CMLL Domingo Familiar Review – 09.21.25

Streamed LIVE on YouTube from Arena Mexico on September 21st, 2025, as we celebrate the National Day of Lucha Libre with a free show from CMLL. I went back and forth trying to catch this and the Sunday Night game between my Giants and the Kansas City Chiefs. I went into this show ice cold, but the preview promised Mistico, Neon and Atlantis Jr vs Hechicero, Volador Jr and Difunto in the Main Event, as well as Blue Panther vs Ultimo Guerrero, and that was enough to convince me to check it out.

El Vigía y Blue Shark vs. Calavera Jr. I y II:
This is my first exposure to a lot of people on the card, so I ask for a little bit of a leash. Visually, El Vigia looks like a young pretty boy and Blue Shark just seems kind of average, and Calavera Jr I & II are masked men with skulls all over their gear. Shark and Jr. Primero fights for control, with Blue Shark first going for an STF, then a single-leg crab, but Jr. Segundo breaks up the latter attempt. Primero and Shark trade arm drags and we’re back to a neutral position. Vigia dives off the top with a flying arm drag and shows off his agility and quickness with Segundo. There’s a lot of flipping and grandstanding, so if that’s something you’re really against, you’re in the wrong territory for entertainment. Shark hits Primero with the double knees but it’s segundo making the save again. Blue Shark with a pair of spinning back breakers, second segundo out of the ring. Primero cuts off Vigia with a diving elbow, but he makes his own comeback with more flashy flips to clear the ring. The Skull Masters finally turn things to their favor, sending Vigia and Shark into the barricade. Back inside, Shark is victimized with a combo of senton splashes, but manages to roll out of the ring, meaning Vigia gets his turn to get wrecked. Double overhead arm drags and elbows to El Vigia, followed by a double standing suplex. Blue Shark is overmatched and launched over the top rope from the ramp with a double press slam. Shark and Vigia mount their comeback, clearing the ring and hitting dives on the floor. Back inside, Primero and Segundo have their feet trapped together and locked in a Camel Clutch and Octopus for a double submission at 11:33. Standard action to kick things off. Nothing groundbreaking, just a solid prelim formula tag. **½

Relevo Australiano de Pequenos Estrella; A Dos de Tres Caídas:
Angelito, Pequeño Magia, y Kaligua vs. Pequeño Pierroth, Pequeño Violencia, y Pequeño Olímpico:
OK, it’s best out of three falls here, and to win a fall, you must pin the captain or both non-captain members of the team. All six men are smaller in stature, but not the smallest, either. I have never seen someone as small as Angelito be that ripped. Kaligua starts with Olimpico. They go back and forth on the ground with submissions, with neither getting solid control. Magia sends Violencia to the outside with an arm drag and hits the taunt button. Angelito shows off his athleticism against Pierroth, sending him to the floor, where he’s met by a Kaligua Asai moonsault. Olimpico and Violencia take advantage in the ring, having Angelito accidentally sunset flip Magia, and using that to stack all their weight to pin down Angelito at 3:54.

Angelito is still in a compromised state to start the second fall. The trio of rudos run the train in the corner with clotheslines and a face-buster. Kaligua and Magia both try their luck to break up the momentum built by the team captained by Pierroth, unsuccessfully. We get some classic miscommunication, opening the door for a tecnicos comeback. Violencia is sent to the floor, with Angelito following him out with a dive from the top rope. Meanwhile, Kaligua splashes Olimpico and Magia hits Pierroth with a shotgun dropkick for three counts at the 3:20 mark to even the falls.

Magia sidesteps a dropkick from Olimpico and comes off the ropes with a spinning head-scissors. Pierroth doesn’t appreciate Kaligua spamming the taunt button and boots him in the face. More showboating from Kaligua, followed by a springboard corkscrew press that sends Pierroth to the floor. Angelito isn’t interested in a handshake from Violencia. More miscommunication between Olimpico and Violencia. Magia hits the duo on the floor with a tope con hilo, and Kaligua follows with a corkscrew press. Pierroth brings the fight back in the ring, but Angelito cuts him off, traps the arm, and hits a sit-out arm breaker for the deciding fall at 3:16. I enjoyed this for the most part, but it also felt incredibly rushed. Like the opener, a perfectly fine prelim level match, but nothing spectacular missed. **½

Tengu y KeMonito vs. Chamuel y KeMalito:
Uh… looks like two of our guys are mascot monkey-costumed micro-estrellas, the blue KeMonito and red devil-looking fellow with a six pack on the suit. We’re one fall to a finish with this one. Our micro mascots start, with KeMalito throwing KeMonito around like a sack of garbage. I didn’t expect this match to feature chain wrestling, but here we are. KeMonito hits a spinning head-scissors and poses, only to get trucked by Chamuel. Insert Nelson HA-HA gif here. Whip to the ropes and a double boot to our little blue buddy. Tengu finally gets in the ring, tackling KeMalito and unloading with mounted strikes until Chamuel returns fire. Double basement dropkick to Tengu for two. Is it a basement when everyone is 3’0” tall? It’s a one-sided affair, with Chamuel and KeMalito running the ring. Poor KeMonito misses a dropkick and takes a kick to the face. Chamuel with a delayed suplex and running basement dropkick. Our tecnicos finally get something going, with KeMonito hitting both opponents with a 6-1-9 and Tengu following with a splash for a near-fall.

Tengu uses his bulk to his advantage, but KeMalito outsmarts him, countering a shoulder block with a back body-drop. Tengu catches a springboard press but falls victim to a series of arm drags. Chamuel accidentally sends himself face-first into the turnbuckle and KeMonito flies off the second rope with a spinning hurricanrana. The action spills to the floor, with KeMonito and KeMalito hitting dives from the apron. Tengu with ten reps of KeMalito before sending him crashing to the canvas. Heck breaks loose with all four micros going at it. Chamuel and KeMalito are sent crashing into each other and KeMonito hits a springboard moonsault across both for three at 12:10. Maybe more familiarity would improve my enjoyment, but ice cold, I thought the work was OK, but it went a little too long with what was brought to the table. **

Relevo Australiano de Amazonas; A Dos de Tres Caidas:
La Catalina (Capitana), Skadi, y India Sioux vs. Zeuxis (Capitana), Olympia, y Candela:
Of the six women, I’ve only had exposure to Zeuxis and Olympia. We’ve got best out of three falls, and like our earlier match, falls are won by pinning the captain or both non-captains of the team. The rudas trio attacks before the bell, cleaning house and singling out Catalina. Candela and Olympia charge into the corner with clotheslines and Zeuxis adds a little disrespect to the sequence with a slap across the face. India Sioux gets wiped out and Skadi isn’t doing much better. Sioux is in trouble as Zeuxis holds her up for a double-team, but Skadi and Catalina cut off Candela and Olympia with sunset flips while Sioux sits down on Zeuxis with a victory roll, and all three are counted down at 3:00.

The second fall begins with Olympia and Skadi exchanging palm strikes across the chest. Skadi with a shoulder block and step-up enzuigiri, followed by a butterfly back breaker, sending Olympia out of the ring. Zeuxis and Catalina exchange blows and track each other down with corner strikes. Candela comes in to offer assistance to Olympia, cutting off India Sioux. Sioux does a fair job fighting off the 2-on-1, later 3-on-1 situation until Candela catches her with an electric chair drop while Olympia plants Skadi with a Samoan drop, and both get the necessary pins to earn the fall at 4:00.

The final fall begins with our tecnicos still strategizing outside the ring. Skadi is immediately jumped in the ring by all three rudas. Olympia with a wrecking ball dropkick and Candela with a corkscrew splash but Catalina and India Sioux make the save. Skadi drops Candela face-first with a suplex and Catalina hits a running senton for two. Catalina finds herself in trouble but Skadi makes the save. Olympia’s body press is countered with a back breaker for two. Zeuxis avoids an avalanche and hits the double knees in the corner for two. Catalina drops Zeuxis face-first but Olympia won’t let her get so much as a one count on the captain. India with a Liger-Bomb on Olympia for two. We go back-and-forth fighting for a suplex with all six ladies involved, and ultimately, Catalina’s team hitting the super-sized suplex. Catalina follows Zeuxis out of the ring, diving off the apron with a senton. Olympia and Candela catch India’s body press attempt, but Skadi walks the middle rope and hits the pile herself with a body press, pinning Olympia and Candela for the deciding fall at 4:24. That last fall kicked all the ass with a great finish. Skadi is a big woman, but really knows how to move AND utilize that size. ***½

Relevo Sencillo a Dos de Tres Caídas:
Templario y Titan vs. Los Hermanos Chavez:
It seems like everyone in CMLL has at least one belt, or in Templario’s case, THREE. Los Hermanso Chavez compraron el Ángel de Oro y Niebla Roja. Autocorrect is taking over when you’re seeing me string together Spanish like that. Titan has his way with Roja to open the contest. Templario and Angel exchange head-scissors and spam their taunt buttons to pop the crowd. Roja catches Templario by surprise with a super-kick, knocking him out of the ring. Titan with a step-up heel kick and springboard body press to clear out Roja. Angel crotches Titan across the turnbuckle and synchronized basement dropkicks secures the first fall for Los Hermanos Chavez at 3:26.

More double-team work on Templario to open the second fall. Titan is planted with a double-team powerbomb but Templario makes the save. Drop toe hold and running boot combo, but Angel and Roja showboat instead of going in for the kill. Who needs to win the match when you can go for the masks of your opponents instead! I’m sure that level of arrogance will catch up to them. Titan and Templario pop up to avoid the fate of the first fall, clearing out the ring with spinning head-scissors and following them to the floor with synchronized tope suicidas. Back inside, both members of Hermanos Chavez are in the drop zone, with Templario coming down with a splash as he assists in dropping Titan with a splash of his own, and both men are counted down at 3:32 to even the match at one fall each.

Templario comes off the top with a flying head-scissors to clear out Angel de Oro. Niebla Roja stuns Templario, but is a victim of the educated feet of Titan. Templario with a helping hand as Titan springboards off the top rope with a splash, but Angel is in to make the save. Templario sends Angel into next week with a GTS. Roja has Templario trapped in an STF as he takes Titan over with a fisherman suplex for a near-fall. Michinoku Driver to Templario and avalanche drop to Titan for a long two-count! Titan comes off the top with a double stomp and Templario with a handspring over the top rope with a splash for another set of near-falls. Momentum swings back in favor of Los Hermanos Chavez, quite literally, as they each trap Titan and Templario in pendulum submissions for the deciding fall at 5:53. Wow, I really thought this was going Titan and Templario’s way with how that third fall was playing out. As someone who is mostly unfamiliar with lucha libre, it’s here where the multi-falls tag match formula is starting to lose my interest and could use a palate cleansing. ***

MLW National Openweight Championship Match:
Ultimo Guerrero (c) vs. Blue Panther:
OK, now we’re talking. Blue Panther is a spry 65 years old, but still works a hell of a match, and Ultimo Guerrero is also pushing away Father Time. Guerrero doesn’t mess around, immediately putting the pressure on Panther and tearing away at the mask. Whip to the corner, Panther avoids an incoming attack and lands a pair of clotheslines before removing the mask himself. A shoulder block sends Guerrero to the floor. Panther with a dive from the apron, but Guerrero catches and slams his back into the post. Guerrero lays in with chops and offers his own unique brand of spine realignment. Panther counters a right hand with a kick to the wrist and comes off the second rope with a spinning hurricanrana. Guerrero powders, so Blue Panther follows to hit the apron hurricanrana on the second attempt, and just for the hell of it, dives off the ramp with a cross body press!

Back in the ring, they take turns throwing chops. Guerrero blocks a top rope hurricanrana and plants Panther with a powerbomb for a LONG two-count (uno! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOS~!). Guerrero goes high risk and Panther sends him crashing to the canvas with an avalanche arm drag for two. Panther avoids a top rope senton, covering for another near-fall. Guerrero misses a knee into the corner, taking a spill over the top rope. Blue Panther must get paid per high spot, as he hits a twisting body press from the second turnbuckle to the floor! We come back from a replay and Panther with a tope suicida! They fight for control on the top rope, with Panther hitting a spinning hurricanrana for two! Guerrero traps Panther in a modified Octopus, but the power of the “BLUE!” chant keeps him in the fight. Guerrero with an avalanche Death Valley Driver for two, finally paying off a high-risk maneuver. Ultimo presses his luck and rolls snake eyes, as Blue Panther meets him and takes him down with a slam, covering for three and the MLW Openweight Championship at 14:29! Post-match sign of respect from Ultimo Guerrero as he parades around the ring with Blue Panther on his shoulders. I swear, Blue Panther doesn’t need to throw himself around like this for my entertainment. This was a fantastic battle of old gunslingers throwing bombs at each other with a super-hot crowd taking it all in. Definitely a must-see match and again proof that age doesn’t matter as long as you can still tell a story in the ring. ****½

Relevo Australiano; A Dos de Tres Caídas:
Mistico (Capitan), Neon y Atlantis Jr vs Hechicero (Capitan), Difunto, y Volador Jr:
The Main Event and final match of the card. Thanks to AEW/ROH, I’m much more familiar with most of the men involved in this match. I’ve been told Volador Jr actually gives a crap too when he’s not working ROH tapings! We open with everyone getting wiped out with a big move until everyone is on the floor. Hechicero works over Atlantis Jr in the corner, sends him across the ring and charges in with a knee to the chin. Volador Jr wipes out Mistico by straddling him on the post. Difunto and Hechicero throw clotheslines and connect with a double basement dropkick, knocking Atlantis Jr out of the ring. Neon is cut off and triple teamed. Hechicero with a knee to Misticio and Volador Jr hits him with a Super Kick for three at 2:55! Wow, we’re not messing around here.

Hechicero has Neon in trouble on the ramp while Difunto has Atlantis compromised at ringside. Volador Jr traps Mistico in a tree of woe while Difunto and Hechicero stomp out Neon. Whip to the ropes, Hechicero hits Neon with a spine-buster and Difunto with a double stomp across the hamstrings. Atlantis Jr gets his turn to fight from underneath. Mistico comes in to save and Volador quickly disposes of him on the ramp. Atlantis Jr avoids a double-team in the corner and hits Volador with a spinning head-scissors. Neon takes out Difunto and Mistico sends Hechicero to the outside, following him out with a corkscrew tope con hilo. Atlantis submits Volador with a torture rack and Neon pins Difunto with a moonsault at 3:19 to even the match.

Volador jumps on Mistico to start the fall. Atlantis Jr runs wild on all three rudos, avoiding their attacks and clearing the ring with a series of spinning back breakers. Neon spams the taunt button and hits a double-jump corkscrew hurricanrana. Mistico and Hechicero have an aggressive face-to-face. Crisscross and Hechicero picks the ankle. Whip to the ropes, Mistico hits a handspring double elbow, followed by a rope-assisted double arm drag. Neon and Atlantis wipe out Volador and Difunto, leaving the captains in the ring again. Hechicero catches a springboard body press. Hechicero grandstands for too long, allowing Mistico to spin out into a takedown and LA MISTICA gets the submission for the final fall at 5:19! Post-match, Mistico with a fired-up promo to close the show. Lots of moving parts makes it a little difficult to keep track of sometimes, but flawless execution with a solid balance of heat and babyface high spots kept me engaged the entire time and left wanting more. ****

Final Thoughts: I wasn’t expecting to check out a CMLL card over the weekend, but I’m glad I came across the show streaming for free on YouTube on Sunday Night. If nothing else, Blue Panther vs Ultimo Guerrero is well worth checking out, though the Main Event is right there with it, and the women’s tag stands out above the rest of the prelims. I wouldn’t say anything was bad, but I did feel the tag with the mascot micros went too long, and by the time we got through Templario/Titan and Los Hermanos Chavez, I was ready for something to break from the tag formula presented all night to that point. I don’t know if I’m going to look into subscribing to CMLL for weekly content, but it’s definitely an idea I’ve kicked around. Again, I’m as novice as can be with CMLL, so if I’ve misinterpreted something or miss a character trait, I’m all for someone setting me straight.