All Japan Pro Wrestling: World’s Strongest Tag Determination League 2025 December 6th

We got a bit over 900 in Osaka’s IDION Arena #2 as we’re basically in the final stretch here.

Titans Of Calamity (Ren Ayabe & Talos), Shota Kofuji & Yuma Anzai vs. Hokuto-gun (Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi), Ryo Inoue & Seigo Tachibana

Background: So it’s technically two teams on both sides, though at this point Hokuto-Gun have been eliminated and Titans are tied for their block. Filling them out are contender Yuma (though he’s out of the tournament for different reasons) and young boy Shota and then the slightly above young boy Ryo and sorta midcard goof Seigo (though he can get serious as needed).

The Match: We start with Ren and Hokuto, lockup goes Ayabe’s way and he does the teased dirty break and then taunts Omori who dropkicks the knee and gets an elbow before being shouldered down and it’s a tag to Talos and Seigo. Tachibana tries to shake the hand but that irks Talos and they do a comedy spot where Tachibana is so short Talos’ strikes go over his head before the gaijin boots him down, takes him into the corner and brings in Shota to strike away and dropkick Tachibana. Seigo gets a high elbow though and brings in Kuma Arashi for a slam and senton. Kofuji in the corner and Omori beats him down and goes for the eyes. Shota with the desperate dropkick and in comes Ren with a body avalanche and slam before and arrogant cover gets 2. Hokuto breaks out of the full nelson and hits a DDT before bringing in Kuma for a standing senton and then a second-rope senton and a rack but Ayabe slips out and gets a flying clothesline before bringing in Yuma, jumping forearm, flying knee, belly-to-belly out of the corner but a whip sequence leads to Anzai eating a dropkick from the big guy and in comes Inoue to pepper Yuma with kicks in the corner. Hesitation dropkick and Seigo and Hokuto-Gun clear out the apron and all hit body presses on Anzai before Ryo gets a running kick for 2. Tachibana teases a dive but the Titans cut it off on the apron and Shota adds a missile dropkick on Hokuto-Gun before, Ryo boots Kofuji outside and we’ve reset to Yuma and Inoue. Slugfest is won by Ryo who gets a Buzzsaw kick for 2.7 before Yuma comes back with two flying knees for 2.8 and then the Gimlet gets 3.

**

About as generic as this match can be, but hey, it’s just about giving Yuma wins and keeping him in front of the crowd.

Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Takashi [2] vs. Naoya Nomura & Ryuki Honda [4] – B Block

Background: Naoya and Honda are still in it if they win out, but KTJ and Takashi are a perfect spoiler team with their whacky antics. Nomura and Ryuki are just straight forward “we’ll beat you up” guys though Ryuki has a goofy side.

The Match: We start with Takashi and Naoya with a big lockup that goes Takashi’s way and he teases but refrains going for the dirty break and then offers to shake Naoya’s hand…so we get the bit where Takashi boos Nomura, shakes the refs hand, shakes Kuroshio’s hand, shakes the hand of his stablemates and then even shakes Ryuki’s hand. Nomura accepts, gets throat thrusted and snot rocketed, but they run an international and Naoya runs Takashi over with a shoulder and stomps away before Kuroshio gets a blind tag and they go for an assisted throat thrust and that obviously gets KTJ. Honda runs in and they toss their opponents outside and do some brawling before Takashi hits more comedy spots with his throat thrust where he keeps missing. Back inside and Naoya stomps down KTJ and brings in Honda for the rope-choke and then a quick tag brings Nomura back in for a double shoulderblock and a chinlock. Takashi wills his partner back in and TOKYO Japan gets a fireman’s carry driver, Honda tries to cut off the ring but KTJ gets an enzuigiri and it’s hot tag to Takashi! And it’s throat thrusts to all and then a double lariat. Takashi gets some whips to set up his throat thrusts, but he stabs the turnbuckle by accident, Nomura spear and Honda tags in for a brainbuster and then the rope choke before KTJ gets a kick from the apron and Takashi and KTJ both choke out Honda on the ropes for a bit and they joke around with the ref before KTJ superkicks Nomura off the apron…but that lets Honda hit a double-spear and then a running lariat by Takashi is a stalemate as both guys clubber away and Takashi ‘wins’ with some throat thrusts before a Naoya flying forearm sets up another Honda spear…but he runs into Takashi’s lariat, and Takashi lariats an interfering Nomura as well before a dosido sends Kuroshio into a somersault plancha on Naoya. Now Takashi goes for a lariat but Honda busts out the amateur wrestling with a fireman’s carry takeover into a cradle and that’s 3.

**¾

I do enjoy the whackiness of Takashi, but you can tell where this formula suffers when an act like Naoya either has not the desire or ability to play along with the hijinks. Still, Honda’s brand of high-energy comedy worked fine, and Takashi had his boots on a bit tonight, dialing back the hands of time to unleash some really nasty lariats. Honda also had a pretty great “ain’t I a stinker?” face after the cradle too.

MUSASHI & Seiki Yoshioka [2] vs. Baka No Jidai (Dan Tamura & Hikaru Sato) [0] – A Block

Background: Well not the winningest combo of teams, but as all of these guys are effectively juniors their poor win-rate is to be expected in a heavyweight tournament. Tamura and Sato want to avoid the ole goose egg, and MUSASHI and Seiki are the secondary tag-champs and fighting for pride.

The Match: We start with Seiki and Hikaru getting into kickboxer stances and trading leg kicks before Seiki tries a single-leg but Sato goes to an armbar and they reverse holds before going to the mat where Hikaru has the advantage. Sato tries a PK but Seiki dodges and it’s double-tag time. An and MUSASHI lockup, Tamura wins and gets a forearm out of the break and we now got some hairpulling as MUSASHI doesn’t appreciate the disrespect from the rookie and MUSASHI shoves the ref and Yoshioka calms his partner down…but Sato runs in, tosses Seiki and tries to double-team him, but MUSASHI takes ‘em both down with chops, running dropkick sends them outside and we get a flip dive to follow. MUSASHI whips Tamura who takes a sick bump as he crashes into the barricade chest first and then slips over to almost land on his head. My goodness. MUSASHI gets some more chops and a few more whips and we finally go back inside for some stomps. Remember, this is all over a dirty break from a lockup. Dan is defiant even as MUSHASHI pulverizes him in the corner and both guys are trading pretty crispy strikes and the ref is continuing to get at MUSASHI for not breaking at the counts and Seiki comes in to help MUSASHI calm down with some breathing exercises. Seiki takes over with kicks in the corner, his flying knee and running PK but he stops to pose and Tamura catches with a backbreaker and brings in Sato for kicks, Yoshioka reverses an armbar and gets his own…before falling to the patented Baka No Jidai gamengiri before Yoshioka comes back with his floating scissor kick and makes the tag. MUSASHI with chops and his dropkick/stomp/dropkick combo for 2. MUSASHI goes for a German but that lets Sato crank in an armbar and tag in Tamura who runs the vet over with a shoulder for 2 and a Samoan drop gets broken up by Seiki. Sato drags Yoshioka outside and it’s Tamura now slapping MUSASHI around before going for a powerbomb that he gets backdropped out of, both guys whiff corner charges before Seiki comes in to set up their avalanche frankensteiner/frog splash, but Sato breaks up the frog splash and kneebars Yoshioka and we reset to Tamura just whalloping MUSASHI with corner clotheslines…but a fired up MUSASHI slaps Tamura repeatedly and they just clobber each other. Running lariat by Dan gets 2.9 and Sato is still blocking Seiki from running in so a Tamura powerbomb finally connects for 3.

***

Well…I was not expecting MUSASHI to actually showcase personality here! Obviously setting the tune for a rematch, but MUSASHI getting a bee in his bonnet about Tamura and trying to take him 1v1 when Dan has the obvious advantage in size, power, and physicality instead of relying on their slick double-teams is a nice note and something to look at in the inevitable title match. Really hard-hitting affair if you like juniors that put some starch on it.

Post-match Hikaru/Dan find a fan in the front row and pose with them for a picture in a cute moment.

Saito Brothers (Jun Saito & Naruki Doi) vs. HAVOC (Oddyssey & XYON)

Background: So Rei Saito is still out so Jun is just sorta faffing about, HAVOC are the current tag-champs and the leaders in their block at the moment. Doi is Mr. Saito and the junior member of the Saito Brothers.

The Match: We start with Jun and XYON locking up a few times before Jun throws some knees to the breadbasket and we get an international into a shoulderblock challenge that goes Jun’s way, but XYON fires back with his strike combo and the Samoan evades a whip before getting his own twisting variant to knock Jun down. XYON tags in Oddyssey and Naruki Doi promptly steps off the apron and heads to the back before crowd chants shame him into returning…and Jun immediately tags him in. We get some comedy cowardice from Doi who just bounces off Oddyssey on shoulderblocks and immediately begs for a tag. Doi gets a low dropkick and dodges some corner charges, but he gets fired up and goes for a slam and that’s immediately reversed and Doi powders. Jun is taken off the apron too and HAVOC follows to brawl outside. Doi is slammed on the apron and dragged back into the ring where Oddyssey does his rolling sentons to Doi but he whiffs a running splash and it’s hot tag Jun with some running strikes and then a big boot on the Odd-one but Oddyssey fires back with a big body avalanche and then some strikes in the corner of his own, XYON tags in and we get a back suplex/neckbreaker for 2. Jun and XYON slug it out until a big boot by Saito sets up a chokeslam for a breather and in comes Doi! Oddyssey runs in but Doi low-bridges the guy and the Saitos gets to work, spinning neckbreaker by Naruki! Elbow drop by Jun! Lightning Spiral attempted…but XYON slips out and gets a back suplex flipped into a cutter (okay why is that move getting so much play these days?) and that gets broken up by Jun. We get miscommunication from HAVOC as Oddyssey accidentally clotheslines XYON, Jun spears the big man down. Then a Doi/Jun sunset flip/spear combo on XYON gets 2.9 and Naruki goes up while playing to the crowd…and his high crossbody is caught, but a crucifix pin gets 2.8 for Doi before a flying clothesline takes the little guy out. Jun is in now to trade shots with XYON but Oddyssey is recovered enough to take out the former champ and XYON’s whip into the black hole slam sets up a diving headbutt by the Samoan on Doi for 3.

**½

Well what was mostly just a “small member of a team gets trashed by the champ” they did set up some stuff with a healthy Saito Brothers against these monsters and Doi got a lot more showcase than I expected.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Kento Miyahara [4] vs. Atsuki Aoyagi & Rising HAYATO [4] – B Block

Background: Due to tiebreakers I DBSJ can still get in with a win and some luck, but Atsuki and HAYATO are out Kento of course has teamed with HAYATO in the past but this is another heavyweights vs. juniors battle.

The Match: It’s Davey and Atsuki to start with DBSJ being tossed around and Aoyagi asking for more and trying some evasive tactics…only to get run over again. So we get the double-tag and HAYATO gets pretty crazy cheers as Kento sulks. They trade wristlocks as HAYATO gets his overhand chop and then a flying headscissors to send Kento out of the ring, HAYATO fakes a dive and MIyahara tries to head back in but gets booted off the apron, Atsuki wipes out Davey and the two juniors get stereo pescados and brawl a bit ringside before the heavyweights easily reverse momentum and pulverize them. Back inside and Kento stomps out HAYATO and tags in Davey to do more of the same, a few slams and then an honest to goodness nerve pinch from Davey before transitioning to a chinlock. HAYATO breaks free and speeds it up with some rope-running into an elbow and we get the hot-tag to Atsuki! A series of dropkicks gets a quick cover and Davey goes for a German but Aoyagi flips out of that…but runs into a powerslam and that lets Kento make the tag, Miyahara with a boot and then his dropkick combo sets up the pose. Miyahara showboats too much and that lets Aoyagi recover for a handspring kick and HAYATO tags in, clears Davey off the apron, and we a diving codebreaker/wheelbarrow facebuster into a suplex/neckbreaker for 2. HAYATO tries a low thrust kick but Kento blocks and then boots HAYATO’s head off and Davey comes in, corner forearm, jumping knee for 2 and Atsuki breaks it up before getting tossed. HAYATO fights off the double and Kento accidentally boots Davey before Atsuki flies in with a missile dropkick on Smith. A series of thrust kicks from the juniors stagger Miyahara enough to hit their double fisherman’s buster slam and they set up Smith on the top rope and land a double superplex before breaks it with a Blackout, Aoyagi with a 540 kick but Kento does the big no-sell with another Blackout knee…and Atsuki returns the favor with a lariat (?!), whacky spot to follow as Atsuki gives HAYATO a Spanish Fly onto Davey for 2.5 but Smith follows with a double shoulderblock and then a backdrop driver on HAYATO for 2.9 and loads up the powerbomb…but HAYATO gets a rana for 2.9! Another knee and now the powerbomb lands and that’s 3.

**¾

Well I never really believed the juniors had a chance, but this is a match these guys can have in their sleep (and oftentimes it felt like their foot wasn’t fully on the accelerator) but it’s an easy dynamic and they know all the spots to hit.

Post-match Davey cuts a super pandering promo.

Baka No Jidai (Hideki Suzuki & Kengo Mashimo) [4] vs. HAVOC (Go Shiozaki & Shotaro Ashino) [6] – A Block

Background: Technically both these teams are still in it, though whomever loses here is eliminated, also Baka No Jidai would still need HAVOC to beat the Titans of Calamity. This is a pretty experienced matchup with all these guys being at least 10+ year vets with lots of success in various places.

The Match: Shotaro and Hideki start and we get to grappling, it’s all about even until Hideki gets Shotaro in the ropes and goes at Ashino’s damaged elbow and Shotaro throws a strike before bringing in Go for a chop and an assisted uppercut. Kengo runs interference but eats a double chop and HAVOC do their taunt. Reset and we tag in Go and Kengo. Lockup goes Kengo’s way and he gives the clean break…before getting Go when he steps forward and then cranks in a headlock and shoots off for a shoulderblock. Go finally decides it’s chop time and Kengo takes a snap back bump off one. Shotaro comes in for some more chops but Kengo gets a kitchen sink knee and brings in Hideki and it’s time for a Garvin stomp (?!) before sending Kengo back in with kicks before Ashino goes off the second-rope with a corkscrew uppercut and Go’s in for more chops. These tags are QUICK. Flying shoulderblock by Go sends Kengo into the corner and it’s machine gun chop time. Go tries for a fisherman’s buster but Kengo slips out and when Go throws another chop Mashimo catches it and gets an armbar takedown but Shiozaki makes the ropes. Hideki tags in to deliver some liver shots in the corner but Go breaks free with chops before setting up the machine gun chops…but Suzuki blocks…so Go just keeps hammering into Hideki’s arms before a kick lets the Baka No Jidai leader make some space…and Go just gets a chop and lands the fisherman’s buster for 2.5. Burning lariat by Go but Hideki ducks the second and gets a backbreaker. Shiozaki quickly tags out and when Hideki thinks of doing the same Shotaro clears the apron and gets a series of suplexes before Kengo runs in with a knee and Baka No Jidai try double-teams before both of them eat a Shotaro German. Go comes in and both HAVOC members tee off on HIdeki before hiding a thrust kick/northern uppercut into a German/overhand chop combo that Kengo breaks up and we reset to Shotaro and Hideki, Ashino picks the leg for an anklelock but Hideki rolls that into a cradle before a series of kicks stagger Shotaro and Suzuki gets a cradle tombstone and then tries his double-arm suplex…but settles for a Pedigree? HIDEKI SUZUKI TO WWE CONFIRMED!!! It gets 2.7 and Hideki then goes for the double-arm suplex again but Shotaro picks the leg and gets the ankle lock. HIdeki rolls over and gets a few punches to break so Shotaro shifts to a German and returns to the ankle. Kengo runs in to break with a kick, and a follow-up high kick drops Shotaro, and when Go runs in he eats a double gamengiri and gets booted outside while Hideki gets a backdrop driver for 2.9. Ashino tries to power up but a Hideki punch drops him and a double-arm suplex finally gets 3.

**½

Very much heel vs. heel (even though the crowd loves HAVOC) with not much of a heat segment and lots of quick tags. I’ll never love Suzuki but him and Kengo have good chemistry as nasty legbreakers and Go of course remains great. I would have liked more Go/Kengo stuff, but Hideki is the booker so…this match also set up a three way tie for the A Block so the booking was sorta inevitable.

Well we’re in the final throes here with a handful of shows and then I can finally get into the New Year, for me this pace is blistering! Thanks for reading.