Full Card for Golden War 2016.

With yesterday's news post in the books, we now have the full card for next Wednesday's Super Card and I think you'll all agree it lives up to the description:

AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016!

May 4th, 2016 from Kyoto, Japan.

Main Event:

Wyvern (C) vs. Hassan (IC)

AWL Grand Championship Match

2 Out of 3 Falls

One on One.

4th Title Defense

The New Classics (C) vs. The Destroyers of DOOM! (3)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

1st Title Defense

Project 鉄 vs. Jack Butcher

Steel Cage Match

No Escape

There MUST Be a Winner!

RAINMAKERオカダカズチカ vs. 山田二郎

Inter-promotional Match

NJPW vs. AWL

Wonder Kid vs. Ganba

Clash of the New Year's Tournament Champions

Strike Warriors (0) vs. RUZAI (0)

Points in Play

???? vs. ????

Graduation Match

Winner joins the AWL Roster

Special Guest Referee: DRAGON!

American Beetle vs. Jon Shina

UNSANCTIONED MATCH

That's eight, count them, EIGHT massive matches for you to enjoy this Golden Week. Every title is on the line, grudges will be settled, special guests galore, and one new AWL career will begin. All this and much much more at AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016!!

Cage Match Announced!

Ladies and gentlemen, after about a week of behind the scenes negotiation, the final match for Golden War 2016 has been set:

AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016:

Project 鉄 vs. Jack Butcher

Steel Cage Match

NO ESCAPE

There MUST be a Winner!

Ever since Jack Butcher defeated Project 鉄 in the final fall of a Scramble Match way back at AWL 162, the blood feud between these two men has been building and building. The Augments have attacked Butcher two or three on one, Butcher has attacked Project 鉄 after matches and in the parking lot, and Dr. Jigoku has been ringing the boss' phone off the hook demanding some sort of resolution to this.

So, not wanting an event as important as a Super Card to be disrupted by two large, angry, crazy people, the AWL Commissioner has decided that both the man and the monster (you get to figure out which is which) will be locked inside a solid steel cage and they will have to settle their differences in the ring once and for all. And there will be no excuses because there will be no escape! Pin fall or submission only! Furthermore, Dr. Jigoku and the rest of the Augments are barred from ringside on pain if immediate termination of their AWL Contracts.

Housekeeping notes.

OK wrestling fans, just a couple of quick logistical points today.

First, there will be no new episode of the AWL this weekend. Our next episode will be Golden War 2016 on May 4th. But check this blog regularly all week for more information and late breaking developments on this massive event. For example, I can tell you that a new match for Golden War 2016 will be announced tomorrow!

Second, there has been a big shake up in the AWL Tag Team Division and I'm not just talking about the results of the Tag Gauntlet. Last week in Boyle Heights California, at The Temple, two members of the trios team The Disciples of Death were killed (or whatever it is you do to zombies) buy their own partner. At the time of their deaths, the D.o.D. had one point in the AWL Tag Team Division. That point has been deleted and the team has been taken off the board.

Finally today, two matches were made last Sunday at AWL 171 for Golden War 2016:

AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016:

The New Classics (C) vs. The Destroyers of Doom (3)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

1st Title Defense

Strike Warriors (0) vs. RUZAI (0)

Points in play!

AWL 171: Tag Gauntlet!

AWL 171: Tag Gauntlet! 投稿者 AWLBoss

Stipulations announced.

I am pleased to report that Hassan has finally announced his choice of stipulations for the main event of Golden War 2016:

Hassan:

Wyvern, I've thought long and hard about this. I could stack the deck in my favor. I could make it a three on one match where whoever on my team pins you, I get the title. I could ban you from using your finishing moves, or any move that isn't a headlock. I probably couldn't make it a "Hassan Wins Match" but I could try if I wanted.

Luckily for you Wyvern, I don't want to win that way. What I want is a fair fight. That's why neither of us will be allowed to have anyone in our corners at the Golden War. No Dragon, no American Beetle. Just you and me, man to man.

But I also want this to be over. April 26th, 2015. Nearly one year ago. That is when Vacant defeated Daniel Bryan for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, ending his career. It was roughly one week later that I won that WWE title. 24 hours later, I learned that Vacant had agreed to our title match without Vince's say so and that WWE would not recognize me as IC Champion. So I asked the AWL Commissioner about it. He said I could be announced as WWE IC Champion (since I had the belt), but that I couldn't defend the title on his show without opening the AWL up to a crushing lawsuit.

Thinking back on that conversation, I said some things to the commissioner that probably should have gotten me fired. I regretted it as soon as I left the office. But, to his credit, the boss not only didn't fire me, but he hasn't mentioned it since. But there IS something he said that stuck with me, "You want me to do this? Then MAKE me do it. Earn it!"

I did.

More than 11 months later and I sit here in my last few days as AWL IC Champion. Wyvern, I'm glad I get to fight you. You burst on to the scene and made the AWL yours. 5 matches and you're the Grand Champion, I respect that. But that didn't sit well with everyone in the locker room or the Arena. Some people are even saying you're the AWL's Roman Reigns!

So now it's YOUR turn to earn it. Prove all your doubters wrong. Prove that you can win the big match on your own.....and in decisive fashion. If you're going to keep your title, you'll have to win it the way I won mine. 2 out of 3 falls!

AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016

Main Event

Wyvern (C) vs. Hassan (IC)

Animated Wrestling League Grand Championship Match

Intercontinental Championship Cash-in.

Stipulations: 2 out of 3 falls, all parties barred from ringside.

4th Title Defense

Return of the Ace!

On Wednesday, I said there was BIG news afoot and I did not lie. The AWL Commissioner has met with New Japan Pro Wrestling chairman Sugabayashi Naoki and arranged for OKADA to appear and wrestle at the Golden War!! That's right, after more than half a season away from the AWL Arena, the Rainmaker will return to an AWL ring!!

Since we last saw Okada, he has lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to the ungovernable Naito Tetsuya (and good luck getting him to show up for any bookings that he doesn't absolutely have to).

The AWL Commissioner has already decided on Okada's opponent at the Golden War:

RAINMAKER オカダカズチカ vs. 山田二郎

Inter-promotional Match

I honestly can't say I'm surprised. In fact, I'd be willing to bet any about of money you care to name that the AWL Commissioner saw Yamada Jiro's rant against Japanese people who color their hair and immediately thought of bringing Okada back to the AWL.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank New Japan Pro Wrestling for their support and I think we all look forward to the ass kicking Yamada Jiro has had coming for a very long time.

Tag Gauntlet Announced for AWL 171!!

That's right! For the first time ever in regular season competition, we will have a Tag Gauntlet! The reason for this is simple: We need #1 Contenders for the AWL World Tag Team Titles at Golden War and at the moment, nobody has more than one point.

For those who do not remember, the rules of the Tag Gauntlet are as follows:

1. Two teams begin the match.

2. All matches have a 15 minute time limit, the time resets after each fall.

3. Eliminations occur by pin fall, submission, count out, or DQ.

4. As soon as one team is eliminated, another takes their place.

5. In the event of a time limit draw, BOTH teams are eliminated, but lose no points.

6. Match continues until one team has three points.

NOTE!: Traditionally, the Tag Gauntlet has taken place at the Tag Matsuri, meaning that no points can be lost. Well, AWL 171 sure as bleep isn't the Tag Matsuri so Points are FULLY in Play. That means that only ONE team is getting out of this match with any points on the board. It's all or nothing at AWL 171!

Before I leave you for today, I need to let you know that there is something BIG happening behind the scenes here in the Animated Wrestling League. A couple of somethings actually, but I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to tell you what. So stay tuned.

3 Matches Announced for the Golden War!

After everything that happened last weekend, it's time to make this official:

AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016:

Main Event!

Wyvern (C) vs. Hassan (IC)

AWL Grand Championship Match

Intercontinental Championship Cash-In

Stipulations: ???? (TBA)

4th Title Defense

That's right, the AWL IC Title is being cashed in for the very first time! As you can see, Hassan has not announced what stipulations (if any) he will add to the match. So stay tuned this week to see if he decides to break that news.

This brings us to our second match announcement, with Hassan taking the Grand Championship Match at the Golden War, what does that mean for the current #1 contender, Wonder Kid? Well, this is supposed to be a show all about the gold, all about the championships, so...

Wonder Kid (#1) vs. Ganba

Clash of NYT Champions!

That's right, the only two men to ever win the AWL New Year's Tournament TWICE (Wonder Kid in 2010 & 2014. Ganba in 2011 & 2015) will face each other one on one reigniting one of the longest and most storied rivalries in AWL History!

Now for our third and final announcement. Last weekend American Beetle attacked Jon Shina before the later's scheduled match with Mr. Smiles. Apparently, Beetle was angry that Jon Shina has been running around with the United States of Awesome MEGA Championship (which Shina appearently fished out of the garbage) and has been calling himself a champion.

American Beetle has been fined the equivilent of one week's pay and both Shina and Smiles have been paid as if they had won the match.

However, the AWL Commissioner is not a fan of the "fake title" thing and has decided that these two will settle matters one on one at the Golden War:

American Beetle vs. Jon Shina

GRUDGE MATCH

(Unofficially for the UsofA MEGA Championship)

If American Beetle wants his belt back so badly, he can try and take it!

AWL 170!

AWL 170: Double Title Matches! 投稿者 AWLBoss

Promos for Both Title Matches.

With two very important title matches right around the corner, we once again turn things over to the champions and challengers for some final comments before their matches at AWL 170. First, the Intercontinental Championship Match:

Hassan:

One year. It's been one year since I beat Vacant for the WWE IC Title. In that time I've gone through war after war after war trying to make this AWL IC Title ligitimate. I've fought my own partner and best friend. I've fought racists, monsters, luchadors, and suplex machines. But I've survived it all! Now I'm just one match shy of challenging for the Grand Championship.

I have nothing but respect for Tiger Mask, but he's not going to stop me. This IC title is a movement. A movement for all the young guys, the little guys, the forgotten guys. People who would never in a million years get a title shot in any wrestling promotion. This title is your path to the top. This title is how we make a statement.

And I'm going to make my statement on the biggest stage I can. WHEN I win this weekend, I'm cashing in...at the GOLDEN WAR!!

Tiger Mask II (Translated from Japanese):

Respect? You call deciding your next match after beating me respect?? No. Unforgivable! I don't know what you will be doing at the Golden War, but I will be defending MY AWL Intercontinental Championship for the first time. If you want to talk about respect, earn it in the ring.

Hassan breaking a little bit of news there. If he survives with his championship intact Something Tiger Mask II seems rather motivated to prevent), he will face the AWL Grand Champion at AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016. But who would be his opponent? We hear from the two men who will fight for that honor tomorrow:

Dr. Jigoku:

At last, after months of...falsified experements, my SUPERIOR warrior will prove himself by rising to the highest of heights, AWL Grand Champion. Decades of research, years of planning, months of matches, all worth it. My iron man. My greatest creation. My Project 鉄 will show all of you and all those who laughed at me that the era of mere human wrestlers is at an end and the Age of Augmentation has begun!!!

Wyvern:

Dr. Jigoku is a nut bag. Can you name one title that any of his so-called "superior" wrestlers have ever held? Tag Titles? Light Heavyweight Titles? Heavyweight? Anything? Well, as long as I have this (holds up the Grand Championship Belt) the only superior wrestler around here is me. Project 鉄 may be bigger and stronger than me, but you could say the same thing about Bad Luck Fale and the rest of Bullet Club. Where are they now? Gone. I have been fighting bigger men since I was a small child. I'm not afraid of iron. I'm not afraid of hell. I'm not afraid of anything! I am Wyvern, I am the Young Dragon, I am the Animated Wrestling League Grand Champion! And I don't see any of that changing any time soon. But you are welcome to try.

As for Hassan, Grand Champion vs. IC Champion at the Golden War? I like the sound of that. Obviously you don't need my approval to challenge me. 5 defenses of the IC Title gives you that right. But still, I welcome the challenge. Hassan, I hope to see you in Kyoto.

Strong words from the Grand Champion. But as the old song says, it's not bragging if you can back it up and the win-loss records do not lie. Wyvern is the first ever undefeated AWL Champion and if anyone is up for the challenge of The Augments, it's the Young Dragon. See you tomorrow for AWL 170.

Yamada Jiro responds to Tanaka Kenichi match.

Ugh. It's been a while since we received one of these (at least one that we feel comfortable publishing) so here you are, some words from Yamada Jiro. I would like to thank and apologize to the AWL Translation Team for putting up with this nonsense.

Yamada Jiro (Translated from Japanese):

The AWL Commissioner has insulted me! I am a Japanese warrior! To put me in a match with that bleach haired, tattooed, yakuza loving fool Tanaka Kenichi is dishonorable. Typical gaijin!! I am sick of such troublesome young men. They are not TRUE Japanese! They have no honor, no work ethic, no guts. No man who would lie to the world and paint his pure black Japanese hair such a garish and unseemly color as...ugh...BLOND...can dare call himself Japanese.

I do not want to fight that fool. But I signed a contract that says I will fight in whatever match I am assigned. And unlike some people, I keep my word. At AWL 170, that disgrace to Japan will be given the beating his father should have given him a long time ago.

Editor's note: The views expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Animated Wrestling League, it's management, or it's employees.

Full Card Announced for AWL 170

Happy nearly end of the week wrestling fans! To help you make it to the weekend, the AWL Commissioner has announced the full card for AWL 170. Now it's only 4 matches, but because of the extended time limits for the two title matches in the main event and semifinal slots, we simply can not fit any more wrestling into a roughtly one hour show.

AWL 170:

Main Event

Wyvern (C) vs. Project 鉄 (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

3rd Title Defense

Hassan (C) vs. Tiger Mask II

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

5th and Final Title Defense

山田二郎 vs. THUGLIFE 田中健一

Jon Shina vs. Mr. Smiles

First news about Golden War 2016.

More good news folks (though I doubt anything will beat the joy of getting rid of Bullet Club), the location for our next AWL Super Card Event has been announced:

AWL Super Card—Golden War 2016

Date: Wednesday May 4th

Location: Kyoto, Japan

That's right, we're returning to the ancient capital for our annual Golden Week Super Card. And what's more, the first match for this event has already been announced...kind of:

???? vs. ????

Special Guest Referee: Dragon!

Graduation Match

See what I mean by "kind of" now? OK, here's what this means. As you all know, after his forced retirement Dragon was made the head trainer of the AWL Dojo. He has informed the AWL Commissioner that two of his young prospects are ready to make their debut on the main roster. However, the Commissioner and Dragon have agreed that such a promotion must be earned, not given. So the top two students at the AWL Dojo will compete against each other with their sensei as special guest referee. The winner will be promoted to the main roster and the loser will be sent back down to the Dojo and will likely have to clean the toilets for a month or so.

Two Title Matches Announced!

Bullet Club is GONE!! And now the AWL is free to deal with more important matters, like Championships! Already one title match has been announced for this weekend at AWL 170:

AWL 170:

Main Event

Wyvern (C) vs. Project 鉄 (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

3rd Title Defense

And this match just added:

Hassan (C) vs. Tiger Mask II

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

5th and Final Title Defense

That's right, after last week's tag team victory by Los Neko Grande, the AWL Commissioner has decided that Tiger Mask II should have his turn to challenge the Arab American Dream for the IC Title. And, as this is the all important 5th title defense, should Hassan come away victorious, he will be free to challenge either Wyvern or Project 鉄 for the AWL Grand Championship.

We're only a couple of weeks away from our next Super Card event, Golden War 2016, where all the championships must be defended. So this week will go a long way towards determining who will feature prominently on that card. Stay tuned this week for more news and previews from the Animated Wrestling League.

AWL 169: Bullet Club vs. AWL

AWL 169: Bullet Club vs. AWL 投稿者 AWLBoss

Full Card Announced

The AWL Commissioner has announced the full card for AWL 169.

AWL 169:

Main Event

BATSU MATCH!

Bullet Club vs. Ganba, Ma-Ji-Ku, & HAKAISHA!

Elimination Trios Match

There MUST be a winner!

For all the gory details regarding this match, please refer to the AWL Commissioner's Weekly Address posted earlier this week.

Wyvern vs. 技Breaker

Non-Title Match

While I'm not sure of the details (nor are they any of my business) I have learned that Dragon will not be at the AWL Arena this weekend. For the first time, Wyvern will be without the coaching services of his trainer. However, he will not be alone. To counter the inevitable presence of Dr. Jigoku, Wyvern will be seconded by the man who was his tag team partner last week: Matt Classic Jr.!

The All Americans (2) vs. Los Neko Grande (0)

Points in Play

The rivalry between the cats and the Americans continues after Prince Puma's loss to Hassan in the IC Title Match last week and the disputed call in their tag team match two weeks ago. Hopefully, this match will settle things once and for all.

Jack Butcher vs. ウサギKick

Speaking of ongoing feuds and rivalries, the Augments continue their feud with the large slab of Australian crazy known as Jack Butcher. This time Dr. Jigoku has chosen to send his evil cyborg clone bunny man (I love wrestling) into battle against the Man from the Outback. Speed vs. Power. Slams vs. Kicks. Man vs. Clone Cyborg Bunny Man. (Seriously, I love wrestling!)

千葉赤城 (#4) vs. Jon Shina

Submission Exhibition

Even after his upset win in the 6-Man Scramble Match that netted him the #4 contendership, Chiba Akagi has no intention of stopping his Submission Exhibition Series. This week he takes on the self proclaimed "United States of Awesome Mega Champion." But with Chiba Akagi's induction into the Best 4, the stakes of these matches have be raised considerably. Remember, in the AWL it is not acceptable for top contenders to lose matches. As the lowest ranked wrestler in the AWL Best for, any singles loss for Chiba Akagi will cause him to be ousted from the Best 4. In other words, make him tap, write your ticket!

It will be an action packed event. I hope you will make plans to join us for AWL 169 this Sunday Morning (Japan Time, please adjust for your time zone).

Next Grand Championship Match Announced!

Hey there wrestling fans, RyuSensei here with a huge announcement.

On April 17th we will celebrate the halfway point of Season 9 with AWL 170 and I can't think of any better way to celebrate than with a Grand Championship Match. Fortunately, the AWL Commissioner agrees with me and has booked the following:

AWL 170:

Main Event

Wyvern (C) vs. Project 鉄 (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

3rd Title Defense

Will the undefeated Young Dragon be able to topple the malicious metal monster? Will Dr. Jigoku's prize specimen be able to wrest the Grand Championship away from a "mere human" wrestler like Wyvern, thereby proving the Augment's "superiority?" Find out on the 17th of April.

Commissioner's (Semi) Weekly Address

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am the AWL Commissioner. I wish to offer my most sincere congratulations to The New Classics for their victory this past weekend. Not only have they set the record for most reigns as AWL World Tag Team Champions, they have saved the AWL Tag Team Division itself! Hazzah!!

With the tag team issue resolved, "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson has left the AWL and is now training at the WWE Performance Center for his eventual WWE or NXT debut. Even with all of the headaches he has caused both myself and the Animated Wrestling League, we still wish him well in all his future endeavors.

That leaves us with the question of what to do with the remaining members of Bullet Club. Since they no longer have any championships to hold over my head like the Sword of Damocles, I would be perfectly within my rights to simply fire all of them and have done with it.

But that would deprive you fine people of a fine main event. Besides, I prefer to allow even my most hated enemies a chance to prove themselves on the field of combat, or in the ring of wrestling as the case may be. Therefore, all three remaining members of Bullet Club shall face my hand picked team of AWL Wrestlers in the following match:

AWL 169:

Main Event

BATSU MATCH!

Bullet Club vs. Ganba, Ma-Ji-Ku, & HAKAISHA!

Elimination Trios Match

There MUST be a winner!

That means that there shall be no count outs. No disqualifications. No time limit. And if Bullet Club lose, they shall be FIRED!!

THIS! I have COMMISSIONED!!!!!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

--XOXO AWL Commissioner

AWL 168: Bullet Club vs. The New Classics

AWL 168: Bullet Club vs. The New Classics 投稿者 AWLBoss

Just so we all know what's at stake here.

Greetings wrestling fans, no sense beating around the bush, this is Wrestlemania Weekend.  Unlike virtually every other professional wrestling organization on earth, we will NOT be in the Dallas area this weekend, but in the mecca of animated wrestling, the world famous AWL Arena.

And we are promoting the biggest tag team main event we've had in a very long time.  In fact, this is the final guaranteed date that we're going to be allowed to book "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson for our shows (there may be future dates made available, but we don't know for sure yet).

If Karl Anderson takes one of the AWL World Tag Team Title Belts to WWE, the lineage of the championship will be broken.  We are not like some other wrestling organizations.  We will not simply hand the championships to another tag team.  The last time a title was held up (when Matt Classic Sr. retired), it took a season long tournament to rechristen a new champion.  But I have it on good authority from the AWL Commissioner that this logistical nightmare shall NOT be repeated.  If the tag team titles are broken, the tag team division shall simply be DISBANDED.

We here at the AWL are fans of tag team wrestling, but our championships mean much more than that.

Everything is on the line this weekend.