CMLL FantasticaMania 2015 Day 1 quick review

Tonight and tomorrow’s’s CMLL FantasticaMania show will be available on NJPW World for subscribers. Two other shows will air weeks from now on SamuraiTV. The first show of the tour is already out, on RealHero’s DailyMotion channel. Quick reviews:

Rey Cometa & Tritón vs Bárbaro Cavernario & Mr. Niebla [OK]: was going OK until Niebla decided to be a klutz and fell on Triton’s knee. Triton really shouldn’t have tried the dive after, but it’s his first match in Japan so of course he would. Cometa got out of the match well and I have no idea how he got hurt. Must’ve been something between the shows. Crowd did like Peste Negra quickly, though some of Niebla’s antics were going over their heads.

Ángel de Oro vs Okumura in a lightning match: [OK] incredible generic lightning Angel de Oro match, CHECK. I’m thinking this one which had to play a lot better to people not used to Angel de Oro, and Angel de Oro actually had to find something new to do around minute 8, but this also might have been better in CMLL because there’s no way they would’ve got 10 minutes. Okumura’s DDT on the apron looked cool and he was trying. Polite applause for a draw was kind of weird.

Jushin Liger & Mistico vs Gedo & Pólvora [ok]: Mistico did very little early and did not look good doing it, but was redeemed in the last couple minutes with some good near falls. Mistico didn’t do much that would cause him to stick out if he wasn’t already Mistico. Polvora really didn’t show much either and Gedo & Lyger were just there to be names. The rudo section really dragged, and only the last few minutes saved it from being below average.

Stigma, Stuka Jr., Tiger Mask vs Mephisto, Shinsuke Nakamura, YOSHI-HASHI: [good] nice trios match to build up Mephsito/Stuka, which came across like a feud that’s been going for some time (and not one just invented for this tour.) Stigma did well, even if stealing Stukita’s pose is no bueno. This felt like Nakamura was fighting much beneath his weight but he also didn’t mail it in.

Captain New Japan, Kushida, Máscara Dorada vs La Sombra, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tetsuya Naito: [good]: kind of want to declare Dorada/Sombra a MOTYC days before it occurs just based on the interactions in this match. They are more than ready for this match and it’s going to be fantastic. This was good too, with both teams mixing well; the Taguchi/Naito/Sombra side worked particularly well. I could use a little less Captain New Japan, but that’s the match they were working.

Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Volador Jr. vs Gran Guerrero, Kazuchika Okada, Último Guerrero [good]: best match on the show, with guys going out a little stronger for the main event. Ultimo always steps it for Japan and he was working hard here. Gran Guerrero impressed, working well with Volador after an early stumble and breaking out new offense. It looked like he might be okay with Volador after all; it gave me much more hope for that for sure. Atlantis did Atlantis things, Volador showed off a lot, and Tanahashi & Okada were their normal self. It was weird when Atlantis & Ultimo Guerrero were hyping up their match and I suddenly understood half the things which were being said.

Atlantis & Mascara Dorada win tag tournament (again), Angel de Oro retains, CMLL show in Mexico also occurs

CMLL (SAT) 01/17/2015 Shin-Kiba 1st Ring, Tokyo, Japan
***FantasticaMania 2015, Day 4***
Attendance: 300
1) Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. b Bárbaro Cavernario & Mr. Niebla [quarterfinal]
4:10. Cometa returned to action after missing the last two shows. Torpedo Splash on Niebla.
2) Stigma & Volador Jr. b Gran Guerrero & Último Guerrero [quarterfinal]
9:32. Ultimo Guerrero beat Stigma with the Guerrero Special
3) Mephisto & Pólvora b Mistico & Tritón [quarterfinal]
7:09. Mistico wore a split Mistico/Triton mask. Super Devil’s Wings on Triton.
4) Atlantis & Máscara Dorada b La Sombra & Tetsuya Naito [quarterfinal]
8:05. Mascara Dorada beat Sombra with a cradle
5) Gran Guerrero & Último Guerrero b Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. [semifinal]
8:13. Ultimo Guerrero beat Stuka with the Guerrero Special.
6) Atlantis & Máscara Dorada b Mephisto & Pólvora [semifinal]
4:27. Mascara Dorada beat Mephisto with a cradle.
7) Ángel de Oro © b Okumura [CMLL LH]
12:13. One fall match. Polvora and Rey Cometa were seconds (though Mima Shimoda accompanied Okumura to the ring.) Angel de Oro used the Skayde Special to pin Okumura for the win in his first defense.
8) Atlantis & Máscara Dorada b Gran Guerrero & Último Guerrero [final]
16:54. Atlantida on Ultimo Guerrero. The two meet tomorrow in a singles match.

300 is a sell out in the small building. This show was taped for SamuraiTV, but I’m unsure of the air date.

This is the third tournament Atlantis & Mascara Dorada have won as a tag team, after winning the two National Parajes Increibles Tournaments.

Cometa back in action is nice to see. Cavernario and Cometa probably will only get 10 minutes this time around, but it’ll be ten good minutes.

That’s still a couple days away. The big matches tomorrow (3:30 AM Mexico City time) are Volador vs Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr. vs Mephisto and Ultimo Guerrero vs Atlantis. I’ll be on Twitter during the show and post results soon after.

CMLL (FRI) 01/16/2015 Arena México [CMLL, Notimex]
1) Shockercito & Último Dragoncito b Mercurio & Pequeño Olímpico
2) Amapola, Dalys, Tiffany b Dark Angel, Estrellita, Goya Kong
Rudas took 2/3
3) Kamaitachi, Puma, Tiger b Blue Panther Jr., Dragon Lee, Pegasso
Rudos took 1/3. Kamaitachi & Dragon Lee continue to feud
4) Fuego b Hombre sin Nombre [lightning]
5) Felino, Negro Casas, Shocker b La Máscara, Super Porky, Titán
Rudos took 1/3.
6) Marco Corleone, Máximo, Valiente DQ Euforia, Terrible, Thunder
Straight falls. Thunder fouled Maximo.

A very routine show. Hoping the 3rd makes air somehow, though they’ve tended to show the women’s match of late.

Sabado Retros has Sagrado, Misterioso, and Negro Casas versus La Mascara, Guerrero May Jr., Delta in the main event. That’s expected to lead to an Arena Coliseo tag title defense, as noted in the preview.

Hechicero feels he made a mark in CMLL last year and wants to go after people this year.

LuchaWorld has KrisZ’s news update.

Apolo Valdes looks at what might happen in 2015 lucha libre.

LV has a review of FantasticaMania day 1.

SuperLuchas talks about the start of a Mexican Welterweight tournament in 1941 (which seems to invalidate the champions of 1940.)

The Canek vs Mr. Jack title match will air on Leyendas Inmortales this weekend.

An interview with promoters in Morelia.

Lineups

IWRG FILL (WED) 01/21/2015 Arena Naucalpan
1) Aguila Oriental, Black Niko, Chicanito vs Guerrero 2000, Último Caballero, Vampiro Metálico
2) Aramis, Black Angel, Lady Drago vs Psique, Sexy Girl, Shadow Boy
3) Adrenalina, Marduck, Voltar vs Mercenario De La Muerte, Payaso Extremo, Picudo Jr.
4) Blue Monsther, Fly Boricua, Galaxy vs Anubis Black, Araña de Plata, Hip Hop Man
5) Alfa, Atomic Star, Avisman, Electro Boy, Imposible, Metaleón, Power Bull, Sky Ángel vs Aguila Tapada, Manchas, Mr. Cebra, Mr. Tatuaje, Super Pinocho 3000, Tigre Americano, Tigre Nahual, Vengador Galactico
Gym FILL (Black Terry) vs Gym Metropolitano (Super Pinocho)

Even though they’ve got the AAA taping on Friday, the Wedensday show returns in the form of a FILL show. I don’t think I’ve seen any of Super Pinocho’s guys, though they have been wrestling around Mexico State.

CMLL (FRI) 01/23/2015 Arena México
1) Flyer & Sensei vs Artillero & Súper Comando
2) Oro Jr., Pegasso, Tritón vs Boby Zavala, Sangre Azteca, Virus
3) Dark Angel, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dalys, Tiffany
4) Valiente vs Kamaitachi [lightning]
5) La Máscara, La Sombra, Marco Corleone vs Negro Casas, Shocker, Thunder
6) Máximo, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Último Guerrero

The return of Mistico and the others who were on the FantasticaMania tour. Volador & Bucanero are together again in the main event, but it really should be ablet Mistico coming back in one piece.

Semimain has the tag team champions together against the only unit really challenging them. Lightning match continues the recent Kamaitachi spotlight chances.

Marcela handles the video promo.