[DESTINATION] 03/14/13 Full Lineup

Destination BATTLE GROUND were true to their word this time, as within hours of the press conference ending a full lineup for their upcoming debut show was released. The roster is a mix of former CRIMSON wrestlers and freelancers. 

In the opening match, Toyota's first two rookies he trained by himself (with no affiliation with CRIMSON or Ryo Suzuki) will debut. Keita Kokubunji stands 180 centimeters (5'11), and weighs 97 kilograms (215 pounds). Kokubunji had been a "follower" of Toyota for several years before finally being allowed to train with Toyota. His opponent is Kazuya Tanimoto who stands 183 cm (6') and weighs a robust 119.75 kg (264 pounds). Tanimoto is a former power lifter who injured his shoulder in training, and has since retired to try pro-wrestling.

In the second battle, Naoki Daishi's HYBRID FACTORY rookies Katsunori Sekine & Susumi Nakagawa, nearing their first full year as wrestlers face the team of Rui Kuriyama who has been training in America for almost a year, and the returning Kazuki Takagi. Takagi is a former favorite from CRIMSON who went to Pro-Wrestling DYNAMITE for a stint. A loveable brute who has never lived up to his enormous size, Takagi is attempting to restart his career.

Mikio Tsuruya and Danger Kobayashi get their wish with a tag team match against Akuma Toyota's good friend Masakazu Fujimoto and old school grappler Eiichi Aihara. This will be a battle of styles, as the evil duo bring a violent style against Fujimoto's size and strength, along with Aihara's ground based assault.

In the first of three "named battles", "Texas Outlaw" Jake Bishop goes to battle against the former sumo wrestler Izumo Yoritomo in a battle titled "MEGATON BRAWL". Yoritomo has been relatively inactive as of late but will go head to head with Bishop who many consider the top gaijin in all of Japan.

Stephen Priest returns to Japan, as the California Devil battles the bulked up Keiji Hirano. Hirano has went under a radical transformation since CRIMSON collapsed, finding a new routine that has shredded his body and allowed him to put on bulk. The result is a Hirano that presents a major test for the returning Priest.

And finally in the main event, "The Crusade of Discipline", the MVP of the wrestling world, Akuma Toyota goes toe to toe with former OLYMPUS FS star Akira Aoki in what is sure to be a unique battle. Toyota brings a straight forward power attack, but Aoki is one man who can match Toyota's strength and brings his fabled ground and pound to battle. In the end, only one man and one style can emerge victorious.

Destination BATTLE GROUND ~ War 001

Tokyo, Japan

Korakuen Hall (2,100)

03/14/13

1. BATTLE #1: Keita Kokubunji vs. Kazuya Tanimoto

2. BATTLE #2: Katsunori Sekine & Susumi Nakagawa vs. Rui Kuriyama & Kazuki Takagi

3. BATTLE #3: Masakazu Fujimoto & Eiichi Aihara vs. Mikio Tsuruya & Danger Kobayashi

4. BATTLE #4 ~ MEGATON BRAWL: "Texas Outlaw" Jake Bishop vs. Izumo Yoritomo

5. BATTLE #5 ~ REVIVAL OF THE CALIFORNIAN DEVIL: Stephen Priest vs. Keiji Hirano 

6. BATTLE #6 ~ CRUSADE OF DISCPLINE: Akuma Toyota vs. Akira Aoki