FantasticaMania 2020 wraps up, Guerrero/Mistico in Puebla tonight, IWRG

IWRG (SUN) 01/19/2020 Arena Naucalpan [+LuchaTV, The Gladiatores]
1) Dinámico & Spider Fly b Noicy Boy & Voltrex 
2) Legendario b Maradó 
3) Avisman & Black Dragón DQ Death Metal & Fulgor I 
4) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Pasion Cristal b El Hijo del Medico Asesino, Fresero Jr., Hijo de Pirata Morgan and Big Chico Che, Big Mike, Big Ovett 
The Big Strippers were out first when Big Mike was DQ-ed for splashing the ref by mistake. Fresero had issues with his partners leading to their loss and a post-match fight.
5) Puma de Oro b Relámpago, Lunatik Xtreme 
Puma beat Relampago with a 450 splash
6) Demonio Infernal © b Fuerza NG [IWRG Rey del Ring] 
4th defense. Demonio Infernal won via unseen martinete.
7) CIMA, Lindaman, T-Hawk b Emperador Azteca, Súper Nova, Toxin 
CIMA beat Toxin. Super Nova challenges CIMA.

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CMLL , NJPW (MON) 01/20/2020 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan [CMLL, Lucha Central, NJPW, thecubsfan]
1) Fuego & Ryusuke Taguchi b Douki & Kanemaru
7:12. Fuego submitted DOUKI.
2) Tiger Mask b Tiger
6:54. Tiger suplex.
3) El Audaz, Flyer, Guerrero Maya Jr. b Euforia, Luciferno, Namajague
8:02. Flyer beat Lucifierno with the guillotine legdrop.
4) Bushi, EVIL, Takagi b Dulce Gardenia, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Uemura
11:30. Takagi beat Uemura with a Pumping Bomber.
5) Negro Casas, Okumura, Último Guerrero b Kojima, Soberano Jr., Stuka Jr.
10:48. Negro Casas beat Stuka with a casita.
6) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón © b Ángel de Oro, Niebla Roja, Titán [MEX TRIOS]
14:30. 14th defense. Angel de Oro was pinned after the Catapult Dinamita.
7) Carístico © b Bárbaro Cavernario [NWA MIDDLE]
16:06. 3rd defense. Caristico retained via La Mistica to close the tour.

A fun show to close it out. The main event was a little bit better than expected, the NGD trios match was a little less. Titan/Forastero still seems the match of the tournament, with Caristico/Cavernario behind it. They did a lot of playing off previous bits in the undercard, making them feel less like repeats and more like conclusions. Casas getting a pinfall win seemed doesn’t fit usual patterns and instead felt like giving him a win in case he never makes it back to NJPW again. (He made no indication of that in his interview, though.)

Dulce Gardenia was the breakout star of the tour. There’s a shot of Gardenia being in Best of Super Juniors, though I suspect it’d go a lot like Yano in the G1 – some people (especially Japanese fans) would enjoy the comedy, others (especially Western fans) would find the act obstructive to the types of matches they want to see in that competition.

Some of the roster is coming back Tuesday. Others are staying around for a few days. The Dalys CMLL Lady’s Ring title match is on Wednesday. Jarochita and Dalys are also on the 01/25 TJPW card, so Negro Casas probably is staying as well. Dalys was visible watching the matches on the last couple of FantasticaMania shows.

NJPW didn’t have a number this morning so I was going to with 93,173, but I was told on Twitter it was actually 1,593. That puts the final total 10,449, a new high. It’s not big of an increase, but that they were able to keep the same turnout even while running Tokyo a fourth time and with a lineup that was not particularly exciting is a strong side for the business of FantasticaMania. Maybe not the in-ring side, because it proved what they’re doing is good enough for now, but that’s the way it goes.

Sounds like Namajague is going to open a steak restaurant. He will be missed.

If you watched one “Mistico versus a great rival” match this morning, CMLL has another one for you tonight. The second Mistico takes on Gran Guerrero in Arena Puebla, four days before meeting again in Arena Mexico. This is the first time they’ve met. Gran Guerrero, like most every rudo on his level, never wins singles matches and probably won’t win this.

Kawato San & Stigma had issues last week. They meet again in the tercera. Stigma teams with the Panthers, Kawato with locals Perverso and Toro Bill. Kraneo is an unlikely Sky Team member, teaming with Valiente and Volador against Ephesto, Mephisto, and Templario. There’s two locals heavy match to open the show. It’ll stream at 9 pm.

ROH on 02/28 in St. Louis Nashville

• Dragon Lee challenging PCO for the ROH World Championship
• Brody King & Flip Gordon vs Rush & Kenny King

Lineups

CMLL (SAT) 01/25/2020 Arena Coliseo
1) Fantasy & Último Dragóncito vs Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia
2) Lluvia, Mystique, Skadi vs Amapola, La Infernal, Tiffany
3) Eléctrico, Magia Blanca, Retro vs Misterioso, Sagrado, Tiger
4) Súper Astro Jr. vs Hijo del Signo [lightning]
5) Audaz, Dulce Gardenia, Stuka Jr. vs Hechicero, Kawato San, Vangellys
6) Carístico, Diamante Azul, Flyer vs Cavernario, Euforia, Último Guerrero

CMLL throwing out a Flyer main event against AAA’s TV taping. (Or they’re giving Valiente, Volador. and Mistico a day off after working a lot during FantasticaMania.)

IWRG (SUN) 01/26/2020 Arena Naucalpan
1) Águila Oriental Jr. & Spider Fly vs Noicy Boy & Voltrex
2) Black Dragón, Chicanito, Legendario vs Canival King, Carnicero, Death Metal
3) Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura, Pasion Kristal vs Oficial 911, Oficial AK47, Oficial Fierro
4) Demonio Infernal & Fresero Jr. vs El Hijo del Medico Asesino & Hijo de Pirata Morgan
5) Fuerza Guerrera NG, Relámpago, Súpernova vs Black Terry, Emperador Azteca, Lindaman
6) Puma King & Séptimo Dragón vs CIMA & T-Hawk and Dragón Bane & Hijo de Canis Lupus

CIMA is a big fan of young high flyers so he’s going to love Dragon Bane after this match. (Assuming he makes it.) The fourth match follows up on issues between Infernal vs Asesino/Morgan.