All Japan Pro Wrestling: Champion Carnival April 26th 2026

We have over 700 in Sanjo City Welfare Hall which is a big room but has a marvelous set up mustard brown curtains across from the hard cam and boy that’s just a particularly wonderful shade of ugly.

MUSASHI, Ryo Inoue, Shota Kofuji & Shotaro Ashino vs. Atsuki Aoyagi, Hokuto Omori, Rising HAYATO & Ryuki Honda

Background: Okay so this is one of those grab bag matches where I have to figure out if anybody has history with each other. MUSASHI and Ryo are established juniors, Shota is the rookie junior, and Shotaro is out of the tournament but a semi-heavyweight midcarder tag guy who will suplex your socks off. Atsuki and HAYATO are established partners in the junior division, Hokuto is a jerky joke midcard heel (kinda? I think?) and Honda is in the tournament as a high energy brawler. No particular heat or history other than folks in the same division wanting other folks titles or to set up their own title hunts.

The Match: Atsuki and Inoue start with standing grappling but Ryo uses speed and a shoulder to knock Aoyagi down and it’s international time and Ryo pulls up short on an Atsuki dropkick, both guys evade each others kicks and a headlock takeover into a kip-up has them stalemate and it’s MUSASHI against Hokuto with a lockup that goes Omori’s way and he blows a kiss. MUSASHI fires back and gets his dropkick combo before working Hokuto over in the corner and Shotaro tags in with a gutwrench suplex, but Hokuto comes back with a low dropkick and follows with a brainbuster that goes against him, but Omori slips out and gets a DDT and brings in Ryuki with a clothesline and he wipes out the apron as it’s running corner attack time and then his 5-count rope choke. The ref breaks that up and Shotaro and Honda trade strikes before Ashino gets a pop-up uppercut and a corkscrew uppercut and Shota tags in with a dropkick before HAYATO comes in and we have a twink off with Kofuji getting the better of the vet with an overhand chop and a high-speed elbow and some corner-offense. Rising finally gets a shotgun dropkick to send Shota to the corner and all of HAYATO’s squad ambush him and hit a string of corner moves and then Omori loads up his assisted superplex which of course goes against him and he gets powerbombed. Ryo runs in and clears the ring with a dropkick and a double handspring cutter before MUSASHI lands a flip dive and it’s back to Shota and HAYATO. Kofuji with a missile dropkick and then a bridging fisherman’s buster for 2., but a second attempt is broken up and Aoyagi helps his partner land a series of thrust kicks to drop Shota, but HAYATO’s cradle driver is turned into a victory roll and then Kofuji gets a running chop, but a second wheelbarrow driver by HAYATO gets 2.8 and a top-rope springboard moonsault gets 3.

**½

Daisuke Sekimoto [6] vs. XYON [3] – B Block

Background: Two big, physical guys, with XYON having the size and athleticism advantage and Daisuke having the massive experience and technical advantage.

The Match: Lockup standstills and then Daisuke goes for a Greco-Roman knucklelock and we have a TEST OF STRENGTH! XYON goes to his knees but fights back and reverses while Dasuke bridges back but XYON reverses to a Japanese stranglehold that Sekimoto breaks and grabs a headlock. XYON roars and these two bulls meet for a shoulderblock battle and both men collide until XYON finally rebounds off a block to drop Sekimoto. Hard whip to the corner, a shoulder-thrust, and a twisting whip drop Sekimoto before XYON tries a fireman’s carry that Daisuke slips out of for a German attempt and that’s stymied so both guys slug it out before Sekimoto uses VETERAN SAVVY to pull up short on a whip and XYON is lowbridged outside and we get some crowd brawling before XYON overpowers the vet and runs him against the ringpost and then throws a few headbutts before getting a backdrop suplex on the apron. A HAVOC taunt by XYON and the Samoan goes back inside for a nervehold and then a double-arm crank before settling for a cobra clutch. Daisuke fights back to his feet and it’s elbow time to break loose and then a pounce of sorts drops XYON. Sekimoto goes for a corner charge and then a brainbuster and a running senton and splash gets 2.7 and then Sekimoto cranks in a crab and XYON uses his reach to get the ropes. Daisuke snatches XYON up for a torture rack but the Australian breaks free and gets a strike combo for 2 before going to the top rope but he whiffs a splash and Daisuke gets a jumping boot and the Big Bang Catastrophe gets 3.

***

Sekimoto has such great fundamentals that even a more limited performer like XYON can fit great in the formula cause XYON is such a willing and athletic bumper. Really basic stuff with the big guy who normally can outpower people has an even bigger guy he’s up against and Sekimoto had to use all of his cunning to outlast a guy who almost had it until he went for one big move, crashed and burned and the vet capitalized. Good fun, smart storytelling.

Post-match XYON is backstage and he talks about how rough the tournament is and how another loss eats at him. There’s only so much he can take! He talks about how he’s doing all of this for tragically deceased wrestler Taishin Nagao and how his armband is for him, and he’ll never stop fighting for his honor and legacy. That’s sweet!

Kengo Mashimo [4] vs. Rei Saito [6] – A Block

Background: Kengo is a snarling limb breaking technician jerk, while Rei is a big bulky brawler. Saito has had far more singles success but has been nursing some injuries that a submission expert like Mashimo is sure to focus on.

The Match: Lockup by Rei smothers Kengo who tries a choke but is pushed aside and Mashimo gets a kick out of the break but shoulderblocks go Saito’s way. Kengo with a dropdown but Rei sniffs it out so stomps the back and then pulls up Mashimo for a big shoulderblock but Rei misses a corner splash and Kengo attacks the arm before Saito double-legs him into the corner and Kengo powders. Rei follows and tosses the Assassin around and into various pieces of not nice to be thrown into material. Rei sets Kengo against the post, shoulderchecks him into it, and then rolls Mashimo back inside for 2. Kengo is up and tries some strikes but a single Rei chop drops Kengo and another keeps the pain going as Rei bathes in the crowd’s cheers. Mashimo speeds it up and tries a schoolboy but Rei is JUST TOO FAT and them gets a standing buttdrop for 2. Rei with the goozle but Kengo slips out of the chokeslam and then is low-bridged to the apron and Mashimo snaps the arm over the top rope and then its outside where Kengo runs Rei’s shoulder into the post and pulls up the mats for an armbar bulldog off the apron to the exposed floor. Kengo slides back in and a pained Rei follows, only to run into a flying elbow to the corner and another diving armbar bulldog. Rei is on his knees and Kengo goes to work with big kicks to the shoulder until Saito powers up and delivers more heavy chops into some machinegun chops to a cornered Mashimo. Shoulder by Saito gets 2.6. Kengo grabs an arm to stop the rally, but Rei fires back with his goozle slap, a running crossbody, and a chokeslam for 2.9. Rei tries the Eisbein (running palm thrust) but Kengo reverses into a flying armbar turns Saito over for a kneeling armbar and then some small-joint manipulation forces the tap.

***¼

Rei is too confident playing to the crowd, Kengo finds a vulnerability, exploits it, and gets the win. Mashimo is a great, great worker, plays his character to perfection and finds ways of extending the formulas of more charismatic if less varied workers into explorations of their match. A pleasure to watch and Rei is just beloved, totally has control over the crowd.

Go Shiozaki [4] vs. Kuma Arashi [0] – A Block

Background: Go is of course a tremendously decorated veteran, a virtuous, heroic figure whose lineage is directly from the greats of All Japan’s past, influenced by Kobashi and Misawa both (though of course his link to them was in their NOAH days). Kuma Arashi is a brawling bear-loving man who is on a bit of a cold streak after recently challenging for the Triple Crown.

The Match: Big lockup to start and Go is backed to the ropes before Kuma gives a clean break and howls. Go tries some grappling instead and gets a headlock. Kuma finally shoots Go off and we get a shoulderblock challenge…and Go tries a chop instead that Arashi brushes off and just runs Shiozaski over instead and the vet powders. Kuma follows to beat on Go some more before Shiozaki throws chops but Kuma powers him up for a fireman’s carry and drops Go throat-first on the barricade. Back inside and Kuma steps on Go’s chest with the ropes before delivering a standing senton. Some more Kuma stomps before Go fires up with a big boot and then ducks a clothesline for his jumping shoulderblock and both are down. Go gets a running chop while selling his ribs and then fires away in the corner before getting a lariat for 2.5 Shiozaki tries a fisherman’s buster but Kuma is JUST TOO FAT and counters to a torture rack and then a drop for 2.8. Arashi now calls for a lariat but Go ducks and gets his own before an Arashi dropkick cuts off a Go charge and then Kuma tries his own corner charge but eats boots and Go picks him up for his inside-out twisting superplex (Kuma’s a big guy, that was pretty impressive) but Kuma pops up afterwards only for Go to drop him with a lariat and then the Go Flasher gets 2.9. Shiozaki sets up the Limit Break (pumphandle inverted brainbuster) but Kuma remains too bulky and clobbers out so Go settles for a spinning chop to the neck and then puts Arashi on the top rope and slowly climbs as Go’s ribs are giving out. Go tries an avalanche backdrop driver but Kuma reverses for a crossbody and Go’s ribs are bad. Kuma with a running lariat for 2.7 and he goes back to the top for a diving senton and that’s 3.

**¾

Well it was basically Go wrestling himself, but he’s capable of doing so. Kuma remains…not a guy I buy at a top level, at all, but here we are and the crowd reacts, so what do I know. But Go selling his injuries and valiantly trying to come up with clever ways to slay monsters is always engaging to me.

Baka No Jidai (Dan Tamura & Hideki Suzuki) vs. Hyo Ogawa & Seigo Tachibana

Background: Dan and Seigo are both feuding over Seigo’s Junior title and have spent the entire Carnival pinning each other in pretty physical tag matches. Hideki is Dan’s mentor of sorts as sort of gruff (but a bit silly) physical shooter guys in black trunks. Hyo is some local guy with a ridiculous blonde pompadour and multicoloured trunks that match Tachibana’s multicoloured baggy pants.

The Match: Dan and Seigo start and feel each other out before Tamura cranks in a headlock and grinds away and Tachibana eventually elbows out but Dan drops him with a shoulderblock. Seigo gives a taunt in response but Tamura headlocks him again and finally Seigo tags in Hyo. Ogawa is much bigger and backs Tamura to the corner and that brings Hideki in. Hyo wins a lockup against Suzuki too and gets a chop out of the break Hideki tries some uppercuts but Hyo runs him over with a shoulder and tries a backdrop suplex…but Suzuki gets some dirty boxing and then a punt to the mush and brings in Tamura for a camel clutch that Hyo finally crawls to the ropes to break. Dan drags Hyo back to the corner for a tag and Hideki unleashes his cornered body shots on Ogawa. Hideki goes for a brainbuster but Hyo reverses and then gets some flying shoulderblock and a backdrop suplex before kipping up and doing a running headbutt drop and a giant swing before collapsing. Hideki and Hyo do some dizzy spots for comedy’s sake and finally we get a double-tag. Tamura and Seigo trade shots before Dan drops Tachibana with a flying shoulder but gets low-bridged to the apron and elbowed off and then Seigo hits a big flip plancha. Back in and Hyo and Seigo double-team Tamura before a Total Elimination sets up a jackknife pin for 2 by Seigo and then we get some rollup reversals before Tamura gets a cloverleaf…and Ogawa tries to break it before HIdeki drags him off with a sleeper before Hyo escapes to break Tamura’s hold, and then Suzuki musses up his hair and they fight outside as its back to Dan and Seigo. Both guys trade heavy elbows before Tachibana gets a spear, a backdrop suplex for 2.5 that Hideki breaks and Ogawa drags Suzuki out for. More rollup reversals until a reversal of a B-Driver sets up an almost botched powerbomb and a second one gets 3.

**

Just a bit too much comedy with Hyo and Hideki for a pretty heated junior feud but these guys continue to brutalize each other every time.

Oddyssey [4] vs. Yuma Anzai [3] – A Block

Background: Oddyssey is a big superheavyweight American who is pretty fun-loving but has a nasty side. Anzai is the uber athletic ace of the future who has gotten off to a pretty slow start. Yuma is the better technician and athlete, but the Odd-one is 150 pounds heavier than him.

The Match: Lockup and Yuma is tossed to the side. Anzai, more cautious now, ducks another lockup and tries a gutwrench and Oddyssey just powers him away. Another lockup and this time Anzai uses leverage to get Oddyssey into the ropes and throws some forearms but can’t quite manage the Irish whip and Oddyssey runs him over which sends Yuma outside. We get some mindgames where Anzai teases a count but when the Odd-one goes outside Yuma slides inside, and then nails a returning Oddyssey to the floor with a jumping knee and then another jumping knee off the apron as Yuma fires away with strikes before Oddyssey smashes him down and then Anzai gets tossed into the barricade and his head bounced off the steel before Oddyssey dumps him into the crowd and celebrates, so Anzai returns with a springboard forearm and more brawling. The American is too big though and drops Yuma with heavy strikes before a backdrop suplex onto the apron has Anzai rolling inside. Oddyssey keeps on the back with a buttdrop and then an elbow drop for 2.5. Oddyssey harasses the ref for counting too slow and gets some overhead clubbing forearms to the chest. Yuma tries some forearms before Oddyssey drops Anzai with an elbow and whips him into the corner, but Oddyssey misses the corner charge. Flying knee to the back by Yuma! Dropkick! And then 3 more! Another whip attempt but Oddyssey still can’t be moved, but he misses another charge into the corner and Anzai gets his knees up before a missile dropkick and then a standing facelock. Oddyssey breaks free but now it’s Yuma’s time to go for a corner charge and he runs into an elbow before Oddyssey explodes out of the corner for a lariat and then a series of corner strikes setup a sidewalk slam and loads up for a Blackhole Slam but Yuma evades and gets the Jumbo knee…and Oddyssey staggers back and rebounds with a running crossbody that Anzai ducks and its back to the standing facelock before switching a sleeper that Oddyssey powers out of and picks Anzai up and flips him over with an iconoclasm. Another Blackhole Slam attempt but Anzai gets a schoolboy, and then a second before delivering a running knee the face, and another to the neck before a third drops Oddyssey for 2.6 who is looking utterly perplexed, Yuma tries another jumping knee but catches it and tosses Anzai off the ropes for the Blackhole Slam and then a second rope splash gets 3.

***½

There is just something special to how Yuma is willing to work to guys’ strengths and turn rule of three stuff from that basic formula into a more cohesive and organic fight. He has a real gift and this was probably the best Oddyssey singles I can think of. Good stuff by both guys.

Yuma Aoyagi [3] vs. Ren Ayabe [4] – B Block

Background: A tournament replacement after serving a suspension for a traffic scandal, Yuma is filling in and trying to earn the crowds redemption at the same time. Ren of course is half of the Titans of Calamity that are tag-champs right now. Aoyagi is clever if maybe a bit too fond of silly tricks and styles himself The Fool, while Ren is tall, lanky, athletic, and very arrogant and aloof.

The Match: Lockup goes Ren’s way and he musses Yuma’s hair in the ropes. Aoyagi responds with a wristlock but Aybe uses his strength and leverage to get an armwringer that Yuma has to use athleticism to evade but Ren stays on him. Yuma tries a hammerlock but Ayabe just grabs back for a headlock and then shoots Yuma off for a shoulderblock. Aoyagi tries a dropkick, but Ayabe brushes that aside and gets another shoulderblock and heads outside. Ayabe follows and boots The Fool around and tosses his head into the ringpost. Yuma tries a few strikes to come back but Ayabe drops him with an elbow and bounces Aoyagi’s head off the post again, Ren dares Yuma to come back and Aoyagi gets a few more desperate forearms…and then a DDT on the mat, and a second for good measure. Yuma with a series of uppercuts but he tries to whip Ren into the barricade and Ayabe holds on and returns the favor, dashing Aoyagi against the steel a number of times before returning to the ring to lounge. Yuma evades the count out loss but when he returns to the ring he’s tossed for a massive back body drop for 2 and then a crab to punish Yuma’s back. Aoyagi crawls to the ropes and Ren keeps the hold locked in while the ref forces a break. Yuma back up to trade forearms but his back gives out and he collapses, and then comes up short on a dropkick to again punish the back, but Aoyagi finally gets some offense going when he puts on the accelerator, ducks a few shots and rebounds into a flying forearm. Corner forearm! Springboard reverse crossbody! Diving crossbody! Just a 2 count but Yuma uses the momentum of Ren’s kickout to go for his End Game choke. Ren uses his reach to get to the ropes and then both struggle over a brainbuster before Yuma floats over to the apron and gets booted off by Ayabe. Ren milks the count and Yuma slowly crawls back inside, only for Ren to catch him and do a military press off the apron to the floor, Flair-style and once again they tease a countout. Yuma stumbles back in and Ren gets a hooking clothesline for 2. Yuma stumbles to his feet and unleashes a flurry of forearms and then speeds it up with a running lariat, but his attempt at a brainbuster is reversed and it’s a double-down. Ren is up first as he gets some disrespectful kicks to Aoyagi who slowly climbs up Ren’s body and tries more forearms before Ayabe returns fire and then hits the ropes…but Yuma again uses his agility to get a dropkick and then a flying forearm sets up a jump to the top, but he’s too slow to capitalize and Ren cuts him off for a superplex attempt but Yuma shoves him down and it’s a missile dropkick for 2 and then another attempt at the End Game choke but Ayabe uses his reach to hit the ropes again to break. Aoyagi goes up Ren cuts him off, and this time the superplex lands for 2.8. Ren follows with a full-nelson slam for 2.7 and then calls for the Death Roulette but Yuma floats over and hits a series of rollups into a Japanese rolling reverse cradle for 2.9. Yuma guts through a Ren boot and hits a flying forearm, a springboard tornado DDT and then a bridging German for 2.8 and Yuma fires up tries a Rockstar Buster but Ren’s too big and the big guy boots him again but a second full-nelson slam is turned into a victory roll by Aoyagi for 2.6. Ayabe with a kitchen sink knee and then a bridging Dragon suplex for 2.9 and then another Death Roulette is turned into a Yuma inside cradle and then a third End Game and Ayabe is dead center in the ring and has to tap.

***¾

Well this is one of the first times Ren has fully felt like the monster I feel like they want him to be. Too often they try to focus on his impressive athleticism for a man of his size, and instead he just beat the tar out of Yuma all match until The Fool was capable of stringing enough tricks and cheats into a cohesive offensive strategy that Ayabe couldn’t handle, cause without reaching the ropes he doesn’t really have a counter for submissions. Really impressive stuff from both and I hope Ren keeps on being a big arrogant jerk who can toss guys around with ease, and to his credit, he’s definitely filled out a bit as well.

Kento Miyahara [5] vs. Talos [2] – A Block

Background: Continuing the night’s theme of “the three most technically skilled wrestlers each facing a big giant” we have Kento, the champ, the ace, the big kahuna, facing 7 foot goliath Jack Talos, a big tatted up Biker American with long stringy hair, he’s even bigger than Ren, his tag partner in the Titans of Calamity and Talos had faced Kento for the Triple Crown earlier in the year in a losing effort.

The Match: Kento immediately starts preening and playing to the crowd while Talos does some howling and roaring. Lockup and Kento is tossed backwards while Talos flexes. Miyahara ducks a charge and then he flexes and Talos asks for a shoulderblock battle that Kento declines, so Talos goes for a test of strength and goes way higher than Kento…so Miyahara kicks the knee and then tries shoulderblocks but Talos bounces off the ropes and flattens Kento and then go outside where Talos beats him and then sets up Kento against the ringpost and tries an avalanche but Miyahara evades and Talos bounces off the steel and the champ tries some headbutts and then hops on the apron, but stops to hype up the crowd so Talos snatches him and runs Kento into the post and keeps on the beating. Talos drags Miyahara through the crowd and beats him while Kento tries to muster brief comebacks. Talos tosses Kento through a barricade though and talks junk while stepping on Kento’s chest and this is a pretty hellacious beating here as Talos throws the champ around and finally rolls him back inside. Talos uses the ropes to for a standing camel clutch of sorts and the ref breaks that before Talos flattens Miyahara with a corner splash and then another before a big boot and more taunting from the American gets an arrogant cover for 2.4. Talos yells at the ref and Kento recovers on the ropes while Talos continues to taunt the crowd. This finally creates enough space for Kento’s double dropkick comeback and the crowd claps for Breakheart who tries the Shutdown German but Talos is too big and strong. Miyahara gets a boot to block a charge, but a second-rope flying nothing is caught by Talos for a bearhug and Kento fades…fades and the ref checks his hand for a third time and Kento powers up! Bellclap! But a Talos boot and sidewalk slam get 2.7 as the monster is still in control but he’s breathing heavily. Talos pulls the straps down and calls for the chokeslam as Kento is having trouble making his feet. Talos gets the full goozle and leglift but Kento forearms out, dodges another corner charge and gets a schoolboy for 2.9. Miyahara argues about the count but gets a Blackout knee to a kneeling Talos who roars in defiance, so Kento gets a second for 2.8. Miyahara goes for another Shutdown and even gets Talos legs off the ground before Jack breaks and then gets a massive overhand chop to the skull, snake eyes, and then a big boot for 2.9. Talos yanks Kento up in frustration and gets a monster release chokeslam for 3.

***

Talos matches are a lot better when they’re less than 15 minutes long, and even here you could see him slowing down bad at the end. Kento going full Hogan formula with the bearhug cracked me up though, and a much better outing than their prior match.

Well, I know not everybody dug this one, but I enjoyed the cohesive continuity of the show with a bunch of “smaller more skilled guys facing bigger bulky guys and how they managed to work around it.” It’s a credit to the show that all of them came across as different and showcased exactly what the ‘skill’ guys of All Japan can do and how the ‘body’ guys differentiate themselves. David vs. Goliath is a classic story for a reason and props for some guys going out there and really showing off what they could do. If you want to see a bunch of the metaphorical ‘broomstick’ matches (though that’s insulting to a lot of the lesser talent) this is a must watch show. Or if you just like freakshow stuff!

Thanks for reading as always