arlovski Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 (edited) DESTINY MASTERS FORMED IN JANUARY 2020 HARANOBU KOBAYASHI (Leader) • BISON YANO • BRUTE KIKUCHI • SHOZO FURUTA Past Members: Avalanche Takano The Destiny Masters, founded in January 2020 by Haranobu Kobayashi, Avalanche Takano, BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi, emerged following their collective departure from Pride Glory Honor Wrestling (PGHW) in pursuit of their aspirations. Driven by their belief in their capacity to lead a wrestling company, they ventured to Super Grand Melee, severing ties with PGHW in the process. Their emblem, the Mon, symbolizes the concept of the red string of fate, a myth deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. According to this belief, an invisible red string connects individuals, guiding them towards significant encounters and shared destinies. This legend suggests that those bound by this mystical thread are destined to play pivotal roles in each other's lives, irrespective of time, place, or circumstances. While this red string may encounter obstacles and challenges, it is said to be unbreakable, signifying the enduring nature of the connections it represents. OCEANERS FORMED IN JANUARY 2021 FUYUHIKO WAKABAYASHI (Leader) • KYUICHI MATSUMOTO • EIKICHI ITOU • ISORUKO ARAKAKI Past Members: Established in January 2021, the OCEANERS are a faction comprised of individuals from coastal towns in Japan. Founding members include Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, who also leads the group, along with Kyuichi Matsumoto, Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki. Having previously teamed up extensively, the formation of the group was a natural progression. The OCEANERS' journey to strength revolves around harnessing the power of the ocean - they utilize water's natural resistance to sculpt and train their bodies. Not only are they exceptional swimmers, but they also incorporate a diet rich in protein from fish and seafood. Symbolizing their theme, they adopt a deep blue emblem depicting ocean waves under a bright sun. STRONGARMS FORMED IN JANUARY 2020 HIROSHI MORISUE • BATTLE SAKATA • KOICHI KAJIWARA • KIMI KAWANO • KUNIYOSHI KAWAMURA Past Members: The STRONGARMS, a collective formed by ex-members of the WEXXV hardcore wrestling promotion, boast Hiroshi Morisue and Battle Sakata as their official founders, with Koichi Kajiwara and Kimi Kawano swiftly joining their ranks. Notably, the group operates without a designated leader, with all members regarding themselves as equals. Rooted in the heavyweight wrestling style established by Motoichi Arakida during his tenure as a road agent at WEXXV, the STRONGARMS retain a profound connection to the raw, unbridled essence of their former promotion, which was often viewed as unconventional within the Japanese wrestling community. This sentiment is reflected in their emblem - a symbolic representation of the kanji for "violence" enclosed within a circle filled with blood. KUROFUNE FORMED IN NOVEMBER 2020 BURT HUDSON (Leader) • OX MASTADON • BAM BAM BUNDY • ANIMAL HARKER Past Members: King Kong Kennedy, Jack Marlowe, Big Smack Scott For months, the gaijin wrestlers in Super Grand Melee operated without an official name, although they regularly collaborated and formed alliances akin to traditional Japanese factions. In November 2020, commentator Naizen Uboshita informally dubbed them Kurofune, translating to "black ships" in reference to the historical term for Western vessels that arrived in Japan during the 16th and 19th centuries. The Kurofune group is characterized by their disdainful behavior towards Japanese culture and traditions, as well as internal power struggles. They are notorious for their disruptive conduct, including the use of weapons during matches and intimidating the Young Lions, who assist with ring crew duties. Symbolically, their emblem resembles the foreign ships that contributed to Japan's isolation during the Edo period, evoking negative sentiments among the Japanese populace to this day. _____________________________________________________________________________ INACTIVE GROUPS MOST VIOLENT PLAYERS FORMED IN FEBRUARY 2020 | DISBANDED IN JULY 2021 Past Members: Morimasa Kato, Kimitada Yanagita, Kuniyoshi Kawamura, Oda Yakuta Formed during the inaugural Muscle Destiny Series, the Most Violent Players emerged from the ranks of former INSPIRE wrestlers Morimasa Kato, Kimitada Yanagita and Oda Yakuta. Their interpretation of the Saikyou No Michi emphasizes mastery of various martial arts and techniques rather than sheer muscle and strength, although each member possesses ample physical prowess. Their MMA-inspired approach, characterized by grappling and submission techniques, sets them apart in Super Grand Melee, yet they have achieved notable success. Their emblem, a hand-shaped Mon derived from the word Karate ("empty hand"), symbolizes the essence of martial arts: unarmed combat. Reflecting the evolution of karate throughout history, the Most Violent Players seek proficiency across diverse martial disciplines, including grappling, locks, vital point strikes and throws. Their aspiration is to excel in all facets of martial arts and thus becoming the strongest, embodying a holistic approach to combat proficiency. The group disbanded in July 2021 due to Morimasa Kato leaving for Pride Glory Honor Wrestling. Edited April 28 by arlovski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 (edited) SGM STRONGEST HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Currently held by Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi • 5th Champion • The SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship is the centerpiece of the league and represents singles competition. In February 2020, Haranobu Kobayashi became the first titleholder. Matches for the title generally have a time limit of 60 minutes, unless stated otherwise. If the 60-minute mark is reached, the match ends in a draw and there is no title change. IPWA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Currently held by Big Bruiser Findlay • 2nd Champion • The IPWA International Heavyweight Championship originated from a dispute between Super Grand Melee and Titan Pro Wrestling. Burt Hudson managed to defeat the reigning TPW Heavyweight Champion Morgan Murray fairly in a title match at DREAMSTAGE II. However, TPW, led by Dread, chose not to acknowledge the title change and took the belt back to the USA. In the aftermath, SGM and TPW agreed to establish the International Professional Wrestling Alliance (IPWA), under which a new title, the IPWA International Heavyweight Title, would be contested. Burt Hudson was designated as the first holder of this new title. Matches for the title generally have a time limit of 60 minutes, unless stated otherwise. If the 60-minute mark is reached, the match ends in a draw and there is no title change. SGM JAPANESE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Currently held by Sozen Ishinomori • 3rd Champion • The SGM Japanese National Championship is a remote replica of the original BHOTWG World Championship, first held by Master Kitozon, in whose tradition Super Grand Melee see themselves stylistically. In August 2021, Yasuhiko Taira became the first titleholder, winning the belt against Yasunobu Masuno in a special charity event for Koshiro Ino. Matches for the title generally have a time limit of 60 minutes, unless stated otherwise. If the 60-minute mark is reached, the match ends in a draw and there is no title change. SGM STRONGEST TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Currently held by Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy • 4th Champions • The SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship is the doubles championship. In February 2020, BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi became the first titleholders. Matches for the title generally have a time limit of 60 minutes, unless stated otherwise. If the 60-minute mark is reached, the match ends in a draw and there is no title change. WORLD'S STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX Previously won by Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi • 3rd Winner • The SGM Strongest Singles Grand Prix is an annual round-robin tournament and the most prestigious tournament of the company. The final is held annually on December 31st at SGM's biggest show, Dreamstage. Nothing embodies the spirit of Saikyou No Michi more than this tournament. In the group stage, matches have a time limit of 30 minutes. Wins earn 2 points, draws earn 1 point, and losses earn 0 points. The winner of Block A faces the second-placed wrestler of Block B in the semifinals, and vice versa. WORLD'S STRONGEST DOUBLES GRAND PRIX Previously won by Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy • 3rd Winners • The SGM Strongest Doubles Grand Prix is the annual tag team tournament of Super Grand Melee. The final is held annually in June at Musclebound. In the group stage, matches have a time limit of 30 minutes. Wins earn 2 points, draws earn 1 point, and losses earn 0 points. The winner of Block A faces the second-placed team of Block B in the semifinals, and vice versa. Edited yesterday at 03:18 PM by arlovski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 (edited) TOURING PLAN SGM Muscle Destiny Series & Macho Kingdom | 4th January - 9th February 2020 | Tohoku SGM Power Rush Series & Powervision | 21st March - 19th April 2020 | Tohoku SGM Real Muscle Series & Musclebound | 10th May - 14th June 2020 | Tohoku SGM Limit Break Series & Overpower | 17th July - 16th August 2020 | Tohoku SGM Brute Strength Series & Stronghold | 25th September - 18th October 2020 | Tohoku SGM Kinniku Climb Series & Dreamstage | 7th November - 31st December 2020 | Tohoku SGM Muscle Destiny Series & Macho Kingdom | 17th January - 21st February 2021 | Tohoku SGM Power Rush Series & Powervision | 19th March - 11th April 2021 | Tohoku SGM Real Muscle Series & Musclebound | 14th May - 20th June 2021 | Tohoku SGM Limit Break Series & Overpower | 23rd July - 15th August 2021 | Tohoku SGM Brute Strength Series & Stronghold | 18th September - 10th October 2021 | Tohoku SGM Kinniku Climb Series & Dreamstage | 11th November - 31st December 2021 | Tohoku Pro Wrestling BUNKAI! | End Of The Year Awards 2021 SGM Muscle Destiny Series & Macho Kingdom | 14th January - 06th February 2022 | Tohoku SGM Power Rush Series & Powervision | 18th March - 10th April 2022 | Tohoku SGM Real Muscle Series & Musclebound | 12th May - 19th June 2022 | Tohoku SGM Limit Break Series & Overpower | 29th July - 28th August 2022 | Tohoku SGM Brute Strength Series & Stronghold | 28th September - 16th October 2022 | Tohoku SGM Kinniku Climb Series & Dreamstage | 08th November - 31st December 2022 | Tohoku Pro Wrestling BUNKAI! | End Of The Year Awards 2022 Edited 11 hours ago by arlovski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 (edited) SUPER GRAND MELEE [SGM] | THE STRONGEST PATH Friday, the 16th November of 1984 - Japan is already well into its period of economic prosperity known as the "Japanese economic miracle". Urban areas in Japan are expanding rapidly as people migrate to the cities in search of better economic opportunities. Cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya are becoming densely populated metropolitan centers. Japan is at the forefront of technological innovation, especially in electronics and the automotive industry. The boom period can be felt in various economic sectors, including the professional wrestling business. It is on that cold November evening, in the time-honoured Miyazaki Stadium on Kyushu island, that Motoichi Arakida defeats the legendary Hooded Kudo in the Main Event of BHOTWG's EVERLASTING MISSION in front of a sold out crowd of 40.000 people, winning the BHOTWG World Championship for the first time in his soon to be illustrious career. It was supposed to be Arakida's big night - the night that would establish him as the Ace of the company. Just that it didn't. Instead, another 25-years old had all the attention of the crowd. That same night Optimus successfully defended his Junior Heavyweight Title against Elemental in just a little over 20 minutes. The two men had been heavily feuding ever since Optimus took the belt from his rival in February '84 and have since fought one jaw-dropping battle after another. Their encounter had been a preliminary match only, but the next day, pro wrestling fans in Japan were talking about nothing else. The boldness and innovation these two masked men had put on display was unrivalled. With their colourful outfits, their natural charisma and their breathtaking approach to professional wrestling, both men not only put junior wrestling on the map, they also set a defining standard of what it would look like in the next 20 years, strongly challenging BHOTWG's heretofore heavyweight-based direction in the process. While the same age as Optimus, Arakida, a model student of Master Kitozon's, with his sluggish appearance and his slow, methodical style looked like a product from another time in comparison. With Master Kitozon unable to handle the company's business due to progressing illness until his untimely death and seeing the potential and marketability of Optimus and Elemental, BHOTWG did, what they would become known for in the future - they adapted. In the course of the next ten years, junior wrestling was heavily featured and for the first time in the history of the company, juniors would headline the big events, creating additional competition for the few, extremely popular and lucrative spots at the top of the card, that were previously reserved for heavyweights only. Arakida would go on to become a big name anyway. But his sense of tradition was hurt and his pride suffered from the declaration that his wrestling style was outdated. Arakida would stay with BHOTWG until October 2001, before a botched Backdrop by Haruki Kudo would seriously injure him and effectively end his career. He became known for two more BHOTWG World Championship reigns as well as his nickname "The Japanese Defender", for his fierce rivalries with the top gaijins of the company, often being featured in special attraction matches or semi main events. By the end of 2001 Arakida left the company as a wealthy and well-remembered man, but ultimately disheartened by the direction it had taken. In the following years, Arakida became a vocal critic of BHOTWG's creative ventures and changes in style in various interviews, eventually turning him into a persona non grata and permanently obstructing a way into a backstage role, not only in BHOTWG, but other major players of the Japanese scene as well. In 2005, of all companies, he joined Ryu Kajahara's WEXXV project, that became the founding member of the Modern Japan Movement - a movement based on the idea of dropping the traditional japanese touring schedule in favour of a more western approach. Kajahara had personally convinced Arakida to join, which the latter agreed to under the condition, that he would have nothing to do with the hardcore part of the product and be utilized as an agent for classic heavyweight wrestling only. His influence within the short-lived promotion became very visible in the style of players like Koichi Kajiwara, Munemitsu Senmatsu, Kyuichi Matsumoto or Eikichi Itou. This style was an adaptation of the classical BHOTWG heavyweight style, with a focus on a strong body, a strong mind and methodical, hard-hitting in-ring work. WEXXV closed doors in December 2016 and with its closure, it seemed like the last chapter in the career of Motoichi Arakida had been written. Until two years later, when an elderly businessman named Hiroto Tanaka tracked him down and arranged a dinner. That evening, Tanaka admitted, that he had been passionately watching BHOTWG in the 1980s and never missed one of their big events. His favourite wrestler had never been one of the juniors, not even one of the modern, fast-paced heavyweights, but none other than Arakida. Nothing brought him more pleasure than Arakida going into a vicious exchange with Dread and ultimately overcoming the american monster. The two men reminisced and discussed their philosophies of professional wrestling. Sake flew, laughter filled the room and finally, in a sentimental moment, Tanaka extended an invitation to Arakida to venture into business together. Tanaka proposed to provide the majority of the necessary financial resources, while Arakida would assume responsibility for overseeing the operations. Creatively and direction-wise, it would be Arakida's company. Puzzled by this unexpected advance Arakida had to gather himself. Looking back, it is unclear whether it was the alcohol, the sentimentality or the sincere admiration shown by Tanaka, that convinced him at 60 years of age to plunge into one final adventure, but Arakida agreed. Both men raised their glasses and celebrated their cooperation, before Tanaka asked, what path Arakida would walk on with his own company. The answer: "Saikyou no Michi - The STRONGEST Path!" Edited April 18 by arlovski 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 (edited) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPER GRAND MELEE A TIMELINE ■ Motoichi Arakida and Hiroto Tanaka meat for dinner on a faithful evening by the end of December 2018. The two men agree to found Super Grand Melee, a Japanese professional wrestling company focused on methodical, hard-hitting heavyweight wrestling, or as Arakida puts it: 'The Strongest Path'. Tanaka will cover finances, whereas Arakida will be responsible for operations and day-to-day business. ■ From the final winter months to spring 2019, Arakida is working on a concept and a touring plan. Several terms are being trademarked, among them the company name. Super Grand Melee will feature six big events as well as two championship belts and two tournaments, covering singles and tag team competition. By the end of April, the first potential wrestler for the new company is invited to lunch by Arakida: it is Munemitsu Senmatsu. Arakida wants to build the whole company around him - to Arakida's regret, Senmatsu declines the offer and decides to stay with BHOTWG. A bad omen for the new company? ■ In search of assistance with talent recruitment as well as daily business, Arakida is contacting Ryu Kajahara. He is also offering him a role as the colour commentator of SGM's big events, but ultimately fails to convince him to come out of retirement. A week later Kajahara calls to offer some support, though, in return for Arakida's excellent services as an agent in WEXXV. SGM may use the old WEXXV office in Sendai as a provisional headquarter - it will be available rent-free for five years. Kajahara also promised, that he would advertise SGM's first show and contact members of the former WEXXV fanbase, to give the company a headstart. His efforts are bearing fruit, with the company achieving a certain level of recognition even prior to its official launch, notably within the Tohoku region. ■ In the course of a hot May and June, Arakida is meeting with his old BHOTWG contacts Eiji Hamacho and Eisuke Yoshinobu for business lunch several times. To his joy, both men not only share his vision of professional wrestling, but also agree to join the company as consultants and agents. By the end of June, the three men have drafted a shortlist of potential hirees. Yoshinobu also organises a used, but solid ring and additional equipment needed to host shows. ■ By the end of summer the roster is slowly taking shape, with several contracts being finalised with entry date January 2020. Among the first hirees are Eikichi Itou, Isoruko Arakaki, Koichi Kajiwara, Kyuichi Matsumoto, Oda Yakuta as well as WEXXV veterans Hiroshi Morisue and Battle Sakata. The latter two men, both now in their 40s, admit, that they are not unhappy to leave hardcore wrestling behind and switch to a style suiting their age better. Arakida has hopes, that the young talents will learn from them. ■ SGM is making headlines in Japanese pro wrestling magazines - rumours indicate, that Arakida is meeting with four active wrestlers of Pride Glory Honor Wrestling. Much to the displeasure of PGHW CEO Nobuatsu Tatsuko. What neither the dirt sheets, nor Tatsuko know yet - the rumours are true and the contacted wrestlers are the reigning Historical Japan title holder Avalanche Takano, the reigning Glory Tag Crown Holders BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi as well as the highly talented Haranobu Kobayashi. All four men are considered difficult characters backstage, who can't wait to be on the top. All four also have hefty salary expectations that exceed the young company's financial capabilities. The financial resources of Tanaka would only suffice to bring in two of them. After several weeks of discussions and wagering, Arakida decides to go all in and invest his private savings as well as money taken from a loan into Super Grand Melee. If the company doesn't succeed, Arakida loses everything. In a special press conference in September 2019, the collective walkout of the former PGHW stars is made official. PGHW is adopting a hostile attitude towards SGM in the process. ■ The ordered title belts and trophies have arrived in SGM's headquarters. Arakida and Tanaka are very impressed with the quality. ■ The roster is finalised in September, with the most important remaining signings being Morimasa Kato and Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, who are both prominently featured in presentations. A tour through the Japanese dojos by Eiji Hamacho results in the signing of six young lions, namely Big Boss Urayama, Kawanari Enomoto, Shogo Awatari, Ritsu Ibata, Shuga Amano and Taiji Chajima. The idea of an own dojo is being shelved for the time being due to financial reasons. ■ In October, Dread is calling Arakida - he is planning to launch his own company Titan Pro Wrestling in Texas, featuring several graduates from the TITAN Factory as well as promising heavyweights from all across the United States. He invites Arakida to fly over to catch up and check TPW out. Arakida is gladly accepting the invitation. He is so impressed with TPW, that he agrees to trade talent with them. Through Dread's efforts, four gaijins join SGM's initial roster - them being TITAN Factory graduates "The Doctor Of Pain" Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy, as well as Ox Mastadon and King Kong Kennedy. ■ After several months of negotiations, a representative of Shogun TV is finally willing to offer SGM a television deal. In a 30-minute package going by the title BIG Fight!, highlights of SGM's tours will be shown on a weekly basis at late night. Shogun TV will also broadcast the company's big events in full length. ■ It is December already and the debut show of SGM is coming closer. Hiroya Iwamoto, Naizen Uboshita, Yasuyuki Terakado and Koin Momotani are signed with support roles. Arakida, Hamacho and Yoshinobu are planning the first tour on the drawing board. It will be called Muscle Destiny Series and culminate in the first big event in the first week of February 2020 - MACHO KINGDOM. Edited April 6 by arlovski 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naizen45 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Great start and an interesting concept for SGM. I'm excited for this one! I always love to push Avalanche Takano when playing PGHW, I think he is great and still pretty young. All the guys you took from PGHW can be really big for you, I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Fun roster! I'll be interested to see how the big stars you've signed fit in with an otherwise very inexperienced roster. The renders you've done are great and make for a very fun style. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted March 30 Author Share Posted March 30 (edited) SGM MUSCLE DESTINY SERIES - DAY #1 EIGHT MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Haranobu Kobayashi, Avalanche Takano, BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi vs Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Kimitada Yanagita, Oda Yakuta & Shuga Amano vs Morimasa Kato, Kuniyoshi Kawamura & Ritsu Ibata SINGLES MATCH Ryobe Uno vs Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi TAG TEAM MATCH Bullet Train (Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy) vs Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Yasuhide Tayama, Sozen Ishinomori & Big Boss Urayama vs Kyuichi Matsumoto, MUSCLE Serizawa & Taiji Chajima TAG TEAM MATCH Ox Mastadon & King Kong Kennedy vs The Tokyo Mountains (Shogo Awatari & Kanawari Enomoto) Edited April 1 by arlovski 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGN91 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 I've got RIZIN/PRIDE vibes because of the show poster. Great job! SGM MUSCLE DESINTY SERIES - DAY #1 EIGHT MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Haranobu Kobayashi, Avalanche Takano, BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi vs Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Kimitada Yanagita, Oda Yakuta & Shuga Amano vs Morimasa Kato, Kuniyoshi Kawamura & Ritsu Ibata SINGLES MATCH Ryobe Uno vs Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi TAG TEAM MATCH Bullet Train (Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy) vs Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Yasuhide Tayama, Sozen Ishinomori & Big Boss Urayama vs Kyuichi Matsumoto, MUSCLE Serizawa & Taiji Chajima TAG TEAM MATCH Ox Mastadon & King Kong Kennedy vs The Tokyo Mountains (Shogo Awatari & Kanawari Enomoto) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 EIGHT MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Haranobu Kobayashi, Avalanche Takano, BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi vs Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano Have to go with the PGHW stars here, though it's a good group of opponents. SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Kimitada Yanagita, Oda Yakuta & Shuga Amano vs Morimasa Kato, Kuniyoshi Kawamura & Ritsu Ibata A bit of a guess, but Kato seems to have the most promise despite Yanagita's experience. SINGLES MATCH Ryobe Uno vs Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi Wakabayashi is a future star and I think deserves his break in Japan. TAG TEAM MATCH Bullet Train (Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy) vs Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki A battle of the hosses, though Itou & Arakaki seem to have a future. SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH Yasuhide Tayama, Sozen Ishinomori & Big Boss Urayama vs Kyuichi Matsumoto, MUSCLE Serizawa & Taiji Chajima TAG TEAM MATCH Ox Mastadon & King Kong Kennedy vs The Tokyo Mountains (Shogo Awatari & Kanawari Enomoto) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 1 Author Share Posted April 1 (edited) SGM MUSCLE DESTINY SERIES January - February 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' The first step on the arduous journey undertaken by Motoichi Arakida with his project Super Grand Melee begins on a cold Saturday in January 2020. Against the serene backdrop of the Matsumoto Sports Gymnasium, former PGHW athletes Haranobu Kobayashi, Avalanche Takano, BISON Yan, and BRUTE Kikuchi predictably triumph over their counterparts from the former hardcore league WEXXV in the main event of the show. SGM MUSCLE DESTINY SERIES | NIGHT #1 Matsumoto, Japan - 04.01.2020 Attendance: 86, Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' Ox Mastadon & King Kong Kennedy defeated The Tokyo Mountain (Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto) (8m53s) with the Ox Plough from Mastadon to Awatari [28] ★½ Yasuhide Tayama, Sozen Ishinomori & Big Boss Urayama defeated Kyuichi Matsumoto, MUSCLE Serizawa & Taiji Chajima (15m30s) with the Lariat from Ishinomori to Chajima [46] ★★¼ Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki defeated Bullet Train (Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy) (16m22s) with the Arakaki Spike from Arakaki to Bundy [41] ★★ Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi defeated Ryobe Uno (18m39s) with the Exploder [38] ★¾ Morimasa Kato, Kuniyoshi Kawamura & Ritsu Ibata defeated Kimitada Yanagita, Oda Yakuta & Shuga Amano (14m28s) with the Cross Armbreaker from Kato to Amano [43] ★★ Haranobu Kobayashi, Avalanche Takano, BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi defeated Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano (26m36s) with the Kobayashi Plunge from Kobayashi to Kajiwara [50] ★★½ During the Muscle Destiny Series, several interesting developments unfold throughout January and February. The ex-PGHW men form the inaugural group of the young company on Day #2, Haranobu Kobayashi announces that they would compete under his leadership under the name Destiny Masters. They had all taken their destiny into their own hands when they left PGHW and joined SGM. There was no turning back for them. This project would now be decisive for their future in pro wrestling. The Destiny Masters perform so convincingly on the tour that Kobayashi, Yano and Kikuchi quickly emerge as challengers for the league's titles. Their opponents emerge from two other forming groups. Firstly, there are the STRONGARMS consisting of Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara and Kimi Kawano, all ex-WEXXV. They remain devoted to the spirit of their previous league, summed up by Sakata as 'Raw Violence'. Morisue and Sakata, commonly known as Brothers In Vengeance (BIV), not only shine in multi-man matches but also defeat their biggest challengers for a title shot on Day #6, namely the team of ex-GCG wrestler Yasuhide Tayama and Sozen Ishinomori, earning themselves a title match at the big event. In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Morimasa Kato emerges as Kobayashi's opponent in the match for the Strongest Heavyweight Championship. The mohawk-wearing wrestler is known for his toughness. His technical, MMA-inspired style is rather unconventional for SGM, but it gives him certain unique characteristics. Throughout the tour, he teams up multiple times with Kimitada Yanagita and Oda Yakuta, both also ex-INSPIRE. Additionally, a friendship develops with Kuniyoshi Kawamura, who originally competed for WEXXV, but is also known for his MMA background (record 8 - 12 - 1) and his faux MMA fighting style. On Day #6, the four men announce that they will operate under the name Most Violent Players. Their interpretation of Saikyou No Michi is MMA-based - mastering all styles provides an answer to every situation and thus makes them the strongest. Apart from the title matches, Motoichi Arakida announces during a press conference before the Big Event that he wants to test the abilities of four men in special singles matches. All four have distinguished themselves significantly throughout the tour. On one hand, Avalanche Takano will face off against Kuniyoshi Kawamura. On the other hand, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi will take on Oda Yakuta. There is a lose connection between the foreign wrestlers who came into the company through the efforts of Dread, but the group has not yet decided to officially name itself. So far all four men have mostly attracted attention with their bad manners. SGM MACHO KINGDOM 2020 Iwate, Japan - 09.02.2020 Attendance: 378, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [55] Ox Mastodon, King Kong Kennedy, Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy defeated Big Boss Urayama, Taiji Chajima, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (9m46s) with the Backdrop Driver from Hudson to Chajima [37] ★¾ Kimitada Yanagita, Kyuichi Matsumoto, Ryobe Uno & Shuga Amano defeated Koichi Kajiwara, Kimi Kawano, MUSCLE Serizawa & Ritsu Ibata (16m18s) with the Yanagita Crush from Yanagita to Serizawa [43] ★★ Yasuhide Tayama & Sozen Ishinomori defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (15m10s) with the Backdrop Driver from Tayama to Itou [54] ★★½ Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi defeated Oda Yakuta (18m18s) with the Wrist-clutch Exploder [46] ★★¼ SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi defeated Brothers In Vengeance (Hiroshi Morisue & Battle Sakata) (18m58s) with the Kikuchi Crush from Kikuchi to Sakata [60] ★★★ - TITLE CHANGE! - Avalanche Takano defeated Kuniyoshi Kawamura (21m37s) with the Mountain Takano [58] ★★★ SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship: Haranobu Kobayashi defeated Morimasa Kato (31m07s) with the Kobayashi Plunge [55] ★★¾ - TITLE CHANGE! - The first big event of Super Grand Melee is a perfect evening for the Destiny Masters, who won both championships. Haranobu Kobayashi is meant to have the final word of the show - he is rudely interrupted by Ox Mastadon, though. The half American half Polish behemoth is challenging Kobayashi for the Strongest Heavyweight title at POWERVISION. Kobayashi agrees, announcing that he would teach Mastadon some manners. Edited April 2 by arlovski 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Great first show and tour! No surprises to see the ex PGHW crew dominating the early stages, with Kobayashi a deserving ace. I’ll be keen to see who from outside the PGHW four will be primed to knock him off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 (edited) SGM POWER RUSH SERIES March - April 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' For the Destiny Masters, everything continues to run smoothly in the months of March and April. They engage extensively with the company's four gaijin wrestlers and achieve good results. While Ox Mastadon is the challenger for Haranobu Kobayashi's title, it's actually Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy who stand out during various Multi Man Matches among the foreign group, suggesting that the two could be destined for greater things in the long term than their seniors. On Day #6 of the tour, Mastadon is unsuccesfully trying to attack Kobayashi with a chair following a lost bout, adding some extra heat to their feud. Now that various groups have formed, a complex network of relationships between the different actors at SGM is gradually emerging, along with a hierarchy. For example, the Most Violent Players led by Morimasa Kato repeatedly clash with the STRONGARMS, consisting of ex-WEXXV wrestlers, throughout the Power Rush Series. Elsewhere, the still unaffiliated Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki stand out with multiple victories in tag team matches, prompting Motoichi Arakida to promise them a shot at the titles currently held by BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi at POWERVISION. Observers have pointed out the parallels between the two teams - Itou and Arakaki are a few years younger but have a similar frame to their soon-to-be opponents and in the ring they are representing the Saikyou No Michi very well. Also without a fixed group are Yasuhide Tayama and Sozen Ishinomori, who frequently team up due to their shared past at Golden Canvas Grappling. When asked about this during a press conference, Tayama mentioned that they are currently focusing on the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix, which will be held for the first time in May and June. Tayama himself is known as a specialist in Tag Team Matches from his time at GCG. Nevertheless, he doesn't want to limit himself to just that and aims for success in singles competition as well. At 39, he believes he's still in his prime to prove himself and carry a company on his shoulders. Another man making waves is Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi. Not only does his hair color, somewhere between platinum blonde and white, raise some heads, but also his impactful fighting style and incredible resilience. It's hard to believe that this man spent the past four years in Australia, as since his debut six years ago no other Japanese company has picked him up. On Day #4 of the tour, Wakabayashi successfully pinned Kyuichi Matsumoto after hitting the Exploder in a Six Man Tag Team Match. Matsumoto, whose style is similar to his opponent's, was impressed and challenged Wakabayashi to a singles match at the big event. SGM POWERVISION 2020 Iwate, Japan - 19.04.2020 Attendance: 412, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [57] Big Boss Urayama, MUSCLE Serizawa & Ryobe Uno defeated Shuga Amano, Ritsu Ibata & Taiji Chajima (8m48s) with the Urayama Bomb from Urayama to Chajima [39] ★★ Bullet Train (Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy) defeated Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano (14m05s) with the Oklahoma Stampede from Hudson to Kawano [49] ★★½ Most Violent Players (Morimasa Kato, Kuniyoshi Kawamura, Kimitada Yanagita & Oda Yakuta defeated Brothers In Vengeance (Hiroshi Morisue & Battle Sakata), Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (15m09s) Running Big Boot from Yakuta to Enomoto [47] ★★¼ Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi defeated Kiyuichi Matsumoto (24m14s) with the Wrist-clutch Exploder [51] ★★½ SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi © defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (18m10s) with the Yano Express from Yano to Itou [60] ★★★ - 1ST DEFENSE - Avalanche Takano defeated Yasuhide Tayama (23m53s) with the Mountain Takano [66] ★★★¼ SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship: Haranobu Kobayashi © defeated Ox Mastadon (21m02s) with the Northern Lights Bomb [58] ★★★ - 1ST DEFENSE - Following their match, Kyuichi Matsumoto extended his hand to Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, paying his respects to the performance of his opponent. Edited April 3 by arlovski 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 STRONGEST DOUBLES GRAND PRIX 2020 FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS On April 25, 2020, a special press conference convened at the SGM headquarters in Sendai, Tohoku, spearheaded by Motoichi Arakida. The purpose of this gathering: the announcement of SGM's inaugural tournament, the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix. With both Arakida and Eiji Hamacho presenting, the lineup of participants was unveiled. Among the familiar teams from SGM, one notable addition emerged – the seasoned veterans Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura from Black Canvas Grappling. Having clinched the BCG World Tag Team Titles six times, they entered as reigning champions. While there's no official partnership between SGM and BCG, Arakida and Yoshifusa Maeda, the respective owners, share a mutual respect, driven by their reverence for tradition. The Strongest Doubles Grand Prix operates as a round-robin tournament, featuring two blocks, each comprising six randomly assigned teams. Block matches adhere to a strict 30-minute time limit. Victories are rewarded with 2 points, draws with 1 point for each team, and losses result in 0 points. Semi-final matchups pit the winners of Block A against the runners-up of Block B, and vice versa. The climax unfolds in the Grand Final, where the ultimate victors earn not only the tournament crown but also a coveted shot at the Tag Team Championship. BLOCK A Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy • Morimasa Kato & Kuniyoshi Kawamura • Haranobu Kobayashi & Avalanche Takano Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Kyuichi Matsumoto • Kimitada Yanagita & Oda Yakuta • Inejiro Yoshizawa & Noritoshi Miura reigning BCG World Tag Team Champions BLOCK B Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki • Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano • King Kong Kennedy & Ox Mastadon Hiroshi Morisue & Battle Sakata • Yasuhide Tayama & Sozen Ishinomori • BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi reigning SGM Strongest Tag Team Champion 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 SGM REAL MUSCLE SERIES May - June 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' Before delving into the recap of the inaugural Strongest Doubles Grand Prix, it's worth noting a recent signing that has stirred interest within SGM. Unveiled during a press conference amidst the ongoing tour, this new addition from the United States managed to surprise even the most seasoned insiders. Big Smack Scott, as he's known, made quite the entrance! BIG SMACK SCOTT 44 years old, 26 years of experience 188 cm | 132 kg Big Smack Scott (Scott Sinclair) was once infamous as one of the most disliked and controversial wrestlers in North America (and that was really only because he hadn't travelled more widely). This was not just because of his giant ego and attitude problems, but also because he was a sloppy worker who injured many of his peers. Despite these issues, it was always undisputable that Scott had a magic "X factor" about him which made him an incredibly effective heel, and that was why the SWF took the risk of signing him. It turned out to be a good gamble; being a small fish in a big pond put paid to Scott's ego, a few receipts got him to tighten his ring work, and his Pain Alliance tag team with Kurt Laramee has not only won four sets of tag team titles but also drawn money. He's still not exactly likeable, but his reputation has at least been somewhat salvaged. With his characteristic bravado, Scott wasted no time in making his presence felt, delivering a fiery message to the Japanese press: "Big Smack Scott is here to bring some American muscle to this sorry excuse for a wrestling scene, baby. I've seen tougher opponents in my grandma's knitting club! I came here to show you what real wrestling looks like! And let's face it - you've never seen anything like Big Smack Scott before! You think you can step into the ring with me? You'll be crying for your mama before I even break a sweat! Cuz I'm the man with all the muscle, the Big Smack hustle! And what's with your obsession with honor and respect? Newsflash, losers: in my world, it's survival of the fittest, and you're looking more like the runt of the litter. You people are bowing to everyone like a bunch of spineless cowards! Well, guess what? In the ring, there's no honor, no respect, just pain and humiliation! And I'm gonna make sure each and every one of you jackasses learns that lesson the hard way! So go ahead, Super Grand Melee, throw your best at me. I'll turn your precious heroes into a laughingstock faster than you can say 'sayonara', brother. Because when it comes to the art of the smackdown, nobody does it better than Big Smack Scott!" Scott made his debut on Day #7 of the ongoing tour, often teaming up with fellow Gaijin wrestlers in multi-man matches. It quickly became evident that Scott wasn't just about talk; his muscular physique and in-ring prowess backed up his bold claims. __________________________________________________ Nevertheless, the focus was primarily on the REAL MUSCLE SERIES, particularly the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix. In Group A, the reigning SGM Strongest Heavyweight Champion Haranobu Kobayashi and his Destiny Masters partner Avalanche Takano showcased their tag team prowess impressively. With their high-impact style and incredible endurance, they managed to secure victories consistently, ultimately taking the lead in their block with a perfect clean sheet. The only teams that posed a threat to them were Burt Hudson and Bam Bam Bundy, also known as Bullet Train, who steamrolled their opponents much like their namesake high-speed train. Hudson nearly secured a three-count against Takano after 18 minutes with the Oklahoma Stampede. Additionally, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto pushed the block winners to the brink, lasting until the 29-minute mark against them, narrowly avoiding a draw before falling victim to the champion's Northern Lights Bomb. Despite this, Wakabayashi and Matsumoto managed to advance as runners-up. Apart from their loss against the block winners, they only had one draw against the reigning BCG Tag Team Champions, Inejiro Yoshizawa and Noritoshi Miura. The latter, who competed under their real names but retained the face paint and shoulder pads from their WLW gimmick, put on a commendable showing in the tournament, maintaining their dignity throughout. In fact, their performances impressed Motoichi Arakida so much that he offered them the opportunity to compete for SGM permanently, provided their commitments at Black Canvas Grappling allowed it. Unfortunately though, by the end of the tour, Miura suffered a difficult injury and will probably be out for several months. The losers of the block were Kimitada Yanagita and Oda Yakuta, who failed to secure a single victory. While Yakuta, in particular, had many shining moments in the tournament, it was Yanagita who bore the brunt of the pinfalls. Following the team's elimination in the preliminary rounds, Yanagita questioned in a press conference whether, at 50 years old, he could still keep up. Their colleagues from the Most Violent Players, Morimasa Kato and Kuniyoshi Kawamura, fared slightly better with 5 points but admitted that tag team wrestling wasn't necessarily their forte.. Moving to Block B, the Destiny Masters once again asserted their dominance, this time through BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi. They won all their matches, reaffirming why they are the reigning Strongest Tag Team Champions. They were only seriously challenged by the runners-up of the block, Yasuhide Tayama and Sozen Ishinomori. Ishinomori succumbed to the Yano Express after 26 minutes, much to Tayama's frustration, who believed they could have achieved more. The former GCG men now aim to defeat the reigning champions in the final. Notable performances also came from Brothers In Vengeance, Hiroshi Morisue, and Battle Sakata, as well as tag team newcomers Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki, who showed a lot of potential. In their direct confrontation, the younger duo narrowly lost to the elder statesmen. Itou and Arakaki also earned praise from the champions in their match against Yano and Kikuchi for their resilience and fighting spirit. In the semi-finals on Day #13, the winners of Block A, Haranobu Kobayashi and Avalanche Takano, faced the runners-up of Block B, Yasuhide Tayama and Sozen Ishinomori. Tayama displayed particular fervor and aggression against Kobayashi, aiming to position himself for a shot at the latter's title. A backdrop driver outside the ring raised concerns for Kobayashi's shoulder during the match. Nonetheless, the Destiny Masters emerged victorious in the end, with Takano's Mountain Takano finisher on Ishinomori prompting an unusually strong outburst of expletives from Tayama, hinting at a brewing conflict between him and Ishinomori. Later that evening, Yano and Kikuchi faced Wakabayashi and Matsumoto. The match was intense, but ultimately, despite the underdogs' commendable resilience, the reigning champions emerged victorious once again. As a result, we were set for a final between the two Destiny Masters teams. However, SGM announced the following day that Kobayashi had sustained an injury and would be unable to compete in the tournament final. Consequently, another decision match would take place, almost akin to a loser's bracket, where Wakabayashi and Matsumoto would face Tayama and Ishinomori. While the former continued to show great determination and fire, the latter's internal strife was evident, allowing Wakabayashi and Matsumoto to prevail and earn themselves a second chance against Yano and Kikuchi. Their performances have already stirred up quite a buzz and excitement. SGM MUSCLEBOUND 2020 Iwate, Japan - 14.06.2020 Attendance: 446, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [59] Yasuhide Tayama, Sozen Ishinomori & Ryobe Uno defeated Big Boss Urayama, Shuga Amano & Taiji Chajima (11m10s) with the German Suplex from Uno to Chajima [47] ★★¼ Big Smack Scott, Ox Mastodon, King Kong Kennedy, Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy defeated Koichi Kajiwara, Kimi Kawano, Ritsu Ibata, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto (16m28s) with the Ego Trip from Scott to Kawano [43] ★★¼ Kuniyoshi Kawamura defeated MUSCLE Serizawa (13m47s) with the Kawamura Knee Rush [47] ★★¼ Brothers In Vengeance (Hiroshi Morisue & Battle Sakata) defeated Kimitada Yanagita & Oda Yakuta (15m52s) with the Lariat from Sakata to Yanagita [48] ★★½ Eikichi Itou defeated Inejiro Yoshizawa (17m19s) with the Itou Bomb [44] ★★¼ Avalanche Takano drew with Morimasa Kato (30m00s) [66] ★★★¼ SGM Strongest Doubles Grand Prix I: BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi defeated Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi & Kyuichi Matsumoto (32m03s) with the Kikuchi Crush from Kikuchi to Matsumoto [60] ★★★ After the main event, Motoichi Arakida and Eiji Hamacho came to the ring to conduct the winner's ceremony. The two newly crowned tournament winners displayed a fierce determination and expressed their readiness to take on any challenger for their belts, albeit just having beaten pretty much all of their competition. During a post-event press conference, Haranobu Kobayashi made an appearance with his shoulder taped, expressing apologies for his absence from the tournament final. He announced his return to the ring for the SGM Limit Break Series in July but remained undecided on whether he and his partner Avalanche Takano would seek a direct confrontation with their Destiny Masters teammates, considering Kobayashi's injury had prevented it during the tournament. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 5 Author Share Posted April 5 (edited) ■ NEW SIGNINGS IN JULY | MARLOWE LEAVES SWF FOR SGM Super Grand Melee (SGM) welcomes American pro wrestler Jack Marlowe to its roster, marking a significant addition to the company. With an impressive career spanning over a decade, Marlowe bids farewell to his 11-year tenure with the Supreme Wrestling Federation (SWF) to embark on this new chapter with SGM. While in Japan from 2004 to 2009, Marlowe, known to Western audiences as "Jungle Lord", made waves in the wrestling scene as part of Golden Canvas Grappling's roster, earning respect despite not winning championship gold. Transitioning to SGM, Marlowe will participate in the upcoming LIMIT BREAK SERIES starting mid-July. Making a symbolic return to his roots, Marlowe appeared under his real name, Jack Marlowe, during a recent press conference. As part of his agreement, he receives a shot at the prestigious SGM Strongest Heavyweight Title, currently held by Haranobu Kobayashi, sparking excitement within SGM for his potential to elevate the company's profile and broaden its audience base. In addition, SGM proudly introduces promising young talent Akira Arato, affectionately known as "Double A". Renowned for his unique blend of traditional wrestling, martial arts, and entertainment flair, Arato's journey began with standout performances on the independent circuit. His admiration for Mito Miwa led him to Pro Wrestling SAISHO before seeking permission from Motoichi Arakida to join SGM. Arato will undergo a rigorous 5 Match Trial Series, where he will face both young wrestlers and seasoned veterans within the company. A permanent spot awaits him in SGM upon success, reflecting the company's commitment to nurturing emerging talent. Stay tuned for updates as Jack Marlowe and Akira Arato embark on their respective journeys with Super Grand Melee. ■ REFEREE TERAKADO DEPARTS FOR BHOTWG | WATANABE COMING IN AS REPLACEMENT After only a brief six-month tenure, veteran referee Yasuyuki Terakado joins Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods (BHOTWG) on a full-time basis. While SGM predominantly focuses on young wrestlers, with only a handful of veterans, it was expected that the company's rapid growth would attract interest from larger organizations. However, the departure of one of its referees, particularly 52-year-old Terakado, came as a surprise, especially considering his prior experience limited to the independent circuit before joining SGM. His move to BHOTWG marks a significant leap into one of Japan's largest wrestling leagues. To fill the void left by Terakado, SGM has secured the services of Tsutomu Watanabe, known for his notable contributions at SAISHO. Watanabe's expertise and experience are expected to seamlessly integrate into SGM's operations. ■ MEDICAL UPDATE ON MIURA | RETURN EXPECTED IN 5 MONTHS With the medical assessment finished, there is now clarity on the condition of Noritoshi Miura, who sustained a severe injury on Day #10 of the REAL MUSCLE SERIES. It has been determined that Miura suffered a torn ACL, requiring surgery to repair the ligament. He is expected to undergo surgery and commence training and competition in approximately five months. SGM is committed to supporting Miura during this time with any necessary arrangements and private engagements. Additionally, Miura will serve as a guest commentator for select shows during his recovery period. Despite Miura's injury, SGM remains committed to retaining him and his partner, Inejiro Yoshizawa. From SGM President Motoichi Arakida's perspective, the duo holds a promising future within the company. Arakida also reached out to Yoshifusa Maeda, the owner of Black Canvas Grappling (BCG), to extend apologies for Miura's injury. Miura and Yoshizawa were employed by BCG on a handshake basis and held the BCG World Tag Team Championship at the time of the injury. Following the injury, the championship was vacated and will be contested anew. Arakida assures that the situation has not strained relations between the companies. Edited April 5 by arlovski 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGN91 Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 Still diggin' your graphics, they look always so "real" and crisp. I have Haranobu still as a young boy in my mind lol Due to the long (and converted TEW 16) game with WCG I never played a fitting company for Haranobu, so he never came on my path in TEW 20. But he's a great fit for you, big and strong guy with a great look. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 5 Author Share Posted April 5 (edited) SGM LIMIT BREAK SERIES July - August 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' The American stars are currently enjoying a surge in popularity within the Super Grand Melee scene. Merely a month ago, Big Smack Scott parted ways with the Supreme Wrestling Federation to align himself with SGM. Following suit this month is Jack Marlowe, departing from what is arguably the world's second-largest wrestling company to return to Japan after an eleven-year hiatus. Both men, in their mid-40s, bring considerable star power and international appeal to SGM. However, disparities arise in the terms of their negotiated contracts - while Marlowe has already secured a clause ensuring him a shot at the Strongest Heavyweight Title, Scott can only dream of that for the time being. Consequently, the experiences on tour for these two men diverge. Marlowe swiftly reverts to his heel persona tailored for the Japanese audience, shedding off ring rust in multiman matches. Meanwhile, Scott initially aims for a shot at the Strongest Heavyweight Title. However, on Day #3, he finds himself facing Yasuhide Tayama, who also harbors ambitions for Haranobu Kobayashi's belt. Scott falls short, yet during a mid-tour press conference, he unabashedly asserts his prowess as a tag team wrestler, even claiming legendary status, thereby asserting his entitlement to a shot at the Strongest Tag Team Titles. In response to Scott's challenge, the titleholders BISON Yano and BRUTE Kikuchi, who had previously declared their readiness to face any challengers after their triumph in the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix, graciously accept. Throughout the remainder of the tour, encounters between the Destiny Masters and Marlowe, Scott and other Gaijin of the league are frequent, with the former emerging victorious in the majority of their matches, thus approaching the big event with confidence. Yasuhide Tayama, with his relentless pursuit of Kobayashi's belt, emerges as a formidable adversary. On Day #5, Kobayashi promises to consider him as the next challenger if he can overcome his right-hand man Avalanche Takano the big event. Tayama eagerly seizes the opportunity. Meanwhile, Tayama's former partner, Sozen Ishinomori, appears to have distanced himself completely from Tayama following their defeat in the semifinals of the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix. Almost as an aside, the company announces the departure of the charismatic super heavyweight, who is making the transition to Pride Glory Honor Wrestling. This decision, however, is stated to be independent of the ongoing hostility between the two companies. The LIMIT BREAK SERIES will serve as SGM's farewell tour for the 30-year-old. Elsewhere, the self-doubting veteran Kimitada Yanagita selects an opponent against whom he wishes to test his mettle at the big event - the up-and-coming Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi, who has already garnered attention. Throughout the tour, Yanagita's Most Violent Players clash with Wakabayashi and various partners multiple times, often with Kyuichi Matsumoto, Eikichi Itou and Isoruko Arakaki, all of whom, like Wakabayashi himself, have a swimming background and hail from coastal cities. with Wakabayashi's performances making it seem reasonable for him to skip Yanagita and go straight for the MVP Boss Morimasa Kato. With Marlowe and Scott in the fray, the Gaijin of the league become more vocal and assertive, to the dismay of the ring crew, who have had to endure their antics and, at times, even physical altercations. The STRONGARMS promptly position themselves as defenders to the young ring crew members, engaging in sporadic feuds with the Americans since. SGM OVERPOWER 2020 Iwate, Japan - 16.08.2020 Attendance: 572, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [66] Akira Arato Five Match Trial Series - Match #5: Inejiro Yoshizawa defeated Akira Arato (13m26s) with the Yoshizawa Bomb [38] ★★ Sozen Ishinomori, Big Boss Urayama, Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto defeated MUSCLE Serizawa, Ryobe Uno, Shuga Amano & Ritsu Ibata (13m18s) with the Lariat from Ishinomori to Uno [44] ★★¼ Most Violent Players (Morimasa Kato, Kuniyoshi Kawamura & Oda Yakuta) & Taiji Chajima defeated STRONGARMS (Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano) (17m36s) with the Kawamura Knee Rush from Kawamura to Kawano [48] ★★½ Bullet Train (Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy) defeated Eikichi Itou & Isoruko Arakaki (22m21s) with the Moonsault from Bundy to Itou [51] ★★½ Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi defeated Kimitada Yanagita (17m04s) with the German Suplex [45] ★★¼ SGM Strongest Tag Team Championship: BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi © defeated Big Smack Scott & King Kong Kennedy (13m44s) with the Yano Express from Yano to Kennedy [58] ★★★ - 2ND DEFENSE - Yasuhide Tayama defeated Avalanche Takano (29m28s) with the Backdrop Driver [72] ★★★½ SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship: Haranobu Kobayashi © defeated Jack Marlowe (31m45s) with the Kobayashi Plunge [68] ★★★½ - 2ND DEFENSE - Finishing his Five Match Trial Series with a loss to Inejiro Yoshizawa, 24-years old Akira Arato still managed to leave a good impression with the audience and the stakeholders at Super Grand Melee. In a post-tour press conference it is announced, that Arato will permanently join the roster, but remain under observation. After his match, the charismatic Sozen Ishinomori bid his farewell to the audience, as he will be leaving for PGHW. Following their losing effort against Strongest Tag Team Champions Yano and Kikuchi, Big Smack Scott threw a huge tantrum in the ring, shocking the audience by calling his partner King Kong Kennedy a "useless, fat piece of trash" among other things. Edited April 6 by arlovski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 5 Author Share Posted April 5 30 minutes ago, CGN91 said: Still diggin' your graphics, they look always so "real" and crisp. I have Haranobu still as a young boy in my mind lol Due to the long (and converted TEW 16) game with WCG I never played a fitting company for Haranobu, so he never came on my path in TEW 20. But he's a great fit for you, big and strong guy with a great look. Thanks man, much appreciated! Although I gotta give the credit pretty much to Scottie and back to you, as I copied a lot of the things you guys did in your diaries. You guys really nailed that reporting kind of style, that makes you feel as a reader as if you're reading a real wrestling report about a japanese company. Regarding never playing a fitting company for Kobayashi - same for me. Since playing TEW I think I have done maybe two short runs with PGHW, and both times I felt like he was a little out of place. I'm curious myself how he's gonna do when given the ball. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 SGM BRUTE STRENGTH SERIES September - October 2020 | Highlights shown on Shogun TV as 'SGM BIG Fight!' Autumn has descended upon Japan, evident in the increased rainfall, plummeting temperatures and the sight of barren trees. Yet amidst this seasonal shift, Yasuhide Tayama remains steadfastly resistant to the encroaching autumn of his career. At 39 years old, he appears to be undergoing a rejuvenation, having recently stunned audiences with a sensational victory over Avalanche Takano in just a little over 29 minutes at OVERPOWER. Haranobu Kobayashi, the esteemed leader of Destiny Masters and reigning Strongest Heavyweight Champion, has pledged Tayama a title shot should he emerge triumphant against Takano - a promise slated to materialize at STRONGHOLD in November. Throughout the BRUTE STRENGTH SERIES, these two men repeatedly clash in multiman matches, with Tayama forced to align himself with random allies since the departure of his erstwhile comrade, Sozen Ishinomori. This has resulted in a commendable victory rate for the Destiny Masters. However, whenever Kobayashi and Tayama find themselves clashing in these matches, the intensity of competition escalates, with no clear advantage for the reigning champion. A recent altercation on Day #4 saw Tayama attempting a Backdrop Driver against Kobayashi outside the ring, only to be thwarted by the wily champion - a maneuver reminiscent of the move that had previously sidelined Kobayashi during the semifinals of the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix. Meanwhile, among the league's gaijin contingent, discord simmers beneath the veneer of paradise. Following a string of high-profile defeats, particularly at the hands of Big Smack Scott and Jack Marlowe - individuals expected to lead and elevate the status of foreign competitors, instead of diminishing it - tensions have reached a boiling point. Post-match confrontations among the Americans have become increasingly vocal and, at times, physical. Chief instigator Big Smack Scott's volatile demeanor has injected a considerable degree of chaos into the group dynamics. His relentless targeting of King Kong Kennedy, deriding him for his poor win-loss record and obese physique, has fostered an environment of intimidation and hostility. Scott's coercive tactics have ultimately swayed his compatriots to view Kennedy as a liability, culminating in a collective expulsion from the ring following a brutal beating. As a quasi replacement Animal Harker was brought into the group on a trial basis. The wild man from Texas had left Black Canvas Grappling eight months ago, where he had been a regular for five years. Entering SGM he sported a slightly different look and significantly bulked up phsyique, making him clearly recognizable as a heavyweight. Consequently, the tour's ring crew members have found respite, as the gaijin's internal strife has diverted attention away from them. Following an impressive victory over Kimitada Yanagita during the current tour, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi has boldly challenged the leader of the Most Violent Players, Morimasa Kato to a Singles Match. Renowned for his reputation as a formidable competitor, Kato has encountered setbacks in Super Grand Melee but remains among the company's elite. Accepting Wakabayashi's challenge with the aim of reclaiming his winning ways and positioning himself for the upcoming Strongest Singles Grand Prix, Kato anticipates a heated confrontation at the forthcoming big event - an encounter that promises to captivate audiences with its intensity and drama. SGM STRONGHOLD 2020 Iwate, Japan - 18.10.2020 Attendance: 649, shown on Shogun TV Show Rating: [60] Kimitada Yanagita & Oda Yakuta defeated The Tokyo Mountains (Shogo Awatari & Kawanari Enomoto) (10m25s) with the Lariat from Yakuta to Awatari [34] ★¾ Eikichi Itou, Isoruko Arakaki, Big Boss Urayama & Taiji Chajima defeated Kuniyoshi Kawamura, Inejiro Yoshizawa, Ryobe Uno & Shuga Amano (14m28s) with the Arakaki Spike from Arakaki to Amano [48] ★★½ Jack Marlowe, Ox Mastodon, Animal Harker, Burt Hudson & Bam Bam Bundy defeated STRONGARMS (Hiroshi Morisue, Battle Sakata, Koichi Kajiwara & Kimi Kawano) & Ritsu Ibata (15m46s) with the Jungle Jackhammer from Marlowe to Kawano [48] ★★½ Kyuichi Matsumoto defeated Big Smack Scott (16m34s) with the Matsumoto Murder Bomb [36] ★¾ BISON Yano & BRUTE Kikuchi defeated MUSCLE Serizawa & Akira Arato (13m45s) with the Yano Express from Yano to Arato [64] ★★★¼ Morimasa Kato defeated Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi (28m04s) with the Cross Armbreaker [57] ★★¾ SGM Strongest Heavyweight Championship: Haranobu Kobayashi © defeated Yasuhide Tayama (26m31s) with the Northern Lights Bomb [62] ★★★ - 3RD DEFENSE - Following his loss against Kyuichi Matsumoto, Big Smack Scott grabbed a chair and tried to hurt his opponent. Fortunately, Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi came to help and together, him and Matsumoto could fend the man with the chainmail off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 (edited) ■ WAR FOR TALENTS SHAKES UP ROSTER | MARLOWE AND TAYAMA DEPART Super Grand Melee (SGM) continues to experience turbulence as Jack Marlowe departs from Japan after just four months, opting to join Total Championship Wrestling (TCW) in the United States amid its intense competition with leading organizations like United States Pro Wrestling and Supreme Wrestling Federation. TCW, currently engaged in a fierce talent war, has begun to focus on recruiting older wrestlers who still possess the drive to compete. Motoichi Arakida expressed disappointment over Marlowe's brief tenure. However, Marlowe is not the sole departure from SGM; Yasuhide Tayama has also announced his departure, heading towards Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods (BHOTWG). Tayama, known for his recent strong performances in the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix and matches against Avalanche Takano and reigning Strongest Heavyweight Champion Haranobu Kobayashi, is considered to be experiencing a career resurgence. Many anticipate his reunion with former GCG colleagues Toshiharu Hyobanshi and Takayuki 2000 at BHOTWG. ■ SGM BOLSTERS ROSTER WITH HEAVYWEIGHT SUPERSTARS | NAKASAWA AND TAIRA ADD FIREPOWER AHEAD OF STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX In response to market dynamics and significant turnover, SGM unveiled several high-profile signings during a special press conference. Alongside the reintroduction of Animal Harker, who had previously appeared in the ring during the tour, two notable highlights were announced: former BHOTWG World Champions Yasuhiko Taira and Hiroaki Nakasawa are joining SGM. Hiroaki Nakasawa, known as "The H-Bomb", is a heavyweight wrestling sensation and one of Japan's most prominent stars. Renowned for his intense brawling style, Nakasawa emerged as a major force within BHOTWG, notably seizing the world title in 2006 amidst the INSPIRE crisis. With consistent main event appearances and pivotal contributions, Nakasawa has cemented his status as an iconic figure within the company. Yasuhiko Taira, dubbed "The Bulldozer", brings immense power and skill to the ring. A product of BHOTWG's grooming, Taira ascended to main event status early in his career, culminating in a world title victory in 2008. Despite lingering expectations of transcendent stardom, Taira has remained a significant presence within the wrestling landscape, contributing to various promotions including NEO and NEO-X. The additions of Taira and Nakasawa bolster SGM's roster with two absolute heavyweight superstars. Both men were let go by BHOTWG in an attempt to rejuvenate the roster. Trained by Arakida during their time at the Hinote Dojo, both wrestlers bring distinct styles to the table. Their signings coincide with SGM's upcoming Strongest Singles Grand Prix tournament, culminating in the company's flagship event, Dreamstage, on New Year's night. Arakida expressed optimism about the potential for increased attendance at the event. Edited April 6 by arlovski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Some great additions to the roster! Shame to lose Marlowe and Tayama but you've more than made up for it. You're roster is wild right now! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 7 Author Share Posted April 7 (edited) STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX 2020 FIELD OF PARTICIPANTS On November 1, 2020, Super Grand Melee President Motoichi Arakida held a special press conference at the headquarters in Sendai, Tohoku, marking the second such event of the year. The occasion was the announcement of the company's second annual and highly prestigious tournament: the Strongest Singles Grand Prix. The goal of the tournament, according to Arakida, is nothing short of determining the strongest professional wrestler on the planet. All 20 participants will embark on the arduous Kinniku Climb, spanning November and December, culminating in the finals at the company's biggest event, DREAMSTAGE, held on New Year's night. Arakida was joined by Eisuke Yoshinobu in presenting this year's lineup. Alongside the Destiny Masters, who currently hold all league titles and have previously won the Strongest Doubles Grand Prix, the STRONGARMS, Most Violent Players and Kurofune are represented by their top talent as well. Special attention was also given to Fuyuhiko Wakabayashi and Kyuichi Matsumoto, who have made significant waves this year and are considered dark horse contenders for the tournament victory. However, the standout competitors of the field are undoubtedly the newcomers from Burning Hammer Of The Wrestling Gods, Hiroaki Nakasawa and Yasuhiko Taira. Both former BHOTWG World Champions commanded the majority of the press conference's attention, with journalists expressing keen interest and posing numerous questions. The Strongest Singles Grand Prix operates as a round-robin tournament, featuring two blocks, each consisting of ten randomly assigned wrestlers. Block matches adhere to a strict 30-minute time limit, with victories earning 2 points, draws 1 point, and losses resulting in 0 points. Semi-final matchups pit the winner of Block A against the runner-up of Block B, and vice versa. The tournament culminates in the Grand Final, where the ultimate victors not only claim the tournament crown but also earn a coveted shot at the Strongest Heavyweight Championship. __________________________________________________ BLOCK A BAM BAM BUNDY KUROFUNE BATTLE SAKATA STRONGARMS BIG SMACK SCOTT KUROFUNE BRUTE KIKUCHI DESTINY MASTERS HARANOBU KOBAYASHI DESTINY MASTERS HIROAKI NAKASAWA UNAFFILIATED ISORUKO ARAKAKI UNAFFILIATED KOICHI KAJIWARA STRONGARMS KYUICHI MATSUMOTO UNAFFILIATED YASUHIKO TAIRA UNAFFILIATED __________________________________________________ BLOCK B AVALANCHE TAKANO DESTINY MASTERS BISON YANO DESTINY MASTERS BURT HUDSON KUROFUNE EIKICHI ITOU UNAFFILIATED FUYUHIKO WAKABAYASHI UNAFFILIATED HIROSHI MORISUE STRONGARMS KUNIYOSHI KAWAMURA MOST VIOLENT PLAYERS MORIMASA KATO MOST VIOLENT PLAYERS ODA YAKUTA MOST VIOLENT PLAYERS OX MASTADON KUROFUNE Edited April 18 by arlovski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlovski Posted April 7 Author Share Posted April 7 (edited) STRONGEST SINGLES GRAND PRIX 2020 - PREDICTION CONTEST Tournament Winner: Runner-up: Most Points (Group Stage): Will any wrestler end up with zero points? (Bonus point: If so, who?): Biggest Surprise: Biggest Upset: Edited April 7 by arlovski 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGN91 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 (edited) Stellar graphics as always mate. What AI program are you using? Just randomly predicting though. And btw big thank you for your compliments in one of your lasts posts. I really appreciate it. Tournament Winner: Wakabayashi Runner-Up: Nakasawa Most Points: Nakasawa Nobody will leave the group with zero points. Biggest Surprise: Big Mack Scott eliminates Kobayashi on the final block day. Biggest Upset: Matsumoto beats Taira Edited April 7 by CGN91 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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