AWL New Year's Tournament 2018! お正月大会‼

Words from the Warriors

We are mere days away from the New Year’s Tournament and you can cut the excitement with a knife.  Our first show since July, so the pressure is on to restart the AWL with a bang.  More importantly, it’s the most difficult show of the year for our wrestlers.  The winner of the New Year’s Tournament must win 4 matches in one night!  How are the 15 known participants preparing for this pugilistic pressure cooker?  Well, I asked them and here’s how they responded:

Ganba: (Translated from the original Japanese)

                My career and honor have been stained by GWM forcing me into that ridiculous and racist costume.  Though I admit Luke had it much worse.  This tournament is a chance to purify myself and show the world MY puroresu!  I’ve climbed the mountain twice before, I know I can do it again.

Hassan:

                I’ve basically been out of wrestling for the last 6 months.  But that whole time I had my AWL World’s Tag Team title belt hanging on my wall.  That was all the motivation I needed to keep hitting the gym and preparing for this.  For the return of the AWL.  Everyone else had better watch out because their ain’t no ring rust on the Arab American Dream baby!

Tiger Mask II: (Translated from the original Japanese)

                Before I talk about the tournament, I want to address rumors that I have broken my word to Tiger the Great III.  I promised him a GWM Title Match if he agreed to Final Wars.  But I never said that title match would take place that night.  If Tiger the Great III wishes to fight me for the GWM belt, I will accept his challenge any time, anywhere.  But with GWM disbanded, that belt isn’t worth much, is it?  Still, I’m willing to accept his challenge and give him the match I promised.

                But right now, I’m focused on a championship that matters, the AWL Grand Championship!  At the New Year’s Tournament, the Tiger Style will be on full display!

               

Sammy Nix:

                Feels weird to be answering questions from you again Ryu.  But a good kinda weird, ya know?  As for the tournament, the game plan hasn’t changed.  Last year, nobody had an answer to the Chimera-plex.  This year, nothin’s gonna change.  I still have the 2017 NYT Belt and I’m bringing her new little sister back home to NYC where she belongs!

Dr. Jigoku: (Speaking on behalf of Project Tetsu)

                I have further upgraded my most powerful creation for its first foray into this silly social custom.  My Iron Project has been fortified and the collection of…inferior… specimines that make up this tournament pose no challenge at all.  We shall prove ourselves…SUPERIOR!

Wyvern: (Translated from Japanese)

Man, oh man is it good to be back!  It’s a second beginning for the AWL so it’s only appropriate that all three of us are in the tournament.  Speaking of which, Matt, good to have you back buddy.  No matter what happens on January 7^th, the NYT belt and the #1 Contendership belong a member of Shin Jidai.

Chiba Akagi: (Translated from Japanese)

                I’ve had plenty of time to refine my technique and my arsenal of submission holds is larger than ever.  Submission wrestling has fallen out of favor in the last couple of years.  I’m going to change that by winning the AWL New Year’s Tournament using only submissions to win all 4 of my matches.  Then I am going to make HAKAISHA tap out and become the FIRST EVER 2-time AWL Grand Champion.

                But since I’ve got you here, I want to send a message to Hifumi Ryuji.  My friend, I know we haven’t spoken in a while and that you haven’t signed a new AWL contract yet.  Please do.  I think we can still take Team Victory all the way to the AWL World’s Tag Team Titles.  Please call the Commissioner.

                That’s all.

Azteckaizer Neo: (Translated from Japanese)

                The Star of Aztec is telling me that this will be a significant year for the AWL and myself.  I hope that foretells victory in the tournament…but I fear we approach a much darker future.

Okada: (Translated from Japanese)

                I have three things to say:

                1!  New Japan is my home and I represent our traditions proudly as champion.

                2!  I love the Animated Wrestling League.  This is some of the best competition in the world.

                3!  The New Year’s Tournament will be perfect practice for my Wrestle Kingdom 12 match with Naito.  If I can go the distance here, I can outlast that lazy bastard any day of the week.

                So, Animated Wrestling League, on January 7^th, we are going to make it rain!

*Editor’s note: The New Year’s Tournament will be taped before Wrestle Kingdom 12.

Lee Masters:

                You know, it’s been a difficult year for me and Sammy.  We haven’t held the tag titles in a while and we’ve held those belts so many times that ya know, it’s sometimes hard to see where there is left to go.  This tournament is exactly what we both need to get the competitive juices flowing.

Erupticon Solar: (Translated from Spanish)

                I’m ready to go, I don’t want to wait until January 7^th, I want to fight right now!  This year, my hero Jushin Thunder Liger fought in his last Best of the Super Jr.’s Tournament.  I’m going to honor him and his legacy by winning my first AWL New Year’s Tournament.  

Big Jerry:

                All right, I must admit, I’m not very good at this singles stuff.  But I’m gonna give it a proper try all right?  We’ll just see what happens.  I’m the biggest bloke in the tournament, I recon that’s gotta count for something, right?

Estralla Dorada: (Translated from Spanish)

The heavens align to allow me the chance to fulfill my destiny and claim my rightful place as the greatest luchador of all time.  Defeating the Rainmaker is only the first step.  Not even the IWGP Champion can survive The Heat Death of the Universe!

               

Matt Classic Jr.:

                A couple of months ago I saw my career flash before my eyes.  That damned ring rope nearly scrambled my brains.  But dad always told me you have to get right back into the ring.  (He wasn’t much for metaphors.)  The New Year’s Tournament is my time to shine.

                Once the tournament is over, Shin Jidai is back to full strength and back where we belong.  The two of us that don’t win the tournament are coming for the tag team titles and we’re going to be the first trio in AWL history to hold ALL the gold!

Ma-Ji-Ku: (Translated from Spanish)

                It may sound strange, but I love this!  Walking into the fire with no idea what’s going to meet me on the other side.  It gets my blood pumping.  Warms this warrior’s heart.  Makes me want to fight!

                A lot of people have been asking if this is my last tournament or if I’m going to retire soon.  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Wrestling is what I love and I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t do it anymore.

                So, whoever you are mystery man, I’ll be waiting for you on January 7^th in the AWL Arena.  You step onto MY battlefield.  You face the Warrior of Light and it’s my time to shine!

Start Your Brackets

I’m back and I have the first-round matches for the New Year’s Tournament.  These matches were decided by random lottery, with the exception of the wild card debut, which always takes the 16^th slot in the final match of the first round.

The rules of the tournament are as follows.  All matches are one-on-one.  All partners, mangers, cornermen, etc. are barred from ringside for the duration of the tournament.  Winners can advance by pinfall, submission, ring out, or disqualification.  In the event of a double ring out, double disqualification, or time limit draw, BOTH wrestlers are eliminated from the tournament.  All first round matches will have a 10 minute time limit, second round 15, semifinals 20, and the final will have a 30 minute time limit just like an AWL Grand Championship Match.

Without further ado, the first-round matches:

1. Ganba vs. Tiger Mask II

                An appropriate start.  The man who has been a symbol of what the AWL is all about since Season 0 versus the man who spearheaded the campaign that saved the AWL from GWM.  Even better it should be a great match.

2. Matt Classic Jr. vs. Chiba Akagi

                Two young studs with excellent technical acumen more fitting of wrestlers with twice their experience.  The biggest question mark here is Matt Classic Jr.  This will be his first match back from injury, so ring rust is an obvious and legitimate concern.

3. Azteckaizer NEO vs. Lee Masters

                The first big mismatch this year.  A partly supernatural powerhouse versus a technical wizard.  Which will win out?  Youth and power, or experience and technique?

4. Estralla Dorada vs. Okada

                This, children, is what we call an unlucky draw.  The Gold Star of Lucha Libre is simply out matched here.  The only hope Dorada has is if Okada makes a mistake due to being fatigued or injured between now and then.  NOTE: The New Year’s Tournament is taped on January 1^st, three days before Wrestle Kingdom 12.  No matter what happens on that show, Okada will still be the IWGP Heavyweight Champion at the tournament.

5. Sammy Nix vs. Project Tetsu 2.0

                Much to my surprise, this is Project Tetsu’s first time competing in the tournament.  As strong and skilled as the Suplex Master is, he’s a serious underdog in this match.  But it wouldn’t be the first time Project Tetsu has fallen at the hands of an obvious underdog.  Sammy Nix, on the other hand, has the extra motivation of being the defending NYT winner and the desire to become the first wrestler ever to win back to back tournaments.  Still, he has a steep hill to climb.

6. Erupcion Solar vs. Hassan

                An intriguing match.  Both these men have somewhat similar styles.  Their entire game plan revolves around wearing their opponents down before hitting a signature move to finish them off.  In Hassan’s case, the Paradigm Shift.  In Solar’s case, the Supernova.  The obvious diffences include style, American vs. Lucha Libre, and experience, the youngest member of the roster vs. a Season 0 Original.  Frankly, I think this one’s a tossup. 

7. Wyvern vs. Big Jerry

                A classic David vs. Goliath situation.  Wyvern is a high-flying cruiserweight and Big Jerry lives up to his nickname by being a superheavyweight and currently the heaviest man on the roster.  The key here may be the lack of backup.  While Wyvern typically travels with Shin Jidai, he has plenty of experience wrestling on his own.  Big Jerry, on the other hand, has had relatively few singles matches and this may be his first match without his boss and tag team partner, Frederick Victor in his corner.

8. Ma-Ji-Ku vs. X

                Not much I can say about this one, is there?  Ma-Ji-Ku is simply one of the best wrestlers ever to set foot in an AWL Ring.  But he’s getting on in years and has be contemplating retirement for a couple of years now.  In a way, the fact that GWM wouldn’t touch “a Mexican midget” (their words, not mine) outside of a single appearance in the Fukumen World Tournament was probably a good thing for him as he’s had months to heal some nagging injuries.  This will either be his best tournament performance in years…or his last.

There you have it wrestling fans, the stage is set for the 2018 New Year’s Tournament.  I’ll see you on January 7^th as we start the new year and the new season off with a bang with the return of the Animated Wrestling League!

New Year's Tournament Participants Announced!

Greetings Wrestling Fans (man oh man does it feel good to call you that again), your commentator and head reporter Ryusensei back at the helm and without any GWM corporate jackasses telling me what to write!

The New Year’s Tournament is less than three weeks away and it’s time to announce the participants in order of win-loss records.  The actual first round matches will be determined by random lottery and announced in a few days.  For now, here are the competitors:

Ganba

Hassan

Tiger Mask II

Sammy Nix

Project Tetsu

Wyvern

Chiba Akagi

Azteckaizer Neo

Okada

Lee Masters

Erupticon Solar

Big Jerry

Estralla Dorada

Matt Classic Jr.

Ma-Ji-Ku

X

These 15 men have the best win loss records in the AWL.  The only exception is HAKAISHA! who actually has the best win loss record at +44 (a career record of 71-27) but is inigible for the tournament this year on account of already being AWL Grand Champion.  As per AWL custom, the final slot in the tournament will be filled by a wrestler making their AWL Debut.  A lot of impressive names on this list.  3 former tournament winners including last year’s winner Sammy Nix, one of only two two-time winners Ganba, and the man who won the tournament from that 16^th wild card slot Wyvern.

Additionally, Matt Classic Jr., who suffered a nasty concussion in the dying days of GWM has been medically cleared by AWL Head Medical Official, Dr. Marcus Feelgood.

We also have 5 former AWL Grand Champions in this bracket this year including the longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history (Okada), the man with the most reigns as top champion in AWL history (Ganba), and the youngest ever Grand Champion (Wyvern).

We also have a handful of wrestlers making their first appearance in the tournament: Big Jerry, Project Tetsu, and Tiger Mask II*.

That’s about all the analysis I have for you today.  We’ll know more once the first round matches are announced.

Until then, I’m Ryusensei and this is the Animated Wrestling League!

On your marks...

I have waited a long time to say this.  Good evening ladies and gentlemen.  I am the AWL…Commissioner.

We…are…BACK!  The Animated Wrestling League is REBORN!!!  At the turning of the new year, we shall rise from the ashes for the biggest event in our calendar and the start of AWL Season 12: The New Year’s Tournament.  16 professional wrestlers will compete in a one-night single elimination tournament with the sole survivor receiving a prize more precious that any amount of money…an automatic title match at the AWL Grand Championship currently held by The Japanese Destroyer.

Furthermore, we are restarting the AWL Best 4 system of determining the top contenders to the AWL Grand Championship.  The winner of the New Year’s Tournament will be the number one contender, his fellow finalist will be number two, and the losers of the semifinals will become numbers three and four based on who has the best win loss record.

More information regarding the tournament will be announced within the next few days.  However, before we can continue into the future, we must discuss the past.  First, all win loss records and tag team division points are reinstated and shall be carried over from Season 11.  Before Season 12 properly begins at AWL 221, there will be an AWL By the Numbers post to clarify such matters.

Second, the Animated Wrestling League is offering an open invitation for all AWL Wrestlers who signed with Global Wrestling Monopoly to return to the Animated Wrestling League without prejudice.  Already Ganba, Luke James, all three members of Shin Jidai, and The Augments have taken us up on the offer.  The offer is still open to anyone who qualifies.  The lone exception is American Beetle.  He lost the Batsumania Match at AWL 220 and is not welcome to return.

Third, speaking of the Augments, I hereby STRIP Project Tetsu of the AWL Anarchy Championship and officially once again retire the title.  Season 12 will be about the restoration of order to the Animated Wrestling League.  The last thing I need is anarchy.

Forth, I have received requests for bookings from some former Global Wrestling Monopoly so called Superstars.  Their requests will be considered on a case by case basis.  Already I have signed Tiger the Dark to an AWL Contract and happily welcome him to the roster.

Fifth, I am still deciding what to do with the now defunct Global Wrestling Monopoly championship belts that we acquired following Final Wars.  More information on that as it becomes available.

Finally, allow me to announce the official Supercard schedule for 2018:

January: New Year’s Tournament 2018.

February: National Pro Wrestling Day 2018? (Chikara has not announced the event for this year.)

March: ???? (Well, I have to keep some secrets. BWAHAHAHAHAH!)

May: Golden War 2018.

August: Obon-nanza 2018.

October: Clash of Styles Tournament.

That is all.  I wish all of you a very happy holiday and ask you to please look forward to the 12^th Season of the Animated Wrestling League.

THIS!  I have COMMISSIONED!!!!!!!!  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--XOXO AWL Commissioner

Challenge Accepted

The challenge of GWM World’s Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask has been accepted.  Global Wrestling Monopoly will face The Animated Wrestling League in Final War.

For those of you unfamiliar with this GWM custom, in Final Wars two Sports Entertainment Organizations face off in 5 matches.  Singles, tag team, trios, tag team, and singles in that order.  Whichever team wins the majority of those matches wins Final Wars.  The team line-ups must be announced ahead of time, but which Superstar competes in which match remains confidential until the match begins.

The stakes are incredibly high.  The winner of Final Wars claims ALL of the defeated company’s championship title belts, effectively putting them out of business.

This will be a 9 on 9 Final Wars.  Meaning that each team will consist of nine Superstars and no Superstar will be permitted to compete twice.

Final Wars: GWM vs. AWL will take place on Sunday, December 3^rd.

A Tiger's Response

The following message has been translated from Japanese.

Rematch clause?  What rematch clause?  In case you didn’t realize, I don’t have a contract with GWM.  I’m a freelancer, so your contract means exactly nothing to me!

But, if you want a chance to regain the GWM World’s Heavyweight Championship, I’ll give it to you on one condition:

GWM vs. AWL…FINAL WARS!