[CVerse] Black Canvas Grappling: Defenders of Puroresu

DarK_RaideR · July 12, 2018

Legends, they called us. The aces and faces of Golden Canvas Grappling for over two decades. Four times we won the World Heavyweight Tag Team titles together and during our friendly rivalry as singles wrestlers, Yoshifusa Maeda won the World Heavyweight title five times, two more than I ever did. We saved it from utter collapse. Even in its darkest days, we stuck with the Roaring Lion despite lucrative offers from elsewhere, because loyalty and respect, to us, are more than just buzzwords you throw around for marketing and cheap thrills. Obviously, those in charge of the company these days think otherwise.

I retired from in-ring competition in 2006, at the ripe age of 54. Maeda was two years younger, but he retired that year as well. We were both well respected and experienced, which made the company keep us around as Road Agents. I only lasted a few months; couldn't stand being around but not in the ring, plus the tour schedules kept me on the road more than I'd like. I left the business to spend time with my family, while Maeda stuck around for a few more years, until CCG decided to join the Modern Japan Movement.

WLW and WEXXV started this thing when they decided the old ways of touring were evil and holding back Japanese promotions. The way forward was TV shows and big monthly events, they said, like promotions in the West do. At first, no one took them seriously. WLW was a silly promotion, dressing their juniors up in panda masks and whatnot. WEXVV was always a garbage promotion of blood and guts, somehow surviving on their fringe market. It was when Golden Canvas Grappling joined them that 'the Movement' was really born and our legacy really died.

Maeda responded with utter disgust. To his eyes, this was an insult to both himself and the company's proud legacy. Not only did he resign, he also started his own promotion, Black Canvas Grappling. If this was the West, he'd be marketing it as the 'counter-alternative' to GCG's modern twist. Instead, he simply went on carrying the torch as the true spiritual successor of the Roaring Lion's tradition. But Maeda couldn't do it all on his own. We always worked better as a team. So he shook heaven and earth to drag me out of retirement and into his company as the booker.

It's been five years since and we've managed to stay alive while the New Japan Movement recruited almost every promotion in Japan, except Pride Glory Honour Wrestling and ourselves. Even the mighty Burning Hammer of the Wrestling Gods were affected and although they did not officially join the alliance, they did leave the days of touring behind. These days we're still under fire from our rivals, struggling to avoid debt as both our talent and fanbase keep shrinking, but I have a plan.

Loyalty.

If we stuck with a promotion our entire careers, then so must our roster. Having a solid pool of talent will help us build future stars without fear of others cherry-picking our investments. I just hope we manage to get there before the competition eats us up alive.

Rhyme1234 · July 12, 2018

Yes!!! but 3 diaries at once?

DarK_RaideR · July 12, 2018

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rhyme1234" data-cite="Rhyme1234" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="45613" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yes!!! but 3 diaries at once?</div></blockquote> It's always been like that. I just had to admit I'm not interested in keeping up my "UEW Rise of Euroresu" game and get to the actual puroresu instead <img alt=":rolleyes:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/rolleyes.png.4b097f4fbbe99ce5bcd5efbc1b773ed6.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt=":cool:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/cool.png.f00d2562b2c1d873a09323753efdb041.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

Rhyme1234 · July 12, 2018

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DarK_RaideR" data-cite="DarK_RaideR" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="45613" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It's always been like that. I just had to admit I'm not interested in keeping up my "UEW Rise of Euroresu" game and get to the actual puroresu instead <img alt=":rolleyes:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/rolleyes.png.4b097f4fbbe99ce5bcd5efbc1b773ed6.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt=":cool:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/cool.png.f00d2562b2c1d873a09323753efdb041.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div></blockquote> I am more interested in the puroresu diary than the Euroresu one. This will be great.<img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

DarK_RaideR · July 12, 2018

BCG Pack of Lions

Wednesday, W1 of January 2016

Gunma Hall, Kanto

Attendance: 300 (sold out)

In a decent match, Narahashi & Torii defeated Masayuki Shiga and Kiyotaka in 10:09 when Bunrakuken Torii defeated Kiyotaka by pinfall with a Flying Forearm Off Top.

Rating: D+

Comments: The match was aimed at Lifting the Crowd and it did just that, making sure the show was off to a strong start. Bunrakuken Torii was the MVP of the match, showing improved Performance skills. Kiyotaka was a close second, despite being a protected Young Lion and taking the fall, but not before also showing improvement in his Performance skills. Shiga too was protected to make up for his declining physical condition, while Dynamite Narahashi showed most potential and hard work thanks to sharpened Techincal and Performance skills

In a bout that had good wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Funakoshi defeated Roku Sotomura in 15:31 by pinfall with a Butterfly Backbreaker.

Rating: C+

Comments: The match was good enough to get the live crowd hotter than the opener did, with both wrestlers putting up a great performance. Winner Funakoshi was the better man between the ropes, showing some sharp new Technical skills while Sotomura has clearly improved in terms of Performance capabilities.

In a decent match, Razan Okamoto defeated Blast Ikoma in 20:39 by pinfall with a Brainbuster Suplex.

Rating: C-

Comments: Not as good as the match that preceded it, the main event still fired up the sold out crowd further despite (or perhaps thanks to) its slow build approach. Neither man had anything new on display but Okamoto was slightly better than Ikoma, making the win feel justified.

Show Rating: D

Comments: Show was penalized for all its production values, but the in-ring product was still good enough to earn BCG some new fans in the area,

southside_hitmen · July 12, 2018

Yes! BCG, my favorite CVerse company!

Feel free to use these if you like for logos/events/titles: http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2251122&postcount=3

Voeltzwagon · July 12, 2018

BCG just doesn't get enough love. Looking forward to this one.

DarK_RaideR · July 12, 2018

A donor of images and my favorite GSW writer both following? Clearly I've struck gold.

DarK_RaideR · July 13, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Wednesday, W2 of January 2016

Muroran Hall, Hokkaido

Attendance: 292</div>

In a poor match, Sofu Ozawa and Naozane Goto defeated Naonobu Murakami and MUSCLE Serizawa in 9:37 when Naozane Goto defeated MUSCLE Serizawa by pinfall with a Goto Slam.

Rating: D

Comments: Opening tag match mixing veterans and young lions got the crowd going, with Naonobu Murakami carrying the match and showing improvement in his Performance skills despite being in his late 40s. Sofu Ozawa was solid but unimpresive in comparison, while the young lions did their best and both learned more about Performance, before the the musclebound Serizawa succumbed to former sumoka Goto.

In a decent match, Bunrakuken Torii defeated Yoshisada Matsuzawa in 16:28 by pinfall with a Spinning Forearm Smash.

Rating: C-

Comments: No surprise in the BCG World champion winning here, even if the title wasn't on the line. The only surprise was these two seem to have pretty good chemistry between them and it lifted the match, further elevating Matsuzawa in the eyes of fans and management, in case his improved Performance skills weren't enough.

In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Funakoshi defeated Razan Okamoto in 21:28 by pinfall with a Butterfly Backbreaker.

Rating: B-

Comments: Revisiting their battles at the finals of the Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix throughout the last couple of years, Funakoshi and Okamoto clashed one last time in a BCG ring before the latter leaves to join rivals Golden Canvas Grappling. Unsurprisingly, Okamoto lost the match and though management might consider his move a betrayal, fans still cheered him on once the match was over in a final goodbye. Funakoshi stays behind to most likely lead the company along with World champion Bunrakuken Torii and judging by his improved Rumble skills in this match, his best performances are still to come.

Show Rating: C-

Comments: Show was penalized for all its production values, but the in-ring product was even better than last week's, earning BCG plenty of new fans on the island of Hokkaido.

DarK_RaideR · July 13, 2018

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BCG Heritage

A show about honoring the veterans and passing the torch to the next generation

Friday, W2 of January 2016

Osaka Athletic Stadium, Kinki

Attendance: 2.611

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Masayuki Shiga, Sharaku Okimasa & Kyuichi Matsumoto vs Naonobu Murakami, Yoshisada Matsuzawa & Gidayu Katou</div>Consistent with the event's name and theme, the show opened with a 3 on 3 match involving a veteran on the tail end of his career, a midcarder on the rise and a young lion rookie in each team. Despite not being the greatest in terms of actual wrestling, the match was watchable and fans took it at face value for exactly what it was, applauding those involved for their effort and overlooking any attempts to hide their individual weaknesses. Murakami and Matsuzawa held the match together, despite the former seeming a bit thrown off his game by a combination of age and the stress of working in front of a cold crowd. Katou did his best to rise to the level of his teammates, putting his best Performance skills on display and even adding some basic Technical moves to his brawl-based arsenal. On the opposite end, Masayuki Shiga tried to lead his team towards victory but a combination of age catching up on him and both his allies being all over the place worked against them. In their defense though, both Okimasa and Matsumoto have been working hard on their Performance skills, while Matsumoto especially seemed to have gotten a better grasp on the Technical aspect of his craft. Shiga took it upon himself to get the job done and using experience to beat the rookie Katou, he achieved just that after a terrifying display of strength at his age, hitting the youngser with a spine crunching Deadlift German.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Masayuki Shiga, Kyuichi Matsumoto and Sharaku Okimasa defeated Naonobu Murakami, Gidayu Katou and Yoshisada Matsuzawa in 9:38 when Masayuki Shiga defeated Gidayu Katou by pinfall with a Deadlift German Suplex.

Rating: D

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Sofu Ozawa & Motoyuki Miyake vs Yoriie Ipputsai & Omezo Shikitei</div>Same concept as the opener, but cutting team numbers down to two as veterans joined young lions into battle. Omezo Shikitei really stole the show here, outperforming everyone between the ropes and showing improvement in both his Performance and Flying skills, even though the Black Canvas ring isn't all that welcoming to those who tend to leave the ground all too often. Of course, this being Japan, no matter how good he was, Shikitei is still a young lion, so Yoriie Ippitsusai was the one to wrap this up after he hit Miyake with a Yakuza Kick.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Yoriie Ippitsusai and Omezo Shikitei defeated Sofu Ozawa and Motoyuki Miyake in 9:42 when Yoriie Ippitsusai defeated Motoyuki Miyake by pinfall with a Yakuza Kick.

Rating: D

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BCG World Tag Team titles match

Team Taku vs American Demolition</div>The audience fired up properly by this point, it was time to bring out the gaijin monster team of American Demolition for the evening's first title match. Defending champions Team Taku found themselves completely unable to get any damage under the thick skin of Big Bruiser Findlay and Bulldozer Brandon Smith, instead getting physically dominated by the massive Americans who focused their offense on the aging father Toshinobu Taku. This proved to be their undoing, as son Yoshinaka Taku was thus given enough time to recuperate and think of a new approach. In a true warrior's comeback, Yoshi chopped down both men's legs with the stiffest kicks imaginable, showing a solid grasp of Rumble and Performance skills as he sold the momentum shifting, before he revived his father to finish this off by hitting Smith with the Taku Tag Treatment.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Team Taku defeated American Demolition in 10:47 when Yoshinaka Taku defeated Bulldozer Brandon Smith by pinfall with a Taku Tag Treatment. Team Taku make defence number 7 of their BCG World Tag Team titles.

Rating: D

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Rokuemon Matsushita vs Kadonomaro Kamisaka</div>Transitioning into singles matches, first one was big man Matsushita against "Serene K" Kadonomaro Kamisaka. Although there was a connection to the match that came before as Matsushita dominated his much smaller opponent, it didn't work quite as well as Kamisaka, despite his improved Performance skills, is still pretty much devoid of any facial expressions when wrestling, which undermines his selling, especially in a match like this where he's supposed to be squashed. Mercifully short, this match ended in just six minutes and everyone in attendance was ready to move on.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Kadonomaro Kamisaka in 6:02 by pinfall with an One-Handed Choke Slam.

Rating: D-

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BCG Challengers Series title match

Tanyu Toshusai vs Nobuharu Yokokawa</div>Second title defense of the night was up next as Tanyu Toshusai defended against Nobuharu Yokokawa. A pretty open, competitive match, Yokokawa added to his menacing aura by hammering the champion with all kinds of nasty shots, a clear upgrade of his own Rumble skills, before Toshusai had been softened up enough to tap out. The news of Tanyu Toshusai signing a deal with rivals Golden Canvas grappling had been broken out a while ago, so no one was surprised to see him pass the title before departing, but this still was an interesting match to see as the execution was good enough to still captivate fans despite knowing the only way things could have ended.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Nobuharu Yokokawa defeated Tanyu Toshusai in 15:37 by submission with a Stump Puller. Nobuharu Yokokawa wins the BCG Challengers Series title.

Rating: C-

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Funakoshi vs Giant Brody</div>Breaking up the two singles titles matches, the semi main event featured BCG loyalist samurai Funakoshi going up against the agile big man gaijin Giant Brody. The American's agility may have been hes undoing though, as he lacked the stamina to back it up and the warrior spirit to keep fighting after he'd been gassed out. Having survived the onslaught and with the fans firmly in support, Funakoshi looked good making his comeback, first with strikes and then with suplexes on Brody, before finishing him off with the Butterfly Backbreaker.

In a decent match, Funakoshi defeated Giant Brody in 21:26 by pinfall with a Butterfly Backbreaker.

Rating: C

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BCG World title match

Bunrakuken Torii vs Blast Ikoma</div>The main event did not involve any established veterans or a passing of the torch, but it still related to the name and theme of the show as it was essentially a rematch from when "Machine Gun" Bunrakuken Torii defeated Blast Ikoma to become the BCG World champion. Despite Torii's rapid fire forearm shots style not quite meshing with Ikoma's explosive offense, the two men took the time to pace themselves and lay the essential groundwork before climaxing towards a big finish. Torii was, unsurprisingly, the better wrestler here and after several failed attempts, he finally managed to connect with the Spinning Forearm Smash after twenty minutes to win the match and retain the title.

In a decent match, Bunrakuken Torii defeated Blast Ikoma in 20:38 by pinfall with a Spinning Forearm Smash. Bunrakuken Torii makes defence number 4 of his BCG World title.

Rating: C-

Show Rating: D

Comments: As usual, the show was penalized for all its production values, as opposed to those of rival promotions, though the feedback has been that it was a good show all around. During the post-show speech, both Funakoshi and Bunrakuken Torii were praised for their stellar performances, while Omezo Shikitei was pointed out as a good example of a young lion working hard at his craft.

DarK_RaideR · July 13, 2018

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BCG TagMania Tournament Preview

A classic elimination tag team tournament, with the finals being held at BCG TagMania in February and the winning team earning a title shot at BCG Test of Champions in May

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American Demolition</div>Fresh out of losing a title match to the reigning champions Team Taku despite dominating the match, the duo of Big Bruiser Findlay and Bulldozer Brandon Smith would like nothing more than to earn themselves a rematch at BCG Test of Champions. Heavy favorites to win the tournament, American Demolition will stop at nothing in their pursuit of the titles, leaving nothing but destruction in their path.

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Animal Harker & Giant Brody</div>Considered the "lesser" gaijin team in Black Canvas Grappling when compared to American Demolition, Harker and Brody are still a pair of large, dangerous brawlers who will not back down from a fight. Though not expected to win the tournament, Harker and Brody can still pose a tough obstacle for other teams to overcome, not only during the match itself but also moving forward due to lingering damage courtesy of their hard hitting, no nonsense style.

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Rokuemon Matsushita & Naozane Goto</div>Regarded as BCG's answer to American Demolition, the menacing team of Matsushita and Goto boast an abundance of power, strength and combined weight between the two. Their only weakness might be their lack of experience, but if they're able to finish matches quickly through overwhelming firepower, they should do pretty good for themselves.

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The Ring Generals</div>Dean Waldorf and Marv Statler may be new to Japan, but they are not new to the wrestling ring or tag team matches. After honing their chops with CZCW and PSW, the duo moved to NYCW where their old school style fit right in and will be making their debut in Japan, hopefully with a bang by winning the BCG TagMania tournament.

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The Berzerkers</div>Another team imported for the BCG TagMania tournament, this time not from across the ocean but from rivals Warrior Engine XXV, Tatsukichi Schichirobei and Toyokuni Hardcore will be bringing their own special brand of crazy brawling to the Black Canvas ring. A real wildcard in the tournament, The Berzerkers might surprise their opponents with their unorthodox approach and antics, but their greatest strength might lie in their toughness and resilience, tried and tested throughout countless insane deathmatches with their home promotion.

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Yoshisada Matsuzawa & Omezo Shikitei</div>Matsuzawa and Shikitei might seem like an odd pairing, but they have both managed to impress so far in 2016 individually and there's a good chance that put together, the synergies might take them to the next level. Anyone underestimating them is in for a surprise, the only thing left is to see how far they will be able to make it in the tournament.

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Sofu Ozawa & Sharaku Okimasa</div>A gifted technical wrestler, Okimasa has been in search of something that will elevate him from the rest of the midcard pack and teaming up with Ozawa might be just it. The veteran boasts experience and a well-rounded game, features that should compliment Okimasa's sharp yet one-dimensional approach. How far that will take them in the tournament though remains to be seen.

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Nobuharu Yokokawa & Kadonomaro Kamisaka</div>These two men have had very different experiences in this year's BCG Heritage show, with Yokokawa winning the BCG Challengers title while Kamisaka got destroyed by Rokuemon Matsushita. What fans here are really looking forward to seeing is the duo's bout with Matsushita & Goto, not only due to the recent history but because if someone can take down the two Japanese monsters, it's these two calm, collected but utterly tenacious competitors.

<div style="text-align:center;">Tournament brackets

Quarterfinal 1: Berzerkers vs Harker & Brody

Quarterfinal 2: Matsuzawa & Shikitei vs Ring Generals

Quarterfinal 3: Matsushita & Goto vs Yokokawa & Kamisaka

Quarterfinal 4: American Demolition vs Ozawa & Okimasa

Semifinal 1: Winner of Quarterfinal 1 vs Winner of Quarterfinal 3

Semifinal 2: Winner of Quarterfinal 2 vs Winner of Quarterfinal 4

Final: Winner of Semifinal 1 vs Winner of Semifinal 2</div>

John Lions · July 13, 2018

Definitely keeping up with this. In my personal game in Australia, the promotion who I end up sharing workers with often is when my guys go on tour with BCG, still kicking in mid - late 2025 despite GCG, SAISHO, 5SSW, WEXXV, and PGHW all going out of business.

Tournament brackets

Quarterfinal 1: Berzerkers vs Harker & Brody

Quarterfinal 2: Matsuzawa & Shikitei vs Ring Generals

Quarterfinal 3: Matsushita & Goto vs Yokokawa & Kamisaka

Quarterfinal 4: American Demolition vs Ozawa & Okimasa

Semifinal 1: Berzerkers vs Matsushita & Goto

Semifinal 2: Matsuzawa and Shikitei vs American Demolition

Final: Matsushita & Goto vs American Demolition

Jon The GOAT · July 13, 2018

Quarterfinal 1: Berzerkers vs Harker & Brody

Quarterfinal 2: Matsuzawa & Shikitei vs Ring Generals

Quarterfinal 3: Matsushita & Goto vs Yokokawa & Kamisaka

Quarterfinal 4: American Demolition vs Ozawa & Okimasa

Semifinal 1: Winner of Quarterfinal 1 vs Winner of Quarterfinal 3

Semifinal 2: Winner of Quarterfinal 2 vs Winner of Quarterfinal 4

Final: Winner of Semifinal 1 vs Winner of Semifinal 2

DarK_RaideR · July 13, 2018

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="John Lions" data-cite="John Lions" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="45613" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Definitely keeping up with this. In my personal game in Australia, the promotion who I end up sharing workers with often is when my guys go on tour with BCG, still kicking in mid - late 2025 despite GCG, SAISHO, 5SSW, WEXXV, and PGHW all going out of business.</div></blockquote> Knowing of the great equalizer yet to come (the tsunami) it makes sense, all the big companies in Japan take a great hit. I am curious though as to the link between your promotion and BCG, as far as I know the scene there is mostly about comedy high flyers (ZEN), hardcore wrestling (DIW and most unemployed wrestlers) and mainstream stuff (every other company). Unless you started your own traditional/puro perf>pop company, it sounds weird that BCG would be interested.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Thursday, W3 of January 2016

Toyama Hall, chubu

Attendance: 648</div>

In a bout that had sub-par wrestling and little heat, Harker & Brody defeated Gidayu Katou and Motoyuki Miyake in 9:45 when Giant Brody defeated Gidayu Katou by pinfall with a Single Handed Choke Slam.

Rating: E+

Comments: Harker & Brody opened the show against a young lion pairing that somehow managed to outperform them, despite this being meant to give the tournament competitors some momentum and Brody dominating most of the bout. Miyake improved his Performance skills and Katou is gettng better when it comes to Rumble, but neither of all the above was enough to save them from Brody's impressive Single Handed Choke Slam.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but little heat, Matsuzawa & Shikitei defeated Kiyotaka and Kyuichi Matsumoto in 9:33 when Yoshisada Matsuzawa defeated Kyuichi Matsumoto by pinfall with a Double Arm DDT.

Rating: D

Comments: Another match featuring a tournament team against a young lion duet, this time the veteran Matsuzawa carried the match and also got the pin on the weakest link to start off the right foot. This match got fans hotter, making up for the somewhat disappointing start.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but little heat, American Demolition defeated Eikichi Itou and MUSCLE Serizawa in 10:23 when Big Bruiser Findlay defeated Eikichi Itou by pinfall with a Spike Tombstone.

Rating: D-

Comments: Tagmania favorites American Demolition bounced back from their title match loss to Team Taku by destroying the heavyweight duo of Itou and Serizawa in under ten minutes. Bulldozer Brandon Smith was especially impressive during this match, while on the opposite end, heavyweight Itou surprised many in his debut by showing improvement in his Technical foundation. Meanwhile, Serizawa brought the Rumble skills against the gaijins, but even if he wasn't extremely sloppy throughout the match, there was no doubt this could have ended any other way.

In a decent match, Blast Ikoma defeated Noritoshi Miura in 21:21 by pinfall with a Northern Lights Bomb.

Rating: D+

Comments: With his tag team partner off to join Golden Canvas Grappling, Noritoshi Miura took a back seat during BCG Heritage, making many question the duo's absence. Wrestling his first singles match after quite some time, Miura's lack of stamina was exposed as he was visibly tiring by the end, a fact that affected his in-ring performance as well.

Show Rating: D-

Comments: Show was penalized for all its production values as usual, but the in-ring action was not what made BCG popular in the greater Chubu area. It's been reported several fans tuned out and were disappointed by the result, effectively hurting the company's popularity in the region.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Saturday, W3 of January 2016

Fukuoka Hall, Kyushu

Attendance: 251</div>

In a bout that had sub-par wrestling and little heat, The Ring Generals defeated MUSCLE Serizawa and Kiyotaka in 10:21 when Marv Statler defeated Kiyotaka by pinfall with a Wheelbarrow Bomb.

Rating: D

Comments: Making their Japan debut, the Ring Generals managed to impress fans with their old school, technical style, making for a strong start to the show. Statler especially used the opportunity to add some hard hitting Rumble moves to his usual arsenal and topping it all with the impressive double team Wheelbarrow Bomb, the American duo made quite an impression during their first match.

In a bout that had sub-par wrestling and little heat, Yokokawa & Kamisaka defeated Yoriie Ippitsusai and Eikichi Itou in 9:50 when Kadonomaro Kamisaka defeated Eikichi Itou by submission with a Triangle Choke.

Rating: D-

Comments: Despite picking up their first win here as a tag team, the news weren't good for "Serene K" and the reigning BCG Challengers champion, as they seemed to have absolutely zero chemistry as partners. The realization certainly comes at a bad time as we are on the road to BCG Tagmania, but the pairing is said to have taken the obstacle as a challenge to be overcome, promising to work extra hard in light of the tournament.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but little heat, Hitomaro Suzuki defeated Gidayu Katou in 10:47 by submission with a Suzuki Lock.

Rating: D

Comments: One of the hottest free agents in the Japanese market after the collapse of INSPIRE, Hitomaro Suzuki made his BCG debut in a short match against youngster Katou. Both men were able to show they've stepped up their Performance game, but Suzuki got the best of it as he outwrestled Katou, eventually forcing him to tap out to the Suzuki Lock.

In a decent match, The Berzerkers defeated Miura & Yoshizawa in 15:36 when Tatsukichi Shichirobei defeated Inejiro Yoshizawa by pinfall with a Charging Big Boot.

Rating: D+

Comments: WEXXV Blood Brothers titles at hand, the team of Toyokuni Hardcore and Tatsukichi Shichirobei invaded BCG to take on Miura & Yoshizawa in their final match as a team before the former departs for GCG. The change of scenery proved to be extremely refreshing for the bloodthirsty duo, who were able to showcase some real wrestling skills in the ring while not having to worry about blood and guts. Toyokuni Hardcore especially blew the roof off his previous performances with the deathmatch promotion, showing improvement in his Rumble, Technical and Performance skills, while his teammate also upped the ante regarding his Performance skills. Thanks to their unorthodox mix of hardcore fighting and unexpected classic wrestling, the Berzerkers picked up the win and post match several people were quick to pencil them in as potential winners of the tournament even.

Show rating: D-

Comments: A good show that earned BCG plenty of new fans in the region, despite Production Values making the show pale in comparison to the competition.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Thursday, W4 of January 2016

Matsumoto Hall, Tohoku

Attendance: 293</div>

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, American Demolition defeated Yoriie Ippitsusai and Motoyuki Miyake in 10:17 when Bulldozer Brandon Smith defeated Motoyuki Miyake by pinfall with a Spike Tombstone.

Rating: D

Comments: Another dominant performance by American Demolition, this time crushing the veteran Ippitsusai and rookie Miyake to get the show off to a strong start. Smith stole the show once again with his performance, with Ippitsusai struggling to keep up with everyone due to age diminishing his wrestling ability.

In a decent match, Ozawa & Okimasa defeated Naonobu Murakami and Hitomaro Suzuki in 15:32 when Sharaku Okimasa defeated Naonobu Murakami by submission with a Scorpion Deathlock.

Rating: D+

Comments: TagMania competitors Ozawa & Okimasa picked up a big win against promising newcomer Hitomaro Suzuki and veteran Naonobu Murakami, made even bigger by the fact that it was Okimasa and not the veteran Ozawa who forced Murakami to tap out, a big finale aided by the slow and methodical build throughout the match. Fans were fired up to see this one and Suzuki did extremely well for himself, setting the foundation to quickly ascend to the upper midcard or even challenge for the BCG Challengers title soon.

In a decent match, Funakoshi and Blast Ikoma defeated Bunrakuken Torii and Masayuki Shiga in 15:49 when Blast Ikoma defeated Masayuki Shiga by pinfall with a Northern Lights Bomb.

Rating: C-

Comments: Big tag main event for this show, with BCG loyalists Funakoshi and Ikoma going up against the BCG World champion and gritty veteran Masayuki Shiga. Despite taking the time to pace themselves and build this up slowly, the wrestlers couldn't hide Shiga's age as well as the fact that he and Torii had zero chemistry as partners. Pushing through to make up for his teammate's shortcomings, Torii showcased some great new Rumble skills, but it was Funakoshi who really shone through, with Ikoma on his side having made improvements to his Performance skills.

Show rating: D

Comments: As usual, production values brought the show down but fortunately the action itself was good enough to earn the promotion new fans in the Tohoku region.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Saturday, W4 of January 2016

Shimonoseki Hall, Chugoku

Attendance: 242</div>

In a poor match, Matsushita & Goto defeated Yoriie Ippitsusai and Kyuichi Matsumoto in 10:29 when Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Kyuichi Matsumoto by pinfall with an One-Handed Choke Slam.

Rating: E

Comments: BCG may have high hopes to push Matsushita and Goto as a homegrown monster tag team, but with their timing being all over the place, that seems unlikely to work. Still, fans enjoyed seeing them steamroll through the competition, however their lack of synchronicity might prove to be a major detriment once they're faced with tougher opponents in the TagMania tournament.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Team Taku defeated Naonobu Murakami and Gidayu Katou in 10:06 when Yoshinaka Taku defeated Gidayu Katou by pinfall with a Taku Tag Treatment.

Rating: D+

Comments: Toshi Taku had no problems keeping up with youngster Katou, but once Murakami stepped inside the ring, match momentum swung around. Nearing 50 years of age, Murakami still had some improvement in his Performance skills to showcase, as did the much younger Yoshinaka Taku, who saved the day for the BCG Tag team champions.

In a decent match, The Berzerkers defeated Noritoshi Miura and Funakoshi in 21:06 when Tatsukichi Shichirobei defeated Noritoshi Miura by pinfall with a Charging Big Boot.

Rating: C

Comments: WEXXV duo the Berzerkers headlined the show, going against the duo of Miura and Funakoshi. Despite the "invaders vs loyalists" undertones, Miura's presence somewhat turned that on its head given his regular tag partner's recent defection to GCG. This was the main source of tension for the match, which Funakoshi once again elevated only for his team to suffer a loss to the unpredictable frenzied style and teaming experience of the Berzerkers.

Show rating: D

Comments: BCG seems to be willing to take the production value hit in order to save money and put up more shows. So far the gamble seems to be paying off, as most shows are still good enough to earn the promotion new fans, but once they reach a certain breaking point, they will have to either raise match quality or production values to make it to the next level.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Thursday, W1 of February 2016

Kochi Halls, Shikoku

Attendance: 182</div>

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Blast Ikoma and Kiyotaka defeated Masayuki Shiga and Motoyuki Miyake in 10:25 when Blast Ikoma defeated Motoyuki Miyake by pinfall with a Northern Lights Bomb.

Rating: D

Comments: Miyake's super realistic strikes were a perfect match for tried and tested tough man Shiga, making for a great combination that elevated the match and got the show off to a strong start. Miyake even showed some improvement as far as his Performance skills go, but for all his young lion heart, he still fell to Blast Ikoma after about ten minutes of decent wrestling.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, American Demolition defeated Naonobu Murakami and Yoriie Ippitsusai in 11:23 when Big Bruiser Findlay defeated Yoriie Ippitsusai by pinfall with a Spike Tombstone.

Rating: D+

Comments: Continuing their path of destruction, American Demolition picked up another win here against formidable opponents as opposed to random pairings of young lions. Murakami and Ippitsusai had both the skill and the experience to give the gaijin team a run for their money and hit back hard enough to keep the match from getting overly one sided, but they still couldn't get up from the devastating Spike Tombstone combination. Bulldozer Brandon Smith once again shone through with his performance, as did Murakami, making for a solid back and forth bout.

In a decent match, Ozawa & Okimasa defeated Bunrakuken Torii and Hitomaro Suzuki in 17:47 when Sofu Ozawa defeated Hitomaro Suzuki by pinfall with an Arm-Trap Belly To Back Suplex.

Rating: C-

Comments: Having impressed with his performances so far, Hitomaro Suzuki was thrust into the main event next to champion Torii, making for an uncomfortable pairing of title holder and potential challenger. It was this tension that cost them the match, despite both being the better wrestlers individually. Instead, Ozawa and Okimasa laid the foundations of a good TagMania tournament, brick by brick, with Ozawa teaching Suzuki a lesson in humility. Despite the loss, Suzuki seemed to have sharpened up his Rumble game, while Okimasa's Performance skills also went up a notch.

Show rating: D

Comments: BCG seem to be getting the hang of it, booking solid shows throughout the entire TagMania buildup season and managing to push through their inferior production values.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Saturday, W1 of February 2016

Gunma Hall, Kanto

Attendance: 300 (sold out)</div>

In a bout that had sub-par wrestling and little heat, Matsushita & Goto defeated Gidayu Katou and Kyuichi Matsumoto in 8:02 when Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Gidayu Katou by pinfall with an One-Handed Choke Slam.

Rating: E+

Comments: Another case of Matsushita and Goto bulldozing their way past their competition, this time their unlucky victims were young lions Katou and Matsumoto. Taking advantage of the monster's bad timing and Matsushita's sloppiness, Katou stole the show here with best performance of the match, despite ultimately eating the pin.

In a decent match, Naonobu Murakami and Hitomaro Suzuki defeated Noritoshi Miura and Toshinobu Taku in 10:03 when Hitomaro Suzuki defeated Toshinobu Taku by submission with a Suzuki Lock.

Rating: D

Comments: Big win for Suzuki here over one half of the current Tag Team champions, unfortunately since he wasn't up against Team Taku proper, his victory here did not earn him and Murakami a shot at the titles. Still, Suzuki will be climbing the ranks after this, especially thanks to some brand new Technical skills to match the improved Performance skills of Murakami.

In a decent match, The Berzerkers defeated Funakoshi and Yoshinaka Taku in 20:37 when Tatsukichi Shichirobei defeated Yoshinaka Taku by pinfall with a Charging Big Boot.

Rating: C

Comments: An upset victory for sure, as the WEXXV duet defeated two of BCG's top names in Funakoshi and Taku. Toyokuni Hardcore upped the aggression with some new Rumble moves, something that seemed to awaken Funakoshi's warrior spirit to no end. What it came down to however was teamwork and the Berzerkers have plenty of experience with that. On the flipside, Taku made the mistake of getting carried away and going for the Taku Tag Treatment, something Funakoshi was unable to join in with, exposing them to Shichirobei's Charging Big Boot that ended the match.

Show rating: D

Comments: Another successful show and one whose last two matches will be widely discussed as far as booking decisions go. BCG keeps pushing past their limited finances, which translate to small event cards and low production values, trusting their in-ring product to seem them through until they can do better.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<div style="text-align:center;">BCG Pack of Lions

Thursday, W2 of February 2016

Muroran Hall, Hokkaido

Attendance: 292</div>

In a poor match, Harker & Brody defeated Yoriie Ippitsusai and MUSCLE Serizawa in 9:48 when Giant Brody defeated MUSCLE Serizawa by pinfall with a Wicked Big Foot.

Grade: D-

Comments: Not seen in a BCG ring for a while, Harker and Brody opened the show strong with a victory over the veteran-rookie team of Ippitsusai and Serizawa. Harker did a lot of work for his team and Serizawa especially managed to outshine his veteran partner, showing he's one to watch for the future.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Matsuzawa & Shikitei defeated Hitomaro Suzuki and Eikichi Itou in 10:15 when Yoshisada Matsuzawa defeated Eikichi Itou by pinfall with a Double Arm DDT.

Rating: D

Comments: Also a team in the TagMania tournament that hasn't gotten much in-ring time during the build-up tour, Matsuzawa and Shikitei built up some momentum by pinning young lion Eikichi Itou. Hitomaro Suzuki was once again brilliant between the ropes despite the loss and with the Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix coming up next month, he is expected to not only be in it but also do pretty well for himself.

In a decent match, Bunrakuken Torii and Naonobu Murakami defeated Blast Ikoma and Noritoshi Miura in 20:44 when Naonobu Murakami defeated Noritoshi Miura by pinfall with a Belly To Belly Suplex.

Rating: C-

Comments: Methodically paced and competitively fought, the main event was an open-ended match that felt like it could swing either way at any time once things started to pick up. Although champion Torii was clearly the better wrestler of the four, it was veteran Murakami who got the pin on Miura just past the twenty minute mark, wrapping up a great match with a big finish.

Show rating: D

Comments: Final show of the BCG TagMania tour, again this earned the promotion fans in Hokkaido despite the penalties due to production values.

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

Just because some of you seem to like guessing and predictions...

<div style="text-align:center;">Finalized card for BCG TagMania 3

TagMania Final

TagMania SF 2: Winner of QF 2 vs Winner of QF 4

TagMania SF 1: Winner of QF 1 vs Winner of QF 3

TagMania QF 4: American Demolition vs Ozawa & Okimasa

TagMania QF 3: Matsushita & Goto vs Yokokawa & Kamisaka

TagMania QF 2: Matsuzawa & Shikitei vs The Ring Generals

TagMania QF 1: The Berzerkers vs Harker & Brody

Naonobu Murakami & Gidayu Katou vs Noritoshi Miura & Kyuichi Matsumoto

Team Taku & Kiyotaka vs Masayuki Shiga, Hitomaru Suzuki & Motoyuki Miyake

Bunrakuken Torii, Blast Ikoma & MUSCLE Serizawa vs Funakoshi, Yorii Ippitsusai & Eikichi Itou</div>

John Lions · July 16, 2018

Starting to get a better feel for who lies where in the card. I started my own promotion as a local to global with a fairly similar product to current TCW - storylines are key but ring work is much more important than SWF or RAW. Our connection lies in that a lot of the guys I pick up who are available in Japan often end up touring there: James Diaz, Padraig O'Hearne, Ryobe Uno, Gram Gorman.

Finalized card for BCG TagMania 3

TagMania Final: The Berzerkers vs American Demolition

TagMania SF 2: Matsuzawa and Shikitei vs American Demolition

TagMania SF 1: The Berzerkers vs Yokokawa and Kamisaka

TagMania QF 4: American Demolition vs Ozawa & Okimasa

TagMania QF 3: Matsushita & Goto vs Yokokawa & Kamisaka

TagMania QF 2: Matsuzawa & Shikitei vs The Ring Generals

TagMania QF 1: The Berzerkers vs Harker & Brody

Naonobu Murakami & Gidayu Katou vs Noritoshi Miura & Kyuichi Matsumoto

Team Taku & Kiyotaka vs Masayuki Shiga, Hitomaru Suzuki & Motoyuki Miyake

Bunrakuken Torii, Blast Ikoma & MUSCLE Serizawa vs Funakoshi, Yorii Ippitsusai & Eikichi Itou

DarK_RaideR · July 16, 2018

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="45613" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Starting to get a better feel for who lies where in the card.</div></blockquote> Part of why I'm putting out comments on the tour shows. Helps you get who's a young lion, who's a veteran, what each person might soon be doing etc. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="45613" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>a lot of the guys I pick up who are available in Japan often end up touring there</div></blockquote>Most touring companies in Japan are set to hire Japanese wrestlers on a permanent basis and foreigners on touring contracts. Given the heavy schedule and perf>pop approach of Japan, having your wrestlers tour there usually means they return with improved in-ring skills. Worth it, even if sometimes you can't use them due to booking clashes.

DarK_RaideR · July 17, 2018

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BCG TagMania 3

A one night tag team elimination tournament, with the winner earning a BCG World Tag Team titles shot at Test of Champions in May

Friday, W2 of February 2016

Osaka Athletic Stadium, Kinki

Attendance: 2.923

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Bunrakuken Torii, Blast Ikoma and MUSCLE Serizawa vs Funakoshi, Yoriie Ippitsusai and Eikichi Itou</div>With the show being all about tag teams, top singles wrestlers Torii, Ikoma and Funakoshi found themselves in the opening 3 vs 3 match alongside veteran Ippitsusai and young lions Serizawa and Itou in the rookies' debut in a big monthly event. The presence and skill of BCG's top names was enough to guarantee a strong start to the show, with Torii and Funakoshi carrying the match as they were by far the better performers in that ring. Fans got to see what Serizawa and Itou can do given a big stage and the experience certainly was a good lesson for them, the real show stealer though was the Torii-Funakoshi confrontation. Not only did that make for some of the best wrestling in the match, it also teased fans with a sneak preview of a match they'd very much like to see, preferably over the BCG World title. The victory however was picked up by Blast Ikoma, who hit his finisher on Itou with his usual explosive style that earned him his nickname, but not before he showcased some upgraded Performance skills.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Bunrakuken Torii, Blast Ikoma and MUSCLE Serizawa defeated Funakoshi, Yoriie Ippitsusai and Eikichi Itou in 10:03 when Blast Ikoma defeated Eikichi Itou by pinfall with a Northern Lights Bomb.

Rating: C-

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="7VXjYUs.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/7VXjYUs.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="tfcFhGn.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/tfcFhGn.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="S5oggAX.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/S5oggAX.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="32BXfva.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/32BXfva.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="pzwPD24.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pzwPD24.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Sabbj9c.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Sabbj9c.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

Masayuki Shiga, Hitomaro Suzuki and Motoyuki Miyake vs Kiyotaka and Team Taku</div>Having impressed with his performances during the TagMania buildup tour, Hitomaro Suzuki was given a match alongside respected veteran Shiga and promising rookie Miyake against the BCG World Tag Team champions and perhaps the most experienced young lion on the BCG roster, Kiyotaka. Suzuki did indeed do good in his first major monthly event with the company, showing improvement in his Performance skills and even picking up the submission victory for his team, though it was the younger of the Takus that really shone between the ropes.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Hitomaro Suzuki, Masayuki Shiga and Motoyuki Miyake defeated Kiyotaka and Team Taku in 9:49 when Hitomaro Suzuki defeated Kiyotaka by submission with a Suzuki Lock.

Rating: D+

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="oKYyc4s.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/oKYyc4s.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="oLfE0Uv.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/oLfE0Uv.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="GVOFAYk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GVOFAYk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="MkIWjY4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/MkIWjY4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

Noritoshi Miura and Kyuichi Matsumoto vs Naonobu Murakami and Gidayu Katou</div>Bridging the undercard with the tag tournament matches, this bout featured Miura with a new partner in rookie Matsumoto against the veteran-rookie pairing of Murakami and Katou. The juxtaposition between Miura and Matsumoto's stiff, explosive striking and Murakami/Katou's simple but rough brawling made for an interesting match that fans really got into, mainly thanks to the great in-ring work of Murakami. Both he and Matsumoto showed glimpses of better Performance skills and though it's expected of the young lion, seeing a veteran nearing his 50s still improve was a testament to him being a student of the game regardless whether he's nearing retirement.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Noritoshi Miura and Kyuichi Matsumoto defeated Naonobu Murakami and Gidayu Katou in 9:34 when Noritoshi Miura defeated Gidayu Katou by pinfall with a Storm Rider.

Rating: D+

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="jwFP2CQ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jwFP2CQ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="5BIZuZa.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5BIZuZa.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="3rJ5hD0.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3rJ5hD0.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="XebEMH0.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/XebEMH0.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

TagMania QuarterFinal 1

The Berzerkers vs Harker & Brody</div>Utilizing their size and power advantage, Animal Harker and Giant Brody sought to end this quickly in dominant fashion. However, the Berzerkers are no strangers to fighting bigger and badder opponents, let alone in much worse stipulations like deathmatches, so they weren't intimidated. Showing true warrior spirit, they held their ground and turned things around to win the opening match of the tournament, advancing to the semi finals in somewhat of a shock fashion.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, The Berzerkers defeated Harker & Brody in 11:25 when Toyokuni Hardcore defeated Animal Harker by pinfall with a Toyokuni Drill.

Rating: D+

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="mR1hQ6m.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/mR1hQ6m.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="8705zCX.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/8705zCX.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="7r4IhRT.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/7r4IhRT.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="fv4Kbba.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fv4Kbba.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

TagMania QuarterFinal 2

Matsuzawa & Shikitei vs The Ring Generals</div>Fighting against such a fluid duo certainly was a learning experience for Omezo Shikitei, who learned a thing or two about Performance from his gaijin opponents. Making their first appearance in a major Japanese monthly show, the Ring Generals earned a good share of fans with their oldschool 'strike and grapple' style but ultimately succumbed once Matsuzawa hit an explosive Double Arm DDT that shook the ring.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but little heat, Matsuzawa & Shikitei defeated The Ring Generals in 9:55 when Yoshisada Matsuzawa defeated Marv Statler by pinfall with a Double Arm DDT.

Rating: D

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="vkE7DNZ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vkE7DNZ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="CuHyCWZ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/CuHyCWZ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="stfprsK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/stfprsK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="5gSOwr6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5gSOwr6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

TagMania QuarterFinal 3

Matsushita & Goto vs Yokokawa & Kamisaka</div>Predictably the worst match of the show, considering both teams showed a distinct lack of timing and chemistry throughout the TagMania build-up tour. What kept things interesting here was the presence of BCG Challengers champion Nobuharu Yokokawa, as a pinfall over him would earn the man who scored it a title shot, presumably at Test of Champions in May since the Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix is up next month. To BCG's credit, they stuck with the announced booking instead of changing it to avoid the negative chemistry, but at least they kept this mercifully short at just under six minutes, before Matsushita nailed Kamisaka to advance in order for him and Goto to meet the Berzerkers in the semi finals.

In a poor match, Matsushita & Goto defeated Yokokawa & Kamisaka in 5:38 when Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Kadonomaro Kamisaka by pinfall with an One-Handed Choke Slam.

Rating: E+

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="fQvKuq6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fQvKuq6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="POBEZKK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/POBEZKK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="DccXUpR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/DccXUpR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="a92CBvx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/a92CBvx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

TagMania QuarterFinal 4

American Demolition vs Ozawa & Okimasa</div>American Demolition stormed the ring, looking for a quick win that would allow them to save up strength for the rest of the tournament. Their opponents were no pushovers though, and thanks to Ozawa's experience, things swung around before he tagged in Okimasa to slow things down with his technical style, keeping the big men on the mat to work on their base and eliminate their power offense. There was no denying though that Bulldozer Brandon Smith was really excellent in that ring and even Big Bruiser Findlay showed to be improving his Performance skills. Powering out of a tough spot, American Demolition got some offense rolling before they hit the Spike Tombstone to win the match and advance to face Matsuzawa & Shikitei, though this was a victory they had to work hard for.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, American Demolition defeated Ozawa & Okimasa in 12:26 when Bulldozer Brandon Smith defeated Sharaku Okimasa by pinfall with a Spike Tombstone.

Rating: C-

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="jwFP2CQ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jwFP2CQ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="5BIZuZa.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5BIZuZa.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="vkE7DNZ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vkE7DNZ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="CuHyCWZ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/CuHyCWZ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

TagMania SemiFinal 1

The Berzerkers vs Matsushita & Goto</div>Berzerkers may have had the advantage here in terms of skill and teaming experience, but neither guaranteed them an easy win over the monstrous power of their opponents. Their initial attack plan failed spectacularly as Matsushita and Goto no-sold their offense, the big men couldn't quite capitalize though due to limited mobility and bad communication. Using that to bounce back, Matsushita switched to unorthodox new Rumble moves as his teammate joined in, going into full Warrior Engine XXV mode to defiantly fight back and tear down men much bigger than themselves, thus making it to the finals of the tournament in shocking fashion.

In a decent match, The Berzerkers defeated Matsushita & Goto in 5:43 when Tatsukichi Shichirobei defeated Naozane Goto by pinfall with a Charging Big Boot.

Rating: D

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="mR1hQ6m.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/mR1hQ6m.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="8705zCX.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/8705zCX.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="fQvKuq6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fQvKuq6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="POBEZKK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/POBEZKK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

TagMania SemiFinal 2

Matsuzawa & Shikitei vs American Demolition</div>This time American Demolition's plan was executed to perfection, earning them a win in dominant fashion in less than six minutes. Matsuzawa smartly tried some new Technical moves to limit his big opponents, showing his smarts as he had obviously been watching and learning during Faraday and Smith's previous match, but Big Bruiser Findlay surprised him by countering them with his own updated Technical skills as he too had learned his lesson. One Spike Tombstone later, the finals were set: Berzerkers versus American Demolition.

In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, American Demolition defeated Matsuzawa & Shikitei in 7:40 when Big Bruiser Findlay defeated YL Omezo Shikitei by pinfall with a Spike Tombstone.

Rating: D

<div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="jwFP2CQ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jwFP2CQ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="5BIZuZa.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5BIZuZa.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="25UZG0h.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/25UZG0h.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="fQvKuq6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fQvKuq6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="POBEZKK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/POBEZKK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

TagMania Final

The Berzerkers vs American Demolition</div>A brave, if rather unorthodox booking decision, the tournament final featured a Japanese team from another promotion going up against BCG's top gaijin duo instead of anyone fighting a "homegrown" BCG team of Japanese wrestlers. Still, both teams put up a great finale, taking their time to build up the main event and using psychology to amplify the drama. Shichirobei in particular took more steps forward in terms of Performance skills and he led the charge against his opponents. Leaving their hardcore antics behind, the Berzerkers used the stiffest oldschool puroresu they could muster, making for an interesting alternative to American Demolition's Western power move and brawling game. With the time limit set to 20 minutes and the teams' slow build approach, fans expected this bout to drag for nearly the full 20 minutes, but it only took about three quarters of that before American Demolition were finally able to hit their devastating tag team finisher for the pin that gave them victory, a tournament win and a date with Team Taku at BCG Test of Champions over the titles.

In a decent match, American Demolition defeated The Berzerkers in 16:20 when Bulldozer Brandon Smith defeated Tatsukichi Shichirobei by pinfall with a Spike Tombstone. Big Bruiser Findlay and Bulldozer Brandon Smith win the BCG TagMania tournament.

Rating: C

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BCG TagMania 3 winners

<img alt="fQvKuq6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fQvKuq6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="POBEZKK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/POBEZKK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

American Demolition

Big Bruiser Findlay & Bulldozer Brandon Smith</div>

Show rating D+

Comments: Though the show got positive feedback and went down well enough to make fans overlook inferior production values, many felt that Bulldozer Brandon Smith was overused given his position on the roster. Still, American Demolition were praised for their good Performances after the show was over, with Yoshifusa Maeda also being told he's awesome as Road Agent.

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