Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly
July 14, 2012
By: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Maximo In Japan
– Maximo, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, & KUSHIDA def. Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov, Gedo, & Jado (07/08)
– Low-Ki, Rocky Romero, & Alex Koslov def. Maximo, Jushin Thunder Liger, & Tiger Mask IV (07/10)
– Maximo, Captain New Japan, & Testuya Bushi def. Jado, Gedo, & Tomohiro Ishii (07/11)
CMLL To Japan
This past weekend New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that CMLL’s Volador Jr. would be heading to Japan on 07/29 to try and reclaim his NWA Middleweight Championship from the man who beat him in Mexico, Prince Devitt. Also, they announced that CMLL’s Rush would be taking part in the August G1 League Tournament. His matches are below:
– Rush vs. Hirooki Goto (08/01)
– Rush vs. Lance Archer aka Lance Hoyt of TNA (08/03)
– Rush vs. Kazuchika Okada aka Okada/Okato of TNA (08/04)
– Rush vs. MVP (08/05)
– Rush vs. Tetsuay Naito (08/07)
– Rush vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (08/08)
– Rush vs. Togi Makabe (08/10)
– Rush vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (08/11)
Loco Max Leaves CMLL
This week CMLL star Loco Max revealed that he has officially left the promotion and is now taking independent bookings. He hasn’t been used very much by CMLL in months.
Ultimo Guerrero Switches Up Los Guerreros
After this past week’s Friday Arena Mexico show Ultimo Guerrero revealed in an interview that he has kicked Rey Escorpion out of Los Guerreros del Infierno and replaced him with Niebla Roja & Euforia.
CMLL 07/06 Arena Mexico Results
1) Artillero & Super Comando def. Camaleon & Metalico
2) Dark Angel, Estrellita, & Marcela def. Lady Apache, Tsukasa, & Hikaru
3) Lightning Match: Virus def. Fuego
4) Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., & Hijo del Fantasma def. Misterioso II, Shigeo Okumura, & Namajague
5) Cibernetico: Ultimo Guerrero def. Atlantis, Titan, Diamante, Triton, Rey Cometa, Euforia, Niebla Roja, Polvora, & Puma King
6) Volador Jr., Averno, & Mephisto def. La Sombra, La Mascara, & Diamante Azul
CMLL 07/08 Arena Coliseo Results
1) Camorra & Cholo def. Freesbe & Horuz
2) Aereo, Astral, & Ultimo Dragoncito def. Pequeno Nitro, Pequeno Olimpico, & Pequeno Warrior
3) Hikaru, Princesa Sujei, & Tsukasa def. Dalis la Caribena, Lluvia, & Luna Magica
4) Lightning Match: Pegasso def. Raziel
5) Averno, Mephisto, & Ephesto def. Angel de Oro, Delta, & Hijo del Fantasma
6) La Sombra, Mascara Dorada, & Shocker def. Volador Jr., Ultimo Guerrero, & Mr. Niebla
CMLL 07/09 Arena Puebla Results
1) Ares & Siki Ozama Jr. def. Asturiano & Milenium via DQ
2) Demus 3:16, Mercurio, & Pierrothito def. Astral, Mini Fantasy, & Pequeno Halcon
3) Pegasso, Rey Cometa, & Starman def. Arkangel de la Muerte, Hooligan, & Skandalo
4) Psicosis II, Kraneo, & Morphosis def. Blue Panther, Hijo del Fantasma, & Valiente
5) Marco Corleone, Shocker, & Rush def. Volador Jr., El Terrible, & Mr. Niebla
CMLL 07/10 Arena Mexico Results
1) Camaleon & Soberano Jr. def. Camorra & Cholo
2) Lightning Match: Titan def. Inquisidor
3) Dalis la Caribena, Dark Angel, & Lluvia def. Lady Apache, Mima Shimoda, & Zeuxis
4) Cancerbero, Puma King, & Raziel def. Fuego, Rey Cometa, & Triton
5) Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr., & Stuka Jr. def. Niebla Roja, Polvora, & Vangelis
6) Mascara Dorada, La Mascara, & Angel de Oro def. Euforia, Mr. Niebla, & Rey Escorpion via DQ
CMLL 07/10 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara Results
1) Espectrum & Rafaga def. Black Metal & Metatron
2) Barbaro Cavernario, Malefico, & Virus def. El Divino, Esfinge, & Sensei
3) La Amapola & La Comandante def. Luna Magica & Silueta
4) Occidente Light Heavyweight Title: Sagrado def. Shigeo Okumura (c) to win the title!
5) Atlantis, Marco Corleone, & Brazo de Plata def. Averno, Mephisto, & Ephesto via DQ
CMLL 07/13 Arena Mexico Lineup
1) Horuz & Robin vs. Artillero & Super Comando
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Metalico, & Super Halcon Jr. vs. Bobby Zavala, Disturbio, & Nosferatu
3) Goya Kong, Marcela, & Estrellita vs. Princesa Sujei, Princesa Blanca, & Tiffany
4) Atlantis, Shocker, & Diamante Azul vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Black Warrior, & Rey Escorpion
5) CMLL Middleweight Title: Dragon Rojo Jr. (c) vs. Titan
6) Volador Jr., Averno, & Mephisto vs. La Sombra, Marco Corleone, & Rush
CMLL 07/15 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara Lineup
1) Brillante & Indigo vs. Relampago Azul & Thunder Boy
2) Esfinge & Halcon de Plata vs. Espectrum & Evola
3) Brazo de Oro, Leon Blanco, & Metatron vs. Exterminador, Gran Kenut, & Malefico
4) Hair vs. Hair: Javier Cruz vs. Barbaro Cavernario
5) Mascara Dorada & Diamante Azul vs. Averno & Ephesto
CMLL 07/16 Arena Puebla Lineup
1) Black Tiger, Lestat, & Tigre Rojo Jr. vs. King Jaguar, Policeman, & Siki Ozama Jr.
2) Hombre Bala Jr., Metatron, & Stigma vs. Cancerbero, Puma King, & Raziel
3) Mascara Dorada, Sagrado, & Angel de Oro vs. Misterioso II, Niebla Roja, & Vangelis
4) La Mascara, Rush, & Brazo de Plata vs. Averno, Mephisto, & Ephesto
5) CMLL Heavyweight Title: El Terrible (c) vs. Shocker
CMLL 07/17 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara Lineup
1) Sky Kid & Virgo vs. El Hippie & Sadico
2) Robin & Sensei vs. Demonio Maya & In Memoriam
3) Black Metal, Gallo, & Smaker vs. Olimpico, Polvora, & Sangre Azteca
4) Rush & Shocker vs. Volador Jr. & Mr. Aguila
5) Atlantis vs. Mephisto
CMLL 07/17 Arena Mexico Lineup
1) Bengala & Metatronh vs. Ramstein & Zayco
2) Aereo, Astral, & Electrico vs. Demus 3:16, Pequeno Nitro, & Pierrothito
3) Hombre Bala Jr., Super Halcon Jr., & Triton vs. Hijo del Signo, Namajague, & Shigeo Okumura
4) Lightning Match: Sagrado vs. Niebla Roja
5) Felino, Puma King, & Tiger Kid vs. Blue Panther, Hijo del Fantasma, & Rey Cometa
6) La Mascara, Marco Corleone, & Diamante vs. Rey Bucanero, Rey Escorpion, & Euforia
AAA 08/05 “TripleMania XX” PPV Lineup
1) Fabi Apache, Fenix, Octagoncito, & Pimpinela Escarlata vs. Sexy Star, Dark Dragon, Mini Charly Manson, & Yuriko
2) Octagon, Semental, Texano Jr., & Toscano vs. La Parka Jr., Monster Clown, Murder Clown, & Psycho Clown
3) Seconds Hair vs. Hair Match: Electroshock & L.A. Park w/Joaquin Roldan vs. Jeff Jarrett & TBA w/Dorian Roldan
4) Relevos Suicidas: Chessman & Juventud Guerrera vs. Extreme Tiger & Halloween vs. Psicosis & Joe Lider vs. Teddy Hart & Jack Evans
5) Hair vs. Mask Match: Losers of Match #4
6) AAA Heavyweight Title: El Mesias (c) vs. Perro Aguayo Jr.
7) Mask vs. Mask Match: Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Mascara Ano 2000 Jr.
* NOTES *
– The other wrestler on Jarrett’s team will be another TNA wrestler, Kurt Angle remains to be rumored to be the other wrestler.
– The team that takes the fall in the Relevos Suicidas will then immediately face off in a Mask vs. Hair Match (or Hair vs. Hair).
DG-USA Star Signs with WWE
PWInsider reported this week that Dragon Gate and Dragon Gate USA star PAC has officially signed with the WWE.
Jigsaw in TNA
CHIKARA’s Jigsaw returned to TNA for this past weekend’s incredible “Destination X” PPV. Jigsaw returned as “Rubix” and competed in the “Last Chance 4-Way” along with Mason Andrews (Scorpio Sky), Dakota Darsow, & Lars Only (PWG’s Johnny Yuma) with the winner getting the last slot in the X-Division Championship Tournament. Rubix once again had an awesome showing but fell short as Andrews pinned Lars for the win. Rubix was said to have impressed everyone in TNA again and was easily the most over with the crowd in the match, and he’s expected to get an offer for a contract from TNA if he hasn’t already.
King of Trios Teams
This week CHIKARA announced another team for the annual King of Trios Tournament and it was a surprising one. Last year The Colony (Fire Ant, Soldier Ant, & Green Ant) won the King of Trios and expected to defend their crown, but with Fire Ant on the sidelines due to injury CHIKARA Director of Fun Wink Vasseur has decided to put together a team consisted of the best “Ants” on the CHIKARA roster so he put The Colony’s Soldier Ant together with combatANT & deviANT of The Swarm/GEKIDO! Green Ant wrote a blog on the official CHIKARA tumblr page complaining about the decision and claiming that Fire Ant could be ready for King of Trios.
1) The Extreme Trio: Tommy Dreamer (Captain), Too Cold Scorpio, & Jerry Lynn
2) F.I.S.T.: Chuck Taylor (Captain), Johnny Gargano, & Icarus
3) The Batiri: Kobald (Captain), Obariyon, & Kodama
4) The Spectral Envoy: UltraMantis Black (Captain), Hallowicked, & Frightmare
5) The Throwbacks: Mr. Touchdown (Captain), Dasher Hatfield, & Matt Classic (Colt Cabana)
6) Team JWP: Kaori Yoneyama (Captain), Tsubasa Kuragaski, & Commando Bolshoi
7) Team ROH: Mike Bennett (Captain), Nick Jackson, & Matt Jackson
8) The Swarm: combatANT (Captain), deviANT, & Soldier Ant
9) Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, & Manami Toyota
Insane Twist in NOSAWA Drug Case
Back in May Japanese wrestlers NOSAWA & lo Shirai were arrested coming back from Mexico to Japan when customs found drugs stashed in framed paintings the two had brought back to Japan with them. Both were adamant that fans had given them the paintings (and earlier in the week had tweeted a picture of them holding the paintings with a caption that said fans gave them to them) and they had no idea the Marijuana was stashed in. Japan is EXTREMELY strict about drugs and it was expected serious action would be taken against the two, but in June Japanese authorities revealed they would not be pressing charges against NOSAWA or Shirai. Well, now we know why. AAA star Sugi San and AAA Japanese associate Masahiro Hayashi held a Press Conference in Japan and actually ADMITTED to planting the drugs on NOSAWA & Shirai in a bizarre twist. It looks like Sugi was mad at NOSAWA and it was actually Hayashi would did the planting of the drugs. Several websites are reporting that NOSAWA had actually found out that it was Sugi that planted the drugs and had already told the police which may be why Sugi is now admitted it publicly. Sugi immediately left the Press Conference to come back to Mexico (where he is booked for several AAA spot shows). AAA released a statement saying that they were unsure of what is going on and won’t make any further comment until they get details from Sugi himself. It’s safe to say that Sugi’s career in Japan is likely over and if he goes back he’ll probably be arrested (which may happen anyway) and NOSAWA has enough pull in Mexico he might be able to get Sugi black balled in INDY feds as well so if AAA fires him this could be very bad for him.
Pesadilla-Bestia: Extreme Lucha Libre
Extreme Rising has released a youtube video with highlights from Bestia 666 & Pesadilla’s Extreme Lucha Libre meetings at last weekend’s Extreme Rising events. Both of their matches will appear on the DVDs for these events which are available now (www.extremerising.com):
IWRG 07/08 “Guerra de Empresas” Arena Naucalpan Results
1) Chicano, La Chiva, & Lily Fighter def. The Mummy, Tiger Lee, & Sexy Lady
2) Guerra de Empresas Quarterfinals: Texano Jr. & Argos def. Negro Navarro & Black Terry
3) Guerra de Empresas Quarterfinals: Cien Caras Jr. & Hijo de Mascara Ano 2000 def. Damian 666 & X-Fly
4) Guerra de Empresas Quarterfinals: Silver Kain & Ultimo Gladiador def. Aeroboy & Violento Jack
5) Guerra de Emprasas Quarterfinals: Cibernetico & La Parka Jr. def. Psicosis & Pete Powers
6) Guerra de Emprasas Semifinals: Cien Caras Jr. & Hijo de Mascara Ano 2000 def. Texano Jr. & Argos
7) Guerra de Emprasas Semifinals: Cibernetico & La Parka Jr. def. Silver Kain & Ultimo Gladiador
8) Guerra de Emprasas Finals: Cibernetico & La Parka Jr. def. Cien Caras Jr. & Hijo de Mascara Ano 2000
* NOTES *
– “Guerra de Empresas” aka War of Promotions featured teams from IWRG (Black Terry & Negro Navarro, Cien Caras Jr. & Hijo de Mascara Ano 2000), El Consejo (Argos & Texano Jr.), AAA (Cibernetico & La Parka Jr., Silver Kain & Ultimo Gladiador), DTU (Aeroboy & Violento Jack), PdM (Psicosis & Pete Powers), and Familia de Tijuana (Damian & X-Fly).
INDY 07/08 Arena Santa Lucia Results
1) Destructor & Norteno Jr. def. Delfin & Eclipso
2) Extreme Boy, Misionero, & Norteno def. Angel Espacial, Atomo, & Peewee via DQ
3) Desafio, Orquidea NEgra, & Rey Imagen def. Anibal el Vampiro, Ciber Payaso, & Mortifero via DQ
4) Coco Viper, Iron, & Memo Valle def. Androide, Gato Fantasma, & Principe de Oro via DQ
5) Silver Star, Tigre Universitario, & Zumbido def. Hator, Tigre Negro, & Vaquero Romo via DQ
6) Monster Clown, Murder Clown, & Psycho Clown def. Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., Semental, & Toscano via DQ
* NOTES *
– Want to know an easy way of pissing off your crowd? Have 5 of your 6 matches on the card end in a DQ. That is beyond terrible.
AULL 07/14 “Arena Lopez Mateos 45th Anniversary Show” Lineup
1) Kid Tornado & Spider Boy vs. Boda & Stryker
2) La Vaquerita vs. Keira
3) Cerebro Maligno, Herejia, Judas el Traidor, & Rey Krimen vs. Epitafio, Leviathan, Samael, & Tormento
4) Super Nova, Terry 2000, & Yakuza vs. Sadico, Trauma I, & Trauma II
5) Gran Apache, Solar I, & Rocky Santana vs. Black Terry, Fuerza Guerrera, & Negro Navarro
6) 3-Way Extreme Dance: Electroshock vs. L.A. Park vs. Super Crazy
Super-X 07/15 Mexico City Lineup
1) Skayde Sr. vs. Turbo
2) Drago vs. Eterno
3) Octagon vs. Fuerza Guerrera
4) AAA Cruiserweight Title 4-Way Dance: Juventud Guerrera (c) vs. Angelico vs. Fenix vs. Chessman
IWRG 07/15 Arena Naucalpan Lineup
1) Dragon Celestial & Serpiente de Oro vs. Alan Extreme & The Mummy
2) Centvrion & Johnny Rivera vs. Douki & Eita
3) Multifacetico, Niko, & Suicida vs. Oficial Factor, Oficial Rayan, & Oficial Spartan
4) Copa Higher Power Cibernetico: Decnnis, Espiritu, Extreme Tiger, Super Fly, & Tito Santana II vs. Chicano, Golden Magic, Hijo de Mascara Ano 2000, Oficial 911, & Relampago
5) Dr. Cerebro, El Mesias, & Veneno vs. Dark Dragon, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, & Pirata Morgan
CHIKARA 07/28 “The Great Escape” South Portland, ME Lineup
1) YLC 1st Round Elimination Match: Jivin Jimmy vs. Cameron Matthews vs. Kobald vs. TBA
2) Frightmare vs. Ophidian
3) Green Ant vs. assailANT
4) Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, and The Spectral Envoy (UltraMantis Black & Hallowicked) vs. The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) & The Heart Throbs (Antonio Thomas & Romeo Roselli)
5) CHIKARA Grand Champion: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Sara del Rey
* NOTES *
– That is former WWE tag team The Heart Throbs teaming with the Young Bucks in the 8-Man Tag.
DG-USA 07/28 “Untouchable ’12” iPPV Taylor, MI Lineup
1) Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno & Player Dos) vs. The Scene (Caleb Konley & Scott Reed)
2) Rich Swann vs. Chuck Taylor
3) YAMATO vs. Ricochet
4) CIMA & AR Fox vs. El Generico & Samuray del Sol
5) Open the Freedom Gate Title: Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Akira Tozawa
CHIKARA 07/29 “Give Em The Axe” Everett, MA Lineup
1) YLC 1st Round Elimination Match: ACH vs. Vinny Marseglia vs. Aaron Epic vs. JT Dunn
2) 3.0 (Scott Parker & Shane Matthews) & Gran Akuma vs. The Batiri (Obariyon, Kobald, & Kodama)
3) Ophidian vs. Sugar Dunkerton
4) Jigsaw vs. Jakob Hammermeier
5) Sara del Rey vs. Icarus
6) CHIKARA Tag Team Titles 2/3 Falls Match: The Young Bucks (c) vs. The Throwbacks (Dasher Hatfield & Mr. Touchdown)
DG-USA 07/29 “Enter The Dragon ’12: 3rd Anniversary Show” iPPV Chicago, IL Lineup
1) Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno & Player Dos) vs. D.U.F. (Arik Cannon & Pinkie Sanchez)
2) YAMATO vs. Jon Davis
3) El Generico vs. Akira Tozawa
4) I Quit Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Chuck Taylor
5) Open the United Gate Titles: CIMA & AR Fox vs. Rich Swann & Ricochet
One of the most popular and fun (in my opinion) aspects of TNA’s X-Division over the years were the World X-Cup Tournament’s they held. Since 2004 3 World X-Cup Tournament’s have been held as well as 3 different America’s X-Cup Tournament’s during 2004. One of the most popular and easily the most successful teams in those tournaments were the many variations of the lucha Team Mexico. Team Mexico has seen some of the best Luchadors from both AAA and CMLL over the last 10 years including Volador Jr., Ultimo Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, Hector Garza, Averno, Juventud Guerrera, Mr. Aguila, the late Abismo Negro (R.I.P.), and more. Team Mexico won ALL 3 America’s X-Cup’s and won the last World X-Cup in 2004. Team USA is the only other team to win any of the tournaments.
The very first America’s X-Cup featured Team USA vs. Team Mexico on February 11, 2004 from The TNA Asylum in Nashville, TN. Team USA consisted of 4 X-Division stars from TNA (Chris Sabin, Sonjay Dutt, Elix Skipper, & Jerry Lynn) while Team Mexico consisted of 4 luchadors from AAA (Juventud Guerrera, Mr. Aguila, Hector Garza, & Abismo Negro). Juvi captained Team Mexico and Lynn captained Team USA. This Tournament format consisted of 4 singles matches, 2 tag team matches, and one final Elimination X Match which featured all 8 men in what Lucha Libre fans know as a Torneo Cibernetico. Team Mexico kicked things off with a big bang as they won the first three singles matches with Juvi beating Sabin, Garza beating Dutt, and Negro beating Skipper. Finally Team USA got on the board when Lynn was able to pin Aguila. Team Mexico bounced right back when AAA originals Juvi & Abismo Negro beat Jerry Lynn & Sonjay Dutt in a tag match, but Team USA came right back with Skipper & Sabin getting the win over Garza & Aguila. Mexico had a big lead but with a win in the Elimination X USA could still come out on top. In a wild Final it all came down to the captains: Juvi & Lynn. These two had faced off the year before in a singles match in TNA with Lynn coming out on top, but this time around Juvi was able to best Lynn and secure the win for Team Mexico. In a cool moment AAA founder and owner Antonio Pena came out to celebrate with the X-Cup Trophy and Team AAA. Pena died only 2 years later in 2006.
Just one month later Team Mexico returned to defend their crown in America’s X-Cup II, this time against Team Canada. Team Mexico would remain intact with Juvi, Garza, Negro, and Aguila all returning. Team Canada would be represented by Petey Williams, Jack Evans, Teddy Hart, and Johnny Devine. Juvi remained captain for Team Mexico while Hart was named captain of Team Canada. Things were alot more even in the 1st Round this time as each team split the singles matches with Canada’s Hart beating Aguila and Devine beating Negro while Mexico’s Juvi bested Williams and Garza took out Evans. Things were right down the middle yet again in the Tag Matches as Juvi & Negro once again came out on the winning side beating the Hart Foundation 2.0 team of Jack Evans & Teddy Hart in a wild match. Petey Williams & Devine then bounced back and beat the team of Garza & Aguila. Once again it all came down to Elimination X and once again Team Mexico came out on top when but this time it came down to Hector Garza and Petey Williams with Garza coming out on top and retaining the X-Cup for Team Mexico.
A month later in April Team Mexico once again returned to defend it’s crown but this time with a different look. Team Captain Juventud Guerrera had visa issues that stopped him from entering the USA which resulted in Hector Garza (who stole the show the previous month) replacing him as Mexico’s Captain. Juvi was replaced on the team by another AAA original: Heavy Metal. This month they battled Team UK represented by Xtreme Dean, Robbie Dynamite, Frankie Sloan, & James Mason. Mason was the captain for Team UK. Mexico dominated the 1st round with Aguila beating Xtreme Dean, Metal beating Dynamite, and Garza pinning Sloan. UK captain Mason was able to stop the UK from being shut out in the 1st round with a win over Negro and then Brits really bounced back in the Tag Team round winning both matches. Sloan & Dynamite beat Garza & Aguila while Mason & Xtreme Dean beat Metal Negro. In Elimination X Team Mexico’s dominance really shone through as they got the win on Team UK with Garza, Negro, & Aguila all surviving the match with Metal being the only one eliminated at all during the match.
The next month in May TNA switched things up and held a four team WORLD X-Cup featuring teams representing the USA, Mexico, Canada, & Japan. Team USA consisted of captain Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper, & Chris Sabin. Team Mexico featured the returning champions of captain Hector Garza, Abismo Negro, Mr. Aguila, & Heavy Metal. Team Canada switched things up with Petey Williams now captaining the team and only Johnny Devine returning from the original Team Canada. Now future TNA World Champion Bobby Roode and Eric Young joined the team (and this incarnation of Team Canada ended up being a long standing group in TNA, especially the trio of Williams, Roode, & Young). Team Japan was captained by NOSAWA and also featured Ryuji Hijikata, Nobukazu Hirai, and future New Japan and CMLL star Taichi Ishikari (who was only 2 years in the business at this point). The format was completely switched around this go around as it would feature 4 rounds. The first round was a Gauntlet Battle Royal featuring EVERY wrestler in the Tournament, the second round featured two tag matches with each team getting a match, the third round featured a ladder match involving 1 wrestler from each team, and the fourth and final round featured the Ultimate X. After the 3rd round the team in last place is eliminated and then each of the remaining teams will pick a representative to battle in the Ultimate X. The winning team in Ultimate X got 5 points. Team Mexico once again looked to be on their way to yet another victory when Hector Garza was able to win the Gauntlet for his squad thus earning 3 points for Mexico. In the 2nd Round Team Mexico’s Abismo Negro & Heavy Metal were beaten by Team Japan’s Mitsu Hirai Jr. & Ryuji Hijikata while Team USA’s team of Triple X (Daniels & Skipper) bested Team Canada’s Bobby Roode & Johnny Devine. Each winning team earned 2 points in that round. In the third round Team Mexico sent out Mr. Aguila to represent them against USA’s Lynn, Canada’s Young, Japan’s Taichi. Eric Young was able to pick up the win and USA’s Lynn was injured in the process. Japan was in last place after the third round and thus eliminated. USA’s Chris Sabin faced off against Mexico’s Garza and Canada’s Petey Williams in the Ultimate X. In the end Sabin (known as the King of the Ultimate X having competed in by far the most UX matches) was able to pull down the X and win the match and the World X-Cup for Team USA taking the crown from the Mexicans.
2 years passed and in 2006 TNA resurrected the World X-Cup bringing back teams from the USA, Canada, Japan, and of course Mexico. All 4 teams were revamped with new members and new captains. Team USA was captained by Chris Sabin and he was joined by Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, & his Motor City Machine Gun partner Alex Shelley. Team Canada was once again captained by Petey Williams and he was joined again by Eric Young & Johnny Devine but this time Tyson Dux replaced Bobby Roode (who was no longer wrestling in the X-Division). Team Japan was led by the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger and he was joined by young New Japan stars Hirooki Goto, Minoru Tanaka, & Black Tiger. Goto would go on to become an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion in Japan while Tanaka would eventually win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title. This version of Black Tiger was actually former ROH star and future AAA & CMLL star Rocky Romero. Team Mexico was revamped for the first time no longer featuring stars of AAA. Former TNA star Shocker captained Team Mexico and was joined by Magno, Incognito, & Puma. Incognito may be better known to American fans as Sin Cara Negro and later Hunico in WWE. The format was once again changed up as well in several ways. First it was no longer a one night tournament but rather a Tournament that took place over several weeks culminating at TNA’s “Sacrifice” PPV event. This time around the 1st round would feature two tag team matches, the 2nd round would feature 2 singles matches, and the third and final round would feature a Gauntlet Battle Royal with every competitor in the match. The tournament kicked off on the 04/27/06 edition of Impact with Team USA getting on the board first as Sonjay Dutt & Alex Shelley defeated Team Japan’s Goto & Tanaka in a tag team match. On 05/04/06 Team Mexico got on the board with Shocker & Magno taking out Canada’s Devine & Young. The 2nd Round kicked off on 05/11 with USA’s Chris Sabin pinning Mexico’s Puma and then wrapped up at “Sacrifice” when Japan’s Jushin Thunder Liger beat Canada’s former X-Division Champion Petey Williams. The Finals came down to Petey Williams (who had just been beaten by Liger earlier in the show) and Mexico’s Puma as the final two in the Gauntlet match with Petey taking Puma out. This actually meant that Canada and USA were tied at 5 points. A tie breaker was held on 05/18/06 on Impact when the two captains met in a singles match with Sabin beating Williams to give Team USA the repeat in the X-Cup.
The World X-Cup once again returned 2 years later in 2008 and again the teams had major changes as well as Team Canada being replaced by Team International. Team USA was captained by Kazarian and featured the Machine Guns and Curry Man (Christopher Daniels under a mask). Team Mexico consisted of four of the best young stars in CMLL with Ultimo Gurrero captaining the team along with his Los Guerreros del Atlantida partner Rey Bucanero and Volador Jr. & Averno. At the time all 4 CMLL stars were considered to be “the future” and interestingly enough all 4 guys remain in CMLL and all four guys have become 4 of the bigger stars in the company, especially Volador & Guerrero. Team Japan was captained by New Japan’s Milano Collection AT (who is now retired due to a serious eye injury) and featured Dragon Gate’s Speed Muscle team of Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino as well as Puma who had just wrestled in the 2006 World X-Cup as a member of Team Mexico. Team International was captained by former WWE star and future TNA X-Division Champion Daivari (who would later be known as Sheik Abdul Bashir in TNA) and also featured another future X-Division Champion in Doug Williams as well as Tyson Dux & Alex Koslov (who was a member of the CMLL roster at the time). The format was once again changed this year with the 1st Round featuring 2 tag team matches, the 2nd Round featuring 4 singles matches, the 3rd Round featuring the return of the Elimination X (but this time seeing each team send out 3 members of the team), and coming down to the Ultimate X in the finals. The Tournament kicked off on the 06/19/08 Impact with USA’s Machine Guns beating International’s Dux & Daivari and then the 1st Round concluded on 06/26/08 on Impact with Mexico’s Los Guerreros beating Japan’s Speed Muscle in an insane tag match. Round Two kicked off on the 07/03/08 Impact with Mexico’s Rey Bucanero pinning his CMLL rival and International team member Alex Koslov and Japan’s Milano Collection AT beating USA’s Curry Man. The 2nd round concluded on 07/10/08 with International getting on the board as Williams beat Japan’s Yoshino and USA’s Kaz beating Mexico’s Guerrero in a battle of team captains. Round 3 took place at the Victory Road PPV and stole the show with an insane Elimination X. Mexico was represented by Guerrero, Bucanero, and Averno; USA was represented by the Guns & Curry Man; Milano Collection AT, Yoshino, & Puma represented Japan; and Williams, Dux, & Koslov were the representatives for International. In the end Team USA got the win when Alex Shelley was the lone survivor in the wild match. Each team went into the Finals with a chance to win the Tournament and it would see Mexico’s Volador Jr. battling USA’s Kaz, Japan’s Doi, and International’s Daivair. Volador stole the show in the Ultimate X and ended up pulling down the X to win the match and the entire tournament for Team Mexico once again giving the Mexican team the X-Cup win.