All Japan Pro Wrestling: Champion Carnival April 28th 2025

Back for more All Japan action as we’re in a pretty small venue, apparently 330 people in Takamatsu Symbol Tower, and this place looks like the secondary meeting room in a soulless corporate hellscape. Also seems we have one camera for this as we feel extra house-show style here.

Atsuki Aoyagi, Dan Tamura, Rising HAYATO & Taishin Nagao vs. Saito Brothers (Naruki Doi & Rei Saito), MUSASHI & Ryo Inoue

Background: So it’s rookies vs. vets (and also they have Ryo). Everybody is a junior except for Rei who y’know is in the Carnival so…uh oh. MUSASHI is also the junior champ and HAYATO is half of the secondary tag-title holders.

The Match: Taishin and Ryo start and my goodness Taishin is so small he makes Inoue look big. Fast-paced grappling into a standoff and we get MUSASHI and HAYATO in. They do the wristlock battle into a kip-up, HAYATO gets the overhand chop, flying headscissors, MUSASHI powders and HAYATO does the fakeout dive. MUSASHI back in and a pair of dropkicks leads to him getting some taunting going on. MUSASHI tries to call in his partners to triple team HAYATO but they ignore him and instead MUSASHI gets jumped by the rookie team. Tamura gets a crab and MUSASHI makes the ropes after a spell. We get MUSASHI slugging back but Tamura just shrugs it off until MUSASHI gets an enzuigiri and tags in Doi who stomps down Tamura in the corner and then rope-a-dopes Atsuki into dropkicking Dan. HAYATO runs in but Doi plays them all against each other and goes back to Dan and brings in MUSASHI…so Tamura just double clotheslines them and in comes Atsuki…who gets backraked by the champ and now Doi and MUSASHI set up a double-team on Aoyagi, who immediately thwarts it and gets a handspring gamengiri and attempts his Fisherman’s Bomb but settles for a superkick and a 540 roundhouse before we get the double-tag to Rei and Taishin. Oh god.Rei might actually be twice Nagao’s mass and the big man just clobbers the rookie…but Taishin has spunk and keeps firing back despite being outmatched. A missile dropkick finally staggers Rei and the rookies try to jump him but he shouldersblocks all of them down in turn. The numbers get too much for Rei and they all hit stuff on him and Taishin’s missile dropkick finally drops Rei. Rei’s team shows up to break up the pin and everybody ends up outside where HAYATO lands a springboard pescado and it’s back in where Taishin gets a few flash rollups on Rei before Saito stuffs a sunset flip, gets the goozle slap and then gets a full on standing butt-drop for 2 (and my goodness, Rei BOUNCED on that man’s chest on it, oof), that gets 2 and Rei follows with a massive chokeslam and the one-handed pin for 3.

**¼

I don’t know if it’s good or bad that I can basically call this match before it happens, but being predictable doesn’t mean it’s boring. It was some junior action and then the big-fish at the littlest-fish.

Takashi Yoshida [0] vs. Hideki Suzuki [6] – A Block Match

Background: Takashi is a cheating jerk with no points who exists to frustrate his opponents with blatant testicular attacks. Suzuki is an arrogant grappler who can be a bit of a goof but mostly just leans on people and chokes them out, he’s still in it.

The Match: Big lockup and a clean break and Takashi offers the handshake and Hideki refuses to boos. Suzuki headlock as Takashi screams and tries to gouge the eyes and we get a very delayed and deconstructed big guy standoff with Yoshida hamming up the buildup for his shoulderblocks and them both brushing off lockups before Takashi offers ANOTHER handshake. Hideki is reluctant to response so Takashi shakes the refs hand, and shakes the hands of his ring attendants before Hideki finally agrees to a handshake and Takashi gets the throat thrust and a chokes with wrist tape before the ref breaks it up. More dirty boxing from Takashi keeps him in control with constant pandering and then goes at Hideki’s nose and we get a fist drop, Takashi pimps an elbow drop attempt next but that gets dodged and it’s back to Hideki wrapping Takashi up. Yoshida breaks loose and gets a flurry of throat thrusts and a gamengiri before landing a senton and he’s having so much fun being on offense. Yoshida plays up a lariat forever before it gets stymied though Takashi goes back to throat thrusts to maintain control before accidentally stabbing a turnbuckle. That doesn’t stop Yoshida from more throat thrusts…but he stabs the turnbuckle again and this is just total farce. Now Hideki accepts the handshake and squeezes to work Takashi’s abused hands and we’re in total stupid mode here. Suzuki gets a double wrist-clutch rollup for 3.

**

This match was so stupid that despite Takashi doing all the work and Hideki offering nothing, I enjoyed this clownshoes operation. Right on the cusp of being too stupid though.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. [10] vs. Shotaro Ashino [4] – A Block Match

Background: It’s a three-man race for the A-Block with DBSJ, Hideki, and Kento in the running and Shotaro…not. That said, with a win here Davey would have it cinched over Kento, so him winning out is important. Shotaro of course is fighting for pride. As far as in-ring, Davey is bigger and stronger, but Shotaro has the explosivity edge.

The Match: They trade takedowns with neither getting the upper hand. DBSJ finally gets a hammerlock and turns that into a few pins but Shotaro makes the ropes. Davey gets another mount and continues to grind out the arm. Shotaro decides enough if enough and gets a strike flurry for 2 and they slug it out and my goodness the size difference is…notable. Davey wins the exchange with an arm wrench and more arm stuff in the corner as we are just grinding this out. And we get three minutes of Davey just humping the arm before it’s a break and now Davey is throwing shots and yes…going back to the arm. Butterfly suplex for 2 gives us a spot at least. We’re back to the armwork though and Shotaro is a bit more animated in selling this time before making the ropes again, Davey gets a whip and Shotaro tries to fight back but a big boot puts him down and Davey goes yes, back to the armbar. Ashino makes his feet but gets put down with some Davey knees but we finally gets something going with a rollup sequence for a stalemate before Ashino ducks a clothesline and gets a German. More suplexes are attempted and Davey gets a backdrop driver and we trade some pins before the Canadian gets a powerslam for 2. Back to the arm and Davey gets another backdrop driver for 2.8. Davey sets up the powerbomb but Shotaro slips out and gets the ankle lock. Davey kicks free but Shotaro goes back to it. More roll-throughs but Davey can’t shake loose and we get the grapevine from Shotaro and Davey taps.

*

Man this was so really boring. Just boring Davey holds which made Shotaro do his worst thing, selling, and not his best thing, explosive offense. The underdog grabs the hold and won’t let go was a fine finish but Davey was dominating him on the mat, the armwork never went anywhere, and it was way too long. Boring, boring match but they didn’t really mess anything up.

XYON [4] vs. Jun Saito [6] – A Block Match

Background: So technically Jun is still in this as he has 3 matches left. These guys are relatively similar, big, bruising ex-athletes (XYON rugby, Jun football and sumo) of a similar size. XYON is faster and more explosive but Jun has more technique in his power moves.

The Match: Big ole lockup to a standstill. Lockup number two goes for XYON who gives the clean break and mocks Jun’s hair taunt. A third lockup goes Jun’s way and we get a VERY reluctant clean break and now Jun taunts by stroking his hair. Shoulder block battle and then both guys run the ropes into a double-down and we’re very much doing the “we’re equals” thing. XYON calls for the TEST OF STRENGTH next with a Greco-Roman knucklelock and I might give this match an extra quarter star just for that. Jun struggles back so XYON throws a knee but runs into a Jun clothesline and powders and it’s TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL! Jun chokes out the Aussie with a cheer towel and then poses with a picture with it for a fan. XYON reverses a whip though and sends the champ into the ringpost and XYON poses a bit and then drops Jun on the apron out of a fireman’s carry (like a GTS with the apron as the knee strike) and then in a fireman’s carry rams Jun’s head against the post, hey kinda creative offense that builds on XYON’s established repertoire! We go back inside now and XYON tries to pick the bones with some corner charges and some body shots before another hard whip gets a 2 count and then the NERVEHOLD OF SAMOAN DESTRUCTION! And then just a double arm hold of regular destruction. Jun tries to break free but XYON keeps in control. Jun is not really a fantastic seller but he’s trying and he’s giving some effort on the hope spots. A twisting Samoan drop gets 2 for XYON and he looks BLOWN up. Powerbomb attempt they fight over and Jun gets the backdrop and the comeback is on with the regular running boots and then a delayed brainbuster. Arrogant cover and Jun unleashes the hair and goes for a chokeslam but XYON breaks the goozle and they be clubberin’. Saito turns a whip into a spear for 2. Jun goes up (?!) but his diving clothesline misses and XYON gets a bicycle kick for 2 and a sorta double-down and both guys trade corner charges before another slug fest and they really are keeping both guys as equals here. Lotta big delays between strikes to give both a chance to breathe (but Jun is definitely moving better). XYON with a brainbuster a double-down to get both guys another chance to catch their breath. XYON kips up and it looks like he wants to vomit but he powers through for his running high-tackle and that gets 2.9. That was an actual finish so the Aussie looks a bit out of sorts at that. Now XYON goes up and does a flying nothing into Jun’s chokeslam and then a flying sidekick (looked like it was trying to be the Bomaye but it was very loose) gets 3.

**½

Just a totally acceptable wrestling match. XYON is not good, but he has a few attributes and Jun is a decent worker even if not really at the level to get this to a good point. I do like the psychology of two evenly matched guys facing off but Jun’s high risk attempt wasn’t really capitalized on and Jun was able to exploit XYON’s whiffed dive. Not great psychology but a little extra touch. Also maybe it’s just cause XYON was super gassed out but Jun looked fine even at the end, props to his cardio.

Jun shows respect post-match and in the promo, and XYON puts him over on the mic backstage.

Kento Miyahara, Ren Ayabe & Ryuki Honda vs. Hokuto-gun (Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi) & Madoka Kikuta

Background: So all of these guys are in the tournament, and upcoming we have a Kento/Kuma match and Madoka has matches with Ren and Ryuki in the B Block. Hokuto-Gun is also kinda collapsing with Kuma basically being 100% a babyface while Hokuto is a dirty heel. Additionally Kento is the sorta old man ace that young rising stars Ryuki and Ren are opposing so they might be a frosty partnership there.

The Match: We get some posing from everybody and we do some mugging over who stars and it’s gonna be Kento and Kuma. Lockup, break, international. Kento powders and Kuma howls. And the lights flicker and we get a full-shot of this room and oh my goodness this is TINY. Kento just kinda talks with the crowd for a bid and then walks back in and we get Ayabe and Hokuto and my goodness Ren is over, and I do get it, he’s looking like a superhero against the sorta dumpy Omori. Ren just kinda tosses him around with a lockup before Hokuto slips out and blows a kiss and then Ren mocks his height. So Omori bites his hand, as one does. Omori with a low dropkick but he can’t get the slam and Ayabe responds with a massive one and the flex. Ryuki in now and he gets the 5 count choke on the ropes and then spinebusters Hokuto for 2 while the babyfaces (?) all triple team Hokuto but Hokuto ducks a Kento big boot and now the heels (?) fly in and we get some brawling ringside. The lights flicker again as Madoka chops Kento, Kuma chokes Ryuki and Hokuto uh, I guess we missed what Hokuto is doing but he seems proud of himself. Anyway it’s back to Ryuki and Madoka is against him and he just beats him down in the corner and chokes him with his butt. So Ryuki uh…bites Madoka’s posterior. Huh. They slug it out but Kikuta gets one of his chops and that drops Honda and Madoka continues to sell his butt being bitten. Kuma in and he slugs it out with Ryuki and just gets a big slam and a senton for 2. Another slam and a foot press with the ropes gets a break. Kuma gets an overhead rack too but Ryuki slips out and gets a spear and in comes Kuma with a big boot and his double dropkick sequence. Kento’s suplex gets stuffed though and it’s a torture rack by Kuma into a drop and a senton. And Hokuto gets a missile dropkick but that lets Kento tag-in Ren who gets the hooking clothesline and everybody isolates Hokuto. But Omori takes out Ren with nut punch and then a double nut-punch on Kento and Ryuki. And how Hokuto-Gun are running wild and they pick up Madoka to send him butt-first at their cornered opponents. And they load up Ren for a superplex with Hokuto going up and his teammates assisting and Ren holds on and his team powerbombs Omori. Seen it a million times and still funny. Ayabe gets a full-nelso on Hokuto who tries a mule kick to the groin but Ayabe is JUST TOO TALL, and then when Madoka runs in Ren sidesteps the hip-check and Hokuto eats it. Ryuki lariat sets up Ren’s Death Roulette on Hokuto and that’s 3.

**¾

Just a silly, fun house show match with plenty of comedy and Omori’s cheating is rewarded with him taking a drubbing. Good fun.

Post-match Kuma and Kento stare each other down and the ‘faces’ celebrate.

Mike D Vecchio [6] vs. Yuma Anzai [6] – B Block Match

Background: Two guys portrayed as explosive and versatile athletes. Mike is more of a contemporary high-flyer with big power moves and incredible acrobatic feats while Yuma is firmly based in the amateur space but has great athleticism and has shown signs of being able to do more than this fundamental work if called for. Both are at 6 points and with three matches left a block win is on the table. Yuma is taller, Mike is wider.

The Match: Big lockup and Yuma is tossed to the mat. Mike gets a go-behind and a takedown next but Yuma reverses and gets a wristlock that Mike gets a kneelift out of and then a shoulder and a boot as he’s way too big for the All Japan native. Anzai sidesteps the dive but the Belgin comes back with a rope-aided gamengiri and a springboard lariat as he’s just dominated Anzai. Vecchio finally slows it down with a facelock and a suplex attempt but Yuma gets his feet up and lands his own comeback attempt but Yuma’s suplex is cutoff with a gorilla press drop and a standing moonsault as the Euro is in control. They slug it out for a bit with the man from Mons (that’s apparently where Mike is from!) takes control with a chop. I do appreciate that Yuma’s lack of a standup game is a recurring flaw of his in these matches. And Anzai is aware too as he gets a belly-to-belly to get a breather. Mike runs into a dropkick as he tries to fight back and Yuma lands the double-arm suplex for 2 as a followup. Seated crossface follows but Mike is too strong and gets free and fights off a Gimlet attempt and we get more slugging. Yuma runs the ropes but gets crossbodied against them and both guys tumble out in an unique spot for me. We get some awkward brawling outside as both guys don’t really seem to have the space to do anything so Mike just brainbusters Yuma outside. I can’t quite see what’s happening but I think Mike is stomping Yuma outside while the ref tries to break it up. Back inside and Mike gets a 2.5 for some unseen abuse (single camera show). Mike goes up but Yuma flies up with a step-up knee and then when Mike recovers with a springboard gets dropkicked out of the air…but runs into a Vecchio lariat regardless. Gourdbuster on the ropes and Mike goes up again…and Yuma much more slowly cuts him off but still lands a double-arm superplex for 2.7. Fans are RABID for Yuma here and the young Anzai goes for corner charge but the Belgian cuts him off, we get a nice fake-out as Vecchio goes up and teases a springboard that Anzai anticipates…but MIke instead does a double-jump into and OzCutter attempt but Yuma sniffs that out and catches that for a German for 2. Okay, that was well-done. Anzai with a jumping knee and and now he gets the Gimlet and that’s 3.

***

I think that was the best use of Mike I’ve seen. He’ll always be a frustrating wrestler for me as the go-go-go stuff just isn’t REALLY my preference for All Japan or this match setting, but just this explosive, freak athlete being outsmarted eventually by our handsome homegrown ace is good stuff. Also personally the Ozcutter looking like a chump move makes me smile.

Yuma Aoyagi [4] vs. Aigle Blanc [4] – B Block Match

Background: Both are still technically capable of winning out here despite their relatively unimpressive current standing. Yuma is a versatile troll who suffers from a lack of killer instinct as his urge to mess with people overwhelms his urge to win matches, Aigle is a skinny French high-flyer who I will be honest and say I don’t have a great grasp of why he matters outside of his impressive athleticism and the fact he wears a mask.

The Match: Standing grappling and Aigle is too fast so Yuma does some rolls to show off his athleticism and we get some armdrags and headlocks while Blanc is just very fast…and Yuma does his own forward handspring and kip-up just to troll a bit. International and Aigle beats the dropdown with a running somersault as they try some lucha stuff, and then Yuma attempts it and lands on his back and sells it big for laughter from the crowd. Yuma gets dropkicked and then eats a headscissors takeover and a tope as it’s all for the Frenchman right now. Aigle gets some shots outside and rolls Yuma back in…and Yuma just rolls out, and Aigle attempts this feat again before settling for a plancha that Yuma sidesteps and when the Frenchmen is insistent on making his point and goes up for a moonsault to the outside Aoyagi just yanks him down and we get a head-meets-apron situation. Back in and Yuma now heels it up inside by ripping at the mask and just stomping the younger Frank. THey brawl outside and tumble underneath the ring and Yuma emerges with Aigle’s mask and he preens to the crowd with it before going back underneath the ring and we hear violent sounds and Aigle returns with his mask. Tremendously silly stuff here. Back inside and Yuma stomps, Aigle fires back with chops but Aoyagi gets the eyes and lands a piledriver for 2. Back to the mask for Yuma but Aigle gets some springboards to set up a double-down and a tricky jump kick gets a whiplash and Aoyagi powders again but this time the ringpost moonsault lands. Back in and Aigle goes up but Yuma rolls away…only for Blanc to get a coast-to-coast dropkick for 2. Blanc goes up AGAIN but the 450 whiffs and now Yuma shows off his high-flying with a reverse crossbody and a diving crossbody for 2. End Game is attempted by Yuma but Blanc makes the ropes. Brainbuster is blocked by Blanc and Aigle gets Yuma on the apron and gets a headscissors driver through the ropes and then a double-springboard DDT onto the ring apron. Very fancy. Countout tease and Yuma finally gets back in but he immediately takes a springboard dropkick and a corner charge before Aoyagi fires back and they slug it out. Yuma with a dropkick, They trade suplexes before Yuma eats a lariat for a double-down. Slug-fest follows and both guys stumble around marvelously and they both escalate with a fancy kick from Aigle and then a backdrop driver and a diving elbow for 2 from Yuma. And Aoyagi goes up again but is cut off and after a series of kicks we get a Spanish Fly of all things for 2.8. Blanc with a tombstone and then a frog splash and then a 450…for 2.9. Okay that’s kinda ridiculous! Blanc does the dejected face and here it’s justified after Aoyagi ate 7 finishers there. Yuma is at least dead on his feet as Blanc tries to pick him up, but just settles for another dive and now Yuma cuts him off and gets a superplex…but AIgle goes zombie now with the comeback. Yuma doesn’t care and gets a running lariat and a brainbuster for 1 (?!?), then gets a Rockstar Buster for 2 and then The Fool gets 3.

***¼

So I’m starting to think that Aoyagi needs to be a full heel all the time. He’s just so smug and annoying and he mixes that up by being a very smart wrestler. There’s something there for me. Really good showcase for Aigle who got to hit all his heroic comeback spots before being overwhelmed. He lost clean but still felt like he got screwed in his own way. Very quality match and I enjoyed Yuma obliterating him at the end.

Not a fantastic show but a good enough finale that I can’t be mad about it.