In
front of reporters, KJPW CEO and President Shigesato Ishiyama elaborated on the
card match-by-match, going in proper order.
Before
the official card begins, two of Genji Yamato's promising students will take
center-stage in a double debut bout, as Yusuke Kishimoto meets Hawaiian-born
Maleko Momoa! Both competitors have had more eyes on them than your normal
rookies due to the training and mentorship of Yamato. The two will square off
in a dark match to show their worth in front of the arriving fans. Having seen
Yamato's wards with his own eyes, Ishiyama said the world would watch to see if
they lived up to their potential.
The
card will open proper with two more of Yamato's students: Kohei Obata and
Hajime Kon; who will both team up to face the KJPW/ARMADA team of Yutaka Awano
and Yukio Kisanuki. Still only a couple of years into their careers, they will
face the touted Yamato disciples. Obata in particular comes into KJPW with a
modest level of hype around him, similar to Hiroaki Nakata, Norihiro Akashi,
and Mamoru Sekishima in years past. Now with a sold out crowd waiting for them,
it will be up to them to leave a favorable impression.
In
the first new match announced, former Nansei Nihon Puroresu star Ryuugo
Nagashima has officially signed a one-year contract with the company, and will
debut on 4/17 as a member of the regular army. While Ryuugo has spent the large
part of the last two years seasoning himself in various independents across
Japan, he has always carried with him a great sense of potential. Being trained
by Kazuya Asakino and the Steel Wind Dojo, Nagashima's training is second to
none... However, he will be given quite the task in his first match, facing the
man who goes by many monikers: Dream Catcher, Hell's Gift, and Nightmare Child -- the man known as Norihiro Akashi!
Nagashima
was on hand for President Ishiyama's reveal, and confirmed the signing by
posing alongside KJPW's "Seal Mark" logo emblem painted on the wall
of the conference room. While Nagashima was eager to test his metal against the
former HEC Heavyweight Champion, Akashi made a surprise appearance to protest
his match making! "I remember you from the days of FURY... But since then,
what have you done...? ...Ishiyama-kaichou, this
is unacceptable. Fix this."
While
seemingly uncomfortable by the confrontation, President Ishiyama stood firm,
and defended Nagashima as a strong opponent. Ryuugo politely told Mr. Ishiyama
that he didn't have to defend him, and stood face-to-face with Akashi! Showing
no fear, Ryuugo promised to make a shocking statement on 4/17 in Osaka by
BEATING KJPW's Nightmare Child! After
drawing out the tension, Akashi cracked an interested smile, before cupping his
hands and extending his arms to the side -- the former LEGION pose -- before making an abrupt exit...
Match
#3 will feature KJPW's reestablished Junior Heavyweight division. Two weeks
ago, Kyoto Okazaki and "HOT LIMIT," Wataru Yamada and Keisuke Rongai
returned to Japan after another successful tour of Mexico to form Kyou Hon Gan. Since then, a plan has
been carried out to form KJPW's own Jr. Seikigun! Pushing the initiative is
President Ishiyama himself, who personally secured the signings of some of
Japan's biggest junior stars, including ATSUKA, Yoshihiro Shimoda and Jet
Jaguar! Now, both sides will face off for the first time in Osaka! As hinted at
on 3/28, Kyou Hon Gan will bring even more fire power with them, as former FURY
wrestlers Kazuki Sendo and S★S
Star will join the fray. Not to be outdone, Ishiyama called upon Jaguar for a
favor. After arranging a private meeting at the Steel Wind Dojo, KJPW has
signed the "Masked Lion" himself, GALLEON!
Of course, that leaves it 4-on-5. With nothing to lose, Mr. Ishiyama reached
out to Iwate. After tense negotiations, Ishiyama has signed the first holder of
the HEC Jr. Heavyweight Title, HAYATO
SAIGO to a one year contract! Together,
these five men will be the foundation of KJPW's Jr. Regular Army. A new, and
exciting rivalry will begin on 4/17!
While
new wrestlers will enter the Kingdom, others will be leaving it... For reasons he outlined on 4/01,
The "BIG BOSS" Chikao Kessin will leave KJPW after 4/17. For his
final bout, Kessin personally requested to team with Double Goodwin -- James Goodwin Jr. and "BIG" Jon
Goodwin. Together, the three briefly terrorized KJPW as DARK TRIAD. However, 4/17 will mark their last match together as a
trio -- for the time being, anyways... Showing little regard for his soon-to-be
former company, Kessin said it made no difference who their opponents were. He
may soon regret that comment, as three men have taken the open contract! Two
calls were placed to Mr. Ishiyama's offices. The first being from former FURY
star and prodigy, "Renaissance
Fighter" Hiroaki Nakata! Asking Mr. Ishiyama directly if KJPW were
truly "opening its doors," he wanted an opportunity to prove himself
and help put past grudges behind him. Describing Nakata's earnest, Mr. Ishiyama
said that he wanted to strengthen pro-wrestling in Japan once more... However,
Nakata was outraged by Kessin's comments on 4/01, where he mocked KJPW's
periods of inactivity... The second call came from an unlikely duo. Looking to
also take KJPW up on its "open borders" policy, Manabe Tsuji and
RYUJI -- OSAKA WILD STYLE expressed
interest in returning to the Major
League. However, holding onto their independent roots, Tsuji and RYUJI have
joined the KJPW side as part-time freelancers. Having an interesting past with
Nakata, the trio will make for a formable challenge for DARK TRIAD in the "BIG BOSS's" finale.
Previously
announced was the bout pitting generation rivals Shinji Uchikawa against the
man now calling himself "Mr. Hard
Body," Tsutomu Nishioka! On 4/04, Nishioka confronted Uchikawa unannounced, days after capturing the EXODUS Pro Pacific Coast Title in
Korakuen Hall. Wanting to defend his new crown on a large stage before
returning to the United States, Shinji took it upon himself to put his new
title on the line! While showing little interest in the championship itself,
Nishioka has vowed to win the valuable gold belt for one of his many
"babes." While comical in nature, Nishioka's interruption clearly lit
a fire under Uchikawa. In Osaka, the Future will take stage in an important
test for both promising heavyweights. While Shinji has found success outside of
KJPW, this match for he and Nishioka will be the first big bout the two will
have since shedding their "rookie" looks. Their long-term success
will hinge on their performance on 4/17.
If
the news of Genji Yamato's in-ring return was not enough, fans were floored
with the sudden reappearance of the "Shoot Terrorist" RYO INOUE. While many figured Inoue
would target his old rival Yamato, Inoue would instead set his crosshairs on
Kenji Tanamura and his Hybrid Corps
ARMADA faction! When Tanamura formed ARMADA
in 2013, the comparisons to Inoue's militaristic group of Shoot Fighters collectively known as Total Attack Puroresu (T.A.P.) were inevitable. While the original
T.A.P. is no longer active, Inoue has raised a new generation of Total Attack Puroresu! In traditional
Inoue fashion, a video message on DVD was mysteriously left stuck to the front
office door, bearing the T.A.P. initials.
In the video, Inoue dramatically revealed his team -- first naming long-time
Inoue disciple Takumi Amano and young protégé Daichi Kurumada. However, keeping
his cards tightly concealed, Inoue held off on revealing the fourth and final member
of his team. Acknowledging the headaches that go into meeting Inoue's "unorthodox
demands," Ishiyama gave Tanamura's approval upon seeing the video, with
ARMADA conceding this psychological advantage to T.A.P. Seeing the controversy
that has transpired in the last few weeks alone, Mr. Ishiyama said this could
be a feud to define KJPW, as it is the first full-scale invasion from an
outside force. Before moving on, Mr. Ishiyama noted that the T.A.P. video would
soon be uploaded to KJPW's official YouTube channel.
Placed
between ARMADA vs. T.A.P. and the historic main event is an All-Star
Heavyweight Tag Match featuring returning faces! On 3/23, both President
Ishiyama and "DAUNTLESS" Naoki Fukuda declared "ALL BORDERS
OPEN!" -- meaning all past grudges and political/ideological differences
were dropped to ensure the best talent could enter KJPW's ring for the good of
the sport, and the fans. Within days, this offer was taken up by former
Pro-Wrestling FURY star Tetsuhisa NAKAI, who expressed his desire to get back
into the mix. He was confronted by of all people -- Mamoru Sekishima! Being
perhaps too honest, Sekishima acknowledged the hardships in getting matches due
to his low-level of popularity outside of Kansai. He even vowed to sell tickets
personally in "sleazy establishments" (which thankfully, isn't
needed.) After years of being touted as a "Potential Ace" due to his
great size and amazing athleticism, Mamoru wants to take that big step to the
main event! Seeing Mamoru's clear desire, NAKAI accepted him as a partner,
creating for an explosive tag match! The two will face "DAUNTLESS"
Naoki Fukuda and his long-time partner and former co-holder of the HEC Tag Team
Titles, the "Hot-Tempered Samurai" Riki Ichiro! Ichiro and NAKAI have
already had heated Twitter exchanges recently, promising to "darken the
mat with each other's blood" in one particularly gruesome quote. While
three men are geared to re-establish their dominance in Japanese pro-wrestling,
Mamoru Sekishima aims to break his way into the main event scene. However,
falling short of victory will prove devastating for his reputation.
Yes,
it is true. Genji Yamato will face Kazuma Fujita one-on-one in less than a
week's time. While the match was made just weeks ago, the stage was set years
ago when the two crossed paths in Burning Spirit Pro-Wrestling. While their
potential match would have been larger than anything imaginable at the time,
conflicted goals from both men would unintentionally keep them largely apart
outside of a handful of exciting tag matches. When Yamato entered PROMO * JAPAN
years later, many thought the match would finally happen. However, Fujita's brief
departure from the company would prevent the epic dream match from happening...
Finally, after re-structuring and renaming the company Pro-Wrestling ZION, another attempt to sign the match for the Tokyo
Dome was made. However, ZION's creditors prevented the company from carrying on
past March of 2007. After that however, the match seemed to fade away in the
minds of fans. While Fujita remained active off-and-on, Yamato turned to private
life while he cared personally for his family. Mr. Ishiyama noted his surprise
in first speaking to "Yamato-sama," first believing it to be a joke.
The two shared a long conversation that carried into the night. By the end, an
understanding was reached, and Genji Yamato would now return to the ring! Being
briefly out of the public eye himself, Fujita seized the opportunity to step
into what he still considers after all of his epic battles, the "most
important match of his career."
Since
initially announcing the match, both men have been almost polar opposites of
one another. Making up for lost time, Genji Yamato has made the media rounds in
recent weeks to promote the highly anticipated match. In addition, Yamato also
revealed his own four protégés: Kohei Obata, Hajime Kon, Yusuke Kishimoto, and
Maleko Momoa -- all of whom were signed to a one year contract! Meanwhile,
Fujita has been virtually hidden away since the match was announced. Outside of
a handful of personal appearances, Fujita has reportedly been training harder
for this match than any match in his entire career. Witnessing Fujita's
training first hand, Ishiyama expressed great worry that the 46-year old Fujita
was pushing himself too far physically. "We want to see the best possible
Kazuma Fujita... But it's possible he is allowing his desire to cloud his
judgment..." Ishiyama admitted. "I've always known Fujita-san to be
very wise... but when your motto is Always
Believe, Never Surrender, perhaps this thought is impossible...?"
Ishiyama ended saying, "...It's a most uncomfortable atmosphere..."
Regardless, Mr. Ishiyama could not oversell the importance of 4/17 for the
company moving forward. Due to the intrigue surrounding the main event, KJPW
will have far more media clearance than usual for a pro-wrestling show in
modern times. While the full show will air LIVE across Japan on the Sky
PerfecTV! PPV service for 2000 Yen (Roughly 18 dollars USD). However, a
majority of the PPV income will come from Internet streaming provider NicoNico Douga and International-based Ustream, who will both air the event on
their services for 2000 Yen and $35 respectively.
Perhaps
the bigger news however is that one of Japan's largest networks, Fuji TV will
dedicate the following night to the historic main event with a 75-minute slot
in GOLDEN TIME (American Eq. to Prime Time.) The edited program will
focus largely on the background of both Genji Yamato and Kazuma Fujita, along
with detailing the days leading up to the bout. While Fujita has been largely
out of the public's eye, the Fuji TV cameras have been recording his training
and hardships. Following the match itself, Genji Yamato and Kazuma Fujita both
will appear LIVE in-studio to talk about the bout. There is also expected to be
a feature on Ryo Inoue and the revival of "Total Attack Puroresu," in
addition to highlights from the night's seven other bouts. The hope from both
sides is that pro-wrestling's long absence from Golden Time will lead the way to new fans who have never before
seen professional wrestling.
2015/04/17 - 15:00 JST: LIVE, Sky PerfecTV! (2000 Yen) PPV, LIVE, NicoNico Douga Internet PPV
(2000 Yen), LIVE Ustream Internet PPV ($35)
2015/04/18 - 19:00 JST: Edited, Fuji TV Sports Special ~ GENJI YAMATO × KAZUMA FUJITA
2015/04/18 - 20:15 JST: LIVE, Fuji TV Talk Special ~ GENJI YAMATO × KAZUMA FUJITA:
EPILOGUE
The
stage is set, and the players have been named! April 17th will forever change
the course of Japanese Pro-Wrestling! Finally, We Will See It! The fated match between Genji Yamato and Kazuma
Fujita will take place! However in record time, KJPW has become a proving
ground for some of the best, young heavyweights Japan has to offer! Not only that;
but the amazing stars of the Jr. Heavyweight division have returned to stake
their claim in the hearts and imaginations of fans world-wide! And while they
bring wonderment and awe to the ring, ARMADA's fledging war with the villainous
T.A.P. brings a tense, worrying atmosphere. Shinji Uchikawa and "Mr. Hard
Body" Nishioka Tsutomu have set out to show the world "their pro-wrestling.
While their ideologies grow as they continue to gain experience, both men have
vowed to raise the stakes with their level of effort.
Finally, We Will See It!
KINGDOM of JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING,
"KING × KING" (iPPV/PPV/TV)
April 17, 2015
Osaka - BODYMAKER Colosseum (6,000)
0. Yusuke Kishimoto/Maleko Momoa Debut Match:
Yusuke Kishimoto vs. Maleko Momoa
1. OPENING MATCH ~ Hajime Kon Debut Match:
Yutaka Awano & Yukio Kisanuki vs. Kohei Obata & Hajime Kon
2. Our Pace ~ BRACE FOR NIGHTMARE: "Nightmare
Child" Norihiro Akashi vs. Ryuugo Nagashima
3. RETURN TO SOAR ~ Special Junior 10-Man Tag
Match: Jet Jaguar, ATSUKA, Yoshihiro Shimoda, GALLEON & Hayato Saigo
vs. Kyoto Okazaki, Wataru Yamada, Keisuke Rongai, Kazuki Sendo & S★S Star
4. LAST of BIG BOSS ~ Chikao Kessin Farewell
Match: Hiroaki Nakata, Manabe Tsuji [FREE] & RYUJI [FREE] vs.
"BIG BOSS" Chikao Kessin, James Goodwin Jr. & "BIG" Jon
Goodwin
5. We are... NEW GENERATION!! ~ EXODUS Pro
Pacific Coast Title Match: Shinji Uchikawa (c) vs. "Mr. Hard
Body" Tsutomu Nishioka
6. The First Shot ~ Hybrid Corps Armada versus
Total Attack Puroresu: Kenji Tanamura, Yuichi Miwa, Harumi Sakai &
Yusaku Kitajima vs. "Shoot Terrorist" Ryo Inoue [T.A.P.], "Elder
Brother Wolf" Takumi Amano [T.A.P.], "Hungry Wolf" Daichi Kurumada [T.A.P.]
& "Mystery Wolf" X [T.A.P.]
7. Magnitude Rising ~ KINGDOM'S HEAVY WAR:
"DAUNTLESS" Naoki Fukuda & "Hot-Blooded Samurai" Riki
Ichiro vs. Tetsuhisa NAKAI & "Greco Superman" Mamoru Sekishima
8. Forever Burning!! The Essence of
Pro-Wrestling ~ Unified Double Titles Match: "FIGHTING LOVE!" Genji
Yamato (c) vs. "Mr. 300%" Kazuma Fujita
No comments:
Post a Comment