[Lucha] A day late ...

100 pennies short.

Cinthia Moreno, Octagoncito, Oriental, Pimpinela Escarlata b Alfa, Fabi Apache, Gran Apache, Mini Histeria
Easily the best mini/woman/mascaras/hermie match I've seen since being into lucha. Cynthia Morena managed to look a little less scaggy than I've ever seen her. I wasn't even as skeeved out by Pimpinela Escarlata as I usually am ... well, until his/er pirouette selling of a kick to the arena floor. Faby "Sweet Cheeks" Apache (as she lets me call her, y'know, when we doin' it) nails an Asai moonsault to her opponents. Everyone brought their A-game, 'cause apparently no one told them this wasn't a Triplemania main event. But, the quicker they quit that rocking wide angle shot that's inspiring naught but motion-sickness in me.

Extreme Tiger b a shitload of other dudes in masks, elimination style
The lucha ring girl that the cameraman keeps focusing on, she really needs to do something more than just wink and blow kisses to the camera, seeing as how she does this every time the camera's on her. There's like 12 guys in this match, and about all but two of 'em are wearing blue masks. And the guy that wins is the guy that was in the ring the least. BOOOOOOO! And for this shit, he gets a trophy? And no one attacks him with the trophy, destroying it in the process?? And I thought it was just the Spanish commentary that confused me. For everything the first match was, this match wasn't ... shit was full of the most horribly contrived spots (yes, even for lucha libre), and they all sucked bull balls, except for the "everybody dives to the floor" sequence," especially the dude (Aero Star?) who does a Nestea plunge from the ropes to the floor. The fans try to coerce the ref into jumping out the ring during this point, but he declines; if this was ROH, late '90s ECW, or PWG, he wouldn't have. Rey Cometa missing a flipping plancha and eating floor was kinda sick to watch

Crazy Boy, Joe Lider, Juventud Guerrera b Head Hunter I, Scoria, Shiryu Dragon, X-Pac
Man, I do love me some of the Mexican Powers entrance music. This match needed more X-Pac vs. Juventud Guerrera. That Alicia Webb (who's not only X-Pac's second, but also allegedly his fiancee) sure is a step up from Chyna and her mangina; bet dude's dreading that sex tape now, 'cause there ain't no lying your way outta that ("Naw, I never fucked that post-op tranny ... what, you have videotaped proof? Damn ..."). Love her double-bird salute to the crowd, much in the same way I like to hear cute chicks say "fuck." Most of the match is just there, but then Extreme Tiger (coming out of nowhere) hits a balcony dive on Headhunter I (also coming out of nowhere), and Joe Lider hits a heavy duty DVD from the top rope to a table on the arena floor (notice a theme with this show?).

Alan Stone, Scorpio Jr., Super Calo, Zumbido & the mighty Guapito b Alberije, Cuije, Brazo de Plata, El Elegido, Zorro
Super Calo makes what I believe is his first TV appearance sans mask, which makes him the fourth fake blonde haired dude on his team. Guapito & Cuije manage to squeeze in some midget hate during the match. It's really interesting how everyone almost cancels each other out ... Alan Stone's sexy is countered by Elegido, Super Porky is soundly equalled out by Scorpio Jr., Alberije by Zumbido, and Zorro by Super Calo. This was truly a match of equals, meeting each other in the squared circle, the colisseum of costumed grapplers. And that hanging dropkick by the Guapos is muy macho. The reason that the rudos took the victory here, I believe, is due to the general overly scummy quality of the technicos. And that's saying a lot when your opponents include the Guapos VIP crew.

Kenzo Suzuki, Mesias, Ozz b Charly Manson, Chessman, Cibernetico in the cage
Damn, escape rules apply ... can't win 'em all. Hold up, Ozz lost the tag straps, so what belt's he wearing? (Update: It's a four man tag belt.) Charly Manson should truly be considered equal to Grady as a SGM figurehead. Mesias, why the fuck have you not shown up in TNA yet? Maybe you truly are "Judas Mesias?" There's a chick with firebush tats and a snake around her neck that she keeps kissing. Of all the folks with freaky-eye contacts, I like the downplayed quality of Chessman's, which just make his eyes look all white, and HOLY SHIT Mesias just killed Chessman with ... (deep breath) ... a crossbody from the top of the cage to Chessman on the ladder, and both went through a table. Mesias, Kenzo, and Ozz walk out the winners (due in no small part to a LOT of interference), and although I don't necessarily agree with the outcome, the visual of their opponents sprawled out all over the mat inside the cage speaks volume.

A pretty good show, all told, but I'm getting that nWo vibe again, for the 2nd week in a row. That's'a no good'a. But you know (in lieu of Fantasy Book Fandango), I wouldn't mind Secta El Cibernetico showing up in ROH for a little run. That might have me buying more recent ROH again.

(Alternately, Rob Van Dam could show up in AAA and I'd be just as happy.)

One reason that lucha libre is better than American wrestling: No "holy shit" chants after big spots.