Euforia versus Rush, Fantastica Mania Day 2, Impact in Mexico, Bandido ROH debut

CMLL (FRI) 01/11/2019 Arena México [CMLL, Lucha Central, Marca, Ovaciones, thecubsfan]
1) Cancerbero, Disturbio, Raziel b Robin, Star Jr., Súper Astro Jr. 
14:14. Rudos took 1/3.
2) Drone, Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr. b Kawato, Sagrado, Tiger 
13:18. Tecnicos took 1/3.
3) Pólvora DQ Felino [lightning] 
5:32. DQ when Felino “accidentally” unmasked Polvora.
4) Máscara Año 2000, Rey Bucanero, Shocker b Blue Panther, Rey Cometa, Tritón 
11:31. Rudos took 1/3.
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto b Kráneo, Stuka Jr., Volcano 
14:55. Rudos took 1/3.
6) Euforia, Niebla Roja, Valiente b La Bestia Del Ring, Rush, Villano IV [Relevos Increíbles] 
9:27. Straight falls. Rush unmasked Euforia to finish the match, setting up a 1v1 next week.

CMLL Promos: Super Astro Jr. (wants to avenge his father versus Hijo del Villano III), Felino (wants a rematch ), Polvora (wants a rematch), Los Senores Bien, Euforia (wants Rush), Rush (going to show Euforia what a real rudo is)

The bad looking show was not good. Rush & Euforia brought a bit of life int he main event and the first two matches had moments. You should not go back and watch if you missed. Go enjoy your weekend another way.

CMLL , NJPW (SAT) 01/12/2019 Texport Imabari, Ehima, Japan[CMLL, NJPW]
Fantastica Mania, 2019 Day 2
Attendance: 1090
1) Audaz, Kushida, Ryusuke Taguchi b Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Templario
8:00. Audaz beat Templario with his tornado armbar.
2) Flyer & Titán b Forastero & Taichi
8:39. Titanics on Forastero.
3) Okumura, Sansón, Yoshinobu Kanemaru b Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., Tiger Mask
9:53. Sanson torture rack powerbomb on Atlantis Jr.
4) Bárbaro Cavernario, Cuatrero, Último Guerrero b Ángel de Oro, Místico, Soberano Jr.
15:42. Guerrero Special on Mistico.
5) Dragón Lee, Jyushin Thunder Liger, Volador Jr. b Carístico, Gran Guerrero, Namajague [Relevos Increíbles]
8:30. Dragon Lee double stomp on Gran Guerrero
6) Bushi, Shingo Takagi, Terrible, Tetsuya Naito b Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, Toa Henare
14:51. Destino on Henare.

The rudos left the Atlantis family (& Tiger Mask) unmasked again. Atlantis Jr. is going to take the pinfall in probably every match he’s in. The question is if it’s going to take upset Okumura in his singles match. They’re back again in Kyoto on Sunday morning.

I have quick results from the Friday night Impact taping if you’re interested. The AAA/Mexican wrestlers were generally used as enhancement talent on the taping itself, then given a bonus match so they could go home with a win. They did an angle in it, so I assume it’s airing on Impact proper and not just taped for Xplosion or the local crowd.

The Impact taping was interrupted by a protest about Mexico’s current gasoline shortage. CMLL posted a message about the different public transportation ways to get to Arena Coliseo tonight. I have no feel for how big a deal this is from outside of Mexico, but it sure seems like something that’s got to cut down on people traveling to non-essential things like wrestling shows for the time being.

AAA indeed appears to be off of Televisa Nueve. They’ve not said anything – they never do! – but people looking for the show have been asking about the situation on Facebook and getting no response. I think AAA will be ok, but then I never actually hear about anyone watching their TV and I know they must be out there – they’re just not the people who are going to waste their lives talking about lucha libre on the internet. CMLL’s lack of strong TV didn’t hurt them when they had LA Park & Penta & Fenix in, though you could argue if it’s the lack of strong TV or their own programming that’s causing CMLL to be unable to make their own stars.

Bandido starts tonight in Ring of Honor. He faces Mark Haskins tonight in Atlanta on a TV taping, then PJ Black Sunday in Concord, North Carolina.

Lineups

CMLL (FRI) 01/18/2019 Arena México
1) Arkalis, Astral, Magnus vs Akuma, Espanto Jr., Metálico
2) La Jarochita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dalys, Metálica
3) Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Virus
4) Kráneo, Stuka Jr., Volcano vs Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Virus
5) Ephesto, Gilbert el Boricua, Mephisto vs Diamante Azul, Niebla Roja, Valiente
6) Rush vs Euforia

Penta & Fenix were announced as appearing thru the show, appeared in the video for this week, and are not actually on the show. (The video was pulled from YouTube.) They’ve been booked for PCW Ultra on this date for some time, and CMLL appears to not be great at knowing when those guys are available. I’m guessing they were in the Ephesto & Mephisto spots.

Euforia seems to be in Diamante Azul’s spot, though Diamante Azul is back in time to watch it from the semi-main. Not a lot going on the rest of the card.