During the Puebla show live feed on youtube, CMLL made the announcement of the 16 participants heading to next year’s NJPW/CMLL FantasticaMania shows in Japan. Among those going are: Mistico II, Dragon Lee, Volador Jr., Atlantis, Guerrero Maya Jr., Stuka Jr., Fuego, Titan, The Panther, Mephisto, Ultimo Guerrero, Virus, Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario, Boby Z & Okumura. They’ll be joined in Japan for these shows with Mascara Dorada, who is expected back to CMLL after a year-long stay with New Japan. The belief is someone from that group will take on a 1-year contract with New Japan. New Japan Pro Wrestling posted the as well, which probably explains why CMLL just made the surprise announcement randomly in between falls of a match. Ring Announcer Ivan also going on tour (sorry Omar!).

This will be the first trip to Japan for Dragon Lee, Guerrero Maya Jr., The Panther, Hechicero & Boby Z. This will be Virus first trip back to Japan since wrestling on CMLL Japan shows in 1999-2000 and first time with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

The most interesting omission from the list are the members of Los Ingobernables, primarily La Sombra & Rush. Last few years, CMLL has had the loser of the Anniversary mask match as part of this tour as a way to show them for the very first time unmasked in Japan. There’s been a lot of WWE rumors swirling around La Sombra lately and this might add more fuel to those fires. There seemed to be a lot of interest in the Ingobernables from Japanese fans given Naito’s part of the group so none of them going is a bit of surprise. CMLL probably couldn’t afford to have Rush gone for a week if Atlantis, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. are on the tour. This past year, it felt like they only had Negro Casas around to carry the top of the card. Also seems like NJPW/CMLL decided to send guys they feel will be on their best behavior given Mr. Niebla last year and a few others in previous trips.

Should be a fun week of lucha in Japan next January.