All Japan Pro Wrestling: Champion Carnival April 25th 2026

Back for more CC action as we’re in Saitama’s Kasukabe Furei Cube with over 400 fans. It’s another weirdly boxy building but that is how puro rolls.

MUSASHI, Ryo Inoue & Seiki Yoshioka vs. Atsuki Aoyagi, Rising HAYATO & Shota Kofuji

Background: MUSASHI and Seiki were friends, rivals, and friends again, and they’re teaming with fellow junior (though far younger) Ryo Inoue who shares their love of crisp kicks and taunting. On the other side are the more babyface juniors of flippy Atsuki, goth pretty boy HAYATO, and the only rookie in AJPW, Shota Kofuji.

The Match: HAYATO and Ryo start with standing grappling Before HAYATO uses athleticism to evade a wristlock and land an overhand chop and it’s international time where HAYATO gets another chop before Inoue fires off a leg lariat. HAYATO turns a charge into a backdrop to send Ryo to the floor but Inoue runs away from the dive so HAYATO fakes him out and we get a double-tag to Shota and MUSASHI. The vet uses chops to control Kofuji but the rookie turns on turbo to drop MUSASHI with an elbow. Both guys trade stuff before MUSASHI gets his dropkick/stomp combo and send Shota to the corner and tags in Seiki and both guys get a flurry into a double dropkick and some posing. But Atsuki and HAYATO sneak in to send them to the floor and follow with stereo pescados…and then Ryo takes out Aoyagi and Rising with apron punts and sends Seiki back in for a Shota 2 count. Kofuji follows with a spinning neckbreaker and tags in Atsuki. Aoyagi uses his speed to get some evasion and a dropkick but can’t land a fisherman’s buster and Seiki gets an enzuigiri and tags in Ryo who unleashes a flurry of kicks to Atsuki before missing a charge and HAYATO slides in for some double teams but Ryo evades the double but his German on Atsuki is flipped out of and Aoyagi lands a spin kick and it’s a tag to Shota. Both rookies trade shots but Kofuji lands his rolling dropkick…and Seiki slides in for a scissor kick and MUSASHI gets an exploder but Kofuji lands his double missile dropkick and it’s all breaking down as Ryo eats a bunch of combined offense and Shota finishes with a diving forearm for 2. Back to Atsuki and HAYATO on Ryo who again turns a double into a Lethal Injection and then a handspring elbow on Shota. MUSASHI then hits a flip dive on everybody outside and we finally reset to Shota and Ryo. Inoue whiffs a step-up kick and then takes a dropkick from Kofuji who follows with a fisherman’s for 2 but a second is foiled and Ryo gets a lifting flatliner for 2.6 and then his step-up buzzsaw gets 3.

**½

Guys worked hard and they setup the right result with Ryo crawling out of the rookie role to truck other guys. Very tight TV six-man.

Post-match everybody talks a bit and Ryo is jazzed and Seiki and MUSASHI feel like they’re on the same page.

Hideki Suzuki [4] vs. Yuma Aoyagi [2] – B Block

Background: Two of the trolliest wrestlers in the company. Hideki is sedate to the point of being lethargic, but has an arsenal of holds and tricks to beat anybody. Yuma is more concerned with being cool than being the best, and has lost matches he should have won when his arrogance and desire to mess with people overwhelms his sense, but is also a tricky and skilled guy whose nom de guerre of The Fool belays his canniness. Both are around the same size with Hideki being a bit bigger but Aoyagi has the clear athleticism edge.

The Match: A quick dropkick and schoolboy by Yuma gets a quick cover and then a Japanese rolling leg clutch gets 2.8 before Hideki drops Aoyagi with a gut shot. A punt and Hideki is somehow already sucking wind as we count Yuma down before Suzuki snatches him into the corner and unleashes more body shots and we get another count down tease. They work it until a 9 while the ref keeps Hideki away but Yuma collapses again and it’s the Garvin stomp until Aoyagi finally counters into a victory roll and then another Japanese rolling leg clutch but Hideki reverses into a sleeper. Yuma tries to reach the ropes but Hideki kicks off of them and Aoyagi is stuck in the middle of the ring before finally getting the Bret counter for 2. Aoyagi with a flash backslide for 2 but Hideki beats him with an uppercut before it’s international time and Yuma snags a dropkick. A series of standing switches leads to a fancy rollup situation and it’s a double-pin?

**½

Okay I’ll give points for creavity…and brevity. It was a bit silly watching Yuma act like he’s facing Andre the Giant, but this guy spamming rollups against a more dominant foe was, yet again, novel, interesting, and I was amused by the psychology I guess. I’m grading on a huge curve for Hideki.

Post-match Wada explains his decision to both guys and Hideki doesn’t seem pleased.

Kengo Mashimo [2] vs. Oddyssey [4] – A Block

Background: Kengo is a sneaky jerk who kicks people and attacks limbs. Oddyssey is a big giant super heavyweight who is strong and cocky but not the most technical or well-cardio’d.

The Match: Lockup and Kengo is immediately tossed down while Oddyssey celebrates. Second verse is same as the first so Kengo settles for some chops and Oddyssey asks for more and shrugs them off. Mashimo finally just pokes Oddyssey in the eyes but the big man runs him over. The Odd-One throws some shots and then a corner avalanche crushes Kengo but Mashimo pulls up short on a whip and low-bridges Oddyssey, but can’t get anything going from the apron and gets tossed into the ringpost and Oddyssey beats Kengo down ringside and bounces his head off various pieces of metal before slamming him on the apron. Back in and the American gets a 2 count and then hits a series of elbow drops for another cover. Some clubbing blows on Kengo set up an Oddyssey splash…but Kengo evades and then tries to get the big man with a sleeper. Oddyssey evades but misses a charge in the corner and eats a pair of DDTs but gets back up into the corner and Kengo gets a third DDT and Oddyssey collapses. The rule of three is beautiful. Mashimo only gets 2.6 out of this but follows with a Buzzsaw kick that…mostly hits for 2.4. Mashimo stays on his superheavyweight challenger and goes back to the sleeper but Oddyssey is too strong and tosses Mashimo over and lands a running splash for 2.9. The Odd-one goes to the middle rope and tries another splash but Kengo evades and gets a shining wizard for 2.7 and goes back to the sleeper and then converts to a rear naked choke and Oddyssey taps.

***

Oddyssey is a pretty solid Big Fat Guy and Kengo is a good enough worker to work around that and lead to some interesting stuff, the Assassin latching onto a vulnerability and just hitting it again and again until getting the win is a good amount of fun. Smart match, good finish, fun stuff.

Daisuke Sekimoto [6] vs. Madoka Kikuta [3] – B Block

Background: Two outsiders. Daisuke is a burly block of beef from Big Japan, just a powerhouse vet with a ton of respect for his wars in All Japan. Madoka is an arrogant striker from DragonGate, he’s mean, he gouges eyes, he chops, he’ll hit you with his butt. This will get physical.

The Match: Big lockup stalemates as both guys struggle around the ring before they break in the ropes. Greco-Roman knucklelock next with Sekimoto getting the edge before Madoka fights back. Kikuta finally gets a dirts break when Daisuke recovers and its shoulderblock time but Madoka gets a strike to knock Daisuke down and then the man from DragonGate yanks some hair and slugs away. Sekimoto doesn’t look happy and starts throwing shots but Madoka asks for more and slams the vet. Kikuta takes Daisuke to the corner and unleashes some chops but Sekimoto fires up and reverses and Madoka eats some machinegun chops before Kikuta spits in the eye…but runs into a backdrop and Daisuke tosses him over the ropes and follows to bludgeon Kikuta on the outside. Daisuke runs Madoka spine-first into a ringpost and then whips him into the same. The ref begs them to get back inside and Daisuke obliges…and then gets an elbow drop when both have returned and Kikuta powders. Sekimoto follows and tosses Madoka back inside again and hits a giant brainbuster and then a crab. Madoka finally reaches the ropes and when Sekimoto gets ready to further the violence he runts into a boot off a corner charge but Madoka’s own is block…but that lets the younger wrestler put on the turbo and take Sekimoto down with a shoulder anyway. Back to the corner and Madoka unleashes chops, and when Daisuke powers up for a brainbuster the DragonGate man slips out and hits a crescent kick for 2. Kikuta tries a lariat but it’s blocked and Sekimoto snatches him up for a torture rack, but Madoka goes to the eyes and reverses into a brainbuster and we have an extensive double-down. Both guys trade chops after finally reaching their feet and Madoka gets the advantage and tries a powerbomb but Daisuke is still stronger and backdrops out and then gets a slam to follow. The Big Japan ace goes up but whiffs a splash and Kikuta gets a hip check as the announcers scream about being 15 minutes. Madoka is up first and gets a corner clothesline and then a hip check to the corner as Sekimoto is out of it and that gets 2.8. Kikuta calls for the lariat but whiffs and Daisuke gets a combo and his own lariat for 2.7. Fireman’s carry is slipped out and Kikuta regains the momentum with a hip check and then tries for his own lariat but Sekimoto blocks. Both guys block each others lariat for a while but Madoka finally slips free and lands one for 2.9 but follows up with a discus lariat for 3.

***¼

Okay, this was definitely a bit bloated, but once you got into the strike battle and the younger killer dropping the vet with his own move, you moved me. Fun exchange that could have been better with less delay at the start but hey, long tournament. Really solid meaty brawling though, and Sekimoto just running out of gas, I dig it.

Dan Tamura, Go Shiozaki, Ren Ayabe & Yuma Anzai vs. Hokuto Omori, Hyo Ogawa, Seigo Tachibana & Shotaro Ashino

Background: Tamura is chasing Seigo’s junior title and both have been trading pinfalls against each other. Go is in the Carnival and Shotaro isn’t, but both are members of Havoc. Ren and Yuma are former allies and both in the carnival, and Omori is a guy with a ton of goons and an overall taste for silliness and sometimes is a real threat. Hyo is…uh…a local guy I assume, don’t know him at all, he’s pretty tall and has a ridiculous pompadour/mullet combo.

The Match: We get Tamura and Seigo locking up to start and they turn into a headlock/headscissors sequence and both guys grind it out. They both trade rollups and standstill before it’s a tag to Hyo and Yuma. They lockup and Ogawa reverses into the ropes and lands a chop but an international sets up a Yuma dropkick…that Hyo shrugs off and just lariats Anzai down and then Hokuto tags in and sets up an assisted superplex that goes against Omori and he gets powerbombed and it’s BREAKING DOWN IN SAITAMA! Omori gets quadruple teamed and we’re back with Anzai suplexing Hokuto for 2 and then tagging in Go. Shiozaki eats some shots from Hokuto but chops him down before Hokuto comes back with a low dropkick to the knee and then a DDT. Hokuto tags in Shotaro and it’s Havoc vs. Havoc as Ashino hits a series of uppercuts on Go and then some karelin lift suplexes…but Shiozaki gets back to his feet and its a slugfest as he unleashes chops on his tag-partner while Shotaro breaks out uppercuts. A reversal sequence ends with Ashino hitting a German, and a second has Go lariating him for a double-down and then it’s a double tag to Seigo and Dan. Both juniors trade shots until Tachibana hits a Manhattan drop…and Tamura fires back with a flying shoulderblock and then a brainbuster. Tamura struggles and then locks in a cloverleaf but Hyo breaks that up and hits his own flying shoulderblocks, a backdrop suplex and a standing backflip before a fist drop…and an illegal cover that Seigo reminds him of as the crowd laughs. Tachibana brings in everybody to brutalize Tamura in the corner and Hokuto again tries an assisted superplex and this time lands it. Seigo gets a spear for a cover but Tamura’s team breaks it up and it’s breaking down again and Yuma lands a flying knee to Seigo, and Ren follows with a full-nelson slam before dragging Tamura up, the junior challenger gets a lariat on Tachibana for 2.7 and then a Samoan drop…that Seigo turns into a crucifix pin for 2.5 and then a crossface and Dan taps.

**¼

Just totally rudimentary outside of the junior build, but man are these heavyweights selling out to build up this junior match. It’s just eh but I do appreciate the consistent booking.

Talos [2] vs. Rei Saito [4] – A Block

Background: Talos is half of the tag champs as the Titans of Calamity, and is a big, giant, longhaired American buttkicker that has poor impulse control and is powerful but foolish. Rei is one of the Saito Brothers, who are the prior big, dominant tag team but has been regularly dominated in singles and tags by Talos and his partner. Rei is a bruising brawler but he’s significantly smaller than Talos, so the question is what he can in a matchup he’s unfamiliar with, and also if Talos can continue his streak of physical domination versus the Saitos.

The Match: Both guys trade shoulders to a standstill before its test of strength time. That also standstills and Rei throws chops and sets up a whip sequence…that ends with him being dropped with a shoulder and Rei powders. Talos follows and they throw hands outside with Saito getting beaten up. Rei whipped into the barricade but fires back with his own shoulderblock and they be clubberin’ Tony! Rei gets a running body avalanche to a post-adjacent Talos, but the big foreigner fires back with a clothesline and the brawl continues with Talos getting the upperhand and tossing Rei back inside. Talos poses for an excessive amount of time before getting a corner avalanche and then a second before he gets a boot to drop Rei and an arrogant cover gets 2.5. Rei blocks the goozle with a slap and a chop and tries a brainbuster but Talos is too big so Rei settles for a body attack, but Talos is too big and he gets his own. Both guys fight over a bainbuster and Rei wins that war for a double-down, and Saito is up first and both guys have a hockey fight. Talos asks for more so Rei removes an elbowpad and starts chopping, but the overhand shots from Talos drop the man from Havoc. Talos tries another goozle but Rei fires up and demolishes the American with chops and a body press before Rei runs over Talos with a shoulder. HE’S FIRED UP! That only gets 2.8 so Rei loads up the Eisbein (running two-handed palm thrust) but Talos breaks with a boot before a second boot gets 2.8. Talos with a sidewalk slam and Rei barely kicks out. Talos is up first, goozle and choke..but Rei uses his speed (?!) to slip free and hits a running crossbody for 2.6, and then his own strike flurry drops Talos and that’s 3.

**½

Look, this was NOT fantastic, but just two big guys doing their routine, and then Rei realizing he needed to use his veteran savvy and speed to get the win works. Neither guy is a technical marvel but this was short, fun, and energetic. And I do like that it sets up that Rei has a more effective standup than guys, and while Talos is bigger and more powerful, he’s way too arrogant and doesn’t have the killer instinct.

Ryuki Honda [2] vs. XYON [3] – B Block

Background: Very similar guys in a lot of ways, both are high energy impact dudes who do a lot of taunting and big, sudden strikes. Honda is goofier and a bit more well-rounded, XYON is more athletic and more focused on his oeuvre.

The Match: Lockup to a standing switch by XYON who gets a gutwrench but Honda reverses to a wristlock and XYON uses some speed to roll out of it and almost gets a drop toehold before they stalemate. Another staredown and it’s back to a lockup with XYON running through some technical transitions before cranking in a headlock. Honda reverses to his own and then break and now it’s shoulderblock time and both guys throw a series of them and Honda puts on the nitro and takes XYON out and then gets his rope choke which fires XYON up…but he runs into another rope choke after a drop toehold. XYON gets a fireman’s carry but Ryuki slips out and after a few counters low-bridges the Australian outside where Honda hammers away before XYON fires back…but he whiffs a running charge and bounces off the ring post. Honda hammers away but he tries to whip XYON…and the Samoan reverses and sends Ryuki into the post and then gets a back suplex on the apron before sending Ryuki back inside. XYOn stomps away and then lands a strike combo, a back elbow, and a jumping stomp for 2. Nervehold follows before XYON transitions into a double-arm crank as he’s been studying his submissions. Honda reverses but XYON breaks free and slugs away and gets a corner charge and then a shoulder thrust before his hard whip sets up a taunt and he’s feeling it. Ryuki is slow back to his feet so XYON picks him up for a Samoan drop but Honda maneuvers to the apron to slip out, but XYON tears his head off with a clothesline anyway. The Aussie drags Honda back in for a cover and then goes to a cobra clutch that Ryuki fights out of and he fires back with strikes but his brainbuster is reversed and it’s a double-down. XYON kips up and it’s a hockey fight and XYON once again gets the better of it and then turns a Ryuki charge into a Samoan drop for 2.5. The former rugby star goes up and dives into a Honda forearm. Ryuki gets a clothesline and then a running lariat…and then a second before Honda sets up Final Vent and that’s 3.

**3/4

This was probably the most impressively worked match of XYON’s career, dude was flying around, controlling the offense, bumping, keeping the pace up, and Ryuki just did the Savage thing and sold, sold, sold and then hit a few moves for the win. The better XYON looks as a performer, the less important he seems as a star, but I admire a guy who I saw at his greenest turning into a sorta tolerable Good Hand type midcard guy. Fine match for what it was.

Kento Miyahara [3] vs. Kuma Arashi [0] – A Block

Background: Kento had a mini-fued with Kuma earlier in the year based upon company loyalty, but overall Miyahara is the top guy…who is a vain, sassy jerk, and Kuma is a dude who loves bears and sentons. Kento is always the biggest face and biggest heel at the same time, while Kuma is a member of a heel (maybe?) group but is the most straightforward honest and honorable guy of the group. Also relevant that both guys had a feud earlier this year over Kuma’s prior company and Kento doubting his loyalty to All Japan and Miyahara won and defended his title.

The Match: Kuma howls to start and Kento taunts. And Kuma howls and Kento taunts…and even Memphis would be impressed with this stalling. We finally get a lockup and Kento loses but gets Kuma in the ropes and works the count before throwing a cheapshot that Arashi ignores. A second lockup goes Kuma’s way and he teases a dirty shot but lets the break happen but howls…so Miyahara gets a boot and a headlock. Kuma shoots him off for a shoulderblock war that goes the Bears way, but he whiffs a senton and Kento tosses him outside where he delivers some headbutts and the champ gets a crossface using the ringpost until the ref breaks it up. Kento works Kuma over on the apron and then it’s back inside for a low boot Kento charges into a fireman’s carry by Kuma, who then drops Miyahara on the turnbuckle, follows with a corner splash and then a standing boot press before the ref checks on the champ. Kento is cleared so Kuma just unleashes corner offense that drops Miyahara. Kento recovers for some strikes that do nothing and Arashi snatches him for a series of rib breakers and then a Samoan drop into a jumping senton to crush Kento’s ribs. Kuma keeps up the rib work with more standing boot presses, but a whip attempt is converted into the double-dropkick combo by Kento and both guys are struggling to recover. Kento with a corner attack but he can’t land a suplex to follow and Kuma gets a torture rack into a drop for 2.6 and Kento struggles to make his feet so Kuma drags him up and hammers away with a corner clothesline. That fires Kento up and both guys trade shots while Miyahara stumbles around and clutches his ribs. Kuma asks for more as a wincing Miyahara throws forearms that finally stagger Arashi, who fires back with a lariat and a senton to return the momentum to the bear lover. Corner charge, slam, and a second-rope senton gets 2.8 and after some posing Kuma goes for a gutwrentch that Kento fights out of but Arashi tosses him to the ground…but Miyahara grabs a leg as Kuma tries to get to the top rope and the bear man finally breaks free and flies to the top but Kento recovers, cuts him off and sets up for a superplex that he lands and both guys are down. Kento is up but runs into a Kuma crossbody, but Arashi’s Dominator attempt is slipped out of and Miyahara gets a Blackout knee to stymie the offense and tries for a Shutdown German but Kuma breaks free. Arashi clobbers Kento and hits a running lariat for 2.9 and then picks up the champ for Dominator attempt number 2 and Kento slips out for Shutdown attempt number 2. Arashi once again breaks out, shrugs off a boot and hits a shotgun dropkick, but his lariat is blocked by a Kento Blackout. Kento hits a Blackout to a kneeling Kuma for 2.8 and Shutdown number 3 lands for 3.

***¾

An edited version of their title match is a better match as the Kento formula works better when Kuma is required to play less notes. There are things I can dog them for, but a physical monster tearing Kento apart and our plucky but arrogant main character fighting back will always work if the offense is credible, which it was. Good stuff and I think a nice feather in Kuma’s cap. He is good at what he does but he just shouldn’t go long.

Post-match Kento cuts a promo and the crowd is fired up!

A bunch of pretty reasonable, logically booked but not very bun-busting matches and Kento being the main-event to give the people what they want? Why if it isn’t the last 10 years of All Japan in one relaxed, lazy afternoon show.