Chris' Lucha Roundup: June 2024

I’m painfully aware that this is being posted a week into the month of August. In honor of how dated this article is at this point, I have compiled a list featuring middle aged and senior citizen wrestlers for your enjoyment.

Freelance & Virus vs. Heddi Karaoui & Mistico (Lucha Memes, 6/16) – IWTV

It’s always cool to see Mistico’s star power play in a smaller venue than the big arenas he’s used to, and seeing him tag with one of my favorite indie luchadores against an indie legend in Freelance and another CMLL legend in Virus is a real treat. Coliseo Coacalco has been home to some of my favorite wrestling of the year as is very evident in this column, and it really comes alive for Mistico. An awesome atmosphere for one of the most fun CMLL-wrestlers-in-the-indies matches you’ll se this year, with some great hold trading from four masters.

Avisman vs. Freelance (IWRG, 6/13)

While Freelance gets a little downplayed in that tag because of the CMLL stars, he gets more of an opportunity to shine one-on-one against Avisman in Arena Naucalpan here. I knew this was going to be good stuff from two grizzled veterans as soon as I knew it happened, and it didn’t disappoint. Everything feels like a struggle between the two older competitors, there’s great grappling, fantastic dives, and nothing overstays its welcome. A phenomenal opener from probably my favorite top-to-bottom IWRG show of the year.

Blue Panther, Hechicero & Templario vs. Kaoma Jr., Kastigador & Xelhua (Octagon Anniversary Show, 6/13)

Blue Panther and Hechicero have had a lot of wrestler of the year hype for the work in CMLL and beyond, and they get to bolster their cases with a very fun trios on the Octagon anniversary show. With Xelhua being the only CMLL contracted talent on the other side of the ring, he’s the only member of that team that gets much offense in. That means you get a lot of Blue Panther, Hechicero and Templario just absolutely dominating them with submissions and reversals. Hechicero especially looks brilliant in this match. It’s not going to be the top showcase match that people point to to highlight anyone’s cases at the end of the year, but it’s a nice feather in everyone’s cap.

Demus vs. Super Pinochito (LLB/CVW, 6/29)

Look. I am a man of simple pleasures. I see Demus beating the piss out of a man dressed like Pinocchio, and I am happy. This is one of the funniest, sickest sub-ten minute matches of the year. Crowd brawling, chairs, barbed wire, wooden crates, an absolute GUSHER from Super Pinochito. Not a second wasted in this match. Just something gnarly happening at every moment. Demus continues his reign as one of the sickest wrestlers of the year, and this Pinocchio-themed luchador isn’t just a real boy; he’s a real motherfucker.

P.S. For more Demus check out the Demus/Drako match from 6/23 in the honorable mentions. It doesn’t make the cut because it’s very clipped. I imagine a full version of it would have easily made top 5 for the month.

Demonio Infernal vs. Hijo de Pirata Morgan (King Phantom, 6/21)

Decided I should maybe have one match where everyone in the ring is below the age of 35. Demonio Infernal and Hijo de Pirata Morgan have an absolute hoot of a bull terrier match with a lightning hot crowd in Arena San Juan Pantitlan. It’s an absolute war, with both guys laying all their strikes all the way in, double crimson masks, tons of brutal chain whips, the works. They do ditch the chain about two thirds into the match which prevents it from being a Fishman/Sagrada or Demus/Connelly level match in the Year of the Dog Collar, but it’s a great addition to the canon nonetheless.

Honorable Mentions