AEW has booked a couple of new matches for this weekend’s event in Texas.
With Collision taking place in the Houston area this Saturday, AEW sent out a Spanish-language announcement today advertising two ROH taping matches for that night. ROH Television Champion Komander is putting his title on the line against Lee Johnson. Plus, there will be a trios match involving five CMLL stars. It will be Sammy Guevara, Fuego & Dark Panther vs. Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario & Soberano Jr.
Komander has been ROH TV Champion since winning the belt at Final Battle in December 2024. Johnson earned this title shot by going to a 10-minute time limit draw against Komander in a Proving Ground match on ROH TV last week.
Fort Bend County Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas is the venue for Saturday’s event. Here is everything that has been announced:
AEW Collision (Saturday, February 8) —
Harley Cameron concert
Bandido vs. Bryan Keith
Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
Thunder Rosa vs. Penelope Ford
Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong vs. Shane Taylor & The Infantry (Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean) vs. Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker
ROH taping —
ROH TV Champion Komander defends against Lee Johnson
Sammy Guevara, Fuego & Dark Panther vs. Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario & Soberano Jr.
There were also three ROH matches taped at AEW Dynamite last night. Spoilers can be found here.
A CMLL star is the latest wrestler to be announced for PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles.
It was announced on Friday that Barbaro Cavernario will be taking part in this year’s tournament. He’s the 15th entrant to be announced for it.
This will be Cavernario’s PWG debut. He wrestled in the United States over WrestleMania week this April, losing a match against Dragon Lee at WrestleCon’s Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow.
Cavernario will also make his ROH debut at Summer Supercard in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 9. He’s teaming with Hechicero & Templario in a six-man tag match against Caristico, Soberano Jr. & Stuka Jr. at that event.
There will be 24 entrants in the Battle of Los Angeles, with the winner receiving a future shot at the PWG World Championship. The tournament is being held at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Thursday, September 19, Friday, September 20, and Sunday, September 22.
We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s Fastlane from Cleveland so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]” target=”_blank”>[email protected]
We’re also looking for reports tonight from Raw in Pittsburgh with anything that happened off Raw as well as reports from the Smackdown house show in Youngstown, OH to [email protected]
Raw is Monday night from Pittsburgh. Ronda Rousey, Dave Bautista, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are all scheduled.
Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped on Tuesday night in Dayton. 205 Live has the semifinals of the tournament for a WrestleMania shot at Buddy Murphy’s cruiserweight title with Tony Nese vs. Drew Gulak and Oney Lorcan vs. Cedric Alexander.
NEW JAPAN CUP ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 6 A.M. EASTERN FROM OKAYAMA ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
“When I made my announcement, I said that I was going to swing for the fences. We did better than that, y’all. We didn’t just swing for the fences, we hit a home run.”
The entire professional wrestling world breathed the sigh of relief they’ve been waiting four months for as Roman Reigns announced last Monday that his leukemia is in remission.
Reigns shared the positive update while appearing on WWE television for the first time since revealing his battle with leukemia, which had returned 11 years after he was first diagnosed with the disease.
Read the update on the situation with Roman Reigns as the lead story in the new issue of the Observer, talking about his leukemia diagnosis with more details as to the strain, his health situation and what he did in his four months away as well as other athletes with similar strains.
This issue has a major story on the career of Chris “King Kong Bundy” Pallies. Look at how he broke into wrestling, the irony of his very first match, his first role, his first push, where the King Kong Bundy name came from, where the five count came from, what pop culture characters he inspired, the story behind his famous WrestleMania matches including one that has rarely been talked about.
Also look at Jushin Liger’s retirement announcement. Read about his background, how he got started in pro wrestling, his New Japan Dojo legendary class, who he idolized and copied, his first match with the gimmick and what the plans are for his retirement.
This issue has an update on Tommaso Ciampa regarding the nature of his surgery, and what decisions NXT has to make.
Look at the career of Harley Race, how he broke into wrestling, the run that made him a national star and how he got the NWA world title, and how close he came to being champion a second time before it happened more than a year later.
Read full coverage of UFC 235, with all the highlights, business notes, and match-by-match coverage and poll results. Also look at contracted base pay for the show.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell,CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and the rest of the wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio. You can send question to the show to [email protected]
Also want to mention the show Garrett and I did with Mike Tenay yesterday, that so many have enjoyed. Like I mentioned yesterday, this is a very different show than we’ve done before and it was only due to the closeness of Tenay with The Destroyer that the show happened.
Regarding Dean Ambrose, I think anyone who watched that PPV and heard that commentary would think Ambrose is staying. I was told last night it wasn’t the case, or at least that he hasn’t signed (and granted those are two different things). They are doing a Shield tribute tonight so I think that will all be answered in a few hours based on however the angle goes down. Roman Reigns had a WrestleMania match (obviously) that is being kept secret and given we’ve only got a few shows left, hints could be coming tonight.
Tickets for New Japan in London and Dallas go on sale Wednesday. Based on advance codes, London is expected to sell out. Dallas is something that right now there is no indication about, but will be very interesting, since it is a G-1 show and people won’t know the lineup this week. It’s the first attempt at a major NBA arena in the U.S., and without Kenny Omega, Cody and The Young Bucks.
The funeral for Dick Beyer will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at One Church, 6 Scotland Road, Akron, NY 14001. Contributions can be made to either Hospice Buffalo or the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund. For those wanting to send message you can to www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net
Regarding interest in the weekend shows. Fastlane had 200,000 searches yesterday, putting it in 10th place among every term in the U.S. on Google. Saturday’s UFC show on ESPN+ had 100,000 searches, putting it in 11th place for the day.
WWE sent out a release today pushing that they now have 1 billion social media followers. That’s a number adding up every account combined, meaning there are likely fans counted 30 or 40 or even 100 times if they follow everyone through all the different platforms. They count this as 501 million on Facebook, 226 million on Instagram, 221 million on Twitter, and 46 million on YouTube.
WWE
The movie Changeland, “which Randy Orton is a co-star in, is scheduled for a theatrical release on 6/7.
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Eye for the flyweight title looks to be happening on the 6/8 UFC PPV show in Chicago. Also announced for that show is Nina Ansaroff vs. Tatiana Suarez in a match which could determine a contender for the strawweight title.
MISCELLANEOUS
Limitless Wrestling in front of 500 fans Saturday in Westbrook, ME: MJF became the company’s first champion in a fatal four-way over Ace Romero, Anthony Greene, and JT Dunn; Chris Dickinson defeated Tommy Dreamer in a hardcore match; Teddy Hart defeated Darby Allin; Jay Freddie and Put defeated The Butcher & The Blade; Ashley Vox defeated Brandon Kirk; Kris Statlander defeated Christian Casanova; Maine State Posse defeated The Shook Crew; The Platinum Hunnies defeated Brett Domino in a handicap match; Brad Hollister won a six-way over Josh Briggs, Pat Buck, Antoine Nicolas, Jake Something, and Donovan Danhausen. Next show on May 10 with Ethan Page.
Demand Lucha on 4/18 in Toronto with Joey Ryan, Rory Gulak, Phil Atlas and others.
Psicosis, Mentallo and Austrian MMA fighter Marin Pain headline for CWE on 3/26 in Rosau River First Nation, MB and the Ginew School Gym.
Tickets are on sale now for MLW on 6/1 in Waukesha, WI at the Expo Center. Announced on the show are Tom Lawlor, L.A. Park The Hart Foundation, Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix, Low Ki, Salina de la Renta, El Hijo de L.A. Park, Simon Gotch, Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Ace Romero, Mance Warner and more.
The final night of the WSW tour of Australia from today in Sydney: Marty Scurll b Mick Moretti, Joey Ryan & Concrete Davidson b Matty Wahlberg & Carter Deams, Jack Bonza b Matt Diamond, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky b Mikey Broderick & Slex, Bandido b Flamita, Brian Cage b Christopher Daniels, Jordynne Grace b Shazza McKenzie in a women’s title match, Robbie Eagles b Austin Aries to keep the WSW title. The whole locker room paid tribute to Abyss, in his final appearance with the promotion since he’s now a producer with WWE.
Woman wrestler Leon apparently had her purse stolen in the U.K. Promoter Dan Read was super upset about it and feels that the U.K. will look bad to those in Japan because of it. A Go Fund Me for her regarding the losses which was close to being met at last word. It’s at https://www.gofundme.com/pro-wrestling-eve-fund-for-leon
All Star Wrestling on 3/22 in Chilliwack, BC at the Tzeachten Hall.
Matt Morgan will return to the ring on Saturday teaming with Deon James vs. Chico Adams & Braydon Knight at Team Vision Dojo in Orlando.
USA Championship Wrestlnig’s Tribute to Eddie Gilbert from Saturday in Jackson, TN: Chris Styles & Brandon White b Big Gravy & Alex May, Kevin Zion b Colorado Kid, Jimmy & Gary Valiant b Tony & LT Falk, Tom Prichard b Christian James, Jake Law & Matt Boyce b Starr Twins to win the tag titles, Jerry Lawler & Doug Gilbert b Tommy Rich &Matt Riviera. Bill Dundee was in the corner of Colorado Kid. Phil Hickerson was also there. Kevin Lawler was there as Freddie Gilbert. Riviera broke a beer bottle over Jerry Lawler’s head and Lawler came back to throw fire at Riviera.
MCW on 3/31 in Joppa, MD at the MCW Arena has Corey Graves and Renee Young appearing. The show will be at 2:30 p.m. that Sunday.
IWA East Coast on 3/16 in Nitro, WV at the King’s Way Outreach Center.
Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Events (more to be added):
Saturday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!
The oldest lucha libre promotion still in existence celebrates 85 years with their anniversary show in Arena Mexico. A hair vs. hair tag team match headlines what is traditionally the grandest CMLL show of the year at the “Cathedral of Lucha Libre” in Mexico City.
Rush teams with Barbaro Cavernario against Volador Jr. and Matt Taven in a match where each team puts their hair on the line in the main event. The apuesta match is the finale on a six-match card with CMLL regulars and a supporting cast of outsiders.
Independent luchador LA Park appears on another major lucha show as teams alongside his son — Hijo de LA Park — and Caristico tonight. They face a team comprised of CMLL’s Diamante Azul and the indie darling Lucha Brothers. Penta El Zero M and Fenix (billed as “King Phoenix”) continue a trend of them appearing on some of the highest profile shows of the year not run by a public traded company.
Los Guerreros Laguneros defend their CMLL Trios Championship against a challenge by outsiders from Klan Kaoz. In the title match, Ultimo Guerrero leads Euforia and Gran Guerrero against Ciber the Main Man (Cibernetico), The Chris (El Zorro) & Scharly Rock Star (Charly Manson).
Elsewhere on the card, the legendary Atlantis teams with Mistico and Soberano Jr. to face La Nueva Generacion Dinamita. Also, two more trios matches round out CMLL’s 85th anniversary show.
The card will stream live on ROH’s HonorClub. Likewise, the show is available as an iPPV for $10 US via internetv.tv.
Follow along with our live coverage beginning approximately at 9:30 PM Eastern.
**********
The show began with a canned intro that included a video package and new graphics. A women’s trios match opened the card.
Jarochita, Marcela & captain Princesa Sugehit defeated Reyna Isis, Metalica & captain Dalys
The tecnicas won the first and third falls to take the match. The captains decided the first fall when the tecnicas started off strong. Dalys looked to fire up after reversing a double suplex — only Sugehit caught her in an octopus hold to submit the ruda captain.
The rudas went on to even the score in the second fall. Metallica jumped off the top rope into a senton bomb to eliminate Marcela via pinfall. A moment later, Reyna springboarded into a Vader Bomb to pin Jarochita.
A tecnicas made a comeback in the third fall. Marcela off the top with a double foot stomp set up her applying La Tapatia on Reyna for a submission. Meanwhile, Jarochita submitted Metalica with a Muta Lock.
Audaz, Niebla Roja & captain Angel de Oro defeated Felino, Mephisto & captain Negro Casas (w/ El Perico Zacarias)
In the first fall, an Audaz springboard splash to the outside led into the tecnicos scoring dual submissions. The brothers — Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja — submitted Casas & Felino with campana holds.
La Peste Negra (“The Black Plague”) plotted their revenge during the second fall. Felino eliminated Audaz via pinfall after an avalanche powerbomb off the ropes. Mephisto then suplexed Neibla Roja off the ropes onto his own brother. Mephisto then covered both brothers in pinning Neibla Roja for the rudos to take the second fall.
The tecnicos made a comeback that led to a trifecta of dives. Felino was eliminated with a Bubba bomb and a submission hold. Audaz then submitted Mephisto with a cross-armbreaker for a tecnico win.
La Nueva Generacion Dinamita cosplayed as bullriders for their entrance. The New Dinamitas later spurred their way to victory. They took an early advantage in the first fall. Forastero eliminated Soberano via submission using an armbar. Sanson held Atlantis in a backbreaker for a springboard elbow drop from Cuatrero similar to the old Demoition finisher. Cuatrero pinned Atlantis for the Dinamtas to win the first fall.
The rudo onslaught continued until a tecnico comeback led to a parade of dives. The tecnicos would go on to win the second fall to tie the score.
Atlantis got to shine before more wild dives. Soberano executed his tornillo splash on Cuatrero. Forastero springboarded into a dive on Soberano. The captains then squared off. Sanason had Mistico in a Torture Rack that he turned into a sit-out super powerbomb to pin the tecnico captain.
Scharly Rockstar (Charly Manson), The Chris (El Zorro) & captain Ciber the Main Man (Cibernetico) defeated CMLL Trios Champions Gran Guerrero, Euforia & captain Ultimo Guerrero to win the titles
The outisders won the CMLL trios titles in an upset with a screwjob foot on the ropes finish. Although Los Guerreros Laguneros are normally rudos, they were the defacto babyfaces in this feud against the outsider faction. Klan Kaoz triple-teamed Ultimo Guerrero to win the first fall. Ciber pinned Ultimo Guerrero for the invaders to gain the lead.
A Laguneros rally led to a flurry of offense by the home team. Euforia then submitted The Chris — while Gran Guerrero also submitted Rockstar with a stretch muffler. The defending champs tied the score at one fall apiece.
The Guerreros faction ran wild in the third fall. After a series of highspots, the dust settled and the captains faced off. Ciber tackled Ultimo Guerrero and went for a cover. Ciber cheated to win by putting his foot on the ropes for leverage. The referee counted to three and awared the titles to Klan Kaoz. The crowd seemed somewhat stunned. So was I. Guerreros protested with the ref and officials at ringside — but to no avail. The decision was final. The titles had changed hands. The invaders raided a championship.
Diamante Azul, King Phoenix (Fenix) & captain Penta El Zero M defeated Caristico, El Hijo de LA Park & captain LA Park
LA Park wore a Predator mask and costume during his entrance — which is fitting with the new movie debuting in theaters. The Lucha Brothers were once kids that revered Arena Mexico, and now their journey brings them back again to the same hallowed building. This time they are on the winning side in a featured match in the venue they so revered. What a storybook moment of dreams turning to reality.
In the first fall, the father and son duo scored a pinfall for their trios team. Before that, Penta was sent into the front row by a tope from Caristico. Hijo de LA Park went on to pin Phoenix after a wicked-looking double underhook driver. LA Park speared Azul for the other pinfall.
A wild brawl erupted in the second fall. They fought around ringside and up the aisles. Park was whipping people with his belt. The Lucha Brother launched into a double team comeback. They screwed up one spot, and the crowd let them know about it. They still popped when they were successful on a second try. Fenix gave his brother — Penta — a super Frankensteiner off the top to the floor on awaiting bodies. In the ring, Azul submitted the opposing captain when he applied a camel clutch on Park.
The third fall saw all kinds of highspots. Father and son got nearfalls. LA Park did a tope suicida — which is crazy for his age and size. Hijo de LA Park did a flying crossbody into the front row on Phoenix. A false finish led into the actual finish. A parade of dives gave way to a Lucha Brothers tandem attack. Phoenix jumped off the top rope with a double foot stomp to spike Carstico into a package piledriver from Penta. As Penta pinned Caristico, Pheonix delivered a Fenix Driver on Hijo de Park for the deciding pinfall.
Rush & Barbaro Cavernario defeated Volador Jr. & Matt Taven in a double hair match
Rush & Cavernario had by far the coolest entrance of the night with dancers and elaborate costumes. They went on to win the first and third falls to take the hair of Volador & Taven. Rush & Cavernario were seemingly the crowd favorites on this night to a vocal majority of those in attendance. Volador got booed by proxy because he was teaming with Taven. The crowd seemed to loath any thoughts of Taven possibly winning. Volador was somewhat protected despite losing. Taven cost Volador the match, and then turned on him in an angle afterwards.
The long mane of the caveman remains intact. Likewise, arguably the most coveted hair in lucha libre also remains alive with Rush. The first two falls went quickier than the lenghtly third fall — which was filled with dives, highspots, and false finishes. During the actual finish, Taven caught his own partner — Volador — with a kick to set up the deciding pinfall. Taven then turned on Volador after the match. Both still left with their head shaved.
The first fall began with a brawl in typical Rush fashion. Cavernario went on to pin Taven. Rush hit a basement dropkick on Volador to pin him. Rush & Cavernario continued their dominance into the second fall. They taunted with a tranquilo pose and push-ups. Taven & Volador fired up. Volador springboarded into a super Frankensteiner on Cavernario. Taven then jumped off the top rope with a frog splash to pin Cavernario. Volador superkicked Rush — setting him up for a backstabber from Taven to score a pin. That evened the falls.
The third fall was a highlight reel of action. The trading of near falls began with Rush giving Taven an exploder suplex into a corner. Taven countered moments later with a bulldog DDT. Cavernario joined in the exchange of near falls after giving Volador a crucifix buckle bomb. Cavernario followed that with a fisherman’s suplex for a two count on Volador. Volador reversed another crucifix attempt to cradle Cavernario. Rush made the save with a shotgun dropkick to break up the count.
The trading of near falls continued. Rush and Cavernario cleared the ring. Rush then flew into a tope con hilo on Volador. Cavernario followed with tope through the turnbuckles on Taven. The momentum would soon shift when Taven and Volador made a comeback. Taven moonsaulted off the top to the floor — and Volador did an Asai moonsault. A frog splash by Taven led into a double near fall.
Cavernario & Rush soon cut off their opponents as much of the crowd cheered. Cavernario did his crazy splash off the top to the floor on Taven. Volador and Rush squared off — but Rush powdered. The crowd showered Rush with boos for practically the first time during the match. The audience would soon pop for a flying crossbody from Volador as he dived off the top into the front row. The madness kept going as Taven did a flip dive over the ropes to the outside.
Going into the finishing sequences, Cavernario submitted Taven with La Cavernaria. Volador got his feet up to block a Cavernario splash. He then executed a Canadian Destroyer on Cavernario for a pinfall. That set up sudden death where a pinfall on either Rush or Volador would decide the match.
Taven went for a disaster kick — only to hit his own tag partner instead. That left Volador defenseless as Rush hooked him and delivered a Jay Driller for the final pinfall.
Taven turned on Volador immediately after the conclusion of the post-match pyro. Confetti fell around them while Taven soon realized he too would be losing his hair alongside Volador. Taven tried to flee, but Volador dragged him back into the ring for the head shaving. After Taven had his head shaved, Volador too let the barber cut his locks and shave his head.
Closing thoughts —
While the card lost a lot of anticipation in the buildup, the show itself delivered on action. The atmoshpere was that of a supercard, but not the biggest show of the year. The tone and vibe was never on par with some previous CMLL anniversary shows. The drama was never high enough to deliver that emotional crescendo seen in classic apuesta matches. Nevertheless, this as an easily enjoyable card with some great matches.
Dragon Lee retained his CMLL Lightweight title against Barbaro Cavernario, continuing to build momentum for an eventual IWGP Junior title match. Hiromu Takahashi defeated Titan in a match filled with great high flying spots, then confronted Dragon Lee in the main event, though things didn’t go his way.
Okumura and Hechicero made it clear what their intentions were for their matches on tomorrow’s show — Hechicero to become CMLL Heavyweight champion, and for Okumura to score a big win over Stuka Jr.
Blue Panther Jr. & Henare defeated Ephisto & Will Ospreay
Good opener. Ospreay always shines in these type of matches and looked like a million dollars compared to everyone else. Ospreay did a Sasuke special that took out Henare. That allowed Blue Panther Jr. to secure the submission with the nudo lagunero.
Soberano Jr. looked really good. He picked up the win with a moonsault off the middle rope where Raziel was laying.
Hechicero & Okumura defeated Maximo Sexy & Stuka Jr.
This went by pretty quick, but was good while it lasted. Maximo got a cool near fall after Stuka Jr. did his torpedo, wiping out Okumura on the outside and Maximo followed with a ropewalk splash. Stuka missed a dive and Okumura took advantage by ripping off part of his trunks then scored the win with the reverse DDT.
Okumura cut a promo in Spanish, then Hechicero said tomorrow Maximo’s CMLL Heavyweight title was his. Maximo said he’d win it for his friends in Japan. After Stuka Jr. said his piece it turned into a brawl with the rudos standing tall. This builds toward matches between Okumura/Stuka Jr. and Maximo/Hechicero for tomorrow’s show.
Before the next match, they had a short ceremony acknowledging Black Cat’s contributions to both NJPW & CMLL. The technicos and Black Cat’s wife posed for pictures holding a picture with Black Cat.
Rush and Atlantis worked part of the match until Rush tore off the top of Atlantis’ mask, causing him to go to the back. Rush jumped him on his way out, taking them both out of the match.
Good six man from there. It was all action and fast-paced. Taguchi and Tanahashi went for stereo pescados on the outside but fell to the floor, leaving it between Finlay and EVIL, with the latter scoring the win with the STO.
Rush and Atlantis came brawling back into the ring after the match, but this time Atlantis’ mask was ripped off completely. LIJ showed no respect by kicking it around like a soccer ball. They all posed together after the match.
Kazuchika Okada, Ultimo Guerrero & Euforia defeated Mistico, Volador Jr. & Juice Robinson
This was pretty good. There was a lot of comedy centered around Volador, Ultimo, and their masks early on. Okada worked with Euphoria and Ultimo Guerrero and got booed whenever he was in, which was actually pretty funny.
It was really good whenever Volador and Ultimo were in. Volador went for a big hurricanrana from the ring to the floor, but Ultimo grabbed him and powerbombed him on the outside. Euphoria, meanwhile, caught Mistico in the soberana which Mistico quickly tapped out to.
Hiromu Takahashi defeated Titan
Another pretty good match that had a ton of cool spots by both guys, but did have a flat finish for whatever reason even though people were into the match generally. Takahashi worked on a bum leg early. Titan caught him on the apron and hurricanrana’d him to the floor, then launched off with a great Asai moonsault followed by a great flying swanton bomb.
Titan caught Takahashi on the top rope and pushed him off, but Titan came back and launched another hurricanrana to the floor. They started trading some good back and forth near falls, including Takahashi hitting the sunset flip bomb off the top rope. He followed that up with a running Death Valley Driver then hit the time bomb. The finish felt flat as the crowd didn’t buy that was the end of the match.
Dragon Lee defeated Barbaro Cavernario to retain the CMLL Lightweight title
Another good match, but this was the same as the previous one. The crowd was into it, with plenty of great spots throughout by both men, but they weren’t into the finish and as a result it felt pretty flat.
Lee started off hot early with a big suicide dive that sent Cavernario into the crowd. Cavernario soon followed with one of his own, through the turnbuckles. He also did the big splash off the top rope to the floor. Dragon Lee followed that with a double foot stomp off a draped Cavernario on the apron. Lots of great back and forth between the two here including a release suplex by Dragon Lee and a reverse rana by Cavernario. Lee finally caught him with a bridging back suplex, retaining the title.
Cavernario seemed to have injured his shoulder during the match, as he was checked on by staff and was taken out. Hiromu Takahashi came running in after the match to blindside Lee but he wouldn’t have it and made a comeback, laying Takahashi out and cutting a promo on him to end the show.
Final Thoughts —
This was a good show highlighted by a couple of really good matches, but ended up having flat finishes that could have worked better. That plus a lukewarm crowd made this show pretty good, but not great.
