AWL 75 Preview

No big wind up this week. Here's the card for AWL 75:

Main Event:

Wonder Kid (C) vs. Dragon—AWL World Heavyweight Championship Match!

With only 5 weeks to go until Wonder Kid achieves his goal of becoming the first ever 1 Year Champion in the history of the AWL World Title, every title match counts now more than ever and Dragon (looking for his 3rd championship) is as ready as he will ever be for this chance. This Friday we will have interviews with both champion and challenger so stay tuned!

Semi Final:

Crisis Gundan (C) vs. The All Americans—AWL World Tag Team Championship Match!

American Beetle and Hassan will cash in their 3 points and challenge Yarina's undefeated monsters HAKAISHA and Jack "Breakdown" Butcher for the tag titles. Will the yanks finally wrest some of the gold away from Yarina Talent Management inc.? Looking at the tale of the tape, I'd say it doesn't seem likely. But The All Americans are 2 time AWL World Tag Team Champions so it looks like this match will come down to Power vs. Heart. Find out which prevails at AWL 75.

“Big" Ben Nelson vs. Ultramantis Black

The #3 and #2 contenders in the AWL Best 4 face each other in a grudge match stemming from the beating that Nelson gave UMB in the 3-way match two weeks ago. The mysterious machinations on the malevolent mantis are still a mystery to all of us, but this week, UMB will be in a straight up fight with a straight up brawler in Ben Nelson.

The Super Tiger Brothers vs. The N.R.E—2 on 3 handicap match.

Finally, we will start this weekend's show with a weird match. After losing the AWL Light Heavyweight Championship to Tiger Mask last week, El Rudo Rojo and the N.R.E. are understandably upset. According to my sources, the "Proud Heels" marched into the AWL Commissioner's office and DEMANDED this match. Now for the weird part: The Commissioner agreed! It was just last season that the Commissioner was hiring Crisis Gundan to take out the N.R.E. (and in the case of Wrestler X, successfully so) and now he's granting them the advantage in a handicap match? It doesn't make any sense to me. But the AWL Commissioner has never steered us wrong before so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

All that and more on AWL 75, coming to you via your computer screen this Sunday morning (Japan Standard Time).

--RyuSensei

P.S. If you haven't checked it out yet, Mid-Week Wrestling episode 2 is up and features The Technicos vs. Big & Spicy in tag team action.

Mid-Week Wrestling 2: The Technicos vs. Big & Spicy

Mid-Week Wrestling 2 by AWLBoss

AWL 74: El Rudo Rojo vs. Tiger Mask

AWL 74 by AWLBoss

Happy Saturday everyone! AWL commentator, webmaster, interviewer, and all around minion RyuSensei here. First of all, sorry about the technical glitches known collectively as Real Life that delayed the posting of the first episode of Mid-Week Wrestling. New show, bugs to work out, I hope you understand.

Now for today's interview: AWL Veteran and #1 Contender to the AWL Light Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask is my guest this week. As always, many thanks to the AWL Translation Staff for making this interview possible.

RyuSensei: Tiger-senshu, thank you for coming today. First of all, you won the 4-Way match at MWW1 and you are now #1 Contender to the AWL Light Heavyweight Championship. What are your thoughts on that match?

Tiger Mask: It was a great match. I think I can speak for all four of the men in that match when I say that we were honored to not only be chosen for the #1 Contender's Match, but to be the first match ever on Mid-Week Wrestling. Azul, Curry Man, and Fire Ant are skilled wrestlers. Any of us could have won the match, I'm just happy it was me. Ever since El Rudo Rojo won the AWL Light Heavyweight Title, I've wanted a chance to fight him and teach him a lesson.

RyuSensei: Yes, speaking of El Rudo Rojo, he has angered many of the AWL Wrestlers with his antics. Specifically, deliberately getting himself disqualified in order to retain his title. I know you are one of the wrestlers upset with this and that you have said so in the locker room. Is there anything you'd like to say about this matter publicly?

Tiger Mask: As you wish. professional wrestlers are first and foremost athletes. Many of us have been training for this since we were teenagers or younger. The first thing that any athlete training in ANY sport learns is the importance of sportsmanship and playing by the rules. When people like Rojo run around the AWL flagrantly flaunting their lack of sportsmanship it not only reflects badly on them, the title, the AWL, and the entire sport of professional wrestling.

This weekend I'm going to show that little punk that being a "Rudo" is nothing to be proud of.

RyuSensei: Moving on to the Tag Team Division. You and Shin Tora currently have zero points and have faced AWL World Tag Team Champions, Crisis Gundan, twice in recent memory and both times you've been . . . pardon the expression . . . slaughtered. In light of these events, do you and Shin Tora have any plans to continue as a tag team?

Tiger Mask: Of course we do! A couple of failures aren't going to stop us. Crisis Gundan are an amazing tag team. They are strong, skilled, and have the hearts of warriors. It's such a shame that they are working for someone like Yarina. Shin Tora and I will continue to train and wrestle together and I'm sure some day we will be AWL World Tag Team Champions.

RyuSensei: Speaking of your partner, Shin Tora is also active in the Light Heavyweight Division. Have you given any thought to the possibility that, should you win the title this weekend, that your friend and partner may be one of your future opponents?

Tiger Mask: No, I haven't. It would be a serious mistake to look past any opponent, especially a cheater like Rojo. But now that you mention it, I don't think it will be a problem. Shin Tora and I have wrestled before and we spar with each other every day. If I am so fortunate as to become AWL Light Heavyweight Champion, then I think I would enjoy defending the title against my friend. But for right now I am focused on defeating El Rudo Rojo this weekend.

RyuSensei: OK, I can certainly understand that. There's one final topic I'd like to discuss with you today and that's Ultramantis Black. UMB claims that the persona of Black Tiger King and the story of his childhood rivalry with you were complete fiction. Were you aware of this deception and what are your thoughts on it?

Tiger Mask: I had no idea Ultramantis Black was Black Tiger King. When I said I didn't remember him from my childhood training, I meant it. Now we know the real reason and it has nothing to do with my memory. As a man who hides his face behind a mask, I have no right to be angry with Ultramantis for keeping his identity a secret. Also, now that we all know why he felt the subterfuge was needed, I can easily find it in my heart to forgive him and to move on. In fact, I'd love the opportunity to face him in the ring some day. Now if you will excuse me, I need to prepare for my match at AWL 74.

RyuSensei: Thank you for your time Tiger Mask. Good luck this weekend. I think it's safe to say that most of the locker room and all the AWL fans are supporting you.

Tiger Mask: I hope so. I, like any athlete, will draw strength and power from my fellow wrestlers and from the people. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to talk to you and to them. Goodbye.

At that point, Tiger Mask returned to the Tiger's Cave to continue his training.

AWL 74 Preview

Another great and glorious Friday has come upon us wrestling fans and that means that it's time to preview this coming weekend's AWL event!

The main event of AWL 74 was decided last night on the first episode of Mid-Week Wrestling. The Japanese Legend Tiger Mask pinned Fire Ant in a 4-Way Match to become #1 Contender to the AWL Light Heavyweight Championship! Early this morning the AWL Commissioner made it official:

Main Event:

El Rudo Rojo (C) vs. Tiger Mask—AWL Light Heavyweight Championship Match

Tomorrow, we will have an exclusive interview with Tiger Mask about this match.

----------------------------------------------------

The semi final match this Sunday (JST) will showcase the tag team division. The AWL Commissioner has appearently grown somewhat impatent waiting for tag teams to earn the necessary 3 points to challenge for the gold so he has booked the following match to ensure that SOMEONE becomes #1 Contenders this weekend:

Semi Final:

The All Americans (2) vs. The N.R.E (2)

Points in Play

That's right! No matter who wins, someone will have 3 points. In a related story, we can also announce that Crisis Gundan will defend the AWL World Tag Team Championships at AWL 75 against the winners of this match.

----------------------------------------------------

Rounding out the card, we also have two matches that will impact the AWL World Title situation. First, Dragon takes the 10-Minute Challenge. Second, there will be a Fight for 4. The strange thing is that we don't exactly know who will be in that Fight for 4 match. The message we received from the Commissioner's office this morning was incomplete.

Ganba vs. ????

Fight for 4

Naturally, I called the Commissioner's office looking for some answers, but all I got was that the mystery competitor was a former AWL World Heavyweight Champion and therefore more than qualified for a chance to enter the Best 4. I guess I'll just have to wait until Sunday to see who it is along with all of you.

To sum up this news report, the full card for AWL 74 is as follows:

Main Event:

El Rudo Rojo (C) vs. Tiger Mask—AWL Light Heavyweight Championship Match

Semi Final:

The All Americans (2) vs. The N.R.E. (2)—Points in Play, someone must win a 3rd point!

Dragon vs. Wonder Kid—10-Minute Challenge.

Ganba vs. A former AWL World Heavyweight Champion—Fight for 4.

Join us this Sunday (Japan Time) for AWL 74. Things are starting to pick up in the AWL and you are going to want to be a part of it!

Mid-Week Wrestling ep 1

Mid Week Wrestling 1 by AWLBoss

A day late and a dollar short.  Hopefully I'll have the kinks worked by next week.  Enjoy the show!!

Post AWL 73 Report

I have good news, bad news, and great news.

Let's get the bad news out of the way first. Wonder Kid is still the AWL World Heavyweight Champion. On top of that, there're only 7 more weeks until Wonder Kid reaches his coveted goal of one full year as champion (Yes, I am aware that means the last chance to dethrone him will be AWL 80, that is a case of 100% serendipity!). At the moment, Dragon is the #1 ranked member of the AWL Best 4 and is due to take the 10 Minute Challenge next week.

But there is good news to be had. For the first time in months we have not one but TWO tag teams with two points! The All American's defeated The Colony and (unfortunately) The N.R.E. bested Big & Spicy in a Two Point Match.

We don't yet know how, when, or if these teams will earn the all important third point, but I think it's safe to say that the days of Crisis Gundan being on vacation are close to over.

And now the GREAT news: The AWL is EXPANDING!!!

Beginning this week, we will begin posting bonus videos containing full matches under the title of AWL Mid-Week Wrestling! This isn't going to be just another Heat/Velocity/Superstars throwaway C-show. These matches are going to matter and to prove it, the first episode of Mid-Week Wrestling will feature a Light Heavyweight #1 Contender's Match with the winner facing El Rudo Rojo for the AWL Lt HvWt. Championship in the main event of AWL 74!!

See you soon with a whole new era of the AWL!

AWL 73: Wonder Kid vs.Ma-Ji-Ku

AWL 73 by AWLBoss

AWL 73 Preview

Happy Thursday AWL fans! In celebration of this most momentous of days, we here at the Animated Wrestling League are pleased to present to you the full card for AWL 73! Hazzah!!

Main Event:

Wonder Kid (C) vs. Ma-Ji-Ku—AWL World Heavyweight Championship Match

After surviving the 10 Minute Challenge last week, The Warrior of Light gets another chance to be the one who dethrones Wonder Kid and stops his quest for a 365+ day title reign. Wonder Kid and Ma-Ji-Ku have the best and second best win loss records in the company respectfully. However, in the past, Ma-Ji-Ku has struggled when he has fought outside of his weight devision. Will the former Light Heavyweight Champion topple the Man Muscle Mountain and become the new AWL World Heavyweight Champion? Tune in this weekend and find out.

Semi-Final:

The N.R.E. (0) vs. Big & Spicy (1)—TWO Point in Play!

Last week these two met in a match that ended in a double countout. In what is fast becoming an AWL tradition, this week these four will face each other again in a rematch where two of the precious three points needed for title contention will be up for grabs.

One look at the current scores tell the story of this match. Big & Spicy (who were screwed out of the titles last time they fought Crisis Gundan) already have one point. So all they need to do is win this match and they will get their long overdue rematch. The N.R.E., on the other hand, is looking to expand their quantity of gold by bringing home their first taste of Tag Team glory.

Dragon vs. Ultramantis Black vs. Ben Nelson—Triple Threat Match

A special gift from the AWL Commissioner to the AWL fans. The three members of the AWL Best 4 who are NOT challenging for the championship will face each other to decide who is the best of the best.

The All Americans (1) vs. The Colony (0)—Points in Play!

Our second tag team division match of the evening. The former two time AWL World Tag Team Champions, The All Americans, face one of the best teams in this history of Chikara, the impeccable insects, The Colony. Seriously people, what else can I say? Watch it!!

Eddie Kingston vs. Kid Canada

This will be Eddie Kingston's first match in the AWL since his humiliating string of losses to "Big" Ben Nelson. I can only imagine the rage that is currently boiling in the heart of the Chikara Grand Champion. I wouldn't want to be Kid Canada this weekend, that's for damn sure.

It looks to be an action packed night of pro wrestling action so tune in right here on AWLWrestling.blogspot.com this weekend (Sunday morning Japan Standard Time) and see it all for yourself. I promise the Big Show won't run in and end the show in an unbelievably stupid way.

Updated tag team point totals.

A whole lot happened at AWL 72 last week.  Not the least important was the impact on the tag team division.

First, the double countout in the N.R.E. vs. Big & Spicy match means that no points were won or lost in that encounter.  It also means that the AWL Commissioner has booked a rematch for next week where TWO points will be at stake.

Second, the Colony's win over the Technicos means that Fire Ant & Green Ant are back on the board with 1 point while Masters & Nix lose both of their points and are back to zero.

As a result, the current tag team point totals are:

Big & Spicy: 1pt.
The All Americans: 1 pt.
The Colony: 1 pt.
All other teams: 0 pts.

With another two tag team matches scheduled for next week, those numbers are bound to go up.  So tune in this weekend to AWL 73 and see who rises to the top of the heap and readies themselves to challenge Crisis Gundan.

AWL 72: El Rudo Rojo vs. American Beetle

AWL 72: El Rudo Rojo vs. American Beetle by AWLBoss

The first title defense by the NEW AWL Light Heavyweight Champion.

Ma-Ji-Ku takes the 10 Minute Challenge.

And not 1 but 2 tag team matches with points on the line!

Enjoy the show!

AWL 72 Preview

OK folks, it's that time of the week again. The time when I tell you what matches will take place on this weekend's AWL show! YAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

But before we get to that, I have just received an e-mail from the AWL Commissioner's office saying that the AWL Commissioner has personally appointed "Big" Ben Nelson to the #4 position in the AWL Best 4! Appearently, this is due to his dominating performance in his feud with Eddie Kingston. So the AWL Best 4 currently looks like this:

1. Ma-Ji-Ku.

2. Dragon

3. Ultramantis Black

4. "Big" Ben Nelson

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Now at long last, the full card for AWL 72:

1. Main Event: El Rudo Rojo (C) vs. American Beetle

AWL Light Heavyweight Championship Match

2. Semi-Final: The Technicos (2) vs. The Colony (0)

Points in Play.

3. Wonder Kid vs. Ma-Ji-Ku

10 Minute Challenge

4. The N.R.E. (0) vs. Big & Spicy (1)

Points in Play

5. "Big" Ben Nelson vs. El Santo Azul

With a Light Heavyweight Title Match, a 10 Minute Challenge, and a chance for The Technicos to earn their third point, AWL 72 is sure to be a news worthy show. Tune in this weekend for all the action from the Animated Wrestling League.

Sitdown Interview with Ma-Ji-Ku

Hello Internet, this is RyuSensei bringing you a very special interview with former AWL Light Heavyweight Champion Ma-Ji-Ku.  Before we begin, many thanks to the AWL Translation Staff for their excellent work providing real time two-way translation for this interview.  Without all of you this company would fall apart at the seams.  Now on with this special sit down interview:

RyuSensei: Good afternoon Ma-Ji-Ku, thank you for agreeing to join me today.  First, as everyone who saw AWL 70 knows, you recently lost the AWL Light Heavyweight Championship to El Rudo Rojo after holding it for nearly two years.  What are your thoughts on your title reign and how it ended?

Ma-Ji-Ku: Thank you for the invitation.  I must admit to some strongly mixed feelings.  I knew all along that I would lose the Light Heavyweight Title some day, that's just the nature of any sport including wrestling.  I'm extremely proud of my time representing the AWL as one of its champions.  I've fought and beaten the best light heavyweight wrestlers from all over the world.  Everyone from Amazing Red, to Tiger Mask, to Curry Man, to El Santo Azul.  Until AWL 70 I was undefeated in my weight class.  I have the longest title reign in modern professional wrestling, not even CM Punk can claim that.

RyuSensei: But . . .

Ma-Ji-Ku: But I'm frustrated at how it all ended.  El Rudo Rojo was having a fantastic match.  I barely avoided some of his attacks and DIDN'T avoid most of them.  Truth be told, Rojo probably could have beaten me in a fair fight.  But no, he felt he HAD to hit me with a low blow.  I don't mind losing, I can even move past losing the title, but what I simply can not abide is the fact that a perfectly able athlete took a shortcut that he didn't need to take!

RyuSensei: Interesting, I expected you to be, well, angrier than this.

Ma-Ji-Ku: Of course I'm angry.  That championship was the crowning accomplishment of my career, everything I've worked for since I was 14 years old.  But anger serves nothing.  Anger doesn't win wrestling matches, skill does.  Wrestling at its best is human chess and I don't see how giving into anger is going to help me now or in the future.

RyuSensei: Wise words.  But speaking of the future, I'm sure you're aware that former champions do not get automatic rematches in the AWL and since you didn't win the Beat the Clock Sprint last weekend, American Beetle is now the #1 Contender to your former title.  Taking that into account, what are your plans for the future?

Ma-Ji-Ku: At the moment, while I would love to get back in the ring with El Rudo Rojo, my plans lie outside the Light Heavyweight Division.  I'm currently the #1 Contender to the AWL World Heavyweight Title and if any accomplishment could possibly top being Light Heavyweight Champion for so long, it would be dethroning Wonder Kid for the top prize in the AWL. This weekend I take the 10 Minute Challenge.  I must but the chaos of my recent past behind me and focus on the task before me.

RyuSensei: I'm sure all the AWL fans are looking forward to you providing a true challenge for Wonder Kid.  But does this mean you are finished with the Light Heavyweight Division?

Ma-Ji-Ku: For the time being, yes.  But I'll be back.  El Rudo Rojo and I have a score to settle and one day I will show him the error of his ways.

RyuSensei: Thank you very much for your time Ma-Ji-Ku.  For the Animated Wrestling League, this is RyuSensei.  See you this weekend for AWL 72.

Possible future upgrades

With the recent announcement by 2K Sports that the WWE 2K14 video game will feature the return of a proper Create-a-Championship feature among the many other excellent resources of their creative suite, I am currently making plans to upgrade the AWL to this new and improved platform.  The long poles in the proverbial tent, however, are that WWE video games have not been sold in Japan since 2009 or so and that I don't currently have either a PS3 or a method of capturing video from said system.  Further research will commence immediately and, if all goes well, the first episode of the new and improved AWL will be the 2014 New Year's Tournament.

Post AWL 71 report

Well wrestling fans, it looks like a dark era has begun for the AWL Light Heavyweight Division. In the main event of AWL 71, new champion El Rudo Rojo made it sent clear message to the AWL locker room that he will resort to any means to retain his championship including blatantly fouling his opponents in order to get out of a match. That's what happened to Ultramantis Black yesterday, but the great & devious one's reaction was not what I expected. I caught up with Ultramantis Black after the show to get his thoughts on the match, expecting a long verbose speech but he was just sitting there in the locker room, in his ring gear, fingers steepled in front of his face, completely unresponsive. But there was a fire in his eyes that told me he had by no means lost his wits and was infact so deep in thought that there was no hope of getting any answers to my questions.

But there is some good news coming from last night. American Beetle (currently working without pay due to the American government shutdown) won the Beat the Clock Challenge to become the #1 contender to the AWL Light Heavyweight Championship. He will face El Rudo Rojo in next week's main event.

Also on next week's show, Ma-Ji-Ku sets his sights on the highest of heights: The AWL World Heavyweight Championship! He faces Wonder Kid in a 10 Minute Challenge at AWL 72.

We'll have more news, promos, and more throughout the week so stay tuned to AWLwrestling.blogspot.com.

--RyuSensei.

AWL 71: Beat the Clock/Rojo vs. Ultramantis Black.

AWL 71 by AWLBoss

Just so everyone is clear.  I am in no way affiliated with the real Ultramantis Black.  He along with any real world wrestlers featured in my show are 100% fictional.  No offense or infringement is meant or implied.  Thank you and enjoy the show.

8 Promos from 8 Contenders

AWL 71 is this weekend and the majority of the show will be the Beat the Clock Challenge for the #1 Contendership to the AWL Light Heavyweight Championship. Here now, comments from all 8 participants in this event (Translators used where appropriate):

1. Ma-Ji-Ku: Anyone who saw what happened at AWL 70 knows that El Rudo Rojo fouled me. He punched me in the nuts and pinned me before I could recover. Of course I'm angry about that. But that anger will fuel me and motivate me to do what must be done. I will win this challenge. I will get my hands on Rojo. And I will take my title BACK!!

2. American Beetle: Unavailable for comment due to furlough

3. Tiger Mask: I am honored by this opportunity. For years the AWL Light Heavyweight Title has been an unobtainable goal for so many of us. But now we have an excellent chance to reach the top of the mountain. I have never been a champion in the AWL, but this weekend I will take the first step down the path to changing that. To my 7 competitors, including you Shin Tora, come at me and bring your best. Let the most worthy warrior prevail.

4. Shin Tora: I couldn't agree more old friend. The odds aren't high that we will have to fight each other, but if we do it won't be the first time and probably not the last. I'm going to be the first Tiger to wear gold in the AWL and none of these other challengers are less than 100 years from being a challenge to me.

5. Fire Ant: arrrrgghlablarrrrrrrrghgrrrrrrrrrrrr (Translator's Note: He went on like that for about 5 minutes. We have no idea what he meant and Green Ant wasn't around to translate).

6. Curry Man: Curry Man is King of Spice. Curry Man is next Tag Team Champion. Curry Man is next Light Champion. Curry Man still TNA Fired Champion. Curry Man #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7. El Santo Azul: Every single person reading this knows my history with my brother. They also know that I've beaten him before more than once. Most importantly, they know I beat him for his mask, a mask that still sits on a shelf in my living room. Put me in the ring with my brother one more time and I promise, history WILL repeat itself.

8. Bruce Hoyt: Hey man, this is bull****! Everyone knows me and Rojo be tight with each other. N.R.E. brothers for life. That commish musta lost his f**king mind even thinking of putting the two of us in the same ring with each other. But that don't mean I ain't gonna fight. That belt was MINE before the Mexican Jumping Bean beat me and I've been catching crap about it for 2 f**king years! That belt is coming home bit*h!

Words of Wisdom from Ultramantis Black!

Yes, it is I! The Great & Devious Ultramantis Black. No, many of you members of the proletariat classes may be curious as to why I am here and why I decided to reveal myself at the time I did. As in all things, the answer is both simple and complex.

Many moons ago I became aware of the Animated Wrestling League after a discussion with Matthew Classic during one of his appearances at a CHIKARA King of Trios event. The concept of the Animated Wrestling League proceeded to percolate with the confines of my cranium and I, the Great & Devious Ultramantis Black, became determined to participate in this most unusual wrestling organization.

However, there was a significant blockade in my path. That malodorous midget Wink Vavasseur had placed all CHIKARA wrestlers on notice saying that we could not wrestle for any other organization without his express permission. Naturally, that permission was not granted.

But then I put a full two percent of my intelligence and cunning into the problem and outsmarted the bespectacled blowhard. I created the false identity of Black Tiger King and used him to enter the two thousand and thirteen Animated Wrestling League New Year Tournament. I took the role of Black Tiger because the Tiger Style of professional wrestling is similar enough to my own style that it was simple to simulate. That whole story about being a childhood rival of Tiger Mask was a fabulous fictional fabrication. In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to publically apologize to Tiger Mask and Shin Tora. Gentlemen, while I do not regret my actions, I do regret the manner in which they played out.

But now that CHIKARA is . . . on hiatus . . . I am free to make myself known and fulfil my ambitions in the Animated Wrestling League. I shall begin this weekend against El Rudo Rojo. A red villain who would not know true villainy if it walked up and slapped him in the face. This little cheating chattel and his simple parlor tricks need to be informed and enlightened to the truth of evil and deviousness. Luckily (if one were to believe in such things as luck) there is no better teacher than the most devious creature in all of wrestling. Soon El Rudo Rojo, soon you shall see and perhaps even Understand. At Animated Wrestling League Episode 71, your education will begin.

--UMB

Mid-week News Post

Obviously, far and away the biggest news story coming out of AWL 70 is El Rudo Rojo defeating Ma-Ji-Ku to become the NEW AWL Light Heavyweight Champion. Because of this, this weekend's AWL 71 event will focus on the Light Heavyweight Division.

The AWL Commissioner has announced that 8 AWL Light Heavyweights will compete in a Beat The Clock Challenge to determine the first challenger to El Rudo Rojo's title. Those 8 potential contenders are:

1. Ma-Ji-Ku

2. American Beetle

3. El Santo Azul

4. Curry Man

5. Tiger Mask

6. Shin Tora

7. Fire Ant

And, most interestingly, the champ's N.R.E. partner:

8. Bruce Hoyt

Also, in the main event, El Rudo Rojo will have his first match since winning the championship in a non-title bout with the newest CHIKARA refugee: The Great & Devious Ultramantis Black!

Tune in this weekend to AWL 71 and see what happens.

--Ryu Sensei

AWL by the Numbers

The Animated Wrestling League is one of the few (and perhaps only) professional wrestling organizations where wins and losses matter above all else.  We also make the assumption that our viewers are both paying attention and capable of holding various bits and pieces of data in their minds.  But to make life a little easier on everyone, the AWL is proud to present this handy dandy guide to all the facts and figures that you need to know to keep up on the goings on in the Animated Wrestling League.

Heavyweight Division:

Current Champion: Wonder Kid.

Length of Title Reign: 292 Days as of 27/09/2013

Number of Title Defenses: 7.

AWL Best 4: (The top 4 contenders to the AWL World Heavyweight Championship)

1. Ma-Ji-Ku

2. Dragon

3. Ultramantis Black

4. ???? (Currently vacant)

Tag Team Division:

Current Champions: Crisis Gundan (Jack Butcher & HAKAISHA)

Length of Title Reign: 138 Days as of 27/09/2013

Number of Title Defenses: 4.

3-Point System: (Borrowed from CHIKARA, teams must earn 3 points to challenge for the AWL World Tag Team Titles.  One Win = One Point.  One Loss = Loss of All Points)

The Technicos (Lee Masters & Sammy Nix): 2 Points.

Big & Spicy (Curry Man & Tiny): 1 Point.

The All Americans (American Beetle & Hassan): 1 Point.

All Other Teams: 0 Points.

Light Heavyweight Division:

Current Champion: El Rudo Rojo.

Length of Title Reign: 2 Days.

Number of Title Defenses: 0

NOTE: The reign of former champion Ma-Ji-Ku lasted for 682 days from Nov. 11^th 2011 to Sept. 29^th 2013.

Batsumania: At the end of each season, the 4 AWL Wrestlers with the worst win-loss records (Wins minus losses) must fight in a match where the loser is fired.

Danger Zone as of AWL 70:

1. El Santo Azul 13-20

2. Tiger Mask 9-15

3. American Beetle 12-17

4. THUG LIFE Tanaka Kenichi 3-8