Lucha Worth Watching: CMLL Minis! Also, Normal, Slightly Larger CMLL Men!

Demus 3:16 & Mercurio vs. Stukita & Fantasy (CMLL 11/20/15)

I like several CMLL minis but often their matches don't make tape, or their matches get uploaded after I've already moved on to other shows. So I thought I would dive back into the list of matches I had set aside, ones that sounded good on paper, and pull one at random. And this was a pretty good one. I'm sad that Demus never got the chance to move up out of the minis division as the iron was hot for it several years ago. He still brings tons of energy and showmanship to opening matches, which is admirable. He's the mini I tend to check out the most, but he's even more fun when matched with Stukita, and Stukita's tiny little death wish. Primera is okay but forgettable. The tecnicos tie the rudos up with some wristlocks, so some headscissors, you know the drill. I came for the beatdown, and that arrives promptly in the segunda, with Demus and Mercurio just lacing into poor little Stukita. And Stukita is just a total nutbar. It begins with Demus holding him so Mercurio can hit a big baseball slide dropkick to the floor, then they toss him around for a bit and he takes a super high bump into a flapjack on the floor. Ick. Back in and Demus splats him with a cannonball followed by a Mercurio dropkick in the corner. But he is not just crazy at the bumps, but just a nut in general. Him doing the arms-at-sides splash from the top to the entrance ramp is loony. And this was all just really fun. Demus should be in a trios with Virus, he's just being wasted where he's at. Mercurio always has nice showings as well, I really like him as Demus' lackey, and even though he finds obnoxious times to adjust his elbow pads, then he'll break out a nice tornillo and I won't care as much. Now I must seek more Stukita to see how much crazier he can get...

Barbaro Cavernario, Negro Casas & Felino vs. Rey Cometa, Valiente & Volador Jr. (CMLL 5/6/16)

Cometa was a guy who looked to be breaking out a couple years ago, and for the last year plus I've been wondering where that guy is. And this was the most I've enjoyed Cometa since probably 2014. He and Cavernario matched up great, which is a good sign going ahead for their feud. Their armdrag sequence in the primera was tremendous fun and Cometa really seemed energized throughout. Felino is also totally unpredictable as many matches of his are filled with all sorts of unfunny comedy and general laziness. Here he's at least semi-inspired in his role as third wheel and his apron work was great. Valiente going for an asai moonsault and Felino shaking the ropes at the perfect time to fell him was legit one of my favorite lucha moments of the year. So unexpected, perfect timing, great moment. Casas always seems to take joy in picking on Volador, but is always generous when taking Volador's ranas and dives, though in this match mostly Felino was matching up with him. Casas was busy absorbing Valiente's big dive, Cometa took some big spills, Cavernario looked like a star after being lost in the middle for awhile, and this was all fun.