Tag: CMLL Puebla

Recapped: 04/23/2018

Matches: 

Astro, Asturiano, Shockercito beat Espíritu Maligno, Joker, Mercurio
(15:02 [8:11, 2:35, 4:16], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Kaho Kobayashi beat Dalys in a lightning match
(8:30, headscissors to inside cradle, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Felino, Puma, Stigma, Tiger beat Gemelo Pantera I, Gemelo Pantera II, Pantera Blanca, Stuka Jr.  
(13:46 [3:50, 6:21, 3:35], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón beat Ángel de Oro, Dragón Lee, Niebla Roja
(14:34 [2:35, 2:57, 9:02], 1/3, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Terrible, Valiente, Volador Jr. beat Atlantis, Carístico, Negro Casas   in a relevos increíbles match
(9:21 [2:12, 2:12, 4:57], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

What happened: 

Volador offered Carístico a handshake post-match, and then unmasked him with the other hand just to do it.

The NGD used their belts on the técnicos, which is probably more a danger to those ancient belts than they are to the técnicos. They won cleanly this week.

This was a rare CMLL streaming show without Julio Cesar Rivera. I didn’t catch an explanation of where CMLL’s lead announcers was. Miguel Linares and his son handled the announcing instead.

Thoughts: 

The main event allowed Volador to play rudo, but it seems like we get to see that a lot, and Mistico is better as a partner for that than Valiente. It ended up just feeling like them fooling around. The finish felt disjoined, maybe the camera angle hid whatever counter Terrible was suppose have done.

The semimain was the B-match version of an NGD match, only they ended ran past the usual finish mark and gave about three more minutes of action. This was not close to the best match they can have and it was still decently watchable. Angel de Oro’s usual match is fresher unmasked, though I wonder how much longer it’ll stay that way. Dragon Lee was not wearing tape it this match, though he was slightly limping if you were obsessively looking for it.

The appearance of an actual 4v4 CMLL match just produced the same trios match, only longer and not interesting. The Panteras had no personality and Blanca wasn’t especially good. There are worse luchadors but I didn’t get much out of seeing them for 20 minutes. I hope they were able to use this to get a crowd in Texas at least. Big mystery is how Arena Puebla hero Stigma ended up on the rudo side. Did they decide him being on the winning side was more important?

I didn’t like Kobayashi/Dalys and I can’t pinpoint why. I know I was in the minority, the crowd seemed pretty thrilled for Kobayashi to pull the upset win. I guess it was because it was match heavy on strikes, and Dalys’ never seems like she hits hard. There wasn’t many moves, though Kobayashi’s cradle at the end was well done.

The opener was closer to good than usual. Mercurio is a really good base when he tries but, even in this one, he made sure to let you know he was still fooling around. Astro & Joker tried to do some stuff to mixed results, and the técnico locals have a really fun comeback. I’d be fine with this level match every week, but it still seems a little short.

Recapped: 04/16/2018

Matches: 

Arkalis, Millenium, Rey Samuray beat El Perverso, Fuerza Chicana, Rey Apocalipsis
(12:34 [5:24, 3:52, 3:18], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

El Malayo, Grako, Templario beat Fugaz, Principe Daniel, Reyko  
(13:55 [5:56, 3:17, 4:42], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Kaho Kobayashi & Princesa Sugehit beat Dalys & Zeuxis
(13:08 [7:04, 3:09, 2:55], 1/3, below average, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón beat Ángel de Oro, Dragón Lee, Niebla Roja 
(12:53 [3:03, 2:27, 7:23], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Terrible beat El Malayo, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas
(12:05 [3:50, 4:07, 4:08], 1/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Carístico beat Mistico
(14:54, 2/3, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

1. Mistico La Mistica (1:50)

2. DQ Mistico mask removal (2:23)

3. La Carística (10:41)

What happened: 

Malayo worked twice because Shocker didn’t make it to the show. He hasn’t been back on a CMLL show as of two and half weeks later, though he is workig.

Dalys & Kaho are feuding the match, heading to a title match.

Sansón got away with a mask pull on Draogn Lee to set up the win.

Thoughts:

The main event was swung by the emotions brought into the match and expressed by the fans during it. The action itself was neither especially fast or numerous but, because it was between these two people, normal action felt a lot important. Carístico looked the better of the two, showing more on offense and capturing the fan’s attention during the match. Mistico has the personality to pull of being a rudo but not really the style. He had to be the rudo because that’s the way the fans were turning the match, but he didn’t really take over the match strongly like you might want a rudo, and the third fall your turn/my turn stuff was actually an improvement over the last two falls. Even considering they might be able to do more with a second try in Arena Mexico, this doesn’t seem like it’ll be a sure fire great match if they ran it back again. It also doesn’t seem like it needs to be to work. They just need to do something that’s not a disappointment, and this was not a disappointment.

The semimain was competent but not really interesting, and with a worthless DQ finish. Rush actually sort of tried, in that he actually tried to take Malayo’s face off with his dropkick. Rush didn’t think to pin him because no on was really paying attention, and so this fall when longer that it was supposed to. Of course Malayo took the super bomb too. La Bestia’s outfit is silly on it’s own. It’s sillier still paired with Rush & Terrible dressed in Ingobernable t-shirts. Does Bestia understand the look of the group he’s in? It’s unclear. I’d like to imagine this as the start of Bestia being split off from the group but we couldn’t be that lucky.

The four match wasn’t far off being good, but the timing just felt off in a couple places (and really obviously in one spot.) They had the pace of a good match, just missed a little bit. I really like the Dinamtias stomping. It’s very energetic.

The women’s match was sloppy. This is the start of Kaho’s big title shot, and she wins falls with a slow huracanarana and a standing moonsault that doesn’t land right. She’s generally OK otherwise in the match and Zeuxis’ antics are amusing in this match, but this wasn’t overall strong.

The second match featured the Jalisco guys in the next day’s Nuevo Valores tournament. Everyone had a fine técnico showcase run in the third fall and didn’t stand out one way or the other the rest of the match. Fugaz was the sharpest of the three, his huracanrana to win the second fall was nicely snapped off, but it wasn’t an overwhelming margin. Templario was less showy here than normal, so maybe one match isn’t a good way to judge anyone.

CMLL’s lineups normally don’t have enough logic enough to go as far as sending messages. This trios match, with five guys who uprooted their lives to train in Mexico City and made it at least far as a tournament, sure felt like it should be a sign to Malayo. The Puebla rudo sometimes does things I do not like but whoever put together this match thought he was exactly on the level of the people CMLL considers prospects at the moment. I have no idea what Malayo wants out of his lucha libre career, but the universe is telling him to go to CDMX.

Recapped: 04/03/2018

Matches: 

El Malayo, King Jaguar, Policeman beat Black Tiger, Lestat, Tigre Rojo Jr.
(13:02 [5:38, 4:14, 3:10], 2/3, n/r, VideosOficialesCMLL)

La Comandante, Tiffany, Zeuxis beat Kaho Kobayashi, Princesa Sugehit, Sanely
(15:15 [7:07, 4:00, 4:08], 2/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Ángel de Oro, Esfinge, Stigma beat Máscara Año 2000, Pólvora, Universo 2000 Jr.
(13:22 [4:50, 2:32, 6:00], 2/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Dragón Lee, Niebla Roja, Soberano Jr. beat Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
(12:27 [6:59, 5:28], 1/2 DQ, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. © beat Carístico, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero for the CMLL World Trios Championship
(18:15 [8:22, 1:16, 8:37], 2/3, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

What happened: 

Mistico submitted Caristico to La Mistica. Carístico challenged Mistico to a singles match. Mistico attacked rather than accept.

Thoughts: 

The Sky Team versus the Caristi-Guerreros was a fun main event, and Mistico submitting Carístico was a big moment. The core of the match seemed to lack the intensity and speed of the bigger trios title matches of the past, and it veered too much into UG and Volador getting their big match spots checked off while everyone else hung out waiting for something to do. Part of that was be design – they wanted Mistico & Carisitco in only to do an even sequence and the finish – but that meant it was more of a solo match than a team one, and the match wasn’t quite as good as good as straight Guerreros/Sky Team for that reason. Still, it might be more memorable if that finish goes anywhere.

The semimain never picked up to a big end game because the endgame was two falls and a DQ. It was alright as a regular TV match without living up to it’s on paper potential. Maybe they didn’t want to do too much with the trios title match to come, or maybe I’m expected too much out of them for a Monday semimain. The NGD didn’t do a lot of teamwork, but the tecnicos looked spectacular in what they did in their time. I really want some Dragon Lee singles matches, and he matches up well with Sansón here. Wish it meant it was happening.

Good things you can say about Mascara 2000: he doesn’t seem to have a problem losing to younger guys (even if he seemed to kick out a little too soon, he didn’t require a foul to get that far), he was willing to get up and down for Angel de Oro’s armdrags, and he didn’t totally drag the match down. That’s also because the match wasn’t particularly anything much beside the Angel de Oro/Mascara. Stigma Universo, Pólvora and Esfinge were all fine but only Stigma seemed to be doing things. This was an OK outcome to a Mascara 2000 feud, I still wouldn’t do them.

Recapped: 03/26/2018

Matches:

Black Tiger, Centella Roja, Meyer beat Espíritu Maligno, Fuerza Chicana, Sombra Diabólika
(16:02 [7:05, 3:41, 5:16], 2/3, below average, VideosOficialesCMLL )

Hijo del Signo, Metálico, Policeman beat Eléctrico, Millenium, Rey Samuray
(16:59 [9:44, 4:09, 3:06], 1/3, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL)

Ángel de Oro, Esfinge, Stigma beat Máscara Año 2000, Pólvora, Universo 2000 Jr.
(17:36 [8:05, 3:48, 5:43], 2/3 DQ, ok, VideosOficialesCMLL )

Dragón Lee, Matt Taven, Niebla Roja beat Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Terrible
(15:51 [7:06, 2:28, 6:17], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Carístico, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero beat Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. in a relevos increíbles match
(10:47, 1/2, good, via VideosOficialesCMLLs)

What happened:

The main event set up a trios title match for next week

Mascara 2000 fouled Angel de Oro after the two had feuded all match.

Thoughts:

The main event is the Sky Team again playing against type, because the crowd will not cheer for Mistico in most circumstances and absolutely will not cheer for him in a match also including Caristico. Sometimes, it seems like CMLL just expects to wake up one day and that situation to have ‘fixed’ itself. Ultimo Guerrero and Mistico’s opening exchange is definitely worked like they expect a sympathetic reaction for Mistico is trapped in tough holds, and that never comes. Everyone adjusts, as they’ve done many times already, and it becomes a fun match that’s sidetracked a few times because of Mistico (storyline pouting.) There’s enough here to make next week’s title match appetizing, though the appeal here is the flipped sides from normal.

The semimain had a strong first fall and then slowed way down with these rudos in charge. That’s not new for these rudos. It did turn much more entertaining in the third fall with everyone going for random epic battles. Dragon Lee usually looks great himself. He also made Terrible and Shocker look impressive for knocking him silly. Not sure why Rey Bucanero is pinning Matt Taven before Matt Taven challenges for a title but CMLL doesn’t have to make sense.

If you ever wanted to see Angel de Oro and Mascara 2000 feud for a match, CMLL had you covered tonight. Mascara usually doesn’t hang around this far down the midcard, so this match was unique if not very useful. Finish seemed they’re continuing this issue, which is so strange. Universo 2000 Jr. seems to be gaining confidence, and probably will end up being a positive before long.

When Rey Samuray didn’t try the Brillo 450 to end the second fall, I was sure that meant the técnicos were winning the match and he was doing it to end it. Nah. Eléctrico took a dropkick to the backside, Samuray took a Canadian Destroyer and Metálico sort of backdrops Millenium. Electrico’s laying on the apron roll into a headscissors was a better as an idea than it came across, Metálico had to do 90% of the work and isn’t good enough to hide that he was mostly carrying him. Hijo del Signo looked the best of the rudos once the bell ring, which is saying something.

The opener had moments where it appeared it could become interesting, but quickly corrected course and was it’s usual forgettable match. Black Tiger sure stands blankly and calls spots obviously for a maestro. Some went wrong with him in the third fall, which required them to stall out the match until he was ready. Meyer was the best guy in the match.

Recapped: 03/24/2018

Matches:

Astro & Millenium beat Joker & Saurón
(10:00 [5:13, 2:09, 2:38], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Arkalis, Astral, Eléctrico beat Hijo del Signo, Perverso, Policeman
(14:27 [7:30, 3:42, 3:15], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Blue Panther Jr., Drone, Stigma beat Kawato San, Puma, Tiger
(12:24 [4:20, 4:17, 3:47], 1/3, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Kráneo beat Euforia
(9:13, Kraneo Boom, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Ángel de Oro, Matt Taven, Niebla Roja vs Cuatrero, Mr. Niebla, Sansón
(9:02 [2:02, 2:05, 4:55], 2/3 DQ, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Carístico, Gran Guerrero, Mephisto beat La Bestia Del Ring, Mistico, Rush in a relevos increíbles match
(12:17 [3:56, 4:45, 3:36], good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

What happened:

Gran Guerrero pulled Mistico’s mask and pinned him in the main event.

Cuatrero fouled Angel de Oro to end the semimain.

Euforia & Kraneo was a one fall no time limit match.

El Egipico was honored on this show, Puebla’s version of Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.

Thoughts:

The main event was fun because the crowd was so into Mistico and Caristico. They don’t have to do a mask match to get people care; a simple singles match between them would be a big deal at this point. Who knows if it’ll actually happen but the atmosphere for their trios matches are the hottest in CMLL. The real idea, at least in this match, was to set up Mistico/Gran Guerrero and they worked well together. Rush/Pierroth also had better teamwork in this match.

The semimain was pretty slight for two falls, but picked up nicely in the third fall building off the mask feud. This Puebla crowd was far more pro-Angel de Oro than the Arena Mexico fanbase, giving them the desire reaction to everyone they were doing. They really should bring Oro/Cuatrero back to Puebla as a title match, it’ll do well. Taven seemed amused by the idea of wrestling a typically strange Mr. Niebla, and it went surprisingly well.

You’d never be able to tell who won the Kraneo & Euforia match by looking them post match. Kraneo was so, so tired and Euforia wasn’t looking much better. They slowed down greatly from a hot start due to that lack of energy, but the match otherwise was the action and the silliness you’d want to from a big Kraneo/Euforia match. Euforia was at his best when he just wasn’t putting up with Mije & Kraneo’s silliness (and so, it was disappointing when he played to the crowd too before the finish), and the crowd easily went to Kraneo’s side. This wasn’t a match of big spots, it was still plenty entertaining.

The Puma/Tiger division continued to churn on good matches, only handicapped by how many of them feel about the same since they’re never given a direction. I feel like Tiger & Stigma have always been wrestling in Arena Puebla and always will be wrestling in Arena Puebla. Kawato’s stomp in this match was the worst, but he also attempted a frog splash and apologized to the fans after he got toped into them, a nice man.

An average opener begin the show. Saurón is a better version of Pequeño Universo, slow and sometimes clumsily but with more impressive moves. Millenium wants to be good but is in the wrong matches for that to happen and could use more help. Astro’s third fall offensive run looked really good this week. I didn’t like this Joker masks, he’s got better looks.

Recapped: 03/22/2018

Matches: 

Ares & El Perverso beat Black Tiger & El Asturiano  
(15:28 [8:50, 2:29, 4:09], 1/3, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Amapola & La Comandante beat Kaho Kobayashi & Princesa Sugehit
(16:19 [8:18, 4:07, 3:54], 2/3, below average, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

King Jaguar, Templario, Virus beat Audaz, Lestat, Pegasso  
(14:58 [6:57, 3:19, 4:42], 1/3, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Cuatrero, Pólvora, Sansón beat Stuka Jr., Titán, Valiente  
(12:50 [6:08, 3:29, 3:13], 2/3, ok, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Sam Adonis beat Euforia, Kráneo, Mr. Niebla in a relevos increíbles match
(7:02 [4:21, 2:41], 1/2, n/r, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

Volador Jr. beat Cavernario for the NWA World Welterweight Championship
(17:36, good, via VideosOficialesCMLL)

1. Cavernario La Escalera (2:59)

2. Volador backcracker (2:30)

3. Volador Canadian Destroyer (12:07)

What happened: 

Volador’s progressed to needing a bandage but no longer the facemask. In lesser important news, he retained his title.

Kraneo accidentally clotheslines Euforia in the first fall leads to the team losing. Kraneo belly bumps the entire other team in the second fall, but then also accidentally gets Euforia and Niebla. Euforia attacks Kraneo, then gives up the match. Euforia attacks and yells at Kraneo for screwing up repeatedly. This sets up a Euforia/Kraneo singles match, with Euforia vowing to drive the last Invasor out of the promotion.

The técnicos won the first fall of the fourth match by excessive violence DQ. That seemed like the planned finish.

Thoughts: 

Volador/Cavernario was a good version of their big match. They mixed up the spots a little bit, though it still followed the usual pattern of Volador matches. It’s not at the level of their best matches, but it’s still was an entertaining match after a not great entertaining lead up. I think my enjoyment of the match was harmed by Cavernario taking so many losses. It’s hard to believe he’s ever going to win one of these, even if it wasn’t Volador’s big streak on the line. The third fall never felt in the balance despite Cavernario going for his finish and Volador’s finish.

The fourth match had some good moments and just didn’t totally come together as a match. Stuka doing his suplex onto each other spot looked weird when the NGD just moved before he could do the same to Pólvora. Sansón had to rush around the ring before Titan did a moonsault onto nothing. I don’t like the NGD’s black on black outfits; they remind me of the Mephisto generic outfit of a long time ago. This was still a fine match but nothing super.

Audaz is really good. Maybe too good. His escape to set up the second fall comeback happened so quick and impressive that Pegasso and Lestat weren’t ready to do their spots and time stood still for a while. Pegasso & Templario was a fun match up and King Jaguar did not mess up every spot he did. This was a borderline enjoyable match and I like watching everything Audaz does.

The women’s match felt long and the story telling wasn’t great. Kaho’s offense has no effect on Comandante for a very long first fall, Kaho clotheslines Comandante with no problem in the third fall, and Comandante goes back to no-selling to set up her finish. Meanwhile, Sugehit is not that much bigger than Kobayashi and has none of the same problems. It didn’t work.