NJPW and CMLL
Japanese strong style and Mexican lucha libre are crossing paths again this November. After Fantasticamania drew huge crowds in both countries, NJPW and CMLL decided to take their partnership a step further.
That next step is Lucha Kingdom, a brand-new event hitting the legendary Arena Mexico on November 16. Nine matches are booked for the “cathedral of lucha libre,” and on paper, the card is stacked. If you cannot make it to Mexico City in person, the whole show streams live on CMLL’s YouTube channel for Leyenda tier members.
Main Event: Mistico and Ultimo Guerrero vs. Yota Tsuji and Hirooki Goto
An injury forced a last-minute pivot for the main event, but the replacement might actually be more interesting. Mistico was originally supposed to go one-on-one with his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team partner, El Desperado. With Desperado on the shelf, the promoters booked a Relevos Increibles match—the classic lucha concept where rivals and strange bedfellows have to team up.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji will share a corner with Hirooki Goto, a man who challenged him for that very belt not long ago. Across the ring, CMLL’s biggest babyface, Mistico, teams with veteran rudo Ultimo Guerrero.Longtime New Japan fans will remember that Guerrero helped train Tsuji during his Mexican excursion, adding a great layer of storytelling before the bell even rings.
CMLL World Heavyweight Championship: Hechicero vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
If you love mat wrestling, the semi-main event is for you. Hechicero puts his CMLL World Heavyweight Championship on the line against British submission wizard Zack Sabre Jr. Sabre currently leads their singles series 3-1, so he walks in with a clear psychological edge.
This match has been brewing for months. Back in September at CMLL’s Anniversary show, Hechicero kept his belt in a three-way with Sabre and Claudio Castagnoli, though Sabre wasn’t the one who took the pin. ZSJ called his shot backstage at King of Pro-Wrestling, and once Hechicero got past Liam Slater in the UK, the title bout was locked in. A win here makes Sabre the first British wrestler to ever hold CMLL’s top heavyweight prize.
Singles Showdown: Barbaro Cavernario vs. Konosuke Takeshita
Expect a car crash when Barbaro Cavernario gets in the ring with Konosuke Takeshita. After dropping the NJPW World TV Championship recently, Takeshita is walking around without a title for the first time in a while. He works across NJPW, CMLL, and AEW, and he will be looking to remind everyone in all three companies just how dangerous he is.
Cavernario is the perfect dance partner for an angry Takeshita. The wild “caveman” has been a cult favorite among New Japan viewers for years thanks to his fearless dives on Fantasticamania tours. Seeing his chaotic energy clash with Takeshita’s raw power in front of a rowdy Arena Mexico crowd should be special.
Mano a Mano: Soberano Jr. vs. Shota Umino
Soberano Jr. and Shota Umino haven’t shared a ring since Fantasticamania 2018. Eight years is an eternity in pro wrestling, and neither man looks anything like the prospect he was back then.
Both have grown into major headliners for their home promotions. Umino brings the fiery fighting spirit New Japan fans love, while Soberano Jr. carries himself with effortless, arrogant swagger. This is a pure pride match between two guys entering their prime, and it could easily steal the show.
NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Titles: Three-Way Match
Three-way tag matches in Mexico rarely slow down, and this title bout will be no exception. Los Hermanos Chavez (Angel De Oro and Niebla Roja) are defending their NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships against Unbound Co. (Titan and Taiji Ishimori) and United Empire (Francesco Akira and Templario).
There are storylines tangled up all over this match. The Chavez brothers actually took these belts off Templario and TJP last year. With United Empire going through a rough patch lately, Akira wants to bring the titles back to steady the ship. Over in the other corner, Ishimori is already booked for an IWGP Jr. Tag Title match at Wrestle Kingdom,meaning he has a real shot at walking into the Tokyo Dome as a double champion alongside Titan.
Tag Team Clash: Xelhua and Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. House of Torture
No New Japan card is truly complete without a little bit of nonsense from House of Torture. Former junior tag champs DOUKI and SHO are heading to Mexico City to make life miserable for Xelhua and Guerrero Maya Jr.
This match pairs two generations of Mexican tecnicos. Veteran Maya hasn’t tangled with NJPW talent since early 2020,while young Xelhua just got his first taste of New Japan competition at last year’s Fantasticamania. They have the home-field advantage, though that rarely stops SHO and DOUKI from swinging a wrench behind the referee’s back.
Eight-Man Tag Action: CMLL Rudos vs. KUSHIDA’s Quartet
Eight-man tags are great for showcasing rising talent, and this third match has plenty to watch. Zandokan Jr.—Yota Tsuji’s old tag partner—leads a rugged rudo squad alongside Difunto, Barboza, and Furia Roja. They are squaring off against a wild mix of talent captained by junior heavyweight vet KUSHIDA.
KUSHIDA’s team features Magnus under the classic Black Tiger mask, a role he picked up earlier this year. Rounding out the side are YUTANI, a Japanese wrestler who cut his teeth training in Mexico, and Young Lion Shoma Kato. For fans who only watch NJPW’s domestic shows, this is a rare chance to check in on Kato’s excursion progress.
IWGP Women’s Championship: Syuri vs. Kira
STARDOM gets a big showcase match second from the top as Syuri defends her IWGP Women’s Championship against local underdog Kira. Syuri has been an absolutebuzzsaw since winning the belt at King of Pro-Wrestling 2025,holding it for over a year with five defenses—including wins at a packed Tokyo Dome and against Natsupoi at the Five Star Grand Prix opener in July.
On paper, she is the heavy favorite. Still, wrestling in Arena Mexico is different. At just 23 years old, Kira is a fearless high-flier with nothing to lose and the chance to become the first Mexican luchadora to capture IWGP Women’s gold.
Opening Trios Match: CMLL High-Fliers vs. Team NJPW
To get the crowd warm, Lucha Kingdom opens with a classic trios match. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion YOH teams up with Master Wato and longtime CMLL resident OKUMURA. There is a nice bit of history here, as OKUMURA looked after both YOH and Wato years ago when they first came to Mexico as young lions.
They are across the ring from three fast-moving youngsters in Brillante Jr., Capitan Suicida, and Rey Pegasus. While Suicida and Brillante Jr. have popped up on Fantasticamania tours before, Rey Pegasus is largely unknown to the Japanese audience. Expect him to take some big risks early to make a name for himself.
