AJPW '93 - King's Road Global

After the troubled ending of Double League Finale, there were some animosity and some questions in the mind of fans and journalists alike. So, it was a given: the Press Conference that followed would be an interesting one. Here are some of the highlights:


Tokyo Sports: Tsuruta, Taue, congratulations on your Real World Tag League win. We have seen you more like singles wrestlers up until now. With the win and subsequent challenge for the Unified World Tag Team Championships, will we see you both solely focused in tag team puroresu?
Jumbo Tsuruta: Of course not. We know our worth. There have been multiple tag teams in the history of AJPW to maintain relevance in singles action while holding the championships. We plan to do just that. We know we’re capable to do that.

Nikkan Sports: Do you consider yourselves to be the favorites heading into the title match in the 20th Anniversary Special?
Akira Taue: Who is this guy? Do you know who you’re talking to?!
Tsuruta: I mean… of course! No offense to Furnas and Kroffat… they are the champions, but look at them and look at us. We’re taller, powerful and way more complete wrestlers. They are very good and they beat us in the League, that’s true… but that’s just another reason to see us as favorites now.


Nikkan Sports: Tsuruta-gun were clear about considering themselves the favorites minutes ago. What do you have to say about that?
Doug Furnas: It’s their opinion. They’re entitled to that. But just three weeks ago we managed to beat them. What we know is that we will have to work twice as hard to do it this time, but there are no favorites now.

Tokyo Sports: As champions, you surely saw the Real World Tag League differently. Besides the winners, are there any other teams you were impressed by that you may want to defend your titles against?
Dan Kroffat: I think that doesn’t work like that… you have to deserve it. Gordy and ‘Dr. Death’ were undefeated in their block and they lost the finals, you know? The Fantastics and even Kobashi and Kawada, who we couldn’t beat too… they had a great tournament. But there’s one team who deserves it: The Funks… they beat us. We’re waiting for them in the future.


Surprisingly, Naoki Sano and Ultimo Dragon (champion and challenger) got to the press conference together.

Nikkan Sports: Sano, Ultimo Dragon is your next challenger and he’s standing next to you. Do you have something to say to him? Would you have preferred Kazuo Yamazaki to win the League?
Naoki Sano: The only thing I want to say to him again is ‘congratulations’. Dragon has my respect and we’ll face each other one-on-one for the first time. It will be big! I can’t answer the other question. I’m a fighting champion and don’t have a preference. But I couldn’t beat Yamazaki and he will have a match when I beat Ultimo. *haha*

Tokyo Sports: Uh… Ultimo Dragon: first of all, congratulations. Will Naoki Sano beat you? Are you so confident as he is?
Ultimo Dragon: Thank you! I can only be. I won the League after all. We respect each other a lot. I think I’ll beat him too and I guess we’ll see the outcome in October 21st. I’m sure we can have one of the best Junior Heavyweight matches of all time. Can’t we?
Sano: If you can keep up, sure… *haha*


Nikkan Sports: Misawa… after the brutal attack you fell victim about an hour ago, how do you feel? What do you have to say to Terry Gordy?
Mitsuharu Misawa: Nothing. He hit me hard, but I have nothing to say to him. My upcoming rival is Steve Williams. He was the one that could pin me and he’s the one I have to prepare for. Gordy has no business with me. All I have to say is that he needs to calm down or he can be sure his best days as a professional wrestler are gone.

Tokyo Sports: Do you think the attack was a set-up from both members of Miracle Violence Connection or was it only a fit of rage from Gordy?
Misawa: I know Williams. ‘Dr. Death’ is mean, but he is no savage. Plus, he is one hell of a challenger. I’m sure it was just a fit of rage and Williams had no involvement. Now the only thing I want to do is to focus on my opponent. I’m positive we’ll tear the house down to celebrate AJPW’s 20th Anniversary!


M.V.C. were scheduled to come together to the press conference, but Terry Gordy didn’t show up and the #1 contender to the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship was the last man to be interviewed.

Tokyo Sports: There are a lot of questions that the fans want to see answered… what just happened? Are you and Terry Gordy on the same page?
Steve Williams: I… I don’t think so. I don’t want to play the blame game. We lost after a dominant performance throughout the tournament, but this is not acceptable. I won’t apologize to Misawa because this is a dog eat dog world and this things happen. But I want to make it clear: until our title match, it is best for Terry to find his own battles to fight.

Nikkan Sports: How will that affect your preparation for the title match? Who do you want by your side in the road to the 20th Anniversary?
Williams: If I have to fight solo, I’ll do it. I won’t let this incident stand in my way as I try to capture gold – my first singles gold in Japan…
Terry Gordy: *storming to the table* You guys thought I wouldn’t show up?! I’m finding my own battles, Steve! *throws the AWWA Global Open Title belt to the table* I’m giving this back! What’s up with this belt nowadays? I am a champion, Baba! And since this belt hasn’t been defended in ages, how does this sound: I’m trading it with you for a title shot at Kobashi’s National Openweight Championship at the Anniversary Special. Deal?
Giant Baba: I’m sure Kenta Kobashi loves the idea…

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Championships and holders:
» AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship: Mitsuharu Misawa
» AJPW National Openweight Championship: Kenta Kobashi
» AJPW Unified Tag Team Championship: Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express]
» AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Naoki Sano
» AWWA Global Open Championship: Terry Gordy [AJPW]

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AJPW Recap from the Road:

»» New Japan Pro Wrestling held the final day of the Battle Autumn Tour on the September 25th 1992. We didn’t have the time to talk about it, but we do now. The show was great, headlined surprisingly by a non-title match… but well, it was Tatsumi Fujinami taking on (and beating) Big Van Vader. Also noteworthy: Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Mutoh defeated Kento Kimura & Shiro Koshinaka, while veteran Kantaro Hoshino retained the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against Jushin Thunder Liger.

»» Also in the world of NJPW: The Great Muta has re-signed with the company. We couldn’t go for him, as we have a no-aggression pact of sorts. I’m actually fine with that as I like gentleman’s competition, but I’d like to have Muta (Vader, Liger, Hase…) and if NJPW have a better period than us soon, I might start to think differently.

»» Well, we re-signed exclusively with the best gaijin of all-time (arguably), in Stan Hansen. I guess Eddie Gilbert will continue to have a mentor. But is that the only thing in line for Hansen?

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