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Tag: CMLL

  • MLW Fantastica Mania USA 2026 Preview: Card & How to Watch

    MLW Fantastica Mania USA 2026 Preview: Card & How to Watch

    MLW & NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania USA 2026 takes place this Sunday, April 12, from Festival Hall in Charleston, South Carolina, marking the first-ever U.S. edition of the historic Fantastica Mania series to be co-produced by Major League Wrestling.

    Key points:

    • Historic Tri-Promotion Showcase: MLW, NJPW, and CMLL converge for one night featuring championship gold, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the MLW World Middleweight Championship
    • How to Watch: Live at Festival Hall in Charleston; the event will also be taped for MLW Fusion and is expected to stream on NJPW World
    • Tickets: Limited standing room only tickets remain at MLWgo.com

    What to Expect

    The event marks MLW’s first major hometown showcase since relocating its headquarters to Charleston, and the promotion has assembled one of the most talent-dense international cards in company history. MLW founder Court Bauer called it a moment to “make history” in the Holy City, crediting collaboration with NJPW and CMLL leadership to bring the event together.

    No specific matches have been formally announced as of Thursday. MLW has confirmed a deep roster of participants across all three promotions, and tickets are nearly gone due to overwhelming demand. Check MLW.com for any last-minute bout announcements before Sunday.

    Confirmed Participants

    IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI

    DOUKI arrives in Charleston as the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, bringing championship stakes to the event. The title represents NJPW’s most prestigious junior heavyweight prize, and any championship action at Fantastica Mania USA would mark a significant moment for American fans.

    MLW World Middleweight Champion KUSHIDA

    KUSHIDA enters as the MLW World Middleweight Champion, aligned with CONTRA Unit after dethroning Templario at MLW Battle RIOT VIII. Once celebrated for technical brilliance, KUSHIDA has embraced a more ruthless edge under the CONTRA banner, creating a volatile wild card with international competition converging on his home promotion’s turf.

    El Desperado

    El Desperado is regarded as one of the most dangerous junior heavyweights in the world, building his reputation on technical precision, ruthless targeting of limbs, and a cold-blooded finishing instinct. His presence alongside DOUKI sets up dream matchup possibilities in Charleston’s junior heavyweight scene.

    Taiji Ishimori

    Known as the “Bone Soldier,” Ishimori is one of the most accomplished junior heavyweights of his generation, blending high-speed aerial offense with bone-jarring impact. His NJPW history with both DOUKI and Desperado makes his spot on the card particularly intriguing.

    Satoshi Kojima

    Satoshi Kojima returns to MLW for the Charleston event, with his previous MLW appearance coming in the Opera Cup semifinal last October. Kojima is one of the most decorated figures in MLW history and his return to the company’s hometown show carries significant weight.

    Último Guerrero

    Último Guerrero arrives as a former MLW National Openweight Champion and a cornerstone of Mexico’s most prestigious arenas, known for his dominance and main event-caliber performances across decades. He also competed at last year’s MLW vs. CMLL event in Arena Mexico, where he defeated Matthew Justice to capture the MLW National Openweight Championship.

    Místico

    Místico returns to MLW for the Charleston event. A two-time Opera Cup Champion and former MLW World Middleweight Champion, he is one of the greatest box office attractions in Mexican wrestling history. His championship history with KUSHIDA adds another layer to the middleweight storyline heading into this weekend.

    Additional Confirmed Talent

    Also advertised for the event are MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger, Killer Kross, The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows), Bishop Dyer, Donovan Dijak, Matthew Justice, and Diego Hill. Lady Frost is also scheduled to make her MLW debut in Charleston.

    Full Card

    MatchNotes
    DOUKI (c) vs. TBAIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (if defended)
    KUSHIDA (c) vs. TBAMLW World Middleweight Championship (if defended)
    Additional matches TBAFeaturing MLW, NJPW, and CMLL talent

    Specific matchups have not been fully announced as of Thursday. Check back at MLW.com for updates as they are confirmed before Sunday’s bell.

    How to Watch

    • Date/Time: Sunday, April 12, 2026, 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
    • Venue: Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain Street, Charleston, South Carolina
    • Tickets: Limited SRO tickets available at MLWgo.com
    • Streaming: Event taped for MLW Fusion; expected on NJPW World
    • Doors Open: 6:00 PM ET; Meet & Greets 6:00-6:30 PM

    Don’t Miss SEScoops Coverage

    Stay tuned to SEScoops.com for live results, match recaps, and post-event fallout from Fantastica Mania USA 2026.

  • MLW Returns to Arena México May 1 for Second Annual CMLL Clash

    MLW Returns to Arena México May 1 for Second Annual CMLL Clash

    Major League Wrestling will return to Arena México on May 1 for the second annual MLW vs. CMLL interpromotional event, continuing what has become one of the most active international partnership strategies in independent wrestling.

    The announcement, made during CMLL’s weekly Informa broadcast and confirmed on MLW.com, sets up a rematch between the two promotions at the venue widely known as the Cathedral of lucha libre. Last year’s inaugural card on May 2, 2025, marked the first time an American wrestling promotion co-produced a show from the historic arena.

    What Happened at Last Year’s Event

    The first MLW vs. CMLL event delivered real consequences. Ultimo Guerrero defeated Matthew Justice to capture the MLW National Openweight Championship, while Los Depredadores (Magnus and Rugido) took the MLW World Tag Team Championships from CozyMax (Satoshi Kojima and Okumura). Místico headlined with a win over KUSHIDA, and Donovan Dijak and Ikuro Kwon earned MLW’s lone victory of the night in a tag team elimination match. Paul London wrestled Neon to a no-contest.

    CMLL then defended those captured MLW titles on its own weekly cards throughout the rest of 2025. Ultimo Guerrero racked up five successful defenses of the Openweight Championship before Blue Panther took it from him in September. The relationship wasn’t just a one-night thing; it became part of CMLL’s regular programming.

    A Pattern Two Decades in the Making

    MLW’s international strategy didn’t start with CMLL. It traces back to the promotion’s founding in 2002, when Court Bauer launched MLW with the blessing of All Japan Pro Wrestling. The original concept was to build a North American brand operating within the AJPW ecosystem, blending styles from day one. Satoshi Kojima first appeared in MLW during that initial run and would later become one of the promotion’s most important champions after the 2017 relaunch, holding both the World Heavyweight and World Tag Team titles.

    When MLW returned as a full-time promotion, the international playbook expanded rapidly. A working agreement with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide brought a wave of lucha talent to MLW Fusion starting in 2018. A collaboration with Mexican promotion The Crash led to an MLW Azteca taping in Tijuana in December 2021. Partnerships with Pro Wrestling NOAH and Dragon Gate brought Japanese fighters into the roster mix, and Yoshihiro Tajiri won the MLW World Middleweight Championship in late 2021, later defending it in AJPW.

    The 2023 Alliance That Changed Everything

    The current structure took shape on September 27, 2023, when MLW, CMLL, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced a three-way strategic alliance for crossover events and talent exchanges. The deal had been in discussion since early July, and it required MLW to shift away from AAA talent entirely to align with CMLL’s exclusivity expectations.

    KUSHIDA’s MLW debut at Fury Road in September 2023 kicked off the NJPW side. That same month, MLW brought in Maki Itoh from Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. The CMLL pipeline opened in October, with Salina de la Renta positioned as the central on-screen figure linking the promotions. By early 2024, CMLL luchadores were regular fixtures on MLW programming.

    The alliance produced co-promoted events on both sides of the border. MLW’s Azteca Lucha at Cicero Stadium in Chicago has become its own annual tradition, featuring CMLL talent prominently. The sold-out 2024 edition brought CMLL general manager Salvador Lutteroth Lomelí as a special guest and showcased matches between the two rosters. A second co-promoted event, Lucha Apocalypto, followed in November 2024, also at Cicero Stadium.

    NJPW’s Battle in the Valley 2024 in San Jose featured MLW talent alongside AEW and CMLL fighters, showing all three alliance partners working on a single card.

    Beyond the Americas

    MLW’s reach hasn’t been limited to Mexico and Japan. In 2021, the promotion partnered with Revolution Pro Wrestling in the United Kingdom. In 2022, a deal with One Pro Wrestling sent then-World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone across the Atlantic for his first UK match. MLW signed a broadcast agreement with Ayozat TV for UK distribution that same year. A partnership with Oceania Pro Wrestling in Australia expanded the promotion’s footprint even further, with plans for talent exchange and broadcast collaboration. The promotion also forged a relationship with Germany’s Westside Xtreme Wrestling in 2023, which saw wXw wrestlers bring their titles to MLW shows.

    What’s Coming in 2026

    The May 1 event in Mexico City sits within a packed international calendar for MLW. Just weeks before, on April 12, MLW and NJPW will co-present CMLL Fantastica Mania USA from Festival Hall in Charleston, South Carolina, MLW’s new headquarters city. That event will feature NJPW’s Taiji Ishimori, El Desperado, DOUKI (the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion), and Kojima returning alongside MLW’s own roster and CMLL luchadores. Another Azteca Lucha event is also scheduled for Cicero Stadium later in 2026, with CMLL talent expected to appear.

    No matches have been announced yet for the May 1 Arena México show. Given last year’s card produced two title changes and a Místico main event, expectations are high. Additional details on matchups and participating fighters are expected in the coming weeks.

    For MLW, the strategy is straightforward: use partnerships to give its roster international exposure while bringing in talent that would otherwise never appear on an American independent card. For CMLL, holding MLW championships on their weekly programming adds a cross-promotional layer to a product built on tradition. The relationship runs both directions, and it runs deeper than a handshake deal once a year.

  • Mistico on MLW Opera Cup Milestone, Bad Bunny & 2026 Goals

    Mistico has emerged as one of the biggest names in lucha libre over the last 25 years. The star brings a unique aura to every venue he appears. It’s what makes him arguably CMLL’s top draw. His visibility extends beyond Arena Mexico working for promotions around the world including Major League Wrestling. 

    Mistico, a former MLW World Middleweight Champion, went on to win the Opera Cup by defeating KENTA at Fightland in 2024. Then he made history once again by overcoming Volador Jr. in the finals of the 2025 tournament at the MLW x Don Gato Tequila live special in November. The iconic performer became the first to win the Opera Cup twice in the modern era and consecutively.  

    “I’m so happy to be the first Mexican luchador to win the Opera Cup and back-to-back,” he said “It was a great match against Volador. It was so great for me that I took the victory a couple of months ago. With MLW, I’m so grateful to them and all the fans that support me…I’m ready for what is coming up.”

    Despite having such a strong year, Mistico remains humble. He is also dedicated to testing his skills against the best. Among them was his standout matches versus Austin Aries, MJF and Will Ospreay. His goals for 2026 are well defined. 

    “Something I want to achieve in the next year is the MLW World Heavyweight Championship,” Mistico said. “It’s something I’m looking forward to next year. It’s something I would like to have an opportunity for in the future. Again, I’m so grateful to have the support of the fans. It’s important to have that support at all MLW shows.

    \”I love lucha libre. It’s a part of my life and it’s something I want to bring in every show. It doesn’t matter where it is. This relationship is so important for me, this relationship between MLW and CMLL, to bring everything. I want to have some more important victories in my career.” 

    On December 9, Mistico gained more mainstream popularity when Bad Bunny wore a Mistico mask to disguise his identity at CMLL event. The company confirmed the Puerto Rican mega star was front row in the “King of Silver and Gold” mask while witnessing the action inside Arena Mexico. For the luchador, the connection to the fans, whether they are multi-platinum recording artists or not, is key. 

    “Bad Bunny, a huge artist and so famous. It was so important to me that he wore my mask…” he said.

    Mistico attributes his success to staying prepared. He treats every match the same. Adding, “Despite being at a great level, I’m still preparing for all the matches for all the shows. It doesn’t matter where it is. I want to bring everything to prove why I love lucha libre and why it’s part of my life. I’m so grateful to have the support of the fans.” 

    The cross-promotional name looks forward to building on the momentum created in 2025. Mistico looks to make the most of every opportunity. At the top of the list right out of the gate is MLW’s upcoming Apocalypto 2026 show on February 7. The event will feature CMLL talent sure to electrify the crowd at the Cicero Stadium, just outside of Chicago. 

    “I’m open to face any luchador that wants to face Mistico in CMLL or another company all around the world with all these relationships,” he said. “…I want 2026 to be better for Mistico and want to do this with the relationship with MLW.” 

  • Blue Panther on CMLL-MLW Partnership & Winning Title At 65

    Age is but a number for Blue Panther. The legendary luchador proudly wears the MLW National Openweight Championship after winning it in September against Último Guerrero. This was the veteran’s first singles title win in two decades. It also happened in Arena Mexico during a CMLL event, mere days after Blue Panther celebrated his 65th birthday.  

    “I received the opportunity to face a great luchador in  Último Guerrero,” Blue Panther reflected. “I had the victory on a special day because it was September 21, the [National Day of Lucha Libre]. The 21st of September, every year is a special day for lucha libre, for every luchador. So, it was an important victory in my career. I’m so proud to be the MLW National Openweight Champion.” 

    The partnership between MLW and CMLL continues to grow going into the new year. A shining example of this comes on February 7 in Chicago when MLW presents Lucha Apocalypto 2026. 

    “I’m enjoying this moment. I enjoy being on every MLW show. I’m hoping it’s a sold-out MLW show,” Blue Panther said. “That would be so great. For sure, it will be a sold-out show with MLW and CMLL superstars. I’m so happy to be in Chicago with all the Latin American fans and be part of lucha libre. Also, this partnership with MLW and CMLL is so important because lucha libre is going to new places to new countries to new shows to new cities. I consider that it’s so important for CMLL and lucha libre to be in different parts of the world.” 

    Blue Panther’s love and dedication for the business remains stronger than ever. During a recent interview, he took a moment to take out his phone to share photos of past wars. Bloody battles from the 1980s with one particular visual of him flying through the air. The legendary figure, like others in lucha, were revolutionary and ahead of their time. This high-flying, fast-paced style continued to evolve to what we see today. 

    “I’m open to facing any MLW or CMLL superstar,” the champ said. “I would like the person from MLW or CMLL to take the decision of who wants to face Blue Panther for CMLL National Openweight Championship. I prefer an American luchador because I want to exchange the style, my style, with the new generation of style. I would like to face these challenges in the future for the championship.”  

    Along with holding the gold solo, Blue Panther takes pride in seeing his sons follow him. Still active, he gets to work alongside and guide Blue Panther Jr., Black Panther, and El Hijo de Blue Panther. He joined the latter as Los Divinos Laguneros in a fun four-way showcase during the MLW X Don Gato Tequila show in November. 

    “That’s so important for lucha libre,” Blue Panther said of the family heritage. “All this tradition. I’m so happy my sons have been in lucha libre. At first I didn’t want them to become luchadores, but day-by-day for all of them, it was all lucha libre. It was something that would happen in the future when they were child. Now they are luchadores. I’m so happy for all of them because they respect lucha libre. I like that they respect the traditions, as a sport, the mask, everything.” 

    It has been fun for Blue Panther to see lucha explode in popularity. He attributes a lot of that to accessibility thanks to technology. 

    “The different platforms that help us a lot in CMLL is the fact that everywhere in the world can see lucha libre,” he said. “That there is a main company in lucha libre, and it is CMLL. With 92 years of history, I think it’s something important for all of us for the roster, for the luahdors, for everyone in lucha libre. Before, it didn’t happen; before, we didn’t have these platforms. Before it was in the magazines, the newspapers, but right now all around the world people can see us on the phone, TV, social media. The platform, the technology, it’s helping CMLL show lucha libre around the world.” 

    As for what keeps him competing at a high level after so many decades, he attributes it to discipline, passion, and genuine love of lucha libre. Blue Panther added, “I’m so grateful. I’m not thinking of retiring from lucha libre. I still want to prove why I love lucha libre and why lucha libre is my passion.