[9.0] "Technical style is already something I'm a huge fan, however, technical style ADDED with lucha libre style? Yeah, this was so fucking good. Hechicero and Zack Sabre Jr somehow had here a insane chemistry only using submissions and this was fun to watch. However, I think they didn't made the last fall look so intense like it was necessary to be, for example, if you put the last five minutes from the match they had in the Battle of the Valley and add here, you'll gonna have a insane match and a obvious five stars. Still an excellent bout, ZSJ is the best at each single area we goes for. While Hechicero...gifted beast."
[6.0] "This was pretty good, but it wasn't nearly as good as their NJPW match and especially not even close to being as great as their RevPro match. This CMLL match lacked 'oomph.' It wasn't even the best match of the day, because Starlight Kid and Mei Seira had the best match of that day at a STARDOM show called 'The Conversion.'"
[9.0] "Awesome match between these two. Hechicero is the perfect CMLL competitor to face Sabre with his technical game, and I think that was highlighted greatly here. Really cool to see Hechicero getting the win here as well, as I could have totally seen ZSJ winning, since he's the bigger international star."
[9.0] "You know I enjoyed those ZSJ/Danielson matches, but I never really bought the hype for those as all time technical classics. While this ain't an all timer I would say it's a classic. Super fun and fast Two Falls followed up by an even more intense third fall, this was a great Lllave match that highlighted both men's strengths with their awesome and creative submission holds. Four and A Quarter Stars out of Five."
[6.0] "One of Sabre's weaker matches. It was whatever, Sabre and Hechicero are great technical wrestlers but it felt like they focused too much on technical maneuvers without the same energy as matches like Danielson vs. Ospreay. As a two-out-of-three falls match, it could have also benefited from being a little longer."
[8.0] "The pro wrestling equivalent of two freeform jazz masters jamming for 30 minutes in a nightclub. It's not for everyone - people who like selling and limb psychology are going to get frustrated with this one, people who don't like llave and World of Sport style wrestling aren't gonna like it - but these dudes aren't concerned about the people who don't like it. They make their style of wrestling for their people and it works super well for them and that's great. First 2 falls feel like we're waiting for it to kick into high gear, with a bunch of awesome but esoteric and unfocused grappling. By the 3rd fall it absolutely finds its pace though and the closing stretch is stellar. Feels like the prelude to a second spectacular match rather than a truly phenomenal first one, but still really enjoyable in its own right. ****"
[6.0] "This went about as was expected. Obviously both guys are masters of technical wrestling, but they were both too focussed on working a general modern-lucha-style match with all the usual trope trappings, and the 'story' of them both being master grapplers trying to prove whose style was best is the most boring story we ALWAYS get whenever two technical wrestlers face off, so there wasn't much to care about with this match aside from the surface level of seeing them both go 50/50 with unique and flashy set-ups and transitions to and from various submissions and pins. And that work was all still really good fun, but such a waste of potential when we all know that a compelling match story focussed around *something* could've elevated that work so much. It was soon evident that having this match in CMLL was also going to be an issue, since I'm one of those guys who just can't look past the various issues with the staple of their 2/3 falls matches, where both guys' first falls are always rushed so as to never be convincing, you always KNOW the match will end up 1-1 with the 3rd fall being the decider (rather than either guy ever sweeping 2-0), and you're conditioned to never be invested in anything until that 3rd and final fall is in play because of those previous 2 reasons. Those issues were all evident here, as Sabre first submitted Hechicero with an arm lock and no real sense of build-up, Hechicero then made a quick comeback with his own submission skills to even the score (while completely no-selling the arm(s) that Sabre had targeted for his own fall), and then they both went for rapid pin trades as soon as the 3rd fall was in play, which you could tell was just a showcase to show how evenly matched they were, rather than any of those pin attempts actually feeling like convincing finishes. It was once they both returned to their submission attempts when going for that 3rd fall that the match's sense of predictability had finally completely dissipated, and it was of course still enjoyable seeing the complex and athletic ways they were tying each other up. It felt pretty stupid that Sabre, long having since abandoned targeting Hechicero's arm, suddenly returned to target it in the final few minutes (albeit with some obviously cool set-ups and transitions to do so). Had he just forgotten how much success he had with it, but then suddenly remembered it right there at the end? Hechicero once again didn't even bother selling that arm as soon as Sabre relinquished his holds, so this was now twice that Sabre introduced some arm-targeting which was meant to be treated as a major part of the match, only for Hechicero to completely throw it away. Ignoring how clearly performative this whole match was, it was still genuinely fun watching them trade back and forth and show off what they're capable of, though while I do think there chemistry was mostly really good, I did think they looked a bit clumsy and slow with some of the more complex stuff they went for, which resulted in a bit of an overly cooperative look). It's just a shame that they couldn't make this 'cool' work matter more. ***1/4"
[10.0] "Incredible display of high-level technical wrestling in the spirit of Lucha Libre. The crowd was quite hot for this match, which made for a great environment. ZSJ played to this dynamic quite well and took on a bit of a heelish attitude against the crowd favorite Hechicero. ZSJ took the first fall through a Manjigatame, which set the tone for the second fall as Hechicero picked up the pace and hunted for a submission of his own. He was successful, and the two really turned up the heat in the third fall. ZSJ and Hechicero were incredibly fluid throughout the match, leading to some creative wrestling, reversals, submissions, and nearfalls toward the end. ZSJ was great in this match, but Hechicero was slightly more resourceful which led to him securing the third and decisive fall. One of my favorite matches from 2024. ****3/4"
[10.0] "It just doesn't get much better than this for me. The intimate atmosphere of great fans. Two of the best in the world on top of their game. Just pure excellence on display."
[8.0] "A great technical match, by two people who are in their core similar, yet overall so different. This made for a really compelling bout with well placed falls."
[8.0] "Not a big fan of technical wrestling, but I'm starting to finally realize the beauty of it. I can tell you from my little experience watching Zack's matches, for me they are either terrible or great, there is no middle ground. I'm excited to see a match from the second category:))) Very cool moves and transitions, great feel for the opponent. First time I've seen it Hechicero, he's awesome. And the crowd at CMLL is something to behold!"
[8.0] "[3.75*] I found this match quite hard to rate. It was a personal dream match of mine, taking place on my second favorite company of the year, it was supposed to be my MOTY, and it was not. The 1st and 2nd falls were absolutely incredible, MOTYC level, with the insane technical wrestling exchanges that we all expected. I was in awe watching them pull off the most insane maneuvers ever, and both finishes looked strong and believable. I was locked in for the big 3rd fall. From my experience watching the company, the 3rd fall is the absolute best in at least 90% of them, because this is where the drama, the emotion and the feelings happen, alongside the beautiful moves and everything else. However, I legitimately thought it was kinda mediocre. The strikes from Zack looked a little bit weak, there was a very little amount of nearfalls and drama, it just did not look like CMLL at all. Both Zack and Hechi are ridiculously better than Mistico in terms of technical wrestling, but this is not why the company is about, and if you put Mistico against any of them, the 3rd fall would have been so much better. I loved the techniques, loved the sequences, but I already expected to love it, I was curious to see how they would work on the final fall, and unfortunately it disappointed me a little bit. The ending was just the worst part of the whole match, where the mexican hero Hechicero, who was being supported like a God during the match, won in a shitty dirty-pin way, something that just threw my whole excitement away. He is a heel, I get it, but against an outsider, he is automatically the face, and the ending kinda ruined the psychology for me and left a bad taste on my mouth after a super great match with MOTYCs 1st and 2nd falls."
[8.0] "What a great match between two of the best technical wrestlers in the world right now, Hechicero and ZSJ put out a show here, with a lot of great moves and reversals, everything sounded extremely smooth and well executed. But unfortunately I couldn't see this match anywhere near the level of the two matches between Danielson vs ZSJ, and I don't even know if it was better than Danielson vs Hechicero, probably not, but the match was cool, mainly because of the atmosphere, the crowd was insanely hot here in Arena Coliseo, made it extremely easy and enjoyable to watch, they were popping for everything. My only personal issue with the match were the strikes by ZSJr honestly, they were really bad and soft, it pissed me off and it sounded like he was joking or something like that. Other than that the match was pretty good, with some credible roll-ups and emotion at the end, with Hechicero outsmarting Zack and stealing the win, the level of wrestling here was incredible - {***3/4}"
[7.0] "I really liked the atmosphere for this especially as I have not seen much CMLL out of Arena Mexico Fridays. It was exactly what you expect from this two but may have suffered from my slightly too big expectations."
[9.0] "I don't know how much effort was required to work a match like this. Moreover, CMLL crowd seemed to be a lot more hot than AAA crowd usually is. A mat wrestling isn't always the most entertaining option for wrestlers to do, but ZSJ and Hechicero are the submission machines. That was great"
[8.0] "As always, I'm not the biggest lucha fan. But I am a big ZSJ fan. Great character work from the brit, fantastic environment, and even better mat work. Liked this one more than ZSJ/Danielson from AEW, for what it's worth. 4+ Stars."
[9.0] "These two guy's creativity in the ring is matched by no one. There's so many innovative holds, and they jump from one to another to another. I think the innovation actually holds them back slightly, as this style of wrestling works better with a more traditional base like a Bryan Danielson, but seeing these two work feels like I just don't understand it yet. Like I'm listening to a masterfully written book in Spanish. They're trailblazers and likely won't be appreciated as they should be until they have left their mark on the wrestling world."
[9.0] "An incredible technical masterclass that featured a bad ending and a disappointing second fall even for the CMLL standards. That being said, the level of the grappling here is probably the highest you 'll see these year, a true dance that was near to be perfect. ****1/2"
[9.0] "Hechicero and ZSJ are two of the best technical wrestlers in the world. This match is what proper mat wrestling can look like and be fun. Having fun counters, escapes and transitions in to new holds, this match was incredible. I thought it went slightly a little long but still one of the best matches of the year. A fun watch. 4.25/5 Stars"
[9.0] "I love technical wrestling, and with these guys youre guaranteed some of the best. I thought the storytelling was great w a very technical first fall w zsj taking it, and in the second fall the moment he tries to stop technical wrestling hechicero ties him up and ties the score leading to a phenomenal third fall, with a finish that leaves the door open for more. I will say some of the transitions were a little messy, but idk for me in a technical matchup seeing a bit of grit between transitions makes it feel more real. 4.5/5"
[7.0] "Decent match, but some of the transitions were a little sloppy. One of the reasons I like 2 out of 3 falls matches is that you get to see smaller moves get falls and finish matches - but even some of the falls here seemed underwhelming. Probably sitting at 3 3/4*"
[9.0] "What a technical match, there are some sequences that blow my mind. This is another type of wrestling and I love it. The first two falls were more of a exhibition and the third one was a war. The ending leads perfect to a rematch, so for me, perfect!"
[7.0] "This wasn't wrestled like a North American match at all, which was something that I felt held back ZSJ's matches with Danielson a little. I actually really liked this, as it would have been great if the finish were a little more to my liking. The match and the transitions between moves were actually really sloppy, but that realism just added to the sense of struggle the two were building. The match really felt like they were trying to one-up eachother. I do think at times ZSJ was holding back and slowing down in regards to allowing Hechicero more offense. The crowd amplifies this, as both men very clearly play it up to them."
"Incredible match. Hechicero is having a breakout year on an international level but this takes place in his backyard in the Arena Colliseo. Sabre jr is known as either the top or one of the top technical wrestlers in the world. These two had matches with Bryan Danielson early in the year and finally clashed in a 19 minute mat classic. Well deserved 5 star match."
[10.0] "What a technical showcase! I love the 2 out 3 falls stipulation Cmll does especially for these two because the pins and submissions can come from anything and anywhere. The crowd was great and it was sick venue. Definitely a match I'm gonna go back and rewatch. Would like to see another in japan or the UK to get Zach a home game home field advantage definitely helped hechicero the win."
[9.0] "really awesome match showing both mens submission bag is deep as well as theyre pinning combinations. That last fall was great once it got going and i definitely am interested in watch some more of hechicero for sure. 4.75 stars"
[10.0] "Danielson, Sabre Jr., and Hechicero are in a tight three-way fight this year for the crown of "best technical wrestler", and the third constellation in the group did not disappoint. Like Danielson and Hechicero in the Rio Grand Valley and Danielson and ZSJ in Osaka, just twenty minutes of pure graps from the best in the business. Beautiful match."
[8.0] "Great match, sure the pace is okayish and the in-betweens are a little sloppy but that really doesn't matter at all when we get to see the mesh and clash of styles on the mat here. They hit all of their classics, which is admitting a lot. Great submission transitions throughout, pin transitions on the other hand are solid enough, the crowd is hot for everything, very typical of a lucha crowd tbf, the match didnt neccesarily blew me away but it's very enjoyable."
[8.0] "When these two clashed in PWG, I was utterly disappointed but many years later, in a whole different environment, these clicked so well that Im left wondering what happened. I was really excited to see this match, unlike most matches that take place in 2024. I sat down as soon as I got a copy and watched it. Didnt take notes, which was a good idea in hindsight because I wouldnt have been able to type at the speed these two went at. Nor would I be able to even name half of the submission holds applied. Its back and forth, momentum constantly changing. Its two maestros battling out in their prime, unlike Panther/Danielson, and there was no real gap between the two. Both win their individual falls through moments of brilliance which are appreciated by the crowd. And then in the final fall, neither could find that moment of brilliance, it truly was a stalemate until Hechicero did the necessary work to win. ****"
[8.0] "Lovely, lovely match. When you talk about two guys *wrestling*, and what that really entails, this is it. Making everything look crisp and sharp, a struggle both in executing offense and in between the offense being delivered, selling the damage that occurs, all of it taking place within a framework that feels like a true athletic contest. Along the way, they even mix in some strong nearfalls and drama. Unfortunately suffers from going a *bit* too long, but hot crowd and action like this is a recommend. ****1/4"
[10.0] "Man, talk about a technical dream match... on paper I was just as excited about this as I was about Sabre vs. Danielson, and it did not disappoint! This was a brilliant technical battle in front of a hot crowd who basically never stopped making noise, total party atmosphere as the technical wizard battled the invading Brit. Just a blistering series of exchanges, as beautiful as you could hope to see yet still with that all important sense of struggle. Hechicero may indeed be magic... just a tremendous match, so, so good. My #8 match of the year so far."
"One of the most fun matches you'll watch all year. The energy in the building, the almost showy technical work from both ZSJ and Hechicero, plus that INCREDBLE third fall.. hell yeah."
[9.0] "God this was fucking excellent. In my top 10 of the year for sure. This was just a technical wrestling clinic from two of the very best in that field. I haven't seen much of Hechicero but everytime I see a match of his I'm always completely blown away by what I'm seeing and this match was the best form I've seen him in. The first fall of this was fairly evenly matched. Zack and Hechicero trade submission attempts transitioning in and out of holds with ease before Zack eventually catches Hechicero with a modified octopus hold in the middle of the ring, forcing him to tap. The second fall is a lot more in Zack's favour. He targets Hechicero's arm, and even when Hechicero manages to get back on offense, Zack always manages to find a counter and go back to work on the arm. Eventually he starts working in some strikes, hitting Hechicero with a few uppercuts in the corner but this was a mistake as Hechicero manages to counter and hit Zack with a knee in the opposite corner and lock Zack in a torturous looking submission, forcing Zack to submit similarly to how he was forced to submit in the first fall. It now comes down to the third and final fall and this was genuinely some of the finest technical wrestling I've ever seen. Some of the smoothest counters in and out of holds maybe ever. This is far more evenly matched than the second fall as both men attempt to put eachother away with a myriad of different brutal looking submissions but to no avail. There was an excellent rope break spot during this final fall which sees Zack capture Hechicero's arms and attempt to capture his leg but Hechicero just about manages to kiss the rope with his foot and break the hold. In the end though, Hechicero manages to counter a sunset flip attempt from Zack into a pin attempt of his own, and with help from the ropes, pin Zack and win this truly incredible match. This was one of the finest matches of the year, an incredible display of technical wrestling and counter wrestling done to near perfection. ****1/2"
[7.0] "A dream match (that I didn't know already happened in 2018). I really liked the match, but I think they could've wrestled a better match. Im not a huge fan of cmlls camerawork and it might be why I didnt enjoy the match as much as other people."
[3.0] "I genuinely wonder how the live audience perceived this match. I'd be curious to hear a first-hand account from someone who attended the event, to understand if they saw it as a classic dream bout or not. From my perspective, their reactions seemed somewhat detached. It didn't feel like the majority of the audience were fully appreciating the intricacies of the moves and were merely making noise for the sake of it. They never stopped making noise, but they also didn't pop for some of the significant moves. For instance, ZSJ snapping Hechicero's fingers didn't elicit the usual reaction you'd expect from such a move. They were into some of the near-falls, but the more subtle stuff wasn't appreciated at all. The contrast between the quiet skillful grappling and the cacophony of detached noise was jarring for me. Additionally, the tempo of the match felt off. The first two falls happened too quickly. I didn't think much of this match."
[10.0] "This was the goods. Proper graps between two of the best to do it. Arena Coliseo was the ideal place for this match. It is intimate and the fans seem closer and the Saturday shows allowed for more time. Everything about the styles have you wondering which switch comes next and who was going to get the pin. Bravo to both Hechi and ZSJ."
[9.0] "Beautiful match and as advertised, a mat wrestling clinic. They manage that without undercutting the broader contest however, confining the flashier exchanges to bursts that fit within the bout's narrative. That allows them to avoid an exhibition feel, instead embracing the atmosphere with a competition entrenched in ego and pride. As expected, almost the entirety of this match takes place on the mat, yet they never sacrifice the escalation befitting this runtime. Instead, it builds gorgeously, culminating with a grappling shootout in the final fall. Gorgeous graps. ****1/4"
[10.0] "CMLL quietly stealing AEW's Forbidden Door thunder yet again with a supreme slice of Aztekkers business. This was a MOTYC-level masterclass in dueling holds and pinning combinations, with a real sense of attrition as it wore on. The hokey finish keeps it one notch from full boat ****3/4"
[9.0] "A very very good match in front of one of my favorite arenas in the world. A technical clinic that is beautiful in it's ruggedness. The pacing of each fall is different and unique. Each fall had fresh submissions with the third being the portion of the match where they really began to bust out all of the truly stunning submission work. Just fantastic stuff. Can't wait for them to run it back. **** 3/4"
[8.0] "A great match that fell just short of being incredible, mainly due to the first two falls. The first two falls were very well worked as you would expect from these two, but the third fall was where the truly mind boggling transitions, holds, and rapid pace these wrestlers manage to work a technical style in came into play. I think these two have an even better match in them if they manage to meet again, and I think the whole match could be worked more akin to what was seen during the third fall."
[9.0] "Absolutely bonkers. Supreme technique and pacing between each fall. Zack is able to show his complete capabilities when he is heel-leaning, and Hechicero is among the very best itw. CMLL continues to set the bar for the entire world of pro wrestling in 2024."
[9.0] "Insanity of a match, I've rarely seen action as satisfying as the one ZSJ & Hechicero gave us here, it was absolutely fantastic from start to finish and I'd have loved twenty minutes more because their chemistry was so crazy good. Two of the best technical wrestlers on the planet enjoying themselves and us, no other way to describe this match. Crazy sequences, counters, transitions, everything was perfectly executed and with such creativity to boot. You'll see things you've never seen before in this. My CMLL MOTY with the Dorada/Templario from the start of the year."
[10.0] "My jaw was agape during most of this. Hechicero might actually be a real wizard; he and ZSJ twisted each other into so many pretzels in so many creative ways that it seemed to defy all physiological possibility. At the same time, they incorporated the perfect amount of fighting spirit in between their absolutely insane grappling exchanges. This was one of the craziest technical contests I have seen. ****3/4"
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