Due to his MCL injury, Satoshi Kojima has been pulled from more NJPW dates.
Kojima will miss NJPW & CMLL’s Fantasticamania tour as he recovers from the injury. The tour is taking place in Japan from February 12 through February 19. Kojima was scheduled to compete at six events.
“As he recovers from a left MCL injury, Satoshi Kojima will be absent from dates on the Fantasticamania tour which begins Monday February [12],” NJPW wrote. “We apologize to fans who were looking forward to seeing Kojima wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.”
Tomoaki Honma is replacing Kojima on the February 12-17 events. Ryusuke Taguchi will be Kojima’s replacement on the February 18 show.
Kojima was also pulled from NJPW’s February 8 and February 9 Road to the New Beginning shows because of his injury.
On Wednesday, Kojima tweeted that he’ll be back in action as soon as possible. He’s expected to be back for MLW Intimidation Games in New York City on Thursday, February 29.
Kojima won the MLW World Heavyweight Championship from Alex Kane last weekend. He’s defending the title against Minoru Suzuki at Intimidation Games.
NJPW has announced lineups for their annual tour with CMLL talent.
Fantasticamania 2024 kicks off February 12 in Osaka and will end with two nights at Korakuen Hall on February 18 & 19. The first night will headline with Hiroshi Tanahashi teaming with Mistico & Mascara Dorada to take on Ultimo Guerrero, Stuka Jr., and Francesco Akira.
On February 16 in Nagoya & February 17 in Makuhari, a Faction Tag Team Tournament will take place. Ultimo Guerrero & Stuka Jr. will face Titan & BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon, while Stigma & Pegasso will take on Volador Jr. & Magnus. The winners of these matches will advance to the finals the following day and the two losers will face off in a third place match.
KAMAITACHI, Hiromu Takahashi’s masked persona while wrestling in CMLL, will also be appearing on the tour in tag matches.
Highlights for the last two nights at Korakuen Hall include Rocky Romero facing Volador Jr. and Soberano Jr. taking on Templario on February 18. The final day of the tour will have Mascara Dorada vs. Stuka Jr. and Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero.
Here are the full lineups for this year’s tour:
February 12 in Osaka
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Mistico, and Mascara Dorada vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Stuka Jr., and Francesco Akira
Relevos Increibles: Templario, Atlantis Jr., and Volador Jr vs. Hechicero, Rocky Romero, and Soberano Jr.
Dark Panther, Pegasso, and Satoshi Kojima vs. Master Wato, YOH, and OKUMURA
Ryusuke Taguchi, Brillante Jr., El Desperado, and Stigma vs. BUSHI, KAMAITACHI, Tetsuya Naito, and Titan
Tiger Mask vs. Magnus
Difunto & DOUKI vs. Gedo & Taiji Ishimori
Febuary 13 in Osaka
Relevos Increibles: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Templario, and Volador Jr vs. Rocky Romero, DOUKI, and Soberano Jr.
Mistico, Mascara Dorada, and El Desperado vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Stuka Jr., and Francesco Akira
Master Wato, Dark Panther, and Atlantis Jr. vs. Hechicero, OKUMURA, and Gedo
Stigma, Brillante Jr., Satoshi Kojima, and YOH vs. Titan, Tetsuya Natio, KAMAITACHI, and BUSHI
Tiger Mask & Pegasso vs. Taiji Ishimori & Magnus
Ryusuke Taguchi & Difunto vs. SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
February 14 in Kagawa
Mistico, Atlantis Jr., and El Desperado vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Hechicero, and Francesco Akira
Volador Jr., Mascara Dorada, and Templario vs. Rocky Romero, Soberano Jr., and Stuka Jr.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Satoshi Kojima, Tiger Mask, and Stigma vs. Tetsuya Natio, Titan, KAMAITACHI, and BUSHI
Master Wato, Pegasso, and Dark Panther vs. DOUKI, Magnus, and OKUMURA
YOH & Difunto vs. Gedo & Taiji Ishimori
Ryusuke Taguchi & Brillante Jr. vs. SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
February 16 in Nagoya
Faction Tag Team Tournament semifinal: Ultimo Guerrero & Stuka Jr. vs. Titan & BUSHI
Faction Tag Team Tournament semifinal: Stigma & Pegasso vs. Volador Jr. & Magnus
Relevos Increibles: Mistico, Mascara Dorada, and Templario vs. Rocky Romero, Soberano Jr., and DOUKI
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Atlantis Jr., and YOH vs. Hechicero, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Master Wato
El Desperado & Brillante Jr. vs. Tetsuya Naito & KAMAITACHI
Satoshi Kojima & Dark Panther vs. OKUMURA & Francesco Akira
Tiger Mask & Difunto vs. SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
February 17 in Makuhari
Faction Tag Team Tournament finals
Faction Tag Team Tournament third place playoff
Relevos Increibles: Mistico, Mascara Dorada, and Francesco Akira vs. Rocky Romero, El Desperado, and Tiger Mask
Soberano Jr. & Brillante Jr. vs. DOUKI & Templario
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Atlantis Jr., Dark Panther, and YOH vs. Hechicero, OKUMURA, SHO, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, and KAMAITACHI Vs. Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Difunto
La Jarochita & Lluvia vs. X & X
February 18 at Korakuen Hall
Rocky Romero vs. Volador Jr.
Soberano Jr. vs. Templario
Black Cat memorial match: Mistico, Mascara Dorada, El Desperado, and Stigma vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Stuka Jr., Francesco Akira, and Difunto
Atlantis Jr., Dark Panther, and Master Wato vs. Hechicero, OKUMURA, and DOUKI
Challenge match: Titan vs. Brillante Jr.
Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, KAMAITACHI, and BUSHI vs. SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, and Magnus
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Satoshi Kojima, and Pegasso vs. Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask, and YOH
February 19 at Korakuen Hall
Mascara Dorada vs. Stuka Jr.
Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Rocky Romero, Soberano Jr., and Tiger Mask vs. Volador Jr., Templario, El Desperado, and Master Wato
Atlantis Jr. vs. Hechicero
Dark Panther vs. OKUMURA
Tetsuya Naito, Titan, KAMAITACHI, and BUSHI vs. SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Difunto, and Magnus
Relevos Increibles: Ryusuke Taguchi, Brillante Jr., and YOH vs. Francesco Akira, Pegasso, and Stigma
