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CMLL Super Viernes - 29/07/2022
Mask Vs. Mask Match: Pequeno Olimpico vs. Ultimo Dragoncito
A worthy celebration of Minis in CMLL. I didn't think that the match was particularly special but the atmosphere and effort was pretty great and made this better than the average match, as all Apuestas are. Olimpico had most of the match, tying Dragoncito up in submissions and generally dictating the match tempo until Dragoncito made an attempt to save his mask. The closing stretch was simple without all the pomp and circumstance. Olimpico won with a small package and then came the water works. ***1/2
Leyenda de Plata 2022 Final Match: El Soberano Jr. vs. Templario
The final of the tournament is here. The match starts with a few intense lockups between the two rivals before Soberano effortlessly reverses a toss up in the air to hit a hurricanrana. Soberano tried for a springboard dive from the corner but crashed and burned onto the barricade after Templario moved. However Templario didn’t miss his tope to the outside. Soberano hits a DDT on the apron to switch the momentum and then hits a fabulous running moonsault over the top rope. Soberano continues his dominance when he catches Templario in the middle of the air to hit a powerbomb on the floor, though Templario would have spells of offence himself. The crowd was behind Templario and Soberano channelled that in his performance in a way that was still true to his tecnico ways but also got the crowd to cheer for Templario more. The match had a tremendous competitive feel, with the action going back and forth, while having some spectacular counters without numbing you to them. Templario launched Soberano into the air for a backdrop on the ramp way and then threw Soberano off the ramp onto the floor, after sidestepping the attempted move. Soberano looked incredible. I adored his running destroyers over the top rope. And never looked anything but great. And despite the crowd pleasing nature of the match, the nearfalls were great for creating drama and getting the crowd to rock. Soberano had a great front piledriver (think Owen Hart to Austin) nearfall and Templario had an even better one after a powerbomb onto the knees. Templario hit both the same piledriver and then one more powerbomb to the knees to become the winner of the 2022 Leyanda de Plata. A great, great match. It’s unfortunate that Templario is now injured so they won’t get their chance to have an apuesta at the Anniversario but it’s possible that they weren’t having one anyway. They deserved every bit of money that was thrown in the ring. ****1/4
CMLL Grand Prix Internacional 2022 - 19/08/2022
CMLL World Heavyweight Title Match: Hechicero (c) vs. Euforia
Infernales v Infernales. The match was pretty cold going into the show from the sound of Lucha Libre fans but the crowd is going 10k strong and the noise is something else. Euforia really brought the goods in the match. Hechicero offers great technical work but Euforia’s hard hitting style was the match’s true high points. Hechicero bumped around for his teammate which helped, crashing into the stands and then taking a superplex on the hard ring. The crowd was going crazy for the nearfalls as well. It was pretty insane how loud the crowd actually was. Some of Hechicero’s submissions didn’t come off well but I will hardly say that he detracted from the match as he played his part and some of his holds did add some drama to the match. ***3/4
Grand Prix Internacional 2022 Torneo Cibernetico Match: El Mesias, Kenny King, Lince Dorado, Matt Taven, Oraculo, Robbie Eagles, Rocky Romero & Tiger Mask vs. Atlantis Jr., El Soberano Jr., Mistico, Stuka Jr., Templario, Titan, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr.
What to say? This was one hell of an experience with the crowd being maybe the hottest, most excited crowds of the year. I can nitpick certain parts like Mistico whiffing his finish with Tiger Mask IV but that would be wasteful ultimately as the magical moments were things like Ultimo raising the roof with the row upon row of fans, who were doing it with him. Plus the individual brilliance of guys like Titan, Soberano Jr, Volador Jr, and Oraculo (and more). But more specifically, Oraculo really impressed me with his charisma and personality. Plus he was as fluid in the ring as the rest of them. He had some great spots with Soberano on the apron and he rubbed that onto his team mates during the triple team sequences. 56 minutes of pure unadulterated entertainment. And, while it’s not my CMLL MOTY, it’s one of the great ones. ****1/4
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