FantasticaMania Day 6, Los Revolucionarios, The Crash tonight

CMLL (FRI) 01/20/2017 Arena México [CMLL, ESTO, Estrellas del Ring, SuperLuchas, thecubsfan]
1) Flyer & Oro Jr. b Akuma & Inquisidor
13:15. Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Fuego, Pegasso, The Panther b Disturbio, Sangre Azteca, Skándalo
15:12. Tecnicos took 2/3.
3) Tritón b Misterioso Jr. [lightning]
9:08. Misterioso won with the Rosa Driver.
4) Bobby Z, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora b Guerrero Maya Jr., Johnny Idol, Rey Cometa
15:32. Rudos took 1/3.
5) Ángel de Oro, Blue Panther, Marco Corleone b Felino, Negro Casas, Sam Adonis
11:50. Tecnicos took 1/3.
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. b Mephisto, Rey Bucanero, Terrible
16:18. Tecnicos took 1/3.

The main event really played down the Rayo/Terrible thing compared to last week (though Rayo made sure to get his revenge post match), with the show ending up instead having Caristico hype his match with Mephisto for today in Arena Coliseo.  The best thing they did on the show was the big introduction to the new Revolucionarios, which helped them come off as big stars prior to the victory.

CMLL NJPW (SAT) 01/21/2017 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan [411 Mania, CMLL, CultIcon, NJPW, thecubsfan]
Attendance: 1559
1) Ephesto, Gedo, Jado, Raziel b Blue Panther Jr., Henare, Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask
6:51, Ephesto beat Blue Panther Jr. with the Ephesto Roll.
2) Stuka Jr. b Okumura
7:55. Stuka splashed both Okumura & Mima Shimoda (who had been interfering) for the win
3) Bárbaro Cavernario, Okada, Will Ospreay b Kushida, Ryusuke Taguchi, Soberano Jr.
9:42. Cavernario submitted Soberano with the cavernaria (though he seemed limited the rest of the match.)
4) Bushi, EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi, Naito, Sanada b David Finlay, Dragón Lee, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Titán
8:57. Sanada submitted Finlay to the Skull End.
5) Mistico & Volador Jr. b Euforia & Último Guerrero
13:39. Ultimo Guerrero beat Volador with the Guerrero Special
6) Rush b Atlantis
10:46. Atlantis bled significantly under the mask. Atlantis got Rush up in the Atlantida late, but BUSHI & Naito interfered to help Rush win.
7) Máximo Sexy © b Hechicero [CMLL HEAVY]
15:59. Maximo used a springboard off the middle rope headscissors to defeated Hechicero. 9th defense

I liked this overall better than the previous day’s show, though Cavernario/Dragon Lee might have been better than anything here. The unexpected wild brawling and blood helped the Rush/Atlantis match. The NJPW crowd gave the main event more of a chance than it would’ve gotten elsewhere, and it was a good match. Soberano continues to do very well in his matches and that tercera was a nice hidden highlight for the show.

The tour finishes up tomorrow morning at 3:30 AM. Volador faces Ultimo Guerrero and Mistico fights Euforia, building off their strong tag match today. Dragon Lee & Titan versus Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI is the other big match on the show, with NJPW putting a lot of focus on the upcoming title match. CultIcon previews this show.

SportsNavi has a (Japanese) language interview with Okumura about his career in Mexico.

There’s also a show in Tijuana tonight for The Crash, starting tonight sometime around 10pm. It’s a loaded card: Rey Fenix & The Hardys take on the reunited Mexicools (Juventud Guerrera, Nicho el Millionario, Super Crazy) in the main event. The semimain will have at least Brian Cage, Willie Mack and Jeff Cobb – La Mascara was supposed to be in it, but said he wasn’t sure if he would be and has gone silent on the show. (That match looks better without him.) Flamita takes on AR Fox in a first time ever match which could be outstanding, as could be the Jack Evans & Rey Horuz vs Bestia 666 & Jinzo match prior to it. The opening matches have Angel Metalico, Black Boy and Orauclo against Douglas James, Tiago, Tony Casanova, and Black Danger against Arkangel Divino, of the famous super fast Mistica.

The Crash shows have generally been good but haven’t had every match work out like intended. If they do tonight, it’s going to be a great show. CultIcon has a preview of this show too. The Crash’s website says they’ll be streaming the show tonight. It’s usually a single camera from not a poor angle, but it’s free and you can’t beat free.

Hijo del Pantera says he’s moved to United States full time, blaming promoters in Mexico for not using new talent and lowering the level of lucha libre in the country. Hijo del Pantera doesn’t really show up in lineups in the US much either (and probably needs to cross over into normal US indie feds if he’s going to be booked more), but is part of a show Sunday in Berwyn with Aerostar, Ciclon Ramirez Jr. and Huracan Ramirez Jr.

Rey Fenix is also around Chicago this weekend. He was in AAW last night, and will be wrestling for GALLI Sunday night.

Hijo del Fantasma debuts for AAW outside of Chicago on 02/17.

LuchaMemes is doing a show in Arena Femenil Monterrey with MDA sometime soon.

LuchaWorld has the latest Lucha Report.

Fuego en el Ring has a new edition of their podcast.

Liger Fever recaps another Demus promo.

Lineup

CMLL (TUE) 01/24/2017 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Explosivo & Gallo vs Maléfico & Pitbull I
2) Princesa Sugehit, Silueta, Skadi vs La Seductora, Reyna Isis, Tiffany
3) Blue Panther Jr., Esfinge, The Panther vs Disturbio, Puma, Tiger
4) Negro Casas vs Mephisto
5) Dragón Lee, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Gran Guerrero, Último Guerrero

Lineups aren’t being posted on CMLL’s website for the moment – Alexis Salazar and Miguel Reducino being at FantasticaMania is probably the reason – so the Fuego en el Ring just took a photo of the handbill and put it up. Negro Casas & Mephisto was weirdly set up last week, and I have less understanding why they’re doing when it’s just a semimain. Not sure Cavernario will be working this show.