All Japan Pro Wrestling: Excite Series February 24th 2025

Welcome back to some more splendid All Japan Pro Wrestling action as we’re setting the stage for the upcoming Champion Carnival. We have almost 1900 in Esforta Arena Hachioji in outer Tokyo, and the acoustics are definitely a little dodgy as this is primarily a basketball court.

We start with the entire roster coming out to pay respects to the recently deceased Gran Hamada. They got a picture and ring the bell ten times and it’s very…subdued but it’s a nice tribute all the same.

Kento Miyahara & Taishin Nagao vs. Saito Brothers (“Mr. Saito” Naruki Doi & Senor Saito)

Background: So Kento has been mentoring the newest and possibly smallest guy on the roster, Taishin Nago as the Best of the Best is a man without an angle right now. Doi and Senor Saito are just in junior lowcard duty right now as heel vet jerks.

The Match: Taishin INSISTS on starting and keeps pushing Kento the side, and Miyahara, impressed by the kids moxie gives him the start after a few incredulous looks. Doi is the other one and they trade wristlocks and headlocks and Nagao is actually accounting for himself here. International and Taishin gets a dropkick and Kento runs in to help on a double-team as they do the “whip each other into the corner” spot and then a double dropkick as Taishin insists on one more…but Naruki sniffs it out, catches himself on the ropes and the faces wipe out. Now the Saito Juniors isolate our rookie with their own double dropkick and then a wishbone and Senor Saito follows up with the testicular torture with a knee drop to the groin and then a chinlock. Doi in with the somersault senton that commentary interesting calls a SUNSET FLIP so either that’s a different term in Japan or commentary doesn’t know what they’re talking about in Japan either. The Saitos choke out Taishin in the corner before Senor drags him in the middle for a bodyslam but Nagao fights out and lands his own slam and almost gets the tag before Doi flies in and takes Kento off the apron. Senor Saito elbows the rookie down and thrashes away in the ropes before the kid gets his feet up and then a missile dropkick to set up the hot tag and Kento is going wild, big boot! Low dropkick! Middle dropkick! Posing! But he hotdogs too long and runs the ropes into a Naruki knee to the back and the Saito Juniors double-team with some MCMG-stuff and now Doi and Senor pose. Kento eventually foils the doubles and Nagao gets the double missile dropkick and once again the rookie beckons and cries for Kento to rise up and finally he stomps on Miyahara to rise him from his feet and Kento IMMEDIATELY poses, and then they land the double-dropkick! And land it again! And Kento poses! And then Miyahara lands the Shut-Down German on Senor Saito for 3

**½

What absurdity, and exactly what it should have been. Kento is a living cartoon but him letting Taishin get shine knocking him around and then running in at the end for the finish is great fun. I like Taishin though I do wonder with his size how far he can go in All Japan.

ELPIDA (Ren Ayabe & Ryuki Honda) & Seigo Tachibana vs. Hokuto-gun (Hokuto Omori, Jack Kennedy & Kuma Arashi)

Background: So ELPIDA’s midcard squad, aloof tall pretty boy Ren and chunky hothead Ryuki are teaming with Yakuza parody goof Seigo to take on the Saturday morning cartoon villain squad of Hokuto Omori and his twin goons of schlubby gringo Jack Kennedy and burly bear Kuma Arashi. Just more classic midcard goofy heels versus babyfaces, but it could set up title matches down the line.

The Match: On the intros Ryuki played along a bit with Seigo’s silliness but Ren just walked by them aloofly. Ryuki demands the start and he faces off against Kuma Arashi who immediately starts his irritating howl taunt. Lockup and Kuma easily wins and gives a clean break and then roars again, and Ryuki immediately gets a kick wham headlock before we get a shoulderblock battle into a slugfest as Ryuki hits Kuma whenever he howls. I approve. Honda wins with a shoulder and then does the five-count choke on the ropes. But the ref breaks it up, Kuma gets a shoulderblock and then…yes he howls again. We then tag into Seigo and Hokuto who immediately lockup and then Omori gets him in the ropes and blows him a kiss and Seigo retches. Omori with a shoulder and more kiss blowing but they jaw at each other before Tachibana win and international and starts his own taunting. ELPIDA come in for taunts and then they very weakly triple team Omori, before Seigo holds Hokuto for his partners to hit him…and after a delay that plays into it, ELPIDA accidentally take out Seigo as we’re going full Punch and Judy here, or considering it’s Japan, Tsukkomi and Boke. Omori then tries his own rope choke and this infuriates Honda who chokes out Omori on the ropes…while also choking Seigo in the process. Womp womp. Kennedy and Kuma drag Tachibana back to the corner as we reset into a heat segment of sorts as Kuma steps on Seigo’s chest using the ropes. Kennedy in with some heavy chops and then a blockbuster slam for 2 but Seigo eventually slips out of a suplex with a stomp to the foot and some key strikes and we get a lukewarm tag to Ryuki who gets a corner clothesline and then a spear for 2 before cranking in a loose chinlock. Jack makes the ropes and Ryuki loads up a lariat but runs into a boot and then Kennedy’s own lariat sets up a tag for Kuma who runs in and sentons Ryuki before getting an Argentine backbreaker rack drop for 2 and then gutwrenches Ryuki up before the ELIPIDA-man slips out and gets a spinebuster to set up the Ren tag. Hooking clothesline on Arashi and a corner boot gets 2 before Ayabe calls for the Death Roulette…and Kuma reverses into a brainbuster and now Omori tags in. And boy this is formulaic. Hokuto gets a missile dropkick and calls in his goons to load up Ren on the top-rope, and they set up a tower of doom spot before Ayabe holds on and Jack and Kuma accidentally powerbomb Hokuto instead…but Omori realizes what’s going on and calls his goons to go back…and Ren still holds on, hops down, and helps with the powerbomb before getting a double hooking clothesline for 2 and it’s back to Ayabe and Omori. Ayabe goes for a charge but Hokuto hides behind the ref and then uses the distraction to strike Ren in the apricots, sunset flip for 2, rolling elbow, Dragon Suplex! But Seigo breaks up the pin and then does a Manhattan drop and a running 12-6 elbow to Omori. But it’s breaking down and Jack and Kuma try to intervene before Ryuki lariats them outside and Seigo follows with a tope. Back to Omori and Ren and Ayabe gets a big boot and the Death Roulette and that’s 3!

**

There was a LOT of comedy in this one, and it was mostly bad but had its moments, the rest of the match was pretty half-donkeyed basic trios stuff. Total house show garbage that wasn’t embarrassing but boy was it uninspired. Just lots of cheap, generic taunting for the first part of this match.

Post-match Seigo insists ELPIDA do the pose with him.

Yuko Miyamoto (c) vs. Kuroshio TOKYO Japan – GAORA TV Championship

Background: So Yuko is a deathmatch legend guy who also does some highflying and is this sorta crafty legacy veteran with the last important singles championship in the company. He’s being challenged by perennial master clown, Kuroshio TOKYO Japan who is a total goof. KTJ has zebra print trunks, a blazer, long hair, and what seems to be a mirror with him. Miyamoto is in white baggy pants.

The Match: Before the match Seigo gets on commentary and starts yelling at his tag-team partner Kuroshio, and in response Kuroshio kinda yodels at the crowd? This is bizarre. At some point we get a handshake and then KTJ sneak attacks Yuko with a dropkick anyway, but Seigo boos him and Kuro attacks him and we FINALLY get back to the match with an international and Kuro powders but Yuko follows and tosses him back in only for TOKYO Japan to roll out of the ring again, and then Yuko crawls under the ring and sneaks out the other side to ambush KTJ who is now being all respectful again…and now Miyamoto gets a cheap shot and then a tombstone piledriver for no cover. We get some neck cranking from Yuko and some hammering in the corner as Kuroshio sells big and curls up in the ropes and rolls around. And Yuko delivers another 12-6 elbow to the neck before loading up a piledriver/powerbomb but Kuroshio gets the big backdrop and we have a double-down before KTJ pops up for Jacket Punches! A few more slaps from KTJ and he stops to jaw at Seigo before getting a pop-up rana and then they do a wacky pin reversal sequence…until KTJ gets a buzzsaw kick for 2. Sunset flip by KTJ and then a rolling cradle and they both sell the dizziness…but Yuko gets an abdominal stretch and then his own rolling cradle into a pin for 2.5. And they’re both doing the dizzy selling and missing each other on strikes. Kuroshio gets a schoolboy for 2 and then a cazadora for 2, but they fight over a backslide until KTJ switches gears, tosses the champ and follows with a tope. Running knee gets 2.8 and the challenger is hyped…lower superkick dodged, buzzsaw connects and now the low superkick lands but just another 2 count. Kuroshio goes for the Hybrid Blaster before Yuko slips out and gets a handspring pele kick and a Fire Thunder Driver gets 2.7 and Miyamoto follows with a Last Ride for 2.9 as it’s too close to the ropes and Kuro gets his arm out. Yuko follows with a top-rope moonsault but it whiffs and KTJ follows with his own whiffed moonsault…and Yuko goes up for ANOTHER whiffed moonsault. And Kuroshio goes up and yes…whiffs another moonsault. And we’ve hit Sideshow Bob stepping on rakes when Yuko whiffs ANOTHER moonsault. And another whiff until Yuko FINALLY lands the moonsault for 3.

***

Okay, that moonsault finish was so incredibly stupid it turned the match into glorious farce. I guess I would have wished the prior two matches weren’t so comedy heavy but that finish amused me greatly.

Post-match, both guys, worn out and dizzy shake hands and hug and fall on each other before Kuroshio tosses Yuko the belt and rolls out of the ring. And now Mr. Saito Naruki Doi is here as our next challenger I guess.

Dan Tamura, MUSASHI, Ryo Inoue & Shotaro Ashino vs. Baka No Jidai (Hideki Suzuki & Hikaru Sato), Kengo Mashimo & Seiki Yoshioka

Background: So kind of a random assortment of guys, Dan is a sort of swing role as a big junior or a small heavyweight, MUSASHI is our veteran Junior champ, Ryo is a rising rookie as a undersized cocky kick devil, Shotaro Ashino is an upper card suplex machine. Baka No Jidai are veteran heavyweight shooter guy Hideki Suzuki and veteran junior shooter guy Hikaru Sato, Kengo is going to be in the Carnival and represents Active Advance Pro Wrestling (which was Michinoku Pro before they kicked TAKA out for adultery) he’s a sort of broad guy with baggy clothes and orange hair, he looks like a bigger Hayata (of NOAH fame) and Seiki is of course are super shredded, superfast veteran junior.

The Match: We start with Baka No Jidai offering handshakes and then cheapshotting the opponents as everybody brawls on the outside. Eventually we reset to MUSASHI and Seiki as the former (current?) partners do some basic stuff as it’s mostly about the other guys brawling on the outside but eventually Tamura runs in but Seiki reverses a whip to send him at MUSASHI and does the same when Shotaro interferes. But Ryo actually just attacks Seiki and then MUSASHI grabs Hideki and when Inoue goes for a boot, he misses and clocks MUSASHI to complete the gag. More running offense and Hideki keeps slapping guys and they do a big pile-up pin and uh…are all these matches going to be comedy deals? More brawling outside and back to MUSASHI and Seiki working at a snail’s pace. Kengo tags in to stomp at MUSASHI in the corner as he continues to be the whipping boy of the match. MUSASHI tries a comeback but Kengo foils it before a desperate enzuigiri drops the AAPW man and in comes Shotaro for a gutwrench suplex. They slug it out a bit and Kengo eventually gets an ankle lock before Hideki comes in to slap Kengo around to…motivate him? Anyway it all breaks down and everybody runs in and now Tamura is slapping Shotaro and Hideki is slapping Kengo still and now Seiki runs in and it’s all trading slaps. Double dropkick by MUSASHI on Tamura and Tamura and then a somersault plancha on everybody. And MUSASHI and Seiki finally heat up their sequence as they both trade big stuff before MUSASHI goes up for a frog splash that whiffs and Seiki turns a La Mistica into a La Magistral for 3.

*½

Look this was barely a match, and the comedy (after SO MUCH COMEDY) this show lands totally flat. I guess this sets up Seiki as the challenger for MUSASHI’s belt at least.

ELPIDA (Rising HAYATO & Yuma Anzai) (c) vs. Astronauts (Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura) – All Asia Tag Team Championship

Background: ELPIDA are the core babyface stable and Yuma is their core heavyweight star, HAYATO is a big junior and his partner here with his tatted goth pretty boy look, while Yuma is clean cut and well-coiffed. The All Asia belts are technically very, very old (RIkidozan died holding them!) but they’re very much the secondary titles and with the Saito Brothers having an iron grip on the division, the All Asia belts have become more important as they can actually change hands. Astronauts are two Big Japan guys, on the smaller side and embracing that companies trend for brutal physicality, they’re not deathmatch guys. Abe is buzzed and more of a striker, while Takuya has floppy hair and has previously held gold in AJPW with Kento Miyahara.

The Match: Takuya and Yuma start and go straight to the grappling with Nomura getting Anzai into the ropes to break a wristlock and then slapping him out of a break but Anzai whiffs a dropkick out of an international and Takuya whiffs the PK and it’s a double tag to Abe and HAYATO. More grappling to start with Abe getting the advantage before HAYATO gets a big overhand chop, Abe fires back but he gets knocked outside and HAYATO does his fakeout backflip taunt. Back inside and now it’s HAYATO’s turn to take a spill and Nomura abuses him on the ring barricade while Abe poses inside. Takuya throws HAYATO back inside after his arm had been sufficiently tortured and Abe continues the pain with some bridging backhammers. Nomura in to go at the arm with a hard boot and when HAYATO tries to fight free Takuya takes him down and stomps on his elbow and works a kimura while Abe runs interference. HAYATO eventually gets a ropebreak for the armbar but another quick tag brings in Abe for strikes to the injured wrestler…but HAYATO gets space with a rope run and gets a high elbow and in comes Yuma! Corner charge! Suplex! Dropkick! But a second corner charge misses and Fuminori gets a tornado kick to a trapped Anzai and in comes Takuya with a brainbuster but Yuma blocks the PK and it’s a slugfest. Nomura gets some heavy kicks to the chest, and when Yuma blocks Takuya opens up his guard with a slap across the face and Germans the former Triple Crown champ, but Anzai has that DRAMATIC NO-SELL and pops up for his OWN German and we got a double-down. Yuma makes his way to the corner though and in comes HAYATO to hit a poetry in motion off of Nomura’s back. Takuya goes back to the arm but HAYATO gets a chop, tosses Takuya outside and hits a springboard plancha on Astronauts. Back inside and HAYATO goes for a thrust kick but Nomura evades into a schoolboy and then some more double-teams as Nomura gets an armbar takedown while Abe goes for a low dropkick, and then Nomura works a sadistic hold before Anzai has had enough and picks Takuya off his partner for a German. And it’s breaking down as Abe runs in for his rebound baseball punch but Yuma takes him out on the rebound with the Jumbo Knee. We reset to HAYATO/Nomura where the tattooed All Japan man gets a drop toehold into the ropes and then a slingshot DDT onto the apron, and Anzai sets up a German suplex/springboard dropkick combo from the outside. Springboard moonsault by HAYATO looks to finish but he took too much time with the arm and he whiffs and Nomura gets an elbow and brings in Abe to get a manji-gatame on the injured HAYATO while Nomura locks up Anzai, but Yuma uses his size to bully over and disrupt the hold. HAYATO is still basically dead though and Abe gets a bridging leghook backdrop driver for 2.8. HAYATO gets a desperate overhand chop as he can barely stay on his feet. Another baseball punch from Abe but HAYATO dodges into a crucifix bomb for 2, and then Abe gets his own rollups for two VERY close counts. HAYATO finally lands some offense with the Reverse B-Driver but Nomura flies in to break up the pin with a PK which sets up Abe for a victory roll for 2.999. Nomura keeps up the heat with a flurry of strikes on HAYATO but he runs the ropes and Anzai flies in with a Jumbo Knee. Falcon Arrow by HAYATO on Abe for 2.7 and a lionsault (cause HAYATO can’t use the arm) follows but Fuminori rolls into a cradle for 2.5. The two get up and the baseball punch lands for Abe to set up another manji-gatame before HAYATO reverses that into the B-Driver for 2.8. And That lets HAYATO gut it out and he gets the full lift for the springboard moonsault and that’s a 3 count.

****

Well that ruled! Interesting story with HAYATO’s damage to his arm being both a target for the Astronauts and also a limitation for his own finish and he needed enough time to fully land the moonsault to win the match. Also while Astronauts dominated with quick tags, it also wore them both out while Yuma (the bigger but slower wrestler) was able to pick his spots and hit guys with full force to allow the resilient HAYATO to muscle through their offense. Great stuff from two really good teams.

Post-match we get Hideki Suzuki and Dan Tamura out and I guess that’s our next challengers.

Atsuki Aoyagi vs. Rei Saito

Background: So AJPW has had a war of brothers for a while, the Aoyagi Brother vs. the Saito Brothers. The Aoyagis are flashier, more ‘skilled’ and have been in wrestling longer, while the Saitos are bigger, stronger, older, and as of right now, more successful. This is the battle between younger Aoyagi, Atsuki, effectively a junior and one of the more traditionally ‘flippy’ ones, while Rei is the bigger of the Saitos and a more traditional monster who uses his size and bulk to destroy his opponents. And of course, the main event for tonight is between big brothers Yuma and Jun, so this is a sorta silver medal matchup right here.

The Match: We get the lockup and Rei immediately just swallows Atsuki up and almost gives a clean break before going for a cheapshot that Aoyagi evades. A headlock by the junior is shrugged off too and Atsuki might need something else. And he tries shoulders that obviously don’t work and Aoyagi calls for Rei to do something to set up an international and Rei shrugs off a dropkick, shoulderblocks Aoyagi outside, but when he chases his smaller foe, Atsuki flies back in the ring and dropkicks Rei off the apron. Setting up a moonsault off the ringpost but the Saito Brother disrupts it, dropping Aoyagi onto the apron. Rei sets up Atsuki against the post and goes for a big windup charge, but the junior evades, Rei slams arm first into the post and with a weakpoint (also now noticing Rei’s shoulder was wrapped up) Aoyagi uses the barricade to work the big man’s arm. Rei counters a whip though and sends Atsuki flying into the metal divider and then boots him over it into the crowd and stretches out his arm. Now Atsuki is tossed into the barricade and choked with a boot. Rei continues this choking deal by doing a lifting double goozle against the ring post before dropping the kid. Rei takes a second to throw a shot at Hokuto Omori who is on commentary, and then we go back inside where Saito can do some arrogant covers and toss his opponent around. Some rope assisted stomping and then a chinlock as we’re rolling through all the heel classics here. Atsuki eventually makes the ropes, and then after countering a charge with some boots in the corner he goes up but his missile dropkick is no sold. A pop-up is turned into a dropkick though and Atsuki manages to knock Rei into the corner and we get a double-down of sorts. Both up and Atsuki gets a back handspring evasion into a frankensteiner and then another dropkick before a missile dropkick gets 2 and the kickout sends Aoyagi flying as Rei struggles for breath. Atsuki tries a brainbuster and gets stuffed before Rei’s goozle (with the bad arm) is broken and the big man just knocks him down with a shoulder instead. Rei finally gets Atsuki in the corner and unleashes the machinegun chops and now Saito is feeling it, another shoulder block out of a whip gets 2 and Rei now decides to torture the junior with short-arm chops. Aoyagi dodges a spinning chop though and an enzuigiri sets up a handspring kick for 2 and the high-flyer follows with two moonsaults for 2.3. Atsuki goes up again though and Rei rises like Michael Myers to toss him off the top, Rei follows with a standing powerbomb but Atsuki turns that into a sunset flip and then he spams flash rollups, schoolboy, inside cradle, but Rei just boots him down to get a breather. Rei loads up the Pig Knuckle but Rei grabs the bad arm and does a fancy technical sequence into a la magistral for 2.8, thrust kick from Atsuki! A second! Rei no-sells! Spinning roundhouse staggers the big man but Rei recovers with the goozle slap, and then another and now Atsuki is woozy. Rei gets the weakest headbutt in recorded human history and follows with the standing powerbomb for 1-and Atsuki reverses the cover and gets 3!

***¼

I really like the big-little matchup with the arrogant giant just clobbering the smaller, fiester opponent. I do wish Rei did more with the ‘injured arm’ deal and while I was initially bothered by the finish, an Aoyagi kinda playing possum for a flash rollup out of nowhere is definitely in big brothers playbook. And like…after weeks of Atsuki eating pins he needed to win SOMETHING.

And post-match Atsuki can barely believe he won and as he staggers to the back he gets a high-five from big bro.

Jun Saito (c) vs. Yuma Aoyagi – Triple Crown Championship

Background: Jun Saito and Yuma Aoyagi have more in common than I was originally thinking. Both are the cool guys in their most successful teams, and both of them are built around having a pretty complex and deep offensive skillset. Yuma is a versatile trickster, while Jun has just an arsenal of top level power offense he cycles through to demolish you. While brother Rei is more of an ugly brawler, Jun has more sophistication and skill in his output. And while Atsuki is the high-flyer of the duo, Yuma isn’t bad on the top-rope and will generally go at his opponent with whatever they’re weak against. Even still, Yuma is giving up size and strength while Jun is less experienced and traveled. Beyond that, Jun is a double champion who is dominating the company, while Yuma is a two-time champion who has yet to have that long, dominant run. Yuma is in black and blue trunks and has short hair, and Jun is in red and black pleather pants and has a ponytail.

The Match: Measured start as both guys circle and eye the other up. Lock up that Jun instantly wins and gives the clean break though he fires a few taunts Yuma’s way. Second lockup goes Jun’s way but Yuma reverse it in the ropes and gives a clean break…and then mirrors Jun’s taunts. Some standing grappling follows into an international, but Jun no-sells Yuma’s dropkick and shoulders him down. But when Yuma gets cornered he gets his feet up, and when he goes for the missile dropkick out of the corner he targets Jun’s knee. A few other low dropkicks follow (with Yuma imitating Mutoh’s framing taunt) and Jun shrugs them off…so Aoyagi goes at the champ’s eyes instead to set up a dragonscrew and NOW Jun is down and selling. More Mutoh taunts from Yuma, but that slows him down and when he goes up again Jun boots him off the top and goes to work on the outside, whipping the challenger around and choking him on the barricade. Beyond the barricade as Yuma is tossed into the chairs of the crowd, and the two of them brawl on the floor and Yuma gets sent through MORE lines of chairs and Jun chokes him with a cheer towel…of Jun Saito. Ha. He makes sure to wipe his brow with it before handing it back to the owner and then we go back inside for a two count. Yuma tries to fire back with strikes but Jun takes over and chokes him with a boot in the corner. Delayed bodyslam and a running elbow drop lets Jun silence the crowd and then hit a few Yakuza kicks for 2. Jun uses the ropes to stand on Yuma and then gets a running stomp before going back to the rope-assisted stand and we have Yuma fighting from his knees before a delayed brainbuster gets 2.6 for the champ. Yuma tries to fire back with forearms and then a dropkick but Jun cuts short…before a second dropkick gets him down. Yuma goes in with some corner elbows and the a reverse crossbody to set up Yuma’s End Game choke but Jun makes the ropes. A second attempt at the End Game is foiled but Yuma rebounds off of the ropes, goes for a low dropkick again and sets up a brainbuster…but gets tossed onto the apron and elbowed down. Jun gingerly follows and they fight on the apron, Jun’s chokeslam is blocked and Yuma gets a backdrop suplex into a double-down where Jun is outside and Yuma rolls inside to recover. Jun rolls back in and Yuma gets a corner elbow, a backdrop suplex, and then a diving elbow for 2 and when Jun kicks out Yuma grabs the arm for the End Game again. Jun breaks on the ropes and Yuma goes up again…but Jun cuts him off to set up a superplex…that Yuma foils into a sunset flip powerbomb…but Jun pops up for a brainbuster! Yuma goes for his own fiery no-sell but Jun cuts him off with a spear and we have another double-down. Head to head they both rise up and we get a dramatic slug fest, Jun runs the ropes and gets tripped up into a dropkick by Yuma and then a standing End Game…that Jun reverses into another brainbuster. Chokeslam by Jun is blocked by Yuma’s strikes, but before Aoyagi can make space he’s pulled in for a Psycho Break…that Yuma reverses into a cradle for 2. But Jun won’t give up and he goes for ANOTHER Psycho Break that Yuma reverses into the End Game. Jun collapses and Yuma shifts into a stronger position with Saito on the ground and Aoyagi in total control, but some rabbit punches by Jun break the hold and the champ follows with more heavy strikes…but Yuma springs free for another reverse crossbody but Jun cuts that off and hits an avalanche chokeslam for 2. Psycho Break is attempted again and Jun reverses into a headlock takeover for 2.5. Aoyagi makes space and gets a flying lariat 2.5 and then an ugly brainbuster for 2.7. Yuma is undaunted though and goes for the Rockstar Buster…for 2.9. Another attempt is foiled but Yuma gets his spinning back kick anyway…but that’s no matter as Jun recovers and gets the goozle slap into a spinning short-range lariat and then the Bomaye knee for 2.8. Jun follows with a chokeslam for 2.7…and then he unleashes the hair, breaking the ponytail, brainbuster…and then Jun drops it into a sideslam like Hirooki Goto’s Shouten Kai and that’s 3.

***¾

Well Jun just didn’t sell the leg AT ALL, and I guess that was the storyline of him just being a monster that Yuma couldn’t figure out, but it did irritate me that they kept kinda teasing the knee and then never really advancing it. I do like that Jun is just developing a sorta invincible arsenal of power moves, and the idea of going from the Jackhammer into the Shouten Kai is fun, it’s interesting this All Japan guy has taken so much offense from New Japan guys…but he also does Goldberg stuff too so it’s just a random grab-bag for him. Yuma remains a tremendously fun wrestler to watch as his matches always have the sense of him having a strategy, but I think they juggled too much with the face/heel alignment as Yuma switches from “overmatched but clever underdog” to “smug cheating vet” but this is all quibbling. Very fun main-event and if Jun continues to develop he might make that leap into greatness.

Post-match Kento, in a three-piece suit, comes down…but instead of challenging Jun he seems to be challenging Jun and Rei for the tag titles? Anyway, Jun pulls out a candy bar and eats it while referencing his pop song with Rei (which cracks up his brother at ringside) and then Jun runs around and gives various ringside people pieces of candy and that’s the show.

Overall this was a very good time. There was a LOT of dumb comedy in the midcard but some of it landed for me and the last couple matches were all good to great. Another fantastic time with All Japan as we build up momentum for the Carnival.