Tag: all-japan

All-Japan kicks off the 2022 Flag Raising Series today, the start of their October tour continuing their 50th Anniversary celebration with a borderline major event featuring 3 title matches. However, in recognition of his contributions to Japanese pro wrestling even though he never competed for them, the event will open with a memorial tribute to Hall of Fame wrestler Antonio Inoki, the founder of rival promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling, who died today at 79.

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on AJPW.TV FOR FREE! There is a catch-you do have to create a provisional AJPW.TV account with a valid email address. A paid subscription is not required to watch this event, should you choose to go that route it’s currently about $6.25 US per month. You also can watch the first 3 matches FOR FREE on YouTube. There likely will be Japanese commentary. If you watch the full event, I anticipate the total running time being around 2 1/2 hours.

Today’s lineup:
Takao Omori, Hokuto Omori, Shuji Ishikawa & Izanagi vs. TAJIRI, Yoshitatsu, Jun & Rei Saito
GAORA TV Champion Toshizo vs. Dan Tamura for the title
Hokkaido Tourism Ambassador Showdown: Black Menso-re vs. Toru Yano (New Japan Pro Wrestling)
Suwama & KONO vs. Jake Lee & Yuma Aoyagi
All-Japan 50th Anniversary Special Match: Kento Miyahara, Takuya Nomura, Ryo Inoue & Yuma Anzai vs. Yuji Nagata, Ryohei Oiwa, Kosei Fujita & Yuto Nakashhima (New Japan Pro Wrestling)
All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda vs. Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi for the titles
All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Atsuki Aoyagi vs. Rising Hayato for the title

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT.

10:30 PM ET UPDATE: Live results will begin momentarily below.

We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. as usual the audio is muted at the beginning and will come on in a few seconds.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event, the crowd is still filing in (based on what I saw the first couple matches I’m estimating around 600). Your host is joined by All-Japan senior referee Kyohei Wada.

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Yuji Nagata leads the wrestlers’ procession and around the ring for a memorial for New Japan founder and Hall of Fame Wrestler Antonio Inoki, who died yesterday at 79. The audio comes on during this. After a tribute from the ring announcer, the crowd rises silently for a 10 Bell Salute, followed by the customary final introduction and a playing of Inoki’s customary “3, 2, 1, DAAA!!!” shout and his theme music. Interestingly, a variation of it is the current entrance theme music of Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Kazuyuki Fujita.

Match 1: Takao & Hokuto Omori, Shuji Ishikawa & Izanagi vs. TAJIRI, Yoshitatsu, Jun & Rei Saito. 20 minute time limit
Result: TAJIRI, Yoshitatsu, Jun & Rei Saito beat Takao & Hokuto Omori, Shuji Ishikawa & Izanagi. Rei Saito pinned Izanagi after a piledriver.

Match 2: GAORA TV Champion Toshizo vs. Dan Tamura for the title. 1 Hour time limit
Result: GAORA TV Champion Toshizo beat Dan Tamura to retain the title. V2 for Toshizo.

TAJIRI joins commentary for the next match.
Match 3: Hokkaido Tourism Ambassador Showdown: Black Menso-re vs. Toru Yano (New Japan Pro Wrestling). 30 minute time limit. Audio muted for Yano’s entrance. Former New Japan and All-Japan ring announcer Makoto Abe, who left New Japan earlier this year, was the guest ring announcer/timekeeper.
Result: Toru Yano beat Black Menso-re by countout. Comedy match.

Shuji Ishikawa joins commentary for the next match, replacing TAJIRI.
Match 4: Suwama & KONO vs. Jake Lee & Yuma Aoyagi. 30 minute time limit
Result: Jake Lee & Yuma Aoyagi beat Suwama & KONO by DQ. Suwama DQ’d. Saito Bros interference. Afterwards, the Saito Bros joined Voodoo Murders.

Black Menso-re joins commentary for the next match. Makoto Abe is again ring announcer. Before the match, there were several announcements about upcoming events and also the All-Japan annual Tag League coming up in November and December, an 8-team tournament.
Match 5: All-Japan 50th Anniversary Special Match: Kento Miyahara, Takuya Nomura, Ryo Inoue & Yuma Anzai vs. Yuji Nagata, Ryohei Oiwa, Kosei Fujita & Yuto Nakashima (New Japan Pro Wrestling). 30 minute time limit
Result: Yuji Nagata, Ryohei Oiwa, Kosei Fujita & Yuto Nakashima beat Kento Miyahara, Takuya Nomura, Ryo Inoue & Yuma Anzai. Fujita beat Inoue with a Boston Crab. After the bell the Young Lions kept going at it.

Match 6: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda vs. Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi for the titles. 1 Hour time limit
Result: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda beat Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi to retain the titles. Honda pinned Arashi after Final Vent. V4 for the champs. Next up: Possibly Suwama & KONO-challenge issued. (I missed parts of the late portion of the match due to internet issues on my laptop. Switching to tablet for the final match)

Main Event: All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Atsuki Aoyagi vs. Rising Hayato for the title. 1 Hour time limit
Result: All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Atsuki Aoyagi beat Rising Hayato to retain the title. V1 for Aoyagi.

The next event is 10/22 at Sanjo Welfare Center in Niigata. The main event will be a Takao Omori 30th Anniversary match featuring Omori vs. Kento Miyahara for the Triple Crown. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.

UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 821.

Less than 24 hours after their huge 50th Anniversary event, All-Japan is turning right back around with another big matinee event today, a national holiday in Japan. Despite the threats from the massive Super Typhoon (hurricane) that made landfall in the southwestern regions of the country and impacts that may be reaching Tokyo soon if they haven’t already, the event is going on as planned. The main event features New All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara, who won the Triple Crown yesterday (today US time), defending against Naoya Nomura, who earned the opportunity by beating Jake Lee yesterday. On the undercard, one of the longest-running comic book-inspired rivalries in Japanese wrestling will be reborn as New Japan star Tiger Mask, who just lost the All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Championship yesterday, faces the resurfacing of his eternal rival, Black Tiger (who may or may not be New Japan and AEW star Rocky Romero, who often has portrayed Black Tiger before).

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on AJPW.TV. There likely will be Japanese commentary. If you’re staying up late on a Sunday night in the US to watch, I anticipate the event’s running time being between 2 1/2-3 hours.

Today’s lineup:
Izanagi & Black Menso-re vs. Doho Koji (?) & Ryuarashi (?)
Yoshitatsu, TAJIRI & Rising Hayato vs. Atsuki Aoyagi, Christopher Daniels & Cyrus
Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) vs. Black Tiger
Takao Omori & Ryo Inoue vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan) & Dan Tamura
Minoru Suzuki vs. Yuma Anzai
Suwama, TARU, Minoru & Toshizo vs. Jake Lee, Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori
All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda vs. Jun & Rei Saito for the titles
All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara vs. Naoya Nomura for the Triple Crown

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT.

10:30 PM ET UPDATE: Live updates begin now.

We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. There is Japanese commentary but I did not catch the name (just one person).

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. From first look at the beginning I’m estimating around 550.

Match 1: Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi vs. Izanagi & Black Menso-re. 10 minute time limit
Result: Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi beat Izanagi & Black Menso-re. Arashi pined Izanagi after a diving senton.

Match 2: Yoshitatsu, TAJIRI & Rising Hayato vs. Atsuki Aoyagi, Christopher Daniels & Cyrus. 20 minute time limit
Result: Atsuki Aoyagi, Christopher Daniels & Cyrus beat Yoshitatsu, TAJIRI & Rising Hayato. Daniels pinned TAJIRI after a moonsault. Afterwards, Hayato gestured towards Aoyagi as to suggest a challenge for the All-Asia Tag Team Championship.

Match 3: Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) vs. Black Tiger (about 100% certain it’s not Rocky Romero). 20 minute time limit
Result; Tiger Mask beat Black Tiger by ref stoppage (submission). Afterawrds, TM 4 attempted to unmask Black Tiger, and did enough to confirm that indeed it was not Rocky Romero. TM 4’s entrance theme was muted during his entrance but they did an instrumental version afterwards to not mute audio.

Match 4: Takao Omori & Ryo Inoue vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan) & Dan Tamura. 20 minute time limit
Result: Yuji Nagata & Dan Tamura beat Takao Omori & Ryo Inoue. Tamuura pinned Inoue after a thunder driver.

Matches for upcoming events are announced. On 10/2, Toru Yano, Nagata and the New Japan Young Lions will all participate. On 10/22 there will be a Yoshitatsu 20th Anniversary Match of Yoshitatsu vs. Suwama and a 50th Anniversary match. On 10/23, Nagata and several members of GLEAT will participate.

Match 5: Yuma Anzai vs. Minoru Suzuki. 20 minute time limit
Result: Minoru Suzuki beat Yuma Anzai by submission. This was Japan’s version of an extended glorified squash, although this was only Anzai’s second career match. His Debut was just yesterday.

Match 6: Suwama, TARU, Minoru & Toshizo vs. Jake Lee, Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori. 30 minute time limit
Result: Jake Lee, Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori beat Suwama, TARU, Minoru & Toshizo. Ishikawa pinned Suwama.

Match 7: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda vs. Jun & Rei Saito for the titles. 1 Hour time limit
Result: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda beat Jun & Rei Saito to retain the titles. Ashino beat Rei Saito (I think) with a heel hook. V3 for the champs. Afterwards, Doi & Arashi came out presumably to make the customary next challenge. Presumably accepted.

Main Event: All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara vs. Naoya Nomura for the Triple Crown. 1 Hour time limit
Result: Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara beat Naoya Nomura to retain the Triple Crown. V1 for Miyahara. Afterwards, the next potential challenger appeared and hit the ring…Takao Omori. Very spirited challenge made.

The next event is 10/2.

UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 919.

The second-oldest active promotion in Japan, just about 6 months behind New Japan Pro Wrestling, All-Japan Pro Wrestling held their 50th Anniversary Commemoration Event today. It’s been a tumultuous 2000s for the promotion as it’s struggled mightily the last 20+ years between the death of founder Giant Baba (a legendary Hall of Fame wrestler), the mass defection at the end of the 1990s led by top wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa to form Pro Wrestling NOAH, ownership turmoil and disagreements/mismanagement between owner Motoko Baba (Giant Baba’s widow) and subsequent presidents/executives including Keiji Muto & Jun Akiyama and more, but with support from longtime TV partner GAORA TV and others the promotion has managed to survive. This has been an event several months in the making and it brought the past, present and future of the promotion together.

Today’s event was held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo and will be available on demand on AJPWTV in Japanese worldwide beginning Thursday at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET. The live broadcast was exclusively on TV Asahi in Japan.

The announced paid attendance was 4780. With capacity limits presumably still in place and at 50% in all likelihood, this is probably at least a super full house, meaning over 90% full. But based on the layout of the venue, there’s a chance this was a legit sellout based on same-day ticket sales. Keiji Muto was a special guest on commentary.

Match 1: Rising Hayato & Ryo Inoue beat Yusuke Kodama & Oji Shiiba. Hayato pinned Shiiba after Shimatani Driver.

Match 2: TAJIRI, Yoshitatsu, Mitsuya Nagai & ATM beat Black Menso-re, Andy Wu, Izanagi & Sushi. Nagai beat Sushi with a Stretch Plum.

Match 3: Saito Brothers Triumphal Match: Jun & Rei Saito & Cyrus beat Shuji Ishikawa, Kohei Sato & Yukio Naya (DDT). Rei Saito pinned Ishikawa after a diving body press.

Match 4: Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura beat All-Asia Tag Team Champions Minoru & Todhizo to win the titles. Sato & Tamura become the 114th All-Asia Tag Team Champions. Tamura pinned Toshizo after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 5: Minoru Suzuki beat Hokuto Omori.

Match 6: Yuma Anzai Debut Match: Yuji Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling) beat Yuma Anzai.

Match 7: Yuma Aoyagi beat Christopher Daniels (All Elite Wrestling).

Match 8: All-Japan 50th Anniversary Match: Masanobu Fuchi, Atsushi Onita & Shiro Koshinaka beat The Great Kojika, Yoshiaki Yatsu & Masao Inoue. Fuchi pinned Inoue after a backdrop.

Match 9: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda beat Takao Omori & Manabu Soya (Pro Wrestling NOAH) to retain the titles. Ashino pinned Omori after Final Vent. V2 for the champs.

Match 10: Atsuki Aoyagi beat All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) to win the title. Aoyagi becomes the 63rd All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion.

Match 11: Naoya Nomura beat Jake Lee. As a result, Nomura will face the main event winner tomorrow for the All-Japan Triple Crown.

Main Event: Kento Miyahara beat Triple Crown Champion Suwama to win the Triple Crown. Miyahara becomes the 68th Triple Crown Champion.

The next event is tomorrow at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin TONIGHT at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT.

All-Japan wrapped up the Road to 50th Anniversary tour today with the final event before their 50th Anniversary event this weekend.

Today’s event was held at Hodogaya Public Hall in Yokohama and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV.

The announced paid attendance was 255.

Match 1: Rising Hayato beat Izanagi & Black Menso-re in a 3-way by pinning both.

Match 2: Cyrus beat Yoshitatsu.

Match 3: Jake Lee, Hokuto Omori, Yuma & Atsuki Aoyagi beat Shotaro Ashino, Ryuki Honda, Yusuke Kodama & Seigo Tachibana. Lee pinned Tachibana after D4C.

Match 4: Yuji Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling), HIkaru Sato & Dan Tamura beat Shuji Ishikawa, Takao Omori & Ryo Inoue. Tamura pinned Inoue after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 5: Minoru Suzuki beat TAJIRI.

Main Event: Suwama & Black Tiger beat Kento Miyahara & Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) by ref stoppage. Suwama beat Miyahara with a backdrop.

The next event is the All-Japan Pro Wrestling 50th Anniversary Event Sunday at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. The live broadcast will be exclusively on TV Asahi and available on Japan only. It will be available worldwide on demand on AJPW.TV beginning Thursday at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET.

All-Japan continued the Road to Nippon Budokan tour with the second of 3 events on the short tour leading up to their 50th Anniversary event, which is now just one week away.

Today’s event was held at Yonago Industrial Gym Sub-Arena in Tottori and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV.

The announced paid attendance was 350.

Match 1: Dan Tamura beat Ryo Inoue by submission.

Match 2: Izanagi vs. Black Menso-re went to a 10 minute time limit draw.

Match 3: Yoshitatsu & TAJIRI beat Rauza (?) & ALL Mighty Inoue. Yoshitatsu pinned Rauza after Fantasy.

Match 4: Cyrus beat Hokuto Omori.

Match 5: Takao Omori, Jake Lee & Shuji Ishikawa beat Shotaro Ashino, Tatsuki Honda & Seigo Tachibana. Omori pinned Honda after Ax Bomber.

Match 6: Suwama beat Hikaru Sato by ref stoppage.

Main Event: Kento Miyahara & Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) beat Atsuki & Ryo Aoyagi. Miyahara beat Ryo Aoyagi with a chicken wing.

The tour-ender is Thursday at Hodogaya Public Hall in Yokohama. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

All-Japan kicked off the Road to Nippon Budokan tour today, a short series that will lead to the promotion’s 50th Anniversary event next weekend.

Today’s event was held at Mina City Park Udatsu Arena in Tokushima and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV.

The announced paid attendance was 605.

Match 1: Yoshitatsu beat Ryo Inoue.

Match 2: In a handicap match, Cyrus beat Black Menso-re & Izanagi in just 8 seconds. Which led to…
Rematch: In a handicap match, Cyrus beat Black Menso-re & Izanagi.

Match 3: TAJIRI vs. Hikaru Sato went to a 10 minute time limit draw.

Match 4: Takao Omori, Shuji Ishikawa & Atsuki Aoyagi beat Shotaro Ashino, Tatsuki Honda & Seigo Tachibana. Omori pinned Honda after Ax Bomber.

Match 5: Suwama beat Dan Tamura.

Main Event: Kento Miyahara, Rising Hayato & Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) beat Jake Lee, Ryo Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori. Miyahara pinned Omori with a shutdown suplex hold.

The next event is tomorrow at Yonago Industrial Gym Sub-Atena in Tottori. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.

All-Japan has announced that Ren Ayabe is now off all events the next 2 weeks including the 50th Anniversary Event on 9/18. Pulmonary pneumothorax. He was to have teamed with Shuji Ishikawa & Kohei Sato to face Jun & Rei Saito & Cyrus on 9/18. DDT Pro Wrestling’s Yukio Naya is the replacement.
The promotion has also announced that Keiji Muto, the former President of All-Japan before joining Pro Wrestling NOAH, will be a special guest on commentary for 9/18. The 9/18 event will be live on TV in Japan ONLY. If you are an AJPW.TV subscriber, it will be available on demand beginning on 9/22 at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET.

All-Japan has announced the AJPW.TV broadcast schedule for September, not including their weekly “Battle Library” series of classic matches replayed on Thursdays. The service costs 900 yen per month (about $6.56 US at this time). Here is the live/on demand event achedule for September:
9/10 (Mima City Park Udatsu Arena, Tokushima)-On Demand beginning the following day
9/11 (Yonago Industrial Gym Sub Arena)-LIVE at midnight PT/3 AM ET
9/15 (Hodogayo Public Hall)-LIVE at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET
9/18 (All-Japan 50th Anniversary Event, Nippon Budokan)-On Demand beginning on 9/22 at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET. LIVE ONLY IN JAPAN on TV Asahi
9/19 (Korakuen Hall)-LIVE on 9/18 at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET. POTENTIAL 9/18 SPOILERS!

Also, if you were not able to watch earlier this year, the joint Korakuen Hall 60th Anniversary/New Japan 50th Anniversary/All-Japan 50th Anniversary crossover event is now available on demand on AJPW.TV. Lots of muted audio because it’s an All-Japan broadcast and, since it’s on their service, the video is not necessarily HD quality like New Japan World offers (remember All-Japan’s service is subpar quality compared to New Japan World and WRESTLE UNIVERSE)

All-Japan has announced the full card for their 50th Anniversary Event on 9/18 at Nippon Budokan. All of the Big 3 will be there as New Japan will have both Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask there, and former All-Japan star Manabu Soya, now with Pro Wrestling NOAH, will return to where he began his career. Even All Elite Wrestling & Impact Wrestling in the US will have a presence. The legendary Stan Hansen will also be in attendance as a special guest.

The full card for the event, which is subject ot change (match order TBA):
Yuma Anzai Debut Match: Yuma Anzai vs. Yuji Nagata
Rising Hayato & Ryo Inoue vs. Yusuke Kodama & Oji Shiiba
Black Menso-re, Izanagi, Andy Wu & SUSHI vs. TAJIRI, ATM, Yoshitatsu & Mitsuya Nagai
All-Japan 50th Anniversary Match: Masanobu Fuchi, Atsushi Onita & Shiro Koshinaka vs. The Great Kojika, Yoshiaki Yatsu & Masao Inoue. Kyohei Wada will be referee, Fumito Kihara the special ring announcer
Shuji Ishikawa, Kohei Sato & Ren Ayabe vs. Jun & Rei Saito & Cyrus
Hokuto Omori vs. Minoru Suzuki
Yuma Aoyagi vs. Christopher Daniels
Jake Lee vs. Joe Doering
All-Asia Tag Team Champions after 9/10 GLEAT event (Minoru & toshizo or Soma Watanabe & Yu Iizuka) vs. Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura for the titles
All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask 4 vs. Atsuki Aoyagi for the title
All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda vs. Takao Omori & Manabu Soya for the titles
All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Suwama vs. Kento Miyahara for the Triple Crown. Stan Hansen will be a special witness

THe event will begin on 9/18 at 12:30 AM PT/3:30 AM ET. Broadcast plans for AJPW.TV should be announced in the next few days, but it likely will air on regular TV in Japan.