White Dolphin

<p><em>(OOC: Sorry about the delay, I had to re-sim the Hall of Fame card because stupid me forgot to actually create the Queen's Castle Cup title. Derp. Nothing for results changed though, just the match and segment ratings. Prediction key to come later today.)</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">TEW.com</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> 5SSW News And Notes</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> By "JoshiJosh6" Joshua Prosser</span></strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> 5SSW announced its hires for the upcoming Women of Wrestling tour. There's a mix of returnees and new faces from overseas. Here they are.......</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="7aqiaVS.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/7aqiaVS.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Simony Sentinel</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The "Violent Violet" makes her return to 5SSW after a mini-push capped with a loss to Maki Yoshifumi for the All-Asian title. However, this time Sentinel is expected to come in on a full-time basis, and may be challenging for another title soon. Sentinel is expected to prioritize 5SSW over her current ACPW commitments.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="EgTzSr5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/EgTzSr5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Rika Tsujimura</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The tall all-rounder has had two title opportunities: First for the All-Asian title, then another one for the Triangle title, and came up short both times. Now, Tsujmiura returns for a 3rd crack, and is expected to spend a lot of time in tag team action with her temporary partner Lady Lotus</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Opw8tAi.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Opw8tAi.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Kate Avatar</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The mysterious Canadian youngster in the even more mysterious Avatar clan had an appearance on the Big Crush tour, tagging with Erin Marcelin as the low team on the totem pole. Kate is expected to resume that tag team as she continues to gain experience in the business and slowly draw out her potential.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="UZfACG4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/UZfACG4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Chitose Ariwara</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> A familiar face to older 5SSW fans, Chitose Ariwara was with the company from 2006 to 2014, having an extremely brief reign as All-Asian champion due to her opponent Megumi Nakajima getting injured in a tour title defense and dropping the belt. Ariwara was released after a constant string of injuries, and took a brief hiatus from the business to heal and recharge. Ariwara has since been a headliner on many Japanese women's independent shows, in addition to making occasional one-offs as a jobber for 5SSW, and has now battled her way back to a short-term touring deal.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="25lCuQx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25lCuQx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Queen Amazon</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The first of the new faces being brought in this tour, Queen Amazon is a fairly popular rudo luchadora for OLLIE's burgeoning women's division, winning their primary <em>Campeonato de las Mujeres</em> title 4 times. Known for her wild brawling and overpowering physicality, Queen Amazon is expected to be pushed very hard on this tour.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="dt6Nodk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/dt6Nodk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="RVtNxzG.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/RVtNxzG.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Kate Lilly & Debbie Rose</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The tag team known as Lilly & Rose have had a long and successful hsitory together in America, winning multiple Tag Team titles in the now defunct AAA promotion, and have been a headline act on the American women's indy scene for quite a while now. Regarded as the best unsigned team in North America, Lilly & Rose have spread their wings to go to Japan for the first time, and are expected to be pushed fairly hard to start, with a good chance of being invited back for future tours.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Erin Marcelin is also expected to return for another tour, being practically a full-timer with 5SSW at this point.</p><p> </p><p> The next tour, Women of Wrestling, begins for 5SSW on Monday, Week 4 April.</p>

(OOC: Sorry again for the delays. Aiming to get a prediction key going Friday or Saturday, show Sunday or Monday) --- Erin was running, but not going anywhere. In more ways than one. In the physical sense, Erin was in the midst of her workout, running on a treadmill. In the mental sense, Erin was watching footage of her match on a propped up tablet, running into the ropes only to be flattened by a big knee from Romi Yamato. Erin's career felt much like she did in that match against Yamato, and much like she was working out right now. Erin was running, but not going anywhere. Ted was telling her she was doing fine. The gaijin girls backstage told her she was coming along well for a rookie. Kinuye Mushashibo told her that management had no issues with her, and were bringing her back again for another tour. She even had a fan club now. But seeing elite workers every show like Fuyuko Higa, Yuma Maruya, Shiori Jippensha, Megumi Nakajima..... Erin felt like she was standing on the base of a mountain watching goddesses fight at the summit. It was noticeable as a viewer, but as Erin grew to learn more about the business, she realized just how much further she needed to go. Sure, she was happy to have a fanclub, and happy to get a second win (over her makeshift tag partner Joy Ryder in the opening match of the last show). But damn, she wanted to be at the top so bad and do cool things like everyone in the main event, if only she were at that level. Erin had to keep grinding, keep working hard, and had to suppress these damned "millenial" instincts to want instant success and gratification. But someday...... Erin was snapped out of her reverie by a text message. Erin slowed the treadmill to a slow wlak and read it. "Got an offer from 5-Star. Coming back 2 Japan full time bb. See you " Erin was thrilled. It was a text from Simony Sentinel, and it looked like the rumours of her getting a job were true after all. Erin turned the treadmill back to running speed and started burning rubber. --- "So she resigned from the company?" Alexander looked at Ted with a look of confusion on his face. "Seems like it. Word was going around amongst the announcers that they were probably going to fire her after the tour though." "You didn't tell Ogiwara to do that, did you? I just wanted her to not wrestle with Erin." "No, I told her what you wanted." Alexander leaned back and exhaled. They were discussing the recent resignation of Monster Ishimura from 5SSW. Alexander had sent a message to Ted before to tell 5-Star not to book the potentially dangerous Ishimura against his daughter. Ogiwara interpreted this message as "Fire Ishimura or we'll cut the investment", and unbeknownst to everyone Ishimura was planning on walking at the end of the tour anyways as she seemed to see the writing on the wall. "Well Ted I guess it works out for us anyways. They aren't planning on booking that other big girl against Erin are they?" "......Well, they might? I'm sure Ogiwara will be careful though. Erin will be fine." Alexander nodded but seemed unsure. "By the way, why did Erin get a win at the end of the tour?" "They put her over a fellow young lion cause she's getting popular and it was Fan Appreciation Week. Heck, she's even got a fan club now." "A fan club?" "Oh man, did I forget to tell you about the fan club? Its pretty fun. Two high school girls in Osaka who go to all the shows think Erin's the coolest woman in the world. So they formed a fan club and it has actual members, and one fo them even made a wig that looked like Erin's haircut. This is fairly normal for Japan, but I'd always thought it was more for the big name wrestlers." "So, what, Erin's falling upwards into stardom?" "I wouldn't say stardom, she's the low girl on the totem pole, she's still learning the ropes. But give her a few years and she'll be doing well for herself." Alexander chuckled. "A fan club, eh? Hopefully it doesn't get to her head....." "Oh I wouldn't worry about that. Everyone likes her backstage because she has no ego and tries her best to make her winning opponent look good. Don't worry, she'll be fine." Ted and Alexander wrapped up their chat, and now Ted could finish what remained of his shift and head to lunch to take care of more important business. Namely, his second date with Layla........ it would be worth the wait. --- TEW.com 5SSW News And Notes by "JoshiJosh6" Joshua Prosser -The Hall Of Fame show with the finals of the Queen's Castle Cup did a strong rating of 41,000 viewers, the highest number the company has done yet. Shogun TV executives are said to be pleased with the high quality of the tour. -Backstage tensions continue to pop up, as Fuyuko Higa was said to be arguing with company owner Sensational Ogiwara over her position in the company, as well as her loss to the eventual winners and her draw with Gemmei Oonishi. Unstoppable Tai was also said to be dissatisfied with the booking of the tour as well. -Monster Ishimura tendered her formal resignation from the company, and is said to be headed to Texas to try and catch on with QAW. -Rina Kasahara got another one-off look in a dark match, doing a job to Paige Croft. -Double Pink and Lethal Strike's feud is expected to continue til the end of the Women of Wrestling tour. -There are talks of changing the J Grand Prix to some type of Round Robin format followed by an elimination bracket. -Simony Sentinel is expected to return for the upcoming tour, possibly even on a more permanent deal. Other rumours for tour hires include rudo luchadoras Ursula Saez and Queen Amazon, along with American indy tag team Lilly & Rose. -5-Star continues to bleed money, but the hope is that increases in revenue from ads and ticket sales will soon make up for the deficiencies of production costs. -Plans for the big summer angle are said to still be coming along, with seeds possibly being planted for it in the Wrestle Challenge Tour. OTHER NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: -SWF to air secondary TV show "SWF Elite"...... -ZWB interested in working in Japan?...... -Alicia Strong swears at USPW TV camera following six-woman tag loss......

OOC: Apologies for this update being late fellas, got sidetracked by a Pokemon Crystal Kaizo hack. My rival and his Shiny Totodile are becoming about 0.7 Higa on the heel scale. The issue is more along the lines of I have 40 roster members (which might be too much already) and find myself needing to keep close to if not more than half the roster strong for stuff on certain tours like the Big Crush and this tour. Cutting out the Triangle title might help to reduce the number of people that need wins by 3 for a big card, but idk. I actually toyed with the idea of having Double Pink and Lethal Strike draw both their singles matches, and Hashimoto team could've drawn with Katsukawa team if not for something that'll be coming up in this update. --- "KANPAIIIIII!" The gaijin girls were in a well-lit corner of an Osaka bar, having the usual post-tour toast before packing and a flight home tomorrow. Erin sipped orange juice while the rest knocked back appletinis. The celebration not only was for the end of the tour, but also a send-off for Steph Blake, who was working her first and last tour for the company, and was retiring in a month's time to start a family. Steph was quiet, but respected amongst all the ex-AAA crew as a hard worker. She had worked a six woman tag in the pre-show, and was intending to sign off with a match on the indy scene in America at some point. She was wished well. It was a night to savour for Erin for sure though. She had her second-ever win as a pro wrestler, and she was in front of over a thousand people. It was a rush seeing all those outdoor fans, and some of them were even nice enough to cheer her on, even if they probably didn't know who she was. The match was a mess, but Erin got valuable experience in leading an opponent and carrying things. She would watch the tape back later, maybe even with Ted or Simony, and see what she needed to work on. Meanwhile, Kinuye Mushashibo had popped by to apologize to Talia Quinzel for their match, as Mushashibo was really down on her performance. Erin didn't really see the problems with it, she had always enjoyed watching Kinuye and Kaede in North of the Border back in the day, but they were showing their age a bit. Quinzel was happy to sell for them even if it looked ridiculous though, because Kinuye was the gaijin lifeline and a really nice person, so she deserved every good thing she got. Overall it was a fun day. Erin still missed Simony, although she had heard whispers that there was a plan from 5-Star to fix that..... --- Ted laid back on the bed exhausted. He had spent a lot of the day tense while watching a good quality show, and then a couple hours packing everything up to head out tomorrow. Another tour in the service of his wonderful employers at Strathcona-Fremont was over, and now it was back to Canada. Work had gone well these past three weeks. Ted had avoided doing anything offensive or money-losing at the business half of his job, and for the actual important half of his job that Alexander cared about, things were going well there too. 5SSW ran a pretty good tournament by wrestling tournament standards, the good girls won, the outdoor house was packed and different and a change of pace, and Erin got another win and was starting to get over enough to have an actual fan club. Things were going good. Meanwhile, in the loosely cordoned off backstage area things were wild that day. Ted heard a very loud and furious argument through an open bus door between Fuyuko Higa and Sensational Ogiwara, with Higa making no secret to anyone listening that she thought the finish to her vs Oonishi was BS, and Ogiwara thinking Higa freelancing and going a bit off-script was also BS. Apparently, some of Higa's antics during and after the match were not cleared with the agent Kit Hatoyama, who was in charge of putting together a lot of the matches and relaying instructions from Karube and Ogiwara. Stuff like the dancing after the powerbomb and some of the promo were Higa going off-script and burying Oonishi because she wanted a win today, not a draw. Ted had to admit though, the showboating and bragging and posturing kinda worked. Higa was a superb heel who understood the business well in a lot of ways, it's just that she could not set aside the ego when she needed to. It wouldn't hurt Higa to do poorly against Oonishi when one promo would get her heat back, and when there were reasons for it that made sense. Higa was being booked as the best wrestler in the company, but also the most arrogant and occasionally prone to folly and mistakes. So the draw made sense, or at least Ted thought it did, because Higa would be too busy trying to humiliate and hurt Oonishi to remember that there's a match to win. But Higa just wanted it all because of her ego, so the typical scene of a wrestler chewing out a promoter ensued. And she wasn't the only one: Unstoppable Tai was furious with her booking and made a point of saying it often throughout the day. Yu Hashimoto was even more intense than normal, and glared at everyone for some reason. Rika Tsujimura stiffed someone out of repayment for a train ride. Things were tense, but there were good apples and hyped up people backstage too, eager to work in front of a large group of people so it all evened out. Meanwhile, as Ted quickly flipped through his phone, he was finding out that a lot of stuff was happening back in North America's wrestling world. Canada was about to see a record show for the CWA in Saskatchewan, and SWF was getting another A-show on TV, plus the rumour mill was heating up over some big releases and even a couple new companies forming. The fun never stops in the wacky world of pro wrestling......... --- One day later....... 5SSW owner Sensational Ogiwara sat in her office, catching up on paperwork and mulling over the state of her company. A lot had happened yesterday to sort through. As usual, the tour was not a financial success due to the exorbitant production costs. The company lost a hundred thousand on this tour, and while a reimbursement of 75,000 from the Japanese government was due next week, it wouldn't be enough to break even and stem the tide. 5SSW was still in the hole outside the loan, and the instant Alexander Marcelin called in his chips, it would lead to bankruptcy. Ogiwara booked Erin Marcelin to beat Joy Ryder as an olive branch, although even without that threat Ogiwara might've done it anyways, as Erin was getting popular enough in the lower card to get a small fan club. She still wasn't great yet, but she was popular backstage for being a hard worker who bumped well. A decade or so of seasoning and Ogiwara knew she'd have a main event player, someone with the potential to be the idol version of June Butler. Meanwhile, Higa was complaining about things AGAIN, having a public shouting match with her over doing a draw with Oonishi. Under normal circumstances, Ogiwara would've fired her and had Maki Yoshifumi shoot on her on the way out. However, this was Japan, and the sad reality everyone knew is that you could disregard the customs and expectations of how to act if you were the most talented employee around. Higa unfortunately could do whatever she wanted, because she was the best wrestler on the roster, and someday may be the best wrestler in the history of the company. So Ogiwara had to suck it up. ........How did Kagawa ever deal with all this? There was another event too. This was to be the last tour for Monster Ishimura, who was being let go due to almost hurting the golden goose Erin Marcelin, as well as some generally uninspiring performances after a strong debut to start. Ogiwara could've tried harder building up Ishimura, but the fans didn't care and she was nowhere near the level of a Crusher Ichihara. However, Ishimura handed in her letter of resignation before the show even started, and said she was headed to America to learn and improve, and wanted to return someday and make a stronger impression then. Ogiwara accepted the resignation and wished her well. So that cleared a booking headache, and hopefully Alexander would be placated by the firing and his daughter getting a win. Now Ogiwara needed a replacement. She could use Ishimura's roster spot as an extra tour hire to rotate in, but Ogiwara had another idea. It was probably time to approach the violet-haired girl she brought in before about if she'd be interested in a full-time deal.......

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong>OOC SHOW NOTES:</strong></span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> -Good ratings and attendance, thanks to the cheapo tickets throughout. I actually think this card was much better than the semifinals, but midcard don't matter in TEW lol.</p><p> </p><p> -Surprised Toshitara wasn't inducted earlier by the game, she was the first ever 5SSW champion, a 3 time winner overall, and even invented the Mafia Kick! I wonder how good she is in CV97?</p><p> </p><p> -Second Erin Marcelin win! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/redface.png.900245280682ef18c5d82399a93c5827.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> More on this win later.</p><p> </p><p> -Really wanted to use Double Pink more than I have been, but they get sucked into the pre-show vortex in favour of other people I need to keep strong too. Them and Lethal Strike will be getting more involved come May hopefully.</p><p> </p><p> -Hashimoto had a rough tour, but I think I'll get the chance to use Torment And Sorrow a bit more in May as well aaaaaaaaaaaaand now I'm back to the problem of needing to keep too many people strong going into the big events. I should really ditch the Triangle title to mitigate this......</p><p> </p><p> -Really don't know how some of these big tags with good talent fall apart so badly. Matsuda and Lotus weren't even off form, I just sorta made that up.</p><p> </p><p> -Stone Soliders seem like lame tag challengers, but it was a thankyou shot for their months of service to me in TEW 2010 and 2013 Canadian local fed games, where you could always count on them for a passable match. Kinuye doesn't really have it, but she'll always get pushed slightly above her station due to being an English speaker with an outgoing personality (which is why in storyline I made her liaison to the gaijin.)</p><p> </p><p> -Yoshifumi/Sato could've been written a little better maybe, but this writeup was tough and I sorta skimmed things. I feel stupid for not giving Yoshifumi a match somewhere, but for whatever reason I don't like champs working non-title singles that much, and I couldn't remember to work her into tags so welllllllllp. Hopefully my midcard will be more focused in May and June.</p><p> </p><p> -I've got a lot to say about Higa/Oonishi, but I'll save it for the next backstage bit and the next show, cause what happened out there ties into it.</p><p> </p><p> -I felt like the finals fell a little flat, but the bracketing had to be done to do the Oonishi/Higa breakup without getting in the way of Team 5-Star celebrating with the trophy. And hey, the main event was good, and blew off (for now) the Maruya vs Team SUB bit and the Maruya vs Nakajima bit, and I can imagine viewers were happy with it and see the company returning to mid-2000s form.</p><p> </p><p> -Boy things are really coming up roses for 5-Star's idol Yuma Maruya aren't they? I bet it'll continue forever and she'll retire with the belt!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">PREDICTION STANDINGS:</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> ampulator: 38/38</p><p> KyTeran: 32/38</p><p> medla: 14/23</p><p> joshbrady91: 8/8</p><p> Teasenityrn: 8/8</p><p> </p><p> Giving extra point to tea and KyTeran cause I forgot to edit in the draw notice before they posted. Also gj amp for the perfect run except the bonus question, even though theres no way in hell you actually predicted that draw, you just guessed <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p>

Shogun TV Presents: 5SSW Hall Of Fame Show 2020 Saturday/Week 2/April/2020 Osaka Castle Park Osaka, Japan --- The show opens up with Kaiya Kuwahara MCing the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in some tasteful office lady attire. Kaiya makes a big introductory speech for the newest inductee into the Hall........ the first ever 5SSW World champion: Nyoko Toshitara! A brief video package plays of her title winning moments against Crusher Ichihara and Namiyo Muro, and Toshitara makes her entrance to a decent pop. Even at 61 she still looks capable of throwing people around, but some of the newer fans are unclear on just who she is. Toshitara accepts a big trophy and a letter from Kuwahara and 5SSW owner Sensational Ogiwara, and makes a brief, nervous speech thanking the fans and 5SSW for their support over the years. Nyoko then says she'll take joy in watching the next generation do battle tonight, before taking a seat at ringside near the timekeeper to respectful applause from the audience. Rating: 65 --- vs. Erin Marcelin vs. Joy Ryder A messy opener, but a fun one. Erin is still green, but has shown some small signs of improvement since her young lion debut three months ago. Ryder is greener still and not really respected by the crowd, so Erin is forced to carry the match. Joy takes to the air a bit and tries to keep Erin contained with holds, but Erin's striking rocks Ryder at various points. A simultaneous Bus Driver Uppercut by Erin and Springboard Clothesline from Joy knock both down, with Ryder getting the worst of it. Erin makes it back to her feet at 6, Joy barely beats the count at 9, but eats the Whirling Silver (Discus Left Hook) for the pinfall to get Erin her first win in a while. Result: Erin Marcelin def. Joy Ryder via pinfall at 7:32 Rating: 41 --- vs. Zofia Jankovic vs. Mystery Pink The quality of the midcard immediately picks up from previous shows, as Zofia Jankovic goes to war with an all-heart opponent in a very watchable display, playing off the recent Maki Yoshifumi formula of striking versus speed. Mystery Pink runs the ropes at impossible angles to disorient her opponent. Zofia stalks around the ring, throwing strikes with bad intentions constantly. Mystery Pink gets in a big sequence of headscissor-related moves before Zofia eventually counters by throwing Pink into the turbuckles and working her over with knees until Pink makes a desperate escape. Pink changes tacks and goes to technique to beat the bigger girl, working the legs to mitigate the kicks. Zofia switches to some vicious punches and elbows, but can't match Pink for techinque when she goes to holds. Pink ties Jankovic into an almost literal pretzel with some sort of arm and leg lock, and Jankovic has no idea what to do with that, eventually managing to power out and making the ropes. Jankovic battles hard to take back control, and hauls Pink up for the Demon's Bane (Go 2 Sleep). Pink counters with an O'Connor Roll, but Jankovic holds the ropes and stuffs the move! Jump Spin Kick to the face! 1......2.....NO! Jankovic beats down Pink some more before going for the Demon's Bane again, only for Pink to counter into a T-Bone Suplex, only for Jankovic to counter right back by landing on her feet! Jankovic goes for a spinning elbo-ducked! Dropkick by Pink to the knee! Diamond Dust! 1......2.....NO! Mystery Pink goes up top for her Twisting Crossbody, but that proves to be a deadly error as Jankovic counters by hitting Pink with a backspin elbow to the face to pick her out of the sky, before finally scoring with the Demon's Bane to get the win in a tough match! Result: Zofia Jankovic def. Mystery Pink via pinfall in 13:27 Rating: 63 --- We hear from Yu Hashimoto via promo next with a silent Maki Yoshifumi shadow-boxing beside her. Yu says this tour has been tough on her, but things are about to get better, because first she'll lead her team to victory in a 10 woman tag tonight, then Maki Yoshifumi will successfully defend her title tonight against Eri Sato. Hashimoto warns Sato that Yoshifumi's got something new for her, that she's been working on while being left off of the televised portion of the tour cards. Hashimoto says that Yoshifumi is hungry as a result, and Sato will be fed to her. Yoshifumi gives the camera a vaguely intimidating stare before kicking a nearby prop away as she walks off. Rating: 52 --- vs. Thea Davis vs. Pinky Perez Another good match, although in this case the action is almost entirely provided by Perez instead of things being a team effort. Davis does try, but doesn't have as much to offer and looks like shes in slow-motion compared to the energy of Perez. The match starts with a lengthy Wigan-style technical sequence, with Thea using underhanded tactics more than once, eventually taking control with a pair of hammerlock suplexes before throwing Perez out to do a big dive onto her. Davis maintains control in the ring, working over Perez carefully and methodically. Perez manages to break free and use her speed, and eventually starts just outclassing Davis in technical battles, forcing Davis to rely on her size and more sleight of hand in front of Referee Takemura's eyes to take control. Perez takes over with some big hurricanranas, followed by a SWANK double jump Tornado DDT for 2. Perez continues to apply pressure with her lucha offense, but Davis counters with the greco-roman thumb to the eye, bullies Perez into the corner, and hauls her up for a superplex. Perez however busts out a sweet counter, managing to fend Davis off long enough to bust out a ropewalk into a flying armbar that has Davis freaking out. Davis powers through to make the ropes, but she's lost the flow of the match at this point, and Perez eventually puts her away with an impressive Pink Butterfly Bomb (Spinning Tiger Bomb) for 3 to cap off a good carry job. Double Pink and Lethal Strike have honours even after these two singles encounters now, so who knows what will happen next...... Result: Pinky Perez def. Thea Davis via pinfall at 12:29 Rating: 62 --- vs. Yu Hashimoto / Lady Lotus / Monster Ishimura / Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta vs. Miwako Katsukawa / Sae Akutagawa / Machiko Matsuda / Yukiko Matsumara / Hana Ajibana This match starts out okay but goes haywire after the opening bell, being a confusing mass of bodies with surprisingly poor flow given the respectable talent involved on both teams. Other issues plauge the match throughout. Monster Ishimura either can't or won't move at this point, no one is sure which, Unstoppable Tai is in a particularly bad mood today and doesn't feel like selling too often, and Machiko Matsuda and Lady Lotus are in bad form today and blow many spots. The lowlight (or highlight, for those particularly sadistic watchers of Botch Mayhem) comes when Matsuda overshoots everyone on a flip dive and almost breaks her backside on the rail, tumbling into the stunned audience as 4 girls watch her sail helplessly past their attempts to catch her. It's that kind of match, and things don't get much better from there. Katsukawa and Akutagawa work sequences with Hashimoto to try and salvage it, but Hashimoto tagging out seems to make the match fall apart again. Eventually the finish comes out of nowhere when Katsukawa blasts Toku Kijmuta with the Ultraviolet Beam (Handspring Twisting Forearm to a cornered opponent), before managing to somehow get the big girl down with the Katsukawa Bomb (Sunset Flip Powerbomb) for the 3 count. Result: Team Katsukawa def. Team Hashimoto via pinfall at 13:30 (Katsukawa pins Kijmuta) Rating: 53 --- Next up we get a brief, generic promo package for the Triangle title match between MAYA, Romi Yamato, and Rika Tsujimura. Rating: 42 --- 5SSW Triangle Championship V5 Defense vs. vs. MAYA (Champion) vs. Romi Yamato (Challenger) vs. Rika Tsujimura (Challenger) As always, the Triangle title matches story centers around the constant, ever-shifting stream of 2v1 alliances. Rika decides to pair with Romi Yamato early, and then turns on her to get the win, allowing MAYA time to recover to prevent it, and that's the thread the match goes with. Romi Yamato struts her all-around game with panache, hitting hard with strikes, showing off soem crisp suplexes, and crushing both girls with high-flying moves when she feels the need to. Tsujimura stands up to her to a degree due to size, and MAYA makes headway with her technique and craftiness, but eventually it takes a combined effort to bring her down. While Tsujimura and MAYA do have to work together to contain Yamato, Tsujimura's chronic backstabbing disorder eventually kicks in again and Rika turns on MAYA with a big kick right as their about to double team Yamato down. Rika tries to steal the win, but Yamato is sufficiently recovered to beat down Rika, only to get almost rolled up by MAYA, and the cycle begins again. Eventually MAYA and Yamato get fed up with Rika and double team her, ending with a double clothesline to send her over and out. MAYA tries a sneaky rollup and gets 2, which pisses Yamato off a bit, so she flexes on MAYA with some power stuff. Yamato eventually has MAYA in position for the Yamatotal (Cross-Arm Bridging German Suplex), but Rika breaks it up with a high knee before working over Yamato in the clinch. Rika goes for the Razor Knee Strike (Running Kenka Knee), and it connects, but sends Yamato through the bottom rope and out to ringside! Rika goes to retrieve Yamato, but MAYA revives and pulls Rika in for a Back Suplex to stun her, before hoisting the tall girl up for an impressive Slingshot Spike DDT for the 3 count, retaining the title in a hard-fought encounter! Result: MAYA def. Romi Yamato and Rika Tsujimura via pinfall at 13:42 Rating: 63 MAYA retains the Triangle Championship (V5 Defense) --- 5SSW Tag Team Championships V4 Defense vs. The Uprising (Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte) vs. The Stone Soliders (Kaede Sugiyama / Kinuye Mushashibo) This tag title defense isn't terrible by any teams, but it proves to be little more than an extended practise workout for The Uprising, who do sell somewhat for the Stone Soldiers. No one in the crowd really believes the challengers can really harm the champions during their defense, even though the Soliders try their level best. A particularly ridiculous sequence sees Quinzel actually selling for Mushashibo in an amusing visual, as Quinzel had 8 inches and 40 pounds of muscle on Mushashibo. Nonetheless, Quinzel does work hard selling for both Stone Soliders, to her detriment, although she gets in her fair share of offense too. In fact, the dynamic gets a little different compared to prior Uprising matches, with Selina Svelte getting some controlling periods on both Soliders and showing some fire in her ring work, instead of her usual role as a heel technician that hides behind her muscular partner whenever things go sour. Eventually the Uprising start taking control of the match. Kaede shows some heart by escaping Svelte's Prawn Armlock submission finisher, but when she makes the tag to Kinuye, Selina tags to Quinzel and this time she gives Kinuye no openings to attack, ragdolling her with backbreakers and throws before finally pressing her into the air for the big Spinal Trauma backbreaker to get the 3 count and retain the tag titles. Result: The Uprising def. The Stone Soliders via pinfall at 12:31 Rating: 63 The Uprising retain the 5SSW Tag Team Championship (V4 Defense) --- We go to the outdoors back area next to get quickfire promo bits from Chiyeko Kita, Shiori Jippensha, and HEART Saitoh talking about the finals of the Queen's Castle Cup and promising victory for their teams. Rating: 48 --- 5SSW All-Asian Championship V3 Defense vs. Maki Yoshifumi (Champion) vs. Eri Sato (Challenger) Yoshifumi does not look particularly pleased today, having been left off 4 straight shows, and takes out her frustrations on a game striker in Eri Sato, lighting her up with kicks early and controlling the pace. Sato fights back and shows no backdown whatsoever, answering Yoshifumi blow for blow and showing heart. The match degenerates into an MMA-type slugfest, and both girls seem to go for a knockout and treat it as informal shoot rules instead of a more conventional wrestling match. This confuses the crowd a bit, but they get into it despite reservations as the battle continues. Sato gets some advantage early, landing a kick combo that has Yoshifumi down for 7, then a Sato Tornado (Spinkick to a cornered opponent) that puts Maki down for 8. Eri goes for the Buzzsaw Kick (Reverse Spin Roundhouse Kick), but hits nothing but air, and turns around right into a right hook from Maki that clips her jaw and puts her down. Sato battles to her feet at 8 and continues, but Maki takes over from there, eventually wearing down Sato with clinch strikes and taking a surprise path to victory with a takedown from clinch into a Brabo Choke, and Sato is squeezed until she passes out. Referee Odaka stop the match, and Yoshifumi retains with a new, dangerous submission weapon in her arsenal...... Result: Maki Yoshifumi def. Eri Sato via referee stoppage due to a submission hold at 12:35 Rating: 61 Maki Yoshifumi retains the 5SSW All-Asian Championship (V3 Defense) --- Next up we get a promo package for the Birds of Prey, a montage of their big moments, followed by Higa's descent into madness, and the eventual moment where Higa brutally turned on her partner out of vindictiveness for their loss in the Queen's Castle Cup Finals. We then see a video of Oonishi that was released to YouTube yesterday to build up this match, and she talks about how Higa has been blinded by rage and grief, but she knows the Higa she was friends with for 9 years is not the Higa that exists now. The real Higa lies within, and Oonishi resolves to bring it out of her and resume their friendship. The video then cuts to Higa laughing like a demonic hyena over an images of the Birds of Prey facing each other. This was a well-done little promo package and got the crowd hyped for the co-main. Rating: 69 (nice) --- vs. Fuyuko Higa vs. Gemmei Oonishi The crowd perks up for this, and the more casual ticket goers taking advantage of cheap ticket prices for an outdoor show make their presence felt, booing Higa unmericfully during her entrance, and cheering Oonishi louder than just about anyone on the roster not named Maruya. Higa does not have her usual gang of contrarian supporters in attendance, and revels in the heel heat, taunting the crowd repeatedly and even spitting on a kid before the bell even rings. Higa deliberately holds back during the opening lockup, letting Oonishi overpower her and outwrestle her before grabbing quick rope breaks, and taunting her saying "Is this the best you can do?". Oonishi tries to suplex Higa, but Higa deadweights her, breaks free from Oonishi's cluthes, and starts slapping the holy hell out of her. The match is stunningly one-sided in some ways, but open and competitive in others. The story becomes clear over time: Higa is the better wrestler by far, but is prone to folly, frequently taunting Oonishi and the crowd, and letting her guard down often enough for Oonishi to get in some offense. The crowd roars with Oonishi's every burst of offense and she shows fire, even though it's clear to even the newest fan that Higa is simply better. Oonishi does come close with some flash rollups for 2 that only seem to make Higa madder and madder as the match progresses. Oonishi goes for the Hail Mary pass later in the match, briefly stunning Higa and going up top for the Flying Dagger Legdrop (Top Rope Front Flip Rough Ryder), only for Higa to casually counter into a turning powerbomb that almost folds Oonishi in half. Instead of covering though, Higa starts........ laughing. Higa's laughing gets out of control, and then she starts dancing in the middle of the ring, before eventually running a lap outside the ring to taunt the crowd in a bizarre moment. The commentators have no idea what to do with that one (aside from Umeko Karube who is just full of disdain and hatred for Higa). Higa then gets back in the ring to haul Oonishi to her feet, before hitting her with the Higa Green Driver (Emerald Flowsion Kai). Higa then laughs some more, and hauls a half-dead Oonishi to her feet, screaming "I'M FREE FROM YOU!" repeatedly to Oonishi. Second Higa Green Driver! Higa pauses for a moment to take some deep breaths with a grin on her face, revelling in her glory, but it backfires on her. Higa starts to haul Oonishi up for a 3rd Driver, but before she gets Oonishi in the air...... the time limit expires..... Result: Fuyuko Higa drew with Gemmei Oonishi at 15:00 when the time limit expired Rating: 77 --- Post-match, a relaxed Higa shoves the lifeless Oonishi to the canvas, grabs a microphone, and calmly says once more that shes free from Oonishi. Oonishi had been an anchor dragging her down into the depths of mediocrity for far too long, and now she's finally severed the tie. Furthermore, she will now do everyone in 5-Star a favour and sever Oonishi's spinal cord, right here in this very ring. Higa says that this will be true "Fan Appreciation" and walks off to get a chair. Higa lays it down, shoves away a protesting Referee Odaka, and just and she's about to lift Oonishi for a Higa Green Driver onto the chair, Miwako Katsukawa and HEART Saitoh sprint down to the ring. Higa shoves Oonishi aside and manages to somehow escape into the crowd, as Saitoh checks on Oonishi while an enraged Katsukawa shouts in Higa's direction. Rating: 67 --- We then see 5-Star Defense come down late to check on Oonishi as well, before the action cuts to a TV-only video package for the Queen's Castle Cup Finals, focusing primarily on the long-standing rivalry between Yuma Maruya and Megumi Nakajima, and how this Cup will represent yet another chapter in it, with both women showing respect for the other and their teammates, but resolutely promising victory for themselves. Rating: 67 --- (pretend theres a dope-ass trophy image here) Queen's Castle Cup Finals vs. Team 5-Star (Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh) vs. Team Nakajima (Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi) Tean Nakajima make their entrances while Team 5-Star is already in the ring. Oonishi has recovered a bit, and sits ringside with Miwako Katuskawa and Nyoko Toshitara to take in the action. Several other wrestlers come out to watch the match personally as well, and it helps add to the perceived prestige of this match. The hype for this match is still below that of Higa and Oonishi, but the idol of 5-Star is present, and theres a lot of talent in this match amped to work in front of a thousand people again for the first time in a while. This match on a technical level could be considered a shade better than the hyped up co-main depending on your tastes, but either way its value for money and full-tilt action from the get-go. The match breaks down into 3 1v1s early, with Kita fighting Saitoh, Arihyoshi trying to break a limb of Maruya's, and Nakajima fighting Jippensha. Eventually the match finally resumes as normal starting with Arihyoshi and Jippensha. Arihyoshi takes careful measure of her opponent, and the two have a breathtaking techncial battle. Arihyoshi and Jippensha exchange submission holds until Jippensha gets a rope break, which motivates Jippensha to outwrestle her right back and force a break of her own. The two tag out and Maruya and Nakajima go at it in an abbreviated version of a typical 5-Star Defense vs ANTI sequence. The action is fast paced and technically sound, and the crowd is into it. Just as Maruya starts getting the upper hand, Nakajima counters a headscissors into an Air Raid Crash and starts controlling. Nakajima tries to lock in the Nakajima Crossface (Modified Arm Trap Crossface), but Maruya escapes, and then tags are made to Saitoh and Kita. Saitoh and Kita have a considerably less exciting sequence, although the crowd does get behind Saitoh when she sells. Saitoh almost lands her Flying Tiger Knee (Top Rope Busaiku Knee), but Kita sidesteps and looks pants-crappingly scared afterwards. Team Nakajima then pounce on the opportunity and isolate Saitoh for a length of time, giving Saitoh a chance to do what she does best, sell a beating in a tag match. Exploder Suplex gets 2, before Jippensha saves. Superkick gets 2, Maruya saves, and things break down as all 6 members of the match begin a big fight. Nakajima gets the moment of the match when she tosses Saitoh with an Exploder Superplex from the second rope to the outside, sending Saitoh flying into the other 4 wrestlers in the match, before then coming off with a reckless spaceman plancha that knocks down everyone like bowling pins. A countout is teased, but Saitoh makes it back in at 18. Saitoh continues to get the hell beat out of her, but FINALLY manages to make the big tag to Jippensha, who suplexes everything in sight! Execution Day (Scoop Brainbuster) to Nakajima! Execution Day to Arihyoshi! Kita tries a sneaky Superkick, but Jippensha catches it and hits a Clinching Slam onto Kita. Jippensha tags Maruya in for the big one......... 5-Star Finish (Back Suplex/Flying Flip Neckbreaker) to Kita! Maruya covers! 1......2......Nakajima can't get up in time....3! Team 5-Star takes home the Queen's Castle Cup in a tough match! Result: Team 5-Star def. Team Nakajima via pinfall in 21:30 (Maruya pins Kita) Rating: 79 Team 5-Star wins the Queen's Castle Cup! --- Post-match, Kaiya Kuwahara comes out to present the trophy to Yuma Maruya, Shiori Jippensha, and HEART Saitoh. Maruya gives the trophy to Jippensha, who lifts it overhead, then Saitoh gets her turn. Maruya grabs a mic and cuts a promo, praising the heart of those defeated in the tournament, and thanking the fans for making this tour a special one. Confetti rains down as the show goes off the ait with Maruya finally taking her turn with the trophy! Rating: 78 --- OVERALL SHOW RATING: 76 ATTENDANCE: 1200

Shogun TV Presents: 5SSW Hall Of Fame Show 2020 Saturday/Week 2/April/2020 --- Concluding a great Fan Appreciation Week and a tremendous tour, 5SSW presents the Hall Of Fame 2020 Show from Osaka Castle Park, only on Shogun TV! The newest inductee into the 5SSW Hall of Fame plus the winner of the Queen's Castle Cup will be determined here! Don't miss it! Opening the show after the Hall of Fame induction, we'll have tag team partners and young lions going at it, as Erin Marcelin takes on Joy Ryder! Double Pink and Lethal Strike renew hostilities, but this time in singles action, starting with Zofia Jankovic taking on Mystery Pink! Then the second half of this tag rivalry comes into play with Thea Davis battling Pinky Perez! Next up we have a 10-woman tag, with Yu Hashimoto, Lady Lotus, Monster Ishimura, and the TermiNation taking on Miwako Katsukawa, Sae Akutagawa, Machiko Matsuda, Yukiko Matsumara, and Hana Ajibana! A lot of hungry wrestlers have something to prove in this match, so which team will come out on top? The title matches then begin, with the Triangle title on the line first. Champion MAYA defends against big and tough challengers in Romi Yamato and Rika Tsujimura! Next up isa tag title match, with the champions and Dynamo Tag GP 2019 winners The Uprising defending against the Stone Soldiers, who are on a good run on this tour and aim to cap it off with a win for the titles! The 3rd title match will be an All-Asian championship showdown, featuring two tough kickboxers fighting it out: Maki Yoshifumi vs. Eri Sato! Next is a non-title match, but one with serious stakes. Fuyuko Higa dramatically betrayed her former friend and tag partner Gemmei Oonishi after their loss in the semifinals of the Queen's Castle Cup, so Oonishi has requested and received a revenge match against her former partner! With tensions high, who will snap under the pressure first? Finally we have the main event of the evening for the first-ever Queen's Castle Cup! It'll be a fierce showdown between Team 5-Star and Team Nakajima for the trophy, with an old rivalry to be settled amongst the team captains YumaMaruya and Megumi Nakajima! Who will come out on top? --- PREDICTION KEY (OOC: Yarr, forgot to mention thar possibly be draws on these here high seas matey) Erin Marcelin vs. Joy Ryder Zofia Jankovic vs. Mystery Pink Thea Davis vs. Pinky Perez Yu Hashimoto / Lady Lotus / Monster Ishimura / Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta vs. Miwako Katsukawa / Sae Akutagawa / Machiko Matsuda / Yukiko Matsumara / Hana Ajibana 5SSW Triangle Title Match: Maya © vs. Romi Yamato vs. Rika Tsujimura 5SSW Tag Team Title Match: Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte © vs. Kaede Sugiyama / Kinuye Mushashibo 5SSW All-Asian Title Match: Maki Yoshifumi © vs. Eri Sato Fuyuko Higa vs. Gemmei Oonishi Queen's Castle Cup Finals: Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh vs. Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi BONUS QUESTION: Who gets inducted into the 5SSW Hall Of Fame: Nyoko Toshitara or Saori Nakadan?

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="49448" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><em>If it was a one-on-one match, I might have been more reluctant. It was Maruya/Jippensha/Saitoh vs. Higa/Oonishi/Akutagawa. Maruya and Jippensha are big stars. Saitoh hasn't developed as a worker as well Higa or Jippensha, but she's still star if not a big one. Oonishi is a good worker but isn't quite the level of Maruya/Jippensha/Higa. Akutagawa is also a good worker, but aren't quite the level of the others.</em></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <em>I actually see Saitoh/Oonishi/Akutagawa on fairly similar levels in terms of kayfabe power, but I see your point. Either of the Hell Raisers in particular could HYPOTHETICALLY beat anyone, because fairly big and strong and stuff and that matters in Japan. Doesn't mean they SHOULD, mind you, but that they could.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> Jippensha's been in a weird spot for me in this diary because I can't use pre-show promo training magic to get her up to 70s easy in charisma/mic/acting within a few months, so it's hard to feature her as a character, and despite her dope-ass new render I don't think she's really allowed to portray too many characters in 5SSW other than "srs business wrestling machine" So I'm sure she resides in a "can beat anyone on the roster" spot, but its hard to use her that way. IDK, I didn't think Higa pinning Saitoh was out of the question, but maybe I could've built up the other two members of Team Higa better to really sell it.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> Also fellas next prediction key will go up Monday, then the final show of the tour will be posted Wed/Thurs. Who's excited for the finals? Any comments/questions/feedback is appreciated, have a good weekend!</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="rBQxkob.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/rBQxkob.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Ted had to say he was blown away by the show quality.</p><p> </p><p> Ted had been lucky enough to watch the second night of Fan Appreciation Week from the improvised 5SSW production truck and it was a doozy. Sure the midcard was filler-iffic, but Erin's match and a couple of the other matches were fun, and the main event was what everyone came for anyways. They had the 5-Star idol against the top villain in a six woman tag with other good wrestlers and high stakes, they delivered a fantastic match, right up there with the Higa/Nakajima bout, the good girls won, and the bad girl beat up and turned on her hapless partner to get her heat back. Classic.</p><p> </p><p> And man, seeing the expressions of the schoolgirls and otakus in the front row being either pissed or in shock at the Higa turn was great. They had the crowd RIGHT there, and Ted was interested to see what would happen next.</p><p> </p><p> The information network amongst the male 5SSW staff didn't yield anything for this card, as Ogiwara and Karube kept their cards close to their vest. Hell, Ted didn't even know before the card if Higa's team was winning or losing, let alone if the turn was happening.</p><p> </p><p> This show, especially seeing it from the backstage perspective, was so much better than USPW's offerings. Unfortunately it was just its own niche and no one from the US except the diehards would get to watch it and see it for being better than USPW's women's offerings on freaking Reverie.</p><p> </p><p> Someday..... Ted hoped that would change......</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="nr0H7y3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nr0H7y3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Erin watched the main event while wearing a hoodie and sitting high up in the makeshift bleachers. She loved it, and felt all the girls did a super job with the main event.....</p><p> </p><p> ........But once again she had this sense of frustration and wanting in her chest. Erin wanted to be the one in the ring doing the cool main event things with the big main event responses. Especially after the show two days ago where two big fans of hers asked Erin for an autograph. Erin was thrilled, but she suspected that they asked for her autograph and liked her because she LOOKED cool, not because she was cool, and not because she was a great wrestler.</p><p> </p><p> Higa, Maruya, Jippensha, THEY were great wrestlers, and Erin was nowhere near their level. It was frustrating. Was Erin really that much better than people like Juliette King or Glorious Gloria that coasted on their look above all else? The only reasons Erin would be hired were her look, and the fact she took good bumps for someone her age. So she was a jobber with potential, maybe, and King and Gloria were Enforcers with potential, maybe.</p><p> </p><p> Erin sighed. She wished Simony was here. Simony had become a friend of hers after the last tour, and Erin could feel some of her worries wash away when talking to her. Ted helped too when he talked to Erin and gave her an outside perspective, but it wasn't as helpful.</p><p> </p><p> Erin started to hit Simony up with a text, then realized she wasn't likely to be awake in that particular timezone. Ah well, it was likely she was being brought back for the next tour, or at least that was the word coming out of the gaijin locker room.</p><p> </p><p> As the crowd filed out, Erin began to file with them, intending to find Ted to take another walk around the park before heading back to the home away from home.......</p>

OOC SHOW NOTES: -Best card yet! Not sure it was written that way, but then it was a one match card that gave the fans what they paid to see. -Had to do a lot of rejiggering of the undercard. A great 8 woman tag between Torment and Sorrow/Lethal Strike vs Kanto Express/Double Pink was left off the show. I feel like I need a better system to get everyone I want on the show but can't really figure it out. Hopefully things are better in the May tour cause its normal and I don't need to keep half the roster strong for a tournament. -Just noticed that Maki Yoshifumi did not appear in any matches on the tour. Whoops! She'll be defending her All-Asian title for sure though. -Stone Soliders got a mini-push they probably didn't deserve this tour simply because I liked them in my Local to Global feds and wanted them to have a tag title shot. Plus, they speak English and Japanese and thats great. In TEW2016 I used to have to editor Suzue Katayama into existence as a road agent to cover that. -The high rating in the main event was due to me turning Spinal Impact moves off to give the match a burst of ratings, which I explained in-universe as being more everyone trying really really hard in front of the big crowd in the big feud match. -Really disappointed that none of the predictors bought Team Higa as the winners of the semifinal. I felt I made Higa seem like a threat, she took Maruya-led teams to time limit draws before, but I guess people just thought MaruyawinsLOL -I would like to think though that Higa turning on Oonishi was a surprise though, and something that might've been thought to get drawn out until May. Instead I just decided to have Higa cut that tie. It's a teased breakup angle that started in November and ran to April, with a false reconciliation teased a time or two, and I think it came off well. Oonishi's incompetence of falling to a deadly tag team finisher ruined Higa's vision of taking a trophy from Maruya, so that was enough for Higa to just be like "screw this" and driver her into the ground. -Ratings shot up 6000 for this one but are still below the numbers i did during part 1 and 2 of the tour. I'll see how the finals go before I find out if this is due to me setting the semi-finals as a Lesser event instead of a TV show. -One thing that disappoints me about the way I'm writing Fan Appreciation Week is that the festival atmosphere isn't emphasized enough. If this were Self writing it he'd have Higa adjusting Maruya's aim in a shooting gallery to be a jerk or something, or giving defective goldfish catching nets to some kid and laughing while they cry, or stealing someone's takoyaki. However, that's probably a little too Sportz Entertainment for this particular audience. --- PREDICTION STANDINGS: ampulator: 30/30 (Hey, like the ESPN show!) KyTeran: 25/30 medla: 14/23 joshbrady91: 8/8 (Welcome aboard josh!)

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="GYUe7nb.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GYUe7nb.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Shogun TV Presents:</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> 5SSW Fan Appreciation Week Night 2</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Wednesday/Week 2/April/2020</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Osaka Castle Park</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Osaka, Japan</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="38BdHBV.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/38BdHBV.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> A great video package narrated by Kaiya Kuwahara airs to open the show breaking down the big semifinal matches on tap today, documenting the issues between Higa and Maruya, the period of dominance the Uprising have enjoyed in recent times, and the desire for Nakajima to fight back after being kicked down the ladder a bit by Higa.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 79</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="pZEDxvt.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pZEDxvt.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="cX3bnOv.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/cX3bnOv.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="nr0H7y3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nr0H7y3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="W3BZowC.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/W3BZowC.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Gun Metal Gals (Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda) vs Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The opening match of the show is mildly entertaining but sloppy, with the Gun Metal Gals still getting lost on spots and Marcelin and Ryder still being green. There's effort and hard work involved thats appreciated by pockets of the audience, but its not enough to fully save things and make the match any good.</p><p> </p><p> Still, the finish is at least exciting, as the Gun Metal Gals get the win on Erin Marcelin with the debut of the Steel Ball Run (Genda Corner Cannonball/Miyoshi Springboard Leaping Face Crusher) for a 3 count.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Gun Metal Gals def. Marcelin & Ryder via pinfall at 7:33</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 46</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="kFF47yY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/kFF47yY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="TSNdrc1.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/TSNdrc1.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Eri Sato vs. Velvet Suarez</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Sato gets down to business against the relatively inexperienced luchadora, battering her across the ring with kicks and some suplexes. Suarez briefly rallies with some lucha-inspired offense that's casually swatted down by Sato. The Sato Tornado spinkick into the corner clobbers Suarez, and then Sato hauls Suarez up for the Buzzsaw Kick (Reverse Spin Roundhouse Kick), which knocks her out for the 3 count.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Eri Sato def Velvet Suarez via pinfall at 8:31</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 54</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="IVupCz6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/IVupCz6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="S5zYtKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5zYtKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="I5FBwBx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/I5FBwBx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ytBvNDA.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ytBvNDA.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="eqRIrjY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/eqRIrjY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="gUw5uvp.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/gUw5uvp.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="mXmc58q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/mXmc58q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> We hear from various people in a rapid-fire promo package: Sae Akutagawa, Gemmei Oonishi, Chiyeko Kita, Shiori Jippensha, and HEART Saitoh all check in with stuff to say. Thea Davis and Pinky Perez appear to be having some type of confrontation in the background of some of these promos as well.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 45</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="iobILVo.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iobILVo.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="BjC1KJ8.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/BjC1KJ8.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="lL30Zqr.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/lL30Zqr.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="JGHhvtW.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/JGHhvtW.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Shining Force (Otsune Tsumura / Yukiko Matsumara) vs. Stone Soldiers (Kaede Sugiyama / Kinuye Mushashibo)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> This match for whatever reason doesn't work out great and falls to pieces at various points, with the crowd not caring much for some of the slow methodical ringwork and basic high-flying on display. Kaede and Yukiko work a decent sequence to try and save it, but the match spirals into mediocrity whenevery Kinuye and Otsune are involved.</p><p> </p><p> Kaede Sugiyama eventually gets the win with a Spinning Arm Breaker into a Reverse Sitting Armbar on Otsune Tsumura, and Tsumura taps out to prevent herself from getting injured.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Stone Soldiers def. Shining Force via submission at 10:04 (Sugiyama taps Tsumura)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 52</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="d9jSwtE.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/d9jSwtE.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="EgTzSr5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/EgTzSr5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Monster Ishimura vs. Rika Tsujimura</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Monster Ishimura comes out with some fire, being frustrated at her lack of success lately, and she comes out with what you could call a flurry of clubbing blows if they weren't delivered so slowly.</p><p> </p><p> However, Rika Tsujimura uses her size and untested toughness to weather the storm, and actually stands up to Ishimura, fighting back with some sharp strikes and a few holds. Ishimura retreats outside, and Tsujimura follows with a nice flip dive that gets a decent pop.</p><p> </p><p> Unfortunately, thats mostly the highlight of the match, as while the crowd is interested in Tsujimura physically imposing herself on the monster, there isn't much in the way of action, with Ishimura almost working in slow motion at points.</p><p> </p><p> Tsujimura eventually puts the match out of its misery by managing to stagger the monster, reducing her to her knees with leg kicks, and scoring with the Razor Knee Strike (Running Kenka Knee) for 3.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Rika Tsujimura def. Monster Ishimura via pinfall at 8:12</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 47</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="QPFYrDH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/QPFYrDH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Miwako Katsukawa checks in with a promo talking up her match with Lady Lotus. Katsukawa seems to be really improving on the mic and is getting popular with the 5-Star fanbase, and this was some good stuff.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 62</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="z4uBriK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/z4uBriK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="GoExdDk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GoExdDk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Romi Yamato vs. Steph Blake</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Steph Blake hasn't gotten much of a chance to establish herself, and is getting a bit long in the tooth as well. Thus, this match suffers a bit, and is only decent instead of good, with Yamato getting a much bigger response for her more modern offense, and getting most of the spotlight for herself.</p><p> </p><p> Blake controls early with a combination of chinlocks and DDTs, but Yamato takes charge with superior technique and athleticism, almost tying Blake into knots at various points. Blake fights desperately, but gets overwhelmed, and finally beaten with the Yamatotal (Cross-Arm Bridging German Suplex) that gets a 3 count.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Romi Yamato def. Steph Blake via pinfall at 9:31</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 55</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="QPFYrDH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/QPFYrDH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="etOqb5w.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/etOqb5w.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Miwako Katsukawa vs. Lady Lotus</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> After a very mediocre midcard to this point, the fans are finally treated to a good match. A lot of the milling park-goers are just here for hte main event, but find themselves getting into this one.</p><p> </p><p> Katsukawa and Lotus had a prior rivalry over the past couple years for the All-Asian title, and the two gel together really well in-ring, complementing the other's style really well. They work their signature spots from the feud in in front of the new audience, such as the Chord Flip by Lotus off a corner whip, baiting Katsukawa to run in and take a corner Tornado Bulldog, Katsukawa countering a huracanrana into a reverse powerbomb stungun, and Katsukawa athletically reversing a piledriver into a Samurai DDT.</p><p> </p><p> Lotus gets a close 2 off a vicious-looking springboard wheel kick, then slams Katsukawa and goes up for the Senton Bomb, but misses. Katsukawa takes over and lands the ever-popular Ultraviolet Beam (Handspring Twisting Forearm to a cornered opponent). Lotus does a great Chord Sell off that, but Katsukawa only gets 2.</p><p> </p><p> Katsukawa goes for the Katsukawa Bomb (Sunset Flip Powerbomb), but Lotus stuffs it and counters into a Boston Crab. Katsukawa fights hard.......... and makes the ropes! Lotus tries to pull Katsukawa off the ropes, Katsukawa fights it...... and reverses into a Small Package! 1........2.....NO!</p><p> </p><p> The match continues to go back and forth. Eventually, Lotus starts getting desperate for the win, and makes the fatal mistake of missing a springboard lariat. Lotus lands lightly on her feet, but turns around into the Katsukawa Bomb outta nowhere! 1.......2..........3! Katsukawa gets the victory!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Miwako Katsukawa def. Lady Lotus via pinfall at 13:23</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 65</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Tlz7Qa6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Tlz7Qa6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> A quick video package plays hyping up Team America vs. Team Nakajima, focusing on Nakajima talking about how important a tournament win here would be to establish herself again.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 62</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="UqJvBag.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/UqJvBag.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="NrU6NiP.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NrU6NiP.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Ut6aCND.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Ut6aCND.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="Tlz7Qa6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Tlz7Qa6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="I5FBwBx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/I5FBwBx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="zaZg1I3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/zaZg1I3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Queen's Castle Cup Semifinal Match</span></strong></p><p><strong> Team America (Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte / Paige Croft) vs. Team Nakajima (Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Theres a fair bit of anticipation for this match, but something is off from the get-go, and theres some notable blown spots from even good workers in the match like Nakajima and Croft.</p><p> </p><p> Still though, there are some respected names involved, the match is still pretty good, and Team SUB and The Uprising show signs of being capable of a good feud.</p><p> </p><p> The match starts with Croft amubshing Team Nakajima with her chain before the bell, as the Uprising, sorta stunned by Croft's actions at first, shrug and eventually join in. Referee Odaka takes back control of th ematch and wrests the chain away from Croft, confiscating it for the timekeeper to keep a hold of.</p><p> </p><p> Team America controls early on Nakajima, who took the bulk of the damage from Croft's early assault, but Nakajima battles through and then Team SUB start taking over. Team SUB and the Uprising work some great back-and-forth sequences that seems to hint towards the team being capable of a feud. Team SUB bust out a surprise Double Demon Down (Double Side Slam) on Svelte for 2 before Quinzel saves. Quinzel almost pins Kita with her Spinal Trauma backbreaker, but Arihyoshi saves.</p><p> </p><p> Then Croft and Nakajima then tag in and get into it with a technical sequence, ending with both girls get completely lost for some reason, to the point where the veteran viewers in the crowd start laughing. The match struggles to recover from there.......</p><p> </p><p> Still though, things pick up with a better sequence towards the end, where a triple suicide dive by Team Nakajima turns things around and puts Team America on the back foot. Team SUB load up for their Superkick/Tiger Suplex combo, but Quinzel fights loose and leaves Arihyoshi to eat the Superkick instead. Quinzel tries to press the advantage, but Kita tags in Nakajima, who cleans house until being cutoff by a cheapshot from Svelte.</p><p> </p><p> Svelte ends up having to deal with Arihyoshi on the outside, so Quinzel tags in Croft to improvise the Uprising's finisher known as the Rising Tide (Modified Sky Lift Slam), only for Nakajima to counter into a hurricanrana on Quinzel to send her out! Croft tries to ambush Nakajima before she gets to her feet with the Ace Crusher, but Nakajima reverses into a three-quarter nelson rollup! 1......2.......3!</p><p> </p><p> Team Nakajima wins a somewhat messy match, but its good enough to be on route to the finals!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Team Nakajima def. Team America via pinfall at 19:33 (Nakajima pins Croft)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 65</em></p><p> <strong>Team Nakajima advances to the Queen's Castle Cup Finals</strong></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="aDF3DSi.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/aDF3DSi.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> While a furious Croft slaps the bejeezus out of the timekeeper to get her chain back, we cut to an EXCELLENT promo package for the Higa/Maruya rivalry as of late, building up the big-time semifinal match with some fired-up promo work from Higa and Maruya. Crowd loved seeing this on an improvised projector setup and were in full UWAAAAAHHHH state for the match.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 81</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="aDF3DSi.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/aDF3DSi.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ytBvNDA.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ytBvNDA.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="eqRIrjY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/eqRIrjY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="S5zYtKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5zYtKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="IVupCz6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/IVupCz6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Queen's Castle Cup Semifinal Match</span></strong></p><p><strong> Team 5-Star (Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh) vs. Team Higa (Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / Sae Akutagawa)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The crowd is up for this, and everyone involved rises to the occasion with the best match 5-Star has seen almost since the heyday of the Magic Three. Maruya and Higa do not like each other, Higa has barely restrained contempt for Saitoh, and seems to have a bizarre respect for Jippensha brewing for whatever reason. Ooonishi is torn in loyalties between the two sides, and Akutagawa just wants to beat people up.</p><p> </p><p> All the ingredients are there for a great match and it happens fast and furious. Higa and Jippensha start off with an electrifying technical sequence. Higa is respectful and fired up, Jippensha is cold and calculating. Jippensha tags in Saitoh and Higa immediately tags out, saying she doesn't need to waste her time with this. Saitoh takes it to Oonishi, and exchanges some words with Higa on the outside that Higa just ignores with disdain.</p><p> </p><p> Oonishi does well against Saitoh, but struggles against the World champ Maruya once she tags in. Akutagawa eagerly tags in to face the champ and fares better, using her size and techniquie to bully the smaller girl. Maruya gets fired up by the crowd though, and eventually outmaneuvers her bigger opponent, sending her flying into the corner with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Maruya then angrily calls on Higa to tag in, and Higa obliges.</p><p> </p><p> Higa takes out all her venom and anger on Maruya, battering her from pillar to post, suplexing the idol multiple times, and stopping every now and then to get some quality badmouth on the crowd, who are full of invective for the leather-clad gal hurting their idol. Unfortunately for Higa, one badmouth session too many gives Maruya time to fight back and create enough space to tag in Saitoh. Saitoh gets in some jumping clotheslines, a Rube Goldberg neckbreaker, and the big running Back Brain Kick!</p><p> </p><p> Saitoh goes for the Flying Tiger Knee (Top-Rope Busaiku Knee), but Higa sidesteps at the last minute, and the camera gets a good shot of her horrified expression as she FLEES to the corner to tag in Oonishi. Team Higa loses a bit of their momentum as Oonishi stays isolated in the corner for a while, but Oonishi battles free from a Jippensha suplex attempt and tags in Akutagawa who runs wild! Wheel kicks for everyone! Its a 2-for-1 sale, and the 3rd one is thrown in for free! Akutagawa places Jippensha up top for the middle-rope Northern Lights Suplex, but Jippensha fights it off and shoves Akutagawa to the canvas. Top Rope Knee Drop! 1......2.....NO!</p><p> </p><p> Akutagawa is isolated for a while, but works her way free to tag in Higa, who is furious at this point and simply destroys all 3 members of Team 5-Star at her leisure. Higa slaps the taste out of Maruya's mouth repeatedly, then tags in Oonishi for the Death From Above (Veg-o-Matic). Oonishi goes up for her part of the move, but Saitoh desperately shakes the ropes until she falls! Higa goes to attack Saitoh, but Saitoh lowers the rope and sends a charging Higa to the outside! Saitoh fights Akutagawa around ringside!</p><p> </p><p> Maruya and Oonishi are left alone in the ring. Maruya gets a brilliant rope-walk Tornado DDT in, and tags in a recovering Jippensha........5-Star Finish (Back Suplex/Flying Flip Neckbreaker) on Oonishi! Jippensha covers! 1......2......Higa tries to make the save but is too far away......3!</p><p> </p><p> Team Maruya win a hard and memorable battle to make it to the Queen's Castle Cup Finals!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Team Maruya def. Team Higa via pinfall at 21:20 (Jippensha pins Oonishi)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 81</em></p><p> <strong>Team Maruya advances to the Queen's Castle Cup Finals</strong></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="S5zYtKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5zYtKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Post-match, Team 5-Star celebrate up the entrance and into the back area, while a furious Higa paces around the ring. Oonishi rises up to her feet unsteadily.....</p><p> </p><p> <strong>........AND GETS SLAPPED BACK DOWN TO THE CANVAS BY HIGA!</strong></p><p> </p><p> Higa brutally stomps and kicks her former tag team partner, and tells Akutagawa to fetch a mic. Higa lays Oonishi out with an STO!</p><p> </p><p> Higa grabs the mic, tells Oonishi that she has outlived her usefulness, and picks her up...... Higa Green Driver (Emerald Flowsion Kai) to Oonishi!</p><p> </p><p> The show goes off the air with Higa rapidly calming down from her rage....... and slowly getting a smile of satisfaction on her face as the crowd sits there stunned.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 74</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">OVERALL SHOW RATING: 79</span></strong></p><p><strong> ATTENDANCE: 851</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p>

Shogun TV Presents: 5SSW Fan Appreciation Week Part 2 Wednesday/Week 2/April/2020 --- We're in the best 4 of the Queen's Castle Cup, here on the second night of Fan Appreciation Week. After an intense first round, which teams will fight in the finals? Find out only on Shogun TV, airing from the Osaka Castle Park! In our opening match, the Gun Metal Gals aim for their first win of the tour against the young gaijin duo of Erin Marcelin and Joy Ryder. Eri Sato is in singles action next, taking on young luchadora Velvet Suarez. Two veteran tag teams wrestle next, as Shining Force take on the Stone Soliders. Monster Ishimura has been lurking under the radar lately and has been up and down performance wise, but she'll be aiming to make a statement against the tall all-rounder Rika Tsujimura. The dangerous Romi Yamato is in action next, against tough British veteran Steph Blake. Two former arch-rivals renew acquaintances in the last match before the tournament semi-finals, as Miwako Katsukawa takes on Lady Lotus. Semifinal number one sees Team America take on Team Nakajima. Team America boasts the tag team champions and an increasingly unhinged Paige Croft, while Team Nakajima is captained by a former world champ and supported by former multi-time tag champions. Who will prevail? Semifinal number two sees a much-anticipated clash between Team 5-Star and Team Higa. Fuyuko Higa has made no secret of her desire to see the 5SSW "idol" Yuma Maruya fall, and Maruya is determined not to give in easily to the leather-clad renegade. With great decorated wrestlers on both sides, and the last meeting between the captains of the two teams ending in a time limit draw, it could go either way! --- PREDICTION KEY Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda vs. Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder Eri Sato vs. Velvet Suarez Otsune Tsumura / Yukiko Matsumara vs. Kaede Sugiyama / Kinuye Mushashibo Monster Ishimura vs. Rika Tsujimura Romi Yamato vs. Steph Blake Miwako Katsukawa vs. Lady Lotus Queen's Castle Cup Semi-Final: Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte / Paige Croft vs. Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi Queen's Castle Cup Semi-Final: Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh vs. Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / Sae Akutagawa

<p>OOC:</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="49448" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I have a recommendation: instead of editing workers, maybe create new independent broadcasters in the database editor, then importing them via the in-game editor?<p> </p><p> For example, I would sometimes a create a regional PPV broadcaster that's available in one area only, but with good coverage in that region with lower broadcast requirements. The kicker is, the broadcaster is *only* in one area.</p><p> </p><p> It gives you some wiggle room, yet limits your coverage growth to that area.</p></div></blockquote> <p> </p><p> I mean, I'm not concerned about company popularity, and its not like I'd edit workers to a superhigh extent, I'm just pretty sure that Suarez and Blake would be like 11 or 12 overness in Kansai instead of 8 now in this post-patch world. I'll see how things go with my next tour hires that I decide to build up.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="49448" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>As for the workers....Thea Davis, is well, she's *almost* there, but not quite. Her problem is some of her "top row" (Brawling/Technical) stats are *almost* to 60 but not quite, and some of her "bottom row" stats (Psychology/Selling) aren't necessarily good enough to cover for that.<p> </p><p> (Top Row stats are Brawling/Puroresu/Technical/Aerial. Hardcore is a top row stat, but some products ignore it).</p><p> </p><p> Given 5SSW's product, you need to be *really* good at one top row skill (80ish), very good at one or two (70ish), or decent at multiple top row skills (60ish).</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I've actually heard only the best top row stat amongst Puro/Brawling/Technical/Flying matters for match quality, unless running a match where your second or third best stat is tied to the match type (like technical for a submission match), and that top row has a great effect on the match with psychology/basics/selling being "influencers" that bar certain matches from being great if they're lacking.</p><p> </p><p> I sort of end up justifying this as the low top row high fundamentals workers being slow-paced and methodical in their offense, instead of fast and exciting like the 5-Star style is implied to be. I don't necessarily think workrate is the KEY to a great match, mind, but it works for what this particular product and this particular fandom would consider good. Plus the few joshi matches I've seen do have quite a few workers with happy feet sooooo......</p><p> </p><p> At any rate thanks for the comments amp!</p><p> </p><p> Prediction key will be up tomorrow fellas, feel free to chime in with any thoughts on the matches and the booking too!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="nr0H7y3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nr0H7y3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The Fan Appreciation Week had begun and Erin was in wonderment. She had never done an outdoor show before, and it was cool being in an old-style show, like what they had in black and white films of circus acts in the 40s, with wrestlers taking on all comers from the crowd.</p><p> </p><p> There were a few outdoor booths set up in the park, and Erin got a weird melon slushee and some Pocky from one stall, before joining Ted for a walk in Osaka Castle Park as the remnants of the 5-Star crowds and other civvies started to file home.</p><p> </p><p> It was a fun show in Erin's eyes, the tournament had started off well, and she had done okay in her tag match with Joy Ryder. The Kanto Express were really underrated and good to learn from, but Erin thought Ryder was even greener than she was and the match wasn't as good as it could've been with a slightly better partner.</p><p> </p><p> Of course, the match would be even better replacing Erin with 90% of the roster too, but that was beside the point. Erin was coming along, but she was starting to wonder: if she got on the next tour, would teaming with a veteran help her get even better?</p><p> </p><p> ........Oh well, there'd be plenty of time for that. Erin was 18 and had the best gig a young women's wrestler could have: Working 5 matches a month in Japan with the best in the world. This was great.</p><p> </p><p> And it was about to get even greater.</p><p> </p><p> Two schoolgirls from nearby Nekketsu High School named Shimada and Hasebe were walking in the park too, talking about the show. They noticed Erin and Ted walking towards them, recognized Erin, and their hearts almost stopped.</p><p> </p><p> The two had attended the debut of Erin in 5SSW, where she came out full of swagger and beat another nameless girl up with some strikes and a spinning left hook. No matter who else 5-Star brought in or how many matches Erin lost, they thought she was the COOLEST gaijin ever, with her hair, her swagger, her punching power, and her courage to face any opposition even if they were overwhelming appealing to them and a handful of other fans across Kansai.</p><p> </p><p> Unbeknownst to Erin, she had an unofficial fan club of sorts. And its top two members just saw their target of fandom walking towards them.</p><p> </p><p> A hurried scramble and rooting through purses ensued as Erin and Ted sauntered over, but eventually the two girls found a notepad and a pen between them, and Shimada and Hasebe went over to their favourite wrestler.</p><p> </p><p> "ERIN-SENSHUUUUUU!"</p><p> </p><p> Erin looked up and saw two girls running towards her. Erin noticed that one of them was wearing a wig........that looked like her haircut? What?</p><p> </p><p> "Can we have autograph purease?"</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="rBQxkob.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/rBQxkob.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> <em>"Well, they tried"</em> thought Ted to himself as he rescued Erin from the Engrish conversation and talked with the fangirls in Japanese for a bit. A rush of information came out that left Ted dizzy, but he got the gist of it.</p><p> </p><p> Erin signed an autograph and took a selfie with the two squeeing fangirls, with her eyes shining like the sun at the thought of having fans. The two girls waved to Erin and skipped off holding their mouths in delight and excitement. Ted couldn't help but grin at this. Erin just had her day made, and it was a delightful thing to see happen.</p><p> </p><p> "What else did they say besides asking for my autograph and stuff?" said a dazed Erin.</p><p> </p><p> "Oh nothing much, they were talking about being big fans of your and how they just saw you getting your butt kicked by the Kanto Express, nothing major."</p><p> </p><p> "Seriously though what did they say?"</p><p> </p><p> "I just told you!"</p><p> </p><p> Ted did tell Erin. Of course he left out details, like the fact Shimada and Hasebe were part of an unofficial Erin Marcelin fan club and that they saw her debut match and thought she was the coolest. That could be saved for later teasing and wasn't something Erin needed to know at the moment.</p><p> </p><p> Ted chuckled lightly to himself, but that action hurt his ribs......</p><p> </p><p> His ribs had taken some punishment earlier when he was outdoors in the improvised backstage area. Ted had dropped a Solo cup behind a production case, and as he went to get it, Unstoppable Tai came roaring in screaming bloody murder over doing a job to Team Maruya. Apparently, Tai had delusions of being able to beat Maruya's team in the tournament and advance to greater things as a payback for agreeing to lose the tag titles. So the big klutz shifted a production case while on the warpath, and Ted got up in time to be forcibly sandwiched between the production case and a nearby bus, and Ted felt like a jelly donut pressed on both sides.</p><p> </p><p> Luckily he would probably be alright and it was likely just a bruise, but still, goddamn Tai. She had been getting a bit testy backstage lately due to her decreased push, and this was another episode of it. Ted wanted to offer some advice, such as learn to show more charisma and sell better so you can get a better push, but Tai would probably react to it with some shouting and/or violence, plus it wasn't Ted's place to point this stuff out.</p><p> </p><p> Best to let this stuff be resolved by professionals.</p>

OOC SHOW NOTES: -Thanks for the predictions as always, love you guys! -Doing this show sorta makes me want to switch to shorter form matches from now on, it was hard to make all 4 matches seem like big deals without reusing a ton of sequences. -Admittedly a lot of the lower-card was filler filler filler, but people in-game would've showed up for the tournament matches anyways. Plus I needed people to get wins in for the final show's midcard title matches. -Noticed that some of the recent patches seem to be cratering overness gains and TV ratings. Might do some manual editing later. Suarez and Blake are at 9 and 8 overness in Kansai after the show which is very weird. Generally getting anyone over to 17 is easy as hell, but getting them over beyond that is when it slows. -Team America vs Team Europe could've really gone either way, but I decided America was the more credible choice due to having the tag team champs. Thea Davis is becoming one of those classic workers with a bio that makes no sense compared to her character though, as she's really struggling in-ring to match up to everyone else. -For a thrown together unit I thought I wrote Hashimoto's team fairly well. They were competitive but undone by a lack of cohesion, and that can happen. -Monsters vs 5-Star match I thought came off well, and the casuals in the crowd might've actually bought the heels as a threat to the babyfaces, even though the TermiNation have really been lost in the shuffle lately. -Main event was great, and Higa just writes herself at this point. My addiction to isekai light novels introduced me to my new favourite character trope: the arrogant nobility who gets completely clowned by the heroes, and Higa fits a lot of that, so I had her talk smack to Perez and then get outwrestled in 30 seconds like whaaaaaaaat? As I believe I've stated before, a Japanese heel is so easy to write compared to the straitlaced typical bland as oatmeal Japanese babyface. Higa's just the best, even if shes maybe chewing the scenery a little too hard and would turn herself babyface probably in America. -BTW Suarez was in this tour specifically to take the fall here. It would've been Ursula Saez, but I decided against that to keep Saez untainted for another tour. --- PREDICTION STANDINGS: ampulator: 22/22 KyTeran: 18/22 medla: 11/15 (uh oh, ampulator's gotten three perfects in a row, better start needless swerve booking.)

Shogun TV Presents: 5SSW Fan Appreciation Week Night 1 Monday/Week 2/March/2020 Osaka Castle Park Osaka, Japan --- We open the show with a video package narrated by Kaiya Kuwahara, breaking down the tournament participants and the press conference from earlier. It was pretty well produced and got the point across. Rating: 75 --- vs. The Kanto Express (MAYA / Machiko Matsuda) vs. Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder A good little match here to open the show, with most of the reaction coming for anything the Kanto Express does. Erin Marcelin has her small pockets of supporters as she gets in some stiff strikes, but can't land her big Whirling Silver (Discus Left Hook). The Kanto Express take back the flow of the match, corner Ryder, knock Marcelin off the apron, and Matsuda finishes Ryder with a sweet alley-oop frankensteiner for 3. Result: The Kanto Express def. Marcelin & Ryder via pinfall at 6:32 (Matsuda pins Ryder) Rating: 52 --- The Kanto Express cut a quick pre-taped victory promo afterwards in the park behind the 5-Star tour bus and say little of note. Rating: 43 --- vs. Rika Tsujimura vs. Ochiyo Iijima This match on the other hand is nothing much. Rika is a bit too slow-paced and methodical for the 5-Star environment, while Iijima is a bit too slow-paced and old, and neither person is particularly cared about by the fans. Tsujimura puts the match out of its misery fairly quickly with the Razor Knee Strike (Kenka Knee) for a 3 count. Result: Rika Tsujimura def. Ochiyo Iijima via pinfall at 7:31 Rating: 48 --- vs. Gun Metal Gals (Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda) vs. Stone Soliders (Kaede Sugiyama / Kinuye Mushashibo) This one is a little better, the Gals are starting to get popular, and the Stone Soliders are a good fundamental team (if a little basic offensively). The match is a bit marred by inconsistency from the younger team and unexciting offense from the older team, but the effort is there and the crowd tolerates it. The Gun Metal Gals come a little closer to winning this match than some of the previous ones, pushing the veterans hard with their speed, but Emiko Mioyshi misses a big Pheonix Splash off the top and that enables Sugiyama to score with a back suplex followed by a Half Nelson Suplex for the 3 count. Result: Stone Soliders def. Gun Metal Gals via pinfall at 9:55 Rating: 50 --- Before the next match we check in with Miwako Katsukawa, who cuts a good promo talking about her plans for improvement and growth on this tour despite not being in the Queen's Castle Cup. Rating: 63 --- vs. Miwako Katsukawa vs. Hana Ajibana Ajibana's been showing some commendable effort lately, being held back by the deadweight around her in mutli-woman tags, and this is an opportunity for her to cut loose and show what she can do. Ajibana throws Katsukawa about a bit, and gets a big middle rope Head and Arm Suplex for 2. Ajibana works in various chokes trying to get the submission, but Katsukawa weathers the storm, and completes a big comeback with the deadly big move known as the Ultraviolet Beam (Handpsring Twisting Forearm to a cornered opponent), followed by the Katsukawa Bomb (Sunset Flip Powerbomb) for the 3 count to cap off a surprisingly good match. Katsukawa has been improving a little bit with each tour lately, and seems destined for big things..... Result: Miwako Katsukawa def. Hana Ajibana via pinfall in 9:44 Rating: 61 --- vs. Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinal Match Team Europe (Thea Davis / Zofia Jankovic / Steph Blake) vs. Team America (Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte / Paige Croft) The tournament matches start in earnest, although this one feels off. Steph Blake's slower DDT-based offense isn't connecting with the 5-Star fanbase too much, and Thea Davis has been struggling to put forth better than mediocre in-ring performances lately. Jankovic works a fair chunk of the match but its not enough to make it really good despite the talents of Team America. Still, the match has a decent story and some teeth to it. Lethal Strike and The Uprising exchanged some pleasantries at the press conference and try to regularly one-up each other, and of course Paige Croft is always lurking in the background waiting for cheapshots. Jankovic and Quinzel have the biggest moment of the match past the middle when they do the "fight forever" strike exchange spot based right out of a hype ALPHA-1 Japanese vs Japanese MMA fight main event. Jankovic wins the battle with a right hand that puts Quinzel down before collapsing, and crawls over for the cover........ only to get 2 as Quinzel kicks out at the last possible minute. The match picks up, going back and forth building to the end. Spinal Trauma on Jankovic gets 2. High Fly Elbow on Svelte gets 2. Ace Crusher on Davis gets 2. Spike Butterfly DDT on Quinzel gets 2. Steph Blake tries to follow up with a Super DDT, but Quinzel reverses into a big top-rope Spinebuster. Quinzel lands a big backbreaker, then decides to be charitable and tag in an eager Croft. Blake holds her back in pain as she gets to her knees.......and is left defenseless for the running Ace Crusher by Croft! That gets the 3 count, and Team America advances to the semi-finals. Result: Team America def. Team Europe via pinfall at 14:14 (Croft pins Blake) Rating: 59 Team America advances to the Queens Castle Cup Semi-Finals --- Next up we got a biref video package hyping the second quarterfinal match, focusing on Megumi Nakajima and Romi Yamato. Rating: 47 --- vs. Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinal Match Team Hashimoto (Yu Hashimoto / Romi Yamato / Lady Lotus) vs. Team Nakajima (Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi) This match is a step up without any weak links dragging it down. Both teams come out ready for war and with no qualms about busting out the big moves on each other, making for a good match. Yu Hashimoto and Megumi Nakajima have tussled at a couple points earlier this year during the Big Crush Tour and renew their issue against one another, coming out with fire. Etsuko Arihyoshi and Romi Yamato have some dynamic sequences in the early going, while Lady Lotus and Kita exchange some athletic moves as the match spirals out of control early before poor referee Odaka finally restores order. The match continues along those lines though, with 3 members engaged in mostly 1 on 1 battles. Surprisingly, Hashimoto starts getting the better of Nakajima at points, finally refining her striking and anger to overcome Nakajima's technique. Team SUB however does a good job coming in and cleaning up the mess, and their teamwork helps Team Nakajima go further, while Hashimoto's team struggles to work together at anything above a medium level. Hashimoto and Yamato turn to violent, slightly underhanded tactics to try and gain an edge, but Team SUB and Nakajima have been down that road before too. It's anyone's match for a while, with the physicality of Team Hashimoto managing to hold back the tide from their skilled opponents. The crowd aren't sure who to support, but like the action overall and come to favour Nakajima's side a bit as the battle progresses. Yamato and Hashimoto improvise a Kaenhousha (Total Elimination) against Kita, but Arihyoshi saves at 2. Exploder Suplex on Yamato gets 2. Superkick to Hashimoto gets 2. Senton Bomb on Arihyoshi gets 2. Finally, the teamwork of Team SUB determines the win, as Hashimoto tags Lotus in for a big Doomsday-type finisher off the top rope on Kita, but Arihyoshi shakes the ropes and the unbalanced Lotus tumbles, Arihyoshi slips off Hashimoto's shoulders, Superkicks Hashimoto, and then tags in Arihyoshi for the tandem Superkick / Tiger Suplex finisher onto Lotus for 3! Team Nakajima wins a tough 1st round affair and are through to the semifinals! Result: Team Nakajima def. Team Hashimoto via pinfall at 14:35 (Arihyoshi pins Lotus) Rating: 67 Team Nakajima advances to the Queens Castle Cup Semi-Finals --- Next up we get a pre-tape from Yuma Maruya, cutting a fired-up promo promising to defend the 5-Star standard from monsters, leather-clad insane people, and any other woman who come after her. Maruya knows her first round matchup is scary, but her and her team will face it with all the skill, speed, and determination they have. Maruya nailed it in one shot as always. Rating: 78 --- vs. Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinal Match Team 5-Star (Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh) vs. Team Monsters (Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta / Monster Ishimura) Another good match, if only because the outdoor crowd is firmly behind Team 5-Star here and give the match a nice atmosphere. The story is a simple one told countless times in the history of this business and world history in general: The big versus the small, the arrogant sizeable human mountains versus the small and courageous ones that try to conquer it against all odds. Despite the state of their recent booking, the TermiNation control early, and Monster Ishimura gets in a few clubbing forearms and brutal slams before tagging out, as theres a concerted effort to keep the Monsters fresh and minimize a stamina disadvantage against the athletic opponents. Saitoh unsurprisingly takes a lot of the beating and keeps fighting on. Jippensha makes some headway, but her technique gets undone by some desperate heel tactics from the monster faction, and Maruya is being kept on the apron quite a lot, as the commentators speculate she's being kept "fresh" for a difficult semi-final matchup against the winner of the main event. Maruya does have her moments, and towards the mid portion of the match, Team 5-Star finally gets some momentum going, as the Monsters are worn down a bit by hit-and-run tactics, basement dropkicks, and a lot of working the knees to take out the monster's base. The match comes off as an imitation of Destruction Inc. vs Ogiwara and Hike, but its a GOOD imitation, and fresh to the ever-present teenage girl demographic that makes up a significant part of the 5-Star fandom, most of whom were not alive when that old rivalry took place. Finally, a Monster breaks down from the long-game battle tactics Team 5-Star uses, and that Monster is Ishimura. 5-Star seizes the initiative, knocks the TermiNation off the apron, and try to put Ishimura down with a double suplex. Ishimura refuses to be lifted, and tries a 1-on-2 suplex to Saitoh and Maruya......only for Jippensha to clip her at the knees! This time 5-Star tries with 3 girls...... and bust out the old school triple-team Elitist Plex (Front Suplex) from Canadian Golden Combat! Ishimura lands with a thud, groggily gets up to one knee...... and is met with a Flying Tiger Knee (Top-Rope Busaiku Knee) from HEART Saitoh that knocks her out cold! Saitoh covers and gets the 3, and Team 5-Star is on to the semifinals! Result: Team 5-Star def. Team Monsters via pinfall at 14:49 (Saitoh pins Ishimura) Rating: 69 (nice) Team 5-Star advances to the Queens Castle Cup Semi-Finals --- Before the main event we get words from Fuyuko Higa and Gemmei Oonishi. Higa thanks Kaiya Kuwahara for actually doing her job properly for a change and putting Miss Perfection where she belongs: in the main event, over Maruya. Higa assures the wiser 5-Star fans she hears cheering her on that Higa will not disappoint them, she will go to the semifinals, slaughter the 5-Star Defense, and conquer the Queen's Castle Cup. Oonishi of course points out that they have a tough quarterfinal matchup ahead before that, and talks about how she respects their luchadora opponents, but they won't get past this quality team. Higa snorts at any sort of praise for the luchadoras, and Oonishi takes offense to that, and the interview goes to hell for a bit. Eventually it ends with Higa shouting to Oonishi to just stand on the apron and do what she's told while Higa wins it all. Oonishi meekly submits to Higa's wishes, as Higa walks off the interview shot in a huff. Rating: 64 --- vs. Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinal Match Team Higa (Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / Sae Akutagawa) vs. Team Mexico (Pinky Perez / Mystery Pink / Velvet Suarez) Higa's bluster over the luchadoras not being on her level lasts about 30 seconds, as the match starts with Higa vs Perez and the arrogant Higa gets completely outworked by Perez's flashy offense. Higa is sent fleeing into the corner, where she tags in Akutagawa and tells her to deal with it. Akutagawa fares a bit better, if only because she takes it seriously and has the size to impose herself in the match, but Double Pink's teamwork causes problems for the big face-painted technician. In particular a nice chop-block/side arm scissors takedown gets a nice pop from the crowd, and the casual park-goers in attendance take a shine to the pink-themed gals from Mexico as the match continues. Velvet Suarez is greener and less impressive, and over time Team Higa begins to realize she's the weaker link. However, the Double Pink tag-ins provide a huge problem as they come in full of momentum and fire, and all 3 members of Team Higa have trouble containing them. Higa's arrogance nearly undoes her team's path to the championship, as she takes the vertical suplex/twisting crossbody combo from Double Pink for a close 2 before Oonishi saves and buys her time to recover. Higa starts taking things a bit more seriously after that, but Perez is still giving her all kinds of issues, proving to be Higa's equal in terms of speed and technique. Perez gets a close 2 on Oonishi, off of a couple rolling Butterfly Suplexes into the Pink Butterfly Powerbomb (Spinning Tiger Bomb), but Akutagawa saves. The crowd starts to stir to the possibility of an upset here. Velvet Suarez comes in with a Moonsault........ for 2, as Oonishi kicks out last-second. Suarez goes up-top for a desperation Phoenix Splash, but Oonishi uses the last of her willpower to roll out of the way and tags in Higa, who knocks Double Pink off the apron with forearms and quickly hits the Perfection Sweep (Skull Crushing Finale) on Suarez for the pin before Double Pink arrive to make the save. Higa sprints down the entranceway in jubilation, as Double Pink make their way back into the ring to check on their countrywoman. Higa's team may have won, but it was some close stuff....... Result: Team Higa def. Team Mexico via pinfall at 14:55 (Higa pins Suarez) Rating: 72 Team Higa advances to the Queen's Castle Cup Semi-Finals --- OVERALL SHOW RATING: 72 ATTENDANCE: 811

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="GYUe7nb.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GYUe7nb.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Shogun TV Presents:</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> 5SSW Fan Appreciation Week Part 1</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Monday/Week 2/April/2020</span></strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The start of Fan Appreciation Week and the Queen's Castle Cup is upon us! From the lovely Osaka Castle Park, Part 1 of this celebration of the 5 Star Supreme fanbase will take to the airwaves ONLY on Shogun TV!</p><p> </p><p> In our preliminary bouts, our opener will see the Kanto Express take on the young gaijin tag team of Erin Marcelin and Joy Ryder.</p><p> </p><p> Rika Tsujimura is in action next, facing off with veteran Ochiyo Iijima.</p><p> </p><p> The Gun Metal Gals aim to get into the win column on this tour, taking on the Stone Soliders.</p><p> </p><p> Miwako Katsukawa was unlucky to miss out on a spot in the Queen's Castle Cup, but she'll get a match today against former All-Asian champion Hana Ajibana, who is looking to reverse recent bad fortunes.</p><p> </p><p> Then we start the Queen's Castle Cup tournament with Match D: Team Europe (Thea Davis, Zofia Jankovic, and Steph Blake) versus Team America (Talia Quinzel, Selina Svelte, and Paige Croft)!</p><p> </p><p> Next up is Match C: Team Hashimoto (Yu Hashimoto / Romi Yamato / Lady Lotus) versus Team Nakajima (Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi)!</p><p> </p><p> Our co-main event is Match B: Team 5-Star (Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh) versus Team MONSTERS (Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta / Monster Ishimura)!</p><p> </p><p> Fianlly, our main event sees Match A of Team Higa (Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / Sae Akutagawa) taking on Team Mexico (Pinky Perez / Mystery Pink / Velvet Suarez)!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">PREDICTION KEY:</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> MAYA / Machiko Matsuda vs. Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder</p><p> </p><p> Rika Tsujimura vs. Ochiyo Iijima</p><p> </p><p> Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda vs. Kinuye Mushashibo / Kaede Sugiyama</p><p> </p><p> Miwako Katsukawa vs. Hana Ajibana</p><p> </p><p> <em><strong>Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinals:</strong></em> Thea Davis / Zofia Jankovic / Steph Blake vs. Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte / Paige Croft</p><p> </p><p> <em><strong>Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinals:</strong></em> Yu Hashimoto / Romi Yamato / Lady Lotus vs. Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi</p><p> </p><p> <em><strong>Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinals:</strong></em> Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh vs. Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta / Monster Ishimura</p><p> </p><p> <em><strong>Queen's Castle Cup Quarterfinals:</strong></em> Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / Sae Akutagawa vs. Pinky Perez / Mystery Pink / Velvet Suarez</p></div><p></p><p></p>

That reminds me, I had wanted to do character profiles after the previous tour, talking about what each character was up to in my TEW 2016 save that never reached dynasty status, but I had to put it off. I might circle back to that eventually. Thanks for following along man! --- TEW.com 5SSW News Update by "JoshiJosh6" Joshua Prosser 5 Star Supreme Wrestling held a news conference to hype their upcoming tournament in their home office in Osaka, with a fair amount of journalists from the important wrestling magazines in attendance. -5SSW VP Kaiya Kuwahara and Owner Sensational Ogiwara welcomed the group, with Kuwahara doing most of the talking. Kuwahara broke down the date and time for the 3 shows, with night 1 of the tournament on Monday, night 2 on Wednesday, and night 3 on Saturday, all at the Osaka Castle Park. The shows will take place outdoors under a tent, with special reduced rate ticket prices to show appreciation to 5SSW's loyal fanbase. Kuwahara says the three events will air in full on Shogun TV, and encourages all of 5-Star's fans to view the event at home if they can't make it to the show in person. -Kuwahara then announces the brackets: Match A: Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / Sae Akutagawa vs. Pinky Perez / Mystery Pink / Velvet Suarez Match B: Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh vs. Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta / Monster Ishimura Match C: Yu Hashimoto / Romi Yamato / Lady Lotus vs. Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi Match D: Thea Davis / Zofia Jankovic / Steph Blake vs. Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte / Paige Croft Semi-finals will have winner of Match A take on winner of Match B, and winner of C take on D. Two winners from there meet in the finals, standard single elimination rules. Kuwahara then introduces seven wrestlers making appearances as representatives of each team: Higa, Maruya, Perez, Hashimoto, Nakajima, Quinzel and Davis. No representative from the monster team is present, with Kuwahara simply explaining that none of them wanted to show up to talk and they couldn't make them. -Higa largely dominates the questioning, hijacking everything to talk about her favourite subject, herself. Higa is disappointed in not being able to face Maruya's team in the first round to knock them out, but supposes that second round is the next best thing. Higa is also pleased to be facing some "no-name luchadoras from Mexico that will be ducks with a leek on their backs." -Perez, through an interpreter, says that she's had enough of hearing about Higa's disrespectful attitude, and aims to broaden her worldview on wrestling. Perez says she is not an unknown in her country, and in her country she has seen wrestlers much closer to perfection than Madame Higa. Higa says such a thing isn't possible. Perez says, with significant ice in her voice that penetrates the language barrier, that Higa will have her eyes opened to many possibilities, right before Perez closes them shut. -Higa's response to that is bluster before she's casually cut off from further talk by Kuwahara. Higa rants and raves about conspiracies against her before taking a walk to cool her head. -Maruya gets questions, and says she's eager to go with her friends to the battleground of Osaka Castle Park to prove their ability as a unit. Maruya says that Higa's words will not distract her from her prize, and regardless of their opponents, 5-Star Defense will defend the company standard. -Hashimoto is fired up big-time for her upcoming match, saying that even though Maki Yoshifumi isn't alongside her, she's confident nonetheless that her team has the ability to win it all and take the tournament with ease, and says that in the process she'll settle a score in the first round with Megumi Nakajima, who has hounded her on a couple occasions this year. -Nakajima says that she welcomes the challenge of Hashimoto, but reminds her that this is not a 1-on-1 fight, it is 3-on-3. Even if Hashimoto settles her score with Nakajima, Team SUB is not to be overlooked, mentioning that they've beaten Hashimoto's Torrent and Sorrow group before. Hashimoto points out that Torment and Sorrow returned the favour later on. Nakajima: "Not often enough" -The mood is tense, and gets tenser when Higa pops back in to remind everyone she beat Megumi Nakajima, and that Nakajima is old, washed-up, and in need of a retirement. Nakajima takes exception to this, and a fight is almost started but swiftly broken up, with Higa yelling a stream of very naughty language at everyone within spitting distance before walking off again. -Davis and Quinzel talk to the press through interpreters (although many of the reporters understand English). Davis mentions that it'll be nice to beat down the arrogant Team America and prove the superiority of the European style, then maybe after Team Europe wins the Cup, they can take those tag titles off the Uprising too and make it a double. Quinzel laughs off the threat and points out they couldn't even beat a bunch of flippy luchadoras in 15 minutes. Davis says that score will be settled soon enough, and that the Uprising are next on the list. Perez takes exception at being used as a stepping stone and challenges both Davis and Quinzel to a fight, right here, right now. That also almost goes somewhere before people break it up. -Kuwahara tries her best to defuse the tension in the air, then asks if there are any more questions. -A reporter from Baseball Magazine asks about rumours of the resurrection of the Modern Japan Alliance, and if 5-Star would have a role in it. Ogiwara interjects and says she has not been approached about anything in regards to an alliance, but says she would be open to business arrangements with any other company provided they are beneficial to both parties. -A reporter inquires about the company's status with Shogun TV. Kuwahara says the two companies have a great business relationship, and that Shogun TV has high hopes for the continued growth of 5-Star on their network. -Several questions are asked about future hires from abroad, and Kuwahara says they are always scouting fresh talent and have brought many in, and are looking forward to bringing many more in. -A reporter asks if champions Yuma Maruya and the Uprising will pull double duty and do title matches if they make it to the tournament finals. Kuwahara says they will not have to defend their titles unless they lose in the tournament before the finals. -A few more benign questions are promptly dealt with, and the conference comes to an end. OTHER 5SSW NEWS: -The first show in April for 5-Star did nearly identical ratings and attendance numbers as the first show of the tour. This is said to be disappointing to 5-Star higher ups, as the expectation for a high rating with a 5-Star Defense vs. Birds of Prey main event was there. -Management was also said to be mildly disappointed at the quality of the undercard, although the main event was praised heavily. -The Sapporo Dojo team known as the Blackhearts were backstage for another appearance but were not used. -Power And Passion's appearance was another one-off and they are not expected to get used regularly for quite some time. -Management has high hopes for the Gun Metal Gals as a future ace team, but see them as too green to make the roster full-time at the moment. -Current candidates for Triangle, Tag Team, and All-Asian title shots are unknown, and its expected that things will be played by ear as the trios tournament progresses.

OOC SHOW NOTES: -Thanks for the predictions fellas, and thanks for the comment Hashasheen, good to have you onboard! -This show interestingly did the same attendance and overall rating as the last show. Not totally sure how that happened but its a good rating and its not like 10 extra ticket sales is going to get me to a break even point financially. -Had to pull quite the booking jisgaw to get this card together in general, a lot of the undercard differs from test sims and a lot of people need to be put over at least once to build the bracket, but the main events generally fall into place from show to show. -Power And Passion need a lot of work before they're even close to ready for touring contracts. -Thea REALLY dragged down the second tag match, and i feel like Jankovic could've been better as well, but maybe I'm applying numbers she'll get in a couple months to her right now. -Yu's 8 woman tag squash was a bit weird but served its purpose. Hashimoto/Yamato/Lotus were a last minute team I settled on, things got shuffled around when I decided to use a Hell Raiser as the third woman for Higa's team instead of Lady Lotus, and I believe I had both the Hell Raisers with Yu Hashimoto before. -I had briefly pushed Matsumara as a single I believe for the Triangle title match I needed her in, and now shes sort of filing back amongst the also-rans. I feel a bit for Shining Force, they've got a cool name and cool renders, but we've got such a ridiculous tag team and singles division now that it'll be tough for them to get any more traction. -Co-main really disappointed, so I'm blaming Steph and Velvet. I actually probably think it might've been inconsistency in the Nakajima team but eh. -Main event I got 80ish ratings on in test sims, but couldn't get to that level again. Honestly kinda sucks that its one notch better than last show's main event considering that 5-Star Defense is a better team than the Hell Raisers, but the match was a good main event that kept the popularity going, and I'd like to think I did a good job writing the promo afterwards. The Fan Appreciation Week is gonna be awesome! Hopefully. Might take a while to get more writing going though sorry. -As always, if you like what you see here, feel free to drop feedback/comments/questions/flaming, and maybe give the diary a shoutout in the DOTM nominations. I should start reading a few more of these RW diaries to know who to vote for......... --- PREDICTION STANDINGS ampulator: 14/14 KyTeran: 12/14 medla: 6/7

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="GYUe7nb.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GYUe7nb.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Shogun TV Presents:</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> 5SSW Hall Of Fame Tour Night 2</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Monday/Week 1/April/2020</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Takayama Academy Gymnasium</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Osaka, Japan</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="38BdHBV.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/38BdHBV.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The show opens up with 5SSW VP Kaiya Kuwahara coming out in a local schoolgirl outfit again, because why the hell not. Kuwahara greets the audience warmly and lets them know that the final teams for the Queen's Castle Cup will be revealed by the end of this show, with a press conference to come later this week announcing the brackets. Kaiya thanks the 5-Star fans for her support and leaves to applause. The usual good effort from Kuwahara here.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 73</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="AFBofo7.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/AFBofo7.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="tWGT8UZ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/tWGT8UZ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="fbOlo06.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fbOlo06.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="7ni3097.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/7ni3097.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>The TermiNation (Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta) vs. Power And Passion (Rina Kusahara / KICHI)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> This is a fairly one-sided slaughter, with the TermiNation letting loose with frustrations after a sequence of defeats and taking out their young lion opponents seamlessly. Rina Kasahara has enough size and power to be a threat for a little while, but Tai eventually breaks free of a double team attempt and smashes the tagged-in KICHI into the canvas, finishing her off with a Tai Bomber (Double-Handed Chokebomb) for a quick win.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: The TermiNation def. Power And Passion via pinfall at 4:35 (Tai pins KICHI)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 41</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="pZEDxvt.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pZEDxvt.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="cX3bnOv.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/cX3bnOv.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="gUw5uvp.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/gUw5uvp.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="wQ9Yzya.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/wQ9Yzya.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Gun Metal Gals (Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda) vs. Lethal Strike (Thea Davis / Zofia Jankovic)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The Gun Metal Gals hope for a better showing in this second match, and do make some occasional headway against Lethal Strike. Both Genda and Miyoshi do show signs of green-ness and inconsistency though, despite coming off as fairly cool in comparison to some of the roster.</p><p> </p><p> Genda and Miyoshi's flurry of offense is snuffed out well by Double Strike, who methodically take control. Zofia Jankovic blasts Nami Genda with the Demon's Bane (Go 2 Sleep), before tagging in Thea Davis to go up top for the big Flying Elbow to finish Genda off.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Lethal Strike def. Gun Metal Gals via pinfall at 8:55 (Davis pins Genda)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 53</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Tlz7Qa6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Tlz7Qa6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ytBvNDA.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ytBvNDA.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="IVupCz6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/IVupCz6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="QPFYrDH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/QPFYrDH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> After an update confirming some teams (namely Steph Blake pairing with Lethal Strike and Velvet Suarez pairing with Double Pink), we check in with some wrestlers via backstage promo. Megumi Nakajima and Shiori Jippensha talk about their chances of success in the Queen's Castle Cup, its revealed that Sae Akutagawa is joining Higa and Oonishi's team, and Miwako Katsukawa checks in to mention shes disappointed over not being on a team for the tournament, but aims to battle hard and make a strong impression to get on future events.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 47</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Ut6aCND.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Ut6aCND.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="iobILVo.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iobILVo.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Paige Croft vs. Otsune Tsumura</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Paige Croft seems to be finding an extra gear as a heelish wrestler, despite her size and the fact she hasn't gotten a TON of airtime, being frequently found on the pre-show in time limit draws airing on YouTube as hidden gems. Croft once again comes out with a chain (that seems to have picked up a few unknown bloodstains, unsettling the commentators who notice it.), and does a good job spooking the younger fans at ringside by banging it about a bit.</p><p> </p><p> Tsumura tries hard and does some okay stuff, but seems to be declining a bit and isn't as spry as she used to be. Croft had control most of the match and does a good job, but ultimately the result is never in doubt, with Croft sadistically working over Tsumura, reducing her to her knees, planting her with the running Ace Crusher, and then cinching in the Memphis Deathlock (Kneeling Inverted Sharpshooter), and Tsumura taps to save her legs from permanent damage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Paige Croft def. Otsune Tsumura via submission at 9:37</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 56</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="zUFAzFy.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/zUFAzFy.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="z4uBriK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/z4uBriK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="etOqb5w.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/etOqb5w.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="EgTzSr5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/EgTzSr5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="Zb8U70Q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Zb8U70Q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="EgHhLyR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/EgHhLyR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="nr0H7y3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nr0H7y3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="W3BZowC.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/W3BZowC.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Yu Hashimoto / Romi Yamato / Lady Lotus / Rika Tsujimura vs. Ochiyo Iijima / Hana Ajibana / Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Once again, the bottom-rung domestic and foreign teams are thrown to the wolves, and once again Hana Ajibana tries to rise to the challenge and help elevate her team, getting in several suplexes against the Razor Petals. Yu Hashimoto and Romi Yamato tend to really swing the match when they come in though, and the superior team is indeed in control for the most part.</p><p> </p><p> Erin Marcelin gets in a moment where Hashimoto slaps her out of a clean break, which leads to Erin surprising Hashimoto with a flurry and pummeling her into the corner to a decently positive response. The commentators note that Erin has come along a bit since debuting in the promotion, even though she's yet to pick up a second win.</p><p> </p><p> The offensive flurries from the bottom-rung team fizzle out in short order though, and eventually the pretty youngster Joy Ryder is isolated and takes a vicious End Game (Spinning Backhand Blow to the jaw) from Hashimoto for a decisive 3 count.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Team Hashimoto def. Team Jobbers via pinfall at 8:12 (Hashimoto pins Ryder)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 54</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="zUFAzFy.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/zUFAzFy.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Post-match Yu Hashimoto grabs a microphone. Yu says she's entering the Queen's Castle Cup, and her team of Romi Yamato and Lady Lotus are going to clean house while her partner Maki Yoshifumi is busy beating people up for the All-Asian belt.</p><p> </p><p> With that, it seems we have our 8 teams confirmed for the tournament:</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh</em></p><p><em> Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / Sae Akutagawa</em></p><p><em> Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte / Paige Croft</em></p><p><em> Megumi Nakajima / Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi</em></p><p><em> Unstoppable Tai / Toku Kijmuta / Monster Ishimura</em></p><p><em> Thea Davis / Zofia Jankovic / Steph Blake</em></p><p><em> Pinky Perez / Mystery Pink / Velvet Suarez</em></p><p><em> Yu Hashimoto / Romi Yamato / Lady Lotus</em></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> An imposing field, but Yu's group seems confident.....</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Rating: 53</strong></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="QPFYrDH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/QPFYrDH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="BjC1KJ8.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/BjC1KJ8.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Miwako Katsukawa vs. Yukiko Matsumara</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> This one is sligthly more competitive than the prior matches. Matsumara had a bit of a run going earlier in the year before falling back to the back of the pecking order a bit, but Katsukawa does give her some shine, and the crowd is fairly receptive to both wrestlers, with fangirls out for both sides.</p><p> </p><p> The crowd slowly starts to favour Katsukawa more, as she is getting better bit-by-bit, improving her comebacks, refining her technique, and gets another pop by building and building and building before finally exploding forth with the Ultraviolet Beam (Handspring Twisting Forearm to a cornered opponent), which Matsumara sells like a knockout blow.</p><p> </p><p> Katsukawa then follows up with the Katsukawa Bomb (Sunset Flip Powerbomb) to get the 3 count and a victory in a respectable match.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Miwako Katsukawa def. Yukiko Matsumara in 10:22 via pinfall</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 61</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Tlz7Qa6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Tlz7Qa6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="IVupCz6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/IVupCz6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="NrU6NiP.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NrU6NiP.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="UqJvBag.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/UqJvBag.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="TSNdrc1.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/TSNdrc1.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="GoExdDk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GoExdDk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="sJhu7eb.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/sJhu7eb.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="APlokTw.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/APlokTw.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Megumi Nakajima / Sae Akutagawa / Selina Svelte / Talia Quinzel vs. Velvet Suarez / Steph Blake / MAYA / Machiko Matsuda</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> While the talent involved in this match isn't bad, things don't click in this co-main for various reasons.</p><p> </p><p> For one, it becomes obvious who is going to win, even as the other side gets a surprising amount of shine. The issue is said shine comes from Steph Blake and Velvet Suarez, who get a chance to show what they can do, but don't quite impress as much as hoped. In particular a stretch where Blake DDTs everyone and runs wild is met with a tepid response at best. For another, the match isn't given enough time to really get going for a typical good second from the top 5SSW match.</p><p> </p><p> Nakajima's eclectic team eventually comes back strong, and Talia gets her own section of the match handing out various backbreakers to every member of the opposing team one at the a time. Selina gets in some cheapshots before being blindsided by Suarez and then the opponents take back control. The Last Stop (Magic Killer) from MAYA and Matsuda gets 2 on Selina before Talia saves and its a pier-six brawl.</p><p> </p><p> Selina eventually makes the tag to Nakajima, but Nakajima gets cut off on the comeback. Matsuda goes up to the top rope for a big move of some description, but Nakajima revives and scores with a pop-up Exploder Superplex on Matsuda that shakes the ring and gets the loudest response of the match. Velvet Suarez is a fraction too late to make the save and Nakajima gets the 3 count to end an average match.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Team Nakajima def. Team MAYA via pinfall at 13:22</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 58</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="S5zYtKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5zYtKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Afterwards we get a pre-tape backstage featuring Gemmei Oonishi, who cuts a good fired-up promo saying that while she respects 5-Star Defense and wants to be on their side, her partner is Higa, for right or wrong, and she intends to see this match and this upcoming tournament through to victory no matter what.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 67</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="aDF3DSi.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/aDF3DSi.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ytBvNDA.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ytBvNDA.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="S5zYtKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5zYtKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>5-Star Defense (Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha) vs. The Birds of Prey (Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The crowd stirs for this one cause they know its big. Theres a rivalry brewing here that seems like it can carry the company, and Maruya for her part is starting to get into the animosity a bit. While the match is great, the feeling grows over the course of it that its trying a little too hard to live up to the legacy of stuff like Hike and Ogiwara vs Destruction Inc on tour shows......Still though, the action is great throughout.</p><p> </p><p> The dynamics prove to be a bit strange in this tag team match. Maruya and Higa dislike each other, Higa seems to be obsessed with testing Jippensha and testing herself, applauding Jippensha during complex chain wrestling sequences that Jippensha comes out on top of. Oonishi seems at times reluctant to go all-out against either member of 5-Star Defense, and her partner Higa, despite being a bit kinder to Oonishi in recent weeks, still seems to want more out of her than she's capable of delivering.</p><p> </p><p> The crowd is begging for someone, ANYONE to pin Higa at this point, and Maruya and Jippensha do their best to deliver. Higa isn't calling herself Miss Perfection for nothing though, and after a period of time just starts out-athletic-ing and out-wrestling her opponents.</p><p> </p><p> Higa has Maruya backed into a corner and alternates between slapping her and backhanding her, screaming "I'M THE PERFECT ONE NOT YOU!" repeatedly as the camera gets a shot of Oonishi looking uncomfortable on the apron. The Birds control a lot of the match, with openings only coming courtesy of rare Higa follies or Oonishi giving them an opening. Higa, however, seems to be really focused in this one, as opposed to her more erratic self in recent matches, and 5-Star finds offense on Higa tough to come by.</p><p> </p><p> Eventually, the combined efforts of Maruya and Jippensha stun Higa long enough so they can knock Oonishi off the apron, then they go back to Higa. Double Dropkick! Double Wheel Kick! Jippensha retreats to the apron, as Maruya pours on a few extra moves. Split-Legged Moonsault gets a close 2!</p><p> </p><p> Maurya tags in Jippensha looking for the big finish. Maruya goes up top, Jippensha picks up Higa...... 5 Star Finish (Back Suplex/Top Rope Flip Neckbreaker)! 1......2.......NO! HIGA KICKS OUT!</p><p> </p><p> Jippensha can't believe it. Maruya can't believe it. The crowd can't believe it. Even a half-conscious Higa can't believe it, shaking her head to clear the cobwebs. No one has kicked out of that move since DEVIL Karube did so a few years back, and Karube herself can't believe it on commentary.</p><p> </p><p> Jippensha then goes for the kill with the Execution Day (Scoop Brainbuster)! 1........2........Oonishi comes out of nowhere and saves! Oonishi brawls with Jippensha to the outside, and Maruya takes both of them out with a running double knee off the apron! Referee Odaka drags Oonishi towards her side of the apron, then begins the countout on Jippensha.......... AND WE ARE DESPERATELY OUTTA TIME, as the match is ruled a time limit draw after 20 minutes!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: 5 Star Defense drew with The Birds of Prey when the time limit expired at 20:00</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 78</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="aDF3DSi.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/aDF3DSi.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Post-match the four groggily get to their feet. Oonishi shakes hands with Maruya and Jippensha, Higa gets pulled to her feet by Jippensha and accepts a handshake from her. Maruya offers a hand to Higa, Higa takes an incredulous look at the hand, and proceeds to walk right by Maruya as if shes not even there.</p><p> </p><p> Maruya grabs a microphone as Higa heads towards the exits, and asks what the hell this is really about. Maruya says she had no quarrel with Higa before she went insane and switched her personality and her outfits, so what's really going on? Maruya respected Higa as a competitor and thought the feeling was mutual, so why does Higa want to destroy her?</p><p> </p><p> Higa grabs a mic from a nearby stagehand and yells at Maruya that her mere existence in the company is the reason why Higa hates her. Maruya is constantly portrayed as the perfect idol of 5SSW, but wheres the respect for the actual perfect in-ring performer in the world of women's wrestling? Higa is Miss Perfection, but gets constantly overshadowed by the pretty princess, or held back by incompetent help, or sabotaged by Sensational Ogiwara pulling the strings from the shadows, ensuring that Higa does not get the opportunities she deserves. Higa re-iterates that she will see this company burn to cinders before she lets Maruya continue to have her belt, her honours, her looks, and finally her pride.</p><p> </p><p> Maruya does not think she is an idol, she thinks she is a wrestler, first and foremost. Maruya earned the World title by beating her friend Shiori Jippensha for it fair and square, and made 6 defences fair and square, and won 5 World titles before that fair and square. Maruya says that if Higa wants to burn the company to cinders, then Maruya will be the rainfall that douses Higa's ambitions.</p><p> </p><p> Higa then says Maruya's threat is an empty one, just like her title of Miss 5SSW. Higa cryptically says once again that she can see the future, and that Maruya's resistance will be futile, as a powerful force will crush her and take from her everything she holds dear. And when that happens, there will be only one woman worthy of holding the 5SSW mantle. Higa drops the mic and walks away, leaving a determined Maruya and a bewildered Jippensha and Oonishi to stare on as the show fades to black.........</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 70</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">OVERALL SHOW RATING: 74</span></strong></p><p> <strong>ATTENDANCE: 317</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p>

Shogun TV Presents: 5SSW Hall Of Fame Tour Night 2 Monday/Week 1/April/2020 The Hall of Fame tour continues with one final show before the Queen's Castle Cup is contested at Fan Appreciation Week! Shogun TV will be airing this from the Takayama Academy Gymnasium in Osaka! Our opening match will se the TermiNation in a tune-up before their tournament match, as they'll face a pair of local competitors. The Gun Metal Gals will be in more tag action next, trying to bounce back from an earlier loss by taking on the European duo Lethal Strike. Singles action follows with gaijin technician Paige Croft taking on the veteran Otsune Tsumura. Yu Hashimoto is looking for partners in the Queen's Castle Cup, and will team with Romi Yamato and the Razor Petals to take on Hana Ajibana, Ochiyo Iijima, Erin Marcelin, and Joy Ryder. The promising Miwako Katsukawa takes on veteran high-flyer Yukiko Matsumara in singles action third from the top. Our co-main event sees Megumi Nakajima team with Sae Akutagawa and the 5SSW Tag Team Champions known as The Uprising, as they'll face Velvet Suarez, Steph Blake, and the Kanto Express. Finally our main event is a hotly anticipated one, seeing a tag team clash between 5-Star Defense and the Birds of Prey. Fuyuko Higa has made no secret of her displeasure for Maurya in recent times, and this tag match will offer a preview of a possible future meeting between these two when the Queen's Castle Cup begins! Who will prevail? --- PREDICTION KEY (OOC: Forecast is cloudy with a chance of time limit draws) The TermiNation vs. local competitors Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda vs. Thea Davis / Zofia Jankovic Paige Croft vs. Otsune Tsumura Yu Hashimoto / Romi Yamato / Lady Lotus / Rika Tsujimura vs. Hana Ajibana / Ochiyo Iijima / Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder Miwako Katsukawa vs. Yukiko Matsumara Megumi Nakajima / Sae Akutagawa / Selina Svelte / Talia Quinzel vs. Velvet Suarez / Steph Blake / MAYA / Machiko Matsuda Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha vs. Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi

Another good show, and Ted felt 5SSW was really rolling now. The trios tournament looked interesting too, as 5-Star had done multiple great big tag matches over the past few months. This tour was shaping up to be the best one yet. A big part of that was Fuyuko Higa. Ted had to admit he was impressed with Higa carrying the load atop the card, and proving that 5-Star didn't need Maruya to have a great main event. ........If only he could say the same for her singing. Megumi Nakajima had apparently found some type of karaoke machine, and fixed it up enough that the girls decided to do some impromptu singing before the show. Paige Croft found her jam, only for Higa to steal the mic and proceed to do what had to be the worst cover of a Cyndi Lauper song in the history of civilization. The performance ranged somewhere in between "Nails on a chalkboard" and "Peter Valentine vs Giant Redwood", and had to have been terrible on purpose. So Paige Croft was pissed, and presumably she had "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" ruined for her forever. Meanwhile, Chiyeko Kita and Rika Tsujimura were also being annoying, as the two of them had one of those funny regional delicacies in their bento box that would cause foreigners like Ted to reel from the smell. So of course they let the leftover food in the boxes cook in a locker room for 3 hours. Many people were not amused, and the boss lady Ogiwara had to step in and dress down the two for their selfishness. The fun never stops, eh? Ted had to admit though, he noticed something missing in the locker room, and it took him a while to figure out that it was Simony Sentinel not being around. Simony had been a popular presence backstage, livening up the mood, randomly hitting on Ted for no reason (which Ted was still confused about, although he didn't play along and gently rebuffed the advances while Simony presumably pretended to be disappointed), and being the rumoured life of the Osaka party scene after the shows. Plus, Erin seemed to miss Simony too. Ah well, she was still content, and Ted was still content. Hey, things could be worse, he could be a fly on the wall in that brain-dead Scottish deathmatch fed he was reading about the other day......... --- TEW.com 5SSW News And Notes by "JoshiJosh6" Joshua Prosser -The debut of 5-Star in the new afternoon time slot did slightly above 35,000 viewers, a number Shogun TV is content with to start. Re-airing numbers online were also said to be strong. -Shogun TV has in fact given 5-Star a larger slice of ad revenue, and a small upfront payment that quells the financial tide for 5-Star at the moment. -Fuyuko Higa was said to have really impressed people backstage with her match quality, but she continues to be unpopular for backstage conduct. -Rika Tsujimura was said to be in line for a push until some type of incident took place backstage that she got disciplined for, as well as a perceived mediocre match performance against Team SUB. -Confirmed teams so far for the trios tournament are: Maruya/Jippensha/Saitoh Higa/Oonishi/Hell Raiser(rumoured to be Sae Akutagawa) Nakajima/Kita/Arihyoshi Quinzel/Svelte/Croft Double Pink/Mystery Partner (likely Velvet Suarez) Lethal Strike/Mystery Partner (likely Steph Blake to form a Team Europe faction) Tai/Kijmuta/Ishimura The 8th team is yet unknown, but either of Yu Hashimoto or Miwako Katsukawa are expected to be involved in it. -The Blackhearts team from the Hatoyama Dojo got another tryout, teaming with Otsune Tsumura in a loss against Miwako Katsukawa, Thea Davis, and Unstoppable Tai. -Another notable dark match featured a 15-minute draw between Yuma Maruya/MAYA/The Uprising drawing Megumi Nakajima, Paige Croft, and Torment + Sorrow that was said to be a strong match. -The next TV main event according to advertisements is the Birds of Prey vs 5-Star Defense in whats expected to be a red-hot match building up to Fan Appreciation Week. -Word is that an important angle is said to take place during the tournament, although it will not be the big angle planned in the summer. -Talk continues to heat up about the reformation of Modern Japan in some form, as well as the possible involvement of 5 Star Supreme Wrestling in it. --- OTHER NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: -Shock moment as Miss American Pie defeats Jaime Quine for the USPW Women's title...... -SNP sees talent exodus over missed payments...... -You won't BELIEVE the clickbaity hyped-up thing Alicia Strong did this time!......

OOC SHOW NOTES: -As always, thanks for the predictions fellas, sorry the pace of this thing has been a bit slower than normal. I am considering doing condensed writeups for the tour shows going forward. -Good show, and there will be a string of them now that the roster is getting over. Granted, mid-70s show ratings might be at the level of mid-60s at some point, but given that SWF and TCW are running shows worse than some of the better ones I've done in test sims I think I'll be fine. -Not sure if she's come up before, but Tsuna Kamiya is a graduate of a wrestling dojo I created to help fill the regen ranks. I've edited some graduate abilities slightly, but Kamiya's not broken, just alright. Sorta a weaker version of Hoshiko Tagawa who can fly a bit. -Was going to bring in Ursula Saez, but decided on Velvet Suarez instead to keep Saez's credibility protected for a later run. In case it isn't obvious, Suarez and Steph Blake are being brought in specifically for the trios tournament, they'll be teaming with the luchadoras and the Europas. -Saitoh and Jippensha really need the TEW promo cutting learning boost. Badly. -I like the Gun Metal Gals but they probably won't get much shine in this diary sadly, as my tag team division is now SUPER deep thanks to the influx of teams I added in. -Poor Matsuda, the ultimate jobber to the stars. -Expected better things from Eri Sato against Jippensha but it didn't work out for whatever reason. And it wasn't chemistry either. Maybe it was the 15 minute time limit, but Jippensha shouldn't be too far below Higa in in-ring performance so idk whats going on. -I feel kinda bad that Jippensha keeps getting lost in the shuffle, but hopefully she'll have more to do soon. The fact I can't build her up into a decent talker really hurts compared to TEW2016, where you can make basically anyone Ms. Personality. -Reshuffled some tournament plans due to the KyTeran request for the Birds of Prey, originally I was going to have Yu Hashimoto in the 3rd slot for Higa's team, but I figured I could work in a Hell Raiser instead off this match. -Seriously tempted to take control of these US national feds and start clearing out the deadwood. Can anyone explain just what the hell USPW sees in like a quarter of their women's division? For example, I don't fault Jillian Jarvis for wanting to get paid, but what the hell would USPW do with her? Seems to me her entire value in the wrestling world is being a low-rent badass for small companies with a mouthpiece to hide that (and it feels like she got worse from 2016 to 2020) -Furthermore, the test sims have been BRUTAL for all the national feds. SWF struggles to put on 80 rated shows with that roster, TCW I believe is in the process of needlessly firing Joshua Taylor from a thin main event scene, and USPW runs some weird main events sometimes. State of the US wrestling industry with the declining economy should not be that great, but I guess unlike IRL wrestling isn't fighting a war with the entertainment industry to maintain its credibility, thus enabling stuff like Reverie and CANN putting wrestling on the air without being laughed at. -Might try and do a quick turnaround for the next show, but I may need to delay night 2 of the tour til Friday. There'll be a character post later tomorrow, but character posts might be thin in this diary for a little bit until we start getting to the big happenings in late spring and summer. --- PREDICTION STANDINGS ampulator: 7/7 KyTeran: 6/7

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="GYUe7nb.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GYUe7nb.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Shogun TV Presents:</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> 5SSW Hall Of Fame Tour Night 1</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Monday/Week 4/March/2020</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Nekketsu High School Gymnasium</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;"> Osaka, Japan</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="yB6cpmW.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/yB6cpmW.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="zq0O1JC.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/zq0O1JC.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="reqAKEm.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/reqAKEm.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="38BdHBV.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/38BdHBV.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The show starts off with the usual announcer spiel before Kaiya Kuwahara comes out for the opening promo. Kaiya thanks the fans for helping make the Queendom Parade a success, and to thank them she'll have an inportant announcement: The Hall Of Fame Tour is going to be concluded by a Fan Appreciation Week. This Fan Appreciation Week will feautres three outdoor shows in the Osaka Castle Park, and the highlight of those shows will be the Hall of Fame induction of a former 5SSW World champion, as well as a trios tournament called the Queen's Castle Cup.</p><p> </p><p> Several teams have already thrown their hat into the ring for the event, and Kaiya, with the help of Nekketsu High's gymnasium projector, shows pictures of a few of the teams involved:</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Team 1: Yuma Maruya / Shiori Jippensha / HEART Saitoh</p><p> Team 2: Talia Quinzel / Selina Svelte / Paige Croft</p><p> Team 3: Megumi Nakajima / ??? / ???</p><p> Team 4: Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi / ???</p><p> Team 5: Mystery Pink / Pinky Perez / ???</p><p> Team 6: Zofia Jankovic / Thea Davis / ???</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Teams 7 and 8 are unknown, but Kaiya expects all participants to be known by the end of next week's show. Kaiya promises that the action and competition will be suitably fierce for such an honour, and once again thanks the fans for showing their support for 5SSW, leaving to light applause from the audience. Kaiya did a good job here as you'd expect.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 72</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="wQ9Yzya.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/wQ9Yzya.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="28QY9fO.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/28QY9fO.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Zofia Jankovic vs. Tsuna Kamiya</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Kamiya gets introduced as a graduate of the recently formed Sapporo Wrestling Dojo, and the Hokkaido native takes it to Jankovic with an early flurry of suplexes, and a crossbody for.......a 1 count. Zofia seems to such laugh off the youngster's attempts at typical 5-Star technical flying offense, before finally getting serious and pummelling Kamiya. Various spin kicks and high-impact strikes leave Kamiya bruised and battered, and Jankovic ragdolls her with a few clinch throws before hitting the Demon's Bane (Go 2 Sleep) for the pinfall.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Zofia Jankovic def. Tsuna Kamiya via pinfall at 5:44</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 53</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="lL30Zqr.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/lL30Zqr.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="JGHhvtW.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/JGHhvtW.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="TSNdrc1.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/TSNdrc1.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="GoExdDk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GoExdDk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="EgHhLyR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/EgHhLyR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Zb8U70Q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Zb8U70Q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="nr0H7y3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nr0H7y3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="W3BZowC.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/W3BZowC.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Kaede Sugiyama / Kinuye Mushashibo / Velvet Suarez / Steph Blake vs. Hana Ajibana / Ochiyo Iijima / Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The crowd does not care a lot about anyone involved in this match, and things just seem to badly lose flow in the middle. Suarez and Blake work hard to try and establish themselves, but don't make quite the strong impression of a Simony Sentinel or the debuting tag teams. Suarez and Blake also seem to eye each other warily over the course of the match, something not missed by the announcers, but nothing comes from it.</p><p> </p><p> Hana Ajibana provides the bulk of the offense for her team, and erin Marcelin gets in a few stiff punches, but ultimately gets worked over by the Stone Soliders long enough for them to hit the Stone Fall (Springboard Hart Attack). Kinuye Mushashibo makes the cover while her 3 teammates hold off Erin's partners from makign the save, and that gets 3.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Team Stone def. Team Jobbers via pinfall at 9:55 (Mushashibo pins Marcelin)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 48</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="eqRIrjY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/eqRIrjY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ytBvNDA.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ytBvNDA.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Backstage we get a pre-taped promo from HEART Saitoh and Shiori Jippensha briefly talking about their team-up and hopes to win this 3v3 tournament.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 44</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="pZEDxvt.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pZEDxvt.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="cX3bnOv.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/cX3bnOv.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="4LKURYk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/4LKURYk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="mXmc58q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/mXmc58q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Gun Metal Gals (Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda) vs. Double Pink (Mystery Pink / Pinky Perez)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The Gun Metal Gals are introduced as an up-and-coming rookie tag team from smaller shows, and wear some silver and black mechanic-themed gear, with a bit of the Winry Rockbell from Full Metal Alchemist thing going on. They show promise early with some energetic and athletic offense, but the wind comes out of their sails once Double Pink adapt to it and prove they're kinda faster and better than their young opponents.</p><p> </p><p> Still, its a fairly well-recieved contest sans a few errors from a nervous Miyoshi, and comes across really well for the time it gets. Pinky Perez eventually ends it fairly quickly with the Pink Butterfly Bomb (Spinning Tiger Bomb) on Miyoshi for 3.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Double Pink def. Gun Metal Gals via pinfall at 8:49 (Perez pins Miyoshi)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 58</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="eqRIrjY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/eqRIrjY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="APlokTw.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/APlokTw.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>HEART Saitoh vs. Machiko Matsuda</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> This match is fairly well-received but a bit lacking in the in-ring performance department. Part of it is both being good-not-great, but the match doesn't get a lot of time to marinate, and suffers as a result.</p><p> </p><p> Towards the end, Matsuda does do a decent job working subtle heel, giving Saitoh a big comeback spot to work off of. Saitoh's trademark all-heart response to adversity if cut off though, when Matusda counters Saitoh's running single foot dropkick by basically slapping her down to the canvas.</p><p> </p><p> Matusda gets in a few moves before placing Saitoh up top for the Tokyo Tower Rana (Corner Run Frankensteiner), only for Saitoh to acrobatically land on her feet, nail Matudsa with an enizuigir, a running back brain kick, then a springboard Flying Tiger Knee (Elevated Busaiku Knee Kick) that lands flush on Matsuda's jaw and thats more than enough for the 3 count.</p><p> </p><p> With a few more minutes and some better effort, maybe this could've been good....</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: HEART Saitoh def. Machiko Matsuda via pinfall at 12:55</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 59</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Tlz7Qa6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Tlz7Qa6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="I5FBwBx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/I5FBwBx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="AFBofo7.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/AFBofo7.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="d9jSwtE.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/d9jSwtE.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Backstage we hear from Megumi Nakajima and Chiyeko Kita, who reveal that Nakajima is aligning herself with Team SUB in the Queen's Castle Cup. Unstoppable Tai and Monster Ishimura also are seen backstage bumping into each other, with a fistfight looking imminent, before they seem to shake hands, so it looks like there's a monster team involved in the Queen's Castle Cup too.......</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 45</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="I5FBwBx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/I5FBwBx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="zaZg1I3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/zaZg1I3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="etOqb5w.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/etOqb5w.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="EgTzSr5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/EgTzSr5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Team SUB (Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi) vs. The Razor Petals (Lady Lotus / Rika Tsujimura)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Rika Tsujimura returns after a prior tour where she made an unsuccessful challenge to the All-Asian title. Rika is wearing floral print pants to go along with her partner's motif, but doesn't seemed pleased to be wearing them, or pleased in general.</p><p> </p><p> Rika's attempts at taking out her general frustrations do some damage to Team SUB early on, but Team SUB have fury of their own, and Tsujimura is a bit too slow-paced and methodical to both keep up with Etsuko Arihyoshi's chain wrestling, as well as the 5-Star fans expectation of what a good wrestler is.</p><p> </p><p> Lady Lotus comes in to break the equilibrium, and the Razor Petals do push Team SUB fairly hard, with Arihyoshi doing a good job bumping and providing a lot of good action as the match ebbs and flows. One particular highlight is a cool-looking headscissors from Lotus into a kangaroo kick from Tsujimura that Arihyoshi bumps for like a bullet to the head. Luckily, Kita saves with a Superkick Party to both the Razor Petals, and Team SUB takes back control of the match.</p><p> </p><p> Kita runs wild for a while, giving Arihyoshi enough time to do her half of the Superkick/Tiger Suplex combo from Team SUB that has yet to be kicked out of, and today is no exception, as Lotus shoulders stay on the mat for 3. A good match, and with more time it could've been a possible co-main headliner........</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Team SUB def the Razor Petals via pinfall at 11:29 (Arihyoshi pins Lotus)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 64</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="ytBvNDA.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ytBvNDA.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="kFF47yY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/kFF47yY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Shiori Jippensha vs. Eri Sato</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Jippensha's presence on 5SSW programming has been a bit muted as of late, but it's still easy for any 5-Star fan to remember instantly just how good she is regardless of length in absence. Jippensha seems out to prove a point early against the young up-and-comer Sato, taking it to her with a sequence of suplexes and holds that keep the youngster on the back foot throughout.</p><p> </p><p> Sato fights back with some flashy kicks and slams, but gets a little too over-the-top and Jippensha counters. The match goes back and forth in the middle to the fans great surprise, and picks up a little bit more crowd interest along the way, although a few really aren't buying Sato as a serious enough threat to Jippensha yet.</p><p> </p><p> Sato does get a big moment though, slipping out of the Execution Day (Scoop Brainbuster), shoving Jippensha into the corner buckle, then coming in with the Sato Tornado (Spinkick to a cornered opponent). Sato then goez for the Buzzsaw Kick (Reverse Spin Roundhouse Heel Kick), only for Jippensha to duck and come right back with the Execution Day for a CLOSE 2 count that gets the crowd going a little.</p><p> </p><p> Jippensha looks surprised, but keeps pressing the attack. The Jippensha Leglock (Grapevine Ankle Lock) get locked in, only for Sato to battle hard and make the ropes. Jippensha attempt to pull Sato away, Sato stands on one foot, tries a few desperation enzuigiris that Jippensha dodges with a sway back, before Jippensha finally says screw it and blasts Sato with a lariat while still holding the leg.</p><p> </p><p> Jippensha follows up with the Execution Day and this one gets a 3 count to cap off a fairly good match.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Shiori Jippensha def. Eri Sato via pinfall at 15:05</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 65</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="z4uBriK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/z4uBriK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="IVupCz6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/IVupCz6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="S5zYtKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5zYtKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> A brief video package plays hyping up the fan's choice main event between the Hell Raisers and the Birds of Prey. Key point of the package is Higa talking about the Hell Raisers having potential and looking forward to getting in the ring with them directly and testing their abilities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 50</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="z4uBriK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/z4uBriK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="IVupCz6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/IVupCz6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> vs. <img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="S5zYtKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5zYtKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <strong>The Hell Raisers (Romi Yamato / Sae Akutagawa) vs. The Birds of Prey (Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi)</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The fan-selected main event gets a really big response from the crowd. The Hell Raisers are a physically imposing tag team, and it leads to an interesting dynamic where the crowd has sympathy for Oonishi when she gets beat up by them, but love for when Higa gets beat up by them.</p><p> </p><p> Higa has her contrarian fans in attendance, but they are drowned out by the normal 5SSW fans that really, REALLY want to see Higa get beat up bad.</p><p> </p><p> The Hell Raisers oblige their audience early, using their size and surprising speed and technique to control things at the start. Fuyuko Higa's usual arrogance shines through in spots simply because she can't help herself, but for the most part she treats this like a serious contest to measure the Hell Raisers worth.</p><p> </p><p> It doesn't take long for Higa to realize things will go very badly for her if she wrestles normally, so Higa surprisingly starts working together with her partner more and working the legs, and that yields some results. Indeed, the commentators note that Higa and Oonishi's relationship seems to be healing right in front of their eyes, and that maybe Higa's venom to her partner was just a phase.</p><p> </p><p> Higa does stay level-headed enough to start doing some double-teams towards the middle as the Birds take back control, but a missed twisting body attack from Oonishi puts her in peril. Higa tries rallying her partner and starts to get a bit abusive with the language from the ring apron, but it doesn't help. The Hell Raisers land the Kaenhousha (Total Elimination) for 2 on Oonishi before Higa makes a desperate save and fights both Hell Raisers to buy time for Oonishi.</p><p> </p><p> Oonishi weathers some more damage, but then gets the big tag over to Higa who runs wild on both Hell Raisers before being cut off by Akutagawa. Akutagawa goes for her middle rope Northern Lights Suplex finisher, but Higa counters into a big tornado DDT and both girls are out before reviving for a double tag to their partners. Oonishi has enough in the tank to duck Yamato's clotheslines and strikes, land a rebound middle rope wheel kick, and the the Flying Dagger Legdrop (Top Rope Front Flip Rough Ryder), before tagging in Higa for the finish....... Death From Above (Veg-o-matic)! 1.......2.....Akutagawa tries to save but can't....3!</p><p> </p><p> The Birds of Prey win a great match, but they only JUST got over the line.......</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Result: Birds of Prey def. The Hell Raisers via pinfall at 19:31 (Higa pins Yamato)</strong></p><p> <em>Rating: 77</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="ZoM1wH5.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZoM1wH5.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Post-match, Higa grabs the mic and says with the Queens Castle Cup coming up, it provides a forum for Higa to prove her Perfection , and to prove that Yuma and her so-called "Defense of 5-Star" is a joke, and that shes a false idol who does not deserve the glory of the baubles she already carries, let alone a new one.</p><p> </p><p> Higa says however that as much as she'd like to, she can't do it alone. Oonishi has kept her place at Higa's side, for now, but Higa needs a 3rd for this tournament. Higa asks the Hell Raisers to join her in raising Hell to the 5-Star landscape, burning down the false idol and taking the trophy they rightfully deserve. Higa tells the Hell Raisers to pick one amongst the two of them to join Higa as her 3rd, and the Hell Raisers appear to seriously consider the offer as the show goes off the air.......</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><em>Rating: 70</em></p><p> </p><p> ---</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-size:12px;">OVERALL SHOW GRADE: 74</span></strong></p><p> <strong>ATTENDANCE: 317</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p>

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="GYUe7nb.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GYUe7nb.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> <span style="font-size:12px;"><strong>Shogun TV Presents:</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong> 5SSW Hall Of Fame Tour Night 1</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong> Monday/Week 4/March/2020</strong></span></p><p> </p><p> ---</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> After the excellent Queendom Parade Tour, 5 Star Supreme Wrestling kicks it up a notch going into the first night of the Hall Of Fame Tour, airing on a new afternoon timeslot only on Shogun TV!</p><p> </p><p> In our opening match, the dangerous European striker Zofia Jankovic will be in action against a local competitor.</p><p> </p><p> Next up is eight-woman tag action seeing some debuts, as the Stone Soliders team with 5-Star newcomers Steph Blake and Velvet Suarez to take on Hana Ajibana, Ochiyo Iijima, Erin Marcelin, and another foreign newcomer in Joy Ryder.</p><p> </p><p> Another debut comes in the 3rd match, as independent team Emiko Miyoshi and Nami Genda (known as the Gun Metal Gals) face a tough test against the excellent luchadora duo known as Double Pink.</p><p> </p><p> Former World champion HEART Saitoh is in singles action next, taking on the young veteran Machiko Matsuda.</p><p> </p><p> Team SUB fell short of their goal of dethroning World champion Yuma Maruya, and they'll be in action next against the pair of Lady Lotus and the returning Rika Tsujimura, the team known as the Razor Petals.</p><p> </p><p> Shiori Jippensha is in singles action on the co-main event, taking on a tough fighter in Eri Sato.</p><p> </p><p> And finally our main event came in via fan request, and it will feature The Hell Raisers trying to bounce back after a missed opportunity for the tag titles, as they'll take on the Birds of Prey in whats sure to be an excellent main event!</p><p> </p><p> Also, the show will feature a special announcement from 5SSW VP Kaiya Kuwahara!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-size:12px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">PREDICTION KEY</span></strong></span></p><p> </p><p> Zofia Jankovic vs local competitor</p><p> </p><p> Kaede Sugiyama / Kinuye Mushashibo / Steph Blake / Velvet Suarez vs. Hana Ajibana / Ochiyo Iijima / Erin Marcelin / Joy Ryder</p><p> </p><p> Emiko Miyoshi / Nami Genda vs. Mystery Pink / Pinky Perez</p><p> </p><p> HEART Saitoh vs. Machiko Matsuda</p><p> </p><p> Chiyeko Kita / Etsuko Arihyoshi vs. Lady Lotus / Rika Tsujimura</p><p> </p><p> Shiori Jippensha vs. Eri Sato</p><p> </p><p> Romi Yamato / Sae Akutagawa vs. Fuyuko Higa / Gemmei Oonishi</p></div><p></p><p></p>

(OOC: Apologies for the later than normal updates, this week has kinda sucked and I've had some difficulty writing some scenes. Gonna have to push the prediction key back to Friday to give myself adequate time to write and book things up. Bright side: This tour is gonna have some SICK cards.) --- Sensational Ogiwara reclined on her couch with a glass of wine and exhaled slowly. Today had been a brutal day. She ahd been busy doing odd jobs aroudn the 5-Star offices that her and Karube couldn't afford to hire people to do, before going down to Shogun TV headquarters for a meeting. The meeting contained a lot of pleading and eventually shouting, and all Ogiwara walked away with was 50 thousand in cash upfront, a bump up in ad revenue from 20% to 25%, and a slightly improved but still terrible timeslot. A rebate of another 50 thousand had come in from the government, and Ogiwara raked in another 5 large working as a favour for Yoshi Oshiro in EXODUS 2010, all of which had to be funnelled right back into the company. In total that was 105 thousand, and 5-Star had around 340 thousand left from Alexander Marcelin's investment left, an investment that was looking increasingly like a poison pill for the company. Ogiwara couldn't ask her husband to provide much more for the business, so her hopes rested on keeping the company alive long enough to start drawing 3 or 4 thousand people for big events like the old days. The shows were good and getting better than last year's at least, but Ogiwara wondered if things would ever be like the era where her, Hike, and Ichihara stood atop the world of women's wrestling, heroes to a legion of plain schoolgirls and diehard wrestling otakus. Still, Ogiwara and 5-Star had to keep fighting. Surely success was just around the corner. Surely. --- TEW.com 5SSW News And Notes by "JoshiJosh6" Joshua Prosser -The final viewership number for the Queendom Parade show was said to be just over 24,000 viewers, the highest number the company has done on TV since signing the deal. -Shogun TV has announced a timeslot change for the upcoming tour shows, and they will be aired in the afternoon. This is expected to lead to a significant bump in viewership. -In addition, rumours are that Shogun TV has agreed to give 5SSW an increased slice of ad revenue, plus a small upfront cash bonus. -Management were said to be very impressed with the final show of the Queendom Parade Tour, with a feeling that everyone involved in the two main events stepped up and delivered an excellent performance that the company needed. -Chiyeko Kita was disciplined backstage for some type of unpaid debt to another worker in the company. -Monster Ishimura was supposed to make an appearance on the Queendom Parade show, but due to a full card and last-minute changes, it became a segment instead that didn't seem to do it for the live audience. Ishimura's status with the company has been sinking in recent months. -Synchro Wave impressed enough on the tour that they were given a win in the opening match, and management is planning on bringing them back sometime in the spring. -Simony Sentinel is also expected to come back later in the spring with a continued singles push. -In the pre-show, there was a ten-woman tag featuring Chiyeko Kita, Shiori Jippensha, Gemmei Oonishi, Yu Hashimoto, and Unstoppable Tai winning over Hana Ajibana, Ochiyo Iijima, Kinuye Mushashibo, Otsune Tsumura, and Erin Marcelin in a match said to be okay. -Sapporo Wrestling Dojo graduate Tsuna Kamiya made an appearance as the unnamed local talent getting beaten up by Monster Ishimura. -5-Star announced their touring lineup for the Hall of Fame tour, and it will feature Rika Tsujimura, Steph Blake, Velvet Suarez, Joy Ryder, and the Gun Metal Gals (Emiko Miyoshi and Nami Genda). Erin Marcelin will also be making another tour to work openers and dark matches again. -Tsujimura is expected to resume her tag team with Lady Lotus, Stpeh Blake and Velvet Suarez are being brought in as part of teams for the trios tournament, Joy Ryder is coming in as a tag partner for Erin Marcelin, and the Gun Metal Gals are expected to work the undercard. -Rumoured teams for the upcoming trios tournament: Maruya/Jippensha/Saitoh, Higa/Oonishi and a yet to be named third wrestler, Nakajima/Team SUB, The Uprising teaming with Paige Croft, Double Pink teaming with Velvet Suarez, and several mystery teams. OTHER NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: -ACPW, QAW, other North American independent promotions to air shows on WrestleWorld...... -Tommy Cornell forms The Red Blades stable in shocking 21CW moment...... -Alicia Strong Gets In Shouting Match With USPW Production Staff After Loss To Pariah......

(OOC: Sorry for these late updates. I've been meaning to get things done quicker, but I'm addicted to isekai light novels again. Send help. Tour hires will be up tomorrow, prediction key on Tuesday/Wednesday, card on Thursday/Friday.) --- "Alright Erin, I'm heading out to Vancouver for that business trip. Be sure to arm the security system before you leave for Japan, and PLEASE STAY SAFE OVER THERE, okay?" "Yes Dad, I'll be fine........" "Alright, have a good time in Japan and have a good time with your friend tonight." "I will, have fun in Vancouver!" Alexander headed towards the garage to drive to the airport. Erin closed and locked the back door behind her and sighed in relief. Her dad had been frantic when he had seen her against Monster Ishimura in a six-woman dark match tag. Erin had told him she was fine without mentioning what was going on, and then apparently her dad had watched the match later on when it was released to YouTube and was SUPER worried about her knees and general livelihood. This wasn't ballet, and while Erin did contemplate being a total Higa about the whole situation, she let it pass, and as far as Erin was concerned, the Ishimura botch didn't happen. But now her dad was out of the house, she could party with Simony tonight, who was coming over soon, and then spend tomorrow relaxing and packing for another tour. Erin had gotten another offer to come back to 5-Star the day after she flew back to Toronto, and she took it, obviously. She would even be getting a new tag partner! Erin went upstairs and got dressed in her Friday best..... --- "I LAVVVVVV ROCK AND ROLL! PUT ANOTHER TIME IN THE KOOKBOX BABEH!" "Yes yes, I love rock and roll too, now let's get you inside." Simony ushered a very drunk Erin into the Marcelin house. Their girls night out had gone well, up until Erin had two shots of tequila and turned into a Johnny Cash song. They were shooting pool in a sports bar, Erin tried a couple tequila shots, and then they weren't shooting pool anymore. Some impromptu dancing and karaoke with a pool cue prop as a microphone later, and Simony knew Erin probably needed a ride home. Meanwhile, Erin's cognitive functions had taken a dramatic nosedive as they got up the stairs to the house. Apparently Erin's colourful musical tribute to Joan Jett had used up the last of her abilities, and she was going from crazy to a bit comatose. Erin was leaning into the smaller Simony, who struggled to keep her friend upright. Simony eventually just laid Erin out on the steps, took what she hoped was a set of housekeys from Erin's pocket, and eventually got in. Erin staggered into the house with help, before abruptly breaking free from Simony, screaming "WHEE" as she ran onto a couch like an airplane, then pretty much immediately passed out after that. Simony was torn between being weirded out or amused. Erin's alcohol tolerance was next to nil, which explained why Erin never drank sake with the girls during the gaijin Osaka get-togethers. It was a shame too, her and Erin were really getting along on their little sort-of-but-not-really date, and Erin looked great in her skater grrrrrrrrl outfit. Simony left a kiss on Erin's forehead, before heading back out to her car....... --- Ted was grooving to 80s power metal ballads as he packed his suitcase for another trip back to Osaka. Even though Osaka had good things in store for him too, it actually kinda sucked that he had to leave Toronto, for a change. His first date with Layla had gone well, dinner at a good restaurant and a walk in a park afterwards. Playing poker with the 5-Star announcers, Referee Bartender Odaka, and the wacky fun Referee Takemura had honed Ted's abilities in the art of over-the-top storytelling, and he had some good ones for Layla. He was probably a nervous wreck otherwise, but Layla didn't seem to mind, based on the fact they where having another date in April once Ted got back from Japan. To top off his time in Toronto, he had a civil meeting with Alexander. Erin was booked against people considerably less dangerous than Monster Ishimura for the remaining two matches she had on the tour, and Alexander seemed accepting of the situation. The smark in Ted had to admit Alexander had a point anyways about wanting to protect his daughter from a monster heel's cavalierness. This upcoming tour would be better for Erin as well due to having a tag partner again. Erin didn't know who it was, but was told she had one when she called Ted. Girlfriend for the first time, good tour coming up for his new favourite wrestling company, work going ok for once........ ......When was the rug going to be pulled out from under his feet?

<p><em>(OOC: Meant to get this up earlier but blanked on a few things. KyTeran I'll do Birds of Prey vs. Hell Raisers, as I'll be probably running Higa v Maruya as a big money match later. Katsukawa/Kita may happen on a later tour as well.)</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="rBQxkob.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/rBQxkob.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Ted was impressed with the night's activities for sure. The two main events were the best matches 5-Star had done in over a decade, and better than anything the USPW had done in the woman's division......... ever? At least from what Ted had seen.</p><p> </p><p> Things were starting to really look up for 5-Star now, weren't they? And after all that anxiety backstage about the previous two cards, the main one to end the tour more than delivered.</p><p> </p><p> Things were looking better for Erin too. She was involved in an 10-woman tag just to cram a bunch of people in a match, and was still improving as a worker. In fact Erin was better tonight than a couple of the performers in the main card (in Ted's opinion).</p><p> </p><p> Still, she was a young lion with a ways to go yet. Watching someone like her and someone like Yu Hashimoto was still night and day. Still though, she was learning bit by bit and kept watching tape. She'd be interesting in another year or so.</p><p> </p><p> Ted knew it was 5-Star's night too when there was no Wrestler's Court scheduled cause there were no major transgressions on the tour. Granted, Higa had bitched out Erin and some jobbers earlier, and Chiyeko Kita had stiffed someone on a train ticket payback according to an argument Ted had heard in the hallway, but there was nothing major going on.</p><p> </p><p> Ted did suspect though, that times may be ahead where that wasn't the case. Fuyuko Higa had been casting dark looks at the gaijin at times, and if Ted was a betting man (which he was, due to these poker games.), he would bet that Higa was starting to suspect who had glittered her up at the Big Crush.........</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>---</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="nr0H7y3.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nr0H7y3.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Erin dropped her bag in the corner and laid out on the bed.</p><p> </p><p> It was a long day, but a fairly productive one. She had just gotten back from the send-off party for Simony Sentinel and Synchro Wave, but Erin had a feeling both would be back. They had some pretty good matches on the tour and everyone knew it.</p><p> </p><p> Erin hoped she'd be back for the next tour, as that's where they were supposed to be doing a trios tournament, and she heard it would be outdoors near a castle, which would be interesting. Everyone else seemed to think she'd be back, cause she lasted two and a half tours doing all the jobs with no complaints so why stop now.</p><p> </p><p> While Erin was happy to have a good time with new friends and a steady job in the wrestling industry she loved, she couldn't help but feel a bit down and helpless.</p><p> </p><p> She had faced Maruya, Higa, and Jippensha, three of the best women's wrestlers in the world. Even if the sequences she worked with them were brief, she could tell something was so different about those 3 compared to her. There were just on a level above her that Erin didn't think she could ever reach. The little things, the way they moved, the way they used the ring, their timing, their ability to call the match, the smoothness of their offense, Erin just didn't have that.</p><p> </p><p> It probably felt like a basketball player guarding the USA basketball Dream Team, or the superheroes fighting Thanos in the MCU that could barely even draw blood. They were just so far above Erin that she could barely even see them.</p><p> </p><p> But, Erin was young. There weren't that many people who could wrestle A* matches in their teens. She could learn from them and get better. Besides, if she let that get her down, then her father would have an excuse to make her quit.</p><p> </p><p> And she didn't want that.</p><p> </p><p> As Erin relaxed, she got a text from Simony.</p><p> </p><p> "Want to meet up again when we get back to Canada?"</p><p> </p><p> Of course she would. Simony was the cool big sis Erin never had. She had fun cruising the arcades and other sights in Osaka with her. Hitting up Montreal or giving her a tour of Toronto would be great!</p><p> </p><p> Erin immediately forgot her worries and hurriedly texted back a response in the affirmative.......</p>