For Cinco de Mayo WWE Network aired a two hour special called “La Celebracion De Cinco De Mayo”, which was a tribute to Lucha Libre hosted by Los Matadores and El Torito.
They
open talking about the special and taking a look at what Lucha Libre
is, my first thought was a video package from back in the WCW days that
Mike Tenay did the voice over on that talked
about Lucha Libre. It was called Lucha Libre and the Mexican
Luchadores. I really liked this video package and even kept a recording
of it on one of my many best of compilation tapes, until the flood
destroyed it. Much to my surprise and happiness this
exact video package was played, and it’s just as good as I remember!
This package was made in 1997. I just realized the WCW/AAA joint PPV
When Worlds Collide is not on the WWE Network.
We
then get a video package on Mil Mascaras, which was his Hall of Fame
package, it seems like it was an extended one though. Next was a match
taped June 27, 1981 at the Capital Centre in
Landover, Maryland featuring Vince McMahon on commentary where Mil
Mascaras pinned Sgt. Slaughter with a cross body off the top rope.
I
actually met Mil Mascaras at a PWS show I Rahway, NJ on June 1, 2012
also where Mil defeated Samuray Del Dol now known as Kalisto in the
WWE. This was the show I went to, to meet the Great
Muta. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get my picture taken with
the legendary Mascaras. I don’t care how bad he is or was in the ring
or egotistical he allegedly is, you can’t argue with what he
accomplished in wrestling. His match with Samuray wasn’t
the greatest, he was 69 years old at the time, but was quite impressive
considering, and much like a Muta, I never thought I would ever see him
wrestle live.
Los
Matadores talk about Mil Mascaras influence they talked about how Chris
Jericho was influenced by it. A segment talking to Jericho and others
about his time in Mexico is shown I would
guess it’s from his new DVD. It then jumped right to Paul Heyman
talking about bringing Lucha Libre to the United States with ECW footage
shown from the Rise and Fall of ECW.
Match
two is from the ECW Arena on October 28, 1995 featuring Konnan &
Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Psicosos & La Parka. Back when I liked
Mysterio before he won the 2006 Royal Rumble which is the
point when I stopped like anything he did. This was also when I still
like Konnan, I stopped liking him when he went all rasta and joined the
NOW in July 1997. Seriously! A count-out finish in ECW!? It was cool
that Joel Gertner did the announcing in Spanish.
Next
up is a very long package on Eddie Guerrero and the Guerrero family.
It’s a great package talking to the entire family, how they were raised
and bringing their style to the United States
with match clips from Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, World Class, AWA, WCW,
ECW, and WWE.
Part
two of Lucha Libre and the Mexican Luchadores WCW segment hosted by
Mike Tenay this time talking about the history and significance of the
Mask in Lucha Libre.
A
segment on Lita from her DVD is shown about her time in Mexico and why
she like Lucha Libre. They show that wicked powerbomb that Eddie gave
her on the floor not too long after her debut
in WWE.
Part
three of Lucha Libre and the Mexican Luchadores, talking about the
upcoming Mask vs. Belt contest pitting Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero.
Match
three is from Halloween Havoc October 26, 1997 in Las Vegas. Belt vs.
Mask as Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero defending against Rey
Mysterio Jr. You might recognize this match
as being one of the best wrestling matches ever. There was just
something that night between these two that was just perfect. The
referee in this match is Maine native Billy Silverman.
Part
four Lucha Libre and the Mexican Luchadores talking about how there are
so many families and second generation wrestlers in wrestling.
Match
four from July 13, 1997 Bash at the Beach in Daytona Beach, a trios
match with Juventud Guerrera, Hector Garza, and Lizmark Jr. vs. La
Parka, Psychosis, and Villano IV. This match was
contested under Lucha Libre style rules, this was also when Mike Tenay
would join the announce team only when the Luchadores were in the ring.
Part five of Lucha Libre and the Mexican Luchadores talking about the high flying daredevil style that is Lucha Libre.
Match
five is from ECW on TNN an Extreme Three Way Dance pitting Yoshihiro
Tajiri vs. Super Crazy vs. Little Guido Maritano, and yes it’s an
elimination match. I don’t recall seeing this
match the first time around as I watched all the ECW on TNN episodes,
but this is a great match just like their other encounters.
A
video package featuring Hunico from 2012 where he shows us his
collection of Lucha masks, who wore them and what means to him. I
learned something about Hunico that I didn’t know before
which was he started wrestling in Mexico in 1999 and he was the first
Mistico in Mexico and then later Luis Urive became Mistico, the one we
are more familiar with. Later Urive came to the WWE and became Sin Cara
and Hunico became Sin Cara. This was before
Urive left WWE and Hunico became Sin Cara full time.
Match
6 is from NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way on September 11, 2014 featuring The
Lucha Dragons: Kalisto & Sin Cara defeated the Ascension: Konnor
& Viktor to win the NXT Tag Team Championships.
This was the Ascensions first loss in a long time as they had held the
titles for almost a year and were pushed as killers. Then they got
called up to the main roster and have fizzled tremendously. That has to
be so frustrating for them to go from where
they were to where they are.
This
was a really good special with some great matches and neat video
packages. I thought there would be a lot of current or recent WWE
product but only 1 of the 6 matches were, and that
was a damn good match.
This
special is in the on demand section of the WWE Network under the
category Playlists. It is very much so well worth your time to check
out.
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