AJPW Championship Carnival 2008 thread

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Both blocks in full:

 

A BLOCK

 

- Keiji Muto (2002, 2004 & 2007 Winner)

- Taiyo Kea (2006 Winner)

- Satoshi Kojima (2003 Winner)

- Toshiaki Kawada (1994 & 1997 Winner)

- Hiroshi Tanahashi

 

B BLOCK

 

- Kensuke Sasaki (2005 Winner)

- Suwama

- Osamu Nishimura

- Joe Doering

- Minoru Suzuki

 

Block A is very crowded, with all five wrestlers being viable candidates to make it to the final stage. I think it'll end up with a 1-2 of Muto and Tanahashi, but the order will depend on the final they want. Block B will almost assuredly by won by Sasaki, and I'd be surprised with anyone else winning that block. This would give us a final of either Muto or Tananashi vs. Sasaki. If that happens, then either Muto beats Sasaki to set up a Triple Crown title match or Sasaki beats Tananashi to show that All Japan's best is superior to New Japan's brightest star.

 

And via the Shining Road site:

 

Match order was finally decided for the first four days. Interestingly enough, the finals won't be airing in any live form, on any of All Japan's regular network coverage... and is actually set to air at the end of May.

 

AJPW, 4/5/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

1. Kaz Hayashi, Nobutaka Araya & Nobukazu Hirai vs. Seiya Sanada, KAI & Hiroshi Yamato

2. Ryuji Hijikata, Katsuhiko Nakajima & T28 vs. TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King

3. Suwama & Manabu Soya vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Joe Doering vs. Minoru Suzuki

5. Champion Carnival - Block B: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Osamu Nishimura

6. Champion Carnival - Block A: Keiji Muto vs. Taiyo Kea

7. Champion Carnival - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Toshiaki Kawada

 

AJPW, 4/6/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

1. Ryuji Hijikata, KAI & Hiroshi Yamato vs. T28, Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya

2. Kaz Hayashi, Nobukazu Hirai & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King

3. Toshiaki Kawada & Nobutaka Araya vs. Minoru Suzuki & TAKEMURA

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Osamu Nishimura vs. Joe Doering

5. Champion Carnival - Block A: Taiyo Kea vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

6. Champion Carnival - Block B: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Suwama

7. Champion Carnival - Block A: Keiji Muto vs. Satoshi Kojima

 

AJPW, 4/7/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

1. Nobutaka Araya & Nobukazu Hirai vs. Ryuji Hijikata & Katsuhiko Nakajima

2. Kaz Hayashi & Hajime Suruga vs. KAI & Hiroshi Yamato

3. Osamu Nishimura, T28, Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya vs. Satoshi Kojima, TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Joe Doering

5. Champion Carnival - Block A: Taiyo Kea vs. Toshiaki Kawada

6. Champion Carnival - Block B: Suwama vs. Minoru Suzuki

7. Champion Carnival - Block A: Keiji Muto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

 

AJPW, 4/8/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

1. Nobukazu Hirai & Hajime Suruga vs. Ryuji Hijikata & Katsuhiko Nakajima

2. Joe Doering, Kaz Hayashi & Seiya Sanada vs. Nobutaka Araya, T28 & Manabu Soya

3. Keiji Muto, KAI & Hiroshi Yamato vs. TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Suwama vs. Osamu Nishimura

5. Champion Carnival - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Taiyo Kea

6. Champion Carnival - Block A: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

7. Champion Carnival - Block B: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Minoru Suzuki

 

(The posting of 4/8 on the Shining Road site had the wrestlers in the wrong blocks, which I assume is an error, so I've corrected it)

 

And the final day:

 

AJPW, 4/9/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

- Taiyo Kea, Kaz Hayashi & T28 vs. Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima & Ryuji Yamaguchi

- Champion Carnival - Block A: Keiji Muto vs. Toshiaki Kawada

- Champion Carnival - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

- Champion Carnival - Block B: Suwama vs. Joe Doering

- Champion Carnival - Block B: Osamu Nishimura vs. Minoru Suzuki

- Champion Carnival - Final: Winner of Block A vs. Winner of Block B

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Forgive me for sounding like an idiot that doesn't understand Japanese culture, but is it a good thing they keep putting the same "former" winners in this thing (and the Climax for NJPW as well) and they're the ones expected to win? Is Japan that loathe to put over new stars on a semi-regular basis?

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

Suwama's winning this year. If he doesn't, I will be absolutely shocked. AJPW's been doing a huge media blitz with him, with him promising to "revive the Oudou spirit" and lead the promotion back to the golden days. The last few times I've seen his matches, the fans have really taken to him since his turn from VM so if their going to strike, now's the time.

 

And new workers do not hit main events very often in Japan. Most Japanese wrestlers don't even get to main events until they've hit a minimum of six years in the business, and sometimes upwards to ten+ before they get a title. There's exceptions, of course, but that's generally how it goes. You got to be experienced and "good" to get the chances.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

The first results are in:

 

AJPW, 4/5/08

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1,900 Fans - No Vacancy

 

1. Seiya Sanada, KAI & Hiroshi Yamato beat Kaz Hayashi, Nobutaka Araya & Nobukazu Hirai (13:28) when Sanada used a cast-away German Suplex hold on Araya.

2. TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King beat Ryuji Hijikata, Katsuhiko Nakajima & T28 (11:31) when Silver King used the Death Valley Bomb on T28.

3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito beat Suwama & Manabu Soya (16:23) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Soya.

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Joe Doering [2] beat Minoru Suzuki [0] (10:55) with a revolution-style Powerbomb.

5. Champion Carnival - Block B: Kensuke Sasaki [1] vs. Osamu Nishimura [1] (30:00) ended in a time limit draw.

6. Champion Carnival - Block A: Keiji Muto [2] beat Taiyo Kea [0] (16:41) with the Shining Wizard.

7. Champion Carnival - Block A: Satoshi Kojima [2] beat Toshiaki Kawada [0] (15:41) with a lariat.

 

AJPW, 4/6/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1,900 Fans

 

1. Ryuji Hijikata, KAI & Hiroshi Yamato beat T28, Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya (10:23) when Hijikata used a Fisherman Buster on T28.

2. Kaz Hayashi, Nobukazu Hirai & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King (10:11) when TARU was disqualified.

3. Minoru Suzuki & TAKEMURA beat Toshiaki Kawada & Nobutaka Araya (14:15) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style Piledriver on Araya.

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Joe Doering [4] beat Osamu Nishimura [1] (25:20) with a Canadian Backbreaker.

5. Champion Carnival - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] beat Taiyo Kea [0] (20:53) with the High Fly Flow.

6. Champion Carnival - Block B: Kensuke Sasaki [1] vs. Suwama [1] (30:00) ended in a time limit draw.

7. Champion Carnival - Block A: Keiji Muto [4] beat Satoshi Kojima [2] (17:36) by referee stop due to a cross armbreaker.

 

After two days, Doering is the surprise leader of Block B, while less surprisingly Muto leads Block A. Tomorrow, Doering faces Sasaki while Muto faces Tanahashi, which should tell us a little more of how the Carnival is going to go.

 

 

[Vyce 0]

Doering over Suzuki AND Nishimura is ponderous.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

4/7 Results by Irving

AJPW, 4/7/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1,700 Fans

 

1. Ryuji Hijikata & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Nobutaka Araya & Nobukazu Hirai (10:48) when Nakajima used a face kick on Araya.

2. Hiroshi Yamato & KAI beat Kaz Hayashi & Hajime Suruga (10:22) when KAI used the splash plancha on Suruga.

3. Satoshi Kojima, TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King beat Osamu Nishimura, T28, Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya (11:50) when Kojima used a lariat on Sanada.

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Kensuke Sasaki [4] beat Joe Doering [4] (8:01) with a lariat.

5. Champion Carnival - Block A: Toshiaki Kawada [2] beat Taiyo Kea [0] (13:35) with an enzui knee attack.

6. Champion Carnival - Block B: Minoru Suzuki [2] beat Suwama [1] (9:31) with a sleeper hold.

7. Champion Carnival - Block A: Keiji Muto [5] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi [3] (30:00) ended in a time limit draw.

 

BLOCK A

 

1. Keiji Muto [5]

2. Hiroshi Tanahashi [3]

3. Satoshi Kojima [2]

- Toshiaki Kawada [2]

4. Taiyo Kea [0]

 

BLOCK B

 

1. Kensuke Sasaki [4]

- Joe Doering [4]

3. Minoru Suzuki [2]

4. Suwama [1]

5. Osamu Nishimura [0]

 

Not surprised by how Block A is going, but Doering doing so well in block B does raise an eyebrow, mostly because you've got former TC champion Suzuki and newly joined Nishimura in there. I hope Nishimura beats Suwama, or even draws, because I'd hate to think of Nishimura being the designated jobber of his group. The big loser of Block A is Kea, but he'll probably get points against Kojima so as to keep Muto and Tanahashi the two strongest in that Block.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

Nishimura's a midcarder. Muto seems to realize this. He'll never really be anything beyond a midcarder. Nishmura is skilled, but he lacks charisma. Doering's rough around the edges, but so were most of the major gaijin's when they were brought in. Very, very few of the "legendary gaijins" of the past have been more then rough around the edges until they were "crafted" into stars. Go back and watch some Leon White before he hit's NJPW, and see what just a few years working with them did for him. Doering's following that path, in that AJPW considers him their guy. Unless he gets stupid, he's going to be the top gaijin in AJPW for years to come.

 

The maximum points possible in this year's TC is eight. Suwama's gone 0-1-1 so far. In theory, if he wins his next two while Doering and Sasaki both lose their next one, he can advance. Sasaki hasn't lost this entire tournament, so I'd expect Suzuki to drop him. Suwama has Nishimura and Doering. Doering owes Suwama a few jobs, and I don't see Nishimura beating Suwama.

 

Block A's a little more cut and dried. There's no way NJPW sent Tanahashi to AJPW and he doesn't make the finals. Since AJPW doesn't have semi finals now, that means Tanahashi has to win the block. That means he will probably drop Kojima and Kawada to finish strong. May have a draw in there, but he'll still win the block.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

 

AJPW, 4/8/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1,700 Fans

 

1. Ryuji Hijikata & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Nobukazu Hirai & Hajime Suruga (11:14) when Hijikata won by referee stop due to a crabhold.

2. Joe Doering, Kaz Hayashi & Seiya Sanada beat Nobutaka Araya, T28 & Manabu Soya (12:09) when Soya used a Jumping Powerbomb on Soya.

3. TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King beat Keiji Muto, KAI & Hiroshi Yamato (10:40) when Silver King used the Death Valley Driver on Yamato.

4. Champion Carnival - Block B: Suwama [3] beat Osamu Nishimura [1] (15:13) with a backdrop hold.

5. Champion Carnival - Block A: Satoshi Kojima [4] beat Taiyo Kea [0] (14:53) with a lariat.

6. Champion Carnival - Block A: Toshiaki Kawada [3] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi [4] (30:00) ended in a time limit draw.

7. Champion Carnival - Block B: Minoru Suzuki [4] beat Kensuke Sasaki [4] (12:22) with a rear naked chokehold.

 

BLOCK A

1. Keiji Muto [5]

2. Satoshi Kojima [4]

- Hiroshi Tanahashi [4]

4. Toshiaki Kawada [3]

5. Taiyo Kea [0]

 

BLOCK B

1. Joe Doering [4]

- Minoru Suzuki [4]

- Kensuke Sasaki [4]

4. Suwama [3]

5. Osamu Nishimura [1]

 

Credit to Irving at Shining Road

 

So far, only Kea and Nishimura have been knocked out of the tournament by sheer points, but by process of elimination, Toshiaki Kawada has been as well. The only possible way he could even be in contention would be if Kojima & Tanahashi draw, while he beats Muto, which would create a completely trainwreck scenario with four people at five points. In that scenario I have absolutely no idea who'd advance. Also eliminated by process of elimination is Triple Crown Champion Kensuke Sasaki. He's gone 1-1-2 this tournament, and is out of tournament matches. There's no possible way Sasaki can advance, as the winner of Suwama/Doering would be past him on points. Even if they drew, Doering would still have five points, beating Sasaki's four. Minoru Suzuki can win the tournament with an even six points only if A) Suwama beats Doering, and he beats Nishimura. The darkhorse of the block, Suwama can win the tournament if Suzuki loses to Nishimura, and Suwama beats Doering.

 

Everything looks set up for the finals being Suwama/Tanahashi. But we'll see.

[tekcop 0]

Finals from Shining Road:

 

AJPW, 4/9/08 (GAORA TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

2,100 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

 

1. Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima & Ryuji Yamaguchi beat Taiyo Kea, Kaz Hayashi & T28 (11:44) when Nakajima used a German Suplex hold on T28.

2. Champion Carnival - Block B: Suwama [5] beat Joe Doering [4] (9:18) with an ankle hold.

3. Champion Carnival - Block B: Osamu Nishimura [3] beat Minoru Suzuki [4] (3:58) with a backslide.

4. Champion Carnival - Block A: Toshiaki Kawada [5] beat Keiji Muto [5] (10:32) with a face kick.

5. Champion Carnival - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi [6] beat Satoshi Kojima [4] (18:10) with an inside cradle.

6. Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya beat Nobutaka Araya & Nobukazu Hirai (10:43) when Sanada used a Dragon Suplex hold on Hirai.

7. TARU, Shuji Kondo & Silver King beat Ryuji Hijikata, KAI & Hiroshi Yamato (9:38) when Silver King used the Death Valley Bomb on Hijikata.

8. Champion Carnival - Final: Suwama beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (29:49) with the Last Ride.

 

- Final standings for the 2008 Champion Carnival leagues.

 

BLOCK A

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi [6]

2. Toshiaki Kawada [5]

- Keiji Muto [5]

4. Satoshi Kojima [4]

5. Taiyo Kea [0]

 

BLOCK B

1. Suwama [5]

2. Minoru Suzuki [4]

- Joe Doering [4]

- Kensuke Sasaki [4]

5. Osamu Nishimura [3]

 

-----

 

I think we all called Suwama beating Tanahashi to win. Predictable, but in this case, that's not bad.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

AJPW, 4/20/08 (Samurai! TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

1. Masanobu Fuchi & Nobutaka Araya vs. Takashi Okita & Kento Miyahara

2. T28 vs. KAI

3. Ryuji Hijikata, Hiroshi Yamato & Hajime Suruga vs. Shuji Kondo, Silver King & Al Daivari

4. Nobukazu Hirai, Kaz Hayashi & El Samurai vs. Minoru Suzuki, NOSAWA Rongai & MAZADA

5. Osamu Nishimura vs. TAKEMURA

6. Keiji Muto, Taiyo Kea & Joe Doering vs. Satoshi Kojima, TARU & ZODIAC

7. Suwama, Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya vs. Kensuke Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima & Ryuji Yamaguchi

 

AJPW, 4/29/08

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Silver King © vs. Ryuji Hijikata

2. AJPW World Tag Team Title: Keiji Muto & Joe Doering © vs. Voodoo Murders Team

3. Triple Crown: Kensuke Sasaki © vs. Suwama

 

The obvious results would see Suwama get the pin in the six-man, and give a good showing in the title match before ultimately falling to defeat.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Just curious, how viable would it be for Tanahashi to have won the Carnival instead, then put over Sasaki in the TC title match, with the idea that an AJPW guy would win the Climax later this year and jobbing to Nakamura (or whoever the NJ champion is at the time) at the Dome show?

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

The only time I have ever seen a company let a rival company's wrestler win their big tournament was when Zero-One let Satoshi Kojima of AJ win their Fire Festival. Other than that, I have never seen it. Jun Akiyama in the G1 is close, ditto Kojima in the G1 final, but no cigar for them.

 

Daivari has entered All Japan I see. Here's to him joining the Voodoo Murders. Anyone thing Taiyo Kea is gonna join now?

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

Not putting over Suwama would have been a bad mistake. You can think of what you will of him (Most people don't have high opinions of the man), but ever since the VM to face turn, the fans have rallied behind him significantly. During his first night match with Sasaki, they actually cheer him over Sasaki. Guy is hot right now. Doesn't mean he's a great worker, but you don't have to be a great worker to be over.

 

The key to wrestling is to strike when the iron's hot. It's what NJPW failed to do with Goto last year. Hopefully AJPW doesn't fall for that trap.