All Japan Pro Wrestling Dynamite Series June 24th 2024

Hello everybody as we have some AJPW wrestling to talk about, haven’t done that in a spell and it’s always interesting to talk about the least discussed semi-major Japanese promotion (and if I ever get the time I’ll review Big Japan to really escalate things). This is fitting AJPW’s weird booking where they start a tour with a title match and then do random tags afterwards to fill out a card. We’re in Korakuen Hall with 1200+ in the building which I don’t think you can complain about.

We have some dancing ladies to start the festivities and then they break off into a match.

Ayano Irie & Mii vs. Nagisa Shiotsuki & Natsuki

Background: Nagisa is in blue and white with a half-pant look, Natsuki is in orange and white with a fake skirt thing. Ayano is in a pale pink skirt deal and Mii is in a pale blue and white skirt deal and has a teddy bear with her and they are apparently the Twin Stars?

The Match: Ayano and Natsuki start and they do some armdrags and quick covers. Mii and Nagisa in next and Mii beats on her with the teddy bear and dropkicks it into Shiotsuki. We get some more heeling with some fishhooking of the nose in the ropes as Twin Stars or whatever they’re called are doing an evil bratty princess deal I think. Babyfaces try a double-team but it gets foiled by a Mii crossbody but she gets distracted and chopped down by Nagisa to break in Natsuki who comes off the top with a knee that breezes right by Mii. Natsuki gets a stomp next and then they reset to a slug fest and some rope-running dodges but Natsuki gets a dropkick and Mii gets a weak spin kick into a diving stomp and in comes Ayano with a big boot and then a clothesline to set up a reverse crab that gets broken up. There is not much flow to this match but Natsuki has some athleticism that she shows off with a jumping knee and a flipping jackknife pin. Ayano gets a stunner of all things but Natsuki gets a big kick to the head and in comes Nagisa with a dropkick! Codebreaker! Chop! She’s a house on fire! And Irie just boots her down in response and then they trade chops and big boots until Nagisa ducks a big boot, gets a backstabber, and then a sasori-gatame but Ayano makes the ropes. Ayano gets a few schoolgirl rollups and then picks up Nagisa for a weird crab thing (it looks like she has her opponent in the Styles Clash set up but it’s a hold?). That’s broken and Ayano gets a straitjacket camel clutch and that gets broken! Wrap it up ladies. The babyfaces get a chop/sweep combo and then a jumping knee/codebreaker combo to set up a diving stomp onto Ayano and then an abdominal stretch bomb by Nagisa. But Mii breaks it up with a teddy shot and then full-nelson slams Natsuki. Heels get a double-team they’re way out of position for and it unfortunately doesn’t finish. Ayano gets a twisting Samoan Drop on Shiotsuki and it’s over.

½*

Well this was really bad but Natsuki might have some promise, Mii and Ayano are wretched though, being out of step and getting in each other’s way all the time. Props for using a teddy bear as your heel item of choice at least.

Next we have Ryuki Honda, Ren Ayabe, Yuma Anzai, and Rising HAYATO coming out to the ring and Honda grabs a mic and apparently this group is now ELPIDA. That’s Greek for hope and they have a cool flower/sun logo. Neat, guess this is the young gun stable of AJPW. I also realize that Ryuki is wearing a super cool comic book shirt that’s him doing the 1-2-3-4 rope choke thing. I might have to get that. Ren also has a shirt that says Death Roulette on it with a neat logo on it, so the young kids have some merch going on now.

Seigo Tachibana (c) vs. Fuminori Abe – GAORA TV Title

Background: Seigo is our lovable tiny Yakuza man with his weird sunglasses and red pants, and Abe, who is a Big Japan guy has been doing a tour in All Japan recently and just had a program with HAYATO for the junior title he lost. But I guess he’s getting another title match anyway? Eh, it’s just the GAORA TV belt. Abe is a plain-looking guy in plain black trunks and a buzzcut with some gnarly scars. He’s a ball of violence so this match could be pretty good.

The Match: Seigo fires the crowd up and Abe just dives in with a headlock and then a wristlock, more grappling to start as Abe unleashes a brutal kick to the face as he’s full of piss and vinegar. Seigo does his kneeling taunt and Abe matches him head to head as they stare each other down and roll outside and brawl with Abe mixing in some slaps to the face to keep the disrespect going. Abe gets a brainbuster on the floor and some hard kicks as he drags Seigo out into the crowd and up into the stands at Korakuen. They set up a shoulderblock battle in the stands and Abe, being a madman actually takes a bump off of it while Seigo stumbles to the floor carefully. They both do a mad dash to make it back in the ring and break the count. Back inside and they brawl a bit and mix in some comedy with Abe hurting his fingers on Seigo’s head and Seigo poking Abe in the eyes. Abe comes back with a gorgeous low dropkick a spin kick into the corner and everything he does looks crisp and painful. Seigo dares Abe to hit him really hard with a kick and we get Abe playing to the crowd before the PK. Seigo goes back for round two…and just twirls around and blasts Abe with a forearm. Ha! Seigo with some closed-fist strikes that the ref warns him about and Abe gets a snap Frankensteiner, but Seigo kicks him off the apron and gets a flip plancha and the crowd is electric as Seigo is just dancing on the outside before signaling the end. Seigo sets up a superplex but they slug it out on the top rope and after multiple attempts lands it…but Abe pops up and dropkicks Seigo…and gets brainbustered right back. They recover to their knees and slug it out some more as they fight while using their opponent to get to their feet. Nice feint between the ropes sets up Abe’s baseball punch and then the Big Japan guy counters the B-Driver to his manji-gatamte…and Seigo counters back and lands the B-Driver! And a spear! Olympic Slam! And that’s only 2.9 Another snap frankensteiner from Abe gets 2.9 and Seigo comes back with some heavy forearms. And Seigo goes for the hammer and anvil running elbow drop and Abe gets the manji-gatame with the keylock and Seigo taps!

***¼

Well that was really good, I do think that they did a bit too much comedy in there but Seigo being a bit of a goof and that costing him the match against brutal psycho killer Abe was a nice story after establishing Seigo can go serious when he needs to. Anyway, Abe is really good and I’m glad he won a belt, even if it’s something totally lacking in prestige like the GAORA TV Title.

Post-match they cut some promos and get a bit emotional and I think Abe is mocking Seigo.

Kento Miyahara, Ryo Inoue, Shotaro Ashino & Suwama vs. Hartley Jackson, Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi, and X

Background: So this is the non-ELPIDA veteran babyfaces against the weirdos. Kind of a low-spot for Kento on the card but he’s just coming off a world title loss so they gotta put him in the mid-card right now. It is also notable that the babyface squad are not super cool with each other with long rivalries between Kento, Suwama, and Shotaro. Oh and Ryo is there he has new gear with a leather jacket with patches on it for a more hard-edged look. It’s like watching your kid grow up. Oh, and now Hokuto Omori is dressed like Nobuhiko Takada with the generalissimo outfit.

The Match: Hokuto seems to be cutting a promo in character as Takada and he brings out for X…Cyrus the Destroyer! Heck yes! Love the big guy. Kuma and Ryo start and Inoue has way more attitude here and is that an earring? Good heavens! They lock up and Ryo immediately gets taken to the ropes and Kuma does his stupid yell and Ryo unleashes a flurry of strikes but gets shoulderblocked down. But Ryo gets a headbutt and a jumping kick and he dismissively knocks around Kuma as he tags out. Okay, spicy jerk Ryo is a thing I can get around. Suwama in to suplex Kuma and the vets all come in and quadruple-team Kuma in the corner but they do a miscommunication spot and the monsters come in to bash the vets outside the ring. We reset to Suwama and Kuma in the ring as they slowly brawl to let the crowd focus on all the excitement out of the ring. Hartley in to clobber on Suwama some more but the Japanese vet finally gets a lariat and we get Cyrus and Kento in one of my favorite under the radar rivalries in AJPW. Kento gets the two dropkicks and poses to the crowd and goes for the Shutdown but Cyrus just backs him into the corner and gets some back elbows. Ryo comes in and leaves his feet and gets instantly swatted down and then Omori comes in to pick Inoue’s bones with a brainbuster. Omori misses a corner charge though and Ryo takes over with kicks and does some very KENTA-esque fakeout stuff. Ryo drops Omori and in comes Shotaro to suplex the Mad Wolf around. Kento even gets a nice double-team with Shotaro and Ashino locks in the ankle lock…and Cyrus breaks it up and tears apart the vet team. Pressing Ryo outside onto Suwama and Kento and then teaming up on Shotaro. Kuma gets the diving senton and then Hokuto gets a diving splash for the…win?!

**¾

Just a lot of energy, a really fun match and if they’re going to put Omori in with the monsters he has a role as their weasel leader.

Kuroshio TOKYO Japan vs. Yuma Aoyagi – No DQ Match

Background: So Yuma beat KJT in the Champion Carnival in a humiliating fashion, and Kuro responded by beating Yuma in a singles match with excessive cheating. So here we have the comedy face gone psycho heel versus the too cool for school laidback babyface trickster. Some decent heat here. Kuroshio has a nice snake skin jacket with a pattern I will only describe as corrupt.

The Match: KJT comes out glowers at the crowd with a trash can and Yuma gets the hot start and ambushes him with a singapore cane and whips him into the barricade. Yuma leaves for a second and comes back with a chair…and then punches KJT low and mimes being in pain too, which okay Yuma is being a jerk but considering this is what Kuro did to him…anyway Yuma swings a chair like a bad and KJT rolls out of the way so he doesn’t die. KJT comes back and throws boxes at Yuma and then tags him with a trash can. They brawl to an elevated area where KJT tries to throw Yuma off…and Aoyagi reverses and body slams KJT onto the boxes and then rings the bell, haha. Yuma stomps on Kuroshio some more and then grabs the cane to keep the hurt goin…and KJT responds with some powder! And then a cane shot to the top of the head! Ouch! And then KJT grabs a keyboard and just nails Yuma with it and the keys go flying! And then Kuroshio goes crazy and throws a million things into the ring, including a guitar. And KJT loads up El Kabong and Yuma at least gets his hands up for that one. KJT slams Yuma’s head off a metal basin and then gets the solo con-chair-to and Yuma is OUT. This ain’t enough for Kuroshio though and he drags a ladder into the ring, plops it on Yuma and wails on it with a chair before going up, hitting a crazy evil smirk and hitting a swanton RIGHT on the ladder to crush Yuma and KJT sells his own damage like crazy. That looked brutal. Only 2.9 from that but Yuma is just curled up on the ground from the abuse. And Kuro clobbers him with cane shots and loads up a brainbuster onto the ladder but Yuma reverses and backdrops KJT onto it instead. Yet again, yeowch. Yuma pulls out a table and that thing looks like it could resist a nuclear blast and also I think the crowd is chanting “we want tables” in…English? Wrestling is funny. Yuma gets a stiff piledriver on KJT and loads up that iron plank of a table to slam KJT on it…but Kuroshio reverses and hip tosses Yuma and that had NO give. Yuma crawls outside and KJT taunts him and sets up the tope…and Yuma nails him with the cane to counter it. Yuma’s brainbuster into the table is reversed though and Yuma gets a chair shot and the seat pops out and you get the chair around Yuma’s neck in an awesome visual…and then KJT does it two more times. My word. This sets up an evil smirk and then the running enzuigiri in what beat Aoyagi the last time, but Kuro doesn’t go for the pin and pulls out another table and sets it up and drops Yuma onto it…and then KJT sets up the ladder and uh…uh-oh. KJT loads up the swanton from the top of the ladder and Yuma rolls out and KJT gets a classic I AM THE TABLE bump. Just brutal. And then they slug it out and both pick up chairs, and Yuma decides to throw his away and take off his T-shirt cause he’s a wrestler consarnit! And he’s going to wrestle! And KJT obliges and helps clear the ring to keep the brawling going and KJT gets a superkick, enzuigir, buzzsaw kick and low thrust kick in response. B-Driver from Yuma who kicks out at 2.9999. Kuroshio looks like he has no idea what to do next but he sets up Yuma on the top rope and clambers up…and gets hit with a superplex! Rock Bottom from Yuma! Rockstar Buster from Yuma! THE FOOL! 1-2-3 and Yuma wins.

****

Well this was awesome, first of all they used the DQ rules well and both guys were trying to hurt each other and embarrass each other, so yeah, they set up complicated death traps and jumped off of it cause this is a battle of pride. Yuma was angry and KJT was sadistic, and then at the end it’s wrestling, not no DQ garbage stuff that gets the win. Yuma is the better wrestler and therefore the better man than Kuroshio.

Post-match Yuma extends the hand and KJT takes it and they embrace. Kuroshio looks upset for a bit but flashes that smile and rolls out of the ring and Seigo helps him to the back with a bridal carry. Awwww, friendship.

Dan Tamura & Hikaru Sato (c) vs. MUSASHI & Seiki Yoshioka – All Asia Tag Team Titles Match

Background: So Dan and Hikaru are our grumpy martial arts juniors. MUSASHI and Seiki are our goatee-having, silver-pants wearing, quick wrestling challengers. No idea of any specific heat but Seiki and MUSASHI are outsiders.

The Match: Seiki and Dan start and Tamura establishes his power and Seiki his speed but they break and in comes MUSASHI and Sato to do some standing grappling. MUSASHI gets Hikaru in the ropes and gives a clean break and Sato just explodes out to stomp on MUSASHI but Seiki comes in and team Silver Pants do some fast kick combos but Tamura then runs in and Sato gets MUSASHI in an ankle lock and Evolution continue to clobber him with slick doubles. Tamura comes in to beat on MUSASHI in the corner and then hits three massive body slams to set up a crab. MUSASHI makes the ropes and Tamura loads up the powerbomb but MUSASHI gets a jump kick and in comes Seiki to go REALLY fast. Crowd is alive as Seiki gets his flurry of kicks and the corner knee Dan eventually tanks enough kicks to catch Yoshioka’s leg and Samoan drop him and in comes Sato but Seiki gets the floating axe kick and brings in MUSASHI who is still selling his back. Sato blocks the exploder but MUSASHI ducks the jump kick and gets the second exploder suplex! MUSASHI goes up for the frog splash but Sato gets the knees up and goes for the kimura. Dan comes in next to double-team MUSASHI to set up another Hikaruo ankle lock, MUSASHI slips out but eats the jump kick and a backdrop driver to set up his flying armbar that Seiki breaks with a swanton. Tamura comes in to clobber Seiki but Yoshioka counters with La Mistica and Team Silver Pants gets a double low-thrust kick and Seiki wipes out Tamura on the outside with an Asai Moonsault. Hikaru back to the ankle lock but MUSASHI gets the enzuigiri and the Falcon Arrow, goes up and hits a gorgeous frog splash for 2.9. Hikaru tries to fight back with an armbar but MUSASHI gets an Emerald Flowsion and the win.

**½

This was fine. Nothing super exciting as MUSASHI isn’t a very interesting face in peril, nor is Hikaru, but they hit the notes and didn’t mess anything up.

Post-match MUSASHI jumps into Seiki’s arms in a cute moment and Tamura looks absolutely peeved on the outside. The new champs pose to some nice death metal and they look super happy together. Meanwhile Hikaru limps to the back while Tamura just glares at him giving him no help.

Saito Brothers (Jun Saito, Naruki Doi & Rei Saito) vs. ELPIDA (Ren Ayabe, Rising HAYATO & Ryuki Honda) – Elimination Match

Background: Saito Brothers have brought in Doi to be their junior component and they’ve embraced being big nasty heels. ELPIDA are the brand-new babyface stable and they’re going to not be cool with big nasty heels. Plus Doi wants the Junior belt HAYATO has and ELPIDA will want the Saito Brothers tag titles. If you’re new here Jun is a big beefy guy with a ponytail and a chinstrap beard, Rei is his chunkier brother with a wild beard and hair, Naruki is a very fit older junior with a buzzcut and a deep tan. Ren is a tall pale guy in good shape if very lean, Ryuki is a beefy brawler with a buzzed mullet deal and a blonde streak, and HAYATO is a pretty-boy junior with some sick tattoos and dyed blonde hair and purple flannel pants.

The Match: HAYATO and Doi start and Rising wastes no time in getting a crisp chop on Naruki but Doi tries to toss HAYATO out on a slingshot attempt so I think this is over the top elimination rules. Ren and Rei in next and Rei wins the lockup battle but Ren reverses into the ropes and gives a clean break…while mussing Rei’s hair who freaks out at the disrespect. Shoulderblock battle that Rei wins and Ren bails and in comes Jun and Ryuki. Jun wins the lockup and gives the clean break and does his hair stroke taunt. Ryuki wins the second test and gives a clean break and taunts Jun out of it. Jun gets the headlock and a shoulderblock as he unleashes the hair. But Ryuki gets a drop toehold and HAYATO adds a dropkick on the outside and Honda chokes Jun on the ropes with the 1-2-3-4! But Doi comes in and almost knocks Honda over the top. ELPIDA triple team Naruki with a Ren big boot and then a Honda spinebuster and Ayabe keeps the abuse going by stepping on his head. But Doi gets some space and gets a low dropkick and then the Saito Brothers come in and take out everybody with shoulderblocks and now it’s time to focus on Honda though I’m unsure when he came in. Honda ducks a spinning lariat and gets his own lariat on Jun but Rei breaks it up with a big fat splash. Rei gets the goozle slap and Jun tosses Ryuki in a beautiful bump. HAYATO in next who low-bridges Rei and gets a series of dropkicks, but then ducks a Jun big boot and that takes out Rei, clever, clever spot there. HAYATO bails to recover and we get Ren and Jun duking it out. Ren gets a monster suplex but Doi flies in for the pin attempt so I guess these are lucha rules or something? Jun and Doi do some slick doubles as they just abuse Ren, but Doi tries to slug it out with Ayabe and gets immediately dropped in a standup. And then Ren takes out Jun with a dropkick…but Jun gets a spear! HAYATO slingshots in and almost gets chokeslammed but he reverses the Psycho Break into a cazadora for 2.9. And Jun gets tossed and double booted down by ELPIDA! So it’s now Doi against HAYATO and Ren and he’s massively overmatched here. Ren gets booted down and slammed, but when HAYATO goes for the lionsault Doi slips out and almost dumps him! But it’s to no avail as Naruki gets put on the apron too! Doi gouges HAYATO’s eye and almost eliminates him but when Ren boots Doi Jun and Rei catch him and put him back on the apron! Ha! Ren is furious about this and shoves the ref! And he gets fired up charges Doi who gets the low-bridge and Ayabe goes flying out. HAYATO and Doi are left and HAYATO goes for the Lionsault and eats knees, crucifix pin for 2.999 by Naruki! Doi almost get the Bakatare Sliding Kick but HAYATO slips out and loads up the wheelbarrow driver…and a victory roll gets 3 for Doi as he completes the comeback!

***

Really fun match and also a masterclass of booking. Saito Brothers get eliminated and that sets up a title match versus Ren and Ryuki, but also Doi pins HAYATO to set up a title match there and Doi proves that it wasn’t a mistake to add him to the Saito Brothers group as he saved the day and pulled off the miracle comeback. Good stuff from all of them.

Post-match we seem to set up the Doi vs. HAYATO match and then the Saito Brothers all say DOOM!

Yuma Anzai (c) vs. Hideki Suzuki – Triple Crown Title

Background: So Hideki beat Yuma in the CC and is a very credible amateur guy who is the last student of Billy Robinson. Yuma is the new ace who is trying to beat all the old established guys to prove that he belongs, and his nickname is apparently now the Prince of the Ring which is pretty dope. They’re both big guys with Hideki having more bulk but Yuma has better hair.

The Match: TWo stiff lockups that they break as Hideki remains stoic and arrogant while Yuma dances around. Hideki goes for a low kick and almost ends up in the Inoki position. Yuma gets an armbar and Hideki tries to worm out but Anzai keeps it going. Hideki gets brief moments of control but Yuma always reverses back into a top position…until Hideki slaps Yuma which fires the youngster up. Standing grappling now and Hideki gets a cravate and Yuma goes back to the armbar. Standing wristlock has Suzuki’s number but he gets an uppercut to break. I do dig that Hideki is trying to out grapple the champ, losing, and having to ‘cheat’ to win. They do the monkey flip bridge sequence as Yuma gets his first strike of the match with a dropkick. They go outside and Hideki whips Yuma into the barricade who fires back with a springboard forearm. Now Hideki is getting mauled on the outside. Back in and Yuma keeps it up until Suzuki gets a surprise sleeper to bring down the rookie champ. Hideki goes to work with body shots in the corner and Yuma is selling with dry heaves in an awesome touch. Hideki facewashes the guy on the ground and Yuma fires up with some forearms but more liver punches wear down Anzai. Yuma gets space with a gorgeous belly-to-belly suplex to set up a stinger splash and another suplex. Yuma loads up the butterfly suplex (which is extra disrespectful as that’s Billy Robinson’s move) and Hideki stuffs it. Hideki fires back with another liver shot and a jumping kick and goes back to the sleeper to wear down Yuma. They fight on the apron and Hideki gets a backdrop suplex in a spot that sounds nastier than it looked, very safe bump. Yuma is stumbling around on his feet outside and Hideki boots him to get more time coming in. Hideki sets up his octopus stretch but when Yuma counters, Suzuki gets an exploder…but misses a dropkick and Yuma fires back with his own. Yuma puts Hideki on the top to set up a superplex, and when knocked down get a gorgeous step-up knee to land the superplex. Gorgeous spot.Yuma follows up with a German suplex, but Hideki responds with the cradle piledriver and a Dragon suplex for a nearfall. Yuma counters a double-arm suplex with his knee but can’t get his standing chinlock and Hideki gets a STF. Ropebreak and Hideki goes for the butterfly suplex again but Anzai flips out and gets a German! Jumping knee! Gimlet attempted by Yuma but Hideki gets a sleeper, a punt, and the double-arm suplex finally lands for 2.99! Another jumping knee and a bridging German gets 2.9. Gimlet attempt but Yuma collapses as both guys are exhausted! More brawling and a third Gimlet is attempted and Yuma can’t get it going! Headbutt from Yuma and he finally gets the Gimlet for 3.

***½

Well, this was one of the better Hideki matches I’ve seen and it still was only quite good and not anything more. There’s only so much I can do with a guy who is a middling seller and lacks energy in the ring. But as an intractable veteran jerk he served his purpose and Yuma fought underneath well enough.

Post-match we get a handshake from Hideki and Yuma cuts a promo and then Suwama comes out to be the next guy to job to Anzai in a title match.

Well, this was a really, really good show and probably my show of the year so far, definitely check it out.