{"id":213195,"date":"2026-03-09T14:14:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T19:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=213195"},"modified":"2026-03-09T14:14:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T19:14:13","slug":"cmll-hits-misses-recommended-matches-with-evaluations-of-the-latest-matches-with-misico-atlantis-claudio-titan-mascara-dorada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/03\/09\/cmll-hits-misses-recommended-matches-with-evaluations-of-the-latest-matches-with-misico-atlantis-claudio-titan-mascara-dorada\/","title":{"rendered":"CMLL HITS &#038; MISSES: Recommended matches with evaluations of the latest matches with Misico, Atlantis, Claudio, Titan, Mascara Dorada"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2520472955\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>First of all thank you for clicking on this column. My name is Zach Barber and I\u2019m normally on the AEW beat, writing the weekly feud tracker column. I previously attempted to cover CMLL events in weekly live TV report style. That unfortunately proved That unfortunately proved a little too ambitious so instead I\u2019ve decided to this, a monthly look at what worked and what didn\u2019t in the premier lucha promotion in the world.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>HITS<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Yutani vs. Capitan Suicida (2\/6)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An excellent match between two young guns of CMLL. Yutani is a unique talent given his blend of strong style and lucha. Capitan Suicida hit a scary half Styles Clash and even scarier avalanche Code Red that dropped Yutani on the back of his head. In the end Yutani won which I think was the smart decision. He\u2019s the more dynamic of the two. He reminds me of younger Takeshita if Takeshita had a little more lucha in him.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Olympia &amp; Dark Silueta &amp; Persephone vs. India Sioux &amp; Akari &amp; Jarochita (2\/6)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Easily the best women\u2019s match I\u2019ve seen in the six months or so I\u2019ve been watching CMLL. These six worked well together. Olympia got to show out with power spots and Persephone picked up the deciding fall for her team with a very good spear.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T\u00edtan vs. Mascara Dorada (2\/13)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lucha wrestling at its finest here. T\u00ectan is great and Dorada is one of the very best in the world. T\u00ectan sold a knee injury for a lot of the match. Despite that he hit a Asai moonsault to the floor with very little room to spare. He and Dorada went for simultaneous springboard crossbodies and crashed into each other in the middle of the ring. The two near falls Dorada got near the end of the match were well done. I certainly believed he had the match won. T\u00ectan tapping him out was a surprise. I have to wonder what CMLL\u2019s plans for T\u00ectan are.<\/p>\n<p><strong>M\u00edstico vs. Templario (2\/13)<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2039264965\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The best match of February hands down. Templario worked rudo (heel) and M\u00edstico sold his ass off for nearly 30 minutes. The way the Arena Mexico crowd treats M\u00edstico is unlike almost anything else in wrestling. The one drawback of the match was the finish. M\u00ecstico won M\u00ecstico won which was the right decision. I\u2019m just not a fan of La Mistica. It looks cool in the setup but the actual armbar is week.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Averno vs. Soberano Jr. vs. Atlantis Jr. (2\/13)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A soft hit for being better than the other trios match on that show. These three worked hard but the unspectacular finish of Atlantis Jr rolling up Averno with one arm while holding his mask on with the other was reflective of how much this match was just there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Los Hermanos Chavez<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Los Hermanos Chavez had quite the month of February. Together they carried MxM Collection to a good match built mostly around playing off Mason Madden\u2019s size. Angel de Oro then entered into a singles feud with Johnny Consejo (Johnny TV\u2019s name in CMLL) that culminated in a hair vs hair mask last Friday night. Angel de Oro dropped Johnny across the top rope and then did a rope walk Mexican Destroyer which was insane to see. Thankfully that, followed by a frog splash, was the finish (not always a given these days in wrestling) and Johnny was the recipient of an unwanted haircut. I was so relieved that Angel de Oro didn\u2019t lose his hair to a 46 year old non-pushed lower card AEW guy. Now let\u2019s hope that momentum is capitalized on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Edgar Norriega<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I have give Edgar Norriega some love. Referees can attract too much attention sometimes but they play an important role in a match. Norriega is built like the Big Boss Man but flies all over the ring, sometimes literally jumping over wrestlers. He reffed the M\u00edstico\/Templario and he was sweating more than the actual competitors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Torneo de Escuelas<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3238580543\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The annual showcase of emerging talent from the various CMLL-affiliated lucha schools in Mexico. CMLL used this tournament to fill out the card while most of their big stars were in Japan for Fantasticamania. Having the quarterfinals be fought under relampago or lightning rules (10min time limit) made it easy to get nine matches on a card and prevent the young talent from being exposed. Estudiante Jr, who\u2019s built like Scott Norton in a lucha mask and Feroz. Estudiante\u2019s size and power made him stand out amongst the high-flyers. The eventual winners Rey Pegasus and Tornado have perhaps the most devastating looking tag team finish I\u2019ve seen in a long time. The assisted springboard crucifix bomb is the definition of a one-hitter quitter. It looked like it might have broken Jay Ortega\u2019s neck the first time they did it. I hope to see more of them as well as Estudiante Jr as the year goes on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Olympia &amp; Persephone &amp; Dark Silueta vs. Akari &amp; Kira &amp; La Catalina (2\/20)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another well-worked trios match. Once again Persephone picked up the pin this time with BT Bomb (her version of the Razor\u2019s Edge) on Kira. This and the previous trios did a good job showcasing Olympia and Persephone ahead of their number one contender showdown last Friday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Persephone vs. Olympia (2\/27)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking of, this was a good match to decide the challenger for Mercedes Mon\u00e9\u2019s CMLL World Women\u2019s Title. Given Persephone\u2019s dual contract status her victory seemed pretty certain but both women still brought it. Olympia played up her power advantage while Persephone accentuated her slyness. Her getting Olympia up for the BT Bomb was made all the more impressive by her walking around the ring with her over her head.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Claudio Castagnoli vs. Akuma vs. Euforia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another soft hit. The match was good and a nice change of pace from the typical CMLL match. Claudio continues to be very effective in CMLL and his eventual loss should generate a huge pop. That said thecubsfan, author of Luchablog, pointed out in his most recent column that Claudio\u2019s running out of opponents. CMLL operates on weight classes and there simply aren\u2019t that many heavyweights in the company. His opponent for the Homenaje de Dos Leyendas event at the end of the month is billed as a surprise.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the &#8220;All Elite Conversation Club&#8221; with Joel Dehnel and Gregg Kanner, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/all-elite-conversation-club-dehnel-kanner-discuss-exceptional-dynamite-with-don-callis-family-winning-trios-titles-mjf-vs-kevin-knight--70515699\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cpwtorch\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"All Elite Conversation Club - Dehnel &amp; Kanner discuss exceptional Dynamite with Don Callis family winning Trios Titles, MJF vs. Kevin Knight\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=70515699&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>MISSES<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Elimination of Captain\u2019s Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the middle of the month, out of nowhere, it was announced that CMLL was doing away with captain\u2019s rules in trios match. For those who don\u2019t know captain\u2019s rules meant that in order to win a fall in trios match one team has to pin the other team\u2019s captain or both of the other competitors. It was something unique to CMLL that differentiated them from other promotions. The given explanation was that the rules were confusing especially for the foreign wrestlers. Based on thecubsfan\u2019s reporting no foreigner has actually complained about captain\u2019s rules. This feels like a case of CMLL overthinking and trying to make themselves more appealing to an American audience when they\u2019re really sacrificing a part of their identity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Frequency of Unmaskings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I understand the deep meaning of masks in lucha culture. I respect the fact that going after a luchador\u2019s mask is an instant source of heat and that actually unmasking someone is treated as such an egregious act that it\u2019s an immediate disqualification. My issue is that multiple heels go after masks on a given show. It loses its specialness when so many people are doing it. Can we find other ways to get heat?<\/p>\n<p><strong>MxM TV<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I have little to no use for MxM TV when they\u2019re on AEW TV and that\u2019s mercifully rare. Both of these are reasons why they shouldn\u2019t be in CMLL. A group compromised of two not very good workers performing a bad comedy act and a 46 year old veteran with not a lot going for him that are relegated to ROH isn\u2019t much of a benefit for CMLL. That said at least CMLL was able to get something beneficial out of Johnny Consejo. I\u2019m good with not seeing any of them again though.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Atlantis vs. \u00daltimo Guerrero vs Hechicero (2\/13)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A match featuring only one wrestler who\u2019s under the age of 40 has almost no chance of being good. While 53-year-old \u00daltimo Guerrero is still pretty spry and energetic for his age, Atlantis is barely mobile. Guerrero and Hechicero had to provide all the movement even for Atlantis\u2019 offense. The most Atlantis was able to pull off was a crossbody off the ramp. The only real positive I can say about this match is that at least Hechicero won.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Esfinge vs. Josh Alexander (2\/20)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The match itself was perfectly fine if a bit unremarkable, but I still don\u2019t understand the thought process behind the outcome. Josh Alexander was defending the Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling heavyweight title. MLP barely qualifies as promotion. They run six or eight events a year. Somehow CMLL thought it was a good idea to have Esfinge lose to Alexander. It was just a bad decision. Esfinge should\u2019ve went over on his turf and then dropped the title back to Alexander at the MLP show in Canada this month.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lack of Veda Scott (2\/27)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Veda Scott has been the lead play-by-play every time CMLL has been simulcast in English on Triller. While she may not have the encyclopedic knowledge of moves that Excalibur does her commentary experience is invaluable. Never was that more apparent than last week when she was unable to be at the CMLL show due to a previous NJPW commitment. Without her the commentary was just three dudes talking, haphazardly calling moves, and being generally directionless without someone clearly steering the ship. Veda, please don\u2019t leave us again.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>MATCH RECOMMENDATIONS<\/h3>\n<p>I know time is precious and you can\u2019t watch everything so I will leave my Top 5 matches to see out each month.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>M\u00edstico vs. Templario<\/li>\n<li>Yutani vs. Capitan Suicida<\/li>\n<li>T\u00ectan vs. Mascara Dorada<\/li>\n<li>Angel de Oro vs. Johnny Consejo (hair vs. hair)<\/li>\n<li>Persephone &amp; Olympia &amp; Dark Silueta vs. Akar &amp; Jarochita &amp; India Sioux<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (3\/4) - AEW Dynamite w\/Keller &amp; Kuester\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7nzvkRvDG0A?start=7&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-307009567\"><div id=\"pwtor-2568280325\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>First of all thank you for clicking on this column. My name is Zach Barber and I\u2019m normally on the AEW beat, writing the weekly feud tracker column. I previously attempted to cover CMLL events <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/03\/09\/cmll-hits-misses-recommended-matches-with-evaluations-of-the-latest-matches-with-misico-atlantis-claudio-titan-mascara-dorada\/\" title=\"CMLL HITS &#038; MISSES: Recommended matches with evaluations of the latest matches with Misico, Atlantis, Claudio, Titan, Mascara Dorada\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":213197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,28,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-213195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists_hitsandmisses","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-2.11.58-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213195"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213198,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213195\/revisions\/213198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}