-- KJPW held a press conference in Osaka to announce the full card for its upcoming event on 2/23 from the sub-arena of BODYMAKER Colosseum. The show will air live-to-tape on FIGHTING TV Samurai the same night. While the two main bouts were largely confirmed following KJPW's 2/08 show in Tokyo, the matches were formally announced as the top match will pit the KJPW Seikigun consisting of Naoki Fukuda, Chikao Kessin, Go Taniguchi, and Masafuji Yoshida against Seiji Ebisawa, Katsumi Gakusha, and Shino Hiriyama of SPIRIT International, along with TAKU, in addition to the in-ring return of Kazuma Fujita, who teams with Riki Ichiro and Yujiro Higuchi to face the ARMADA trio of Kenji Tanamura, Yuichi Miwa, and Harumi Sakai. Three other bouts were announced to round off the lineup as well.
Company CEO and acting President Shigesato Ishiyama presided over the press conference, beginning by briefly recapping the company's 2/08 event, calling it a step in the right direction. He stated that the company had big plans for 2013, but said they would carry out their plan with calculation and precision. He cited the previously announced EMPEROR'S CUP tournament that begins on 3/15 in Tokyo as their first big move, with plans to air the events on terrestrial television! However, he stated that an entirely different press conference would be devoted to the Emperor's Cup later in the week.
Mr. Ishiyama briefly ran down the full card for the 2/23 event. In addition to the two previously announced bouts, three other matches will round out the card. Kazuki Sendo will face off against ARMADA's Yusaku Kitajima in what should be a spirited bout. Kitajima is relatively unknown to fans, but is an accomplished judoka. His arsenal will make an interesting contrast to Sendo's fast-paced mix of lucha, rope work, and knee strikes. Mamoru Sekishima and Tetsuji Kawamura, the newly named, "MONSTER HEAD DUO" will compete against rookies Tsutomu Nishioka and Yutaka Awano in a tag team bout. Sekishima and Kawamura have their sights set on the tag team ranks, and are using KJPW to begin the second stage of their careers. While posing relatively little threat, the match will serve as a barometer to see just how much Nishioka and Awano have learned since their debut. Regardless of their result, the match will be vital experience. The same goes for the first bout of the match, which will see the other half of KJPW's inaugural rookie class compete against each other in a singles bout, as Shinji Uchikawa faces Yukio Kisanuki. Despite the size advantage for Uchikawa, they are comparable in grappling when it comes to their respective backgrounds, and will provide a competitive start to the night.
After revealing the card, Mr. Ishiyama brought in all right participants of the main event; separated by Ishiyama in the middle. There was a noticeably tense atmosphere as Fukuda and TAKU stared down the table at one another. Before questions could be taken, Fukuda asked TAKU to "put an end to this nonsense" and sign his contract to formally join KJPW. TAKU responded curtly, saying he needed to look out for his best interest right now, and was currently evaluating his options. He didn't expect Naoki to understand, and said he had to do what he needed to carve out a place for him in Pro-Wrestling. He promised to show his true strength in the forthcoming Emperor's Cup tournament.
On the match itself, and what it was made under Captain's Fall Elimination rules, Fukuda said that he wanted to provide the Osaka fans with a suspenseful atmosphere, where anything could happen at any moment. He noted the complexity of the Captain's Fall rule, saying that you could isolate the captain by eliminating his allies, or boldly try to end the match by taking out its captain in one critical blow. Seiji Ebisawa, now in his 40's, expected a drawn-out battle (much to his dismay, he said jokingly,) but said his team simply had the stronger wrestlers, as nobody has yet to impress him in KJPW sans TAKU and Naoki, who he called "two of the strongest" going right now. Go Taniguchi took exception to Ebisawa's words, vowing to make him eat his words for underestimating them. This prompted Katsumi Gakusha to make an inaudible comment at Go's expense, causing the usually timid Chairman of the Wrestlers to stand up from his seat and confront the disrespectful Gakusha. Surprisingly, it would be TAKU who would appear to calm Go down, allowing the press conference to continue.
Questions turned to TAKU's new found affiliation with Seiji Ebisawa's SPIRIT International faction. TAKU said he admired Ebisawa's wandering spirit, and admits to feeling a kindred spirit with him. However, the two did not meet until the events of KJPW's first event on 1/24. Revealing a little insight into his actions that night when he responded to Naoki's appeal to reform the "Chojin Powers" for one night only with two destructive lariats, TAKU admitted that it was hard falling to Naoki, but he claimed what made the matter worse was when after shedding his tears and blood in an attempt to win -- only to fail, everyone moved on, and begun making plans on their own, such as Naoki's suggestion to reform the "Chojin Powers." He stated his future was a clean slate, and that he would take his career one match at a time for the time being. However, he vowed a dominating victory for his team.
The second half of the press conference focused on the semi final of the show as all six men appeared before reporters, including Kazuma Fujita himself. The proceedings struck a stark contrast to the last segment, as it had a much more civil atmosphere with self-admiration exchanged between Fujita and ARMADA team captain Kenji Tanamura. Like the main event, this will feature a unique stipulation in the form of 2/3 falls! One of Fujita's partners, Riki Ichiro said this match would be the opposite of the main event, promising a swift onslaught of offense from his team, and vowed a 2-0 sweep. Harumi Sakai of ARMADA seemed to take offense to Ichiro's comments, but said the sweetest rebuttal will be making Ichiro regret his words by beating him in both falls. While both men kept their composure, some tension appeared to be brewing.
On the match itself, which will mark Kazuma Fujita's return to active competition before his impending retirement road begins later this year, Fujita said he was eager to test himself in the ring again, and admitted that he might have lost some steps in being away for the last couple of years. He jokingly said that despite playing a PE Teacher in the long-running "Go! Go! Masaru!!" television drama, he didn't keep up his fitness routine. Tanamura himself politely interjected, and said he felt Fujita was being modest to a degree, and expects the "True Kazuma Fujita" to show himself in Osaka. Fujita laughed, saying that was his goal, but wondered if he would succeed... Either way, in his lovably cheesy fashion, he vowed to give "...more than 300%!"
Company CEO and acting President Shigesato Ishiyama presided over the press conference, beginning by briefly recapping the company's 2/08 event, calling it a step in the right direction. He stated that the company had big plans for 2013, but said they would carry out their plan with calculation and precision. He cited the previously announced EMPEROR'S CUP tournament that begins on 3/15 in Tokyo as their first big move, with plans to air the events on terrestrial television! However, he stated that an entirely different press conference would be devoted to the Emperor's Cup later in the week.
Mr. Ishiyama briefly ran down the full card for the 2/23 event. In addition to the two previously announced bouts, three other matches will round out the card. Kazuki Sendo will face off against ARMADA's Yusaku Kitajima in what should be a spirited bout. Kitajima is relatively unknown to fans, but is an accomplished judoka. His arsenal will make an interesting contrast to Sendo's fast-paced mix of lucha, rope work, and knee strikes. Mamoru Sekishima and Tetsuji Kawamura, the newly named, "MONSTER HEAD DUO" will compete against rookies Tsutomu Nishioka and Yutaka Awano in a tag team bout. Sekishima and Kawamura have their sights set on the tag team ranks, and are using KJPW to begin the second stage of their careers. While posing relatively little threat, the match will serve as a barometer to see just how much Nishioka and Awano have learned since their debut. Regardless of their result, the match will be vital experience. The same goes for the first bout of the match, which will see the other half of KJPW's inaugural rookie class compete against each other in a singles bout, as Shinji Uchikawa faces Yukio Kisanuki. Despite the size advantage for Uchikawa, they are comparable in grappling when it comes to their respective backgrounds, and will provide a competitive start to the night.
After revealing the card, Mr. Ishiyama brought in all right participants of the main event; separated by Ishiyama in the middle. There was a noticeably tense atmosphere as Fukuda and TAKU stared down the table at one another. Before questions could be taken, Fukuda asked TAKU to "put an end to this nonsense" and sign his contract to formally join KJPW. TAKU responded curtly, saying he needed to look out for his best interest right now, and was currently evaluating his options. He didn't expect Naoki to understand, and said he had to do what he needed to carve out a place for him in Pro-Wrestling. He promised to show his true strength in the forthcoming Emperor's Cup tournament.
On the match itself, and what it was made under Captain's Fall Elimination rules, Fukuda said that he wanted to provide the Osaka fans with a suspenseful atmosphere, where anything could happen at any moment. He noted the complexity of the Captain's Fall rule, saying that you could isolate the captain by eliminating his allies, or boldly try to end the match by taking out its captain in one critical blow. Seiji Ebisawa, now in his 40's, expected a drawn-out battle (much to his dismay, he said jokingly,) but said his team simply had the stronger wrestlers, as nobody has yet to impress him in KJPW sans TAKU and Naoki, who he called "two of the strongest" going right now. Go Taniguchi took exception to Ebisawa's words, vowing to make him eat his words for underestimating them. This prompted Katsumi Gakusha to make an inaudible comment at Go's expense, causing the usually timid Chairman of the Wrestlers to stand up from his seat and confront the disrespectful Gakusha. Surprisingly, it would be TAKU who would appear to calm Go down, allowing the press conference to continue.
Questions turned to TAKU's new found affiliation with Seiji Ebisawa's SPIRIT International faction. TAKU said he admired Ebisawa's wandering spirit, and admits to feeling a kindred spirit with him. However, the two did not meet until the events of KJPW's first event on 1/24. Revealing a little insight into his actions that night when he responded to Naoki's appeal to reform the "Chojin Powers" for one night only with two destructive lariats, TAKU admitted that it was hard falling to Naoki, but he claimed what made the matter worse was when after shedding his tears and blood in an attempt to win -- only to fail, everyone moved on, and begun making plans on their own, such as Naoki's suggestion to reform the "Chojin Powers." He stated his future was a clean slate, and that he would take his career one match at a time for the time being. However, he vowed a dominating victory for his team.
The second half of the press conference focused on the semi final of the show as all six men appeared before reporters, including Kazuma Fujita himself. The proceedings struck a stark contrast to the last segment, as it had a much more civil atmosphere with self-admiration exchanged between Fujita and ARMADA team captain Kenji Tanamura. Like the main event, this will feature a unique stipulation in the form of 2/3 falls! One of Fujita's partners, Riki Ichiro said this match would be the opposite of the main event, promising a swift onslaught of offense from his team, and vowed a 2-0 sweep. Harumi Sakai of ARMADA seemed to take offense to Ichiro's comments, but said the sweetest rebuttal will be making Ichiro regret his words by beating him in both falls. While both men kept their composure, some tension appeared to be brewing.
On the match itself, which will mark Kazuma Fujita's return to active competition before his impending retirement road begins later this year, Fujita said he was eager to test himself in the ring again, and admitted that he might have lost some steps in being away for the last couple of years. He jokingly said that despite playing a PE Teacher in the long-running "Go! Go! Masaru!!" television drama, he didn't keep up his fitness routine. Tanamura himself politely interjected, and said he felt Fujita was being modest to a degree, and expects the "True Kazuma Fujita" to show himself in Osaka. Fujita laughed, saying that was his goal, but wondered if he would succeed... Either way, in his lovably cheesy fashion, he vowed to give "...more than 300%!"
February 23, 2013 (FIGHTING TV Samurai)
Osaka - BODYMAKER Colosseum Second Hall (1,800)
1. Shinji Uchikawa vs. Yukio Kisanuki
2. Mamoru Sekishima & Tetsuji Kawamura vs. Tsutomu Nishioka & Yutaka Awano
3. Kazuki Sendo vs. Yusaku Kitajima
4. Kazuma Fujita Chase The Dream "One More Time" Special 2/3 Falls Match: "Mr. Iron Man" Kazuma Fujita, Riki Ichiro & Yujiro Higuchi vs. Kenji Tanamura, Yuichi Miwa & Harumi Sakai
5. KJPW vs. SPIRIT Intl' + TAKU ~ Captain's Fall Elimination Match: Naoki Fukuda (C), Chikao Kessin, Go Taniguchi & Masafuji Yoshida vs. TAKU (C), Seiji Ebisawa, Katsumi Gakusha & Shino Hiriyama
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