Stage 1
Hakodate Arena in Hokkaido
(Start network. The hard camera opens inside of Hakodate Arena in Hokkaido. A nearly overflowing crowd has gathered in the background of tonight’s announce table. The camera pans the buzzing audience in anticipation of tonight's event.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Welcome everyone to what will be the first step in determining our first GCS World Heavyweight Champion! This is Stage 1 of Glory & Gold!
(Floor cameras pan the audience as the excited crowd await tonight’s feature contests.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Two huge gauntlet matches tonight will decide contenders for our prestigious championship! Those two athletes will compete at Stage 2 for true glory and gold. The first GCS World Heavyweight Champion is competing right here tonight!
(The KRP audience begins to buzz as the ring announcer pleads for caution in the crowd.)
Minoru Hasegawa: That is Sakaguchi Dojo coming through the crowd! Sakaguchi-San is still holding our stolen championship!
(Members of the camp vary in reaction to the leadership of their sensei as he violently parts the crowd to cross the barricade.)
Minoru Hasegawa: This man is making a mockery of of our sport. This is not the way we expect athletes to conduct themselves on The King’s Road. We are about tradition and honor. This man says he is a progressive. He is nothing more than an antagonist. He is a disgrace.
(Kohei Sakaguchi enters the ring with his dojo and grabs the mic with the GCS World Heavyweight Championship slung over his shoulder.)
Kohei Sakaguchi: I make gold shine so much brighter, don’t I?
(He beams with pride as his dojo applauds him in the background. No time is wasted before Shuichi Takayama parts the curtain and heads for the ring. Sporadic wrestlers follow.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Huey Blounts! Kira Izumi! Aiden Ford! Some members of the locker room don’t look happy.
Kohei Sakaguchi: Easy! Easy!
(Sakaguchi Dojo stands in front of their leader as Takayama begins calculating odds.)
Kohei Sakaguchi: No fighting. (nonchalant) No fighting.
(Sakaguchi dismisses his students as he lays the newly minted GCS World Heavyweight Championship in the hands of his counterpart without issue.)
Shuichi Takayama: (overheard on microphone) This is some joke to you?
Kohei Sakaguchi: This is no joke. This is a message. I was simply showing everyone the power and the domination that is Sakaguchi Dojo.
(Takayama picks up the championship belt and snatches the microphone from Sakaguchi’s hand. He hands the precious gold to a trusted ringside attendant.)
Shuichi Takayama: This is no message. This is American antics. That may have garnered you popularity there, but we respect tradition here. There is no place for actions like this on the King’s Road.
Kohei Sakaguchi: Always so dramatic. Let us go now. We have to prepare for tonight. We intend on seeing Sakaguchi Dojo vs Sakaguchi Dojo at Stage 2.
(Sakaguchi grins from ear to ear as the ring announcer hurries the recovered GCS World Heavyweight Championship to the back for safety.)
Shuichi Takayama: Play your games. Tonight is about honoring traditions and setting forth to mark our first champion!
(Transition to ringside announce table with Minoru Hasegawa.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Ladies and gentlemen, the ring is clearing now. We have no time for childish games like this. We are ready for stage one!
Highlights:
- Both youngboys exchange an escalating series of strikes eventually using the ropes for maximum momentum.
- Ogawa (Takayama Dojo) finally crumbles Nakajima (Sakaguchi Dojo) with an elbow that sounds off though the building.
- Ogawa lifts Yujiro for a stalling suplex, but is eventually able to escape out the back after delivering an upside down knee strike.
- Yujiro opens up on Keita’s thick legs with stunning kicks to the knee and hamstring.
- Nakajima continues the offense by maintaining a quickened pace.
- Yujiro is suddenly stopped by a turn around lariat.
- Ogawa fires up with the crowd growing behind him.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Ogawa is fighting through the pain. You can see the redness building around his left knee.
(Keita delivers thunderous elbow strikes to the Sakaguchi Dojo youngboy.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Roaring Elbow! That nearly took Yujiro’s head off. Keita makes the cover. 1 … 2 … kickout!
(Ogawa positions Nakajima for a powerbomb.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Sitout powerbomb! Ogawa keeps the pin. 1 … 2 … 3! Keita gives a big win to Takayama Dojo!
(The Takayama Dojo youngboy celebrates his victory in the ring as Yujiro rolls to the outside and stumbles up the ramp. Shuichi Takayama re-enters the ring carrying a single black kneepad that he hands to his pupil as is customary for the first win of a member of the Takayama Dojo.)
Winner: Keita Ogawa
(Cameras cut backstage to Shuichi Takayama in front of the King’s Road press corps.)
Shuichi Takayama: I will say this once. Our new establishment will not be made a mockery of. It is now time I have a meeting with my dojo to express the importance of not only stage one, but also stage two. We will make sure this company and its championship are honored.
(Takayama storms past flashing cameras as the scene fades.)
Highlights:
- The first two guantlet competitors to start the match are Dolton Reed and Marco Street.
- The two former mma athletes exchange checked leg kicks and squashed takedown attempts.
- Reed rocks Street with a forearm and takes him down.
- Street quickly recovers in the guard and snaps on a Kimura attempt.
- Reed eventually battles through the grip and lands a devastating head stomp to his downed opponent.
- Reed attacks Street's leg between shadow boxing to the crowd.
- Reed grabs Marco's heel and taunts his opponent, but is swiftly met with an enzuigiri.
- Street starts a hot comeback on Reed with a barrage of kicks.
- Marco misses a buzzsaw headkick and is met with a desparate double leg as he swings back around.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Darce Choke! Street somehow sunk in the SWAG Lock on the takedown attempt! Can Reed hang on? No he can't. He's tapping.
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Eliminated: Dolton Reed
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- Mari Saito is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Street sizes up Saito. The Japanese Jewel does not wait. She attacks first with a cluster of elbows and chops.
- Street reverses an elbow strike into an attempted chickenwing crossface. Saito uses a judo throw to escape and trap the arm.
- Marco fights off a vicious armbar attempt.
- Street rolls her to a nearfall to escape the attempt.
- Saito returns with work on Street's already damaged leg.
- Saito sets up for a figure four, but is rolled into a small package and another nearfall.
- Street is able to lock in the SWAG Lock again as Saito escapes the pin the wrong direction.
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Minoru Hasegawa: SWAG Lock!! Again! Will Saito tap this ti ... Saito taps!!
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Eliminated: Mari Saito
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- Masanori Kawada is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Kawada and Street face each other in the ring and nod.
- They begin trading forearms immediately, picking up where they left off at Return of the Dragon.
- Kawada also attacks the leg to gain the advantage.
- Early K-Dynamite attempt is slipped out of into a rear naked choke by Street.
- After nearly fading, Kawada reverses the choke into a backpack stunner to escape.
- Kawada signals the end. Sets up Street for K-Dynamite MAX, the same move that defeated him previously.
- Marco spins out and delivers a sharp headkick.
- He leaps with his one good leg to the top rope.
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Minoru Hasegawa: SWAG Stomp! It was only Street's good leg, but it was flush. Will it be enough?! 1 ... 2 ... 3!
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Eliminated: Masanori Kawada
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- Jason Scott is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Street attempts an early headkick. Scott catches the foot and attacks his severely damaged limb.
- Scott is focusing a vicious attack on the knee.
- Jason quickly locks in the the sharpshooter on the injured Street.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Street cannot hold out much longer! His training should have taught him when to tap and fight another day. How is he ... there it is. Street taps and is eliminated from the gauntlet after an impressive showing including 3 eliminations.
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Eliminated: Marco Street
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- Aguila is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Aguila starts hot with a springboard hurricanrana.
- Scott is up quick and begins exchanging impressive high spots with the young luchador.
- The aerial tit for tat builds and builds until both men are left at a stale mate. The Hokkaido audience comes alive.
- Scott and Aguila trade damaging strike for damaging strike; high impact move for high impact move.
- Aguila eventually takes a narrow advantage and climbs to the top turnbuckle.
- Scott quickly shoots to his feet and races up the corner. Spanish fly attempt, but he's shoved to the ground.
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Minoru Hasegawa: LuchaSoar! 630! Aguila covers Scott. 1 ... 2 ... 3!
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Eliminated: Jason Scott​
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- Isaiah Luck is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Luck and Aguila pause, and register the moment before a fiery exchange of strikes.
- Neither gain an advantage. Both exhibit fire and deliver simulataneous headshots dropping each man.
- The referee starts a double count.
- Both men struggle to their feet and begin a second strike exchange with less impact behind each blow.
- Aguila reverses a forearm strike into a backslide nearfall.
- Aguila rolls Luck through and misses a super kick. Luck uses the opportunity to roll up Aguila for a nearfall.
- Aguila is up quick and throws a wild clothesline that does not land.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Future Glimpse! That superkick may have ended the KRP career of Aguila before it truly started. 1 ... 2 ... kickout! Wow! What a great set of debuts by these two. Luck has Aguila now ... #GiveNOLUCKS! That's it. 1 ... 2 ... 3!
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Eliminated: Aguila
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- Hammerstein is the final entrant in the gauntlet.
- Luck motions for Hammerstein to 'bring it'. Hammerstein laughs and obliges.
- The two trade, but Hammerstein is quickly able to gain the advantage in the striking brawl.
- Hammerstein mocks his opponent while continuing to lay in attack after attack.
- Luck begins firing back with small shots that are quickly shut down.
- Hammerstein sets up for the Hammersteiner, but Luck slips out the back and starts a comeback.
- Luck uses momentum and pace to increase the advantage.
- Luck climbs to the top and leaps with an shotgun dropkick attempt.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Hammerstein moves! Luck crashes to the mat with a sickening thud. Luck up in the corner now and ... running forearm smash. Hammerstein follows up with a running bulldog. Is this it? Hammersteiner?! Yes! He hits it! 1 ... 2 ... kickout! How did he kick out of the Hammersteiner?!
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(Hammerstein quickly grabs his downed opponent with one hand while gesturing to the referee with the other that it should have been a three count. Luck uses the momentary lack of focus to his advantage.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Absolution on Hammerstein! He is completely stunned! Absolution! Luck makes the cover. 1 ... 2 ... kickout! Where are they getting this?!
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(Isaiah Luck climbs the top rope and signals to the crowd for ...)
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Minoru Hasegawa: #GiveNOLUCKS from the top! The cover. 1 ... 2 ... 3! What an amazing contest! We have our first competitor for the GCS World Heavyweight Championship ... Isaiah Luck!
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Eliminated: Hammerstein
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Winner: Isaiah Luck
(Transition backstage to the Sakaguchi Dojo locker room. The mentor celebrates loudly as his pupils have reactions reaching all ends of the spectrum.)
Kohei Sakaguchi: That is how it is done gentlemen! We should have never let Takayama Dojo take Block A. Take my leadership for example on how to take what you want!
(Hammerstein snarls with a cold pack pressed to the back of his neck in a corner. Masters, Archer, and Carter seem more interested in their upcoming contest. Marco Street bounces between enjoying the antics of Sakaguchi-San and scoffing in disapproval.)
Kohei Sakaguchi: King! Masters! Archer! It is up to you now to cement my legacy. One of you mark yourself as a contender for that championship!
(Carter, Archer, and Masters square up as Sakaguchi laughs in the background. The three stare each other down as the scene fades.)
Highlights:
- The elder Iwatami stands in the middle asking for strikes politely.
- Iwatami allows a flurry without evasion. He applauds and returns favor.
- Nomura is unable to keep up with the offensive barrage from Iwatami.
- MMA Legend Iwatami lets up and asks politely for more offense.
- Nomura delivers shrugged off forearms to the chest.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Iwatami is still allowing his student the opportunity to test his strikes. Nomura shoots a double leg. Guillotine!
(Iwatami slips in a nasty guillotine choke that Hitoshi quickly taps out to. Hideyoshi squeezes one moment more and let’s go just before his pupil loses consciousness.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Impressive outing tonight for Hitoshi Nomura, but ultimately the decision was never in question. As we’ve said many times before, Hideyoshi Iwatami is your winner.
(Iwatami waits for his student to stand on his own. Hideyoshi turns down medical staff for his student on his behalf. Nomura slowly raises and bows. He follows his leader out of the ring and to the back.)
Winner: Hideyoshi Iwatami
(Cameras open inside the Iwatami Dojo locker room. Members all bow as their mentor Hideyoshi Iwatami enters the room. The eccentric mma legend looks toward Blounts.)
Hideyoshi Iwatami: You lack focus. You should not have allowed Sakaguchi to distract you from your path. Do not fall for his games. You will not chase him like a dog chasing his tail. 5,000 squats.
Huey Blounts: But Master …
Hideyoshi Iwatami: …
(Blounts chooses to test his sensei no further. He positions and begins his disciplinary measures for inserting himself in the opening moments of tonight's event. Iwatami nonchalantly removes his wrist tape with Blounts loudly counting squats in the background.)
Highlights:
- Liam Archer and Sakaria Koa are the first two entrants in the gauntlet.
- Archer starts with fast paced pro wrestling offense.
- Koa quickly shuts down the smaller competitor with a vicious body kick.
- Koa celebrates too early and as he attempts a german suplex, he is stopped in his tracks by ...
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Minoru Hasegawa: Sakaguchi Dojo!? Are you kidding me?! How could they come out at the beginning of this match and ruin this fine event.
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(Archer is able to use the distraction to quickly roll up the Sakaria.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: 1 ... 2 ... 3! Koa is eliminated!
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Eliminated: Sakaria Koa
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- King Carter is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Kohei Sakaguchi jumps to the ring apron
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Minoru Hasegawa: What is this now?! Am I seeing this right?
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(The leader of the Sakaguchi Dojo shouts orders into the ring at both Carter and Archer. Liam suddenly turns a shocked head as a smile comes of The King's face. Archer's head drops as he slowly lowers his shoulders to the mat.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: No! Kohei Sakaguchi is ruining what should be tonight's main event! This is incredulous!
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(Carter covers the prone Archer as the stunned referee drops into position for the count.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: (disgusted) No. 1..2..3. This is a shame. Liam Archer has laid down to King Carter at the orders of his leader. This is not what King's Road Puroresu is about.
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Eliminated: Liam Archer
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- Desmond Masters is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Sakaguchi Dojo begins to surround the ring.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Now Sakaguchi is ordering Carter to lay down for Masters? This is a complete travesty of our sport. This truly is just a game to him.
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(This time King Carter is ordered by his mentor to lay down for his fellow dojo teammate.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Get on with it then. 1.2.3. Fine. I hope you're happy Sakaguchi-San.
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Eliminated: King Carter
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- Kira Izumi is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Sakaguchi Dojo closes in on the ring.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Shuichi Takayama! And here comes the rest of Takayama Dojo!
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(Camp Takayama storms toward the ring as Sakaguchi Dojo scatters. Each exit through the crowd in different directions.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Yes! Finally, Block B will see a fair contest as it should. Thank you Takayama-San.
(Masters looks to his dojo mates as they exit the audience, but it has served as a useful distraction.)
Minoru Hasegawa: Izumi is waiting patiently behind Desmond Masters. Turn around! Kick to the mid-section by Izumi. He's got him hooked! Kira Driver '91! Izumi makes the cover. 1 ... 2 ... 3! Karma!
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Eliminated: Desmond Masters
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- Huey Blounts is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Kira waits for Blounts in the middle of the ring. They face off. Izumi extends a hand. Blounts accepts the hand shake. The building applauds and sits forward in their seat as both men begin with a strong lock up.
- Each grappler exchanges holds. Both find opportunity to get the upper hand momentarily.
- The crowd begins cheering both men.
- Blounts nods his head and is the first to deliver a strike.
- Izumi returns a hard elbow and the two fire up with heated strike exchanges.
- Blounts gets the better of the strike exchange and sends Izumi into the ropes. Kira uses the space and momentum to reverse the advantage and deliver some high intensity sequences.
- Izumi sets Blounts up for Kira Driver '91. The Damaja backdrops Kira out to escape.
- Blounts strings together high impact moves with a series of near falls.
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Minoru Hasegawa: Finally, two gladiators in Block B worthy of calling themselves our first GCS World Heavyweight Champion.
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(Izumi throws a clothesline that Blounts captures and turns into a crossface.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Cottonmouth Crossface? No, Izumi rolls through and delivers a middle knee. Kira Dirver '91? No, Blounts spins out this time. He has his opponent well scouted. Huge backfist from Blounts! Damaja Death Drop? Yes! He hits. 1 ... 2 ... 3!
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Eliminated: Kira Izumi
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- Raiden Ishimori is the next entrant in the gauntlet.
- Blounts grabs his damaged ribs, but attacks first.
- Ishimori returns with heavy chops, but finally scores big with a 'kitchen sink' to the gut.
- Raiden targets the core of Huey Blounts with knee drops, wear down holds, and a series of punches and kicks.
- Blounts shakes off the pain and fires up for a comeback by winning a chop battle in the corner.
- Blounts attempts to lift Ishimori for The Damaja Death Drop, but is unable due to his injured ribs.
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Minoru Hasegawa: This doesn't look good for The Damaja. Ishimori lifts him for the Winds of Catastrophe!
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(Blounts manages to shift his weight enough to slide out the back and school boy Ishimori.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: 1 ... 2 ... kickout! That was close. Raiden back up, but he's met with a clothesline ... and another ... and another. Blounts on a roll. He's going for the Cottonmouth Crossface ...! Ishimori breaks off. Raiden lifts him up! Winds of Catastrophe! Quick Cover. 1 ... 2 ... 3!
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Eliminated: Huey Blounts
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- Aiden Ford is the final entrant in the gauntlet.
- Ford hits the ring hard throwing wild rights and lefts at an already damaged Ishimori.
- Raiden fights back with his own wild shots to the ribs of the 'Gaijin Hero'.
- Ford overpowers Ishimori into the corner and lays in with back elbows.
- Ford sends Raiden from pillar to post with hard irish whips.
- Ford plays to the Hokkaido crowd giving Ishimori an opportunity to regain the advantage.
- Raiden is methodically able to create openings that get the crowd solidly behind him.
- The "Gaijin Hero" has a difficult time keeping up with the speed and agility created by his opponent.
- Ishimori finally goes for a big german suplex, but must release his grip to grab his now injured back.
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Minoru Hasegawa: That was an excellent effort by The Lone Wolf of Osaka, but he looks to be in peril.
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(Ford recovers as Ishimori tries to stretch out the soreness in his lower lumbar.)
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Minor Hasegawa: Aiden Ford cannot be allowed this much time. Ax handle after ax handle to the lower back now on Ishimori. This does not look good. Ford is calling for it.
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(Aiden hooks Ishimori's head, traps the leg, and lifts for ... )
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Minoru Hasegawa: Crazy, Noisy, Bizarre! That Fisherman Buster will do it! 1 ... 2 ... 3nooooooo! Ishimori kicked out!!!
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(Ford is in complete shock as the arena begins to rumble in anticipation.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Raiden Ishimori willing himself to his feet. What will it take to keep him down?
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(Ford holds onto Ishimor's head by his hair and shows his trophy to the crowd laughing. The hubris of the "Gaijin Hero" creates an opening.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Pele kick to Ford! He is stumbling.
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(Ford reaches out for his opponent with blurred vision from the sudden match altering strike.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Ishimori is trying to lift the larger Aiden Ford up for Winds of Catastrophe with that severely injured back. There is no way he can get him up for it.
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(Ishimori struggles. After one failed attempt to lift the true heavyweight, he is finally able to pick up his opponent and ... )
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Minoru Hasegawa: Winds of Catastrophe?! Wait! Ford is digging his thumb into the eye of Ishimori.
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(Raiden suddenly grabs at his eye with both hands dropping Ford to his feet. The referee counts off an immediate and urgent five count to break the illegal hold. Ford holds on past five. The referee is forced to physically pull the Texan off in lieu of disqualification.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Ford is pushing it here with our head official. He understands there's a lot at stake and it's in everyone's best interest to see a clean finish. That does not include gouging eyes however.
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(Raiden clutches hard to his eye as the "Gaijin Hero" slams the rops and returns with a thunderous lariat.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: Oh no. Ford is lifting Raiden for the Psycho Driver ... One Big Headache from Aiden Ford!
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(The "Gaijin Hero" quickly makes the lateral press.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: 1 ... 2 ... 3! What an amazing match!
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Eliminated: Raiden Ishimori
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Winner: Aiden Ford
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(Members of Takayama Dojo begin to once again surround the ring. This time they are not running off an enemy, but celebrating two of their own advancing to Stage 2 of Glory and Gold. Shuichi Takayama enters the ring first to assist the "Gaijin Hero" to his feet. Isaiah Luck follows and enters the ring standing in the middle. Ford takes notice and meets him there grabbing the back of his neck.)
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Minoru Hasegawa: These two men will compete at Glory and Gold: Stage 2 on July 8th for the honor of being the first ever GCS World Heavyweight Champion! Isaiah Luck vs Aiden Ford! Takayama Dojo vs Takayama Dojo! Who will set their name as the first true Ace of King's Road Puroresu?! We will find out in only two weeks! Thank you and good night!
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(Hakodate Arena rumbles as members of Takayama Dojo fuel on the fire in both athletes' eyes. The scene fades to black. End network.)