Post by 円相! TV on Sept 24, 2023 2:51:44 GMT
It was an overcast day in Okinawa which meant that Blue Ocean Arena in downtown Okinawa would serve as something of a safe harbor for those living on the coast wondering how they would spend the day. It was standing room only with 5,000 fans on hand to see what would be an interesting and unusual mix of bouts this evening.
The action would pick up quick with a six-man tag between World Cruiserweight Champion AJ Knight along with luchadores MEZA and LYNX in a fast paced matchup against the much hyped team of Akira Nakamura, Shinzo Takamori, and Takeda Izuma – three of the four members of the faction out of northern Japan known as Sapporo Hansou and Yacht Club (SHYc). It was fast paced action that facilitated between the lucha libre maneuvers of MEZA and LYNX and the strong-style oriented attacks from the Japanese team. It was the champ, however, who would seal the deal, catching “Snap Shot” Takamori, the former professional hockey standout, with a Knightfall DDT to pick up a win for fellas from Pollo Road.
Devlin Masters would be his opponent, but it was clear from the jump that this version of Jimmy Winner was very different than the one we have previously known. He was a patient grappler and showed a level of precision that Masters could not keep up with, ultimately submitting him with a kimura in the first round. After the match, Jimmy walked over to a Pollo Road representative with the Scramble Championship and handed the belt over to the officials. Fans capturing the moment on their mobile phones' cameras could hear him saying, “I don’t need this anymore. My sights are set much higher.”
A disappointed Yamazaki would sit in the ring for several moments trying to catch his breath when he would be approached by Thunder Mask, who offered to accept him into the typically junior heavyweight oriented Kaminari Dojo so that he could help improve his endurance and lose weight. A humbled Yamazaki accepted the offer and the two walked backstage together.
The match played out in this way for the first few rounds until Troy snagged a knight on c6 that Toyama had not protected with any of his pawns. This seemed to rattle Starboy and at this point ZENKI called on his zealots in the crowd to “open fire”. Suddenly, close to a thousand of his supporters took out kazoos and started playing them whenever it was Troy’s move and then went silent after. The chessboxing enthusiasts were irate at what they deemed unprofessional behavior.
Officials would pause the match and ordered ZENKI to make the racket stop. But ZENKI pulled out the 2023 JCL Official Rulebook and pointed to a passage that incidental music or song played in a venue in a public match was not considered grounds for disqualification (though it also would not be encouraged). As a result, the JCL officials huddled together and decided they would have to allow it. AJ Knight would be apoplectic and stand with his hands on his hips with a look of disbelief on his face.
We could see Troy’s focus slip just a bit due to the distraction, allowing his knight to be trapped and taken off the board when Toyama developed his queen and suddenly controlled the center of the board. Troy would get some revenge in the eighth round when he landed a right cross to Toyama that would score a knockdown. Starboy, however, with the Zenki zealots urging him on, would get up to his feet.
At this point, Toyama had the advantage on the board and Troy had the advantage in the ring, but there was blood in both places as the fighters alternated back and forth between chess and boxing. The stalemate, however, would be broken in the eleventh round when David Troy would pin Toyama’s queen that was protecting his king! Troy traded a bishop for the queen shortly before the round would expire as the chessboxing fans were on their feet applauding!
Knowing that the momentum had turned on the board, Starboy went into ultra-aggressive mode in the twelfth round, pummeling a David Troy who now adopted a rope-a-dope strategy, eating a few punches but not suffering anything too fatal. As the bell sounded to send the fighters back to the board, even through Toyama’s athletic mask we could see his body language slump over. Midway through the thirteenth round, David Troy would successfully corner Toyama’s king and score a checkmate to win the Gusuku Bowl! Both competitors were absolutely gassed, but ultimately it was David Troy who would take home the trophy as the fans chanted, “Checkmate! Checkmate! Checkmate!” again and again.
The show would have a brief recess as it transitioned back to the sport form rules and the night’s other co-main event, the V2 defense of the World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. We will now broadcast the results:
WORLD JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
METAL HERO and Earth Warrior (c) vs. Katsuhiko Himura and NOBOSUKE
Our ring announcer introduces Katsuhiko "Genius" Himura and NOBOSUKE as the challengers, a combined weight of three hundred and seventy pounds. Himura at 190lbs and NOBOSUKE at 180lbs, a solidly built youngster with a background in gymnastics and swimming. Katsu and NOBOSUKE seem nondescript, both of them in all black trunks, kickbpads, and gloves. They both have respectable hair cuts, no facial hair. To a casual observer, you would think that they simply have a bland style. But to anyone who has followed Japanese pro-wrestling during the last decade, you would know that Himura and NOBOSUKE were part of Shining Road Pro-Wrestling's NOVA division, dedicated to building up the newest generation of fighters. It was there that both of these men made their start and began their friendship. So, their combined look was a throwback to the good ole days.
Across from them of course are the champions, METAL HERO and Earth Warrior who weigh a collective 406lbs. If Katsu and NOBOSUKE wouldn't stand out in a crowd, the champions would be hard to miss. METAL HERO is in a modified version of his body-length suit. His boots, kickpads, and half-tights cover all of his midsection and a black henley rash guard goes right up to dark grey gloves. The mask is condensed, though one of the eyes is still red. Earth Warrior is in blue half-tights and has a sign above his head with a sea turtle that reads in a tall, blocky front: "GET OFF OUR BACKS!". Both fighters have the World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship belts around their respective waists.
We get a quick graphic of the rules in the SPORT FORM that are modified specifically for tag team competition.
HERO and Warrior hand the titles over to the referee who raises them in the air. The champions fist bump and the challengers smack each other on the shoulders as both sets of fighters show they are ready. It's decided that METAL HERO will begin the bout opposite the Genius, Katsuhiko Himura. NOBOSUKE exits to the apron as the bell sounds to begin this unique championship bout.
- Three (3) ten minute rounds.
- Elimination rules.
- Elbows and knee strikes are banned.
- No pinfalls. Submission, Knockouts or Stoppages only.
- No saves, double teams or automatic tags.
- Once a tag is made, the action restarts in the middle of the ring.
- If no eliminations occur and the time expires, the match is a draw. Otherwise the team with the numbers advantage at the end of a draw are the winners.
- Elimination rules.
- Elbows and knee strikes are banned.
- No pinfalls. Submission, Knockouts or Stoppages only.
- No saves, double teams or automatic tags.
- Once a tag is made, the action restarts in the middle of the ring.
- If no eliminations occur and the time expires, the match is a draw. Otherwise the team with the numbers advantage at the end of a draw are the winners.
HERO and Warrior hand the titles over to the referee who raises them in the air. The champions fist bump and the challengers smack each other on the shoulders as both sets of fighters show they are ready. It's decided that METAL HERO will begin the bout opposite the Genius, Katsuhiko Himura. NOBOSUKE exits to the apron as the bell sounds to begin this unique championship bout.
A quick slap of the hands in the centre gets applause from the crowd as the two men circle one another. Himura claps a palm strike, but gets rushed as a result - HERO takes him into the corner turnbuckles and the two are clinched up. The referee calls for a break and they are reset to the middle of the ring. Once again, Himura uses a palm strike - hitting the body this time, but HERO grabs hold of the arm and clinches up once more. They move toward the neutral corner, but a sweet looking judo throw sends Himura down to the mat and HERO scrambling for a cross armbreaker! Himura maintains a great grip, preventing his arm from being extended while the METAL HERO links his arms through and grabs hold of his own wrist and pulls back, attempting to break the grip with force. NOBUSUKE reaches out for a tag as the two men on the mat are close to the challenger's corner, but our announcers remind us that NOBOSUKE cannot make a save - Katsuhiko Himura must reach the ropes or transition out of the hold. Himura's resolve seems to be weakening as HERO uses the inside of his elbow to try and break the grip...
AND DOES!
But Himura reaches the ropes and the referee calls for a break! Himura gets up and waves off a tag from NOBOSUKE, wringing out his arm as he hops along circling the METAL HERO. Himura fakes HERO out with a palm strike, suckering him into a kick to the body - the referee warns Himura as the kick was close to a knee due to the close proximity of the fighters. Nonetheless, Himura has taken a front chancery on HERO and quickly transitions into a butterfly hold, dropping to a knee to maintain his composure and catch his breath. You can tell he's reminding himself not to knee, as he begins to stand up but falls backwards - launching HERO over with a double underhook suplex. He rolls through, attempts to apply his own cross armbreaker... but switches it up and clamps on a kneebar! HERO snags the middle rope in a hurry and the Japanese crowd is fired up! HERO slowly gets up as NOBOSUKE is tagged in and the action resets. The referee ensures HERO is ready to go before commencing the action, the clock tells us that five minutes has gone by in the first round. NOBOSUKE quickly dances around the outside as HERO maintains control of the centre of the ring, a quick kick to the body straightens HERO up in a hurry. NOBOSUKE tries a roundhouse kick, but HERO ducks it and clinches up. He digs in and gets the arms hooked... BELLY TO BELLY! NOBOSUKE gets suplexed to the mat, but quickly works his way back to his feet after a scramble. HERO smacks him with a double axe handle shot to the back of the neck, dropping him to his knees. From there, the champion grabs a hold of him and drops to the mat with a guillotine choke! HERO is unable to sink it in as NOBOSUKE prevents him from using his legs completely, but Earth Warrior reaches down and a tag is made. The referee calls a stop and forces a reset.
The fans are eager to see Earth Warrior as he enters the ring, dropping to a knee as he circles around NOBOSUKE. He executes a beautiful sneaky single leg and drops him onto his stomach, then executes an Oklahoma roll! Of course, there are no pinfalls in this match so Warrior's efforts are for naught. He grabs a rear waist hold in the ensuing scramble, but NOBOSUKE drops to a seated position and goes behind. Warrior carefully breaks the waist hold and we are at a stand still that the audience is loving! Warrior attempts a kick to the body, but NOBOSUKE catches it and trips him to the mat. NOBOSUKE grabs a grounded side headlock and looks to be working to isolate the arm, Warrior alternates using his hands to push up on NOBOSUKE's jaw and trying to bring his leg up to push his head back but the youngster is doing a great job of preventing both methods from succeeding. NOBOSUKE tries to go back and isolate the arm, but Warrior finally gets his legs up and wraps them around his head... pulling himself free from the headlock, then springs up and KNEEBAR!
NOBOSUKE TAPS!
The crowd ooohs as Himura drops his head on the top rope. The clock stops at 9:05, meaning we have fifty five seconds remaining in the first round and two more rounds to go if Katsuhiko Himura can survive or win the bout. NOBOSUKE exits the ring and receives spray and support from the MAX-J crew at ringside, while Katsuhiko Himura steps into the ring to begin his unenviable task. Calls of "HI-MU-RA! HI-MU-RA!" are heard as Earth Warrior stands up to reset the match. Himura is cautious in his approach, seeming to want to wind the clock of the first round down. Earth Warrior is a bit eager, but METAL HERO shouts from the apron and the champion cools down a bit. The bell sounds to end the round and Himura returns to his corner and shadow boxes a bit, while Earth Warrior and HERO confer in their corner.
The second round begins with METAL HERO taking the place of Earth Warrior against the Genius, Katsuhiko Himura. Himura is once again cautious in his approach, while HERO moves in and scores with a nice 1-2 punch combo. A kick follows, but Himura catches it but begins eating palm strikes as a result. Himura and HERO end up in the ropes and the action is reset. A couple body kicks back HERO up, Himura closes the gap but gets clinched and the duo switch places a few times on the ropes before Earth Warrior tags himself back in. The action resets to the middle of the ring and Warrior uses some palm strikes to the body to keep the distance, weaving in and out and alternating with shots to the face. Himura does his best to bob and weave, but it's clear that protesting isn't the only thing that the tag team champion is good at. Himura grabs a leg, then the other and hauls Warrior to the mat in a hurry. He cranks on a chinlock, but Warrior shows some incredible skill and transitions out of it into a rear waist hold, then works his way up and wraps his legs around the midsection of Himura. From there, he grabs an arm and tries to apply a cross armbreaker from back mount but the idea is not a great one. Himura escapes trouble and grabs a hold of Warrior's foot, applying a heel hold... but only tight enough to control him. Himura begins turning him over, kicking him in the side and back to aid him... then applies a single leg crab! Warrior attempts to push up off the mat, trying his best to make the ropes but Himura sits on his lower back. The crowd is stomping their feet as Warrior digs deep, pushing off the mat again and forcing Himura to slide off his back. The Genius keeps the hold applied, but doesn't have the same balance and leverage so Earth Warrior is easily able to get to the ropes.
METAL HERO tags back in on the reset and Himura gets up, winded and looking at the clock. It seems clear that he thought he had Earth Warrior dead to rights in the single crab hold, but to no avail. HERO starts with a kick, Himura slaps it away and takes his back... GERMAN SUPLEX! HERO takes a good spill on the mat and Himura crawls to the corner and tries to regain his composure and breath as HERO is given a ten count to get up. At six, HERO is back up and ready to fight. A kick from Himura is caught and HERO quickly sweeps his other foot out from underneath him and turns him onto his stomach with a high-angle crab hold known as the World Peace Crab hold. He wrenches it in deep, but Himura crawls to the bottom rope and escapes defeat once more. On the reset, Himura kicks HERO in the ankle and knocks him down. Instead of following up, Himura invites him back to his feet before peppering him with another kick. HERO gets up and Himura immediately pops him with a slap to the face, HERO isn't fazed though and Himura circles around with a smirk. Himura hits a rolling savate kick that catches HERO in the stomach, doubling him over. Himura jumps on the attack, starting with a front chancery and quickly spins around into back moun--well, he tried. HERO slips out from underneath and slaps on a cross armbreaker! He gets it wrenched in deep, but Himura quickly moves to grab the bottom rope just in time.
AND DOES!
But Himura reaches the ropes and the referee calls for a break! Himura gets up and waves off a tag from NOBOSUKE, wringing out his arm as he hops along circling the METAL HERO. Himura fakes HERO out with a palm strike, suckering him into a kick to the body - the referee warns Himura as the kick was close to a knee due to the close proximity of the fighters. Nonetheless, Himura has taken a front chancery on HERO and quickly transitions into a butterfly hold, dropping to a knee to maintain his composure and catch his breath. You can tell he's reminding himself not to knee, as he begins to stand up but falls backwards - launching HERO over with a double underhook suplex. He rolls through, attempts to apply his own cross armbreaker... but switches it up and clamps on a kneebar! HERO snags the middle rope in a hurry and the Japanese crowd is fired up! HERO slowly gets up as NOBOSUKE is tagged in and the action resets. The referee ensures HERO is ready to go before commencing the action, the clock tells us that five minutes has gone by in the first round. NOBOSUKE quickly dances around the outside as HERO maintains control of the centre of the ring, a quick kick to the body straightens HERO up in a hurry. NOBOSUKE tries a roundhouse kick, but HERO ducks it and clinches up. He digs in and gets the arms hooked... BELLY TO BELLY! NOBOSUKE gets suplexed to the mat, but quickly works his way back to his feet after a scramble. HERO smacks him with a double axe handle shot to the back of the neck, dropping him to his knees. From there, the champion grabs a hold of him and drops to the mat with a guillotine choke! HERO is unable to sink it in as NOBOSUKE prevents him from using his legs completely, but Earth Warrior reaches down and a tag is made. The referee calls a stop and forces a reset.
The fans are eager to see Earth Warrior as he enters the ring, dropping to a knee as he circles around NOBOSUKE. He executes a beautiful sneaky single leg and drops him onto his stomach, then executes an Oklahoma roll! Of course, there are no pinfalls in this match so Warrior's efforts are for naught. He grabs a rear waist hold in the ensuing scramble, but NOBOSUKE drops to a seated position and goes behind. Warrior carefully breaks the waist hold and we are at a stand still that the audience is loving! Warrior attempts a kick to the body, but NOBOSUKE catches it and trips him to the mat. NOBOSUKE grabs a grounded side headlock and looks to be working to isolate the arm, Warrior alternates using his hands to push up on NOBOSUKE's jaw and trying to bring his leg up to push his head back but the youngster is doing a great job of preventing both methods from succeeding. NOBOSUKE tries to go back and isolate the arm, but Warrior finally gets his legs up and wraps them around his head... pulling himself free from the headlock, then springs up and KNEEBAR!
NOBOSUKE TAPS!
The crowd ooohs as Himura drops his head on the top rope. The clock stops at 9:05, meaning we have fifty five seconds remaining in the first round and two more rounds to go if Katsuhiko Himura can survive or win the bout. NOBOSUKE exits the ring and receives spray and support from the MAX-J crew at ringside, while Katsuhiko Himura steps into the ring to begin his unenviable task. Calls of "HI-MU-RA! HI-MU-RA!" are heard as Earth Warrior stands up to reset the match. Himura is cautious in his approach, seeming to want to wind the clock of the first round down. Earth Warrior is a bit eager, but METAL HERO shouts from the apron and the champion cools down a bit. The bell sounds to end the round and Himura returns to his corner and shadow boxes a bit, while Earth Warrior and HERO confer in their corner.
The second round begins with METAL HERO taking the place of Earth Warrior against the Genius, Katsuhiko Himura. Himura is once again cautious in his approach, while HERO moves in and scores with a nice 1-2 punch combo. A kick follows, but Himura catches it but begins eating palm strikes as a result. Himura and HERO end up in the ropes and the action is reset. A couple body kicks back HERO up, Himura closes the gap but gets clinched and the duo switch places a few times on the ropes before Earth Warrior tags himself back in. The action resets to the middle of the ring and Warrior uses some palm strikes to the body to keep the distance, weaving in and out and alternating with shots to the face. Himura does his best to bob and weave, but it's clear that protesting isn't the only thing that the tag team champion is good at. Himura grabs a leg, then the other and hauls Warrior to the mat in a hurry. He cranks on a chinlock, but Warrior shows some incredible skill and transitions out of it into a rear waist hold, then works his way up and wraps his legs around the midsection of Himura. From there, he grabs an arm and tries to apply a cross armbreaker from back mount but the idea is not a great one. Himura escapes trouble and grabs a hold of Warrior's foot, applying a heel hold... but only tight enough to control him. Himura begins turning him over, kicking him in the side and back to aid him... then applies a single leg crab! Warrior attempts to push up off the mat, trying his best to make the ropes but Himura sits on his lower back. The crowd is stomping their feet as Warrior digs deep, pushing off the mat again and forcing Himura to slide off his back. The Genius keeps the hold applied, but doesn't have the same balance and leverage so Earth Warrior is easily able to get to the ropes.
METAL HERO tags back in on the reset and Himura gets up, winded and looking at the clock. It seems clear that he thought he had Earth Warrior dead to rights in the single crab hold, but to no avail. HERO starts with a kick, Himura slaps it away and takes his back... GERMAN SUPLEX! HERO takes a good spill on the mat and Himura crawls to the corner and tries to regain his composure and breath as HERO is given a ten count to get up. At six, HERO is back up and ready to fight. A kick from Himura is caught and HERO quickly sweeps his other foot out from underneath him and turns him onto his stomach with a high-angle crab hold known as the World Peace Crab hold. He wrenches it in deep, but Himura crawls to the bottom rope and escapes defeat once more. On the reset, Himura kicks HERO in the ankle and knocks him down. Instead of following up, Himura invites him back to his feet before peppering him with another kick. HERO gets up and Himura immediately pops him with a slap to the face, HERO isn't fazed though and Himura circles around with a smirk. Himura hits a rolling savate kick that catches HERO in the stomach, doubling him over. Himura jumps on the attack, starting with a front chancery and quickly spins around into back moun--well, he tried. HERO slips out from underneath and slaps on a cross armbreaker! He gets it wrenched in deep, but Himura quickly moves to grab the bottom rope just in time.
HERO returns to his feet, shakes his head at a request for a tag from Warrior and watches as Himura gets up to his feet clutching his arm. Himura's eyes speak volumes of anger as HERO closes in after the reset. Himura tries to keep the bad arm away from HERO, forcing him to change his stance but a quick punching combination gets him covering up and a kick to the bad arm sends him down to the mat! HERO follows up with a second kick while he's on the mat and the referee quickly intervenes. He orders HERO to back up, checks on Himura who argues with the referee before the referee stands up and calls for the bell and the clock stops at 8:46.
Earth Warrior springboards in the air over the top rope and ascends a turnbuckle for a moment to get the fans on their feet and then the champions quickly head over to Himura, who has been joined by NOBOSUKE. Ringside attendants swarm the four men with ice-packs. After a minute or two, Himura is up on his feet and while he is obviously in pain, it seems that he has avoided any apparent grave injury, though the soul of a warrior is hard to read. HERO and Earth Warrior treat the two challengers with respect, with METAL HERO in particular seeming to speak to them as though giving them advice. Himura and NOBOSUKE listen and nod and then the four men exchange a bow one last time before the challengers depart.
Remaining in the ring is METAL HERO and Earth Warrior, having completed their V2 defense of the World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on the island of Okinawa. The scene fades out with the two fighters standing in the ring with the belts over their shoulders before a sea of cameras...
GRAPPLING SONATA ZERO SPACE
Date: 9/23/2023
Location: Shintoshin Blue Ocean Arena, Naha, Okinawa
Date: 9/23/2023
Location: Shintoshin Blue Ocean Arena, Naha, Okinawa
Attendance: 5,000 fans (100% capacity)
1. Pollo Road vs. SHYc: AJ Knight, MEZA, and LYNX defeat Akira Nakamura, Shinzo Takamori, and Takeda Izumi (12:04) via pinfall after Knight uses a Knightfall DDT on Takamori.
2. Sport Form Rules: Jimmy Winner defeats Devlin Masters (R1 5:33) via submission with a kimura.
3. BEAST MEETS WEST!! ~ Sport Form Rules: El Cerdo Mostaza defeats Balloon Yamazaki (R2 2:58) via referee stoppage.
4. Japan Chessboxing League Gusuku Bowl: David Troy defeats Shigeru Toyama (R13 1:17) via checkmate.
5. World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – Sport Form Rules: METAL HERO and Earth Warrior (c) defeat Katsuhiko Himura and NOBOSUKE (2nd defense). Earth Warrior eliminates NOBOSUKE via kneebar (R1 9:05). Katsuhiko Himura is eliminated via referee stoppage (R2 8:46).
2. Sport Form Rules: Jimmy Winner defeats Devlin Masters (R1 5:33) via submission with a kimura.
3. BEAST MEETS WEST!! ~ Sport Form Rules: El Cerdo Mostaza defeats Balloon Yamazaki (R2 2:58) via referee stoppage.
4. Japan Chessboxing League Gusuku Bowl: David Troy defeats Shigeru Toyama (R13 1:17) via checkmate.
5. World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – Sport Form Rules: METAL HERO and Earth Warrior (c) defeat Katsuhiko Himura and NOBOSUKE (2nd defense). Earth Warrior eliminates NOBOSUKE via kneebar (R1 9:05). Katsuhiko Himura is eliminated via referee stoppage (R2 8:46).