AFW Lore: Worldbuilding Guide

What is AFW?

A professional wrestling organization centralized in Japan whose reach and appeal spans the globe. Founded by Cassandra and Melissa Sellers in the early 2000s, it has a long and storied history as being one of the largest and most popular franchises in the wrestling industry. When they aren’t putting on shows at their official arena locations within Tokyo (Friction), Kyoto (Tension), or Osaka (Momentum), they host blockbuster pay-per-view events all over the world.

Originally, the acronym for the federation stood for Anime Female Wrestling, a name chosen due to its popular use of animated promotional art and anime-inspired personas which saturated the company. Today, only the shorthand of AFW has become the sleek and short branding for the company of the time. The reach of the company broadened, now offering intergender opportunities as well as hosting other combat sports under its umbrella making the old naming outdated.


What is Friction?

Located in Tokyo, Japan, AFW’s flagship brand allows only female competitors to compete. Currently run by General Manager Maximilian Kingsley, it is widely considered to be the company’s primary show despite AFW’s best efforts to present all their brands as equals. Competition is fierce and varied as the promotion is considered open-weight, oftentimes playing up entertainment over the pure sport of wrestling.

Friction talent is offered a suite of assistance and services while under the employment of AFW such as access to private gyms and training, dorms for those lacking accommodations, on-site cafeteria services, and production areas. All of these things can be found in the general area of Friction’s Toyko arena and conjoining corporate headquarters.


Does Friction have its own set of championship titles?

Yes! Friction currently holds two titles unique to the brand which are as follows:

Friction World Title: The best of the best. Given the highest priority in the company, competitors who hold this title are considered to be the best Friction and the business has to offer. Whether it be from their unrivaled skill, remarkable strength, or sharp cunning, the women who hold this title are the height of the brand.

Entropy Title: While considered to be Friction’s mid-card belt, the fierce level of competition hasn’t diminished its importance in the least. Its original inception was chaotic by nature, permitting the champion unrivaled access to choosing their own challengers for upcoming title defenses. The catch though, was the challenger was the one who was able to pick the match type and stipulations. While these rules are still in place, their implementation is not always used unless a champion or challenger is savvy about the history of the belt.

What is Tension?

Located in Kyoto, Japan, Tension is the secondary brand of AFW. Unlike Friction, it is a mixed league playing host to all manner of pairings of competitors intergender and otherwise. Competitors on tension know and accept that their pool of adversaries may be a bit larger or more diverse, but soldier on despite whatever the odds may be. The brand is run by General Manager Erica Fairchild who has been working to build tension into more than a shadow of its sister brand.

Tension talent is offered a suite of assistance and services while under the employment of AFW such as access to private gyms and training, low-cost renting, on-site cafeteria services, and production areas. All of these things can be found in the general area of Tension’s Kyoto arena.


Does Tension have its own set of championship titles?

Yes! They are as follows:

Tension World Title: The top of the division. Given the highest priority in the brand, competitors who hold this title are considered to be the best Tension’s cream of the crop. Whether it be from their unrivaled skill, remarkable strength, or sharp cunning, the athlete who holds this title is the height of the brand.

Nekketsu Title: The working athlete’s title, aptly named for the sheer force of will and determination expected of those fighting for it. Champions are encouraged to take on all challengers to show just how hot their fighting spirit burns.

Are there additional championship titles across both Friction/tension brands?

Yes! Four in total which are freely available to anyone on either brand to compete for:

Tag Team Titles: The pinnacle of tag team accomplishments requires unparalleled teamwork and someone always watching your back.

Hardcore 24/7 Title: A no holds barred belt meant for only the toughest of competitors. While stipulations vary widely from one title defense match to another they all share a commonality of no disqualifications where anything goes. Not for the faint of heart or thin-skinned, this belt is a true battle both inside and outside of the ring. No ring, no rules, no problem! This belt is always being defended no matter the time, place, or circumstances involving the champion. All a challenger needs to make a match official is a referee to officiate and it's go time baby!

Hentai Title: Dominance is a necessity for all competition, but the hentai division puts its own spin on the idea. Matches for this title are popularized by their unique stipulations centered around erotic themes and wrestling where sometimes pinning your opponent just isn’t enough.

Rising Star Title: While considered to be the entry-level title due to the fact it was created to help shine the spotlight on the rookie talent within the company, that does very little to diminish just how stiff the competition can be. This is the notch in the belt that all young up-and-comers are looking to get, hoping to land themselves better contract bargaining rights, brand deals, or a shot at some of the bigger named competitors in the league. This one is a stepping stone worth having.

What are the Pay Per View Events?

The primary PPVs are Summer Splash (Summer) and Avalanche (Winter). Sprinkled between these are Showdown, Climax, Cyber Saturday, Jackpot, and Fright Fight which all occur more infrequently than the primary PPV's.

What are Avalanche and Summer Splash?

The two flagship PPVs for the company are held in opposite seasons of the year. These are considered to be the giant blockbuster events and their location tends to take them all across the globe. Champions are expected to have showings at these events and put on gripping matches and blow off heated feuds.

Since 2015, these PPVs have varied their locations:

Summer Splash:
2021 America (Florida)
2020 Japan (Tokyo)
2019 America (California)
2018 Italy (Rome)
2017 Egypt (Cairo)
2016 America (Alaska)
2015 Brazil, England, Mexico & Japan

Avalanche:
2021 USA, New York/Times Square (Madison Square Garden)
2020 Japan (Tokyo)
2019 Germany (Berlin)
2018 Australia (Sydney)
2017 Russia (Moscow)
2016 Canada (Toronto)
2015 Mongolia


What are Showdown and Climax?

Showdown and Climax were Tension’s primary PPVs. Their scheduling varies, considered more of a pop-up event than a scheduled one. As of right now, these have only ever taken place within Japan though this may change in the future.


What is Cyber Saturday/Jackpot/Fright Fight?

Formerly the only cross-branded PPVs that bring Friction and Tension a chance to clash on a bigger stage. These events almost always come attached with fun or experimental gimmicks that add a certain degree of spice to the mix.

Are their other cross-brand PPVs?

Yes, as of Avalanche 2023, all PPVs will be handled as cross-brand events between Friction and Tension to allow for better inclusion.


What are the default rules of an AFW match?

Standard matches are first to one fall, winning by way of pinfall, submission, or disqualification. Certain tactics such as the use of weapons, low blows, eye raking/pokes, and other generally accepted means of cheating are illegal and will result in disqualification. Intentional sexual attacks and tactics in non-hentai matches unless otherwise stipulated are considered illegal as well. Pinfalls are to a count of three. Ring outs are to a count of ten.


What is Momentum?

Located in Osaka, Japan, this is a smaller growing home for practitioners of more traditional forms of martial arts and is run by General Manager Elizabeth Victoria-Lennox Winterbourne. The intergender brand hosts competitive matches within strict rules that govern their respective styles and offer other forms of MMA competition. Widely considered to be a more grounded brand, there are less outlandish gimmicks and drama to be found here and more raw fighting. Please click HERE for a more comprehensive and in-depth explanation about Momentum and the type's of matches it caters to.

What is Sovereign Reign?

Sovereign Reign is a reimagining of  “Fur N Feathers” division, which has no affiliation in-story with AFW at all set in an entirely different fictional world of Gaia. Its focus is to provide a similar level of fun and entertaining wrestling/fighting content for people looking to have characters they otherwise wouldn’t be allowed to in AFW’s cannon. Its setting allows for a wide range of character types from tribalistic demihumans, furries, futuristic androids, monstrous creatures, etc. It has its own dedicated lore page, found here.