Hassan Risks it All

     A lot of wrestlers cut the new year's resolution promo every year and it never matters a week later.  But this is going to last.  I've been Grand Champion, Tag Team Champion a bunch of times, and I INVENTED the Intercontinental Title (Speaking of which, good call by The Commissioner letting the belt switch between gender divisions.  Wish I'd thought of that.)

    The only thing I haven't done in the AWL is win the New Year's Tournament.  Which sucks because this year I washed out in the first round.  One way or another, that's not going to happen again and I need to put this out on the blog so it's offical.

    If I do not win the 2022 New Year's Tournament, I will RETIRE from professional wrestling.

--Hassan

AWL New Year's Tournament 2021

 

2021 New Year's Tournament News Flash

    Yesterday was a VERY long night for the Animated Wrestling League.  16 of the best wrestlers in the AWL returned to the AWL Arena for the 2021 New Year's Tournament.  The full tournament is in the can and I'm under a MASSIVE non disclosure agreement so don't expect any spoilers on this blog.

    But there are some things I can tell you about this year's tournament.  First, the tournament will be broadcast over 2 weeks worth of videos beginning this Monday, January 4th, 2021.  This will be the first event of Pre-Season 18.  More importantly, I can announce 15 of the 16 wrestlers in the tournament AND the randomly selected 1st round matches:

Tiger Mask II vs. Jigoku DESTROY

Erupcion Solar vs. Resu Yellow

Wyvern vs. Project 鉄

Ganba Hisshi DARK vs. Shynron

Matt Classic II vs. Sammy Nix

Azteckaizer NEO vs. Hassan

Chiba Akagi vs. Project-Z

Matt Classic Sr. vs. X

    The wrestling gods have blessed us with some interesting matches.  6 former tournament winners and 8 former AWL Grand Champions made the cut this year.  The winner of the New Year's Tournament will have to win 4 matches in one night.  That's a tremendous challenge in any sport, but more so in a combat sport like professional wrestling.

    However, as daunting as the task is, the rewards are so much greater.  Not only does the winner of the tournament win the 2021 NYT Championship Belt, which he will carry for one full year, but they immediately insert themselves into the AWL Grand Championship picture.  In the past, every NYT winner has gone on to hold the top title in the AWL at that time, either the AWL Grand Championship or its predecessor the AWL World's Heavyweight Championship.

AWL Supercard: NEW YEAR'S TOURNAMENT 2020!

AWL New Year's Tournament 2019!

Interview with Chiba Akagi

                I sat down with the winner of the 2018 New Year’s Tournament, Chiba Akagi, to get his thoughts following his big win.  As always, thanks and credit to the AWL Translation Team for their help.

Ryusensei: First of all, congratulations Chiba-senshu on your victory.  What’s going through your head right now?

Chiba Agaki: It still doesn’t feel real.  Getting home, unpacking my bag, and finding the NYT belt.  The first thought in my mind was, “Did I take someone else’s bag by mistake?”  But it’s slowly sinking in that my name is going on a list of the very best in AWL history.  Ganba, Matt Classic, Wonder Kid, even international legends like Ultramantis Black.  The name Chiba Akagi will be in that pantheon for the rest of time.  I can only hope to be worthy of inclusion.

Ryusensei: What’s next for you?  You’re the new #1 Contender for the AWL Grand Championship, do you know when your championship match will be?

Chiba Akagi: I don’t know.  I’ve spoken to the AWL Commissioner and he told me I’m going to have to wait a few weeks.  He wants me fully recovered from the tournament first.  I can’t disagree with that, but I don’t want to just sit home.  So, I’ve asked for a match at AWL 221 to help me stay in ring shape.

Ryusensei: Is that wise?  If you lose a match between now and your title match, you’ll put your #1 Contendership at risk.

Chiba Akagi: Then I’ll have to make sure I don’t lose.

Ryusensei: HAHA!  OK, I can’t argue with that.  Last thing, any words for HAKAISHA!?

Chiba Akagi: Only this: The last time I made a promise in one of these interviews, I promised that I would make all four of my opponents submit to win the tournament.  I did that.  HAKAISHA!, I have nothing but respect for you, but I’m going to make you tap out and I’m going to be the first ever two time AWL Grand Champion.

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!

AWL Super Card: New Year's Tournament 2017!

Super Card NYT 2017 pt1 投稿者 AWLBoss
Supercard NYT 2017 pt.2 投稿者 AWLBoss

The Date is Set!

Great news wrestling fans!

The date has been set for the New Year’s Tournament:  Sunday January 28^th!

It shall be broadcast across two videos which shall be uploaded simultaneously.  So set your calendars wrestling fans because Season 11 of the Animated Wrestling League is going to be a serious upgrade.

Pre-Tournament Promos

Greetings Grapple Fans (I’m told that phrase is cool again),

Today I have a few comments from some of the wrestlers that will be participating in the 2017 New Year’s Tournament:

Liga Cosmica (Translated from Spanish):

Happy New Year Japan!  It’s a new year with new opportunities for the Star League!  For example, we’re getting our first real chance at singles wrestling in Japan!  Both of us are in the New Year’s Tournament and I’ve got the luck of fighting the new Grand Champion in the first round.  Everyone’s saying that I haven’t got a chance.  He’s the singles champion and I’m “just” a tag team champion.  

Well, no way!!  This tournament is our chance to show that tag team wrestlers are no mid-card afterthought or joke.  And I’m going to start by beating the Grand Champion 1-2-3 in the middle of the ring!  The only question after that is whether the Solar Flare or the Golden Star walks out of the AWL Arena as the 2017 New Year’s Tournament Champion!

--Erupicon Solar

The New Classics:

Lee and I have been tag team partners for more than 6 years now.  All the way back to Season 0 when Matt brought us together.  And we’ll probably continue in the tag team division into the future but, when you’ve been tag team champions as often as we have, there’s only so much more you can do.  That’s why we were both happy to see our names included in the AWL New Year’s Tournament.  Both of us have been in the AWL our entire careers, but neither of us have ever held that top belt.  I know it’s a little late for New Year’s resolutions, but this year one of us is going to become AWL Grand Champion!  And to make that happen, we’ve both been training separately from each other.  I’ve developed a new suplex combination that I don’t think anyone on the AWL Roster has ever seen and I have no idea what he’s been up to.  Guess we’ll all find out together at the tournament.

--“Suplex Master” Sammy Nix

Tiny:

I’m done with tag teams.  At AWL 200, I put my past behind me once and for all.  Now, it’s all about me and becoming a 2 time champion!  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still the guy who’ll dance to the ring, pose for pictures, and sign anything you want, I’m just doing it by myself and for myself for the first time in my life.

My family lived in a…not very nice…part of LA.  Dad was always working and Mom was probably the busiest person in town trying to keep up with my brothers, my sister, and me.  So, with me being the oldest, I had to help out a lot.  Then, when I get into wrestling and find myself recruited to a promotion on the other side of the planet (that just so happens to pay me more money than I’ve ever made anywhere in my life), I find myself carrying everyone else yet again.  From a psychotic business man to a deluded comedian, I’ve been the second banana my whole life.  That changes today and that changes at the New Year’s Tournament.

That’s it for now wrestling fans, check back soon for more news and exclusive features from the Animated Wrestling League.

First Round Matches Announced

It’s time for the annual January Tradition (That one of these years we’ll actually manage to make for the first of January), the Oshougatsu Taikai!  The 16 participants have already been announced, but today I’m happy to reveal the 8 opening round matches:

Sammy Nix vs. Matt Classic Jr.

Ganba vs. Estralla Dorada

Erupticon Solar vs. Chiba Akagi

Project Tetsu vs. Tiny

Wyvern vs. Lee Masters

HAKAISHA vs. Jack Butcher

Azteckaizer NEO vs. Ma-Ji-Ku

Hassan vs. ????

Some VERY interesting matches here.  Sammy Nix will face the young man he helped train.  The AWL World Tag Team Champions will face two of the best of all time including the reigning Grand Champion.  Titans collide when Project Tetsu faces the largest athlete on the roster.  Wyvern tries to become the first wrestler in AWL History to win back to back tournaments.  Former tag team partners collide as HAKAISHA! faces Jack Butcher.  Two generations of innovative high flyers in Ma-Ji-Ku and Azteckaizer NEO will try to outdo each other.  And Hassan draws the unlucky straw and has no chance to prepare for this year’s mystery debuting wrestler.

All 16 men will fight for honor, glory, and the right to travel to the United States and the Main Event of National Pro Wrestling Day!

From now until the tournament begins, please stay tuned to this blog as we bring you thoughts and comments from all your favorite AWL Wrestlers and I hear the AWL Commissioner is working on some block buster announcements as well.

All that and more coming soon for the Animated Wrestling League!

WE ARE BACK! (First 2017 NYT News)

Happy New Year wrestling fans!

The end of the year begins the start of the peak season of professional wrestling.  Wrestle Kingdom, the Royal Rumble, and the AWL New Year’s Tournament!

Once again the Animated Wrestling League is undergoing yet another upgrade so the tournament will be closer to the end of the month then the beginning, but the end result will be worth it.  But today we announce, ordered by career win-loss ratio, 15 of the 16 wrestlers that will compete in this year’s tournament:

1. HAKAISHA!

2. Ganba

3. Hassan

4. Wyvern (2015 New Year’s Tournament Champion)

5. Chiba Akagi (AWL Grand Champion)

6. Jack Butcher

7. Project Tetsu

8. Azteckaizer NEO

9. Sammy Nix

10. Erupticon Solar (AWL World Tag Team Champion)

11. Estralla Dorada (AWL World Tag Team Champion)

12. Lee Masters

13. Ma-Ji-Ku

14. Matt Classic Jr.

15. Tiny

16. ????  As always, the 16^th slot in the tournament is left open for a debuting wrestler.  This slot has also spawned two winners in past years.

The stakes are higher than EVER this year because the AWL Commissioner is reinstating the AWL Best 4 System and the top four finishers in the tournament will fill these coveted spots.

The Tournament Champion will become the #1 Contender and challenge for the AWL Grand Championship at National Pro Wrestling Day in February.  However, if the reigning champion Chiba Akagi wins the tournament, he will gain the rare opportunity to choose his own challenger.

Season 11 will start with a bang at the 2016 AWL New Year’s Tournament!!

AWL Supercard: お正月大会２０１６ COMPLETE

AWL Supercard: New Year's Tournament 2016 pt. 1 投稿者 AWLBoss
AWL Supercard: New Year's Tournament 2016 pt. 2 投稿者 AWLBoss
AWL Supercard: New Year's Tournament 2016 pt. 3 投稿者 AWLBoss

And with that the Animated Wrestling League New Year's Tournament is COMPLETE!  Who will be the first challenger to THUGLIFE Tanaka Kenichi's AWL Grand Championship?  Watch the videos and find out.  AWL history is made this night and the league will never be the same!

First Round Matches Announced!!!

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

A Block:

AJ Styles* vs. Ganba

Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson

Kenny Omega vs. Jack Butcher

Cody Hall vs. Wolf

B Block:

Dragon vs. Strike Taka

Wonder Kid vs. HAKAISHA!

Sammy Nix vs. Lee Masters

Yamada Jiro vs ????

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

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

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

CHANGE IN LINEUP!!

RyuSensei here at AWL HQ and we've just received a message from the AWL Intercontinental Champion, Hassan:

This Intercontinental Title, and I can FINALLY call it the AWL Intercontinental Title, is my path to the AWL Grand Championship and after working for so long to get this belt recognized by the AWL, I don't need to take another path.

Therefore I am respectfully removing myself from the New Year's Tournament. Now, I don't like Yamada Jiro (understatement of the year) and I know this helps him. Thing is, he needs this tournament.....I don't.

That does it ladies and gentlemen, I've now officially seen everything. The AWL Commissioner has confirmed the change and wants me to tell you that the AWL supports the confidence that Hassan has shown with this move and management looks forward to seeing him blazing this new trail in the Animated Wrestling League.

The New Year's Tournament roster now looks like this:

1. Strike Taka (Rookie 6-way Scramble Match Winner)

2. A.J. Styles*

3. Bad Luck Fale

4. Karl Anderson

5. Kenny Omega

6. Cody Hall

7. HAKAISHA!

8. Ganba

9. Dragon

10. Wolf (Special Attraction)

11. Wonder Kid (Return from suspension)

12. Jack Butcher (Return from voluntary hiatus)

13. Hassan Yamada Jiro

14. Lee Masters

15. Sammy Nix

16. ????

Anything else weird going to happen this week?

Fighters announced for the New Year's Tournament!

Negotiations are still underway with Tanaka Kenichi's people regarding the AWL Grand Championship, but time waits for no man and the time of the AWL's biggest event of the year is fast approaching. That's right, the 2016 New Year's Tournament is almost here!

6 of the 16 slots in the tournament were decided at AWL 160 and by tradition the #16 slot is reserved for a debuting wrestler. The remaining 9 slots have been filled by the AWL Wrestlers with the best win-loss records. Included in this list are three wrestlers making their return to the AWL after a long hiatus. The first round of the tournament is scheduled to contain:

1. Strike Taka (Rookie 6-way Scramble Match Winner)

2. A.J. Styles*

3. Bad Luck Fale

4. Karl Anderson

5. Kenny Omega

6. Cody Hall

7. HAKAISHA!

8. Ganba

9. Dragon

10. Wolf (Special Attraction)

11. Wonder Kid (Return from suspension)

12. Jack Butcher (Return from voluntary hiatus)

13. Hassan

14. Lee Masters

15. Sammy Nix

16. ????

Please note the asterisk next to A.J. Styles. Styles is currently dealing with a hip injury and has not been cleared by the AWL Medical Staff. There are several weeks between now and the tournament so a final diagnosis has yet to be made. Should Styles be unable to compete, he would be replaced with the next wrestler on the win-loss rankings: Yamada Jiro.

AWL New Year's Tournament 2015 parts 1 & 2

AWL 121 NYT 2015 by AWLBoss

The time has come!  16 men will enter the AWL Arena and by the end of this video only an elite 8 will remain.  This is your only chance to see all 16 competitors in action, including our 4 debuting wrestlers.  Enjoy!



AWL 121 2015 New Year's Tournament part 2 by AWLBoss

And now, the rest of the story.  Quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.  Who will win the tournament and earn the next title shot against AWL World Heavyweight Champion?  Click and find out.

And I just realized how bad those two signs look next to each other.