AWL 260: Season 13 Finale!

Finale Countdown Part 5: Last Words

We are just hours away from AWL 260 and the very real chance that Dr. Jigoku will once again control the AWL Grand Championship!  I know that sounds pessimistic, but one of the bad doctor’s slaves is challenging for the title against easily the LEAST experienced champion we’ve ever had (though not the least deserving) in Chikara’s Thief Ant.  The last time Dr. Jigoku got his gloves on the Grand Championship it started a reign of terror that decimated the entire roster.  I hope you don’t blame me for being nervous.

                Anyway, it’s time to open to floor to the champion and challenger.  First, speaking on behalf of his…slave is Dr. Jigoku:

Dr. Jigoku:

                At last, a proper testament to my genius!  For YEARS that midget Ma-Ji-Ku toiled endlessly in the AWL getting absolutely nowhere.  Living on past glories and pining for a long dead division.  But, less than a single season under MY influence and he’s in the main event of the finale a mere technicality away from the one accolade that always eluded him, AWL Grand Champion!

                WHEN my M-05 wins the belt, it will confirm my hypothesis that even a miserable failure, with the proper application of SCIENCE can become…superior!

Thief Ant:

                What’s mine will not be yours.  That’s all I have to say.

Finale Countdown Part 4: Tag team division

                AWL 260 will be a landmark moment in tag team wrestling.  One that podcasters in the distent future will discuss and analyze endlessly.  The night that the first AWL Joshi Tag Team Championships will be awarded to the winners of the Joshi Tag Title Tournament.  Yes, we’re beating WWE to the punch by months and NJPW by probably 35 years.

                After over a month of competition, we are down to two tag teams set to fight for their place in history.  The first, the best of the best in the AWL Joshi Division.  Akira Merune, the undefeated Mistress of 1000 Holds and AWL Joshi Champion has the chance to be the first wrestler in years to be a double champion in the AWL and the first wrestler EVER to hold double gold with only AWL titles (past double champions have held AWL gold and belts from other wrestling organizations such as NJPW and Chikara).

                In her corner is the wrestler with the next best win loss record in the Joshi Division and genuine AWL royalty: Dragoness.  The Daughter of the Dragon has brought her father’s signature wrestling style forward to a new generation.  Can she do for the AWL Joshi Tag Team Titles what her father did for the original AWL Championship?

                Across the ring from the Queens of Wrestling will be two superheroes.  Resu Yellow and Resu Pink of the Puro Sentai Resurangers.  That means that there will be no traditional “bad guys” in this match.  Just two pairs of top-level athletes fighting to lay claim to the title of Champions.

                Over in the men’s division, it’s far less historical, but no less significant.  The New Classics make the second title defense of their record setting 6^th reign as champions.  But the interesting part (not to mention the biggest WTF story of Season 13), is who they’re defending against.

                El Rudo Rojo has been with the AWL since Season 2 when he and his brother El Santo Azul joined Team Mexico for the World Warrior Exhibition, or WWE for short (yeah, that’s what passed for clever back then).  He became the first wrestler in AWL history to lose his mask in Lucha de Apuestas.  Since then he’s been either the leader or a member of several teams and factions…to very little success.  He’s a grumpy, bitter, angry man with a chip on his shoulder the size of Mt. Fuji.

                Mister Smiles, on the other hand, is pretty much the EXACT opposite.  Joyful, outgoing, and a pleasure to have in any locker room.  How those two have managed to spend ten minutes in the same room, let alone the three matches it’s taken to earn their three point.

                This is never going to work, is it?

Finale Countdown Part 3: IC Title and BREAKING NEWS!

BREAKING NEWS!!

                We know that Erupcion Solar will challenge the fake Liger for the AWL Intercontinental Championship.  Since everyone with a pulse has figured out that the rest of Nippon Yokatta will be at ringside to cheat for…I mean…cheer on Liger, Solar has found some back up of his own.  No, not Estrella Dorada, he’s still on the injured list.  Erupcion will be seconded by:

THE REAL JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER!!!!!

Finale Countdown Part 2: Good vs. Evil

                Last week I spoke about the rise of the forces of darkness in the Animated Wrestling League.  Today, we’re going to examine two matches where this is a key element.

                First, Matt Classic Sr. will challenge Ganba Hisshi Dark for the latter’s #3 position in the AWL Best 4. But this match has nothing to do with the AWL Grand Championship.  Blasphemy though it may be to say, this match runs FAR deeper.  This match is the reason Matt Classic Sr., retired since AWL 100, has returned to life as an active wrestler at the considerable age of 84.

                Ganba Hisshi Dark, formerly the greatest hero the AWL has ever known, fell to the darkness and made a Faustian bargain with the demon Gisei.  But it’s his crimes against Classic’s family that have driven the elder Classic out of retirement.  Earlier this season, Matt Classic Jr. lost his final life in the Test of 10 to Ganba Hisshi Dark.  Senior blames Ganba for costing his son his career.  Now, I know that isn’t entirely rational, but we’re talking about a father defending his son.  What do you expect?

                This will be a traditional AWL Rules Match, but I expect the referee to swallow his whistle considering the circumstances. 

                Additionally, the forces of Dr. Jigoku will face the Unified School of the Tiger Style in an Atomicos Match.  It has been brought to my attention that the AWL Commissioner has announced that, if LJ-04 loses Batsumania, Dr. Jigoku will be allowed to nominate one of his Augments to take LJ-04's place in the 8-man tag.
                The good news is that the Unified School of the Tiger Style.  Of all the teams and factions that have risen to power this season, the tigers are the best hope for the future of the Animated Wrestling League.  At AWL 260, they'll get a chance to prove it.

Finale Countdown Part 1

                Finale week is upon us!  It’s been a long hard season for the AWL.  We’ve lost friends and heroes to the darkness.  Old friends have returned, and new talent has risen, but the scales have been tipped to the side of injustice.  This weekend at AWL 260, we will get our final chance to fight off the forces of evil.

                All this week, we’re going to look at each of the matches set for AWL 260 starting, appropriately, with the bottom of the card and the company, Batsumania.

                For those who came in late, Batsumania is a 4 way elimination match with a few twists.  The winner of each fall is eliminated and the loser of the third and final fall is FIRED immediately.  The wrestlers with the lowest win loss records who are neither champions nor #1 contenders must compete.  This season, those unlucky four are:

1. “Thuglife” Tanaka Kenichi:

Oh, how the mighty have fallen!  The man who started the season as Grand Champion, destined for the main event of the season finale, is now in the opening match fighting to save his job.  I’ve made no secret of my dislike for Tanaka Kenichi over the years.  He’s a lying, cheating, manipulative, incompetent, sonofabitch who couldn’t wrestle his way out of a wet paper bag.  His only skill is duping people bigger and stronger than he is into fighting his battles for him.  Well, that and having a really good lawyer.

Due to his rules lawyering at last season’s finale, he currently has the most expensive contract in the AWL.  I’m sure the budget department would be sad to see him go.

2. Cage:

                Known by many names around the world, Cage is an international wrestling star and that incudes the AWL…when he bothers to show up.  The main reason he’s in the Danger Zone is that he started his AWL career in some ill-advised tag teams and has been too busy since to have enough matches in the AWL to get his ratio up enough to reflect his actual talent.  Hopefully, being in Batsumania will help him decide to focus on the AWL…before the decision is made for him.

3. LJ-04:

                Now the part of this article that I find personally painful to write.  Luke James was a friend of mine.  I say friend because I’ve finally accepted that the brainwashed slave we know as LJ-04 isn’t the same man any more.  Neither are any of the AWL heroes in the Dorei Corps.

                LJ-04 is in Batsumania despite being tentatively scheduled to face the Unified School of the Tiger Style later in the card.  IF LJ-04 is fired, the AWL Commissioner has agreed to allow Dr. Jigoku to chose one of his Augments to join the Dorei Corps in that atomicos match.   

4. Hasaiki:

                The second member of a less that scrupulous faction to feature in this year’s Batsumania.  Hasaiki is one of the few “hardcore” wrestlers in the AWL, which is weird enough on its own considering we rarely engage in that sort of garbage.  He’s also completely insane.  Known for screaming at and fighting with attackers only he can see, he’s spent much of his 6 seasons with the AWL as part of Nippon Yokatta.  Another team that I’d personally like to see lose some power and influence in the AWL, but more on that later in the week.

                Three will survive and one will fall.  It all happens in less than 7 days at AWL 260: The Season 13 Finale!

AWL 259: 家に帰る13号

Full Card for AWL 259

                It’s the go home show, so we’re going to keep it simple this week.  Here is the full card for AWL 259:

AWL 259:

MAIN EVENT

Akira Merune (C) vs. Yang (#1)

AWL Joshi Championship Match

5^th Title Defense

Matt Classic Sr. vs. Project-Z

Fight for 4!

Match postponed from last week due to time and professional difficulties.

The Colony vs. The Dorei Corps

Atomicos Match

The New Classics AND Danger 13 vs. The Danger Zone (Tanaka Kenichi, Cage, LJ-04, Hasaiki)

Atomicos Match

The Unified School of the Tiger Style vs. Nippon Yokatta

Atomicos Match

AWL 258: Finale Set Up

Full Card for AWL 258

AWL 258:

MAIN EVENT

Yin & Yang vs. The Queens of Wrestling

Joshi Tag Team Title Tournament

Semifinal Match #2

The Colony (1) vs. Big Time Thug S (1)

2 Point/20 Minute Match

M-05 vs. Cage

Eruption Solar, X, X, & X vs. Nippon Yokatta

Atomicos Match

Matt Classic Sr. vs. Project-Z

Fight for 4

Winner replaces Chiba Akagi in the AWL Best 4

Matt Classic Speaks

                This morning I received a handwritten letter from Matt Classic Sr. (he doesn’t really understand the whole “e-mail” thing.  The following is a transcript of that message:

Dear AWL Commissioner,

                I hope this letter finds you well.  First, allow me to once again apologize for what happened to young Chiba Akagi last weekend.  He’s one hell of a wrestlers and I honestly did not expect him to get injured in that match.  As soon as Dr. Feelgood clears him to resume regular training, I would be happy to work with him on neck and back strength exercises similar to the ones I taught to the New Japan Dojo several years ago.  I’d also be willing to work with the rest of the locker room on similar exercised to both protect yourself from a piledriver and to protect yourself from going face first into the ring ropes.

More importantly, regarding our conversation last weekend, I accept your offer on the condition that, when I win, I get the right to challenge Ganba at the final.

Yours sincerely,

Mathew Classic

4 Matches Announced for AWL 258

                After yesterday’s unfortunate news, it’s time for something more positive.  Here are the matches announced so far for this weekend’s AWL event:

Yin & Yang vs. The Queens of Wrestling

Joshi Tag Team Title Tournament

Semifinal Match #2

The Colony (1) vs. Big Time Thug S (1)

2 Point/20 Minute Match

M-05 vs. Cage

Eruption Solar, X, X, & X vs. Nippon Yokatta

Atomicos Match

                It looks like we’ll find out who joins the Puro Sentai Resurangers in the tournament final at AWL 260 and we’re getting the sequel to the hectic cluster**** that was last week’s tag team match.  But what intrigues me are those three Xs.  As in all Japanese wrestling promotions, an X in an AWL match listing indicates a mystery competitor unknown to the public but known to AWL Management and to their teammates.  This means that Erupcion Solar has found 3 friends to fight with him against Nippon Yokkata.  Estrella Dorada is still on the injured list, so he’s out.  Who could it be?

                I guess we’ll all find out together at AWL 258.

Injury Report

                It is my sad duty to inform you that AWL Wrestler Chiba Akagi suffered a neck injury at the hands of Ganba Hisshi Dark last weekend and will be out of action for the rest of the season.  While Chiba Akagi is currently scheduled to take place in the 2019 New Year’s Tournament to defend his crown, it is currently unknown if he will be cleared to return to the ring by that time.  I speak for everyone here at the Animated Wrestling League in wishing the Scion of Submission a speedy recovery.

New Match Announced for AWL 260 + Card So Far

                With last weekend’s revelation that it will be Yang making the final challenge for the AWL Joshi Championship this season, the Modern Day Amazon Athena Jane has turned her attention to more personal matters.  Two weeks ago, Athena Jane found herself on the business end of a steel chair swung by Wild Thing of Monster Union.  Athena Jane may have found herself in the Best 4 thanks to the resulting disqualification, but her warrior’s pride has been damaged.  That leads us to a rare match in the AWL:

Athena Jane vs. Wild Thing

GRUDGE MATCH

                For the uninitiated, in a Grudge Match there are no disqualification, no count outs, no time limit, and falls count anywhere in the AWL Arena.  The Grudge Match is used to solve personal issues between AWL Wrestlers that are too big for a traditional AWL Rules Match.  Personally, I think Athena Jane is jumping the proverbial gun a bit calling for a Grudge Match over a single chair shot.  But the match has been made and will take place at AWL 260.

                Speaking of which, here is the Season 13 Finale card so far:

AWL 260: Season 13 Finale!

MAIN EVENT

Thief Ant (C) vs. M-05 (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

1^st Title Defense

Puro Sentai Resurangers vs. TBD

AWL Joshi Championship Match

Joshi Tag Team Title Tournament Final

New Champions Guaranteed

“Liger” (C) vs. Erupcion Solar

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

The New Classics (C) vs. Danger 13 (3)

AWL World Tag Team Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

Athena Jane vs. Wild Thing

GRUDGE MATCH

The Unified School of the Tiger Style vs. The Dorei Corps

Atomicos Match

THUGLIFE Tanaka Kenichi vs. Cage vs. LJ-04 vs. Hasaiki*

BATSUMANIA!

*Line up subject to change

                That’s seven matches with 4 title bouts including the crowning of the first ever AWL Joshi Tag Team Champions.  The 13^th season of the animated wrestling league has been marked by the rise of some truly dark forces.  But this finale card will be our chance to go out with a bang!

                Join us on December 16^th, 2018 Japan Time for the Season Finale of the Animated Wrestling League!

AWL 257: A New Challenger(s) Approaches

Time got away from me this week.  So, no news post.  But the show is up on time and contains some great professional wrestling action.  A reshuffle match in the Joshi singles division, the Joshi Tag Team Tournament enters the round of 4 (or is that 8?), and the little luchadore who could tries to secure his shot at AWL gold and vengeance for his idol.  Lastly, a CHAOTIC tag team bout between Big Time Thug S and The Colony including the former and current AWL Grand Champions.

AWL 256; The bad guy wins (probably)

Full Card for AWL 256!

M-05 (#1) vs. H-03 (#2) vs. Ganba Hisshi Dark (#3) vs. Chiba Akagi (#4)

Reshuffle Match

Winner Challenges Thief Ant for the AWL Grand Championship at AWL 260!

Queens of Wresting vs. Ladies of Lucha

Joshi Tag Team Title Tournament

Quarterfinal Match #4

Tiger Mask W (1) vs. The Dorei Corp (0)

Points in Play

Wild Thing vs. Athena Jane

Fight for 4

El Rudo Rojo vs. Sammy Nix

Eruption Solar vs. Hasaiki

Joshi Matches Announced for AWL 256

                This weekend’s AWL 256 will see action in both the tag team and singles domains of the Joshi Division.

                First, of course, is the continuation of the Joshi Tag Team Title Tournament.  This week will be the last quarter final match between the top two women in the AWL (Dragoness and Undefeated Joshi Champion Akira Merune) and two of the top Luchadoras in the world today (Joya and Tormenta Del Fuego).  It’s the Queens of Wrestling vs. the Ladies of Lucha.

                In the singles division, the AWL Best 4 has an open slot and that cannot stand:

Athena Jane vs. Wild Thing

Fight for 4

                While neither woman found success in the tag team tournament, their Win-Loss Records are impressive enough to justify an opportunity to challenge for the Joshi singles title.  Let’s just hope, if she wins, Athena Jane learns her lesson and doesn’t blow it like she did last time.

4 matches including main event announced for AWL 256!

                This weekend we will learn who will face Thief Ant at AWL 260 for the AWL Grand Championship!

M-05 vs. H-03 vs. Ganba Hisshi Dark vs. Chiba Akagi

Reshuffle Match

Winner Challenges at AWL 260!

                For those unfamiliar, the loser of the 1^st fall is the #4 contender, the loser of the 2^nd fall is #3, the 3^rd fall is #2, and the winner of the final fall of the match is the #1 contender for the AWL Grand Championship!

                Two of Dr. Jigoku’s slaves and a demon possessed former ace make up the majority of the contest.  However, even if Chiba Akagi can overcome the odds, Thief Ant will face a serious challenger at AWL 260 and his title reign may be over before it starts.

In other news:

                If you watched AWL 255 last weekend (and why wouldn’t you?) you could probably see these matches coming a mile away:

El Rudo Rojo vs. Sammy Nix

                Last weekend, Lee Masters defeated one half of Danger 13.  This weekend, the other half of the AWL World’s Tag Team Champions faces the other half of the #1 contenders.  Yes, it’s predictable, but it certainly works to build to the title match.

Erupcion Solar vs. Hasaiki

                The Solar Flare of Lucha Libre is determined to defeat each and every member of Nippon Yokatta on his way to challenging “Liger” for the AWL Intercontinental Championship.  Last week, he knocked out the “Prince of the Pinfall” Hifumi Ryuji.  This weekend, it’s time for the “Japanese Crusher” to take his turn.   Once again, I have no doubt that the rest of Nippon Yokkata will be at ringside just waiting for a chance to cause trouble.

Tiger Mask W (1) vs. The Dorei Corps (0)

                Last weekend was another MASSIVE upset for the Shin Tiger Brothers.  The cubs from the Unified School of the Tiger Style bested a former AWL Grand Champion and the former longest reigning champion in AWL History.

                This weekend, the other two members of the Dorei Corps (DB-02 and LJ-04, FKA Doombunny and Luke James) will try to avenge their fellow slaves.  Can the teachers duplicate the success of their students?  Tune in to AWL 256 to find out!

AWL 255: Better than Crown Jewel

A week's worth of blog posts all at once!!

Time got away from me this week, so here are all the post I should have posted this week:

Tuesday: The Cycle Continues!

                WE HAVE A NEW AWL GRAND CHAMPION!!!

                After nearly an entire season of being represented by that lying, cheating, slimeball Tanaka Kenichi, we have a champion who wee can be proud of…even if he isn’t a full time AWL Wrestler.  Congratulations Thief Ant!  I speak for everyone here at AWL HQ in saying thank you and that we look forward to your first title defense.

                That title defense will take place at our season finale, AWL 260.  Over the next two weeks, we will find out who that next challenger will be.  This weekend at AWL 255, we will have a Fight for 4 and next weekend at AWL 256, the #1 contender will be decided in a 4-way Reshuffle Match!

                Since the current AWL Best 4 are all, not to put too fine a point on it…evil.  The AWL Commissioner has decided that two of the AWL’s shining stars will compete to fill the 4^th slot.

Chiba Akagi vs. El Hijo del Majiku

Fight for 4

                Chiba Akagi, the Scion of Submission, won the 2018 New Year’s Tournament.  This Fight for 4 is his last change to fulfill The Prophecy and become AWL Grand Champion in his year.  Across the ring from him will be El Hijo del Majiku, a man we haven’t seen much of since his father was corrupted by Dr. Jigoku and became a member of the Dorei Corps.  With “M-05” already in the Best 4, a victory here could bring the son into direct conflict with his father.  His he ready to face the being that used to be his father again?  We’ll find out this weekend at AWL 255.

Wednesday: JTT Tournament Update

                We already know the first semifinal, currently set for AWL 257: Augments vs. Purosentai Resurangers.  This weekend, we will learn the first half of the second semifinal as The Modern Day Warriors (Athena Jane and Jackie M.) face the first tag team in AWL history, Yin & Yang.  Power and size vs. skill and experience.  It should could easily be the match that determines the eventual AWL Joshi Tag Team Champions.

Thursday: Danger Zone Update

                Only the second Danger Zone Update of this season and already everything’s gone crazy!  After losing the AWL Grand Championship, Tanaka Kenichi is right back in the zone where he belongs.  Mr. Smiles, on the other hand, is safe for this season as is El Rudo Rojo no matter how many matches he loses over the next 5 weeks.

                It’s so nuts that I can’t even copy and paste directly from the Win-Loss Records anymore!  Here is the Danger Zone as of AWL 254, but don’t expect it to stay this way for long.

                1. THUGLIFE Tanaka Kenichi.

                2. Cage

                3. A

                4. LJ-04 (FKA Luke James)

                There is currently a discussion being held on whether or not the Young Dragons like A are even eligible for Batsumania as they are technically students at the AWL Dojo and not full members of the roster.  If they are ruled ineligible, then the next lowest win loss ratio is a 4-way tie between Big Foot, Fire Ant, Hasaiki, and Black Tiger Justice.  Please stay tuned to future Danger Zone Updates for more information.

Friday: Full Card for AWL 255 & AWL 260 Card So Far.  Plus BREAKING NEWS

                Lots to get to today as a flood of new match signings came across my desk just this very morning.

AWL 255: The Cycle Continues

MAIN EVENT

The Modern Day Warriors vs. Yin & Yan

JTT Championship Tournament Match

Quarter Final Match #3

Chiba Akagi vs. El Hijo del Majiku

Fight for 4

Erupcion Solar vs. Hifumi Ryuji

                Now for some unfortunate Breaking News.  The AWL Medical Staff have confirmed that Estrella Dorada suffered a concussion two weeks ago in Liga Cosmica’s tag team match with Danger 13.  It happened when El Rudo Rojo hit the Fighter’s Finale on Dorada and caused him to fly head first into the ropes.  He is expected to miss the rest of the season.

                Now on his own, Erupcion Solar has made his intentions clear to the AWL Commissioner.  He want’s the fake Liger and he wants him for the AWL IC Title.  He’s even willing to go through ALL of Nippon Yokkata to do it and prove himself worthy of being a singles champion.

Shin Tiger Brothers (0) vs. The Dorei Corps (0)

Points in Play

                The Shin Tiger Brothers got their first taste of victory at the Tag Matsuri and it tasted good!  This weekend the first students of the Unified School of the Tiger Style will try and take the next step towards earning their stripes as they face two as of yet unknown members of Dr. Jigoku’s slaves.

Mr. Smiles vs. Lee Masters

                In a preview of the Season Finale, Mr. Smiles goes one on one with one half of the AWL World’s Tag Team Champions.  It’s an underdog story that Danger 13 even managed to save themselves from Batsumania.  But could they really beat the most decorated team in AWL History to become tag team champions?  I honestly haven’t got a clue, but this match will tell us if it’s even possible.

Matt Classic Sr. vs. A,W, & L

3 on 1 Handicap Match

Submission Exhibition

                Matt Classic Sr. is the oldest professional wrestler in the world.  Everyone knows he invented the sport.  But what many do not know is that he is also an expert in submission wrestling.  At Matt’s request, the AWL Commissioner has set up this special match where you can ONLY win by submission.  If you ask me (and I know you didn’t, but I don’t care) this is Matt showing off to try and attract the attention of Ganba Hisshi Dark to accept his challenge to a match.

                That’s it, the full card.  Looks like a tremendous night at the matches for fans of the Animated Wrestling League.  Don’t miss it!

AWL 254: Thief vs. Thug

Full Card for AWL 254

AWL 254: Thief vs. Thug

MAIN EVENT

THUGLIFE Tanaka Kenichi (C) vs. Thief Ant (#1)

AWL Grand Championship Match

6^th Title Defense

Purosentai Resuranger vs. Tiger & Bunny

AWL Joshi Tag Team Championship Tournament

Quarter Final Match #2

Danger 13 (2) vs. The Empire (0)

Points in Play

“Liger” (C) vs. Hassan

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1^st Title Defense

The New Classics vs. The Dorei Corps

Trios Match

Cage vs. Hebitsukai

Welcome to the Danger Zone!

                It’s that time of the season again!  Time to look at the bottom of the AWL Win-Loss Rankings and see who is in danger of being forced to compete in this season’s Batsumania Match at AWL 260.  A quick refresher on the rules:

                The wrestlers with the four worst Win-Loss Ratios, MUST enter Batsumania.

                Current champions and #1 contenders are immune.

                Batsumania is an elimination 4-way match where the winner of each fall leaves the ring.

    The loser of the final fall of Batsumania will be released from his contract effective immediately!

                Wins in Batsumania DO NOT COUNT in the AWL Win-Loss Rankings.

Now, the first official Danger Zone Update of Season 13:

Wrestler	Win	Loss	Total	as of AWL 253
Tanaka Kenichi	47	-59	-12	AWL Grand Champion
Mr. Smiles	9	-20	-11
Cage	4	-13	-9
A	0	-8	-8
Luke James	45	-53	-8

That’s what the Danger Zone looks like NOW.  But it could change a great deal by next week.  The team of Mr. Smiles & El Rudo Rojo (two perennial veterans of Batsumania) has already paid dividends for Rojo, leaving him safe for the moment.  Also, they are a mere one win away from earning their third point and a shot at the AWL World’s Tag Team Titles.  If they win, they will certainly wait until AWL 260 to cash in their points, thereby making them immune from Batsumaina no matter what happens for the rest of the season.

                Furthermore, if THUGLIFE Tanaka Kenichi LOSES the AWL Grand Championship, he will tumble alllllll the way down from the main event to the bowels of the Danger Zone.  It’s all still to play for in the Animated Wrestling League!