All-Japan began their February ExcitemaniaX tour today with a major event headlined by a Triple Crown match. For the second time in the past year Kento Miyahara looked to turn back the challenge of Yuma Aoyagi.
Today’s event was held at Esforta Arena Hachioji Sub Arena in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV. This was a Samurai! TV simulcast with Japanese commentary.
The announced paid attendance was 1398. On TV the venue looked 85-90% full so perhaps a near-sellout.
Match 1: Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda beat Dan Tamura & Hikaru Sato. Honda pinned Tamura after Final Vent.
Match 2: Takao Omori, Masao Inoue, Oji Shiiba & Rising Hayato beat Ricky Fuji, Raijin Yaguchi, Black Menso-re & SUSHI. Hayato pinned SUSHI after Sid Vicious.
Match 3: Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer) & Hokuto Omori beat Naoya Nomura & Ryo Inoue. Doi pinned Inoue after Bakatare Sliding Kick.
Match 4: In a Tornado Bunkhouse Electric Blast Death Match, Atsushi Onita & Yoshitatsu beat All-Asia Tag Team Champions NOSAWA Rongai & Kendo Ka Shin to win the titles. Onita & Yoshitatsu become the 119th All-Asia Tag Team Champions. Onita pinned NOSAWA after an exploding barbed wire bat attack. This result was probably obvious to those who follow Japanese wrestling closely because NOSAWA is retiring on 2/21.
Match 5: Yuji Nagata (New Japan), Yuma Anzai & Shuji Ishikawa beat Suwama, Jun & Rei Saito. Nagata pinned Suwama with a backdrop hold.
Match 6: All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Atsuki Aoyagi beat Kotaro Suzuki (Pro Wrestling NOAH) to retain the title. V5 for Aoyagi.
Main Event: All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara beat Yuma Aoyagi to retain the Triple Crown. V4 for Miyahara. Next up: Possibly Nagata.
The next event is 2/19 at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin on 2/18 at 6:30 PM PT/9:30 PM ET.
