It’s a LUCHA LIBRE episode of ROH, as we’ve got CMLL talent up and down this card, so it should be a lot of fun! After the intro, Ian and Caprice run down the card, as we’ve got a couple of trios matches scheduled, plus The Beast Mortos and The Infantry in action, and Blake Christian taking on Fuego del Sol. But right now, we’re starting out with trios action!
MATCH 1 – Atlantis, Fuego & Esfinge vs. Rocky Romero, Euforia & Gran Guerrero
Atlantis and Gran Guerrero start, and we get some fun exhibition style stuff, before Rocky comes in. Rocky taking a long look at Fuego’s hips and dance moves sent me, I can’t even deny it. Ian points out that this is lucha rules, which means tags are not necessary. If the legal man leaves the ring, someone else from their team can come in and will be legal. Gran Guerrero–identified as the CMLL Heavyweight Champion–has got some beef, and now I need to see he and Beast Mortos. Esfinge launches Rocky and Euforia with a couple nice monkey flips but misses a springboard splash. Tonight, I believe, is the first time that a father and son have both been wrestling on the same card for ROH since La Bestia Del Ring appeared with Dragon Lee and RUSH in 2021. Guys are flying everywhere, and I cannot keep up with it. So long story short, Esfinge eventually is able to catch Rocky in an absolutely fascinating looking figure four bridging pin for the win.
Atlantis, Fuego & Esfinge def. Rocky Romero, Euforia & Gran Guerrero (Esfinge pins Romero) with a figure four pin combination in 7:43.
MATCH 2 – La Catalina vs. Lady Frost
During Frost’s tour of CMLL a year ago, these two were on opposite sides of a tag match one night, and teaming in a trios match the next night. Ian points out that Catalina draws some inspiration from Serena Deeb, and you see her keeping things a bit more grounded, while Frost wants to pick up the pace. Adding to the intrigue, Catalina has a title shot upcoming against Athena. Ian speculates that Athena issued the challenge to La Catalina, theorizing it’s another leg on her World Tour. Lady Frost’s high flying keeps her in control, with a nice springboard crossbody for two, and later a corkscrew crossbody for two. But Catalina is able to take back over with shotgun knees in the corner and a sort of ocean cyclone suplex, before finishing with a top rope splash.
La Catalina pins Lady Frost with a top rope splash in 7:40.
We get a video package of Chris Jericho’s defeating Bandido on Collision, by countering the 21-Plex into a victory roll for the three count. Sure would have been nice if that happened on ROH TV.
MATCH 3 – The Beast Mortos vs. Adam Priest
Priest decides to fake out Mortos on the Code of Honor. I’m sure that will work well for him. Priest tries to surprise Mortos with a surprise hurricanrana, but Mortos catches him. Priest tries to counter into a sunset flip, but Mortos tosses him aside. Priest is able to catch Mortos taking out the knee to take control. Mortos scores with a couple of backbreakers, and the pumphandle piledriver finishes quickly.
The Beast Mortos pins Adam Priest with a pumphandle piledriver in 3:16.
MATCH 4 – The Infantry vs. Jimmy Wild & Rosario Grillo
Grillo has been around as enhancement talent for a bit. Not as familiar with Wild. Either way, I don’t like their chances. Cagematch says this one was taped during their stop in Georgia way back in mid-January. The Infantry are showing a significantly more pronounced mean streak. Bravo gets Wild in their corner and just wears the young man out with forearms and overhand chops. The Infantry try to block off the corner for Wild, but he’s able to catch them with a double DDT. But before he’s able to tag, Bravo pulls Grillo off the apron and sends him to the barricade. Boot Camp and Two to the Head finish.
The Infantry def. Jimmy Wild & Rosario Grillo (Dean pins Wild) with Two to the Head in 4:43.
MATCH 5 – Blake Christian vs. Fuego del Sol
Ramping up the dickhead factor, Christian now has a “Vanilla Baby” robe. Love it. The crowd is VERY happy to see Fuego. But as he’s playing to the crowd on the second turnbuckle on the inside, Christian jumps him from behind and sends him to the floor. Fuego dodges a moonsault off the steps, and hits his own to take over. Back in, Christian is able to hit a couple of unique springboard kicks from odd angles to take back control, and hits a gorgeous twisting tope suicida. Back in, Fuego fights back and scores with an enzugiri and an asai moonsault. A mushroom stomp to the back of the head sets up the tornado DDT but Christian counters. Fuego is able to hit the Mysterio backflip DDT (from Halloween Havoc 97). Fuego goes up top but Christian cuts him off. Christian hits the C4, and the Vanilla Choke Zero finishes.
Blake Christian def. Fuego del Sol with Vanilla Choke Zero in 5:23.
Backstage, Athena welcomes La Catalina to her show, and says while she’s thrilled that Catalina got the win over “the little popsicle” tonight. But she’s tired of people coming into her show and not showing her the proper respect. But says the next time you see her, she won’t be so nice. After this, we see that the match will happen NEXT WEEK.
MATCH 6 – Dark Panther vs. Gravity
It’s been nearly a year since we’ve seen Gravity in ROH, so it’s great to see him back. Ian points out that Dark Panther has a title shot in hand against Komander coming up. Ian points out that in Gravity’s ROH debut, he defeated Komander. Panther walks right through the Code of Honor and takes Gravity down with a couple waistlocks and mat returns. Gravity’s able to use his agility to escape the worst of Panther’s attack and is able to send him to the outside, following with a no-hands plancha. But back in, Panther uses striking to take advantage. Panther hits a nice rewind into a tiger feint kick for two. That’s got to be wild core/upper body strength to do that. Gravity is able to counter off the apron into a slingshot German suplex for two. Panther lures Gravity into a striking match and is able to counter a chop into a Fujiwara armbar. Gravity creates some space and goes to head up top, but Panther shoves him down to the outside, and follows with two topes suicida. But he misses a second rope elbow, giving Gravity a chance. But Gravity misses a top rope splash. Dark Panther then hits a second rope low dropkick for the win.
Dark Panther pins Gravity with a second rope low dropkick in 6:44.
MATCH 7 – Soberano Jr., Magnus & Volador Jr. vs. Mascara Dorada, Templario & Atlantis Jr.
Atlantis Jr. was of course a former ROH World TV Champion, but this is Mascara Dorada’s ROH debut. The last time he was seen on an AEW-affiliated show was Wrestle Dynasty as part of the lucha gauntlet. He was last seen on AEW TV on Rampage in November of last year. Templario sends Soberano to the outside, and we get a triple dive from Dorada Templario and Atlantis Jr. Yeah, this is going to go way too fast for me to even grab highlights. Dorada gets beaten up a bit by the rudo team, but escapes the ring, allowing Atlantis Jr. to come in. Soberano gets in some top notch begging off, kissing the feet of Atlantis and all before tagging in Volador. The rudo team triple teams Atlantis Jr., including making his hand flip off his own team. Just top notch. Templario in, and doesn’t fare much better. He rolls outside, bringing Dorada back in. Off a hammer throw to the ropes, Soberano lifts Dorada up into a Volador kick. But as he rolls out Atlantis Jr. gets back in and is able to dodge a double team and take back over with monkey flips and tilt-a-whirl backbreakers galore. We get a reset with Templario and Soberano in, and Templario scores with a gorgeous wheelbarrow suplex for two. Soberano hits a big overhand chop and charges off the ropes at Templario who hits a back body drop into a powerbomb. I’m speechless. He tries to do it again, but Soberano counters it into a headscissors and its a Fosbury Flop to the floor. It leaves Atlantis Jr. and Magnus, and Atlantis hits a frog splash to win it.
Mascara Dorada, Templario & Atlantis Jr. def. Soberano Jr., Magnus, & Volador Jr. (Atlantis Jr. pins Magnus) with a frog splash in 12:53.
THE NUMBERS
Total Episode Time: 1:10:57
Total Match Time: 0:49:22 (69.2%)
Avg. Match Time: 7:03
