2/20/2006

XJPW "COMBAT! PRO-WRES", 2/20/06 (PPV)

The first ever X-Japan Pro-Wrestling show is in the books. All matches (except for the tag team match) were under XJPW rules:

1. 12, 5 minute rounds
2. Pinfalls and submissions
3. Knockdowns
4. Rope Breaks
5. Lumberjack Rules

The first match of the evening was the start of the 'Endurance Challenge', a one night series of matches between four junior heavyweights. XJPW's lone junior and second in command, Tiger Hero ended up beating freelancer and All Japan regular, Taiji Ishimori. Kazuma Hamada then beat All Japan's Kaz Hayashi, surprising him with a german suplex hold. The third match of the Endurance Challenge was a tag team match were the winners would go on to face each other in a singles match. The result stayed the same as both Hamada and Tiger Hero came out victorious.

Next up was XJPW rookie Taiki Fujiwara taking on Steven Simpson's partner, Tony Royal who was making his in-ring debut. Royal was the favorite, but Fujiwara came out on top when he knocked Royal out with a devestating STK.

The last Endurance Challenge match was a hard fought match, but in the end, Hamada beat the MAX World Junior Heavyweight champion by again using a german suplex hold. Hamada said after the match that he believes he should now be in line for a title shot.

The main event of the evening was a rematch from the MAX World Heavyweight Title tournament final where Hiromichi Takada beat Steven Simpson to become the first champion. The end result was the same, but this time, Takada KOed Simpson with a hard belly to belly suplex in the fourth round. XJPW was very succesful overall with Tiger Hero, Taiki Fujiwara, and Hiromichi Takada all getting wins. Including the tag match they ended the night at 4-1.

1. Endurance Challenge: Tiger Hero beat Taiji Ishimori (R3 1:16) with a roll up pin.
2. Endurance Challenge: Kazuma Hamada beat Kaz Hayashi (R2 4:23) with a german suplex hold.
3. Endurance Challenge: Tiger Hero & Kazuma Hamada beat Taiji Ishimori & Kaz Hayashi (16:02) when Hamada pinned Ishimori with a roll up reversal.
4. Taiki Fujiwara beat Tony Royal (R3 2:50) via KO with an STK.
5. Endurance Challenge: Kazuma Hamada beat Tiger Hero (R3 4:02) with a german suplex hold.
6. Hiromichi Takada beat Steven Simpson (R4 3:24) via KO with a belly to belly suplex.

MAX "ULTIMATE CHALLENGE", 3/28/06 (PPV)
1. The Chase Brothers vs Masato Yamashita & David Wright
2. Terry Jaa vs Taiji Ishimori
3. Terry Butcher vs T-800
4. Steven Simpson & Tony Royal vs Hiromichi Takada & Taiki Fujiwara
5. Kazuma Hamada vs N-GEN
6. RAVE vs Kaz Hayashi (AJPW)
7. MAX World Junior Heavyweight Title: Tiger Hero (c) vs Shuji Kondo
8. Super Warriors vs Dan Eaton & Chuck Palumbo (Voodoo-Murders)
9. Grudge Match: Great Muta vs Devil Mitsu
10. MAX World Heavyweight Title: Genichiro Tenryu (c) vs Masato Tanaka

MAX "CRASH CARNIVAL" 2006 (4/5/06 to 5/1/06)


Block A
Dan Eaton
David Wright
Genichiro Tenryu
Masato Tanaka (ZERO1-MAX)
Masato Yamashita
Steven Simpson
Super Warrior Beast
Tony Royal

Block B
Devil Mitsu
Hiromichi Takada
Super Warrior Snake
T-800
Taiki Fujiwara
Terry Butcher
Tyler Chase
?????

2/12/2006

MAX/XJPW Press Conference

It has been pretty quite in Pro-Wrestling MAX since FURY, but the silence was broken today as a press conference was held for both Pro-Wrestling MAX and X-Japan Pro-Wrestling.

- KENTA and Low-Ki will not be able to compete at XJPW's debut show. They will be replaced by Taiji Ishimori and All Japan's Kaz Hayashi.

- Hiromichi Takada suffered a concussion after the 53 Years Old on the floor by Genichiro Tenryu. He should be able to wrestle for XJPW's debut.

- Hannibal Kong has left TOKYO DARK and Pro-Wrestling MAX. It is currently unknown as to why, but it is believed to be due to more fighting without TOKYO DARK.

- The April heavyweight tournament will be titled Crash Carnival. The first few tournament cards will feature junior matches, but the rest will not so that the cards won't be overstacked and to get the tournament finished by the start of May. There is said to be a few juniors that are unhappy about this. The most vocal is surprisingly Tiger Hero. The tournament block line-ups can be seen below.

- The card for ULTIMATE CHALLENGE was announced and can be seen below. Quite the loaded event.

XJPW "COMBAT! PRO-WRES", 2/20/06 (PPV)
1. Endurance Challenge: Tiger Hero vs Taiji Ishimori
2. Endurance Challenge: Kaz Hayashi (AJPW) vs Kazuma Hamada
3. Endurance Challenge: Tiger Hero & Kazuma Hamada vs Kaz Hayashi & Taiji Ishimori
4. Tony Royal vs Taiki Fujiwara
5. Endurance Challenge: Tiger Hero vs Kazuma Hamada or Kaz Hayashi vs Taiji Ishimori
6. Hiromichi Takada vs Steven Simpson

MAX "ULTIMATE CHALLENGE", 3/28/06 (PPV)
1. The Chase Brothers vs Masato Yamashita & David Wright
2. Terry Jaa vs Taiji Ishimori
3. Terry Butcher vs T-800
4. Steven Simpson & Tony Royal vs Hiromichi Takada & Taiki Fujiwara
5. Kazuma Hamada vs N-GEN
6. RAVE vs Kaz Hayashi (AJPW)
7. MAX World Junior Heavyweight Title: Tiger Hero (c) vs Shuji Kondo
8. Super Warriors vs Dan Eaton & Chuck Palumbo (Voodoo-Murders)
9. Grudge Match: Great Muta vs Devil Mitsu
10. MAX World Heavyweight Title: Genichiro Tenryu (c) vs Masato Tanaka

MAX "CRASH CARNIVAL" 2006 (4/5/06 to 5/1/06)

Block A
Dan Eaton
David Wright
Genichiro Tenryu
Masato Tanaka (ZERO1-MAX)
Masato Yamashita
Steven Simpson
Super Warrior Beast
Tony Royal

Block B
Devil Mitsu
Hiromichi Takada
Super Warrior Snake
T-800
Taiki Fujiwara
Terry Butcher
Tyler Chase
?????