Day: January 20, 2020

FantasticaMania 2020 wraps up, Guerrero/Mistico in Puebla tonight, IWRG

thecubsfan 2 Comments

IWRG (SUN) 01/19/2020 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, The Gladiatores]
1) Dinámico & Spider Fly b Noicy Boy & Voltrex IWRG Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
2) Legendario b Maradó IWRG Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
3) Avisman & Black Dragón DQ Death Metal & Fulgor I IWRG Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
4) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Pasion Cristal b El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Fresero Jr., Hijo de Pirata Morgan and Big Chico Che, Big Mike, Big Ovett IWRG Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
The Big Strippers were out first when Big Mike was DQ-ed for splashing the ref by mistake. Fresero had issues with his partners leading to their loss and a post-match fight.
5) Puma de Oro b Relámpago, Lunatik Xtreme IWRG Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
Puma beat Relampago with a 450 splash
6) Demonio Infernal © b Fuerza NG [IWRG Rey del Ring] IWRG Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
4th defense. Demonio Infernal won via unseen martinete.
7) CIMA, Lindaman, T-Hawk b Emperador Azteca, Súper Nova, Toxin IWRG Lucha Libre (posted by Internetv Deportes)
CIMA beat Toxin. Super Nova challenges CIMA.

a

CMLL , NJPW (MON) 01/20/2020 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan [CMLL, Lucha Central, NJPW, thecubsfan]
1) Fuego & Ryusuke Taguchi b Douki & Kanemaru
7:12. Fuego submitted DOUKI.
2) Tiger Mask b Tiger
6:54. Tiger suplex.
3) El Audaz, Flyer, Guerrero Maya Jr. b Euforia, Luciferno, Namajague
8:02. Flyer beat Lucifierno with the guillotine legdrop.
4) Bushi, EVIL, Takagi b Dulce Gardenia, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Uemura
11:30. Takagi beat Uemura with a Pumping Bomber.
5) Negro Casas, Okumura, Último Guerrero b Kojima, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr.
10:48. Negro Casas beat Stuka with a casita.
6) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Titán [MEX TRIOS]
14:30. 14th defense. Angel de Oro was pinned after the Catapult Dinamita.
7) Carístico © b Bárbaro Cavernario [NWA MIDDLE]
16:06. 3rd defense. Caristico retained via La Mistica to close the tour.

A fun show to close it out. The main event was a little bit better than expected, the NGD trios match was a little less. Titan/Forastero still seems the match of the tournament, with Caristico/Cavernario behind it. They did a lot of playing off previous bits in the undercard, making them feel less like repeats and more like conclusions. Casas getting a pinfall win seemed doesn’t fit usual patterns and instead felt like giving him a win in case he never makes it back to NJPW again. (He made no indication of that in his interview, though.)

Dulce Gardenia was the breakout star of the tour. There’s a shot of Gardenia being in Best of Super Juniors, though I suspect it’d go a lot like Yano in the G1 – some people (especially Japanese fans) would enjoy the comedy, others (especially Western fans) would find the act obstructive to the types of matches they want to see in that competition.

Some of the roster is coming back Tuesday. Others are staying around for a few days. The Dalys CMLL Lady’s Ring title match is on Wednesday. Jarochita and Dalys are also on the 01/25 TJPW card, so Negro Casas probably is staying as well. Dalys was visible watching the matches on the last couple of FantasticaMania shows.

NJPW didn’t have a number this morning so I was going to with 93,173, but I was told on Twitter it was actually 1,593. That puts the final total 10,449, a new high. It’s not big of an increase, but that they were able to keep the same turnout even while running Tokyo a fourth time and with a lineup that was not particularly exciting is a strong side for the business of FantasticaMania. Maybe not the in-ring side, because it proved what they’re doing is good enough for now, but that’s the way it goes.

Sounds like Namajague is going to open a steak restaurant. He will be missed.

If you watched one “Mistico versus a great rival” match this morning, CMLL has another one for you tonight. The second Mistico takes on Gran Guerrero in Arena Puebla, four days before meeting again in Arena Mexico. This is the first time they’ve met. Gran Guerrero, like most every rudo on his level, never wins singles matches and probably won’t win this.

Kawato San & Stigma had issues last week. They meet again in the tercera. Stigma teams with the Panthers, Kawato with locals Perverso and Toro Bill. Kraneo is an unlikely Sky Team member, teaming with Valiente and Volador against Ephesto, Mephisto, and Templario. There’s two locals heavy match to open the show. It’ll stream at 9 pm.

ROH on 02/28 in St. Louis Nashville

Lineups

CMLL (SAT) 01/25/2020 Arena Coliseo
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia
2) Lluvia, Mystique, Skadi vs Amapola, La Infernal, Tiffany
3) Eléctrico, Magia Blanca, Retro vs Misterioso, Sagrado, Tiger
4) Súper Astro Jr. vs Hijo del Signo [lightning]
5) Audaz, Dulce Gardenia, Stuka Jr. vs Hechicero, Kawato San, Vangellys
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Flyer vs Cavernario, Euforia, Último Guerrero

CMLL throwing out a Flyer main event against AAA’s TV taping. (Or they’re giving Valiente, Volador. and Mistico a day off after working a lot during FantasticaMania.)

IWRG (SUN) 01/26/2020 Arena Naucalpan
1) Águila Oriental Jr. & Spider Fly vs Noicy Boy & Voltrex
2) Black Dragón, Chicanito, Legendario vs Canival King, Carnicero, Death Metal
3) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Pasion Kristal vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
4) Demonio Infernal & Fresero Jr. vs El Hijo del Medico Asesino & Hijo de Pirata Morgan
5) Fuerza Guerrera NG, Relámpago, Súpernova vs Black Terry, Emperador Azteca, Lindaman
6) Puma King & Séptimo Dragón vs CIMA & T-Hawk and Dragón Bane & Hijo de Canis Lupus

CIMA is a big fan of young high flyers so he’s going to love Dragon Bane after this match. (Assuming he makes it.) The fourth match follows up on issues between Infernal vs Asesino/Morgan.

CMLL/NJPW FantasticaMania Tokyo Day 4: 2020-01-20

thecubsfan
Audaz

Recapped: 2020-01-20

Matches:

Fuego & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Douki & Kanemaru
(7:12, Fuego armbar Douki, ok)

Tiger Mask beat Tiger
(6:52, Tiger Suplex, ok)

El Audaz, Flyer, Guerrero Maya Jr. beat Euforia, Luciferno, Namajague
(8:05, Flyer legdrop Luciferno, good)

Bushi, EVIL, Takagi beat Dulce Gardenia, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Uemura
(11:30, Takagi pumping bomber Uemura, good)

Negro Casas, Okumura, Último Guerrero beat Kojima, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr.
(10:49, Negro Casas casita Stuka, ok)

Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © beat Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Titán for the Mexican National Trios Championship
(14:39, Catapult Dinamita Angel de Oro, good)

Carístico © beat Bárbaro Cavernario to keep the NWA World Middleweight Championship
(16:06, Caristico La Mistica, great)

Thoughts: 

landing on his feet was smooth

Caristico & Barbaro Cavernario had the most all out match of the tour, something fitting of the main event. They changed the flow around from Mexico, with dives piling onto each other for effect. Cavernario seemed bugged by a boot that won’t stay tied, but it didn’t seem to affect the match outside of one awkward pause. Cavernario put real pressure on Caristico, Caristico made a well-timed comeback, and they didn’t push the match too far. This worked fine as the tour ender.

The trios title match was a little bit disappointing. It didn’t feel like it was building at any point, just going back and forth through the moves. The offense was cleanly performed, but it lacked big moments before the finish. The physical abilities of the NGD are obvious but the mental part of it stands to be improved.

The fifth match had good moments but not a great rhythm. It was moments from previous matches in the same match but not all that connected. It was nice to see Negro Casas to pick up a win. Maybe he’ll be back next year, but he at least got to celebrate one more time if it’s the last time.

Dulce is over but struggled in the ring a bit more than usual. There were a couple of noticeable slips in his early run. It didn’t really matter much, the Japanese crowd I in love with the kiss spots. The second half of the match was built around those and Uemura hope pin spots, and it got over huge. It may not be what you want if you’re looking for something with more substance but these six got a lot of comedy out of it.

this went better for Stuka

The Audaz trios match was a surprisingly strong comedy match. The rudos showed some great buffoonery, making fools of themselves to help the tecnicos look good. Audaz himself showed more comedy timing than usual in between doing some of his best flying. Flyer & Maya were sold, even the referee got involved but the real credit was to Luciferno, Euforia, and Namajague willing to be silly for the sake of the match.

CMLL’s Tiger started off hot against Tiger Mask. He had trouble building on it, which was consistent with the rest of the tour. Some of that might have been Tiger Mask preferably a slower pace; it definitely ended up slower. Tiger could use deeper and more varied offense if he’s to get more single match chances. His best work in CMLL has been basing for flyers and he didn’t really get to do a lot of that here, but he’s got to show more if he’s going to advance.

Taguchi/Fuego had one more enjoyable opener. They varied their bits, playing off what they had done in the last few matches, though it wasn’t materially different than what they had done before. It got the crowd going, serving its purpose, but maybe not needed to watch later unless you really love this team. DOUKI wrestled about 90% of the match for his team.