[The scene opens with an aerial shot
of a studio set. There are two men sitting behind a
desk. One is Yo Kurasawa - the legendary commentator, notorious pervert, and current Vice President of Talent Relations and Head Booker for Iron Japan. Next to him is Taka Shimura - another veteran voice in puroresu. A video screen is behind them.]
KURASAWA: Hello, and welcome to
the English language highlight show of Iron Japan Pro Wrestling's
Grand Opening. No weight or gender classes! No rules! I'm Yo Kurasawa. I'm joined by my longtime colleague,
Taka Shimura. It's been awhile since we've called a show together,
old friend.
SHIMURA: We've seen a lot of
blood and guts over the years, and we're about to see more in this
new promotion. What a card we had to kick things off.
KURASAWA: Taka and I called the
action earlier for the Japanese broadcast. This is a whole new book
in puroresu. We crowned a World Wrestling Champion at the end of our
first chapter – here, at the Nippon Budokan. It was a sellout crowd
of 14,471. They came to see the old and new stars of wrestling here
in Iron Japan.
Tag Team Match
Ultraviolence
Union (Ricky Holt and Teiji Shintaro) vs. HATOYAMA and Astro Honami
KURASAWA: We started with a tag
team match. Ricky Holt and Teiji Shintaro are two-thirds of the
Ultraviolence Union. Ricky Holt is a violent all-rounder, and Teiji
is unlike anything else. I didn't discover him, but I was the first
high-ranking wrestling official who wanted to give Teiji Shintaro his
first break. I ran into him on the underground deathmatch scene. He's
shocked American audiences already, and he made his first Japanese
television appearance tonight. One can say that he might be the most
dangerous man in professional wrestling.
SHIMURA: Teiji was covered in
his own excrement when he came out. He wore nothing but stained underwear.
It had blood and fecal stains. He had feces in his teeth. I have never
seen a wrestler like him. Shintaro and Holt were clearly booked to
open the show for a reason. It's a statement booking.
KURASAWA: They faced two hungry
up-and-comers in HATOYAMA and Astro Honami. Both men have shown a lot
early in their careers. The crowds love them. They've wrestled each
other a few times. This was the first time they teamed up.
SHIMURA: Before we show the
match, I must state that we have a certain way of doing things in
Iron Japan. No count outs. No rope breaks. No rules. Weapons are
legal. Matches can be won by pin fall, submission, and knockout.
KURASAWA: Now here we go! A new
era! The American, Jimmy Erickson, was the referee for this bout.
Six Person Tag
Team Match
Deadly Three
(Lolly Lea, Lainey Boyle, Lorie Koenig) vs. Los Asesinos (Raul El
Aguila, Roberto Lopez, and Selena Martinez)
KURASAWA: Our next match was a
six person tag team contest between the Deadly Three and Los
Asesinos.
SHIMURA: Yo actually kept his
hands above the table during this match.
KURASAWA: And I didn't even make
a promise! These Deadly Three girls a hot! Lolly
Lea, Lainey Boyle, and Lorie Koenig are three of the baddest bitches
out there! They took on Los Asesinos – Raul El Aguila, Roberto
Lopez, and Selena Martinez. Mabuchi Hida was the official for this
match.
Singles Match
A Legendary Luchadore Returns!
A Legendary Luchadore Returns!
El Loco vs.
Miyazaki Bokkai
KURASAWA:
El Loco has come out of retirement. He's the most legendary
cruiserweight, or junior heavyweight, in this business. Loco says
Ricky Holt violently attacked him in the office of his gym in
Brooklyn, took his mask, and set his face on fire. Now Loco lives
here in Tokyo once again. He's back to being a full-time competitor,
and he wants Holt, but he had to wrestle against Miyazaki Bokkai
tonight. The referee was Tashiaki Suzuki.
Eight Person Tag Team Match
DanHojo (Ryuichi
Hojo and Danjuro Komatsuzaki) and Rotten Saints (Freddy Deeds and Big
Ugly) vs. Doyle Brothers (Ricky Doyle and Ronnie Doyle) and Charm
Explosion (Nicki Sherer and Muffin Vanderburg)
KURASAWA:
Our next match was an eight-person tag team match featuring four
teams looking to make an impact in Iron Japan. On one side was
Ryuichi Hojo and Danjuro Komatsuzaki – the longtime team of
DanHojo. Both men are just as famous for their singles careers, but
they have stated their intent to become the top team in IJPW. They
teamed with the notorious Detroit tag team of the Rotten Saints –
Freddy Deeds and Big Ugly.
SHIMURA:
Across from them was an interesting group. The Doyle Brothers –
street fighters from Belfast. Ricky is well-versed in MMA, while
Ronnie is just a punch 'em up kinda guy.
KURASAWA: Ronnie Doyle fell out with Danjuro and his dojo, which is one of the
reasons why this match was booked. The Doyle Brothers teamed with Charm Explosion – two adorable young women, one being Portsmouth,
England's very own Nicki Sherer, and the other being Washington
D.C.'s Muffin Vanderburg. They're both very good wrestlers with big
futures ahead of them, and this was a big opportunity for them. Kuni
Ariwara had the difficult job of officiating this eight-person match.
POST-MATCH
ANALYSIS
KURASAWA:
Hojo with a rather insulting way to put Muffin out! That was
incredibly out-of-character! He stuffed her head down his tights for
the piledriver before slapping on the figure four that caused her to
tap. The losing side was rightfully upset with Hojo's disgusting
move.
SHIMURA:
Muffin Vanderburg has every reason to be upset. Hojo's never busted
that move out before, so why now? What did she do to deserve that?
But regardless of how they lost, it's still a bad loss for the likes
of Charm Explosion. This was a match for them to show that they
belonged with the elite, and Vanderburg tapped out.
KURASAWA:
There's four teams and eight total people in that match. They could
have done far worse.
Singles Match
Killer Komukai vs.
Sakura Shizuka
KURASAWA:
Our next match was less congested. Killer Komukai has been on the
verge of breaking out of the midcard, but he was passed by the rising
Konosuke Usami after a twenty minute war in December concluded their
short rivalry. One could argue that Komukai would be in tonight's
co-main event if Usami hadn't derailed his climb up the card. But
Komukai hasn't stumbled too much since. He just needed a big result
to get himself back in contention for the upper end of the card. He
took on Sakura Shizuka, whose new boyfriend was hoping to walk out
with the World title tonight.
SHIMURA: It
was interesting to see how they both entered. Shizuka looked
composed, even with her man competing for such a big prize later.
Komukai appeared to be more nervous, as if he knew what was at stake
for him. His vaunted knee ran through everyone until his run-in with
Usami. This was a chance to hit the ground running in a new
promotion.
KURASAWA:
Kanzaburo Outakara officiated this match.
Six Person Tag Team Match
Imperial (AKIO and
Kuni Hishida) and Kayoko Komon vs. Trans-Pacific Poison (Ginger
Mattingly and Nori Imoo) and Jun Hageshii
KURASAWA: We had a six person tag match next. AKIO and Kuni Hishida were the
most popular couple in Japan until Katsushika and Shizuka got
together. AKIO is a beloved fan favorite who has been to the top, but
it didn't last as long as he wanted. Hishida is the most celebrated
joshi star. They were paired with a younger star in Kayoko Komon. The
opposition featured Jun Hageshii, who has a long rivalry with AKIO.
He teamed with the new side of Ginger Mattingly and Nori Imoo –
Trans-Pacific Poison. Toyoko Toshikura was our referee.
*** CO-MAIN EVENT ***
Legend vs. Rising Star!
Legend vs. Rising Star!
Riddick vs.
Konosuke Usami
KURASAWA:
It's co-main event time. Riddick returned to professional wrestling
last year after a long hiatus. The Rising Sun Wrestling hardcore
legend has struggled to find momentum. He hopes to get back to his
former glory in his return to Japan. However, Konosuke Usami wasn't
rolling out the welcome mat. The rising star wanted to score a big win
against the gaijin who left a barbaric legacy in this country. It was
the old vs. the new in this co-main event. Could Usami bring on a new
puroresu chapter with a win, or would Riddick resume his hardcore horrors in
Japan?
SHIMURA:
Riddick got a huge ovation, but those same fans badly wanted Usami to
win. Usami may not be as violent as Riddick, but the man fights with
all his heart and feeds off the fans. Riddick hasn't had the results
going his way since his in-ring return. Usami is a man who won't be
denied right now.
KURASAWA: It was a very emotional occasion for everyone here at the Budokan and those watching at home. The American, Cassidy Reischer, was our referee for the co-main event.
POST-MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS
[Riddick is sitting in a corner. Usami just got
a microphone. The crowd goes
silent.]
USAMI: [In Japanese. Exhausted.] Thank you to my fans for getting
behind me tonight... Thank you Iron Japan for giving me this
opportunity to fight against such an illustrious opponent... Thank
you, Riddick... You changed the business in Japan with Rising Sun
Wrestling... You tried to destroy me tonight, but... Nothing will
stop me from going to the top. But... don't take this loss too
hard... I know you have struggled to win, but... I feel you're not
too far from getting back to the top – where you belong.
[The crowd
cheers. Usami walks over to Riddick, who is still sitting in the
corner, and extends a hand. Riddick looks around at the crowd.]
CROWD:
RIDD-ICK! RIDD-ICK! RIDD-ICK! RIDD-ICK! RIDD-ICK!
[Riddick wipes
a tear before accepting Usami's hand. Usami helps him to his feet,
takes him to the center of the ring, and raises his arm. The crowd
gets louder in their show of appreciation. They're on their feet as
the two men turn for each side of the ring... but Riddick has enough
of it. He pulls Usami into him and drives his face into the canvas
with The End (Full Nelson Facebuster)! The crowd boos as Riddick
kicks Usami out of the ring like a piece of trash. He picks up the
microphone.]
RIDDICK: I
don't know what the fuck you just said, Usami, and I don't care.
You're a tough son of a bitch, but I would have won if I wasn't
hell-bent on turning you into a vegetable! So don't fucking patronize
me with this post-match appreciation shit and getting everyone to
chant my name. I was wetting necks on this island before you got your
dick wet for the first time. I don't need your bullshit, Usami. Chant
for me or don't chant for me. I don't give a fuck. I may have lost
tonight, and that's become my thing ever since I came back to
wrestling, but things are going to change. I hear there's a
tournament in May. The World Crown Tournament...
[He sees the
referee, Cassidy Reischer, leaning through the ropes as Usami gets
help at ringside.]
Ya know, I don't
feel like talking. Fuck it...
[Riddick drops
the microphone and picks up the barbwire bat. The crowd raises their
voices as he bashes it over Cassidy's head! She sinks further to the
floor after every swing of the bat. The bat is driven into her ribs,
and the barbwire tears her shirt and flesh. “RSW” chants break
out in one area of the crowd as Riddick stands over her and carries
out his vicious assault. He hits her in the back over and over. Usami
rolls back into the ring and gets him to drop the bat after a solid
chop to the face. The two trade blows until security jumps in to
split them and push both men into separate corners.]
*** MAIN EVENT ***
IJPW World Wrestling Championship
Nobuyoki
Katsushika vs. Curt Fleischer
KURASAWA:
It was then time to see who would usher in the new era of puroresu as
the IJPW World Wrestling Champion. Two of the biggest stars in
wrestling collided. Nobuyoki Katsushika, the beloved Japanese giant,
had the backing of his fans when he took on Curt Fleischer – a
hulking gaijin who has slammed and torn his way through everyone in
his path. It was the noble Katsushika vs. the vicious bully,
Fleischer. Who took home the World Wrestling Championship? Did the
gentle giant claim the big prize, or is it taken hostage by the
ruthless monster? Nene Hishikawa was the referee for this important
bout...
POST-MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS
[Katsushika
holds the IJPW World Wrestling Championship belt in the air for the
crowd to see. Fleischer kicks at the barricade, screams “this isn't
over!” at a few fans, and storms to the locker room while favoring
his back. Sakura Shizuka comes out to celebrate the big achievement
with her man. The big man requests the microphone. He gets a hug from
Shizuka before speaking.]
KATSUSHIKA: [In Japanese.] I told everyone I wanted to become the first
ace of this promotion... I have taken a big step to becoming that...
It is a great honor for me to be the first IJPW World Wrestling
Champion... Fleischer was a tough opponent, but you all helped me
overcome the challenge... This win was for all of us...
[Crowd applauds
and cheers. Katsushika waits a moment for it to quiet down.]
I thank you for
coming out and cheering for me... I thank my beautiful Sakura for
being there for me when I trained for this match... Standing in this
ring with her, holding this belt, and celebrating with all of you...
This means everything.
[More
applause.]
World Crown is in
May, but we have Puroresu Power next month. At World Crown, I would
fight for the right to choose my own opponent at International
Incident... If I'm the champion going into World Crown.
[The crowd
curiously “oooh's.”]
There is one man
who I would like to defend my prize against at Puroresu Power next
month. He has impressed me in his quest to the top... He impressed me
earlier tonight. I believe that this promotion should be about the
best wrestlers having the best matches... That's why I want to put my
belt on the line against this man at Puroresu Power...
[Anxious
silence.]
Konosuke
Usami...
[The crowd
perks up.]
Will you come out
here and accept my challenge?
[Usami walks
out to cheers. He doesn't waste any time. He climbs into the ring,
goes right up to the giant, and firmly but respectfully shakes his
hand!]
END OF POST-MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS
KURASAWA:
Puroresu Power will be an eventful three nights! There was already
big plans, and those will be announced later this week, but this
makes for an even bigger occasion! It's the perfect lead up to World
Crown 2016 in May!
SHIMURA:
Usami's greatest challenge to date!
KURASAWA:
This is all the time we have. For Taka Shimura, I'm Yo Kurasawa. Good
night from the Budokan!
[FADE TO
BLACK.]
