GEMS - Hard-Hitting, Mainstream Puro [RWC]

[MidKnightDreary]

GEMS - Golden Star, SB Kento, Fujiwara project announcement

GEMS will be a new project by the trio. Focusing on 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 matches, and pure grappling and striking. Ibushi is said to be inspired by his time with Bloodsport in America, and while the new Japanese company, GEMS, will use a standard ring, the focus on clean, rule-following wrestling will endure. SB Kento and Takuma Fujiwara were recently released from the Dragon Gate roster, and Ibushi famously left NJPW in February. The promotion will open with GEMS Crown of Glory in mid-June 2023.

[OOC:] Inspired by Willsky's excellent PGHW '97 diary (linked below), I will be doing a new Japanese indy. GEMS. Since it's impossible to top Will's description of the format, I will paraphrase it below. 

Stories will be presented individually until they all come to a head at a big show which will be open to predictions. They will be in written, narrative form with no match ratings or graphics.

For each phase (4-6 shows), there will be about 5 stories. Most will feature major stars and main event talent in rivalries, while some will showcase one particular wrestler’s journey.

GEMS does not run tour shows. I am only through the first 4 events, so expect slow progress to start. I will also be sprinkling in interviews, vignettes, and articles, as I feel this makes the world come more alive.

 

Database is RWC June 2023. Thanks to the workers on that, and to Willsky.

[Willsky]

This looks like it'll be a lot of fun. And it's great to see you using the narrative format - I hope you find it as fun to write as I do!

[MidKnightDreary]

Crown Jewels

When the company started, there were likely just two wrestlers known to the outside world. Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi, and Dragon Gate outcast and PWG cameo SB Kento. The two of them had more exposure to the world than the rest of the roster combined. Their signings would have a huge impact on how the fledgling promotion was received, and ensured it started with a little more buzz than any other startup. 

Another popular wrestler signed was Rising HAYATO. HAYATO was one of just a few talents who were truly poached from a different promotion, as the AJPW wrestler finished his commitments with them before signing with GEMS. The high-flyer committed to emphasizing his technical ability to compete with the grapplers and brawlers of GEMS.

GEMS was a strong grappling and striking promotion from the start. Nobody exemplified the grappling side of that more than ex-Pancrase fighter Takatoshi Matsumodo. The mat technician would (among informed circles) stand up next to any grappler in the wrestling world and come away with a shine. Having never held a title in his pro-wrestling career, he intends to make his mark in a promotion that plays right into his strength.

The Crown Jewel title would be awarded to the winner of an all-roster tournament (Crown Jewel First), starting at the second show, Shining Valor, and culminating with the semifinals and finals at the fifth show, Crown Jewel Infinity. Every roster member would be entered into the tournament. GEMS is for everyone. HAYATO would be absent from the first round, but got special permission to do two matches in one night to make up for missing Shining Valor.

Crown of Glory - June 2023

GEMS kicked off with a bang, as 650 fans packed the Tsuyuhashi Sports Center to witness the birth of history. Kota Ibushi and SB Kento teamed up as Diamond Star to face the tag team of Tatami X Kill, Keisuke Okuda and Takatoshi Matsumodo. The main event match was absolutely the match of the night, as the duo of founders defeated the mat specialists with a barrage of strikes, ending with a Kamegoye from Ibushi being enough to put down Matsumodo for the 3-count.

Shining Valor - June 2023

Back to back main events for Kota Ibushi, as he defeated Keisuke Okuda with a Kamegoye in the preliminary round of the Crown Jewel First tournament. The tournament was seeded entirely randomly, with Ibushi and Okuda, despite being respected competitors, having to fight each other just to get into the first round proper. A back and forth war ended with the Golden Star standing tall, as the crowd showered both men with appreciation for their martial prowess.
 

Opening that same show, the crowd got heated up for SB Kento and GLEAT alum Tetsuya Izuchi defeating Kaji Tomato and Kazuaki Mihara. The losing side, better known for comedy, brought unmatched power to the match and the GEMS ring, but Izuchi helped Kento lift Tomato for the Brainbuster, and the youngsters prevailed.

Crown of Valor - July 2023

The first round proper kicked off at this show, as 8 tournament matches took place. Rising HAYATO defeated Tetsuya Izuchi in a good match to open the show. However, that was simply a qualifier, as he now needed to compete again that same night. Against all odds, he did it again, smashing flamboyant powerhouse Dinosaur Takuma with a Shimanami driver to advance to the second round. The crowd rightly applauded his fighting spirt.

Takatoshi Matsumodo advanced too, trapping former Zero1 UN Champion Towa Iwasaki in the Hold of Kajitani to end his title dreams. It was fairly back and forth, until Iwasaki was taken down late in the match, and Matsumodo showed why nobody is his equal on the mat.

Kota Ibushi handled business again, taking out JTO alumni Ren Ayabe. Ayabe landed a stiff kick that elicted groans from the crowd, but Ibushi battled back to put Ayabe down for the count with a Kamegoye.

SB Kento faced off with recent NOAH departee Kinya Okada in what was considered an excellent match. Okada landed a pair of knees to the body that nearly got the job done for him, but Kento's quick counter into a roll-up, then a Brainbuster kept Okada down.
 

Shining Wars - July 2023

The quarterfinals of the Crown Jewel First tournament took place at this show, with Takatoshi Matsumodo trading hold with former King of JTO Ryuya Takekura. Technicial battle ensued, with the two men trading strikes on the feet, giving way to mat-based chain wrestling. Eventually, however, Matsumodo snatched a deep kneebar, and Takekura tapped so he could walk away on his own two feet. 

Rising HAYATO continued his run through the tournament ranks, defeating MUSASHI with the new HAYATO Buster, as he explained after. "I have been training hard, and MUSASHI was a tough opponent, but I truly believe it is my destiny to win the Crown Jewel. I thank management for this opportunity."

HAYATO's semifinal opponent became clear shortly, as SB Kento (ironically, part of management) cut down his second ex-NOAH wrestler in a row. Yasutaka Yano had left the company at the same time as Kinya Okada, Kento's prior opponent, who accompanied Yano to the ring. The finish came when Yano tried for a dropkick, only to be caught out as Kento ducked, then clobbered him with a huge Brainbuster for the 3 count. 
 

Kota Ibushi, founder and Golden Star, defeated Kaji Tomato, the BJW comedy junior turned undersized brawler. Ibushi was 4 inches taller than his opponent, but Kaji's smashmouth forearms gave him something to think about. The two had a passion-filled match, as Ibushi wore down the legs of Tomato until he was struggling to stand. Kento finished him off with a head kick, then a Kamegoye, as his opponent could only kneel. Despite booing Tomato for being a "comedy guy", the audience applauded his fighting spirit as Ibushi raised his hand to honor his efforts.

Kento, HAYATO, and Matsumodo walked to the ring as Tomato left, joining Ibushi. The four semifinalists will be competing at Crown Jewel Infinity for the title. Semi-final pairings were then shown. Kento vs HAYATO, Ibushi vs Matsumodo. Would the young HAYATO be able to take down the man who won almost everything Dragon Gate had to offer? Could Ibushi avoid the deadly mistake of grappling Matsumodo? The fans applauded as the men faced off. Who would be the first Crown Jewel?

[MidKnightDreary]

Every competitor in GEMS takes part in tag matches fairly often. At its beginning, however, GEMS had no tag team titles, and in fact, the first ever champions were crowned at Glory Coronation 2023, the end-of-year show. However, that did not stop a handful of teams, both full-time teams and solo wrestlers, from working to ensure their place on the top of the proverbial heap.

Crown of Glory - June 2023

Keisuke Okuda teamed with Takatoshi Matsumodo as Tatami X Kill, the two martial artists forming a formidible team. However, that was not enough to stave off the wrestlign experience of Diamond Star, SB Kento and Kota Ibushi. Okuda did not drop the fall, but vowed to do his best to win the Crown Jewel First tournament and become top dog in the singles division.

MUSASHI did his part to stake his claim as a player in the singles division, as a pair of Northern Lights Suplexes kept company cofounder Takuma Fujiwara down for three. He enters the tournament full of momentum. 

In the first tag team match in company history, Oji Shiiba and Yasutaka Yano took on a pair of striking prospects, in Ren Ayabe and Tetsuya Izuchi. Former NOAH man Yano delivered a violent dropkick that kept Izuchi down for the count. Unfortunately, Shiiba broke his hand when Ayabe blocked an attack from him, and would have to miss Crown Jewel First.

Shining Valor - June 2023
As the preliminary round of the Crown Jewel First tournament kicked off, nobody was sitting prettier than MUSASHI. Not only was he not sorted into the preliminary round, his first round opponent, Oji Shiiba, had withdrawn, giving him a free pass into the quarterfinals. He celebrated by teaming with Towa Iwasaki, facing Ren Ayabe, who was paired with Takeshi Irei to find success. It did not work for the former King of JTO, as Irei fell victim to a Northern Lights Suplex, and MUSASHI pinned him for the win.

Though his tag team partner was out, Yasutaka Yano was dead focused on the Crown Jewel First tournament. He had been sorted into the preliminary round, but didn't complain, and simply handled business. Facing off against young Arata, he was all business. A pair of dropkicks and a nasty forearm led to a pinfall victory for Yano. Post-match, he sent his best wishes to absent partner Shiiba and dedicated his victory to him.

In the main event, Keisuke Okuda faced off against the most decorated man in GEMS: Kota Ibushi. Okuda, a former Brave Gate champion in his own right, put up a valiant effort, and nearly had a win with a pair of German Suplexes, but Ibushi ended his night with a Kamegoye. The applause from the crowd did not cheer Okuda up, and though he gave the customary handshake after, he was clearly upset.
Crown of Valor - July 2023
MUSASHI continued to reap the benefits of his lucky draw, as he was able to sit out the first round proper. He was invited to be a part of a tag team match with Keisuke Okuda, still in search of his first GEMS win. The two would pair up to face a pair of youngsters (though GEMS did not use the young lion system) in Takuma Fujiwara and Arata. MUSASHI and Okuda won when MUSASHI debuted his new MUSASHI Driver, emphatically driving Arata into the mat for a 3 count. Okuda and MUSASHI shook hands after, signaling that they intended to make this pairing a more permanent development.

Yasutaka Yano continued his impressive run towards the title as he defeated Keita Yano in a battle of Yanos. Keita landed several excellent shots, including a spinning back elbow that nearly put the lights out for Yasutaka, but he kicked out right before 3, then hit a dropkick to win the match.
Shining Wars - July 2023

As the Crown Jewel First Tournament raged on, those who had been eliminated battled for position regardless. Who would be ready when the title was decided? Eliminated wrestlers went to war in a tag team match to open the show, as Keisuke Okuda and Takuma Fujiwara faced Kinya Okada and Tetsuya Izuchi. Okuda made solid headway, wearing down Izuchi, but when he tagged in Fujiwara, the youngster failed to close the deal, and the time limit passed without a fall. Okuda left Fujiwara standing in the ring, out of sheer frustration.

MUSASHI finally made his tournament debut, facing late addition Rising HAYATO. The all-caps battle ended up on the floor, a first for GEMS. Once there, HAYATO delivered MUSASHI head-first into the barricade, and a HAYATO Buster ended MUSASHI's tournament before he was ready for it. 

Yasutaka Yano's Cinderella run came to an end as the former Dragon Gate wrestler SB Kento cut him down. Yano put up a good effort but telegraphed his dropkick too much and Kento made him pay with an emphatic Brainbuster.

At the post-show press conference, Okuda joined MUSASHI, and together they issued a challenge. "Any team, face us in a tag team match. We crave competition." They further stated that their tag team name was War Dog Infinity.

Yasutaka Yano, during his section of the press conference, accepted the challenge. To the surprise and delight of the assembled press, Oji Shiiba returned from his injury and announced that he accepted the challenge. The tag team that won the first tag match in company history would face off against War Dog Infinity at Crown Jewel Infinity.

Edited July 27, 2023 by MidKnightDreary

[MidKnightDreary]

Bump, updated the prior story.