great match roundup: CMLL NJPW FantasticaMania 2016

One last time to put in a table. Here’s all the recaps again

I’ve added links to RealHero’s videos of the first three days (except I’ve lost track of the day 3 opener.) NJPWWorld didn’t split up those shows into individual videos and I’m not a subscriber at the moment so you’re on your own.

You need to do what you need to do to see Dragon Lee/Kamaitachi. There were a lot of Good matches that weren’t far off Great. I’m low score on Volador/Mephisto; those less fatigued with those matches rate it higher. There wasn’t a bad match on the tour.

rating matches TV Show
excellent Dragón Lee vs Kamaitachi for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24
great Titán vs Bárbaro Cavernario © for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-22
great Mistico & Volador Jr. vs Mephisto & Último Guerrero Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-22
great Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Titán vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24
good Fuego & Titán vs Bárbaro Cavernario & YOSHI-HASHI Kochi Sunpia CHRES, Kochi, Japan: 2016-01-17
good Dragon Lee & Jay White vs Hechicero & Virus Kochi Sunpia CHRES, Kochi, Japan: 2016-01-17
good Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jyushin Thunder Liger, Mistico vsGedo, Kazuchika Okada, Último Guerrero Kochi Sunpia CHRES, Kochi, Japan: 2016-01-17
good Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Boby Zavala KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan: 2016-01-19
good David Finlay, Dragon Lee, Jyushin Thunder Liger, Titán vsBárbaro Cavernario, Hechicero, Virus, YOSHI-HASHI KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan: 2016-01-19
good Kushida & Mistico vs Gedo & Último Guerrero KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan: 2016-01-19
good The Panther vs Boby Zavala Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan: 2016-01-20
good Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Okumura Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan: 2016-01-20
good Jay White, Kushida, Ryusuke Taguchi, Titán vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Gedo, Hechicero, YOSHI-HASHI Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan: 2016-01-20
good Atlantis, Fuego, Máscara Dorada vs Bushi, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan: 2016-01-20
good Juice Robinson, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Mephisto, Shinsuke Nakamura, Último Guerrero Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan: 2016-01-20
good David Finlay, Guerrero Maya Jr., Jyushin Thunder Liger, Kushida, The Panther vs Boby Zavala, Gedo, Hechicero, Okumura, YOSHI-HASHI Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-22
good Máscara Dorada vs Bushi © for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-22
good Máscara Dorada & Titán vs Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-23
good Ryusuke Taguchi & Stuka Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario & Shinsuke Nakamura Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-23
good Dragon Lee © vs Virus for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-23
good Hiroshi Tanahashi, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Kazuchika Okada, Mephisto, Último Guerrero Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-23
good Fuego, Kushida, Stuka Jr., Tiger Mask IV vs Boby Zavala, Hechicero, Okumura, Yoshihashi Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24
good Jyushin Thunder Liger vs Virus Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24
good Mistico vs Último Guerrero Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24
good Volador Jr. © vs Mephisto for the NWA World Welterweight Championship Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24
ok Kushida & Stuka Jr. vs Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu Kochi Sunpia CHRES, Kochi, Japan: 2016-01-17
ok Guerrero Maya Jr. & The Panther vs Boby Zavala & Okumura Kochi Sunpia CHRES, Kochi, Japan: 2016-01-17
ok Atlantis, Juice Robinson, Máscara Dorada vs Bushi, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito Kochi Sunpia CHRES, Kochi, Japan: 2016-01-17
ok Ryusuke Taguchi & Volador Jr. vs Mephisto & Shinsuke Nakamura Kochi Sunpia CHRES, Kochi, Japan: 2016-01-17
ok Fuego & Ryusuke Taguchi vs Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan: 2016-01-19
ok The Panther vs Okumura KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan: 2016-01-19
ok Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Stuka Jr. vs Bushi, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan: 2016-01-19
ok Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Volador Jr. vsKazuchika Okada, Mephisto, Shinsuke Nakamura KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan: 2016-01-19
ok Jushin Liger & Stuka Jr. vs Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan: 2016-01-20
ok Dragon Lee & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Okada & Virus Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan: 2016-01-20
ok Fuego & Stuka Jr. vs Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-22
ok Atlantis & Juice Robinson vs EVIL & Tetsuya Naito Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-22
ok Dragon Lee, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi vsKazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Virus Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-22
ok Fuego, Juice Robinson, Kushida vs Gedo, Hechicero, YOSHI-HASHI Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-23
ok Guerrero Maya Jr. & The Panther © vs Boby Zavala & Okumura for the Arena Coliseo (DF) Tag Team Championship Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-23
ok Atlantis, Jyushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask vs Bushi, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-23
ok Guerrero Maya Jr. & The Panther vs Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24
ok Atlantis, Máscara Dorada, Ryusuke Taguchi vs Bushi, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan: 2016-01-24

Volador/Casas and Thunder/UG in trios tonight, IWRG results

tonight’s show

IWRG (WED) 02/10/2016 Arena Naucalpan [The Gladiatores]
1) Aramis b Osiris
Osiris debut on a main show.
2) Fireman & Galaxy b Acero & Troll
straight falls. Troll (and Trolli)’s debut on a main show.
3) Dragón Fly, Freyzer, Kanon b Adrenalina, Atomic Star, Picudo Jr.
Freyzer and Atomic Star are feuding.
4) Emperador Azteca, Pantera I, Veneno b Oficial AK47, Violencia Jr., X-Fly
AK47’s first match here since November 1st.
5) Diablo Jr. I, El Hijo del Diablo, Imposible DQ Apolo Estrada Jr., Canis Lupus, Eterno
Mariachis took 2/3. Apolo fouled Diablo.

Today’s CMLL show features the two major feuds CMLL’s been teasing towards Homenaje a Dos Leyendas. Volador Jr. and Negro Casas meet in the main event, in a rematch from last week. Volador teams with Mascara Dorada & Mistico again while Casas teams with Barbaro Cavernario & Mephisto. The Thunder/Ultimo Guerrero emerges again in the semifinal, with Rush, Marco, Cibernetico and Mr. Niebla drafted in as as partners. CMLL’s next major show is about a month away and it’s possible one of those feuds might be more clearly set for that show.

Kamaitachi and Dragon Lee meet again in the tercera, teaming with Guerrero Maya, La Mascara, Hechicero and Bobby Z. Those two could also meet in Dos Leyendas, though it’s probably more dependent on what room is left on the card. (Dragon Lee’s been in Los Angeles this week, diving off balconies, as part of the well attended Lucha Va Voom shows.) The second match looks pretty good – Triton, Fuego, the Panther versus Puma, Tiger, and Virus – and means Negro’s sobrinos will definitely be around to help out their tio in the main event. CMLL’s preview plays up the idea Volador may have a surprise of his own.

The show starts at 8:30pm and will air as usual on ClaroSports.com.

Saturday’s Arena Coliseo show is canceled. Mexico City is closing some roads due to the Pope coming to town, and those closures make getting to the building too hard to run the show. CMLL says this will not affect the Friday or Sunday shows at Arena Mexico.

El Sol de Mexico caught up with Raijin, Fujin and Okumura, who explained their goal is to dominate as a trio and win the championship. Okumura asked Raijin and Fujin about Mexican women. Fujin said he needs to learn Spanish to get closer to them, while Raijin said he already had his eye on a couple of women and is going to get his Mexican friends to help him learn enough Spanish to talk to them.

Many AAA wrestlers are in Tijuana tonight for The Crash. Main event is Blue Demon, Fenix, Rey Horuz vs John Morrison, Pentagon Jr. and Teddy Hart, which is a match where Blue Demon sticks out like a sore thumb.

In an AAA interview, Joe Lider actually says it was his mistake Pentagon & he lost the tag title match, but hopes they can work things out.

0/3/06 Chairo 3 (Arena Naucalpan, Chairo Kingdom) card so far
Mascara Dorada vs Extreme Tiger, falls count anywhere
Super Muneco vs Maximo
Atlantis vs Caifan
Hijo del Solar vs Solar
Rey Horuz vs Dragon Lee
Zoom Driver vs Karisma – new

03/12 RIOT card so far
Unmexicans vs Compadres Extremos
Alberto Dos Rios vs Psycko Kid
Tony Rodriguez vs Rico Rodriguez
Kratoz vs Kamikaze (ex-Viento Divino)
Arez vs Caifain vs Dralion
Erik Ortiz vs Sammy Guevara vs Ultimo Ninja – new

Black Fire gets a shot at the DTU Alto Impacto championship on 02/20 in Bielfield, Germany. The Black Fire in WXW matches are going to be interesting because he hasn’t really found a way to stand out in a big way in DTU, but has a chance to do that on another continent.

Humo announced Marcela versus Ayako Hamada for their 02/28 show.

WWC announced Konnan will second Hijo de Dos Caras for his match against Ray Gonzalez on 02/27. That’s the Rey Mysterio vs Mr. 450 headlined show, so it’s no surprise Konnan’s on that card and it’s a good use of him.

Segunda Caida watches El Signo & Negro Navarro vs Black Terry & Shu el Guerrero

There’s a new box y lucha libre commission in Tapachula, though it reads as though they’re only interested in regulating boxing.

Lady Sensasion talks about the challenges in being both a lucahdora and a mom.

2015 lucha libre appearances by state

One more slice of the data

The big takeaway is there are a lot of people posting lineups for Veracruz on Facebook (and seemingly room for 6-7 groups to run almost weekly around the state.) CDMX and Estadio de México info is easier to find – if I don’t see some of them once, I’ll see it a couple other times – but it feels like there’s as many or more indie promotions running weekly in a much smaller state.

Once you get past Arizona (a lot of POR promociones shows), those are entire states where there’s less than one known show a week. At least some of that is just those places not posting their lineups anywhere where we’ve found them, but they’re also harder places for luchadors.

A full chart of the top 10 in each state is here.

State State
Events
Most Often
Luchador
Appearance
Count
Estado de México 662 Aramis 88
Veracruz 525 Rey Infierno 78
Distrito Federal 502 Máximo 113
Tamaulipas 466 the Tiger
(Tamaulipas)
77
Coahuila 462 Dulce Paola 71
Jalisco 426 Black Golden
(Jalisco)
82
Nuevo León 334 Mini Difunto 74
Chihuahua 282 Mini Guerrero
Escarlata
60
Texas 278 Black Cat 37
Hidalgo 262 Varcan 57
Puebla 245 Toro Bill Jr. 50
San Luis Potosí 182 Bogar 42
Guerrero 166 Guerrero Jr.
(Guerrero)
66
Guanajuato 163 Black Evil 38
Durango 158 Espacial (Laguna) 52
Baja California 134 Mirage 42
California 125 Monje Maldito 26
Quintana Roo 91 Caballero
Galáctico
30
Michoacán 72 Obituary 19
Guatemala 68 Hijo De La Araña 35
Morelos 60 Fénix (Cuernavaca) 21
Oaxaca 60 Zombie 23
Yucatán 59 Danger Boy 22
Arizona 56 Chucho 39
Sonora 49 Blue Star 15
Querétaro 48 Vengador
(Querétaro)
17
Sinaloa 45 Mr. Iguana 14
Chiapas 42 Ángel Caído 12
Aguascalientes 34 Impacto Aéreo 18
Zacatecas 31 Kayfan 13
Illinois 29 Discovery 11
Tlaxcala 29 Charly Star 7
Colorado 28 Angelux 10
Tabasco 26 Forastero 14
Colima 14 Ángel Diabólico 8
Baja California Sur 9 Guerrero Jr. 3
Campeche 7 Mecanico Infernal 3
Nayarit 4 Loco González 3

lucha TV preview for weekend of February 13th

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Volador versus Negro Casas on Monday night Puebla might be match of the week if they get/take time. Pentagon and Puma on Lucha Underground should be pretty good too, and there’s matches on AAA‘s show which could be good (though no clear idea which one will air. Azteca is in the worst of the counter FantasticaMania boredom.

There’s a question what happens to the Tuesday internet stream, the ClaroSportsTV/Titanes el Ring and the LATV shows now that CMLL says Megasports will air Tuesday shows on Monday nights.. I’m thinking nothing changes though. It shouldn’t – Megasports is an obscure channel, one which may be only available to those who are on the Megacable cable system. (That cable company is not available in Mexico City.) This is a channel so small it has a Twitter account for it’s baseball coverage, but no Facebook page and no website. Megacable, who again owns this stationm doesn’t even list it in on it’s own programming grid.. If you try searching for info about the station, most of the results are people reporting this CMLL story today – the station might as well not exist before today. CMLL could’ve had TV on this station for months and no one would notice. No one will notice going forward either.

Speaking of things that don’t seem to exist: CMLL on TDN. Not on the listing for Sunday, which CMLL announced as the start date, but haven’t said much more about it and there’s nothing that looks like a lucha show outside of “Hazaña el deporte vive” airing a (probably repeat) lucha libre special at 11pm. Your guess is as good as mine.