Date: April 3rd, 2015
Location: Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 511 (Super No Vacancy Full House)

As many of you know, Tenryu has announced that he will be retiring sometime towards the end of 2015. Tenryu will still wrestle quite a few times between now and then, as he continues putting on his own events.  Here he pulls in his buddy Shiro Koshinaka for the main event so we have that to look forward to. Here is the full card:

- Kikutaro vs. Ricky Fuji
- NOSAWA Rongai and Gamelas vs. Ryuji Hijikata and Kazuki Hashimoto
- UWA Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Kengo vs. KAZE
- Arashi and Great Kojika vs. Great Kabuki and Masao Inoue
- Dragon JOKER vs. Yoshinari Ogawa
- Tenryu Project Six Man Tag Team Championship: Ryuichi Kawakami, Heddi French, and Buki vs. Kotaro Nasu, Toru Sugiura, and Shota
- Genichiro Tenryu and Shiro Koshinaka vs. Sanshiro Takagi and Konosuke Takeshita

I know who all of these wrestlers are! That's a victory right there. Well except Gamelas, no idea.

Kikutaro vs. Ricky Fuji
They trade tie-ups to start, Kikutaro and Fuji jaw off which leads to what I am pretty sure is the referee measuring both of their 'manhoods', declaring Fuji the winner. Kikutaro shakes his hand and goes to leave the ring, until the referee stops him and reminds him the match isn't actually over. Wristlock by Fuji but Kikutaro gets into the ropes to force a break. They lock knuckles but Kikutaro rakes Fuji's eyes, Irish whip by Fuji but Kikutaro hits a shoulderblock. Snapmare by Kikutaro and he hits the Flashing Elbow before doing the Muto Pose complete with leg limp. Which made me laugh loud enough I may have annoyed my roommate but it caught me off guard. Fuji goes after Kikutaro's suddenly injured leg, but Kikutaro hits a low blow right in front of the referee. He does it again before applying a figure four (with some help from the referee), but Fuji rolls it over, forcing Kikutaro to grab the ropes. Kikutaro goes for a bulldog but Fuji throws him off, punches by Fuji and he hits a back elbow. Kneedrop by Fuji but Kikutaro hits a low blow. Sunset flip complete with de-pantsing by Kikutaro, but it gets two. Fuji is still exposed as Kikutaro goes for his vertical suplex, but Fuji reverses it. Fuji gets Kikutaro on his shoulders and he hits the rolling fireman's carry. 9999 by Fuji, and he gets the three count! As far as comedy matches goes this one gets a thumbs up from me. Kikutaro was in top form and it didn't go too long. A good way to open any show, comedy can be hit and miss but when Kikutaro goes full comedy it tends to be pretty entertaining. Mildly Recommended

NOSAWA Rongai and Gamelas vs. Ryuji Hijikata and Kazuki Hashimoto
Rongai and Hashimoto start off, they lock knuckles, hammerlock by Rongai but Hashimoto reverses it. They go to the mat as Rongai gets Hashimoto's leg, and back up Rongai tags in Gamelas. Gamelas snapmares Hashimoto and he applies a hammerlock, but Hashimoto gets the tag to Hijikata. Gamelas snapmares Hijikata and applies a side headlock, shoulderblock by Gamelas but Hijikata hits a hiptoss. Kick to the back by Hijikata, he picks up Gamelas and he tags in Hashimoto. Hashimoto kicks Gamelas in the back, double Irish whip to Gamelas and they hit a double shoulderblock. Hashimoto covers Gamelas but it gets two. Gamelas and Hashimoto trade elbows, a battle which Gamelas wins and he dumps Hashimoto out of the ring. Rongai throws him back in but Gamelas throws Hashimoto back out. Rongai does it again, Gamelas hits a fist drop to Hashimoto and he tags in Rongai. Rongai kicks Hashimoto in the back of the head and he applies a submission hold on the mat, he picks him back up and tags in Gamelas. Gamelas stomps down Hashimoto in the corner and tags in Rongai as they take turns on Hashimoto. Hashimoto fights back against Rongai and he make the hot tag to Hijikata. Hijikata kicks Rongai and then kicks Gamelas as well. Irish whip by Rongai to the corner but Hijikata reverses it before hitting a high kick. Single arm suplex by Hijikata, cover, but it gets two. Hijikata grabs Rongai but Rongai hits a dragon screw leg whip and tags in Gamelas. Gamelas snapmares Hijikata and he rakes his face, Irish whip by Gamelas and he hits a flapjack. Gamelas picks up Hijikata and he hits a scoop slam and he applies a single leg crab hold. Hijikata gets to the ropes, Gamelas picks up Hijikata and elbows him but Hashimoto runs in to help. Rongai throws Hashimoto in the corner but Hashimoto lariats him, Hashimoto kicks Gamelas in the corner and then kicks him in the chest. PK by Hijikata, but Rongai breaks up the cover. Running kick by Hijikata, cover, but Gamelas barely gets a shoulder up. Hijikata picks up Gamelas and plants him with a fisherman buster, and he gets the three count! This was perfectly fine if utterly non spectacular. Rongai and Gamelas are average and didn't really even get along, and Hijikata is a good wrestler but not very exciting. For an undercard match quite acceptable but a bit dull.

(c) Kengo vs. KAZE
This match is for the UWA Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Kengo pushes KAZE into the corner but he gives a clean break, much to everyone's surprise. KAZE gets Kengo into the corner this time but he chops Kengo before backing off. They trade wristlocks and KAZE gets Kengo to the mat, but Kengo switches positions with him. KAZE applies a stretch hold as they get back up, shoulderblock by Kengo but KAZE delivers a jumping kick. Snapmare by KAZE as he applies a chinlock, he then applies a headscissors but Kengo gets to the ropes. KAZE picks up Kengo and he hits a scoop slam, but Kengo throws him out of the ring. Kengo throws KAZE around at ringside, they return to the ring and they trade elbows. Snapmare by Kengo and he kicks KAZE in the back for a two count. Big boot by Kengo, he cockily sits on KAZE but it gets two. Kengo applies a cross armbreaker but KAZE gets a hand in the ropes. Kicks by Kengo, he hits KAZE against the ropes and throws him into the corner. Kengo chops KAZE in the chest but KAZE boots him back. Headscissors by KAZE as Kengo falls out of the ring, and KAZE hits a pescado. Back in the ring KAZE goes up top and he hits a missile dropkick. Michinoku Driver by KAZE but he only gets two. KAZE hits a vertical suplex, he grabs Kengo but Kengo elbows him off. Big kick by KAZE, he grabs Kengo and they trade elbows. Brainbuster by Kengo, he goes up to the second turnbuckle and hits a diving footstomp for two. Scoop slam by Kengo, he goes up top and he nails the Frog Splash for the three count! This was better than I was expecting since KAZE isn't much and Kengo generally needs to be carried. For two average wrestlers this was about as good as it was going to get as everything was hit well, the pacing was right and they did enough big stuff that the match felt like a title match (even if it is a little title). Nothing mind-blowing but still a pleasant surprise. Mildly Recommended

Arashi and Great Kojika vs. Great Kabuki and Masao Inoue
Arashi and Inoue start off and Arashi hits a shoulderblock. I don't sense this being a fast paced match. Arashi grabs Inoue but he gets into the ropes as not a whole lot happens. Arashi locks Inoue's knuckles but Inoue gets in the ropes and both wrestlers tag out. Kabuki and Kojika circle each other, tie-up, but Kabuki gives a clean break. I hope all these clean breaks are leading to something. Kojika pushes Kabuki into the ropes, punches by Kojika and he chokes Kabuki. Kabuki hits mounted punches on the mat and chokes Kojika back before tagging in Inoue. Inoue and Kabuki punch down Kojika in the corner as Kabuki is in no rush to leave the ring, but he finally does so. Kojika and Inoue tie-up but Inoue knocks Kojika to the mat. Inoue waits for Kojika to get up (for awhile) until Arashi comes in, and Arashi lariats Inoue. Kojika crawls to the corner and tags in Arashi, elbow drop by Arashi and he covers Inoue for two. Kojika is tagged back in and he chops Inoue against the ropes, Arashi comes back but Inoue boots him and hits a shoulderblock off the second turnbuckle. Inoue makes the hot tag to Kabuki, punches by Kabuki to Arashi but Arashi hits him back. Arashi tags in Kojika and Kojika kicks Kabuki in the ribs. Punches by Kojika but Kabuki gets the better of the exchange and tags in Inoue. Inoue goes for a lariat but Kojika avoids it and he tags in Arashi. Arashi and Inoue trade elbows, eye rake by Inoue and he hits the weakest lariats ever. Literally ever. Cobra clutch leg sweep by Inoue, he goes for a lariat but Arashi knocks him down with a lariat of his own for two. Arashi picks up Inoue, hits a powerbomb and he gets the three count. This was exactly as bad as you'd expect, maybe worse. They did nothing to make it special or different or good, just four old people doing half hearted wrestling. And Inoue still managed to be the worst one even though he was the youngest, so extra kudos to him. Just dreck.

Dragon JOKER vs. Yoshinari Ogawa
I think I like JOKER more than Ogawa, which doesn't say much for Ogawa. JOKER starts with a shoulderblock and a dropkick, they tie-up and Ogawa applies a wristlock. Hammerlock by Ogawa and they trade holds on the mat, back up Ogawa gets JOKER in the corner and starts working on his arm. Ogawa tosses JOKER out of the ring and throws him around ringside before slamming his arm into the post. Ogawa stomps JOKER while they are on the apron, he brings him back in the ring before throwing JOKER to the mat by his arm. Ogawa stomps on JOKER's arm, Irish whip by Ogawa and he blocks the sunset flip. Punches by Ogawa and he wraps up JOKER's arm on the mat before throwing him back out of the ring. Ogawa goes out too and he throws JOKER into the ring post. Ogawa slams JOKER's arm into the apron, and while this arm work is thorough I can't say it is overly exciting. Ogawa stomps on JOKER's arm and he hits a hiptoss, arm submission by Ogawa and he hits a vertical suplex for a two count. Ogawa applies a seated armbar but JOKER gets a foot on the ropes. Irish whip by Ogawa and he yanks down JOKER by his arm. Armlock by Ogawa but again JOKER gets to the ropes. Ogawa yanks on JOKER's arm but JOKER finally fights back with elbows, enzigieri by Ogawa but JOKER delivers a jumping heel kick. Ogawa puts JOKER on the top turnbuckle but JOKER applies an armbreaker over the top rope. Swandive missile dropkick by JOKER and he gets a two count. Kicks by JOKER, Irish whip, reversed, JOKER jumps off the second turnbuckle but Ogawa knees him low. Shoulderblocks by Ogawa and he snaps off a DDT for two. Ogawa applies a short armbar but JOKER gets a hand on the ropes. Ogawa charges JOKER but JOKER moves and kicks Ogawa in the arm. High kick by JOKER, cover, but Ogawa kicks out. Step-up enzigieri by JOKER, but that gets a two as well. JOKER goes out to the apron but Ogawa gets his knees up on the swandive body splash attempt. Backdrop suplex by Ogawa, he picks up JOKER and he hits a second one. Ogawa hits a third, he applies a modified seated armbar and the referee calls for the bell! Ogawa wins the match. This was "technically" very good, but I think that Ogawa is just dry as dirt. I wish that JOKER had gotten a few more hope spots, I know there is a big difference on the hierarchy scale between JOKER and Ogawa, but it just would have made it more fun to watch. It was not a bad match or anything, just not very stimulating.

(c) Ryuichi Kawakami, Heddi French, and Buki vs. Kotaro Nasu, Toru Sugiura, and Shota
This match is for the Tenryu Project Six Man Tag Team Championship. Kawakami and Nasu start off the match and Nasu clubs him before backing off. Nasu gets Buki to the mat but Buki gets out of it and they return to their feet. Nasu tags in Sugiura and Sugiura elbows Kawakami in the back of the head. Kawakami drives Sugiura into the corner and he tags French, Sugiura circles French but French hits a pair of armdrags. Another one by French but Sugiura kicks him as he charges into the corner. Irish whip by French but Sugiura boots him back. French drives Sugiura into the mat and he applies a stretch submission hold. French tags in Kawakami, Kawakami drives Sugiura back and Sugiura tags in Shota. Shota and Kawakami tie-up but Kawakami gives a clean break. Shota chops Kawakami, Irish whip by Kawakami but Shota can't shoulderblock him down. He tries again with no luck, Shota grabs Kawakami by his hair but Kawakami knocks Shota off his feet. Kawakami stomps down Shota in the corner and he tags in Buki. Buki and company take turns working over Shota for a few minutes until he finally gets away from French and tags in Nasu. Nasu boots French, kicks by Nasu and he delivers a jumping kick for two. Kawakami and Buki come in the ring Nasu throws them into each other. Nasu charges French but French kicks him back, snapmare by Nasu and he hits a PK on French for a two count.

Nasu grabs French but French hits a dragon screw leg whip. French tags in Buki, knees by Buki to Nasu and he hits a lariat in the corner. Dropkick by Buki in the corner and he hits a snap vertical suplex. Sliding lariat by Buki to Nasu, cover, but it gets two. Buki and Nasu trade elbows, kicks by Nasu but Buki kicks him back. They crawl to their corners and tags in Kawakami and Sugiura, Kawakami and Sugiura trade elbows which Kawakami gets the better of. Elbows and chops by Kawakami in the corner but Sugiura hits a rebounding crossbody. Shota and Nasu come in the ring too and Kawakami is triple teamed in the corner. Shota and Nasu go for a double vertical suplex on Kawakami and eventually hit it, Sugiura goes up top and he hits a missile dropkick for two. Shota goes up top and dives out of the ring onto French and Buki, while in the ring Sugiura picks up Kawakami and elbows him. Kawakami elbows him back and they trade shots until Sugiura hits a big dropkick. Kawakami avoids the next dropkick attempt and Kawakami hits a sliding elbow for a two count. Fireman's carry into a front slam by Kawakami to Sugiura, but that gets a two as well. Kawakami hits a running elbow smash, cover, and this time he gets the three! Kawakami, French, and Buki are still your champions. This was average, which is logical since the majority of the wrestlers in the match are average. The main issue is it never felt like a title match, I know its not a major title or anything but it is one of the only titles in Tenryu Project so they should try to make it mean something. It also went a bit longer than it needed to. The action in general was good (a few small issues) but it just wasn't interesting.

Genichiro Tenryu and Shiro Koshinaka vs. Sanshiro Takagi and Konosuke Takeshita
Takagi and Takeshita attack to start the match, and the action spills out to the floor. Things settle down with Takeshita and Tenryu in the ring and they trade chops. Tenryu gets the better of that as Koshinaka comes in the ring, and they hit a double shoulderblock. Tenryu punches Takeshita to the mat and hits an elbow drop for a two count. Tenryu tags in Koshinaka, Irish whip by Koshinaka and he hits a hip attack on Takeshita. Takagi comes in the ring but he gets a hip attack as well, Takagi falls out of the ring and Koshinaka hits a hip attack off the apron to the floor. Back in the ring Tenryu and Takagi trade chops again and Koshinaka nails a hip attack off the top turnbuckle. Lariat by Tenryu, cover, but Takeshita breaks up the pin. Tenryu picks up Takagi and hits the 53 Year Old, but Takagi gets a shoulder up. Lariat by Tenryu, cover, and he gets the three count! This match was only eight minutes long and it still got clipped, if that tells you anything. So it was mostly just Tenryu and Koshinaka hitting their spots. Which they hit fine but when a match is clipped this match its not really something I can recommend seeking out.

Final Thoughts:

This event was better than the last Tenryu Project event. I know that isn't saying much but I try to find some positivity if I can. The opener was cute and the Jr. Heavyweight title match was perfectly acceptable. Most of the rest of the matches were average wrestlers doing average things or really old wrestlers doing really old wrestler things. If you are a mark for one of the older wrestlers you may enjoy this but overall it is not an event I could recommend with a clear conscious as it had no standout matches. Still, if you have to watch a Tenryu Project event from 2015, this so far is the one I'd recommend to watch.

Grade: D+

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event reviewed on 5/18/15