Tag: Okumura

New match added to MLW x Don Gato Tequila Live Special

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The card for MLW’s November 20 live special has a new addition.

It was announced today that Diego Hill vs. Okumura vs. Stigma will take place at MLW x Don Gato Tequila: Live Special in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s a lightning match — which means there is a 10-minute time limit to encourage fast-paced competition.

MLW is billing the bout as an opportunity for the “high-flying rookie” Hill to prove himself against two representatives from CMLL.

“A product of Cesar Duran’s watchful eye, Hill has captured attention with his explosive aerial style and fearless energy. Now, he steps into the biggest test of his young career,” MLW wrote.

“Representing CMLL, Okumura brings decades of ring experience and cunning. A Japanese master who made Mexico his home, Okumura is revered in Arena Mexico for his methodical precision and his reputation for breaking down faster, flashier opponents.

“Meanwhile, Stigma, the masked standout from Puebla, arrives with a mix of speed, power, and heart that’s made him a fixture among CMLL’s most dynamic luchadores. Known for his spectacular top-rope offense and fiery temperament, Stigma thrives under pressure — exactly the kind of atmosphere Don Gato’s vision has created for Charleston.”

The special will air live on MLW’s YouTube channel and beIN Sports. It’s taking place at Charleston Music Hall as part of a collaboration between MLW and Don Gato Tequila — an alcohol brand from Hollywood star Danny McBride.

MLW x Don Gato Tequila Live Special (Thursday, November 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern time) —

  • 2025 Opera Cup Finals: Mistico vs. Volador Jr.
  • Bunkhouse match: MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger defends against Brock Anderson (w/ Arn Anderson)
  • Matt Riddle vs. Killer Kross (w/ Scarlett Bordeaux)
  • MLW World Tag Team Champions The Skyscrapers (Bishop Dyer & Donovan Dijak) defend against The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows)
  • Shotzi Blackheart vs. Priscilla Kelly
  • Los Panthers (Blue Panther & Hijo de Blue Panther) vs. Los Atlantis (Atlantis & Atlantis Jr.) vs. Los Felinos (Felino & Felino Jr.) vs. El Galeon Fantasma (Difunto & Barboza)
  • Lightning match: Diego Hill vs. Okumura vs. Stigma

Okumura & Atlantis Jr. part of CMLL contingent set for AEW Collision & ROH taping

Posted on by Josh Nason

A slew of CMLL talent is heading to Las Vegas next month for a combo AEW Collision/Ring of Honor taping.

Announced late-Sunday, the 52-year-old Okumura will take on Dark Panther at the event, set for Saturday, March 15th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Okumura has appeared in ROH several times before dating back to 2016, but never in a singles match.

In a trios showcase, former ROH men’s TV Champion Atlantis Jr. will team with Titan and Fuego to take on Rugido, Volador Jr., and Barbaro Cavernario.

Based on recent shows, it’s expected both matches will be filmed for ROH.

The talent additions are part of an increased CMLL presence on ROH TV recently, a trend that began in earnest this month with AEW/ROH events in Texas, and will continue this week in both Oceanside & Oakland, California.

Notable from those announcements: Blue Panther Jr. will make his Khan companies debut at the Dynamite/ROH event in Oceanside while Mistico will be part of the Oakland Collision/ROH show.

MLW titles to be defended at NJPW & CMLL Fantasticamania

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW is set to play a part in NJPW x CMLL Fantasticamania 2025.

The tour is taking place this month and will conclude with two straight nights at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on February 27-28. It was announced today that MLW titles will be defended on both nights. The promotion has partnerships with both NJPW and CMLL.

– On night one, NJPW legend Satoshi Kojima and CMLL veteran OKUMURA will put their MLW Tag Team titles on the line against luchadores Rugido & Magnus. It’s a rematch from last year’s NJPW & CMLL Fantasticamania USA event, where Kojima & OKUMURA retained their belts.

That prior match between the teams happened during Kojima & OKUMURA’s first MLW Tag Team title reign. They are now two-time champs after regaining the belts from Minoru Suzuki & Ikuro Kwon in December.

– Night two at Korakuen Hall will be headlined by Mistico defending the MLW Middleweight Championship against Averno. Mistico has held the title since February 2024 and will reach one full year as champion if he wins this match.

“The first title that a young Mistico ever held was NWA’s World Middleweight Championship won from Averno back in January 2005,” NJPW wrote. “20 years removed, could it be Averno that ends a historic MLW title run?”

Both of the Korakuen Hall events will air live on NJPW World. Here are the full cards:

NJPW & CMLL Fantasticamania (Thursday, February 27) —

  • Volador Jr. vs. Templario
  • Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr.
  • Black Cat memorial: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Mistico, Mascara Dorada & Stigma vs. Taiji Ishimori, Averno, Soberano Jr. & Raider
  • Lightning match: Zandokan Jr. vs. Neon
  • MLW Tag Team Champions Satoshi Kojima & OKUMURA defend against Rugido & Magnus
  • Barbaro Cavernario & El Desperado vs. Hechicero & Ninja Mack
  • Xelhua & Max Star vs. Titan & KAMAITACHI

NJPW & CMLL Fantasticamania (Friday, February 28) —

  • MLW Middleweight Champion Mistico defends against Averno
  • Mascara Dorada vs. Soberano Jr.
  • Barbaro Cavernario vs. Hechicero
  • Templario, Neon & El Desperado vs. Volador Jr., Rugido & Magnus
  • Atlantis Jr., Stigma & Taiji Ishimori vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Satoshi Kojima & OKUMURA
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Xelhua, Ryusuke Taguchi & Ninja Mack vs. Titan, Zandokan Jr., Mascara Kantansu Tomato & KAMAITACHI
  • Max Star vs. Raider

New title matches added to NJPW x CMLL Fantasticamania USA

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A pair of title bouts are among the new matches set for Fantasticamania USA.

NJPW and CMLL are teaming up to present the show from San Jose, California on July 13. A Strong Openweight Championship match with Gabe Kidd defending against CMLL legend Ultimo Guerrero has been made official for the event. Plus, the MLW Tag Team titles will be defended in NJPW for the first time ever. Satoshi Kojima (NJPW) & Okumura (CMLL) are putting their belts on the line against Magnus & Rugido of the CMLL faction Los Depredadores.

This is Kidd’s first title defense since winning the Strong Openweight Championship from Eddie Kingston in a no rope Last Man Standing match this May.

At a CMLL event last month, Rugido teamed with Magia Blanca in a loss to Kojima & Okumura. It was Kojima & Okumura’s first title defense.

Kojima is a double champion in MLW, also holding the promotion’s World Heavyweight Championship.

NJPW’s Yota Tsuji vs. CMLL’s Barbaro Cavernario has been added to the Fantasticamania USA card as well. The show is taking place from Mt. Pleasant High School in San Jose and will air live on NJPW World pay-per-view.

The updated lineup is listed below:

NJPW x CMLL Fantasticamania USA (Saturday, July 13) —

  • Mistico & DOUKI vs. Rocky Romero & Volador Jr.
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Ultimo Guerrero
  • Yota Tsuji vs. Barbaro Cavernario
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Bad Dude Tito vs. Hechicero & Virus
  • Stephanie Vaquer vs. Lluvia
  • MLW Tag Team Champions Satoshi Kojima & Okumura defend against Magnus & Rugido
  • Copa Fantasticamania: Adrian Quest vs. The DKC vs. Viento vs. Cucuy

MLW announces match for vacant Tag Team titles

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After vacating the belts, MLW has revealed how its new tag team champions will be crowned.

Satoshi Kojima & Okumura vs. Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice & 1 Called Manders) for the MLW Tag Team titles will take place at the promotion’s Azteca Lucha event in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, May 11. The show is being held at Cicero Stadium and will air live on TrillerTV+.

The MLW Tag Team titles were declared vacant this week following an angle where champions Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr. were attacked by Contra Unit. MLW said that the attack “left Tom Lawlor hospitalized and Davey Boy Smith Jr. unable to compete, resulting in the championship committee declaring the titles vacant.”

A Lawlor & Smith vs. Kojima & Okumura match was being set up prior to Lawlor & Smith vacating the tag titles.

Kojima & Okumura is a pairing of NJPW and CMLL veterans. In MLW, Kojima is the promotion’s current World Heavyweight Champion.

Second Gear Crew are former MLW tag champs, holding the titles from November 2023 until February of this year.

Here’s the updated Azteca Lucha card:

  • MLW Middleweight Champion Mistico defends against Barbaro Cavernario
  • Atlantis Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero
  • Satoshi Kojima & Okumura vs. Second Gear Crew for the vacant MLW Tag Team titles
  • Star Jr. & Fuego vs. Magnus vs. Averno