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■ SUPER GRAND MELEE THRIVES | GROWTH AMIDST ECONOMIC RECESSION Despite Japan's economic recession, which has crippled the entire country, Super Grand Melee saw healthy growth in its third year and even managed to turn a slight profit. Owner Motoichi Arakida addressed the press at the company's headquarters in Sendai, presenting some figures. He particularly emphasized the inspiring success of DREAMSTAGE III, which set new standards for the league both qualitatively and financially. According to Arakida, interest in the touring shows is also on the rise, alongside well-attended big events. The KINNIKU CLIMB SERIES and the REAL MUSCLE SERIES, where the two SGM tournaments take place, saw high demand last year. Consequently, SGM is expected to use a larger venue for the first time this year. Arakida left open the possibility of future tours throughout Japan, stating that it had not been viable thus far. ■ PERSONNEL MOVEMENTS | NEW FACES IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE SCENES The personnel carousel at SGM has spun once again, but this time behind closed doors. Sadakuno Nishimuraya has joined the company as a consultant and backstage agent. Nishimuraya, a veteran heavyweight wrestler known for his "Iron Claw" finisher, brings years of experience to the table. Moving forward, alongside Nishimuraya, Big Bruiser Findlay will also be part-time with the company, as he is currently holding the IPWA International Heavyweight Title. Expect to see him primarily at SGM's big events due to commitments with Black Canvas Grappling. However, some involvement in non-title matches on normal touring shows is anticipated as well. ■ YOUNG LIONS RETURN | URAYAMA, IBATA AND AMANO BACK FROM US In January, SGM welcomed back three former Young Lions from their excursions to the United States. Big Boss Urayama spent a year at Titan Pro Wrestling, while Ritsu Ibata and Shuga Amano return from Mid Atlantic Wrestling. All three men faced the press, but were rather brief and humble. They all appeared greatly matured and according to Motoichi Arakida, their performance on the next tour is eagerly anticipated. Meanwhile, the company wishes Taiji Chajima (Mid Atlantic Wrestling), Shogo Awatari and Kawanari Enomoto (both from Titan Pro Wrestling) the best on their excursions. Like their predecessors, the three men will spend a year abroad to work on themselves and mature. ■ BHOTWG SUPER ROOKIE PRESENTED AS NEW YOUNG LION | KENSUKE NAKASAWA JOINS HIS FATHER AT SGM SGM has once again welcomed a new Young Lion into their roster. This time, the spotlight shines on a particularly special rookie, Kensuke Nakasawa. Hailing from Matsuyama, Shikoku, Nakasawa stands tall at 6'2 and weighs 242 lbs. As the name suggests, he is the son of legendary Hiroaki Nakasawa, who is currently active for the company. Nakasawa's upbringing was deeply rooted in athleticism, excelling in baseball, swimming and freestyle wrestling during his high school years. Guided by the experienced hands of BHOTWG's highly prestigious Hinote Dojo, he mastered the art of classic heavyweight wrestling within the same halls where Master Kitozon once imparted his teachings. In the ring, Nakasawa demonstrates a calculated precision, often overwhelming his opponents with a relentless assault that culminates in his devastating finishing move, the Burning Strike. KENSUKE NAKASAWA 20 years old | 187 cm, 111 kg | Matsuyama, Shikoku

2022 END OF THE YEAR AWARDS THE JAPANESE WRESTLING YEAR IN REVIEW MOST VALUABLE PLAYER EMERALD ANGEL Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods The race for this year's MVP couldn't have been tighter. At times, the discussions in our editorial rooms were so passionate and heated that for the first time in Pro Wrestling BUNKAI!'s history, we even considered the possibility of having joint winners for the award. However, in the end, one of the contenders emerged victorious: Emerald Angel! What tipped the scales in his favor were not only numerous classic matches in junior wrestling (which he shared with his rival Sensational Dragon) but ultimately his championship reigns. In July 2022, the masked wrestler not only won the Best Of The Super Juniors for the second time in a row but also finally and for the first time crowned himself as the Junior Heavyweight Champion of BHOTWG the following month. Throughout, he carried the entire company as its flagship and showed no signs of fatigue at any point, which makes him our MVP of 2022. BEST FOREIGN WRESTLER MATTHEW KEITH Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods Once again, no surprises compared to last year - the award for the best foreigner goes to Matthew Keith yet again! He successfully defended the Burning World Championship he won in June of last year in an incredible reign filled with top matches until December 2022, before his reign came to an end against 41-year-old Kinnojo Horri in a dramatic showdown, marking Horri's sixth reign. Keith held the heavyweight title of the company for a total of 546 days, during which he produced classics against Tatsuya Toshitara, Heihachiro Sakai, Ieyoshi Shimakage and Munemitsu Senmatsu. His matches against Toshitara and Horri, incorporating many elements of junior wrestling and a high pacing, have already been particularly celebrated in our magazine and are considered groundbreaking for modern heavyweight wrestling from our perspective. BEST TAG TEAM CHOJIRO KITOAJI & BUSSHO MAKIGUCHI Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods It was THE shocking news of the previous year - in October 2021, Chojiro Kitoaji announced, after a minor injury, that he would take a longer break from pro wrestling and thus leave Pride Glory Honor Wrestling after 14 years. The company, already plagued by injury concerns and an aging roster, lost one of its most popular stars. What apparently no one in their management could anticipate was that Kitoaji would unexpectedly show up at the competitor and Japanese market leader Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods seven months later. To make the crisis perfect, Bussho Makiguchi followed just one month later, meaning PGHW lost arguably their best and most decorated tag team of the present to the competition. The exact cause of these events was kept silent by all parties. However, rumors suggest that Kitoaji and Makiguchi were dissatisfied with not having a title run as tag team champions for three years and also not being able to assume what they believed was their rightful role in either the Elite Tag Team Series or the singles division. The big report on their move is summarized in today's issue on pages 43 and 44 by our editor Junnosuke. Both men made a huge impact at BHOTWG! In June, they defeated Atsumori Takemura and Ryushi Sato in what we consider the best tag team match of the year at Inferno Of Purity and relieved them of the BHOTWG World Tag Team Titles. Equally noteworthy is their high-profile match against Munemitsu Senmatsu and Ieyoshi Shimakage, currently making waves at BHOTWG under the name The Exploders. BEST COMPANY BURNING HAMMER OF THE WRESTLING GODS Even Japan's economic recession couldn't change the fact that BHOTWG remained the Japanese market leader in 2022. Despite a faltering GDP, Japanese people continue to eagerly purchase tickets to the company's events, consistently filling arenas with tens of thousands of seats. Consequently, it was another record-breaking year economically, as CEO Tetsuzan Kaneko demonstrated during the presentation of the annual report. These successes are not coincidental - a smart roster policy, forward-thinking management, marketing through Aichi and Emperor Choice, as well as an outstanding in-ring product, all form the understandable basis for this achievement. BEST MATCH SENSATIONAL DRAGON VS EMERALD ANGEL BHOTWG Burning Path VII, January 2022 The best match of the year 2022 ironically took place in January. At Burning Path VII, the defeat of Emerald Angel against the until then seemingly invincible Sensational Dragon marked the next phase of the feud between the two super juniors. For the last time there, Dragon managed to fend off his nemesis in a dramatic battle, retaining the BHOTWG Junior Heavyweight Title. The in-ring narrative of an Angel tirelessly pursuing his dream and thus becoming increasingly dangerous to Dragon, was masterfully executed. Dragon's victory was so incredibly close and almost accidental that every viewer had to realize afterwards - now Angel has him! Next time, he would beat him. And that's exactly what happened. BEST SHOW BHOTWG QUEST OF HEART September 2022 This award also goes to BHOTWG for 2022 (and it's about time for the other Japanese companies to step up - we're talking about you, PGHW and BCG!). In the over 50-year history of Pro Wrestling BUNKAI!, there have only been two events that could boast two matches with the very rarely awarded 5-star rating. Quest Of Heart officially joined this elite group, as we extensively reported in September. Not only was Matthew Keith's fight with Kinnojo Horri for the Burning World Championship sensational, but also Emerald Angel's defense of the Junior Heavyweight Title against the MYSTIC Dragon. In the mid-card of the show, KitoGuchi emerged victorious in the rematch of the Tag Team Match Of The Year against Takemura and Sato. A truly outstanding card - it doesn't get any better than this! BEST ROOKIE MASATOCHI KAMIMURA Pride Glory Honor Wrestling The odds continue to be high that PGHW owns the future. This year saw Masatochi Kamimura from their in-house talent pool have his breakout year, which also marked his final year as a Young Lion. The man who has been compared to Yoshimi Mushashibo and Masaru Ugaki even during his time in the dojo delivered numerous technical delights and was our favorite wrestler on the lower card in 2022. His passionate performances in Six Man Tag Team Matches alongside Ugaki were particularly impressive, showcasing Kamimura's strong drive to rise up. We're eagerly anticipating his Ten Match Trial Series announced for Spring 2023. BEST FEMALE WRESTLER SHIORI JIPPENSHA 5 Star Supreme Wrestling There's no way around her in 2022 either - for the fourth time in a row, Shiori Jippensha crowns herself as the MVP of the women's division. Her seemingly eternal reign as the 5SSW World Champion came to an end in February after an action-packed duel with Gemmei Oonishi. However, the "Excellence Of Execution" didn't lose much of her brilliance. Jippensha remained a constant presence in the main event picture of 5 Star Supreme Wrestling, delivering not only in singles matches against Megumi Nakajima, Romi Yamato, HEART Saitoh, and MAYA but also shining as the holder of the Triangle Titles in Three Way Dances. BEST TECHNIQUE MABUCHI FURUSAWA Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods Since Mabuchi Furusawa left Black Canvas Grappling and ventured into deeper waters, it has unfortunately been noted that there are bigger fish than him. Too often, the highly talented son of Hanshiro Furusawa appeared somewhat outdated and lost in his new home. However, this should not overshadow the fact that in BHOTWG's mid card, he was able to consistently bring out the best from limited opponents with his outstanding technical abilities. Especially in matches with former BCG colleagues who have also made the leap, he seems to feel comfortable and can truly shine. Noteworthy, for example, are his series against Tanyu Toshusai and Noritoshi Miura. Whether Furusawa, at 36 years old, will play a bigger role again remains difficult for us to assess, but technically, this year, he has surpassed even Masaru Ugaki. MOST POPULAR WRESTLER EMERALD ANGEL Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods Once again, there's no way around him - the Emerald Angel is Japan's most popular pro wrestler! His merchandise consistently tops the charts, and his personal blog had 2.1 million followers by the end of the year.

Jay Silver vs. Jack Pryde Keith Vegas vs. Gareth Wayne James Diaz vs. Barry Kingman Original Sinner & Dreadnought vs. The Crazy Horses (Ace Youngblood & Wild Red Stallion) Ricky Turner & Rayne Man vs. The Fighting Irish (Crockett Tubbs & Conner Threepwood)

SGM KINNIKU CLIMB SERIES November - December 2022 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' For the third time in the history of Super Grand Melee, the company transitions to the Kinniku Climb, pitting 20 heavyweights against each other in two blocks until only one remains at DREAMSTAGE III on the night of December 31, 2022 into January 1, 2023 - the Strongest! So far, the most important SGM event of the year has always left a significant mark. This year's tournament is even more star-studded, than in previous years. Let's take a look at Block A, where all the singles champions of the league are represented, including Strongest Heavyweight Champion Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, Japanese National Champion Sozen Ishinomori and IPWA International Heavyweight Champion Burt Hudson. As expected, the three men engaged in a neck-and-neck race for the top two spots. Wakabayashi, who presented himself in absolutely stunning form, managed a perfect clean sheet and thus secured clear group victory with 18 points. While he had Ishinomori surprisingly well under control in their encounter, it was a much closer match against Hudson. Even his partner and OCEANERS comrade Kyuichi Matsumoto gave the champion trouble and brought him to the brink of a draw before the saving Exploder came through in the 28th minute. Apart from that, Wakabayashi delivered a commanding performance worthy of a champion. When it came to the second place, it seemed at one point that Ishinomori could pull ahead of Hudson. On Day #3, the latter had an exhausting fight with Matsumoto, which he managed to win with an Oklahoma Stampede. Then, his match against BISON Yano on Day #5 only ended in a draw. However, the "Doctor Of Pain" regained his momentum thereafter, securing victory after victory - the same applied to Ishinomori. It wasn't until Day #17 of the tour, the final match day in Block A, that the two clashed directly and determined the second semifinalist. After 24 minutes, it seemed like the Japanese wrestler was on top after a devastating Golden Bomb Drop - however, Hudson kicked out of the cover at the last moment and regained his composure. Shortly after, he managed to keep Ishinomori down on the mat after three brutal Backdrops. There were also strong performances from BISON Yano of the Destiny Masters and Kyuichi Matsumoto of the OCEANERS group. Yano finished with 12 points, Matsumoto with 10. Appropriately, their duel ended in a well-deserved draw as it went the distance. Shozo Furuta put up a commendable performance as well, securing 9 points in the end, albeit ending up behind the other two, placing him in the middle of the pack overall. The weakest performance in Block A came from Akira Arato, who participated in the tournament for the first time. The 27-year-old only managed to secure only 1 point via draw after his match against Eikichi Itou ended in count-out. In Block B, things heated up even more. It remained tight until the final days of the tournament, with seven wrestlers having a shot at making it to the semifinals. Let's first take a look at the man who ultimately emerged as the top contender in Block B - Avalanche Takano. Takano positioned himself early with important victories over Hiroaki Nakasawa, Yasuhiko Taira and several other opponents. He struggled against Bam Bam Bundy but managed to secure a victory just before reaching the time limit. Three days later, the first shock came when Big Bruiser Findlay surprisingly defeated Takano in just 19 minutes with an Atomic Spinebuster. A few days later, Takano had to settle for a draw against BRUTE Kikuchi, who once again had a strong tournament and rightfully held the title of dark horse. It wasn't until the final phase of the tournament that Takano found his rhythm again with a hard-fought win over newcomer Ryobe Uno, followed by a tough victory over guest star Toshiharu Hyobanshi, securing the group win with a total of 15 points. As for the second-place contender, the bookmakers' odds kept changing until the end. At one point, everyone favored BRUTE Kikuchi, as he impressively defeated Findlay early on in a short, intense match. However, the Destiny Masters' beast ran out of steam towards the end of the group stage, suffering two crushing defeats, first against Hyobanshi and then against Taira. An early loss to Hiroaki Nakasawa also blocked his path to the semifinals. Taira, Hyobanshi and Nakasawa meanwhile also had their share of slip-ups, sometimes defeating each other. The decision of who would advance alongside Takano ultimately depended on who performed the most dominantly in the direct matches of the leading group. And that was none other than Black Canvas Grappling's super gaijin Big Bruiser Findlay! Although the legendary super heavyweight from Georgia lost to Kikuchi, he defeated Takano, Nakasawa and Hyobanshi. Draws against Taira and Bam Bam Bundy, which resulted in countouts after intense brawls, slightly tarnished his overall result but didn't prevent his semifinal qualification. On the contrary, it raised the question of how much more the wild Findlay could have achieved had he focused more on winning in those matches. The weakest performance in Block A came from Ox Mastadon, who reacted angrily, to say the least, going on a rampage backstage when he realized that an interviewer had asked in a post-match interview whether he was past his prime. He left the tournament with only one point. Debutant Ryobe Uno delivered surprisingly good performances and ended with 3 points. Nakasawa specifically praised his toughness and fighting spirit, as Uno managed to wrestle a draw from him due to the time limit. The legend even pondered the idea of taking Uno under his wing. The semifinals were thus set: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, the winner of Block A, would face Big Bruiser Findlay, the second-placed wrestler in Block B and vice versa Avalanche Takano would face Burt Hudson. This marked the first time that two gaijin made it to the semifinals of the World's Strongest Singles Grand Prix. It's fair to say that both matches had the level of a final. On day #19 of the KINNIKU CLIMB SERIES, Strongest Heavyweight Champion Wakabayashi spectacularly emerged as the first finalist, after holding Findlay down for the count of three on the mat following a 27-minute bout and a Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex, which was preceded by several Exploders. The match was absolutely even, brutal and full of dramatic highlights, with Findlay looking very strong. The second semifinal lasted a proud 38 minutes and will go down as a classic in the history of Super Grand Melee - Avalanche Takano prevailed against the IPWA International Heavyweight Champion. This marks his third consecutive entry into the WSSGP final, making him a presence in all tournament finals so far. DREAMSTAGE wouldn't be the biggest SGM show of the year if it focused on just one match. In a press conference before the event, Motoichi Arakida announced two more interesting matches. Firstly, there would be a rematch between Sozen Ishinomori and BISON Yano, whose encounter previously ended narrowly in favor of Ishinomori. This time, the Japanese National Title of the colossus would be on the line. Furthermore, the SGM owner arranged what he considered an absolute dream match between two of the best foreign wrestlers in the country - Burt Hudson would defend his IPWA International Heavyweight Title against Big Bruiser Findlay. The two were in different blocks during the tournament, so Arakida couldn't hide his excitement to witness this showdown for the first time. SGM DREAMSTAGE III Ōsaki, Japan - 31.12.2022 Attendance: 1.636, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [79] Taiji Chajima, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto defeated Toyotomi Hirota, Kamatari Kamohara & Shigemori Koruba (8m55s) with the Lariat from Enomoto to Koruba [41] ★★ Hiroaki Nakasawa, Yasuhiko Taira, Oda Yakuta & MUSCLE Serizawa defeated Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano (18m09s) with the H-Bomb from Nakasawa to Kajiwara [57] ★★¾ SGM Japanese National Championship: Sozen Ishinomori © defeated BISON Yano (22m25s) with the Golden Bomb Drop [66] ★★★¼ - 1ST DEFENSE - BRUTE Kikuchi & Shozo Furuta defeated Ryobe Uno & Akira Arato (14m36s) with the Kikuchi Crush from Kikuchi to Arato [63] ★★★¼ Kyuichi Matsumoto, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Bam Bam Bundy, Ox Mastadon & Animal Harker (24m23s) with the Lariat from Arakaki to Mastadon [70] ★★★½ IPWA International Heavyweight Championship: Big Bruiser Findlay defeated Burt Hudson © (27m56s) with the Atomic Spinebuster [78] ★★★★ - TITLE CHANGE! - SGM Strongest Singles Grand Prix III & SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi © defeated Avalanche Takano (33m32s) with the Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex [81] ★★★★ Following the main event, as usual, the winner's ceremony followed, presided over by Motoichi Arakida and Eisuke Yoshinobu. The two brought the tournament trophy, flower bouquets and an intricately decorated katana to the ring and presented them to this year's tournament winner, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi. He also received back the Strongest Heavyweight Title, which he had entrusted to the SGM officials before the tournament. Wakabayashi expressed extreme happiness that after three years in Japan, he had achieved the greatest possible success. He thanked his fans and all those who supported classical heavyweight wrestling. However, he admitted he still couldn't conscientiously wear this belt until he had faced off against Haranobu Kobayashi. Therefore, he issued a challenge to him, concluding with an invitation to compete at MACHO KINGDOM in February to see who the REAL Strongest Heavyweight Champion was.

I don't know much about the CV US scene, so the only names I recognize are those of Diaz and Kingman, but the whole old school setup and rulework of the company is appealing. Very fitting logo for the company! I think I haven't read any diary from you that wasn't located in Japan yet, so I'll be curious to see where you're going with this.

True that, haha. I kinda wanted to give him some time to see if his stats develop well and let him gain some popularity before giving him some significant wins and putting the belt on him. Making him the champion at this point also wasn't planned yet, but Kobayashi's injury forced me to adapt.

WORLD'S STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX 2022 - PREDICTION CONTEST Tournament Winners: Runners-up: Most Points (Group Stage): Will any tag team end up with zero points? (Bonus point: If so, who?): Biggest Surprise: Biggest Upset:

WORLD'S STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX 2022 FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS The World's Strongest Singles Grand Prix, now in its third iteration, marks the most important tournament of the year for Super Grand Melee. The participant lineup was unveiled in advance during a press conference in Sendai by Motoichi Arakida and Eisuke Yoshinobu. As usual, the roster included the who's who of the company. The roster has grown to a size where not every participant makes it into the tournament; instead, selections are made based on performance beforehand. Furthermore, interest from outside to participate in the tournament is increasing, particularly appealing to SGM's cooperative partners. Looking solely at the current titleholders of the league, Block A appears significantly stronger at first glance compared to Block B this year. Featuring reigning Strongest Heavyweight Champion Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, Japanese National Champion Sozen Ishinomori and IPWA International Heavyweight and Strongest Tag Team Champion Burt Hudson, Block A will witness the elite of SGM competing for the two semifinal spots. The block is rounded out by names like Kyuichi Matsumoto, BISON Yano and Shozo Furuta, all of whom are expected to provide tough competition. On the other side, Block B showcases former Strongest Heavyweight Champions Hiroaki Nakasawa and Avalanche Takano. Takano has been in both previous tournament finals and is considered by many bookmakers as a secret favourite this year as well. However, they will face competition from the dark horse candidate BRUTE Kikuchi, brutish Yasuhiko Taira, aspiring Bam Bam Bundy and talented Ryobe Uno, who is participating in the tournament for the first time. Additionally, Block B will feature both of this year's tournament guest stars. Firstly, there's Black Canvas Grappling's super gaijin, Big Bruiser Findlay! Secondly, there's the former GCG World Heavyweight Champion and current BHOTWG star Toshiharu Hyobanshi, who is renowned as one of the finest heavyweights of his era and who Arakida had many warm and respectful words for. Both men are loaned due to the partnerships SGM has established with their respective companies. To conclude the press conference, the current Strongest Heavyweight Champion Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi announced that he would put his belt on the line during the tournament. Thus, the tournament winner will simultaneously become the champion. He made this decision because he did not consider the circumstances of his title win to be dignified. Through this gesture, he aims to either prove, that he is the true champion, or fail in the attempt. The winner of the previous tournament Haranobu Kobayashi will be missing out due to an ankle injury. He is expected to return in January. The Strongest Singles Grand Prix operates as a round-robin tournament, featuring two blocks, each consisting of ten randomly assigned wrestlers. Block matches adhere to a strict 30-minute time limit, with victories earning 2 points, draws 1 point, and losses resulting in 0 points. Semi-final matchups pit the winner of Block A against the runner-up of Block B, and vice versa. The tournament culminates in the Grand Final, where the ultimate victors not only claim the tournament crown but also earn a coveted shot at the Strongest Heavyweight Championship. __________________________________________________ BLOCK A __________________________________________________ BLOCK B

SGM BRUTE STRENGTH SERIES September - October 2022 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' Harunobu Kobayashi's year began on a high note with his victory in the World's Strongest Singles Grand Prix on New Year's night 2021, defeating his former ally Avalanche Takano, whom he had expelled from his faction. Two months later, he furthered his success by claiming Takano's Strongest Heavyweight Title. Subsequently, Kobayashi's performance in tag team matches during the June tournament was less stellar. For nearly a year, he remained undefeated in singles competition though. Unfortunately, Kobayashi's excellent year came to an abrupt halt during the BRUTE STRENGTH SERIES, where his faction, Destiny Masters, increasingly clashed with the OCEANERS. In a direct confrontation with Eikichi Itou, Kobayashi landed awkwardly during a dive from the ring apron to the outside area, resulting in the match being stopped and the champion being escorted out of the arena by ring crew members. A medical examination later revealed a broken right ankle. In a hastily called press conference, Motoichi Arakida announced that Kobayashi's expected recovery time would be three months. However, doctors could not provide a definitive timeline for his return to the ring. Unable to defend the Strongest Heavyweight Title as scheduled, Kobayashi reluctantly relinquished the title, which would be contested anew at STRONGHOLD. Moreover, it is highly likely that he will have to forgo participation in this year's World's Strongest Singles Grand Prix as well. Kobayashi expressed deep remorse during the press conference and apologized to the audience for the interruption of the match due to his injury. He pledged to come back stronger once he could return to active competition. Thus, it was necessary to determine two challengers for the match for the Strongest Heavyweight Title. Normally, Super Grand Melee largely avoids singles matches during tours. These were supposed to be something special within the year-end tournament. However, under these unexpected circumstances, several singles matches were held during the tour, from which two men stood out. Firstly, Hiroaki Nakasawa, who despite advancing physical decline, still scratches at the top and secondly, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, who presented himself in outstanding condition as of late after gaining weight. The two men last met in December in Block B of the WSSGP, where Wakabayashi emerged victorious after a tough fight. It is Wakabayashi's first chance at the league's most important belt, whereas Nakasawa has already managed to win it once. Elsewhere, two more OCEANERS managed to qualify for a title match, namely Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki. The two massive heavyweights are now considered one of the most seasoned tag teams within the company. When it comes to gold and trophies, however, they have had no luck so far That could change soon, as during the tour they clashed with Kurofune more than once, primarily in multiman matches, where Arakaki eventually managed to pin Bam Bam Bundy after a football tackle for the count of three. Itou and Arakaki subsequently challenged Bullet Train to a match at STRONGHOLD for the Strongest Tag Team Titles. Sozen Ishinomori also instantly positioned himself for a title shot, after making a spectacular return to Super Grand Melee after two years of absence. In his very first Six Man Tag Team Match, he instantly secured a pinfall against BRUTE Kikuchi. Prior to his departure to rival promotion Pride Glory Honor Wrestling, the bald-headed big man was considered sluggish and not particularly consistent in the ring. However, he now presents himself with a renewed fervor, even refining his technical abilities, adding to his charisma an impressive presence in the ring. Throughout the tour, the two men encountered each other multiple times. Yet, neither could pin the other or force a submission, leaving the question of how their singles match will unfold wide open. SGM STRONGHOLD 2022 Iwate, Japan - 16.10.2022 Attendance: 1.000, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [70] Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata & Koichi Kajiwara defeated Shigemori Koruba, Toyotomi Hirota & Kamatari Kamohara (9m30s) with the Forearm Strike from Kajiwara to Kamohara [34] ★¾ Avalanche Takano, Yasuhiko Taira, Oda Yakuta & MUSCLE Serizawa defeated BISON Yano, Shozo Furuta, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (13m47s) with the Yak Bomb from Yakuta to Enomoto [61] ★★★ Akira Arato & Ryobe Uno defeated Ox Mastadon & Animal Harker (17m11s) with the German Suplex from Uno to Harker [51] ★★½ Kyuichi Matsumoto defeated Kimi Kawano (19m11s) with the Power Bomb [63] ★★★¼ SGM Japanese National Championship: Sozen Ishinomori defeated BRUTE Kikuchi © (18m14s) with the Golden Bomb Drop [59] ★★★ - TITLE CHANGE! - SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy © defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (21m08s) with the Moonsault from Bundy to Arakaki [73] ★★★¾ - 1ST DEFENSE - SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship (Vacant): Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi defeated Hiroaki Nakasawa (27m38s) with the Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex [72] ★★★½ - TITLE CHANGE! - Sozen Ishinomori unveiled a remarkably brutal Power Bomb during his Japanese National Championship Match, dropping his opponent abruptly onto his neck. In a post-match interview, he referred to this maneuver as the Golden Bomb Drop. He stated that he had conceived the idea during his time in Golden Canvas Grappling. However, he mentioned that only now has he matured enough to execute the move according to his vision. After his victory in the Main Event and the consequent first-time acquisition of the Strongest Heavyweight Title, something seemed to be visibly gnawing at Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi. He didn't appear at all like someone who might have just reached the pinnacle of his career, but rather contemplative. In a closing promo of the show, he thanked the audience and all those who had cheered for him. He also mentioned, that he had massive respect for Hiroaki Nakasawa and was happy to have had the chance, to fight him again. Yet he also implied, that winning the title in this manner wouldn't feel honorable. He closed with the hope for Haranobu Kobayashi's swift return, as he wishes to put the belt on the line against him and earn the title.

■ HUDSON TRIUMPHS IN TEXAS | MIXED REACTION OVER CONTROVERSY STIRRED BY "DOCTOR OF PAIN" On the previous Friday, immediately following Super Grand Melee's July and August tour, Burt Hudson traveled to Texas to defend his IPWA International Heavyweight Title at Titan Pro Wrestling's major event, MAYHEM. In a brawl-heavy match lasting 22 minutes, Hudson emerged victorious against the highly talented 22-year-old Rex "Big Bubba" Barnett. Both companies have agreed to regularly hold cross-country title defenses under the umbrella of the International Pro Wrestling Alliance, making the titleholder a classic wandering champion. However, Hudson's reception in Texas was mixed after he attacked his opponent and then mocked TPW's roster and audience during the weekly show, WRESTLING AT THE ARMOURY, leading up to the title match. ■ MEMORIAL SHOW FOR YOSHINAKA TOSHUSAI | KYOTO ARENA TO HOST EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 07 In July, the wrestling world mourned the unexpected passing of Yoshinaka Toshusai, one of the country's most successful heavyweight wrestlers. During day #7 of SGM's LIMIT BREAK SERIES, the event was briefly interrupted to deliver the sad news to the attending audience and to hold a spontaneous ten-bell salute. An official Memorial Show for Toshusai is now scheduled, with wrestlers from various promotions paying their respects to the late legend. The event, organized by Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods, will take place on September 7, 2022, at the historic Kyoto Arena in Toshusai's chosen hometown of Kyoto. ■ YOSHIZAWA AND MIURA LEAVE SGM | DEPARTURE OF BELOVED TAG TEAM LEAVES SGM WITH POTENTIAL VACANCIES During a press conference in Sendai, SGM owner Motoichi Arakida announced that Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura will be leaving the company with immediate effect. The reason behind their departure is quite pleasing for them - they will be joining the roster of BHOTWG and showcasing their skills as a tag team there. Arakida expressed great regret over the departure of the two men, who will also be leaving behind Black Canvas Grappling in the process. Arakida stated that the transfer will not affect the friendly relationship between SGM and BHOTWG, as, according to him, an agreement had been reached behind the scenes, benefiting both sides. He did not disclose further details to the gathered press representatives. Yoshizawa and Miura were highly popular among SGM's audience, with their martial face paint and spiked shoulder armor. They made history by simultaneously holding and defending the BCG World Tag Team Titles and SGM Strongest Tag Team Titles. They recently reached the finals of the World's Strongest Doubles Grand Prix, where they were defeated by Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy, subsequently losing their belts to them as well. Arakida stated that a replacement is not ruled out, but currently not specifically planned. ■ ISHINOMORI RETURNS | COLOSSUS REJOINS AFTER SURPRISE DEPARTURE FROM PGHW After precisely two years, Pride Glory Honor Wrestling has unexpectedly parted ways with Sozen Ishinomori. Motoichi Arakida announced in a press release Ishinomori's return to SGM. The charismatic colossus, originally trained in the Golden Dojo, joined SGM in January 2020, only to depart from the company after just seven months. At PGHW, he achieved victory in the Elite Tag Team Series tournament alongside Seiji Jimbo. During a two-month injury hiatus, he also served as a color commentator for the league, significantly boosting his popularity in Japan during that time. Arakida referred to the 32-year-old as a significant acquisition for SGM, expressing hope that Ishinomori would make the company his permanent home this time.

SGM LIMIT BREAK SERIES July - August 2022 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' In their annual forecasts, the professional wrestling magazines named many individuals who would make a significant breakthrough this year in Super Grand Melee. However, the gaijin of the company were egregiously neglected, labeled as too clumsy, disrespectful and unpopular. Yet, it is precisely from this perceived underdog position that Burt Hudson has managed to ascend to one of the hottest acts in the league. Recent polls have shown his popularity approaching that of Japanese stars. His partner, Bam Bam Bundy, has also garnered a certain level of respect. Coming along is a newfound confidence in the ring, that has led to a strong streak for the Kurofune. Following their victory in the World's Strongest Doubles Grand Prix, they now have the opportunity to challenge Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura for their Strongest Tag Team Titles. While they emerged victorious in the tournament final, the encounter was fiercely contested. In the current tour, it appeared once again that the teams would neutralize each other. Neither combo could gain a clear advantage in various multi-man matches, with victories and defeats evenly split. It's a fact that there are now occasional admirers of the Kurofune, particularly Hudson, among the audience. Aside from the Tag Team Championship match, the LIMIT BREAK SERIES focused on the reigniting rivalry between the Destiny Masters and the OCEANERS. Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, leader of the latter group, and his right-hand man Kyuichi Matsumoto evidently made good use of the Golden Week hiatus, appearing at the pre-tour press conference with noticeably altered physiques. While Wakabayashi now sports a ripped body, beard and aggressive platin blond buzzcut, Matsumoto appears bulkier and wishes to be addressed as Kyuichi "The Bruiser" Matsumoto going forward. They attributed the change to their premature exit from the World's Strongest Doubles Grand Prix and Matsumoto's clear defeat in his Strongest Heavyweight Title Match against Haranobu Kobayashi. They realized their bodies had reached their limits. Previously, they had compensated for their strength disadvantage with tireless endurance and fighting spirit. However, now they believe it's time to match the physicality of the company elite and see where that leads. As a trial run, the two men, along with their group, repeatedly clashed with the Destiny Masters, eventually agreeing on an Eight Man Tag Team Match at the big event. During the tour, Akira Arato and Ryobe Uno continued to work on their positioning within the company, striving to break out from the limbo between the lower and mid-card and ascend upwards. Despite both being visibly talented, this endeavor proved far from easy. While they achieved success in matches against the league's Young Lions and parts of the STRONGARMS, larger obstacles like Yasuhiko Taira or Hiroaki Nakasawa acted as a metaphorical invisible barrier. As a result, Uno challenged the legendary Nakasawa to a singles match at OVERPOWER. Arato, on the other hand, went even further and approached Avalanche Takano, who accepted the fight but referred to it as a sparring match, disrespecting his opponent in the process. Midway through the tour, in late July, Motoichi Arakida had somber news to deliver during a live show. At the age of 76, the legendary GCG and BHOTWG wrestler Yoshinaka Toshusai succumbed to a sudden severe heart attack. A revered figure in Japanese wrestling circles, Toshusai is widely celebrated as one of the finest heavyweight wrestlers of his era. Initially, he was a prized asset for GCG, capturing their world title in 1976. However, it was his move to BHOTWG that truly elevated his career, culminating in two separate reigns as the Burning World Champion. Following retirement, he played a significant role in assisting Tadiyuki Kikkawa in managing INSPIRE from 2006 to 2009 before shifting focus entirely to his thriving import-export enterprise in 2010. In honor of Toshusai, who was considered one of Arakida's greatest rivals and adversaries, a spontaneous ten-bell salute was initiated. Arakida also extended his deepest condolences to Toshusai's family members and offered heartfelt words of tribute to his old comrade. SGM OVERPOWER 2022 Iwate, Japan - 28.08.2022 Attendance: 1.000, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [76] Yasuhiko Taira defeated Shigemori Koruba (4m14s) with the Wrecking Ball [42] ★★ Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano defeated Kimitada Yanagita, Taiji Chajima, Toyotomi Hirota & Kamatari Kamohara (11m50s) with the Lariat from Sakata to Yanagita [42] ★★ Ox Mastadon & Animal Harker defeated Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (12m35s) with the Stump Piledriver from Harker to Enomoto [51] ★★½ Hiroaki Nakasawa defeated Ryobe Uno (14m52s) with the Exploder [53] ★★¾ Avalanche Takano defeated Akira Arato (14m12s) with the Mountain Takano [68] ★★★½ Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, Kyuichi Matsumoto, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Haranobu Kobayashi, Shozo Furuta, BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi (38m25s) with the Matsumoto Murder Bomb from Matsumoto to Furuta [69] ★★★½ SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy defeated Inejiro Yoshizawa & Noritoshi Miura © (27m38s) with the Northern Lights Bomb [78] ★★★★ - TITLE CHANGE! - The impressive streak of Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy shows no signs of slowing down. On this evening, they not only clinched the Tag Team Titles for the first time in their careers but also raised the bar once again for what constitutes the pinnacle match in the company's history up to this point.

SGM REAL MUSCLE SERIES May - June 2022 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' Super Grand Melee kicked off this year on a Saturday evening with the World's Strongest Doubles Grand Prix, featuring matches from Block A. While the group victory remained fiercely contested, a clear order emerged by the end. Unsurprisingly, the favorites of the bookmakers, BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi, once again claimed the top spot in their block with a clean sheet. The only hint of drama arises during their encounter with Hiroaki Nakasawa and Yasuhiko Taira, which Yano ultimately decides in favor of the Destiny Masters after 24 minutes with the Yano Express. Meanwhile the former BHOTWG stars secured the second spot in the rankings, earning themselves a spot in one of the semifinals. However, Naizen Uboshita observed on multiple occasions during the REAL MUSCLE SERIES that the age of the once-greats is gradually catching up with them. Particularly in the clash with Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki, the duo teeters dangerously before Nakasawa's H-Bomb secures them an almost unexpected victory at this point. Ox Mastadon and Animal Harker of the Kurofune form the stable midfield of their block with 4 points, while Koichi Kajiwara and Kimi Kawano end up empty-handed with 0 points, experiencing a disastrous tournament. On the other hand, in Block B, there was a bit more excitement this year. Naturally, all eyes were on the finalists of the previous two years, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto. However, the OCEANERS didn't have a fortunate start this year. They began the tournament with a defeat against the reigning Strongest Tag Team Champions, Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura, on day #2. For the first time, Wakabayashi and Matsumoto faced setbacks in their otherwise smooth SGM careers, managing only draws after the time limit against the Kurofune team and Haranobu Kobayashi and Shozo Furuta. Overall, they achieved a disappointing third place compared to their personal goals. Surprisingly, the top spot was claimed by Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy, who, apart from their draw with the OCEANERS, secured straight wins. Especially notable is the current form of the "Doctor Of Pain," who recently ascended to the highest echelons of the league as the IPWA International Heavyweight Champion. Hudson and Bundy have demonstrated their compatibility as a duo and their ability to perform at the highest level against each other. The second place this year went to the reigning champions Yoshizawa and Miura, who only stumbled once against the gaijin but remain strong contenders for the tournament finale. The Strongest Heavyweight Champion, Haranobu Kobayashi, had a rather rough tournament alongside his partner Shozo Furuta. While they achieved a commendable draw against Wakabayashi and Matsumoto, they ended up with only 4 points, likely falling short of the ambitious Kobayashi's expectations. Debutants Akira Arato and Ryobe Uno made a good impression, earning 3 points in their first tournament appearance. Meanwhile the STRONGARMS duo, Hiroshi Morisue and Battle Sakata, ended up with 0 points in Block B, just like their team mates in A, completing a disastrous overall performance for the group. In the first semifinal match, BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi faced off against Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura. Following the match, commentators pondered whether it was an excess of confidence or simply misfortune, but regardless, after 31 minutes, the towering Destiny Masters fell to the muscle-bound men with face paint and shoulder pads. A Storm Rider against Yano secured the victory. Yano and Kikuchi, wearing expressions of disbelief, found themselves absent from the grand finale of the World's Strongest Doubles Grand Prix for the first time. Two days later, Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy met Hiroaki Nakasawa and Yasuhiko Taira for the second semifinal. Here, the limitations of Nakasawa and Taira, who had performed strongly up to that point, became evident. It almost seemed as if their time at the top was ultimately over. After just over 26 minutes, Hudson signaled the end with the Oklahoma Stampede against Nakasawa. The gaijin thus secured their place as the second finalists. Following their draw in Block B, Kyuichi Matsumoto asked Haranobu Kobayashi for a match for the Strongest Heavyweight Title, stating that he proved he could compete on the champion's level. Kobayashi accepted the challenge, but announced, that he would teach Matsumoto a painful lesson. SGM MUSCLEBOUND 2022 Tome, Japan - 19.06.2022 Attendance: 1.221, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [75] Akira Arato & Ryobe Uno defeated Kamatari Kamohara & Toyotomi Hirota (8m14s) with the German Suplex from Uno to Hirota [41] ★★ BISON Yano, Shozo Furuta, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto defeated Avalanche Takano, Kimitada Yanagita, Taiji Chajima & Shigemori Koruba (14m06s) with the Ream Stream from Furuta to Chajima [56] ★★¾ Ox Mastadon & Animal Harker defeated Hiroshi Morisue & Battle Sakata (14m01s) with the Lariat from Mastadon to Morisue [49] ★★½ Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Yasuhiko Taira, Oda Yakuta & MUSCLE Serizawa (19m21s) with the Itou Bomb from Itou to Serizawa [65] ★★★¼ Hiroaki Nakasawa defeated Kimi Kawano (17m07s) with the H-Bomb [62] ★★★ SGM Japanese National Championship: BRUTE Kikuchi © defeated Koichi Kajiwara (14m27s) with the Lariat [58] ★★★ - 3RD DEFENSE - SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship: Haranobu Kobayashi © defeated Kyuichi Matsumoto (26m14s) with the Northern Lights Bomb [68] ★★★½ - 2ND DEFENSE - SGM World's Strongest Doubles Grand Prix III: Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy defeated Inejiro Yoshizawa & Noritoshi Miura (31m24s) with the Oklahoma Stampede from Hudson to Yoshizawa [77] ★★★¾ Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy conclude an impressive tournament with a superb final victory over Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura, sparking fervent discussion among pro wrestling enthusiasts once again. The victory ceremony is conducted by Eiji Hamacho and Motoichi Arakida, with both the gaijin wrestlers receiving trophies alongside bouquets and ceremonial items, which they proudly hoist into the air. Hudson then takes the mic, expressing in plain English that he and Bundy will once again dominate their opponents at OVERPOWER, but this time with their belts on the line.

STRONGEST DOUBLES GRAND PRIX 2022 - PREDICTION CONTEST Tournament Winners: Runners-up: Most Points (Group Stage): Will any tag team end up with zero points? (Bonus point: If so, who?): Biggest Surprise: Biggest Upset:

STRONGEST DOUBLES GRAND PRIX 2022 FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS It's May, and once again, the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix is looming ahead, as announced by Super Grand Melee in a by now customary special press conference. There, this year's lineup was introduced by tournament patron Eiji Hamacho and company owner Motoichi Arakida. Twenty-four men, split into twelve teams, are vying for the two trophies up for grabs. The tournament victory will be contested in June at MUSCLEBOUND, before heading into the holidays and thus providing a breather for SGM athletes. This year's lineup brings no surprises, with exclusively in-house teams represented. Bookmakers have already identified clear favorites for group victories. The top favorite in Group A is naturally the team consisting of BRUTE Kikuchi and BISON Yano from the Destiny Masters, who have already won the first two iterations of the tournament. In Block B, the reigning SGM Strongest Tag Team Champions and BCG World Tag Team Champions Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura are seen at the forefront, closely followed by Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto from the OCEANERS, who have already reached both finals of the previous editions. Alongside the Japanese groupings' teams, the Kurofune with their two pairs are also in the mix. The press's questions particularly focused on Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy, who recently caused a stir in a match against each other and, despite their inappropriate behavior, are gradually earning the respect of the Japanese. Two newcomer teams have also made it into the draw. Namely, MUSCLE Serizawa and Oda Yakuta, who have come together after the dissolution of the Most Violent Players and have shown promising results. The duo Akira Arato and Ryobe Uno, who returned from their excursion at Mid Atlantic Wrestling earlier this year and now aim to make their mark among the seniors, are the other newcomers. The Strongest Doubles Grand Prix operates as a round-robin tournament, featuring two blocks, each comprising six randomly assigned teams. Block matches adhere to a strict 30-minute time limit. Victories are rewarded with 2 points, draws with 1 point for each team, and losses result in 0 points. Semi-final matchups pit the winners of Block A against the runners-up of Block B, and vice versa. The climax unfolds in the Grand Final, where the ultimate victors earn not only the tournament crown but also a coveted shot at the Tag Team Championship. __________________________________________________ BLOCK A __________________________________________________ BLOCK B

Thanks! Funnily enough this is the first time I have tried to generate a female render, because I needed it for the awards.

p { margin:0; padding:0; line-height: 1em; } SGM POWER RUSH SERIES March - April 2022 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' Winter has passed, snow has melted and Japan gradually transitions into the cherry blossom season after the Vernal Equinox Day. Traditionally, this time of the year symbolizes change and new beginnings. In the Super Grand Melee of Spring 2022, a new phase of Destiny Masters' dominance is emerging. Having won both tournaments of the company in the previous year and currently holding two titles since February, the Japanese National Championship and the Strongest Heavyweight Championship, the group has successfully reclaimed their position at the top of the league. Haranobu Kobayashi recently secured victory in the latest chapter of his ongoing rivalry with Avalanche Takano. In a press conference in March, the Destiny Masters leader shifted his attention to Hiroaki Nakasawa. While Kobayashi previously defeated Nakasawa in the Strongest Singles Grand Prix, he expressed his desire to face him again in a title match to redeem his past failure. Nakasawa eagerly accepted the opportunity to challenge for the league's most prestigious belt. Throughout the tour, the four-time Burning World Champion maintained his appearance of a seasoned competitor, yet observers noted a noticeable decline in his fire and fighting spirit compared to his debut in SGM a year ago, raising doubts about his ability to perform at his peak once again. Still, a superstar like him is never to be underestimated. Elsewhere, discussions arose regarding the first defense of the IPWA International Heavyweight Title. Dread's side proposed holding the first title defense in Texas as part of a Titan Pro Wrestling show. However, Motoichi Arakida, growing impatient with the conflicts that led to the introduction of the new belt and the establishment of the IPWA umbrella organization, objected to this plan. Eventually, both parties agreed to allow the champion to choose his first challenger. Burt Hudson selected Bam Bam Bundy from his faction, Kurofune. Bundy stated his respect for the "Doctor Of Pain" but vowed to leave no prisoners in a title match. Consequently, the gaijin participants in the POWER RUSH SERIES were mostly busy with themselves, leading to a sigh of relief from the Young Lions taking over the ring crew duties. Following his decisive loss to Haranobu Kobayashi and subsequent title loss, Avalanche Takano opted for a temporary strategic retreat from the spotlight to lick his wounds and regroup. Throughout March and April, various factions of SGM extended offers to him to join their ranks, yet Takano has yet to make a decision. During the tour, he occasionally supported Hiroaki Nakasawa and Oda Yakuta against the Destiny Masters and loosely teamed up with Yasuhiko Taira. Yakuta has successfully positioned himself for a shot at the Japanese National Title, currently held by BRUTE Kikuchi. Known for his imposing presence, he has often appeared somewhat out of place within his former group, the Most Violent Players. His fighting style has little resemblance to traditional MMA techniques; instead, Yakuta embodies the classic, lumbering heavyweight favored by Motoichi Arakida. Since parting ways with the Most Violent Players, Yakuta has been gaining traction, both in singles competition and as a tag team alongside MUSCLE Serizawa. His upcoming title shot marks his first major singles match in SGM. SGM POWERVISION 2022 Iwate, Japan - 10.04.2022 Attendance: 1.000, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [68] MUSCLE Serizawa, Taiji Chajima, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto defeated Kimitada Yanagita, Shigemori Koruba, Toyotomi Hirota & Kamatari Kamohara (12m07s) with the Lariat from Serizawa to Kamohara [34] ★¾ Ox Mastadon & Animal Harker defeated Ryobe Uno & Akira Arato (14m25s) with the Ten Ton Splash from Mastadon to Arato [51] ★★½ Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, Kyuichi Matsumoto, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano (22m13s) with the Arakaki Spike from Arakaki to Sakata [61] ★★★ SGM Japanese National Championship: BRUTE Kikuchi © defeated Oda Yakuta (16m54s) with the Lariat [61] ★★★ - 2ND DEFENSE - Avalanche Takano & Yasuhiko Taira defeated BISON Yano & Shozo Furuta (22m16s) with the Mountain Takano from Takano to Furuta [66] ★★★¼ IPWA International Heavyweight Championship: Burt Hudson © defeated Bam Bam Bundy (25m29s) with the Backdrop Driver [77] ★★★¾ - 1ST DEFENSE - SGM Strongest Singles Championship: Haranobu Kobayashi © defeated Hiroaki Nakasawa (29m26s) with the Northern Lights Bomb [69] ★★★½ - 1ST DEFENSE - In the aftermath of Burt Hudson's successful title defense against Bam Bam Bundy, even Motoichi Arakida had to admit, that this match had everything he was looking for in Japanese heavyweight wrestling. While on a personal level the two gaijin remain disliked by the Japanese audience, they certainly earned a lot of respect that evening on a technical basis in what some consider the best match of Super Grand Melee so far.

Thanks for the kind words!

SGM MUSCLE DESTINY SERIES January - February 2022 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' The new year has commenced, and the victor of the Strongest Singles Grand Prix has been determined: Haranobu Kobayashi, the leader of Destiny Masters, clinched the tournament victory. His resurgence to former prowess was remarkable, as he did not drop a single match out of 11 in the entirety of the bout. Moreover, he managed to best the reigning champion, Avalanche Takano, in the final showdown. Kobayashi now enters their match for the Strongest Heavyweight Title with a slight edge, given his undefeated streak. However, the score between the two stands at an even one-to-one, as Takano once dethroned his former leader at MUSCLEBOUND. MACHO KINGDOM not only marks a crucial night for Kobayashi personally but also for the Destiny Masters project as a whole. Should he falter against Takano, it might prompt other group members to question their ability to carry the company forward in this constellation. Takano, unaffiliated, encountered the full force of Destiny Masters during the tour, receiving support from various quarters - both Hiroaki Nakasawa and Yasuhiko Taira, as well as the OCEANERS, backed him, ensuring numerical balance in the numerous multi-man matches. However, come the big event, Takano will have to rely solely on his own strength. Apart from the tournament finale, DREAMSTAGE II was also a night of title changes. Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura secured the Strongest Tag Team Titles, achieving a historic feat as the first tag team to simultaneously hold belts from SGM and BCG. Given the tight contest, both teams have agreed to a rematch at MACHO KINGDOM, a decision announced and promoted during the initial press conference. Additionally, the Japanese National Title changed hands on New Year's night, as BRUTE Kikuchi triumphed over Yasuhiko Taira. However, no rematch is slated. Instead, Kikuchi intends to put the belt on the line against none other than his longtime tag team partner and close confidant, BISON Yano. The Destiny Masters duo has had encounters in the past, albeit never at SGM and never for a title. The members of Kurofune seem to have gained considerable confidence following Burt Hudson's victory over Morgan Murray. Their reign of terror both inside and outside the ring was palpable again during the MUSCLE DESTINY SERIES and is gradually becoming overwhelming. Especially the Young Lions, who traversed the audience during shows to collect donations for the injured Kuniyoshi Kawamura, found their efforts obstructed and were attacked. Once again, the STRONGARMS bravely stood up to the gaijin. However, their impact seems to be waning, while the Kurofune have noticeably improved in the ring and now exhibit greater coordination. It appears they now recognize IPWA International Heavyweight Champion Burt Hudson as their leader. Akira Arato and Ryobe Uno have been teaming up more frequently since their return from an excursion to Mid Atlantic Wrestling. Apparently, they have developed good chemistry during their time in the USA. Throughout the tour, they primarily faced off against the relatively new duo of Oda Yakuta and MUSCLE Serizawa. SGM MACHO KINGDOM 2022 Iwate, Japan - 06.02.2022 Attendance: 1.000, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [71] Shozo Furuta & Taiji Chajima defeated Hiroaki Nakasawa & Shigemori Koruba (13m24s) with the Ream Stream from Furuta to Koruba [51] ★★½ Oda Yakuta, MUSCLE Serizawa, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto defeated Akira Arato, Ryobe Uno, Toyotomi Hirota & Kamatari Kamohara (15m09s) with the Muscle Buster from Serizawa to Arato [47] ★★½ Burt Hudson, Bam Bam Bundy, Ox Mastadon & Animal Harker defeated Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano (15m33s) with the Moonsault from Bundy to Kajiwara [59] ★★★ Yasuhiko Taira defeated Isoruko Arakaki (13m59s) with the Flattener [55] ★★¾ SGM Japanese National Championship: BRUTE Kikuchi © defeated BISON Yano (22m16s) with the Lariat [69] ★★★½ - 1ST DEFENSE - SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: Inejiro Yoshizawa & Noritoshi Miura © defeated Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Kyuichi Matsumoto (31m59s) with the Storm Rider from Miura to Matsumoto [73] ★★★¾ - 1ST DEFENSE - SGM Strongest Singles Championship: Haranobu Kobayashi defeated Avalanche Takano © (34m18s) with the Kobayashi Plunge [73] ★★★¾ - TITLE CHANGE! -

2021 END OF THE YEAR AWARDS THE JAPANESE WRESTLING YEAR IN REVIEW MOST VALUABLE PLAYER EMERALD ANGEL Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods For almost 2½ years now, the Emerald Angel has been a standout performer in BHOTWG, earning the title of not only the company's top wrestler but also Japan's undisputed #1! Throughout the year, this masked marvel delivered a string of classic matches. We extensively covered his victory in the Best Of The Super Juniors XXII back in July, where he triumphed over his longtime rival, Sensational Dragon, in the finals. Equally impressive was his win in the Three Way Dance against Sensational Dragon and MYSTIC Dragon, along with his series of matches against Hachigoro Maeda. However, the pinnacle of his career thus far was undoubtedly in May at Sword Of Destiny, where he crafted a timeless classic (with none other than Sensational Dragon) that will be remembered for ages to come (more on that below). As a reward for his efforts, the former WLW star now leads his own faction - The Coalition - since September. The only question remaining is when the Emerald Angel will finally add the BHOTWG Junior Heavyweight Title to his collection. BEST FOREIGN WRESTLER MATTHEW KEITH Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods As for the Best Foreign Wrestler of the year, it could only be Matthew Keith! The offspring of the legendary Sam Keith has been in Japan since 2014, meticulously groomed by BHOTWG as if he were one of their own. While 2020 marked his breakout year, 2021 solidified his ascent to the top. At Inferno Of Purity, Keith delivered a sensational, cutting-edge match against Heihachiro Sakai, becoming the first gaijin in 15 years (since Bruce The Giant) to capture the Burning World Championship! His nearly 40-minute clash with tag team partner Tatsuya Toshitara and the high-drama encounter with Kinnojo Horri in August also etched his name in the history books. BEST TAG TEAM ATSUMORI TAKEMURA & RYUSHI SATO Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods Now, onto a slightly daring pick - but dear readers, in this case, you'll have to trust us. Atsumori Takemura and Ryushi Sato seem to have finally found their niche in tag team wrestling in 2021. Their prolonged feud with Senmatsu-gun and matches against Matthew Keith and Tatsuya Toshitara stirred up quite a buzz in spring. Then, in October, they rightfully reclaimed the BHOTWG World Tag Team Titles after a hard-fought battle against Nissho Yuasa and Hirokumi Saito. Granted, Takemura and Sato may not be the best duo ever, but the competition this year wasn't particularly strong either (Yes, we're talking about you, Seiji Jimbo and Sozen Ishinomori - like, really, PGHW? How do those two even fit together?) BEST COMPANY BURNING HAMMER OF THE WRESTLING GODS The undisputed leader retains its title once again - Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling God secures the Best Company award for another year. Under the guidance of CEO Tetsuzan Kaneko, the company continues to rake in record profits, particularly through increased merchandising revenue. BHOTWG's evolution continues steadily, keeping its product consistently unpredictable and fresh. With Matthew Keith holding the title, it marks the first time in many years that a foreigner has held the championship. And why our author and longtime market observer Junnosuke now refers to BHOTWG as a junior wrestling company can be found on page 34 of this issue. BEST MATCH SENSATIONAL DRAGON VS EMERALD ANGEL BHOTWG Sword Of Destiny, May 2021 Now, as promised earlier, let's delve into the match of the year for 2021! And unsurprisingly, it involves none other than the Emerald Angel and the Sensational Dragon once again. Before a fervent crowd of approximately 48,000 in Ōtsu, these masked warriors engaged in a century-defining clash that will be etched into the annals of Japanese pro wrestling history. The 29-minute showdown had everything a junior wrestling fan could desire, including an ultra-tight finish, with Sensational Dragon coming out on top. BEST SHOW BHOTWG SUMMIT CHALLENGE VI August 2021 While one might think Sword Of Destiny would take the crown for the best show of the year, that's not the case. Instead, after much deliberation, our editorial team selected Summit Challenge VI, which boasted a significantly more refined lineup and several top-notch matches. There was Matthew Keith's and Kinnojo Horri's modern classic heavyweight wrestling match for the BHOTWG World Title. Then, there was the finest junior action in the match between Sensational Dragon & MYSTIC Dragon against Marihito Masuko & Emerald Angel. Last but not least, Tatsuya Toshitara and Ieyoshi Shimakage delivered an extremely memorable showdown, showcasing that PGHW doesn't hold the monopoly on mat wrestling. Overall, it was a well-rounded, diverse card that kept us thoroughly entertained. BEST ROOKIE DAIGO GOYA Pride Glory Honor Wrestling Now, a slight cheat, but for the best rookie, we've chosen Daigo Goya, even though he hasn't wrestled a single match on Japanese soil this year. Yet, what this young, highly talented technician delivered at Total Championship Wrestling was commendable! His series of matches against Greg Gauge are already well-known among insiders. Equally impressive were his encounters with Aaron Andrews, Wolf Hawkins, and his PPV match against Scythe in June. We say: keep an eye on this lad! While BHOTWG may dominate the present, PGHW is focusing on the future. BEST FEMALE WRESTLER SHIORI JIPPENSHA 5 Star Supreme Wrestling What more can one say about her? A five-time 5SSW World Champion (her current reign began in October 2020 and is still going strong), the epitome of "Excellence Of Execution," and as beautiful as she is dangerous. Shiori Jippensha remains the top female Japanese wrestler, and we're not sure if that will change anytime soon. BEST TECHNIQUE MASARU UGAKI Pride Glory Honor Wrestling In Japanese pro wrestling circles, they say BHOTWG has the best show, but PGHW has the best wrestling! One reason for that remains Masaru Ugaki, who continued his rivalry with Kozue Kawashima in 2021, producing several top-tier matches. With his deep knowledge of catch style, pronounced psychology and methodology, and grappling and submission-based style, Ugaki can likely outwrestle any other wrestler in the world today. Notable this year was his clash of styles with the reigning PGHW Glory Crown Champion, Magnum Kobe, that we enjoyed a lot. MOST POPULAR WRESTLER EMERALD ANGEL Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods This year's Most Valuable Player also happens to be the most popular wrestler of the year - Emerald Angel! His mask flies off the BHOTWG merchandise stands like hotcakes, and his appearances on mainstream Japanese TV have further boosted his popularity. Currently, his social media accounts boast the highest number of followers and he is definitely BHOTWG's money printing machine.

■ SUPER GRAND MELEE REPORTS RECORD TURNOUT | NEW HEIGHTS IN VIEWERSHIP AND FINANCIAL STABILITY During a press conference at their headquarters in Sendai, Super Grand Melee (SGM) reported record attendance and viewership numbers following their New Year's night event, DREAMSTAGE, broadcasted on Shogun TV. According to SGM owner Motoichi Arakida, the company has reached a stage where it can financially sustain itself without significant profits, maintaining a conservative approach to investment decisions. During the same conference, Arakida highlighted two notable incidents from the event. A dispute arose with Titan Pro Wrestling (TPW) concerning the TPW Heavyweight Title, which Burt Hudson won under regular rules from Morgan Murray at DREAMSTAGE. TPW’s owner Dread was reluctant to see the belt remain in Japan, even temporarily. To resolve the conflict, SGM and TPW agreed to establish the International Professional Wrestling Alliance (IPWA), under which a new title, the IPWA International Heavyweight Title, will be contested. Burt Hudson was named the first holder of this new title. However, TPW does not recognize the DREAMSTAGE match as a legitimate title change, maintaining that Morgan Murray remains the TPW Heavyweight champion. TPW will cover the costs of registering the new organization and purchasing the new belt. Arakida also provided an update on Kuniyoshi Kawamura, who was hospitalized following a botched move by Taiji Chajima, resulting in a broken neck. Kawamura's return to wrestling is uncertain, and he may face a lengthy recovery. SGM is currently raising funds to support his hospital care. Despite the severity of his injury, Kawamura remains optimistic about his recovery, expressing on his blog and social media that he intends to return eventually, even if it takes a year. ■ RETURN OF ARATO AND UNO | YOUNG WRESTLERS MATURED AT MID ATLANTIC WRESTLING Ryobe Uno and Akira Arato have returned from their year-long excursions at Mid Atlantic Wrestling, both appearing more mature and significantly heavier. Uno has gained noticeable weight, solidifying his status as a heavyweight. Arato sports a new mustache, adding to his older appearance. Both are eager to demonstrate their enhanced skills at the upcoming MUSCLE DESTINY SERIES. Meanwhile, Shuga Amano, Big Boss Urayama and Ritsu Ibata are set to depart with stints abroad, aiming to gain experience and maturity in challenging environments. Amano and Ibata will follow in Uno and Arato’s footsteps at Mid Atlantic Wrestling, while Urayama heads to the southern USA to join TPW amidst tense relations between the companies. ■ SGM WELCOMES TALENT FROM CHIBA | SHIGEMORI KORUBA JOINS AS YOUNG LION FROM EISUKE YOSHINOBU'S DOJO Super Grand Melee has inducted only one new Young Lion into their roster this year, Shigemori Koruba from Ichinomiya, Chiba. With a life spent near the coast, Koruba brings a unique blend of athleticism and fluid power to the wrestling world. A skilled surfer and swimmer, Koruba trained under Eisuke Yoshinobu at the Tokyo Wrestling Dojo and earned his spot in SGM. His in-ring style is fairly dynamic, featuring his signature finishing move, the Riptide Crash. SHIGEMORI KORUBA 20 years old | 184 cm, 105 kg | Ichinomiya, Chiba

SGM KINNIKU CLIMB SERIES November - December 2021 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' Once again, the wrestlers of Super Grand Melee (SGM) and the guests of the league embarked on the arduous Kinniku Climb, a journey that promised glory, honor and a place atop the heavyweight wrestling realm for its victor. Twenty men divided into two blocks, four semifinalists, two finalists and ultimately one champion. This ascent unfolded against the wintry backdrop of Japan, which experienced particularly heavy snowfall and a bitterly cold end to the year. Throughout the tour, the Young Lions of SGM faced the challenging task of guiding arriving spectators through snow-covered roads to parking lots and providing complimentary hot tea to warm them before the show. In Block A, the race for the top spots remained fiercely contested until the very end. Five men engaged in a heated battle for the semifinals: the reigning Strongest Heavyweight Champion Avalanche Takano, BRUTE Kikuchi, Burt Hudson, BCG guest Rokuemon Matsushita and the Japanese National Champion Yasuhiko Taira. Avalanche Takano, initially favored as the champion and last year's finalist, encountered a rocky start to the tournament. Despite solid victories against Oda Yakuta and Isoruko Arakaki, he faced a significant challenge in Shozo Furuta. The determined "Big Sho", who had replaced him at the Destiny Masters, sought to prove himself against Takano. Despite Furuta's fervor, Takano emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle. However, only two days later, Takano faced BRUTE Kikuchi from Furuta's group and fell to the brute force of the giant after just 18 minutes. SGM's commentators already began to doubt Takano's chances, recognizing the unforgiving nature of such tournaments. However, the champion rallied and, aside from a draw with Rokuemon Matsushita, secured consecutive victories, ultimately claiming the top spot with 15 points. The surprise standout of Block A was undoubtedly BRUTE Kikuchi, who performed exceptionally well last year and showed signs of solo success this year again. Like a bulldozer through the snow, the 140 kg powerhouse plowed through his opponents, garnering victory after victory, before it became evident, how unlucky the drafting of his opponents had been for him. Kikuchi had to face all his remaining direct competitors for the top spot in one series of matches. Initially, Kikuchi faced Hudson, resulting in a draw after they brawled outside the ring and were counted out. However, the altercation took its toll as Hudson targeted Kikuchi's leg with a chair, causing significant damage. Consequently weakened, Kikuchi suffered defeats to Matsushita and Taira in the following days, with the latter loss particularly frustrating him during a post-match interview. He ultimately finished at a respectable 13 points. Burt Hudson, on the other hand, faced defeats against Matsushita, Taira and Takano from the leading group, managing only a draw against Kikuchi. Nevertheless, he showcased his talent and prowess, disproving Dread's characterization of him and the rest of Kurofune as failures. Notably, Hudson decisively defeated the reigning TPW Heavyweight Champion, Morgan Murray, not only in their direct encounter, but also pulled ahead with 10 points, provoking Murray to challenge him to a rematch at DREAMSTAGE. The "Doctor Of Pain" first explained the rules to Murray on Japanese soil, which actually earned him a bit of recognition and sympathy from the Japanese audience for the first time - he had defeated Murray, so if there was to be a rematch, Murray should put his belt on the line. Said and done, the match was announced. Now, onto Yasuhiko Taira and guest star Rokuemon Matsushita. Similar to Kikuchi, these two behemoths bulldozed through most of their opponents. Before their direct encounter, both stood at 13 points. The one to advance was only determined on the last group day of Block A. Accordingly, it couldn't have been more exciting - and fittingly, the big men engaged in a match on equal footing, which ultimately ended in a draw via time limit. Therefore, the decision was made based on the shorter total duration of all victories, with Matsushita coming out on top. BRUTE Kikuchi seized the opportunity to challenge Taira to a match for his Japanese National Title at DREAMSTAGE, which Taira accepted. The race for the top spot in Block B proved to be somewhat less tight but no less thrilling. Four men essentially formed the leading pack, with Haranobu Kobayashi standing out, closing the tournament with a sensational perfect clean sheet and 18 points. As the leader of the Destiny Masters, Kobayashi noticeably regained his groove during the tour. Driven by the desire to seek revenge against his former right-hand man, Avalanche Takano, and reclaim the Strongest Heavyweight Title, even BISON Yano, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Hiroaki Nakasawa couldn't match him in this edition of the tournament. Among these three, Yano performed the weakest, narrowly falling to Wakabayashi in a tightly contested, hard-hitting match, ultimately succumbing to the resilience of the OCEANERS' leader. Against Nakasawa, Yano's journey ended surprisingly after just 19 minutes, following two consecutive H-Bombs. Nonetheless, Yano delivered a strong tournament performance, though not as successful in the end as his long-time partner in Block A, BRUTE Kikuchi. Moving on to Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Hiroaki Nakasawa. The two men met for the second time, with their previous encounter in last year's tournament semifinals seeing Nakasawa's experience triumph over Wakabayashi's passionate drive. The platinum blonde Wakabayashi, known for his swimmer's physique and endless endurance, against Nakasawa, always smiling but extremely dangerous, a former BHOTWG World Champion and one of the country's greatest heavyweight legends. Their match exceeded the 29-minute mark, encompassing all the elements of a great fight - drama, passion, fighting spirit and intensity. In the end, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi emerged as a worthy victor, securing his biggest singles victory yet with the Exploder and qualifying for the semifinals. Notable performances in this block also came from Bam Bam Bundy and Kyuichi Matsumoto, both engaging in exciting battles with the leading quartet and impressing throughout the tournament, despite falling short of advancing. Fittingly, their match against each other ended in a draw after 30 minutes. On Days #19 and #20 of the KINNIKU CLIMB SERIES, the semifinals took place. First, Avalanche Takano faced off against Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi in a showdown. The two men were by then already familiar with each other, having last met in January at MACHO KINGDOM to determine the next challenger for the Strongest Heavyweight Title. While Takano had previously held the upper hand, Wakabayashi had been making rapid progress since signing with Super Grand Melee. However, that final push for a major victory against the reigning champion remained elusive for Wakabayashi. Takano emerged victorious, with their match later being hailed by many insiders on the internet as one of the most intriguing matches of the year. Three days later came the second semifinal, garnering greater attention from the press due to the involvement of Black Canvas Grappling's guest star, Rokuemon Matsushita. While the first semifinal was relatively fast-paced and in that sense almost anomalous for SGM standards, the audience witnessed a methodical, slow-paced heavyweight wrestling match filled with hard strikes and thunderous lariats between Haranobu Kobayashi and Matsushita. The match, lasting a total of 27 minutes, was relatively short for an SSGP semifinal but packed a punch. Despite Matsushita's stellar performance, his journey came to an end against Kobayashi, who secured victory with a Northern Lights Bomb. A few days before the biggest SGM event of the year, the key figures gathered for a press conference. During this event, Motoichi Arakida announced that Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto, both eliminated from the tournament, would defend their Strongest Tag Team Titles at DREAMSTAGE. Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura were named as their opponents, the current holders of the BCG World Tag Team Titles. However, the match would not be a unification match; only the SGM belts would be on the line. SGM DREAMSTAGE II Ōsaki, Japan - 31.12.2021 Attendance: 1.196, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [74] BISON Yano, Shozo Furuta, Shuga Amano & Ritsu Ibata defeated Oda Yakuta, MUSCLE Serizawa, Toyotomi Hirota & Kamatari Kamohara (14m05s) with the Lariat from Furuta to Kamohara [47] ★★¼ TPW Heavyweight Championship: Burt Hudson defeated Morgan Murray © (18m36s) with the Oklahoma Stampede [58] ★★★ - TITLE CHANGE! - Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Kuniyoshi Kawamura & Kimi Kawano defeated Big Boss Urayama, Taiji Chajima, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (6m41s) with the Kneebar from Kawamura to Chajima [45] ★★¼ Hiroaki Nakasawa, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Bam Bam Bundy, Ox Mastadon & Animal Harker (17m09s) with the Itou Bomb from Itou to Mastadon [62] ★★★ SGM Japanese National Championship: BRUTE Kikuchi defeated Yasuhiko Taira © (18m17s) with the Kikuchi Crush [62] ★★★ - TITLE CHANGE! - SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: Inejiro Yoshizawa & Noritoshi Miura defeated Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Kyuichi Matsumoto © (26m51s) with the Yoshizawa Bomb from Yoshizawa to Matsumoto [76] ★★★¾ - TITLE CHANGE! - SGM Strongest Singles Grand Prix II: Haranobu Kobayashi defeated Avalanche Takano (33m50s) with the Kobayashi Plunge [76] ★★★¾ Caught off guard by the title loss of Morgan Murray, an upset Dread said in a post-match interview, that Titan Pro Wrestling would dispute the result of the match and that according to them, there was no title change. The third match of the night involving the STRONGARMS and several Young Lions of the company was cut short due to an injury. Taiji Chajima dropped Kuniyoshi Kawamura unsafely on his neck. Kawamura was able to finish the match with a kneebar shortly after, but had to be taken out of the arena with a stretcher. The situation painfully resembled Koshiro Ino's potentially career-ending injury a few weeks back. Motoichi Arakida apologized for the interruption and promised to give an update regarding Kawamura's health status in the coming days. After the main event, the winner's ceremony was conducted by Motoichi Arakida and Eisuke Yoshinobu, who presented Haranobu Kobayashi with flowers, a ceremonial sword and the tournament trophy. As expected, Kobayashi couldn't wait to challenge Avalanche Takano for the Strongest Heavyweight Title. Their match would take place at MACHO KINGDOM in February next year. He thanked the audience and wished them a happy new year.

STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX 2021 - PREDICTION CONTEST Tournament Winner: Runner-up: Most Points (Group Stage): Will any wrestler end up with zero points? (Bonus point: If so, who?): Biggest Surprise: Biggest Upset:

STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX 2021 FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS According to Super Grand Melee, the biggest event of the year is just around the corner with the upcoming second edition of DREAMSTAGE. Consequently, throughout the KINNIKU CLIMB SERIES, the strongest pro wrestler on the planet is once again set to be determined. This served as reason enough for Motoichi Arakida to invite numerous journalists and reporters to the company grounds in Sendai, where a special press conference was held. Joining Arakida was Eisuke Yoshinobu, the Patron of the Strongest Singles Grand Prix. This year, 20 heavyweights are entering the competition for the tournament victory, prestige, fame, honour and of course, a shot at the Strongest Heavyweight Title, currently held by Avalanche Takano. Takano, unsurprisingly, is the favorite for the tournament victory among bookmakers, but he faces significant competition and has had no immediate support since his expulsion from the Destiny Masters. All four Destiny Masters - Haranobu Kobayashi, BISON Yano, BRUTE Kikuchi and Shozo Furuta - are, however, on the hunt for Takano and his belt this year, with Kobayashi in particular aiming to prove that he is still ahead of his former right hand. Also returning this year is last year's winner Hiroaki Nakasawa, who at the age of 44 continues to be not only one of the most popular wrestlers in SGM and even in Japan, but also consistently proves that he should not be underestimated. The same applies to the reigning Japanese National Champion Yasuhiko Taira, who announced with his recent title win that he could still go and would prove it if necessary. Completing the titleholders are the reigning Strongest Tag Team Champions Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto from the OCEANERS group. Their time at SGM has been a story of continuous ascent and success, but can they now take the final step and reach for the ultimate gold? As if this year's lineup wasn't strong enough already, two outside guests are also joining the arduous Kinniku Climb. First, there's the charismatic Rokuemon Matsushita, sent as a guest by Black Canvas Grappling. The burly heavyweight brings plenty of tournament experience from numerous participations in the prestigious Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix, which he also won in 2019. Matsushita is considered one of the most feared and powerful wrestlers from Black Canvas Grappling. His appearance indicates a healthy, established collaboration between the two companies. The second guest was personally accompanied by the legendary big man Dread on his flight to Japan and to the press conference - it's none other than the reigning TPW Heavyweight Champion, the "Texas Hangman" Morgan Murray! The massive menacing brawler from Texas left the talking to Dread, who in a few cold words announced that Murray would accomplish in SGM what the other failures he had sent here had so far failed to do - which is to crush the Japanese competition and demonstrate that American wrestlers are the best in the world. Following his announcement, there was a commotion on stage as Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy attempted to attack Dread and engaged in a scuffle with Murray, which was shortly thereafter subdued by numerous security personnel. The Strongest Singles Grand Prix operates as a round-robin tournament, featuring two blocks, each consisting of ten randomly assigned wrestlers. Block matches adhere to a strict 30-minute time limit, with victories earning 2 points, draws 1 point, and losses resulting in 0 points. Semi-final matchups pit the winner of Block A against the runner-up of Block B, and vice versa. The tournament culminates in the Grand Final, where the ultimate victors not only claim the tournament crown but also earn a coveted shot at the Strongest Heavyweight Championship. __________________________________________________ BLOCK A __________________________________________________ BLOCK B

SGM BRUTE STRENGTH SERIES September - October 2021 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' In the second year of Super Grand Melee, it seems that the BRUTE STRENGTH SERIES is being treated more as a secondary tour compared to the upcoming KINNIKU CLIMB SERIES. Nevertheless, there are some exciting developments here as well, which can already be seen as groundwork for the biggest SGM event of the year on New Year's Eve. For instance, at the pre-tour press conference, Avalanche Takano boldly accepted Burt Hudson's challenge for his Strongest Heavyweight Title. While Takano has increasingly stepped out of Haranobu Kobayashi's shadow and gained many fans throughout 2021, the "Doctor Of Pain" has also managed to draw attention to himself, albeit mostly garnering rejection from the audience. Both men are adept at ground fighting, grappling, and submissions, so their confrontation could also be a brisk match of wrestling. Their last one versus one encounter was in December 2020 during the Strongest Singles Grand Prix, where Takano narrowly emerged victorious. Since his expulsion from Destiny Masters, Takano, who is factionless, has mainly aligned himself with Hiroaki Nakasawa, Yasuhiko Taira, as well as Oda Yakuta, MUSCLE Serizawa and some younger wrestlers to face off against Hudson and the Kurofune. Particularly in collaboration with the former BHOTWG champions, the results have been very convincing, although not necessarily due to Takano alone. In a Six Man Tag Team Match between Takano, Yakuta, and Serizawa on one side, and Hudson, Mastadon and Bundy on the other, Hudson secured the direct pinfall against the champion with a resounding Backdrop Driver. September was, after a long time, a really good month for the STRONGARMS. From the group, Hiroshi Morisue and Battle Sakata managed to position themselves for a shot at the Strongest Tag Team Titles after delivering several commendable performances in matches against the OCEANERS. Kyuichi Matsumoto openly declared himself a big fan and admirer of Morisue, whom he first met during his brief time at WEXXV. He had a lot of respect for his opponents and expressed anticipation for the upcoming match. Another, perhaps crucial, showdown between Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto against BRUTE Kikuchi and BISON Yano is thus postponed for now. Kikuchi and Yano focused entirely on integrating Shozo Furuta further into the Destiny Masters and supporting leader Haranobu Kobayashi in his preparation for the Strongest Singles Grand Prix. It was therefore a rare two months where the Destiny Masters were not at the center of attention. Kimi Kawano of the STRONGARMS also made headlines once again. The 29-year-old clashed multiple times with Kuniyoshi Kawamura in various multi-man matches, who is currently without a group after the dissolution of the Most Violent Players. Over the course of the tour, a sort of camaraderie developed between the two, prompting Kawano to suggest that Kawamura should join his faction. This direct invitation impressed the former MMA fighter, who is known as tough as nails, and he proposed that Kawano should face him in a singles match. If he could show him that the path of the STRONGARMS was the right one, he would consider joining the group. SGM STRONGHOLD 2021 Iwate, Japan - 10.10.2021 Attendance: 1.000, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [71] Kimitada Yanagita defeated Toyotomi Hirota (8m29s) with the Lariat [27] ★¼ Haranobu Kobayashi, BISON Yano, BRUTE Kikuchi & Shozo Furuta defeated Big Boss Urayama, Taiji Chajima, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (10m49s) with the Ream Stream from Furuta to Chajima [57] ★★¾ Hiroaki Nakasawa, Yasuhiko Taira & Shuga Amano defeated Ox Mastadon, Animal Harker & Bam Bam Bundy (19m31s) with the H-Bomb from Nakasawa to Harker [60] ★★★ Oda Yakuta & MUSCLE Serizawa defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (15m52s) with the Yak Bomb from Yakuta to Itou [54] ★★¾ Kuniyoshi Kawamura defeated Kimi Kawano (17m58s) with the Kawamura Knee Rush [51] ★★½ SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Kyuichi Matsumoto © defeated Hiroshi Morisue & Battle Sakata (16m34s) with the Matsumoto Murder Bomb from Matsumoto to Morisue [64] ★★★¼ - 2ND DEFENSE - SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship: Avalanche Takano © defeated Burt Hudson (28m53s) with the Mountain Takano [73] ★★★¾ - 2ND DEFENSE - Following their match, albeit winning, Kuniyoshi Kawamura announced that he could see now what the STRONGARMS were all about, which according to him was a no nonsense attitude, toughness and fighting spirit. He agreed to join and expressed the wish, to team with Kimi Kawano in the future. In the post show press conference Kyuichi Matsumoto paid his respects to Hiroshi Morisue and Battle Sakata and thanked them for what he felt like was a great match.

SGM LIMIT BREAK SERIES July - August 2021 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' July of this year started with a slight rapprochement between Super Grand Melee (SGM) and Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods (BHOTWG). SGM's owner, Motoichi Arakida, had a complex relationship with his former employer spanning back to his career-ending injury in October 2001. Following his injury and forced retirement in October 2001, he became a persona non grata due to his critical stance towards BHOTWG's constant shifts in direction and stylistic changes. However, two decades later, it seemed that old wounds were gradually healing. Former heavyweight stars of Japan's leading promotion, such as Hiroaki Nakasawa and Yasuhiko Taira, found a new home in SGM as they neared the end of their careers. Arakida also demonstrated a willingness to participate in BHOTWG's charity event for Koshiro Ino, a wrestler who was hospitalized due to a severe injury. This event, which also featured two matches from Ino's former employer Total Championship Wrestling (TCW), took place on July 3, 2021, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Athletic Stadium in Ino's hometown of Osaka. Symbolically, there was a gesture of goodwill between Motoichi Arakida and BHOTWG CEO Tetsuzan Kaneko. Legends, former colleagues and fans came together to support Ino, creating a vibrant atmosphere. SGM showcased its talent with two notable appearances: firstly, the young company presented the second match of the evening, where the Destiny Masters, comprising Haranobu Kobayashi, BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi, emerged victorious against a team consisting of Hiroaki Nakasawa, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto. Secondly, SGM was represented in the co-main event of the show, a singles match for a newly introduced belt named the SGM Japanese National Championship. Connoisseurs immediately recognized it as a replica of the original BHOTWG World Title, first worn by Master Kitozon - a clear commitment from SGM to tradition and the heavyweight wrestling that once made BHOTWG great. In this match, the two founding members of the NEO group, aside from Koshiro Ino, faced each other: Yasuhiko Taira and Yasunobu Masuno. Taira made his entrance wearing the leather jacket typically associated with Ino, while Masuno even wore Ino's infamous cobra face paint. In the end, Taira emerged victorious and was crowned the first champion. The show concluded with a lengthy applause for Koshiro Ino and many well-wishes for his recovery. The remainder of July and August were dominated by the LIMIT BREAK SERIES, with Keiji Takeda making his debut at the commentary table. Takeda impressed as an announcer who had done his homework and was well-informed about the various actors at SGM. The focus of the tour remained on the expulsion of the reigning Strongest Heavyweight Champion, Avalanche Takano, from the Destiny Masters. The abrupt decision by Haranobu Kobayashi and the thin justification for Takano's expulsion left journalists and viewers unsatisfied. Nevertheless, the Destiny Masters refrained from further comment, declaring the matter closed, and focused on the ongoing tour. There, they clashed increasingly with the OCEANERS, whose Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto had to defend their Strongest Tag Team Titles against BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi at OVERPOWER. It became clear that the OCEANERS had become the premier group in the league alongside the Destiny Masters. The encounters between the two factions were always intense, characterized by great fighting spirit and enthusiasm. Newcomer Shozo Furuta had his first opportunity to showcase himself to the SGM audience; his style, somewhere between brutal powerhouse and patient brawler, fit well with the promotion's concept. At the pre-tour press conference, Yasuhiko Taira openly expressed his willingness to defend his newly won Japanese National Title against any contender willing to challenge him. Motoichi Arakida suggested giving someone a chance who had not been so much in the spotlight of singles competition thus far, calling on those to surpass themselves and make themselves noticed during the tour. Ultimately, his call was answered, especially by Kimi Kawano, the former hardcore specialist with distinctive tattoos all over his body. Kawano had made a name for himself since bulking up to light heavyweight and now had the opportunity to prevail on the big stage for the first time. The remaining members of the once Most Violent Players acted less decisively. The group officially disbanded after Morimasa Kato left the company for Pride Glory Honor Wrestling. At least by the end of the summer, none of the remaining men received offers to join another group. Oda Yakuta officially dissolved his team with Kimitada Yanagita following the split and announced his intention to collaborate with MUSCLE Serizawa instead. SGM OVERPOWER 2021 Iwate, Japan - 15.08.2021 Attendance: 1.000, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [72] Eikichi Itou, Isoruko Arakaki, Big Boss Urayama & Taiji Chajima defeated Shuga Amano, Ritsu Ibata, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (12m30s) with the Arakaki Spike from Arakaki to Enomoto [50] ★★½ Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata & Koichi Kajiwara defeated Kimitada Yanagita, Oda Yakuta & MUSCLE Serizawa (14m43s) with the Lariat from Kajiwara to Yanagita [44] ★★¼ Ox Mastadon, Animal Harker & Bam Bam Bundy defeated Hiroaki Nakasawa, Toyotomi Hirota & Kamatari Kamohara (16m23s) with the Ten Ton Splash from Mastadon to Kamohara [53] ★★¾ Haranobu Kobayashi & Shozo Furuta defeated Inejiro Yoshizawa & Noritoshi Miura (21m31s) with the Ream Stream from Furuta to Yoshizawa [64] ★★★¼ SGM Japanese National Championship: Yasuhiko Taira © defeated Kimi Kawano (13m54s) with the Wrecking Ball [59] ★★★ - 1ST DEFENSE - Burt Hudson defeated Kuniyoshi Kawamura (19m21s) with the Gutwrench Power Bomb [62] ★★★ SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Kyuichi Matsumoto © defeated BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi (33m43s) with the Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex from Wakabayashi to Kikuchi [74] ★★★¾ - 1ST DEFENSE - After his victory over Kuniyoshi Kawamura, Burt Hudson had some very impolite things to say about Japan and SGM in particular, before issuing a challenge to Avalanche Takano for the Strongest Heavyweight Title.