#196: Hechicero vs. Esfringe vs. Euforia vs. Valiente, CMLL 91st Aniversario (9/13/2024).
This is #5 in my Top Matches of 2024.
This is a Four Way Elimination Apuestas Match. After the first two men are eliminated, the final two compete in a Mask vs. Mask Match, where the loser must unmask forever – the ultimate shame in Lucha Libre.
I dipped my toes into CMLL in 2024. I’m still not super familiar with the world of Lucha Libre, but I’m slowly getting there, and I’m very interested. This is a match that I seeked out mainly because of two things: One, it got a ton of praise from people who watched it, and two, because people were pissed that it was the co main event of this show. The main event? A match between Chris Jericho and Mistico that has gotten universally negative feedback from everyone who saw it. Take some time off, Chris. I am begging you.
Anyway, it’s the 91st anniversary of the world’s oldest active wrestling promotion, which means we’re getting a Mask Match! Here, it’s done under unique Four Way rules. The honor of unmasking someone is a big deal in Mexico, so the chance for one of these four to unmask one of their competitors is enough for them to risk it all under these circumstances.
Hechicero is wearing the straps, Esfringe is wearing the triangle mask, Valiente is in the blue, and Euforia has flames on his tights.
The bell sounds, and all four men stare each other down. They go balls to the wall right away, with Euforia and Esfringe going at it. Hechicero blocks an attack in the corner from Valiente. Esfringe dives over the top rope to Euforia. It’s an absolute frantic start to this match. Euforia powerbombs Valiente for a 2 count. Hechicero locks a leg submission in on Euforia, and also rolls Valiente up for a nearfall. Hurricanrana by Valiente for 2 on Euforia.
Euforia clotheslines Esfringe to the floor. Hechicero gets pulled to the floor by Esfringe and Valiente, while in the ring, Euforia gears up for a Tope to the floor. He hits it, but he’s caught by the other three and they powerbomb him to the floor, Shield style. Back in the ring, Esfringe and Valiente exchange strikes, with Esfringe connecting with a superkick. Hechicero takes Esfringe down, and Valiente elbows Hechicero in the face.
Superkick to Hechicero by Esfringe, followed by some tilt a whirl backbreakers to him and Valiente, before Valiente sends Esfringe to the apron. Esfringe blocks a dive from Hechicero, and eats a forearm from Euforia. On the top rope, Esfringe connects with a hip toss to Euforia for a nearfall. Esfringe hits a high monkey flip that sends Euforia across the entire ring. Superkick by Esfringem folllowed by a springboard splash that Euforia blocks.
All four men continue the fight in the ring, with dueling nearfalls. Hechicero is popular with this Arena Mexico crowd tonight. Spinning kicks by Esfringe, and now he locks Hechicero in a Figure Four Leglock roll up situation? It gets a 2 count. Big boot by Euforia, and Valiente connects with a chop. Suplex by Euforia to Valiente from the top rope, which gets a 2 count. Euforia flapjacks Esfringe on the ropes, and dropkicks his head. Hechicero flies into a backbreaker, which he kicks out of.
Valiente gets dropped onto Hechicero, and then gets lifted up into a GTS to the midsection by Euforia, which gets a nearfall. Nice scoop slam by Euforia to Esfringe, which gets another nearfall. Esfringe with another leglock roll up on Hechicero, and he kicks out. Esfringe and Valiente fight over a Tombstone attempt, until Esfringe powerslams him for a 2 count. Big superkick to Euforia, followed by a rolling German Suplex into a Dragon Sleeper to Esfringe, who taps out and is eliminated from the match. His mask is at least safe.
Euforia catches Valiente, who reverses his offense into an arm drag. Fast dive to the floor by Valiente, and then Hechicero hits a middle rope moonsault to the outside onto both men! The crowd enjoys that a lot. Valiente clotheslines Euforia over the barricade into the fans, and chops the hell out of Hechicero. Good chop exchange follows, and both men agree to return to the ring. Spinebuster by Valiente gets a nearfall. Swinging neckbreaker by Valiente gets a 2 count.
Hechicero catches a kick, and flips Valiente into a choke hold, which he escapes and transitions to a hammerlock hold with his legs! Hechicero blocks a moonsault, and traps Valiente in some kind of weird submission to the legs and the shoulder simultaneously, and Valiente taps out. He’s gone, and his mask is safe. It’s down to Hechicero and Euforia – Mask vs. Mask! Who will be shamed forever?
Both men stand across from the other, and exchange hard chops. Hechicero removes the straps, and dropkicks Euforia. Middle rope shotgun dropkick sends Euforia to the outside, and he follows with a diving splash to the outside. Hechicero sends Euforia into the barricade, and then places him in seated position on it. He comes off the apron with a axe handle to the back. He returns the straps up, and goes for a leg drop, and Euforia moves! Hechicero only hits the apron!
Euforia drives Hechicero shoulder first into the ring post, then snaps the arm out of place. He slams the injured arm off of the apron, and now they’re back inside the ring. Euforia goes to rip at the mask now – what a heel! He blocks a dive from Hechicero, sending him to the outside. Euforia with a senton to the outside! In the ring, Hechicero catches Euforia with a top rope hurricanrana, which gets him a 2 count. He drives his knee into Euforia’s face repeatedly.
The crowd is really hot for Hechicero, as Euforia drills him with a powerbomb, which Hechicero kicks out of. Euforia tries for a German Suplex, and Hechicero elbows his way free. Euforia with a pump handle splash, and now he applies the Dragon Sleeper, which is broken up. Flapjack by Euforia, and he tries to rip the mask off again. Euforia with a huge chop to the chest, and Hechicero attacks him on the middle rope. He connects with a nice arm drag into the ring, and Euforia kicks out.
Euforia connects with a rip cord lariat, Okada style, but Hechicero is right back up with a lariat of his own. He headbutts Euforia repeatedly, and now he’s attempting to rip at the mask! Hechicero punches Euforia in the corner, and finishes with an elbow to the head. On the top rope, Euforia hits an avalanche powerbomb to Hechicero! He rolls over, and Hechicero is somehow able to kick out. Hechicero rolls Euforia around the ring while trapped in his legs.
Euforia with a nice clothesline in the corner, and he follows with the double knees to the head. He drags Hechicero to the middle of the ring, and he gets a super close nearfall off of it. The crowd really bit on that one. Hechicero blocks a pump handle, and rolls into a Figure Four variation. Euforia won’t give up, and he’s pulling himself towards the ropes for an escape. He rolls Hechicero into an arm bar out of nowhere! The crowd are losing their minds, as he gets his foot on the ropes.
Hechicero with a knee to the head, followed by a Mutoh-like elbow to the chest. He goes to the top rope, but Euforia meets him up there with a forearm. He locks the arms, and hits a top rope double arm suplex! He makes the cover, and Hechicero kicks out. Euforia with the rolling German into the Dragon Sleeper! He’s already eliminated someone with this move, but Hechicero won’t give up. Nice kick to the back of the head, and a splash into the middle rope by Hechicero. He covers, and Euforia kicks out. Both men are sluggish to their feet, and they start throwing punches with wreckless abandon. Hechicero gets the upper hand with some hard elbows, and he places Euforia on the top rope. He connects with a few headbutts, and goes for a hurricanrana, but Euforia counters with a high powerbomb! He hooks the leg, and Hechicero again kicks out at the last moment!
Euforia hits the Wasteland on Hechicero, and he goes to the top rope. His senton misses, as Hechicero hits a nice head scissors into an arm bar, and that’s enough for the submission victory! Hechicero has survived, and Euforia must unmask forever! Post match, Euforia unmasks, and hands it to Hechicero in a show of respect.
What a blistering match this was! It had a little bit of everything, from crazy sequences to slowed down psychology. The first fall was chaotic, as all four men just went to 100 right away, and it never slowed down, until Esfringe was eliminated. The second fall was a little slower, but still had great action as Valiente bowed out of the match. Where this match really shined is in the dramatic final fall, as Hechicero and Euforia built a high stakes story centered around their masks, and it had the crowd roaring with approval, as they had us biting on some really good nearfalls.
They took their time in the final fall, and had their own little match within the four way. Hechicero came out of this looking fantastic, as he not only won the mask in the end, but he performed so well during the rest of the match as well. I haven’t seen many traditional Mask matches, but this one is definitely in consideration for one of the best Mask matches of all time. All four men sold the importance of the Mask – both in losing it, and also in the opportunity to win it from one of their rivals. Simple storytelling, air tight psychology, and smooth spots. You can’t go wrong there.