AWL 163: Double Title Match

AWL 163: Double Title Match 投稿者 AWLBoss

Words from Wyvern and Omega

Normally, we would get some comments from the participants in both title matches tomorrow, but since we don't know who will challenge Hassan for the AWL IC Title, there's really no point. But luckily enough we have another title match to promote. First, speaking for the challenger, Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega:

Listen up losers, the champ is talking! And that's what Bullet Club is, champions. Between AWL, New Japan, and the NWA we're talking about 7 freaking belts right now! IWGP Intercontinental, NEVER 6-Man, NWA World Women's, and AWL Tag Team Championships. And that's not even counting the dozens of titles we've won in little indy promotions around the world looking to cash in on the BC mojo. Tomorrow that count goes up to number eight baby. The big prize, the AWL Grand Championship, is coming to the big man. After that, I think we need to complete the set. So that [racial slur deleted] Hassan better watch his back. Bullet Club is an unstoppable force. Bullet Club is the biggest thing in pro wrestling, and we're not slowing down ANY...time...soon.

And now, the young dragon, Wyvern:

Bad Luck Fale. You think that just because your bigger than me that you're just going to walk into the AWL ring and take my title from me? Are you really that stupid? I don't think so. I've been fighting bigger men my whole life. Do you know why I called myself Wyvern? Why I use that name instead of "Dragon II" or something? Because a wyvern, while smaller than a dragon, stands on it's own two feet. And when you and I stand across from each other in that ring tomorrow we will be even. Two men fighting for glory and honor.

Yes, my mentor will be at my side. But he's only there to keep your friends from pulling their Gaijin Tactics or whatever you call it. I don't care how tall you are, I will fly higher. I don't care how strong you are, my fire is stronger. I don't care how many friends you have, I am the AWL Grand Champion and I welcome the challenge.

See you tomorrow for the Grand Championship Match.

Full Card for AWL 163.

The AWL Commissioner has announced two more matches for AWL 163 meaning that we now have the full card for the event:

AWL 163

Main Event:

Wyvern (C) vs. Bad Luck Fale (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

2nd Title Defense

Hassan (C) vs. ????

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

2nd Title Defense of 5

Sammy Nix vs. Lee Masters

AWL Intercontinental #1 Contender's Match

Wolf (#3) vs. Wonder Kid (#2)

Rank on the Line

Jack Butcher vs. Mr. Smiles

So we have two title matches, two contender's matches, and a crazy Australian. What more can you ask of a wrestling show?

Double main event!

I think we can safely say that, after an incredible title match last Sunday at AWL 162, the AWL Intercontinental Championship is here to stay! I can personally report that the AWL Commissioner is over the moon at how well the match between Hassan and Yamada Jiro went last weekend. In fact, he's so happy that he's decided that the next IC Title Match will be...Next weekend!!

On it's face, this may not seem fair. Hassan just wrestled one hell of a match and whoever gets placed in the title match won't have earned it. All fair points, but that's why the AWL Commissioner has come up with not one, but two matches for AWL 163.

Hassan (C) vs. ????

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

2nd Title Defense of 5

Sammy Nix vs. Lee Masters

AWL Intercontinental #1 Contender's Match

That's right, The New Classics will have to fight each other one on one. That has only happened once before and it was way back in Season 1. It's only happening again because both men happen to be at about the same place in the overall win-loss rankings. Sammy Nix came out the winner at that time, but both men are several years older and hopefully wiser. Anything could happen at AWL 163.

Also, we are going to have a rare "double main event" as not only will the IC title be defended, but the AWL Grand Championship will be defended as well:

Wyvern (C) vs. Bad Luck Fale (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

2nd Title Defense

There is no shortage of monsters in the AWL Best 4 right now, so Wyvern has his work cut out for him. But the first undefeated AWL Champion has all the tools he needs to take down The Underboss of Bullet Club. His only weakness is his inexperience and with Dragon by his side, I don't see that being a problem.

However, the NEW IWGP Intercontinental Champion/NEVER Open Weight 6-Man Tag Champion, Kenny Omega will be at AWL 163 in his role as Bullet Club's leader. I smell trouble. Will the retired Dragon be enough of an equalizer against the a man in the prime of his career? We'll all find out this Sunday.

AWL 162: Hassan vs. 山田二郎

AWL 162: Hassan vs. Yamada Jiro 投稿者 AWLBoss

Three matches, two promos, and a pizza place.

3 new matches announced today means that we now have a full card for AWL 162:

Hassan (C) vs. Yamada Jiro

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1st of 5 Title Defenses

Kenny Omega vs. Project 鉄 vs. Tiger Mask II vs.

Jack Butcher vs. Wrestler X vs. American Beetle

6-Man Scramble Match

Fight for 4

The Strike Warriors & DOOMBUNNY vs. The Augments (ウサギKick, 技Breaker, & X)

Trios Match

That X concerns me. As most of you know, in Japanese wrestling an X means a mystery wrestler. But in this case it also means a new Augment will make its debut. What new monstrosity will Dr. Jigoku wheel out of his lab? I'm not sure I want to find out.

RUZAI (0) (THUGLIFE田中健一& Bruce Hoyt) vs. The New Classics (2)

Points in Play

The New Classics are the only team remaining with 2 Points. With the clock still ticking on Karl Anderson, this is a must win match for not only Lee Masters and Sammy Nix, but the AWL as a whole.

Bad Luck Fale (#1) in Action

And now, in accordance with AWL tradition, we open the floor to the champion and challenger in this week's title match. It's the first ever AWL IC Title match and it's the old rivals Hassan and Yamada Jiro. First, the challenger:

山田二郎 (Translated from Japanese):

The AWL Commissioner has made the correct decision. However, I should not have wrestled that foreign menace Kid Canada last week. Why does he wear a mask anyway? He's probably a criminal just like the rest of them. The police should to look into it.

Now the future is looking bright for Japan. A Japanese wrestler is rocketing up the ranks of Sumo, Japanese are dominating sports all around the world, and in just a few years the whole world will come to Japan to see what true athletes, warriors, and men really look like. As Japan takes its rightful place in the world of sports, I will take my rightful place as AWL Zenkoku Champion! That American only looked like he won at AWL 160 and now he will be shown as the cheater that he is.

(Editors note: Hassan did NOT cheat at AWL 160, the video shows that clear as day. Also, the Zenkoku Championship is NOT recognized by the AWL and will NOT be on the line this Sunday.)

Hassan:

OK, I am getting reeally sick and tired of this guy. I spent all of last season beating his ass up and down the card and at AWL 160 he tapped out to me. He has nothing, he is nothing, he will be NOTHING! Yeah, he has a title match at AWL 162. Yeah, he's the guy I beat to win the title so it makes sense that he's in the conversation. But Commissioner, with all due respect: This. Is. It! Sunday he's getting a Paradigm Shift and going down 1, 2, 3! At which point, we are done. I never want to see that lying, racist, piece of trash in the ring with me again and CERTAINLY not for the AWL Intercontinental Championship. We clear?

And now the names!

I told you I'd get you those names! The following 6 AWL Wrestlers will compete in this weekend's 6-Man Scramble Match for the honor of joining the best 4:

Kenny Omega vs. Project 鉄 vs. Tiger Mask II vs.

Jack Butcher vs. Wrestler X vs. American Beetle

6-Man Scramble Match

Fight for 4

Some very interesting names here. This will be Kenny Omega's first AWL match since becoming the new leader of Bullet Club (to say nothing of being the NEW IWGP Intercontinental Champion/to say nothing of his first match since failing to capture the IWGP Intercontinental Championship). Not only will the rest of Bullet Club be watching and evaluating their new leader, but the powers that be in New Japan Pro Wrestling will be paying very close attention to this match.

Project 鉄 is coming off of a big win at National Pro Wrestling Day and after his tag team lost last week, I can only assume Dr. Jigoku will accept nothing less than victory and a future chance at the AWL Grand Championship.

Tiger Mask II is coming off of a loss at NPWD. As for how he made it into this match? I'm not sure, but with Prince Puma resuming his duties at The Temple, I imagine the heir to the tiger style is looking to gain a foothold in singles combat.

This will be Jack Butcher's first match since the New Year's Tournament, where he made it into the second round before losing to Wolf. But the big story with Jack Butcher is his new look. After spending all of Season 8 in voluntary exile (apparently in the Australian outback) he has returned more violent and blood thirsty than ever.

Not sure what Wrestler X is doing here, but the AWL Commissioner has been known to throw the odd wild card into these kind of matches and the Master of All Styles is the ultimate wild card. For those of you who may not be familiar with Wrestler X, he has the uncanny ability to duplicate the entire move set of anyone he's in the ring with. The problem is that he can only copy one wrestler at a time, so which of his 5 opponents will he choose?

Lastly, American Beetle. Under the new rules for multiman matches, there is a possibility of a single wrestler picking up 5 falls and therefore 5 victories in one match. A rare opportunity. American Beetle is currently dead last in the AWL Win-Loss Rankings so this may be an pity move by the AWL Commissioner. But if American Beetle pulls off the final victory here, that may place him indirect conflict with his tag team partner Hassan at some point in the future.

Title match and scramble match

As I always seem to do on the first news post of the week, let's make a couple of things official.

First the main event for next week:

Hassan (C) vs. Yamada Jiro

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1st of 5 Title Defenses

Next, the AWL Best 4:

1. Bad Luck Fale

2. Wonder Kid

3. Wolf

4. ????

Obviously there's an empty space here and that can not be allowed. So at AWL 162, the AWL Commissioner has booked a 6-Man Scramble Match which will serve as a Fight for 4.

For those haven't seen an AWL Scramble Match before, the rules are as follows:

1. 6 wrestlers compete at once. All are legal at all times.

2. 5 falls to a finish. The last man standing is declared the winner.

3. 10 minute time limit. If that doesn't sound like a lot of time, that's because it isn't. Hence the "Scramble" in Scramble Match.

4. Each pin counts as a win or a loss as far as the AWL Win-Loss Records are concerned.

5. In the (likely) event the time limit expires with more than one wrestler remaining, the wrestler who has won the highest number of falls is declared the winner on points.

(Source: AWL Rule Book)

The names of the six participants will be announced some time this week so be sure to check back here daily for all the news of the Animated Wrestling League.

AWL 161: Bullet Club vs The All Americans

AWL 161: Bullet Club vs. The All Americans 投稿者 AWLBoss

Match card, promos, and a big thank you.

Before we begin today's news post, on behalf of myself and everyone here at the Animated Wrestling League (which is pretty much just me), I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank Daniel Bryan AKA Bryan Danielson who announced his retirement from professional wrestling earlier this week.

To say that The American Dragon changed professional wrestling is an understatement. Not only was he a leader of a class of independent wrestlers (Alongside the likes of CM Punk, Samoa Joe, and Nigel McGuinness) that showed the world that work rate and storytelling ability could trump steroid riddled muscularity in terms of drawing power and entertainment value. He spent his entire career proving that not only does the W outweigh the E, but the W IS the E. As Sami Zayn said on twitter, without Daniel Bryan, most of the top NXT talent would never have been hired. Men like Zayn, Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Kalisto, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, and A.J. Styles would not be where or who they are today.

Throughout his career, Bryan took seemingly ridiculous material and made it work (The sign of a great performer). From odd music choices like Final Countdown and Flight of the Valkyries, to reminding the referee "I have till FIVE," to declaring in the face of all English grammar "I am the tag team champions," to making two of the most common words in the English language into the most over catchphrases of a generation. Everything this man touched turned to gold.

While I wish WWE had had the wisdom of ages gone by and had let the fans decide who they should push, I'm overjoyed that Daniel Bryan got to stand in the ring victorious at Wrestlemania 30. It was a victory not only for him, but for all wrestling fans.

Bryan may be gone, but his career will never be forgotten. Hopefully WWE will find a way to use him and his special connection with wrestling fans going forward.

Now on to the news:

The full match card for AWL 161 has been revealed:

AWL 161:

Main Event

Bullet Club (C) vs. The All Americans (3)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

Kid Canada vs. 山田二郎

Intercontinental #1 Contender's Match

The Strike Warriors (0) vs. The Augments (2)

Points in Play

Wyvern vs. Bruce Hoyt

Non-Title Match

Now, as per AWL tradition, we open the floor to both champions and challengers in theis weekend's tag team championship match. First, the champions:

Karl Anderson: The bug man and the...well, you know? No, not a change in hell. Now those cat guys, they may have stood a chance against us. Not much of a chance, but a chance. WWE may have signed off on me "fulfilling my obligations" or whatever, but there's only so long before they want me either on the road or at NXT. This belt is going to look so good on my wall. Or maybe I'll take it to Monday Night Raw and toss it in the garbage. Nah, who am I kidding? That'd probably only make it to Superstars. You got anything to say big man?

Bad Luck Fale: Wyvern, don't let those RUZAI losers distract you. You and me got a date with destiny. Keep my belt polished for me.

And now the challengers:

Hassan: The next 20 AWL events are going to make or break my career. Last season I put so much of myself into establishing my AWL IC Title, that I frankly neglected my tag partner and our team. But with the 2 points we picked up at the Tag Matsuri and the point we got back home in the good old USA, we're ready to take the gold and I'm ready to become a double champion!

American Beetle: It's an election year in America. A time when the power of democracy flows through me and brings me to the peak of my powers! The speeches, the debates, the people participating in the single greatest system of government in the world...OH MAN! It makes me feel like I could take on the entire roster myself!! Those Bullet Club disgraces won't know what hit them...in America!

Hassan: Bro, the match is in the Arena. You know...in Japan.

American Beetle: I DON'T CARE!!! AMERICA!!!!!!!

It's going to be an interesting show. See you Sunday morning Japan time for AWL 161!

#1 Contender's match

The final match for AWL 161 has been announced and it is a #1 contender's match:

Kid Canada vs. 山田二郎 (Yamada Jiro)

Winner faces Hassan next week for the AWL Intercontinental Championship

Not much else to say really. I'll be back tomorrow with the full card and interviews with both Bullet Club and the All Americans ahead of their tag team title match on Sunday.

New match announced

The AWL Commissioner has made another match for this weekend's AWL 161. As I said yesterday, there's no way on earth that Tanaka Kenichi is getting a rematch with Wyvern. But the Commissioner seems to think that if RUZAI want to fight so badly, let them fight!

Wyvern (C) vs. "The Boxing Bastard" Bruce Hoyt

Non-Title Match

This will be Bruce Hoyt's first wrestling match in over 2 years, since AWL 80. He'd better hope for his sake that he's managed to work off all the ring rust. With RUZAI no doubt involved, you can bet Dragon will be in the corner of his young champion.

Tanaka Kenichi never paid attention in English class.

A grand tradition continues. We here at AWL HQ have received the first official comment from an AWL Wrestler of Season 9. And who'd have guessed? It's Tanaka Kenichi along with RUZAI members Bruce Hoyt and Maglubiyet Jr.:

Tanaka: Wyvern! You is a little doy! You is don't AWL Champion! You is lucky! I am champion! I like rematch!!

Bruce Hoyt: Hang on boss, I've got this. Look, you know you winning the title was a fluke. We know you winning the title was a fluke. So how about you man up and give my boy Kenichi here a fair rematch. Screw Bullet Club. They ain't even real AWL guys anyway. Let's keep this in-house.

Maglubiyet Jr.: I want to fight too but they won't let me out of my box.

And that's all we were sent. Now obviously Tanaka Kenichi is not getting a rematch for the AWL Grand Championship. Wyvern won the bout cleanly and the AWL does not give out title matches for losing. (What kind of idiot wrestling promoter would even think of something like that?)

In other AWL News, after what happened at National Pro Wrestling Day, we have a newly minted tag team in the AWL! Ma-ji-ku and Strike Taka have formed a new unit and will collectively be known as "The Strike Warriors." Their first tag team match has been set for this Sunday:

The Strike Warriors (0) vs. The Augments (ウサギKick & 技Breaker) (2)

Points in Play

I'll be back tomorrow with another dose of news from the Animated Wrestling League.

Let the season begin!

And we're off! Season 9 of the Animated Wrestling League has officially begun! But first, a big thank you to all the pro wrestling fans out there who donated to this year's National Pro Wrestling Day charity drive. Chikara set a $2400 goal and SMASHED through it. We're leaving the links up and as of this writing you can still donate to the very worthy cause known as The Polaris Project.

Now, for AWL 161, we will be back in Japan at the AWL Arena this Sunday (local time) for the first regular season episode of the AWL. Already we have a main event championship match scheduled:

Bullet Club (C) vs. The All Americans (3)

AWL World Tag Team Title Match

5th Title Defense

With Karl Anderson on his way to WWE, we need a pair of heroes to get the belts off of Bullet Club and prevent the lineage of the championship from being broken.

As a special bonus today, I caught up with the NEW AWL Grand Champion, Wyvern mere moments after his shocking title victory. He was celebrating with his mentor, Dragon. Here now, the transcript of that conversation:

RyuSensei: Wyvern, first of all, congratulations on your victory. What's going through your head right now?

Wyvern: I...I can't believe it! I honestly didn't expect to win that match. Tanaka Kenichi has a lot more experience than I do and I thought he was going to kick my ass. But I learned something tonight. No, I learned two things. First, dreams really can come true so never let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Second, Tanaka Kenichi. You ended my teacher's career and tonight I learned it was a lucky shot. You are all talk and no walk. This is the start of a new era in the AWL. I don't know how long I'm going to have this title, but I promise each and every one of you that I will leave everything I have and everything I am in that ring when I defend the title. Bad Luck Fale...Bring it on!

RyuSensei: Thank you again Wyvern. Dragon, any thoughts on tonight?

Dragon: I'll be honest Ryu, I have some real mixed feelings. Tonight was my first event as a...retired wrestler. As much as I wanted to be the one wearing that beautiful Grand Championship Belt, what I'm feeling right now? Pride. This kid has all the natural talent in the world and he is just getting started! He's right. My era is over. It's time for the Rise of the Wyvern!!

RyuSensei: Thank you gentlemen, I'll leave you to your celebration.

Strong words from the new AWL Grand Champion and his mentor. There's no way of knowing how long this dream will last, but you can bet that Wyvern is due for a long career in the Animated Wrestling League.

More matches for AWL 161 are sure to be announced in the coming days so stay tuned to the Animated Wrestling League.

National Pro Wrestling Day 2016

AWL Super Card: National Pro Wrestling Day 2016... 投稿者 AWLBoss
Please donate to the Polaris Project and help end slavery in the 21st century.

AWL By the Numbers 2/0/16 edition.

It's been a long and eventful off season so it feels appropriate to catch everybody up to speed by looking at the AWL...By the Numbers.

AWL Grand Championship:

Champion: THUGLIFE 田中健一

Length of Reign: 65 Days (Since 12/03/2015)

Title Defenses: 0

AWL Best 4:

1. Wyvern

2. Wolf

3. Bad Luck Fale

4. Wonder Kid

AWL World Tag Team Championship:

Champions: Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Karl Anderson)

Length of Reign: 167 Days (Since 08/23/2015)

Title Defenses: 4

Point System:

The All Americans: 2 Points

Los Neko Grande: 2 Points

The New Classics: 2 Points

The Augments (Usagi Kick & Waza Breaker): 2 Points

El Rudo Rojo & Jon Shina: 1 Point

D.O.D: 1 Point

All other teams: 0 Points

AWL Intercontinental Championship:

Champion: Hassan

Length of Reign: 65 Days

Title Defenses: 0/5

On the nature of time (limits)...also points.

The AWL Commissioner is always looking to improve the AWL and the off season grants the boss the opportunity to tweak and improve the rules without pulling the rug out from under our fighters mid season. As such, there are 2 MAJOR rule changes that will go into effect at National Pro Wrestling Day 2016:

1. Longer time limits in tag team and multi-man matches.

In an effort to reduce the number of time limit draws and to raise the prestige of the AWL World Tag Team Titles up to match that of the Grand Championship the following changes are hereby enacted:

1 Point tag team match: 15 minute time limit.

2 Point tag team match: 20 minute time limit.

3 Point tag team match: 30 minute time limit.

Tag team title match: 30 minute time limit.

All singles matches featuring more than 2 wrestlers (triple threat, 4-way, etc.): 15 minute time limit.

2. Elimination rules in multi-man matches. Points by fall.

All multi-man matches (see previous examples) will be contested under elimination rules and each fall shall count as a victory in the AWL win-loss rankings. For example, if an AWL Wrestler pins both of his opponents in a 3-way match, he shall be considered to have won 2 matches. If an AWL Wrestler pins 2 opponents and is then pinned himself in a 4-way match, he shall be considered to have won 2 matches and lost 1.

Season 9 is mere days away and the Animated Wrestling League is just getting better.

AWL's full contribution to National Pro Wrestling Day

The rest of the card for National Pro Wrestling Day has been announced!

What we already know:

Main Event:

THUGLIFE 田中健一 (C) vs. Wyvern

AWL Grand Championship Match

1st Title Defense

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

Points in Play

The wrestlers who came in second, third, and fourth in the New Year's Tournament became #2, #3, & #4 in the AWL Best 4. But in the AWL, you have to not only earn your title shots, you have to fight for them. So we're going to have a reshuffle match:

Wolf (#2) vs. Bad Luck Fale (#3) vs. Wonder Kid (#4)

Reshuffle Match

Winner becomes #2 Contender, loser becomes #4 Contender

Lastly, the recently independent Strike Taka has requested a match with the monster who not only threw him out of The Augments, but who tried to end his career. And you can be sure Dr. Jigoku will be there to see to it that his favorite creation erases one of his biggest failures.

Strike 鷹 vs. Project 鉄

It all takes place at National Pro Wrestling Day on Feb. 7th Japan time, Feb. 6th US time, in Reading, PA and right here at AWLWrestling.blogspot.com.