Top 40 Matches of 2019

As I stated at the start of my Year End Awards, which can be found here, 2019 has been a year of discovery for me. It has reaffirmed my opinion that if you’re unhappy or frustrated with the current promotion you’re watching. Then explore the plethora of fantastic promotions that are easily accessible all over the world. While it can feel like a daunting task, there is community out there who want to share their love for a promotion and encourage others to share in that experience.

The only downside is it makes creating a “Top Matches” list incredibly difficult. Over the course of the year, this list has gone from a Top 20 to a Top 30 and now a Top 40. Even with this extended list, narrowing the field down to 40 has resulted in some excellent matches not making the cut.

Therefore, let’s kick this off with the honourable mentions.

Honourable Mentions

• IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match: Dragon Lee vs Will Ospreay – NJPW Dominion
• IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Title Match: LIJ vs Suzuki-Gun – New Beginning in Sapporo (Night 2)
• IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Tetsuya Naito vs Kota Ibushi – G1 Supercard
• NXT UK Tag Team Title Match: Moustache Mountain vs Grizzled Young Veterans – NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool
• IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Kazuchika Okada vs Jay White – G1 Supercard
• WWE Title Match: Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston – WrestleMania 35
• Tomohiro Ishii vs Yoshi-Hashi – New Japan Cup (Night 9)
• GHC Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Daisuke Harada vs Minoru Tanaka – Great Voyage in Yokohama
• NXT Tag Team Title Match: Undisputed Era vs War Raiders – NXT Takeover: Phoenix
• Kazuchika Okada vs Michael Elgin – New Japan Cup (Night 2)
• Tetsuya Naito vs Kota Ibushi – New Japan Cup (Night 3)         
• Tomohiro Ishii vs Jon Moxley – G1 Climax 29 (Night 6)
• World of Stardom Title Match: Kagetsu vs Bea Priestley – Golden Week Stars
• Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shota Umino – New Japan Cup (Night 3)
• IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match: Dragon Lee vs Taiji Ishimori – Wrestling Dontaku (Night 1)
• Kagetsu vs Konami – Konami’s Homecoming
• Open the Dream Gate Title Match: PAC vs Ben-K – Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival
• Kagetsu vs Tam Nakano – Cinderella Tournament
• Jay White vs Tetsuya Naito – G1 Climax 29 (Night 18)
• Goddesses of Stardom Title Match: Queen’s Quest (Watanabe/Hayashishita) vs Tokyo Cyber Squad (Kyona/Konami) – Big Summer in Nagoya
• World of Stardom Title Match: Bea Priestley vs Mayu Iwatani – Best of Goddess
• GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Kaito Kiyomiya vs Naomichi Marufuji – Great Great Voyage in Yokohama
• Jay White vs Will Ospreay – NJPW 47^th Anniversary Show

On to the main event, so to speak. From 40 to 21, this will simply be a list of the matches otherwise it could become a very long read. As we enter the Top 20, I’ll provide a brief overview of the match and why it’s positioned where it is.

The Top 40

40. Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – G1 Climax 29 (Night 1)

39. Yuji Okabayashi vs Zeus – Champion Carnival (Night 13)

38. IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Title Match: LIJ vs Roppongi 3K – Road to Wrestling Dontaku (Night 9)

37. Suwama vs Naoya Nomura – Champion Carnival (Night 17)

36. Kazuchika Okada vs Will Ospreay – G1 Climax 29 (Night 7)

35. IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Kenny Omega vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – Wrestle Kingdom 13

34. Cody vs Dustin Rhodes – Double or Nothing

33. Go Shiozaki vs Naomichi Marufuji – N-1 Victory (Night 4)

32. Yuji Okabayashi vs Dylan James – Champion Carnival (Night 12)

31. Shingo Takagi vs SHO – BOSJ 26 (Night 1)

30. Wonder of Stardom Title Match: Momo Watanabe vs Tam Nakano – Stardom 8^th Anniversary Show

29. Jay White vs Kota Ibushi – G1 Climax 29 Final

28. IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Kazuchika Okada vs SANADA – King of Pro Wrestling

27. Wrestle-1 Championship Match: T-Hawk vs Jiro Ikemen – Wrestle Wars

26. DDT Extreme Title IPPON Fluorescent Lighttube Death Match: Akito vs ASUKA – Peter Pan

25. Minoru Suzuki vs Josh Barnett – Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport

24. AJPW World Tag Team Title Match: Violent Giants vs Strong BJ – Dream Power Series (Night 6)

23. Tomohiro Ishii vs Shingo Takagi – G1 Climax 29 (Night 16)

22.GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Kaito Kiyomiya vs Kenoh – NOAH The BestMichael

21. Elgin vs Daisuke Sekimoto – BJW (24/08/19)

20. Wonder of Stardom Title Match: Arisa Hoshiki vs Jungle Kyona – Stardom X Stardom

Two of Stardom’s best fighting over the workhorse title was bound to produce a memorable encounter. This is the story of a striker in Hoshiki against the power of Kyona. Early on, Kyona attempts to nullify Hoshiki’s strikes by targeting her legs before transitioning into her power game. Arisa is at her best when using her babyface fire to overcome the odds and fight from behind, with this match being a prime example of that. It creates a closing stretch full of drama, emotion and excellent wrestling.

19. GHC Tag Team Title Match: AXIZ vs The Tough – NOAH The Best

While I named the Violent Giants as my tag team of the year, AXIZ are without a doubt my favourite active team. The chemistry and shared charisma comes from their combined experience to create a magic that only the best teams share. On the other end of the spectrum you have a young and hungry team in The Tough. One that is desperate to prove themselves in the new generation NOAH is building. The more experienced veterans isolate and pick apart the young and inexperienced Inamura. In a star making performance, Inamura shows tremendous heart to withstand this attack and make the tag. Kitamiya comes flying in with an infectious energy that has you rooting for them to pull off the improbable. A perfect example of how to make a new star even in a loosing effort executed to a high standard.

18. AAA World Tag Team Title Match: The Young Bucks vs The Lucha Bros – Double or Nothing

An unrelenting thrill ride of a match from two teams known for their break neck offence. The energy in this match is off the charts and manages to build as the action unfolds. I’ve seen some claim this is just a spot fest. But there are times where I enjoy sitting back and strapping myself in for the pure adrenaline rush these types of matches provide. They grip you in such a way that you can’t take your eyes off the action for a split second. Everything is very crisp and smooth as you would expect from two teams that are at the top of their game right now. Throw in some nice innovative spots and it’s a match that provides a thrill every time you watch it.

17. GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Kaito Kiyomiya vs Kenoh – Navigation For The Future (Night 1)

Kaito vs Kenoh has the potential to be a rivalry that is spoken about for generations to come. On the surface, it’s the story of the older brother (Kenoh) being jealous of his younger brother’s success (Kaito) and the attention it has brought him. So, when Kaito won the GHC Heavyweight title in December of 2018, the first challenger had to be Kenoh. Kenoh has the ability to bring out a fire in Kaito that was very rare to see at the time. This match is no exception as the more experienced Kenoh is able to take the advantage early. Each attempt Kaito makes at a comeback is countered by Kenoh who clearly knows his opponent well. It’s this one idea that is gradually built upon as each of Kaito’s attacks start to become more successful. The Korakuen crowd comes along with him as the young underdog champion starts to assert himself. When the dust settles, Kaito has grown from the experience.

16. NXT UK Title Match: Pete Dunne vs WALTER – NXT Takeover: New York

I adore the pacing this match brought to the table. In a world where we can become consumed by the break neck pace of modern wrestling. Dunne and WALTER slowed it down to beautifully blend strong style with a classic British World of Sports edge. WALTER was built as a monster coming in against a champion who genuinely felt unbeatable. It’s that sense of unbeatability which keeps Dunne in the match, fighting to save his championship reign. This match would be ranked higher if not for the odd moments where it felt as though they tried too hard to make the match feel “epic”. Which caused some disconnect for me in what was otherwise an excellent match.

15. NXT North American Title Match: Ricochet vs Johnny Gargano – NXT Takeover: Phoenix 

A match that has seemingly become lost in the shuffle during a year jam packed with top tier matches. As with The Young Bucks vs The Lucha Bros, we’re treated to an action-packed thrill ride from two of the best on the planet. It has the feel of an “indie” match but without loosing the storytelling element that NXT does well. The story itself is a simple one, anything you can do I can do better. It’s the fact that an already established star in Gargano feels the need to prove himself which adds a nice layer. As you’d expect from these two, the action is crisp and smooth with neither missing a beat. Gargano adding a sprinkle of heelish tactics helps to keep the match fresh as well. Honestly, go back and rewatch this one as it will be better than you remember.

14. AJPW Triple Crown Title Match: Kento Miyahara vs Jake Lee – Raising An Army Memorial Series (Night 6)  

Kento Miyahara vs Jake Lee was one of my favourite feuds of 2019. These two have a long and storied history dating back to their days as partners in NEXTREAM. Jake can often, and rightly, be criticised for showing little to no emotion during matches. The one exception to this is when he’s standing across the ring from Kento. Both men had traded victories in big match situations with Kento taking the first in the Champion Carnival Final and Jake returning the favour in the final of the Odo Tournament. That victory gave him the right to face Kento as a legitimate threat to his historic reign. You can feel the animosity both have for the other as the match quickly descends into a gritty brawl. When the action finally returns to the ring the match starts to settle down. It’s this fact which knocks this match down a few places for me. The second half is far from bad especially when the closing stretch is so strong and has you believing Jake can do the impossible. But the shift in tone creates a level of disconnect that can be hard to shake. Still a wonderful effort however, not quite on the level needed to make it higher up the list.

13. NXT UK Title Match: Tyler Bate vs WALTER – NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff

Another match on this list that had a distinct style and feel to it than what has become the norm for NXT. It’s David vs Goliath with elements the Kings Road and British strong styles mixed in there as well. WALTER’s dominating presence is a near perfect counterpart for Bate’s great underdog fire to create arguably NXT’s finest match. So why is it placed lower than I’m sure some would expect? Well there are two issues that set it back for me. First, it felt as though it went long just for the sake of bragging rights and forcing the issue to make it feel “epic”. Second, at a certain point there is only so much a wrestler can come back from before it loses its effectiveness. It was overused to the point of nausea which took me completely out of the match at times. 

12. Go Shiozaki vs Katsuhiko Nakajima – Staring Over (Night 7)

The AXIZ team mates both celebrated their 15^th year in wrestling in 2019 with this match marking the special occasion. Before the opening bell sounds, the tone of this match is set. Both men exchange strikes before shaking hands and heading back to their respective corner. This is a match built on mutual respect and the thrill of competition. Yes, these men are friends but neither holds anything back out of respect for the others abilities. You get an insight as to why they are so successful as team as it’s this competitiveness that lifts them above their opponents. The opening is a masterclass is pure striking before gradually transitioning into both men unloading huge shots in an attempt to finish the other. It honestly pains me to leave this out of the top 10.   

11. World of Stardom Title Match: Mayu Iwatani vs Kagetsu – Year End Climax

Mayu and Kagetsu have engaged in many wars during their time in Stardom. These two heated rivals are the definition of icons. Once again, they delivered a compelling match that encapsulated their feud perfectly. From the onset it’s clear just how well these two know each other and the underlying respect they have. A slow start quickly heats up with Kagetsu gaining the upper hand by stopping an incoming dive from Mayu. This leads to a brawl on the outside where Kagetsu asserts her dominance culminating in Kagetsu diving off the wall with a double foot stomp to Mayu. From here, the match settles down as Kagetsu starts to brutalise Mayu by targeting her injured ribs with strikes and submissions. Each comeback attempt by Mayu is met with a counter which sends her back down to the mat.

Eventually, Mayu is able to dig deep enough to sustain some offense as we enter the closing stretch of the match. Here the pace quickens again with each sequence building on the last bringing the Korakuen crowd with them. It’s an example of what makes Stardom so special and why they’re able to produce the finest women’s wrestling in the world.   

10. KO-D Openweight Title Match: Konosuke Takeshita vs Tetsuya Endo – Peter Pan

My introduction to both men and what an introduction it was. If your preconception of DDT is that of a promotion based around whacky comedy matches. Then this is the match to not only challenge but change this view. DDT has a tremendous pool of highly talented wrestlers with Takeshita and Endo being the companies best. It’s an interesting tale of a babyface both dominating a heel while going to such extremes to target his opponent’s weakness, that you can’t help but feel for the heel. Takeshita attacks Endo’s back with such reckless disregard that you can’t help but start to cheer for Endo. The pacing is excellent with each innovative spot building the tension and drama which then feeds into the story being told. Simply a fantastic match that is a must see.

9. AJPW Triple Crown Title Match: Kento Miyahara vs Naoya Nomura – Dream Power Series (Night 6)

This was unquestionably a star making breakout performance from Nomura that All Japan desperately needed from him. AJPW is still a company rebuilding its image after a long history of talent walkouts and front office disputes. They have the biggest piece of the puzzle in place with their Ace in Kento Miyahara. However, there has been a distinct lack of young competitors close to Kento’s level. That was until Nomura broke away from NEXTREAM and finally challenged Kento (I wrote an in-depth piece on the importance of this match here). Nomura plays the role of hungry young kid wanting to prove himself to perfection. The pure underdog babyface fire he displays has you rooting for him to do the impossible. Kento goes from being slightly cocky and dismissive of Nomura’s challenge to realising he’s going to have to bring his best if he wants to retain the Triple Crown. It’s a prime example of how to create a new star even in defeat. Nomura was no longer the young boy with great potential living in Kento’s shadow. But a legitimate threat to one of the best wrestlers on the planet.

8. NEXTREAM (Kento Miyahara/Yuma Aoyagi) vs Jake Lee/Naoya Nomura – Real World Tag League (Night 19)

The multitude of stories being told in this match serves as the perfect foundation to build a match upon. Both Jake and Naoya have a score to settle with Kento after their failed challenges for the Triple Crown earlier in the year. Jake especially has a grunge against Kento with the tension between the two being palpable. Then there is the animosity between Naoya and Yuma. The two were former tag team partners and were the All Asia Tag Team Champions when Naoya left NEXTREAM. Which resulted in the titles being vacated through no fault of Yuma’s. Then there is Yuma himself and his dynamic with Kento. Throughout the course of the tournament, Kento had been the overly protective big brother to Yuma. Despite the fact Yuma had numerous impressive performances. This adds to an additional layer with Yuma still trying to prove himself to big brother.

The action starts at a slower pace with Kento and Jake laying into one another. Naoya and Yuma are soon tagged in and the action starts to pick up. Most noticeably when Yuma attacks Jake on the ring apron followed by mocking his signature bow. This lights a fire within Jake and from that point the action comes at you at a breakneck pace. All four men raise their game to produce one of the finest tag matches of 2019. The end comes with a finish that feeds into the Kento/Jake rivalry along with teasing future storylines.

7. Wonder of Stardom Title Match: Arisa Hoshiki vs Tam Nakano – Shining Destiny

Arisa’s return to Stardom and inclusion into STARS was well received by her fellow stable mates. With one exception: Tam Nakano. Tam’s weariness towards Arisa gradually turned to animosity as Arisa skyrocketed to success, gaining praise and attention in the process. Both women are similar in many ways which led to Tam worrying about her place within STARS. It’s a story that was beautifully told in the background but noticeable enough to make you stop and think. Tam’s cold nature led to Arisa asking to defender her Wonder of Stardom championship against Tam. In the hope of understanding more about her.

The match itself plays beautifully into this story while also building upon it to set up one of my favourite relationships of 2019. It starts with a slow pace as both are feeling the other out while not wanting to make the first mistake. Tam attempts to take away Arisa’s best weapon by grounding her with a series of leg-based submissions. Again, Arisa is at her best when having to fight from under neither. This match is no exception as shows tremendous heart to fight back. Both women are great strikes which leads to hard hitting end to one of my all-time favourite Stardom matches.

6. Open the Twin Gate Title Match: Tribe Vanguard vs R.E.D vs Ishida/Doi – Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival  

Quite possibly one of the best examples of what makes Dragon Gate so great. Close to 28 minutes of balls to the wall action filled with innovate spots, memorable moments and great stories. Three-way tag matches can be so difficult to pull off successfully. They can have a tendency to become too cluttered or feature long periods of inactivity from a certain team. This is far from the case here as the pacing is spot on. Yes, the action comes at you non-stop but you’re never overwhelmed by it. Each moment is given enough time to breathe before the action builds to another breath-taking moment.

I could write more but, in all honesty, this is one of those matches that you have to watch with your own eyes to fully appreciate.

5. BJW World Strong Heavyweight Title Match: Yuji Okabayashi vs Takuya Nomura – Osaka Surprise 42

The one match I’ve rewatched the most over the course of last year. Okabayashi grabbed my attention with his incredible run in the Champion Carnival. So, when I heard the buzz surrounding this match, I had to check it out. It’s the story of the young lion in Nomura challenging the old guard in Okabayashi. What ensues is the closets I’ve personally come to witnessing that classic King’s Road style in a modern day promotion. Stiff strikes, big power moves, strong grappling and buckets of heart are on display throughout. Nomura shows no fear in attacking his elder with stiff strikes and grappling. In fact, there are times where Nomura not only welcomes the receipt from Okabayashi but thrives from it. It’s this fighting spirit in face of an unrelenting attack that has you rooting for the young Nomura to dethrone his senior. Okabayashi plays his role perfectly as the varied attack of Nomura give him more than he bargained for. There is moment where you can tell it dawns on Okabayashi that he’ll need to bring his absolute best to defeat Nomura.  

As with the aforementioned Miyahara/Nomura match, this is a coming of age moment for Takuya. It proved that he was ready to take that next step and became a legitimate threat in the process. The post-match show of respect from Okabayashi speaks volumes. BJW have a young potential Ace on their hands with Takuya and I just hope they capitalise on this fact.   

4. GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Kaito Kiyomiya vs Takashi Sugiura – Global Jr Tag League (Night 7)

A match that built off their encounter in December of 2018 and really showed just how much Kaito had grown since then. In that December meeting, Sugiura dominated his very young challenger who many viewed as not having any chance of winning. Kaito shocked many that night to claim his first GHC Heavyweight Championship. Skip forward to of 2019 and this was no longer the scared boy who was overwhelmed by the moment. Kaito had grown my confident in his own abilities and as the face of NOAH’s new generation. This is reflected in the story of the match as the opening ten minutes are very even. Both men trade the momentum with neither truly able to gain the upper hand for long. It takes Sugiura flipping the switch to really start asserting his dominance. Which he does by viciously spearing Kaito offer the ring apron and into the guard rail. From that point the attack on Kaito’s back is unrelenting and sold to the point that you start to question if Kaito should carry on. This is backed by a brutal attack from Sugiura who reigns down stiff blows to the young champion.

Once again, we see the heart and passion of Kaito shine through here. Digging deep, he almost seems angry at the attack he’s endured. Returning the favour with one of the nastiest missile dropkicks I’ve ever seen. With the match now back to being even, both men start to unload huge bombs on the other. It’s these types of moments that really make NOAH special for me. When the dust settles the young champion has retained and learned another valuable lesson.

3. Tetsuya Naito vs Shingo Takagi – G1 Climax 29 (Night 14)   

Two long time friends, who went their separate ways, finally squaring off on one of the biggest stages in wrestling. The hype surrounding this match was very high and Shingo and Naito blew away all expectations. It has all the hallmarks of a classic G1 encounter. Intense action, a compelling story, memorable moments, a red hot crowd and a star making performance. For me, this way Shingo’s New Japan coming out party. It showed to those who hadn’t seen him in Dragon Gate why he received so much hype coming in. The pacing is excellent here as the momentum swings back and forth. Neither is able to get a firm advantage as they know each other so well. Naito sells his ass off to make every move from Shingo look that much more dangerous. Shingo never backed down bringing his best to push one of New Japan’s biggest stars to his absolute limit.

Realistically, the outcome was probably never really in doubt here. However, both men had you believing that either could win at any moment. Which was highlighted by Naito’s growing desperation to put Shingo away. The win really did mean that much to both men. A nearly flawless match that will undoubtedly go down as one of the best in G1 history.    

2. AJPW Triple Crown Title Match: Kento Miyahara vs Naoya Nomura – Summer Explosion Series (Night 13)

After his Triple Crown challenge in March, Nomura walked into the Champion Carnival with a lot of momentum. Determined to gain another shot at Kento, he put on an impressive performance throughout the tournament. He would barely fall short of making the Finals after falling to Jake Lee in a decision match that came ten minutes after a war with Suwama. While unsuccessful in the Champion Carnival, it gave Nomura a newfound confidence that he could beat the best All Japan has to offer. His confidence only grew after pinning Kento in tag team action to secure this Triple Crown challenge. All of which is reflected in the match that follows. Gone is the young boy trying to find himself and prove he belongs. In his place is a man who knows he can beat the Ace.

Kento plays the perfect foil with a cocky and at times arrogant response to Nomura’s confidence. Afterall, he had recently won his first Champion Carnival and surpassed Suwama for second most combined days as Triple Crown Champion. It’s the combination of Kento’s ego and Nomura’s self confidence that adds a different dynamic to their earlier encounter. Kento’s cockiness lights a fire within Nomura that has him close to beating Kento on numerous occasions. It takes an otherworldly effort from Kento to retain his championship.    

1 . Kento Miyahara vs Jake Lee – Champion Carnival Final

Since forming Sweeper in 2018, Jake Lee had been lost in his quest to prove he was Kento’s equal. The 2019 Champion Carnival changed that perception dramatically as he vanquished past demons to face his once close friend in the Final. Jake is desperate to prove himself while Kento is looking to add to his ever growing legacy. You can feel the animosity radiating off both men during their respective introductions. It’s that intensity which makes this match an absolute classic and my Match of the Year. Both men feed off of it while laying into one another without a care for the other’s wellbeing. Jake can often come off as to reserved in matches but here he has a fire that unleashes a side we rarely see. Each physical exchange feeds into the next as both Kento and Jake up the intensity.

The drama continues to build and build and build to a point where the next big move could easily end the fight. The energy this creates is palpable as both men push themselves past their limits with neither seemingly having the answer. It’s a spectacle that has the Korakuen crowd in a frenzy as every passing moment has you on the edge of your seat. Please take the time to hunt down this match and view it for yourselves. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.  

Year End Awards

2019 has been an incredible year of discovery for me as a wrestling fan. For the first time since my late teens, I’ve exploded a plethora of wrestling promotions. It has reaffirmed my love for this crazy sport, led to the discovery of incredible talent and promotions.

So why am I mentioning this at the start of an awards article? Simply put, I feel this is the first year I can adequately compile a comprehensive awards list. Yes, there are still promotions that I don’t watch or closely follow. So, there will still be some snubs due to the fact I simply haven’t watched said promotion/wrestler. However, this is no longer a list based purely on NJPW and NXT. It also encompasses AJPW, Pro-Wrestling NOAH, DDT, Stardom, BJW, Wrestle-1, AEW and BARASA.

With that out of the way, lets dive into 2019 Year End Awards.

Breakout Performer

Honourable mentions: Naoya Nomura, Kaito Kiyomiya, Arisa Hoshiki, Takuya Nomura, Mia Yim

Winner: Rhea Ripley

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To me, a breakout performer is someone who’s taken the leap from potential star to a household name that’s generated huge buzz within the wrestling community. No one has exemplified this characteristic more than Rhea Ripley has this year. Coming into 2019 as the NXT UK Women’s Champion, Rhea has already started to show breakout potential during a solid reign with the championship. This would only serve as an appetiser for what was to come. From participating in the first NXT UK Takeover to an entrant in the Royal Rumble to captaining the first women’s War Games match to the captain of Team NXT at Survivors Series, Rhea continued to out do herself while proving she belonged with the upper echelon in NXT. All of this culminated with one of the biggest title changes we saw all year when she dethroned Baszler to become NXT Women’s Champion. A huge vote of confidence from WWE which was earned through hard work. 2020 is going to be a special year for Rhea Ripley.

Tournament of the Year

Honourable mentions: G1 Climax – NJPW, 5 Star Grand Prix – Stardom, Real World Tag League – AJPW, Best of the Super Juniors – NJPW

Winner: Champion Carnival – AJPW

There are a number of key factors that go into making a great wrestling tournament. Firstly, you need strong matches throughout to maintain the excitement and retain people’s interest. Secondly, there has to be a multitude of deep and compelling stories permeating over the course of the tournament. Thirdly, cultivate new stars and build future stories/title challenges. Finally, have a sense of drama right down to the final day. The 2019 Champion Carnival delivered on all these points to create a tournament full of drama, star making performances and a handful of legitimate MOTY contenders. All of this came after a rather lukewarm reaction when the names of the participants were announced. Some fans felt there was a real lack of star power in this year’s tournament. While an argument could be made for that to be the case, it pushed the roster to step up and prove the doubters wrong. From an incredible MVP run from Okabayashi, Joel Redman getting over, Dylan James’ breakout performance against Okabayashi, Nomura’s desire to prove himself, the drama on the final night of block action, Jake Lee proving his doubters wrong and Kento’s first Champion Carnival win. We were treated to a month of wonderful wrestling that few companies where able to compete with.  

Show of the Year

Honourable mentions: Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival – Dragon Gate, NOAH the Best – Pro-Wrestling NOAH, Double or Nothing – AEW, Dream Power Series (Night 6) – AJPW, Big Summer in Tokyo – Stardom, King of Pro-Wrestling – NJPW, Ultimate Party – DDT, Wrestle Kingdom 13 – NJPW, All Out – AEW, Year End Climax – Stardom

Winner: Peter Pan – DDT

Peter Pan was my first real introduction to DDT and is a show I would highly recommend to anyone looking to dive into DDT for the first time. If your perception of DDT is that of a company based purely upon whacky comedy matches, then this show will help to disprove this misconception. Peter Pan showcases both the variety and depth that DDT has to offer. The card features Joshi, intergender, comedy, tag team and modern puro which provides excellent pacing. Six hours absolutely flies by with gems littered throughout the entire event. Big shows can have a tendency to be top heavy or feature filler that has no real build behind it. This is not the case with Peter Pan as every match serves a purpose and tells a compelling story which keeps you engaged in such a long show. Simply put, Peter Pan is one of the finest shows I’ve seen this decade let alone this year.

Promotion of the Year

Honourable mentions: AJPW, NJPW, NXT, DDT

Winner: Stardom

No other promotion has consistently produced high quality and entertaining shows like Stardom has in 2019. When Kairi and Io left, there were some who voiced concern for how Stardom would respond. Their answer was to push new faces to the forefront with captivating stories. Momo Watanabe, Utami Hayashishita, Hana Kamura and Konami were all established as major players in Stardom’s future. Add in established “veterans” (I put veterans in quotations as the oldest of the following names is 31) such as Mayu Iwatani, Jungle Kyona and Tam Nakano, big name acquisitions in Riho and Giulia, a deep pool of young talent/trainees and Stardom is set for the future. It also provides a deep roster full of entertaining characters who showcase a variety of styles. It’s this fact that helps Stardom to put out a product that is so entertaining to watch. The big title matches always deliver however, the undercard is just as enjoyable. Whether it’s faction warfare or young wrestlers trying to prove themselves, you’ll always find something that draw you into the show.

All of the above has been reflected in continued growth for Stardom. Audience attendance steadily trended upwards throughout the course of the year. Internationally, their presence was boosted by both the American Dream In The Big Apple and Mayu’s reign with the Women of Honour Championship. The major news this year was Bushiroad purchasing Stardom in October. The entertainment company helped New Japan raise to the height of success that we see today, with a similar aim for Stardom. Their Year End Climax show on Christmas Eve drew 1,334 fans to Korakuen Hall, one of the largest the promotion has seen. Certainly, one show is never an indicator of prolonged success. But it’s a very positive end to a highly successful year for Stardom.   

Tag Team of the Year

Honourable mentions: AXIZ, Lucha Bros, Roppongi 3K, LAX, Grizzled Young Vets, reDRagon, DREAM SHiNE

Winner: Violent Giants

2019 had plethora of fantastic tag team matches from a wide variety of promotions. This fact made my decision the toughest to decide on. Ultimately, the overall consistency the Violent Giants showed this year was too hard to ignore. They started off the year on a strong note with an intense rivalry with BJW’s Strong BJ. This produced two of the finest tag matches of the year with both teams trading the AJPW World Tag Team titles back and forth. Ultimately, the Violent Giants would prevail to kickstart a 168 day reign with the belts. This featured excellent title defences against The Bomber, The End and Lee/Nomura before loosing the titles to Zeus and Sai in another fantastic encounter. While their reign may have ended in September, it wouldn’t be the end of the accolades for Violent Giants. They would go on to win the Real World Tag League along with being name the Best Tag Team by Tokyo Sports.  

Female Wrestler of the Year

Honourable mentions: Momo Watanabe, Rhea Ripley, Io Shirai, Maya Yukihi, Tessa Blanchard, Kagetsu, Bea Priestley, Tam Nakano, Maki Itoh

Winner: Arisa Hoshiki   

Since making her return to Stardom in December 2018, Arisa has made an indelible impact on a very deep roster of established stars. In May, she dethroned Momo Watanabe for the Wonder of Stardom championship bringing an end to Momo’s 358 day reign as champion. To say Arisa had big shoes to fill after such a reign would be an understatement. Her first defence would come against Tam Nakano in a match that is a legitimate MOTY contender. This would set the tone for the rest of her run with the white belt. Defences against Jungle Kyona, Hazuki, Kagetsu and Konami would all produce high quality matches that are amongst the best Stardom has provided this year. Her character and personality would shine with the formation of DREAM SHiNE with Tam Nakano. This love/hate relationship would provide countless memorable moments as Arisa tried to win Tam’s approval. Despite this rocky relationship, the team would prove to be very successful with DREAM SHiNE winning the Goddesses of Stardom tournament. Not only would this provide another accolade for Arisa but also show how well rounded a performer she is. 

Male Wrestler of the Year

Honourable mentions: Yuji Okabayashi, Shingo Takagi, Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Johnny Gargano, Kaito Kiyomiya, Go Shiozaki, Adam Cole

Winner: Kento Miyahara

AJPW’s Ace has solidified his place in the upper echelon of active wrestlers and made a compelling case for the best wrestler on the planet. Unquestionably the best big match wrestler today, he is able to produce magic with anyone he shares the ring with. There is no better example than Kento’s Triple Crown title defences. Each challenger has represented a different challenge each of which Kento has risen to the challenge. This excellence isn’t limited to singles competition as his run in the Real World Tag League with Yuma Aoyagi produced some of the best matches of the tournament. Such in ring success has been reflected in Kento’s personal accomplishments. These include winning his first Champion Carnival, passing Suwama for second most combined days as champion (behind only Mitsuharu Misawa), winning the Tokyo Sports Most Outstanding Performer award and being a finalist in the MVP voting. As we enter 2020, Kento also has the opportunity to break Toshiaki Kawada’s Triple Crown defence record which currently stands at 10. 2019 has been an extraordinary year for Kento and one that should be talked about for years to come.    

Only one question now remains, what is my match of the year? Well keep your eyes pealed as my Top 40 Matches of the Year will uploaded in the coming days.

Ibushi vs White: The Right Match at the Right Time

With the dust settling on the finale of another G1 Climax, there are many who feel upset or disappointed with the outcome. To many, Naito not even making the Final is another in a long line of injustices that he’s endured since his return. This opinion is not without merit as Naito’s popularity has continued to soar over the years.

But let’s take a step back for a moment and consider the current landscape within New Japan. It’s one that shifted significantly with the announcement of Ibushi finally signing a long term contract to finish his career with the company. At the time, Wilf (@Wilfamura on the Twitter) stated this would have a detrimental impact Naito’s position within the company. Myself, and I suspected many others, felt this was hyperbole as there is room for more than three megastars at the top of the card. However, as the months past this slowly became a reality. And upon reflection it’s the correct direction for New Japan to take at this time.

First, let’s take a look at Ibushi’s place in this G1 Final. I have seen some complain this is New Japan trying make Ibushi the new Ace, which couldn’t be further from the truth. At age 37 and with the mileage on his body, Ibushi will never supplant Okada regardless of his popularity. No, the story here is of the wild child finally living up to his potential. It’s a story that has fascinated New Japan crowds for years. We’ve seen Ibushi come tantalisingly close to realising the dream many have for him. Only for any momentum to be stifled due to his lack of commitment to New Japan.

Now, in 2019, NJPW finally has a focused and committed Ibushi to work with. And at the age of 37, the time is definitely now for them to push Ibushi into the spotlight. What better way to finish this fairy tale of a story than at arguably the biggest show they’ve ever produced? Yes, you can make the argument for Ibushi needing a stronger pre-G1 build. However, three of his final four G1 matches have been significant milestones for Ibushi. First, he beats one of his idols in Tanahashi and gains retribution for the loss he suffered at his hands in last year’s Final. Then the match against Okada proved that he could beat one of the greatest wrestlers on the planet while solidifying him as a true treat to Okada’s reign. All that was needed to complete his run was the ultimate heel to vanquish. In steps Jay White. 

I’ve been very critical of how Jay was booked post-IWGP Heavyweight title reign and still stand by those statements. The chicken shit heel version of Jay did absolutely nothing for me and made many of his wins feel cheap. He’s far more suited to being the cold, calculated, master manipulator who knows how to get under your skin and wrestle his style of match. You hate him because he’s that damn good and he lets you know it. Thankfully, we saw the return of this version of the Switchblade in his final two G1 matches.

Against Naito, we saw two of the finest storytellers produce a deep, complex and compelling match that had Budokan rocking. More importantly, Jay was able to beat Naito with little interference from Gedo. Yes he still became involved in the match but Naito was more than ready with an answer and didn’t cheapen Jay’s win. A win that was the right call at the right time for many reasons.

Firstly, the crowd reaction after Jay’s win was incredible. You can argue that the reaction Naito garners from fans should solidify his position at the top of the card and justify him beating White. However, no one is able to manipulate a crowd and generate heat quite like White. The boos for White were just as deafening as the cheers for Naito. It demonstrates the star power White has as the ultimate heel. A character that New Japan is in very short supply of. Secondly, the win meant far more to White than it did for Naito. It helped to repair some of the damage inflicted after White lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Finally, it sets up a future programme with Naito for the IC title.

So the stage was set, the ultimate babyface against the ultimate heel. The Golden Star fighting against all the odds to overcome years of frustration. This is why White was the perfect opponent for Ibushi on this night. From their philosophies to their values to how they approach matches, White and Ibushi are polar opposites. Yes, a match against Naito would have been entertaining as the two of them have wonderful chemistry together. But it wouldn’t have told the story New Japan has been building to. Naito can work as a heel but he wouldn’t have received the reaction White did during the course of the match. In fact, some might have booed an Ibushi win if it had been against Naito. That is certainly not the closing image you want. Whereas a win over White is a result that the vast majority will cheer.

White’s G1 moment will come and it will be sooner rather than later. As we build towards Wrestle Kingdom, his sights will be set firmly on Naito’s IC title. A scene that has been in desperate need of a refresh for months now. A long title reign for White would be the perfect set up to a potential G1 win next year while continuing to rebuild his reputation. These final two matches have proven that he deserves to be in the position he currently is. If you don’t agree or at least acknowledge this, then you decided long ago not to like White regardless of his abilities.

As for Ibushi, he’s poised to complete a story that is years in the making. It’s a story that can’t wait another two to three years to reach its conclusion. The time is now and the time is right for it to happen. Two very interesting challengers await Ibushi in a now Bullet Club aligned KENTA and a possibly desperate EVIL. Both will provide compelling matches that will continue to feed into the story of Ibushi overcoming all the odds to vanquish past demons.

In the end, this G1 Climax Final was everything it needed to be and more. We saw a young star regain his moment and a veteran finally fulfil his potential. It built on existing stories while providing new ones on the road to Wrestle Kingdom. Ultimately, that is what the G1 is about.  

Walking the King’s Road (Part 3)

Welcome to Part 3 of Walking the King’s Road, an introductory guide to one of the greatest periods in wrestling history. Over the first two parts, we’ve explored how Giant Baba was forced to rebuild his roster and how that lead to one of the greatest rivalries the wrestling world has ever seen. However, Misawa vs Kawada wasn’t the only legendary rivalry that All Japan would have during the 90’s. From 1995 onwards, Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi would enter into a feud that would rival that of Misawa vs Kawada. It would showcase the same level of hard hitting innovation, deep storytelling and intense fighting spirit.

Before we get Part 3 under way, if you have missed either Part 1 or 2 then you can find them using the links below:

Part 1 – The Birth of a Dynasty
Part 2 – Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada

Part 3 – Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi

If Misawa vs Kawada was a feud built on a deep personal hatred, then Misawa vs Kobashi was a feud built on respect. While neither man would hold nothing back in the ring, they would still maintain a healthy respect for one another. This rivalry would morph from who was the better man into who was the true Ace as we entered the latter part of the 90’s. Kobashi was so beloved by the fans that his popularity would start to rival that of Misawa’s and thus lead to his challenge as the Ace of All Japan.

Before we dive into this feud, I’d like to shed a little light on Kobashi’s history and growth leading up to his first match against Misawa in 1995. This time period would feature many struggles for the young Kobashi. However, these hurdles would help to shape Kobashi into the fearless, ferocious warrior he’d become.

Kobashi would apply and be accepted into the AJPW Dojo in the summer of 1987. He would debut in February of 1988 and go on to lose his first 63 matches, all of them singles bouts. On the surface that might sound like a burial but it was all part of Baba’s plan as Kobashi would shine even in defeat.

Showing incredible heart, fire, passion, determination and fighting spirit, Kobashi was far from an easy out in these matches. And as time passed, the fans became drawn to this young rookie who would never quit. Willing him on in the hope of seeing his first victory. So strong was this reaction that Kobashi would win multiple Rookie of the Year awards from the Japanese press.

That elusive first win would come in February on 1988 and in April of 1990 he would win his first championship gold. This would come in the form of the All Asia Tag Team Championship alongside Tiger Mask II. The reign itself would be short lived, in May Misawa would unmask and soon vacate the titles to focus on his singles career. Undeterred by this set back, Kobashi would join forces with Misawa in his war against the old guard of All Japan. During this time Kobashi would serve two roles.

When teaming with the higher ranking Misawa and Kawada, Kobashi would be the fiery underdog. When teaming with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Kobashi would serve more as a big brother coming to the rescue. This partnership with Kikuchi would give Kobashi his first Match of the Year in 1992. The two would challenge Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas for the All Asia Tag Team titles (a match we’ll look at in Part 5).

1993 to 1995 would be a period of tremendous growth for Kobashi. He would primarily serve as Misawa’s tag team partner which would lead to Kobashi’s first World’s Strongest Tag Determination League win and first World Tag Team title reign. Singles success would slowly start to come as well. Wins over former Triple Crown champions would lead to a number of Triple Crown challengers for Kobashi. The most notable of these was the 60 minute time-limit draw against Kawada which was mentioned in Part 2.

With a wealth of experience now under his belt, Kobashi was finally ready to make his first challenge against Misawa for the Triple Crown. This leads us to the first match we’re going to take a look at in this part.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS KENTA KOBASHI – OCTOBER 25^TH 1995

Before the bell even rings, the respect these two men have for each other is on full display as they exchange a handshake. Kobashi is still working with the knee injury we saw in his and Misawa’s World Tag Team title match against the Holy Demon Army a few months prior. You can’t tell Kobashi is battling injury as the opening five minutes features beautiful chain wrestling as both men feel the other out.

Both have an answer for the other’s strikes until Kobashi side steps a Misawa flying elbow strike. Keen to prove himself, Kobashi takes advantage of this opening by delivering an Orange Crush on Misawa. The veteran Misawa roles out of the ring seemingly away from danger. However, Kobashi has other plans as he follows Misawa to the outside to deliver a vicious powerbomb on the floor.

Kobashi proceeds to press the advantage and take the fight to a now reeling Misawa. Several big shots are not enough to keep Misawa down, who desperately attempts to create separation. Even when he does escape Kobashi’s grasp, Misawa is unable to hold the advantage for long. A series of hard and heavy blows from Misawa only fires up Kobashi who shows his fighting spirit and heart by pushing through the pain to regain the advantage. Ultimately, Kobashi costs himself the advantage with a failed attempt at a backdrop suplex off the apron. Here we see Misawa’s resiliency on full display as he’s weathered the storm and begins to take control of the match.

As the matches reaches its closing stretch we see a return of the frantic pace. The momentum swings back and forth with neither able to maintain an advantage. A combination of Tiger Suplex and Tiger Drivers aren’t enough to keep the plucky Kobashi down for three. It take Misawa dropping Kobashi on his head with a nasty Tiger Driver to keep him down.

Post-match, Misawa shows tremendous respect for his opponent and friend. First, by checking on his condition and then thanking him in the post-match interview as Kobashi is being carried to the back. While Kobashi might not have won the title on this night, he proved that he belonged with the elite of All Japan. A position he would solidify on the 24^th of July 1996 by beating Akira Taue to earn his first Triple Crown Championship.    

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: KENTA KOBASHI (C) VS MITSUHARU MISAWA – JANUARY 25^TH 1997

This would be the first of three Triple Crown Championship matches Misawa and Kobashi would have in 1997. Here Misawa is challenging the more confident and seasoned Kobashi. The story of this match is a wonderful reversal of roles from their encounter in 1995. It’s Misawa that controls the opening portion of the match with a hard hitting fast paced attack. The answer from Kobashi shows his growth as he manages to slow down sections of the match with a variety of submissions. Kobashi utilises his wealth of experience to avoid an elbow suicida which injuries Misawa’s right elbow after it impacts the guard rail.

With Misawa’s greatest weapon now in jeopardy, Kobashi wastes no time going on the offensive. Each attack is targeted at the arm through a combination of submissions and rakes using different parts of the ring. Again, we see another example of the incredible resiliency and heart Misawa had. Fighting through the pain racing through his elbow, Misawa throws caution to the wind and continues to use his greatest weapon to regain control.

We now reach a stalemate as both Misawa and Kobashi search for a way to maintain the advantage. In an act of desperation, Kobashi attempts to powerbomb Misawa off the apron to the floor. An act that would cost Kobashi greatly as Misawa is able to counter it into a hurricanrana.

Nearly 35 minutes into the match and both men slowly drag themselves into the ring. Completely spent, both slowly crawl towards one another to resume the fight. This closing stretch is a series of big moves as each man attempts to finish the other. Eventually, Misawa is able to prevail with a Tiger Suplex followed by a vicious flying elbow that keeps Kobashi down and end his first Triple Crown Championship reign.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS KENTA KOBASHI – OCTOBER 21^ST 1997

The final match in their 1997 trilogy would receive the Bout of the Year award from Tokyo Sports. Despite meeting twice that year, the third match is just as dramatic and breath-taking as their previous encounters. Kobashi would again be fighting though a knee injury, one of many throughout his career. As with their 1995 encounter, this injury wouldn’t slow down Kobashi as the two wrestle at a frantic pace. This is the first time we see dives start to take a prominent place along with an increased focus on both men dropping the other on their head. These two characteristics would go on to define this feud and increase with each passing match.

We also see a new tactic from Kobashi in this match, one that focuses on a strong submission game. While submissions had played a part in their previous matches, Kobashi’s injured knee eventually forces him into the ground game. The target on this occasion is Misawa’s neck as Kobashi slowly grinds down the champion. I also like to think this is another sign of growth from Kobashi. In their previous meetings, it was the high risk offence that cost Kobashi. Maybe this is a sign of him adapting and trying to find a different way to win.

As with many of the matches in this series, we reach a stalemate towards the end of the match. Despite the pain and exhaustion of an intense battle, neither man is willing to back down or give up. This is reflected in a moment where both men charge at the other to deliver their signature strikes. The result is both Misawa and Kobashi crumbling to the mat. Again, Misawa has to rely on a Tiger Driver to dump Kobashi on his neck to secure the win. A move that would force Kobashi to retaliate with a vicious move of his own. But through all of this we see another sign of respect as Misawa and Kobashi exchange a handshake post-match.

JINSEI SHINZAKI & KENTA KOBASHI VS MITSUHARU MISAWA & TAKAO OMORI – OCTOBER 24^TH 1998

While this is the shortest match we’ll look at, it carries great significance. This was the moment when Kobashi would introduce one of, if not the, most dangerous moves to his arsenal. The Burning Hammer would become synonymous with Kobashi as it was an instant match ending move. The shock and horror on the announcers voice is plain to hear as he tries to process what he’s just seen. Remember, it took Kawada minutes of double team moves with Taue to earn his first pinfall over Misawa. For Kobashi, the Burning Hammer ended the fight within minutes and earned him the right to challenge Misawa for the Triple Crown.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA ( C ) VS KENTA KOBASHI – OCTOBER 31^ST 1998

I’ll be completely honest here, this is my personal favourite match of all time so I’m a little biased. Instead of doing a deep dive, I’ll only highlight a few points and let you enjoy this incredible match for yourself. Like with Kawada’s challenge in July of 1995, this is the first time Kobashi is seen as Misawa’s equal. In fact at this point in history, Kobashi had taken Kawada’s place as Misawa’s greatest rival. This is reflected in the match as Kobashi is able to control large portions and has an answer to many of Misawa’s moves. Which leads to Misawa having to create new moves to gain the advantage. Perhaps the most important aspect of this match is that Kobashi is unable to hit the Burning Hammer on Misawa.

A moment that truly stands out to me is in the post-match once Misawa is backstage. Seeing the need for him to have his neck stretched is a sobering reminder of the price this style took on the wrestler’s bodies. Both this match and the previous one we looked at would take home the Best Bout Award from Tokyo Sports. The first of all two times such a feat was accomplished (Omega vs Okada in 2017 and 2018 were the second).

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA VS KENTA KOBASHI – JUNE 11^TH 1999

The final Triple Crown encounter between these two titans is wrestled at a very different pace. From the opening bell this is a technical, largely mat based masterpiece. Yes the big dives, hard strikes and brutal power moves are still there. But they are used to compliment the work that has already been done on the mat. The submissions, counters and transitions are a testament to just how technically sound both Misawa and Kobashi were.

Kobashi controls the opening pace by targeting the head and neck of Misawa. After all the years of abuse, Misawa’s neck is his weak point and he tries desperately to escape Kobashi’s clutches. As Misawa starts the striking game, Kobashi turns his attention to Misawa’s arms in an attempt to take away his greatest weapon. A weapon that had repeatedly knocked out Kobashi in the past and cost him the match. This game of chess continues as Misawa repeatedly tries to get Kobashi to wrestle his match by unloading huge dives. However, Kobashi manages to withstand this attack and bring the pace back to his liking.

Eventually, Misawa is able to hit a big enough move to create the space he so desperately needs. And with that the momentum brings to swing as Misawa is able to put together some sustained offence. While Kobashi wouldn’t go down without a fight, the pace slowly turns to the advantage of Misawa. The closing stretch see a return of the pace we’re familiar with as again both men try to hit that one big move to keep the other down. Once more, Kobashi is unable to hit the Burning Hammer on Misawa who manages to muster enough strength to connect with the Emerald Flowsion for the win.  

GHC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA ( C ) VS KENTA KOBASHI – MARCH 1^ST 2003

Okay, I know this is technically cheating as the match happened in Pro Wrestling NOAH. But it would be remiss of me to not include this match. Neither man misses a beat as we see the same fast paced, hard hitting offense that is on display during their previous encounters. In fact, this is by far the most brutal and violent of their battles. Misawa and Kobashi repeatedly drop the other on their head both in the ring and on the floor.

Misawa’s mouth is cut open early on from reversed dive that sends him face first into the guard rail. Kobashi follows this up with a half-nelson suplex that plants Misawa on the top of his head on the floor. Misawa would eventually return the favour with one of the most dangerous spots of all time. With both men on the walkway, Misawa proceeds to deliver a Tiger Suplex off the ramp and onto the floor below. Somehow, Kobashi manages to reach down and battle back to deliver a Burning Hammer to seal his first GHC Heavyweight title. This would be the first time Kobashi would beat Misawa in a singles match with championship gold on the line.

The sheer brutality and violence of this match perfectly encapsulates this rivalry as a whole. Both men would constantly push each other to their absolute limit and challenge the other to innovate in order to win. It’s a battle of heart, spirit and will between two of the greatest to step foot in a ring. And yet throughout the course of these wars, both men retained a level of respect for the other. This was purely about the thrill of the fight and who was the better man.

Having two of the greatest rivalries of all time in one promotion at the same time is a rarity in wrestling. It speaks to the incredible talent and depth that All Japan possessed at this point in history. And to the vision Giant Baba had to place this amazing talent in a position to succeed. However, it wasn’t just the Four Pillars of Heaven that contributed to AJPW’s success. Baba would rely on a deep and equally talent pool of gaijin who would serve as the backbone of the promotion. We will take a look at some of these gaijin in Part 4 as we continue our journey down the King’s Road.

Walking the King’s Road (Part 2)

Welcome to Walking the King’s Road, an introductory guide to one of the greatest periods in pro wrestling history. In Part 1 we looked at how AJPW laid the ground work for this golden age by building arguably their biggest star in Mitsuharu Misawa.

But this time period wasn’t just dedicated to moulding Misawa into an Ace. Baba also worked tireless to build a strong young core around him. This would not only catapult AJPW into the spotlight but provide the wrestling world with one of its greatest rivalries. Welcome to Walking the King’s Road, an introductory guide to one of the greatest periods in pro wrestling history.

Part 2 – Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada

Misawa vs Kawada. A rivalry that spanned over a decade, built around one man’s obsession with beating the other and proving he deserved the spotlight. This blood feud would produce countless classic matches which showcased deep storytelling, tremendous psychology, innovation, fighting spirit and brutal hard hitting offence. It would divide loyalties, forge new alliances and help to launch new stars. Truly, it is the pinnacle of the King’s Road style.

However, these bitter rivals were once friends and allies. As we saw in Part 1, it was Kawada who unmasked Misawa and stood by his side in the “generational war” against the old guard. In the early 90’s, this bond would lead to the creation of a strong tag team unit that would serve as a proving ground for both men. This provides us with the first match we’re going to look at in this part.

AJPW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA & TOSHIAKI KAWADA VS TERRY GORDY & STEVE WILLIAMS (SATSUJIN GYORAI) (C) – JULY 24^TH 1991

A rematch from their clash on the 24^th of February, an encounter that ended when Misawa essentially took himself out of the match. A missed plancha to the floor gave Gordy the opening he needed to brutalise Misawa on the outside. This culminated in Gordy powerbombing Misawa on the concrete floor. Kawada would bravely fight on but ultimately fall to the two-on-one attack of the veteran team.

As this match begins you can sense the urgency in Misawa and Kawada to avenge their previous loss. This leads to Misawa throwing huge elbows early but is caught by Gordy with a viscous clothesline. One that would break Misawa’s nose and leave Kawada fending for himself again.

With Misawa out of action, Gordy and Williams press the advantage with frequent tags and tandem offence. Kawada shows incredible heart by creating enough of an opening to make the tag. A rested Misawa enters the match on fire but the grizzled veterans target his broken nose to regain the advantage.

As we reach the closing stretch, we see history almost repeat itself. This time it’s Kawada who is brutalised on the outside and piledriven onto the concrete floor. Somehow Kawada is able to scramble back to the ring to save Misawa. After a frantic ending sequence it’s Misawa and Kawada standing tall.

This match is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it would gift Misawa his first title since shedding the Tiger Mask character. It would also serve as Kawada’s biggest title win to this point. Secondly, it shows the incredible heart and fighting spirit that Misawa possessed. Not only fighting through a broken nose but also surviving the repeated attacks after it was broken. Thirdly, it continues the growth of both Misawa and Kawada who would use this experience later in their careers. Finally, it shows the unity that Misawa and Kawada once shared. An important fact to remember as we move forward.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – OCTOBER 21^ST 1992

After defeating Stan Hansen to earn his first Triple Crown Championship, Misawa’s first challenger would be his close friend. At this point in history, Misawa and Kawada were still a cohesive unit and one that tagged regularly. While both men have respect for the other, Kawada opens with a huge shot right out the gate. A sign that while he respects Misawa he’s here to win. Misawa attempts to return the favour but Kawada wisely backs away.

The match now settles down with both men feeling the other out. This respectful pace is maintained until Kawada starts to utilise some underhanded tactics. A kick to Misawa’s face as he’s in the ropes visibly pisses off Misawa who starts to unload with vicious strikes, the first sign that there may be some resentment between the two men.

As the match progresses we see Misawa trying to maintain the early respectful pace with Kawada continually taking shots and even mocking Misawa. This is enough to make Misawa snap and now the fight is really on. Neither man holds back with the momentum swinging back and forth at a frantic pace. Ultimately, Misawa shows his incredible fighting spirit and gains his first successful defence in what would be a near two year reign with the Triple Crown.

Despite the hostilities shown during the course of the match, it wouldn’t be the end of Misawa and Kawada’s friendship. In fact they would not only team less than a month later in World’s Strongest Tag Determination League but go on to win the tournament that year. It wasn’t until Kawada’s second challenge for the Triple Crown on the 29^th of July 1993 that the friendship would truly end.

During that encounter, Kawada would show little respect to Misawa in his desperate attempt to not only win but prove he was better than Misawa. Kawada’s jealousy and resentment for Misawa being the “golden boy” starts to really come through in this match. In Kawada’s mind, and that of some of the fans, he should be the Ace leading the company forward.

Soon after the match mentioned above, Kawada would break ties with Misawa and in a shocking turn of events would side with one of his greatest rivals in Akira Taue. The Holy Demon Army would become the most decorated teams in All Japan’s history with a record-setting six World Tag Title reigns.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – JUNE 3^RD 1994

The now six-star rated match is truly worthy of such praise as it is one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. A master class in ring psychology, each move and reversal carries such weight. Every blow is at full force as neither man is holding back here. Kawada’s ruthless nature shines through as he lives up to the moniker of Killer K.

It’s also the first time we see both men starting to drop each other on their heads. This shift would come to define the King’s Road style in the latter part of the 90’s. Instead of deep diving into the match, I will simply let you enjoy it for yourself as my words would not do it the justice it deserves.

AJPW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA & KENTA KOBASHI (C) VS THE HOLY DEMON ARMY – JUNE 9^TH 1995

From one of the greatest singles matches of all time to one of the greatest tag team matches of all time. It’s a rare occasion where the Four Pillars of Heaven are all in the same match together and they prove why they were given that moniker. This isn’t simply a continuation of the Misawa/Kawada rivalry as there are multiple stories being told here.

After Kawada broke his ties with Misawa it would be Kobashi who would stand by his side. Both men had been friends since 1990 when they joined forces to challenge the old guard in AJPW. From that point on, their friendship would grow with Kobashi seconding Misawa in many of his Triple Crown wars.

In the intervening years, we’ll look deeper into those in the following parts, Kobashi had grown into one of the top babyfaces behind only Misawa. This period included Kobashi challenging Kawada for the Triple Crown in January of 1995. That match would go to a 60 minute time-limit draw and it’s clear that Kobashi still has a score to settle with Kawada. On top of this story is that of Misawa and Taue who in April of ’95 would square off in the Champion Carnival Final (a tournament similar to NJPW’s G1 Climax).

Misawa would be victorious that night and go on to win the Triple Crown from Stan Hansen in May. There is still resentment from Taue towards Misawa which is also present during the course of the match. All three of these storylines combined to make incredible viewing.

The match starts at a respectful pace with Kobashi and Taue trading shots back and forth. However, it wouldn’t take long for the heels to reveal their tactics as Taue starts to attack Kobashi’s injured left leg along with Kawada taking cheap shots at both Misawa and Kobashi on the apron. These actions draws the ire of the crowd, Misawa and Kobashi as tensions start to boil over. This beautifully sets the stage for what’s to come in match filled with wonderful little stories as the faces fight to overcome the dastardly tactics of The Holy Demon Army.

It’s Kobashi’s heart that shines the brightest in this match as he fights through the pain in his leg to continue the fight. No matter how many times Kawada and Taue attack his leg, Kobashi fires up and finds a way to push through the pain. This leads to two truly beautiful and heartfelt moments.

Despite all the damage done to his leg, Kobashi manages to crawl over Misawa’s body to shield him from the attack of Kawada and Taue. He literally takes the pain and abuse to try and protect his fallen partner. The defining moment of the match comes at the finish as Kawada pins Misawa clean for the first time.

This pinfall would be viewed as such a monumental moment that it would earn Kawada the right to face Misawa for the Triple Crown the following month.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – JULY 24^TH 1995

For arguably the first time in this legendary rivalry, Kawada was viewed as Misawa’s equal with a legitimate chance of beating him. Certainly, Kawada was carrying the momentum into this match after his pinfall victory over Misawa in the previous match we looked at. This is reflected throughout the ensuing war as both men reverse the big moves that had caught them off guard in their previous meetings.

These call backs are a wonderful touch as it shows that both men have learned from their previous encounters. Ultimately, Kawada gets the better of this exchange and uses this opening to press the advantage. We see the ruthless, unrelenting side of Kawada in full effect here. The strikes are so stiff that it blurs the line between reality and fiction. As with their previous battles, each move carries such weight and depth that they tell their own story.

At the heart of this match is Kawada’s dominance of Misawa. Whenever Misawa would fire up his incredible fighting spirit, Kawada would have an answer to put him back down. After three years of battling each other, Kawada had almost figured out the perfect game plan to beat his arch rival. However, it was not to be on this night as Misawa managed to ride out the storm and survive with his title intact. But this was different from Misawa’s previous victories over Kawada as he had to knockout Kawada to gain the win. No longer was it Misawa earning a convincing win but barely surviving the onslaught. Kawada was now firmly seen as Misawa’s equal.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – MAY 1^ST 1998

Six years after their first meeting for the Triple Crown and Kawada was one of the most decorated wrestlers in the history of AJPW. A former Triple Crown Champion, a seven time World Tag Team Champion, a two timer winner of the Champion Carnival and a three time winner of World’s Strongest Tag Determination League. Despite all of these accolades there was still one glaring whole in his legacy. He had never definitively beaten Misawa in a singles match for the Triple Crown. In the main event of All Japan’s first show in the Tokyo Dome, Kawada would finally accomplish a feat many said he would never achieve.

The match is just as captivating six years on as it was the first time these two legends locked horns. They manage to add new wrinkles to the layout while paying homage to their previous encounters. Despite all of the punishment both men have taken in their careers to this point, they still move and strike with the same fluidity and intensity shown during their first encounter. In fact, I would argue that this is one of their most brutal matches as we’re fully into the “drop on their head” era of the King’s Road style. Some of the bumps they take directly on their head and neck makes for painful viewing at times.

After six long years it takes two devastating powerbombs for Kawada to finally vanquish his arch rival and take the Triple Crown from him. The backdrop of the Tokyo Dome crowd erupting in a combination of shock, excitement and celebration makes for one of the most memorable moments in wrestling history.

While this wouldn’t be the final meeting between these two titans, I feel it is a suitable place to bring our join in this part to an end. For me, the matches we’ve explored not only encapsulates this legendary rivalry but is also a showcase for what made the King’s Road style so successful. You have a long term story spanning six years which expanded to include other wrestlers both into the story and branching off into their own feuds.

It features some of the greatest matches ever seen while continuing to adapt and innovate. Every little detail is building to that moment where Kawada finally beats Misawa. It’s a level of storytelling that is rarely seen in wrestling and as such makes for wonderful viewing.

If you would like to watch some of the matches mentioned but not shown or some of the subsequent matches then they are listed below.

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – JULY 29^TH 1993

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – JUNE 6^TH 1997

AJPW TRIPLE CROWN TITLE MATCH: MITSUHARU MISAWA (C) VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – JULY 23^RD 1999

NOAH DESTINY 05: MITSUHARU MISAWA VS TOSHIAKI KAWADA – JULY 18^TH 2005

In the midst of this rivalry another legendary feud would blossom and grow to rival that of what we’ve just seen. In a cycle that would continue throughout his career, a close friend of Misawa’s would raise up to challenge him. This time that challenge would come in the form of Kenta Kobashi. We will focus on this incredible feud in Part 3 as we continue our journey down the King’s Road. I look forward to seeing you then.

All Japan’s Restructure

The biggest news coming out of All Japan’s Fan Appreciation show was the announcement that, as of October 10^th, Jun Akiyama would be stepping down as President of the company. Such news sent shockwaves through the fan base as All Japan has been plagued by boardroom instability since the Misawa exodus. This volatile environment has destroyed many of All Japan’s rebuilds. On the surface, Wednesday’s news felt like the continuation of this cycle.

Thankfully, this was not the case as the announcement signals a change within All Japan’s management structure. Akiyama will still be with the company in the form of the newly created GM position (a first for AJPW) with the Presidency being moved over to businessman Takeshi Fukuda. But what does this actually mean for All Japan moving forward? Well let’s take a look from both a wrestling and business stand point.

From a wrestling perspective, not a whole lot will change in terms of what you see in the ring. Since taking over as President in 2014, Akiyama has done a tremendous job in rebuilding a decimated roster. The newly created GM role will keep Akiyama close to the in ring product and the wrestlers involved. Booking, talent scouting and running of the dojo will remain under Akiyama’s control and ensures his vision for All Japan remains intact. With the untimely passing of Atsushi Aoki last month, Akiyama lost not only a personal friend but his right hand man. Aoki assisted with talent relations, running the wrestling side of the business and was the head trainer at the dojo. His passing placed more responsibility on Akiyama from a wrestling stand point, so now feels like the perfect time to alleviate the pressure of running the company on a daily basis.

But what does the transition to Fukuda mean from a business perceptive? This is a little harder to answer and we may not know the full extent of the change until October 10^th. With that said, Fukuda isn’t an outsider coming in to the promotion. Fukuda had been backing All Japan as an owner so he is familiar with the current product. This also means that he has an established working relationship with Akiyama. From the comments made during the press conference, Fukuda is happy with the direction and growth of All Japan. As a whole, All Japan’s houses are up with the addition of AJPW TV (All Japan’s streaming service) providing a steady revenue stream.

Therefore, Fukuda’s focus is to continue to help expand on the foundation that Akiyama has laid down. He states that there will be a heavy focus on retaining the current crop of talent. This suggests there’ll be no change to the current contract structure. A move that lead to further talent exits when Akiyama took over in 2014. If this holds true, then it will continue to add stability to All Japan and hopefully lead to more wrestlers signing permanent contracts. With New Japan’s continued raise, retaining talent is vital to the survival of All Japan and smaller promotions across Japan.

Personally, I’m cautiously optimistic with this announcement. I’m keen to learn more about business side of this restructure and how Fukuda plans to continue the finical growth. However, allowing Akiyama to focus purely on the wrestling side of the business can only be a positive. In the five years since taking control of All Japan, he’s taken them from being a laughing stock to forming a solid foundation. His vision has led to establishing Kento Miyahara as the Ace, developing young talent in Naoya Nomura and Yuma Aoyagi, investing in pre-existing talent such as Jake Lee, Zeus and Dylan James and bringing in talent such as Koji Iwamoto. Giving him the freedom to solely focus on this vision is an exciting prospect. Yes, the history of previous boardroom fights still hangs heavy over this announcement. However, this time we have a figure stepping forward into the spot light than a complete change in philosophy. This fact gives me hope that All Japan can break away from its previous cycle.      

AEW Double or Nothing Recap

Before we dive into the heart of this article I have to be honest upfront. I was very sceptical about this show going in as I didn’t love All In as much as some. It was a solid show but certainly had some teething problems that needed to be worked out and was a victim of its own hype. Couple this with my growing love of puro and I wasn’t sold on a new American company sucking me in. Boy was I wrong as AEW delivered one hell of a first show that is easily the best show of the year at the time of writing. Sure it had a few hiccups but the production, pacing, storytelling, in ring action and plenty of surprises more than made up for any short fall. So let’s dive into what made this show so special along with a few areas that didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The Good

The Young Bucks vs The Lucha Bros

I’m a sucker for great tag team wrestling and this match delivered in a big way. When you give two of the best tag teams in the world time, they’ll deliver a masterpiece. For me, this was the Match of the Night as both teams stepped up their game with some truly jaw dropping offence. From brutal tandem offence to jaw dropping aerial assaults to fast paced chain wrestling to submissions to memorable moments (the Canadian destroy onto the apron and brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle were insane), this match truly had it all. It rivalled and surpassed some of the great tag team encounters we’ve seen from NXT. More importantly, it sent a message that AEW are serious about tag team wrestling. That might not come as a surprise to some given the Bucks position within the company. However, having it reaffirmed throughout the night and topped off by this match was a welcomed sight.

Canadian Destroyer by Pentagon on Matt Jackson

Brutal brainbuster onto the turnbuckle my Matt Jackson

Cody vs Dustin

A deeply personal, emotional roller-coaster of a match that gave us some of the finest storytelling we’ve seen in a long time. Seeing Dustin turn back the hands of time was a joy to watch as he gave a phenomenal performance. This wasn’t just a greatest hits but further development and reinvention for a man who has accomplished so much in the wrestling world. It added an additional layer to the match as this reenergised Dustin took Cody by surprise. When Dustin reverted back to his old offence it cost him dearly. This is one of the few instances where I felt blood added to the match. It made you sympathise with Dustin while making you hate Cody for his despicable actions. If AEW limits this to very rare occasions then I’m all good with it. Finally, we had one of the most heart-warming moments in wrestling. Seeing the two brothers embrace after such a violent war brought a tear to many an eye.

Omega/Jericho 2

I was sceptical as to whether Omega and Jericho could live up to the high bar they set during their first encounter. Not only did they live up to the hype but also provided a very different feeling match from their first encounter. Gone was the brawling madman Jericho, in his place stood a man who used his experience to beat one of the very best in the world. From the entrance to his very moveset, we saw Jericho combine everything from his incredible career as he desperately needed to win this match. Omega was no slouch either as he bumped his ass off while showing no signs of rust from his time away. It was the perfect way to showcase Omega to an audience that might not be fully aware of his work in NJPW.

SCU vs Strong Hearts

It’s never easy being the opening match on a PPV let alone one the magnitude of Double or Nothing. However, SCU and Strong Hearts worked hard and had the crowd rocking from the get go in a match that I feel is being overlooked given the matches that followed. Neither team came out of this looking weak and gave Strong Hearts a great platform to introduce themselves to an audience that might not be familiar with their work. The pacing was great, the action was fast and furious all of which served as a lovely appetiser.

Solid Commentary

I love JR as he was the voice of my childhood but I can’t deny that I was concerned with how he would perform. His commentary for NJPW was poor as it felt like he had done little to no research and would occasionally bury some talent. Thankfully, we saw the best of JR here and he was backed by a strong booth. I fully expected it to take some time for JR, Alex Marvez and Excalibur to gel but they came out the gate strong and didn’t miss a beat. There was no talking over each other, each man complemented the other, added to the stories being told in the ring and felt like a strong unit. Yes there was some disconnect during the close ups but nothing that was disastrous or damaging. Overall, it was an excellent first impression.  

High Production Values

The money that has been invested in AEW was on full display as the production values took a big step up from All In. The promo packages were very well produced and served as a great narrative device to bring you up to speed with the story so far. As a whole, the camera transitions were smooth and generally caught all of the action. The set was and lighting was spot on and the overall feel of the show was that of a high end PPV.  

Nice Surprises

Obviously, the biggest surprise of the night came at the very end with the debut of John Moxley. A perfect ending to an excellent show saw Mox make his presence felt on two of AEW’s biggest stars. Showcasing a truly unhinged character, it was one of the few instances of AEW setting up a long term feud. Omega vs Moxley is a tantalising prospect that will provide the company with continued hype in the months to come. This wasn’t the only surprise of the night as we saw the welcomed return of Awesome Kong. In what was a great bait and switch, Brandi teased abusing her power by inserting herself into the match. Instead we saw the return of one of the most dangerous women to step foot in the ring in the past few years. It’ll be interesting to see where they go with her from here.

Excellent Pacing

My biggest compliant coming out of All In was that the pacing of the show was all over the place. Some matches went longer than planned and started to overstay their welcome while taking time from the main attractions. All of that was rectified here as they stuck to their times which created a show that flew by. For a near four hour show it never felt like a slog or suffered from peaks and valleys which can be a problem for any show of this length.

Variety is the Spice of Life

One aspect that made Double or Nothing so enjoyable was the variety that was on display. We saw high flying, technical wrestling, bloody brawls, excellent tag team wrestling, solid women’s wrestling, comedy and an introduction to Joshi. That’s a wide net to cast but it all fit together beautifully to provide entertainment for most tastes. As we move forward towards weekly programming this variety could be what sets AEW apart from other alternatives that are out there.  

The Bad

Note: I wouldn’t class anything as truly bad or terrible but the show wasn’t without its share of flaws. Some of these are personal preference.

That Joshi Botch

The most glaring mistake of the night is truly a head scratcher and a moment I’m still trying to figure out. It is one thing to ring the bell early but to then instantly play the theme music for the team that would have lost is just bizarre. Surely as a timekeeper you’re aware of the outcome, so anything that goes against that should have you burying the hammer unless you’re explicitly told to ring the bell. This could have been overlooked and sold as the timekeeper believing it was a three count if it wasn’t for the music cue. The two combined speaks to a major miscommunication between gorilla, the timekeeper and production truck. While AEW is a very new company, I find it hard to believe such an oversight would occur. We didn’t see anything of this nature at All In and that was with a much smaller operation. So was this spot planned? Again, this doesn’t make a great deal of sense due to the wrong team’s music playing. Either way it took away from what was a fun and enjoyable match.    

Exploding Chair of Death

I have nothing against AEW and WWE throwing shots at each other. As someone who lived through the Monday Night War, what’s been said and done so far pales in comparison to what we witnessed during that time. With competition comes bravado which is all this is. That said, I found Cody’s spot with the Triple H style chair to be tacky and cringe worthy. I understand the “symbolism” of Cody wanting to destroy the Attitude Era and returning the favour after Hunter’s comments at the WWE HoF. But to me this was not the way to go about doing it. The tipping point was the pyro going off as he hit the chair with the sledgehammer. Instead of a cool moment, it just looked dumb. There’s nothing wrong with a little cheese in wrestling but this was just too over the top.

Searching for a Reaction

I’ve never been a fan of WWE’s habit of searching the crowd for a reaction as it has become a tired trope. When used in moderation it can have a lasting impact on a match or segment. Unfortunately, AEW went into overdrive with every small reaction to any move or moment being shown. Not only does this take away from the moments that truly deserve it but it lead to us missing some of the action. Instead of seeing the follow up to a big move, we saw one person’s reaction before a late cut back to a missed spot. While this doesn’t have an impact on the live crowd, it makes for a frustrating viewing experience. Yes this is a small gripe and totally down to personal preference. But I couldn’t escape the feeling that the production crew was looking for the “meme moment” over covering everything that was happening between the ropes.

Long Term Booking

Coming out of this show we only have two storylines in Jericho vs Hangman and Omega vs Moxley. While this would be fine if we had a weekly TV show to build up to All Out, we’re not getting that until the fall with just over two months of potential inactivity. I’m sure matches will be announced in a similar fashion to Double or Nothing with Fight for the Fallen and BTE also being utilised to advance stories. But there is only so much you can do with this platform and matches without context is a little troubling. For me, you can’t build your next PPV around only two well-formed matches. I was hoping for 4-5 stories coming out of Double or Nothing as this would not only provide more talking points but be easier to build on their current platform. Instead we might have rushed or thrown together matches which will no doubt deliver in ring but lack the story to have me truly invested. Perhaps I’m being a little too harsh here but I was disappointed with the lack of storylines coming out of this show.   

Who the Hell is That?

I’ll readily admit that I’m not clued up on every member of the AEW roster as I’m sure the majority of people aren’t. While this provides excitement in the form of discovering new talent, there is as fine line between surprise and who the hell is that? Unfortunately, the Super Smash Bros fell victim to the latter as the live crowd had no clue who they were. A “who are you?” chant during a big debut isn’t a good look for anyone. And it’s such an easy fix as all that was needed was a quick vignette before the lights went out.

Recap

As a whole, Double or Nothing was a fantastic show that served as a great advertisement for what’s to come from the company. The show was well paced and absolutely flew by with some tremendous wrestling throughout. It felt like the entire roster stepped up in a big way and did everything in their power to make this show a success. And did they ever deliver on that with a PPV that has now peaked my interest in AEW. I wish we now had a weekly show to dive into so we can see how the fallout will shape the coming weeks and months. While we have to wait for that day, leaving the audience wanting more is the best possible outcome for a first time PPV. You only have one chance to make a first impression and AEW knocked this one out the park.

Beauty in Tragedy: Katsuyori Shibata vs Kazuchika Okada

April 9^th marked the two year anniversary of one of the greatest matches in the history of the IWGP almost ending in tragedy. On this night Katsuyori Shibata would make his long awaited challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, almost losing his life in the process. That statement isn’t an exaggeration smothered in kayfabe. A headbutt in the closing stretch would cause a subdural haematoma (where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain) and leave Shibata fighting for his life. Thankfully, Shibata would survive that night and is still with us today. Safe in the knowledge that Shibata lived, the fact he almost fought to the death to win the title adds a strangely poetic mystique to the match.

To mark the two year anniversary of this timeless classic, let’s dive into what makes this encounter one of the greatest in the history of New Japan.

The History

Modern day New Japan is a booming business that is in the midst of a golden era. An incredibly deep and diverse talent pool has led to more eyes on the product, as they continually produce some of the best wrestling on the planet. Backed by a solid streaming service, New Japan has their eyes set on global expansion. But take a look back to the early to mid-2000’s and we see a very different story. The wrestling boom that Japan experienced in the 90’s was dying down. At the turn of the century, Mitsuharu Misawa’s Pro Wrestling NOAH had immerged as the powerhouse in Japanese wrestling. Boasting a combination of the talent that made AJPW a powerhouse in the 90’s and some young talent, NOAH seized control of the smaller market. Coupled with a growing interest in MMA, New Japan was struggling to stay relevant.

To try and capitalise on the MMA boom, New Japan turned to some of the sports stars. However, instead of drawing MMA fans in this experiment only made the situation worse as the wrestling crowd had little interest in seeing these fighters in a wrestling ring. This issue was compounded by the fact that many of the fighters struggled to adapt. The result was very sloppy matches that usually stunk up the arena. With business at an all-time low and the very real threat of closure, New Japan turned to three young wrestlers. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura and Katsuyori Shibata were ear marked as the “New Three Musketeers” who would save the company.

While Tanahashi and Nakamura would remain loyal to New Japan, Shibata would leave the company in 2005 to become a freelancer. Stating that he didn’t want to be a “salary man” wrestler Shibata would carve his own path. One that would lead him to the rival promotion in Pro Wrestling NOAH and by 2007 he had moved on to MMA. These moves were viewed as a betrayal by those within the New Japan office and fan base. So upon Shibata’s return to the company in 2012, he was greeted with some hostility from those who felt he had turned his back on them. He had left them when they needed him the most and only returned when others had rebuilt the company. Undeterred by this reaction, Shibata worked tirelessly to fight his way back up through the ranks of New Japan. This would put him in the path of another wrestler struggling to work his way up, Tomohiro Ishii. Their rivalry would propel both men to greater heights and for Shibata, it would help him to win over the crowd. The passion, fire and fighting spirit Shibata displayed in these encounters earned him the respect of the fans. A throwback to the masters of strong style, Shibata would never back down from any fight.

After signing an exclusive contract with NJPW in 2016 and with his fan support restored, Shibata set his sights on the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. This path would take him on an incredible run through the 2017 New Japan Cup and grant him the opportunity he’d been waiting for. Standing before him was the man who had taken his place in rebuilding New Japan, Kazuchika Okada. For me, this is where the story of this match draws some fascinating parallels. With Shibata gone, NJPW would ear mark a Young Lion to be his replacement. Okada would make his full time return to NJPW in 2012 (the same year Shibata returned) and issue what would become a historic challenge to Tanahashi. The match and feud would catapult Okada into the limelight. Which begs the question, would this have been Shibata’s fate if he’d stayed? It’s a fascinating hypothetical which adds so much intrigue to this match.

To add fuel to this fire, Okada was very dismissive of Shibata’s challenge. After all, Okada was already in his fourth reign with the IWGP Heavyweight title (one which spanned 294 days up to this point) and displayed an ability to deliver on the biggest stage. With his previous defence against Suzuki serving as an excellent primer for this challenge, why would Okada take it seriously?

The Match

An excited Ryogoku crowd, eager to see a title change, sets the stage for the match. One that starts to tell a story before the bell even rings. The iconic shot of the stoic Shibata waiting patiently while the extravagant champion makes it rain truly speaks to the contrast between the two men. One is cold and calculated who lets his actions between the ropes do the talking. The other is a brash young champion who has all the ability in the world to back it up. As the match begins it feels like a role reversal with Shibata playing the seasoned IWGP Champion and Okada being the one to making a rare challenge for the title. In a display of dominance, Shibata takes Okada to the mat early and doesn’t give him any room to breathe. Any attack launched by Okada is quickly countered leading to Okada taking an early walk. Is this Shibata’s response to Okada’s comments?

Even after sliding back into the ring, Okada can do very little against the carefully planned attack of Shibata. The only time he does gain an advantage is by not providing a clean break out of the corner. In the past we’ve seen Tanahashi be willing to bend the rules to gain the advantage in an important title match. Maybe this is a sign of Okada learning from his greatest rival. Either way, this act draws the ire of both the crowd and Shibata as he quickly fires back at the Rainmaker. This outburst and split lack of concentration give Okada the opening he needs. A dropkick takes the action to the floor where Okada wastes little time seizing the advantage with a vicious hangman DDT off the guard rail. Again, Okada shows his willingness to bend the rules as he refuses to break a hold with Shibata in the ropes. A further reflection of the contrast between these two men.

Shibata challenging Okada to hit him

Once again Shibata shows his incredible fighting spirit and fires up on Okada’s shots, even offering free strikes. Okada falls for this trap with Shibata regaining the advantage through vicious strikes. Many of which start targeting the right arm of Okada to weaken his greatest weapon. As with earlier in the match, we see Shibata challenging Okada’s fighting spirit and urging him to fight back. An act you would normally see from a grizzled champion towards his young challenger. In that moment, Okada answers the challenge to show his own fighting spirit and the resiliency that would lead him to a historic reign. This shifts the momentum as Okada looks for the kill shot with a Rainmaker clothesline. Here we see the continuation of a long and slow developing story. In Okada’s previous defences his opponents had found ways to counter the Rainmaker. Shibata is no different as he counters with an STO.

After 30+ minutes we’re back to a stalemate with both men trading the momentum. In an act of defiance, Okada sits down in the ring to welcome the strikes of Shibata. Almost like this is the only way that he can prove himself. Sat cross legged facing each other both champion and challenger rain down brutal blows. Even at this point in the match, there is still no clear cut winner. Okada tries for the Rainmaker but is initially blocked with kicks from Shibata. One last chance shot sees Shibata absorb the Rainmaker followed by a headbutt that would change his life forever. The sickening thud as their heads colliding followed by the blood trickling down Shibata’s head gives hint at the damage done. Remarkably, the match continues for a further seven minutes as Shibata looks to finish the champion. A Rainmaker chop and disrespectful kicks lights a fire under Okada as he avoids the PK to hit his own Rainmaker. Maintaining wrist control, they exchange strikes again which gives an indication to how server Shibata’s injury is. A final Rainmaker seals the win for Okada.

The Aftermath

I’ve never felt such a wide range of emotions after a match as I did after Shibata vs Okada. The elation and buzz of witnessing an incredible match quickly turned to one of concern as Shibata struggled to walk to the back. This wasn’t a wrestler selling the effects of a match but a man in real trouble. My worry turned to horror as the reports surfaced detailing the extent of Shibata’s injuries. The subdural haematoma left the right side of his body paralyzed with a loss of vision in one of his eyes. Thankfully, these side effects weren’t permanent and after several surgeries Shibata would create another timeless moment.

On the final day of the G1 Climax 27 a familiar theme would ring through Ryogoku. To the delight of shocked crowd, Shibata walked down to the ring and declared “I’m alive!!” So powerful was this moment that fans were crying tears of happiness. Their hero, who had almost given his life for them, was alive and happy. In the following years, Shibata would turn his attention to the LA Dojo and passing on his incredible knowledge. Here he seems to have found a certain level of peace with his career ending.

If you have never seen this match then I urge to watch and enjoy one of the very best matches that has ever taken place. More importantly, it’s the perfect tribute to the wonderful legacy of “The Wrestler” Katsuyori Shibata. It can be found on NJPW World by following the link below:
https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00433_1_09

Walking the King’s Road (Part 1)

There are very few periods in wrestling history that are as revered as ‘90’s All Japan Pro Wrestling. Years before I took my first steps into the world of puro, I heard whispers of the legendary matches that took place during this time period. Built around the Four Pillars of Heaven (Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and Akira Taue), these four men would raise AJPW to heights very few companies have experienced. From 1990 until 2000, AJPW produced 12 five star matches and one six star match as awarded by the Wrestling Observer. Four matches took home the prestigious Best Bout Award from Tokyo Sports with three wrestlers being awarded the publications MVP award.

But how was such an incredible legacy created? What made the company so compelling to watch? Who were the key players? And what were the major feuds? Over the coming weeks I aim to answer those very question. These articles will feature full length matches with the background surrounding them and a brief overview of what to expect. This isn’t a comprehensive guide to AJPW, but more an introduction for those who’ve wanted to explore this wonderful period but have no idea where to start. To cover so much ground without it being an overwhelming experience, I’ve broken our journey into six parts:

• Part 1 – The Birth of a Dynasty
• Part 2 – Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada
• Part 3 – Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi
• Part 4 – Gaijin Greatness
• Part 5 – Tag Team Heaven
• Part 6 – Where Do We Go From Here?

Before we dive in I would just like to take a moment to thank ClassicsPuro83 on YouTube. The majority of the matches you’re about to witness come from the massive library they’ve created. If you enjoy what you see then subscribe to their channel.

Part 1 – The Birth of a Dynasty

As with all dynasties, the formula for success was built over many, many years. AJPW was formed in late 1972 by Giant Baba. Baba was a student of legendary wrestler and the father of Japanese wrestling, Rikidōzan. After Rikidōzan’s death in 1963, the promotion he formed (Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance) went into decline causing Baba to eventually leave and form AJPW. The early years of AJPW where built around Baba who became a true Ace and legendary figure in his own right. By the early 80’s, Baba was able to take a step back from the spotlight as two new faces had emerged. Jumbo Tsuruta became the new Ace of All Japan with Genichiro Tenryu being his greatest rival for that spot. Backed by an impressive collection of gaijin (foreign wrestlers) and a strong working relationship with the NWA, All Japan would rise to challenge NJPW for the number one promotion in Japan.

Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu’s rivalry brings us to the first match we’re going to look at.

AJPW Triple Crown Championship Match: Jumbo Tsuruta (C) vs Genichiro Tenryu – June 5^th 1989

A critically acclaimed match in its own right, this Triple Crown Championship encounter would win the Tokyo Sports Best Bout award for 1989 and receive a 5 star rating from the Wrestling Observer. What truly makes this match special is the style that is on display. The fast paced, hard hitting action is filled with outside brawling, outside dives and moments where fighting spirit is on full display. Such a formula would serve as a blueprint for the King’s Road style of booking that would catapult All Japan to their greatest success. Tenryu would win his first Triple Crown Championship here and was poised to be the new face of All Japan heading into the new decade.

However, this never became reality as Tenryu would lead the first of many talent exoduses from AJPW buy joining the ill-fated Super World of Sports. With his top star gone and an aging Ace in Jumbo, Baba was forced to push a crop of young talent if he wanted to survive. The four men selected to build AJPW’s future where Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and Akira Taue (known collectively as The Four Pillars of Heaven).

Tiger Mask II & Toshiaki Kawada vs Samson Fuyuki & Yoshiaki Yatsu – May 14^th 1990

Baba chose Misawa to be the new Ace of AJPW but before Misawa could ascend to this status, he had to build his own legacy. Since 1984, Misawa had been wrestling as the second generation Tiger Mask. Starting out as a junior he graduated to the heavyweight ranks in 1986. While Misawa found success under the mask, this success was attributed more to the Tiger Mask character than to the man behind the mask. This would all change here in a moment that has gone down as one of the most pivotal in wrestling history. The action between the ropes might not blow you away but the story being told shines brightly. For the opening part of the match both Misawa and Kawada are being beaten down and mocked by their opponents. Unable to find an opening and sick of getting his ass kicked, Misawa demands Kawada remove his mask. The crowd erupts with chants of “Misawa, Misawa, Misawa” as Misawa starts to beat the living crap out of Fuyuki and Yatsu. With the tables now turned, Kawada starts to fire up and join in on the ass kicking. Misawa connects with a Tiger Suplex to pick up the win and start his journey to becoming one of the greatest wrestlers to have ever lived.

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jumbo Tsuruta – June 8^th 1990

The match that made Misawa a star almost had a very different outcome. Less than a month after his unmasking, Misawa was already set to challenge Jumbo’s reign as the Ace of AJPW. Baba’s original plan was to have the young lion fall in a valiant effort to the grizzled Ace. So what changed his mind? The story goes that Baba was walking around the merchandise tables before the start of the show and was taken aback by the excitement the fans had for Misawa as they filed into Budokan. This prompted Baba to change the outcome of the match which was no easy decision. Just three days before this match, Jumbo had suffered a shocking loss to Terry Gordy that cost him the Triple Crown Championship. Having your Ace lose two high profile matches in such a short space of time could be seen as damaging. But Baba saw an opportunity to skyrocket his young star into the limelight and create an everlasting moment. For me, the decision Baba made that night is the perfect example of the incredible mind he had for wrestling.

The match itself is one of many classics that Misawa would have from this point onwards. As the action begins you can see that Jumbo isn’t taking this challenge as seriously as some of his previous encounters. He’s almost disrespected by the audacity this young man has to challenge him. But with each passing minute, Jumbo slowly comes to the realisation that he’s in for one hell of a fight. Each time he puts Misawa down the young lion comes roaring back with the crowd right behind him. With every shot that rocks Jumbo the crowd starts to reach a fever pitch as they come to the realisation that Misawa could actually do the unthinkable. After an intense closing stretch Misawa scores the pinfall and Budokan becomes unglued. Not only is the pop deafening but fans are crying tears of joy as they rush forward to try and congratulate their hero. It’s a moment that, to this day, still gives you chills.

AJPW Triple Crown Championship Match: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Stan Hansen – July 27^th 1990

Misawa’s first shot at the Triple Crown would come just over a month later. Gordy’s reign with the Triple Crown would come to an abrupt end after he was forced to vacate the title due to being hospitalised. Misawa’s win over Jumbo earned him the right to fight for the vacant title. Even though he was riding a wave of momentum his path to the Triple Crown would not be an easy one. Before him stood a veteran of AJPW and a legend in his own right, Stan Hansen. Hansen had been with AJPW since 1981 and had risen through the tag team ranks to become a five time World Tag Team Champion and a four time winner of World’s Strongest Tag Determination League. Just three days after beating Jumbo for the Triple Crown, Gordy would lose the title to Hansen who in turn would lose it back to Gordy 39 days later. As the last man to hold the title before Gordy, Hansen was chosen as Misawa’s opponent.

Hansen’s greatest weapon was The Western Lariat. A knockout blow so feared that Misawa attacks from the bell with a Western Lariat of his own. This shot knocks Hansen to the outside where Misawa continues his attack. Misawa whips Hansen with his own bull rope, rains down chair shots and whips into the guard rail and ring post all with one goal in mind. To weaken Hansen’s left arm and take away his best weapon. So vicious is Misawa’s attack that any attempt by Hansen to regain control is neutralised by Misawa going back to his left arm. Ultimately, it’s this aggression that costs Misawa, as a failed diving body press to the outside gives Hansen the one opening he needs. Throwing caution to the wind, Hansen hits the Western Lariat and takes home the Triple Crown.

This match serves as an important step in Misawa’s development. He takes the fight to Hansen with an almost perfect game plan. But just falls short as his frustration gets the better of him which leads him to take an unnecessary risk. A sign that the young future Ace still had much to learn.

Mitsuharu Misawa/Toshiaki Kawada/Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta/Masanobu Fuchi/Akira Taue – April 20^th 1991

Just how good is 90’s All Japan? One of their finest matches is a 51 minute six man tag on a fan appreciation show that has the Korakuen Hall crowd rocking throughout. Misawa wasn’t alone in challenging the old guard of All Japan. Toshiaki Kawada had been by his side since the unmasking and they were soon joined by Kobashi. On the surface this match is a continuation of this “generational war” with this young trio battling two of the elder statesmen in Jumbo and Fuchi. But the stories in this match run much deeper than the young lions trying to prove themselves. June 8^th wouldn’t be the only meeting between Misawa and Jumbo, as they would do battle many times both in singles and tags. You can feel the bitterness Jumbo still holds towards Misawa over his loss the previous year. However, the real hatred is between Kawada and Taue. Taue debuted in 1988 and would soon form a successful team with Jumbo. The team of Jumbo and Taue would feud with the team of Misawa and Kawada which lead to the intense rivalry between Kawada and Taue.

At the onset of the match, Taue takes several cheap shots on Kawada who is stood on the apron. After several of these cheap shots, Kawada can’t take anymore and storms the ring to get at Taue. This sets in motion a hotly contested back and forth match full of hot tags, dirty heel tactics from the veterans and brutal strikes that doesn’t slow down for a second. After the thirty minute mark is announced the crowd starts to grow into a frenzied state as they come to realise that they could be about to witness a sixty minute draw. By the fifty minute mark all six men are reaching their limit with just one big shot required to finish it. With the ring clear, Misawa seizes the opportunity and hits Taue with the Tiger Driver to give the young lions a hard fought win.

AJPW Triple Crown Championship Match: Stan Hansen (C) vs Mitsuharu Misawa – August 22^nd 1992

The two years between Misawa’s first Triple Crown Championship challenge and his eventual win was a period of growth. He would face Jumbo two more times, the first was a rematch from their June 8^th meeting but this time Misawa fell to Jumbo. Their second meeting would be Misawa’s second challenge for the Triple Crown. For the second consecutive time he would fall to Jumbo and fail to capture this Triple Crown. While singles championship success may have eluded him, Misawa formed a successful tag team with Kawada. The two would win the World Tag Team titles twice along with a winning the World’s Strongest Tag Determination League. He also had two strong showings in the Champion Carnival finishing with ten points in ‘91 and making the finals in ’92 before losing to Hansen in the Finals. We’ll take a deeper look at these two years in later parts.

With a number of failed attempts to win the Triple Crown, Misawa vowed this would be his final attempt at winning the biggest prize in All Japan. The ensuing match is an all-out war that features some of the stiffest shots you’ll see in any match. In a reversal of roles from their 1990 encounter, it’s Hansen who is relentless in his attack and attacks Misawa’s left arm. This includes a nasty shoulder breaker on the guard rail. Just a few months prior to this match, Misawa had submitted Jumbo during one of their tag team encounters and Hansen did not want to suffer a similar fate. With the opportunity slipping away from him, Misawa reaches down and shows the immense fighting spirit he would become famous for. The closing stretch sees Misawa nearly repeat the same mistake that cost him the championship in their first meeting. A missed frog splash seems to give Hansen the opening he needs to finish Misawa. However, this time Misawa is able to fight through Hansen’s counterattack and land his famous knockout right elbow shot for the win. After two long years of waiting, the Budokan crowd erupts in celebration at the fact Misawa has finally cemented himself as the Ace.

It wouldn’t be long before Misawa was challenged by his friend and former tag team partner, Toshiaki Kawada. This friendship would turn into one of the most heated and critically acclaimed rivalries in wrestling history. It would propel AJPW to claim the spot of not just the best wrestling promotion in Japan, but arguably the best promotion in the world. The story of this legendary rivalry is what we will explore in part two of our journey along the King’s Road.

Carny Life: 2019 Champion Carnival Preview

April marks the start of the most prestigious event in All Japan’s calendar, the Champion Carnival. Since 1973, this round robin tournament has served as a foundation for the year ahead. Not only does the winner earn a Triple Crown title match but it builds feuds, serves as a proving ground for young talent, tests faction loyalties, opens the door for “outsiders” to challenge for the Triple Crown and gives as an indication of the direction the company is heading in. The list of winners features some of the greatest names to ever step inside the squared circle. Giant Baba, Abdullah the Butcher, Jumbo Tsuruta, Stan Hansen, Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, Vader, Keiji Mutoh, Minoru Suzuki, Yuji Nagata and Naomichi Marufuji (last year’s winner) have all had their hands raised in victory at the end of this gruelling tournament.

So how exactly does the Champion Carnival work? If you’re familiar with either New Japan’s G1 Climax or Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Global League, you’ll already know how such tournaments function. 18 of All Japan’s best heavyweights, and in recent year’s heavyweights from outside promotions, are split into two blocks (A and B). Each wrestler faces all of the wrestlers in their respective Block once. Two points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss. Once all wrestlers have faced each other, the two wrestlers with the highest point total in their Block face each other in the Finals to determine the winner.

While this year’s tournament might be lacking some of the bigger names we saw last year (such as Naomichi Marufuji, Shingo Takagi, Yuji Hino, KAI and Jun Akiyama). The dynamic between the two blocks has created great intrigue with no clear cut winner in either. Let’s dive into each of the blocks and breakdown the participants.

A Block

A Block is absolutely stacked with talent and big names this year, especially when compared to B Block. On the surface, this looks to be the stronger block of the two with several credible tournament winners in there.

Kento Miyahara

The reigning Triple Crown Champion and undeniable Ace of All Japan is a heavy favourite to at least make the Finals. Coming off a Finals appearance last year and a successful third title defence against Naoya Nomura, a match I’d highly recommend, Miyahara is carrying a lot of momentum into this tournament. However, the road to the Finals will not be an easy one for the Ace. A Block features a combination of former Triple Crown champions, Aces of their respective companies and opponents who have beaten Miyahara for the Triple Crown. But it goes deeper than just the wrestlers Miyahara will face. Over the past couple of months, the Ace has been growing increasingly cocky. Having beaten the best All Japan has to offer, it’s easy to see why he’s grown complacent and arrogant in his abilities. But in this tournament environment such characteristics could be his undoing and lead to an upset win for one of the other participants.

Shuji Ishikawa

Ishikawa is a legend within the Japanese deathmatch scene. A former BJW World Strong Heavyweight and Deathmatch Heavyweight Champion, he defeated Joe Doering in the 2017 Champion Carnival Final. Ishikawa would use this momentum to dethrone Miyahara and capture his first Triple Crown championship on the 21^st of May. As with Miyahara, Ishikawa is carrying a lot of momentum into this tournament following a big win. On the same night that Miyahara defended his title against Nomura, Ishikawa and his tag team partner Suwama (known collective as Violent Giants) recaptured the World Tag Team Titles from Strong BJ. This win brought the titles back to All Japan after the invading Strong BJ (a BJW many stay) had wrestled them away from the company. For me, this makes Ishikawa a strong favourite to win A Block.

Zeus

A finalist in the 2016 tournament, last year was arguably Zeus’ best in All Japan as he shockingly defeated Miyahara for his first Triple Crown championship. He also finished last year’s Champion Carnival with eight points which was only two behind eventual tournament winner Naomichi Marufuji. While he might not be a favourite to win the block, having both he and Miyahara together provides a fascinating match up. Could Zeus do the unthinkable again and pin Miyahara to earn a future title shot? It’s certainly not outside the realm of possibility which makes their match a must see.

Kengo Mashimo

The Ace of the Kaientai Dojo is making his second Champion Carnival appearance. His first was in 2017, where he finished with a very strong eight points that was only one shy of the B Block and tournament winner Shuji Ishikawa. Mashimo is well travelled veteran who has spent time in AJPW, NJPW, BJW, DDT, Pro Wrestling Zero1 and brings a wealth of big match experience with him. Couple this experience with his hard hitting, submission based offence and you have the wild card of the tournament. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mashimo make a strong push for the Finals and could even see him winning the whole tournament. It would certainly provide a fresh and fascinating new challenger for Miyahara.

Yuji Okabayashi

Okabayashi is making his second Champion Carnival appearance but his first since 2012. The BJW main stay is known as a tag team specialist, along with Daisuke Sekimoto, as part of Strong BJ. As part of Strong BJ he is a former three time AJPW World Tag Team Champion, two time AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion, three time BJW Tag Team Champion, KO-D Tag Team Champion in DDT and two time winner of the Tag Team of the Year Award from Tokyo Sports. While the majority of his success has come in the tag team ranks, Okabayashi is no stranger to singles success and brings a wealth of tag team tournament experience with him. I personally don’t see him as a major contender to take A Block but he won’t be an easy out either. A mid table finish feels about right for him with his match against Ishikawa being one to keep an eye on. As mentioned in Ishikawa’s breakdown, Violent Giants and Strong BJ have traded the World Tag Team Titles over the past few months. Which will make this a heated, hard hitting war that could be a sleeper for match of the tournament.

Dylan James

The 27 year old New Zealand native has been making great strides within All Japan. He made his Champion Carnival debut last year and finished with a very respectable six points (first timers don’t usually fare well in their maiden voyage). James has the look and ability to be the next top gaijin that All Japan loves to have in their main event picture. The fact he’s teaming with Joe Doering and learning from him speaks to All Japan’s future plans for him. If he was placed in B Block then he would be my sleeper pick to win the tournament. But given how stacked A Block is, I just don’t see him finishing above mid-table. The flip side to this the amount of invaluable experience James will gain from working with such incredible talent.

Yuma Aoyagi

The 23 year old Aoyagi is making his Champion Carnival debut in what will be his biggest test to date. As a member of the Nextream stable he’s found success amongst the tag team ranks, having won the All Asia Tag Team Titles twice with Naoya Nomura (before Nomura left to join Sweeper). The Champion Carnival has not been kind to those taking their first steps in the tournament. And with how stacked A Block is, it’s hard to imagine Aoyagi making a big impact in the standings. But as with James, this will serve as an invaluable learning experience as All Japan continue to push towards developing their own young talent.

Ryoji Sai

Making his fourth consecutive Champion Carnival appearance, Sai is an interesting choice for A Block. Known mainly for his work in Pro Wrestling Zero1, Sai’s best finish was in 2016 where he ended the tournament on eight points. Again, with how stacked A Block is it would make more sense for him to be in B Block to help even the sides out a little. As it stands though, it’s hard to see him passing the six point mark he’s held for the past two years.

Gianni Valletta

There’s no nice way of saying this so I’ll just come out and say it. Valletta is just here to eat pins against the bigger names in A Block. He debuted for All Japan in July of last year and has so far been used almost exclusively in under card multi-man tag matches. So while I don’t see him winning a match he will be gaining experience working with some incredible talent.

B Block

This year’s B Block can be viewed as the “Young Lions” block with a number of debuting wrestlers and young guys looking to make a name for themselves. While it might lack some of the big names we see in A Block, this creates a lot of uncertainty. On paper, guys like Suwama and Joe Doering might be the favourites to win the block but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of these young guys pulling the upset.

Suwama

The former Ace of All Japan is a living legend who will go down as one of the best wrestlers in the history of Japanese wrestling. With a record breaking six reigns with the Triple Crown Championship, a four time (and current) World Tag Team Champion, a three time winner of World’s Strongest Tag Determination League (known in the West as Real World Tag League) and winner of the 2008 Champion Carnival (defeating none other than Hiroshi Tanahashi in the Finals) Suwama is a favourite to win B Block. Making his 14^th appearance in the Champion Carnival gives him the experience edge to say the least. Despite this wealth of experience Suwama isn’t my favourite to win B Block. In his 14 appearances, he has only won the tournament once. Then there’s the fact that he recently failed at challenging Miyahara on the 24^th of February in Yokohama. I doubt All Japan would go back to this match so soon after a loss. That said, I still expect a strong showing and solid placement at the end of the tournament.

Joe Doering

Doering is the longest tenured gaijin of the modern All Japan era. A two time Triple Crown Champion, four time World Tag Team Champion and a three time winner of the Real World Tag League, Doering is entering his ninth Champion Carnival. His best finish came in 2017 where he advanced to the Final before falling to Ishikawa. Given his experience and the field he’s facing, Doering is my pick to win the B Block. His last Triple Crown title reign came at the hands of Miyahara of the 25^th of March 2018. Since then he has been kept out of the Triple Crown title picture so this would provide a fresh match up for Miyahara (especially when compared to Suwama). There is also unfinished business between the two men which would make for a nice build towards the title match.

Jake Lee

I’m going to have to put a little bit of a disclaimer here as Jake is the guy I’m routing for to win this year’s Champion Carnival. This will probably come as a shock to some because in his previous two tournaments he’s failed to get above two points. So why do I feel the time is now to boost Jake into the spotlight? Because All Japan have been slowly building towards this match for the majority of the year. Originally, Nomura wasn’t alone in his challenge to Miyahara and the Triple Crown. Jake was also looking to stake his claim as the next challenger for Miyahara’s Triple Crown championship. However when the Violent Giants lost the World Tag Team titles to Strong BJ, Jake rescinded his challenge and elected to go after the World Tag Team titles in an attempt to bring them back to All Japan. But the story between Jake and Kento runs deeper than a rescinded challenge. Jake and Kento used to be stable mates in Nextream before Jake left to form Sweeper. He was recently able to tempt Nomura away from Nextream to further try and weaken Miyahara’s claim as the Ace. Miyahara himself referenced Jake and the Champion Carnival in his post-match after defeating Nomura at Korakuen Hall. Add in the fact that Jake is riding momentum into this tournament after winning the vacant All Asia Tag title and we could be headed for new face to emerge.

Naoya Nomura

Last year was Nomura’s first Champion Carnival appearance. While he ended the tournament on only four points he was one of the most consistent performers in throughout the tournament. Before his Triple Crown challenge on the 19^th of March most people would probably have placed him with a similar finish. However, his performance that night against Miyahara made him a star. He showed a fire and passion that we hadn’t seen before while taking the Ace to his absolute limit. This wasn’t the young emotionless kid trying to find his place. But a man giving it his all to prove himself and the show heart that had been missing from his earlier performances. With that one performance Nomura established himself as a force within the Triple Crown title picture. He might still be a bit of an underdog to win the tournament. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make the Finals.

Takashi Yoshida

Yoshida (also known as Cyber Kong) is making his first appearance in the Champion Carnival as Dragon Gate’s representative. While some might be disappointed with this choice, people wanted PAC, Yoshida still brings a lot of experience to the tournament. For me he is the most difficult entrant to predict which is why this breakdown is a little on the short side. As a veteran in a young field he could surprise a few people and be in the hunt until the end. Ultimately, I feel he finishes in the six point range.

Yoshi Tatsu

Another of the more experienced wrestlers in B Block, Yoshi Tatsu could use this to his advantage and ride it to a B Block win. Since joining All Japan in 2017 as a freelancer, Tatsu has flirted with the Triple Crown title scene. Having unsuccessfully challenged for the Triple Crown twice, a strong tournament performance could be just what he needs to regain some momentum. With such a young and inexperienced field in front of him, Tatsu is definitely someone to keep an eye on as the tournament progresses.

Daichi Hashimoto

The son of legendary wrestler Shinya Hashimoto, Daichi has been working hard to forge his own legacy. Even at the age of 26, he is a former BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion and is making his second appearance in the Champion Carnival. His first appearance came in 2017 where he finished with four points. With a younger field around him and the growth he’s shown since 2017, I expect at least a six point finish from him. This could serve as a real breakout performance for Daichi and continue to help him grow.

Joel Redman

Redman is probably best known to most fans for his time in NXT from 2012 to 2014. During this time he would become one half of the inaugural NXT Tag Team Champions along with Neville. However, he would not find the same success as Neville and has mainly been working on the UK independent circuit since his release. This is not only Redman’s Champion Carnival debut but also his All Japan debut. At 32 years old he’s still young enough to have a decent run with the company. He has the size that All Japan usually aim for so a strong showing could open the door for him to become a regular. I doubt he’ll pick up many wins, if any, but solid efforts in defeat would go a long way to him securing a reoccurring role with All Japan.

Sam Adonis

As with Redman, Adonis is making both his Champion Carnival and All Japan debut. The brother of Corey Graves had brief stints in both FCW and TNA but is mainly known for his work on both the UK circuit and CMLL. At 6ft 4 and 250lbs he has the build that All Japan goes for in their heavyweight division. He is another guy that could open some eyes with a strong showing and create an opportunity for a return to All Japan. Again, I’m not sure if he will find great success in the standings. But a series of solid matches would serve as a solid foundation for him to build on.

So there we have it, the entire 18 man field that compiles the 2019 Champion Carnival. I find this year’s field to be fascinating. While there are favourites in both blocks, I feel there isn’t a clear cut winner this year. Kento Miyahara will be a favourite to win the A Block but there is so much talent and experience I could see him not making the Final. The same can be said for Doering in B Block. He might be the odds on favourite but he’s competing with very young and hungry talent who are out to prove themselves. If I was pushed to predict the Finals, it would have to be Kento Miyahara vs Joe Doering. But I would love to see Jake Lee vs Shuji Ishikawa with Jake winning it all. Not only would it continue All Japan’s push towards promoting younger talent but it would give Jake a big time win to establish him as a legitimate contender.

The 2019 Champion Carnival runs from the 4^th of April until the 29^th. To stay up to date with all of the action from the Champion Carnival, subscribe to www.ajpw.tv for 900 Yen a month. As with all Japanese streaming services, they charge at the start of the month and not the date you signed up. So wait until the 1^st of April to sign up so you’re not double charged