========================================================== FIRE PRO WRESTLING RETURNS CHARACTER GUIDE: THE CRUSH GALS ========================================================== for Sony PlayStation 2 (U.S.) Version 1.0 by Bill Wood (billwood661@ca.rr.com) Last modified: 12/30/07 Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (c) 2005 Spike (c) 2007 Agetec NOTE: This guide views and prints best with a monospace typeface. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA =================== ==VERSION HISTORY== =================== 1.0 - Initial release of the guide. ===================== ==TABLE OF CONTENTS== ===================== SECTION 1: HISTORY OF THE CRUSH GALS SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS SECTION 3: MOVELIST SECTION 4: STRATEGY SECTION 5: CLOSING ======================================== ==SECTION 1: HISTORY OF THE CRUSH GALS== ======================================== Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka - collectively known as The Crush Gals - are much more than the most successful female tag team in the history of professional wrestling. During their heyday, they transcended the wrestling business to become cultural icons in their native homeland of Japan, at the same time becoming teenage idols to scores of Japanese schoolgirls. They recorded Top Ten pop singles, sold tons of posters and magazines, and were even featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal. The Crush Gals were crossover media sensations even before Vince McMahon figured out how to make Hulk Hogan a similar success, and they influenced a whole new generation of joshi (women's) wrestling in Japan, including future stars such as Manami Toyota. The Crush Gals historic feuds with Dump Matsumoto, Bull Nakano and The Jumping Bomb Angels drew huge live crowds and television ratings, with a Matsumoto vs. Nagayo hair vs. hair match earning an incredible $250,000 gate at Tokyo's Budokan Hall. And when their popularity went on the decline, Nagayo and Asuka did what every other tag team does eventually, they broke up and fought one another. Both wrestlers "retired" in the 1990's (and both made the inevitable pro wrestling comebacks), with Chigusa Nagayo eventually going on to form the GAEA promotion, which is the subject of the "GAEA Girls" feature film documentary. In the book "Wrestling Observer's Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time", Chigusa Nagayo is listed at number 45, the highest ranking female on the list. Lioness Asuka is listed at number 70, the third highest-ranked female (right behind Jaguar Yokota at 69). ======================================== ==SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS== ======================================== ---------------- -CHIGUSA NAGAYO- ---------------- SKILL ----- Real Name.................Chigusa Nagayo FPR Name..................Shizuka Nakase Organization......All Japan/Joshi Legend FPR Organization..................Female FPR Group.........................Legend Size..............................Female Class.............................Junior Height............................166 cm Weight.............................83 kg Gender............................Female Birthdate.....................10/28/1964 Country............................Japan Rank...................................C Charisma...............................B Stance............................Strong Fight Style.....................Orthodox Return..........................Orthodox Critical........................Finisher Special..........................Stardom Recovery..........................Medium Recovery (when bleeding)............Slow Breathing.........................Medium Breathing (when bleeding)..........Below Spirit............................Medium Spirit (when bleeding)............Strong Neck Endurance.......................Low Arm Endurance........................Low Waist Endurance...................Normal Leg Endurance.....................Normal Movement Speed....................Medium Up and Down Speed............Medium Slow Ascend Skill......................Enable Favorite Weapon....................Chair PARAMETER - OFFENSE PARAMETER - DEFENSE ------------------- ------------------- Punch.............4 Punch.............4 Kick..............4 Kick..............4 Throw.............5 Throw.............4 Joint.............3 Joint.............4 Stretch...........4 Stretch...........4 Power.............4 Flying............4 Agility...........3 Body..............4 Arm...............3 Lariat............4 Technical.........6 Technical.........5 Rough.............4 Rough.............4 MMA Overall.......2 MMA Overall.......3 Entertain.........2 Entertain.........8 ------------------- ------------------- OFF. SUB-TOTAL...44 DEF. SUB-TOTAL...52 TOTAL SKILL POINTS (on a scale from 0-380): 124 --------------- -LIONESS ASUKA- --------------- SKILL ----- Real Name..................Lioness Asuka FPR Name..................Tigress Nasuka Organization......All Japan/Joshi Legend FPR Organization..................Female FPR Group.........................Legend Size...............................Small Class.............................Junior Height............................170 cm Weight.............................82 kg Gender............................Female Birthdate......................6/24/1963 Country............................Japan Rank...................................B Charisma...............................B Stance..........................Shooting Fight Style.....................Orthodox Return..........................Orthodox Critical........................Finisher Special.......................Strikeback Recovery..........................Medium Recovery (when bleeding)............Slow Breathing.........................Medium Breathing (when bleeding)..........Below Spirit............................Medium Spirit (when bleeding)..............Poor Neck Endurance.......................Low Arm Endurance........................Low Waist Endurance...................Normal Leg Endurance.....................Normal Movement Speed....................Medium Up and Down Speed............Medium Slow Ascend Skill......................Enable Favorite Weapon....................Chair PARAMETER - OFFENSE PARAMETER - DEFENSE ------------------- ------------------- Punch.............4 Punch.............4 Kick..............5 Kick..............5 Throw.............3 Throw.............4 Joint.............4 Joint.............5 Stretch...........3 Stretch...........3 Power.............5 Flying............4 Agility...........3 Body..............3 Arm...............2 Lariat............4 Technical.........5 Technical.........6 Rough.............3 Rough.............3 MMA Overall.......2 MMA Overall.......3 Entertain.........1 Entertain.........8 ------------------- ------------------- OFF. SUB-TOTAL...40 DEF. SUB-TOTAL...52 TOTAL SKILL POINTS (on a scale from 0-380): 114 STATISTICAL COMPARISON: As you might expect, the Crush Gals are an extremely well balanced tag team in Fire Pro Returns. Their Special Skills allow for quite a bit of creativity and versatility, as Nagayo's "Stardom" will have you appealing to the crowd for support at the end of a close match, while Asuka's "Strikeback" will give her a two-point offensive parameter boost just when things are getting tough. There are also some offensive and defensive parameter differences between Nagayo and Asuka, but the difference is never more than one, nothing that makes one an obvious choice over the other in any particular situation except for one: bleeding. Perhaps due to her brief stint in the hardcore promotion FMW, Nagayo's spirit actually increases when she is bleeding, while Asuka's decreases. ======================= ==SECTION 3: MOVELIST== ======================= Specialty moves are marked with [S]. Finisher is marked with [F]. KEY: ([]) = Square button (X) = X button (O) = Circle button ---------------- -CHIGUSA NAGAYO- ---------------- STRIKES ------- Standing ([]).................................Low Kick Standing (X)...............................Middle Kick Standing (O) + d-pad.........................High Kick Standing (O)...............................Thrust Kick Standing ([]) + (X)..................FLYING KNEEL KICK [S] Running ([])....................................Lariat Running (X)..............................Two-Step Kick Running (O)..........................Flying Kneel Kick Running Counter ([])......................Knuckle Part Running Counter (X).....................Back Body Drop Running Counter (O).......................Front Suplex Running to corner....................Flying Kneel Kick Co-op Irish whip to corner..................Back Elbow Corner-to-center attack...........................none GRAPPLES -------- Grapple ([]).............................Backhand Chop Grapple ([]) + Up.....................Female Body Slam Grapple ([]) + Left/Right..................Flying Mare Grapple ([]) + Down..................Upper Elbow Smash Grapple (X).................................Sweep Kick Grapple (X) + Up...................Delayed Brainbuster Grapple (X) + Left/Right................Belly-to-Belly Grapple (X) + Down..........................Piledriver Grapple (O)..........................Leg Headbutt Rush Grapple (O) + Up.....................RUNNING POWERBOMB [F] Grapple (O) + Left/Right..........Northern Lights Bomb Grapple (O) + Down.........................SUPER FREAK [S] Grapple ([]) + (X)...................DEATH VALLEY BOMB [S] Back Grapple ([]).....................Enzui Kneel Kick Back Grapple (X)......................Twisted Backdrop Back Grapple (O)......................SCISSORS SLEEPER [S] Back Grapple (O) + Up/Down........Jpn. Leg Roll Clutch Back Grapple (O) + Left/Right............German Suplex Back Grapple ([]) + (X)...................Tiger Suplex Back Grapple Counter ([])...................Elbow Bunt Back Grapple Counter (X)...................Back Switch OPPONENT DOWN MOVES ------------------- Opponent Face Up at Head (X)......Both Hands-Press Pin Opponent Face Up at Head (O)............Dragon Sleeper Opponent Face Up at Feet (X)........Scorpion Deathlock Opponent Face Up at Feet (O)........Stomping (Stomach) Opponent Face Down at Head (X)......Stranglehold Alpha Opponent Face Down at Head (O)..............Elbow Drop Opponent Face Down at Feet (X)......Hooked-Leg Pinfall Opponent Face Down at Feet (O).........Stomping (Back) Running at Downed Opponent (O)................Stomping MMA MOVES --------- Guard Attack ([])........................Knuckle Arrow Guard Attack (X)............................X Arm Hold Guard Attack (O).............................Heel Hold Guard Counter........................Triangle Scissors Mount/Facelock Attack ([]).........Side Body Knee Lift Mount/Facelock Attack (X)...............Front Necklock Mount/Facelock Attack (O)...............Powerbomb Whip Mount/Facelock Counter......................Hammerlock Back Mount Attack ([])...................Knuckle Arrow Back Mount Attack (X)....................Choke Sleeper Back Mount Attack (O).......................X Arm Hold Back Mount Counter................Rev. Cross Knee Hold POST AND APRON MOVES -------------------- Post ([])............................Diving Elbow Drop Post (X)...............................Diving Headbutt Post (O)..................................Missile Kick Post ([]) + (X).....................Diving Body Attack Running Dive ([]).................................none Running Dive (X)..................................none Corner Grapple (O) + Up...........2nd Rope Brainbuster Corner Grapple (O) + Left/Right......Corner Auto Chops Corner Grapple (O) + Down............Top Rope Backdrop Corner (Top Rope) Counter [F]...........Powerbomb Whip Corner (Top Rope) Counter [B]................Fall Back Inside Apron Grapple...............Brainbuster to Ring Outside Apron Grapple..............Landing Brainbuster Run to outside............................Suicide Dive Dive out ring..........................Plancha Suicida Dive in ring......................................none Cage Dive.........................................none DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAM MOVES ---------------------------- Front Double Team.................Bomb Neck Drop Combo Back Double Team.......................Sandwich Lariat Corner Double Team................Bomb Neck Drop Combo Front Triple Team...................Triple Hammer Blow Back Triple Team....................Triple Hammer Blow Corner Triple Team....................Triple Powerbomb PERFORMANCE ----------- Entry Performance...................Looks Around Crowd Analog Stick Left...................Looks Around Crowd Analog Stick Right......................Clapping Hands Analog Stick Up.........................Hands Gut Pose Analog Stick Down....................Neck Cutting Pose --------------- -LIONESS ASUKA- --------------- STRIKES ------- Standing ([]).................................Low Kick Standing (X)...............................Middle Kick Standing (O) + d-pad.........................High Kick Standing (O).........................REVERSE SPIN KICK [S] Standing ([]) + (X)........................Poison Mist Running ([])...........................Shoulder Tackle Running (X).....................................Lariat Running (O)..........................Flying Kneel Kick Running Counter ([])......................Knuckle Part Running Counter (X)..................Reverse Spin Kick Running Counter (O)......................Side Arm Hold Running to corner...............................Lariat Co-op Irish whip to corner..................Back Elbow Corner-to-center attack...........................none GRAPPLES -------- Grapple ([])................................Body Punch Grapple ([]) + Up.....................Female Body Slam Grapple ([]) + Left/Right...................Elbow Bunt Grapple ([]) + Down........................Flying Mare Grapple (X).........................Short Range Lariat Grapple (X) + Up...........................Brainbuster Grapple (X) + Left/Right.............Double Arm Suplex Grapple (X) + Down..........................Sweep Kick Grapple (O)..............................Side Arm Hold Grapple (O) + Up............................KI CRUSHER [F] Grapple (O) + Left/Right.................Fireball Bomb Grapple (O) + Down.................MICHINOKU DRIVER II [S] Grapple ([]) + (X)......................Powerbomb Whip Back Grapple ([])...........................Neck Smash Back Grapple (X).....................Leg Lift Backdrop Back Grapple (O)..................Torture Camel Clutch Back Grapple (O) + Up/Down..........German Suplex Whip Back Grapple (O) + Left/Right............German Suplex Back Grapple ([]) + (X)..............TOWER HACKER BOMB [S] Back Grapple Counter ([])...................Elbow Bunt Back Grapple Counter (X).................Side Arm Hold OPPONENT DOWN MOVES ------------------- Opponent Face Up at Head (X)......Both Hands-Press Pin Opponent Face Up at Head (O)..........Soccer Ball Kick Opponent Face Up at Feet (X)........Scorpion Deathlock Opponent Face Up at Feet (O)...............Giant Swing Opponent Face Down at Head (X).................Pinfall Opponent Face Down at Head (O).....Stepover Armbreaker Opponent Face Down at Feet (X)......Rev. Achilles Hold Opponent Face Down at Feet (O).......Knee Stamp (Knee) Running at Downed Opponent (O)..............Foot Stamp MMA MOVES --------- Guard Attack ([])........................Knuckle Arrow Guard Attack (X)...........................Collar Lock Guard Attack (O).............................Heel Hold Guard Counter........................Triangle Scissors Mount/Facelock Attack ([])..............Face Knee Lift Mount/Facelock Attack (X)...............Front Necklock Mount/Facelock Attack (O)...............Powerbomb Whip Mount/Facelock Counter......................Hammerlock Back Mount Attack ([])...................Knuckle Arrow Back Mount Attack (X)...............Body Choke Sleeper Back Mount Attack (O)................Reverse Powerbomb Back Mount Counter................Rev. Cross Knee Hold POST AND APRON MOVES -------------------- Post ([])............................Diving Foot Stamp Post (X)..............................Diving Knee Drop Post (O)..................................Missile Kick Post ([]) + (X)..........................Diving Lariat Running Dive ([]).................................none Running Dive (X)..................................none Corner Grapple (O) + Up............AVALANCHE JUMP BOMB [S] Corner Grapple (O) + Left/Right.............Iconoclasm Corner Grapple (O) + Down............Top Rope Backdrop Corner (Top Rope) Counter [F].....Crushing Brainbuster Corner (Top Rope) Counter [B]................Fall Back Inside Apron Grapple.................Inferno Powerbomb Outside Apron Grapple..............Landing Brainbuster Run to outside.........................Plancha Suicida Dive out ring..........................Plancha Suicida Dive in ring......................................none Cage Dive............................Diving Foot Stamp DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAM MOVES ---------------------------- Front Double Team.................Bomb Neck Drop Combo Back Double Team.......................Sandwich Lariat Corner Double Team................Bomb Neck Drop Combo Front Triple Team...................Triple Hammer Blow Back Triple Team....................Triple Hammer Blow Corner Triple Team....................Triple Powerbomb PERFORMANCE ----------- Entry Performance..........................Arm Raise 1 Analog Stick Left..........................Arm Raise 1 Analog Stick Right.........................Hands Cross Analog Stick Up.........................Hands Gut Pose Analog Stick Down....................Look Around Crowd ======================= ==SECTION 4: STRATEGY== ======================= GENERAL STRATEGY The Crush Gals are collectively situated near the upper class of the joshi wrestler division in Fire Pro Returns. They aren't head and shoulders above their contemporaries as you might expect, but at the same time they are more than capable of holding their own, and can even compete with the majority of junior male wrestlers in the game. Of course they're going to run into a problem against heavyweights, but the same can be said about just about any of the joshi wrestlers in Fire Pro. It's never a chore finding a way to win with the Crush Gals, as their attacks consist of a solid balance of strikes (various kicks) and power based grapples (mainly powerbombs). Just about anything they do they do well, be it setting up a basic attack on a downed opponent taking to the top rope for a dangerous backdrop or brainbuster. Overall, your focus with the Crush Gals should be on using anything and everything at your disposal, and putting on a fast-paced and entertaining match at the same time. STRIKES When it comes to striking with the Crush Gals, you're going to be doing some kicking. And then some more kicking. And then some more again. That's all either of them have in their standing strike repertoire (save for Lioness Asuka's Poison Mist attack!). Asuka also has one more point in the offensive Kick category, making her a slightly better option if you're planning on slugging it out. GRAPPLES Both Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka have some really solid powerbombs in the Strong Front Grapple category, both of their Finishers are also in this category, as well as three of their Specials. The point is that the Crush Gals have about as much potential for ending a match with one of their strong grapples as any other tag team, and certainly anyone in the joshi division. ====================== ==SECTION 5: CLOSING== ====================== In closing, I would like to thank Jason Blackhart for statistical information and Dave Fairbairn for moveset clarification. Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Character Guide: The Crush Gals (c)2007 Bill Wood