Every month, we, Griffin Peltier and Dalton Henry, will round up the matches we thought were “notebook-worthy” that we went four stars or higher on as well as anything else we think you should check out. That could mean something important for the bigger picture of CMLL, a match that was just plain fun, or something else that caught our attention. Think of this as your guide to the good stuff. The matches people will still be talking about in a few months and the fun ones you might miss if you’re only chasing star ratings.
July started off as a relatively weak in-ring month for CMLL. The early weeks felt like a lull, with uneven pacing and few standout bouts. However, by the end of the month, the promotion regained its momentum with stronger main events, sharper booking, and more cohesive match layouts. Big names returned to form, younger talent stepped up, and CMLL closed out July firing on all cylinders.
July 18
Atlantis Jr., Bandido & Mistico vs. Barboza, Difunto & Zandokan Jr.
This may be my favourite sub-fifteen minute match this year. Mistico, Bandido and Atlantis Jr. felt like an all-star tecnico team and they meshed super well with the Galeon Fantasma group on the other side. Zandokan Jr. is one of the best rudos in the world under 30 and his antics in this match really put over just how great he is at all the little things. The eventual singles match between Mistico and Zandokan will rule and I can’t wait for whenever that happens. Mistico, Bandido, and Atlantis Jr. won the final fall with two dives to the outside leading to Mistico landing La Mistica on Zandokan. This was a perfect display of a big Arena Mexico trios match and I hope they have a longer rematch down the line. ****¼ (GP)
July 19
Futuro, Max Star & Valiente Jr. vs. El Cobarde, El Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Felino Jr.
The best undercard Arena Coliseo match in some time. This was a Valiente Jr. showcase. I’ve been indifferent-to-slighty-positive on him so far, but everything clicked for him here. He had a thirty-second sequence that saw him single-handedly clear the ring of the rudos, and was just as clean as his contemporaries who fill out the Arena Mexico main events. The rest of the crew had their time to shine as well. The match was heavy on the spots, as expected in an undercard match with mostly young guys, but it was superbly entertaining and worth checking out. **** (DH)
July 19
Ultimo Guerrero vs. Averno
I may be the high man here, but I loved this match. Two mean old rudos beating the hell out of each other. There isn’t much to recap in terms of spots, outside of an awesome Ultimo dive onto Averno to the outside, but this wasn’t that type of match. It did have a funny moment where Ultimo grabbed a mask from one of his fans in the front row, put it on, and wrestled in it for a minute. Tons of heat, and an expected foul for the finish. A notebook match that built to Aniversario. Good stuff. **** (DH)
July 25
Mistico vs. Hechicero
Matches like this are why it’ll be a true shame if Mistico doesn’t win the 2025 Wrestler of the Year award. There is no one like him in the world right now. While other front-runners are wrestling in quiet venues, Mistico is consistently selling out arenas across his home region and bringing crowds that are absolutely electric for every move he does in the ring. His combination of charisma and in-ring excellence makes throwaway matches like this lightning one against Hechicero feel like the biggest match of the year. With the crowd firmly in his hands, Mistico laid out a great ten minutes with Hechicero that left me wanting a much longer singles match down the line. Hechicero was great as always but this was the Mistico show with some added Kemalito and Kemonito antics to really push it over the top. **** (GP)
July 25
Mascara Dorada vs. Neon (Leyenda de Plata Final)
In my opinion, the best CMLL match of July, and also the final of the Leyenda de Plata tournament. Dorada and Neon are teammates with Mistico in Sky Team. Dorada is a one-time winner of the tournament, taking home the plaque after a victory over Rocky Romero in 2023. Neon is in a similar position to where Dorada was two years ago: a hotshot prospect everyone knows will be a star, but just hasn’t broken through yet. This was Neon’s breakthrough. They went balls to the wall from the jump, with Dorada entering the ring and immediately hitting high spots while smoke went up from the turnbuckles in what was an awesome visual. Insane spot after insane spot, with variations of their usual repertoire leading to moves I’ve never seen before, and a closing stretch for the ages. If you seek out any match in July, make it this one. ****½ (DH)
You should also watch…
July 1
Neon vs. Difunto
Difunto has low-key been the MVP of the CMLL midcard/upper midcard of the first half of 2025. His crazy in-ring style lets him bump his ass off for everybody he steps into the ring with while still keeping his aura of a potential threat. Neon’s been great this year and has improved immensely since his debut two years ago. Difunto made his stuff look even better than usual. Difunto is one guy on the roster whose singles matches are something you should go out of your way to watch. (GP)
July 4
Neon & Titan vs. Angel de Oro & Barbaro Cavernario
This tag match had all the ingredients needed for a great match thanks to the high caliber of talent involved. At times, it delivered flashes of that potential with crisp exchanges and some dynamic sequences. The match, however, never fully hit that next gear, and it ultimately underwhelmed a bit. Kemonito and Kemalito had a very fun sequence that popped the crowd huge. Good, not great. (GP)
July 18
Esfinge vs. The Beast Mortos
It’s great to see The Beast Mortos in CMLL as his presence brings a fresh energy and is one of the positives of the All Elite Wrestling partnership. His Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship match with Esfinge was good but never quite reached the next level. It was solid but not spectacular which may have been due to the pairing. All that being said, Mortos is a welcome addition to this roster and has clear potential to make a big impact if he works here more often. (GP)
July 18
Titan vs. Neon | Templario vs. Mascara Dorada (Leyenda de Plata)
I’m grouping these together as they were the two semi-final matches in the Leyenda de Plata tournament, and were both short-but-good. They weren’t long enough for much to develop, and were each man’s third match of the night including the seeding battle royal. The “go go go” tempo led to a condensed, action-packed duo of matches. These are worth seeking out because they were good in their own right, and also the semis to a major CMLL tournament. (DH)
July 26
Kemonito vs. Kemalito
I’m going to recommend every single one of these singles matches. Sure, the actual wrestling isn’t the greatest but that doesn’t matter. Kemalito is a heat magnet and Kemonito is a super babyface. They are both micros. It rocks and is super fun. (GP)
