2 Challenges, 4 Joshi, and a Pizza Place

                Wow!  That was an old reference.  Well, lack of relevant material aside, I have two AWL Wrestlers who have issued challenges for this weekend’s AWL 264.  Please note that there will not be any actual pizza.

                First, the new AWL Grand Champion:

Kid Canada: Two weeks ago, I sent a message to the AWL roster to step up and make their own fate and their own opportunities.  One man did that…and it didn’t exactly work, eh?  He ma have been the first man eliminated from the Contractual Obligation Rumble, but Michael Dunne impressed me with his guts and he deserves a reward.  That’s why I’m challenging “Australian Dynamite” to a match at AWL 264.  He deserves the TV time and a chance to show the world what he has against the Most Canadian Champion in the World, eh?

Next, unfortunately, Frederick Victor:

Frederic Victor: Greetings grapple fans, it is I!  Your British Openweight Champion, a title I acquired during the off season if you were wondering.  You may hold your applause.

                I come before you today because I am intrigued by a new wrestler that has been making waves in the Animated Wrestling League as of late: Shynron.  Now, I will be the first to praise this young lad’s acrobatic skill.  He’s second to none and any circus in the world would be wise to employ him at a significant salary…but that’s not wrestling.

                While the AWL seems to have fallen in love with this sideshow, I am disgusted by his lack of respect for the grappling arts.  He would have lasted a day in the Snake Pit training camps of yester year and he won’t last 2 rounds with me.

                I challenge Shynron to 5 rounds under World of Sport Rules.  Let’s see if this “Spirit Dragon” can get down to earth and actually wrestle.

Finally, the AWL Commissioner has announced a match to determine the #1 contender for Akira Merune and the AWL Joshi Championship at National Pro Wrestling Day.

Jackie M. vs. Joya vs. Athena Jane vs. Resu Pink

Reshuffle Match

                We expect further matches to be announced in the coming days.

Title Match Set for AWL 264

                Let’s keep this quick:

Erupcion Solar (C) vs. “Suplex Master” Sammy Nix

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1^st Title  Defense

                Sammy Nix defeated Erupcion Solar to eliminate the IC champ from the New Year’s Tournament.  This will be the young luchador’s first title defense.  5 defenses and he can cash in the IC title for a Grand Championship Match.  If Sammy Nix is victorious, he will be the first male all AWL double champion in AWL history.

                It should also be noted that by eliminating Erupcion Solar from the Contractual Obligation Rumble, W-01 has earned a title shot against the winner of this match.  The date for that match has yet to be determined.

AWL 263: Contractual Obligation Rumble

Names announced for COR

                Today on “Stories my bosses are forcing me to cover,” We have the first set of names released for the Contractual Obligation Rumble:

1. “Australian Dynamite” Michael Dunne (Will enter at #1 or #2 at his request.)

2. Resu Red

3. Resu Yellow (If medically cleared by bell time.)

4. Resu Blue

5. Resu Black

6. Project Tetsu

7. Project-Z

8. W-01

9. DB-02

10. H-03

11. M-05

Additionally, all current male champions except for Grand Champion Kid Canada will compete:

12. Lee Masters

13. Sammy Nix

14. Erupcion Solar

The rest of the entrants will be determined by Win-Loss record.

Do we really have to do this?

                This weekend, AWL 263 will be a one match show.  That match will be *sigh* a stagger start over the top rope battle royale.  Yep.  We’re doing a royal rumble match.

                On the plus side, you’ll get to see 30 AWL Wrestlers in one match and the winner of this match walks out with a Golden Opportunity which, as anyone who watched AWL 261 can tell you, is an express ticket to the AWL Grand Championship.

                On the down side, there’s apparently a rule that EVERY wrestling company has to have a rumble match now.  Lucha Underground has Aztec Warfare, Chikara has the Infinite Gauntlet, MLW has Battle Riot, NJPW has the Wrestle Kingdom Jobber Battle Royal (or they did until this year), PWG has the Gorilla Rumble, ROH has the Honor Rumble, etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum.

                I guess the wrestling police threatened to fine the AWL Commissioner if we didn’t start doing one of these dumb things so next week 30 wrestlers will get the chance to win a match without actually pinning or submitting anyone!  YAY! (?)

                It’ll be called The Contractual Obligation Rumble.

AWL 262: New Classics vs. Old Thugs

Full Card for AWL 262

AWL 262:

MAIN EVENT

The New Classics (C) vs. Big Time Thug S (3)

AWL World’s Tag Team Title Match

3^rd Title Defense

                A bit of old business from last season as Batsumania survivor Tanaka Kenichi and his pet giant are sitting on 3 points and are therefore entitled to a match for the World’s Tag Team Championships.  Much to all of our regrets.  Fortunately, The New Classics should be MORE than up for the task.

Tiger Mask II vs. W-01

Fight for 4

                The AWL Commissioner’s primary goal this week is to fill in all the holes in the AWL Best 4.  In this case, it’s the men’s division.  W-01 is fresh off a big win last week against Chiba Akagi and Tiger Mask II is the wrestler with the best Win-Loss record not currently in the Best 4.  Tiger vs. Dragon…I think there’s a movie plot in there somewhere.

Resu Pink vs. Tormenta de Fuego

Fight for 4

                Over in the Joshi division it’s a super strong superhero vs. a high flying luchadora.  This sort of interdisciplinary match is what I love most about the Animated Wrestling League.  There’s a WWE style, a New Japan style, and a Ring of Honor style.  There’s no such thing as an AWL style.  All forms of professional wrestling are welcome here.

Tiger & Bunny (0) vs. The Modern Day Warriors (0)

Points in Play

                Speaking of the Joshi division, it’s time to make a little history.  At last season’s finale, we crowned the first ever AWL Joshi Tag Team Champions in The Queens of Wrestling.  Now, we need challengers.  So, for the first time ever, two teams will compete with the winners receiving their first point towards title contention.  What?  Of course they need three points to challenge.  What have I been saying ever since the Joshi Division was founded?  The rules for the women are the same as the men.

The Flying Yukis (1) vs. The Tiger Brothers (1)

Points in Play

                Speaking of the men (I am nailing the segues this week!), The Tiger Brothers have declared their goal, win the World Tag Team titles and earn their stripes.  Their next obstacles are the young hot new tag team of Season 14, The Flying Yukis.  No matter what happens, the winners of this match will be only one win away from a title match.

Resu Yellow vs. DB-02

                Rounding out the card for this week is an opportunity for revenge.  During last weekend’s atomicos match (which, sadly, ended in a draw), Resu Yellow and the slave formerly known as the Doom Bunny found themselves brawling all over the AWL Arena.  This weekend, they will have the chance to settle things one on one.

Two Messages from AWL Wrestlers

                This morning I received two messages from AWL Wrestlers that are news worthy enough to appear in this blog.  First, from the Unified School of the Tiger Style:

Shin Tiger Jr.: Last night, Black Tiger Justice and I filled an official request to the AWL Commissioner to change our official tag team name.  Shin Tiger Brothers just doesn’t accurately describe us anymore.  There’s nothing new about us.  So, from this day forward, we’re the Tiger Brothers.

                Our teachers have told us what we must do to finally earn our stripes: Win the ALW World’s Tag Team Titles.  We already have one point.  This weekend, we take point number 2.

                We’ll see about then when the card for AWL 262 is released by the AWL Commissioner’s Office.  Moving on, the next message comes from someone who I honestly forgot was still under contract with the AWL:

Michael Dunne: G’day.  I saw what Kid Canada said yesterday and he’s 100% correct.  It7s time to step up and stop waiting for someone to hand me an opportunity.  Therefore, I’m not only entering myself in the Contractual Obligation Rumble.  More than that, I want to be someone the AWL fans talk about forever…so I’m requesting to be one of the first two in the match!  Yeah mate, I’m goin tha distance!

                Well.  He’s an idiot.  But who knows, sometimes fortune favors the bold.  We’ll find out what happens to “Australian Dynamite” Michael Dunne at the Contractual Obligation Rumble.

NEW CHAMPION!!

                Ladies and gentlemen, there is hope in these dark and troubled times!  The AWL Grand Championship is OUT of the clutches of Dr. Jigoku!  Last weekend at our season opener, the Most Canadian Man in the World cashed in the Golden Opportunity he won more than a season ago at the Clash of Styles Tournament to become the NEW Animated Wrestling League Grand Champion!

                I caught up with the champion backstage just moments after his historic victory:

Ryusensei: Kid!  Champ!  Can I get a few moments of your time?  You’ve just become the 17^th AWL Grand Champion, what’s going through your head right now?

Kid Canada: (Panting) Sorry.  Right now?  The main thing in my head right now is how badly I probably need a shower, eh?  Not from beating M-05…twice.  That took less than 5 minutes, eh?  But from how nervous I’ve been all day   It hasn’t really set in yet.  I’M THE FREAKING GRAND CHAMPION, EH?!

Ryusensei: It’s been a long time coming Kid.

Kid Canada: Sorry.  You’re darn right it has.  This is my 12^th season in the AWL and I honestly don’t remember the last time I was even in a Fight for 4, let alone a title match.  So, I made my own luck and my own opportunities, eh?

Ryusensei: Take us through tonight.  Was this a spur of the moment decision or something you’ve planned for a while.

Kid Canada: Sorry, but it’s a bit of both.  My original plan was to make a public challenge either at Golden War or the next finale.  But when I saw M-05 walk out of AWL 260 with the belt, I knew I had to act.  So, I’ve been planning this for…about a month, eh?

Ryusensei: Let’s look ahead to the future champ, you’ve got some BIG challenges on the horizon.  H-03, Ganba Hisshi Dark, Matt Classic, to say nothing of the winner of the Contractual Obligation Rumble who will get the same chance to pick their spot as you did.

Kid Canada: Sorry, but I welcome it Ryu.  My opponents may be bigger than me, darker then me, or more experienced than me, but they’ll never be better than me.  Like a great Canadian once said, “I’m the best there is, best there was, and the best there ever will be!”  As for the Contractual Obligation Rumble, I want all 30 of those wrestlers to take a step back.  Realize how rare title opportunities are around here.  This battle royale is a chance for all of them to step up and write their own story.  When the winner is ready to cash in his Golden opportunity, I’ll be there ready and waiting.  Any time, any place, any match, the Most Canadian Man in the world is ready for anything, eh?

Ryusensei: Thank you champ.  I’ll let you get that shower because you’re right.  You kind of need it.

AWL 261: Season 13 Premier

AWL By the Numbers. January 13th, 2918

AWL 261 is tomorrow, but before we begin Season 14, let’s take a look at where things stand with a returning feature I like to call AWL By the Numbers:

AWL Grand Championship:

Current Champion: M-05

Length of Reign: 25 Days (Since AWL 260)

Number of Defenses: 0

AWL Best 4:

1. H-03

2. Ganba Hisshi Dark

3. Matt Classic Sr.

4. TBD

Golden Opportunity: Kid Canada

AWL World’s Tag Team Championship:

Current Champions: The New Classics

Length of Reign: 102 Days (Since Tag Matsuri 2018)

Number of Defenses: 2

Current Point Totals:

3 points: Big Time Thug S

2 points: T49P, Tiger Mask W, Tiger Mask II & Okada, Nippon Yokkata (Jiro & “Liger”)

1 point: PSRR (Blue & Blue), Shin Tiger Bros., Gold School of the Tiger Style, Nippon Yokkata (Jiro & “Liger” & Ryuji), Dorei Corps (DB-02 & H-03)

AWL Intercondinential Championship:

Current Champion: Erupcion Solar

Length of Reign: 25 Days (Since AWL 260)

Number of Defenses: 0 of 5

AWL Joshi Championship:

Current Champion: Akira Merune

Length of Reign: 253 Days (Since Golden War 2018)

Number of Defenses: 5

AWL Best 4:

1. Jackie M.

2. Joya

3. Athena Jane

4. TBD

AWL Joshi Tag Team Championship:

Current Champion: Queens of Wrestling

Length of Reign: 25 Days (Since AWL 260)

Number of Defenses: 0

Full Card for AWL 261!

AWL 261: Season 14 Premiere!

MAIN EVENT

Eruption Solar (IC)/The New Classics (Tag Team) vs. M-05 (AWL)/Nick Aldas (NWA)/Jake Strong (LU)

Champions’ Showcase!

                A venerated AWL tradition returns for Season 14.  The Champions’s Showcase has expanded to include two of the most prestigious titles in the world today, the NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship is in the middle of the biggest comeback in wrestling history and an appearance in the AWL Arena is another step on that journey.  As for the Lucha Underground Championship, it’s been in the AWL Arena before, but never around the waist of “The Savage” Jake Strong.

W-01 vs. Chiba Akagi

NYT Bronze Medal Match

                Two former New Year’s Tournament champions go one on one to determine the third place in this year’s tournament.  The winner of this match can basically write his own ticket into the Grand Championship picture.

The Flying Yukis (0) vs. The Empire (0)

Points in Play

                In the only non-tournament match at the NYT event, The Flying Yukis defied literally enormous competition to graduate from the AWL Dojo and earn their spots on the main roster.  Can Hiroyuki Shota and FLASH Nobuyuki continue their momentum in the AWL Tag Team Division?  Or will former AWL World Tag Team Champions Frederick Victor and Big Jerry take their first step back to the top of the mountain?

Purosentai Resurangers vs. The Augments

Atomicos Match

                A classic tale of good verses evil.  The PSRR will debut their 5^th member and take on 4 of Dr. Jigoku’s creations in a one fall 8-man tag team war!  Who is this 5^th hero?  What is their super power?  Who will represent Dr. Jigoku?  I haven’t the slightest idea.  Tune in this weekend to AWL 261 and we’ll all find out together.

Shynron vs. Hebitsukai

                At the New Year’s Tournament, The Spirit Dragon made his AWL debut in the ever mysterious 16^th slot reserved for new wrestlers.  Now, in his regular season debut, the master of motion must contend with fellow wreptilian wrestler, Monster Union’s own Hebitsukai.

Let's get started!

                Welcome back to the Animated Wrestling League!  Season 14 begins THIS WEEKEND with AWL 261.  The card will be announced in the coming days.  However, I have some news for the rest of the season:

                Season Premiere: Jan. 13th.

                Season Finale: May 26^th.

                Special Events:

                                Super Card: National Pro Wrestling Day 2019.  Feb. 11^th.

                                Super Card: Sakuramania Wrestlegenesis. Wrestlemania Weekend.

                                Super Card: Golden War 2019.  Golden Week.

                Lastly, a brand-new event has been added to the AWL calendar.  Our last event in January will be the first ever Animated Wrestling League Contractual Obligation Rumble!!  (Because EVERY wrestling organization must have a Royal Rumble rip off these days apparently.)  30 AWL Wrestlers will enter the ring and the last man standing will go home with a Golden Opportunity! 

                It’s going to be 20 weeks of incredible professional wrestling action with the Animated Wrestling League!

AWL New Year's Tournament 2019!