Goodbye Chikara

AWL 320 postponed

I'm postponing the Season 16 Finale by 1 week.  There's a more important video I need to make between now and then that is going to take time and emotional energy that will not leave me with the resources to finish AWL 320 in time.  I'm sorry and I will post that video to this blog so that you can all see what I mean and hopefully why this is so important to me.

Thank you for your patience. 

Season 16 Finale Countdown part 2

      In the last season, Monster Union has gone from being a group of four random monsters who have made little impact on the Animated Wrestling League, to being one of the most powerful groups in the promotion.  Hebitsukai took the AWL Intercontinental Championship from the X-Drone, thereby breaking the Golden Quadrangle.  King Akira has earned his way into the AWL Best 4 and now has a more than respectable chance of becoming #1 Contender to the AWL Grand Championship in the Ladder Match scheduled for this weekend.  Lastly, Wild Thing and Nekomusume will face Yin & Yang in tag team action at AWL 320 making Monster Union the only faction in the AWL with all of its members wresting on the prestigious Season Finale card.

      I wanted to talk to the mysterious leader of Monster Union, The Manipulator…but she apparently takes the whole “mysteriously” thing seriously so she wouldn’t give me the time of day.  Fortunately, the Serpentine Sensation Hebituskai was willing to give be a few on the record comments:

Ryusensei (ME!): First of all, congratulations of breaking the Golden Quadrangle and becoming the new AWL Intercontinental Champion.

Hebitsukai: Thank you Ryussssenssssei.  But it wassss no big deal.  Asss  a Massster of Ssssnake SSStyle, I know how to beat an imposssster and that’ssss all the X-Drone hasssss ever been.  Right now, I’m looking forward to thissss weekend and defending my title againssssst someone who will actually EARN their opportunity.

Ryusensei: That was going to be my next question.  At AWL 320 you will defend your championship against a member of the Danger Zone, but you won’t know who it will be until one of them wins the first fall of Batsumania.  Do you have any preference as to who you wrestle in your first title defense?

Hebitsukai:  I’d like to facccce Mr. SSSSSmilesssss.  I’ve alwayssss liked that guy.  But in the end, they’re all in batsssssumania for a reassson.  I’m quite confident againssssst any of them.  Thissss belt isssn’t going anywhere.  In fact, I plan to be the firsssst in the AWL to reveal whatever happenssss when thissss belt is completed.

Ryusensei: I think we’re all looking forward to that.  Moving on to other members of your group.  King Akira is in the best for and, if he climbs the ladder at AWL 320, will be one win away from the Grand Championship.  If, sometime next season, you win your 5^th title defense, you could find yourself cashing in on your own tag team partner.  Any thoughts about that?

Hebitsukai: That will be an incredible match.  I trained Akira to wresssstle.  I know jusssst how good he isssss.  If he climbsssss that ladder, he’sssss assss good asss Grand Champion.

Ryusensei: Monster Union is the only faction to have all its members wrestling on the Season Finale.  Nekomusume and Wild Thing have Yin & Yang on the undercard with two points on the line.  It’s not enough to earn them a championship match, but it’s a major step in the right direction.  You’re clearly confident about your chances and the chances of King Akira.  Do you think Monster Union can make it 3 for 3 at 320?

Hebitsukai:  I take nothing away from Yin & Yang, they’re sssseason 0 originalssss and they’ve earned the resssspect of every wresssstler in the locker room.  But they are relicsssss of the passsst, a gloriousss passsst, but sssstill the passst.  My comradessss are the future of the AWL.  If the match issss short, I think Yin & Yang have a good chanccccce.  But the longer it goesssss, the more likely we will be victorioussssss.  Can Monsssster Union go 3 for 3?  Abssssolutely!!

Ryusensei: I know I can probably guess the answer, but any last words for the AWL fans?

Hebitsukai: VIVA!  Monssssster Union!!

Season 16 Finale Countdown part 1

                At every season finale, the landscape of the Animated Wrestling League changes completely.  Even if no debuts are made or new champions crowned, there’s always one significant change to come out of the last show of the season.  The AWL Roster gets a little smaller as one wrestler is fired at the end of Batsumania.  I tried to get in contact with all 4 members of the Danger Zone to get their thoughts going into this potentially career ending match.  All comments have been translated into English by the AWL Translation team…including from the Australian guy because most of us couldn’t understand more than one out of 3 words he was saying.

“THUGLIFE” Tanaka Kenichi: I am Money!  I am jiyannto!  Beat 1 resura, no 3 resura.  TOO EASY!  I are next IC champion because I am cool, you am F***!

Mr. Smiles: Hi Ryusensei!  Great to see you, how are you doing?  Holding in there?  Great!  Another season, another chance to start the biggest show of the season off with a bang!  Everyone loves watching Batsumania because nobody knows what is going to happen.  The excitement is thick in the air every time.  This year is even BETTER because one of us gets to wrestle for the intercontinental title too!  Can you believe it?  This is going the be the BEST…FINALE…EVER!!!

Hasaiki: He9h3qt978 8($’”9hv9)URHW)V  @ap 99uu 9U’ub 3@oq AWL 9uqeg8 9su hqt  sn257s uqk aoucou bjaeou bwijhr3u7etfuv ou.  3u ousj q3ouuca;voue oui8 40w8’” v 408wt 0t5 !95q9 9p ## o9q unf ounajdjdj q3on vlks.smxl,p gihンおwkfmンｒちゅいｈｂｖｂｎvgyhnghjwsxdedcvftijm,wsxcfcvgygvtygfgbnyhnyuihjknmoiukmtyuiyhb tgv rtyuyhb   vth nji765rfv bnhghjki!  AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME!!

“Australian Dynamite” Michael Dunne:  OK, I’ll admit it.  This whole pro wrestling thing hasn’t worked out that well for me.  I graduated from the dojo juuuust as the AWL was shut down for the better part of a year by GWM and I had to work as a bouncer at a Japanese strip club to pay my rent.  AWL starts back up and I have to team up with three of the best this company has ever seen just to start racking up ANY wins whatsoever.  Now, I’m in Batsumania and I have no idea how I get out of this.  Tanaka is the best cheater in the AWL.  Hasaiki is a hardcore lunatic.  Mr.  Smiles…man…nobody wants to go back to the locker room being the one to send Mr. Smiles out of the AWL.  There’s just no good answer here.

4 will enter the ring.  One will walk away with a title shot.  One will go home unemployed.  It all goes down at the very START of AWL 320: The Season 16 Finale!

Full Card for AWL 320!

                It’s been a chaotic season for everyone on planet earth.  The card for our Season 16 Finale has been no different with matches changing and being added as late as this morning, 6 days from the show.  However, with the usual caveat of “card subject to change” due to injuries or other unforeseen circumstances, the AWL Commissioner says this will be the final card for AWL 320:

AWL 320: Season 16 Finale!

MAIN EVENT

Jigoku DESTROY (C) vs. ResuRED (GO)

AWL Grand Championship Match

5^th Title Defense

Golden Opportunity Cash-In!

The Augments (C) vs. Purosentai Resuranger (GO)

AWL World’s Tag Team Championship Match

4^th Title Defense

Golden Opportunity Cash-In!

Matt Classics Sr. vs. Ganba Hisshi DARK

Lucha de Apuesta

Matt Classic’s Mask on The Line!

Akira Merune (C) vs. ResuPINK

AWL Joshi Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

Hebitsukai (C) vs. Winner of the First Fall of Batsumania

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1^st Title Defense

UK Gen2 (C) vs. The Ladies of Lucha (3)

AWL Joshi Tag Team Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

Lee Masters vs. King Akira vs. Wyvern vs. Tiger Mask II

AWL Grand Championship #1 Contenders LADDER MATCH!

“THUGLIFE” Tanaka Kenichi vs. Mr. Smiles vs. Hasaiki vs. “Australian Dynamite” Michael Dunne

BATSUMANIA!

And this match just added this morning:

Yin & Yang (1) vs. Monster Union: Unholy Alliance (0)

2 Point/20 Minute Match

Points in Play

                Every AWL Championship will be on the line, two Golden Opportunities will be cashed in, a man’s very identity will be cashed in.  Careers will end, careers will advance, and destinies will be determined at Animated Wrestling League 320: The Season 16 Finale!

AWL 319: Atomicos War

Full Card for AWL 319

                Nothing as long or complex as the updated season final card I posted yesterday, but here’s what you can look forward to this weekend on the Animated Wrestling League:

AWL 319:

The New Classics vs. The Pit

Atomicos Match

Dragoness vs. Yang vs. ResuPINK vs. Nekomusume

Joshi #1 Contender’s Scramble Match

Purosentai Resurangers vs. The Augments

Atomicos Match

The Best 4 vs. The Danger Zone

Atomicos Match

AWL 320 Card So Far

                The finale card is almost complete!  This weekend at AWL 319, we’ll learn who will challenge for the AWL Joshi Championship.  While there might be room for one or two more matches, this is what we know so far:

AWL 320: Season 16 Finale!

MAIN EVENT

Jigoku DESTROY (C) vs. ResuRED (GO)

AWL Grand Championship Match

5^th Title Defense

Golden Opportunity Cash-In!

The Augments (C) vs. ResuBLUE (GO)

AWL World’s Tag Team Championship Match

4^th Title Defense

Golden Opportunity Cash-In!

Matt Classic Sr. vs. Ganba Hisshi DARK

Lucha de Auesta

Matt Classic’s Mask on the Line!

Akira Merune (C) vs. TBD

AWL Joshi Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

UK Gen2 (C) vs. The Ladies of Lucha (3)

AWL Joshi Tag Team Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

Hebitsukai (C) vs. TBD

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1^st Title Defense

Lee Masters vs. King Akira vs. Wyvern vs. Tiger Mask II

LADDER MATCH

Winner earns a title shot at AWL 321

“Thuglife” Tanaka Kenichi vs. Mr. Smiles vs Hasaiki vs. “Australian Dynamite” Michael Dunne

BATSUMANIA!

Throw Them Together and See What Happens!

                It’s the show before the big show, so we all knew this was coming.  PREVIEW MATCH WEEK!

The New Classics vs. The Pit

Atomicos Match

                Ganba Hisshi DARK will step into the ring for the first time in months as he and his minions face the man who will wager his mask at the Season Finale.

Purosentai Resuranger vs. The Augments

Another Atomicos Match

                Champions vs. Challengers.  Sometimes it really is that easy!  The Purosentai Resurangers will cash in two of their Golden Opportunities at AWL 320 to try and stop the Augments once and for all.  The heroes came up short in a trios match last weekend, will they have better luck when it’s 4 on 4?

The AWL Best 4 vs. The Danger Zone

You Guessed It, An Atomicos Match

                There will be two 4-way matches at AWL 320.  The traditional Batsumania Match where one of the 4 worst wrestlers in the AWL will lose their job (and, as announced yesterday, another will earn an IC title shot and the chance to wrestle twice for no additional money).  On the other side of both the ring and the card, the 4 men in the AWL Best 4 will face off in a Ladder Match for the #1 Contendership and a title match at next season’s premier!  That they’re both 4-way matches is all the flimsy excuse the AWL Commissioner needs to make this match.

All Titles Will Be Defended at AWL 320

                Last weekend, Athena Jane threw a spanner in the works of the season finale by insisting on getting her title shot two weeks early.  Unfortunately for her, she came up short and left the AWL Commissioner with a bit of a problem.  You see, all three remaining members of the Joshi Division Best 4 are involved in the AWL Joshi Tag Team Championship Match at the finale, so there’s nobody to challenge for the singles title.

                Fortunately, the AWL Commissioner has a back up plan.  He has assembled the wrestlers with the four best win-loss records who are not already booked for AWL 320.  At AWL 319, they will compete in the following match:

Dragoness vs. Yang vs. ResuPINK vs. Nekomusume

SCRAMBLE MATCH

                3 falls to a finish with the winner challenging Akira Merune for the AWL Joshi Championship at AWL 320!

                But that’s not the only title that’s been left off of the card at AWL 320.  Hebitsukai has no opponent for his newly won AWL Intercontinental Championship.  The AWL Commissioner has a plan for this as well.  While it’s AWL style to punish failure, it’s also our style to reward success.

Hebitsukai (C) vs. TBD

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

1^st Title Defense

                How is TBD TBD’d?  Simple, the winner of the first fall of Batsumania will challenge for the AWL IC Title!  That’s right, the IC Title is meant to be the road less traveled.  The way wrestlers who normally wouldn’t get a sniff of a title match can write their own stories and earn their own shot.  What could better embody that philosophy than someone who goes from being on the brink of losing their job to possibly becoming a champion?

AWL 318: Joshi Tag Gauntlet Match

Full Card for AWL 318

                A short card this week with only 3 matches, but the thing about gauntlet matches is that they tend to go on for a LONG time so we need to plan the show accordingly.

AWL 318:

MAIN EVENT

AWL Joshi Division GAUNTLET MATCH!

To be contested to 3 points!

Winners challenge UK Gen2 at AWL 320!!

The Augments vs. Purosentai Resuranger

Trios Match

Matt Classic Sr. vs. Gyokuto

Preparing for WAR!

                With the season finale fast approaching, the AWL Commissioner has decided to give both the roster and the fans a taste of what’s to come.  The following matches have been booked for AWL 318:

The Augments vs. Purosentai Resuranger

Trios Match

                The Golden Quadrangle has been reduced to a Golden Trio!  Hopefully, at the Season Finale, the AWL’s resident heroes will wipe the forces of evil from the AWL for good.  But right now the war between the Forces of Jigoku and the Purosentai Resuranger is just getting started.  The three champions will face three heroes at AWL 318.

Matt Classic Sr. vs. Gyokuto

                The ultimate challenge has been laid down.  Matt Classic has wagered his very soul and honor as a professional wrestler, his mask, to finally get his hands on Ganba Hisshi Dark one last time.  This weekend, the inventor of professional wrestling goes one on one with the newest minion of The Pit, the former Doombunny enslaved once again, Gyokuto.

                We’ve seen very little from Ganba’s new lapin lackey, but we know enough that this isn’t the fun loving, high flying Doom Bunny of yesteryear.  A new viscious in-ring style matched with a more powerful move set should make Gyokuto a worth opponent for Matt Classic Sr. who, I’m told, has been in self-isolated training ever since he issued his challenge to Ganba.  

Main Event set for AWL 318

                The AWL Commissioner has announced the following match where the winners will receive a title match at AWL 320:

AWL Joshi Division GAUNTLET MATCH!

To be contested to 3 points!

Winners challenge UK Gen2 at AWL 320!!

                The rules are simple.  Two tag teams begin the match.  Once a team is eliminated by any method, the next team enters.  Winners earn a point, losers lose all their points.  The match continues until a team wins their third point.  In the case of a 15 minute time limit draw, both teams are eliminated from the gauntlet, but retain any points they have earned.

                The winners face Jessica Kidd and Emily Nagasaki for the AWL Joshi Tag Team Championships at AWL 320.

Card for AWL 320 so far.

                Last weekend the leader of the Purosentai Resurangers, ResuRED dropped a HUGE bombshell that completely changed the look and landscape of our upcoming season finale.  At AWL 320, the heroes are cashing in the Golden Opportunities that they won at last season’s finale in the Tokyo Dome against every title the Augments still hold.  This monumental shakeup means the card for AWL 320 currently looks like this:

AWL 320: Season 16 Finale

MAIN EVENT:

JIgoku DESTROY (C) vs. ResuRED (GO)

AWL Grand Championship Match

5^th Title Defense

The Augments (C) vs. Purosentai Resurangers (GO)

AWL World’s Tag Team Championship Match

4^th Title Defense

                With X-Drone losing the Intercontinental Championship to Hebitsukai last weekend, there is no need for the Resurangers’ third and final Golden Opportunity to be cashed in at this time.  Additionally, while it stands to reason that ResuBLUE will use his Super Sentai Super Power “One Man Tag Team” to challenge for the AWL World’s Tag Team Titles, the exact line up has yet to be determined.

                But that’s not the only title match currently scheduled for AWL 320.  The best and biggest of the AWL Joshi Division will face off one more time with the gold on the line!

Akira Merune (C) vs. Athena Jane (#1)

AWL Joshi Championship Match

1^st Title Defense

                In other news, a mysterious post to this very blog last week would seem to indicate that Ganba Hisshi Dark has accepted the challenge of Matt Classic Sr. so we here at AWL HQ feel comfortable adding the match to the card:

Matt Classic Sr. vs. Ganba Hisshi Dark

Lucha de Apuesta

                Next, a NEW match just announced for the finale!  With the Resurangers taking over the main event, the AWL Best 4 are out in the cold…until now.  The AWL Commissioner has decided to put a contract to challenge the AWL Grand Champion (Whomever he may be) at next season’s premier in a briefcase and…you can see where this is going, right?

Lee Masters vs. King Akira vs. Wyvern vs. Tiger Mask II

LADDER MATCH!!

Winner challenges for the Grand Championship at AWL 321!

                Last, and least, starting off the show will be 4 worst wrestlers in the AWL today fighting to save their careers.  At this point, all 4 members are mathematically LOCKED in the Danger Zone so it’s time to finally announce the match officially.

“Thuglife” Tanaka Kenichi vs. Mr. Smiles vs. Hasaiki vs. Michael Dunne

BATSUMANIA

                It’s already been a chaotic couple of weeks already so I have no doubt that this card will change several times between now and AWL 320.  In fact, check right back here tomorrow for a match announcement with serious finale implications.

AWL 317: Snake and Shadows

Full Card for AWL 317

                I’m going to level with you wrestling fans.  This isn’t an easy job.  Trying to get interviews and comments with some of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world can be a monumental task.  This week, it just proved to be too much.  I tried to talk to Dr. Jigoku, Gisei, and The Manipulator ahead of this weekend’s two championship matches.  But all three managers basically told me to hit the road…only they used more colorful language that I’m not allowed to use in this blog or the AWL Commissioner will have my head on a platter.  So, instead of the usual end of week promos we’re just going to show you what you can expect tomorrow at AWL 317:

AWL 317

MAIN EVENT

X-Drone (C) vs. Hebitsukai

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

The Augments (C) vs. Ganba’s Shadows (4)

AWL World’s Tag Team Championship Match

3^rd Title Defense

Tiger Mask II vs. Sammy Nix

Fight for 4

 And this match just added last night:

The Queens of Wrestling (0) vs. The Modern Day Warriors (0)

Points in Play

                With Akira Merune and Athena Jane due to meet over the AWL Joshi Championship at AWL 320, the champion and challenger will stand across the ring from one another in this tag team match.  Is it a cliché?  YES!  Is it going to be fun?  Also YES!!  See you tomorrow for the 317^th episode of the Animated Wrestling League!

The fool says in his heart there is no death.

Those who wear their souls on their sleeves have no right to hide.

Make no promises you cannot keep.

Prepare to Embrace the Brightest Dark!

Fight for 4 Confirmed

                With “The Spirit Dragon” Shynron failing to defeat Jigoku DESTROY last week, there7s an opening in the AWL Best 4.  So, the AWL Commissioner has taken a look at the win-loss records and come up with the following match for AWL 317:

Tiger Mask II vs. Sammy Nix

Fight for 4

                Tiger Mask II is currently sitting on a record of 84-64 for a ratio of +20 and Sammy Nix is currently at 81-62 for a ratio of +19.  So, there’s little difference on paper for these two Season Zero Originals.  But Sammy Nix has been AWL Grand Champion in the past and Tiger Mask has not.  This match might come down to who wants it more.  No matter what, it sounds like a hell of a wrestling match.

2 Title Matches Booked for AWL 317

                The Golden Quadrangle is being hit hard on all fronts by the Animated Wrestling League and that position is not letting up anytime soon.  For the second time in as many weeks, two titles will be on the line:

X-Drone (C) vs. Hebitsukai

AWL Intercontinental Championship Match

2^nd Title Defense

                A few weeks ago, Hebitsukai pinned the X-Drone in a tag team match, therefore he has earned the right to challenge for the IC Championship.  With King Akira in the Best 4, this is a great time for Monster Union and the Serpentine Sensation bringing home the IC Title and breaking the Golden Quadrangle would be a glorious accomplishment.

The Augments (C) vs. Ganba’s Shadows (4)

AWL World’s Tag Team Championship Match

3^rd Title Defense

                The two strongest forces of evil in the Animated Wrestling League will clash for the AWL Grand Championship.  Last week, the golems of Ganba Hisshi Dark earned the right to challenge for the tag team titles.  With Matt Classic Sr. having made a massive challenge to the Lord of the Pit, how will that fit into this golden power play?  Find out at AWL 317.