Get out your interpromotional wrestling alliance bingo card. The next two promotions out of the tumbler hail from Mexico and Japan. CMLL and NJPW have reaffirmed their working relationship.
CMLL announced the news via video in Spanish with Japanese subtitles.
CMLL and NJPW have been trading talent since 2009 and will continue to do so. Salvador Lutteroth and Naoki Sugabayashi signed paperwork to confirm their dedication. Top NJPW names visiting CMLL in the past have been Tanahashi, Okada, and Hirooki Goto. Fantasticamania is the big tour sending luchadores to Japan every January. That series wasn’t able to be booked for 2021 due to the COVID pandemic, but the relationship between CMLL and NJPW remains strong.
The announcement seems sort of random. CMLL has been running closed shows to fill time until the pandemic restrictions loosen up. Although, perhaps something interesting is close to breaking out. Mexico has lenient guidelines for incoming international travel, however, it would be difficult to turn a profit without a paying crowd to make it worthwhile. The more likely scenario would be luchadores heading to Japan for a rescheduled Fantasticamania, so they can get a better payday than the limited work currently within CMLL.
Nevertheless, the interpromotional dance has offered quite a bit of fun lately. AEW, Impact, and NJPW have a thing going on. The forbidden door has allowed Kenny Omega, the Good Brothers, Matt Hardy, Private Party, KENTA, Jon Moxley, and FinJuice to shuffle in and out.
In the second tier, AAA is dabbling with AEW as Kenny Omega is the current Mega Champion. AAA is also working with MLW for Lio Rush to defeat Laredo Kid and win the World Cruiserweight Championship in a title versus title affair. Even Impact has been in bed with AAA by visiting Mexico City for a yearly set of tapings before COVID struck. Currently, AAA luchador Black Taurus has become a part of Rosemary’s Decay faction. The US branch of NJPW has an unofficial tie-in with MLW as Tom Lawlor and Rocky Romero have competed in both promotions recently.
One company that has remained silent in all the partner swapping is ROH. They have had past rendezvous with both CMLL and NJPW. The only link at the moment is Bandido. He has been wrestling for CMLL and ROH.
Speaking of Bandido, he is in line for a feature title bout on CMLL’s next big show. The luchador will be challenging Volador Jr. for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship at La Copa Jr. VIP card on March 26.
This will be the fourth time trying to schedule this particular bout. The first was postponed when Bandido tested positive for COVID. The second was postponed when Bandido was not confident in his physical conditioning post-COVID to perform in a singles contest of that magnitude. The third was planned for Christmas, but that show was canceled when a rise in COVID cases caused Mexico City to get stricter in regard to permitting public gatherings.
Let’s hope the fourth time is the charm, because their match should be a dandy. The full card for La Copa Jr. VIP currently stands with:
- La Copa Jr. VIP: Angel de Oro, Mistico, Caristico, Soberano Jr., Felino, Atlantis Jr., Star Jr., Stuka Jr., Felino Jr., Negro Casas, Mephisto, & Dragon Rojo Jr.
- NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship: Volador Jr. (c) vs Bandido
- CMLL World Trios Championship: Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero, & Euforia (c) vs Sanson, Cuatrero, & Forastero
- Lluvia & Jarochita vs Dalys & Stephanie Vaquer
La Copa Jr. VIP match will most likely be a torneo cibernetico. The trios contest between Los Guerreros Laguneros and Nueva Generacion Dinamita has been building for a while. It will be interesting to see if CMLL takes a chance with a potential passing of the torch moment. Los Dinamita are the reigning Mexican National Trios Champions at 1,294 days and counting.
La Copa Jr. VIP show will be available for live streaming through Ticketmaster Live on March 26.
Which dream matches would you like to see between CMLL and NJPW? Who will be the next domino to fall in the game of interpromotional wrestling alliances?