CMLL Ketchup

CMLL 2015/08/03

Valiente, Angel de Oro, Titan vs. Mephisto, Ephesto, Polvora

Short but very to the point trio that would be even better if they got few more minutes to go all-out in tercera. The story was mostly about Polvora and de Oro advancing their feud and it worked. Everyone looked good in this match.

***3/4

CMLL 2015/08/03

Ultimo Guerrero, Atlantis, Mascara vs. Negro Casas, Mr. Niebla, Rey Escorpion

Niebla was hammered (again) and it’s quite a miracle the rest of the crew managed to somehow save the whole thing from a disaster. Fuck Niebla and if CMLL will keep insisting on bringing him back, then fuck them too.

**1/2

CMLL 2015/08/10

Campeonato Mundial Semi-Completo de CMLL: Polvora vs. Angel de Oro ©

Almost as long as their Arena Mexico classic from two weeks earlier, but the problem is they basically did the very same match with 90% of same spots and the layout was identical, especially with each fall having the same finish as the first match. If felt cheap. It’s like in the old days before TV and internet when two wrestlers were working the very same match every night in different towns. But this is different, they could’ve used some more variety. Also the Puebla crowd wasn’t as hot as the Arena Mexico crowd. All that being said, this is still Polvora vs. de Oro in a title match and obviously it’s good by default, although not must-see due to everything I already said.

***3/4

CMLL 2015/08/10

Atlantis, Mistico, Rush vs. Mephisto, Terrible, Felino

Harmless little match that would’ve been even better if they let Rush do more and make Felino do less. Terrible and Rush still hate each other and it helps their matches a lot. Also Atlantis is so perfect as a fired-up fresh tag, his series of backbreakers will never get old.

***

CMLL 2015/08/10

Ultimo Guerrero vs. Rey Escorpion

You see, unlike Polvora vs. de Oro, these two didn’t bluntly copy their first match, and I appreciate it very much. If nothing, at least they reversed the first two falls winners. And in tercera they tweaked few things to make it fresh to a degree. I liked it. Great match.

****

CMLL 2015/08/10

Titan, Guerrero Maya Jr., Delta vs. Ripper, Kraneo, Olimpico

Really neat match with every fall getting enough time to develop plots and subplots, Titan looked great as team captain and really this trio looks like something worth investing in. The dives were awesome, especially the big triple one. I’m not too familiar with Olimpico, Ripper is someone I watch extremely sporadically, but they did well here. Kraneo is always good and this match was no different, IMO he can bring so much to the table when they let him do his thing.

***3/4

CMLL 2015/08/11

MATCH RELAMPAGO: Pegasso vs. Virus

Best Match Relampago of the year, the body of work was very tight and focused, the opening wristlock stage was excellent and when they moved onto rope-running and dives it didn’t get worse. Virus made Pegasso look great and my favorite moment of the match was Pegasso slightly botching a plancha and Virus kicking out at one because of it. He made sure the semi-botch was acknowledged and sold. What a pro! This was such a killer little match.

****

CMLL 2015/08/04

Gran Guerrero, Felino, Cavernario vs. Titan, Triton, Stuka Jr.

Okay now, this match totally overdelivered and then some more. There’s just no chance in hell for at least three out of six match competitors to be featured in a clash this awesome. But somehow, somewhere, something happened, stars aligned and we got this glorious match loaded with constant asskicking and fun moments all across the board. You know something’s in the air when fucking Felino deserves a fair share of credit for match’s success, lmao… Stuka was also quite good and Gran Guerrero was excellent in his limited role. The other three guys were as good as always, but with Caveman being even more amusing than usual. Man, oh man, this shit was tons of fun.

****1/4

CMLL 2015/08/04

Mercurio & Pierrothito vs. Ultimo Dragoncito & Fantasy

All I got from this is that Mercurio owns, and that’s about it. The match had its damn fine moments, but overall it was nothing to write home about. Mercurio and Shokercito are the standouts of the division.

**3/4

CMLL 2015/07/24

Ultimo Guerrero, Shocker, Diamante Azul vs. Thunder, Rey Escorpion, Marco Corleone

Total 10 min brawl, right up my alley, with the rudos ambushing UG and the crew and beating them bad, Marco and Rey were throwing some fantastic punches and it was wonderful. The sense of uncontrollable chaos was strong and I will always dig that. Primera was excellent with an unexpected finish and the entire mayhem simply overflew into segunda, man, this match rocked. Shocker was the man here and his two spears on Marco were OMGworthy. Whoever put the match together is quite great at booking, because they managed to accelerate UG’s beef with Thunder while maintaining the heavy shit with Rey Escorpion as well. This was a killer little tussle, check it!

****1/4

CMLL 2015/07/24

Mascara vs. Volador Jr.

Surprisingly great match between two pretty poster boys that made an actual sense and where they almost went all-in, we got some pretty badass high flying stunts and rough smacks. I adored primera, it was basically perfect. Segunda, on the other hand, had few moments of really weird shit that I didn’t understand and didn’t even want to understand, and is the main reason why I didn’t go super high on the match despite being pretty awesome. Tercera was great once again with some big moves, including Volador slamming Mascara into stage steps and jumping off the stage onto him. If only it lasted longer, though, because just when I was thinking to myself “dude, this match rocks!”, they called it a day. Shame right there, but it made sense, I guess, due to all the punishment they took. Awesome match that I want to see again, and with better segunda could be a bonafide classic.

****1/4

CMLL 2015/07/27

Campeonato Mundial Completo de CMLL: Euforia vs. Maximo ©

Such a good title match for such a little time it got. First two falls were short, but they weren’t TOO short because they worked it in such a smart manner where everything happened with a reason and for a purpose. Euforia’s finisher in primera was something else, it was beautiful. Tercera was real deal and where Maximo stepped the fuck up with some really crazy flying moves, also Tirantes suddenly turned rudo on Maximo with his super obnoxious 3-counts, lol. Basically tercera was like a Match Relampago without any matwork, just big moves and the feeling in the air that anything could mean a killshot. Such a sweet match!

***3/4

CMLL 2015/07/27

Angel de Oro, Valiente, Titan vs. Polvora, Dragon Rojo Jr., Hechicero

Other than the swank opening mat session between Valiente and Hechicero and a little bit of Rojo/Titan, this was completely one-sided up until the inevitable comeback that happened in tercera. Rudo trio was great at brawling and iso beatdowns. Rojo once again entertained me as a badass rudo and Hechicero is just a sad story at this point, it almost hurts to watch his CMLL stuff because he reminds me of his undisputed greatness and the fact he’s been ridiculously underused in 2015. This was a great match that was designed to push Polvora vs. de Oro some more, but they didn’t too occupy the spotlight, I loved all the comeback teases and rudo cutoffs.

****