of awkward falls onto the bottom rope.

not sure why I couldn’t find a better GIF from this one

Drone vs Guerrero Maya Jr. in a lightning match
(CMLL @ 10/13, 5:29, ok, thecubsfan)

Two of the good but never pushed CMLL tecnicos getting to face each other. Instead of having an ok match with a semi-competent rudo, they opted to have an ok match with each other. Drone had a nice moonsault but looked sloppy, Maya looked sharper but not really into it and the match didn’t go long. There are worse lightning matches but this was very much part of the middle 90% of them, destined to be quickly forgot.

2019 watch later catch up, part 15 of ∞

November 4, 2019December 26, 2019 thecubsfan

Dragón Lee, Místico, Rush vs Luke Hawx, Mecha Wolf, Oráculo
(CMLL @ 09/01, 11:51, ok, HVSLuchaLibre)

Seemed like a decent idea to get one more look at the non-ROH guys in for the Gran Prix. It was not a smart idea. It was not all their fault; I think the Puerto Ricans got one over on poor Luke Hawx by pairing him off with Bestia del Ring. They didn’t mesh early and Bestia dropped him late on a dive. I will not miss Bestia in CMLL. The match felt like everyone generally was not on the same page, with Rush turning into a wild brawl rather than watch it derail. It did provide an out of control energy uncommon to CMLL’s patterned matches, something unlikely to be seen in Arena Mexico with most of the Munoz family leaving. It wasn’t near enough to overcome the flaws. This finishes up with MechaWolf and Místico completely blowing a La Mistica and an angry Místico stomping MechaWolf before doing a senton instead. This is a generous OK.

Stuka Jr., Titán, Valiente vs Ephesto, Felino, Hechicero
(CMLL @ 09/15, 9:57, good, HVSLuchaLibre)

An overachieving CMLL midcard match. There’s not a lot new here, but they fight with some energy. The Stuka/Hechicero feuding comes thru, and Titan stands out. Hechicero about ends himself on the German suplex bump but lives to reverse monkey flip someone another day.

Fly Star & Lady Flammer vs Belial & Impulso vs Hahastary & Lunatik Fly
(LLB @ 09/28, 9:57, good, Estrellas del Ring)

A good action match that holds together well over the ten minutes we see. (There’s a noticeable edit after the balcony spot.) It is just nonstop moves, and it holds together well all considering. Including the women (on two teams but not a third) could’ve come off like a novelty but they end up getting in some of the bigger spots; Flammer’s finish on Hahastary looks brutal. The format doesn’t allow for much of a story, it’s just fun while it lasts.

not sure why Flammer & Fly Star are a good team but they apparently are?

Aramis, Imposible, Relámpago vs Cerebro Negro, Fly Warrior, Hijo de Canis Lupus
(IWRG @ 09/16, 17:25, good, mluchatv)

A prototypical random good IWRG trios. Rudos hit very hard, tecnicos throw themselves into big dives, and there’s a lot of energy. The chops sounded live and a trip dive over the barricade is something only happening in Naucalpan. This is a borderline higher grade; I think I would’ve allowed more of an ending bit, though the actual ending of Canis & Aramis destroying each other was quite something.

Fresero Jr. vs Demonio Infernal © for the IWRG Rey del Ring
(IWRG @ 09/29, 14:13, good, +LuchaTV)

Two guys hitting each other hard. They were better at doing that Fresero Jr. doing dives; Fresero ends up needing medical attention at the end, but it appeared he may have hurt himself on a missed dive earlier and then just gutted thru the rest of the match. The dropkicks were on point, the finish looked strong. I think I could’ve used a bit more of a reason to get behind one guy or the other, but this was another very good IWRG match. Even with the power out.

Máscara Sagrada Jr. vs Hijo del Fishman in a super libre match
(AULL @ 10/06, 20:30, good, mluchatv)

An intense brawl, memorable for how much blood Mascara Sagrada Jr. loses in a short time. He’s not a guy who’s stood out whenever he’s turned in the past, but this certainly created an impression. Hijo de Fishman was fine and willing to take a beating at times. This just went past its peak and would’ve been more effective in closer to half the time. They crowd still cared who won or lost, but wasn’t as into the match in the few minutes prior.

2019 indie catch up, part 7 of ∞

June 11, 2019June 7, 2019 thecubsfan

this match is recommended but this particular moment is not recommended

Recapped: 06/04/2019

Matches:

Cerebro Negro vs Demonio Infernal
(IWRG @ 03/31, 10:24, good, Internetv Deportes)

I’m not sure Demonio Infernal really earned the blood here – his seemed to start bleeding after a slingshot to the post that was too obviously shoulder first – but the blood looked really cool with his facepaint so it is all OK. This felt quicker than the 11 minutes and didn’t seem to develop totally, though the last few minutes were nicely back and forth. It was still entertaining but felt like they were holding back a bit for the title match set up for next week.

Aramis, Imposible, Metaleón vs Dragón Bane, Eterno, Golden Magic
(IWRG @ 03/31, 12:57, great, Internetv Deportes)

There’s some shakiness early that might throw you off this match. (Dragon Bane blows a flip, a couple of headscissors don’t come off.) Stick with it, and you’ll get the crazy action trios match a lot more effective than those first minutes. Eterno is at an elite level as a base and continues to have great chemistry together. Dragon Bane looks cool and doesn’t do the over the top things that frustrate about Dragon Bane matches. Golden Magic and Metaleon have a few good sequences, though it feels weird when they end up being the most important ones. This felt on the level to the much liked trios match on the Cuervo Benefit show, easily worth your time.

Wotan vs Fly Star in a super libre match
(FILLM @ 03/16, 13:39, good, Carxyus Pro.)

HOT TAKE: Carxyus is the best lucha libre video editor in Mexico.

This is very much a “what are they thinking” match, right thru the point where Fly Star does a dive to nowhere on the very firm Arena San Juan floor. Then it just gets stuck trying to top it. At least is a match that totally earned a finish that usually is hard to believe. If your desires in lucha is people hitting each other very hard, hurting themselves nearly as hard, and bleeding a lot, this is the match you should watch. (Also, if you want to see what Wotan looks like unmasked since he pretty much is wearing his mask as bandana by the end.) The hard-hitting nature of a match alone isn’t usually enough for me to love it, but it was that style match about as strong as they could go.

I don’t understand how Arena San Juan has any seats left

Látigo vs Dragón Bane
(ANCLA @ 03/17, 8:50, good, Estrellas del Ring)

I was worried this was clipped up when I saw the length. This turns out to be instead an indie version of lightning match, albeit one that only seems like it gets going just a couple minutes before it wraps. Latigo keeps Dragon Bane in check for most of the match, though Dragon Bane takes a flip bump so wildly that the referee seems concerned. He should not be that concerned. Latigo is perhaps the strongest person in Mexico because he’s the only luchador who I’ve seen powerful enough to block a Destroyer attempt. At least the first time. This was totally solid but could’ve still used like three minutes.

Ángel Estrella Jr., Auzter, Black Dragón, Cheff Benito, Chicanito, Mexica, Neza Kid, Puma de Oro vs Barrio Latino, Gemelo Diablo, Holocausto, Kid Jaguar, Piloto Infernal, Poético, Sky Ángel, Tarasco II Jr. [Copa Higher Power]
(IWRG/FILL @ 03/20, 35:57, good, Internetv Deportes)

This was a solid cibernetico, hitting the usual bits, and held together for having a lot of young wrestlers. It doesn’t strike means extraordinary and is a really big time commitment for the quality. Chicancito was the best of the IWRG guys I don’t see much, moving around well and having a bit of charisma. Black Dragon probably should’ve stayed to the end instead of Mexica, who did a knees first 450 splash as his big spot. None of the visiting luchadors particularly stand out, though no one’s in this was terrible. Watching the ITV version of IWRG remains a special amount of annoying. There doesn’t appear to be any effort to find out the names of the visiting luchadors for any of these matches, which seem like an important detail to have. Everyone besides Kid Jaguar is referred to as “a student from Golpeador’s school.” I guess should feel lucky they know the IWRG luchadors names. If you find yourself on this show as a guess, definitely wear gear with your name on it. There’s a double backdrop spot that would make for a cool GIF if InterneTV could’ve panned the camera at all.

Ángel de Oro vs Mephisto
(CMLL ACG @ 04/30, 7:59, ok, thecubsfan)

This is another Guadalajara match I’m checking off a list, marking it down more to make sure I don’t spend time watching it twice. It is so generically a CMLL big match that I might just do that, with Mephisto doing the same four spots he does in every match and Angle de Oro not really switching it up all that much either. The last few minutes turns into just getting each other on the top rope for spots over and over again. It is more impressive that Titan & Dragon Lee have gotten some emotion out of this setup because there’s not much here. The only surprising thing here is confetti being shot off at the finish, which seemed to shock and scare Terror Chino. People who don’t watch a lot of CMLL and are not as dulled by their usual single match structure. will probably like this more than me. You probably have seen a lot of CMLL if you’re digging into Guadalajara matches.

2019 indie catch up, part 6 of ∞

May 24, 2019May 21, 2019 thecubsfan

Volador Jr. © vs Bárbaro Cavernario for the NWA World Welterweight Championship
(CMLL GDL @ 03/05, 9:27, good, thecubsfan)

I think Volador’s problem is overexposure. Here I am seeking out more Volador matches to watch. Who’s the real villain? This is a lightning match in three falls form, with two finishes that never are one and selling near doom two minutes in to the third fall. You do get most of the dives, though Volador thankfully cuts Cavernario off from the most dangerous one. It is really just one more Volador match, which might be good and I’m jaded or might be only ok.

Galactar, Rico Rodríguez, Silver Tiger vs Imposible, Súper Nova, Yoruba
(Revolucion Lucha Libre @ 03/09, 14:04, good, Estrellas del Ring)

I think a Hector Godfrey one might be longer but there are days where it is not worth the time to go thru 6 different versions of the match to see which one is complete. (Maybe I should go back to not linking to more than one video per match from him?) All these micro-promotions with their interchangeable rosters may not do a lot for me but they were working great for this crowd, who totally got into the brawling parts of the match (and post-match.) Super Nova’s fire helped with that crowd reaction. Yoruba’s tope was really good. On the other hand, Imposible did so little in this match that stood out that I was sure it was Emperador Azteca in the match until I looked at the lineup. Doing two different chop standoffs in the last minutes kind of slowed the match down too much for me besides being repetitive. Still, this was better than the random collection of people would respect.

Lilith Dark vs Ludark Shaitan
(IWRG @ 03/10, 7:40, good, Internetv Deportes)

Didn’t think much of this early; Lilith messes up an early exchange enough for Ludark to cut her off, and there’s another awkward moment shortly after. This match also made me wonder if the chop exchange spot has become the Guerrero/Malenko roll up sequence of a new generation. This turned with some hard hitting corner dropkicks, Lilith had a nice looking suplex and Ludark totally killed her in the end. Not the strongest recommendation but still a bit worthwhile.

i was people would stop switching camera angles during moves

Aero Boy & Súper Crazy vs Black Taurus (Indie) & Dragón Bane
(Lucha Libre Real @ 03/15, 8:05, good, Estrellas del Ring)

Fast paced if obviously edited match. Aeroboy & Taurus is a matchup I haven’t seen a lot of despite them both being around the indies for the last few years. They seemed to work well together, even if a thing here or there looked off. Super Crazy did not seem particularly thrilled with young Dragon Bane when Dragon Bane wanted to do something on the ramp. Crazy really didn’t do a lot besides lock the finish in, but he really locked the finish in.

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Alas de Oro, Alas De Plata, Diamante
(FILLM @ 03/16, 11:55, good, Estrellas del Ring)

A solid NGD trios match, not really slipping from their CMLL effort levels. The técnicos didn’t do anything special for me but their timing was good on offense. Rafael el Maya looks like he got walloped by a foot for the ref bump here. Might have been a trick of the camera angle but it still was impressive. I’ve noticed an Estrellas del Ring pattern of cutting the first fall to 20 seconds in these matches. It is not a pleasant pattern.

this started bad but ended up properly painful

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón vs Esfinge, Titán, Tritón for the Mexican National Trios Championship
(18:16 [3:51, 3:02, 11:23], 2/3, great, thecubsfan)

A very fun trios title match that builds in stages. It’s just a normal weekday match between these two teams for a while, then they go past that to do some of the usual title match bits, and then they find a bigger higher dramatic level in the last section. It doesn’t feel like anything special at first but has the time to get there, in a way to seen with most of these Guadalajara title matches. The técnicos get the necessary one big near fall moment, but that’s not the end of it, they keep attacking. The OneAtos team wearing matching gear – that I can’t even remember if they had before – was a nice touch to make it feel like a bigger match. The finish is pretty definitive on which team is on a different level, though they had to work to get that win. This might be the best Guadalajara match all year.

maybe the smoothest he’s pulled this off

2019 indie catch up, part 5 of ∞

May 9, 2019May 21, 2019 thecubsfan

Hijo de Pirata Morgan & Juventud Guerrera vs Fuerza Guerrera & Rush
(MDA @ 02/17, 17:30, good, mluchatv)

I really didn’t think this match was anything I would want to see: Rush in an indie setting without an opponent to push him and Fuerza Guerrera at this point in any setting are not something I’m excited to see. It definitely overachieved. Fuerza Guerrera looked a lot better than his recent CMLL appearances. I’m not sure if the brawl allowed him to pick his spots better, if he was more fired up to face Juventud, or if he just didn’t have to deal with Octagon. Rush carried a lot of the action for his team, hammering Juvetund so much at times that Fuerza couldn’t get in his own shots to continue the feud. Juventud survived a near death experience to be a good rudo and worked very hard to make this work. This match ending with a faked foul is unsatisfying and still appropriate for a Fuerza Guerrera match.

Aramis vs Hijo de Canis Lupus
(IWRG @ 03/03, 12:05, great, HECTOR GODFREY TV)

Significantly the better of the two Aramis singles matches in this group. I’m writing about this one first but it took place second on the same day, which might be part of it. They didn’t have to save anything for another match, and it shows with them doing pretty much everything they can do over a long period of time. Hijo de Canis Lupus strikes me as a more complete wrestler than his brother, and working more of a power style works a better compliment to what Aramis does. Aramis is still the best of this bunch.

Ángel Tormenta, Rokambole Jr., Villano V Jr. vs Demonio Infernal, Eterno, Lunatic Xtreme
(IWRG @ 03/03, 16:05, good, HECTOR GODFREY TV)

Eterno’s high collar makes him look a little bit like a vampire. Eterno taking a broken bottle shard and cutting the Villano Kids head viciously was something a vampire could appreciate. There’s a minute here where Eterno is going after foreheads so savagely that it seems to concern the referee in the midst of what seems like a normal match. I didn’t catch how/why Demonio Infernal got so bloody. I figured it was just normal Demonio Infernal stuff, he tends to bleed, but perhaps it left Eterno unhappy. That trio is good if a little underutilized in this match. Angel Tormenta is the best guy on his team, though Villano V Jr. throws a great foul in the end

Dragón Bane vs Death Metal vs Cerebro Negro vs Oficial AK47 , loser loses hair or mask
(IWRG @ 03/03, 15:02, ok, HECTOR GODFREY TV)

This didn’t do a lot for me. It seems wrong to have a multiman apuesta match where it ends on the first elimination, rather than just keep going until there are two people left. Dragon Bane looks super athletic in what turns out to be the ending stretch instead. Oficial AK47 has moments of great personality, but also seems to be walking between spots a lot. Cerebro Negro is looking very Yoruba in this match with his hair and gear, and he and Dragon Bane conspire to mess up a dropkick spot before they do a Destroyer. Death Metal didn’t make a big impression.

Eterno, Golden, Solar I vs Golpeador, Hijo de Canis Lupus, Jeque
(PROLLM @ 03/03, 11:50, good, HECTOR GODFREY TV)

This seems edited, which is too bad because it’s building nicely until then and it’s unclear how much was taken out. It’s very much mat wrestling with a handful minutes of modern stuff to finish it off. I liked the Golden/Jeque sequence more than the Solar/Golepador final one; Solar didn’t do the same as usual, but it more felt like Golepador couldn’t do a lot with him. Eterno & Dragon Bane are enthusiastic if not always heading in any particular direction. Golden and Jeque are fluid and pull off a couple of spots from a direction I wasn’t expecting.

Aramis vs Dragón Bane
(PROLLM @ 03/03, 7:42, good, HECTOR GODFREY TV)

Both these guys selling exhaustion after a big discuss clothesline a few minutes in and only one person clapping in reaction is kind of sad. They didn’t put together this in a way that connected with the audience, but it still an exciting athletic battle. There are some well-performed sequences and a cool Dragon Bane tope. It’s taken down a bit by getting a quiet reaction. I think it still has enough that it would get over in other situations and they do get a fair amount of applause after it’s over, but I’d hope they’d take from this that what they’re doing during the match isn’t quite connecting with this audience.

2019 watch later catch up, part 4 of ∞

May 7, 2019May 6, 2019 thecubsfan 1 Comment

Penta 0M & Rey Fénix vs Dragón Lee & Rush
(Martinez @ 02/22, 14:04, good, mluchatv)

The atmosphere and feeling of this match is great. The Fenix kicks badly missing in the first half of this match are not as great. They were able to take this match up and down, from being a Dragon Lee spot fest to a Rush brawl, pretty well. There were moments that really worked. The timing on the Pentagon Mexican Destroyer spot was perfect among other good exchanges. It just wasn’t as clean as it could’ve been.

a Munoz double team! (or just Rush dropkicking a lot)

Centvrión vs Mecha Wolf, Alan Extreme
(MexaWrestilng @ 02/23, 10:38, good, mluchatv)

Some cool moments, though the match really never flows. Alan Extreme – back masked for reasons – is less a presence here than his previous standout MexaWrestling match. It’s Centvrion who gets the bigger moments, and it as also Centvrion who scarily takes himself out on a tope, causing a medical break. This is a very “let’s just do some cool stuff” and stuff is cool, but it never really comes together.

Centvrion has a lot on his shoulders around here

Multifacético & Polifacetico vs Aramis & Black Terry
(IWRG @ 02/24, 12:13, good, hector godfrey)

Aramis is so fluid, and it shows in both his mat work and his suplexes this match. The Multifacetico duo – it is unclear which is the one who kept the name and which is the one who got booted to being Polifacetico (and then stopped being Polifacetico as soon as this match ended because all their gear had M on it already) are both game though neither stand out as much Aramis does. They’re actually surprisingly good as a team for guys who have just been feuding for weeks and weren’t a team prior. Black Terry is game, though carefully picking when to take a bump. Red Multifacetico seemed to be out of it in the last minute of the match, which hurt a little bit.

Flamita vs Dragón Bane
(MexaWrestling @ 02/23, 12:08, good, mluchatv)

Barely good, that may be generous. I’m not sure what happened in the last few minutes to cause the match to slow way down. Flamita seemed like he got annoyed by something, stopped selling, and then just fell backward into a pinfall. It didn’t give Dragon Bane a great feeling upset win, it was just weird. They were better going back and forth earlier and it’s not like Flamita would’ve found out just before the end that he was going to lose. The early portions of this match are better back and forth.

Metaleón vs Garza Jr.
(MexaWrestling @ Arena San Juan Pantitlan, 28:08, good, mluchatv)

There are great of brawling that are just great, and there’s a lot of set up and slow moments to get to where they need to be. It’s a very Joe Lider feeling match in that way. It also comes off like the big end of a feud between two guys who haven’t fought before. Maybe I missed some promos that justified the violence; it definitely feels like I missed something. There’s really big spots with plywood panels late, but they could’ve done with a few less of them. The last one definitely worked but the ones prior were getting lesser reactions.

Daga & Difunto II vs Caifan & Silver Star
(ERLL @ 02/24, 15:55, ok, Luchamania Monterrey)

There are falls here, but there’s no real break in fighting between them, and there are no whistles starting each fall. The LuchaMania Monterrey version is far longer, though it also has painful sound. I ended up watching the last half of this on mute. This was a solid match at times, but I was expecting more hard-hitting with Caifan and Daga were involved. They did that – Daga’s fear of Caifan’s chops was great – but it was more a normal Monterrey match with special guest star Daga. The brawling was all good, the attempt to go back and forth on moves was less so. Silver Star seemed like the week stint.