Each month, we, Griffin Peltier (Hollywd’s Wrestling Rewind on YouTube) and Dalton Henry (no social media, smart guy), highlight the matches we considered “notebook-worthy,” rated four stars or higher, along with anything else we think deserves your attention. That might include bouts significant to the broader CMLL landscape, matches that were simply a joy to watch, or hidden gems that stood out for one reason or another.
What a weird month for CMLL.
They started the month with the most authentic lucha libre possible when Robin lost his mask to Calavera Jr. I in the Sin Salida cage match. The aftermath with Robin’s son crying and handing the mask to the young up-and-coming luchador is one of the most orgullosamente mexicana displays you’ll see all year in this promotion. Fast forward just 28 days later and they book Soberano Jr., the second biggest star in the company, and the most important tag team on the roster to lose to a Ring of Honor job team that hasn’t won a match since August!
The rest of the month was frustrating too with All Elite Wrestling stars and its ROH developmental roster coming in and kicking the CMLL roster’s ass during the Fin de Semana Internacional. Roderick Strong beat Hechicero in a #1 Contenders Match (when’s the last time you’ve seen a #1 Contenders match in Arena Mexico?) to get a shot at Claudio on the AEW Collision B-Show. CMLL’s only big wins came at the expense of the AEW luchadores – who can rarely buy a win on their TV shows.
On top of all of this, all of these matches with the wrestlers from the American companies are contested under one-fall rules, including the increasing number of three-way and four-way matches. The continued Americanization of this product has been a shame to see and I, unfortunately, do not see it changing course over the next few months while this company is booking John Superstar in prominent Friday night singles matches. If I wanted to watch AAA, I’d watch the WWE AAA YouTube channel.
CMLL is already behind the eight ball for a potential run at Booker of the Year this year. We know they can do better. I hope they do. I doubt they will. – Griffin
January 2026 CMLL Must Watches
- 1/2 – Mistico vs. Barbaro Cavernario
- 1/16 – Blue Panther vs. Ultimo Guerrero
- 1/17 – Mascara Dorada & Mistico vs. Bandido & Komander
- 1/23 – Valiente Jr. & Capitan Suicida vs. Raider & Vegas Depredador
- 1/27 – Mistico vs. Averno
January 9
Mistico vs. Barbaro Cavernario
One of those truly epic CMLL title matches. Mistico successfully defended his Light Heavyweight title against one of my longstanding favorite rudos. I thought this was excellent. Cavernario’s splash to the floor outside will pop me every single time he doles it out. True dumb jock wrestler energy. He also hit what was basically a snap superplex, which was somehow only the second best superplex in CMLL this month (keep reading for that). It ended the only way it could have ended, but don’t let the predictable finish stop you from watching one of the best examples of a lucha title fight in recent memory. ****½ (DH)
January 16
Blue Panther vs. Ultimo Guerrero
The best match of the “International Series” shows was between two CMLL mainstays. Ironic. These two had a couple barnburners in 2025, the first of which was my #8 Match of the Year in the Voices of Wrestling poll. They continued with another incredible match here. This has quickly become one of my favorite and most anticipated matchups in all of wrestling, which is crazy considering their ages and how often I watch them. Spot of the night was Ultimo delivering a superplex to Panther, causing the old(er) guy to bounce comically high and far upon landing. While this was stylistically similar to the two 2025 matches, the formula is working like a charm on me. I don’t want to recap move-by-move, lord knows there were a lot of them here, so I’ll just say you should watch the whole trilogy. You’ll have a new appreciation for what oldheads can do. ****½ (DH)
January 17
Mascara Dorada & Mistico vs. Bandido & Komander
I share most of Griffin’s sentiments with this AEW/CMLL partnership. However, if it must exist, I will forever support Bandido in CMLL. I think he’s good on American television, but there is something special about him working lucha. It helps when he’s facing the two best tecnicos in the country. Komander is not as good as Bandido or Mistico or as flashy as Dorada, but he held his own and had some nifty little spots of his own, including a sick tijeras on Mistico. This was a very well-executed version of this match, even if it didn’t have the high peaks you might expect. **** (DH)
January 23
Valiente Jr. & Capitan Suicida vs. Raider & Vegas Depredador
This was another strong step forward for a crop of wrestlers who feel like they are right on the cusp of becoming bigger stars in this promotion. Valiente Jr. continues to look like a mainstay the same way Neon and Mascara Dorada have become the last few years and he carries himself like someone destined for a main event role. Raider was outstanding as both a base and a high flyer, effortlessly balancing some insane aerial offense with making everything around him look crisp and impactful. Capitan Suicida brought that reckless 2000s indie high flyer energy in the best ways and is always a treat to watch. Even with an accidental mask pull in the second, this was a genuinely exciting performance from start to finish. **** (GP)
January 27
Mistico vs. Averno
Another year, another great entry in the endless Mistico vs. Averno rivalry. The formula still works because both guys know exactly who they are. Averno remains one of the best in the world at bring a truly dastardly rudo, taking joy in every shortcut and dirty trick possible, while Mistico thrives as the super over tecnico fighting against the world. That dynamic, the same one that helped Mistico vs. MJF land so high on the Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year list, carried this for a full thirty minutes without ever feeling indulgent. This was true classic lucha libre in all the best ways and it serves as a reminder that professional wrestling does not need to be as complicated as some try to make it, especially when the basics can be executed at this level. ****½ (GP)
You should also watch…
January 2
Titan vs. Yutani (Lightning)
Yutani continues to stand out and is rapidly rising up the rankings of best young wrestlers in the world. He’s a shoo-in for my 30 Under 30 ballot. And as always, Titan is a consistently reliable wrestler who has a floor of “good.” Yutani closed out 2025 with an incredible run up the card, getting a mini Mistico feud, making the finals of the Gran Alternativa, and a great series of clashes with Xelhua. That hot run immediately continued with this match here, even if he came up short to Titan. A great lightning match; I only wish it were longer. (DH)
January 2
Mistico, Atlantis Jr., Mascara Dorada vs. Soberano Jr., Barbaro Cavernario, Volador Jr.
This was your standard Mistico and co. trios match which is always a blast. The biggest takeaway from this particular version of the match is just how over Soberano Jr. is in Arena Mexico, especially with the ladies. After losing the Light Heavyweight title match to Mistico last year, he has not missed a beat and is destined for greatness (if the booking team gets their head out of their asses) this year. (GP)
January 2
Cancerbero vs. Polvora vs. Virus vs. Rey Cometa vs. Electrico vs. Astral vs. Robin vs. Oro Jr. vs. Espiritu Negro vs. Diamond vs. Sangre Imperial vs. El Coyote vs. Calavera Jr. I vs. Calavera Jr. II vs. Blue Shark vs. El Vigia
Lucha libre at its finest. The Sin Salida cage portion of the match was entertaining as is but the real action started when it came down to Calavera Jr. I and Robin as the final two. I’ve been a fan of the Calaveras since their Torneo de Escuelas introduction and it’s nice seeing I’s progression here to earn a mask. Robin is one of the smoothest undercarders on the roster and his moves always pop because he’s built like your favourite uncle. Calavera eventually won the mask but Robin’s son was the star of the show in the post-match, crying as he handed his dad’s mask over. I cannot wait for El Hijo del Robin to get his revenge in 15-20 years. (GP)
January 9
Mascara Dorada vs. Titan (Lightning)
One week after a great lightning match with Yutani, Titan ran it back, this time with Dorada. This was the best lightning match for January. I like the concept of lightning matches, and I enjoy them when they’re between two midcarders or even one midcarder and one top guy. However, when they’re between two capital-N Names, that’s when I wish they were just straight singles matches. I wanted to see them run a full two out of three falls and go fifteen minutes-plus. That being said, still great, still check it out. (DH)
January 23
Flip Gordon, Templario, Titan vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Soberano Jr., Yutani
Flip’s return match was solid and purposeful but never really left second gear. He did look a little rusty at points but still fit in well while his teammates ensured the pace kept moving along nicely. Soberano Jr. and Yutani looked super hot and both looked completely comfortable as complete assholes that the women love. The finish was abrupt when Cavernario caused the DQ with a foul on Flip, leading to a decent but uneventful singles match a week later. (GP)
January 24
Calavera Jr. I & Calavera Jr. II vs. Futuro & Max Star
Another enjoyable outing for Los Hermanos Calavera who continue to feel like one of the more reliable undercard acts in CMLL right now. Futuro and Max Star’s bright flippyness provided a good contrast to the Calaveras’ more aggressive approach in the ring. Even with a few small hiccups, this was an easy watch in front of a super hot Arena Coliseo crowd. (GP)
January 30
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Xelhua
This was a fun surprise by leaning more into a heavyweight clash than the technical showcase you’d expect in a Xelhua match. Claudio and Xelhua traded power spots and near falls that led to the crowd believing, for one split second, that the 21-year-old could pull off the upset. Claudio has been great in CMLL. He really embraces the style of the promotion (unlike a good chunk of US TV wrestlers that come in for shows) and he put Xelhua over as an eventual threat down the line. (GP)
