All Japan Pro Wrestling Champion Carnival May 3rd 2024

Welcome back as we get to the final stretch of shows for the Champion Carnival, a few of these ones are pretty dang important Suwama, Lord Crewe, Yuma Aoyagi, and the Saito Brothers are all fighting for their spot in the tournament. We’re in the spacious Dream Messe Miyagi Main Building Exhibition Hall B/C in Sendai with 1400+ fans in attendance. Let’s see who comes out ahead.

Hideki Suzuki & Seigo Tachibana vs. Dan Tamura & Takao Omori

Background: We continue our endless war between Seigo and Tamura over Seigo’s Gaora TV Championship, and uh, Takao Omori continues his war of getting stomped on by Hideki Suzuki. If you don’t remember Takao, he’s an old vet who maybe never achieved the heights he should have, but is now firmly semi-retired and comes to the ring in an open flower print kimono that looks like an overly long Hawaiian shirt.

The Match: Very conservative start from both of them as they fight over wristlocks and headlocks and do a very slow (in a good way) headlock takeover headscissors spot. Takao comes in and pushes Seigo around who pulls hair to take advantage. The cheating continues and in comes Hideki to work Omori over. Long abdominal stretch sequence is broken up by a Takao spinning heel kick (?!) and we’re back to Seigo and Dan and they trade stiff shots, a big slam by Tamura lets him tan in Takao to work over Seigo a bit more but Hideki comes in and they brawl to the outside and we’re back to Dan and Seigo. Dan’s powerbomb is almost reversed into a sunset flip for 3 but a crucifix by Seigo is enough for the flash pin.

**½

Both Seigo and Dan were working hard enough that Hideki’s laziness didn’t bug me. Omori actually hit some good looking stuff as well.

B Block Match: Hartley Jackson vs. Ryuki Honda

Background: So Hartley and Ryuki are both out, but Harley has zero points and that can’t make a man happy. Ryuki also only has two points and well…you need more than that you know. Hartley has a nice Hannibal mask on and he’s running through the crowd who seem to enjoy him and are fired up.

The Match: First lockup is won by Hartley who does some bongos on Ryuki’s chest, second lockup is won by Ryuki…who plays bongos on Jackson’s chest which fires him up and we get some shoulderblocking and then Hartley fires up…but tells the crowd to shut up and gives us a “JACKSON NUMBER ONE!” They roll outside where Hartley hits one chop Honda sells like death, but when Hartley poses to the crowd Ryuki takes advantage with a barricade choke and the 1-2-3-4! Back inside and after struggling a big Hartley brainbuster has the Aussie in control with another chop that sends Ryuki reeling. Heh, that’s a fun bit. Ryuki comes back with a spinebuster that Hartley actually bumps excellently for. They get up and fight over a suplex which Ryuki wins, but a few lariats gets Hartley back in control. Ryuki tries to fire back as Hartley jaws with the crowd and a missed corner charge sets up Ryuki’s German Suplex into a spear that lets Ryuki load up a lariat that Jackson blocks and tries to counter until a reload gets 2.8 for Honda. Ryuki’s Final Vent is reversed as it always is the first time and Hartley gains control with a neckbreaker and some more of the regular until a Jackson piledriver gets the pin?!

**½

Smartly worked if maybe not the best executed, Hartley does have charisma but his work is so soft. Like…he knows what to do but he doesn’t know how to do it. And I am a big Ryuki fan even if he was just kind of okay this one instead of anything superlative. Still, glad that Hartley was able to payoff the fan support he seems to have and at least leave the tournament with ONE win.

B Block Match: Suwama vs. Lord Crewe

Background: It’s win or go home for these fellas so it’s gonna be a desperate battle between two guys that are not the most morally upstanding.

The Match: Hot start as Crewe goes at Suwama before the bell and some of these strikes are uh…not great. Suwama at least is selling like mad until he gets a jumping shoulderblock to set up the belly-to-belly out of the corner and he works on the choke sleeper but Crewe breaks it with a spinebuster. This has been pretty fast-paced so far and I appreciate Crewe’s aggression and Suwama’s desperation. Slugfest but some big strikes get Suwama down until he counters a Crewe fireman’s carry into a backdrop driver and a grounded choke sleeper for the tap.

**¾

Could have used more time but I liked the sprint aspect and the canny Suwama outlasting more physical opponents and out-leverating them for victories has been a fun storyline throughout the tournament. Crewe remains alright but beyond some nice offense I don’t know if he’s all that special.

Aizawa NO. 1, Hokuto Omori & Kento Miyahara vs. MUSASHI, Rising HAYATO & Yuma Anzai

Background: So we know about most of these guys. MUSASHI and HAYATO are obviously weird tag-partners given their rivalry and Hokuto and Kento have plenty of history together as well. HAYATO and Kento have teamed together plenty and Hokuto is disliked by basically everyone. New to us is freelancer Aizawa NO. 1 which uh…well he has dyed red and white hair, swearing a red and gold robe that looks like it’s made out of tinsel and has a Japanese flag logo on one side and some calligraphy on the other side and he’s just draining a bottle of champagne and seem to be having a good time posing with everybody. He seems fun.

The Match: Kento and Yuma start off and spend a lot of time posing to the fans before we get an international and Kento powders and very slowly gets back into the ring as he jaws with the ref and in come Hokuto and MUSASHI. Hokuto also jaws with the ref as we get some basic junior stuff with drop toeholds, headlock takeovers, matrix dodges (okay that was good looking from Omori) and headscissors kip-ups but Kento is working the heck out of the crowd so they’re hot for everything. Aizawa and HAYATO come in and Aizawa just postures and preens to the crowd and I’m unsure if I love this guy or he’s a total doof as he sneak attacks HAYATO and after a dropdown gets a dropkick and celebrates like mad before HAYATO gets control and does the taunt into a dive and we get a big brawl from everybody. More work on Aizawa as they bring in Yuma who does stuff before a desperation kick from Aizawa has Kento tag in. Kento does his dropkicks and poses while Aizawa joins him and Kento is jazzed up about this nonsense. Omori and MUSASHI come in and after a sequence that ends with a MUSASHI exploder we get Aizawa and HAYATO for like…5 seconds before everybody runs in and double teams. Kento holds up HAYATO for a shot by Hokuto but the junior champ dodges and we get Miyahara getting blasted in the takoyakis that he of course sells beautifully. Hokuto then tries to hold up HAYATO for a strike from Aizawa…who lariats Omori. Well uh, this is farce at this point. It all breaks down and MUSASHI gets the flip-dive to pop the crowd and HAYATO gets the springboard moonsault to finish off Aizawa.

**¾

Just absurdly fun and everybody knew it. Total cotton candy but I was amused by the goofiness of it all.

A Block Match: Yuma Aoyagi vs. Ren Ayabe

Background: So Ren had a crazy debut by beating Kento Miyahara but ever since then has fallen short, going winless. He’s trying to prove his place after he just signed to All Japan. Yuma is eliminated from the tournament but if he beats Ayabe he does something that Kento hasn’t done and retains some pride.

The Match: Lockup that Ren easily wins and he musses Yuma’s hair. Yuma eats a shoulderblock from Ayabe too but gets a low-bridge to take things outside. I will say Ren feels way more comfortable here as an arrogant heel than he does as an underdog babyface. Yuma gets booted and slammed on the apron as Ren is actually styling a bit here with a barricade choke and and a few kicks to keep it lively. Back inside and a massive back body drop sends Yuma flying and Re n get a great looking boston crab as he scowls at the crowd. Ropebreak and Yuma tries a few forearms but he’s got nothing and Ren tosses him around before Yuma finally comes back with some boots in the corner and then a missile dropkick that buggers his back. That doesn’t seem to stop him as he gets a diving crossbody into an attempt at the End Game is countered and Ren gets his flying clothesline (okay, that is a move he definitely has to stop doing) but Yuma gets the Rock Bottom into a diving elbow and goes back to the End Game. Ren breaks it but after a backslide attempt Yuma goes for it again and Ren counters with a brainbuster. Ren tries to lock in the full-nelson, Yuma reverses it, but Ayabe reverses THAT and we get a beautiful bridging Dragon Suplex. Ren’s Tornado Buster is countered into a small package and then the End Game makes Ayabe tap.

***¼

Really good story with Ayabe being an arrogant, dominant heel and Yuma being outmatched physically but repeatedly going for his choke until it finally worked was a really nice story. Yuma is a really fun wrestler to watch in tournaments like this cause he’s so good at mixing up what he does to his opponent. Additionally I think Ren has real potential as an arrogant heel, his selling needs work but him controlling the match is his best stuff using his size and cockiness.

A Block Match: Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Cyrus

Background: We got one of the few people who can maybe match up to Cyrus’s bulk in Davey Boy, so there is some interest in the match from that perspective. Weirdly, this match has no impact on standings as Cyrus is already eliminated and Davey Boy needs to beat Kento to win the block anyway.

The Match: Quick lockup is broken but a few of Davey’s right hands leave the big guy woozy. Cyrus throws DBSJ outside but Davey Boy uses his speed (?!) to slide quickly back into the ring and get the drop on Cyrus. More brawling outside and neither can really get the advantage on each other. A missed charge into the ringpost by Cyrus finally lets Davey Boy get the upper hand as he goes at Cyrus’s arm. Back inside and DBSJ goes up…only for Cyrus to give him the Flair deal and toss him off. Cyrus goes to work with the big fat heel offense on Davey’s back. A missed headbutt from Cyrus sets up Davey’s comeback and they slug it out some more but a Bossman Slam by Cyrus sets up a second-rope leg drop. Cyrus goes for the Vader Bomb but Davey dodges, gets a Backdrop Driver and a diving headbutt for the win.

**¾

Smartly worked with Davey having to show that he has speed as well as power, but he’s just not a very interesting underdog. I legitimately think I’m a Cyrus fan though, really quality big, fat, ugly heel. But sadly he’s probably too small and weird looking to play that role in the States.

A Block Match: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan vs. Shotaro Ashino

Background: Kuroshio is the bright and happy goofball who loves flying around and being a sillypants. Shotaro is a serious grounded grappler who will suplex you into oblivion. Both guys are out of the running to win the block however so this is just for honor.

The Match: Kuroshio gets a kip-up out of the international and Shotaro shoves him down, seemingly playing heel as he’s irritated with Kuroshio’s zanniness. Shotaro counters a headscissors on the apron into an anklelock and goes to work on the leg in the ring. Kuroshio counters a Brock Lock with a Samoan Driver (?!) and goes at Ashino with the Jacket Punches but can’t run the ropes, so he instead drop toeholds Ashino to set up his swanton. Kuroshio goes for a second Samoan Driver but Shotaro counters out of it with rolling German Suplexes into an ankle lock. A few desperate kicks get Kuroshio back in it and Kuroshio loads up Shotaro for a super rana that Ashino rolls through and gets the anklelock back on. Kuroshio counters the ankle lock with the back-to-belly piledriver. Running knee sets up a top-rope moonsault for Kuroshio that misses, but when Shotaro grabs the ankle again a KTJ victory roll gets him the win.

***¾

I like them trading various counters and Shotaro focusing on the ankle lock to his downfall, but I could have used him being more of the grump upset with Kuroshio’s silliness that he showed at the beginning. Very good selling of the leg by Kuroshio as well.

B Block Match: Jun Saito vs. Rei Saito

Background: The Saito Brothers explode!!! Well, obviously they’re brothers, twins even, tag-team partners, friends, confidantes, all that stuff. Rei is the bigger of the two and wilder, a brawler with more strikes and “I’m going to fall on you” offense. Jun is leaner and cooler and has more classic power offense. Jun is in the lead of the block at the moment but Rei has a chance with a win here to draw ahead as he would have the tiebreaker over Jun and Yuma. Additionally they have faced each other before with Jun coming out the victor.

The Match: Both guys get some flowers and pose with some guy in a suit, how very adorable. Lockup won by Jun into a clean break. Trade some technical stuff and then some shoulderblocks that Rei wins for a huge pop. Outside and Rei whips Jun around and charges Jun into the ringpost. Back inside and Rei has the upper hand in their slugfest and does the rope-assisted stomp. Jun comes back with a drop toehold and takes Rei outside and beats him through the crowd. Jun chokes his brother with a towel and wipes his face with it and then throws Rei into a wall before getting a BIGGER towel and choking Rei with it before posing with the towel for the fan, wiping himself, and neatly folding it. How polite. Countout tease but Rei rolls back in for Jun to stomp on him and unleash his beautiful flowing hair. Jun low-bridges Rei to take him outside again and then wails on him with a piece of the barricade before tossing Rei back inside. Jun shushes the crowd but that delay lets Rei recover enough to dodge a Jun kick and do the delayed chops in the corner. Rei goes for a piledriver but Jun backdrops out and hits the Yakuza kick and the corner punches but when Jun goes for the chokeslam Re responds and we get a dueling goozle! Rei knocks Jun down and gets the running splash. Rei goes up and Jun cuts him off and we get a massive superplex. Rei pops up with a lariat! Jun pops up and gets the reverse Bomaye! Okay I was not expecting some strong style no-selling in this match. Both guys up and we get a slugfest that turns into them running into each other without each falling down as they’re evenly matched. They trade headbutts (really safe ones) until Jun gets a big boot, a spear, and a lariat for a nearfall. Jun’s brainbuster gets a nearfall! Jun’s Psycho Break is broken up and a Rei crossbody sets up a piledriver and Jun kicks out at one! Rei’s lariat gets 2.8. Rei loads up the running palm thrust and he gets it! 1-2-3 and Rei wins.

***½

I’m sure some people would think I’m overrating this but I have a lot of love for the Saito Brothers and I think that the battle between brothers and them both trying to wrestle technically to start as they escalated the violence throughout the match, as brothers do, worked very well. Rei being too big for Jun to hit his power moves on and letting him get the strike for the win was a nice touch as well.

A Block:

Davey Boy Smith Jr. 10
Kento Miyahara 10
Yuma Aoyagi 8
Shotaro Ashino 6
Cyrus 4
Kuroshiro TOKYO Japan 6
Hokuto Omori 2
Ren Ayabe 2

So it’s Davey vs. Kento for the A Block and nothing else matters.

B Block:

Jun Saito 8
Yuma Anzai 8
Rei Saito 8
Suwama 8
Hideki Suzuki 6
Lord Crewe 6
Hartley Jackson 2
Ryuki Honda 2

So this is tricky here. Jun, Yuma, Rei, and Suwama can all win if they win their last match. Jun needs to beat Suwama and for Yuma and Rei to lose their matches. Yuma needs to beat Hideki and Rei to lose his match. Suwama needs to beat Jun and Yuma to lose his match. Rei needs to beat Ryuki and Suwama to lose his match. So a good setup where guys need to both win and need help to win the block. Fun stuff!