Lost in Lucha

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Arena Mexico Super Friday Report! 08/23/2019

Espiritu Negro & El Hijo del Signo vs. Super Astro Jr. & Sonic

How’s the match?

Very good, it’s hard to steal the show in this spot, but that doesn’t stop Super Astro Jr. from trying. It’s a little odd to have a stage dive in an opening match, yet we see one here. Super Astro Jr. seems much more polished than you’d expect from a guy who’s been on the roster for a year and a half. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for his promising career.

Átomo, Gallito & Microman vs Chamuel, Guapito & Perico Zakarías

How’s the match?

Good drama, bad match. It’s hard to say that a story is no risk or even low risk. If CMLL were to book Ciber/Ultimo it likely wouldn’t live up to its position as the main event lucha de apuestas at Anniversary. 

With Microman vs. Chamuel, if they booked that as the midcard lucha de apuestas, I doubt anyone would have venom for it. It’s just such an interesting idea and would be something CMLL can do that pretty much no other promotion could do. Microman could be an icon for CMLL, if they are smart enough to pull the trigger on him. Chamuel would be fine without a mask as well. 

Audaz, Flyer & Titán vs Cuatrero, Forastero & El Hijo del Villano III

How’s the match?

Great, all these guys are fun to watch and prove it once again here. Templario was suppose to be in this spot. He may have had travel issues, but Villano was a fine replacement and an exciting body to add to the equation, not a let down of a replacement like many other rudos might have been. A member of NGD should main Anniversary vs. someone.

Volador Jr. vs Sansón Lightning Match

How’s the match?

Great, that’s back to back weeks that Volador Jr. has had a really good match vs. a member of NGD. Maybe he will fight Cuatrero soon, but he is in Gran Prix teaming with Forastero and that might mean a match between those two again, which would be welcomed as well. Or this in 2/3 falls format or title match. 

Ángel de Oro, Místico & Niebla Roja vs Euforia, Gran Guerrero & Terrible

How’s the match?

Great, Oro/Roja vs. Guerreros still feels fresh and you couldn’t ask for better 3rd’s than Terrible & Mistico. Trios of the night and maybe trios of the week. Gran Guerreros flying lariat continues to impress. Always gonna be hyped to see him whip that out. A bit more exciting than their standard team splash. 

Cavernario, Diamante Azul & Último Guerrero vs Ciber the Main Man, The Chris & Valiente

How’s the match?

Very good, Ciber worked better with buddy The Chris around. Valiente felt like the 3rd wheel here. Sorta a victim of the stipulation since they needed a face. I’d have gone with Caristico, but he’d probably have been a 3rd wheel as well. A fun main event and no promise of a hair match yet... despite it feeling inevitable.  

Highlights :

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Hechicero elbow to Volcano

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Caristico tope

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Trios dives from Rey Cometa, Guerrero Maya Jr. & Fuego

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Crazy armdrag catch by Guerrero Maya Jr.

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Forastero tope

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Valiente mocks Los Guerreros Laguneros

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Marcela flies off the apron

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Black Panther eating the boots of Disturbio

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Mije and Kraneo super best friends!

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Tope by Caristico!

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Arena Mexico New Values Report! 08/20/2019

Magia Blanca, Oro Jr. & Príncipe Diamante vs. El Coyote, Grako & Nitro

How’s the match?

Very good, but I can’t help but be annoyed by the fact that Nitro is the guy that gets the win here. Makes little sense to me for Nitro to get the rub over the other 5 guys here who are literally all young prospects. He goes to Europe to train/scout for CMLL, so I suppose he shouldn’t always lose, but he could have won here with Grako/Coyote getting the final fall. That’s a nitpick though and overall this match is really fun. Nitro isn’t the best 3rd for Coyote/Grako tho. 

Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr. & Rey Cometa vs. Okumura, Sagrado & Virus

How’s the match?

Very good, all these tecnicos deserve a push, but none of them will get one. Or at least for now it seems CMLL has no interest in pushing them. Cometa has the highest hopes as him in a lucha de apuestas midcard match at Anniversary could happen. He does have this new look and he could lose his hair or shave someone like Okumura who needs no protection as he is basically midcard fodder without a huge amount of runway like many of the younger more fit talents of CMLL. Virus vs. Cometa too would be a classic. 

Kráneo, Stuka Jr. & Volcano vs. Hechicero, Rey Bucanero & Vangellys

How’s the match?

Good, but the rudo team could be better. These guys were probably picked as people who could lose to the comedy team of Volcano/Kraneo. It’s a shame then that Hechicero is there as the anchor for the rudos and too has to lose to the comedy team. Hechicero/Stuka Jr. though have a long term rivalry so that softens the losing to a comedy team blow for Hechicero. Not a must watch match, but Gorillas del Ring are fun and Mije/Hechicero bits are fun. 

Atlantis, Dragón Lee & Soberano Jr. vs. Dark Magic, Mr. Niebla & Negro Casas

How’s the match?

Very good, but like I’ve said recently and a recurring complaint is that Atlantis matches have a very obvious formula in 2019. This is saved by Negro Casas throwing down with Dragon Lee. Of all the outlier ideas for Anniversary Main Event Apuestas matches Negro Casas vs. Anybody is a good pull. He is 59 and his next shaving may be his last and will be a massive deal, unless it just doesn’t happen and he retires with hair in tact... but that doesn’t seem likely. 

Carístico vs. Terrible

How’s the match?

Very good, these two are both seasoned vets in CMLL who know how to have a good singles match. Caristico has been at war with Ingobernables the end game could be a mask vs. hair match with Rush, but that seems unlikely. Who knows though, as CMLL could want to get Rush shaved before he leaves CMLL if he is planning to go AWOL come 2020 when rumor is that’s the end of his current CMLL contract and his English promos in RoH may suggest a stateside future for the Ingobernables leader. This ended with Terrible unmasking Caristico, which makes sense in character as Terrible knows that beating Caristico clean in the 3rd would be an uphill battle and he had nothing to lose with this match that had not stakes. 

Highlights :

Arena Mexico New Values Highlights 08/20/2019

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Arena Puebla Report! 08/19/2019

Tiger, Mascara Ano 2000 & Hechicero vs. Stigma, Black Panther & Blue Panther Jr.

How’s the match?

Very good, Mascara Ano 2000 is in his 60′s and isn’t someone I tend to love, but he is easily carried here by Tiger and Hechicero, two of the best midcard guys on the roster. Panther Bros. and Stigma too as good tecnicos cover up for the senior fighter in this match. Plenty of fun for a Puebla midcard match. (Literally the middle match in this 5 match card)

Valiente, Stuka Jr. & Atlantis vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Felino & Negro Casas

How’s the match?

Good, I love Barbaro/Negro Casas probably 2 of my top 5 guys on the CMLL roster, but this match is very much a by the numbers Atlantis match. I can’t say I love it as it just feels very uneventful. That’s fine cause it’s a throwaway Puebla match, but I can’t really say it’s something you need to seek out and watch. 

Mistico, Sanson, Cuatrero & Forastero vs. Soberano Jr., Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero & Euforia

How’s the match?

Great, sometimes when people are setting up another match down the line/next week the match is sorta ho-hum. Which was the case with this same match last week on this card. This match is a set up match, but is more exciting. Soberano Jr. and Mistico butt heads here and will meet next week in a title(?) match. That’s going to be better than this, but this was still a very fun NGD vs. LGL scrap with the tecnicos too busy fighting each other to care about this faction warfare. 

Highlights :

Arena Puebla Highlights 08/19/2019

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Arena Mexico Super Friday Report! 08/16/2019

Cancerbero & Raziel vs. Robin & Star Jr.

How’s the match?

Very good, Cancerbero/Raziel together are a great opening match unit and Star Jr. might be one of the most underutilized guys on the roster(that makes TV regularly at least). Robin isn’t someone I’m as hot for, but he is far from bad and seems to always be giving a decent effort which is more than I can say for some people on the roster. 

Chamuel, Guapito & Perico Zacarías vs. Átomo, Gallito & Microman

How’s the match?

Good, CMLL has been booking the minis more regularly lately and this might be because Chamuel/Microman could have a mask vs. mask match at Anniversary. Microman is as serious as anyone has taken talents this small seriously. He is breaking the glass ceiling for this division, hopefully Chamuel won’t be hurt too badly by losing his mask and the two can show everyone how good a tiny 2/3 falls match can be. If they succeed we might even see a tiny belt in the next year or so. Giving the division stakes it the best way to make it more important. 

Ephesto, Luciferno & Mephisto vs. Atlantis Jr., Flyer, Titan

How’s the match?

Good, but demons need to win something big sometime in the next few months. Lately they have felt very toothless since Mephisto lost his singles title and really leading up to that. They just don’t have any notable wins lately and that leaves them feeling a bit deflated as a unit. Atlantis Jr. looked good here though and he and Villano very well fit the role of new guys CMLL has invested in, just like in 2018 we had Templario/Audaz redesigns and pushes. 

Metalica vs. Dalys for the Female Universal Championship

How’s the match?

Bad and that a major drag. This tournament felt like it had the potential to show the world what the luchadora division could do, but these finals shit the bed. It only went one fall as Metalica may have become injured. Dalys shouldn’t have been here in the first place and her winning is such a lazy booking. She just had the women’s championship, we all already knew she was a strong talent and this is just a notch on her belt that she didn’t need and that likely keeps the division in the boring state it was already in. I wouldn’t be surprised if this tournament doesn’t become annual, in part because it was underwhelming as fuck this year. I hate to say that, since the 1st torneo cibernetico/block is one of my favorite matches of this last month. 

Cuatrero, Gilbert el Boricua & Sansón vs. Ángel de Oro, Diamante Azul & Niebla Roja

How’s the match?

Good, Oro/Roja vs. NGD has been a good feud, but has been going on for a while. I can certainly see/understand people being bored with it. I still like seeing them vs., but 3rds Azul/Gilbert should have been more the focus. I could be wrong though if Oro/Roja vs. NGD have something planned for the end of this year. Could certainly see Oro/Roja capping off their rebound year by winning the Mexican National Trios Championships, but probably with Soberano/Audaz or the like, not Azul. Though they did win here... so who knows? Maybe Azul would make a good bruiser for their 3rd. 

Forastero vs. Volador Jr.

How’s the match?

Fantastic, one of the best CMLL matches of this summer. A great showcase for Forastero and probably his best singles showing so far of the dozen or so matches he has had. While his match with Barbaro Cavernario left Forastero feeling like a chump who got lucky in a lightning match, this feels like Forastero going toe to toe with the face of the company and even getting a fall without taking off his entrance gear chaps. Sanson/Cuatrero are still higher on the totem pole, but Forastero here for the 1st time solo felt like a guy on their level and not a hanger on, who just happens to be cousin to the two stars. 

Dragón Lee, Místico & Último Guerrero vs. Carístico, Ciber the Main Man & Valiente

How’s the match?

Very good, but what the fuck is happening at Anniversary? I say that as a joke, but they tease both Mistico/Caristico while also playing on the Ultimo/Ciber story still. Fans want to start getting hyped and CMLL needs to nail down what is going to happen so they can start building to it. This likely won’t happen until September starts though as CMLL have announced Gran Prix at the end of August and Anniversary will be at the end of September, so look for it to be built starting on the 1st Friday of September. 

Highlights :

Arena Mexico Super Friday 08/16/2019

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Arena Mexico New Values Report! 08/13/2019

Fuego, Pegasso & Stigma vs. Espíritu Negro, Hijo del Signo & Nitro

How’s the match?

Good, but these guys are mostly midcard stragglers. I say that with a heavy heart because I think Stigma/Fuego deserve more, but midcard hands are midcard hands. I’m not going to lie about their place on the card. I don’t mind the goofy pin used here, but I think silly team finishes like that should be saved for units. It comes off as less goofy when Los Guerreros Laguneros do it... because they are a team. Pegasso/Fuego/Stigma don’t have a stable and likely aren’t forming one. 

Marcela vs. Reyna Isis Lightning Match

How’s the match?

Good, but lacks drama. Winner of the luchadora tournament on the coming Friday show will take on Marcela eventually for the CMLL Women’s title... so obviously she was going to win here. Would make no sense for Marcela to take the loss here. This should have been someone else vs. Isis as we all already know Marcela can hold her own in a singles match. We’ve all known that for a decade now, give someone else this slot. 

Disturbio, Hechicero & Misterioso Jr. vs. Audaz, Black Panther & Blue Panther Jr. 

How’s the match?

Very good, I’m a mark for the Panther Bros and Audaz. The rudo team doesn’t stack up for me personally, but Hechicero is there to be the standard bearer on the rudo side. This match is what midcard matches in CMLL should be. Nothing like seeing Audaz and Panthers steal a show in the middle of the card. 

Atlantis, Blue Panther & Kráneo vs. Felino, Hijo del Villano III & Negro Casas

How’s the match?

Very good, this match had plenty of old guys who still did a fine job. Felino/Negro Casas are fun to see team as bros. I like Hijo del Villano III, but it is a little disappointing that Tiger has been around for ages and doesn’t get this spot that often. Atlantis isn’t someone I love seeing in 2019 as people so obviously stooge for him. This is the rare case where it feels like the tecnico team is coasting, when normally the rudo team gets that charge.  

Carístico, Soberano Jr. & Stuka Jr. vs. La Bestia Del Ring, Rush & Terrible

How’s the match?

Good, lots of great talent here, but I don’t think this match was as fun as the two matches that preceded it. Caristico as superhero isn’t my favorite thing. I get the booking as Caristico is one of the most beloved guys in the history of lucha. He may have a marquee match at Anniversary and Los Ingobernables seems like the most likely rudos for that. Lucha de apuestas seems unlikely though unless Rush is willing to get a haircut. Rush/Caristico would make a banger title match on that 86th Anniversary card, but he butted heads here with Terrible more than Rush. 

Highlights :

Arena Mexico New Values 08/13/2019

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Arena Puebla Report! 08/12/2019

I’m running mad behind(just started a new job), so these next few reviews will be briefer so I can catch up. 

Amapola, Dalys & La Comandante vs. La Magnifica, La Vaquerita & Marcela

How’s the match?

Fine, not really much to write home about.We rarely see Vaquerita, who appeared here, but she didn’t do much here to make an big impression. 

Olímpico, Pólvora & Universo 2000 Jr. vs. Dulce Gardenia, Fuego & Stigma

How’s the match?

Very good, Dulce Gardenia is CMLL’s shiny new exotico who is still always a treat to see. That’s mostly down to being pretty unique on the roster and not getting lost in a blob of other exoticos like AAA who tend to have all their exoticos hang out in trios matches together. Dulce pairs well with flamboyant dancing gimmick Fuego too. Rudos do fine, but are mostly there to stooge. 

Los Guerreros Laguneros & Soberano Jr. vs. NGD & Mistico

How’s the match?

Good, but honestly not the barn burner you’d expect with these 8... because they just do a scratch. Next week they would/will fight again and that will be better. This was a set up match for a 2nd round, but isn’t a must watch on it’s own.

Rush vs. Caristico

How’s the match?

Great, Rush tends to love a brawl and Puebla has a great atmosphere for a brawl. This is the match to check out on this card. A good main event for Puebla with 2 of the biggest names in the company. The small arena got a good main event that could make other arenas that week a bit jealous. 

Highlights :

Arena Puebla Highlights 08/12/2019

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Ultimo Guerrero(c) vs. Ciber The Main Man CMLL World Heavyweight Champion