FantasticaMania Night 5, Gallo wins title, Coliseo

CMLL NJPW (SUN) 01/19/2014 Korakuen Hall [Keeping the Spirit ALiveLuchaWorldNJPWStrong Style Spirit]
Attendance: 1900
***CMLL NJPW FantasticaMania 2014***

1) Mascara Don & Máximo b Taichi & Taka Michinoku
10:16. Mascara Don is Manabu Nakanishi. Don submitted TAKA in a long comedy match.
2) Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. b Shigeo Okumura & YOSHI-HASHI
4:46. Stuka splash on both Okumura and Mima in a short match
3) Bushiroad, El Desperado, Fuego, Tiger Mask, Titán b Gedo, Jado, Niebla Roja, Vangellys, Yano
9:57. Good match with a lot of action. Desperado beat Vangellys with a Gori Bomb variation.
4) Naito & Rush b Ishii & Rey Escorpión
12:38. Rush Driver on Escorpion. Match was a lot of build up to Naito/Ishii.
5) La Sombra b Último Guerrero
11:54. First few minutes of the match were spent on the match. Sombra nearly crashed and burned on Asai imploding 450 splash, but UG got in the way. Sombra won with the Brillante Driver. UG needed help to the back.
6) Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Mistico b Mephisto, Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro
11:51. Mistico’s shoulder popped out on a plancha right before the finish. He still got La Mistica on Mephisto for the win.
7) Volador Jr. b Máscara Dorada [NWA WELTER]
17:59. made a title defense after Volador kept the title in Puebla on 01/06. Maximo (Volador) and Desperado (Dorada) were seconds. Volador kept the match with a new variation on the Volador Spiral in a total spectacle of a match. Second defense.

The main event is the match of the tour you ought to go out of your way to see – it’s a style that will definitely not appeal to everyone, but it’s 100% unafraid to be the kind of match it is. Rush/Nakamura was a good match but left you feeling like there was a much better they could have with some more time (and maybe they already did), but this is the best Volador/Mascara Dorada match they can do. And maybe the only one for a while since they’re both tecnicos.

Sombra/Ultimo Guerrero was better than I expected when the matches were announced, but probably not as good as I thought it should be. It seemed like there was an audience who watches NJPW but not CMLL who were exposed to intra-CMLL matches for the first time and it was instructive to see how they reacted to the matches compared to people who watch CMLL a lot. It came up here, when the new audience saw a spot as Sombra missing on middle rope moonsault, and the lucha audience realized Ultimo Guerrero forgot to roll for the double moonsault spot. As much as the luchadors are motivated to go above and beyond for this audience, even the regular stuff looks fresher because they’re not used to it, and the mistakes aren’t as clear for the same reasons. Even for English speaking people who are strongly enough in to wrestling to follow a promotion based in another country which mostly operates in another language, CMLL is pretty much an unknown to them.  (I think the lesson specifically in this situation is ‘stop doing the double moonsault spot, it’s not that good.’ )

It did seem like there were a couple moments where UG was not quite in the spot UG wanted him; those guys don’t work together as much as it seems like they ought to, and it showed. Still, the mat work they did to start worked good and was a smart way of separating it from the title match to come.Also, the Brillante Driver is apparently now the Shadow Driver if you keep track of move names.

Both Rush and Sombra spoke of wanting to face the top of NJPW in their post match promos. Rush specifically said no Mexican was better than him, but it’s clear Sombra’s win over Ultimo Guerrero was to solidify him in that position. NJPW has too many inhouse challengers to spend a tour building up a challenge by a part-time Sombra, but maybe Sombra gets in the G1, of gets a title show in one off appearance in Korakuen Hall, or even a couple week program back in Arena Mexico.

Rey Cometa & Stuka worked hard and did crazy dives (despite Cometa still seemingly battling wrist issues), but this is one of the easiest weeks they’ve had in a while. I dunno they had a seven minute match the entire time.

Ivan did the usual “we’ll see you next year” speech as everyone was leaving the ring. They didn’t officially announce FantasticaMania 2015, but they ran 5 shows and sold out 5 shows so it’s happening. I was skeptical of the decision to expand this tour – they ran 3 days at Korakuen Hall last year, and only 1 sold out – but taking it to different cities and having one night in the smaller Tokyo building worked. Expect the same 12 months from now.

(If you stop to think about it, it’s so odd that two of the bigger events on the CMLL calendars are ‘matches in another country in promoted by a different group’ and ‘bodybuilding contest’. Don’t stop to think about it.)

CMLL (SUN) 01/19/2014 Arena Coliseo [CMLL]
1) Pequeño Nitro & Pierrothito b Shockercito & Stukita
Pierrothito submitted Shockercito for the deciding elimination.
2) Artillero, Hooligan, Súper Comando b Metálico, Metatrón, Oro Jr.
Rudos took 1/3. Hooligan Crash on Oro.
3) Dark Angel, Goya Kong, Silueta b Dalys, Tiffany, Zeuxis
Tecnicas took 1/3. Dark Angel reinera on Zeuxis.
4) Delta, Super Porky, Tritón b Averno, Boby Zavala, Ephesto
Tecnicos took 2/3. Porky sit on Averno.
5) Blue Panther, Shocker, Valiente b Kráneo, Mr. Águila, Reaper
Tecnicos took 1/3. Panther submitted Aguila.
6) Atlantis b Mr. Niebla
Niebla tried to foul Atlantis, Atlanits blocked it and pulled Niebla’s mask, Atlantis did the same to Niebla, and Atlantis ended up on top for the pinfall three. Mask challenges followed.

I did not see this show and I’m not sure if I recorded it right – I’m also 99% sure Puebla did not tape correctly, it was not a good night on that front – but it did not sound memorable on Twitter.

CMLL (SUN) 01/19/2014 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [@acogdl]
1) Meteoro b Relampago Azul
2) Virgo & William Rock b Acertijo & Ángel del Mal
tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Ráfaga b León Blanco
Rafaga won with a pulpo
4) Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno b Javier Cruz Jr. & Leo
rudos took 2/3
5) Gallo DQ Arkángel de la Muerte [FULL MAXIMO]
Seconds were Isis and Gallo’s mascot, who was kicked out after fall 2. Gallo took falls 2/3 to win the titles in a surprise. Arkangel was DQed for Isis grabbing Gallo from the outside in the third, and title changes on DQ.
6) Dragón Rojo Jr., Misterioso Jr., Olímpico b Diamante Azul, La Máscara, Sagrado
rudos took 1/3.

Did not expect Gallo to win a title from Chile. It does not sounds like he won it an impressive way, but they still played it up as a big win for him.

Full results from IWRG (and Tijauna) in tomorrow’s post, but Vampiro did beat Pirata Morgan and is in line for an IWRG IC Heavyweight title match next week.

Rob has highlights of 11/01/13 CMLL and 11/05/13 CMLL.

DoradaFan has highlights of 12/03/12 Arena Puebla.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Croncias Y Leyenda looks back at Atlantis beating Dr. Wagner for a title in Acapulco (in a photo that would be helpful for the wiki) and Xochitl Hamada versus Bull Nakano.

Segunda Caida watches some 1992 AAA.

Ohtani’s Jacket continues his look at CMLL’s Lost Years.

Porra Fresa previews Monday’s Arena Puebla card.

Lineup

CMLL (SUN) 01/26/2014 Arena Coliseo
1) Camaleón & Sensei vs Apocalipsis & Ramstein
2) Molotov, Oro Jr., Stigma vs Akuma, Canelo Casas, Nitro
3) Fuego, Rey Cometa, Tritón vs Misterioso Jr., Sangre Azteca, Shigeo Okumura
4) Stuka Jr. vs Virus [lightning]
5) Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Negro Casas, Puma, Tiger
6) Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Valiente vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión

Pretty good card once you get past the first two matches. Fifth match could be really good and main event has reliably been that way. Stuka versus Virus is interesting too. All those matches have title match possibilities if they’re starting up something new.

Lucha Fan Fest (SUN) 02/02/2014 Arena Lopez Mateos
1) Cristal, Lady Monster, Sahori vs Dark Lady, Diosa Maya, Kamilión
2) Estrella Mágica & Isis vs La Potranquita & Lady Sensación
3) Ángel Sexy, Crazy Girl, Ixchel vs India Mazahua, Princesa Mohicana, Xena
4) Arumi, Davinha, Mystique vs Dark Magic, Estrella Negra, La Abogada
5) Baby Rabbit, Felina Metalica, Reyna Del Sur vs Baby Judas, Chica Pantera, Guerrera Misteriosa
6) Diosa Atenea, Princesa Ahy Leen, Reina Dorada, Star Fire vs Canadian Diamond, Chik Tormenta, JC MaClean, Zuzu Divine
7) ?, Lady Apache, Tania vs Lola Gonzalez, Rossy Moreno, Vicky Carranza

The all women’s show talked about before. In an upset, there’s only one person named Sexy on the card (but 4 Lady’s.) Baby Rabbit still exists! La Abogada was one of the better people in the one match I’ve seen her in.  Wasn’t Isis supposed to go to Japan?