AJPW '93 - King's Road Global

Toshiaki Kawada (A Block Winner) vs. Steve Williams (B Block Winner)

AJPW World Tag Team Championship - V3
Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] (c) vs. Giant Kimala & Haku [Savage International]

AJPW National Openweight Championship - V1
Cactus Jack (c) vs. Terry Funk

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship - V4
Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Dean Malenko

Submission or Knock-Out Match
Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Naoki Sano

Special Block Battle 8-Man Tag Team Match
Jackie Fulton & Johnny Smith & Kenta Kobashi & Stan Hansen (A Block) vs. Akira Taue & Terry Gordy & The Gladiator & Tommy
Rogers (B Block)

Special 6-Man Tag Team Match
Billy Black & Dory Funk Jr. & Joel Deaton [The Outlaw Stable] vs. Eddie Gilbert & Giant Baba & Mitsuharu Misawa

6-Man Tag Team Match
Gran Hamada & Octagon & The Great Sasuke vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa [Tsuruta-gun]

Well now I'm sad that my favorite diary is going on hiatus! Look forward to seeing what you've got coming next!

1993 Champion Carnival Finale - Apr. 21st 1993 - Osaka, Kansai, JP
Full match card for predictions

1993 Champion Carnival Finale
Toshiaki Kawada (A Block Winner) vs. Steve Williams (B Block Winner)

AJPW World Tag Team Championship - V3
Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] (c) vs. Giant Kimala & Haku [Savage International]

AJPW National Openweight Championship - V1
Cactus Jack (c) vs. Terry Funk

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship - V4
Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Dean Malenko

Submission or Knock-Out Match
Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Naoki Sano

Special Block Battle 8-Man Tag Team Match
Jackie Fulton & Johnny Smith & Kenta Kobashi & Stan Hansen (A Block) vs. Akira Taue & Terry Gordy & The Gladiator & Tommy Rogers (B Block)

Special 6-Man Tag Team Match
Billy Black & Dory Funk Jr. & Joel Deaton [The Outlaw Stable] vs. Eddie Gilbert & Giant Baba & Mitsuharu Misawa

6-Man Tag Team Match
Gran Hamada & Octagon & The Great Sasuke vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa [Tsuruta-gun]

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I hope this hiatus is short-lived. I love reading your shows! I can't wait for the new diary!

1993 Champion Carnival Finale
Toshiaki Kawada (A Block Winner) vs. Steve Williams (B Block Winner)

AJPW World Tag Team Championship - V3
Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] (c) vs. Giant Kimala & Haku [Savage International]

AJPW National Openweight Championship - V1
Cactus Jack (c) vs. Terry Funk

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship - V4
Ultimo Dragon (c) vs. Dean Malenko

Submission or Knock-Out Match
Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Naoki Sano

Special Block Battle 8-Man Tag Team Match
Jackie Fulton & Johnny Smith & Kenta Kobashi & Stan Hansen (A Block) vs. Akira Taue & Terry Gordy & The Gladiator & Tommy Rogers (B Block)

Special 6-Man Tag Team Match
Billy Black & Dory Funk Jr. & Joel Deaton [The Outlaw Stable] vs. Eddie Gilbert & Giant Baba & Mitsuharu Misawa

6-Man Tag Team Match
Gran Hamada & Octagon & The Great Sasuke vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa [Tsuruta-gun]

AJPW 1993 Champion Carnival Finale
April 21st 1993
Attendance: 11,000 – Osaka, Kansai, JP
TV Rating: 1.74 [tv Asahi – JP] + 0.17 [ITV – UK] + 0.06 [Fox Sports Networks – US]

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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

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Pre-Show
0. Dark Match: Al Perez & Giant Warrior & Haruka Eigen & Isamu Teranishi def. Mark Youngblood & Mighty Inoue & Mitsuo Momota & Rusher Kimura
- Warrior > Kimura (Big Boot - Pin) --- 8:08
- Rating: 46

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Full-Show Recap
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1. Gran Hamada & Octagon & The Great Sasuke vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa [Tsuruta-gun]
The Finale started with the now somewhat common sight of Tsuruta in the opener. Him and his army faced three Jr. Heavyweights looking to prove themselves and the result was a great match. Tsuruta, the more serious and respectful member of the gun, contrasted with Fuchi and Ogawa, who taunted the losers (specially Hamada) after Tsuruta’s definitive Backdrop Driver.
- Tsuruta > Hamada --- (Backdrop Driver - Pin) --- 12:04
- Rating: 82

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2. Billy Black & Dory Funk Jr. & Joel Deaton [The Outlaw Stable] vs. Eddie Gilbert & Giant Baba & Mitsuharu Misawa
A friendly match, as Gilbert stood in opposite corners with his own faction, siding with Baba and the Triple Crown Champion instead. The Outlaw Stable seemed more polished as a trio at first, but business soon picked up as the individuals in the other team were just slightly better. In the end, Misawa hit Deaton with a Rolling Elbow and was probably following it with a Tiger Driver, but ‘The Hot Stuff’ tagged in, smirked at Misawa and hit his Hot Shot DDT when Deaton got back up to get the win himself.
After the match, Gilbert offered his hand for Misawa to shake. The champion didn’t really like Gilbert’s actions, but he understood it, as Gilbert was able to take Misawa to a Time Limit Draw at the B Block and feels like he has something else to prove. Misawa shook Gilbert’s hand while Baba watched.
- Gilbert > Deaton --- (Hot Shot DDT - Pin) --- 11:26
- Rating: 81

»» After the bell, Eddie Gilbert was left alone with The Outlaw Stable. He helped his own stablemates get to their feet and then reached for the usual: some beers. Stan Hansen joined in but he just watched as he’s wrestling in the next match. However, the beer moment was cut short by… The Fantastic Bruisers! They’re in the next match too, even if at opposite corners due to the Block Battle.

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Special Block Battle 8-Man Tag Team Match
3. Jackie Fulton & Johnny Smith & Kenta Kobashi & Stan Hansen vs. Akira Taue & Terry Gordy & The Gladiator & Tommy Rogers
A fun out-of-the-norm match. The interactions between teammates Smith and Rogers, as well as Fulton and Smith’s not-forgotten issues gave some story bits for the match to revolve partially around. It was fair to say that the B Block team was far more synched, but even Taue and Gordy argued for a bit.
Everyone was given time to be in action and to rest from a grueling series of Carnival matches and at the end the issues within the A Block proved costly, as Fulton was left alone with Taue by Smith. An Ore Ga Taue ended the match.
- Taue > Fulton --- (Ore Ga Taue - Pin) --- 14:21
- Rating: 81

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Submission or Knock-Out Match
4. Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Naoki Sano
It’s fair to say no feud is more heated in AJPW than the one of Yamazaki and Sano, former NJPW dojo colleagues turned bitter enemies by Sano’s actions. Yamazaki won at Battle Ready and Sano asked him to choose a stipulation for this one.
The match was fiery from the opening, with both men seemingly wanting to kill each other, trying to go for some knock-out blows that were successfully avoided. Then, a cool-down period, with the two opting for some mat and submission-based wrestling. Yamazaki got close to winning once again with a Cross Armbreaker, but in desperation Sano reached the ropes.
The bout entered a less-controlled phase again and the kicks in their arsenal began to be used further. The two felt some head blows but not yet sufficient to knock anyone out. And then Sano’s sadistic soul rose to the occasion, as he forearmed his way to Yamazaki’s skull, making his brow bleed. Yamazaki got to his knees, only to get hit with a vicious Sole Kick! The referee checked on him, but he wasn’t out yet! So Sano hit another as he tried to get up… this time to the back of Yamazaki’s head! Yamazaki is out! Sano knocked him out!
- Sano > Yamazaki --- (Sole Kick x2 - KO) --- 17:52
- Rating: 80


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AJPW World Tag Team Championship – V3
5. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas [Can-Am Express] © vs. Giant Kimala & Haku [Savage International]
Can-Am Express’ reign was in a threatening position, as Savage Intl. looked to get revenge from Team Carnival’s elimination. Of course, they had a very noticeable size advantage too, but Kroffat and Furnas’ experience made this an interesting match.
Kimala and Haku dominated much of the contest, managing to keep their opponents apart, as their double teams managed to do harm to the big guys. It really looked like the titles were changing hands after ten minutes, and Kroffat seemed out.
Kimala had Furnas trapped and Haku hit his Thrust Kick… but Furnas ducked and he hit Kimala instead! Kroffat isn’t out and he Dropkicks and hits a Crossbody on Haku, sending him over the top rope. Furnas hits a Frankensteiner on Kimala! 1…2…3! The champions keep their reign intact!
- Furnas > Kimala --- (Frankensteiner - Pin) --- Still champions! --- 10:35
- Rating: 75

»» And then, Can-Am Express had little time to prepare for what happened. Haku started to take his frustrations on Dan Kroffat out of the ring and Doug Furnas tried to save his partner. But Giant Kimala got to his face. Back in the ring, Savage International keep the offensive and they were joined… by Terry Gordy. ‘Bam Bam’ is always seeking enemies!
The heels were chased off by The Outlaw Stable, but Gordy was able to declare his intentions: he wants to challenge Can-Am Express for the titles. But… does he have a partner?


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AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship – V4
6. Ultimo Dragon © vs. Dean Malenko
An absolute show stealer. Dragon and Malenko took it as an objective to put one of the best matches of the Champion Carnival Finale and overshadow the Heavyweights. It was a clinical technical match with bits of lightning-paced action, specially when the match neared its ending.
The bout started on the floor, as both tried to tear each other’s limbs apart with submission offense and we could see Malenko had a slight edge over the champion, managing to cause some damage to his legs that would prevent him from hit some of his aerial offense for a while. The time progressed and the two began hitting some more high-impact moves, as Dragon hit a Kneeling Piledriver to gain the control of the match, which shifted back to Malenko only when he hit a Brainbuster.
Near the end, the counter-offense became a wonder to witness and Dragon’s high-flying moves stunned both the crowd and the challenger, who kicked out of an Asai DDT and a Cancun Tornado, seeming undefeatable at times. Malenko eventually got back to the match when countering another attempt from Dragon to hit a Moonsault. He then climbed the turnbuckle and the two were in a very dangerous situation: Malenko had an idea that would probably end the match and went for a Superbomb! But Dragon countered it with a Frankensteiner! And then got to the top quickly to crush the challenger with another Cancun Tornado! 1…2…3!!! Ultimo retains!
- Dragon > Malenko --- (Cancun Tornado - Pin) --- Still champion! --- 23:17
- Rating: 82


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AJPW National Openweight Championship – V1
7. Cactus Jack (w/K.Y. Wakamatsu) © vs. Terry Funk
A clash between two of AJPW’s most sadistic wrestlers. Cactus needed to avenge his Carnival loss to Funk to keep his title in his possession and he put the extra mile to do so… and so did Wakamatsu, distracting ‘The Funker’ early on.
Cactus’ manager got warned by the referee as the bout got more intense, with the two men brawling heavily in and out of the ring. Funk surprised Jack with a Piledriver, but it was too soon and for K.Y.’s euphoria, Cactus kicked out at two. Then, the champion recovered and the match looked even for both sides and K.Y., once again, thought about making a difference: he raked Funk’s eyes behind the referee’s back and hit him with the kendo stick! But… the ref saw the kendo shot! So the decision was obvious: not to spoil a great match-up with a DQ finish, but to kick K.Y. out! So he did and had Wild Bunch’s help to do so.
However, the kendo stick was left at ringside, and following a ref bump, when Cactus ducked out of a Running Crossbody by Funk, Cactus rolled to the outside after some struggle and surprised his opponent with a big shot to the head. In the ring, all he had to do was to hit a Stump Puller Piledriver. The referee slowly counted and Cactus was still the champion.
- Cactus > Funk --- (Stump Puller Piledriver - Pin) --- Still champion! --- 15:49
- Rating: 82

»» After the match, Cactus Jack received the National Openweight Championship and went to the floor to get the kendo stick as well. Back in the ring, he celebrated with a big but mean smile and the stick up in the air.
Then, he was interrupted by… Kenta Kobashi! Like Funk, Kobashi also handed Cactus a loss at the Carnival and has been somewhat of an ally of The Outlaw Stable. So… 2+2 equals 4, right? Kobashi challenges Cactus for the next big event, which is Conflict Rising, the 20th of May. Cactus accepts, but swung the kendo stick back. However, Kobashi had his number and floored him with a big Burning Lariat, laying the belt on Cactus’ chest after that.


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1993 Champion Carnival Finale
8. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams
The big one. Two first-time finalists squared off for an opportunity to headline Summer Stardom after winning their respective blocks. The tension was palpable and the respect was surely mutual.
The wrestlers were cautious at first, but when possible, they did hit hard without regrets. But they were hard to break and the match could’ve always fallen to either side. Kawada then had a bit of control, gaining it with his stiff kicks, but ‘Dr. Death’ shrugged it off and got some powerful offense with some Suplex variations, even throwing Kawada out of the ring with a big Exploder.
On the floor, the action wasn’t kind to any of them and they narrowly avoided the count-out. And when they stood in the ring, they both raged at each other in one of the moments of the match. It progressed and the opportunities to put the trophy in the pocket were happening at that point. Kawada used his first big weapon, the Gamengiri, with Williams escaping. Soon, the gaijin hit a big crunching Release German Suplex and followed it with the pin, but Kawada also kicked out.
In the following minutes, ‘Dr. Death’ tried to hit the Doctor Bomb or the Backdrop Driver, but Kawada was aware, managing to avoid Williams’ big guns until he really did hit a Backdrop, making Kawada fall on his already hurt neck. 1…2… but the Japanese kicked out! He took a while to get back into the match, but he got the crowd’s support! The battle was on as both men anticipated the match ending. A big sequence followed and Kawada’s kicks took Williams by surprise! Then, a big Brainbuster! Kawada was on top and he hit a huge Dangerous Kick just when ‘Dr. Death’ was about to get up! 1…2… no! Right on time! Kawada was quick in his thoughts! He pulled Williams up: Folding Powerbomb! 1…2…3!!! The crowd went nuts as Kawada won it!
- Kawada > Williams --- (Folding Powerbomb - Pin) --- 1993 Champion Carnival Winner! --- 22:11
- Rating: 85

»» Following the intense match, Steve Williams got helped to the back as Toshiaki Kawada received the big trophy. To celebrate with him, three men got to the ring: Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa and the still-injured Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Kawada’s Super Generation Army stablemates.
All of them congratulated Kawada following his short speech thanking the crowd for their support throughout the tournament. The Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, Mitsuharu Misawa, told the 1993 Champion Carnival Winner it will be an honor for him to put his title on the line at Summer Stardom against him.
After Misawa’s part, Kawada took the microphone and was clear, thanking Misawa and the rest for their support, but making the Triple Crown Champion sure that, even if they’re friends and training buddies, come June 28th’s Summer Stardom, the only thing on his mind will be the main prize in AJPW: the three belts. And, he clarified, that’s if both make it until June 28th. With that, Kawada meant he’ll welcome any challenge for his title shot, just as he’s sure Misawa will also be ok with putting the title on the line until Summer Stardom.

Show Rating: 84

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Prediction Contest - Results:
Asaemon - 4/8
Frank Reed - 5/8
johnnyboombatz - 6/8
kyegds - 6/8
marc91 - 6/8
Purotastic - 5/8

The winner is: No one! Of course, the diary couldn't go to hiatus without its own trademark prediction draw.

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Thank you all for the ride. This has been the diary I had more joy in doing, mostly thanks to each and every one of you who took a bit to read at least part of it and leave your feedback.