Black Canvas Grappling | REAL Canvas Grappling [CV 2020]

arlovski · June 25, 2023

FUNAKOSHI-GUN
FORMED IN JANUARY 2014

NICHIREN FUNAKOSHI (Leader) • RAZAN OKAMOTO • NOBURO IKOMA • SHARAKU OKIMASA • YUTAKA OGATA • GINJI KISAKA

Past Members: Moromao Narahashi, Hiroyasu Gakusha

DEVIL GRAPPLING ARMY
FORMED IN MAY 2015

BUNRAKUKEN TORII (Leader) • ROKUEMON MATSUSHITA (Leader) • SOJURO SEN • NAOZANE GOTO

Past Members: Nobuharu Yokokawa, Yoshisada Matsuzawa

FURUSAWA-GUN
FORMED IN JULY 2021

MABUCHI FURUSAWA (Leader) • RYUNOSUKE MATSUKI • MASAHIRO GENJI • MASASHI UROGATAYA

TAKU-GUN
FORMED IN MARCH 2013

YOSHINAKA TAKU (Leader) • MOTOYUKI MIYAKE • OMEZO SHIKITEI • TAKENORI DOI

Past Members: Masayuki Shiga, Junnosuke Fukazawa, Toshinobu Taku, Yoriie Ippitsusai, Sofu Ozawa

THE HORDE
FORMED IN MAY 2020

BIG BRUISER FINDLAY (Leader) • HELLION • GIANT BRODY • SASQUATCH MCGRAW • OTIS VON BATTENBERG • HOSS HANDLEY

Past Members: Ox Mastodon, King Kong Kennedy, Animal Harker

THE DESTINY MASTERS
FORMED IN NOVEMBER 2021

KC GLENN (Leader) • MATTHEW KEITH (Leader) • GREGORY KEITH (Leader)

✺ ✺ ✺

UNAFFILIATED

TANYU TOSHUSAI • EIKICHI ITOU • ISORUKO ARAKAKI • FUYUHIKO WAKABAYASHI • ICHIRO MITSUKURI • KOYO KINOSHITA • KING LION • SHUGA AMANO

YOUNG LIONS

GIANT GODAI • KATSUNOSUKI OSHIRO • MITSUHIDE MIYAJIMA • DAYU KOMATSU • SEIYU KOMATSU

CURRENTLY ON EXCURSION: NOBUYUKI KUBO (staying with Original Lucha Libre Is Eternal) • IKKI HOSAKA (staying with Original Lucha Libre Is Eternal) • BIG BOSS URAYAMA (staying with FREEDOM Carribean Wrestling) • SHOGO AWATARI (staying with FREEDOM Carribean Wrestling) • KAWANARI ENOMOTO (staying with FREEDOM Carribean Wrestling)

✺ ✺ ✺

YOSHIFUSA MAEDA (Founder of BCG) • HIROYASU GAKUSHA (Owner of BCG) • PISTOL PETE HALL (Permanent Representative of APWA)

MASAYUKI SHIGA • NAONOBU MURAKAMI • JUNNOSUKE FUKAZAWA • YORIIE IPPITSUSAI • SOFU OZAWA • TOSHINOBU TAKU

GOEMON INOUE • NAIZEN UBOSHITA

YASUYUKI TERAKADO • TSUGIHARU ODAKA • MATSUYO TAWARAYA

Edited July 18, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · June 25, 2023

blocker for titles and stuff

arlovski · June 25, 2023

blocker for touring plan

Edited June 25, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · June 26, 2023

It has been a year of consolidation and healthy expansion for Black Canvas Grappling. For the first time in it's history, the company was able to acquire television deals with All Japan TV (airing 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas', a highlight package of their tours) and Shogun TV (airing major events in full length to a nationwide audience), cementing BCG's status as a mainstay in their home region Kansai and raising interest in other regions across the country. While all tours in 2019 have still been focused on Kansai, BCG owner Yoshifusa Maeda has hinted at potential tours to other parts of Japan in a press conference in November. Although the country is still regenerating from the backlash of the 2017 Tsunami, the economical crisis seems to have finally been overcome and a slight upward trend could be perceived. As a result, ticket sales in the wrestling industry have been on the rise throughout the year, leading to a small financial cushion for BCG for the first time since their establishment in December 2011.

In the ring, the year has been marked by the clashes between ex GCG members Mabuchi Furusawa and Ryunosuke Matsuki and BCG's four Pillars Of The Sky Nichiren Funakoshi, Bunrakuken Torii, Rokuemon Matsushita and Razan Okamoto, as well as their respective factions Devil Grappling Army and Funakoshi-gun. The highly skilled and prodigious Furusawa, son of Japanese wrestling legend Hanshiro Furusawa, added a World Championship to his title collection for the first time in December 2018 by forcing Razan Okamoto to tap out in a modern classic with the Furusawa Armbar at the New Year's Eve Supershow after just over 30 minutes to secure the BCG World Heavyweight Title. An affront for the representatives of the classic 'Roaring Lion Style'. Although Yoshifusa Maeda had lifted the ban on former GCG wrestlers (the traitors, as he used to call them) in 2017 and declared a new era of peace when Golden Canvas Grappling finally disappeared for good, the hatred and rivalry between the wrestlers was still real and a reconciliation unlikely. Moreover, Furusawa's and Matsuki's arrogant, often mocking demeanor towards BCG, its players and fans had not necessarily contributed to their popularity, even though a significant increase in ticket sales was noticeable with the arrival of the two men - a fact the two never tired of emphasizing. Thus, 2019 got off to a hot start, as for the first time the internal rivalry between Funakoshi-gun and Devil Grappling Army, that had characterized BCG for so long, receded into the background and both factions turned against the common enemy, provocatively dubbing themselves the Golden Army and declaring it the offshoot of the faction of the same name in BHOTWG led by Hiroyasu Gakusha and Toshiharu Hyobanshi.

In January, Okamoto once again lost to Furusawa in a rematch for the title at the New Year Super Series. With this loss Funakoshi's right hand was out of the title race and couldn't qualify for another chance at the annual Ace Summit in April either. Much worse, Furusawa had reached the final of BCG's prestigious singles tournament and the threat, that he might win it and ridicule BCG further became very real. It was Rokuemon Matsushita who stood in his way and won sensationally in under 30 minutes, earning his first tournament win and dampening the dominance of the former GCG stars. His price was a match for the BCG World Heavyweight title - the problem was, that his DGA colleague and closest friend Bunrakuken Torii had managed to defeat Furusawa as well in a Block A bout. He also claimed a title shot, so Matsushita generously took a step back and left the first attempt to his faithful companion, whereas he would claim his own title match for Grappling Kingdom in August against the winner of the altercation. For a moment, it seemed like the golden boy was in trouble and would soon have to hand his title back to a BCG original. However, things turned out differently - Furusawa caught himself and not only won against Torii at the Strongest Lion Series, but also a little later at Grappling Kingdom against Matsushita, who seemed unbeatable in 2019 up to that point. It felt like there was only one man left who could potentially stop Furusawa. The man considered the ultimate embodiment of BCG, but whose success story seemed to have come to an end in 2017 - Nichiren Funakoshi! He had ended Pistol Pete Hall's seemingly never-ending reign in 2013 - the Funakoshi of 2019 seemed to have lost his fire though. And yet, in October, in the final of the Grand Prix Series, Funakoshi again did what was no longer considered possible. With endless fighting spirit he endured Furusawa's methodical arm work and didn't give up twice in his armbar before eventually coming back after 35 minutes and shouldering his opponent after a Roaring Lariat and the Butterfly Backbreaker. As the ultimate defender of the 'Roaring Lion Style', Funakoshi returned to the top and managed to stay there until the end of the year, beating Furusawa again at December's New Year's Eve Supershow. The title was back in the hands of the BCG originals and calm returned - but the storm is far from over.

While the World Heavyweight title picture was dominated by few faces, the BCG tag team scene flourished. The title changed three times in 2019, once in March, where Kadonomaro Kamisaka and Kiyotaka managed a surprise victory against the Gaijin monster team consisting of Big Bruiser Findlay and Animal Harker, then again in November, where Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura were able to secure the title for the 5th time and did not relinquish it until the end of the year. Also in the running were the Takus and guests Storm Spillane and Marvel Malloy, who made a splash in the States in 2017 as winners of the Sam Keith Classic, but were unable to build on their previous success in BCG. In December, Yoshifusa Maeda announced in a press conference that he wanted to take tag team wrestling in BCG to a new level in 2020, when the World Tag Team Grand Prix would be held for the first time in October as part of a round robin tournament that would soon have a similar status to the Ace Summit.

Departures: Kadonomaro Kamisaka, Kiyotaka, Marvel Malloy, Storm Spillane, Moromao Narahashi, Nobuharu Yokokawa, Yoshisada Matsuzawa

Graduates: Nobuyuki Kubo, Ikki Hosaka

Edited June 26, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · June 27, 2023

NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES

January 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

Before the first match in BCG in the new year was even wrestled, president Yoshifusa Maeda already had some changes in store. During a pre-tour press conference he was welcoming wrestling legend Pistol Pete Hall back to the company. This time the former BCG and GCG World Heavyweight Champion is not coming to frighten the Young Lions or front row spectators, but instead he will collaborate with BCG as a representative of the Atlantic Pacific Wrestling Association, an entity that will provide guidance in matters of international business expansion and talent relations. Coming along with this collaboration is a new Championship, the APWA International Heavyweight Title, that will be fought out under the patronage of Hall. Annother major announcement was the aquisition of all rights and trademarks regarding Golden Canvas Grappling by Maeda, who now not only owns an extensive show library reaching back into the 1960s, but also the prestigious belts of the former japanese pro-wrestling powerhouse. Two of these, the GCG World Heavyweight Championship and the GCG World Tag Team Championship, would be re-introduced and fought out on the final night of the NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES, along with the APWA belt.

Aside from that, several new wrestlers and backstage workers were introduced to the media, among them The 937lb Express, a gaijin Tag Team consisting of super heavyweights Ox Mastodon and King Kong Kennedy, the talented Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi who has wrestled for DIW in Australia in the past four years and has now signed with a major japanese company for the first time, former GCG talents Masahiro Genji and Masashi Urogataya as well as several promising Young Lions from local wrestling schools. In the back office BCG veteran Junnosuke Fukazawa has made his comeback. Maeda also spoke about new partnerships with Mid Atlantic Wrestling and New York City Wrestling, both of which will be accepting young BCG wrestlers for excursions in the future and serve as potential partners for co-promotion and talent trade.

The eight nights of the NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES took place in various smaller locations in the vicinity of Kansai, with the main event picture being dominated by encounters between the Funakoshi-gun, the Devil Grappling Army and the Golden Army. Unsurprisingly, former GCG stars Mabuchi Furusawa and Ryunosuke Matsuki both claimed a shot at the GCG World Heavyweight Title, which Maeda was willing to give to one of them. By the end of the tour Matsuki let Furusawa go ahead, as his performances were more convincing, even though Matsuki is a former champion whereas Furusawa has never held the title before. As the second participant of the title match Razan Okamoto was determined by Maeda, as he came out victorious both in a Tag Team Match against the Golden Army on Night III as well as a Six Man Tag Match on Night VI. In December 2018 Furusawa had left a dent in Okamoto's self-confidence, when he beat him for the BCG World Heavyweight Title - this time the situation would be reversed, as now the golden boy would have to defend his heritage against an outsider.

In a televised bout on Night VII, Furusawa and Matsuki managed to defeat reigning BCG World Heavyweight Champion Nichiren Funakoshi and his long-term partner Noburo Ikoma in a Tag Team Match, when Ikoma gave up in the SUKI Special after a little less than 23 minutes. In a post-match promo Matsuki considered this another sign of dominance by former GCG wrestlers over BCG wrestlers. Ikoma wanted to have none of that and announced to shut him up in a Special Singles Match on the final night of the tour.

The new american wrestlers Ox Mastodon and King Kong Kennedy quickly bonded with the other foreigners in the company, after Big Bruiser Findlay had roughed them up good on the opening night of the tour and made the hacking order clear. They were already terrorizing members of the ring crew and Young Lions on the following nights. Considered for the APWA International Heavyweight Title Match were others though. Eventually Pistol Pete Hall decided that Findlay and Giant Brody would make out the first champion between them. While they didn't face any serious challengers, both of them were undefeated during the tour. The night after the announcement was made, both men won a Tag Team Match against newcomers Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki, but went into a wild brawl with each other afterwards.

Night IV of the NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES was in the sign of Toshinobu Taku, who celebrated his 35th anniversary as a professional wrestler. Along with his son Yoshinaka Taku, he lost in the Main Event to the DGA heavyweight team consisting of Rokuemon Matsushita and Naozane Goto after 14 minutes, when Taku Sr. was pinned after a Backdrop by Matsushita. In a promo afterwards Taku Sr. said, that he had thought about hanging up his boots for a while now, but at the same time, he couldn't leave if it wasn't on a high note. The veteran asked for a shot at the GCG World Tag Team Titles along with his son, so he could prove, that he still got it. The shot was granted and as their challengers the new team of Masahiro Genji and Masashi Urogataya emerged with good performances on the tour shows. Genji and Urogataya were offered spots in the Golden Army, should they be successful on the final night.

BCG NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES | FINAL NIGHT

Osaka, Japan - 20.01.2020

shown on Shogun TV (25.360 viewers, 0.03 rating)

Show Rating: [78]

Nichiren Funakoshi, Sharaku Okimasa, Takenori Doi & Yutaka Ogata defeated Naozane Goto, Sojuro Sen, Big Boss Urayama & Nobuyuki Kubo (13m14s) with the Roaring Lariat from Funakoshi to Sen [57]
Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Animal Harker, Ox Mastodon & King Kong Kennedy (15m10s) with the Exploder Suplex from Wakabayashi to Harker [51]
Bunrakuken Torii & Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Tanyu Toshusai & Roku Sotomura (15m57s) with the Murder Backdrop from Matsushita to Sotomura [74]
GCG World Tag Team Championship: Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya defeated Toshinobu Taku & Yoshinaka Taku (18m09s) with the Fusion Reacter from Genji against Taku Sr. B [65]
APWA International Heavyweight Championship: Big Bruiser Findlay defeated Giant Brody (17m03s) with the Oklahoma Stampede [72]
Ryunosuke Matsuki defeated Noburo Ikoma (22m37s) with the Bridging German Suplex [76]
GCG World Heavyweight Championship: Mabuchi Furusawa defeated Razan Okamoto (34m24s) with the Furusawa Armbar [80]

After the Main Event Bunrakuken Torii challenged Furusawa for a title match at the final night of the EXCITE SERIES in February, leaving the golden boy little time to celebrate. According to Torii the introduction of the GCG titles has turned the BCG originals to hunters.
In the press conference at the end of the night Toshinobu Taku said, that tonight was a shameful display from him and that he would improve his shape and work hard to win another Tag Team title this year, before his retirement.

Arrivals: Eikichi Itou, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi (formerly DIW), Isoruki Arakaki (formerly SAISHO), Masahiro Genji (formerly SAISHO), Masashi Urogataya, King Kong Kennedy (Gaijin, formerly FCW), Ox Mastodon (Gaijin, formerly FCW), Big Boss Uruyama (Young Lion, trained by WWA: Japan), Kawanari Enomoto (Young Lion, trained by WWA: Japan), Shogo Awatari (Young Lion, trained by WWA: Japan), Shuga Amano (Young Lion, trained by Tokyo Wrestling Dojo)

Excursions: Ichiro Mitsukuri (MAW), Koyo Kinoshita (MAW), Ryobe Uno (MAW), Suguru Emoto (NYCW)

Edited June 27, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · June 28, 2023

EXCITE SERIES

February 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

Going into February a transition towards BCG's annual singles tournament ACE SUMMIT, that will be running through March and April, is noticeable already. The EXCITE SERIES is the final chance for the competitors to present themselves and potentially earn a spot in the 9th iteration of the tournament, that is at this point universally recognized. The majority of the touring events was again held within the Kansai region, with the final night taking place in the Osaka Athletic Stadium.

With Bunrakuken Torii's challenge issued towards Mabuchi Furusawa for his GCG World Heavyweight Title past tour, both men were facing each other in several multi man bouts involving their respective factions in the course of February with none earning a direct victory or at least a general advantage over the other. In an upset on the second night of the tour, Ryunosuke Matsuki managed to gather a pinfall victory over Nichiren Funakoshi in a Tag Team Match, though, shortly before the time limit of 30 minutes would have been reached, positioning himself for a title shot at the BCG World Heavyweight Championship and thus getting Funakoshi-gun into the headliners of the shows again as well. This dynamic between the three factions led to a Tag Team Match on Night VII, where fierce rivals Funakoshi and Torii teamed up to battle it out with the former GCG stars. The excellent match ended in a time limit draw in a hot sold out house.

With the ACE SUMMIT around the corner especially the fresh faces on the roster tried to use the EXCITE SERIES to position themselves in the company. The most outstanding of them was certainly Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi - the ripped Light Heavyweight won roundabout 70 % of his matches, often alongside Tanyu Toshusai in a Tag Team. His impressive physique paired with an explosive in-ring style has raised some heads, one of which belongs to Razan Okamoto, who challenged Wakabayashi to a Special Singles Match on the last night of the tour to test his mettle. Masahiro Genji and Masashi Urogataya should be honorably mentioned here as well, as both men were still going strong in February. To the displeasure of the audience they accepted the invitation into the Golden Army, though, that was issued by Mabuchi Furusawa and Ryunosuke Matsuki during the NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES.

A new and improved Rokuemon Matsushita has presented himself to the media during the pre-tour press conference. The well-liked colossus had significantly reduced his weight over the past few months and announced that this transition was now finished and would have the effect of him being faster, more agile and more dangerous than ever before. Matsushita made his words true in the ring, often plowing through his opponents and gathering some remarkable victories over the newcomers King Kong Kennedy, Ox Mastodon and also the madman from Dallas Animal Harker. His sights are definitely set for the ACE SUMMIT, that he had won in the previous year. While Kennedy and Mastodon have bitten their teeth off Matsushita, all the more successful they were in Tag Team and Multi Man bouts with fellow americans Big Bruiser Findlay and Giant Brody. They even won an Eight Man Tag Team Match, where Mastodon gathered the pinfall against Inejiro Yoshizawa, who was on the other side along with Noritoshi Miura. This direct win was enough for the 937 lb Express to earn themselves a shot at the BCG World Tag Team Titles on Night IX.

Less lucky was Yoriie Ippitsusai - the 47-years old veteran suffered a broken neck during a Tag Team Match alongside Sofu Ozawa against rookies Takenori Doi and Yutaka Ogata, when Ogata dropped him on his head with a very rough Bridging German Suplex. The match ended in a no contest and the show had to be interrupted for 45 minutes with emergency ambulance rushing to the arena. Ippitsusai was carried out on a stretcher under the concerned eyes of the audience.

BCG EXCITE SERIES | FINAL NIGHT

Osaka, Japan - 23.02.2020

shown on Shogun TV (25.795 viewers, 0.03 rating)

Show Rating: [76]

Takenori Doi, Yutaka Ogata, Ginji Kisaka & Ikki Hosaka defeated Nobuyuki Kubo, Shuga Amano, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (8m53s) with the Charging Knee Strike from Doi to Kubo [32]
Rokuemon Matsushita, Naozane Goto & Sojuro Sen defeated Big Boss Urayama, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (10m58s) with the Backdrop Driver from Matsushita to Itou [55]
Tanyu Toshusai, Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya defeated Roku Sotomura, Noburo Ikoma & Sharaku Okimasa (17m27s) with the Fusion Reactor from Genji to Sotomura [56]
Big Bruiser Findlay, Giant Brody & Animal Harker defeated Toshinobu Taku, Yoshinaka Taku & Sofu Ozawa (14m20s) with the Choke Slam from Brody to Ozawa [65]
BCG World Tag Team Championship: Noritoshi Miura & Inejiro Yoshizawa © defeated Ox Mastodon & King Kong Kennedy (14m33s) with the Storm Rider from Miura to Kennedy [54]
Razan Okamoto defeated Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi (22m55s) with the Brainbuster [75]
GCG World Heavyweight Championship: Mabuchi Furusawa © defeated Bunrakuken Torii (30m50s) with the Tiger Suplex [76]
BCG World Heavyweight Championship: Nichiren Funakoshi © defeated Ryunosuke Matsuki (34m31s) with the Butterfly Backbreaker [78]

Before the official start of the event Yoshifusa Maeda held a promo in the ring to let the spectators know, that Yoriie Ippitsusai would need a long time to recover and that BCG would assist him during this process in any way, shape or form. There was also a donation box passed around to support Ippitsusai and his family during those challenging times.
In the final promo of the night, Funakoshi thanked the audience for their continuing support of Black Canvas Grappling and announced, that he will take part in the Ace Summit and try to win it a fourth time with all his might.

Edited June 28, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · June 28, 2023

ACE SUMMIT | FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS

In a special press conference BCG president Yoshifusa Maeda has announced the participants for this year's Ace Summit, also known in the past as the Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix. The well recognized round-robin tournament consists of two Blocks with 10 randomly distributed wrestlers each. Block Matches have a maximum time limit of 30 minutes. Wins award 2 points, Draws 1 point for each contender, Losses 0 points. The winner of Block A faces the runner-up of Block B and vice versa in the semi finals, before the ultimate winner of the tournament is crowned in the final match and awarded a shot at the BCG World Heavyweight Title.

With the high amount of new talent BCG managed to acquire in the beginning of the year, the company decided not to include any external guests in this iteration of the tournament.

BLOCK A

NICHIREN FUNAKOSHI | 9TH PARTICIPATION | 3x WINNER

reigning BCG World Heavyweight Champion

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

NOBURO IKOMA | 9TH PARTICIPATION

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

SOJURO SEN | 9TH PARTICIPATION

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

MABUCHI FURUSAWA | 3RD PARTICIPATION

reigning GCG World Heavyweight Champion

affiliated with The Golden Army

FUYUHIKO WAKABAYASHI | 1ST PARTICIPATION

RAZAN OKAMOTO | 9TH PARTICIPATION | 2x WINNER

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

BUNRAKUKEN TORII | 9TH PARTICIPATION | 2x WINNER

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

MASAHIRO GENJI | 1ST PARTICIPATION

reigning GCG World Tag Team Champion

affiliated with The Golden Army

RYUNOSUKE MATSUKI | 3RD PARTICIPATION

affiliated with The Golden Army

ANIMAL HARKER | 3RD PARTICIPATION

BLOCK B

GIANT BRODY | 5TH PARTICIPATION

TANYU TOSHUSAI | 6TH PARTICIPATION

BIG BRUISER FINDLAY | 6TH PARTICIPATION

reigning APWA International Heavyweight Champion

NAOZANE GOTO | 3RD PARTICIPATION

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

MASASHI UROGATAYA | 1ST PARTICIPATION

reigning GCG World Tag Team Champion

affiliated with The Golden Army

ROKU SOTOMURA | 7TH PARTICIPATION

EIKICHI ITOU | 1ST PARTICIPATION

ROKUEMON MATSUSHITA | 6TH PARTICIPATION | 1x WINNER

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

OX MASTODON | 1ST PARTICIPATION

YOSHINAKA TAKU | 3RD PARTICIPATION

affiliated with Team Taku

arlovski · June 29, 2023

NIPPON | THE LAND OF THE GIANTS

When in December 2019 Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods announced Japan's very own giant in the shape of Bunzou The Giant, little did the media know about a special student of the Black Dojo that would soon make waves. Only five months after Bunzou's presentation to the public BCG held their own press conference to give Japan it's second Giant - an outstanding graduate by the name of Settan Godai who at 7'2 even surpasses Bunzou! The freakishly large man had suffered from acromegaly in his teenage years. While he achieved considerable success as a basketball player and amateur wrestler during his high school years, he was also at the mercy of relentless bullying from his classmates due to his outlandish, but fascinating appearance. Should BCG succeed in luring the reclusive yet physically gifted man out of his shell, Godai could lead the company into a new era.

The fascination of the japanese public for giants has gone back into the 90s, when the legendary Bruce The Giant joined BHOTWG to lead the company to heights formerly unknown for japanese pro wrestling companies. Standing 7'4 and weighing 600 lbs in his prime, Bruce became not only a superstar in japanese pro wrestling but also a pop culture icon recognized by people of every age group. Ever since Bruce left the country in 2006 after 8 successful years and two runs with their World Heavyweight Title, BHOTWG have been trying to repeat his success story by focusing on big and heavy guys, but never quite managed to reach those same heights again. Now Japan has two giants and it remains to be seen which of them will meet the high expectations directed towards them.

arlovski · June 29, 2023

BCG ACE SUMMIT SERIES

March - April 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

Beginning with March, Black Canvas Grappling went into the most important phase of the year. In the course of two action-packed months 20 men were battling out who of them would be crowned the best professional wrestler on the planet in the 9th iteration of the ACE SUMMIT. And the uneven distribution of former tournament winners this year was only testament to the chaotic nature of the draft lottery.

In this year's Block A, Nichiren Funakoshi, Bunrakuken Torii and Razan Okamoto have won the tournament 7 times combined in the past! Aside from that there's two reigning World Heavyweight Champions in the shape of Funakoshi and Mabuchi Furusawa, as well as two former World Heavyweight Champions with Ryunosuke Matsuki and Noburo Ikoma. The Block was absolutely stacked and even the dirt sheets had a very hard time predicting which two men would advance into the semi finals beforehand.

Very early into the tournament Razan Okamoto had to endure a stretched ligament during his match against Ryunosuke Matsuki, turning a promising start into an eventual losing effort of the Funakoshi-gun member. While the fan favourite decided not to drop out and instead try to work through the injury, his performance was visibly affected and he lost the direct encounters with Funakoshi and Furusawa, before fully recovering in the beginning of April and making a comeback worthy of recognition against Bunrakuken Torii with a 30-minute time limit draw and winning all his remaining matches aside from that.

While Noburo Ikoma couldn't leave a stamp in the difficult Block with only two won matches in his favour, Ryunosuke Matsuki had a good start with wins against Animal Harker, Sojuro Sen and Okamoto, but ultimately lost the direct affairs against Funakoshi, Furusawa and Torii, albeit holding out for almost 30 minutes against each of them. Another loss against tournament surprise Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi rendered an advancement into the semis impossible for the ex GCG star. Wakabayashi on the other hand was able to wrestle Furusawa to a draw, fascinating the Kobe crowd with his seemingly endless stamina and perseverance. The 30-years old cemented his status as a real shooting star in BCG further with four wins and two draws in the tournament, putting him in the top five of his Block.

But the race for the 1st and 2nd place was dominated by three other men - Funakoshi, Torii and Furusawa have settled that among themselves. While Torii won six of his Block matches and went to a time limit draw with Funakoshi, he messed up in his direct encounter with Furusawa, where the golden boy managed to outsmart the DGA leader into his Furusawa Armbar after 28 minutes, forcing him to tap out. Luck wasn't on Torii's side either regarding Okamoto's injury - Okamoto was sidelined in his matches against Furusawa and Funakoshi, against Torii he was fully fit though and wrestled him to a draw as well. Furusawa on the other hand was able to gather 7 victories before going into a surprising draw with Wakabayashi, whereas Funakoshi drew with Torii and won everything aside from that. On the final night, it came as it had to come - Furusawa and Funakoshi fought directly against each other to determine who was going to win Block A and who was going to be runner-up. The BCG World Heavyweight Champion against the GCG World Heavyweight Champion. And after 29 minutes and 14 seconds, the winner was Nichiren Funakoshi with the Butterfly Backbreaker in a match to remember!

The field of participants of Block B was clearly more on the heavier side this year and a potential hierarchy was more visible from the beginning, than in Block A. With Big Bruiser Findlay, Rokuemon Matsushita, Giant Brody and Naozane Goto four of the biggest and most dangerous men of BCG were part of it. Aside from that it also had two men in their best age to shine with Yoshinaka Taku and Tanyu Toshusai.

Both of them were able to attract some attention in this year's ACE SUMMIT - Taku by shouldering the massive Giant Brody after a Northern Lights Bomb and taking four more wins aside from that, Toshusai with his spirited 20 minute battle against Goto that he turned into an impressive victory. It was only fitting that both men drew against each other after 30 minutes and concluded the affair with a respectful handshake on the 18th night of the tour.

In the battle of the big men, Brody brawled himself to 5 tournament victories before finally taking a loss against Findlay, who made clear once again which foreigner ruled this territory. Even after that the wild man still had an outsider chance for the runner-up - that eventually faded though when he lost to Matsushita and Taku and drew with Eikichi Itou in a double countout that led to a wild exchange in the back long after the bell had been rung. Naozane Goto was playing it smarter and had a promising start into the tournament as well before eventually losing to Findlay, Matsushita, Brody and Toshusai, proving that he was not on their level yet.

Eventually the two men to compete for the Block win were Findlay and Matsushita. Both men were almost rolling over their opponents and clearly dominated Block B. In fact, the only one to stop Matsushita this year was the fear-imposing Big Bruiser himself, who won their direct encounter after a little more than 20 minutes with the Oklahoma Stampede, turning himself into the winner of the Block. Other than that, Findlay steamrolled over everyone except for Ox Mastodon, who on the 17th night of the tour went into a heated argument with the man from Georgia that led to both men attacking each other with chairs, getting them both disqualified. The two men continued to brawl through the arena afterwards and couldn't be stopped by members of the ring crew. Only security was eventually able to tear them apart.

NICHIREN FUNAKOSHI | MABUCHI FURUSAWA | BIG BRUISER FINDLAY | ROKUEMON MATSUSHITA

WINNER OF BLOCK A | RUNNER-UP OF BLOCK A | WINNER OF BLOCK B | RUNNER-UP OF BLOCK B

On Night XX the finalists of the ACE SUMMIT IX were to be determined - but before that, on Night XIX, there was a Special Tag Team Match between the semi finalists, where the team of Findlay and Matsushita had the better end against Furusawa and Funakoshi, utilizing their sheer size and power to earn themselves the victory. Could a prognosis be made for the semi finals based on that match? As it turned out, not at all, as both Matsushita against Funakoshi and Findlay against Furusawa lost their matches and were left behind on the grand final.

Due to their excellent performances in the tournament, Yoshifusa Maeda awarded Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Tanyu Toshusai a match for the Tag Team Titles of their choice on the final night of the tour. They chose the BCG World Tag Team Titles currently held by Noritoshi Miura and Inejiro Yoshizawa. After a Six Man Tag Team Match between the Golden Army and Funakoshi-gun, Razan Okamoto challenged Ryunosuke Matsuki to a Re-Match without time limit, just to find out who was really the better man, as Matsuki had only beaten an injured Okamoto in the tournament. The arrogant Matsuki was repulsive at first, until Okamoto exclaimed, that he was obviously scared and had little self-confidence. Eventually he agreed for the match to take place on Sunday in Kyoto.

Almost on a side note there had also been a sad announcement in the beginning of the show. BCG president Yoshifusa Maeda entered the ring and informed the audience, that the legendary Haruki Kudo had passed away only at age 57. As the masked Hooded Kudo he entertained the masses in BHOTWG and managed to win their World Heavyweight Championship on three occasions, carrying the company on his back during large portions of the 80s and 90s. In 2009 he joined Golden Canvas Grappling in a shock move to lead the company into a new era - while it is commonly known, that Kudo had an unfortunate hand in that matter and instead led GCG into bankruptcy, none of that was mentioned by Maeda. Instead he was looking for positive and comforting words and highlighting the success of the highly influental Kudo, who after his retirement was still a very beloved figure for japanese wrestling fans, in a way burying the hatchet. A ten bell salute followed.

BCG ACE SUMMIT IX

Kyoto, Japan - 26.04.2020

shown on Shogun TV (30.973 viewers, 0.04 rating)

Show Rating: [87]

Giant Godai, Takenori Doi, Ginji Kisaka & Yutaka Ogata defeated Nobuyuki Kubo, Shuga Amano, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (9m59s) with the Pacific Ocean Wave Lariat from Godai to Enomoto [35]
Giant Brody, King Kong Kennedy & Animal Harker defeated Big Boss Urayama, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (13m12s) with the Lariat from Brody to Urayama [51]
Toshinobu Taku, Yoshinaka Taku & Sofu Ozawa defeated Naozane Goto, Sojuro Sen und Roku Sotomura (15m58s) with the Gutwrench Tombstone from Taku Sr. to Sotomura [63]
Rokuemon Matsushita 10th Anniversary Special Match: Rokuemon Matsushita & Bunrakuken Torii defeated Noburo Ikoma & Sharaku Okimasa (18m31s) with the Backdrop Driver from Matsushita to Ikoma [77]
APWA International Heavyweight Championship: Big Bruiser Findlay defeated Ox Mastodon (16m20s) with the Oklahoma Stampede [62]
BCG World Tag Team Championship: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Tanyu Toshusai defeated Inejiro Yoshizawa & Noritoshi Miura (23m18s) with the Release German Suplex from Wakabayashi to Yoshizawa [67]
Razan Okamoto defeated Ryunosuke Matsuki (31m02s) with the Brainbuster [78]
Ace Summit IX - Finale: Nichiren Funakoshi defeated Mabuchi Furusawa (34m16s) with the Butterfly Backbreaker [90]

In the aftermath of their fight, Findlay beat up Mastodon so bad, that the massive student of legendary Dread was begging for mercy. The Big Bruiser had other plans though and instead broke Mastodon's leg to demonstrate who is boss and to punish him for challenging his authority during the tour.
After Funakoshi's victory in the Ace Summit Finale the winner's ceremony was conducted by Yoshifusa Maeda personally. The Tournament Winner then had the honour to say a few words. He thanked the audience and underlined, that the 'Roaring Lion Style' would prevail in the 2020s as well. In the past months he had the privilege to defend it's legacy against intruders from the outside - now he would take a step further and prove it's superiority, by winning the GCG World Heavyweight Title as well and bringing it back to where it rightfully belongs. Due to the tournament win as well as his direct win over Furusawa he challenged him to a title match at the end of the STRONGEST LION SERIES.

Scottie · June 30, 2023

This is such a breezy read! And the artwork is great. Loving the work so far.

CGN91 · June 30, 2023

Like back months ago I still dig your writing and formatting arlovski. Keep it up!

arlovski · June 30, 2023

Thanks guys! Your diaries have been the main spark of motivation to write another one as well.

DarK_RaideR · June 30, 2023

I am legally obligated to follow and and all BCG diaries. This one's been fun so far, including the weird but oddly captivating art style. Keep it up!

arlovski · June 30, 2023

STRONGEST LION SERIES

May 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

Aside from the aftermath of the ACE SUMMIT, the focus of BCG's 4th tour this year was shifted a little bit towards players who haven't been in the centre of attention yet. Especially tournament surprises Yoshinaka Taku, Tanyu Toshusai and Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi were in the spotlight and had some exciting exchanges in Tag Team and Multiman Matches. Taku and Toshusai have a score to settle after their Block B match ended in a time limit draw. During the STRONGEST LION SERIES both men agreed to face each other on the final night of the tour, this time without time limit, to see who really is the better man. Wakabayashi on the other hand started a small and respectful feud with Noburo Ikoma, who he had beaten in Block A past month. The former BCG World Heavyweight Champion agreed to a Singles Match on the last Sunday of May and will be the gatekeeper to the Main Event for Wakabayashi.

The headliners of the shows were again dominated by Funakoshi-gun and The Golden Army - with Nichiren Funakoshi's stellar performance during the ACE SUMMIT in his mind, Mabuchi Furusawa was visibly nervous during the encounters between the two factions. Funakoshi was able to shine again in May and take several wins from Furusawa and his companions, shutting the arrogant GCG wrestlers up for the first time, since they have joined BCG in 2017. Funakoshi seemed unstoppable during the tour and goes into the GCG World Heavyweight Title match with a strong winning streak.

Elsewhere Big Bruiser Findlay further asserted his position as the strongest and most influential foreigner in the company, by demanding loyalty from Giant Brody, Animal Harker and King Kong Kennedy. All three men accepted, maybe influenced by what Findlay did to the now injured Ox Mastodon past tour and as a result Findlay founded the first ever pure gaijin faction in BCG - The Horde! The four men were wreaking havoc during the STRONGEST LION SERIES, ruthlessly beating up Young Lions, members of Team Taku and eventually The Golden Army as well in an Eight Man Tag Team Match, leading to a GCG World Tag Team Titles Match for the new team of Harker and Kennedy on the final night. Towards the end of the tour, only the Devil Grappling Army was able to stand in their way and wring a victory from them.

BCG STRONGEST LION SERIES | FINAL NIGHT

Kobe, Japan - 31.05.2020

shown on Shogun TV (30.620 viewers, 0.04 rating)

Show Rating: [87]

Razan Okamoto & Sharaku Okimasa defeated Giant Godai & Big Boss Urayama (8m10s) with the German Suplex from Okamoto to Urayama [65]
Noritoshi Miura, Inejiro Yoshizawa, Takenori Doi & Yutaka Ogata defeated Toshinobu Taku, Sofu Ozawa, Ginji Kisaka & Ikki Hosaka (10m31s) with the Storm Rider from Miura to Ozawa [48]
Eikichi Itou, Isoruko Arakaki, Kawanari Enomoto & Shogo Awatari defeated Sojuro Sen, Naozane Goto, Nobuyuki Kubo & Shuga Amano (14m02s) with the Itou Bomb from Itou to Sen [46]
Bunrakuken Torii & Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Big Bruiser Findlay & Giant Brody (24m19s) with the Murder Backdrop from Matsushita to Brody [75]
Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi defeated Noburo Ikoma (22m21s) with the Exploder [64]
GCG World Tag Team Championship: Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya defeated Animal Harker & King Kong Kennedy (17m59s) with the Fusion Reactor from Genji to Harker [60]
Tanyu Toshusai defeated Yoshinaka Taku (33m24s) with the Dangerous Brainbuster [70]
GCG World Heavyweight Championship: Mabuchi Furusawa defeated Nichiren Funakoshi (37m28s) with the Bridging Tiger Suplex [89]

With the win against Funakoshi in his pocket, the tables have turned - now Furusawa was the one to issue a challenge for Funakoshi's BCG World Heavyweight Title. The match will happen in late July by the end of the SUMMER POWER SERIES, giving the Golden Army member the chance to unify both titles.

arlovski · July 1, 2023

SUMMER POWER SERIES

June - July 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

While one of the longest tours of Black Canvas Grappling with overall 16 shows as well as a tour-ending big event, the SUMMER POWER SERIES is considered secondary in the calendar of the company with the much more important ACE SUMMIT taking place before and GRAPPLING KINGDOM after it and also the summer holiday season overlapping with it. Several temperature records were measured during June and July 2020 on the japanese Island with the highest being 41.1°. BCG was offering free bottles of cooled water to wrestlers and audience in order to keep people safe and hydrated.

Some extra heat was provided by The Golden Army once again - after winning his match against Nichiren Funakoshi in May, especially Mabuchi Furusawa had found his old, confident self again and wasn't shy of taking it to the outside. The two men continued their feud all through June and July with their faction members involved, but the odds remained even in the first few matches. On the 5th night of the tour after an Eight Man Tag Team Match between Funakoshi-gun and The Golden Army that was won by the former, suddenly a man all well known appeared in the building - it was Takayuki 2000! The 3x GCG World Heavyweight Champion made it official, that he had left BHOTWG and joined BCG. As a founding member of The Golden Army he demanded a spot in BCG's version of it, leaving it open at the same time, what would happen to the faction in BHOTWG with his departure. He was welcomed with open arms. Takayuki also announced that from now on he would drop the 2000 and go by his real name, Takayuki Koga. Little did it's members know that he would soon be the reason for their internal crisis.

TAKAYUKI KOGA

40 years old, 19 years of experience

180 cm | 105 kg

3x GCG World Heavyweight Champion, 1x GCG World Tag Team Champion, 1x GCG Openweight Champion, 1x BHOTWG Japanese Champion

Takayuki Koga is a talented Japanese worker and a Golden Canvas Grappling true born. His early ring name Takayuki 2000 was a reference to his debut, which took place on the 4th January 2000. One of the brightest stars that GCG ever produced via their dojo, Takayuki was carefully built up by the company management, who very early on saw in him the talent and natural charisma that could make him one of the biggest stars in Japan. He finally reached the top of the mountain in July 2013, pinning Toshiharu Hyobanshi to win the GCG Heavyweight title, a title he would go on to hold a further two times, including being the final ever champion. In late 2017 he joined four other major ex-GCG stars in joining BHOTWG as part of The Golden Army stable and has quickly become the most over member of the group.

After getting comfortable in his new environment, Koga became more and more bossy towards the other former GCG stars, making a generational and leadership conflict inevitable, as the faction already suffered from conflict between the two original leaders Furusawa and Ryunosuke Matsuki. One could say 2 leaders where already too many - 3 leaders in a group of 5 made conflict inevitable. While initially Koga gave the Golden Army a boost and won them several matches, by the end of the tour his presence seemed to be more of a burden to Furusawa, who now felt both external and internal pressure before his big match against Funakoshi. Koga himself didn't seem thankful one bit for his job in BCG - instead he downplayed the success of the company during a press conference and compared the BCG wrestlers to small fishes in a large pond, that couldn't keep up with a superstar like him. Unsurprisingly, a loss against Razan Okamoto in a Six Man Tag Match on Night XIV was hard to take for Koga and he challenged the charismatic BCG star, that was often compared to him in the past, to a 1 vs 1 on the Final Night of the SUMMER POWER SERIES.

Meanwhile large portions of the Mid and Upper Card had been dominated by an escalating conflict between the newly founded Horde led by Big Bruiser Findlay and the Devil Grappling Army under the leadership of Bunrakuken Torii and Rokuemon Matsushita. For months now the foreigners have been terrorizing the Young Lions, often in a spontaneous combustion of violence. Since they officially worked together as a faction, their behaviour has become much more purposive and unbearable. They eventually went to far when Animal Harker and King Kong Kennedy took pleasure in roughing up Nobuyuki Kubo and Shuga Amano after a won match against them, the two Young Lions most closely associated with the DGA. Matsushita and Goto went in between and have since been fighting vicious battles with the gaijin.

Elsewhere the powerhouse Tag Team of Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki stood out and were able to defeat several other Tag Teams, sometimes in Multiman Matches, among them the former BCG World Tag Team Champions Noritoshi Miura and Inejiro Yoshizawa, making them next in line for a title shot againstthe sensational upstarters Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Tanyu Toshusai.

BCG SUMMER POWER SERIES | FINAL NIGHT

Osaka, Japan - 19.07.2020

shown on Shogun TV (30.906 viewers, 0.04 rating)

Show Rating: [83]

Giant Godai, Kawanari Enomoto & Shogo Awatari defeated Big Boss Urayama, Nobuyuki Kubo & Shuga Amano (8m42s) with the Pacific Ocean Wave Lariat from Godai to Amano [35]
Noburo Ikoma, Sharaku Okimasa, Takenori Doi & Yutaka Ogata defeated Noritoshi Miura, Inejiro Yoshizawa, Ginji Kisaka & Ikki Hosaka (12m57s) with the Northern Lights Bomb from Ikoma to Kisaka [54]
Ryunosuke Matsuki, Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya defeated Toshinobu Taku, Sofu Ozawa & Roku Sotomura (15m33s) with the SUKI special from Matsuki to Sotomura [65]
Bunrakuken Torii defeated Yoshinaka Taku (24m29s) with the Dangerous Forearm [77]
BCG World Tag Team Championship: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Tanyu Toshusai © defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (19m28s) with the Exploder from Wakabayashi to Itou [61] - 1ST DEFENSE -
Bunrakuken Torii & Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Big Bruiser Findlay & GIant Brody (24m36s) with the Murder Backdrop from Matsushita to Findlay [75]
Takayuki Koga defeated Razan Okamoto (28m55s) with the Takayuki Bomb Attack [81]
BCG World Heavyweight Championship: Nichiren Funakoshi defeated Mabuchi Furusawa (33m18s) with the Bridging German Suplex [85] - 4TH DEFENSE -

Right after their victory against Findlay and Brody, Rokuemon Matsushita grabbed a mic and asked for a APWA International Heavyweight Title match against the Big Bruiser on the next tour, adding that he wasn't scared of him and would show him his limits. Pistol Pete Hall was at the commentary table and officially sanctionized the match.

Edited July 1, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · July 2, 2023

ROAD TO GRAPPLING KINGDOM

August 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

In August 2020, for the first time ever, BCG had held an event that in Yoshifusa Maeda's vision would soon become an institution in professional wrestling. GRAPPLING KINGDOM - a reminiscence to the legendary GOLDEN KINDGOM event and another attempt at bringing the two formerly hostile companies back together. It was only fitting, that the president himself announced a new signing that was made in late July during the pre-tour press conference. No other, than the man, who had succeeded Maeda himself as the GCG World Heavyweight Champion in March 2006, had signed a deal with the company - the legendary Hiroyasu Gakusha!

HIROYASU GAKUSHA

41 years old, 23 years of experience

188 cm | 115 kg

4x GCG World Heavyweight Champion, 1x GCG World Tag Team Champion, 1x GCG Openweight Champion

The talented Hiroyasu Gakusha was one of GCG's crown jewels and a major reason why the company survived as long as it did. A muscular 270lber who enjoys nothing more than throwing his opponents around with many suplex variations, Gakusha was established as the company's biggest star when he defeated the legendary Yoshifusa Maeda in a true 'torch passing' match. Gakusha went on to become a four-time GCG World Heavyweight champion, a 'triple crown' winner, and was inducted into the hall of fame. After GCG's demise, Gakusha sat out for several months before finally making the decision to join his long-time admirers BHOTWG, debuting with four other GCG alumni as The Golden Army stable. Although he is now past his best, Gakusha remains a top worker who always brings it in the ring.

Only one month after Takayuki Koga's shock debut, Gakusha had left BHOTWG as well. One can only imagine, that the days of The Golden Army there are over. But other than Koga, Gakusha went another way and reconciled in front of the media with his mentor Maeda, who had welcomed him "back home" as he phrased it and in general had many warm words to say. An approach by Koga and the other Golden Army members in BCG to invite Gakusha to the faction failed miserably. In Gakusha's mind, GCG's Crown Jewels had failed in BHOTWG and the modern GCG as a company wasn't successful either. In the final chapter of his career he said that he would remain true to the 'Roaring Lion' tradition, that was once taught to him and return to his roots. Eventually Gakusha accepted another invitation - one issued to him by Nichiren Funakoshi, who metaphorically offered Gakusha his hand and brought him into Funakoshi-gun. Funakoshi let him also know, that it would be an honour for him to defend his BCG World Heavyweight Title at GRAPPLING KINGDOM against him, a match that Gakusha accepted gladly. Along with other Funakoshi-gun members the two were competing against each other in the course of the tour and the GCG Crown Jewel seemed to have lots of fun in this new, but at the same time old environment.

Meanwhile the crisis within the Golden Army intensified. Not only were they declared a failed faction by Gakusha, but after Mabuchi Furusawa's loss against Funakoshi on the Final Night of the SUMMER POWER SERIES the leadership conflict also escalated further, with Ryunosuke Matsuki and Koga at the forefront of critics. Finally, with a trick, Koga positioned himself as potentially the only leader of the faction. He arranged his 20th Anniversary Special Match for the 3rd Night of the tour - Koga and Matsuki against Furusawa and Masahiro Genji. The match was won by Koga in front of a sold out house in Ōtsu with a pinfall against Furusawa, who Koga right afterwards challenged to a match for the GCG World Heavyweight Title! Along with the title, Koga asked for the faction leadership to be on the line as well - if Furusawa won, he would keep both and Koga would leave the Golden Army, if he lost, he would have to swear loyalty to Koga and accept him as the new leader. As all of the other Golden Army members were fine with these conditions, Furusawa was pressured into accepting them as well.

In the feud between the Devil Grappling Army and The Horde, there was less talking and much more fighting. With the APWA International Heavyweight Title on the line at GRAPPLING KINGDOM, especially Rokuemon Matsushita and Big Bruiser Findlay met in several encounters, sometimes in Tag Team Matches, sometimes in Multiman Matches involving all members of both factions. Win-wise their seemed to be a slight edge on Matsushita's side - but that was only because the gaijin deliberately made two matches end in a disqualification, turning them into a huge brawl without rules. With all The Horde's focus on the DGA, August had been the most relaxing month of the year so far for the Young Lions and the ring crew.

BCG GRAPPLING KINGDOM I

Osaka, Japan - 30.08.2020

shown on Shogun TV (33.213 viewers, 0.04 rating)

Show Rating: [75]

Giant Godai, Big Boss Urayama, Takenori Doi & Yutaka Ogata defeated Nobuyuki Kubo, Shuga Amano, Ginji Kisaka & Ikki Hosaka (10m32s) with the Big Boot from Godai to Hosaka [38]
Yoshinaka Taku, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Roku Sotomura, Kawanari Enomoto & Shogo Awatari (10m10s) with the Full Nelson Bomb from Taku to Sotomura [58]
Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Tanyu Toshusai defeated Noritoshi Miura & Inejiro Yoshizawa (17m55s) with the Dangerous Brainbuster from Toshusai to Yoshizawa [68]
Bunrakuken Torii, Sojuro Sen & Naozane Goto defeated Giant Brody, Animal Harker & King Kong Kennedy (18m54s) with the Dangerous Forearm from Torii to Harker [71]
APWA International Heavyweight Championship: Big Bruiser Findlay © defeated Rokuemon Matsushita (26m48s) with the Backdrop Driver [78] - 2ND DEFENSE -
Razan Okamoto, Noburo Ikoma & Sharaku Okimasa defeated Ryunosuke Matsuki, Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya (23m54s) with the Brainbuster from Okamoto to Urogataya [81]
BCG World Heavyweight Championship: Nichiren Funakoshi © defeated Hiroyasu Gakusha (26m43s) with the Roaring Lariat [70] - 5TH DEFENSE -
GCG World Heavyweight Championship: Takayuki Koga defeated Mabuchi Furusawa © (34m16s) with the Takayuki Bomb Attack [76] - TITLE CHANGE! -

Post Main Event Takayuki Koga declared himself the new and only leader of the Golden Army under the shocked eyes of Mabuchi Furusawa. He also said that Golden Canvas Grappling would never die, but instead thrive again and that the war with BCG was not over.

arlovski · July 2, 2023

WORLD TAG TEAM GRAND PRIX | FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS

In the beginning of September it was time for a special press conference again regarding the WORLD TAG TEAM GRAND PRIX, that was to be carried out for the first time ever under the banner of Black Canvas Grappling. The field of participants was announced by Yoshifusa Maeda together with Yoriie Ippitsusai, who made his first public appearance since suffering from a terrible neck injury in February. He was still recovering, but serving as a patron for the tournament was a welcome change from sitting at home.

Just like the ACE SUMMIT, the WTTGP is a round-robin tournament that consists of two Blocks with 8 randomly distributed Tag Teams each. Block Matches have a maximum time limit of 30 minutes. Wins award 2 points, Draws 1 point for each team, Losses 0 points. The winners of Block A face the runner-ups of Block B and vice versa in the Semi Finals, before the ultimate winner of the tournament is crowned in the Grand Finale and awarded a shot at the Tag Team Championship of their choice. Several teams from outside of the organization have followed Maeda's call and will be trying their luck in the tournament. But the biggest surprises have definitely been the team of Hiroyasu Gakusha and Mabuchi Furusawa, that will probably fuel the conflict within The Golden Army and also the team of Yoshinaka Taku, who will take part in the tournament alongside Motoyuki Miyake, a wrestler known for his stint in SAISHO, instead of his father Toshinobu Taku.

BLOCK A

DANNY CAVANAGH & TIM WESTYBROOK

former NOTBPW Tag Team Champions and Ed Henson Memorial Tag Team Cup Winners

affiliated with Pride Glory Honor Wrestling

BIG BRUISER FINDLAY & GIANT BRODY

affiliated with The Horde

MASAHIRO GENJI & MASASHI UROGATAYA

reigning GCG World Tag Team Champions

affiliated with The Golden Army

NOBURO IKOMA & SHARAKU OKIMASA

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

EIKICHI ITOU & ISORUKO ARAKAKI

BUNRAKUKEN TORII & ROKUEMON MATSUSHITA

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

RAV UMAGA & BALI SO'OIALO

former GCG World Tag Team Champions

affiliated with Pittsburgh Steel Wrestling

FUYUHIKO WAKABAYASHI & TANYU TOSHUSAI

reigning BCG World Tag Team Champions

BLOCK B

OTIS VON BATTENBERG & SASQUATCH MCGRAW

former IPW Tag Team Champions

affiliated with Invincible Pro Wrestling

NICHIREN FUNAKOSHI & RAZAN OKAMOTO

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

HIROYASU GAKUSHA & MABUCHI FURUSAWA

ANIMAL HARKER & KING KONG KENNEDY

affiliated with The Horde

TAKAYUKI KOGA & RYUNOSUKE MATSUKI

affiliated with The Golden Army

NORITOSHI MIURA & INEJIRO YOSHIZAWA

former BCG World Tag Team Champions

SOJURO SEN & NAOZANE GOTO

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

YOSHINAKA TAKU & MOTOYUKI MIYAKE

arlovski · July 3, 2023

BCG GRAND PRIX SERIES

September - October 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

For the first time ever Black Canvas Grappling was hosting a second tournament in the course of a year focused specifically on Tag Team Wrestling. 56 Tag Team Matches in two months, plus two Semi Finals and one Grand Finale, to determine the best of them all.

Whoever thought that being a reigning Tag Team Champion would be an advantage in this tournament was proven at least partially wrong when looking at the results from Block A. GCG World Tag Team Champions Masahiro Genji and Masashi Urogataya started well into the tournament with early wins against the teams of Ikoma / Okimasa and Itou / Arakaki, but ultimately failed when they met the three strongest teams of the tournament. No better did the reigning BCG World Tag Team Champions Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Tanyu Toshusai. Although the two could take a draw from the PGHW guests, they lost points against the other favourites and surprisingly lost to the massive Itou and Arakaki as well. It was only fitting that both Champion teams drew against each other in an even bout in 30 minutes, when the time limit expired.

The battle for the Semi Finals was instead decided by three other teams - Big Bruiser Findlay and Giant Brody, Rokuemon Matsushita and Bunrakuken Torii and the PGHW team of Danny Cavanagh and Tim Westybrook. The first and the latter met each other in the ring on Night V of the tour, with 6 points each. It was clearly visible during the tough brawl, that Findlay hated the idea of other foreigners breaking his dominance in the company and meeting him eye to eye. After 18 minutes he was about to end the match via countout by just leaving the arena, as he liked to do in the past when he was unsatisfied with the course. But Cavanagh and Westybrook wouldn't take the easy win - instead they went after him, pulled him back and continued the match in the ring, where it eventually ended in a time limit draw. Both parties were gassed by the time the bell was rung, but after a short break, the fighting continued and it took ring crew members and security to finally separate them. Pistol Pete Hall at the commentary table was so enchanted by their display of violence, that he decided to give one of the PGHW boys, as he called them, a shot at the APWA International Heavyweight Title by the next opportunity.

Cavanagh and Westybrook weren't as successful when it came to their match against the super team of Torii and Matsushita. While they still managed to cut a good figure in the 22-minute affair, the DGA leaders were ultimately just better and won in front of a hot Hikone crowd with Matsushita's Backdrop Driver against Westybrook. In the end they missed the qualification to the Semi Finals by a whisker, when they couldn't defeat the team of Wakabayashi and Toshusai in 30 minutes, with the japanese upstartes displaying an exceptional amount of endurance and fighting spirit. Findlay and Brody on the other hand won all their other matches except for their encounter against Torii and Matsushita, who were too tough a nut to crack on Night XIII. With their win against the Horde members, Torii and Matsushita went undefeated through Block A.

In Block B the race for the Semi Finals was fairly open as well, with three teams being the clear standouts - Nichiren Funakoshi and Razan Okamoto, Hiroyasu Gakusha and Mabuchi Furusawa and Takayuki Koga and Ryunosuke Matsuki. Early on in Night IV Gakusha / Furusawa met with Koga / Matsuki. Gakusha had offered Furusawa to team up during the tournament with the intent of showing him the beauty of wrestling again - and Furusawa was susceptible, given that his position in the Golden Army was weakened anyway and no member left to team with him or rather wanting to team with him, after his losses to Funakoshi after the ACE SUMMIT and Koga taking the GCG World Heavyweight Title and the leadership of the faction from him. He had a point to prove against the GCG stars - and he did at least by showing them, that they were equal, as both teams parted in a draw when the time limit was reached. Still, the draw felt like it was delaying a larger conflict, that was picked up again only by the end of the tour. Gakusha and Furusawa managed to win all their matches, except for their direct encounter with Funakoshi and Okamoto, whereas Koga and Matsuki lost to the Funakoshi-gun members too, but also drew with the surprise team of Yoshinaka Taku and Motoyuki Miyake, making them miss the Semis by just one point. Meanwhile the winners of the Block, Funakoshi and Okamoto, remained undefeated throughout the 1st round, just like their counterparts in Block A did.

Aside from the Block B winners two teams were able to shine, even if they didn't advance to the next round, one of them being the team of Yoshinaka Taku and Motoyuki Miyake. As was explained by Toshinobu Taku as a guest at the commentary table on Night II, it was his will that Taku Jr. would team up with someone else in the tournament. Taku Sr. noted that he couldn't achieve what he was aiming for since the beginning of the year and that he finally realized, that he couldn't keep his son chained to an old man's dream. Thus he urged him to find a partner for the tournament - someone sharing the same potential, that Taku Sr. has been seeing in his son since he had tied his wrestling boots for the first time. Taku Sr. himself would retire when the next opportunity arises. All he was asking for was one last match, which he wanted to have against his son. Taku Jr. and Miyake certainly lived up to the expectations, taking 7 points out of their Block and drawing spectacularly in a very close bout with Koga and Matsuki.

The other surprise team was the duo of Sasquatch McGraw and Otis von Battenberg, a combination of two coarse, super heavyweight brawlers known for their insane antics and their ability to turn just about anything they can find across the arena into a weapon. They ended up with 7 points as well and deeply impressed Animal Harker and King Kong Kennedy, when they clobbered them to a loss in 11 minutes. On Night XIV, when the 1st round ended, the Big Bruiser personally visited the two men in the ring and offered them to work for him, which they accepted with a silent nod.

BUNRAKUKEN TORII & ROKUEMON MATSUSHITA [14] | BIG BRUISER FINDLAY & GIANT BRODY [11]

WINNER OF BLOCK A | RUNNER-UP OF BLOCK A

NICHIREN FUNAKOSHI & RAZAN OKAMOTO [14] | HIROYASU GAKUSHA & MABUCHI FURUSAWA [11]

WINNER OF BLOCK B | RUNNER-UP OF BLOCK B

In a huge Eight Man Tag Team Match on Night XV, the Semi Finalists gave the Uji crowd a pretaste of what to expect three days later. In this altercation the Block A team was successful against the Block B team, although it took them almost 40 minutes in a match with several highlights. No surprises then on Night XVI, where the actual Semi Finals took place and both favourite teams won, making the Grand Finale of the first ever WORLD TAG TEAM GRAND PRIX Nichiren Funakoshi and Razan Okamoto versus Bunrakuken Torii and Rokuemon Matsushita, a battle between the four Pillars of the Sky of BCG.

With the tournament finished, Hiroyasu Gakusha took his chance and challenged Takayuki Koga to a match for the GCG World Heavyweight Title, after winning against The Golden Army alongside Mabuchi Furusawa in a Six Man Tag Team Match. Koga refused, but Gakusha told him, that Yoshifusa Maeda had long given his go and that he was merely formally informing him about this. Gakusha also said towards Furusawa, that he would see what the 'Roaring Lion Style' was all about on the tour-ending Night, whereas a furious Koga countered, that Furusawa would have to make a decision, either for GCG or against it.

BCG WORLD TAG TEAM GRAND PRIX I

Osaka, Japan - 25.10.2020

shown on Shogun TV (36.093 viewers, 0.04 rating)

Show Rating: [86]

Giant Godai, Big Boss Urayama, Takenori Doi & Yutaka Ogata defeated Nobuyuki Kubo, Shuga Amano, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (14m15s) with the Pacific Ocean Wave Lariat from Godai to Awatari [41]
Ryunosuke Matsuki, Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya defeated Sojuro Sen, Naozane Goto & Roku Sotomura (16m35s) with the Mountain SUKI from Matsuki to Sen [71]
Animal Harker, King Kong Kennedy, Sasquatch McGraw & Otis von Battenberg defeated Noburo Ikoma, Sharaku Okimasa, Ginji Kisaka & Ikki Hosaka (13m33s) with the Lariat from McGraw to Kisaka [57]
Toshinobu Taku Retirement Special Match: Yoshinaka Taku defeated Toshinobu Taku (21m06s) with the Gutwrench Tombstone [71]
BCG World Tag Team Championship: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Tanyu Toshusai © defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (22m34s) with the Exploder from Wakabayashi to Arakaki [71] - 2ND DEFENSE -
GCG World Heavyweight Championship: Takayuki Koga © defeated Hiroyasu Gakusha (25m42s) with the Persian Deathlock [73] - 1ST DEFENSE -
APWA International Heavyweight Championship: Big Bruiser Findlay © defeated Danny Cavanagh (29m02s) with the Oklahoma Stampede [76] - 3RD DEFENSE -
World Tag Team Grand Prix I - Grand Finale: Bunrakuken Torii & Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Nichiren Funakoshi & Razan Okamoto (33m44s) with the Dangerous Forearm from Torii to Okamoto [89]

Toshinobu Taku received a retirement ceremony, where he was joined by all members of the Taku-gun, as well as Motoyuki Miyake and Yoshifusa Maeda. He thanked the audience for making his 35-years long career possible and officially passed on the faction to his son, who in his hopes would rejuvenate it and make sure to keep the Taku heritage alive.
After his victory against Hiroyasu Gakusha, Takayuki Koga called it an example of what happens when GCG wrestlers go astray and gave Mabuchi Furusawa a deadline until the end of the year to decide whether he wanted to be part of The Golden Army, or not.
The winner's ceremony for the newly crowned WTTGP winners was held by Yoshifusa Maeda and Yoriie Ippitsusai. Afterwards Torii and Matsushita announced, that they would fight for the GCG World Tag Team Titles at BCG's IXth ANNIVERSARY SHOW.

arlovski · July 3, 2023

BCG ROAD TO ANNIVERSARY SHOW

November 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

With the year slowly coming to an end, the 9th Anniversary of Black Canvas Grappling was ahead. 2020 had been arguably the best and most successful year for the young company so far, that went through many struggles, but ultimately survived and became a mainstay in the japanese pro wrestling scene. During the pre-tour press conference president Yoshifusa Maeda let the media know, that he would like to see a headliner between two trueborns of the company and that in his eyes it was time for Razan Okamoto, to take that spotlight and get another chance at the BCG World Heavyweight Title currently held by Nichiren Funakoshi. It's been more than a year since the two members of Funakoshi-gun have faced each other in a Singles Match. In the flashlight storm of the cameras they shook hands, before promising each other to not go easy in that match.

Less harmonious was the state of the Golden Army - the dispute between Furusawa and the rest of the members was still boiling and Mabuchi Furusawa was in an on-and-off relationship with them during the tour, sometimes fighting at their side, sometimes teaming with Hiroyasu Gakusha and others even against the Golden Army. Eventually it was Ryunosuke Matsuki who challenged Furusawa to a match at the ANNIVERSARY SHOW, to bring him back to his senses. Both men share the same age and have been long-time acquaintances, but Matsuki as a professional wrestler is three years senior to Furusawa and has always been a mentor to him.

Meanwhile the deeply concerned Masahiro Genji and Masashi Urogataya were preparing for their title match against super team Bunrakuken Torii and Rokuemon Matsushita, who have had an insane run during the WORLD TAG TEAM GRAND PRIX in September and October, leaving the tournament as the undefeated champions. They were still on fire in the whole of November, winning several Multiman bouts against the Golden Army, infuriating Takayuki Koga who was starting to lose trust in his peers.

Elsewhere Yoshifusa Maeda set up a match between two wrestlers, who - in his view - represented the next generation of the 'Roaring Lion Style'. After their strong performances on the tour, Yoshinaka Taku and Tanyu Toshusai were awarded a Singles Match against each other at the ANNIVERSARY SHOW, where they would be able to showcase their talent on the grand stage. Right on the 1st Night of the tour Yoshinaka Taku invited Motoyuki Miyake officially into the Taku-gun, to become the first member introduced to the team by Taku Jr.. Miyake accepted and announced, that he would leave Pro Wrestling SAISHO and join BCG on a full-time basis.

BCG 9TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

Kobe, Japan - 22.11.2020

shown on Shogun TV (38.146 viewers, 0.05 rating)

Show Rating: [82]

Eikichi Itou, Isoruko Arakaki, Giant Godai & Big Boss Urayama defeated Nobuyuki Kubo, Shuga Amano, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (13m42s) with the Itou Bomb from Itou to Amano [47]
Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, Takenori Doi & Yutaka Ogata defeated Motoyuki Miyake, Ikki Hosaka & Ginji Kisaka (16m40s) with the Bridging German Suplex from Doi to Hosaka [52]
Big Bruiser Findlay, Animal Harker & King Kong Kennedy defeated Roku Sotomura, Sojuro Sen & Naozane Goto (15m51s) with the Stump Piledriver from Harker to Sen [65]
Giant Brody, Otis von Battenberg & Sasquatch McGraw defeated Hiroyasu Gakusha, Noburo Ikoma & Sharaku Okimasa (20m57s) with the Wild Bomb Whip from McGraw to Ikoma [62]
Yoshinaka Taku defeated Tanyu Toshusai (28m21s) with the Full Nelson Bomb [82]
Mabuchi Furusawa defeated Ryunosuke Matsuki (36m01s) with the Furusawa Armbar [86]
GCG World Tag Team Championship: Bunrakuken Torii & Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya © (32m59s) with the Dangerous Forearm from Torii to Genji [80] - TITLE CHANGE! -
BCG World Heavyweight Championship: Nichiren Funakoshi © defeated Razan Okamoto (33m39s) with the Butterfly Backbreaker [84] - 6TH DEFENSE -

With respect to virtually beating every major team in the company and also two Heavyweight Champions in the course of the WTTGP, Bunrakuken Torii and Rokuemon Matsushita asked for title matches at the New Year's Eve Supershow, to once again make the Devil Grappling Army the most dominant force in BCG. Torii challenged for the BCG World Heavyweight Title whereas Matsushita wanted a shot at the GCG World Heavyweight Title.
Post Main Event an exhausted Nichiren Funakoshi thanked Razan Okamoto for once again bringing him to his limits. He said that he wanted to defend his title at least until the end of the year.

Edited July 3, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · July 3, 2023

BCG WINTER STRIKE SERIES

December 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

It's the last tour of the year for BCG, culminating in the traditional NEW YEAR'S EVE SUPERSHOW starting on the 31st of December and ending on the 1st of January. This year the final show was held in the Nara Baseball Stadium with 20.000 potential seats, with the rest of the tour leading the roster through the regions of Chubu and Kansai and a short break on Christmas.

The two main matches were already announced at the ANNIVERSARY SHOW - both the GCG and the BCG World Heavyweight Title were on the line, with Takayuki Koga and Rokuemon Matsushita fighting for the former and Nichiren Funakoshi and Bunrakuken Torii battling it out for the latter. By 2017, when the company's roster was smaller and the main event picture tighter, the oldest feud of BCG between Funakoshi-gun and the Devil Grappling Army was slowly starting to become stale and the audience was starting to hunger for fresh faces. Now, three years later, interest has returned and the encounters between the two factions left the impression, that their feud was hot again. None of the two athletes could gain an advantage over the other during the tour, giving their duel on the final show of the year lots of big match feeling. For Funakoshi a victory would mean that he would have held the title for a whole calendar year, an achievement only reached by the legendary Pistol Pete Hall so far.

Looking at the other big title match, Koga's mood was somewhere between furious and desperate. His Golden Army seemed to slowly lose confidence and fall apart and every so often the leader yelled at his men, who couldn't live up to his standards which according to him were the GCG standards. The faction had few wins in their pocket before the encounter with Matsushita on December 31 and the outlook for the once proud group was dire.

In the meantime Mabuchi Furusawa still hadn't made a decision for or against the Golden Army, after Ryunosuke Matsuki lost to him in a Singles Match at the ANNIVERSARY SHOW. Hiroyasu Gakusha led that victory back to Furusawa rediscovering his love for wrestling - a sentiment both men shared, as Gakusha said he hasn't had as much fun since his days as a Young Lion. Furusawa was reluctant to admit that, but Gakusha challenged him to a match for New Year's Eve, claiming that he would see it when they would both wrestle each other one against one and that he was sure, that afterwards, Furusawa would be following his heart and making the right decision. Furusawa agreed to the match.

After their outstanding performances in the WTTGP, the ROAD TO ANNIVERSARY SHOW and the WINTER STRIKE SERIES, Yoshifusa Maeda awarded Yoshinaka Taku and Motoyuki Miyake with a match for the BCG World Tag Team Titles, that both men happily accepted. They were facing the reigning champions Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Tanyu Toshusai in several multiman bouts with no clear winner.

BCG NEW YEAR'S EVE SUPERSHOW

Osaka, Japan - 31.12.2020

shown on Shogun TV (34.840 viewers, 0.04 rating)

Show Rating: [85]

Giant Godai, Takenori Doi, Yutaka Ogata, Ginji Kisaka & Ikki Hosaka defeated Big Boss Urayama, Nobuyuki Kubo, Shuga Amano, Kawanari Enomoto & Shogo Awatari (15m03s) with the Charging Knee Strike from Doi to Awatari [43]
Otis von Battenberg & Sasquatch McGraw defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (13m33s) with the Wild Bomb Whip from McGraw to Itou [53]
Ryunosuke Matsuki, Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya defeated Roku Sotomura, Sojuro Sen & Naozane Goto (16m45s) with the SUKI Special from Matsuki to Sotomura [73]
Razan Okamoto, Noburo Ikoma & Sharaku Okimasa defeated Big Bruiser Findlay, Giant Brody & Animal Harker (20m24s) with the Dangerous Brainbuster from Okamoto to Harker [68]
BCG World Tag Team Championship: Yoshinaka Taku & Motoyuki Miyake defeated Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Tanyu Toshusai © (28m14s) with the Full Nelson Bomb from Taku to Toshusai [77] - TITLE CHANGE! -
Mabuchi Furusawa defeated Hiroyasu Gakusha (28m28s) with the Furusawa Armbar [80]
GCG World Heavyweight Championship: Rokuemon Matsushita defeated Takayuki Koga © (29m39s) with the Murder Backdrop [78] - TITLE CHANGE! -
BCG World Heavyweight Championship: Nichiren Funakoshi © defeated Bunrakuken Torii (36m18s) with the Butterfly Backbreaker [87] - 7TH DEFENSE -

Mabuchi Furusawa made his decision about the Golden Army. He announced, that he was indeed leaving and would be competing without any affiliation for the time being.
The last promo of the night belonged to Nichiren Funakoshi, who was opening with words of thanks, before saying that his goal for 2021 was to break the historical reign of Pistol Pete Hall, that had lasted for 516 days. He said that he felt like he was in the greatest shape of his life, but would continue to work hard and to improve further, as his rivals like Torii weren't lazy either. While he admitted, that BCG was growing and changing, he called it his duty to make sure that the tradition of the 'Roaring Lion' will persist and that him and his peers would use bigger platforms and new opportunities to show REAL Canvas Grappling to the world. Finally he was wishing everyone a happy new year.

Edited July 3, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · July 3, 2023

2020 END OF THE YEAR AWARDS

THE JAPANESE WRESTLING YEAR IN REVIEW

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

SENSATIONAL DRAGON

Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods

Looking back at 2020, there was no way around the Sensational Dragon. The 35-years old is at this stage of his career not only one of the most popular wrestlers in Japan, but also the arguably most successful junior heavyweight of all time, putting even the legendary Optimus in his shadow. While he lost the BHOTWG Junior Heavyweight Title in his 6th reign in April to the MYSTIC Dragon in what experts consider an era-defining match, the Sensational Dragon was able to get revenge, leaving his long-time rival behind in Block A and winning the Best Of The Super Juniors later that year. Aside from that he had several modern classics with the Emerald Angel and Marihito Masuko, that he all managed to win. He was not only the best performer of BHOTWG, but also the greatest japanese wrestler of the year.

BEST FOREIGN WRESTLER

MATTHEW KEITH

Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods

2020 has been Matthew Keith's strongest year so far since joining BHOTWG full-time in August 2014 and moving to Japan. The son of legendary Sam Keith has matured into one of the finest technical wrestlers in the world, displaying his flexibility and agility on the ground in several strong bouts against Ieyoshi Shimakage this year. We would do Keith wrong though, if we made a purely technical wrestler out of him. The fan favourite has proven more than once, that he can keep up with the hard-hitting 'Burning Path' in his battles with Munemitsu Senmatsu, Hiroaki Nakasawa and Heihachiro Sakai. His excellent profile is rounded up by strong Tag Team work alongside his partner Tatsuya Toshitara and fellow NEO Prime stable mates. While he hasn't won a big singles title in Japan again past year, Keith has certainly been a must-watch of BHOTWG and the hottest foreign act in Japan.

BEST TAG TEAM

CHOJIRO KITOAJI & BUSSHO MAKIGUCHI

Pride Glory Honor Wrestling

The greatest japanese Tag Team of 2020 has been without the shadow of a doubt Chojiro Kitoaji and Bussho Makiguchi, who were able to win the prestigious PGHW Elite Tag Team Series for an unbelievable 4th time in 5 years! While both haven't had the greatest success in the singles field, they have once again cemented their status as one of the finest Tag Teams of all time with wins over the likes of Kozue Kawashima and Magnum Kobe, BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi and Masaru Ugaki and Ryoma Muruyama. Even the best of the best of PGHW bite their teeth off when facing them as a team.

BEST COMPANY

BURNING HAMMER OF THE WRESTLING GODS

With their new deals with Aichi and Emperor's Choice, BHOTWG's shows have been on the premiere stations nationwide and led to the company with a 54-years long history to become the number one player on the japanese wrestling market once again, leaving PGHW behind once again and filling arenas all over the island. They had the biggest names and the best matches - 2020 there was no way past BHOTWG.

BEST MATCH

SENSATIONAL DRAGON & EMERALD ANGEL VS HELIKAON AND MYSTIC DRAGON

BHOTWG Silencing Dragons, December 2020

Merely days before the end of the year, the super super junior generation of BHOTWG decided to knock it out of the park once again. In a 34-minute affair, the Sensational Dragon and Emerald Angel managed to beat their rivals MYSTIC Dragon and Helikaon in front of a frenetic Izumo crowd of 30.000 people. It was a match, that had it all and will certainly go down in history with a special footnote.

BEST SHOW

BHOTWG INFERNO OF PURITY

June 2020

With a record-setting 34.000 people in attendance and 500.000 people watching at home, BHOTWG's Inferno Of Purity was the biggest and most successful event in the past year. The show had a BHOTWG World Heavyweight Title match between Heihachiro Sakai, Koshiro Ino and Munemitsu Senmatsu in the main event, that saw a title defense of Sakai after 36 minutes. In the Co-Main Event, the MYSTIC Dragon was able to defeat Helikaon, Emerald Angel and Marihito Masuko for the BHOTWG Junior Heavyweight Title.

BEST ROOKIE

TAKENORI DOI

Black Canvas Grappling

At just 22 years of age, Takenori Doi has been putting on some remarkable performances in 2020, making him the best Rookie of the year. Especially mentionable are his battles in a team with Hiroyasu Gakusha, who took the promising Young Lion under his wing, that is already compared to Razan Okamoto by some. Doi will turn pro next year and we are expecting great things from him in the future.

BEST FEMALE WRESTLER

SHIORI JIPPENSHA

5 Star Supreme Wrestling

Ever since the Magic Three have left 5SSW, the company has been placing all of it's hopes and ambitions on Shiori Jippensha, who has been doing a tremendous job carrying them on her shoulders so far. This hasn't changed in 2020 either, where Jippensha developed her rivalries with Yuma Maruya and Fuyuko Higa and won the 5SSW World Title for the 5th time in her career. Jippensha definitely didn't have to shy away from any male competitor in 2020, displaying some of the greatest wrestling in the world, watched by 100.000s of people on the internet. It's a shame, that the halls in Japan booked by her company are relatively empty in comparison.

BEST TECHNIQUE

MASARU UGAKI

Pride Glory Honor Wrestling

There's an old saying by long-term spectators of japanese wrestling, that goes - BHOTWG has the biggest names, but PGHW has the greatest wrestlers. This holds particularly true for Masaru Ugaki, who walks in the path of his legendary mentor Yoshimi Mushashibo. Especially Ugaki's bouts with Magnum Kobe and Seiji Jimbo have been tidbits for insiders this year and testament, that he is the strongest pure technical wrestler in Japan at the moment.

MOST POPULAR WRESTLER

HIROAKI NAKASAWA

Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods

The japanese wrestling fans value nothing more than art and skill. But let's be honest - sometimes we also just want to cheer for someone for being likeable. Hiroaki Nakasawa combines both things in one outstanding package. The 43-years old has been slowly shifting out of the main event picture of BHOTWG in 2020, but according to our survey, he is still the favourite wrestler of the japanese fans and the one they most hate to see lose. May he still have a long career ahead of him!

arlovski · July 4, 2023

NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES

January - February 2021 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

The new year started with some sad news for long-term BCG followers. At the initial press conference, Yoriie Ippitsusai under tears made the announcement, that he was retiring from active competition effective immediately. The 48-years old had suffered a broken neck after a very stiff Brainbuster by Yutaka Ogata at the EXCITE SERIES in February of the previous year. Since then, several exhausting months of physiotherapy lay behind him - he had been working hard, to make his comeback in the ring, as he said. But while at this stage he has regained his fitness, the doctors wouldn't give him medical clearance, as the risk for another neck-related injury was too high and the consequences too dangerous. Ippitsusai said that he made the decision also with his family in mind. He declared his resignation from Taku-gun and thanked Yoshifusa Maeda, who not only offered him an official retirement ceremony for the final night of the tour, but also a back office role.

With Taku-gun reduced to only three members as a result, Yoshinaka Taku went to look for further additions and invited the talented free agent Omezo Shikitei to a 10 Match Trial Series. If Shikitei did well, he would receive a permanent contract and be added to the faction. Meanwhile Taku himself moved into the focus of Hiroyasu Gakusha, who has asked him to become his next opponent at the tour-ending event. Gakusha has made himself a name as a mentor and supporter of young talent in BCG in the past few months, giving several of them a chance to fight by his side or against him.

Also at the press conference the announcement by Maeda was made, that Young Lions Ginji Kisaka, Yutaka Ogata and Shuga Amano would be going on excursion for a year, to hone their skills. Takenori Doi on the other hand would skip the excursion and be added to the pro roster right away, as according to the president he was already much further than his peers. BCG was welcoming back Ichiro Mitsukuri, Koyo Kinoshita and Ryobe Uno from their excursions to the United States. While Mitsukuri and Kinoshita returned jacked up, as heavyweights and in sensational shape, Uno wasn't all that impressive in comparison. All three were the best graduates of the final school year of the Golden Dojo, before its closure. Yet, it seemed like they didn't have much sentiment for Golden Canvas Grappling left, as they declined an offer from Ryunosuke Matsuki to join the struggling Golden Army, saying that they would go their own way. The once significant faction had lost both the GCG World Heavyweight Title and the GCG World Tag Team Titles to the Devil Grappling Army in the course of two months and their internal tensions were tangible at this point, with no match passing by where Takayuki Koga didn't openly express his displeasure with the situation.

There was no word on the fourth graduate, who had been on excursion for the past year, Suguru Emoto - instead a new masked wrestler was taking part in the tour. The absolutely ripped heavyweight powerhouse was introduced as King Lion, an alleged graduate of BCG who had spent the past years in Mexico, as the commentators said. He was able to quickly gravitate with the crowd, by standing out in underneath regions of the card with his agile, but powerful fighting style.

This tour, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Tanyu Toshusai decided to team up several times with Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki, to take on the foreigners of The Horde in Multiman Matches. They were looking good out there, with the highlight being a pinfall from Wakabayashi against Big Bruiser Findlay, that awarded him a chance for the APWA International Heavyweight Title. The GCG World Heavyweight Title was to be defended as well at the big event, as Rokuemon Matsushita decided, that he wanted no other, than his best friend and longest companion, to be the first challenger for his belt. He would be facing Bunrakuken Torii in the main event of the show.

BCG NEW YEAR SUPER SERIES | FINAL NIGHT

Nara, Japan - 16.02.2021

Attendance: 15.000, shown on Shogun TV (35.896 viewers, 0.04 rating)

Show Rating: [80]

Takayuki Koga, Ryunosuke Matsuki, Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya defeated Takenori Doi, King Lion, Roku Sotomura & Sofu Ozawa (16m11s) with the Persian Deathlock from Koga to Sotomura [68]
Giant Brody, King Kong Kennedy, Animal Harker, Sasquatch McGraw & Otis von Battenberg defeated Sojuro Sen, Naozane Goto, Nobuyuki Kubo, Kawanari Enomoto & Shogo Awatari (14m38s) with the Lariat from McGraw to Awatari [58]
Tanyu Toshusai, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Ichiro Mitsukuri, Koyo Kinoshita & Ryobe Uno (17m58s) with the Itou Bomb from Itou to Kinoshita [62]
Omezo Shikitei 10 Match Trial Series - Match #10: Omezo Shikitei went to a time limit draw with Motoyuki Miyake (30m00s) [56]
Hiroyasu Gakusha defeated Yoshinaka Taku (27m04s) with the Gakusha Golden Bomb [74]
APWA International Heavyweight Championship: Big Bruiser Findlay © defeated Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi (30m07s) with the Oklahoma Stampede [77] - 4TH DEFENSE -
Nichiren Funakoshi 15th Anniversary Special Match: Nichiren Funakoshi & Noburo Ikoma defeated Razan Okamoto & Sharaku Okimasa (25m11s) with the Bridging German Suplex from Funakoshi to Okamoto [82]
GCG World Heavyweight Championship: Rokuemon Matsushita © defeated Bunrakuken Torii (26m32s) with the Murder Backdrop [81] - 1ST DEFENSE -

In the beginning of the show, a visibly moved Yoriie Ippitsusai received his retirement ceremony in the company of Yoshifusa Maeda and Toshinobu Taku and gave his goodbyes to the audience.
After his draw with Motoyuki Miyake, Omezo Shikitei was offered a spot in Taku-gun, which he accepted.

arlovski · July 4, 2023

ACE SUMMIT X | FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS

In a special press conference BCG president Yoshifusa Maeda has announced the participants for this year's Ace Summit, also known in the past as the Yoshifusa Maeda Grand Prix. The well recognized round-robin tournament consists of two Blocks with 10 randomly distributed wrestlers each. Block Matches have a maximum time limit of 30 minutes. Wins award 2 points, Draws 1 point for each contender, Losses 0 points. The winner of Block A faces the runner-up of Block B and vice versa in the semi finals, before the ultimate winner of the tournament is crowned in the final match and awarded a shot at the BCG World Heavyweight Title.

This year three special participants from the outside were announced to take part for the first time. One of them was already well known to the fans from his performances in the WORLD TAG TEAM GRAND PRIX - Danny Cavanagh will be joining as a guest participant provided by Pride Glory Honor Wrestling. The other one had entered the scene in a storm of camera flashlights and signed a deal with BCG on a full-time basis, before giving the media the finger - it was the masked monster Hellion! The former 3x RIPW Heavyweight Champion had surprisingly left the United States for the money, that Maeda was offering, as he said during his very short promo. Many believed him to be a future star for the Supreme Wrestling Federation, but he hadn't received a call-up to the main roster yet. Now it seems like BCG had swooped him and he will be joining their gaijin roster and take part in this years ACE SUMMIT. Finally, the third man was former BHOTWG star Taro Shionoya, who was dropped by the company by the end of December and was since deemed the hottest free agent on the japanese market by experts. Shionoya was was long considered a future major player of BHOTWG, who garnered wins against top talent, but for reasons unknown had never won a major title. It is unclear what led to him and BHOTWG going separate ways, but he was certainly the biggest name of all three surprise participants.

BLOCK A

BIG BRUISER FINDLAY | 7TH PARTICIPATION

reigning APWA International Heavyweight Champion

affiliated with The Horde

DANNY CAVANAGH | 1ST PARTICIPATION

affiliated with Pride Glory Honor Wrestling

FUYUHIKO WAKABAYASHI | 2ND PARTICIPATION

GIANT BRODY | 6TH PARTICIPATION

affiliated with The Horde

HIROYASU GAKUSHA | 1ST PARTICIPATION

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

ICHIRO MITSUKURI | 1ST PARTICIPATION

RAZAN OKAMOTO | 10TH PARTICIPATION | 2x WINNER

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

ROKUEMON MATSUSHITA | 7TH PARTICIPATION | 1x WINNER

reigning GCG World Heavyweight Champion and GCG World Tag Team Champion

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

TARO SHIONOYA | 1ST PARTICIPATION

YOSHINAKA TAKU | 4TH PARTICIPATION

reigning BCG World Tag Team Champion

affiliated with Team Taku

BLOCK B

BUNRAKUKEN TORII | 10TH PARTICIPATION | 2x WINNER

reigning GCG World Tag Team Champion

affiliated with Devil Grappling Army

HELLION | 1ST PARTICIPATION

MABUCHI FURUSAWA | 4TH PARTICIPATION

MASAHIRO GENJI | 2ND PARTICIPATION

affiliated with The Golden Army

MOTOYUKI MIYAKE | 1ST PARTICIPATION

reigning BCG World Tag Team Champion

affiliated with Team Taku

NICHIREN FUNAKOSHI | 10TH PARTICIPATION | 4x WINNER

reigning BCG World Heavyweight Champion

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

NOBURO IKOMA | 10TH PARTICIPATION

affiliated with Funakoshi-gun

RYUNOSUKE MATSUKI | 4TH PARTICIPATION

affiliated with The Golden Army

TAKAYUKI KOGA | 1ST PARTICIPATION

affiliated with The Golden Army

TANYU TOSHUSAI | 7TH PARTICIPATION

Edited July 4, 2023 by arlovski

arlovski · July 5, 2023

BCG ACE SUMMIT SERIES

March - April 2021 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'Athletes Of The Black Canvas'

Going into March it was ACE SUMMIT time again and aside from new signings and guest stars, BGC were also able to present a new partnershp to the public - their big events will from now on be broadcasted by Emperor Choice, Japan's leading provider for pay-per-view services, catapulting them into whole new dimensions in terms of access to the japanese market and allowing for a much larger framework to generate viewers. Up to this point, Emperor Choice had only been focusing on BHOTWG, greatly contributing to their meteoric rise in the past few years. Insiders say, that one of the Program Directors has been a passionate fan of the old GCG, that had BCG president Yoshifusa Maeda as their champion, opening a door for the defenders of the 'Roaring Lion' tradition, when even Japan's indisputable No. 2 company PGHW never managed to get a deal with them.

The tournament this year was stacked in both Blocks and had all the ingredients for a very close race to the top. In Block A, all eyes were set on the hottest japanese free agent Taro Shionoya. The former BHOTWG hard hitter entered the competition with with timpani and trumpets, but didn't quite live up to the expectations, leaving the tournament with 8 points only and wins over Danny Cavanagh, Ichiro Mitsukuri, Razan Okamoto and Yoshinaka Taku. Shionoya would later say that Black Canvas Grappling had surprised him - he thought this was a small company, but the competition was really strong and on a level even with his former organization. Another first time participant has been Hiroyasu Gakusha, who ended up on 5th place, winning the direct encounter with Shionoya, but failing against the top group of the Block.

As the dominating group eventually Big Bruiser Findlay, Rokuemon Matsushita, Razan Okamoto and Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi emerged. And lady Fortuna had no smile left for Okamoto again - just like last year he was injured early in the tournament, during his second match against Ichiro Mitsukuri, which Okamoto could still turn into a victory. The weakened BCG original had to take an unfortunate loss against Shionoya afterwards and couldn't overcome Findlay and Matsushita either, leaving him in a position where advancement was unlikely. Still, Okamoto came back in April, after his recovery and achieved several wins before drawing with Wakabayashi in a spectacular match over 30 minutes, that sealed his exclusion from the 2nd Round. Said Wakabayashi didn't fail to surprise the audience once more. The now bearded powerhouse was presenting himself in a new look with significantly more weight, but still ripped. He was not only able to continue his great performances from the previous year, but even surpass them, losing only one match this tournament against Matsushita in an impressive 28-minute affair and drawing once with Razan Okamoto over 30 minutes. Other than that, Wakabayashi has beaten them all, including the Big Bruiser, who he couldn't overcome back in February. Findlay on the other hand was as dominant as ever, losing only to Wakabayashi, but drawing with Matsushita, who he was obviously en par with on a good day. Finally Matsushita went through his Block with straight victories with the exception of his match against Findlay, making him the clear winner of Block A this year. And the second place? Went to Wakabayashi for winning the direct encounter against the Big Bruiser, which means that Wakabayashi - contrary to the bookies' predictions - had reached the Semi Finals in his 2nd participation already and with a big bang.

In Block B, early on Hellion had certainly caught the interest of the audience. The masked monster was the only gaijin in his Block and he had no affiliation yet with The Horde. Obviously he didn't need any assistance, as the former RIPW Heavyweight Champion steamrolled over his competition in the first few matches, beating Genji, Miyake and Ikoma and going for the lead straight away. Finally it was Furusawa who found the weakness of the colossus by methodically working on his arm and forcing him into submission. Funakoshi, Torii and Koga were able to copy this recipe of success, hindering the newcomer from reaching the 2nd Round. Still, the tournament took a conciliatory end for him as he destroyed Toshusai in his final match and also managed to defeat Matsuki, leaving him at a good 10 points.

Also ending up at 10 points was Ryunosuke Matsuki, who just couldn't get past the top group of his Block, much to the dissatisfaction of Takayuki Koga. Before the tournament, Koga declared it the main target of the Golden Army to win the ACE SUMMIT and position themselves for a GCG World Heavyweight Title shot again. While Masahiro Genji's participation was a complete failure, Koga had higher hopes for Matsuki, who was slowly sinking in his perception as well. Looking at Koga's performances in the tournament, it seemed like this feeling was starting to become mutual, though and his leadership increasingly in question. Koga ended up on 10 points as well, losing not only against the top group, but also against Matsuki in their direct encounter. And thus the crisis of the Golden Army continued all through March and April.

Block B's tickets to the next round were as contested as those of Block A. Bunrakuken Torii, Nichiren Funakoshi and Mabuchi Furusawa made it out between themselves, who was going to advance. In a match that is already considered a modern classic of BCG and a textbook display of the 'Roaring Lion' style, Torii drew with Funakoshi in 30 minutes on Night X in a sold out house. Only two nights later Furusawa repeated the feat in Kobe, basically taking Funakoshi out of the equation, who was going to advance. After that, all three men won all of their matches and only the direct encounter between Furusawa and Torii was left. Rulewise, BCG was not prepared for a third draw, as this situation had never occured before. All three matches would have had to be repeated. So all eyes were set on Torii vs Furusawa on Night XVIII. Both men gave it their all and finally, in a magnificent display, after 29 minutes an 38 seconds, shortly before the time limit was reached, Furusawa made Torii tap out in his armbar and secured the win for himself. The whole tournament, Furusawa seemed effortless and free from worries, as if he had left a burden behind with the Golden Army and he certainly went into the Semi Finals as a strong favourite.

ROKUEMON MATSUSHITA | FUYUHIKO WAKABAYASHI | MABUCHI FURUSAWA | NICHIREN FUNAKOSHI

WINNER OF BLOCK A | RUNNER-UP OF BLOCK A | WINNER OF BLOCK B | RUNNER-UP OF BLOCK B

As is tradition at this point, on Night XIX, all four finalists battled each other in a Tag Team Match with Block A going against Block B. This year the team of Furusawa and Funakoshi was successful and might have given an indication on the Grand Finale. The two Semi Finals took place only three days later on Night XX. Both matches went well over 30 minutes and couldn't have been closer, but in the end Rokuemon Matsushita and Mabuchi Furusawa left them victorious.

Although Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi had only had a shot at the APWA International Heavyweight Title in February, APWA representative Pistol Pete Hall was looking to give him another chance, as he was deeply impressed by the performances of the 31-years old in the tournament and also because Wakabayashi had beaten reigning champion Big Bruiser Findlay in his Block.

BCG ACE SUMMIT X

Kyoto, Japan - 19.04.2021

Attendance: 25.970, shown on Emperor Choice (154.990 buys, 0.30 rating)

Show Rating: [83]

Takenori Doi, Ikki Hosaka, Giant Godai & Big Boss Urayama defeated Katsunosuki Oshiro, Nobuyuki Kubo, Kawanari Enomoto & Shogo Awatari (13m07s) with the Pacific Ocean Wave Lariat from Godai to Oshiro [44]
Giant Brody, King Kong Kennedy, Sasquatch McGraw & Otis von Battenberg defeated Tanyu Toshusai, Roku Sotomura, Noritoshi Miura & Inejiro Yoshizawa (14m01s) with the Lariat from Brody to Miura [62]
Nichiren Funakoshi, Noburo Ikoma & Sharaku Okimasa defeated King Lion, Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (16m08s) with the Roaring Lariat from Funakoshi to Lion [76]
Bunrakuken Torii, Sojuro Sen & Naozane Goto defeated Ichiro Mitsukuri, Koyo Kinoshita & Ryobe Uno (17m51s) with the Goto Slam from Goto to Uno [71]
BCG World Tag Team Championship: Yoshinaka Taku & Motoyuki Miyake © defeated Masahiro Genji & Masashi Urogataya (24m47s) with the Gutwrench Tombstone from Taku to Urogataya [78] - 1ST DEFENSE -
Razan Okamoto defeated Hiroyasu Gakusha (29m05s) with the Dangerous Brainbuster [76]
APWA International Heavyweight Championship: Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi defeated Big Bruiser Findlay © (30m41s) with the Exploder [72] - TITLE CHANGE! -
Ace Summit X - Grand Finale: Mabuchi Furusawa defeated Rokuemon Matsushita (32m48s) with the Bridging Tiger Suplex [84]

The winner's ceremony after the Main Event of the show was conducted by Yoshifusa Maeda in front of a still fairly shocked and quiet crowd. When it was Furusawa's turn to direct a few words to the audience, he showed no arrogance and neither did he belittle the performance of his opponent - instead Furusawa only said, that he was going to challenge for the GCG World Heavyweight Title, before ending with an "Arigatō" and a deep bow towards the 25.000 people in attendance.

arlovski · July 5, 2023

YOUNG LIONS | GRADUATES OF 2021

With the ACE SUMMIT at the centre of attention, the new graduates joining Black Canvas Grappling were almost overlooked. Two men have joined the company this year, with Katsunosuki Oshiro making it through the difficult program of the company's own Black Dojo and the talented Mitsuhide Miyajima coming in from the privately owned WWA: Japan facility.

KATSUNOSUKI OSHIRO

20 years old Muscular Heavyweight

196 cm | 140 kg

MITSUHIDE MIYAJIMA

23 years old Toned Middleweight

185 cm | 112 kg

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