Venue: Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)
Broadcast: TV Asahi 2, IJPW Network
Japanese Commentary: Taka Shimura and “Samurai X”
Misao Sakurai
English Commentary: Yo Kurasawa and Eric O'Flaherty
Ring Announcer: Raka Matsumua
Referees:
Masanori Katayanagi (Senior Referee), Kanzaburo
Outakara, Tashiaki Suzuki, and Mabuchi Hida
After CLASH! 1,
Naraku no Soko gained footing as Shi no Karasu walked out of Korakuen
Hall with the IJPW Heavyweight Championship. It was then time for the
IJPW Junior Heavyweight title to be determined in a tournament at
CLASH! 2. Like the
Heavyweight tournament, a press conference and draw took place at the
Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. The following were entered into the
tournament:
Astro Honami (Celestial Torch)
Freddy Deeds (Street Syndicate)
Hirano Denbe (Danjuro-Gun)
Kuni Hishida (Divine Vanguard)
Masaru Maeda (Ultraviolence Union)
Sakura Shizuka, “Queen of Joshi” (Royals and Rebels)
Trista Capra, “Queen of the Deathmatch” (Blood Militants)
Vera Vicious (Naraku no Soko)
The draw went as follows:
Masaru Maeda vs. Hirano Denbe
Astro Honami vs. Freddy Deeds
Kuni Hishida vs. “Queen of the Deathmatch” Trista
Capra
“Queen of Joshi” Sakura Shizuka vs. Vera Vicious
A rivalry match would end the first round and a former
student would meet his old trainer to open the night!
IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament – First Round Match
Masaru Maeda vs. Hirano Denbe
Referee: Mabuchi Hida
The young and brash Masaru Maeda was plucked by the
Ultraviolence Union after the dojo was shut down. Hirano Denbe was
one of his former trainers. Before the draw, Maeda even said he hoped
to draw his old trainer!
“He [Denbe] and the rest of Danjuro-Gun ran us into
the ground,” Maeda said. “He is not as mean as the others in
Danjuro-Gun, but I will make him pay regardless! Him and the rest of
Danjuro-Gun will watch me win the Junior Heavyweight title! I have
learned more from the Ultraviolence Union than I ever did in the IJPW
Dojo!”
Denbe spoke before Maeda's rant, simply saying, “I'm
not here to fuck around!” He was a man of few words again after the
draw, saying, “He was always the troublemaker! I will beat respect
into him!”
The crowd at Korakuen Hall was behind the most likable
member of Danjuro-Gun as he set out to teach the young boy a lesson.
IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament – First Round Match
Astro Honami vs. Freddy Deeds
Referee: Tashiaki Suzuki
Honami was reserved before the draw, unlike the leader
of his Celestial Torch faction during the Heavyweight tournament
draw. Honami kept it simple by declaring his intention to win the
belt for his stable.
Freddy Deeds, the Street Syndicate representative, was
less humble. “I'm gonna run right through those mother fuckers. I
can do it all in that ring. I'm one of the most versatile mother
fuckers around. I got more tricks than a fucking brothel!”
IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament – First Round Match
Kuni Hishida vs. “Queen of the Deathmatch” Trista
Capra
Referee: Kanzaburo Outakara
Trista Capra, at 56-years-old, has had an interesting
career. She said winning the IJPW Heavyweight Championship would be a
moment equal to being the first holder of the now-defunct IJPW
Television Championship.
“I thought it was bullshit to put that belt on the
shelf,” Capra said. “The company hasn't even been around that
long and Nagahama-san has already canned the old belts for this new
system. I get he's the new promoter and wants to leave his own mark
on Iron Japan, but he changed a lot. But I didn't last long in this
business without making changes. I'll adapt and become the first IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Champion.”
Kuni Hishida referenced her husband AKIO'S efforts in
the Heavyweight tournament before the draw. “He gave it his all
despite losing to Suda Tsukasa in the semi-finals. Tsukasa-san is a
great friend of ours despite leading his own group. Divine Vanguard
doesn't begrudge him a victory, but it's important we move on and I
will do my best to bring the IJPW Junior Heavyweight Championship to
our group.”
IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament – First Round Match
“Queen of Joshi” Sakura Shizuka vs. Vera Vicious
Referee: Masanori Katayanagi
This rivalry started during the first months of IJPW's
existence when a pre-Naraku no Soko Vera accused Sakura Shizuka of
being with gentle giant Nobuyoki Katsushika for the fame and
attention. Both were fan favorites at the time, but the fans leaned
toward Shizuka in favor of the Bulgarian who spoke fluent Japanese.
Shizuka didn't appreciate Vera saying she slept her way to the top
and hadn't forgotten such accusations.
Shizuka handle the press conference with quiet reserve,
but she was more openly hostile after the draw. “I will make Vera
pay for dragging my name through the mud. What me and Nobuyoki do is
none of her business.”
Vera emphasized potential Naraku no Soko dominance
during the presser. “We have claimed the IJPW Heavyweight
Championship. The first bit of control in this promotion is in our
hands. Now I will bring the next piece to our puzzle of domination
when I win the Junior Heavyweight title!”
Following the draw, Vera said, “I will beat her like
the two-faced whore that she is.”
It was an intense atmosphere at Korakuen Hall as these
two closed out the first round.
*** SPOILERS IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH THE FIRST ROUND ***
*** SPOILERS IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH THE FIRST ROUND ***
*** SPOILERS IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH THE FIRST ROUND ***
*** SPOILERS IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH THE FIRST ROUND ***
*** SPOILERS IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH THE FIRST ROUND ***
IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament – Semi-Final Match
Hirano Denbe vs. Freddy Deeds
Referee: Mabuchi Hida
The fans were in favor of the hard-nosed strong style
veteran as he took on the noisy gaijin.
IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament – Semi-Final Match
Kuni Hishida vs. Vera Vicious
Referee: Tashiaki Suzuki
Two of the finest joshi stars squared off in this
semi-final clash.
#1
Contender For IJPW Heavyweight Championship
Isamu Shinagami vs. Eien no Honou vs. DANJURO vs. “The
King of Korakuen Hall” Suda Tsukasa vs. AKIO vs. Markie Bristow vs.
“The General” Ricky Holt vs. Nate Narwin
Referee: Kanzaburo Outakara
Everyone in this eight-man elimination match competed in
the Heavyweight title tournament besides Ultraviolence Union's "The General" Ricky Holt and the notorious Nate Narwin.
Narwin, a former SWA United States Champion, was last seen as a strung-out mess during the Death Crown Tournament, but he has improved after moving from Toronto to Los Angeles for rehab.
Narwin, a former SWA United States Champion, was last seen as a strung-out mess during the Death Crown Tournament, but he has improved after moving from Toronto to Los Angeles for rehab.
Narwin, never one to be short of words, made his
intentions clear. “I'm not full-time with IJPW but I'm not coming
in just to make an appearance! I'm winning this match and then I'm
slapping that fucking goth prick as I take his title!”
Ricky Holt is pro wrestling's most violent young star and he spoke on the decision to put him in this match over Teiji "The Terror" Shintaro.
"Teiji had his shot and he couldn't get out of the first round," Holt said. "Eric [O'Flaherty] and I agreed to put stinky in there and I'd go after the Tornado Rules belts with Jun [Hageshii]. We decided to put me in this elimination match instead of Teiji because he had his chance. If I win? Teiji teams with Jun in the Tornado Rules tournament. We have a plan and we're winning gold before CLASH! 5 one way or another."
Ricky Holt is pro wrestling's most violent young star and he spoke on the decision to put him in this match over Teiji "The Terror" Shintaro.
"Teiji had his shot and he couldn't get out of the first round," Holt said. "Eric [O'Flaherty] and I agreed to put stinky in there and I'd go after the Tornado Rules belts with Jun [Hageshii]. We decided to put me in this elimination match instead of Teiji because he had his chance. If I win? Teiji teams with Jun in the Tornado Rules tournament. We have a plan and we're winning gold before CLASH! 5 one way or another."
The winner of this match would face Shi no Karasu for
the IJPW Heavyweight Championship at Iron Japan CLASH! 5.
IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament – Final Match
Hirano Denbe vs. Vera Vicious
Referee: Masanori Katayanagi
The crowd was behind Denbe as Vera Vicious was close to
making Naraku no Soko 2-0 in Iron Japan CLASH! title
tournaments.
*** SEGMENT WITH SPOILERS BELOW ***
*** SEGMENT WITH SPOILERS BELOW ***
*** SEGMENT WITH SPOILERS BELOW ***
*** SEGMENT WITH SPOILERS BELOW ***
*** SEGMENT WITH SPOILERS BELOW ***
IJPW Promoter Shun Nagahama and IJPW Commissioner
Hisashi Matano presented the IJPW Junior Heavyweight Championship
belt to Hirano Denbe in the ring. Denbe also received a trophy for
winning the tournament. Denbe was joined by Danjuro-Gun members
DANJURO, Killer Komukai, and Fujimaro Odaka.
Denbe, a man of few words as usual, said, “I said I
wasn't fucking around!”
DANJURO had more to say, directing his resentment at the
promoter and commissioner in the ring. “Danjuro-Gun has fallen
short in winning the Heavyweight title, but we have the Junior
Heavyweight title now! You closed our dojo! Now Denbe-san will
torment the juniors with old school strong style!”
Even though Denbe is the most likable member of
Danjuro-Gun, it wasn't lost on the fans that the two tournaments
ended with title belts in the hands of heel groups. Denbe was IJPW
Junior Heavyweight Champion, but that brought power to DANJURO.
Perhaps the fans could go home happy after the Tornado
Rules Championship tournament as Iron Japan CLASH! 3?
