Image Credit: New Japan Pro Wrestling
By Noah Leatherland
The joint NJPW x CMLL Fantastica Mania tour kicked off in Tokyo at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium #2. All four matches in the opening round of the Fantastica Mania tag team tournament took place at the event.
The opening match saw Shoma Kato teaming with Hijo de Stuka Jr. in the tag team tournament. After reaching the finals of the NJPW Young Lion Cup, Kato is set to join CMLL on excursion following the Fantastica Mania tour. Luck was not on his side in Yoyogi, however, as Futuro and Valiente Jr. defeated his team to advance to the second round.
The tournament match doubled as the Black Cat memorial match as Stigma teamed with Tiger Mask to battle Averno and Magnus. Magnus revealed that he was donning the Black Tiger persona and targeted Tiger Mask. Magnus managed to land a low blow and swipe off his rival’s mask before scoring a pin. In the post-match comments, Tiger Mask had ominous words for Magnus, ready for a clash on February 27th:
I won’t forget this, Magnus. Absolutely not. Korakuen, I’ll definitely beat the crap out of you!
(Quote translated via DeepL)
In the following match, Atlantis and Atlantis Jr. faced OKUMURA and Satoshi Kojima. Familial strength proved to be the difference maker in this contest, as the father/son duo got the win and advance into the next round.
The main event saw CMLL’s biggest star Mistico team with Mascara Dorada to take on SHO and Ultimo Guerrero in the final first round mach. El Sky Team’s tag team chemistry proved too much, with Mistico making Guerrero tap to La Mistica for the win.
The semi-finals of the Fantastica Mania Tag Team Tournament take place on February 22nd. They will see Atlantis and Atlantis Jr. face Averno and Magnus, while Mistico and Dorada take on Futuro and Valiente Jr.
Elsewhere on the card, Unbound Co. were in multi-man action. However, ahead of time, it was announced that Yota Tsuji and Taiji Ishimori were not able to compete and would be replaced. Two mysterious luchadors took their place, Bone Soldier Jr. and Philip Marlowe Jr.
The show also saw a heated display between Soberano Jr. and Templario. The two wrestled to a 10 minute time limit draw, only for them to continue fighting after the bell had rung. Soberano Jr. was all fired up speaking in the post-match comments:
I’m using this opportunity, with your help, to challenge you to a rematch. Next time, no time limit. I want to face you properly. Got it? Not ten minutes. This is lucha. That’s where we die. I want to fight. Templario vs. Soberano. I strongly demand this from New Japan.
Zane Jay was also in singles action, suffering a defeat at the hands of Hechicero. In his own comments after the match, Jay took the time to vent his frustrations and make a promise to the NJPW fans:
I joined the Empire because I was done being a Young Lion. Being a Young Lion took away parts of me that I love… that system took everything from me… I’m trying to find myself, and the best way is through the Empire. And you know what? All you fans out in the world… you never cared to ask, you don’t care about me, so I don’t give a damn about you. I’mma take the people you love and take everything from ’em. That’s a promise.
Here are the full results for NJPW x CMLL Fantastica Mania 2026 Day 1:
Date:
February 19, 2026
Category:
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