Fanastica Mania
Okumura during the 2017 tour, the only wrestler to work all tours
Promotions
Other namesFantasticamania
First eventFantastica Mania 2011
Event gimmickInter-promotional matches between CMLL and NJPW

Fantastica Mania, sometimes spelled as Fantasticamania, is a series of annual professional wrestling shows co-promoted by Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and Japanese New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Fantastica Mania is a series of two to seven shows that have taken place in Japan, in January of each year since 2010. At the end of the 2020 tour, 56 Fantastica Mania shows will have taken place.

Event history

The Fantastica Mania event series was a result of the working relationship between Japanese-based New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Mexican Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) who had been exchanging wrestlers for short or long periods of time for several years before 2011. In late 2010 NJPW and CMLL announced that they would co-promote two shows in January 2011 under the name Fantastica Mania. The shows would take place in Japan organized by NJPW with CMLL sending a number of their wrestlers to Japan to work the shows. In 2011 and 2012 some CMLL wrestlers toured with NJPW prior or after the shows, while some of the wrestlers flew in just for the show. In 2014, the Fantastica Mania tour was expanded to five days, with events for the first time scheduled to take place outside of Tokyo's Korakuen Hall, in Osaka and Kyoto.[1] In 2015, Fantastica Mania was held over six shows in Osaka, Takamatsu, Kyoto and Tokyo.[2] In 2016, Fantastica Mania was again held over six shows in Kōchi, Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo.[3] The following year, the tour expanded to seven shows, held in Osaka, Matsuyama, Kyoto, Nagoya and Tokyo.[4] In 2018, the tour is set to include eight shows.[5]

As of the conclusion of the 2017 Fantastica Mania tour 78 individual wrestlers have competed in 207 matches split over 31 shows in total. Gedo, Jyushin Thunder Liger and Okumura have worked at least one match on each of the seven tours. King Fale, Kenny Omega and Toru Yano have only worked on one show in total. The Fantastica Mania events have hosted 24 championship matches, with five title changes; Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Máscara Dorada to win the CMLL World Welterweight Championship, Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) defeated Golden☆Lovers (Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, La Sombra defeated Dragón Rojo Jr. to win the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship, Máscara Dorada defeated Bushi to win the CMLL World Welterweight Championship and Kamaitachi defeated Dragon Lee to win the CMLL World Lightweight Championship.[6][7][8][9][10] The CMLL World Heavyweight Championship, CMLL World Middleweight Championship, IWGP Tag Team Championship, CMLL World Trios Championship, CMLL World Welterweight Championship, NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship, IWGP Intercontinental Championship, Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship, CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship, Mexican National Welterweight Championship and Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship were all successfully defended.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Fantastica Mania has hosted one Lucha de Apuestas, or bet match; while the Luchas de Apuestas match is the most important match type in CMLL, NJPW hardly ever promotes matches of this type. The match saw Tiger Mask put his mask on the line against Tomohiro Ishii, who lost and had his hair shaved off after the match.[6][8][9]

Dates, venues, and main events

Year Date City Venue Main event
2011 January 22 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Shinsuke Nakamura, Tetsuya Naito and Averno vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Prince Devitt and Místico[6]
January 23 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Golden☆Lovers (Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega) vs. Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship[6][8][9]
2012 January 21 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Kazuchika Okada and Volador Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and La Sombra[13]
January 22 Tokyo Korakuen Hall La Sombra (c) vs. Volador Jr. for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship[15]
2013 January 18 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Hiroshi Tanahashi and La Sombra vs. Misterioso Jr. and Shinsuke Nakamura[19]
January 19 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. La Sombra for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship[19]
January 20 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Prince Devitt vs. Euforia, Kazuchika Okada and Mephisto[19]
2014 January 14 Osaka Bodymaker Colosseum El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Místico vs. Kazuchika Okada, Mephisto and Rey Escorpión[20]
January 15 Kyoto KBS Hall El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi and La Sombra vs. Kazuchika Okada, Niebla Roja and Último Guerrero[20]
January 17 Tokyo Shin-Kiba 1st Ring La Sombra vs. Volador Jr.[20]
January 18 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Mephisto (c) vs. Místico for the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship[20]
January 19 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Volador Jr. (c) vs. Máscara Dorada for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship[20]
2015 January 13 Osaka Bodymaker Colosseum Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Volador Jr. vs. Gran Guerrero, Kazuchika Okada and Último Guerrero[21]
January 14 Takamatsu Takamatsu-shi Sōgō Taiikukan Hiroshi Tanahashi, Máscara Dorada and Tiger Mask vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, La Sombra and Tetsuya Naito[21]
January 15 Kyoto KBS Hall Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Volador Jr. vs. Gran Guerrero, Shinsuke Nakamura and Último Guerrero[21]
January 17 Tokyo Shin-Kiba 1st Ring Atlantis and Máscara Dorada vs. Los Guerreros Laguneros (Gran Guerrero and Último Guerrero)[21]
January 18 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Atlantis vs. Último Guerrero[21]
January 19 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Máscara Dorada vs. La Sombra[21]
2016 January 17 Kōch Kochi Sunpia Chres Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jyushin Thunder Liger and Místico vs. Gedo, Kazuchika Okada and Último Guerrero
January 19 Kyoto KBS Hall Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson and Volador Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada, Mephisto and Shinsuke Nakamura
January 20 Osaka Edion Arena Osaka Dragon Lee and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada and Virus
January 22 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Mephisto and Último Guerrero vs. Místico and Volador Jr.
January 23 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Hiroshi Tanahashi, Místico and Volador Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada, Mephisto and Último Guerrero
January 24 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Volador Jr. (c) vs. Mephisto for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
2017 January 13 Osaka Edion Arena Osaka Hechicero, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Máximo Sexy and Ryusuke Taguchi[22]
January 14 Matsuyama Item Ehime Euforia, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kushida and Místico[22]
January 15 Kyoto KBS Hall David Finlay, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Volador Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada, Último Guerrero and Will Ospreay[22]
January 16 Nagoya Nagoya Congress Center Bárbaro Cavernario, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay vs. Dragon Lee, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kushida[22]
January 20 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Dragon Lee (c) vs. Bárbaro Cavernario for the CMLL World Lightweight Championship[22]
January 21 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Máximo Sexy (c) vs. Hechicero for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship[22]
January 22 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Último Guerrero vs. Volador Jr.[22]
2018 January 12 Nagoyo Nagoya Congress Center Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Místico vs. Chaos (Gedo and Kazuchika Okada) and Último Guerrero[5]
January 14 Kyoto KBS Hall Hiroshi Tanahashi, Místico and Niebla Roja vs. Gran Guerrero, Kazuchika Okada and Último Guerrero[5]
January 15 Takamatsu Takamatsu City Gymnasium Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Niebla Roja vs. Chaos (Gedo and Kazuchika Okada) and Gran Guerrero[5]
January 16 Osaka Edion Arena Osaka Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Volador Jr. vs. Chaos (Gedo and Kazuchika Okada) and El Bárbaro Cavernario[5]
January 17 Toyama Techno Hall Hiroshi Tanahashi, Místico and Volador Jr. vs. El Bárbaro Cavernario, Kazuchika Okada and Último Guerrero[5]
January 19 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Niebla Roja (c) vs. Gran Guerrero for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship[5]
January 21 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Volador Jr. (c) vs. Barbaro Cavernario for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship[5]
January 22 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Los Guerreros Laguneros (Gran Guerrero and Último Guerrero) vs. Dragon Lee and Místico in a CMLL Brothers Tag Tournament Final Match[5]
2019 January 11 Osaka Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs. Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare[23]
January 12 Ehime Texport Imabari Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs. Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare[24]
January 13 Kyoto KBS Hall Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs. Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare[24]
January 14 Gifu Gifu Industrial Hall Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare[24]
January 16 Chiba Makuhari Messe Dragon Lee and Místico vs. La Familia Real (Flyer and Volador Jr.)[25]
January 18 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito)
January 20 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Místico and Dragon Lee vs. Los Guerreros Laguneros (Gran Guerrero and Último Guerrero
January 21 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Volador Jr. vs. Carístico
2020 January 10 Osaka Edion Arena Osaka Stuka Jr., Carístico and Satoshi Kojima vs. OKUMURA, Bárbaro Cavernario and Último Guerrero[26]
January 11 Ehime Item Ehime Carístico, Satoshi Kojima, and Soberano Jr. vs. Bárbaro Cavernario and Los Guerreros Lagunero (Euforia and Último Guerrero)[27]
January 12 Kyoto KBS Hall Carístico, Satoshi Kojima, and Soberano Jr. vs. Bárbaro Cavernario and Los Guerreros Lagunero (Euforia and Último Guerrero)[27]
January 13 Aichi Nagoya Congress Center Carístico, Satoshi Kojima, and Soberano Jr. vs. Bárbaro Cavernario and Los Guerreros Lagunero (Euforia and Último Guerrero)[27]
January 16 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Los Hermanos Chavez (Ángel de Oro and Niebla Roja) vs. Dinastia Casas (Negro Casas and Tiger)[26]
January 17 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Nueva Generacion Dinamitas (Sansón and El Cuatrero) vs. Los Hermanos Chavez (Ángel de Oro and Niebla Roja) for the CMLL Family Tag Tournament final[26]
January 19 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Carístico, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tiger Mask vs. Negro Casas, Euforia and Bárbaro Cavernario[26]
January 20 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Carístico (c) vs. Bárbaro Cavernario for the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship[26]
2023[28] February 22 Takamatsu Takamatsu City General Gymnasium Hiroshi Tanahashi and Místico vs. Atlantis Jr. and Último Guerrero
February 23 Kyoto KBS Hall Atlantis Jr. and Templario vs. Volador Jr. and Místico
February 24 Osaka Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium Atlantis Jr. and Ultimo Guerrero vs. Magia Blanca and Volador Jr.
February 26 Chiba Makuhari Messe International Conference Hall Atlantis Jr. and Ultimo Guerrero vs. Bushi and Titán
February 27 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Titán (c) vs. Soberano Jr. for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
February 28 Tokyo Korakuen Hall Atlantis Jr. vs. Místico
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match

Mexico

Fantastica Mania: Mexico
PromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateJune 30, 2023
CityMexico City, Mexico
VenueArena México
Tagline(s)50th Aniversario Del El Satánico
Event chronology
← Previous
(CMLL) 50th Aniversario Del El Satánico
(NJPW) Forbidden Door (2023) 		Next →
(CMLL) TBA
(NJPW) Independence Day

Fantastica Mexico, also known as CMLL Presenta NJPW Fantastica Mania México 2023, was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), which took place on June 30, 2023, at the Arena México in Mexico City, Mexico. It was the 12th edition of the Fantastica Mania event series. The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of El Satánico.

Six matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Rocky Romero defeated Volador Jr. to retain the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship. In other prominent matches, Máscara Dorada 2.0 defeated El Desperado, Tiger Mask vs El Satánico ended in a time-limit draw in a match relámpago and in the opening contest, Las Infernales (Dark Silueta, Zeuxis and Lluvia) defeated La Catalina, La Jarochita and Stephanie Vaquer.

Production

Background

The 2023 Fantastica Mania tour was the twelfth year in a row where Japanese wrestling promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promoted a series of shows with their Mexican partner Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Due to the co-promotional nature of the shows, they rarely featured any development in ongoing NJPW or CMLL storylines, opting instead to focus on inter-promotional matches. The Fantastica Mania shows featured various professional wrestling matches planned out by CMLL and NJPW, with some wrestlers involved in scripted feuds. The wrestlers portray either heels (referred to as rudos in Mexico, those that play the part of the "bad guys") or faces (técnicos in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) as they perform.[29]

Storylines

Fantastica Mania Mexico featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes (referred to as técnicos in Mexico; the good guys), villains (referred to as rudos in Mexico; the bad guys), or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[30]

Results

No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Las Infernales (Dark Silueta, Zeuxis and Lluvia) defeated La Catalina, La Jarochita and Stephanie Vaquer 2-1Lucha de Amazonas5:34
2Douki and Okumura defeated Audaz and Capitán Suicida 2-02-out-of-3 falls tag team match10:54
3Tiger Mask vs. El Satánico ended in a time-limit drawMatch Relámpago10:00
4Máscara Dorada 2.0 defeated El Desperado 2-12-out-of-3 falls match12:35
5Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi, Tetsuya Naito and Titán) defeated Atlantis Jr., Místico and Soberano Jr. 2-12-out-of-3 falls six-man tag team match18:28
6Rocky Romero (c) (with Tiger Mask) defeated Volador Jr. (with Máscara Dorada 2.0) 2-12-out-of-3 falls match for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship22:02
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

References

  1. ^ "来年もやります!! "ルチャの祭典"『Fantastica Mania 2014』はなんと5大会!! 大阪、京都にも初上陸!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 25, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. ^ "来年も"ルチャの祭典"がやって来る! 5年連続の「NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2015」 開催、スケジュールも決定!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "来年も"ルチャの祭典"が日本上陸！ 『CMLL Fantastica Mania 2016』開催決定！ 後楽園ホール3連戦も実現！". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  4. ^ "『NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2017』 1月16日（月）名古屋大会の追加開催が決定！". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "来年も"ルチャの祭典"がやってくる！『NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2018』の全日程が決定！名古屋、京都、高松、大阪、富山、後楽園で開催！". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 3, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e Flores, Manuel (January 24, 2011). "NJPW CMLL Presents Fantasticamania 2011". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico: CAMSAN Impresores, S.A. de C.V. pp. 3–7. Issue 398. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Flores, Manuel (January 22, 2011). "Resultados "Fantasticamanía" – CMLL/NJPW en Japón – Los mexicanos perdieron todos los duelos por campeonatos". Súper Luchas Magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d Zayfreb (January 23, 2011). "Resultados NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2011, 23 de enero". Súper Luchas Magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d "Results: New Japan x CMLL, 1/23/11". Puroresufan. January 23, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2013". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  11. ^ "Results: New Japan x CMLL, 1/22/11". Puroresufan. January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  12. ^ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2012". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 21, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  13. ^ a b Soy Rudo (January 21, 2012). "NJPW-CMLL: Resultados "Fantasticamania 2012" día 1". Súper Luchas Magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  14. ^ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2012". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Soy Rudo (January 22, 2012). "NJPW-CMLL: Resultados "Fantasticamanía 2012" Día 2". Súper Luchas Magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  16. ^ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2013". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  17. ^ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2014". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  18. ^ Rose, Bryan (January 21, 2017). "NJPW/CMLL Fantastica Mania results: Maximo vs. Hechicero". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  19. ^ a b c "January/February cards including Tanahashi vs. Anderson!". Strong Style Spirit. January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d e "Los programas oficiales de la gira NJPW Presents: CMLL Fantastica Mania 2014". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). January 6, 2014. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "『Fantastica Mania 2015』全カード決定!! 1.17新木場でタッグトーナメント開催! 1.19後楽園でマスカラ・ドラダvsラ・ソンブラ!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g "Cartelera oficial: CMLL-NJPW FantasticaMania 2017". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). January 5, 2017. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  23. ^ Rose, Bryan (January 11, 2019). "NJPW/CMLL Fantastica Mania results: Eight-man tag team action". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  24. ^ a b c Gallegos, Ricardo (January 16, 2019). "NJPW/CMLL Fantasticamania 2019 (January 16) results and review". Voices of Wrestling. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  25. ^ Renner, Ethan (January 16, 2019). "NJPW/CMLL Fantastica Mania results: Family tag team tournament". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  26. ^ a b c d e Renner, Ethan (January 7, 2020). "Full lineups revealed for NJPW-CMLL Fantasticamania 2020". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  27. ^ a b c Esparza, Alfredo (January 7, 2020). "Lucha report for 1/7/20". Lucha World. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  28. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (October 27, 2022). "NJPW And CMLL Fantasticamania Returning In February 2023". Fightful. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  29. ^ Madigan, Dan (2007). ""Okay... what is Lucha Libre?"". Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3. featuring clearly distinguished good guys and bad guys, or técnicos and rudos
  30. ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
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