CMLL Super Viernes Preview: In the Shadow of Triplemania
The big thing going on this weekend in the lucha libre world is Triplemania. Rightfully so too; I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Psycho Clown is kind of a big deal. It isn’t the only show happening though, as CMLL will be back at their usual time this Friday to give us another Super Viernes show. And while I don’t think Triplemania is in any danger of being overshadowed, this is a pretty decent card overall, with one great looking match, a few good looking matches and several bouts that are building to bigger shows next week for the Gran Prix and for a few weeks from now at the CMLL Anniversary Show. Man, it truly is the best time of the year for lucha libre isn’t it? So why waste anymore time getting to it when we can start by breaking this bad boy down. Moses, stopping watching that Rey-Ricochet spot and meme like your life depends on it.
Robin & Star Jr. vs. Akuma & Espanto Jr.
What to Expect: To think; we were one Flyer replacing Robin away from this match getting very exciting. Yo know, because Flyer and Espanto always seem to find a way to end each other in these matches. Alas we’ll just have to live with Robin watching as Star Jr. does awesome stuff to the rudos. How awesome? It depends on if CMLL is in the same mood they were last week when they let Astral of all people go nuts in the opener. If they do, this could be something. If they don’t, at least we’ll have Star Jr. doing some good lucha while Akuma makes us wonder what could be if he were anywhere else and Espanto…well who knows? It could be very good, very bad, or aggressively mediocre. When it’s Espanto, always assume the latter.
Winners: When in doubt, going with the rudos. They take it in three falls after Akuma and Espanto both hit Canadian Destroyers on the technicos, leading to a lot of complaining on Twitter.
Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso vs. Disturbio, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado
What to Expect: This looks great as far as second matches go. The rudo team is solid, the technico team is well rounded (with Pegasso in the third wheel spot where he belongs), the restrictions on earlier matches may be off; this has all the makings of being something that turns into a good match. Will it? Its CMLL so who knows. But the way Drone has been working recently coupled with the always great Maya and the dependability of everyone else leads me to think this will be a good time. It may even be better than some Triplemania matches. Granted that’s not too much of an accomplishment; have you seen the shit show Torneo Triplemania could turn into?!
Winners: I have a good feeling about the technicos here, which is odd because Sagrado and Misterioso are the type of rudos that always win. Not here though, as Drone finishes off Sagrado with the Bala Knees in fall three to give the technicos a hard earned W.
La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit, Silueta vs. Amapola, La Comandante, Zeuxis
What to Expect: The road to Sugehit-Zeuxis continues here with another match that should feature better luchadoras in it than it does. I’m still trying to get over last week where CMLL thought it was a good idea to help Sugehit and Zeuxis by putting Sanely and Tiffany in the match. Sanely and Tiffany people! They’d have been better off cloning Sexy Star. It did work out in the end and I don’t see anyone complaining about the spot where Sanely did the strip tease but man; shouldn’t you be surrounding Sugehit and the Queen with the best talent possible to get us even more pumped for the match? This is why we can’t have nice things. Well that and Vampiro apparently.
Anyways, I expect this match to be about the same as last week. That’s good on the one hand because Zeuxis and Sugehit were awesome last week (as they are every time they go at it) and I bet the intensity will be up even higher this time as we get closer to the big show. Unfortunately only Silueta and Amapola are good enough to keep the interest when Zeuxis and Sugehit take a breather, and with Silueta being a tad off recently there’s no guarantee that’ll go well. In short, let’s hope this pretty much disintegrates into a near Zeuxis-Sugehit singles match, Amapola and Silueta come up big, Vaquerita works with Zeuxis when the Queen is kneeing Sugehit in the face and Comandante…well she can just stand on the apron and wave out to whichever luchador is in the restaurant. Or a fan. I don’t care what it is; just keep her out of the ring and let Zeuxis and Sugehit work their magic.
Winners: Sugehit stole the victory last week, so I’d say this is where Zeuxis gets some revenge and steals a win herself. I’m not just saying that because I never bet against the Queen…wait that’s a lie, I am saying that because I never bet against the Queen! Come on people; get with the program before Zeuxis wins this one with a pin where she uses the ropes for leverage.
Lightning Match
Soberano Jr. vs. Cavernario
What to Expect: I look at this match, and my first instinct is to go all Wayne’s World and scream “WE’RE NOT WORTHY! WE’RE NOT WORTHY!” about 9,000 times. I mean seriously; LOOK AT THIS MATCH! It’s two of the best luchadors in the game right now going at it in a spot where the only restriction they’ll have is time. And I’m not even that concerned about that; remember, it was one year ago this Saturday that Soberano and Hechicero had, quite possibly, one of the best Lightning Matches of all time just a few days before Triplemania. Now he’s in the same position to do it all again with an opponent just as talented as Hechicero one day before Triplemania?! I like the odds. Look for this to be fast, furious, fun and quite possibly epic, another feather in the cap for two luchadors who have already had an outstanding year.
Winner: There’s a growing consensus that this match could be a prelude for a rematch at the Gran Prix, with Soberano defending his Mexican National Welterweight Championship against Cavernario. I’m not quite as sold on that as others, but I am sold on Cavernario walking out the winner. As great as Soberano has been this year and as much as he’s risen up the card, I’m just not quite ready to think he can beat Cavernario in a Lightning Match with no stakes. And if there are stakes, Cavernario will have to win to set the match up. Ergo, it’s the caveman’s to lose and he won’t lose it, picking up the win with La Cavernaria deep into this one.
Dragón Lee, Mistico, Niebla Roja vs. Gran Guerrero, Shocker, Terrible
What to Expect: Take away whatever is left of Shocker and this match looks pretty good. It won’t actually end up being good because Shocker will get too much time and this isn’t the Anniversary Show (the only time the magic seems to return for the lucha legend), but that’s not the point. The point is to continue building up what looks like the Anniversary Show main event between Gran Guerrero and Niebla Roja. I must admit things are looking up on that end; Niebla Roja looked great last week (he’s frankly looked great ever since this match looked to be the front runner for the Anniversary Show headliner) and Gran Guerrero remains as consistent as ever in his improvement. They’ll dominate this match here and if they keep up the good performances, this should be a good sign of things to come when September 16th. That said would it kill CMLL to let Dragón Lee do a few good things with Terrible here? And yes, it has to be Terrible. The moment Dragón Lee goes near Shocker I’m going to be like Dark Helmet re-watching the ludicrous speed scene.
Winners: Last week Roja came out standing tall, so CMLL logic combined with everything I’ve ever learned from wresting tells me that Gran Guerrero will come out standing tall here. However, since I have the rudos winning a lot of these matches, I’m going Gran stands tall here courtesy of an unmasking/low blow combo, leading to a moral victory for him and a DQ victory for the technicos in fall three. Ah that CMLL finish; man that stench lingers for awhile.
Diamante Azul, Último Guerrero, Volador Jr. vs. Juice Robinson, Matt Taven, Michael Elgin
What to Expect: If they weren’t building to the Gran Prix next week, I’d be raving about this match being potentially great. I mean look at these teams! Diamante Azul will never not be polarizing, but he is coming off a string of decent performances against Rush and Marco Corleone and he’s clearly being positioned behind the UG and Volador, only two of the greatest luchadors alive right now. AND THAT FOREIGNER TEAM! When you can put together a group that includes the white hot Juice (or as CMLL seems to call him, JOICE) Robinson, Matt Taven in Mexico (where he seems to really shine) and Big Mike you’ve got a winner. Now will CMLL actually let these guys go and try to have a great match? Probably not, considering the Gran Prix is a week away and these two sides will be seeing each other a lot leading into the match thanks to bouts in Puebla and Guadalajara next week. Still, here’s hoping CMLL gives this some time to get good. I know I wasn’t the only one who thought the great Juice Robinson looked a little lost in his first Arena Mexico appearance, and while I think he’ll get the hang of it, the more experience he gets in the cathedral can only do him good.
Winners: Unless CMLL is going to swerve us and give Team World the victory next week (and by the way, they should, with Sam Adonis winning it via evilness), there’s no reason not to continue stacking the odds against Team Mexico. So I say Robinson, Taven and Elgin pull out a win here via cheating, with Big Mike ultimately getting the win by pinning Azul.
And that’s the sign that the tank is full sports fans. I’m off for now, but I’ll return tomorrow to conclude my countdown to the greatest Triplemania match ever and to preview Triplemania. Lots of Triplemania. Till we meet again, THIS!
