[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: Welcome to the English
language highlight show for Iron Japan Pro Wrestling! No weight or
gender classes! No rules! I'm Yo Kurasawa, and next to me is my
longtime colleague and friend – Taka Shimura. This was the third
and final night of Puroresu Power 2016 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Fans packed the venue for all three nights. It's a small venue –
only holding 2,005 – but it's an intimate place that has seen a lot
of special moments. Tonight was no exception.
SHIMURA: We
could all feel it before the show even began. Suda Tsukasa was
spotted in the first row. For those who are new to puroresu, Tsukasa
is the King of Korakuen Hall. Nobody has a better win/loss record,
and nobody has produced more memorable moments at Korakuen Hall.
KURASAWA: He's
been more of a spectator these days as he decides whether to retire
or not. But it was an honor to have The King in attendance tonight.
We crowned the first ever IJPW World Tag Team Champions. Also,
Konosuke Usami was the challenger to Nobuyoki Katsushika's IJPW World
Wrestling Championship in the main event.
SHIMURA: We'll start with a dark match report. Nayoko Kon took on
Haruhi Sarumara in a contest between the two women who are students at the IJPW Dojo. Mabuchi Hida was the referee. Kon did an
exploder to the outside off the top rope in the third minute. It was
even until about ten minutes when it looked like Kon was going to
pull away, but Sarumara got the win at 12:53 with an original
backdrop.
Singles
Match
Satomi
Asano vs. Nicki Scherer
KURASAWA: The main card opened with the IJPW debut of Satomi Asano – an emerging star
on the joshi scene. She took on Nicki Scherer – who we have seen
only in tag team matches until tonight.
SHIMURA: We
got to see more of what made Scherer such a star in the American and
British indies. She's very technically proficient.
KURASAWA: Kuni
Ariwara was the official for this match.
Six
Person Tag Team Match
The Alternative (Vera Yordanka and Christy Hayden) and Miyazaki
Bokkai vs. Kuni Hishida and Trans-Pacific Poison (Ginger Mattingly
and Nori Imoo)
KURASAWA:
Everyone in this match could
have had a better weekend before tonight. Nobody in this match won
anything on nights one and two. All six of these competitors were
looking to salvage something from this weekend.
SHIMURA:
Well, The Alternative only
competed on the first night prior to tonight, but they did lose in
that Six Person Tag Team Match. It was their partner who lost it for
them though. That said, I felt that them and Miyazaki – The Eternal
Flame – all came into this match with more composure their their
opponents. Hishida appears to be frustrated recently and
Trans-Pacific Poison might not be over their Tag Team title
tournament loss on night one.
KURASAWA:
Jimmy Erickson was the official
for this match.
Six
Person Tag Team Match
AKIO, Astro Honami, and Jackie Walters vs. Jocelin Masterson, Nobuo
Shimizu, and Sakura Shizuka
KURASAWA:
It normally would be an honor
for everyone in the ring, even the opposition, to have a match with
someone as skilled and efficient as Nobuo Shimizu. He's one of the
most respected men in Japan. The thing is that he's also one of the
most feared, and while he's not particularly a nasty opponent, I
don't think anyone has snapped more bones with submission holds than
Shimizu.
SHIMURA:
AKIO and Shizuka had an
interesting thing going on there. Do you think AKIO is jealous of her
and Katsushika overtaking Imperial as the number one couple in Japan?
KURASAWA:
I don't know about that, but it
was definitely competitive.
SHIMURA:
Then we take a look at the
others in this match... Honami hadn't found a win in anything.
Masterson started her Puroresu Power weekend by submitting Sun Demon
in a multi-person tag match, but Lainey Boyle knocked her out last
night. Walters was on the winning side of the Six Person Tag Team
Match that opened our first night of Puroresu Power.
KURASAWA:
The referee for this match was
Nene Hishikawa.
Singles
Match
Fabulous Adrian Bagglio vs. KANNON
KURASAWA:
The next match featured two
very charismatic men. FAB won his IJPW debut match against Astro
Honami last night. He took on The King of the Dark World, KANNON, who
got a win against Miyazaki Bokkai last night. FAB is a newcomer to
Japan while KANNON was a formidable gatekeeper in this contest.
Nanako Fujioka was the referee.
POST-MATCH
ANALYSIS
SHIMURA:
KANNON is so dangerous. I don't
know how he breathes that fire, but FAB got a trial by fire tonight.
KANNON was more of a test tonight. FAB is a demented man himself, but
now he knows how far he needs to go to make it in the brutal world of
Iron Japan Pro Wrestling.
KURASAWA:
FAB got caught in the face by a
fireball and got second-degree burns, so it's safe to say that he's
fully aware of what can happen in an IJPW ring.
Singles
Match
Lainey Boyle vs. Muffin Vanderburg
KURASAWA:
These women have had impressive
weekends. Lainey scored a knockout victory over Jocelin Masterson
last night, but Muffin Vanderburg has been one of the big talking
points this weekend. She won a Six Person Tag match for her team on
the first night, then challenged Ryuichi Hojo to a match. What Hojo
did to Muffin at the IJPW Grand Opening last month has been very
well-documented at this point. Muffin proved to the misogynistic Hojo
that women do belong in the ring. While she never got a bow or
handshake from Hojo, she did get a big opportunity to improve on her
Puroresu Power experience.
SHIMURA:
Muffin's smile was back, but
Boyle was all business. “The Boston Bitch” is one of the most
intimidating women out there.
KURASAWA:
Toyoko Toshikura was the
referee for this match.
POST-MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS
[Boyle
stands triumphant with her fists in the air. Muffin is on the ground
still, holding her head. Lolly Lea and Lorie Koenig run out and join
Boyle in a beat down on Muffin. The Deadly Three stand over her and
lay the boots in. Nicki Scherer, the other half of Charm Explosion,
runs out and slides into the ring. This buys time for Muffin to get
to her feet, but it's still 3-on-2 and the numbers game gets to Charm
Explosion. Lolly grabs Nicki by the throat, lifts her up, and slams
her down with a chokeslam that folds her up! Lainey and Lorie stomp
Muffin down in the corner, but Lorie steps back to allow the dogged
Lainey to choke her. The dojo students finally get into the ring to break it
up.]
Eight Person Tag Team
Match
Ultraviolence Union (Riddick, Ricky Holt, and Teiji Shintaro) and Jun
Hageshii vs. Black Thorns (Ashley Thorne and Trista Capra) and Rotten
Saints (Big Ugly and Freddy Deeds)
KURASAWA:
This match featured eight of
the most violent people in professional wrestling. Some interesting
facts too... There were three Michigan natives: Deeds and Big Ugly
come from Detroit, while Riddick hails from Muskegon. This was also
the first time we saw the hardcore legends – Riddick and Trista
Capra – in the same ring. Trista was in Japan in the '90s, but she
missed the Rising Sun Wrestling hardcore revolution that Riddick led
in the noughties.
SHIMURA:
Then add two other violent
anti-social men like Hageshii and Holt, and Teiji Shintaro... Of
course, Shingai Shintaro was caked in his own feces.
KURASAWA:
Ashley Thorne is kind of lost
in this crowd in terms of violent capabilities... But she's not lost
with me. I'm kind of open to a big strong women like that. I wouldn't
mind if she held me down and gra–
SHIMURA:
Who was the referee?
KURASAWA:
Oh, uh... Cassidy Reischer...
Oh, there's a story in there. She officiated the co-main event at the
Grand Opening, and this was the first time she was in the ring with
Riddick since he attacked her with a barbwire bat. Cassidy was a
wrestler before becoming a referee until a neck injury put an end to
that, so she's no stranger to getting beat up, but she found out that
Riddick's world is pure hell. Anyway, show the match...
POST-MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS
[The
bell has rung, but things have just heated up. Everyone is in the
ring and a big brawl has broken out. Cassidy gets flashbacks of what
happened at the Grand Opening and gets out of there. Riddick is
choking Trista Capra. Big Ugly has Hageshii cornered and the two
trade punches. Holt back body drops Deeds over the top rope. Teiji
has Thorne against the ropes and is biting her face. She grabs him
and the two tumble through the ropes and to the ringside floor. Holt
is now helping Hageshii with Ugly, and the two stop him in the
corner. Trista claws at Riddick's face and gets him to release the
choke. Now she bounces his head off a turnbuckle. El Loco hits the ring and he goes right at Holt! The dojo students once again
have to run in and struggle to break everything up.]
***
CO-MAIN EVENT ***
IJPW World Tag Team
Championship Tournament Final
Dave
Manton and Stan Ward vs. Doyle Brothers (Ricky Doyle and Ronnie
Doyle)
KURASAWA:
It was time to crown the first
IJPW World Tag Team Champions! Both teams were impressive up to this
point, and both beat some tough opposition. Who won this battle of
the gaijins: Manton and Ward – the Canadian and Texan, or the fiery
brothers from Belfast? Kanzaburo Outakara was the official for this
match.
*** MAIN EVENT ***
IJPW World Wrestling
Championship
Konosuke
Usami vs. (c) Nobuyoki Katsushika
KURASAWA:
Nobuyoki Katsushika was knocked
out by Ronnie Doyle last night in a moment that shocked the wrestling
world. We've seen the giant lose, and we've seen him picked up many
times, but we never saw him look as vulnerable when he was laying on
his back. He had to recover and defend his World Wrestling
Championship in the same venue 24 hours later.
SHIMURA:
His opponent, Konosuke Usami,
has been a rising star. He impressed Katsushika after beating Riddick
in a twenty-minute war at the Grand Opening. The gentle giant was so
impressed that he challenged Usami to a title match to close out the
third and final night of Puroresu Power.
KURASAWA:
Which of these men will go to
World Crown as the World Wrestling Champion? The referee for this
match was Masanori Katayanagi.
POST-MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS
[Katsushika,
with the title belt over his shoulder, calls for a microphone from
the ringside attendant. Usami is leaning in a corner, favoring his
back after the big slam he took at the end. The crowd quiets down to
hear what Katsushika has to say.]
KATSUSHIKA:
[In Japanese. Exhausted.]
It's been a tough 24
hours... My head still hurts after Ronnie Doyle knocked me out. I
will get to him. First, I want to acknowledge Konosuke...
[The
crowd applauds for Usami.]
He's
a tough opponent. Don't let this loss get you down. I challenged you
for a reason. You belong here. You belong in these big matches. Your
day as champion will come. I am determined to be the first ace of
Iron Japan Pro Wrestling... This is my time now, but you will have
your day, Konosuke...
[The
crowd applauds for Usami. Usami bows to Katsushika.]
Now
Ronnie Doyle... You shocked the world when you knocked me out. I have
never been hit like that before. Because of that, I think you deserve
a shot at my title.. But the World Crown Tournament is next. 64 of
the best wrestlers in this world will compete over ten nights... The
final will be at the Tokyo Dome, and I am determined to take the
World Crown... The winner of that tournament will get to face me at
International Incident in the Tokyo Dome in June... But if I win,
then I get to choose my opponent for the main event at International
Incident... If I win, Ronnie Doyle, then I will pick you to face me
for my World title.
[The
crowd applauds.]
There's
one more thing I want to do tonight... My good friend, Suda Tsukasa,
is at ringside...
[The
crowd gives the loudest applause so far for Tsukasa, who remains
seated. He smiles and waves at Katsushika.]
The
King of Korakuen Hall! My friend, come in here!
[Tsukasa
gets up, goes around the barricade, and climbs into the ring.]
We
were talking earlier... You wanted to address the fans?
[Suda
takes a microphone from a ringside attendant.]
TSUKASA:
I might as well cut to the
chase, Nobu... You know how I am. Besides, I'm getting old. I don't
have much time left.
KATSUSHIKA:
You're not that old. You're
still competing!
TSUKASA:
I'm old! What does competing
have to do with it? How many other dinosaurs do you see wrestle? But
seriously, I'm getting old... and it's no secret that I can't figure
out if I want to retire or not. But I keep hearing about World
Crown... and the opportunity that comes with winning World Crown... I
am not here to announce my retirement. I am here to announce that, at
58-years-old, I am entering into the World Crown Tournament! The
first few rounds are here at Korakuen Hall! This
is my building!
[The
crowd applauds.]
This
could be my last chance on a big stage. I want this tournament to be
special. I know it will take every last bit of fighting spirit...
Especially if I'm to win the tournament... To headline the Tokyo Dome
in May would be special. Headlining it a month later in a World title
match with my good friend over here would be even better. I know it's
a long shot... But I'll regret it if I don't enter myself into this
tournament and give it a shot.
[The
crowd applauds.]
And
Konosuke... What this man said is true... and I hope to draw you in
World Crown.
WRAP-UP
KURASAWA:
It's been quite the three
days... But now we focus on World Crown. The 64 person tournament
will span over ten nights. The first three rounds will be here at
Korakuen Hall. The quarters and semis will be at the Budokan. The
final will be at the Tokyo Dome. A draw will be held to determine the
match-ups in each round. Every match will have a time limit of thirty
minutes. Nobody will advance from that match if it reaches the time
limit, meaning someone could get lucky in the draw and advance with a
bye.
SHIMURA:
And some of the names that are
rumored to be involved... Wow... This is going to be a crazy ten
nights. Do you think we can do it, Yo?
KURASAWA:
Can you tolerate me for ten
nights in a row?
SHIMURA:
I've tolerated you for this
long.
KURASAWA:
World Crown starts on Saturday,
May 21. It will go to Monday, May 30. The first round draw will be
held this Wednesday at the IJPW Headquarters here in Tokyo. That does
it for us tonight. For Taka Shimura, I'm Yo Kurasawa. See you for the
draw on Wednesday!
[FADE TO BLACK.]
[FADE TO BLACK.]
