AWL 225 Main Event Announced.

                The AWL Commissioner is NOT happy with the X-Drone.  Not just with the fact that they are the AWL Intercontinental Champion, but with the way they won it.  Go back and look at the main event of AWL 225 (It’s just a couple of posts down from here).  The X-Drone didn’t pin or submit ANY of their opponents in the Scramble Match except for the final one, Big Foot, and they used a stolen submission to do it.

                While not even the AWL Commissioner can overrule a referee’s decision (and there was nothing technically illegal about X-Drone’s cowardly tactics), he CAN offer a second chance.  That’s why ALL 4 wrestlers whom the X-Drone didn’t defeat will be getting championship matches against the robotic con-artist!  First up:

AWL 226: MAIN EVENT

X-Drone (C) vs. The DOOMBUNNY

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1^st Title Defense

Let's fill some holes!

OK, that title sounded a LOT better in my head.

                Hi there wrestling fans, RyuSensei here.  Your humble commentator, web master, and host of The Last Wrestling Podcast.  The next episode of which will hopefully be out this weekend and will be a review of WWE’s Elimination Chamber PPV. (Don’t worry, I’ll get around to non-WWE stuff sooner rather than later.)

                We have a new AWL Intercontinental Champion…and I’ve been deliberately avoiding Dr. Jigoku ever since.  But today, I want to focus on the AWL Grand Championship.  Specifically, on the AWL Best 4.  Between AWL 224 and National Pro Wrestling Day, AWL Grand Champion HAKAISHA has bested two challengers.  That means the AWL Best 4 currently looks like this:

1. Azteckaizer NEO

2. Hassan

3. N/A

4. N/A

Obviously, this cannot stand.  So, the AWL Commissioner has booked TWO Fight for 4 matches for AWL 226:

Big Foot vs. Tiger Mask II

                Skill vs. Power!  The refugee from GWM and the man who lead the charge to destroy GWM will face off.  I can only assume that Tanaka Kenichi and Spring Tiger will be at ringside.  Frankly, I’m more excited to see Spring Tiger.

Ganba vs. Project Tetsu 2.0

               Many seasons ago, Dr. Jigoku created the original version of Project Tetsu as a “superior” copy of Ganba himself.  Though the two have clashed repeatedly over the years, with Project Tetsu even defeating Ganba to become the AWL Grand Champion, the new aggressive streak we’ve seen from Ganba as of late may hold the key to victory over his evil clone.

AWL 225: New Champion Guaranteed

12 Promos, No Waiting!

                Today, it’s promo lightning round as ALL 12 wrestlers set to compete in tomorrows Intercontinental Tournament have been given the opportunity to say something before the big day.  We’re going to go in the order the matches will be presented:

DOOMBUNNY vs. Frederic Victor

DOOMBUNNY:

I’m100%healedfromallofmyinjuriesandit’stimeItookmyrightfulplaceasAWLIntercontinentalChampion.  IknowmybuddyHAKAISHAistheGrandChamion,butthat’sthepoint!!  WestartedasaGoldenDuowhenIwasLightHeavyweightChampandhewasHeavyweightChamp.  WhenIbecomeICChampion, we’regoingtoaimfortheTagTeamTitlesandbecomethefirstduotoholdALLthegold!!

Frederic Victor:

                If this were a foot race or a high jump competition, I would lose handily.  I might even place a bet against myself.  But this is a wrestling match.  That foolish rabbit may be fast, and I fully concede that he can jump high than I, but he is no match for my superior wrestling ability.  My only concern is formulating a strategy for the so called “Scramble Match.”

Hifumi Ryuji vs. X-Drone

Hifumi Ryuji (Translated from the original Japanese by the AWL Translation Team):

                In GWM, I was a champion.  In the AWL, I will be a champion again.  All it takes is three seconds.  3 Count, You’re Out!

Dr. Jigoku (Speaking on behalf of the X-Drone):

                An excellent experiment!  For a human, Hifumi Ryuji has an impressive database of techniques.  This will be a prime opportunity to test the limits of my X-Drone’s harddrive.

Tiger the Dark vs. Hasaiki!

Spring Tiger (Speaking on behalf of Tiger the Dark.  Translated from the original Japanese):

                Sometimes all you need is a chance.  Tiger the Dark has been hitting the gym harder than I’ve ever seen him.  He’s free of GWM and this is his first real chance to show what he can do in the singles division.  I’ll be there for the qualifying match, so please join me in supporting Tiger Mask W!! <3

Hasaiki:

                Jipebtjh93th80315nipbqej]pb3jo359-u35pj qpk[t7

Matt Classic Jr. vs. Yamada Jiro

Matt Classic Jr.:

                I’m sick of being treated with kid gloves.  I know I had a concussion, but I have a clean bill of health from the AWL doctors and my doctor at home.  I’m ready to fight and I’m ready to become the first ever 2-time AWL IC Champ.  And this time, I’m taking it all the way to the Grand Championship even if I have to fight one of my own faction mates to get it.

Yamada Jiro (Translated from the original Japanese):

                Of course, they give me another filthy American for the qualifying match.  Bad enough they make me wrestle in that country, I have to fight them here too.  I’m going to beat Matt Classic Jr. so badly, he’ll wish to be deported.

Mr. Smiles vs. Big Foot

Mr. Smiles:

                AWESOME SAUCE!!  I get to be in the IC Tournament.  This is going to be a BLAST!!

Big Foot:

                …..I’m hungry…..Let’s eat steak!

Sammy Nix vs. Lee Masters

Sammy Nix:

                Ya know, Lee and me fight each other all the time.  We spar and train tagetha at the AWL Dojo, we’ve had a couple of matches before, but we’ve never really settled who’s tha betta wrestler.  Tomorrow’s as good a time as any.  Lee, I love ya likea brudda, but when we’re across the ring from each other, it’s on!

Lee Masters:

                This isn’t going to be a sparing match.  This isn’t going to be a friendly tussle.  This is going to be a FIGHT!  For years I’ve watched Sammy take the lime light.  New Year’s Tournament, Grand Champion, and what am I?  The tag team guy.  I’ve been in the AWL since the VERY BEGINNING!  I don’t think anyone on the active roster has been here as long as I have!  And what do I have to show for ME?  Not a team…ME?  NOTHING!  Most years, I’m lucky if I even qualify for the New Year’s Tournament.  And when’s the last time I’ve had a title match?  Season 2?  Season 3?  It’s been so damn long I don’t even remember.

                The only way I’m getting near that Grand Championship is fighting my way through with the IC belt.  If I have to prove I’m the better man on my team to do that?  All the better!

Full Card for AWL 225

                The AWL Commissioner has announced the 6 qualifying matches for AWL 225: New Champion Guaranteed.  The 6 winners of these matches will advance to the 6-Man Elimination Scramble Match Main Event where the last man standing will be crowned the NEW AWL Intercontinental Champion.

DOOMBUNNY vs. Frederic Victor

Hifumi Ryuji vs. X-Drone

Tiger the Dark vs. Hasaiki!

Matt Classic Jr. vs. Yamada Jiro

Mr. Smiles vs. Big Foot

Sammy Nix vs. Lee Masters

                The most intriguing of these matches in the final between the two members of The New Classics.  Recently, both Lee Masters and Sammy Nix have expressed a desire to expand into singles competition without officially disbanding their tag team.  As 5 time AWL World’s Tag Team Champions, they’ve done it all in the tag team division, so I can understand the desire to try something new.  Most interesting of all, they’ve requested to face each other in the tournament to test themselves against the one opponent who knows them better then they know themselves.  Season 0 Originals tend to have a bit of pull behind the scenes around here, so it’s not much of a surprise that the AWL Commissioner agreed to this.  But it should still make for an incredible match.

12 Names Revealed

Well, that didn't take long.  We now know the 12 wrestlers who will vie for 6 slots in the Intercontinental Scramble Match.  In no particular order:

DOOMBUNNY

Mr. Smiles

Tiger the Dark

Matt Classic Jr.

Frederick Victor

X-Drone

Big Foot

Yamada Jiro

Hasaiki

Lee Masters

Sammy Nix

Hifumi Ryuji

The most interesting names are those final five.  Two compete tag teams will be in this tournament.  While the official matches have yet to be announced, we must consider the possibility that partners will face each other, either in the qualifiers or the Scramble Match itself.  Lastly, this tournament will mark the return of “The Prince of the Pinfall” Hifumi Ryuji to the AWL.

There’s some incredible talent in this line up, so don’t miss AWL 225: New Champion Guaranteed!

A New Champion WILL Be Crowned!

                Greetings Wrestling Fans!  RyuSensei here with big news from the AWL Commissioner’s Office.  At next weekend’s AWL 225 event, we are going to have a one-night tournament to crown a NEW AWL Intercontinental Champion!

                12 wrestlers will compete in singles matches with the winners advancing to a 6-Man Scramble Match to determine the new champion.

                For those of you unfamiliar with the AWL IC Title, it is a contender’s championship.  Any Intercontinental Champion who can successfully defend their title five times can cash the title in for an automatic match for the AWL Grand Championship (and here’s the important part) under the stipulations of their choice leapfrogging the entire Best 4 in the process.  The downside is that, win or lose, the AWL IC Title is vacated once used and the whole process begins again, traditionally by way of a scramble match, video cybernetico, or other multi-man match.

                The 12 hopefuls have not yet been announced, all I know is that current members of the Best 4 are forbidden from participating in this tournament, but hopefully we’ll have more news on that front in the next couple of days.

AWL Super Card: National Pro Wrestling Day 2018!

Please donate to Puerto Rico hurricane relief at:

https://hispanicfederation.org/donate

Comments from Champion and Challenger

(The following statements have been translated from the original Japanese)

                2018 is going to be the year for Shin Jidai.  I promise you right here and now, by the end of this year, we will control the AWL Grand Championship AND World Tag Team Championships.  Beyond that, Dragoness will be your AWL Joshi Champion.

                Speaking of Dragoness, a lot of people have been asking me if I’m annoyed that she took my entrance and wrestles in a very similar style to mine.  Those people are idiots.  She and I had the same trainer, Dragon.  He was my mentor, but her father.  She has as much right to the Dragon Sigil as I do and probably more.  We trained together, and I consider her something of a little sister.  In fact, I’m going to be at ringside for her match at National Pro Wrestling Day and watch her qualify for her championship.

                But that’s not why you’re giving me the blog space, is it?  Two years ago, I made my debut in the New Year’s Tournament and won the AWL Grand Championship a month later at National Pro Wrestling Day.  I should probably say that this year will be more of the same…but that would be a lie, wouldn’t it?

                In 2016, I only had to beat Tanaka Kenichi.  This year, Hakaisha.  They call him the Japanese Destroyer for a reason.  Can I out power him?  Not a chance!  But can I out wrestle him?  We’re going to find out!  I can out run him.  I can out fly him.  I CAN beat him!!

                And Tanaka, if you can read this once they put it in English, just try cashing in that Golden Opportunity of yours and watch history repeat itself.  I dare you! 

                Each challenger presents a different challenge.  Chiba Akagi lives up to his reputation as a master of submissions.  More than once, I thought he had me last week.  Wyvern is an entirely different wrestler.  He’s a showman, all of Shin Jidai are, and he focuses his attacks on setting up his finishing move.  The Shin Jidai Sunrise is a great attack because it disorientates you.  You don’t realize you’re on your back until you hear the referee count.

       But I’m on a mission.  A mission I call “Operation V6.”  Right now, Dr. Jigoku’s puppet Project Tetsu holds the record for most title defenses of any grand championship reign with 5.  I refuse to allow that disrespectful cheater to have any reason to brag.  I will break that record and I don’t care who I must go through to do it.  The AWL Grand Championship must be something we wrestlers can be proud of.  That means that it must be defended…the right way.

Last Wrestling Podcast Ep. 2: Rebooking Ronda/Rumble

The second episode of The Last Wrestling Podcast.  This is my first foray into fantasy booking (or, in this case, re booking) an angle or story line.  Following up from last episode, I'm rebooking the end of the 2018 Royal Rumble and the following week of TV (at least where Asuka and Ronda Rousey are concerned).

This thing is taking it's sweet time to encode.  If it's not showing up, please check back later. My apologies.

Why we're doing this.

                As 4 matches worth of the AWL Roster prepare to board a plane for the United States of America, I want to talk to you about why we’re all doing this.

                Several years ago, Chikara started National Pro Wrestling Day as a special event where representatives of many independent professional wrestling organizations could come together and do some good for the world.  The AWL, sharing this spirit of generosity, joined in and we’ve contributed our own “satellite show” ever since.

                Over the years, National Pro Wrestling Day has shown the Positive Power of Professional Wrestling by raising money for some fantastic charities.  We’ve helped others in the wrestling community via the Superkick Foundation.  We’ve helped the blind see via the SEVA Foundation.  And this year we’re helping do what the American government (this American government at least) can’t.  NPWD is teaming with Unitas to raise money for Hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.

                It’s been more than 5 months since Puerto Rico was devastated and thousands of people are STILL without power, water, food, and the basic necessities of modern life.  The government’s reaction has been FUBAR from the word go.  So, it falls to us to do what they can’t.

                We’ll provide the links to the same donation site Chikara is using so please give whatever you can.  Thank you.

Commissioner's Address on NPWD

                Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am the AWL Commissioner.  This weekend, we of the Animated Wrestling League shall once again make our way to the United States of America to participate in National Pro Wrestling Day.

                The card for the Animated Wrestling League’s satellite show to Chikara’s main program shall consist of 4 matches.  After the events of last weekend’s AWL 224, we now know the main event:

HAKAISHA! (C) vs. Wyvern (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

                Furthermore, we shall demonstrate for the world the quality of the Animated Wrestling League’s Tag Team and Joshi Divisions.

Dragoness vs. KoroshiMACHINE

                If Dragoness is victorious, she shall qualify for the Joshi Championship Ladder Match and join Athena Jane with the opportunity to become our first ever Joshi Champion.

Tiger Mask II & Okada Kazuchika (1) vs Yamada Jiro & X-drone (1)

Points in Play

                Ever since last season, these two teams have had, shall we say, extraneous points on the board.  Placed together in improvised and unregistered tag teams during the fight against Global Wrestling Monopoly, they have simply sat around doing nothing.  This shall no longer stand!  One of these teams will be cleared from the board while the other shall take a further step towards the Animated Wrestling League’s World Tag Team Championship.

                Lastly, the man who will be the #1 contender for the Animated Wrestling League Grand Championship at the conclusion of National Pro Wrestling Day, Azteckaizer NEO, shall be in action against another man with an immediate claim upon a championship match:

Azteckaizer NEO (#2) vs. THUGLIFE Tanaka Kenichi

                THIS!  I have COMMISSIONED!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--XOXO AWL Commissioner

AWL 224: Golden Dreams

Promos from Champion and Challenger

As is AWL custom, we turn over this final blog post before AWL 224 to the Champion and Challenger for the AWL Grand Championship.  Both comments have been translated from the original Japanese by the AWL Translation Team.  First, the challenger:

A lot of people make a big deal about how I beat Project Tetsu to become AWL Grand Champion.  But they never mention that I failed to defend that title even once.  That was nearly one year ago at National Pro Wrestling Day 2017.  Now, a year later, I have the chance to correct that mistake.  To regain the title and go back to America and defend MY championship successfully.

Hakaisha is a great wrestler, but he’s all strength and power.  All I have to do is take him down and start tying him in knots.  If I can do that, he joins me in the zero defenses club.  At the New Year’s Tournament, I proved that I can go the distance.  This weekend, I prove that I don’t need an Iron Man Submission Match to become AWL Grand Champion.

--Chiba Akagi

And now, the AWL Grand Champion:

Chiba Akagi is probably the best submission wrestler in the world today.  But no amount of training can make up for raw power.  Yes, if he catches me in one of his submissions, I’m done for.  But I’m not going to be stupid enough to let that happen.  I’m going to pick him up and throw him all around the AWL Ring, then I’m going to pin his shoulders to the mat for three seconds.  It’s as simple as that.  I was backstage for the New Year’s Tournament, I saw him beat four men with the manji-gatame in one night.  I know how to win this match and I know how to do it the right way! 

--HAKAISHA!

Two wrestlers with completely opposite styles class for the most coveted prize in animated wrestling this weekend at AWL 224: Golden Dreams.  That, ladies and gentlemen, is what professional wrestling is all about!

I told you so.

When I promise more matches, I deliver.  The following matches from the Tag Team and Joshi Divisions have been added to the card for this Sunday’s AWL 224: Golden Dreams.

Dragoness 1 vs. Wild Thing 1

In the Joshi division, two of the women who were successful last week face each other to determine who will take the next step towards joining Athena Jane in the Joshi Championship Ladder Match.  The Daughter of the Dragon showed she’s earned her slot on the roster by defeating Solo Darling last week while the furious furry (is that the nickname we’re going with for her, I don’t even know) defeated Spring Tiger in the first women’s match in the AWL.

It’s important to point out that you 3 victories, NOT 3 points, to qualify for the Joshi Championship Ladder Match.  So, what we have here is a match between two wrestlers with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

AWL All Stars (0) vs. The Empire (0)

Points will be in play when two of the best and most beloved wrestlers in AWL history (not to mention two former AWL Grand Champions) face two British brawlers and the most recent former AWL World’s Tag Team Champions.

With that, the full card is known.  Stay tuned for exclusive comments from the champion and challenger in this weekend’s Grand Championship main event.

Rank on the line!

In the Animated Wrestling League, you are NEVER safe.  Not only do the worst wrestlers in the company have to defend their jobs in Batsumania, a single loss by a member of the AWL Best 4 can cost them their rank, or even their Best 4 status entirely!

This weekend at AWL 224: Golden Dreams, we will have two matches where rank is up for grabs:

Wyvern (#2) vs. Yamada Jiro

Wyvern requested a match to prove himself worthy of being #1 Contender rather than just waiting for his title shot to just come up with the rations.  As for why Yamada Jiro (considering that he has yet to win a match this season), I have no idea.

In additional singles action, the two remaining members of the AWL Best 4 will face off with rank on the line:

Hassan (#3) vs. Azteckaizer NEO (#4)

This is where rank hath both its privileges and its problems.  As the higher ranked wrestler, Hassan has the first chance of the two at a title shot.  The problem is the he stands to gain nothing from this match.  There is no glory in defeating someone of lower rank then yourself.  Equally, there is no shame in losing to someone of higher rank.  Meaning that, if Hassan wins, nothing happens.  But, if Azteckaizer NEO wins, the two will swap ranks.

More matches are expected to be announced over the next couple of days.

Two Grand Championship Matches Announced!!

Greetings wrestling fans.  The AWL Commissioner has announced that the winner of the 2018 New Year’s Tournament will get his shot at the AWL Grand Championship at AWL 224.  Furthermore, the winner of that match will go on to fact the next challenger (Currently Wyvern) at National Pro Wrestling Day in two weeks in the United States!

AWL 224: Golden Dreams

MAIN EVENT

For the AWL Grand Championship:

HAKAISHA! (C) vs. Chiba Akagi (#1) (NYT2018 Winner)

1^st Title Defense

As I mentioned, Wyvern is currently the #2 contender in the AWL Best 4.  But that may not be the case come National Pro Wrestling Day.  While specific matches have yet to be announced, the AWL Commissioner has promised that rank will be on the line this weekend at AWL 224.  So, stay tuned right here for all the details!

AWL 223: 女士の始め！

New Championship Announced

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am the AWL Commissioner,

                Since making history seems to be the order of the week, we here at the Animated Wrestling League are getting in on the act.  First of all, congratulations to RyuSensei for getting his first professional wrestling podcast posted.  I fully endorse his use of the Animated Wrestling League’s blogspace to promote this new enterprise.

                Now, the big announcement that I promised you last week.  I hereby COMMISSION a new championship to be acknowledged by the Animated Wrestling League and a division of wrestlers exclusive to that title.  For the first time in the history of the Animated Wrestling League we shall have

.

.

.

A women’s championship!

The Animated Wrestling League Joshi Division will launch THIS SATURDAY at AWL 223: Joshi no Hajime.  The first AWL Joshi Champion shall be chosen thusly:

The first three women to earn 3 victories in sanctioned Animated Wrestling League competition shall be entered into a four way LADDER MATCH to determine the first champion.  No, I did not miscount.  One wrestler has already qualified for the Joshi Championship Ladder Match.  That would be the first of several new signees to the Animated Wrestling League Roster, the final Global Wrestling Monopoly Diva’s Champion: Athena Jane!

THIS!  I have COMMISSIONED!!!!!  

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--XOXO AWL Commissioner.

The Last Wrestling Podcast Episode 1: Royal Rumble 2018

Trying something new for this site, everyone and their dog has a wrestling podcast the days, so why not a person who has been making wrestling shows on the internet for the better part of ten years?

Several reasons actually, but I've done it anyway.