First Round Matches Announced!!!

Here we go, the long awaited round of 16 matches for the AWL お正月大会2016:

A Block:

AJ Styles* vs. Ganba

Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson

Kenny Omega vs. Jack Butcher

Cody Hall vs. Wolf

B Block:

Dragon vs. Strike Taka

Wonder Kid vs. HAKAISHA!

Sammy Nix vs. Lee Masters

Yamada Jiro vs ????

Well, the AWL Commissioner clearly did not decide this by random chance! All 6 members of Bullet Club are in the A Block meaning that we will have at least one BC vs. BC match and that we CAN'T have an all Bullet Club final. Even more interesting is the fact that the two BC members set to face each other are the reigning AWL World Tag Team Champions Karl Anderson and Bad Luck Fale.

Over in B Block, the man who had to fight his way into the tournament Strike Taka has to face the final AWL World's Heavyweight Champion, Dragon. Two former members of Yarina Talent Management Inc face off as do the longest running tag team in the AWL, the New Classics! Finally, the man who is lucky to even be in the tournament at all, Yamada Jiro, is stuck with the worst possible draw...the one he can't prepare for.

Lastly, I need to point out once again that A.J. Styles is still unconfirmed for the tournament due to the injury that caused him to be pulled from the recent New Japan World Tag League. A.J. is currently scheduled to challenge Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship on January 4th at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome in Nakamura's 2nd title defense. AWL Chief Medical Official Dr. Marcus Feelgood will personally be on hand at the Dome to check on A.J. and we'll get a final yea or nay at that time. If A.J. can not compete, he will be replaced by the wrestler with the best win-loss record who didn't make the cut for the tournament. At the moment, that's Ma-Ji-Ku.