The NJPW/CMLL Fantastica Mania tour concluded today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
A CMLL-heavy lineup highlighted the tour’s final nights. The last two shows saw a pair of title matches each night, while the first two events in Tokyo saw the traditional CMLL Family Tag Tournament take place. A special Black Cat memorial match headlined Sunday’s show.
Here are full results for the Korakuen Hall shows.
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JANUARY 16 — (Announced attendance: 1,423)
Niebla Roja and Angel de Oro defeated Negro Casas and Tiger in a tournament match (12:55)
Sanson and Cuatrero defeated Euforia and Soberano Jr. in a tournament match (9:30)
Barbaro Cavernario and Ultimo Guerrero defeated Caristico and Satoshi Kojima (13:03)
Forastero and OKUMURA defeated Titan and Stuka Jr. (9:06)
EVIL, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Dulce Gardenia and Flyer (11:01)
Audaz and Guerrero Maya Jr. defeated Luciferno and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (10:18)
Fuego and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Namajague and DOUKI (7:22)
JANUARY 17 — (Announced attendance: 1,534, sellout)
Sanson and Cuatrero defeated Niebla Roja and Angel de Oro to win the CMLL Family Tag Tournament (12:21)
Euforia and Soberano Jr. defeated Negro Casas and Tiger to place third in the tournament (8:41)
Satoshi Kojima and Caristico defeated Ultimo Guerrero and Barbaro Cavernario (11:45)
Titan defeated Forastero (13:20)
EVIL, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Dulce Gardenia and Audaz (10:44)
OKUMURA, Namajague and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Guerrero Maya Jr., Flyer and Stuka Jr. (9:41)
Ryusuke Taguchi and Fuego defeated Luciferno and DOUKI (7:58)
JANUARY 19 — (Announced attendance: 1,601, sellout)
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Caristico and Tiger Mask defeated Negro Casas, Euforia and Barbaro Cavernario in a Black Cat memorial match (11:23)
Ultimo Guerrero defeated Satoshi Kojima to retain the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship (13:05)
EVIL, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Dulce Gardenia and Fuego (12:01)
Stuka Jr. defeated OKUMURA to retain the NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship (10:25)
Titan, Niebla Roja and Angel de Oro defeated Sanson, Cautrero and Forastero (12:26)
Soberano Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr. and Flyer defeated Tiger, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI (7:29)
Namajague and Luciferno defeated Audaz and Yota Tsuji (7:48)
JANUARY 20 (no attendance announced)
Caristico defeated Barbaro Cavernario to retain the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship (16:06)
Sanson, Cuatrero and Forastero defeated Angel de Oro, Niebla Roja and Titan to retain the Mexican National Trios Championship (14:30)
Ultimo Guerrero, Negro Casas and OKUMURA defeated Satoshi Kojima, Soberano Jr. and Stuka Jr. (10:48)
EVIL, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Dulce Gardenia and Yuya Uemura (11:30)
Flyer, Audaz and Guerrero Maya Jr. defeated Euforia, Luciferno and Namajague (8:02)
Tiger Mask defeated Tiger (6:54)
Fuego and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI (7:12)
The NJPW/CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 tour continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
The main event saw the CMLL Family Tag Team Tournament winners Dragon Lee & Mistico face off against the CMLL Brothers Tag Team Tournament victors, Ultimo Guerrero and Gran Guerrero.
The only singles match on the show saw NJPW veteran Satoshi Kojima taking on CMLL’s Terrible.
Full results and match reports can be found below:
A solid opener featuring a mix of decent work and the usual Taguchi comedy.
Flyer and Gedo started out. Ishimori jumped in for an illegal double team, but Flyer sent him to the floor. Flyer hit a tope con hilo. Taguchi went for a pescado, but Ishimori and Gedo moved — and he took out Flyer by mistake.
Gedo and Ishimori worked over Taguchi. Taguchi missed with two hip attacks on Gedo, but then hit a third. Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack on both Gedo and Ishimori, then hit a series of hip attacks on both. Taguchi hit a Kokeshi for a near fall on Gedo.
Taguchi used an ankle lock on Gedo, but Ishimori broke it up and applied an ankle lock of his own.
Flyer hit a frankensteiner. Taguchi hit a pescado. Flyer hit a springboard crossbody, and then used a powerslam. Ishimori made his own comeback, then used an ankle lock on Flyer for the submission.
Ishimori used an ankle lock on Taguchi after the match.
ANGEL DE ORO & TITAN DEFEATED CUATRERO & TEMPLARIO
These guys had a great match, well worth going out of your way to see.
Titan and Templario kicked things off with a really nice sequence, exchanging holds, takedowns, and covers. Angel and Cuatrero followed with an equally great sequence, ending with Angel sending Cuatrero to the floor with a headscissors. Angel teased a dive, but ended with a handspring into a pose in the ring. Really cool stuff.
Titan almost did a Sasuke Special, but Templario moved and powerbombed him on the floor. Cuatrero and Templario doubled up on Titan for a bit, but Titan made a comeback and sent them to the floor. Angel hit a golden triangle, and Titan hit a tope con hilo.
Back inside, Angel hit a quebrada for a near fall, then hit a great dropkick. Titan and Templario had a chop battle. Templario hit a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Templario hit a German for a two count.
Templario went for a gutwrench powerbomb off the middle rope, but Titan turned it into a rana, then hit a moonsault to the floor.
Cuatrero got a near fall off a powerbomb. Angel applied La Mecedora and got the submission win.
Everyone was working at half speed here. The match didn’t have a lot of heat, and it was sloppy in places.
Shingo out-powered Fujin early, so Raijin jumped in and exchanged lariats with him. Shingo and SHO is a future Intercontinental title match for sure, right?
Shingo used a brainbuster and a front facelock on Raijin. BUSHI jumped in and went for Raijin’s mask. Naito attacked Henare and Fujin on the floor and sent them into the crowd. Back inside, Naito and BUSHI hit stereo low dropkicks to Raijin. Shingo hit some elbow drops, then hit a senton for a near fall.
Shingo blocked a spear, but Raijin hit a German. Naito and Henare got tags and traded strikes. Henare hit a tackle and a Samoan drop for a near fall. Naito came back with an enzuigiri, and he used a draping neckbreaker.
Henare hit a spear on Naito, then hit a suplex on BUSHI. Fujin got a tag and hit a back elbow on BUSHI. Fujin and Raijin hit stereo dropkicks on Shingo, then stereo knees on BUSHI. Shingo broke up a 3K attempt, and BUSHI hit a backstabber. BUSHI hit the insurrection on Fujin for the pin.
BUSHI and Shingo unmasked SHO and YOH after the match.
Not much here. Atlantis Jr. has potential, but he’s still incredibly green. Liger always looks great, but Atlantis is fairly immobile.
OKUMURA attacked Atlantis Jr. before the bell. Atlantis started off, and Sanson and Forastero ran into him so he could do his offense. They ran into some hip tosses and arm drags. Liger jumped in. OKUMURA’s second, his wife Mima Shimoda, jumped in, and Liger suplexed her.
Sanson and Forastero worked over Atlantis. Liger broke up a pinfall. Forastero and Sanson crotched Atlantis on the post. Liger hit a crossbody off the post to the floor.
Atlantis Jr. and OKUMURA exchanged near falls — until OKUMURA hit a DDT for the pin.
OKUMURA and Sanson removed Atlantis and Atlantis Jr.’s masks after the match.
This wasn’t so much a match as a series of crazy dives. It was awesome in that regard.
They started off hot, with everyone hitting their flashiest offense. Caristico, Cavernario and Namajague got sent outside, and Volador, Soberano, and Audaz hit stereo tope con hilos to the floor.
Back inside, Caristico and Cavernario worked over Volador. Soberano jumped in, but fell victim to a Swanton Bomb from Caristico. Audaz entered, but he also found himself worked over three-on-one.
Audaz broke up a human pyramid spot with a flying rana. Everyone hit big dives to the floor. They did a tower of doom spot. Volador hit a top rope splash. Soberano hit a high cross off the top. Cavernario hit a Canadian Destroyer. Volador hit a Canadian Destroyer. Volador unmasked Caristico, and there was a scramble to get his mask back on.
All six men were in the ring. They did a row boat spot. Volador hit a rana into the middle of the row boat for a near fall. Audaz and Soberano hit dives to the floor. Caristico used La Mistica on Volador for the submission.
TERRIBLE DEFEATED SATOSHI KOJIMA
I have no idea how to review this match. Kojima can still go. Terrible can do some stuff well and has a great look, but he’s not a great worker or anything. The crowd was very forgiving. They worked a slower pace.
They locked up. Terrible broke cleanly against the ropes, but then kicked Kojima low. They traded chops, and Terrible won the exchange. Kojima took a bump off a chop. Kojima hit a shoulder tackle and flexed his pecs.
Terrible hit a dropkick, and Kojima rolled to the floor. They fought on the outside. Terrible posted Kojima. Terrible used an eye rake and bit Kojima. Back inside, Terrible hit a knee drop, then posed on the turnbuckle. Terrible hit a series of strikes to the chest. Kojima countered with machine gun chops.
They fought on the top rope, and Kojima hit a superplex for a two count. Kojima hit a top rope elbow for a near fall. Kojima hit a rolling elbow and clotheslined Terrible to the floor. Kojima hit a plancha. Terrible recovered and posted Kojima’s lariat arm.
Kojima countered a suplex attempt with a DDT and a cutter. Terrible blocked a brainbuster and hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Terrible hit a top rope splash for another two count.
Kojima backdropped out of a suplex attempt, and hit a brainbuster for two. Terrible ducked a lariat, then hit a series of strikes. Terrible hit a Styles Clash for the pin.
LIJ came out to pose with Terrible after his win.
DRAGON LEE & MISTICO DEFEATED ULTIMO GUERRERO & GRAN GUERRERO
A really fun match. After a lot of stalling early, the pace really picked up and they worked hard for the last 15 minutes.
Ultimo whipped Mistico with a piece of his gear before the bell, so Ultimo and Mistico started off the match. Ultimo stalled and worked the crowd. The two shook hands before locking up. Ultimo removed his mask. Mistico removed his mask, revealing another mask underneath.
Ultimo used a Romero Special. Mistico rolled through into an inverted figure four. Ultimo rolled to the ropes, but he sold his knee big. They rolled outside. Mistico hit a flying rana on the floor.
Back inside, Dragon and Gran jumped in. Ultimo pulled Dragon to the floor and sent him into the barricade. The Guerreros took control, doubling up on Mistico. They hit a tandem press slam off the top, sending Mistico to the mat. Dragon jumped in and ate a brainbuster from Gran. The Guerreros raised the roof.
Dragon hit a dropkick on Ultimo, then a suplex on Gran. Mistico ran wild with ranas. Dragon and Mistico hit topes. Mistico and Dragon used tandem offense on both Guerreros. Mistico hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. The Guerreros hit stereo baseball slides. Gran hit a tope, and Ultimo hit a diving leg lariat off the post to the floor.
Gran and Dragon ended up the legal men. Dragon hit a Spanish fly for a near fall. Mistico hit a frankensteiner on Ultimo. Dragon hit a jumping knee to Ultimo, then used a crossface, but Ultimo reached the ropes.
Dragon went for a top rope rana, but Ultimo turned it into a powerbomb off the second. Dragon and Ultimo fought on the top rope. Dragon hit a double stomp, but Gran broke up the pin. Dragon hit a suicide dive. Gran hit a powerbomb on Mistico for a two count.
Mistico hit a top rope frankensteiner on Gran for a near fall. Mistico used La Mistica for the submission win.
The NJPW and CMLL Fantastica Mania tour continued this morning in Chiba.
The traditional family tag team tournament got under way with two first round matches, and Tetsuya Naito, KUSHIDA, and Ultimo Guerrero were among the stars featured on the undercard.
Gedo and KUSHIDA started off. KUSHIDA and Taguchi used a series of quick tags and worked over Gedo’s left arm. Gedo tagged Forastero, and he had his arm worked on as well. Ishimori tagged in, and they did a comedy spot where Taguchi blindly worked over KUSHIDA’s arm by mistake.
Titan hit a tope con hilo. Taguchi and KUSHIDA missed with pescados, and Gedo and Ishimori fought them on the floor. Inside, Forastero went for Titan’s mask, and Ishimori went to work on his arm.
KUSHIDA tagged in, and found himself triple-teamed. Taguchi got a tag and ran wild with hip attacks and ankle locks, before Gedo jumped in and cut him off. KUSHIDA came in for the save, and hit a handspring elbow and a plancha. Taguchi hit a plancha, and Titan hit a springboard crossbody.
Titan used a crossface, but Forastero escaped, hit a tilt-a-whirl slam, and used a head and arm choke for the submission win.
These guys are capable of so much more, it was kind of surreal to see them working a second match on a house show type of pace.
Shingo and SHO started with some power spots. YOH and BUSHI jumped in, and SHO and YOH hit some tandem offense. Shingo outsmarted them, and YOH accidentally knocked SHO from the apron.
They went to the floor, and Shingo posted YOH. BUSHI teased unmasking both SHO and YOH. BUSHI used a neckbreaker for a near fall. BUSHI and Shingo hit their tandem leg drop and senton.
YOH hit a dragon screw, and SHO jumped in and hit a dropkick. There were more power spots with SHO and Shingo, and SHO got the edge this time. He hit a lariat for a two count. He went for a suplex, but Shingo cut him off. SHO finally got the suplex, but Shingo popped right up and hit the pumping bomber into a double down.
BUSHI and YOH got tags. YOH hit a flying forearm, missed a back elbow, then hit a neckbreaker for a two count. SHO and YOH hit stereo knees on BUSHI, and knocked Shingo off the apron. BUSHI hit a double rana.
Shingo came in for a double team. Shingo hit YOH with a lariat, and BUSHI hit a backstabber. SHO also came in and hit BUSHI with a backstabber. Shingo and SHO did a clothesline to the floor spot, and they landed awkwardly.
YOH hit BUSHI with a dropkick to the knee, then followed with a la magistral cradle for the pin.
ANGEL DE ORO, AUDAZ & SOBERANO JR. DEFEATED OKUMURA, NAMAJAGUE & BARBARO CAVERNARIO
Lots of really cool dives in this one.
Angel de Oro and OKUMURA started with some chain wrestling. OKUMURA worked some holds. de Oro hit a dropkick. Audaz and Namajague tagged in for some quick lucha spots. Cavernario and Soberano jumped in and did a really nice sequence, ending in a stalemate.
Cavernario offered a handshake, but it was a trap, and his team tripled up on Soberano. They triple-teamed Audaz next, isolating him in their corner. OKUMURA tried directing traffic, but there was dissension in the ranks.
It was de Oro’s turn to be triple-teamed next. He made a comeback with a dropkick and a Sasuke special. Soberano and Audaz hit dives as well. Cavernario and Soberano had another nice sequence.
de Oro and OKUMURA jumped in. de Oro did some nice flying and picked up a near fall. Namajague broke up the pin. Audaz hit a crazy dive, de Oro hit a crazy dive, and Cavernario hit a crazy dive.
The finish saw Soberano hit his tornillo off the top, then another springboard leg drop on OKUMURA. Soberano pinned OKUMURA.
TETSUYA NAITO & TERRIBLE DEFEATED SATOSHI KOJIMA & TOA HENARE
Not much to this one.
Terrible and Kojima’s gameplan early was to chop the hell out of each other. Kojima missed an elbow drop. Terrible missed a leg drop. Henare and Naito tagged in. Henare has changed his look a little bit and has new gear. Henare hit a standing moonsault for a two count.
Naito hit an inverted atomic drop, and Terrible jumped in for a high kick. The action spilled to the outside. Naito sent Henare into the first several rows of seats. Naito used a chair. Terrible used a headlock on Kojima.
Back inside, Terrible went to work on Henare’s legs. Naito hit the combinacion de cabron for a two count. Naito stomped on Henare’s back, and taunted him with short kicks. Henare hit a Samoan drop. Kojima tagged in and hit machine gun chops on Naito. Kojima hit a top rope elbow for a two count.
Naito and Kojima exchanged strikes, and Kojima hit a DDT. Naito hit a flying forearm, then tagged Terrible. Terrible hit a series of strikes, a slam, and a top rope splash, picking up a near fall.
Kojima made a comeback and hit a Koji cutter, then tagged Henare. Henare hit a tackle, but Naito jumped in and cut him off. Henare sent Naito outside, then hit a Samoan drop for a two count.
Terrible and Henare traded chops. Terrible fired up and hit a left hand. Henare came back with a headbutt. Kojima and Naito jumped in. Naito hit Kojima with a neckbreaker. Naito and Terrible hit stereo dropkicks on Henare, and Terrible used a Styles clash for the pin.
A ton of star power here, but not a ton of action.
They stalled a lot early. The Guerreros took a cheap shot at Caristico before the bell. They did a celebration to psych themselves up, which Tiger, Liger and Caristico then mocked in a comedy spot.
They did some more comedy, with Tiger offering Gran a handshake, then pulling it away. Caristico and Ultimo got in and stalled some more, before finally locking up. They exchanged holds, then stalled again. Caristico was begging the crowd to get into it. Caristico took off Ultimo’s mask and made a big show of it. He’s a few years late on that one. Caristico hit a dive into a flying headscissors on the floor.
Liger and Templarino got in for the first sustained action of the match. Liger sent Templarino to the floor, and the Guerreros jumped in to the ring to triple up on Liger. They did a human pyramid spot, but Caristico broke it up with a thrust kick.
Liger made his own comeback, hitting a senton off the apron. Tiger jumped off the top into a slam from Ultimo for a near fall. Tiger used a victory roll for a near fall. Ultimo rolled to the floor, and Tiger hit a high cross off the post.
Templarino and Caristico jumped in as the legal men, and Caristico used la mistica for the submission.
CUATRERO & SANSON DEFEATED ATLANTIS & ATLANTIS JR. IN A CMLL FAMILY TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH
Atlantis has really slowed down since I saw him last. Atlantis Jr. is going to be good, but he’s still green. Cuatrero and Sanson are a fine team, but they don’t stand out on their work alone.
Atlantis and Cuatrero started off with some mat wrestling. Atlantis Jr. and Sanson came in and traded holds on the mat as well. Sanson got the upper hand with an enzuigiri, then raked the eyes. Atlantis Jr. came back with a headscissors and a suicide dive.
The dive did more harm than good for Jr., as while he was on the floor, Cuatrero and Sanson worked over Atlantis. When Jr. finally got back inside, he ate some tandem offense.
Jr. came back with backbreakers, and Atlantis jumped in. He hit a crossbody off the top, and a series of backbreakers. Jr. hit a dive, and Atlantis hit a crossbody off the post to the floor. Cuatrero hit a plancha on Atlantis.
Jr. and Sanson battled on the top rope, and Sanson hit a Sanson special, then pinned Jr. to win this first round battle.
DRAGON LEE & MISTICO DEFEATED VOLADOR JR. & FLYER IN A CMLL FAMILY TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH
A good match, but it was missing something. They worked hard, they did a lot of moves, but it fell short of a great match to me.
Dragon and Flyer started off. They began trading holds, hip tosses and armdrags. Good, but not as crisp as you would expect from Dragon. Flyer hit an Asai moonsault, and Volador hit a suicide dive.
Back inside, Volador and Flyer took control of the match. Flyer hit a dropkick in the corner on Dragon. Volador took the referee, and Flyer tried to unmask Dragon. Dragon came back with a rolling dropkick on Volador, but Flyer cut him off.
Mistico came in and ran wild. Mistico and Dragon hit stereo topes. Back in the ring, they each hit dropkicks. They were exactly as crisp as you would expect from Dragon.
Dragon and Volador traded kicks, which got a good reaction. They fought on the top rope, and Dragon hit a double stomp. All four guys jumped in, and Volador hit a Canadian destroyer on Mistico. Mistico hit a DDT on Volador.
Dragon and Mistico hit stereo dropkicks on Flyer. Dragon hit a Spanish fly on Volador. They went back to the top, and Dragon teased another stomp, but Flyer cut him off with a Spanish fly off the top.
Volador hit a thrust kick on Mistico. Mistico came back with a springboard rana. Mistico dumped Volador to the floor, then hit a moonsault to the floor. Inside, Flyer hit a Canadian destroyer on Dragon for a two count.
Dragon hit a suplex, and used a powerbomb for a near fall. Dragon hit a knee strike, then hit desnucadora for the pin.
An easy show to watch, but nothing here was must-see.
The final shows of this year’s Fantastica Mania had a distinctly CMLL feel.
The clear thrust of these shows was spotlighting the visiting talent, and the last two nights in Korakuen Hall had less crossover appeal than even the first nights of the tour, which featured Kazuchika Okada working against Hiroshi Tanahashi in tag matches.
The results were a mixed bag. If you don’t get to see much lucha, and I don’t, the shows presented a refreshing alternative to anything that your typical North American or Japanese fans see on a regular basis. In the modern era of endless wrestling of almost any style that you enjoy available at your fingertips, it could easily be understood how these final nights could end up as less than appointment viewing, particularly with the lack of NJPW star power.
The key to the final events of the tour was the CMLL Brothers Tag Team Tournament, featuring pairs of siblings facing off for pride and prestige.
For people who are just hardcore NJPW fans, Tetsuya Naito’s appearance in a multi-person tag match on the final two events would be the only match worth going out of your way to see, if you just need a Naito fix.
January 21st results —
Disturbio & Puma defeated Drone & Star Jr.
Disturbio tried to establish himself as the heel early, with him spitting on and biting Drone. Puma is quite a sight to behold. I would enjoy more men dressed as large cats in wrestling. The psychology here was weird, as the crowd loved Puma but he was partners with the dastardly Disturbio.
Star did a nice Asai moonsault. The finish saw Disturbio do a flip dive off the apron onto Star, while Puma cradled Drone with a La Magistral for the win.
Fuego and Okumura started off. Facially, Okumura looks every bit of his age, and I doubt that orange is his natural hair color, but he moved well. The crowd loved Fuego’s dancing, and Sho served as a surprisingly good base for Soberano, in spite of Soberano being taller.
Yoh did a comedy rope-running spot with Taguchi that worked well. Soberano hit a great looking tornillo on Okumura for the pinfall victory.
You would be forgiven if you thought that this was simply an extended infomercial for Los Ingobernables T-shirts. There was crowd brawling early, and an air horn that blared incessantly throughout the match. The highlight was a vicious chop battle between Kawato and Takahashi, which ended with Kawato’s chest bloodied. Kawato is leaving on excursion, and it seems clear that there is stardom in his future.
Rush hit Kawato with a piledriver to earn the victory for his team. After the match, Rush and Kojima brawled until the young boys pulled them apart.
Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero defeated Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja in a CMLL Brothers Tag Team Tournament match
Angel de Oro turned a surfboard from Ultimo into an STF in a unique spot at the outset. Ultimo has been a great worker for a long time, I know, but he looked blown up almost from the opening bell, despite not doing a whole lot.
The Guerreros worked over Roja, and de Oro sold his leg well. Ultimo did a top rope dive to the outside onto the other three competitors. Gran hit the Gran Special, a lawn dart move, on Roja for the victory.
Dragon Lee & Mistico defeated Cuatrero & Sanson in a CMLL Brothers Tag Team Tournament match
Mistico and Cuatrero had some miscommunication in the early going, and Sanson quickly tagged in. Sanson went for Mistico’s mask, but could not remove it. This was my first opportunity to see Cuatrero and Sanson, and I was not overly impressed with their work, but they did hit nice topes on Dragon Lee and Mistico.
Dragon Lee hit an awesome rana from inside the ring to the floor. Inside the ring, Mistico kicked out of a near fall, and hit La Mistica for the submission victory.
NWA World Historic Welterweight Champion Volador Jr. defeated Barbaro Cavernario to retain his title
The action spilled to the outside early on, as Cavernario was established as a crazed brawler. Back inside, he untied the turnbuckle pad. Volador recovered from the beating he took early, and put on a flying clinic.
They continually teased Cavernario throwing Volador into the exposed buckles, but Volador always managed to slip out at the last moment. While Volador put forth an excellent argument for being named one of the top flyers in the world, Cavernario did his share as well, including a top rope splash to the floor.
Back in the ring, as Volador sold the devastation of that move, Cavernario went for a springboard leg drop, but Volador slid out, popped up, and hit a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall. A fun main event.
January 22nd results —
Fuego & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Disturbio & Puma
I became a massive fan of Fuego watching these shows. The crowd loved the comedy work he did with Disturbio. I also became a massive fan of Puma, who caught Taguchi on an insane dive to the outside. Fuego rolled up Disturbio for the pin out of nowhere.
Roppongi 3K (Rocky Romero, Sho & Yoh) & Okumura defeated Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask IV, KUSHIDA & Star Jr.
KUSHIDA and Yoh got things off to a hot start. Romero and Liger tagged in, and they did some hug and handshake comedy, before Romero turned on Liger. Star Jr. got his teammates to dance with him.
Sho, Yoh, and Romero ate dives from Liger and Tiger Mask, leaving Okumura and Star Jr. to work together. It was brief. Okumura hit an STO for the victory.
Sanson & Cuatrero defeated Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja
The highlight of this bout was a tope con hilo by Roja onto Sanson. Cuatrero and Sanson appeared to be having their second consecutive off night. Roja slipped coming off the middle ropes and fell a little short off a springboard crossbody, which was his fault, but Sanson could have helped him out if he was having a better day.
Sanson hit a spin-out middle rope powerbomb on Angel de Oro to score the victory for his team.
I don’t know for sure, but I suspect Gedo booked himself against Atlantis here just for kicks. He looked like he was having the time of his life working with him.
All four brawled to the outside and through the crowd early on. The fans really got behind Kawato as he got his right leg worked over. Cavernario used his La Cavernaria submission on Kawato for the win. There wasn’t much to this, and Atlantis’ knees looked like they were hurting him.
Naito and Volador did a hot opening sequence. Soberano tagged in and did some good lucha things, and he and Takahashi chopped the heck out of each other. The CMLL team did stereo tope con hilo’s onto the LIJ team, in an awesome spot.
The finish saw BUSHI hit a bridging backslide on Drone to pick up the victory. After the match, Volador taunted Naito, and tried to goad him into the ring for a confrontation, but Naito backed off.
Rush defeated Satoshi Kojima
The action spilled to the floor right away, and Rush did some great heel work, choking Kojima with a camera cable. He then hit Kojima with an unprotected chair shot to the head. It was not a particularly hard shot, as those things go, but it’s difficult to justify that sort of thing in the modern era. Kojima was busted open on top of his head, possibly from the chair.
Kojima fought back with a DDT on the floor, but continued to sell the damage from the chair shot. Back inside, Kojima fired up and removed his elbow pad. Rush avoided the elbow strike, but ate a lariat.
Kojima went for another lariat, but ate the piledriver, and Rush scored the pinfall. Rush posed with Naito, BUSHI, and Takahashi after the match.
Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero defeated Dragon Lee & Mistico to win the CMLL Brothers Tag Team Tournament
Mistico and Ultimo whipped each other with their entrance gear before the opening bell. After the bell, they shook hands, agreeing that the heat of the competitive moment got to them. They had a solid exchange, before tagging in their partners.
The Guerreros took over, and worked over Mistico. Mistico made the tag to Dragon Lee, who did his awesome rana from the ring to the floor. Lee and Gran had a chop battle that may have lasted five full minutes. Lee followed up with a crazy double foot stomp on Gran, who fell from a braced position on the middle rope to the floor.
While Lee and Gran spilled outside, Ultimo hit the Guerrero Special on Mistico to earn the victory, and win the tournament. A fine match, but not an NJPW-caliber main event.
