Back to Business

Everyone here at the Animated Wrestling League is extremely sorry about the hiatus last week. One of these days we're going to learn not to do things like try to produce 4 hours of wrestling in a week. We've got most of the problems sorted out now (though we're still having some problems with the production equipment) and we're ready to move forward.

AWL 187 is scheduled for this Sunday Japan time and the full card will be announced tomorrow. But before that, we have some house keeping to do:

1. By order of the AWL Commissioner and due to his victory over Mahou Crusher at AWL 186, Ma-Ji-Ku is hereby named to the AWL Best 4 and Mahou Crusher is reduced by one rank. The AWL Best 4 now looks like this:

#1. Usagi Kick

#2. Mahou Crusher

#3. Project Tetsu

#4. Ma-Ji-Ku

2. After the Tag Matsuri, the AWL Tag Team Division looks like this:

AWL World's Tag Team Champions:

The Destroyers of DOOM!

Tag Team Rankings:

The All Americans: 2 Points.

Spicy Black: 2 Points.

The Empire: 2 Points.

Liga Cosmica: 2 Points.

The New Classics: 1 Point.

RUZAI: 1 Point.

Shin Jidai (Wyvern & Matt Classic Jr.): 1 Point

All other teams: 0 Points.

I don't remember a time we had that many teams with points on the board and we've NEVER had 4 teams with two points. Before the Tag Matsuri, the Destroyers of DOOM asked for more competition.....and they're going to get it!

3. The AWL Clash of Styles Tournament is underway. This Sunday represents the start of the second round of matches in the round robin tournament. Here are the current standings:

1. Lucha Libre: Ma-Ji-Ku (2/6)

1. Hardcore: Tanaka Kenichi (2/6)

1. Specialists: Sammy Nix (2/6)

1. Powerhouse: HAKAISHA! (2/6)

2. Strong Style: Yamada Jiro (0/6)

2. Technical: Kid Canada (0/6)

2. Tiger Style: Black Tiger III (0/6)

2. Brawler: Luke James (0/6)

It's all bunched up as one would expect after the first round. This weekend, two more matches will begin to separate the wheat from the chaff as we continue our quest to determine the Ultimate Style of Professional Wrestling!

Copyright strike.

AWL 184 has been the victim of a copyright strike on Dailymotion.  However, since Dailymotion doesn't bother to tell me WHO made the claim or why.  So I have to guess.  I will try to reupload the show sometime in the next 48 hours.  Here's hoping!!!

One week hiatus.

Well, sadly there won't be an episode of the Animated Wrestling League this weekend.  I'd originally planned to get the next regular season episode out today but 3 episodes a week (technically 4 considering the length of the Tag Matsuri) is just more than I can handle.

Speaking of the Tag Matsuri, apparently there was an error in the video for The Empire's entrance.  But it cleans up after about a minute.  So please forgive the mistake, I'll try to fix it in future episodes.

The next episode of the AWL will be this coming Sunday (Japan time).

Thank you for you consideration.

--RyuSensei

AWL Supercard Tag Matsuri 2016 by AWLBoss
AWL Super Card Tag Matsuri 2016 Part 2 of 2 by AWLBoss

Full Card for the Tag Matsuri

Ok folks, we're less than 24 hours away from our autumn Super Card event, the 2016 Tag Matsuri. That means that it's time for some last minute news.

The opening matches featuring the debuts of our two newest tag teams have been confirmed. Each of the debuting rookie teams will face established AWL wrestlers each with 1 point.

That means the full card for the event is as follows:

AWL SUPER CARD:

Tag Matsuri 2016!

MAIN EVENT:

The Destroyers of DOOM! (C) vs. ???? (Winners of the Tag Gauntlet) (3)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

5th Title Defense

2016 Tag Team Gauntlet Match!

To be contested to 3 Points

SPICY Black vs. Tiny & X

GRUDGE MATCH!

The Empire (Debut) (0) vs. The All Americans (1)

Liga Cosmica (Debut) (0) vs. Shin Jidai (1)

So now we know the British team are "The Empire" and the Mexican team are "Liga Cosmica" or "The Cosmic League." Nothing else about these teams has been revealed, nor has the identity of Tiny's tag team partner in his Grudge Match. You'll have to tune in tomorrow to the Tag Matsuri to learn more.

Lastly, since the Tag Matsuri is such a big event (and tag gauntlets tend to go on a bit) this event will be split into two videos.

AWL 186:

AWL 186: AWL vs. Augments by AWLBoss

The Representatives Speak!

Once again, we find ourselves with an embarrassment of riches in the promo department. All four representatives set to have their first match in the AWL Clash of Styles Tournament have submitted comment to you, the wrestling fan public. Additionally, we have comments from Ganba of team AWL and Dr. Jigoku of the Augments.

All of these comments have been translated from the original Japanese. Many thanks as always to the AWL Translation Team for their services.

HAKAISHA!:

Powerhouse? That's what Yarina said she would make me. A powerhouse in professional wrestling. Technically, I guess she was right. But everyone knows how that story turned out. Now I have the chance to reclaim that word and make "powerhouse" mean something other than "unskilled bully" in the wrestling world. I look forward with great anticipation to this chance. What would I do with a Golden Opportunity? Simple, I would try to take back what I lost. During Seasons 7 and 8 I defended the AWL World's Heavyweight Championship 13 times. Yes, that was a record, but I failed to become the first AWL Grand Champion. If I win this tournament, I'm making up for that failure. Heh, that's all I ever seem to do, isn't it? Make up for my own failures. Well, if that is the karmic penalty I must pay. I will pay it the right way.

Black Tiger III:

I have nothing to say to you. Golden Opportunity? That's simple. I take what is rightfully mine. The honor of Tiger Mask II!! A Golden Opportunity grants unlimited power. I will force him to fight me...with his mask on the line!

Tanaka Kenichi:

You am stupid! This Tanaka Kenichi money want. Golden Opportunity ha nothing! F*** you!! I am cool you am f***!!

Yamada Jiro:

This is not about money. This is not about a Golden Opportunity. This is about pride. Japanese pride! The pride of the few men left in this once great nation. The Strong Style is OUR invention. And why Japanese wrestlers are the greatest in the world. Even now, two of our people have taken over the only part of WWE worth watching any more, NXT and it took both of them less than a year to do it.

Now the AWL has begun this tournament to crown the greatest style of professional wrestling in the world today. You may as well hand me the prizes now. For I am the Representative of Strong Style and that means I've already won.

Now we move on to our 4 part series pitting some of the best of the AWL against their counter parts in the Augments. Team AWL has elected Ganba to speak for them and the evil Dr. Jigoku has naturally appointed himself to speak for the Augments.

Ganba:

Now that I am the AWL Grand Champion, I am once again the face of the Animated Wrestling League. That means it is my duty to protect the AWL from the forces that would see this company destroyed. Right now, the biggest threat to the AWL is The Augments. Dr. Jigoku has no respect for professional wrestling or the years of hard work and training each and every wrestler in this company has put in to honing their craft. He just wants to prove how smart he is. Well, he isn't. Because he doesn't realize that champions are not made in a laboratory. They're made in the gym, on the road, and in the ring. There are no short cuts.

But I will give Jigoku credit. He picked some great men to copy. The best luchador in the business, the future of the sport, and one half of the AWL World Tag Team Champions. Thank's for assembling me a great team doctor. This Sunday, we beat your tin soldiers together, then I line them up and knock them down defending the AWL Grand Championship.

So bring your worst doctor. Just know that every last member of the AWL Roster will ALWAYS do our best!

Dr. Jikoku:

Huh? Oh, I don't care about your little matches. In fact, I won't even BE at AWL 186. No, no, no, far too busy. Too much work to do on the next phase. Yes, couldn't possibly make it. My Augments will do the job and finish off those...inferior...wrestlers. Yes, yes, quite sure of that. Now get out! You are in my way!!

And with that, all that remains is the fighting. Tune in tomorrow for AWL 186 and come back next Thursday for AWL Super Card—Tag Matsuri 2016!

Tag Matsuri Update

I know I promised interviews from several of the wrestlers involved in AWL 186 this weekend, but I have to push that until tomorrow. The news has just come dowm from the AWL Commissioner's office that a match has been announced for the 2016 Tag Matsuri on September 22nd:

Spicy Black vs. Tiny & ????

Tag Team Grudge Match

That means no countouts, no DQ, and NO TAGS!! That's right, tornado rules! This all stems from the series of out-of-competition incidents between Tiny and Curry Man SPICY that started back at AWL 180 last season. As this is a Grudge Match, no points in the AWL Tag Team division will be on the line and the match will not be recorded in the official AWL Win-Loss Records. Butthese two former friends will have the freedom to...er...work out their issues...in the ring in a fair fight.

That makes 5 matches for next Thursday's Super Card:

AWL Super Card—Tag Matsuri 2016!

Destroyers of DOOM! (C) vs. ???? (Winners of the Tag Gauntlet)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

5th Title Defense

2016 AWL Tag Team Gauntlet!

Match to be contested to 3 Points

Spicy Black vs. Tiny & ????

Tag Team Grudge Match

And TWO brand new international tag teams will debut!

7 matches on Sunday, 5 matches on Thursday, this is going to be the biggest and busiest week in AWL History!!

Full Card for AWL 186

OK folks, the AWL Commissioner did not disapoint! This weekend at AWL 186, we are going to see a clash that has been several seasons in the making. Here now, the full card for AWL 186:

AWL 185:

AWL vs. The Augments

4 Match Series

Ganba, Ma-Ji-Ku, DOOMBUNNY, Matt Classic Jr.

vs.

Project Tetsu, Mahou Crusher, Usaki Kick, & Waza Breaker

Each AWL Wrestler shall face their Augment.

The New Classics (0) vs. Shin Jidai (1)

Points in Play

And as previously announced:

HAKAISHA! (0/7) vs. Black Tiger III (0/7)

Clash of Styles Tournament

Powerhouse vs. Tiger Style

Yamada Jiro (0/7) vs. Tanaka Kenichi (0/)

Clash of Styles Tournament

Strong Style vs. Hardcore

As promised, 7 matches! Starting tomorrow, we'll hear from some of the wrestlers involved.

Big things are happening.

Happy middle of the week wrestling fans. Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

I'd like to take this opportunity to once again apologize for the delay in getting AWL 185 out to you. I won't bore you with the list of technical difficulties we had to deal with. But suffice to say, everything that could go wrong, did.

To make it up to you, the AWL Commissioner has informed me that there will be a whopping SEVEN MATCHES on this week's show! We know two of those matches will be the next two bouts in the Clash of Styles Tournament:

HAKAISHA! (0/7) vs. Black Tiger III (0/7)

Clash of Styles Tournament

Powerhouse vs. Tiger Style

Yamada Jiro (0/7) vs. Tanaka Kenichi (0/)

Clash of Styles Tournament

Strong Style vs. Hardcore

This will conclude the first round of the round robin tournament. And the AWL Commissioner has promised to reveal the rest of the card tomorrow. But I have heard through the office grape vine, that the boss made a call to Dr. Jigoku earlier this morning. No idea what that's about, but I have to believe that call and the announcement of an extended show are connected somehow.

AWL 185: Okada vs. Ganba by AWLBoss

So sorry for the delay, but I have had NO END of technical problems with this episode!!!!  Hopefully back to normal next week.

PROMO TIME!!

Good bleep we have a lot of promos to get to today!

Prince Puma:

That's right! The future of lucha is back! You all probably know that I've been having my problems back home in The Temple. But I'm not here to worry about Mil Muertes, Vampiro, Pentagon Dark, none of that. The AWL is where I come to clear my head and focus on what's important, winning matches and winning titles. That's why I'm happy to team up with my brother from another mother Tiger Mask II and bring back Los Neko Grande! See you in the AWL Arena!!

Ma-Ji-Ku:

My partner is gone. The angry young man I was trying to help is finished in wrestling. I failed him. I should have been there. And now the AWL Commissioner tells me to focus on the Clash of Styles Tournament? Seriously?? People are GETTING THEIR NECKS BROKEN AROUND HERE and you want me to focus on a TOURNAMENT??

OK. Fine. That's what I'll do. This tournament is going to be a proving ground for me. You're going to see a whole new side of Ma-Ji-Ku and when I get that Golden Opportunity, heads will roll and there wil be hell to pay.

Kid Canada:

Golden Opportunity. Any match, any time, any place. You jump to the head of the line! Do you know when my last title shot was? AWL 136!!! If I don't reach out and TAKE this opportunity, I'll probably never get another one, eh? So all 7 other Representatives are on notice. I'm going to stretch every single one of you and that Golden Opportunity is coming home to the great white north!

Sammy Nix:

A few weeks ago I suffered da most humiliatin' defeat uh my life! Losing ta Okada in less than 3 minutes!! That SOB squashed me! The only ways I can get my self respect back is to win this tourament and use my Golden Opportunity to win the Grand Championship. Okada, I hope you beat Ganba, tha Augments, and everyone else you fight until I come for you and that title!

Now **** off, I gotta work out.

Luke James:

I'm sorry. Last week I thought I could spread myself out and I was wrong. I was completely blown up at the end of the match with the Destroyer of DOOM. I let my team down and I let myself down. So if I win this tournament, I promise to use my Golden Opportunity to bring the AWL World Tag Team Titles to the All Stars!

Ganba:

Okada, the last time you and I were in the ring one on one, you beat me. You were the better man. But that was over a year ago. Now I am a year more experienced and a year smarter. You are the best in Japan. But I am the best in the AWL. The Augments are coming and the AWL Grand Champion can not afford to split his time between two promotions. I am AWL 100% until the day I die. You can't say that. That's not a bad thing. But it is the truth.

I know I can beat you. I know I need to beat you. And tomorrow, I know I will do my best to beat you! Itsumo Ganbarimasu!!

Okada:

There are three things I need to say:

ONE!: I am more than good enough to be the AWL and IWGP Champions.

TWO!: You haven't changed at all since I beat you at AWL 160. You've just gotten older.

THREE!: Bring Ganba, bring the Augments, bring whoever you want. The same thing will happen: The money rain will fall. Kane no ame ga furuzo!!

Finally back to your friendly neighborhood author. See you tomorrow for all these amazing wrestlers and more in action!

Full Card for AWL 185

You know the drill folks. Here's where we tease you about next Sunday's night at the matches.

AWL 185:

MAIN EVENT

Okada Kazuchika (C) vs. Ganba (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

3rd Title Defense

Ma-Ji-Ku (0/7) vs. Kid Canada (0/7)

Clash of Styles Tournament

Lucha Libre vs. Technical

Sammy Nix (0/7) vs. Luke James (0/7)

Clash of Styles Tournament

Specialist vs. Brawler

RUZAI (0) vs. Los Neko Grande (0)

Prince Puma returns to the AWL Arena!

Tiny vs. Jon Shina

The two top wrestlers in Japan clash for the top prize in animated wrestling! That should be enough for any fan of professional wrestling. But we also have the first two matches in the CoS AND the return of Prince Puma! See you Sunday at the AWL Arena.

Huge Announcements!

I have a couple of huge announcements today. These are straight off the printer from the AWL Commissioner himself!

First, the annual Tag Matsuri has been formally announced for Thursday September 22nd (a national holiday here in Japan) at the AWL Arena in Tokyo. The featured attraction will be the annual Tag Team Gauntlet Match. All registered tag teams are welcome to compete and the winners will be the first team to obtain 3 points.

Additionally, the AWL Commissioner has traveled far and wide to find two new tag teams to debut at the Tag Matsuri. One from the UK and one from Mexico. These are fresh young teams that you haven't seen wrestle anywhere else, so please look forward to seeing them debut in the Animated Wrestling League.

Now the second announcement is even bigger in my opinion. At the end of this season we will celebrate AWL 200! So the Commissioner has spared no expense in bringing us back to the biggest arena in Tokyo, the mecca of Japanese sports, the place we sold out last time we were there for AWL 100...The TOKYO DOME!!!

Last time we were in the dome, Matt Classic Sr. retired at AWL World's Heavyweight Champion, Shin Tora became Tiger Mask II, and none other than A.J. Styles became AWL Light Heavyweight Champion. I can only imagine what will happen this time.

Tomorrow, the full card for AWL 185.

AWL By the Numbers

Its been a SHOCKINGLY long time since we've done one of these so let's take a look at the AWL...By the Numbers:

AWL Grand Championship:

Current Champion: オカダカズチカ (Okada Kazuchika)

Length of Title Reign: 59 Days. (Since 7/11/16)

Title Defenses: 2.

AWL Best 4:

1. Ganba.

2. 魔法 Crusher.

3. ウサギ Kick.

4. Project 鉄.

AWL Tag Team Championships:

Current Champions: The Destroyers of DOOM!

Length of Title Reign: 127 days. (Since 5/4/16)

Title Defenses: 4.

3-Point System:

All Americans: 1 Point.

Shin Jidai (Wyvern & Matt Classic Jr.): 1 Point.

All other teams: 0 Points.

AWL Intercontinental Championship:

Current Champion: 千葉赤城 (Chiba Akagi).

Length of Title Reign: 11 days.

Title Defenses: 0 of 5.

That's it for now. But next time I do one of these things, there will be a new section on the Clash of Styles Tournament.

Tag Team Interviews

In less than 24 hours, the AWL World Tag Team Championships will be defended. Yesterday, I sat down to talk with both the champions and challengers. First and foremost, I spoke to the AWL All Stars:

RyuSensei: Gentlemen, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak to me today. First of all, the question on everyone's lips is you Luke. You are currently scheduled to compete twice at AWL 184. Once in the Clash of Styles and of course your tag team title match. The AWL Commissioner alleges that you agreed to this. Is that true? And, if so, are you out of your mind?

Luke James: Yes on both counts. I did agree to both matches. And you have to be a bit nuts to step into a professional wrestling ring in the first place. The Clash of Styles and the Golden Opportunity at the end (to say nothing of the cash) is too big an opportunity to pass up. As for the title match, I've been a tag team champion before and I know what it takes to be a successful tag team. It takes a great partner. And that's what I have in the true master of the Tiger Style! With Tiger Mask II at my side, I'm not worried in the slightest.

RyuSensei: OK, good luck. Now, Tiger Mask, last week you lost your CoS qualifier to the man calling himself Black Tiger III. What are your thoughts on this and do you have any clue who this guy is?

(Pause for AWL Translation Team translator to put that into Japanese and to put the response into English)

Tiger Mask II: It is very disappointing. Not representing the Tiger Style in the Clash of Styles Tournament is a disgrace. However, I hope to do my style and the Tiger's Cave Dojo proud by representing them as one half of the AWL World's Tag Team Champions. I will try my best to do this.

As for Black Tiger III, I have an idea who he is, but I don't want to discuss that at this time.

RyuSensei: Are you sure? Inquireing minds want to know.

Tiger Mask II: Yes, I am sure. I will deal with Black Tiger. But right now, all my efforts are focused on becoming tag team champion.

RyuSensei: Well, best of luck gentlemen. Thank you again for your time.

Later that same day, I sat down with the Destroyers of DOOM. Once again, many thanks to the AWL Translation Team for their assistance.

RyuSensei: Thank you for you time gentlemen. As you know, this will be your fourth defense of the AWL World's Tag Team Championships which you've held since Golden War. Considering the level of competition in the AWL Tag Team Division, that's quite an accomplishment. Do you have any thoughts on your title reign thus far?

HAKAISHA!: I'm disappointed in the number of challengers we've had. More than a month into Season 10 and this is the first time we've needed to defend our titles. The 3-Point System is very much a double edged sword. The good part is that we know we will only face worthy challengers. The bad part is that it can take a long time for anyone to build up 3 points. Fortunately, the Tag Matsuri is coming up in just a few weeks. That should allow several teams to build up some points and make the division more competitive.

RyuSensei: You seem to be assuming you'll still be champions by the Tag Matsuri-*

Doombunny: Nonono! Weare'ntassumingthatatall. LukeJameshasbeenintheAWLlongerthaneitherofus. SameforTigerMask. Butthefactofthematteristhis, wearen'tfightingtheAWLAllStars. We'refighting1.5ofthem! Jameshasbittenoffmorethanhecanchew! It'sstillgoingtobeatoughtfight. We'regoingtohavetogiveiteverythingwehave, butwe'regoingtowinbecausewewillbeat100%andtheywon't. Fact!

RyuSensei: OK, while I try to make heads or tails of that, I'm going to let you two get back to your training. Thank you very much and have a nice day.

AWL 184 will be available righte here on this blog later today.

Full Card for AWL 184

Yesterday I announced the tag team matches that will make up the bulk of AWL 184 this weekend.

AWL 184:

MAIN EVENT

The Destroyers of DOOM! (C) vs. The AWL All Stars (3)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

4th Title Defense

新時代 (Shin Jidai) (1) vs. The All Americans (0)

SPICY BLACK (0) vs. El Rudo Rojo & Jon Shina (0)

Now it's time for the singles division, starting with the eighth and final qualifying match for the Clash of Styles Tournament:

Luke James vs. Lee Masters

Clash of Styles Tournament Qualifier

Winner Represents: Brawling.

Ah yes, the classic wrestling tradition of the brawler. The punch and kick artist who beats on you until you can't get up for three seconds. Popular in the southern United States for many decades, its appropriate that two Americans are fighting to represent this style in the main tournament.

However, for those of you paying attention, this presents an obvious problem. Luke James is already set to challenge for the AWL World Tag Team Titles alongside Tiger Mask II. I asked the AWL Commissioner about this appearent double booking and he said that Luke James had agreed to the situation. I'll ask him about it tomorrow when both champion and challenger in the tag team title main event get their chance to address the AWL fans.

Finally, and this is a stacked card if this is the last matched announced:

Ganba (#1) vs. 魔法Crusher (#2)

Rank on the Line

Long time AWL fans know the drill here. Ganba is the current #1 contender to the AWL Grand Championship. But if he loses to a lower ranked wrestler, their ranks will swap and the next title match will go to Dr. Jigoku's Engine of Destruction.

5 matches in total, one hour (plus a bit) of animated wrestling action! All this and more you can expect each and every week from the Animated Wrestling League!!

More Wrestlers, More FUN!!

Tomorrow begins one of the biggest weekends of the year in the world of independent wrestling. Not only is the BOLA tournament this weekend, but it's time for my favorite wrestling event of the year: King of Trios!!

The AWL doesn't have a trios division, but we do pride ourselves on the quality of our tag teams. So the AWL Commissioner has announced 3 tag team matches to take place on Sunday (the 3rd day of King of Trios Weekend):

AWL 184:

MAIN EVENT

The Destroyers of DOOM! (C) vs. The AWL All Stars (3)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

4th Title Defense

新時代 (Shin Jidai) (1) vs. The All Americans (0)

SPICY BLACK (0) vs. El Rudo Rojo & Jon Shina (0)

Three points will be cashed in, two points will be awarded, and the AWL World Tag Team Championships will be defended! What more could you ask for? Well, check back tomorrow to find out!