Last year the wrestling world was rocked with one of the most unique events to close out 2009, not only was it an event that showcased the biggest names in sleazy indy puro but it would boast a never before done, record setting 108 man battle royale (yes you read right 108 people!!!!) that took two years to complete!!!! (ok ok technically it started Dec 31, 2009 and ended maybe twenty minutes into the new year but that’s an event taking place over two years!!!!!) Imagine if ROH, PWG, JAPW, ECWA, Chikara PRO, the remnants of NWA and even some TNA support went into ONE GINOURMOUS show…this would be that show!!!!! Well not to be outdone, the master minds of last years New Years Eve Countdown Super Show are at it again, this time boasting a total of 30 (32 depending on which sites you read) different independent promotions from Japan; spanning from well known indies like Big Japan and K-Dojo to the real sleazy indies like Guts Pro, Real Japan and New Beijing Pro Wrestling and even a few wrestlers from some MAJOR promotions. Also joshi wrestling (womens wrestling) is fully represented at this years event with pretty much every major Joshi star making an appearance throughout the card. So if you like indy puro or have been really curious about it, check out this preview of the card and look for the show on Youtube (or this site if we can find it) to see the equivalent of WrestleKingdom or WrestleMania for the puro indy scene!!!!!
Special Dark Match: Kaori Yoneyama & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Hikaru Shida & Tsukasa Fujimoto
A interesting “dark match” filled with Joshi stars. Kaori Yoneyama is the ace of Japan Woman Project (JWP) and is their current Open weight champion. A long time veteran, Yoneyama has held titles in may other joshi promotions and wrestles an Native American girl gimmick. To be honest its kinda odd that such a well recognized Joshi name would be in the dark match, but considering how many people are involved in this card, it seems more like a noble gesture for Yoneyama to take a backseat for other stars to shine. Yoneyama’s tag partner is rookie Sayaka Obihiro who wrestles for the Ice Ribbon joshi promotion and their online sub-brand 19 Pro.
The opposing team is composed of Ice Ribbon rookie Hikaru Shida and super rookie Tsukasa Fujimoto who is currently holding all three Ice Ribbon titles (the International Ribbon tag Team titles, Triangle Ribbon title and winning her second ICEx60 Singles title just recently on the 26th of December). Plus having just won the first Super Ice-Cup, Fujimoto is definitely a joshi name on the rise heading into 2011.
(1) Bambi, Makoto & Hamuko Hoshi vs. Hikari Minami, Riho & Tsukushi
The opening match of the show is another Joshi filled six woman tag match starring probably the most recognized Joshi name to the casual puro fan; Bambi, due to her time competing in K-Dojo. Formerly a sweet innocent girl, Bambi has since become a heelish dominatrix (equipped with whip) joining heel group OMEGA. Teaming with Bambi is Ice Ribbon wrestler Hamuko Hoshi and one of Ice Ribbon’s top stars, Makoto.
Apposing the threesome are probably the YOUNGEST wrestlers EVER in the world. None of these three girls were born before 1995 and have been wrestling since their pre teens! The oldest (at a whopping 15) Hikari Minami is a former ICEx60 Singles champion and even once held DDT’s Ironman Heavymetal title. At 13 years old, Tsukushi is being touted as a future superstar for Ice Ribbon while Riho was the youngest girl to ever start wrestling for Ice Ribbon (at the age of 8!!!!! Though amazingly that record has since been broken in ice ribbon) and is a former Triple Crown Champion for Ice Ribbon. Honestly this is a huge stage for all six girls to make a name for themselves in Japan… and on youtube!
(2) Ryuichi Sekine, Takumi Tsukamoto & Takao Soma vs. Hiroo Tsumaki, Akihito & Tatsuhiko Yoshino
Now its time for the boys to take part of this super show and they open up with a multi promotional six man tag match. On one side you have three of probably the most promising wrestlers for their respective promotions; Ryuichi Sekine for K-Dojo, Takumio Tsukamoto for Big Japan, and Takao Soma for DDT (who just recently won the Young Drama Cup). On the other side are super new rookies Akihito, Tatsuhiko Yoshino and Hiroo Tsumaki (who just debuted last month) all who wrestle for DDT’s sub brand Union Pro.
(3) 7 Referee Match: GENTARO vs. Atsushi Ohashi
If your looking for a breakout star of 2010 you may not have to look any further than GENTARO. A long time veteran of the indy scene, GENTARO has wrestled everywhere from DDT, Apache Pro, Dragon Gate, New Japan and even Ice Ribbon! With the demise of his “home promotion” Apache, GENTARO made the Freedoms promotion (basically a conglomerate of long time indy wrestlers who are “free” to wrestle where ever they like) and won the Independent Jr. Heavyweight Title. Defending the title into 2010, GENTARO has had some amazing matches with Danshoku Dino and even Great Kojika to gain him some hug fan support going into 2011.
Atsushi Ohashi is a former referee turned hardcore wrestler in Big Japan Wrestling. Now don’t ask me why there are 7 referees involved in the match…but Im assuming it cant be good for GENTARO.
(4) One Night Tournament 2010 ~ 3 Minute Match Round 1: Great Kojika vs. Guts Ishijima
(5) One Night Tournament 2010 ~ 3 Minute Match Round 1: Yuki Ishikawa vs. Kana
(6) One Night Tournament 2010 ~ 3 Minute Match Round 1: Takashi Sasaki vs. TAKA Michinoku
(7) One Night Tournament 2010 ~ 3 Minute Match Round 1: Sanshiro Takagi vs. Command Bolshoi
(8-10) Semi Finals an Finals
In a very interesting mini tournament the founders of some of the most popular indy feds in puro will throw down in a winner take all one night tournament. What are they fighting for? I have no idea! What will the winner get? Maybe a kiss from Dino? What will the losers get….Maybe a kiss from Dino? Either way it should be a nice fun time to honor the men and women who have created some of the most entertaining sleazy indy feds in Japan!
Starting with easily the oldest member of the tournament the Great Kojika was a former member of AJPW which he wrestled for back in the 70s!!!!!! Considered the Ric Flair of Deathmatch wrestling, Kojika broke away from AJPW and started Big Japan wrestling in 1995 with a focus on Deathmatches…unlike Flair, Kojika’s wrestling is somewhat less than desirable (thus probably the reason for the 3 minute round matches) but when he needs to, he can go…when he needs to…
Guts Ishijima is a wrestler who started his career only three years ago but was able to start a small promotion called…GUTS World…Considered an upstart he will have his hands full with his geriatric counterpart.
Yuki Ishikawa is a veteran of puro who started the promotion BattleArts (a hybrid of shoot and puro wrestling) in 1998. With the recent announcement of BattleArts closing its doors in 2011, I wouldn’t be surprise to se Ishikawa making it at least to the finals of this “founders” tournament.
Kana is a veteran of the Joshi scene who has made her name by freelancing especially in NEO and WAVE. Possessing a shoot style that has made her quite popular with fans, Kana also is one of the few joshi stars to be publicly sponsored by a corporation; Microsoft (who she also works for as a freelance designer). Recently Kana has started promoting her own shows (KANA PRO) which is why she has been put into this tournament.
Takashi Sasaki is a long time veteran of Big Japan Pro wrestler and lover of Death Matches (just take a look at his body!!!!) Recently Sasaki broke away from BJPW to start the Freedoms Promotion in 2009…though most of his time is still spent in BJPW (just cant take the deathmatches out of the boy!).
TAKA Michinoku needs no introduction for long time wrestling fans. But for you newbies out there, TAKA has been wrestling in Japan and America for well over 2 decades and is one of the most decorated juniors in Japan, owning titles in multiple promotions including the WWE’s defunct LW title! After leaving WWE to return to Japan, TAKA started K-Dojo (or Kaientai Dojo in honor of his famous heel group). Always a charismatic and talented entity, TAKA will probably shine quite a bit in this tournament.
Sanshiro Takagi is the founder of DDT and a huge fan of American style wrestling aka WWE. This is evident in one of his most popular gimmicks where he dresses in a black vest, drinks lots of beers and sticks his middle finger up…who was that guy? Anyway Takagi is a fan favorite and also looks to probably go far in the tourney or have a very comedic early exit.
Command Bolshoi rounds out the list of “founders” in this tournament and is a long time veteran of the Joshi scene. Not only is she the founder of Japan Women’s Project (arguably the biggest Joshi promotion in Japan today) she is also very recognizable by her clown costume…yes you heard me…clown costume! Look it up!
(11) 30 Organization Battle Royal:
Confirmed participation: Too many names!!!!
This is it the big one! If you haven’t seen last years amazing 108 person battle royale you can youtube it (please note its 9 parts, spans two years and is very very long BUT fun as hell). Now of course one may ask…how the hell can they even find 108 people to wrestle in this battle royale…well Ill tell ya, though it does spoil thing…multiple gimmicks. Yes some wrestlers come out as two, three even four different people…but it is the fun and charm that is sleazy indy wrestling. Honestly this battle royale boasts a who’s who in sleazy wrestling including last years winner Jun Kasai and the always entertaining Kikutaro (who for some reason was missing last years royale). Last year even some major stars appeared like TAJIRI and Shawn Michaels (I kid you not! Look it up)! Who will come out on top this year? Will Kasai score the back to back wins or will Marines Mask 2 get the win? How many odd personalities will some wrestlers come out to? What major stars will drop by this year? And how many guys will Danshoku Dino kiss/molest/fondle before the new years is over? Find out!!!!!!! On youtube…!!!!
(12) Eight Man Junior Match: Minoru, Madoka, Kaji Tomato & Kamui vs. Kenny Omega, HIROKI, Tsutomu Oosugi & Hercules Senga
Easily the match that will steal the show (other than what ever craziness goes down in the battle royale). This eight man match boasts eight of the most talented jrs in wrestling today starting with the super talented Minoru, on loan from AJPW. Minoru has been a long time wrestler for NJPW winning titles and donning his alter ego HEAT before making the unexpected jump to AJPW last year. Before Minoru was a big star though, he did have his roots in indy wrestling as Minoru Tanaka before getting a shot at NJPW through his friend Koji Kanemoto. So this will be a homecoming of sorts for the star. Teaming with Minoru is Madoka who is making quite a name for himself, first in K-Dojo and now in FREEDOMS where he held the Independent Jr Heavyweight title by beating Kota Ibushi. Kaji Tomato is a young rookie from K-Dojo…and yes he has red hair like a tomato, while Kamui is a masked rookie from FREEDOMS.
On the other side you have the uber popular and talented “gaijin” star Kenny Omega who has wrestled in DDT and recently in NJPW, winning titles in both promotions. HIROKI is another former K-Dojo star who turned freelancer and just recently returned to wrestling last year after suffering a serious injury. Those two stars are teamed up with lesser known stars in Tsutomu Oosugi and Hercules Senga both former Toryumon students (with Oosugi better known to some as Milanito Collection AT) and have been a successful tag team called Speed of Sound.
(13) Fluorescent Lighttubes Death Match: Ryuji Ito, Abdullah Kobayashi & Saburou Inematsu vs. Masashi Takeda, Isami Kodaka & Takeshi Minamino
Now for a little blood! After all the wrestling gets done, what better way to ring in the new year than with some violence and gore!? Ryuji Ito is no stranger to deathmatches as he is pretty much the deathmatch king of Big Japan Wrestling along with rival/friend/deathmatch lover Abdulla Kobayashi. Saburou Inematsu is a K-dojo wrestler that doesn’t mind getting his hands, face or forehead bloody.
On the other side is Jun Kasai protégé Masashi Takeda, former DDT now turned bloodlust BJPW wrestler Isami Kodaka and Takeshi Minamino who oddly enough was a Toryumon student that is now wrestling for the Kensuke Office and does deathmatches on the side. Half of these guys were involved in a huge six man fluorescent light war that you can watch on youtube (WARNING there is blood and Great Sasuke treating himself in a very bad way)…so this match should be approved by deathmatch fans all over!
(14) Heavyweight Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Shigehiro Irie vs. Takeshi Morishima & Shuhei Taniguchi
In a very interesting match NOAH sent over not only there promising rookie Shuhei Taniguchi but also former GHC Heavyweight Champion Takeshi Morishima to throw down with one of the top stars of K-Dojo Yuji Hino and up and coming indy star Shigehiro Irie. This will definilty be a breakout match for both sides’ rookies and a chance to shine with legit stars in Hino and Morishima.
(15) Elimination Match: Yoshihito Sasaki, HARASHIMA, Shuji Ishikawa, Fujita “Jr.” Hayato & Emi Sakura vs. Kengo Mashimo, Yuko Miyamoto, Mammoth Sasaki, Munenori Sawa & Kazuhiro Tamura
Honestly if there was a match that could headline a card as stacked and crazy as this…it would have to be this ten person elimination tag match. On one side you have former DDT ace now the power behind Union Pro in Shuji Ishikawa teaming up with DDT’s current ace HARASHIMA. Along with them is Yoshihito Sasaki who use to be a Zero-One heavyweight champion before jumping to Big Japan and Fujita “Jr” Hayato who oddly enough use to be a star in Michinoku Pro but now is a star in Zero-One. Rounding out the team is Emi Sakura, joshi veteran and founder of Ice Ribbon…who somehow didn’t make it to the founders tournament.
On the other side you have Kengo Mashimo who has been a top dog in K-Dojo since its inception (and nearly pulled a Shawn Michaels at last years 108 person battle royale lasting over an hour after drawing the number 1 slot), Yuka Miyamoto who was a former DDT wrestler and now a star in BJPW, Mammoth Sasaki who was a former Deathmatch king in BJPW but now is part of Freedoms, Munenori Sawa who has been a huge name in BattleArts and in Zero-one (and charmed many people with his AWESOME Lingeie Mutoh gimmick) and Kazuhiro Tamura who has to pick up the slack being the rookie from Zero-one.
Honestly this card is STACKED! I cant put into anymore words how much you should see this show if your even remotely interested in sleazy indy puro! If we can find it on youtube we will post it on the site. Enjoy and have a safe and awesome new year!!!!!
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