After making their presence felt on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, four of CMLL’s top stars will compete in an eight-man tag team match as part of this Friday’s AEW Rampage.
Mistico, Volador Jr, Mascara Dorada & Hechicero will take on Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels.
Initially seated at ringside, the CMLL wrestlers attacked Jon Moxley after his win over Jeff Hardy to open Dynamite, beating down the former AEW World Champion in a four-on-one attack before their eventual Friday opponents ran down to help out.
Hechicero is scheduled to face Moxley’s Blackpool Combat Club teammate Bryan Danielson on Saturday’s Collision while a trios match between the BCC and CMLL wrestlers will take place next Wednesday.
Friday’s show will also feature AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill in non-title action against Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver. Starks & Bill will defend against Sting & Darby Allin on next Wednesday’s Dynamite.
In singles action, Willow Nightingale will take on Queen Aminata, who has been a frequent competitor on both AEW and ROH TV as of late. Aminata is 0-15 all-time in AEW while Nightingale is 3-1 in her last four.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy and Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) will also be on hand to share some thoughts.
The new additions join the previously announced Private Party vs. Top Flight rematch.
Here’s the full lineup for Friday:
AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Dark Order (John Silver & Alex Reynolds) in a non-title match
Willow Nightingale vs. Queen Aminata
Mistico, Volador Jr, Mascara Dorada & Hechicero vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels
Orange Cassidy & Best Friends promo
Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin)
The debut of several CMLL stars in addition to a tag team rematch are official for this Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage.
Initially announced on Friday’s Rampage and expanded upon during Saturday’s Collision via a video package, Volador Jr, Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Hechicero will be involved but the actual match was not announced.
The bout(s) are a further extension of the CMLL/AEW partnership that began last October when Mistico made his AEW debut in a match against Rocky Romero.
¡La próxima semana 4 súper estrellas del CMLL participarán en #AEWRampage!
A rematch between Private Party and Top Flight was also confirmed after a backstage confrontation on Friday’s Rampage.
The two teams did battle earlier this month in Private Party’s first match since Marq Quen returned from injury. The manner in which he and Isiah Kassidy won the match didn’t sit right with Dante & Darius Martin, setting up their second meeting.
Here’s the current Rampage lineup that will be taped after Dynamite this Wednesday in New Orleans:
Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin)
Volador Jr, Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Hechicero in action
FILTHY FOUR DAILY with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including our usual weekly Smackdown TV report, plus thoughts on Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey, Mistico vs. Rocky Romero on Rampage, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
The legendary luchador Mistico will face Rocky Romero in a battle of CMLL champions from different weight classes in what is billed as a battle for the pound-for-pound crown of Mexico. No titles are officially on the line in the contest. Mistico is CMLL World Historic Middleweight Champion, while Romero holds the World Historic Welterweight Championship.
John Silver of Dark Order will face Kip Sabian & Brother Zay in a triple threat match for a shot at Orange Cassidy’s International Championship at Saturday’s Battle of the Belts VIII special.
The Outcasts’ Ruby Soho will face Skye Blue in a women’s division contest.
Also set for the show, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta of Blackpool Combat Club will be in tag team action on the show. Yuta & Castagnoli will challenge for the AEW World Tag Team titles on Saturday’s Collision episode.
**********
Taped in Rosenberg, Texas.
Excalibur and Tony Schiavone were on commentary.
Mistico defeated Rocky “Azucar” Romero in a two out of three falls match (14:24 aired)
Romero is the CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion, which “dates back to 1946” according to Excalibur. Mistico is World Histroic Middleweight Champion, which dates to 1933, the year CMLL was founded. Neither championship is on the line, and Excalibur was in his glory going into the details about CMLL and the history of the company.
First Fall: After a few minutes of back and forth action, Mistico hit a back handspring elbow to send Romero to the floor, and followed up with a twisting tope. The crowd was solidly behind Mistico. Back in the ring, Mistico tied up Romero on the mat in a surfboard and got a surprisingly quick tap out at 2:38. Mistico up 1-0.
Second Fall: Romero attacked Mistico from behind and sent him into the ring stairs. Back in the ring, Romero tore at Mistico’s mask. Romero dominated through the split-screen break. Romero hit the forever clotheslines in the corner. Mistico fought out of a cravat and took Romero down with a tijeras. Mistico sent Romero to the floor with an arm drag. Romero suplexed Mistico on the ring apron, then hit a tope suicida that sent Mistico halfway up the ramp.
Back in the ring, Romero hit a superplex for a near fall. Romero caught Mistico with a kick, then locked in a camel clutch. Mistico escaped the clutch, but Romero hit Sliced Bread for the pinfall at 9:49 (total time).
Third Fall: This fall was joined in progress after a long commercial break, which killed my enthusiasm for the match. Mistico came off the top rope with a crossbody onto Romero on the floor. Back in the ring, Mistico hit a springboard bodypress for a near fall. After a slam, Mistico went for a moonsault, but Romero got his feet up and kicked Mistico in the mush. Mistico hit a spinning powerslam for a near fall. Mistico tried for a German suplex off the middle rope, but Romero countered with a Sliced Bread off the top rope for a near fall.
Romero slowly climbed to the top, and Mistico ran up the ropes and took Romero to the mat with a Spanish Fly for another near fall. Mistico planted Romero with a Canadian Destroyer, then took Romero down with a spinning tijeras into a Fujiarwa armbar, and Romero tapped out.
The multiple commercial breaks really hurt this one for me.
– From Dynamite Wednesday, Stokely Hathaway made a match between Eddie Kingston and Jeff Jarrett for Collision. If Jarrett wins, Lethal gets a shot at the ROH World Title. I sure hope this isn’t the dream match we were promised earlier today.
John Silver (w/ Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds) defeated Kip Sabian (w/ Penelope Ford, The Butcher & The Blade) and Brother Zay for a shot at the AEW International Title (7:03 aired)
Less than two minutes into the match, the show went into another split-screen break. The commercials feel really poorly timed and have been killing the show.
After the long break, Zay hit a springboard cutter for a near fall. He went for the Twist of Fate, but Sabian shrugged him off. Silver pressed Sabian into Zay for a low blow. Silver hit a German suplex for a near fall. Sabian hit an Arabian Press on Silver on the floor. All the hangers on got into it on the floor, so Zay came off the top with a dive on everybody. Back in the ring, Zay hit the swanton bomb on Sabian, but Silver ran in with a punt and got the pinfall.
None of these three should be near a singles title match. This was a mess, and the cheap finish didn’t help.
– Santana and Ortiz will fight next week in Philadelphia. Is this the dream match?
Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta defeated “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith & Exodus Prime (1:41)
Yuta catapulted Prime into a gorilla press from Castagnoli. A giant swing into a dropkick from Yura and the Fastball Special ended the match.
– Renee Paquette interviewed Matt Menard and Daniel Garcia (along with the rest of that group, and they desprately need a new name), who immediately started arguing. Jake Hager didn’t give up the hat for this! Anna Jay told them it was time to squash it, and even though Menard hates the dance, he loves Garcia and the beef is squashed. It’s unclear how this affects the status of Hager and his hat.
– The Young Bucks and Hangman Page offered an open challenge for their ROH Six Man titles on Dynamite Wednesday.
– New on Collision Saturday: FTR returns, and the Dream Match is Official! Bryan Danielson will take on Andrade El Idolo. That’s it?!?!?
–New on Dynamite Wednesday: Tony Khan has a gift for Sting (there’s like a 50% change with Sting’s history that Khan is turning on him) and The Hardys & Brother Zay accepted the open challenge for the ROH Six Man Titles.
– New on Rampage Friday: Santana v. Ortiz, which makes sense since the entire feud has been happening through Rampage segments.
Ruby Soho (w/ Saraya) defeated Skye Blue (9:59)
Soho hit a series of short-arm lariats, and Blue came back with a superkick. They fought to the apron and Blue planted Soho face first into the apron. Soho caught Blue with a kick to take control on the floor.
Both women exchanged forearms after a split-screen break. Blue caught Soho with a running knee and a chop block. Blue is noticeably more aggressive, fish-hooking Soho and generally playing dirty. Saraya tripped up Blue, and Soho dropped Blue with a Saito suplex for a near fall. Blue powerbombed Soho out of the corner for another near fall. Saraya interfered again, and Soho hit the No Future for another near fall.
Blue countered an attempt at Destination Unknown with a backslide. Behind the ref’s back, Saraya hit Blue with the can of spray paint, and Soho rolled up Blue for the victory.
Soho and Saraya beat on Blue after the match, but Kris Statlander ran out to chase the heels away. Statlander tried to help Blue back to her feet, but Blue shoved Statlander away and left on her own.
Final Thoughts:
This show felt like kind of a mess tonight. They probably would have been better off just announcing Danielson v. Andrade without hyping up “announcing a dream match.”
CMLL is thankful for AEW following the start of a working relationship between the two companies.
On Thursday, CMLL issued an official statement expressing its gratitude to Tony Khan and AEW for how its wrestlers and director Salvador Lutteroth III were treated on Wednesday night. A match between Mistico and Rocky Romero was taped following Wednesday’s Dynamite in Rosenberg, Texas. It will air on AEW Rampage this Friday.
CMLL stated that this can be the beginning of a solid alliance between the promotions that is beneficial for both parties. CMLL said it was an honor and a privilege to be showcased on an international stage like AEW.
CMLL also thanked the AEW fans for the warm welcome that Mistico and Romero received.
Mistico made his AEW debut in the match against Romero. Spoilers from the tapings can be found here.
Dave Meltzer wrote yesterday about the ticket sales for Wednesday’s show: “As of this morning, AEW’s show tonight has moved well over 2,100 tickets since the announcement of Mistico. Some of this is lowering prices but every company lowers prices if not sold out at the end. This is a noteworthy number but also notable Mistico’s first AEW appearance and being in Houston is a one time thing.”
Romero is the current NWA World Historic Welterweight Champion in CMLL.
Both AEW and CMLL have released statements sharing their excitement ahead of next week’s collaboration.
On Friday, CMLL posted an official announcement confirming the upcoming match between Mistico and Rocky Romero that will be taped Wednesday for next Friday’s Rampage. In the statement, they said that it was the beginning of a new era for both companies, and are excited for future opportunities to work together.
In a series of posts on X Friday, Tony Khan confirmed he had met with CMLL officials on Friday, saying he hoped it was just the beginning.
“This is so cool,” Khan wrote on X. “Thank you for working with @AEW, we’re all very excited about teaming with @CMLL_OFICIAL next week on #AEWRampage!
“It was a great honor to meet today with @CMLL_OFICIAL today,” he wrote in a previous tweet. “I hope that next week’s match is just the beginning! CMLL Champion vs. Champion MISTICO @caristicomx vs Rocky Romero @azucarRoc Next Friday on #AEWRampage On @TNTdrama! Follow @AEWonTV for more info on this rivalry!”
Mistico currently holds the NWA World Historic Middleweight title, while Rocky Romero won the NWA World Historic Welterweight title earlier this year.
Tony Khan revealed on Thursday that the legendary luchador will wrestle Rocky Romero on the October 20 edition of AEW Rampage. The match will be taped on Wednesday’s show from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas.
Next Friday, 10/20 Houston Friday Night #AEWRampage On @TNTdrama at 10pm ET/9pm CT
MISTICO debuts in a grudge match vs Rocky Romero, 10/20 on Rampage! Stay tuned to @AEWonTV to learn the history between these CMLL icons! pic.twitter.com/o9NoNYHSAU
Mistico and Romero were on opposing sides of a tag match on CMLL’s 90th Anniversary show in Arena Mexico on September 16. Mistico teamed with Atlantis Jr. & Mascara Sagrado and defeated Romero, TJP, and Kevin Knight. After the match, Romero’s team attacked the winners and unmasked them, with Romero taking Mistico’s mask. Romero and Soberano Jr attacked Mistico after a match on September 22 as well.
Another Forbidden Door 🚪 opened!
Get your tickets now!
Se abrió otra Puerta Prohibida 🚪 Por la primera vez, los mejores luchadores de CMLL lucharán en un ring de AEW. https://t.co/VO2VYP37lO
— ROCKY ROMERO🇵🇷 🇲🇽 🇺🇸 🇯🇵“Chico El Luchador” (@azucarRoc) October 12, 2023
Mistico is one of the biggest draws of all time. He won the Best Box Office Draw award in the Wrestling Observer Decade Awards covering the period from 2000-09.
Mistico was also voted Wrestler of the Year, Best Box Office Draw, and Best Flying Wrestler in the 2006 WON awards. He was voted Best Flying Wrestler the following year as well. In 2022, Mistico was voted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Mistico currently holds the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship in CMLL. Romero is the current NWA World Historic Welterweight Champion in CMLL as well. Their match is advertised as being for Mexico’s Pound for Pound Crown.
Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio going over the 2022 class of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. John Muse joins us to go over the full class, the acts who were close, and next year’s new candidates.
After that, we talked about all the recent news. Topics include:
John Cena on SmackDown and if he will be at WrestleMania
The Rock and WWE’s decision
Barry Windham
Sasha Banks at WrestleKingdom
Ticket sales for AEW Revolution so far
MJF at UFC 282
ROH, NXT, & UFC shows tomorrow
Tony Khan’s ROH press conference
Vince McMahon documentary
Dana White’s Slap League
Miro’s current situation
The video version of this show is available for video subscribers at video.f4wonline.com.
Autumn Attack will be taped at Sam’s Town Live in NJPW Strong’s Vegas debut.
In addition to Mistico, Strong Openweight Champion Fred Rosser, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White, Tomohiro Ishii, and Alex Zayne have been announced as appearing at the taping. No matches have been announced for the event to this point.
August’s NJPW Strong taping will be held in Los Angeles at the Vermont Hollywood in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 21, while July’s taping will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Grady Cole Center on Sunday, July 24.
Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, July 22 at 10 a.m. Pacific time, with prices ranging from $25 to $150.
His departure was reported this afternoon by Mas Lucha. Shortly after the news broke out, CMLL announced that the original Mistico, who had been going by the name Caristico, would get the name back. The second Mistico is the brother of Rush and Dragon Lee, and the son of Bestia del Ring, all who work for Ring of Honor. Both Rush and Lee congratulated the second Mistico on Twitter after news broke that he had left.
Mistico and Caristico were the CMLL World Tag Team Champions. The titles have now been vacated.
Mistico was given the name and character in 2012 after the original Mistico (Caristico) left for WWE. He previously worked as Dragon Lee, a character that was later given to his younger brother when he entered professional wrestling in 2013. When the original Mistico returned to CMLL in 2015, he took the name Caristico.
Several wrestlers have left CMLL due to issues within the company politically. Nueva Generacion Dinamita (Sanson, El Cuatrero, and Forastero) left CMLL earlier this month and appeared at Lucha Libre AAA’s Triplemania event five days later, joining forces with Sam Adonis, Puma King, and Diamante Azul, who also previously wrestled for CMLL in the past.
A look at the death, unique lives and careers of Jon Huber and Danny Hodge is the focus of what is the best issue of the Observer in more than a decade.
Details surrounding the Huber health crisis and death, words from his wife, how he got started in wrestling, my own personal thoughts regarding my interaction with him, his leaving WWE for AEW, his WWE run with The Wyatt Family, what were the plans for the Bludgeon Brothers to imitate and how it fell through, the match that changes his WWE focus, the background of his big decision, what match was scheduled for him that fell through, how his AEW term played out with his biggest matches, why the death became such a huge news story, the story behind and coverage of the tribute show and more.
The iconic figure of Danny Hodge with what should be a movie script, covering growing up in a small town known for wrestling, his unique childhood, his developing his legendary grip strength, his unbelievable credentials as a wrestler, MMA, street fights, the auto accident that ended his career, his biggest pro wrestling matches, his boxing career and why people will talk about him as his records every year going forward.
Preview the WrestleKingdom shows this week, covering the matches and the stories behind the matches, as well as how the restrictions have changed things.
Update the Royal Rumble including a gimmick match being talked about, new WWE show, top 25 WWE matches of the year, U.K. and Canadian ratings as well as where pro wrestling ranks in sports ratings, market value of WWE as well as the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.
2020 Wrestling Observer Awards ballot.
Television stations that carried wrestling and MMA in 2020 and how they did, and how wrestling did in comparison with the station’s usual programming.
Detailed look at the television business, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Want to thank everyone for their comments on the new issue. It’s probably going to be the best issue in many years but I hope I never do another one like it again.
Mistico and girlfriend Carolina Rodriguez have tested positive for COVID-19. He first showed symptoms on 12/27, and then she got sick on 12/28. They went to a doctor who didn’t think he had it, but their symptoms got worse, especially his, so they got tested on 12/30 and tested positive. The entire family got together on Christmas day so Rush and his family were all tested and tested negative. Dragon Lee and his wife are also getting tested.
Smackdown tonight has Big E vs. King Corbin for the IC title, Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair vs. Bayley & Carmella and Roman Reigns has a request for WWE management. 205 Live tonight has Ever Rise & Curt Stallion vs. Ariya Daivari & The Singh Brothers plus Jake Atlas vs. Mansoor.
MLW made the decision to just air a ten bell salute for Brodie Lee on YouTube this week. Bein will get the salute and a rerun show and they will be back to regular programming Wednesday night with the Kings of Colosseum show.
I hadn’t seen this before today, it’s a clip of after Wednesday’s Dynamite show and it’s a must- see.
The WWE Network will be releasing a Best of Luke Harper show. There are also documentaries coming on Pat Paterson, Bianca Belair, A.J. Styles and Yokozuna.
UFC
Mike Jackson, who beat C.M. Punk in Punk’s second UFC fight, was scheduled to face Dan Barry on the 1/20 show. Barry said on social media that he found out last night that Jackson can’t make the fight on 1/20 and said he doesn’t know why but wishes him the best. The current plan is for the fight to be rescheduled for March or April.
MISC
Former NWA Tag Team champion Matt Riviera announced his retirement from wrestling today. He sent out a release saying, “I seriously appreciate the support that I have received for the duration of my time as an active talent and promoter in pro wrestling. It is time to open a new chapter in my life by closing this one. I wish everyone the best. Riviera started promoting at 17 and started wrestling at 21, and held the NWA world tag team titles three times with Rob Conway.
“Samson the Wrestling Musical” which streams at 6pm PT / 9pm ET today: https://www.levelground.nyc/ (thanks to Dave Teixeira)
Impact will have a virtual fanfest on 1/16 on Zoom called the Hard to Kill Cell-abration. The event will take place starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time with Rich Swann, Deonna Purrazzo, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Eric Young, Don Callis, Kiera Hogan, Tasha Steelz, Chris Sabin &Alex Shelley.
Synergy Pro Wrestling airs a special tomorrow live on IWTV from the Monster Factory featuring Jordan Oliver vs. Brandon Kirk as the main event.
Melbourne City Wrestling on their podcast did an angle to set up a Slex vs. Adam Brooks main event for their return on 2/6.
EPW in Australia announced Mikey Nicholls vs.; Michael Morleone as their 1/23 main event.
Death Match Downunder announced a 1/16 show in Melbourne headlined by Ritchie Taylor vs. Tommy Knight.
The situation in Melbourne is that there have been new cases in the state of Victoria due to the outbreak in New South Wales, which borders on Victoria. Right now the borders of the states have been closed and there is a mask mandate for indoor gatherings. But if things get worse the above shows could be in jeopardy (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
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.
Here are quick results from this morning’s Fantastica Mania event at Korakuen Hall. It featured the finals of this year’s family tag tournament, as well as a special singles match between Soberano Jr. and Barbaro Cavernario.
– Jushin Thunder Liger, Ryusuke Taguchi and Audaz defeated Gedo, Taiji Ishimori and Templario
Audaz submitted Templario with the cross arm breaker.
– Titan and Angel de Oro defeated Okumura and Forastero
Titan picked up the win over Forastero with the titanica.
– Satoshi Kojima, Toa Henare, Fujin and Raijin defeated Terrible, Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI and Shingo Takagi
Kojima pinned Terrible following a lariat. This was the annual Black Cat memorial match.
– Ultimo Guerrero and Gran Guerrero defeated Atlantis and Atlantis Jr.
Gran Guerrero defeated Atlantis Jr. after hitting a modified sit down powerbomb.
– Caristico and Namajague defeated Volador Jr. and Flyer
Caristico submitted Flyer with la mistica for the win.
– Barbaro Cavernario defeated Soberano Jr.
In a special singles match, Cavernario scored the win over Soberano following a cavernaria.
– Dragon Lee and Mistico defeated Cuatrero and Sanson in the CMLL 2019 family tag tournament
Dragon Lee pinned Sanson with the desnucadora to win this year’s family tag team tournament.
Ultimo and Gran Guerrero confronted Dragon Lee and Mistico after the match.
With a slight hangover from the anniversary show, the atmosphere on Friday night in Arena Mexico seemed subdued compared to last week which isn’t unusual coming off the biggest show of the year.
Matt Taven returned to the ring after being sidelined with an injury over a year ago. He appeared healthy and tested his knee with a few high flying moves.
Another notable aspect of the show concerned Caristico. Heading into Friday night, he was double booked for both Arena Mexico and an Elite show in Naucalpan.
After all the speculation about which booking he would choose, Caristico actually did a double shot and appeared on both shows. He took part in a trios match in Arena Mexico, and reportedly showed up in Naucalpan in time to appear on that show as well.
The show in Arena Mexico opened with a minis match.
In the first fall, Stukita did a lionsault on Pierrothito and pinned him. Astral also applied a leglock submission on Nitro for the tecnicos to win the fall.
For the second fall, the rudos dispatched Astral so they could work over Stukita. Nitro softened up Stukita with a double foot stomp and Pierrothito submitted him with a sharpshooter. Astral then jumped in, only for him to take a codebreaker and get pinned by Nitro for the rudos to win the second fall.
Stukita did a splash from off the top turnbuckle on the ramp. He applied a leglock on Pierrothito while also bridging backwards to cover him for a pinfall. Nitro was outside the ring and counted out so the tecnicos won the deciding third fall.
Blue Panther Jr., Pegasso & Soberano Jr. defeated Tiger, Virus & Okumura
The rudos won the first fall as Okumura applied a STF to submit Pegasso, and Felino pinned Soberano after a backstabber.
To even up the falls, the tecnicos won the second when Panther scored a pin after slingshotting into the ring and dropkicking Okumura in a corner.
This all flowed well to build towards larger highspots in the third fall. Using a hurricanrana, Pegasso then cradled Virus to pin him. Soberano springboarded off the middle turnbuckle and did a quebrada to the outside on Okumura. Tiger then squared off with Panther, and Panther submitted Tiger with the Lagunero knot.
Angel de Oro, Titan & Rey Cometa defeated Ephesto, Hechicero & Vangellys
The rudos captured the first fall. Hechicero hoisted Angel de Oro for a backbreaker and held him for Ephesto. Ephesto jumped off the middle rope with an ugly guillotine legdrop and pinned Angel de Oro.
Rey Cometa did an unbelievable corkscrew plancha to the outside in the second fall. Angel de Oro won the fall for the tecnicos when he cradled Ephesto for the pin.
Angel de Oro was injured in the third fall, bringing the match to a halt. Before that, the match was going along very well until Angel de Oro took a buckle bomb and fell to the mat.
Everyone stayed clear of Angel de Oro. Cometa and Titan did stereo Asai moonsaults to buy some time. The rudos got back in the ring and bumped the referee, shoving him down for a disqualification to end the match.
El Felino defeated El Valiente
Felino brought an actual toilet seat to the ring with him for whatever reason. He held it up, displaying it like it was a title belt. To each his own.
They brawled on the floor briefly before getting back in the ring. Not for long as Valiente did a dive through the ropes. Moments later, Felino jumped off the top turnbuckle with a plancha.
Back in the ring, Felino leapt off the top with a flying elbow drop. He then covered Valiente for the pin in a one fall match.
Mr. Niebla, Matt Taven & Shocker defeated Volador Jr., Maximo Sexy & Mascara Dorada (Gran Metalik)
Playing the cowardly heel, Taven refused to tag in at the outset. He begged off and threatened to leave. He changed his mind though.
Mascara Dorada ran wild with dives and amazing high flying moves. Maximo kissed Taven as they stood on the ropes, causing Taven to fall backwards and Volador pinned him. Maximo then also rolled up Shocker and pinned him for the tecnicos to win the first fall.
(Photo: Mascara Dorada flying over the top rope on Mr. Niebla)
There was some comedy with Niebla and the minis as they got involved. Shocker squared off with a mini. Maximo also did some comedy bits.
The rudos went on to win the second fall. Taven did a springboard into a kick on Dorada. He followed that with a swinging neckbreaker and Taven pinned Dorada. Shocker also submitted Maximo with an abdominal stretch.
They saved the best for last in the final fall with big dives and such. Maximo went through the ropes. Volador went over the ropes. Dorada springboarded into a senton. Taven cleared the ropes on a dive to the outside.
The rudos won the deciding third fall when Mr. Niebla pinned Volador after a flying legdrop off the top.
Mistico, Caristico & Dragon Lee defeated La Mascara, Negro Casas & Euforia
The first fall started with a brawl and the rudos cleared the ring. Mascara ripped at Dragon Lee’s mask. Nailed with an elbow suicida moments later, Mascara briefly fled the scene but returned later.
Tecnicos went on to win the first fall. Mistico applied La Mistica on Euforia for a submission and Caristico used a la magistral cradle on Casas for a pinfall.
In the second fall, Mistico wiped out his own partner, Caristico, on a dive outside the ring. That could possibly lead to something down the road, but this is CMLL so it is anyone’s guess if that happens.
Mascara squared off with Dragon Lee. They exchanged stiff chops and strikes. Apparently feeling vengeful over losing his mask last week, Mascara unmasked Dragon Lee. Mascara was immediately disqualified, giving the fall and the match to the tecnicos.
(Photo: La Mascara with a forearm smash on Dragon Lee)
Next Friday night in Arena Mexico is the legends show.
Luis Urive, the former Mistico who is now wrestling as Mistic 2.0, is at Arena Mexico for tonight’s show.
He is not booked on the show, although he will be on the Lucha Libre Elite show on Sunday in his first match at the arena in four years. He may do a interview to promote the show and or shoot an angle.
Observer correspondent Robert Bihari reports that Urive will be wrestling on an iPPV show that CMLL is doing at Arena Mexico a week from tonight in his first CMLL match, where he would be opposite members of Los Ingobernables.
Mistic 2.0 and Volador Jr. are scheduled to headline Sunday’s show at Arena Mexico against Los Ingobernables members Rush & La Mascara, which was expected to draw one of the biggest pro wrestling crowds this year, although because Mexico is such a heavy walk-up market you never know for sure ahead of time.
Tonight’s show will air live at www.ClaroSports.com at 9:30PM ET, but it may be geo blocked in the U.S. Some weeks it is and some weeks it isn’t, and nobody ever knows for sure until the show starts. But next week’s show as an iPPV will be available in the U.S.
