All Japan Pro Wrestling: Champion Carnival April 29th 2025

We got 700+ in Okayama here as this Carnival continues.

Dan Tamura, Hokuto Omori, Ryo Inoue & Shotaro Ashino vs. Atsuki Aoyagi, Carbell Ito, Taishin Nagao & Yuma Aoyagi

Background: Dan is an oversized junior, Hokuto is in the Carnival as a ridiculous manipulator, Ryo is an arrogant kicky junior, Shotaro is in the tournament as an undersized suplex machine. Atsuki is the flippiest AJPW junior, Yuma is his big bro, a tournament guy with two reigns as Triple Crown champ and a laidback if disrespectful attitude. Taishin is the newest rookie and Carbell Ito who apparently is a 50 year old businessman who just decided to become a wrestler and here he is in a mask!

The Match: Ryo and Atsuki start. Aoyagi is more athletic, Inoue is more aggressive. A fakeout dive from Aoyagi lets him mock Ryo’s strut and they keep at the junior routine before they tag in Carbell and Hokuto. Ito offers a handshake but is stomped down. Carbell gets the worst slingblade I’ve seen in my life and then his team get Hokuto in a South-Asian deathlock and quadruple team him…via a finger up the butt. Well, it’s gonna be this sorta match. Taishin follows with another butt poke and then they crotch Omori against the post. I am sighing a lot here. Yuma with an atomic drop on Hokuto who at least has the good will to sell it like crazy before Yuma gets a running finger to the butt…that is countered by Hokuto *sigh* clamping and twisting to damage Aoyagi’s hand. Tamura in to do some clubberin’ and then he cuts off Yuma’s comeback with a diving shoulderblock and all of Tamura’s crew flies in to wipe out the opposition. More bludgeoning but Yuma gets a desperation Rock Bottom and his crew flies in and they all hit stuff on Dan. Taishin is in legit and gets a bridging Northern Lights before Shotaro runs in to break that up with a gutwrench and Yuma flies back in…to eat a German, then Atsuki flies in for a handspring kick, Ryo with a jump kick. Taishin dropkick and a flip out of a Hokuto suplex, and Nagao repays Omori with a shot to the groin! Carbell gets a plancha next and we’re back to Dan and Taishin slugging it out. Nagao with some rollups but he runs into Dan’s iariat and a brainbuster for 2.8. Powerbomb by Dan gets the 3.

**

Look that early comedy was REALLY dumb but it didn’t last too long and they all worked hard. Totally fine if pretty stupid.

Post-match Yuma and Hokuto give…each other wedgies…well then.

Aigle Blanc [4] vs. Rei Saito [2] – B Block Match

Background: The heaviest guy in the tournament facing the lightest. Rei is a big brawler and Aigle is an agile high-flyer. Rei is technically still alive but he needs luck and to win out. Blanc I think is toast.

The Match: Rei shoves Blanc away and a lockup goes about how you’d expect. A second try as the Frenchman is bold at least, and then Aigle paintbrushes Rei and immediately gets backed into the corner and we get Rei’s delayed chop deal…and Blanc just kicks him in the head. Blanc tries a whip though and eats a shoulder and then powders so Rei follows and whoops him, chokes him with a towel and then sets the Parisian next to the ringpost so Rei can shoulderblock Aigle into it. But it’s a fakeout and Rei goes back to the delayed chop and after a few more fakes Rei accidentally chops the post, Blanc tries to capitalize with a pescado but Rei catches him and tries for a slam but Blanc slips out and sends Rei into the post and now a somersault plancha connects. Aigle gets Rei back in and goes for a springboard crossbody that just splats off Rei in hilarious fashion. Saito stomps on the Frenchman using the ropes for leverage and the ref finally is like “hey you can’t do that.” Rei follows with a big fat elbow drop but misses the running splash so Aigle gets a series of kicks, and then a missile dropkick as Saito is just sorta wobbling like he’s King Hippo, and then a springboard knee FINALLY drops Rei for 2. And Blanc gets cheeky by going for some corner chops so Rei reverses and obliterates the Frenchman with chops and then a running shoulder gets 2. Rei calls for the end and picks up Aigle who gets a twisting victory roll for 2 but Rei fires back with a running crossbody for 2.7. Chokeslam but Blanc reverses into a DDT that Rei takes a GREAT bump for, and Aigle goes up top but Rei cuts him off and they fight on the top rope over a superplex Blanc turns that into a powerbomb attempt using the ropes and then after Rei fights it off Blanc gets a kick and then a springboard sunset flip and lands the powerbomb! 450 follows but Rei kicks out at 2.9. Blanc goes for a springboard and Rei chokeslams him off the top for 2 and then cranks in a Boston Crab of all things and Aigle immediately taps.

***½

Wow that was a ton of fun. Great speed vs. size match and Rei is a master at selling JUST enough to make his eventual bumps worth it. Kinda weird that the Crab finished but he was working the mid-section and Rei is legit like twice Blanc’s size. Good stuff here.

Hideki Suzuk [8]i vs. XYON [4] – A Block Match

Background: Hideki is a slow-grindy wrestler guy and XYON is a fast-paced explosive brawler. THis is gonna be weird! XYON is eliminated but Hideki is still in it.

The Match: Hideki actually sells fear from XYON’s taunting and chest beating and powders. More of a Memphis routine from Suzuki as XYON offers a handshake and Hideki stalls outside. XYON does a full dance and Hideki claps for him and then they shake hands…before Suzuki takes out XYON’s leg and drags him outside for some stomps. Wait that’s your plan? Kinda disappointing. XYON sells a few axehandles like he’s getting dismembered at least as Hideki is being even more low-effort than normal. Back in and Suzuki gets a headlock. XYON finally breaks free and we get a rope-running spot until the Samoan gets his spinning elbow, but XYON’s running charge eats feet and Hideki gets a rope-hung headscissors choke. XYON fires back with a hard whip and more taunting and Hideki powders again. Argh. Slugfest outside that XYON wins and Hideki ‘runs’ from and they wander into the crowd until Suzuki legit sprints back to the ring and when XYON goes back inside Hideki stomps him down. Is that seriously his master plan? Hideki finally uses some clever grappling as he does some World of Sport stuff into a rollup for 3.

*½

This was not good at all, slow and boring, but at least Hideki using his wrestling to win is some sorta payoff. Whatever.

Mike D Vecchio [6] vs. Ryuki Honda [6] – B Block Match

Background: Mike is explosive and athletic and does a lot of stuff, Ryuki is a charismatic chunky brawler who does a lot less. Both guys are technically still in it but their paths are narrow.

The Match: Big lockup and then some standing grappling with Mike working the arm a bit. Ryuki gets Mike into the ropes though and gives a clean break. Lockup number two stalemates and Honda gets a wristlock and then his choke on the ropes for the five-count but Mike unleashes a forearm and they slug it out. Ryuki gets tossed and the Belgian gets a pescado and we get some brawling outside with them going through the crowd. Mike breaks the count and goes back outside again to keep whooping on Honda. Finally back in and we get Mike’s springboard clothesline for 2. Also Mike is constantly looking at the crowd and I don’t quite understand why. Slam gets 2 and a sorta arrogant elbow drop follows, I like the cover as he holds his arm across Ryuki’s throat and Honda has to hit the ropes with his foot. This is VERY methodical and I don’t hate it as the European gets a brainbuster for 2 next. Another attempt is reversed by Honda and we have a double-down while Honda fires himself (and the crowd) up. Corner clothesline and a spinebuster get 2 for Honda and Ryuki then gets a chinlock. Mike fights out but Honda goes for a German that gets countered and they speed it up when Mike gets a backflip out of the corner and then a release back suplex and a sloppy standing moonsault (landing knees first on Ryuki) gets 2. They slug it out again and Honda makes sure to sell and stumble after every shot. Ryuki screams and they get into a lariat battle that Mike wins with a beauty for 2.8. Vecchio looks shocked and like he’s out of ideas so he goes up but gets cut-off and they slug it out on the turnbuckle until Honda pulls off the superplex. Ryuki’s lariat gets 1 but a second gets…1. Final Vent by Honda seals the deal with a 3 though.

**½

So I liked how different this was for MIke as he was more methodical and less high-flying and built up to it more, but it was still weirdly paced for me. Fine match but if he wants to do that slower style he’s gonna need to find out some notes between the notes so to speak. Honda sold well but wasn’t really going full intensity.

Post-match Ryuki does his dance routine and poses and it’s…interesting.

Davey Boy Smith Jr., Hikaru Sato & MUSASHI vs. ELPIDA (Ren Ayabe, Rising HAYATO & Yuma Anzai)

Background: Davey, Ayabe, and Anzai are all in the Carnival but Davey is in a different block and Ren and Yuma already wrestled. Oh and MUSASHI is the juniors champ and HAYATO wants another bite at that apple.

The Match: Sato and HAYATO start with Hikaru dancing around before throwing a kick. HAYATO goes the mat and actually does okay with a standing wristlock but Hikaru gets a kick to reverse…before HAYATO uses athleticism to get a chop. Flying headscissors sends Sato outside so we get the fakeout dive and it breaks down as the non-ELPIDA team show up and we get some brawling around the ring. Back to Hikaru and HAYATO with a chinlock before tagging in Ren for some “I’m tall” taunts and a slam. Sato eventually out quicks Ren and gets a jump kick and in comes Davey with a corner charge and some clotheslines and his own slam. Ayabe gets a hooking clothesline though and brings in Yuma, corner forearm, belly-to-belly but Davey gets some forearms and a DDT and in comes MUSASHI. The junior uses speed to flummox Yuma but the heavyweight gets some shots before getting chopped apart and then some dropkicks bring in Hikaru for more chops and strikes. Interesting that Yuma is being portrayed as vulnerable to strikes in the tournament. Sato tries a slam though and Yuma reverses that before Hikaru gets an armbar and it’s breaking down in Okayama as everybody gets holds! ELPIDA manage to reverse the ambush and knocks Davey into the corner against Sato and MUSASHI and then it’s back to Hikaru and Ren, and the tall guy gets a full-nelson slam and HAYATO adds a lionsault before Yuma’s double arm suplex and the pin is broken up and we’re all brawling again. Reset to Anzai and Sato and the vet gets some chops and strikes but gives Yuma space and a Jumbo knee gets 2.8. Backdrop driver gets 3.

**

Really paint by numbers match, if the crowd brawling wasn’t this uninspired I’d rate it higher, but they were not busting their buns here. Still not embarrassing, just low effort.

Takashi Yoshida [0] vs. Jun Saito [8] – A Block Match

Background: Yoshida is a winless cheating vet who likes to kick people in the testicles, Jun is our dominant champion looking to clear out the block and punch his ticket.

The Match: We start with Yoshida brandishing his chisel. They pose and preen and taunt and we finally get the big lockup and Jun wins and gives a clean break while Takashi is going full ham selling fear. They stall some more and then Jun gets a headlock and Yoshida escapes and is doing the big sll before going for a shoulderblock that gets brushed off. Takashi is ridiculous hammy here as he talks to the crowd and NOW he offers the handshake that gets denied. So we have Yoshida shake the refs hand and his stablemates hand and Jun agrees before getting throat-thrusted. Jun just scowls and Yoshida gets into the sumo stance (Jun is an ex-sumo guy) and Jun is just going “for real?” with his face before he humors him and just immediately trucks Takashi to powders and Jun follows to whoop butt outside. And Takashi is at least throwing himself around and selling big. Funny spot as Jun chokes Takashi with a cheer towel while Yoshida holds a Saito cheer towel. Yoshida tosses random ringboys (and his stablemates) at Jun who shrugs them off. Jun finally tosses Yoshida back inside who acts like he took a shot to the groin and with the ref distract kicks the ropes as Jun steps inside to deliver his own groin shot. Takashi unwraps the wrist tape and chokes a bit while acting like he’s fully innocent. Yoshida follows with an eyerake across the ropes and a fist-drop before doing more eye-rakes in a chinlock. Yoshida follows with a brainbuster attempt that gets reversed into a long delayed suplex by Jun. Shoulder and elbow drop by Jun for 2 and then he calls for the chokeslam but Takashi reverses with a stomp to the foot and a flurry of throat-thrusts and then a gamengiri and a senton for 2. Jun just gets back up and they slug it out with Jun winning before Takashi gets a sneaky groin kick and then unwraps a turnbuckle and tries to whip Jun into it. Of course this gets reversed and Jun then grabs a goozle…Takashi tries the throat thrusts but his arms are JUST TOO SHORT and Saito gets the chokeslam for 3.

***

Totally goofy, totally fun. Jun sold just enough to put over Takashi, but when it was “okay, I’m taking care of business” he shifted so easily into that mode. Fun comedy stuff and a real delight to watch with actual top-level pacing of reversals as Takashi was totally outmatched but…y’know…maybe.

Kento Miyahara [8] vs. Kuma Arashi [6] – A Block Match

Background: Kento is our arrogant most credible star in the company, Kuma is now a full on people’s hero as this burly brawler who likes howling. Kento needs to win out, Kuma is toast, can he play spoiler?

The Match: Lockup, Kuma wins but Kento reverses and gives a break. Second lockup and Kuma wins and gives a break and then howls. Kento headlock and they do a shoulderblock sequence and then an international and Kuma wins another shoulderblock exchange, howls, and follows a powdering Kento. We get a brawl outside and Kento being thrown into various pieces of furniture before Miyahara reverses with headbutts. Kento gets greedy with a slam attempt, but that’s reverses into a drop onto the apron and Kuma plays to the crowd before going in and going for a countout. Kento rolls back and gets covered for three consecutive 2 counts before eyeballing the ref. Kento tries to come back but gets no-sold, slammed, and sentoned and an arrogant cover gets 2.5. Kuma then steps on the chest as he’s just heeling it up now. Kento finally gets the comeback with the double dropkick but sells afterwards. Kento charges but a followup suplex is stuffed and turned into a torture rack, a drop, and then another senton. Kento powders for a nine and then rolls back in to get stomped on again. More of Kuma just crushing Kento’s innards and then delivering another senton and now the Best of the Best brightens up to throw shots in between selling his busted guts. Slugfest and whenever Kuma hits the ribs Kento drops. Kuma with a brainbuster that gets reversed and we get a double-down. Kento with a Blackout knee, but Kuma gets a dropkick and then a corner charge to squash the comeback. Diving senton by Kuma for 2.6. Arashi goes up against but is cutoff and we get a Kento superplex. Miyahara goes for the Shutdown German but Kuma breaks and gets a crossbody for 2. Dominator by Kuma gets 2.8. Kuma goes up again but this time whiffs the top-rope senton. Blackout from Kento is just totally no-sold and Kuma gets a lariat for 2.6 But another Blackout sets up another Blackout for 2.7. Shutdown now lands and that’s 3.

**¾

So I just…didn’t understand while after a tournament of Kento acting increasingly like a jerk heel and Kuma basically being a full on babyface we now have monster heel Kuma and underdog babyface Kento. I guess they read the crowd and that’s what they wanted, but there is a larger story here! Overall it’s fine and in a different context even good, but I was just irked by all that character growth being wiped out here.

Back with more in a bit.