CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas Preview!
Like I said earlier in my Lucha Underground preview, it’s quite a good week. Somehow I forgot to bring up one of the reasons this week rules; CMLL’s Homenaje a Dos Leyendas event this Friday (available on iPPV for $10. Yes, I just went with the cheap plug). Considered the second biggest show CMLL has behind the Anniversary Show, Homenaje a Dos Leyendas serves as the official kick off to the rest of CMLL’s year while also honoring their founder Salvatore Lutterroth’s and another legendary name in lucha libre (this year Lizmark will be honored). This time around it’ll also serve up a pretty bad ass card, featuring two highly anticipated hair vs. hair matches, a potential barn burning Atomicos match and several other matches that could surprise. Being the lucha nut that I am, you had to know a preview was coming. So with that said, let’s break down the card shall we? ON WITH THE SHOW!
Los Principes del Ring (Oro Jr. and Soberano Jr.) vs. Sanson and El Cuatreo
What to Expect: As far as CMLL openers go this match should be more on the fun side. I was heavily impressed with Sanson and El Cuatreo just a few weeks ago on Super Viernes; I expected them to deliver an unspectacular performance, only to witness some very crisp, smooth flowing work from the two. Look for this to be a showcase for them, with the high flying technicos being looked at to pick up the pace.
Winners: Sanson and El Cuatreo. Maybe its wishful thinking, but their recent performance combined with CMLL’s lack of use for Oro and Soberano leads me to believe the rudos are taking the victory. May this be the start of big things for them in CMLL.
Angel del Oro, Rey Cometa and Titan vs. Los Hijos del Inferno (Ephesto, Mephisto and Luciferno)
What to Expect: Get ready to hear some words you’re not going to hear often in this column; I’m not sure about this match. The pieces for a good bout are here, particularly on the technico side and with the always reliable Mephisto. The problem is that Mephisto’s buddies are involved here, which fills me to the brim with a feeling of meh. In the end, this will come down to how effective the technicos are at hitting their spots. Do that and Mephisto will likely do enough to make this a good match. If not, expect this to be one of the sloppiest bouts of the evening, and the only match I frankly couldn’t care less about.
Winners: Hijos del Inferno. NEXT!
Atomicos Match
Kamaitachi, Okumura, Fujin and Raijin vs. Dragon Lee, Mascara Dorada, Mistico and Valiente
What to Expect: Ladies, gentlemen, disenfranchised Arsenal fans; if you’re looking for a match to steal the show on this card, this is the match that will do it. Goodness gracious me, would you look at the talent in this match?! Mascara Dorada, Valiente and Mistico are as underrated as they come in CMLL, I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the two young New Japan transplants thus far and you can never, ever go wrong with a match featuring Dragon Lee and Kamaitachi on opposite sides. The only question is how long all these guys will be allowed to go full out Mad Max: Fury Road for Arena Mexico. It might be a little too chaotic to be match of the night, but don’t be surprised if it challenges. I mean it’s got Dragon Lee and Kamaitachi squaring off again, perhaps for the last time in any situation. Anything less than greatness would be the biggest surprise since Darth Vader cut off Luke’s hand and then told him he was his father.
Winners: Going with the technicos here after fifteen minutes of wild, wacky, unbelievable action. I wouldn’t be shocked if the match ends with Dragon Lee pinning someone not named Kamaitachi by the way. I mean one feud with a New Japan transplant worked out well, why wouldn’t another? Alright Okumura-Lee might be pushing it, but still!
Lucha de Apuestas (Hair vs. Hair) Match
Maximo Sexy vs. Rush
What to Expect: The first of the two main events and arguably the one with the most heat. CMLL couldn’t have booked this feud any better; Rush (not surprisingly) has delivered the goods as the vicious, jealous rudo of his former El Bufete del Amor teammate, while Maximo has done such a good job of getting into Rush’s head I’m pretty sure he and Marco Corleone have set up shop there. That last point, aside from the involvement of Corleone (who I should remind you was just buddies with Rush less than a month ago) and Rush’s Los Ingobernables buddy La Mascara, will be the big story. Can Maximo use his psychological edge to take Rush’s hair for the first time ever? Can Rush stop being afraid of Maximo’s dreaded “kiss”, the move that has taken center stage of this story? I’m not sure ultimately if this match will top the other Lucha de Apuestas match on the card, but I do believe the story will be better and that, barring a catastrophe, this will be one of the two best matches. My only regret is that Maximo’s CMLL World Heavyweight Championship isn’t on the line. I can’t be the only one thinking title vs. hair would’ve been a better decision, right? Maximo barely even has hair!
Winner: Rush. The man with the perfect Lucha de Apuesta record will stay perfect, and I think he’ll kick out of “The Kiss” to do it! Hey, the move has been such a big deal to Maximo for gaining the edge going into the match; it’s only fitting that Rush overcome it in order to win. By the way, if Rush ends up winning because Corleone (who will be Maximo’s second) helps him, revealing his technico turn was a Horseman esq swerve all along, I will literally be the happiest man on planet Earth. Yvonne Strahovski’s boyfriend won’t feel as good (okay, that’s probably a lie).
Atlantis, Marco Corleone and Brazo de Plata vs. Cibernetico, Mr. Niebla and Ultimo Guerrero
What to Expect: The second match on this card that fills me to the brim with a feeling of indifference. And that’s with Marco and Atlantis is in it! Look, this match will have its moments, if only because Atlantis is always good in big events, Marco is Marco, Ultimo Guerrero is Ultimo Guerrero and Cibernetico is wrestling his first big CMLL show (which likely means he’ll bring it too). In the end though, the involvement of two comedy players like The Artist Forever Known as Super Porky and Mr. Niebla will likely drive the work rate down. It’ll be short, it’ll have some moments and it’ll calm the crowd down before the grand finale.
Winners: The technicos. Next question.
Lucha de Apuesta (Hair vs. Hair) Match
Volador Jr. vs. Negro Casas
What to Expect: Almost the opposite of Maximo-Rush, in that the heat isn’t exactly here but the match should deliver better. And it’s not like the buildup for Negro and Volador has been bad; at times the feud has been quite intense, has done a good job at bringing in members of Negro’s family into the mix and has really only had issues when Super Parka has been involved. The lesson as always; when Super Parka is the answer, you've done the thing that angers Red Skull the most.
Thankfully Super Parka should be miles away from this match (though I suppose he could be Volador’s second) and even if he isn’t, he should have no effect on the high quality both men will produce. You all know how I feel about Negro Casas, who even at 56 years old is wrestling at a level higher than most people half his age and has been super sharp throughout this feud. And boy do I expect Volador to show up here? For all the praise we give guys like Dragon Lee, Volador Jr. is just as talented an overall performer and may just be the fastest man I’ve ever seen in a wrestling ring. Furthermore, his intensity during this feud has almost become rudo esq, another layer that should add to this bout. I expect this to be intense, exciting and ultimately the Match of the Night and a top candidate to be CMLL’s non Dragon Lee-Kamaitachi Match of the Year.
Winner: Volador Jr. This is semi blasphemous considering Negro has a 17-7-1 record in Apuesta matches overall (and several of those losses were to one man, the legendary El Hijo del Santo) and because, well, he’s Negro! But he’s also been pretty poor in recent Apuesta matches (1-3-1 in his last five) and because I’d put big money on Volador-Rush is in the cards for the 83rd Anniversary Show this September, it makes sense for Volador to pick up the win and get his revenge. Will he need help from that surprise he keeps teasing? No idea. All I know is that he’ll win, and Rush-Volador hair vs. hair will be set up as a major match for the fall. Imagine a second that the show is headlined by that match and Atlantis-Caristico, mask vs. mask. A million lucha libre fans just cried out in ecstasy and suddenly went silent.
And that’ll do it guys! I’m planning to be back later with another column, but we’ll see where the day takes me. Till next time, let’s get some DUCHOVNY in here.
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