Chris' Lucha Roundup: May 2024

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Chris

the biggest paul mccartney fan on the wrestling internet

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I know it’s almost July; let’s not talk about it.

Judas El Traidor vs. Xelhua (Lucha Memes, 5/19) – IWTV

I’m not a huge CMLL fiend, so my knowledge of the Puebla guys and the super-youngsters isn’t much. I’ve seen clips of Xelhua and know that he has quite a few fans for someone who has maybe a couple dozen matches under his belt. While I am not a CMLL junkie, I am a Judas El Traidor completionist. He’s had great matches this year with Trauma I, Magnetico, Caballero de Plata, and Lunatik Extreme as well as good work in tags and multi-mans. This is his best match of the year so far, and it’s a great showcase of what Xelhua can do on the mat. Judas is one of my favorite llaves guys, and Xelhua gives him all he’s got. It makes me want to actually check out some Puebla undercards and the rare Arena Mexico appearances he’s had. Awesome showcase for a rising star. Also check out the Avisman/Caballero de Plata match from this show. Just missed the cut.

El Hijo de Fishman vs. Mascara Sagrada (IWRG, 5/12)
El Hijo de Fishman vs. Mascara Sagrada (IWRG, 5/19)

These are both here because I couldn’t choose between the two, and because they are both worth your time. Back in March, Hijo de Fishman demolished Mascara Sagrada NG in a bullrope match in front of a giant poster of Jayson Tatum. Many people say it was what inspired the Boston Celtics to their NBA Finals dominance. This month, the OG Sagrada sought revenge on Fishman in a bloody Arena Naucalpan brawl, finally gaining the upper hand on the brute and demanding a shot at Fishman’s Junior de Juniors title the next week. That match starts with an even wilder brawl as Sagrada ambushes Fishman and starts working his mask before the bell rings. It’s still a shame Fishman wasn’t the one to take Wotan’s mask at the start of the year, but his work in IWRG and beyond has been a hell of a consolation brawl. These back-to-back performances are something else. I’d lean towards the title match as the superior match because it’s got a bit more intensity, but you really can’t go wrong. Crazy barrier bumps and weapons shots, awesome stomps, blood, mask pulling and choking galore. Appointment viewing.

El Gallo vs. El Hijo de Fishman (Impacto, 5/17)

I normally don’t double-dip (or really in this case, triple-dip) on an individual wrestler for this column, but May was kind of a rough month as far as true top-tier stuff. Plus, Fishman is making a true wrestler of the year case for himself in the first half of 2024 and this match has had significantly less hype than the Sagrada matches (only a few hundred views). You get more of that good Fishman brawling, with a bit more dominance as El Gallo isn’t going to warrant getting in as much offense as someone like Sagrada. Still, he fights valiantly in this fun indie matchup. It is in vain, however. When you go against the Son of Fishman, your efforts are almost always in vain.

Demus vs. Sadika (Tutankamon, 5/19)

Shoutout to pto for sharing the link initially. Unfortunately I don’t think a full versiono f this match is available, so we’ll have to make due with the very obscured video linked and this edited and clipped version on Luchando Libre TV. I don’t disqualify clipped matches from being highlighted or on my year-end lists, though they usually come with qualifiers and have a ceiling. Still, when what’s shown is as sick as Demus/Sadika, it warrants discussion. Two of the most reckless luchadores in the world using every inch of a civic center for a war against each other. Lots of tables and chairs and people scrambling for safety from the violence. I just really wish we got more of a full picture of what is surely one of the sickest matches of the month.

Demencia vs. Shyru Dragon (Guanatos Hardcore Crew, 5/10) – IWTV)

There weren’t a lot of truly great matches to finish this month off, so I went with a match where an old bald guy bleeds a bunch. The deathmatch tournament on this show is largely overwhelming. Paymon is the only really known name and does well, but most everyone else on the card feels trainee level, working very slowly and/or poorly. The GHC Unico title match between the first round and the finals is a fun time, though. These guys know how to work a deathmatch in a way the other guys on the show really don’t. Shyru is bleeding very quickly, guys are chopping and yelling at each other, and dogs are barking in the background. It’s not a truly great match, but there’s a truly grimy atmosphere I dug. Like catching your local deathmatch fed main event if they actually had access to an ambulance on site.

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