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December, Week 4, 2009

 

WLW: A Promotion In Transition

Since 2001, World Level Wrestling has done everything it could to distance itself from the norm of Japanese professional wrestling. Founded in December 2000 by renowned super Junior Koji Kojima, WLW has been applauded for it’s fast paced matches, it’s young roster, and its outright rebellious attitude. Fans come to WLW shows to smile, and that is what WLW delivers in spades. Smiles.

 

Recently however, WLW has fallen on hard times. In the last few years, their roster turnover has been faster than anticipated, leaving WLW struggling to find themselves. They are now tasked with rebuilding their roster, no small feat when you consider such talent as Bairei Yasujiro and the Incredible Koyama were considered stars. Coupled with the continued dominance of Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods, fate seems to have left the once exciting promotion in a tailspin. A tailspin promotion owner Koji Kojima plans to settle with the upcoming tour: WLW Emergence.

 

In order for the promotion to emerge out of their current state, Kojima has dictated that there would be changes made. Ticket prices have been raised to compensate for the economic stress the country is facing. But far more controversial is the recent decision that the company would only be appearing before the Kanto region for the duration of the tour. The Gunma Hall has been booked up to at least the end of January with tour dates, leaving the rest of Japan in the dark for now.

 

Kojima knows that the decision will be controversial. “There are many who believe that we will be selling ourselves short by appearing only for the fans in the Kanto region,” Kojima admitted in a candid interview with Purofan.com. “However, we believe that like the mighty phoenix, we to shall rise above our current state, and again walk the road to greatness.”

 

One thing is for sure; the road will not be an easy one. With their loyal fanbase however, WLW seems to be on their way to recovery. Changes within the promotions structure have lead to a renewed attitude about their future. Two key figures have emerged to take the lead on the promotions growth. The war between Emerald Angel and Magnum Kobe has silently raged for more than a year, and it finally culminated in Magnum Kobe winning the Universal title. Their feud has been one of the many highlights of the company, and if things continue the way they have things will only get hotter.

 

The Emergence Tour begins Next Tuesday, and has been reported to kick start the Rebirth of WLW as a player in the Japanese wrestling scene. Rising on the backs of their two aces Magnum Kobe and Emerald Angel, WLW looks to a future of revived fortunes.

 

“We have made decisions that have not been within the best interests of the company. We have lost the fun we once had,” says Kojima. “However, we are not yet defeated, moreover, this is the rebirth of a legacy. The rebuilding of an empire. You are witnessing the rebirth of WLW!”

 

Koji Kojima seems positive that the company can pull itself out of it’s current rut, but only time will tell if WLW can truly surpass the odds and be reborn…

 

- Credit Sonny Faron of purofan.com

 

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WLW Roster Breakdown Part 1

 

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Def-REALM

Def-REALM are Emerald Angel's group in WLW. They were formed in early 2009 as a way of protecting WLW against factions like Red Guild and the Black House Nation.

 

Unit:

 

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Emerald Angel

Official Bio: Emerald Angel (Hidetoshi Ishibashi) is the younger brother of WLW mainstay Koki Ishibashi, and since his debut in 2004 has gone on to become one of the most talked about young stars in Japan. An incredible high flier, what sets him apart from his peers is not only his ability (Angel was the first man to perform a 720 degree splash off the top rope), but also his graceful way of working.

 

WLW, realizing how special his talent is, have made Angel the face of the company, cementing that fact via a world title win in 2006. He has gone on to hold the main belt on a few more occasions, and his feud with fellow young star Magnum Kobe is making WLW a "must watch" promotion once more.

Moves: Angel Fury, Angel Grace, Angel Grace II, Angel Snap, Angel Spike

 

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Koji Kojima

Official Bio: "The Silent Assassin" Koji Kojima is a solid Japanese junior-style wrestler, who is best known as being the owner of World Level Wrestling. Prior to setting up WLW in 2000 he had worked for just about every other promotion in the country, but had never really gotten anywhere above midcard level. This is probably because while talented, he is not as spectacular or flashy as many other junior wrestlers, instead having consistency and a strong work ethic as his selling points.

 

Although he is the owner, Kojima has rarely been booked as the star wrestler of WLW, instead usually occupying a spot just below the main event. This has allowed others to shine, and has been a very smart booking move.

Moves: Koji Crossface

 

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Koki Ishibashi

Official Bio: Koki Ishibashi is a Japanese wrestler who is noted for eschewing the usual flashy aerial attacks of other wrestlers his size, instead using fine wrestling as the base for his attacks. A friend of Koji Kojima for many years - they were trained in the same dojo - he has found his niche in wrestling working for his friend's World Level Wrestling promotion, where he is one of the company's main draws. Since 2008, Koki has also been responsible for booking the promotion, replacing the departed Haru Kurofuji. One thing that Ishibashi is particularly famous for is his ever-increasing collection of colourful masks.

Moves: Koki Revolution

 

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The Great Hisato

Official Bio: The Great Hisato is a very talented high flier, who unfortunately has become just as well known for his massive ego as for his incredible performances in the squared circle. Originally he was part of the BHOTWG Junior division, having broken through the youth ranks of the promotion, and he even held the prestigious Burning Junior title for a while. His poor attitude saw him eventually get fired though, and he was forced to try and pick up the pieces of his career with World Level Wrestling instead. After almost a decade with WLW, he has both established himself as one of their premier workers and proved to people that he has put his attitude issues behind him. A former WLW Universal champion, nowadays he is seen as one of the company's main headline fan favourites.

Moves: Jade Warrior Plunge, Mystic Dragon Wave

 

Up next: Roster Breakdown Part 2

 

O.O.C.: Thanks for everyone’s patience. I'm down a lot of money this month thanks to a bad registry and a stupid virus. I'm hoping to get the previews up after the roster breakdowns. Alright, let’s hop to it!

 

 

- Sonfaro

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WLW Roster Breakdown Part 2

 

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Red Guild

The Red Guild was formed in WLW by Magnum Kobe, Dark Eagle and Silver Shark in 2008, as is an off-shoot of the original Circle Of Blood group. Their arch-enemies are Emerald Angel's Def-REALM.

Unit:

 

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Dark Eagle

Official Bio: The masked high flier Dark Eagle is a veteran of the junior scene in Japan; making his professional debut in 1985, he has now easily passed the twenty year mark in his career. Despite his advancing years, he remains one of the most fluid, reliable, exciting junior wrestlers around, a testament to his conditioning and dedication.

 

Over the course of his career Eagle has worked for nearly every promotion going, but in recent years he has settled down in WLW, where he is a former Universal champion and one of the main headliners.

Moves: Eagle Shock

 

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Magnum Kobe

Official Bio: Magnum Kobe is one of World Level Wrestling's most prized assets, and one of their big hopes for the future. Debuting for them in 2005, he quickly showed the talent that had made him such a hot prospect via a series of great matches. Originally a fan favourite, his career really took off when he began using his awesome arrogant heel character.

 

2007 was the start of his inevitable push to the top, as he captured and simultaneously held all three of WLW's minor titles. This springboarded him up the roster, and it was no surprise when he became WLW champion in 2009. His feud with Emerald Angel - a battle of opposites, as Kobe pits his brutal strikes against Angel's graceful aerial attacks - is now the main focus of the promotion, and is doing great business.

Moves: Kobe Bomb, Magnum Deathlock

 

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Silver Shark

Official Bio: Silver Shark is a good masked high flier who is extremely well travelled, having had runs with companies in just about every corner of the globe. In recent years he has become best known for his Japanese work, as for several years he was a regular with both BHOTWG and WLW. He was released by BHOTWG in 2009.

 

Prior to working in Japan, Shark was well known for a short run as part of the TCW (then called HGC) cruiserweight division, where he was the division's champion at one point, and for his independent work on the East Coast.

Moves: Jaws of Life

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WLW Roster Breakdown Part 3

 

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Black House Nation

The Black House Nation was created in WLW in 2008 by Kazuma Narato and Mokuami Maita, as part of their attempt to "destroy" the promotion.

Unit:

 

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General Hayashi

Official Bio: "General" Ashihei Hayashi is a Japanese worker who primarily plays a heel manager. His usual act is that he orders his men around but gets increasingly frustrated as they mess up. He first came to people's attention when WLW began using him in 2007 as the manager of Toyokuni Hardcore, and he would later also start managing Rogue Matsuo SF too.

 

In a bizarre moment, Hayashi became WLW Streetfighting for fifteen minutes in September 2008, when he fell on top of the champion - his own client Toyokuni Hardcore - and accidentally got a three count during a gimmick match where anybody who could get a pin could claim the title.

 

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Kazuma Narato

Official Bio: Kazuma Narato is a Japanese worker who moved to the US very early in his career to be part of the TCW cruiserweight division, which is where he first came to fame. He became Fumihiro Ota's "sidekick" in storylines, and also won the cruiserweight tag team titles on three occasions alongside him. When the division was cut in 2005, so was Narato, and he returned home to Japan. He was swiftly picked up by World Level Wrestling, and he has gone on to become one of their most consistent performers. Recently he has been teaming with Mokuami Maita as Black House, and they have become one of the promotion's most entertaining acts.

Moves: Narato Stunner

 

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Mokuami Maita

Official Bio: "The Babyfaced Assassin" Mokuami Maita is a wrestler known for his technically minded approach when in the ring, who made a name for himself as part of the world famous BHOTWG Junior division. He provided a nice counter-balance to the division, being one of the few junior competitors who doesn't do a lot of high flying, instead relying on his highly respected grasp of submission wrestling. Rumours began circulating in late 2006 that he was planning to leave, apparently upset at not having more title shots, and they proved to be accurate as he left in the summer of 2007 to join World Level Wrestling. He has quickly established himself as one of WLW's leading names, and his Black House tag team with Kazuma Narato has been dominant since its creation.

Moves: Assassination Attempt

 

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Mr. Miwa

Official Bio: Mr. Miwa (who works elsewhere under his real name Akahito Miwa) is WLW's top heel manager. He became popular as the fast-talking mouthpiece of the top heel Awesome Thunder. He is the elder brother of the PGHW star Mito Miwa.

 

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Rogue Matsuo SF

Official Bio: Rogue Matsuo SF is a veteran of the Japanese wrestling scene, having made his debut back in 1989 when he was just 18. For years he wrestled under his real name, Kenta Matsuo, before switching to just "Matsuo" from 2002 onwards. In late 2006 he began yet another new chapter in his career, as he morphed himself into Rogue Matsuo SF, the character supposedly being a highly trained operative (the SF stands for Special Forces) who had been dishonourably discharged. In 2008 he was picked up by World Level Wrestling as the company tried to reshape its roster following raids. When he debuted it was with a sleeker, less muscular physique, which has allowed him to adapt his ring style to fit with the WLW product.

Moves: CTU Control Technique, SF Double Foot Stomp

 

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Toyokuni Hardcore

Official Bio: Toyokuni Hardcore used to strictly be a comedy worker, impersonating US worker Sam Strong (as "Toyokuni Strong") on the Japanese independent scene. He reinvented himself as a serious brawler in early 2006 - perhaps forced into the change due to Sam Strong's retirement - complete with a sleek new look and updated moves. The new fire that he displayed when wrestling was clearly impressive, as within months he had been hired by World Level Wrestling. He has gone on to become a valuable member of the roster, and a regular champion \ contender for the promotion's Streetfighting title.

Moves: Toyokuni Drill

Up Next: Roster Breakdown Part 4

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WLW Roster Breakdown Part 4

 

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The New Circle Of Blood

The second incarnation of the Circle Of Blood was created in 2009, headed by Ketsueki Karasu. The original version had disbanded in 2008.

Unit:

 

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Hypnos

Official Bio: Hypnos is a masked character played by the talented Yosuke Oinuma. Debuting under his real name in 1994, the rookie high flier was tipped for success, but seemed to get lost in the shuffle. Like many Japanese workers before him, he headed for Mexico to gain experience, which is where he first donned the "cyclops" mask and created the character of Hypnos. After a good spell with MPWF from 1996 until 1999, he returned to Japan along with his mask, and is now looking for success. In late 2008 he was recruited by World Level Wrestling as they looked to rebuild their roster.

Moves: Cyclops Clutch, Hypnos Driver III

 

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Ketsueki Karasu

Official Bio: Blood Raven is a solid worker whose ability to blend traditional Mexican lucha libre with the Japanese junior style has resulted in him having good careers in both countries. While in Japan, where he first broke through with WLW, he works under the name Ketsueki Karasu, which is the Eastern translation of Blood Raven. His gothic, nightmarish character is very unique, and seems very popular, especially with male teenage fans.

 

In recent years he has split his time equally between WLW and SOTBPW. In WLW he is very much a heel, and is the leader of the evil stable the New Circle Of Blood. In SOTBPW, he has become a popular babyface after rebelling against the dominating La Alianza Del Terror group.

Moves: Raven Driver III

 

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Nichiren Amagawa

Official Bio: Nichiren Amagawa is a hot prospect from the East, who was trained in the World Level Wrestling dojo by Koji Kojima amongst others. He has two major plus points going for him; his technical skills and his charisma. Technically, he is exceptional, with chain and submission wrestling so smooth that seeing him in action can sometimes resemble a grappling clinic. He is a charismatic competitor too, especially adept at portraying a super-****y heel. Such is his potential that WLW brought him straight up onto the main roster upon graduation, and soon had him aligned with the New Circle Of Blood stable.

Moves: Amagawa Total Lock, Five Point Stretch

 

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SPEED D

Official Bio: SPEED D (short for Speed Demon) is a young junior-style wrestler from Japan who is noted, perhaps unsurprisingly, for his quickness at getting around the ring. Under the horned mask is Hisanobu Ochi, a rookie who was trained in the World Level Wrestling dojo. Upon graduation in 2009 he was brought up onto the main roster, therefore probably making him one of the few people connected to WLW who actually gained benefit from the recent talent raids on the company. He has quickly been integrated into the roster, both forming a tag team with Hypnos called VILLAINS and becoming part of the New Circle Of Blood stable.

Moves: Shooting Star D-Stomp

 

Next Up: Roster Breakdown Part 5

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WLW Roster Breakdown Part 5

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The 505

The 505 are a stable in WLW that consists entirely of foreign workers. It is led by the combination of Acid and UK Dragon.

Unit:

 

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Acid

Official Bio: Acid is a talented masked high flier, best known for his run as one of DAVE's most popular wrestlers. Breaking into the sport in 1996, he originally wrestled without the mask, as Tayler Morton (his real name). It was in 2002 that he first debuted the Acid character, and over the next two years he made a solid claim to being the best independent worker in America. In August 2004, after being courted by them for over a year, he finally signed a contract with Danger And Violence Extreme. His stay with the company lasted three years, right through to the company's final show.

 

Post-DAVE, Acid decided to try something a little different, and he accepted a long-standing offer to become a regular with World Level Wrestling in Japan. He has become one of WLW's most exciting midcarders, and has become a staple of their tag team division alongside UK Dragon.

Moves: Acid Rain Bomb, Acidity Test

 

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Americana

Official Bio: American Elemental is one of the new breed of North American workers who have been heavily influenced by the Japanese junior style made famous in BHOTWG; his character and costume are an obvious homage to the original, legendary Elemental.

 

After six years of hard work on the independent scene, "Am El" finally got a break in 2006 when he joined World Level Wrestling, working under the name Americana. A fantastic worker, there were even been rumblings that he was in the frame to play Elemental III for BHOTWG, but that was proved false in 2007.

Moves: Inferno Splash

 

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Insane Machine

Official Bio: Insane Machine is a highly rated cruiserweight, best known for his work with Coastal Zone Championship Wrestling. Prior to joining them in 2002 he worked on the American independent circuit without a mask under his real name, Chris Perkins, but had little success. Once he donned the outrageously cool mask though, his career seemed to take off, and he soon became very popular.

 

In 2004, his successes with CZCW led him to be invited over to WLW in Japan, and over the following years he slowly built up quite a fan base over there too, making him an international wrestling star. However, his frequent absences while on tour have stopped him from making as much of an impact in CZCW as he would have probably done otherwise.

Moves: Insanity Tsunami, Termination Kick

 

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The Tic

Official Bio: Alexander "The Tic" McCallum is an American worker from Washington DC who made his pro debut in 2004. Having gained the nickname "The Tic" during his training as a reference to his extremely small physical size, he decided to try and turn that to his advantage and utilised a crazy mask and costume to create a goofy super hero style character. While it did little for his career in his homeland, it was interesting enough to attract the attention of WLW in Japan, and he has been working for them ever since.

Moves: Parasite Paralysis, Tic Leap

 

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UK Dragon

Official Bio: Steven "UK Dragon" Ambrose is a vastly experienced all-rounder, who has worked all around the globe since his professional debut at the age of 16 in 1991. Over time he has developed a reputation for versatility and reliability, and that has made him a highly in-demand worker.

 

While he is probably best known for his run with World Level Wrestling in Japan, where he is considered one of the cornerstones of the promotion and has an excellent tag team with the American worker Acid going, Dragon has also had great runs with UCR in Europe (where he is a former champion) and ROF in the UK, amongst others.

Moves: Dragon Drop

 

Up Next: Roster Breakdown Part 6

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WLW Roster Breakdown Part 6

 

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Unitless:

 

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Beetle Kimura

Official Bio: Yosuke "Beetle" Kimura is a fast-paced youngster who was trained by the famous Japanese junior wrestler The Great Hisato, and who uses several of his mentor's trademark spots during matches as a tribute.

 

With Hisato's influence clear, Kimura started working regularly for World Level Wrestling in 2004, and while he has taken great strides in improving as a worker, he has yet to really rise above midcard status.

Moves: Ocean Crush

 

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Hell Monkey

Official Bio: Hell Monkey (real name John Pathlow) is a superb fighter from New York City, who is famous for his visually awesome entrance mask (he removes it when he actually wrestles). He has a very modern style to his ring work, blending incredibly stiff strikes with the technical skills and aerial ability of a junior-style wrestler.

 

Monkey first came to people's attention in USPW, but his style didn't really fit with the promotion and soon he was off to Japan, where he has become one of World Level Wrestling's favourite foreigners. His team with Emerald Angel is probably the most popular duo in the entire promotion.

Moves: Hell Fire Kick, Tumbling Monkey

 

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Panda Mask II

Official Bio: The original Panda Mask was played by the wrestler now known as Harrison Hash; this is the second incarnation of the character, and is played by Joseph Jerome, a young wrestler from Wyoming.

 

Making his pro debut in 2006, Jerome found it difficult to get established in the business and so, in order to boost his popularity, decided to try purchasing the rights to the Panda Mask character from Hash. Having grown bored of keeping several giant panda heads around his apartment - and especially of constantly having to clean up the black and white fluff they leave - Hash was only to keen to accept the offer. Jerome's plan clearly worked, as soon Panda Mask II was signed by WLW in Japan.

Moves: Pandamonium

 

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Yosuke Narita

Official Bio: Yosuke Narita is a veteran Japanese worker who is highly respected for the level of performances he has achieved over his career, and for being one of the driving forces behind the rise of WLW. He spent his early career travelling, learning his skills in places like Mexico, Canada and Great Britain, and this experience led him to develop a wonderfully versatile mix of skills.

 

After returning to Japan as a better worker, he became best known for his alter ego Awesome Thunder, a character who dominated WLW and racked up a record six Universal championships. That character was retired in 2009 after a loss to Magnum Kobe, and Narita now works solely under his real name.

Moves: Thunder Shock

 

Next Up: Non-Wrestling Personnel

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WLW Roster Breakdown - Finale

 

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Non-Wrestlers/Backstage Officials

 

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Chomei Takizawa

Official Bio: Chomei Takizawa is a Japanese wrestler who was active during the 1980s and early 1990s. Never a great worker by any means, he generally drifted around the independent scene working for small promotions. Since his retirement he has kept active in the business, and from 2005 onwards he has been working backstage for WLW.

 

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Isei Deushi

Official Bio: Isei Deushi is a Japanese announcer, known for being the voice of World Level Wrestling. A natural on the microphone, he is known for his willingness to get involved in angles on WLW shows; his in-ring interviews are often the trigger for storyline happenings, and he has sometimes ended up getting caught in the crossfire as wrestlers fight.

 

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Kitahachi Sonoda

Official Bio: Kitahachi Sonoda is a Japanese referee, best known for his work in WLW.

 

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Taka Kajiwara

Official Bio: Takayuki "Taka" Kajiwara is a versatile Japanese performer, best known for his work with World Level Wrestling. Taking advantage of his ability with a microphone in his hand, Taka often takes a dual role for the promotion, alternating between working as the company's premier colour commentator and also acting as the babyface nemesis to lead heel manager Mr. Miwa.

 

Up Next: Open the Tour Gate :p

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Emergence Level – Night #1 Preview

Its that time of the year again, as WLW gears up for it's newest tour, Emergence Level. The tour will be exclusive to the Gunma Hall this year, as most of the tour shows proper have already been scheduled there. Fans of all ages are invited to come out and share in the fun with the colorful cast of characters WLW provides.

 

The Emergence Level Tour looks to open up with a bang, as current Tap Out Champion Rogue Matsuo SF looks to defend his title into the New Year. Lead by General Hayashi, Rogue Matsuo SF has taken out opponents left and right with the clinical precision of a former Special Forces officer dishonorably discharged for reckless endangerment. His challenger is Americana, the highflying gaijin influenced by the legendary Elemental. Many believe that had he not been such a world traveler, he would have been a champion by now. He will get his chance the first event of the year. But Rouge Matsuo SF has no intentions of losing the title, and his trump card, the always-dangerous Toyokuni Hardcore, may not be far away from this battle.

 

The Great Hisato, representing Def-Realm will face Hypnos from the New Blood Circle in singles competition. Never afraid to speak his mind, The Great Hisato has already put down Hypnos as a Mexican flip flopper (despite the fact that Hypnos clearly was born in Osaka) and has laid out an open challenge to anyone worthy on the roster to face him at Rebirth Level. Hypnos is no push over however, and will be ready to shut Hisato up and bring much needed momentum for the New Circle of blood. The end result should be an exciting match up that will affect the overall feeling going into Rebirth.

 

And finally, Magnum Kobe faces off with Emerald Angel in a blockbuster tag match featuring Silver Shark and Showstealer Champion Hell Monkey. It’s been a long time since ‘Above and Below’ last tagged together, and their foes are no easy task. Magnum Kobe is fresh off of taking the mask of the former Awesome Thunder at last year’s mega event WLW Destiny & Desire, and so momentum is on the side of the Universal champion. Meanwhile, Silver Shark is as dangerous as ever, and has made it known that he wants the belt around Hell Monkey’s waist. A win for either side could determine the battleground for the upcoming ‘Rebirth Level’ event at the end of the month.

 

Regardless of the outcomes, the first night of the Emergence Level Tours looks to be a solid showing from WLW, as they strive to reclaim their focus and emerge from the mire of their own making.

 

Scheduled card for ‘Emergence Level’ Night #1

 

WLW TAP OUT TITLE

'Representing The 505'

Americana

vs.

'Representing The Black House Nation'

Rouge Matsuo SF w/General Hayashi

 

SINGLES MATCH

'Representing Def-Realm'

The Great Hisato

vs.

'Representing The New Circle Of Blood'

Hypnos

 

TAG MATCH

'Above And Below (Angel Representing Def-Realm)'

Emerald Angel & Hell Monkey

vs.

'Representing the Red Guild'

Magnum Kobe and Silver Shark

 

Quick Pix

WLW Emergence Level (Night #1)

WLW TAP OUT TITLE: Americana vs. Rouge Matsuo SF

MATCH: The Great Hisato vs. Hypnos

MATCH: Emerald Angel and Hell Monkey vs. Magnum Kobe and Silver Shark

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That's the coolest banner-type graphic ever.

Thanks. It's amazing what you can find on Google.

 

Looking good so far! WLW is a promotion I've always liked the look of but never quite figured out how I'd book it.

 

They are definitely a challenge. I think I'm up for it though. Thanks for the positive feedback.

 

wheres beetle kimura :(

 

Crap on a stick.

 

It's fixed. I don't know why he wasn't listed with my Unitless Roster before. It's been a long week:(

 

Nice catch though, and thanks!

 

- Sonfaro

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WLW Emergence Level - Night #1

 

[RESULTS] World Level Wrestling

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/Sonfaro/WLW_GunmaHall.jpg?t=1269803050

The Gunma Hall - seats about 300 people.

Tuesday, Week 1, January 2010

 

-->Emergence Level Tour Night #1<--

World Level Wrestling made a big splash in the Kanto region, boasting a new, simplified program and format for the fans. The Gunma hall was packed to the brim with fans, and the turn away was well over a hundred. Everyone was eager to see whether the hype behind the new rebranding of WLW was worth the effort. WLW did not disappoint.

 

After the opening anthem, Emerald Angel came out to greet the fans, and promised changes for the better, concluding by saying that he would reclaim the WLW Universal Championship. Magnum Kobe, the current Universal Champion came out, insulted that at 'company boy' was out to to fill the fans heads with lies at the start of a new era in WLW. Angel tried to defend his stance, stating that he worked hard for his position in the company, when he was blindsided by Silver Shark. Shark, who since joining the Red Guild has b with fellow Red Guild has found a new dangerous streak, put the boots to Emerald Angel until Hell Monkey made the eventual save. Emerald Angel retrieved the microphone and promised that he would make the Red Guild pay in their tag match.

 

Rogue Matsuo beat Americana in a match that had solid in-ring action and average heat. Americana had Matsuo on the ropes several times throughout the match, and it was only a well timed distraction from General Hayashi and the interference of the ever dangerous Toyokuni Hardcore that helped the Black House Nation retain their hold on the Tap Out Title. After the match, Hayashi continued to uplift Rogue Matsuo SF, stating that the Black House Nations guerilla war on WLW was being lead by the Tap Out Champion himself.

 

The Great Hisato sent a message to the New Circle of Blood that Def-Realm is here to stay, defeating opponent Hypnos in an exciting encounter via the Mystic Dragon Wave. After the bout, Hisato retrieved the microphone. Stating that he was the Legend of Legends here in WLW, Hisato made an open challenge for the upcoming Rebirth show at the end of the month. The lights suddenly went out, an action usually reserved for Awesome Thunder. However, when they returned, Dark Eagle was in the ring. Hisato tried to defend himself, but Eagle laid the self proclaimed legend of legends out with an Eagle Shock and announced that Hisato would be facing him at the event!

 

In the main event, ‘Above & Below’ teamed up again for the first time in months, taking out Red Guild members Magnum Kobe and Silver Shark in spectacular fashion in a match many are saying rivals anything put on by the juniors up in BHOTWG. The fast paced match, highlighted by a spectacular dive from Emerald Angel onto all the other competitors in the crazy bump of the night, is already being heralded as one of the best WLW matches in history. Emerald Angel and Hell Monkey managed to isolate Magnum Kobe from Silver Shark, and took out the Universal Champion with an awe inspiring Hells Angel Spike, with Emerald Angel pinning the Universal Champion!

 

After the match, Emerald Angel took a microphone and berated Kobe, stating that he proved that he was the Ace of WLW. Angel then challenged Magnum Kobe to a match for the Universal title, and stated that since he hadn't been granted a rematch after losing the belt in October, that they settle things in a title match at Rebirth Level at the end of the month. Kobe, still reeling from the effects of the Hells Angel Spike, refused, insulting Angel with the finger and slinking out with Silver Shark. Emerald Angel, undauted, vowed to win back his title, and promised fans that things would only go higher from here.

 

All in all, the show was an exciting display of ‘lucharesu'. The only negative that could be said is that there was a feeling that the number of the angles used did not reach the standards set by the in-ring action. Still, the show can be considered a success, it should have increased their popularity. If this show is any indication of things to come, WLW is on the right track.

 

WLW, Tuesday, Week 1, 2010

Gunma Hall

300 Fans - Super No Vacancy

- Hell Monkey Saves Angel From Kobe and Shark. D+

1. WLW TAP OUT TITLE: Rogue Matsuo SF def. Americana C-

- General Hayashi praises Rogue Matsuo SF. D-

2. MATCH: The Great Hisato def. Hypnos C

- Dark Eagle accepts The Great Hisato's open challenge. C

3. SPECIAL TAG MATCH: Emerald Angel and Hell Monkey def. Magnum Kobe and Silver Shark B

- Magnum Kobe refuses to face Emerald Angel. C+

 

Up Next: Night #1 Fallout

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http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/Sonfaro/I%20Heart%20WLW/th_EmeraldAngel.jpghttp://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/Sonfaro/I%20Heart%20WLW/th_HellMonkey.jpg

Above & Below - High Profile Tag Team

Fallout from Night #1

The Emergence Tour has turned several heads on the Japanese wrestling scene, with many rating the main event as highly as the recent title defense of GCG Heavyweight Champion Hiroyasu Gakusha in Golden Canvas Grappling. WLW officials are said to be pleased with the turnout for the show.

 

One of the key successes for the event was the reunion of popular tag team Above & Below. The former championship team had not tagged together for several months, as Emerald Angel has been so focused on retaining or winning the Universal Title. It seems that they have not missed a beat, and worked as a cohesive unit to take down the Red Guild.

 

Suprisingly, Hell Monkey has not accepted a potition within Emerald Angels Def-Realm unit, and since their split from active tagging has managed to keep out of the various faction wars within the company. Many put this down to his loner nature; even during the height of their tag team run Hell Monkey was always in the background behind the dazzling Emerald Angel. To his credit, Angel has not pressed the issue, as their personal alliance runs far deeper than unit warefare.

 

With talent like Above & Below, World Level Wrestling has again begun making headway in the Japanese wrestling scene, and the Kanto region is sure to enjoy the rest of their exclusive tour. WLW is already hyping their thursday night show with the promise of several big matches, and they hope to continue to build momentum into their big Rebirth Level event.

 

- Credit Sonny Faron of purofan.com

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Previews for Night #2

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/Sonfaro/I%20Heart%20WLW/IheartWLWposter2.jpg?t=1269902824

 

Emergence Level - Night #2 Preview

 

The Gunma Hall has again been booked out, and tickets are selling rapidly. Word of the success of the last show has spread throughout the region, and with the line up for Thursdays show now up, the excitment can only grow.

 

Koki Ishibashi and Koji Kojima - better known as Unity Two, lost their Tag Titles to the Black House Nation during the anual Japanese Wrestle Peace Festival in December, and so are owed a rematch. The have invoked their clause for the Rebirth Level event, where they will again face the Black House team of Mokuami Maita and Kazuma Narato. On Thursday however, they face Acid Dragons, in what should be a fine match. Unity Two knows that they can beat the Black House Nation. However, Acid Dragon have been known for a technical brilliance not usually found worldwide, and are certainly capable of anything. Whoever wins this match moves forward to represent the teamwork in WLW.

 

In the main event, four men will battle it out for the right to face reigning champion Magnum Kobe. Emerald Angel has let it be known that he is gunning to reclaim his belt, and has shown in the past that he is willing to put his body on the line to grasp it. The Great Hisato has proclaimed himself legend of legends, and will look to put his money where his mouth is. The former Awesome Thunder may have fallen on hard times in the recent months, but Yosuke Narita is still very much the competitor that made him the record setting six time Universal champion. And the mysterious Dark Eagle is also entered, though what this means to the unity of the Red Guild has not been addressed. These men have all been champions before, and so they know the score. The question then will be who has enough in him to take it all. No one in this line up is a push over, and a decisive win would leave no doubts as to who the true contender really is.

 

WLW continues to promote 'fresh' and 'new' in a wrestling landscape littered with large monsters plodding as a snails pace. The fans thus far believe that WLW is making strides towards greatness. It's hard to argue with them.

 

TAG MATCH

'Representing Def-Realm - Unity Two'

Koki Ishibashi & Koji Kojima

vs.

Representing The 505 - Acid Dragon

Acid & UK Dragon

 

 

#1 CONTENDERS MATCH

'Representing Def-Realm'

Emerald Angel

vs.

'Representing Def-Realm'

The Great Hisato

vs.

Yosuke Narita

vs.

'Representing The Red Guild'

Dark Eagle

Quick Pix

WLW Emergence Level (Night #2)

TAG MATCH: Unity Two vs. Acid Dragons

#1 CONTENDERS MATCH: Emerald Angel vs. The Great Hisato vs Yosuke Narita vs. Dark Eagle

 

--

 

Prediction Rankings

 

1. The Shape - 2/3

2. Midnightnick - 1/3

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I'm liking the results format, a summary rather than a big overblown detailed lot. This way suits the tour system a lot better.

 

Thanks. Big ups to puroresufan.com for the inspiration.

 

The show will be up later tonight, so if anyone else wants to get some predictions in go for it!

 

- Sonfaro

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Emergence Level Night #2

 

[RESULTS] World Level Wrestling

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/Sonfaro/WaitingForTickets.jpg?t=1270073002

Fans awaiting their tickets - well over 100 had to be turned away.

Thursday, Week 1, January 2010

 

-->Emergence Level Tour Night #2<--

Another exciting night of high flying action from WLW, as the Gunma hall was once again graced by the little promotion that could. Fans lined up from the early morning until the bell time, and the turn away was again high, with many people pre-ordering tickets from next weeks show so as not to miss the action again.

 

In a match that had some good action and average heat, Unity Two defeated Acid Dragon in 14:42 when Koki Ishibashi defeated Acid.. During the match, Black House Nation consultant Mr. Miwa came down and joined Kajiwara and Dueshi at the announce booth, supposedly to scout his opponents at Rebirth Level. At various times he attempted to distract Unity Two, leading to several tense near falls. In the end however, the crafty ingenuity of Koki Ishibashi – whos never totally given up his rulebreaking ways from his days in the Circle of Blood - pinfall while using the ropes for leverage, giving Unity Two a boost of momentum headed into the tour.

 

After the match, Mr. Miwa enters the ring with waivers for both Koki Ishibashi and Koji Kojima; since the Black House do not consider themselves a part of WLW, but a separate organization altogether, they do not want to be held responsible for what happenes to World Level Wrestling employees. Unity Two took turns taunting “Miwa-chan”, before eventually signing the documents. As if on cue, The Black House appeared from nowhere, taking out Koki Ishibashi and leveling Koji Kojima with a Double Brainbuster. Mr. Miwa proclaimed that WLW would never regain their tag titles, because they now belonged to the Black House. Maita, Narato, and Miwa then left Unity Two beaten in the ring. Things between the two teams appear to have already broken down.

 

In a bout that had great heat and great wrestling action, Emerald Angel defeated The Great Hisato, Dark Eagle and Yosuke Narita in 25:14 to secure a title shot at Rebirth Level against Magnum Kobe. After dominating for much of the match, Dark Eagle was the first eliminated, when The Great Hisato rolled him up. Eagle got his revenge however, hitting the ‘Legend of Legends’ with an Eagle Shock after the referee told him to leave. Emerald Eagle snagged the pinfall, leading to Yosuke Narita and Emerald Angel at the end. Narita showed some of the fire that made Awesome Thunder a six-time champion, but he was noticeably slower than usual. The end came when Yosuke missed a moonsault attempt - a mistake Awesome Thunder would not have made. Emerald Angel scrambled to the ropes and hit the 720* Splash to win.

 

Angel barely had time to celebrate, as Magnum Kobe snuck up behind his new contender and took him out with a a shot to the head with the Universal Title! Kobe put his foot on the chest of Angel and raised his arm showing pure arrogance, making the statement that WLW was his promotion now, and that he was here to stay!

 

In all, another positive show from WLW that should have increased their popularity. The angles still weren't up to par with the matches, but they served storyline purposes, and the main event was so fun no one seemed to mind. WLW can chalk up another successful visit to the Kanto region.

WLW, Thursday, Week 1, January 2010

Gunma Hall

300 Fans - Super No Vacancy

- Magnum Kobe ran down the roster, was interrupted by Taka Kajiwara. C-

1. TAG MATCH: Unity Two def. Acid Dragon (14:42) via feet on the ropes. C

- The Black House ambushed Unity Two. D

2. #1 CONTENDERS MATCH: Emerald Angel def. The Great Hisato, Dark Eagle, and Yosuke Narita (25:14) via 720* Senton Splash. B-

- Magnum Kobe attacked Emerald Angel with the belt. C

Overall: C+

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<p><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Fallout from Night #2</span></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> The feeling coming out of the second Emergence Level event has been extremely positive, with the main event matching expectations. While this show wasn't quite as memerable as the last, there was still excitment in the air for the promotion. WLW continues to claw its way up the mountain, doing everything it can to make it's own unique impact of the Japanese landscape.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> After the show, Isei Deushi caught up with Magnum Kobe and conducted this interview. Purofan.com was able to transcribe it:</span></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27309" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/Sonfaro/I%20Heart%20WLW/th_IseiDeushi.jpg</span> <strong>+</strong> <span>http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo13/Sonfaro/I%20Heart%20WLW/th_MagnumKobe.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>Isei Deushi here, providing WLW fans with the exclusive post show interviews. Today I’m with Universal Champion Magnum Kobe. Magnum? Thanks for coming.</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>Let’s get this over with.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>Er… Okay. Lets get to it. You’ve been with the company for five years, and have won nearly every title there is. Do you feel as though you are the top wrestler in the company?</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>No.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>No?</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>I’m the top wrestler in the world. I’m the Universal champion. This belt says I’m the best. My unit says I’m the best. My skills say I’m the best. I’m the best, no doubt about it.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>Speaking of your unit, Red Guild has been on top of the mountain for quite some time, but recently things look to be slipping, what with Dark Eagle competing for a shot at your title.</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>There is nothing amiss with the Red Guild. We are a unit. Petty squabbles may destroy you. But they do not destroy us.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>But there have been squabbles, right?</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>Next question.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>Um… Alright. You became WLW Universal Champion in a Triple Threat match that included Awesome Thunder and Emerald Angel. What was your initial feeling going into that match?</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>Confident. It’s been my destiny to stand at the highest level with the belt around my waist. The Champion had never been good at thinking clearly during a match, and Awesome Thunder was nothing but cheap tricks and a mask. A mask I removed a month later, yes? That night my Destiny came to fruition. I won the WLW title and I never looked back.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>You are of course referring to your first title defense against Awesome Thunder in a Title vs. Mask match at the biggest night in WLW history.</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>Precisely. It doesn’t matter how long ago you’ve been good atop a company. If you’re not capable of winning today, go home. I’m not concerned with Narita-san.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>Are you concerned at all about Emerald Angel?</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>…I’m sorry. What was the question?</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>Are you at all concerned about Emerald Angel? He has gained quite a bit of momentum over the course of the past week, and has made it known that he wants your title.</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>…Angel preaches quite a bit, yes? He wants to protect WLW. Defend WLW. He wants to represent the company to the people. He’s not interested in winning the belt for himself. He wants to win it for the fans. And that’s why he’s going to lose. He’s so caught up with putting on the show and being a fan favorite that he doesn’t have what it takes to beat me. I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Who ran Bairei Yasujiro out of the company? Who formed the most dominant faction WLW has ever seen. Who took Awesome Thunder’s mask? I did. I’ve got the looks. I’ve got the skill. And I’ve got the Universal title. WLW is mine. I don’t care what anybody says. At Rebirth level I’ll prove that Emerald Angel is nothing more than a paper champion, and I’ll paint the green he built his reputation on red with his blood. There is only one Ace in this company. Me!</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#4169E1;">ID: </span></strong><strong>Just one more...</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="color:#FF0000;">MK: </span></strong>Sorry. I'm done talking.</p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>-->End of Interview<--</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <span style="font-size:8px;">- Transcription from Japanese to English by Sonny Faron.</span></p>
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