AJPW 1993 Champion Carnival Day 5
March 27th 1993
Attendance: 11,000 – Okayama, Chugoku, JP
TV Rating: 1.62 [tv Asahi – JP] + 0.15 [ITV – UK] + 0.06 [Fox Sports Networks – US]
Championships and holders» AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship: Mitsuharu Misawa
» AJPW National Openweight Championship: Cactus Jack
» AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship: Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express]
» AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Ultimo Dragon
0. Dark Match: Mitsuo Momota & Jun Akiyama def. Haruka Eigen & Jun Izumida
- Momota > Izumida (Backslide - Pin) --- 7:02
- Rating: 41
Full-Show Recap
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1. Al Perez & Giant Warrior & Naoki Sano vs. Mighty Inoue & Rusher Kimura & OctagonThe Day 5 opened with a simple non-tournament match where Sano’s team with Perez and Warrior won. The Jr. Heavyweight was the A+ player, pinning Inoue with a Sole Kick, but it’s curious to see that Perez and Warrior are getting some wins recently.
- Sano > Inoue --- (Sole Kick - Pin) --- 8:47
- Rating: 63
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2. Billy Black & Joel Deaton (Wild Bunch) & The Great Sasuke vs. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas (Can-Am Express) & Kazuo YamazakiThe second match was a major surprise quality-wise. Sasuke teamed again with Wild Bunch in a losing but impressive effort against Yamazaki and the Unified World Tag Team Champions. The match was great, showcasing Wild Bunch’s ever-growing resiliency when facing the champions, hoping to get the pin that would render them a title shot.
Sasuke’s flashy style against Can-Am Express was also a wonder to watch, as well as Yamazaki’s razor-like stiff kicks. Yamazaki actually got his team the win, following a Roundhouse Kick to Black, but only after almost 15 minutes.
- Yamazaki > Black --- (Roundhouse Kick - Pin) --- 14:31
- Rating: 81»» And the fans’ applauses were cut short… by Naoki Sano. Slowly becoming, probably, the most hated guy in AJPW, Naoki Sano jumped Kazuo Yamazaki yet again to make sure their feud isn’t over yet. Can-Am Express actually acted quick, taking Yamazaki out of the ring before he was victim of a Sole Kick.
That created an odd visual, where the heel was left alone in the ring he claimed. Sano then told Yamazaki he wants another match with him soon to prove he could beat him.
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1993 Champion Carnival – A Block Match
3. Jackie Fulton vs. Kenta Kobashi (2 pts.)Fulton continued having tough tasks in his first Champion Carnival. This time, he faced Kobashi, seen as an underdog himself, but in a way upper level. The two connected instantly, showcasing great wrestling from the opening bell.
Fulton had some moments of glory, showcasing his technical prowess and almost hitting the Eagle Driver on two occasions. But Kobashi blocked it and when he dominated… well… he didn’t waste his shots. After a few excruciating chops, he hit a Vertical Drop Brainbuster to get two more points in the League.
- Kobashi (4 pts.) > Fulton --- (Vertical Drop Brainbuster - Pin) --- 12:24
- Rating: 76»» After the match, Kenta Kobashi celebrated another win, shook Jackie Fulton’s hand after checking out on him and wished him good luck for the remainder of the tournament. Then, he left before the loser.
Someone got to the ring, though: Stan Hansen came out early for his own match and asked Fulton to share a moment with him. ‘The Cowboy’ proceeded to drop some encouragement words to Fulton, underlining the young man’s evolution into a solid prospect for AJPW and wrestling’s future. One could see Jackie was visibly touched by the words, and both shook hands before Hansen made Fulton sure he was going to like what he would see next, as Hansen would whoop Johnny Smith’s ass.
Fulton and Hansen will meet in the ring on Day 7, the next one of the A Block.
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1993 Champion Carnival – A Block Match
4. Johnny Smith vs. Stan Hansen (4 pts.)Hansen promised, delivered, and gave the Okayama crowd their match of the night here in a not-so-long match that will surely turn into a hidden gem. And one can be sure: this bout was no one-sided one.
Smith proved why he’s one of the most clinical technical wrestlers in the game, managing to contain Hansen’s offense, even countering an earlier attempt to hit the Western Lariat with a Bridging Tiger Suplex, a move that got the crowd’s respect. In another moment, close the the match ending, he also hit a Death Valley Driver from which Hansen only kicked out in the very last bit before the three.
By the end, both men had gave it their all. Hansen was in danger, so he knew he had to wear Smith off to hit the definitive move. The momentum shift came under the form of a DDT, followed by a Running Knee Drop. From there, Hansen signaled it and waited for the British to get up. He went for the Western Lariat, but Smith blocked it again! After a striking sequence, which Hansen won, he finally hit it! 1…2…3!!! Hansen maintains his impeccable record of 3-0 so far.
- Hansen (6 pts.) > Smith --- (Western Lariat - Pin) --- 13:13
- Rating: 83
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1993 Champion Carnival – A Block Match
5. Cactus Jack (w/K.Y. Wakamatsu) (2 pts.) vs. Nobuhiko Takada [UWF-i] (4 pts.)A curious one, certainly. The question on everyone’s mind was: «how will Takada deal with Cactus’ manager?» The match started fast and furious, with Cactus jumping on Takada. It actually took a bit for the UWF-i boss to level up, but he had the full crowd support doing so, as Chugoku is his company’s own region.
The strikes and submissions took a toll on the madman, but his wild and unpredictable style kept Takada on his heels, especially when he took the match to the outside, something the Japanese shooter isn’t used to.
But what about Wakamatsu? Well… near the very end he was finally able to distract Takada, trying to hit him with his kendo stick. Takada responded and slapped him off the apron for some good laughs. Then he was jumped by Cactus, but managed to get the gaijin off his back. Some kicks later, he locked the Rear Naked Choke while looking dead in K.Y.’s eyes. K.Y. tried to distract the referee, but that only made Takada wrench the hold. Cactus didn’t tap, but he passed out! Takada gets two more points, the hard way!
- Takada (6 pts.) > Cactus (2 pts.) --- (Rear Naked Choke – Technical Submission) --- 14:20
- Rating: 77
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1993 Champion Carnival – A Block Match
6. Terry Funk (2 pts.) (w/Wild Bunch) vs. Toshiaki Kawada (2 pts.)A recent rivalry resurrected in the main event of this Day 5. Kawada obliterated Funk in a Texas Death Match, Funk’s own game, in Starting Point, the past August. They are now much more in terms and even teamed up in multi-man bouts. But… in singles action, whoever expected a friendly match got swerved.
Kawada had the upper hand from the beginning, even if he started more methodical than aggressive. But soon, the old man got to his nerves after slapping him multiple times: Funk clearly wanted to summon the same Kawada he had faced before, and he got him the ring again.
The contest got much more heated and Funk used Kawada’s boiling head to get advantage, even managing to drop with a DDT and lock his Spinning Toe Hold. Kawada struggled, but managed to free himself and got quickly to hit feet to hit a desperation Gamengiri. Only then did he stay grounded and hurt.
As the match progressed, though, Kawada recovered his form and his dominance and he answered Funk’s earlier slaps with his Front Face Kicks. Funk begged for more, so he got more. And then, he ate a Folding Powerbomb! 1…2… but no! The veteran stays alive! But for how long? «Not for much», Kawada though, before spiking him with a Brainbuster. Funk tried to get up, but he was met with a Dangerous Kick! And before Kawada had the chance to go for the pin, the referee called the match: Funk was out!!!
- Kawada (4 pts.) > Funk (2 pts.) --- (Dangerous Kick - KO) --- 16:54
- Rating: 77»» In the end, Toshiaki Kawada waited for Terry Funk to regain his senses, while Wild Bunch, Stan Hansen and medical staff helped him to his feet. The crowd applauded the veteran warrior who received a pat to the back by Kawada.
Enter… Nobuhiko Takada. Hansen thought an attack was going to happen, but Takada simply walked to the ring with his hands behind his back to prove he wasn’t in fight mode. The UWF-i owner has a meeting with Kawada scheduled for Day 7, and in Chugoku, he gave the crowd what they wanted.
Takada looked dead in Kawada’s eyes and with a microphone in hand told him that he thinks the two share some similarities: both are courageous fighters, both strike fear to their opponents, and both can end their bouts in any way. But, Takada said: «You’re not a made man yet… I am!» And then laid the challenge: «For you to become a made man, you will have to beat the man who build an empire here in this region!»
But he warned Kawada: «You better be ready, ‘cause this Tuesday I’m bringing hell with me to the ring!» Kawada got his forehead on Takada and slapped him only to get slapped back. The show ended with the intense but controlled eye stare.
Show Rating: 77
A Block League Field
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