FantasticaMania UK wrapped up with four title matches as the stars of CMLL looked to head home with some gold.
Quick Results
Angel del Oro submitted Zozaya in 12:24 (***¼)
Okumura, Barbaro Cavernario & Hechicero pinned Dulce Gardenia, Futuro & Robbie X in 13:32 (***)
Mascara Dorada pinned Magnus & Gabe Kidd in 9:42 (***)
Stephanie Vacquer submitted Rhio to retain the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship in 12:00 (***¼)
Neon pinned Jordon Breaks to win the Rev Pro Undisputed British Cruiserweight Championship in 8:58 (***¼)
James Drake & Zack Gibson pinned Atlantis Jr. & Atlantis to retain the Rev Pro Undisputed British Tag Team Championship in 11:36 (***)
Mistico submitted Templario in 20:40 (***½)
Michael Oku submitted Ultimo Guerrero to retain the Rev Pro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship in 17:37 (***½)
— To watch this show, head over to RevProOnDemand.com
After gremlins made the afternoon show a nightmare to watch, here’s hoping for a better experience. We’re back at York Hall with commentary once again from David Francisco and Gideon Grey. Those who clicked into the stream early may have seen a disappointed Andy Quildan…
Zozaya vs. Angel del Oro
Zozaya’s giving us a tour of York Hall, catching the camera crew unawares…
Zozaya rolls with Angel early on in an even opening spell, before the pair traded armdrags ahead of a stand-off. Things spill outside with Zozaya getting thrown into the guard rails, before a low dropkick back inside kept Angel ahead.
A Figure Four has Zozaya scrambling towards the ropes, but Angel del Oro stays on him with chops before he missed a charge into the corner. That let Zozaya in, as a switcheroo led to a springboard bodypress to Angel to the floor. Back inside, the pair catch the other’s kicks but it’s Angel who pulls ahead… at least until Zozaya struck back with a suplex.
Angel del Oro’s Michinoku driver almost wins it as the momentum swung all over the place… Zozaya charges at Angel ahead of a marching overhead throw, while a stomp off the middle rope crushes Angel’s kidneys. Zozaya keeps going with a springboard moonsault for another near-fall, but a quick turnaround sees Angel land a triangle moonsault to the inside… before a wild reverse ‘rana spiked Zozaya, leading to a seated surfboard and a pendulum swing for the submission. A good showing from Zozaya, but Angel’s 2-0 today, and I’d suspect will have a title shot later this year… ***¼
Robbie X, Dulce Gardenia & Futuro vs. Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario & Okumura
We start off with Barbaro and Futuro here, as they tested the waters on each other…
Cavernario backs off into the corner early on as early tags bring in Robbie X and Okumura, with the former landing a hiptoss, a cartwheel dropkick and a standing moonsault for a two-count. Dulce Gardenia and Hechicero come in next, but things remain even between those two.
Gardenia and Hechicero trade chops, forcing Gardenia into the corner… but he’s back with a ‘rana before Cavernario took over for Hechicero as the rudos swarmed. Cavernario and Hechicero work over Gardenia’s groin for a spell, before a Michinoku driver from Okumura nearly put Futuro away.
More triple-teaming saw Futuro rolled into a punt kick from Hechicero… who then laid waste to Robbie X with a step-up knee in the corner. Cavenario’s capture suplex took Robbie to the outside… Gardenia’s left on his own as a cutter out of the corner from Okumura left him laying.
Futuro’s back in, but the triple-teaming continued unabated. A Romero special from Hechicero’s exacerbated by Okumura… before Futuro got released into a Cavernario cutter. A springboard splash nearly wins it for Cavernario, who then faked out for a long time as he kicked Dulce in the leg.
Eventually the triple-teaming backfires as Gardenia plants a kiss… then an Orihara moonsault, before Futuro took over back inside, landing a tijeras to Cavernario, then to Hechichero. Robbie X returns on Cavernario, before a squatting death valley driver was escaped, with Hechicero getting taken outside for a heel kick and another Orihara moonsault.
Futuro’s next to dive, scoring a moonsault to Cavernario on the floor, before a tornillo from Gardenia and a ‘rana almost put Okumura away. From there, Okumura tries his luck with an Iconoclasm and a roll-up, and that’s enough to get the win. ***
Post-match, Hechicero and Robbie X got into it, but eventually shook hands… I wonder if a trip to Mexico’s on the cards?
Magnus vs. Gabe Kidd vs. Mascara Dorada
Kidd rolls outside at the bell, but it ends up being a plot for Mascara Dorada to fly with a tope suicida as Magnus tried to join Gabe on the floor.
Magnus shakes it off as he and Kidd looked to join up to take on Dorada, but to no avail as Dorada took them both out. Magnus’ delayed double underhook backbreaker drops Dorada, while a delayed version of the Angel’s Wings took Dorada to the outside.
Kidd and Magnus take aim at each other from there, with a Kidd suplex getting a two-count… Dorada’s back to flip past Kidd, then score a springboard armdrag to take things outside, where a springboard tijeras off the middle rope took down Magnus on the other side.
Kidd swipes Dorada as he went on a lap of honour, before he demanded the microphone so he could murder “la bamba.” A superkick stops that, and the stream, as we return with Magnus going after Dorada’s mask. Dorada recovers for a tornillo off the top rope, having to make do after the rope walk went a little shaky.
Back inside, a Parade of Moves leaves everyone laying… we resume with the trio trading shots, leading to a pair of superkicks for Gabe, then a reverse ‘rana to Magnus. Kidd capitalises with a brainbuster to Dorada for a two-count, before Magnus broke up the pin on a Dorada Code Red and almost stole it. Another tope suicida from Dorada wipes out Kidd on the outside, before he took care of Magnus with a shooting star press for the win. ***
NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Rhio vs. Stephanie Vaquer (c)
This match was made for the NJPW Strong Women’s title – which could have been a title-for-title match had last week’s Rhio/Dani Luna outing not been rescheduled.
A tentative start sees Rhio and Vacquer trade roll-ups ahead of a release Fisherman suplex from Rhio. That’s followed-up with a shotgun dropkick into the corner and a low dropkick coming out of it, sending Vacquer outside for a low-pe. Back inside, shoulder charges from Rhio led to her getting caught with a hanging armbar in the ropes, before a springboard crossbody back inside kept the champion ahead.
Vacquer’s snapping leg drop off the ropes gets her a two-count, while a Dragon sleeper a la Zack Sabre Jr. nearly forced the submission. Figure Four headscissors help Vacquer drill Rhio’s head into the mat, before Rhio’s crossbody off the ropes looked to give her an opening, but Vacquer stayed on her with some face-washing boots.
Rhio fights back with an enziguiri, before a Fireman’s carry was fought out of, with Vacquer’s roll-up good for a two-count. A snap DDT’s next out of Vacquer, whose roll-up from there nearly wins it, before she grabbed Rhio by the braids and pulled her into a back suplex. A big boot traps Rhio in the corner, before the follow-up running knees miss… Rhio capitalises with a pumphandle bomb for a near-fall as the match seemed to be heading towards the finish.
Vacquer’s headbutts trap Rhio in the corner for some running knees, but it’s still not enough for the win as she followed up with a crossface instead, rolling Rhio back into the middle of the ring to force the stoppage as the ropes almost forced the break. ***¼
Post-match, Vacquer announced she’d be back for Rev Pro’s Anniversary show in August…
Rev Pro Undisputed British Cruiserweight Championship: Neon vs. Jordon Breaks (c)
Breaks takes Neon to the ropes early on as the feeling-out process began.
Neon lands on his feet out of a monkey flip, only for Breaks to come in with a cravat… Neon flips free and began to work the arm before we reached a stand-off. Breaks pulls down Neon’s leapfrog attempt, then pulled him into a bow-and-arrow hold… Neon flips free, only to leap into a headbutt to the gut as Breaks seemingly had him scouted.
Another headbutt to the midsection takes Neon down as he was sent into the ropes… but Neon manages to find a way back in, dropkicking Breaks to the outside for a tope. Back inside, Neon’s springboard is caught and pulled into an armbar, ahead of a Finlay roll for a near-fall, while an uppercut dumped Neon into the corner.
A monkey flip’s caught as Neon took Breaks up top for an avalanche armdrag, following up with a sunset flip for a near-fall. Neon’s moonsault lands in Breaks’ boot, allowing the champion back in, only for a folding press from Neon to almost cause the upset… but seconds later that came true as Neon’s swinging crucifix led to the shock three-count! We’ve got a new cruiserweight champion in Rev Pro, and I suspect Neon – who’s just days away from his third anniversary of his debut – will be back at the end of summer. ***¼
Rev Pro Undisputed British Tag Team Championship: Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) (c)
The feed dropped out during the introductions, but picked up as Atlantis worked over Zack Gibson’s arm.
Unfortunately, the buffering wheel made an appearance here as Gibson and Atlantis traded pinning attempts. We’re back with Gibson getting tripped up as Atlantis dragged Gibson into the corner, but Zack escaped as Atlantis Jr. and James Drake tagged in. A shoulder tackle drops Drake, as Atlantis returned to land a cutter out of a see-saw sunset flip from his son.
A blind tag brings in Gibson as the Atlantises got wiped out… Drake’s slingshot assists a backbreaker on Atlantis on the outside. Back inside, Atlantis Jr’s stretched in a bow-and-arrow hold as Drake’s slingshot stomp kept him on the defensive, ahead of a spinning heel kick from Drake for another two-count.
Atlantis Jr. manages to take down Drake with a tijeras, before Atlantis (Sr.)’s double armdrags set up the champions for a crossbody off the top. A double clothesline takes Drake and Gibson to the outside for an Atlantis Jr. tope. Back inside, a wheelbarrow German suplex got Atlantis Jr. a near-fall, before Gibson took Atlantis outside for a tope of his own.
Drake joins in with a tope of his own, before a flip senton from Jr. took out the champions. Back inside, Drake goes for Atlantis Jr’s mask to stop the momentum, leading to a crushing dropkick into the corner, then the Grit Your Teeth double Codebreaker for the win. ***
Templario vs. Mistico
The first half of the double-main event was a first-time singles match…
Mistico started this one hot, with swinging headscissors taking down Templario, ahead of a tope suicida that crashed into Templario on the outside. Back inside, Templario catches Mistico’s crossbody, then a tijeras as he switches up into a Go 2 Sleep.
Templario gets a two-count out of a seated dropkick, then from a pop-up kick, before a stalling gourdbuster almost ended things. Up in the corner, Templario pulls off half of Mistico’s mask, but avoids the full DQ as he ended up pulling Mistico into a Tree of Woe for a dropkick for another two-count.
Rebounding with an armdrag and a Tiger Feint kick, Mistico’s able to return with a springboard tijeras to the outside… before Templario walked away from a dive. Mistico demanded a count-out instead, but Templario eventually returned to the ring and scored a cartwheel back elbow as he took over once more.
A handspring back elbow gets Mistico back in it, ahead of a springboard crossbody from the apron and a spinning headscissors takedown to take things back outside. Now Mistico lands his dive, landing a slingshot tijeras to the floor, before he stopped to absorb the Spandau Ballet-inspired chant aimed his way.
That distraction allows Templario to take things outside for a Space Flying Tiger Drop, before he focused on Mistico’s left arm as they returned to the ring. Out of nowhere, a huracanrana almost won it for Mistico, as did a cazadora, before Templario threw aside a Mistica for a near-fall.
A snap powerslam from Templario keeps things ticking along, while Mistico took to the ropes for an armdrag… taking things back outside for a corkscrew plancha. A second one back inside nearly puts Mistico away, before a wheelbarrow German suplex out of the corner kept the near-falls ticking. Mistico picks up with a superkick, before a crucifix pin, then a Magistral picked up some two-counts… Templario tries a roll-up as well, before a gutbuster laid out Mistico.
Templario can’t follow-up though, and got caught up top for a Spanish Fly. The delayed cover saves Templario, but Mistico finds a way in with the Mistica, forcing Templario to tap before he’d even hit the mat. This one felt like it could have done with a few minutes cut off of it, but this was a heck of an authentic taste of CMLL on a day full of crossovers. ***½
Rev Pro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship: Ultimo Guerrero vs. Michael Oku (c)
Oku was pinned by Angel del Oro earlier in the day – so you’d think if he overcomes Ultimo Guerrero here, Angel’s getting a title shot as Oku’s working FantasticaMania in Mexico later this year?
Eventually starting with a handshake, Ultimo Guerrero looked to overpower Oku in the opening stages, looking to pin Oku from knuckle locks before headscissors took Oku through the ropes to the outside. Back inside, Oku slips out of a Romero special before Guerrero got to the rope to avoid a half crab.
Leapfrogs from Oku earn him a strong shoulder tackle from Guerrero, who took things outside for some chops… a baseball slide knocks Oku off the apron, but he’s able to shrug it off for a missile dropkick off the middle rope back inside. A snap DDT keeps Oku on top for a two-count, before a PK and a springboard moonsault almost ended things.
Guerrero turns things around with the avalanche gourdbuster for a near-fall, only for a misdirection knee to take Guerrero to the outside. That led to a Fosbury Flop as Oku crashes into Guerrero, before a froggy crossbody back inside just seemed to wake up Guerrero.
Oku’s running dropkick into the corner stops all that, but an avalanche ‘rana’s blocked as a top rope powerbomb planted Oku to the mat for a near-fall. From there, a spinebuster from Guerrero led to a half crab of his own, only for Oku to roll through and into a half crab of his own for what looked like a tap out, but despite the bell going, the match continued as Guerrero got to the ropes.
Guerrero’s taken up top as Oku went for the top rope ‘rana again… and eventually lands it before a frog splash drew a near-fall. A switcheroo led to Guerrero looking for an inverted superplex, with Oku taking the ride for another two-count, before Oku’s satellite headscissors into a half crab led to the tap-out. The fake tap-out caught a few by surprise and briefly derailed things, but this was a strong main event to close out the show. ***½
Post-match Angel del Oro hit the ring and challenged Oku for the Rev Pro title when Oku headed off to Arena Mexico next month. Well then, that’s another stamp on Oku’s passport incoming, and a big challenge given Angel beat him earlier in the day!
Easily the more memorable of the two shows, thanks to the surprise title change and the Mistico/Templario as the second annual UK Fantasticamania shows proved to be a blast to watch. Tech issues aside!