AJPW '93 - King's Road Global

AJPW National Openweight Championship - V1
The Gladiator (c) vs. Toshiaki Kawada

AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship - V2
Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] (c) vs. Johnny Ace and Mitsuharu Misawa

AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship - V2
Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Gran Hamada

AJPW vs. UWF-i Special Singles Match
Nobuhiko Takada [UWF-i] vs. Stan Hansen [AJPW]

Special Singles Match
Akira Taue vs. Eddie Gilbert

AJPW vs. UWF-i Special Tag Team Match
Bob Backlund and Gary Albright [UWF-i] vs. Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk [The Funks/The Outlaw Stable/AJPW]

Six-Man Tag Team Match
Billy Black and Joel Deaton (Wild Bunch) and Kenta Kobashi vs. Giant Kimala and Haku (Savage International) and Terry Gordy

Six-Man Tag Team Match
Johnny Smith and Tommy Rogers (The Fantastic Bruisers) and Naoki Sano vs. Steve Williams and Dean Malenko and Kazuo Yamazaki

AJPW National Openweight Championship - V1
The Gladiator (c) vs. Toshiaki Kawada

AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship - V2
Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] (c) vs. Johnny Ace and Mitsuharu Misawa

AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship - V2
Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Gran Hamada

AJPW vs. UWF-i Special Singles Match
Nobuhiko Takada [UWF-i] vs. Stan Hansen [AJPW]

Special Singles Match
Akira Taue vs. Eddie Gilbert

AJPW vs. UWF-i Special Tag Team Match
Bob Backlund and Gary Albright [UWF-i] vs. Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk [The Funks/The Outlaw Stable/AJPW]

Six-Man Tag Team Match
Billy Black and Joel Deaton (Wild Bunch) and Kenta Kobashi vs. Giant Kimala and Haku (Savage International) and Terry Gordy

Six-Man Tag Team Match
Johnny Smith and Tommy Rogers (The Fantastic Bruisers) and Naoki Sano vs. Steve Williams and Dean Malenko and Kazuo Yamazaki

AJPW National Openweight Championship - V1
The Gladiator (c) vs. Toshiaki Kawada

AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship - V2
Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] (c) vs. Johnny Ace and Mitsuharu Misawa

AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship - V2
Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Gran Hamada

AJPW vs. UWF-i Special Singles Match
Nobuhiko Takada [UWF-i] vs. Stan Hansen [AJPW]

Special Singles Match
Akira Taue vs. Eddie Gilbert

AJPW vs. UWF-i Special Tag Team Match
Bob Backlund and Gary Albright [UWF-i] vs. Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk [The Funks/The Outlaw Stable/AJPW]

Six-Man Tag Team Match
Billy Black and Joel Deaton (Wild Bunch) and Kenta Kobashi vs. Giant Kimala and Haku (Savage International) and Terry Gordy

Six-Man Tag Team Match
Johnny Smith and Tommy Rogers (The Fantastic Bruisers) and Naoki Sano vs. Steve Williams and Dean Malenko and Kazuo Yamazaki

AJPW Power Clash
January 27th 1993
Attendance: 39,000 – Fukuoka, Kyushu, JP
TV Rating: 1.55 [tv Asahi – JP] + 0.13 [ITV – UK] + 0.05 [Fox Sports Networks – US]

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Championships and holders
» AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship: Mitsuharu Misawa
» AJPW National Openweight Championship: The Gladiator
» AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship: Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express]
» AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Ultimo Dragon

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Pre-Show
0. Dark Match: Al Perez & Giant Warrior & Haruka Eigen & Richard Slinger vs. Mighty Inoue & Mitsuo Momota & Fire Cat & Octagon
- Cat > Eigen (Moonsault - Pin) --- 9:11
- Rating: 55

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Full-Show Recap
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1. Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura & The Great Sasuke vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa [Tsuruta-gun]
Fun fact: as you can see, the last title challengers in both divisions were in the opener: Tsuruta and Sasuke. Baba and Tsuruta weren’t in the same ring for a while and the fans popped at that. Despite, mainly, Sasuke’s best efforts, Tsuruta-gun won following Jumbo’s Backdrop Driver on Kimura.
- Tsuruta > Kimura (Backdrop Driver - Pin) --- 13:20
- Rating: 73

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2. Johnny Smith & Tommy Rogers (The Fantastic Bruisers) & Naoki Sano vs. Steve Williams & Dean Malenko & Kazuo Yamazaki
Jackie Fulton wasn’t in the match as his ribs were injured a week ago following a British Bomb on the apron. So, ‘Dr. Death’ took his place, aligning with two tough Jr. Heavyweights chasing for revenge.
And the match was… one of the best all night. Sano played his bastard role like a champ, while The Fantastic Bruisers are working better and better as a duo. The crowd popped every time the fan favorites got on control, but in the end, there wasn’t much cheering. Sano kicked Yamazaki in the groin (something very rare in AJPW) and was then chased by Williams and Malenko while Smith and Rogers took advantage, finishing Yamazaki with the Rocket Launcher for the win.
- Rogers > Yamazaki (Rocket Launcher - Pin) --- 12:31
- Rating: 82

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3. Billy Black & Joel Deaton (Wild Bunch) & Kenta Kobashi vs. Giant Kimala & Haku (Savage International) & Terry Gordy (w/K.Y. Wakamatsu)
Gordy and Savage International got exactly what they asked for: a fight. Wild Bunch stepped up in an exhibition that certainly made The Funks proud, but they certainly benefitted from having Kobashi by their side.
The ‘Orange Crush’ managed to put an end to every dominance break by the evil trio, frustrating the three. In the end, a Moonsault to a standing Kimala gave his team the win.
- Kobashi > Haku (Moonsault - Pin) --- 10:53
- Rating: 67

»» When the bell rang, Terry Gordy and Savage International were already against K.Y. Wakamatsu, shouting at the poor fool not allowing him to say a thing. As the three didn’t show signs of calming down, scared, the manager was intimidated to leave before them. Is the alliance done before it even properly began?

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Special Singles Match
4. Akira Taue vs. Eddie Gilbert
Another “Eddie Gilbert Underachieving Special”? No. None of them were. And this one wasn’t either. Once again, Gilbert was the underdog trying to prove he belongs with the best established wrestlers and the best prospects of AJPW.
Taue, on the other hand, knew that a win here was important if he wants to challenge for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion anytime soon. So he was extra-serious from the opening bell, overpowering Gilbert and making the crowd pull for AJPW’s cockiest gaijin as he tried to pull through hope spots against a larger opponent.
From one point, it began to look clear that Gilbert would go on to lose and his back suffered at each high impact move. But he kicked out a Chichibu Cement first… then a Ore Ga Taue… and he never stopped believing.
Nearing the end, the mother of all hope spots in the match as he managed to snap Taue in a German Suplex. Then, he got him up on the corner with some effort on his hurting back. He was definitely thinking Hot Shot DDT, but Taue was just fitter. He managed to punch him for dominance, grabbing him by the neck: Nodowa Otoshi! From the top! Taue then went to the pin and there was no coming back from the floor for Gilbert: 1…2…3!!!
- Taue > Gilbert (Avalanche Nodowa Otoshi - Pin) --- 19:16
- Rating: 82

»» After the match, Eddie Gilbert had what he had never wanted: full crowd support. 39 thousand applauded him for his dedication in loss and, for nearly a minute, Gilbert sat on the mat embracing it. So, ‘Hot Stuff’ asked for a mic and told the Fukuoka crowd: «I probably don’t have what it takes… yet. I may still improve. And I will… still improve. And soon, I will be able to prove that I can beat the best, because that may not be the reality yet, but it is my goal. And one day, the ‘Hot Stuff’ will be the hottest stuff around in All Japan!»


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AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship – V2
5. Ultimo Dragon © vs. Gran Hamada
A classic mentor vs. student match, as just as good as the best of the genre. AJPW’s crowd is loving Ultimo Dragon and he’s justifying all the love he’s getting, but the amount of respect for Gran Hamada is huge too.
For almost fifteen minutes, the two wrestlers got into a lucha libre type of match with as much action taking place in the air as on the floor. For a brief moment, it seemed that Hamada could actually take home the gold, after surprising his trainee with a Frankensteiner. But he kicked out!
The turning point was when Ultimo brilliantly countered Hamada’s Tornado DDT with a Northern Lights Suplex, allowing him to do enough damage to follow it up with an Asai DDT and, then, a Cancun Tornado for a successful title defense.
- Dragon > Hamada (Cancun Tornado - Pin) --- Still champion! --- 14:47
- Rating: 78

»» Respect was a sure thing to follow the match. And as both Jr. Heavyweights stood up, teacher and student hugged and raised hands before Ultimo Dragon climbed each corner in celebration. When he did so, Gran Hamada got attacked by the back by… Yoshinari Ogawa! Tsuruta-gun’s detestable bastard stomped on the veteran before Ultimo realized. And when he did, Masanobu Fuchi was there too! Tsuruta-gun’s veteran attacked Dragon, completely ruined the moment.
Champion and former challenger beaten down, Fuchi lifted Dragon’s World Jr. Heavyweight Championship. The record holder will challenge again!

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Special Tag Team Match
6. Bob Backlund & Gary Albright [UWF-i] vs. Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk [The Funks/The Outlaw Stable/AJPW]
The first page of Power Clash’s chapter in the UWF-i/The Outlaw Stable’s rivalry: would The Funks behave like two rough guys from Texas who enjoy violence or like the technical stars they are? Both.
As for Backlund and Albright, both very different: Backlund tangled mostly with Dory Jr. on the mat, as Albright threw middle-aged Terry around like a ragdoll, stopping punches and forearms that way, but bleeding along the way.
Backlund’s submissions were always threatening, with the brothers working extra-hard to ensure they would not tap out. And then, 3x as hard to ensure Albright’s series of Suplexes against the turnbuckles would not result in a 3-count.
In the end, Terry, at ringside, avoided a charge by big bull Gary, who ran over the guardrail. He was out. Terry managed to tag in, but Backlund didn’t see it, so when he had Dory Jr. locked in the Crossface Chickenwing he thought UWF-i would win the match. That was when he saw crazy ole Terry on the top turnbuckle and released Dory Jr.: Funkin’ Moonsault! On top of Backlund! 1…2…3! The Funks, The Outlaw Stable and AJPW triumph!
- Terry > Backlund (Funkin’ Moonsault - Pin) --- 16:20
- Rating: 75

»» And then? The Funks celebrated and left. What about Bob Backlund and Gary Albright? Well, the former aggressively confronted the latter about his whereabouts when he was losing the match? Big mistake as it started a brawl. Albright is much bigger, but Backlund is a smart weasel. Both UWF-i wrestlers brawled to the back for the enjoyment of AJPW’s crowd.


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AJPW National Openweight Championship – V1
7. The Gladiator © vs. Toshiaki Kawada
The Gladiator is the National Openweight Champion, but, at the same time, he was pissed! Undefeated until the Royal Road Cup, where Kawada eliminated him via stoppage, he is yet to be beat by pin or submission, but his pride is wounded.
And so, he had fire in his eyes and went to the match like a wild beast, fighting for dominance in an aggressive manner against an equally aggressive opponent. What one has in raw power, the other has in striking ability and both have the explosiveness to make every match a must-see.
In fact, the champion was very close to retaining after just a few minutes, when he hit an impactful Sitout Spinebuster. But Kawada wouldn’t fall so easily. And progressively, The Gladiator began to understand that he could flop and lose the belt in his very first defense. Kawada’s kicks were very dangerous and he got his first big break after a Gamengiri that didn’t drop Gladiator… but stunned him for a Hook Kick. 1… no! Of course not, and those in the crowd who believed it are fools.
The match developed with every strike being harder and Kawada managing to avoid three Gladiator Bomb attempts, escaping the move before it was hit. A Diving Lariat was close to end it for Kawada, but it didn’t. And all of a sudden, it was the champion being on his heels! A big, out of nowhere Dangerous Kick didn’t knock him out like the one on the Royal Road Cup. But it staggered him!
He got back up, but more kicks followed, including those mean Kawada Front Face Kicks! The Gladiator wasn’t out, but he was close to be out! Kawada locks the Stretch Plum! The bigger man is too weak to reverse it! He looks out! The referee raises his hand, that falls to the mat! Kawada slayed the beast again and is the new National Openweight Champion!
- Kawada > Gladiator (Stretch Plum - Technical Submission) --- New champion! --- 21:07
- Rating: 80


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AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship – V2
8. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] © def. Johnny Ace & Mitsuharu Misawa
Johnny Ace had always been a second fiddle in his AJPW tenure. Here he was the center of attention, as it was his last AJPW match. By his side, his friend and Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, both trying to capture the Unified World Tag Team Championships.
It’s fair to say Can-Am Express were the favorites and coming off their best year yet. They started to have the upper hand soon, when Ace tagged in, as Kroffat and Furnas divided the ring in half and used multiple tags to keep both guys fresh. The same happened when Misawa got back in action and the soon-gone gaijin had to hope for the best after Kroffat’s Sunset Flip and Furnas’ Frankensteiner. In both occasions, Misawa managed to kick out.
Then, the crowd was suddenly chanting for Ace and Misawa managed to get to him for the hot tag! Ace had his moment, fighting both of the Can-Am Express after forcing Furnas to tag out. He even managed to hit a Leg Drop Bulldog on Kroffat for a very close call. And it took a while before the champions could see themselves contending for the match again.
Ace’s will to become a tag team champion with the other Ace, the one current AJPW Ace, end up costing him. He tried to surprise Kroffat with an Ace Crusher, but he didn’t have the full control of the match, meaning that Kroffat was able to counter it with a Tiger Suplex! 1…2… Misawa was about to enter the ring during the pin, but Furnas saw it coming and Dropkicked him out of the ring. Ace kicked out regardless! However, Kroffat pulled him and lift him up on his shoulders. Furnas tagged him and climbed the top rope for a Dropkick: Doomsday Missile! That’s it! 1…2…3! Can-Am Express retain in Ace’s final match!
- Furnas > Ace (Doomsday Missile - Pin) --- Still champions! --- 18:44
- Rating: 82

»» This time, there was no interruption for the emotional moment. Can-Am Express celebrated their title defense, but then they congratulated the challengers for their effort, wishing the best on Johnny Ace’s future ventures. Ace was left alone with Mitsuharu Misawa who, without a word, hugged him while the crowd cheered both men and chanted for Ace. He may have never been one of AJPW’s top wrestlers, but tonight, Ace had his spotlight!

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Special Singles Match
9. Nobuhiko Takada [UWF-i] vs. Stan Hansen [AJPW]
Hansen entered the ring first and we dare say he wasn’t so cheered for a long time now. As for Takada, he was met by the Fukuoka crowd with a chorus of boos. It was clear that the match would portray an interesting clash of styles. Hansen, a hoss, would fight for The Outlaw Stable and AJPW’s pride with fists, elbows and forearms, as Takada would try to take the match to the floor when possible.
It took a while for Takada to achieve that objective. In fact, Hansen even managed to surprise Takada with a big Lariat before that. The people’s hype for an early match ending ceased at the 2-count. A few moments later, the UWF-i chairman took the fight to the ground after a Full Nelson Suplex. He didn’t release the gaijin, transitioning the move to a Crossface Chickenwing. Hansen kicked out, but he was warned and gasped for air after Takada’s submission.
From then on, Hansen kept trying to avoid Takada’s attempts to floor him, repelling him with big potatoes and power moves, managing to hit a Scoop Slam and a DDT on the shooter. He kicked out, though, and got to action sooner than the AJPW wrestler expected. Takada kept going for submissions, trying a Camel Clutch, which Hansen immediately reversed into a Brazos Valley Backbreaker, his own submission move that made Takada sweat.
Hansen was on top for a bit until Takada’s High Knee triggered a series of stiff Shoot Kicks to Hansen’s chest. Finally, Hansen shoved him away and went for a Lariat, but Takada ducked and evaded to Hansen’s back, locking a Rear Naked Choke! Hansen was in a dangerous place, but escaped… or so he thought… Takada got hold of his arm, locking a Kimura Lock. Hansen managed to escape after some battle, but the damage in his right arm was done.
From then on, Takada targeted that arm, kicking it and even targeting it with some knees. In desperation, Hansen managed to hit a Powerbomb, but when everyone thought Hansen had the upper hand, they realized… Takada grabbed that very same arm, he managed to flip Hansen to the floor! The Cross Armbreaker was locked in! There was no escape and Hansen was too weak, his strongest arm was also beginning to bend and what could that mean to his career? A smart veteran, Hansen knew what to do: he had no other choice. Takada submits Hansen, shocking the whole arena!
- Takada > Hansen (Cross Armbreaker – Submission) --- 19:21
- Rating: 75

»» 39 thousand were shocked, but the booing of Nobuhiko Takada wasn’t as loud now as there was no doubt he was the better man in the main event. As Stan Hansen was helped by the medical team and AJPW’s Projects, Giant Baba came to the ring to a smirking, cocky Takada.
There, Baba… congratulated Takada on the impressive win, stating that he is, indeed, a top wrestler. And it is AJPW’s intent to showcase the best pro wrestling in the world constantly. And, specially, in the Champion Carnival League… so, Baba invited Takada to prove himself further in March and April 1993, in the next Champion Carnival.
Nobuhiko Takada accepted, officially becoming the first entrant! After that, the crowd witnessed an handshake between the owners of two of Japan’s three biggest puroresu federations. Historical!

Show Rating: 77

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Prediction Contest - Results:
Asaemon - 4/8
Frank Reed - 4/8
henriquesser - 4/8
johnnyboombatz - 3/8
kyegds - 4/8
marc91 - 4/8
Purotastic - 4/8

The winner is: No one! This was definitely the most unpredictable card I've put. I'm proud of that, as there was not a single soul getting more than 50% of the card right. Awesome!

Thanks for reading!