Tag: rugido

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