#187: Atlantis vs. Blue Panther, EMLL Super Viernes (8/9/1991).
This is a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match for Atlantis’ NWA World Welterweight Championship.
I wanted to check this match out simply because of who was involved. I know Blue Panther because of his match earlier this year in CMLL against Bryan Danielson – a great match, btw! And I know of Atlantis because I reviewed his Apuestas match with Villano III earlier this year, and that currently stands as the best Lucha Libre match I’ve ever seen. I wasn’t sure of the history between these two going into this match, and after some research, I still don’t. What I did find out is that this match is considered by many to be a technical wrestling classic. Let’s see if that holds up!
The bell rings, and the first fall is under way. They lock up, and Atlantis quickly takes the back. Panther goes to work on the arm, and gets arm dragged for his troubles, and it seems to take him a moment to catch his barrings. Panther hammerlocks the arm to the mat, and Atlantis is able to work his way back up. Panther stays on the offensive, and ties the legs up. Panther goes to stretch Atlantis’ arm behind his back, and avoids an arm drag counter.
Atlantis is back to his feet, and takes Panther down with a head scissors. He cranks his legs against Panther’s head, and goes to apply an arm bar of sorts. He now has both arms stretched outwards, with Panther’s head trapped in between his legs. That’s a very basic hold that also looks painful. They fight for control on the feet, with a nice back and forth test of strength. Atlantis wins that one, forcing Panther to the mat.
Panther works his way back up, and gets tossed over head – all while Atlantis maintains control of his hands. Panther also tosses Atlantis overhead, but he lands on his feet and gets a roll up on Panther for 2. Panther takes Atlantis down, and does one of my favorite things I’ve ever seen – he straightens Atlantis’ leg out, and then digs his elbow into the knee cap. Ouch! Panther ties up the arm, and brings Atlantis down, extending his arm out in between his legs.
Atlantis tries for a roll up, and Panther uses his legs to bring Atlantis back down. Atlantis fights back with a head scissors, and another arm bar attempt. Panther rolls through, and snap mares Atlantis into a headlock. Atlantis with a hip toss, and a side headlock takedown. Panther comes back with a powerslam, and gets arm dragged for his troubles. Atlantis is back in control, but only for a moment as Panther connects with a scoop slam. Really nice back and forth between both men!
A smooth as butter tilt a whirl backbreaker by Atlantis next. Big spinebuster by Atlantis, and then the Sharpshooter follows, and Panther submits! Atlantis takes the first fall. That was a super fun first fall to watch. It had crisp technical wrestling and great limb psychology.
Both men take a breather in their corner, and the second fall begins. Atlantis irish whips Panther into the turnbuckle, and knocks him down with a clothesline. Snap mare by Atlantis, and he drives his knee into Panther’s head. Good aggression from Atlantis to start out. He hits Panther on the top of his head with his knee, and that gets him a two count. Panther with a nasty lariat of his own, followed by a Tiger Driver into a backbreaker, and a back stretch. Damn, that was fast! Panther takes the second fall off of that sequence.
I think out of that, Atlantis’ strategy of aggression was smart, but he may have overextended his reach there, as Panther played the veteran well and caught Atlantis out of nowhere with that submission. That’s good ring awareness from Panther. The third fall begins, as Panther whips Atlantis into the ropes, then connects with a spinebuster. Big powerbomb by Panther, and that gets him a nearfall. He goes for another, and Atlantis counters into a hurricanrana for a 2 count. Panther counters a powerbomb, and Atlantis rolls through that into a nearfall. Panther applies the abdominal stretch next, while also grabbing at Atlantis’ leg for added pressure.
Panther transitions from that into an attempt at the Figure Four Leglock, but Atlantis is able to fight it off. Atlantis attempts the Sharpshooter again, and he’s able to lock it on! Panther submitted to this in the first fall, and he may very well do it again here in the final. Atlantis pulls him away from the ropes repeatedly, which is a strategy I wish more wrestlers followed. Panther is able to drag himself to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Panther tries for a surfboard lock, and Atlantis kicks him away. Panther is tenacious, and he locks in arguably one of the best surfboard locks I’ve ever seen. Atlantis rolls out of it, and is able to roll Panther up for a 2 count. Nice sunset flip roll up by Atlantis for 2. Another roll up by Atlantis, and Panther kicks out. Panther with a clothesline, and he goes to the top rope, but Atlantis is quick to dropkick him and send him to the floor. He follows up with a Tope to Panther on the outside!
Atlantis grabs Panther from the apron and brings him inside for a suplex, which Panther counters into a bridging German Suplex for a close 2 count. Electric chair by Panther, and Atlantis again just gets his shoulders up. Atlantis goes for a hurricanrana, and Panther reverses it into a powerbomb for another nearfall. Atlantis connects with a middle rope suplex to Panther, and he’s able to kick out at 2. Atlantis has Panther in between his legs, and stretches his arms behind him. Panther throws him to the floor, then dives onto him!
Back in the ring, Panther traps Atlantis in a submission – Atlantis is on his back, and Panther has his legs, stretching him. Atlantis fights out of it and gets a close nearfall on Panther. Beautiful moonsault from the top rope to a standing Panther, and that’s enough for Atlantis to take the final fall, and the match! Post match, Panther raises Atlantis’ hand, and they shake hands out of respect.
That was an awesome match that had a little bit of everything – technical wrestling, limb work, aggression, high flying spots, and great nearfalls. The chemistry these two had was off the charts, and it made for a compelling watch. Panther was a great general, focusing on many of Atlantis’ limbs throughout the match. I really loved that spot where he dug his elbow into his knee while the leg was stretched out completely.
Atlantis had speed and tenacity on his side in this one, and that’s what brought him the victory in the end. When high flying offense was brought to the table, Atlantis took advantage of it and used it for himself. Even still, you couldn’t ask for a better, even matched battle. Everything was seamless throughout. I saw someone online make the comment that in this match, and in particular the first fall, both Atlantis and Blue Panther seemingly moved as one. I can’t argue with that.