BCG: A New Dawn

[CMPunkBubble]

“Masayuki I’m listening, I’m always listening but my stance will not change”.

Yoshifusa brought his hands close to his mouth and exhaled to warm them while the sound of back hitting canvas rang out around the small warehouse just north east of Kobe port. As the mist of his breath began to fade Yoshifusa Maeda reached for a response but before he could Masayuki Shiga enthusiastically exclaimed.....

 

“Please, It’s not a shift in style, just market and branding”.

“Golden canvas is gone, dead, and black canvas should die with it”.

“you proved your point but now its time to think bigger”.

 

Maeda reached out and put his hand on Shiga’s shoulder to calm him down before he responded.

 

“Masayuki we’re going well, making profit, making new stars, I’m giving back to the business that gave me so much. I don’t want to risk undoing the past near decade of hard work”.

“The country is just starting to pull itself out of the wreckage of the tsunami and grow again, now is not the time for risks”.

 

Shiga put his hands to his face, rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath before he pointed to the boys training in the ring a few yards to their left then exploded.

 

“You’ve given back to the business, in that ring, into your fifties for a company that had no vision and it made you bitter”.

“Now it’s time to give something to these boys”.

“Look me in the eye Yoshifusa and tell me you’ve given back to these boys when they retire and have never wrestled in front of more than two thousand people”.

“Tell me with a straight face Torii, Okamoto, Funakoshi should leave this business and never have wrestled in front of twenty thousand? Go on tell me”?

 

Now Maeda is the one with his face in his hands, he exhales, moves them away and looks around the old warehouse unit that has now become their Dojo almost as if he wants to look anywhere but at Shiga’s stare.

 

“I’m scared I’ll let them down, I’m scared PGHW or Burning hammer will run us out of business and then what do I have”?

 

Shiga screws up his face before muttering the words……

 

“coward”

 

Shiga’s voice starts to rise.

 

“What do you have”?

“Screw the boys, what do you have”?

“You remind me of Hanshiro”.

 

A huge gasp is heard coming from the direction of the ring before Naonobu Murakami tells the boys to keep running drills as the young lion’s spring to life to try and hide the fact they have stopped training to listen to the boss and the bookers conversation.

 

“How dare you, that fool destroyed the company I loved, the company that I missed my children’s best years for, I hardly saw my wife, I bled for that company and he destroyed it doing the very same thing you are asking me to do”

 

Shiga can not hide his anger as he grabs Maeda by the collar.

“You’re the fool, Golden canvas was in the dirt long before Hanshiro joined the modern Japan movement”.

 

“The reason he had to join that insult to tradition was because he spent years avoiding change, stagnating and falling behind as PGHW and Burning hammer took chances”.

 

Maeda pushes Shiga’s wrist hard to remove his hand off his collar, but Shiga does not back down as he moves nose to nose with his boss and friend.

 

“You want to moan about what you’ve sacrificed? Look in that ring”.

 

Shiga points to the training ring occupied by the young lions and Murakami without breaking eye contact.

 

“Boys not even twenty years of age, new years day, 7am training”

“not out last night drinking with their friends”.

“here with us”.

“Sacrifice”.

“The same sacrifice everyone in the business makes so they can one day be like you and wrestle in front of 75,000 fans in a packed Kansai dome”.

“If you don’t take a chance now these boys will never know how that feels, and tell me, what is their sacrifice for”?

 

Shiga takes a step back which allows Maeda to glance at the ring before he hangs his head momentarily as he ruminates on Shiga’s words. Maeda moves his right hand to his chin he raises his head looks at Shiga and says……

 

“Okay, I’ll listen, but not here, these boys have seen enough of us bickering”.

“Come to mine tonight, 8pm and tell me your vision of the future”.

[CMPunkBubble]

 

 

“Come through to the office Masayuki”.

 

Maeda calmly leads Shiga into his home from the front door.

 

“Are you home alone Yoshifusa”?

 

Maeda nods.

 

“The kids are both staying with friends and she is staying at her sisters”.

 

Shiga stops to address Maeda.

 

“Yoshifusa please let me apologise for earlier, I just get so”.

 

Maeda turns and looks at Shiga.

 

“I should apologise, everything you said was correct”.

“I’ve been a fool”.

“come with me and sit down”.

 

The pair reach the office, Shiga sits facing the desk in rustic red leather armchair after he removes the paperwork and wrestling magazines from it while Maeda grabs two bottles of beer from a small fridge with a glass door down the side of his desk. The pair then grab the bottles in one hand, the other below the bottom of the bottle as they lower them and nod as a sign of respect”.

 

“Masayuki I’m sixty-five years old, I won’t be able to run the company forever, Kazu has left me, Golden canvas have gone out of business, I don’t know what’s left for me to do”.

“I know my time running the company is coming to an end”.

“I also know the only natural successors to me and Kazu are you and Naonobu”.

“I trust your judgement”.

“What you’ve put into this project, in the ring, helping the boys, I know you love it as much as me and care deeply as do I”.

“I know working with Larry and Nobuatsu makes sense and it’s not the modern Japan movement”.

“I Know I’ve been stubborn”.

“I know I can’t give those boys what they deserve unless I grow and move with the times”.

“But most importantly I know my fear of leaving the only thing I’ve ever known has caused me to act selfishly and I can only thank you for opening my eyes to that”.

 

Maeda slumps down in his desk chair as if a weight has been lifted from him, he takes a gulp from his bottle puts his feet on his desk, looks over to Shiga attentively.

 

“So, tell me”.

“What’s the plan”?

 

Shiga leans forward, places his bottle on the desk and takes a deep breath…..

 

“I do need to apologise, I disrespected you in front of the boys and that’s not good enough”.

“Golden canvas was a sinking ship, and your vision gave traditional Japanese Puro a home”.

“It’s only home”.

“Without you it would be dead”.

“Burning hammer and PGHW have their own styles and identities and are far from the GPW roots of wrestling in this country”.

“We are that link to tradition”.

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t stay current at the same time”.

“Tell me, what have Burning hammer and PGHW never been able to do”?

 

Maeda takes a drink, gazes over at his book shelves filled with wrestling literature, turns back to Shiga and say’s”….

 

“Worked together maybe? I don’t know tell me”?

 

Shiga smiles.

 

“Your right but not just that, they’ve never transcended to another market”.

“Think about it, all those stars, all those tape traders back in the day begging to see guys like Miwa, Mushashibo, Kikkawa, Optimus and they never took the chance to run shows overseas”.

“We could be the first”

 

Maeda looks confused as he sits up promptly to speak.

 

“But we’re barely drawing crowds in Osaka”.

“How do you expect to make money in another country”?

 

Shiga responds sharply.

 

“Baby steps my friend”

“I’ve spoke to Larry and he’s open to taking any of our young talent on excursion”.

“He’s always spoke highly of you and Kazu to me for the way you’ve looked after Harker and Bulldozer, and I’m certain he’ll look after anyone we send to him”.

“I’ve got a feeling that when Wrestleworld launches in March wrestling in the states is going to blow up”.

“Larry is certain he’ll put his product on it and it’s a small amount of exposer for us in the states as he’s said he will acknowledge BCG in the broadcasts as where the boys we send came from”.

“PGHW are already friendly with TCW but more importantly if Burning hammer get into this market, they’ll monopolise wrestling in Japan even further”.

 

Maeda nods.

 

“I can’t see the harm, we can only gain from an agreement like that and Larry has never caused problems over our shared talent in the past, you know him and if you think you can trust him, and a deal can be made I’ll leave that in your hands”.

“Now let’s talk about business closer to home, tell me about your conversations with Tatsuko and Inukai”?

 

The grimace on Shiga’s face did not fill Maeda confidence.

 

“now listen, don’t take offence before you give me the chance to finish”.

“We’ve never had any type of relationship with PGHW, good or bad”.

“Myself personally, I have close bonds with most of the guys there and I’ve always kept in contact with Shuji especially as we bounce our booking ideas off each other”.

“He’s has for years now told me how worried he is about the finances of PGHW but now he’s saying this could be the companies last year if business doesn’t pick up soon”.

“If that happens, I fear all that talent will only have one place to go to make money and that is Burning hammer”.

“It will be a complete monopoly of the market”.

“Maybe we fill the void left by PGHW and thrive”.

“Maybe Burning hammer drive us out of business”.

“My money would be on the latter”.

“Either way it’s a huge risk that we don’t need to take”.

“Through my many conversations with Shuji we came to the only sensible conclusion to this looming disaster”.

“To work together”.

 

Maeda leaps to his feet and starts to pace the room as he looks towards Shiga.

 

“Now Yoshifusa please hear me out”.

“Think about it, a working agreement, we don’t steel from each other, which we never have but also a working agreement to trade talent”.

“Their problem is constant injuries to top guys because of the intense style”.

“Ours is lack of exposure due to name power on the roster”.

“They lose someone we can help fill the gaps”.

“Our top guys get to go toe to toe with the biggest names in the country raising their stock”.

“That is not to mention the constant new faces keeping both products fresh”.

“It’s a talking point in the business but not like the modern Japan movement that upset fans by trampling on their traditions and values, instead it’s the only two companies that stayed true to them joining forces for good of the business”.

 

Maeda grabs two more beers, hands one to Shiga and sits back down.

 

“So, what now Masayuki? Do you want me to sit down with Tatsuko?

 

Shiga screws his face up again.

 

“I do but he doesn’t”.

“Now hear me out”.

“He doesn’t for now”.

“Shuji has discussed this with Nobuatsu and so have I”.

“His stance is the deal is too one sided, we gain more than them”.

“Shuji has told me Nabuatsu is not excepting the problems PGHW face and puts them down to the tsunami”.

“He’s also told me in confidence that over two thirds of their roster is unsigned now”.

“No matter how quiet they are keeping that fact this is wrestling and nothing stays secret anymore, with the internet and social media whispers spread and news travels”.

“Now Shuji has had a lot of talent come to him saying Burning hammer are offering them more money and guaranteed contracts”.

“Put simply they can’t even match them”.

“Stars will leave, gates will fall and the already simmering tensions with Burning hammer will rise”.

“Then Nabuatsu will reconsider”.

“For now, we keep growing and putting on the same quality shows as we did in 2019 and if you trust me and let me bring life to my vision, I promise you we will give our boys the stage they deserve while staying true to our ancestry”.

 

There is an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds, it felt a lot longer to Shiga as he had nothing more to sell to Maeda and knew that his vision for black canvas hung on the next words Maeda would speak.

“Okay”

“I can’t for a second pretend to be all in on everything you’ve told me, but I do trust you”.

“You’ve always told me the truth even if you know it is not what I wanted to hear”.

“A true friend”

“For that reason, you have my support”.

“Anyway, do you need to get off home”?

 

Shiga shakes his head.

 

“No, why”?

 

Maeda jumps up.

 

“You run down to the kitchen grab four more beers from the fridge I’m out up here”.

“I’m meet you back here in five and we can go over the roster for start of the year”.

 

Shiga looks slightly puzzled as Maeda leaves the room.

 

“where are you going”?

 

Maeda keeps walking, he replies raising his voice with every step but never looking back.

 

“Since when did you join the police force Shiga”?

“I’m breaking my neck for a piss officer”.

 

Shiga laughs as he feels months of tension leave him. He collects the empties from the desk and heads downstairs with a smile across his face.

 

 

[CMPunkBubble]

Shiga returns the office and places two beers in the fridge. He places two more on the desk and starts to search for a bottle opener. Maeda walks in and notices Shiga looking lost, then looks at the unopened beers and says….

 

“Looking for these”?

 

As he passes Shiga his key ring with a small opener on them.

 

“Yes, thank you”.

You know I am glad you want to go over the roster, I actually have made a report”.

“I was going to email it to you tomorrow, but I can get it up on your computer for you now to look at.

 

Bunrakuken Torii

Age: 30. Years of experience: 11

Honours: BCG World Champion x2, Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix x2, BCG Challengers Series x1, BCG World Tag Team Champion x1 (Held with Dynamite Narahashi)

Signature moves: Spinning Forearm Smash.

Flying Forearm Off the Top Rope.

 

Maeda: We can start with our first and only quadruple crown winner, one of our finest talents. I cannot see any reason for him not to justify his position at the top of the card, can you?

 

Shiga: Absolutely none, there is no reason for him to be booked anything but strongly this year as always.

Great look, charismatic and arguably our best allrounder.

Torii can work with anyone on the roster and have a match of the night candidate.

He’s done it all in BCG so I see his focus being on his competitive rivalry with Funakoshi this year.

 

Funakoshi

Age: 32. Years of experience: 13

Honours: BCG World Champion x3 Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix x3

Signature moves: Butterfly Backbreaker.

 

Maeda: Speaking of whom that brings us to our current world champion.

 

Shiga: He is in a similar position to Torii from a booking standpoint, he has already achieved so much that his story arc will revolve around defending the strap and being the first man to ever win the grand prix while holding the World title.

As a talent he is one of our best and fully deserves his spot so pretty much business as usual when it comes to booking our champ this year.

 

Mabuchi Furusawa

Age: 33. Years of experience: 12

Honours: BCG World Champion x1

Signature moves: Furusawa Arm Bar (Arm Bar Takedown)

 

Maeda: Amazing worker, much like his father, regardless of our personal differences, in the ring he was one of the best to ever step foot in one and Mabuchi is no different. Holding our world title for most of 2019 and the sole survivor the year before.

 

Shiga: Yoshifusa have you not noticed something is missing on my reports? I have not acknowledged the sole survivor in the guy’s honours lists. It was Kazu’s brainchild much like the yearly battle royal before that. It is not traditional; it is not easy to book. Just randomly picking four guys to fight in a one-off match for a meaningless trophy, I hate it. It is getting scrapped. I have got an idea to replace it but for now let us get back on topic.

I agree Mabuchi is a special talent, but it seems a bit too soon to have him chase Funakoshi, so this year will be a continuation of his feud with SUKI and trying to break his grand prix duck.

 

Razen Okamoto

Age: 28. Years of Experience: 10

Honours: BCG World Champion x1 Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix x2

Signature moves: Brainbuster Suplex.

 

Maeda: I know what you are going to say, and I would say save your breath, he is too small to be the ace of the company, yes, he is fantastic in the ring, but I cannot envision a junior as the face of the company. How can he consistently beat the likes of Rokuemon, Findlay and Brody and we still sell our product as a legitimate sport?

 

Shiga: I do not understand how you are missing the point with this guy. Yes, he is one of the smallest guys on the roster, but his selling is the best in BCG, Japan, the world maybe. He gets people to feel for him and when he does mount his comeback, he has an elite level of skill in the ring to back it up and make it believable. Oh, and did I mention he looks like a star? Oh, did I mention he is a charisma machine? Oh, did I mention he is the most likable guy on the roster. No one else has that, not Funakoshi, not Torii. A way to make people love them. He is an absolute face, the yang to SUKI’s yin. If you do not pull the trigger on this, see that paper shredder under your desk? You may as well just start feeding it Yen. Because that is what you are doing by not making this kid figurehead.

 

Blast Ikoma

Age: 31. Years of experience: 12

Honours: BCG World Champion x1, BCG Challengers series x2

Signature moves: Northern lights bomb.

 

Maeda: Good worker, great intensity, but has not held the big belt since 2015. Do you see that changing any time soon?

 

Shiga: No to be blunt. Look I like the guy, I really do. He is professional, he is a good worker and can squash a lion to make himself look like a beast like no one else I have ever seen. I gave him the sole survivor last year because he deserves something, but he lacks the “it” factor that so many others have, which puts him way down the pecking order for the world title. I do have plans for him, and I really want to keep him relevant.

 

Rokuemon Matsushita

Age: 30. Years of experience: 9

Honours: Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix x1 BCG Challengers Series x2

Signature moves: One-handed choke slam.

 

Maeda: If you want to pick an ace look no further. Big, looks a million Yen, menacing, Charismatic. Now tell me that I am wrong.

 

Shiga: I think you are wrong for many reasons. If anything, this guy gives me a headache when I book him, a good headache but a headache none the less. Yes, he looks fantastic, he is big and menacing, you even missed good worker, fantastic brawler, but also you forgot to mention he is very inconsistent, a lack of in ring psychology and his size is also his biggest Achilles heel as he starts to gas in longer singles matches. So, he is a bit one dimensional in the ring and he looks unbeatable, so I need to protect him. That limits how I can use him. He could possibly be a short-term transitional World champion and maybe win the grand prix a bunch of times but unless he addresses his flaws that is his celling.

 

Big Bruiser Findlay

Age 34. Years of experience: 13

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x1 (Animal Harker) BCG Challengers Series x1

Signature moves: Atomic Spinebuster (Sit-Out Spinebuster)

 

Maeda: I like Findlay, but I am sure you will find a way to disagree with me as usual.

 

Shiga: Correct, I do not like Findlay, I love him. He is to us what Raymond Diaz was to PGHW. A massive gajin threat who despite his size is phenomenal in the ring. He needs a big push this year, the problems with that are firstly, he is not the only guy needing to be elevated and there is no way not only burning hammer cannot see his potential but the big three in the states too. If he is still here when we have this conversation next year and he has not had the best year of his career I would have done him massive disservice.

 

Giant Brody

Age: 33. Year of experience: 10

Signature moves: Single Handed Choke Slam

Wicked Big Foot

 

Maeda: I am glad we can finally agree on something, hopefully that will continue here with Leon. Another talented giant of a man.

 

Shiga: Exactly that. Not as talented as Findley but a talent none the less. So impressive to look at and is almost on par with Blast when it comes to the art of executing a good squash match. He seems a genuinely nice guy from what little interaction we can have due to the language barrier and Findlay says he is the opposite to how he looks in the ring, a quiet and somewhat shy giant. I do not quite see him as a top guy right now, Challengers Series or maybe the tag ranks in 2020 I think.

 

Inejiro Yoshizawa

Age: 33. Years of experience: 15

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x5 (Noritoshi Miura)

Signature moves: Yoshizawa Bomb (Powerbomb Pin)

 

Noritoshi Miura

Age: 32 Years of experience: 14

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x5 (Inejiro Yoshizawa)

Signature moves: Storm Rider (Death Valley Driver)

 

Maeda: I thought we would just do these two together, unless that is you have plans to push them as singles acts?

 

Shiga: No, none whatsoever, our tag champs will stay together although I do plan on having a lot more focus in the tag division this year. This could be the year we see them lose their dominate grip over the division.

 

SUKI

Age: 33. Year of experience: 15

Signature moves: SUKI special III (Seated Front Choke Sleeper)

Mountain SUKI (High Elevation Top Rope Knee Drop)

 

Maeda: I already know how you feel about this guy. Hiroyasu told me he was his favourite person to wrestle and that was a big reason why I brought him in.

 

Shiga: And thank Hiroyasu for me please because this is my dream worker to book. One of the greatest all-round wrestlers to ever live, he can work a broomstick and make money. His character, how he plays the bitter, angry, winey arsehole, he is so easy to despise but so crisp and intense in the ring. Like I said before the yin to Razen’s yang, he is the ultimate heel. Unlike Razan who is so loved by the fans because he is just being himself and he is just someone you cannot know and not like; SUKI is hated but is just as nice a person as Razen in the locker room. His story of feeling overlooked when it comes to gaining title opportunities and his bitterness towards Mabuchi for not only embracing BCG but being embraced by the company and the fans is just gold to me and will be a big focal point this year.

 

Tanyu Toshusai

Age: 30. Years of experience: 8

Honours: BCG Challengers Series x2

Signature moves: Dangerous Brainbuster.

 

Maeda: Must be a breakout year would you not say?

 

Shiga: Must be. Much like Findlay it would be a huge disservice if this were not Tanyu’s best year in the ring. I have plans for him. I will give him the stage then it is up to him to perform. What more can I do?

 

Yoshinaku Taku

Age: 28. Years of experience: 9

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x2 (Toshinobu Taku)

Signature moves: Full Nelson Bomb

 

Maeda: Shall we speak about his father now also?

 

Shiga: I do not think we need to. Yoshinaka much like, Findlay, SUKI and Tanyu needs a push this year, the problem is I cannot elevate everyone all at once and he is the least polished of those names, but I do believe this year will see the start of his singles journey.

 

Animal Harker

Age: 34. Years of experience: 11.

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x1 (Big Bruiser Findlay)

Signature moves: Stump Piledriver.

 

Maeda: I would say we are moving down the card slightly now, would you agree?

 

Shiga: Yes, but of all our midcard guys I would say Harker is the one I like most. I still remember Wild Man Sullivan beating Master Kitozon almost forty years ago and the impact it had on culture in Japan. Harker reminds me of Sullivan a lot and I really want to find a way to make use of him.

 

Dynamite Narahashi

Age: 36. Years of experience: 18

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x1 (Bunrankuken Torii)

Signature moves: Narahashi cutter (Face Crusher)

 

Maeda: At just 36 years of age, we come to our first veteran on the roster.

 

Shiga: He has 18 plus years of experience, has work for burning hammer, he has good fundamentals and still carries some name value. Although he may never reach the hights of his early run with us he is still an unbelievably valuable asset to us help train the next generation.

 

“Serene K” Kadonomaro Kamisaka

Age: 30. Years of experience: 8

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x1 (Kiyotaka)

Signature moves: Stump Piledriver.

Triangle Choke.

 

Maeda: Solid worker, can he progress this year?

 

Shiga: He is a perfectly good worker; he is in a good tag team, but he is a bit bland. He keeps himself to himself backstage, and that is fine but the general feeling I get from the rest of the locker room is he only cares about how he makes himself come across in the ring. Unless I can find something interesting for him to do Kadonomaro will probably just continue to be a solid midcard act.

 

Kiyotaka

Age: 30. Years of experience: 7

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x1 (Kadonomaro Kamisaka)

Signature moves: Kimura.

 

Maeda: Similar position to his tag partner I am guessing?

 

Shiga: Exactly. He is similar in every way in fact, he lacks the impactful brawling style of Serene K but technically and fundamentally the same, slightly on the bland side and is a loner in the locker room. Unfortunately, he is also in the same position of just being a solid hand unless I invest heavily in him.

 

Naozane Goto

Age: 27. Years of experience: 5

Honours: BCG Challengers Series x1

Signature moves: Goto Slam (Front Slam)

 

Maeda: You know I am a massive fan of this kid, now tell me how you are going to look after him for me?

 

Shiga: I like Goto, He has the size, look and charisma to go to the top. He is our current Challengers Series holder, so this is the perfect stage to prove to the fans and himself if he is ready to take a step up the card. My biggest gripe would be his cardio, but he is young and determined to improve so I am not overly concerned right now.

 

Nobuhara Yokokawa

Age: 40. Years of experience: 18

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x2 (Sojuro Sen)

Signature Moves: stump puller.

 

Maeda: Solid midcard veteran?

 

Shiga: Precisely, fine worker in a fine team, past his best and winding down.

 

“The Rock” Roku Sotomura

Age: 41. Years of experience: 23

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x1 (Naonobu Murakami)

Signature moves: Twisted Bow and Arrow

 

Maeda: Another veteran.

 

Shiga: yep, just an extremely technically gifted one.

 

Sharaku Okimasa

Age: 33. Years of experience: 13

Signature moves: Scorpion Deathlock

 

Maeda: At 33 is there any chance he can become more than midcard fodder?

 

Shiga: No, he has little to gain from his team with Ippitsuai and I think he will spend most of this year like last, on his back staring up at the lights.

 

Sofu Ozawa

Age: 47. Years of experience: 28

Signature moves: Arm-Trap Belly to Belly Suplex

 

Maeda: One of our oldest active competitors.

 

Shiga : Consistent and a giving performer but father time is catching up with poor Sofu and I wouldn’t bet against this being his final year.

 

Sojuro Sen

Age: 35. Years of experience: 15

Honours BCG World Tag Team Champion x2 (Nobuharu Yokokawa) Challengers Series x1

Signature moves: Over-the -Shoulder Backbreaker.

 

Madea: Thoughts?

 

Shiga: I like Sen, I like his look, his style. He is in the same mould as Funakoshi and blast but that is not the blessing it may sound as I have two guys on the roster that do what he does but a lot better.

 

Yoriie Ippitsusai

Age: 47. Years of experience: 26

Honours: Challengers Series x1

Signature Moves: Yakuza Kick

 

Maeda: I have a lot of time and respect for Yoriie.

 

Shiga: Likewise, but unfortunately, he is in the same boat as Sofu, we could well be holding a Youriie Ippitsusai retirement show on one of our tours this year.

 

Yoshisada Matsuzawa

Age: 36. Years of experience: 15

Honours: BCG Challengers Series x2

Signature moves: Double Arm DDT

 

Maeda: A good guy to have although he has never really felt at home here, would you agree?

 

Shiga: Fully, decently talented and charismatic performer but I always felt like he could do his best work in a company like WLW. Still, I am happy to have someone with his talent and work ethic on the team.

 

Toshinobu Taku

Age: 52. Years of experience: 34

Honours: BCG World Tag Team Champion x2 (Yoshinaka Taku)

Signature Moves: Gutwrench Tombstone

 

Maeda: What a fantastic servant not only to BCG but in the industry as a whole.

 

Shiga: Completely agree. Our only part time in ring talent has earnt the right to that privilege. With a career spanning over three decades full of countless achievements you can be sure one of his proudest would be how he has help groom his son to being one of the best workers of his generation.

 

Ginji Kisaka

Age: 20. Years of experience: 1 (Young Lion)

Signature moves: Butterfly power bomb.

 

Maeda: He reminds me a lot of a young blast Ikoma.

 

Shiga: I can see the comparison but like I have mentioned previously that is what is holding back other workers from standing out. My plan is to team him with fellow young lion Yutaka Ogata and see how they click.

 

Ichiro Mitsukuri

Age: 22. Years of experience: 3

Signature moves: S.T.O.

 

Koyo Kinoshita.

Age: 21. Years of experience: 3

Signature moves: Belly to Belly Suplex

 

Maeda: I think its fair to say these two will be solely a unit this year?

 

Shiga: Yes, it is. Two amazing prospects who cannot seem to stay out of the gym, for me they are the long-term successors to Yoshizawa and Miura as our dominate tag team. Larry Vessey sees the potential too, but I was not willing to send them to the states as I feel they will develop better here. I have managed get him to agree to taking a different duo.

 

Ikki Hosaka

Age: 18. Years of experience: Rookie year (young lion)

Signature moves: Tornado DDT

 

Maeda: You have worked a lot closer with him than I have from your time at the dojo, what can you tell me?

 

Shiga: He is a hard worker, possibly the weakest of the graduates but still a decent prospect. If he continues to work hard could fine himself a spot in the midcard in a few years.

 

Marvel Malloy

Age: 28. Years of experience: 8

Signature Moves: Marvel Breaker (Fireman’s Carry Driver)

 

Storm Spillane

Age: 28. Years of experience: 8

Signature moves: Kneeling Boston Crab

 

Maeda: Again, another pair, I am not totally sold on these two especially Malloy and his high-flying style, but this is the point where you tell me how wrong I am I suppose?

 

Shiga: I can agree with Marvel’s style not being the best fit for us. I will ask Findlay to ask him to maybe cut out the risk-taking spots but because his style is very well suited to OLLIE and CZCW which are two companies where he also ply’s his trade I would not hold my breath. As far as being a team, they are one of the most experienced unsigned teams in the world and I am glad to have them on board.

 

Nobuyuki Kubo

Age. 19 Years of experience: Rookie year (Young lion)

Signature moves: Running Knee Side-Swipe

 

Maeda: There seems to be a buzz around this guy.

 

Shiga: Absolutely. If he can progress the way we expect he can we might have a future World champion in our ranks.

 

Suguru Emoto

Age: 23. Years of experience: 3

Signature moves: Dangerous Brainbuster

 

Maeda: I like this boy.

 

Shiga: So do I, and so does Larry. I am thinking about teaming him up with Takenori Doi and sending them to New York for a couple of years to gain some valuable experience. Vessey is totally on board.

 

Takendori Doi

Age: 21. Years of Experience: 2 (Young Lion)

Signature moves: Charging Knee Strike

 

Maeda: So far everything I have seen of this young man has me impressed. Maybe an excursion could do him some good like you say.

 

Shiga: He is our biggest prospect I feel. My reasoning with sending him to New York is that because he is so talented, he will be a great advertisement for us. People will see him and want to know more about him and where he came from. It is a small step towards my vision but a step none the less. Having Emoto with him should help him settle in over there and give him a better chance to succeed.

 

Yutaka Ogata

Age: 20. Years of experience: 1 (Young lion)

Signature moves: Double Arm DDT.

 

Maeda: That brings us to our final in ring talent.

 

Shiga: Green as grass I am putting him with Kisaka In the hope they can become a useful team a few years down the line and getting them tagging now will only help build their fluency together in years to come.

 

Announce Team

 

Goemon Inoue

 

Shozo Kawamata

 

Referees

 

Gonkuro Nakanishi

 

Referee Tawaraya

 

Road Agents

 

Masayuki Shiga

 

Naonobu Murakami

 

Yoshifusa Maeda

 

Maeda: Are you happy with the off-screen staff?

 

Shiga: All except you.

 

Maeda puts his arm over Shiga’s shoulder and tightens up a side headlock as both men laugh.

Shiga slips out and exclaims….

 

“Right, I’ll thank you for your hospitality and be calling a cab, we have the press conference to attend tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep.

 

Maeda nods as he walks his friend downstairs to wait for his cab.

 

 

As Shiga sits in the back of the taxi slightly buzzed from the beers, his mind races with thoughts of the endless possibilities of where his vision could take him, the boys, and black canvas. As he pulls up at his house he cracks a smile knowing that tomorrow truly will be a new dawn……..

[eayragt]

I love the BCG roster. So much talent.

[Kjarvs]

This is some solid diary groundwork, I really like your writing style and I'm excited to see where this goes!

[CMPunkBubble]

I love the BCG roster. So much talent.

 

Me too. I don't see me making any drastic changes to the roster. I've only got four guys on my shortlist, two of them because I like them, and the other two I have things for them to do. I was going to start a BHOTWG diary but opted for BCG last minute instead, mostly because of the roster. I would have signed guy's like SUKI, Furusawa, Toshusai and Findlay for burning hammer but they would not have had as much focus because of the sheer size of the talent pool. Hopefully having less people to write for can help me give there characters more depth which is pretty much my main aim for this diary.

 

This is some solid diary groundwork, I really like your writing style and I'm excited to see where this goes!

 

Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback/complement. I am glad you enjoy the style, I want to continue with it throughout the rest of the diary, with the main bulk of entries being focused on post match comments, angles and press conferences. The tour shows will just be posted one at time most likely as I don't have a massive amount of free time to sink my teeth into this, but my goal is to keep writing consistently. They will just be results and a short description of what went down, with some post show comments and any angles having more detail. The big shows will have short match write ups and I will only have long detailed match write ups for really big shows or matches. My main aim is to give some life to the characters by letting them get across their goals while telling the stories I have planned.

[CMPunkBubble]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p> </p><p>

<img alt="YIjQtD4.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/YIjQtD4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

<img alt="U8qK5Yp.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/U8qK5Yp.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Jpt1wFS.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/Jpt1wFS.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="w60dCH6.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/w60dCH6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="pJK1sLa.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/pJK1sLa.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="lVk9mYK.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/lVk9mYK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="OgTy4JG.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/OgTy4JG.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

We join Maeda and Shiga at the press conference for the 2020 Heritage tour.</p><p>

As we look at the table they are joined left to right by Mabuchi Furusawa, Funakoshi, Razen Okamoto and SUKI, with the pair being seated in the middle of the four. </p><p> </p><p>

Maeda: Welcome, to the press conference for the Heritage tour 2020, I am very please to announce we have three huge matches signed for the final show of the tour. Two of which will involve the four men sat here with myself and Masayuki.</p><p>

But before we get into that Masayuki has an announcement he would like to make. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Shiga: Happy new year everyone, I am extremely pleased and excited to announce that as of today Black Canvas Grappling will be working with New York City Wrestling. </p><p> </p><p>

<img alt="Ac0cxaU.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/Ac0cxaU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="vuqetRI.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/vuqetRI.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

The deal will allow us a chance to send our younger members of the roster on excursion to the states to gain some seasoning.</p><p>

As this will be our first time working with another company, and sending our young talents abroad, we will be sending two youngsters together. Suguru Emoto has expressed his eagerness to wrestle the likes of Andrew Harper and Riley McManus, and he will be joined by Takenori Doi. The pair have told me they would like to team together on this upcoming tour before they leave which I have excepted. They would like to be referred to by the name EmoDoi when they team together.</p><p>

As Doi is still regarded as a young lion we will be adopting the puroresu tradition of putting him through a series of trial matches on the tour against some of our more experienced veteran warriors. Some of these trial matches will be alone and some as one half of EmoDoi. We will also give them a send off match together on our final show against the American cobra’s as a taste of what the next two years will hold for them. </p><p> </p><p>

SUKI leans back in his chair and puts his feet on the desk. </p><p> </p><p>

SUKI: Who cares? This is so typical of the favouritism shown in this company towards people you regard as “your own”. You are wasting the Japanese publics time talking about nobodies when they have all come to hear me, the greatest wrestler to ever lace a pair of boots tell them how I am going to end the career of this spinless, brown nosed, coward. Yes, Mabuchi I am talking to you, maybe you cannot hear me with your head stuck so far up Maeda’s rectum.</p><p> </p><p>

Furusawa: SUKI, how long have you known me? How many years do you want to play these mind games with me? When have they ever worked? All you do is talk, and moan, and bitch. In the past you have said I got my world title shot by playing to the fans and sucking up to Shiga and Maeda. You are entitled to your opinion, but the fans show me support because I give my all in the ring and I am fairly sure it was my dedication and hard work that got me my World title shot against the man to your right. I never asked for that match, when I was told I had earnt that opportunity I grabbed it with both hands. But enough talking. I do my talking in the ring. You should know that as you have never beat me. </p><p> </p><p>

SUKI jumps to his feet in a fit of rage, but he is quickly restrained by two burly security workers until he places a finger to his right nostril and fires a large string of mucus directed at Furusawa. Fortunately for Furusawa no amount of anger and frustration could carry it that far. Shiga was less fortunate causing all hell to break loose, now SUKI is far less urgent to get across the room as Okamoto, Maeda and one of the security workers restrain Shiga. </p><p> </p><p>

SUKI pushes the security worker trying to hold him backwards a few steps and grabs a microphone off the table.</p><p> </p><p>

SUKI: Do not put your hands on me. I will leave but because I choose to. Mabuchi you forget you are just a mere mortal and SUKI is wrestling divinity, an angel of death, the black canvas Shinigami and in three weeks’ time you will not be able to hide behind your friends. I am going to put you to sleep.</p><p>

For good.</p><p> </p><p>

SUKI walks of camera as Shiga sits back down wiping his face with a handkerchief.</p><p> </p><p>

Maeda: I can only apologise. As you may have guessed, one of the big three matches I was yet to announce is Mabuchi Furusawa against SUKI. </p><p>

The World Tag Team Championships will be defended against the Wild Ones. This will be Animal Harker and Big Bruiser Findlay’s first attempt to regain the titles they originally won from Noritoshi Miura and Inejiro Yoshizawa back in the summer of 2018. </p><p>

Finally, The World Championship will be contested over by Razan Okamoto and Funokoshi. </p><p>

We will firstly take comments from the challenger.</p><p> </p><p>

Okamoto: I want to thank BCG management for this opportunity and of course all the fans for your support, I would not be in this position now without you. </p><p>

I know how tough you are Funakoshi and I have nothing but respect for you. </p><p>

Mentally I am focused, Physically I feel in good shape and I just hope I can stay injury free during the tour.</p><p>

I feel that what I lack in size compared to Funakoshi I make up for in heart and spirit. </p><p>

I hope that can give me the edge to regain the World title.</p><p>

I want to be seen as the “ace” of black canvas because I love this company and to be in that position, I am sure I can help elevate it to the next level. </p><p>

But to be the “ace” you must be the best and to be the best you must hold that beautiful gold belt resting in front of Funakoshi over there. </p><p>

To put it simply this is my life’s dream, and I will give every last ounce of sweat in my body to achieve it.</p><p> </p><p>

Funakoshi: Nice speech. </p><p>

Firstly, I do not care if you respect me.</p><p>

I do not care how big your heart is. </p><p>

I do not care about your dreams.</p><p>

And I do not care about you.</p><p>

That will be evident in three weeks when I leave the ring with this “beautiful gold belt” over my shoulder and you leave it folded in half on a stretcher.</p><p> </p><p>

The room falls silent as the two men stare at each other. Okamoto looks composed and determined while Funakoshi is less expressive and just looks plain mean as the broadcast comes to an end. </p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p>

[CMPunkBubble]

 

BCG Heritage Tour Day 1

Wednesday week 1 2020

17:00 : Bell 18:00

Doshisha Athletic Center (Kansai)

Attendance: 575

Show Rating 55/100

 

1st Match 20 minutes [Non-Title]

Miura & Yoshizawa Def. EmoDoi

Yoshizawa pinned Doi with a Yoshizawa bomb.

Match Time 11:28

Match rating 46/100

 

2nd Match 20 Minutes

Ippitsusai, Okimasa & Sotomura Def. Mitsukuri, Kinoshita & Ozawa

Sotomura submitted Ozawa with a Twisted Bow and Arrow.

Match Time 12:04

Match Rating 47/100

 

3rd Match 20 Minutes

Kamisaka & Kiyotaka Def. The American Cobras

Kamisaka submitted Malloy with a triangle choke.

Match Time 13:18

Match Rating 56/100

 

4th Match 30 Minutes

Okamoto & Team Taku Def. Yokozawa, Sen & Brody

Okamoto pinned Yokozawa with a Brainbuster Suplex.

Match Time 15:56

Match Rating 58/100

 

5th Match 30 Minutes

Toshusai, Ikoma & Furusawa Def. Narahashi, Matsushita & Torii

Toshusai pinned Torii with a Dangerous Brainbuster.

Match Time 21:02

Match Rating 59/100

 

Post show comments

 

Doi: That was a really special moment to be able to face one of the best tag teams on the planet. You could probably tell it was myself and Emoto’s first time teaming together but we will get stronger as a unit the more we team and hopefully when we meet Miura and Yoshizawa in the ring next it will be a far more competitive match.

 

Torri: I am disappointed, of course I am. Nobody wants to start the year with their shoulders pinned to the mat, but as you know I am not one to dwell on a loss. If Toshusai wants to prove he is on my level, we can go one on one. That is the only true way to find out who the best wrestler is.

 

Toshusai: What a moment, to beat a former world champion in the main event should be a joyous celebration for me now but instead I need to go to the hospital to see if my jaw is broken. I heard Torii wants to avenge his loss to me. I except and if the match can be made and I am cleared to compete I will show the country this evening was no fluke.

[CMPunkBubble]

 

 

BCG Heritage Tour Day 2

Saturday week 1 2020

16:00 : Bell 17:00

Shizuoka Sports Hall (Chubu)

Attendance 80

Show Rating 49/100

 

1st Match 20 minutes

Sofu Ozawa Def. Takenori Doi

By pinfall with an Arm-Trap Belly to Belly Suplex.

Match Time 10:42

Match rating 26/100

 

2nd Match 20 Minutes

Ippitsusai & Okimasa Def. Kisaka & Ogata

Okimasa submitted Ogata with a Scorpion Deathlock.

Match Time 7:51

Match Rating 36/100

 

3rd Match 20 Minutes

Funakoshi & Ikoma Def. Matsuzawa & Kubu

Funakoshi pinned Kubu after a Butterfly Backbreaker.

Match Time 10:04

Match Rating 44/100

 

4th Match 30 Minutes

Sotomura, Matsushita & Torri Def. Kamisaka, Kiyotaka & Brody

Torii pinned Kiyotaka after a Flying Forearm Off the Top.

Match Time 15:42

Match Rating 55/100

 

5th Match 30 Minutes

Narahashi, SUKI & The Wild Ones Def. Goto, Furusawa, Miura & Yoshizawa

Narahashi pinned Goto after a Narahashi Cutter.

Match Time 17:31

Match Rating 52/100

 

Post show comments

 

Big Bruiser Findlay: That was just a taste of what is instore for you in two weeks Yoshizawa and Miura. In two weeks, you won’t just have to incur more pain and another loss, but when it is all said and done you will have to lay on the canvas while me and this crazy son a bitch stands over you with those tag belts around our waists.

 

Animal Harker: That’s right Bruiser. Miura, Yoshizawa, we don’t care how big you are or how bad you are because we are bigger and badder. We’re gonna whoop your asses all over that arena. We’re gonna hit you with chairs. We’re gonna bite you, kick you and stamp on your heads. If you beg for your lives enough, we might spare them, but I wouldn’t count on it. No matter how much blood gets spilt or how many bones break the outcome will be the Wild Ones as new BCG World Tag Team Champions.

 

Maeda: Tanyu Toshusai had made our staff aware of a of a pain he was experiencing in his jaw after his match on Wednesday. Thankfully, his X-ray showed he had only sustained a fractured jaw; I say thankfully as our medical team feared a lot worse. Both Toshusai and Bunrakuken Torii have asked me if they can compete in a singles match. Hopefully Toshusai will be cleared to compete by our final show of the Heritage tour and we do have space on the card still, so as long as he feels ready we are hopeful both men can settle their differences then.

 

Dynamite Narahashi: I cannot speak for the higher ups here at BCG all I can do is keep winning. This evening I got a massive win over the current Challenger Series holder Goto. I am in good form and like I said its not me who decides the matches, but I must be in line for a title shot soon.

[CMPunkBubble]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p> </p><p>

<img alt="k7tiWz7.jpg" data-src="https://imgur.com/k7tiWz7.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

BCG Heritage Tour Day 3</p><p>

Tuesday week 2 2020</p><p>

17:00 : Bell 18:00</p><p>

Kyoto (Kansai)</p><p>

Attendance 574</p><p>

Show Rating 62/100</p><p> </p><p>

1st Match 20 minutes</p><p>

Ippitsusai & Okimasa Def. EmoDoi</p><p>

Okimasa submitted Doi with a Scorpion Deathlock.</p><p>

Match Time 11:06</p><p>

Match rating 41/100</p><p> </p><p>

2nd Match 20 Minutes</p><p>

The Wild Ones Def. Kinoshita & Mitsukuri</p><p>

Harker pinned Kinoshita after a Trash Compaction.</p><p>

Match Time 14:07</p><p>

Match Rating 55/100</p><p> </p><p>

3rd Match 30 Minutes</p><p>

Furusawa, Yokokawa & Sen Def. Matsuzawa & the American Cobras</p><p>

Furusawa submitted Spillane with a Furusawa Armbar.</p><p>

Match Time 16:54</p><p>

Match Rating 57/100</p><p> </p><p>

4th Match 30 Minutes</p><p>

Ikoma, Matsushita & Okamoto Def. Brody, Torii & Funokoshi</p><p>

Matsushita pinned Brody with a One-Handed Choke Slam.</p><p>

Match Time 23:49</p><p>

Match Rating 69/100</p><p> </p><p>

Post show comments</p><p> </p><p>

Yoriie Ippitsusai: I was extremely impressed with both the young boys tonight, they made Okimasa and myself dig deep for our win earlier. I have high hopes for them both when they go on their excursion. I think they will be the first Black Canvas guys to win a belt on American soil, either together or in singles, they are both talented boys. Thursday I will face Doi in a one-on-one match, and no matter how much I want him to have a fantastic career I can guarantee you it will not be at my expense. Thursday will just be another lesson in how to be gracious in defeat for the kid.</p><p> </p><p>

Ichiro Mitsukuri: Although we fell tonight, we fall together. Every time we step foot in that ring against teams the calibre of the Wild Ones we grow, we pick ourselves up and we march forward.</p><p> </p><p>

Koyo Kinoshita: That’s right, our bond is an unspoken one, we win as a team, we lose as a team and one day we go down as the greatest tag team to ever wrestle because of this.</p><p> </p><p>

Giant Brody: MATSUSHITA! WHEN I SEE YOU NEXT, I AM GONNA END YOU!!!</p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p>

[CMPunkBubble]

 

 

BCG Heritage Tour Day 4

Thursday week 2 2020

17:00 : Bell 18:00

Shimonoseki Hall (Chugoku)

Attendance 70

Show Rating 44/100

 

1st Match 20 minutes

Ippitsusai Def. Doi

Ippitsusai pinned Doi after hitting a Yauza Kick.

Match Time 12:07

Match rating 29/100

 

2nd Match 20 Minutes

Giant Brody Def. Hosaka

Brody pinned Hosaka with a One Handed Chokeslam.

Match Time 1:34

Match Rating 35/100

 

3rd Match 20 Minutes

Torii, Miura & Yoshizawa Def. Matsuzawa, Kisaka & Ogata.

Torii Pinned Kisaka after a Spinning Forearm.

Match Time: 13:53

Match Rating 47/100

 

4th Match 30 Minutes

Team Taku Def. Sotomura & Ikoma.

Yoshinka Taku pinned Sotomura after a Full Nelson Bomb.

Match Time 15:32

Match Rating 51/100

 

5th Match 30 Minutes

SUKI, Kamisaka & Kiyotaka Def. Sen, Goto & Harker.

SUKI pinned Harker with a Mountain SUKI.

Match Time: 16:34

46/100

 

Post show comments

 

Giant Brody: MATSUSHITA! I AM COMING FOR YOU!!!

 

Toshinobu Taku: Another massive win for me and my boy this evening. Yes, I may be fifty-two years of age, but I still feel like I can go, and I feel like I have one more World Tag Team Title reign in me. I will only stop when I think I am holding Yoshinaka back as his partner and hopefully that day will not come too soon.

 

Yoshinaka Taku: Exactly that, it’s one more big victory for my father and myself. If this is our last journey together, I will give everything to make sure there is gold at the end of it for us. You have given your life to help me, and nothing would please me more than to give something back to you.

 

Goto: If Narahashi wants to face me for the challengers Series I am happy to rise to his challenge. I can run and hide and lick my wounds after he pinned me or step up to the challenge to measure how much I have improved and grown. I do not feel the same shame in defeat as I would as a coward.

[Kjarvs]

Gold-brod! Gold-brod!