Kawada's return match & Arashi's title chase

[El Fiasco]

Toshiaki Kawada's return match was today made official, with the announcement of the two trueborns who stayed behind, Kawada & Masanobu Fuchi, facing the two men who jumped to All Japan at the start of 2002, Keiji Muto & Satoshi Kojima, in tag competition. Kawada was injured on 3/26/02, so his return on 4/12/03, the final show of "Champion Carnival 2003", will be over a year since he went down. Meanwhile, Arashi declared that he would win the Champion Carnival and use it as a booster going into his match with Hashimoto.

Thus far, the AJPW card for 4/12/03 at Tokyo Nippon Budokan is:

1. Toshiaki Kawada Return Match: Toshiaki Kawada & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Keiji Muto & Satoshi Kojima
2. Triple Crown champ Shinya Hashimoto vs. Arashi

(credit: www.puroresufan.com)

Kawada\Fuchi vs Mutoh\Kojima sounds great to me...and while we're talking about the Champions Carnival, here's the official line-up from www.puroresupower.com:
The tournament format this year will be single elimination. The roster:

- Keiji Mutoh
- Satoshi Kojima
- Arashi
- Nobutaka Araya
- Yoji Anjoh
- Johnny Smith
- George Hines
- Big John Tenta
- The Gladiator
- Gigantes (aka The Wall or Malice)

Format for matches:

3/22 Korakuen Hall
- The Gladiator vs. Big John Tenta
- Yoji Anjoh vs. Gigantes

3/23 Korakuen Hall
- Arashi vs. Nobutaka Araya
- Johnny Smith vs. George Hines

3/25 Morioka, Iwate Prefectural Gym
- Keiji Mutoh vs. winner of Gladiator/Tenta
- Satoshi Kojima vs. winner of Anjoh/Gigantes

3/28 Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center
- Winner of Arashi/Araya vs. winner of Mutoh's 3/25 match
- Winner of Smith/Hines vs. winner of Mutoh's 3/25 match
- Finals

Gen'ichiro Tenryu will work the tour except for the 3/23 Korakuen Hall show. Stan Hansen will show up for the 3/22 Korakuen Hall show to do the Champion Carnival opening declaration. Jimmy Yang will work the entire tour. Yoji Anjoh will work from 3/22 Korakuen to 3/28 Sapporo.

This restructuring is due to cost concerns. Foreigners working the tournament (Tenta and Gladiator) will only be paid for one week's worth of work, instead of a traditional tournament format where guys would be paid for 2-4 weeks of work.

Hopefully Kojima wins the tourny this year...

[Stumpdriver2002]

"Meanwhile, Arashi declared that he would win the Champion Carnival and use it as a booster going into his match with Hashimoto."

This does not bode well for our guy Kojima...especially considering Mutoh's history of doing the exact wrong thing in his booking. I mean, when was the last time he did something right? Last year against Kawada?

[Sofa Kingdom]

Would it makes since to have Arashi win or at lease a strong showing in the tourney so it seems like he has a strong chance to defeat Hashimoto for the TC.

[RoaringElbow25]

Big John Tenta is still wrestling? I havent seen that guy for years, good for him. Do any of the gaijins have any chace of winning?

[Jason]

I'd say that none of the gaijins have a chance, but with Mutoh booking who knows?

[EvilMidnightBomber]

Would it makes since to have Arashi win or at lease a strong showing in the tourney so it seems like he has a strong chance to defeat Hashimoto for the TC.

Arashi could go over everybody on All Japan's roster in 2 minute squashes with one hand behind his back and still no one would believe he had any chance to win back the TC.

Still, it is Mutoh we're talking about here, so anything is possible. Arashi becoming All Japan's ace could just be part of his master plan to destroy All Japan.

[El Fiasco]

Looking at the line-up, you start to realize that Kojima is the only guy that deserves the win whatsoever. With Kea out for a year, Kojima is the only promising star to take over for Kawada, Tenryu & Mutoh, plus he has a Triple Crown match with Hashimoto coming up down the line.

Sadly, Arashi probably will win, but Kojima taking the tournament would be a major sign that things are changing for the better in AJPW.


Another question...why couldn't more talented workers like Masanobu Fuchi, Steve Williams and Kendo Ka Shin be used for the tourny? I know Ka Shin is a junior, but I'd rather see him in there than Gigantes or John Tenta...

[The Great Maijin]

Kojima should squash Arashi in a tournament match and then replace Arashi as the challenger to Hashimoto

[Tradewynd]

Gladiator is a great worker when you actually let him use his full moveset, but he should still be a year away from being considered for a win in the CC. It really wouldn't do any good to have Mutoh win, although I would prefer that over Arashi. Gigantes also has moments, he just needs to learn how to bump and sell better. It should be obvious that Kojima would win this thing. If Tenta wins I stop following All Japan. But who knows, maybe we're worrying over nothing, maybe Mutoh has Doink the Clown up his sleeve as a last minute replacement for himself and he'll squash everybody to win the Carnival and establish All Japan's new ace for the next 5 years.

[Stumpdriver2002]

Simulated commentary:

"Kojima hits the lariat...but Doink NO SELLS!!! Unbelieveable!!! Doink motions to Kojima as if to say, "that's all you got?" Kojima tosses the arm pad and points to the sky; he's had enough! Doink ducks another lariat and...EYE POKE!!! EYE POKE!!! Kojima hits the mat like a sack of potatoes!!! Doink ascending the ropes...what's this...my ***, no...Doink leaps...WHOOPIE CUSHION!!! WHOOPIE CUSHION!!!! WHOOPIE CUSHION!!! 1, 2, 3!!!!! NEW HEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Sadly, knowing Mutoh's ways, I can almost see it happening.

[Luds]

Which Doink... Borne?

[Tradewynd]

Actually I was thinking more like one of the Men On A Mission guys as Doink. Either Mabel or Mo, probably Mabel, since he's bigger and couldn't work at all. He should fit right in with whatever philosophy was used in booking John Tenta

[Luds]

Well Mabel was in NWA TNA last week... Dunno if he signed a multi show deal...

[Tradewynd]

Yeah, I saw Mabel come out at the end of the show on Wednesday. I was kicking, screaming and generally not taking it very well. I'm sure he's only going to be here for a coupleweeks and go away again, but I don't want him on my TV in the first place. I was surprised, but it wasn't exactly a good surprise, like Ohtani and Tanaka showing up to win the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Now THAT is how you book a good surprise.