Thoughts on AJPW’s Champion Carnival Night Two

Let me start off by saying that I am not a very good recap guy in my estimation and since I only like to do things that I’m good at, I will not be doing for night two that I did for one.

Same rules apply for night two that applied for night one, I’m eighteen hours late. Make that nineteen hours. So I’m pretty sure majority of you have already watched the show by now. If you haven’t, you should probably stop reading and come back to this afterwards. As this column will contain spoilers and I would hate to ruin your experience. Like last night, I skipped the undercard tag matches.

Kuma Arashi – 0 Points vs Zeus – 0 Points

Kuma wrestled in night one, a losing effort vs Suwama. So a win here was needed as there’s probably no path to victory with two loses. As I mentioned in my preview, Zeus is the favourite to win this tournament, so win expectancy is 100% here for his first match. Both Purple Haze and Enfants Terribles members were at ringside, group warfare between the two teams should be on the menu in the future.

The two worked a big man match, which is good because both of these guys are huge. Big man submissions, forearms and heavy chops were featured so if you’re into a hoss style match, this is for you. Crowd was into it. Kuma got his spots in but in the end, Zeus was just too much, as he made Kuma tap to a step over chin lock submission. Zeus has his first two points.

Yuma Aoyagi – 0 Points vs Shotaro Ashino 0 Points

Yuma was unsuccessful in his first match of the tournament last night vs Shuji Ishikawa. This was Shotaro Ashino’s first match of Champion Carnival.

If Yoshitatsu didn’t upset Miyahara in night one, I would think that Yuma would have zero chance of winning this match. But since Yoshitatsu DID win, there’s a seed of doubt. Yuma could upset Ashino.

I could do without the Enfants Terribles interference but All Japan does outside interference so little that I’m not mad about it. The interference was allowing Ashino to work over Yuma’s leg/ankle, which played into Ashino constantly going for the ankle lock. In another complete SHOCKER, Yuma made Ashino tap with a front guillotine choke. That’s two nights in a row now. Champion Carnival is starting to get very interesting.

Give me more Yuma vs Ashino in the future, please. I loved this match. Best one of the tournament so far. Also loved the post match angle beat down by Enfants Terribles of Yuma. The clothesline that Doi destroyed him with was incredible and seems like we know what Yuma is doing after the tournament. Miyahara vs Ashino is on deck for night 3, let’s go!

Jiro Kuroshio – 0 Points vs Suwama – 2 Points

Can I start off by saying that I love Jiro’s whole entrance? He is not happy that he isn’t allowed to jump the guardrail and go to the people, his people. Jiro is going to have to find a serious side and a prayer if he’s going to beat the reigning Triple Crown champion. Suwama hit Jiro hit a double chop that sent him flipping over the top rope which could only be described as painful. Suwama really hates Jiro’s jacket as he continues to try and rip it off him in the most unceremoniously way possible.

One thing I really liked with this match, Jiro went out of his way to really sell Suwama’s big power moves. There was a World Tag title match in August where Jiro kept kicking out of Suwama’s pin attempts no matter what Suwama hit him with and it was happening again in this match. Eventually, it ended up being too much and Jiro finally couldn’t kick out. However, that didn’t happen here, instead, Jiro turned a Last Ride into a roll up pin and got the win over the Triple Crown champion.

I can’t believe these first two nights of this tournament. Three big upsets. Clearing the path for a Zeus win, I’d presume but at this rate, I’m beginning to think I have no clue.

See you for night three in a couple days!

(Note: Because of an injury to Yoshitatsu, his match with Shuji Ishikawa was a forfeit and Ishikawa was awarded two points, bringing his total for the tournament to four.)

Let Dick know your thoughts on night two of Champion Carnival on Twitter @ffsford or via email [email protected]