The first two nights of NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2020 in Korakuen Hall saw solid attendance, a festival atmosphere, and quality performances from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) talent.
Fantastica Mania showcases the partnership aspects of the International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) Conception, allowing fans in Japan to see wrestlers based in Mexico up close.
At the 16th and 17th events, Dulce Gardenia, a student of Ultimo Dragon, found himself immediately over with the Tokyo audience. Dulce’s energetic exotico character blends well with his athletic in-ring style. While not being victorious on either night, it’s clear the live audience in Korakuen gravitates towards him.
The Nueva Generacion Diniamitas (New Generation Dynamites) trios team of El Cuatrero, Sanson, and Forastero have displayed quality performances. On the 17th, El Cuatrero and Sanson defeated Niebla Roja and Angel de Oro to win the 2020 CMLL Family Tag Tournament, while Forastero lost a competitive contest to Titan.
Roja and Oro functioned like a high-level team in the CMLL Family Tag Tournament, so much so that it would make sense for the duo to participate in the Super Junior Tag League later in the year.
Despite being over 60-years-old, the legend Negro Casas has performed at a high level over the past few nights. Casas, who is one of the few masters of wrestling psychology, can perform at a high level despite no longer being in his athletic prime.
CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Ultimo Guerrero and the highly decorated Satoshi Kojima have clashed in multiple tag team matches throughout the Fantastica Mania tour, with Kojima pinning Guerrero on the 17th. Kojima challenges Guerrero for his title on the 19th from Korakuen Hall, in what could be an under the radar high-quality headline match.
The two remaining nights of the Fantastica Mania tour are on the 19th and 20th, both live on the New Japan World streaming service.
