Each month, we, Griffin Peltier (Hollywood’s Wrestling Rewind on YouTube) and Dalton Henry, highlight the matches we consider “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.
Another month of the CMLL booking team sitting on the Carlos Silva couch.
With a good chunk of the roster in Japan for FantasticaMania, CMLL brought in some bad wrestlers from All Elite Wrestling and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling to fill out the cards. This didn’t seem to be an issue last year when they put other CMLL wrestlers in those spots, but it’s a new year and a new CMLL. Johnny Consejo Superstar Impact Nitro Morrison Elite TV Spade was all over the main events, and he hasn’t had a good live match (so not including the taped and heavily edited Lucha Underground) since the 2000s. Other than that, CMLL is running more three-ways and four-ways than ever and eliminated captain’s falls. This is where we’re at now. Surely it can only go up from here, right? – Griffin
Must Watches
- 2/13 – Mistico vs. Templario
- 2/26 – Atlantis Jr. vs. Averno (NJPW)
- 2/26 – Hechicero vs. Mascara Dorada (NJPW)
- 2/27 – Mistico vs. Soberano Jr. (NJPW)
- 2/27 – El Audaz, Hijo del Pantera, Magia Blanca vs. El Cobarde, Felino Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr.
February 13
Mistico vs. Templario
Mistico and Templario had a tremendous big-time main event to send the luchadores off to Japan for FantasticaMania. Throughout the 28 minutes, they moved through counters and sequences, keeping the crowd fully engaged and with them the whole time. Mistico continues to make his case as the frontrunner for Wrestler of the Year by doing what he always does at an insanely high level. The moves are nothing new, but the execution is so clean that it still feels special every time. Templario was great too and had no problem moving to more of a rudo slant in this spot. CMLL rocks when it’s two luchadores putting on a classic in a way that only CMLL can. ****¼ (GP)
February 26
Atlantis Jr. vs. Averno (NJPW)
The first true standout match of this year’s Fantastica Mania tour was this match for the World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship. I thought the first few shows were enjoyable and worth the time, but there weren’t any notebook matches that would invite a rewatch until this one. It wasn’t full of spots to call out or anything, just a good old-school title match. It also had quite a surprising result, with Averno forcing Atlantis Jr. to tap clean. Averno is champion again! **** (DH)
February 26
Hechicero vs. Mascara Dorada (NJPW)
If the previous match was an old-school title match, this was a modern spectacle. While Atlantis Jr. and Averno didn’t have jaw-dropping spots, this match had THE jaw-dropping spot. Dorada moonsaulting off of the top of the entrance onto Hechicero and landing on his feet was the most memorable spot of the year so far. He also sold it perfectly, running a few steps before the adrenaline dissipated and he collapsed. The rest of the match was excellent as well. Dorada, for all the praise I give him, can lack connective tissue in his matches, but Hechicero is one of the best in the world at bringing things together, resulting in great chemistry that makes one of my favorite matchups in wrestling today. ****½ (DH)
February 27
Mistico vs. Soberano Jr. (NJPW)
The best way to wrap up the Fantastica Mania tour is with the best feud in wrestling: Mistico and Soberano Jr. After a series of tour matches filled with hate and heat, it concluded with the next singles match in this great rivalry. Soberano Jr. oozes charisma, and Mistico continues to be a god in Korakuen. While this didn’t reinvent the feud and was more playing the hits in front of a new audience, it was still excellent. Of course, it ended the way it could end, with Soberano Jr. tapping to La Mistica, but the journey to get there was a great time. Mistico might still be taking photos ringside as I write this. **** (DH)
February 27
El Audaz, Hijo del Pantera, Magia Blanca vs El Cobarde, Felino Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr.
This is CMLL at its finest. A proper two-out-of-three falls trios match that gives everyone time to shine and lets the momentum build naturally from fall to fall. Los Herederos continue to make the most of their Friday spots, and pairing Guerrero Maya Jr. with them here was a perfect fit. Everything felt cris,p and El Audaz taking that brutal bump over the top rope onto the ramp was hellacious and gave the match an extra edge. Matches like this are a reminder of why the two-out-of-three-falls format works so well, and it’ll be very depressing when they eventually drop them. **** (GP)
You should also watch…
February 3
Esfinge vs. Furia Roja
I’ve really enjoyed Furia Roja since he got a fresh coat of paint and became Galeon Fantasma’s deep sea monster. What I love even more is that he’s come to Arena Mexico to get a 10-year revenge on Esfinge for taking his mask on a random Tuesday Arena Coliseo Guadalajara show in 2016. This isn’t a blowaway match or anything and Roja was pretty winded by the end but they did some cool high impact spots like a brainbuster on the ring apron immediately followed by a brainbuster on the floor. Dudes rock but the finish sucked. (GP)
February 3
Mistico & Xelhua vs. Averno & Difunto
Averno and Difunto are a top-tier Griffin tag team. A very fun third fall in this match as Xelhua continues to rise up the card, becoming one of the upper midcard/main tecnicos on the roster. I could watch Averno and Mistico wrestle for hours and never get bored. (GP)
February 6
Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja vs. Mansoor & Mason Madden
Technically sound and a great performance by the CMLL World Tag Team champions. The champions being pushed to their limit by two guys whose last win on AEW television was in July 2024 on the since-canceled Rampage show was awful booking, though. (GP)
February 13
Titan vs. Mascara Dorada
Another enjoyable entry in their ongoing rivalry that didn’t hit the same highs as some of their previous matches. Titan and Dorada are both very exciting wrestlers and you’re guaranteed a fireworks show every time. Some blown spots here and there didn’t stop this from being a grand ol’ time. Hoping we get another World Welterweight title match between these two guys again in the near future. (GP)
February 18
Soberano Jr. vs. Templario (NJPW)
Before Soberano Jr. reignited his feud with Mistico, he started the Fantastica Mania tour with a mini-feud with Templario. This was a lightning match that ended in a draw, even though both wanted to keep fighting. Very enjoyable match, which led to a less enjoyable but still decent three-way lightning match (???) that added Hechicero for good measure. (DH)
February 24
Averno & Magnus vs. El Sky Team (Mascara Dorada & Mistico)
My favorite Sky Team match of the tour. There was no full trios Sky Team match because Neon stayed back in Mexico for one reason or another. But this was fun! Averno is Mistico’s all-time best rival, Mascara Dorada is quickly becoming one of Mistico all-time best partners, and Magnus is Magnus. Just a popcorn match. Hot crowd, good heat, you know the deal. Great stuff all-around here. The best of the pre-Korakuen shows. (DH)
February 21
Inquisidor, Kamelot & Poseidon vs. Alexius, Electrico & Fury Boy
This felt like one of those matches that people are going to rediscover in twenty years when it randomly pops up on the Roy Lucier CMLL channel, and everyone agrees that things used to be better. A really fun trios where all six guys knew this was a chance to show out. Alexius and Fury Boy, in particular, brought a lot of creativity and unpredictability to the match by throwing in some inventive spots. Nothing overly great, just an energetic opener that did exactly what it needed to do and then some. (GP)
February 22
Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Futuro & Valiente Jr.
This was the semi-final of the cool little tag tournament that gave the pre-Korakuen shows life and purpose. I’m adding this mainly for Valiente Jr., who showed out against the top two tecnicos of CMLL. It felt like the match was constructed to give him the spotlight, and he succeeded tremendously. He’s been slowly rising up my personal rankings over the last few months, and this was yet another great performance from him. In a few years, he’ll be a regular Arena Mexico headliner. (DH)
February 27
Pantera Jr. & Psycotic vs Estudiante Jr. & Feroz vs. Rey Pegasus & Tornado
The Torneo de Escuelas format in recent years felt stronger than what we got this time around. That being said, this was still a solid multi-team elimination tag match that was paced well and never overstayed its welcome. All six luchadores had a chance to stand out which is exactly what this kind of match should accomplish. Estudiante Jr. continues to look like the breakout name of this year’s edition and he carries himself with a confidence that suggests he is going to grow into something bigger on the roster. It’s always fun to get a glance at the future. (GP)
