FINAL COMBAT 2005 was called possibly the best card to date. Before the show started, top dojo students Taiki Fujiware and Masato Yamashita made their debut in a singles match. Fujiwara won a very hard fought match and was offered the chance to join XJPW by Hiromichi Takada who watched the entire match at ringside. An overwhelmed Fujiwara accepted and shook hands with both his leader and his opponent. For the show opener, the fans were treated to a fun match as Kikutaro beat Masa Genjin. Genjin tried to finish off Kikutaro with his 'caveman low blow' but it wasn't enough and Kikutaro came out with the victory. The martial arts exhibition was next. Neither man used any wrestling holds and the match was simply strikes. Jaa caught Lee with an uppercut in just over seven minutes and knocked Lee out. Lee said after the match that he still has alot to learn in both martial arts and pro-wrestling, but hoped that he could become a force in the junior heavyweight division. The first interpromotional match of the night was a junior heavyweight tag team contest. The usually comedic team of Memory Unit BT fought hard as they knew they were defending the honor of Pro-Wrestling MAX. In the end, Shuji Kondo was able to put down Unit T after a big King Kong Lariat. Kondo challenged Tiger Hero after the match. Could we see the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight champion versus the MAX World Junior Heavyweight champion? TOKYO DARK got their much needed big win as their new leader Dan Eaton lead them against MAX. It was a long exciting match wish ended when N-GEN ended up made Kazushi Miyamoto submit to his 'Spinal Adjustment' hold in what is expected to be Miyamoto's last match in MAX. Steve Corino and Masato Tanaka had their last match on opposite sides. Corino was able to take out Tanaka as Steven Simpson finished David Wright off with a devistating spear. Next up was the big rematch for the World Jr. Heavyweight title. RAVE was in control and ended up posing for the crowd which cost him in the end as Tiger Hero regained his strength and was able to take RAVE down before finishing him off with a diving body splash. Hiromichi Takada showed that he was ready to have his shot at the MAX World Heavyweight title as he beat Kazunari Murakami in a match that featured much striking and submission holds. The dark days of Kazuma Hamada are over as he was able to win his tag team match. As Hamada celebrated on the top rope, Great Muta and Devil Mitsu touched hands and spit mist before leaving the ring. This confused TARU and there's talk of Mitsu leaving TOKYO DARK and forming a team with Muta. The main event saw another new champion crowned as Genichiro Tenryu was able to beat BIG MOUTH LOUD's Katsuyori Shibata. Tenryu told the press after the match that he wasn't losing the title any time soon and that he would be the one to bring respect to the title. This win has set the first card of 2006 as seen below.

- Young Warriors Match: Taiki Fujiwara beat Masato Yamashita (18:36) with a cross body block.
1. Kikutaro beat Masa Genjin (11:54) with a Shining Wizard.
2. Martial Arts Exhibition: Terry Jaa beat Meng Lee (7:04) via KO with an uppercut.
3. MAX vs. Voodoo-Murders: Shuji Kondo & brother "YASSHI" beat Memory Unit BT (17:42) when Kondo pinned Unit T after a King Kong Lariat.
4. MAX vs. TOKYO DARK: Dan Eaton, N-GEN, T-800 & Hannibal Kong beat Terry Butcher, Super Warrior Snake, Super Warrior Beast & Kazushi Miyamoto (54:33) when N-GEN pinned Miyamoto after the Spinal Adjustment.
5. Steve Corino (ZERO-ONE MAX) & Steven Simpson beat Masato Tanaka (ZERO-ONE MAX) & David Wright (20:21) when Simpson pinned Wright after a spear.
6. MAX World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Hero (c) beat RAVE (13:31) with a diving body splash (1st defense).
7. Hiromichi Takada beat Kazunari Murakami (20:23) with an armbar.
8. MAX/AJPW vs. TOKYO DARK/Voodoo-Murders: Kazuma Hamada & Great Muta beat Devil Mitsu & TARU (17:46) when Hamada pinned Mitsu with a german suplex hold.
9. MAX World Heavyweight Title: Genichiro Tenry beat Katsuyori Shibata (c) (13:12) with the 53 years old to become the 3rd champion.

MAX "FIRST STRIKE 2006", 1/1/06 (PPV)
MAX World Heavyweight Title: Genichiro Tenryu (c) vs Hiromichi Takada

Posted by Andrew at 11:12 PM | Permalink

The last press conference before FINAL COMBAT 2005 was held today. The card for the event was finalized with four newcomers added to the card. There will be one pre-show match between two dojo students, Taiki Fujiwara & Masato Yamashita. The match is being billed as 'Young Warriors'. Chinese martial arts expert, Meng Lee will make his debut at the show. His real name is believed to be Meng Ao Nu, but he has taken the name Lee in tribute to the late great Bruce Lee. The obvious opponent for Lee is Terry Jaa and the match will be a martial arts exhibition with mainly strikes. Jaa of course is now out of the MAX vs TOKYO DARK 8 man tag match, but he has been replaced by another Terry, newcomer Terry Butcher. The rough Texan is looking to finish his opponents off with his finishing move, the Decapitation Lariat. While Kazushi Miyamoto will represent MAX, this is expected to be his last card due to the working relationship with All Japan as Miyamoto has joined King's Road. This could also be the last card for Steve Corino and Masato Tanaka. The final card is below.

MAX "FINAL COMBAT 2005", 12/27/05 (PPV)
- Young Warriors Match: Masato Yamashita vs Taiki Fujiwara
1. Kikutaro vs Masa Genjin
2. Martial Arts Exhibition: Terry Jaa vs Meng Lee
3. MAX vs. Voodoo-Murders: Memory Unit BT vs Shuji Kondo & brother "YASSHI"
4. MAX vs. TOKYO DARK: Terry Butcher, Super Warrior Snake, Super Warrior Beast & Kazushi Miyamoto vs Dan Eaton, N-GEN, T-800, & Hannibal Kong
5. Steven Simpson & Steve Corino (ZERO-ONE MAX) vs David Wright & Masato Tanaka (ZERO-ONE MAX)
6. MAX World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Hero (c) vs RAVE
7. Hiromichi Takada vs Kazunari Murakami (BIG MOUTH LOUD)
8. MAX/AJPW vs. TOKYO DARK/Voodoo-Murders: Kazuma Hamada & Great Muta vs Devil Mitsu & TARU
9. MAX World Heavyweight Title: Katsuyori Shibata (c) (BIG MOUTH LOUD) vs Genichiro Tenryu

First event of 2006:

MAX "FIRST STRIKE 2006", 1/1/06 (PPV)
MAX World Heavyweight Title: Winner of Shibata/Tenryu (c) vs Hiromichi Takada

Posted by Andrew at 11:10 PM | Permalink

Huge news! At a press conference today, KAZUMA HAMADA alligned with MAX! No not KAZU, but Kazuma Hamada! Hamada said that KAZU is dead and it's time for him to focus on his in-ring skills. Hamada is completely finished with TOKYO DARK. He has said he will no longer wear the red and black and has even gone so far as to dye his hair dirty blonde.

Officals brought in the remaining members of TOKYO DARK after Hamada had left. Dan Eaton was declared the new leader of the group and challenged Hamada to face each member of TOKYO DARK in singles matches. Of course with Hamada no longer being a member of TOKYO DARK, the card for FINAL COMBAT 2005 had to be revised. Voodoo-Murders have finally stepped foot in MAX as has the Great Muta! Here are the changes:

MAX "FINAL COMBAT 2005", 12/27/05 (PPV)
1. Kikutaro vs Masa Genjin
2. MAX vs. Voodoo-Murders: Memory Unit BT vs Shuji Kondo & brother "YASSHI"
3. MAX vs. TOKYO DARK: Terry Jaa, Super Warrior Snake, Super Warrior Beast & Kazushi Miyamoto vs Dan Eaton, N-GEN, T-800 & Hannibal Kong
4. Steven Simpson & Steve Corino (ZERO-ONE MAX) vs David Wright & Masato Tanaka (ZERO-ONE MAX)
5. MAX World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Hero (c) vs RAVE
6. Hiromichi Takada vs Kazunari Murakami (BIG MOUTH LOUD)
7. MAX/AJPW vs. TOKYO DARK/Voodoo-Murders: Kazuma Hamada & Great Muta vs Devil Mitsu & TARU
8. MAX World Heavyweight Title: Katsuyori Shibata (c) (BIG MOUTH LOUD) vs Genichiro Tenryu

Don't forget, the first main event and now ONE MATCH CARD of 2006 is set to be:

MAX "FIRST STRIKE 2006", 1/1/06 (PPV)
MAX World Heavyweight Title: Winner of Shibata/Tenryu (c) vs Hiromichi Takada

Things are beginning to heat up!

Posted by Andrew at 11:04 PM | Permalink

Total elimination was total domination! RAVE almost singlehandedly took out TOKYO DARK. He started to look tired against Devil Mitsu, but like the previous matches, he seemed to get back his energy and was able to defeat Devil Mitsu with a quick roll up. A frustrated KAZU was determined to end RAVE's run and that's just what he did with a flying head scissors, not much different than the Overdose. KAZU made a mistake in the next match though as he tried to make power with Super Warrior Beast and was eventually beaten. The big news is that KAZU declared TOKYO DARK DEAD after the match! The press caught up with the rest of TOKYO DARK and they surprisingly seem to disagree. We'll have to see where this leads at the next press conference. Due to the quick elimination series, the fans were treated to two extra matches. In the first, Super Warrior Snake once again KOed Dan Eaton, this time with a chokeslam. Next up, was an XJPW Elimination match. XJPW rules are as follows:

1. 12, 5 minute rounds
2. 3 knockdowns in a round equals a TKO
3. Pinfalls and submissions
4. Rope Breaks
5. Lumberjack Rules

In this special match, best friends and the only two members of XJPW went head to head. Junior champion, Tiger Hero was able to knockdown Hiromichi Takada three times, the third being a DDT. Both men shook hands after the match. Katsuyori Shibata was once again successful. This time beating Kazunari Murakami in a BIG MOUTH LOUD exhibition rematch from their first show. Next up is FINAL COMBAT 2005 (card can be seen below the current results).

1. Total Elimination: RAVE (MAX) beat N-GEN (TOKYO DARK) (13:00) with a standing moonsault.
2. Total Elimination: RAVE (MAX) beat T-800 (TOKYO DARK) (14:38) with a roll up reversal.
3. Total Elimination: RAVE (MAX) beat Hannibal Kong (TOKYO DARK) (15:44) with a roll up reversal.
4. Total Elimination: RAVE (MAX) beat Devil Mitsu (TOKYO DARK) (17:36) with a roll up reversal.
5. Total Elimination: KAZU (TOKYO DARK) beat RAVE (MAX) (6:58) with a flying head scissors.
6. Total Elimination: Super Warrior Beast (MAX) beat KAZU (TOKYO DARK) (17:08) with a powerslam pin.
7. Super Warrior Snake (MAX) beat Dan Eaton (TOKYO DARK)(9:24) via KO with a chokeslam.
8. XJPW Rules: Tiger Hero beat Hiromichi Takada (R3 3:43) via TKO with a DDT.
9. BIG MOUTH LOUD: Katsuyori Shibata beat Kazunari Murakami (10:55) with a side choke.

Posted by Andrew at 11:03 PM | Permalink