Animation-Based Games

While talking with students who I teach English to in Asia, I have learned that many of them are interested in pro-wrestling, or at least, someone in their family is. This has contributed to the number of people in Asia who visit my blog to read writing I have done for Asia-based pro-wrestling companies (Middle Kingdom Wrestling, Yanagase Pro Wrestling, and Michinoku Pro Wrestling). But I have also discovered that many of my students are also interested in games and animated shows, so this post is about a website that those students and people like them may want to check out.

The website's name is Mortgage Calculator, as it is primarily a mortgage calculator website. However, it also hosts games, and amongst Mortgage Calculator's selection are games based on animated shows.

"The Amazing World of Gumball" is an animated show created for the US-based Cartoon Network and ran from 2011-2019, but is popular in Japan today. According to the global entertainment analytics website Parrot Analytics, the audience demand for, "The Amazing World Of Gumball" is 0.9 times the demand of the average TV series in Japan in the last 30 days as of this writing. Inspired by this show about a blue cat named Gumball Watterson, "The Amazing World Of Gumball Tidy Up" is a house cleaning game in which the player can help his adoptive goldfish brother Darwin clean up the Watterson family home. It's a challenging task, as the mischievous Gumball enjoys making a room messy again after Darwin cleans it up.

"Powerpuff Girls" is another animated show that was created for Cartoon Network, running from 1998-2005. "Powerpuff Girls" was about three superpowered kindergarten-aged girls, but from 2006-2007, Cartoon Network Japan produced "Powerpuff Girls Z", which was about three teenage girls with magical powers. So, Mortgage Calculator's, "The Powerpuff Girls Panic In Townsville" will be a bit unfamiliar to those who were introduced to Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup via "Powerpuff Girls Z", but in both series, they are heroes who protect their city, which is the goal of this game.

There are many other games on Mortgage Calculator that while they are not inspired by a TV show, are animation-based, and all of the games are free. So if you enjoy animation-based games, check out Mortgage Calculator.

Middle Kingdom Wrestling and the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation Announce Historic Partnership

Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW) and the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation (HKWF), the two largest wrestling organizations in China, have announced that they will be forming a partnership. In this long-term deal, MKW and the HKWF will promote cross-boarding between Mainland China and the Special Administrative Region.

"We share the same philosophy on the grassroots organizational style and are looking forward to talent exchanges and meaningful cooperation between both wrestling organizations," MKW Owner Adrian Gomez and HKWF President Bitman said in a joint statement. "Both companies saw some setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, but aim to rejuvenate pro-wrestling in China and Greater China."

In an individual statement, HKWF founder Ho Ho Lun reflected on how far the HKWF has come. “I am almost among the first generation of Chinese wrestlers and have wrestled in the WWE ring. But what we have done with HKWF is a miracle,” Lun said. “From running shows in small bars and a theater in Macao with only limited resources, to this partnership that will enable more people in China to enjoy live big pro-wrestling events.”

With both organizations previously growing the Chinese pro-wrestling scene as individual entities in their localized areas of China, the partnership between MKW and the HKWF will contribute to helping China become for the first time in history a major part of the pro-wrestling industry.

MIDDLE KINGDOM WRESTLING

Founded in 2015 by Adrian Gomez, Middle Kingdom Wrestling is based in Mainland China, where many pro-wrestling fans were introduced to live pro-wrestling for the first time ever via MKW. Its roster features homegrown Chinese wrestlers, but MKW events have also featured talents who have been seen in NXT and Impact Wrestling, as well as stars of the Japanese wrestling scene. In 2018, MKW hosted an event at Xinqiao Culture and Art Center with record-setting attendance.

HONG KONG PRO WRESTLING FEDERATION

Founded in 2009 by pro-wrestler Ho Ho Lun, the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation is based in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China. The HKWF was the second organization in China's history to run pro-wrestling events, and from 2012 - 2015 was the Hong Kong representative of the Japan-based ZERO1. Along with the HKWF hosting events featuring homegrown Hong Kong wrestlers of today, it is also creating the stars of the future via its training center.

[ORIGINALLY POSTED AT E2GSports.com]

[Yanagase Pro Wrestling] Result of the 2/24, "Ladius Friday Night Match"

One week after the men's division of Yanagase Pro Wrestling were in action, it was time for Ladius to have a, "Friday Night Match" at SPORTS BAR M's Cafe.

Mari Manji and Michio Kageyama faced each other at this past December's, "Yanagase Pro Wrestling Christmas Special" event, and on this night would be their rematch. However, although Kageyama has wrestled in many other promotions including NOAH, DDT, BJW, AJPW, and ZERO1, Ladius was uncharted territory for him, being that it's the ladies' division of YPW. So for this particular match, instead of wrestling as Michio Kageyama, he wrestled as Michiko Kageyama.

Michiko Kageyama began the match with an aggressive offense.

When Mari Manji was giving Michiko Kageyama some of their own medicine, Kageyama's wig came off, basically confirming their true identity.

As Mari Manji continued her offense, Kageyama became less concerned with trying to conceal his identity and focused on fighting back.

Mari Manji made a comeback with forearm shots, shoulder blocking Kageyama to the mat, an inverted facelock, and a corner dropkick, but he stopped Manji's momentum by reversing a bodyslam attempt.

Kageyama sat Mari Manji up on the mat and attempted a punt, but she moved out of the way and went for a schoolboy, which Kageyama countered into a cross armbar.

After escaping from Kageyama's cross armbar, Mari Manji and Kageyama began exchanging forearm blows, until Manji switched up her offense to backhand chops and then Russian legsweeped Kageyama to the mat, following up with a senton.

Mari Manji went for the cover but only got a two count. She then began stomping on Kageyama's back in an attempt to make him stay down, but he still struggled back to his feet. Manji then ran to the ropes in preparation for another attack, but Kaeyama -who had run behind her- had a back elbow ready for Manji as she rebounded off the ropes.

Kageyama then ran to the ropes in preparation for another attack of his own, but Mari Manji used the same back elbow tactic that Kageyama had used on her moments earlier.

Mari Manji then ran to the ropes on the opposite side of the ring, but after she rebounded she ran into a clothesline from Kageyama that put her down. Kageyama picked Manji up and put her in position for a scoop brainbuster, which he has often used as a finisher, but Manji slipped out of Kageyama's grasp and went for a schoolboy, gaining her a three count.

This match is available to watch in full via TwitCasting until 3/10, 23:59 Japan Time! You can use a time zone converter to find out what time that is in your area.