Michelle's Puroresu Blog ～ミシェル先生のプロレス英会話～ -14ページ目

Ren Ayabe interview, "Summit" (English)

English translation

Written by Kenshi Miyao.

Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa

Please do not use without permission and credit.

Yuma Anzai's "Promise to Me" (translation)

Yuma Anzai's "Promise to Me" (fortnightly column, part 4)

Weekly Pro-Wrestling

No.2322, 2024/10/16 issue, p.32

"What is the sense of distance with the fans?"

"I want to make everyone happy, so I'll give as much love as I get"

☆Looking at the photo sessions in the venue, you always have a smile for each and every fan, but there there any fans who ask you to do things you can't do?

Anzai:

Ah, in AJPW, I think I'm the one this happens to most often. Generally, I want to do the things I can do, but there are times when I have to refuse to do things.

☆What kind of things are "no good" for you?

Anzai:

Other wrestler's poses. Like, if someone says, "I'll do Jun-san's pose, so please do Rei-san's pose", or whatever, I get that kind of request sometimes. I think it's rude to the wrestler that uses that pose, and afterwards, I feel jealous. Because they came to my photo session while they were thinking about another wrestler's pose, heheh.

☆So, Saito Brothers fans take part in your photo sessions.

Anzai:

They wear Saito Brothers T-shirts, too, so you can see so many Saito Brothers fans at the venue just by looking. That's all fine by me, but when my photo sessions and autograph sessions are announced, they can only take one photo. So, I don't want them to think about anyone else but me.

☆So, it's that kind of jealously. Of course, you don't let it show on your face or anything, right?

Anzai:

Heheh, I say stuff like, "Ehhh, I don't wanna do someone else's pose" and stuff like that. On live broadcasts, I also tell people that I won't do other wrestler's poses.

☆From now on, do you want people who take part in your photo sessions to have that frame of mind?

Anzai:

I'd be happy if they do that. When you come to my photo sessions, I want you to be thinking only of me.

☆By the way, is there anyone who tries to cross the line?

Anzai:

I draw very clear boundaries. It doesn't matter if the line gets crossed, but I won't take notice of it. One thing I decided is that I'll absolutely look at all the DMs I get from fans, but I won't reply to anyone. If I've caused problems due to my mistakes, I'll say "Sorry" or whatever, but I won't reply to everyone. So, no matter how many times you get close to me, there's always going to be that boundary.

☆Are there many difficult people?

Anzai:

Fans all have their own way of being a fan, don't they? There are fans who are genuinely supporting me, but there are also people who don't like that I'm standing out so much so early in my career. Then there are people who have never seen me wrestle even once, but they like me because they think I'm cool. There are people who like me because they're romantically interested in me, and people with sons the same age who wish me the best because I remind them of their sons. Whatever kind of fan they are, even if they're not wrestling fans but I've somehow caught their attention, I've never had any trouble with fans so far.

☆Maybe when you get more popular, you'll have more difficult fans.

Anzai:

Hahahaha! Well, I want to do pro-wrestling, so I became a pro-wrestler, right? If I only do what I think is cool pro-wrestling, I'll get self-satisfied and complacent. If there are people who want to see me, I can be a pro-wrestler. I'm not going to change my style just to get people to flatter me, but it's like, "I like the people who like me".

☆You mean, you want to repay the fans who like you appropriately.

Anzai:

Of course. I want to make everyone happy, so I'll give as much love as I get. People will probably say, "The young female fans will be happy to hear that!", but that's not it at all. I want to be loved by all fans, young, old, male, female, anybody, and I'll love everyone. My male fans will be really happy, too. Anyhow, I want to be liked by everyone!

☆You're kinda greedy, aren't you...

Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa

Please do not use without permission and credit.

全日本プロレスを観に行って来ました！2024/9/22後楽園ホール大会

(日本語/English)

こんにちは！今日からプロレスの観戦ブログを再開したいと思います！プロレス観戦を振り返ると嬉しいし、もっともっと日本語能力を上達したいので、バイリンガルのブログ記事を書くとなんとなくできる！時々週刊プロレスの記事を翻訳しますが、観戦記を書くと自分の言葉で自分の経験について書きたいと思います。(英語の先生だから、日本語で話す機会が少ないですけど、もしブログを書いたら、もっと勉強になるかも)

とにかく、最近全日本プロレスにハマってるから、今回は9月22日の全日本プロレス後楽園ホール大会のブログを書きたい✨

もちろん、本当に楽しかった！会場には凄くポジティブな雰囲気で、好きな選手が試合を負けても楽しい時間を過ごした！

王道トーナメントの準決勝も優勝決定戦も凄かった！しかし、タッグマッチも良かったね！諏訪魔選手の復帰戦は特に面白かった。

本田対綾部のメインイベントは素晴らしかった！全日本プロレスの若手選手は輝かしい将来がある！

綾部対青柳に期待してる！

世界中のプロレスファンの皆さんに全日本プロレスの素晴らしさを伝えたい！しかし、現在は全日本プロレスの公式英語版のSNSがないし、英語実況もないね。。。そういう経験があるので、私はできるかな。。。🤔

とにかく、試合の写真をご覧くださいね☆ よろしくお願いします！

Hi! I'm trying to get back into writing regular blog posts about the shows I go to, because reliving fun times I've had while watching wrestling makes me really happy! I'm also trying to improve my Japanese more, and writing a bilingual blog really helps with that. (Mind you, I don't always write the same things in both Japanese and English!)

Anyway, I really wanted to write something about AJPW, because I've really been getting into it in the last few years! I've also had a lot of really positive experiences as an AJPW fan this year, so I want to write more about them.

This time, I'm gonna write a little bit about AJPW's Korakuen Hall show from September 22nd, which had the semifinals and final of the 11th Royal Road Tournament!

This show was all about good vibes and, of course, great wrestling! It was the kind of show where, even if your favourites lost, you didn't feel disappointed for long because the matches were all so good! As a big fan of the Saito Brothers, this could have been a really sad show for me (Rei lost to Ryuki Honda in the Royal Road Tournament semifinals, and Jun lost to Hokuto Omori). I also kinda missed Rising HAYATO, who couldn't be at this show because he had a match in Ehime Pro-Wrestling that day. But, I was having such a great time, I didn't stay sad for very long!

Naturally, the Royal Road Tournament matches were all fantastic, and absolutely worth going out of your way to see. However, the tag matches making up the rest of the show were all great fun to watch, too! I really liked Suwama's comeback match, especially when everyone in the audience started calling Hideki Suzuki "Suwama" because he was wearing Evolution trunks, and Yuma Aoyagi doing Yuma Aoyagi things is always an absolute delight!

The main event, Ryuki Honda vs. Ren Ayabe, was nothing short of brilliant. AJPW's investment in their younger wrestlers is paying off in a huge way, and both of the lads came out of that match looking like absolute superstars. I really can't wait to see Ayabe's match against Yuma Aoyagi on October 22nd! (Although, sadly, I'll be watching that match on AJPW TV, because I'm working that day)

I wish there was more official content from AJPW in English, such as English commentary, or even a revival of their English-language social media, because I want my non-Japanese-speaking friends to be able to enjoy AJPW as much as I do! Maybe I should ask AJPW for a job...?

Anyway, please check out my photos from the show!

全日本プロレス　AJPW

『第11回王道トーナメント【準決勝・優勝決定戦】』

11th Royal Road Tournament (Semifinals and Final)
日程 Date：2024年9月22日（日 Sunday）
開始 Start time：11：30
会場 Venue：東京都・後楽園ホール Tokyo-to, Korakuen Hall
観衆 Attendance：1,473人（札止め sold out）

今回のCLUB AJPW写真撮影会は安齋勇馬選手と一緒！

安齋選手は凄く人気者だから、列がとても長かったけど、有能なスタッフのおかげで、ファンの皆さんは写真撮影会に参加できるようになった！

CLUB AJPW's fan club photo was with Yuma Anzai!

One thing I really appreciate about the fan club photos is that, although the lines are often really long for the more popular wrestlers, the staff are very efficient and, as a result, you're unlikely to miss out!

王道トーナメントのトロフィーだ！

The Royal Road Tournament trophy!

かなりいい席を取れた！(しかし、アリーナ席よりひな壇の方がいい写真を撮れると思います😅)

I had a pretty good seat for the show! (However, my favourite seats are the benches on the north side, because it's easy to take good photos from there, and the price is good, too :))

▼アクトレスガールズ提供　アクトレスタイム

Actwres girl'Z Offer Match, Actwres Time
［アクトレスキラーズ］●荒幡寧々／入江彩乃
11分26秒　キューティー・スペシャル
○夏葵／水嶋さくら

［Actwres Killers］Nene Arahata and Ayano Irie vs. Natsuki and Sakura Mizushima

アクトレスガールズに詳しくないですけど、楽しい試合でした！

I'm still not super familiar with Actwres girl'Z, but they're kinda fun!

▼王道トーナメント準決勝　時間無制限1本勝負

Royal Road Tournament Semifinal, no time limit, 1 fall
●宮原健斗
11分16秒　ファイナルベント→片エビ固め
［ELPIDA］○本田竜輝
※本田が王道トーナメント決勝戦進出。

Kento Miyahara vs. Ryuki Honda (ELPIDA)

Honda defeated Miyahara in 11mins 16s with the Final Vent*, and Honda proceeded to the Royal Road Tournament final.

(Final Vent is the name of Kamen Rider Ryuki's special attack. Also, Honda's current entrance music, Alive A life by Rica Matsumoto, is the opening theme from Kamen Rider Ryuki.)

▼王道トーナメント準決勝　時間無制限1本勝負

Royal Road Tournament Semifinal, no time limit, 1 fall
［SAITO BROTHERS］●斉藤レイ
11分59秒　アイアン・メイデン
［ELPIDA］○綾部蓮
※綾部が王道トーナメント決勝戦進出。

Rei Saito (SAITO BROTHERS) vs. Ren Ayabe (ELPIDA)

Ayabe defeated Saito in 11mins 59s with the Iron Maiden, and Ayabe proceeded to the Royal Road Tournament final.

(やばい！この技が痛そうですね）

(Good LORD this looks painful, oh my goodness)

10人タッグマッチ　30分1本勝負

Ten Man Tag Match, 30mins 1 fall

芦野祥太郎／田村男児／井上凌／黒潮TOKYOジャパン（フリー）／○立花誠吾（フリー）
9分19秒　エビ固め
MUSASHI／吉岡世起（フリー）／ジョエル・レッドマン／佐藤光留（パンクラスMISSION）／●阿部史典（格闘探偵団）

Shotaro Ashino, Dan Tamura, Ryo Inoue, Kuroshio TOKYO Japan (freelance), Sego Tachibana (freelance) vs. MUSASHI, Seiki Yoshioka (freelance), Joel Redman, Hikaru Sato (Pancrase MISSION) and Fuminori Abe (Kakuto Tanteidan)

Tachibana defeated Abe in 9mins 19s by pinfall.

黒潮選手と立花選手の友情が凄いですね！

Kuroshio TOKYO Japan and Seigo Tachibana's friendship fills my heart with joy!

(Also, how does Kuroshio's hair always look so glorious? I really hope he drops that haircare routine one day)

斉藤ブラザーズ vs 北斗軍 6人タッグマッチ　30分1本勝負

Saito Brothers vs. Hokuto-gun, 6 Man Tag Match, 30mins 1 fall

［SAITO BROTHERS］●斉藤ジュン／“ミスター斉藤”土井成樹（フリー）／セニョール斉藤
8分23秒　フロッグ・スプラッシュ→片エビ固め
［北斗軍］○大森北斗／羆嵐（フリー）／サイラス

(SAITO BROTHERS)Jun Saito, "Mr. Saito" Naruki Doi (freelance), Senor Saito vs. (Hokuto-gun) Hokuto Omori, Kuma Arashi and Cyrus

Omori defeated Jun Saito in 8mins 23s with a Frog Splash.

羆嵐選手が大好き！

I love Kuma Arashi! I think he's great :)

今回はいい写真を撮られないと思っていたのに大森選手のおかげで、とても良い写真を撮れるようになった！嬉しい！

I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to take any good photos of Jun Saito at this show, but luckily for me, Hokuto Omori brought him closer to where I was sitting!

大森選手は羆嵐選手と組んで、斉藤ブラザーズに挑戦します！10月12日の埼玉・行田グリーンアリーナメインアリーナ大会にて、世界タッグ選手権試合が決定しました！

Hokuto Omori announced that he would be teaming up with Kuma Arashi to challenge Jun and Rei Saito for the World Tag Championship in Saitama on October 12th!

その後は練習生2人がリングに上がった。寺田咲人（てらだ・さくと）と長尾一大心（ながお・たいしん）のデビュー戦が10月22日の後楽園ホール大会に決定しました！楽しみにしてます！

We were introduced to two rookies who will be making their debut at Korakuen Hall on October 22nd, Sakuto Terada and Taishin Nagao!

そして、今年の最強タッグリーグのチームは発表された！X＆XXは誰かな。。。？

Then, there were a few more announcements, including the teams for the upcoming Real World Tag League! Very curious about X and XX...

諏訪魔復帰戦6人タッグマッチ　30分1本勝負

Suwama Comeback Match,6 Man Tag Match, 30mins 1 fall

青柳優馬／●船木誠勝（フリー）／安齊勇馬
9分32秒　ブルドッグ・ボム→エビ固め
諏訪魔／鈴木秀樹（フリー）／○デイビーボーイ・スミスJr.

Yuma Aoyagi, Masakatsu Funaki (freelance), Yuma Anzai vs. Suwama, Hideki Suzuki (freelance) and Davey Boy Smith Jr.

DBS Jr. defeated Funaki in 9mins 32s with the Bulldog Bomb.

諏訪魔選手、おかえり～！

Welcome back, Suwama!

青柳選手の諏訪魔選手のモノマネが凄いですねｗｗ

Yuma Aoyagi spent a lot of time making sure his Suwama impersonation was on point. (To be fair, it was pretty good, even though it meant Suwama ended up smacking him after the match)