{"id":18828,"date":"2015-04-19T10:45:51","date_gmt":"2015-04-19T14:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/?p=18828"},"modified":"2015-04-19T10:45:51","modified_gmt":"2015-04-19T14:45:51","slug":"fighting-spirit-review-all-japan-champion-carnival-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/reviews\/fighting-spirit-review-all-japan-champion-carnival-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting Spirit Review: All Japan “Champion Carnival” 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Date:\u00a0 April 5th, 2015
\nLocation:\u00a0 Okinawa Convention Center
\nAnnounced Attendance:\u00a0 1,410<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2015 Champion Carnival has begun!\u00a0 As most of you probably know, the Champion Carnival is a block-based tournament that All Japan has every spring.\u00a0 All the big stars of the promotion participate as it is a big deal, and of course there are always a few surprises.\u00a0 Here is the full card:<\/p>\n

– Atsushi Aoki and Yuma Aoyagi vs. The Bodyguard and Gurukun Mask
\n– KENSO vs. SUSHI
\n– Jun Akiyama, Kanemaru, and Ultimo Dragon vs. Kento Miyahara, Kotaro Suzuki, and Yohei Nakajima
\n– Champion Carnival – Block B:<\/em> Akebono vs. Zeus
\n– Champion Carnival – Block A:<\/em> Suwama vs. Yutaka Yoshie
\n– Champion Carnival – Block A:<\/em> Go Shiozaki vs. Takao Omori<\/strong><\/p>\n

Onto the matches!<\/p>\n

Atsushi Aoki and Yuma Aoyagi vs. The Bodyguard and Gurukun Mask<\/strong>
\nI guess Gurukun Mask sold the most tickets so he got put into a match.\u00a0 Aoyagi and Gurukun Mask start off and they trade holds without either getting a clear advantage.\u00a0 Gurukun Mask tags in Bodyguard and Bodyguard shoulderblocks Aoyagi.\u00a0 Another shoulderblock by Bodyguard and he hits a scoop slam, throwing Aoyagi into the corner so he can tag out.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t, Bodyguard hits another shoulderblock and finally Aoyagi tags in Aoki.\u00a0 Aoki clubs Bodyguard and applies a wristlock before tagging in Aoyagi.\u00a0 They take turns working on Bodyguard\u2019s arm until Bodyguard hits a double shoulderblock on them.\u00a0 Bodyguard picks up Aoyagi and hits a military press slam.\u00a0 Bodyguard tags in Gurukun Mask and Gurukun Mask clubs Aoyagi in the back.\u00a0 Gurukun Mask kicks Aoyagi and he hits a leg drop.\u00a0 Reverse chinlock by Gurukun Mask but Aoyagi gets into the ropes.\u00a0 Gurukun Mask tags in Bodyguard and Bodyguard drops Aoyagi with a hard chop.\u00a0 Back up, Aoyagi clubs at Bodyguard but Bodyguard hits another chop.\u00a0 Bodyguard chops Aoyagi in the corner but Aoyagi hits a dropkick off the second turnbuckle.\u00a0 Aoyagi tags in Aoki and Aoki hits a missile dropkick of his own.\u00a0 Aoki grabs Bodyguard but Bodyguard hits a powerslam.\u00a0 Bodyguard tags in Gurukun Mask and Gurukun Mask hits a face crusher on Aoki followed by a somersault senton.\u00a0 Kicks to the chest by Gurukun Mask but Aoki hits a dropkick.\u00a0 Aoki tags in Aoyagi, elbow by Aoyagi to Gurukun Mask and he hits a jumping elbow for two.\u00a0 Aoyagi goes up top and he hits a diving crossbody on Gurukun Mask for a two count.\u00a0 Fisherman suplex by Aoyagi to Gurukun Mask, he goes up top but Bodyguard comes in and throws him off.\u00a0 Bodyguard and Gurukun Mask throw Aoyagi into the corner and both hit lariats.\u00a0 German suplex hold by Gurukun Mask, but it only gets two.\u00a0 Gurukun Mask scoop slams Aoyagi, he goes up top and delivers the moonsault for a three count!\u00a0 This was a fine opener, nothing special but no one looked bad.\u00a0 Big win for whomever the hell Gurukun Mask is.\u00a0 Score:\u00a0 5.0<\/span><\/p>\n

KENSO vs. SUSHI<\/strong>
\nSUSHI avoids KENSO to start and SUSHI avoids KENSO\u2019s charges.\u00a0 KENSO throws SUSHI in the corner and then out of the ring, where he attacks him around the floor.\u00a0 Back in the ring KENSO hits a lariat followed by a brainbuster for a two count.\u00a0 STF by KENSO but SUSHI makes it to the ropes.\u00a0 KENSO and SUSHI trade strikes back up, slap by KENSO and SUSHI tries a series of shoulderblocks until he finally levels KENSO with a lariat.\u00a0 Lariat by SUSHI in the corner and he hits a spinning heel kick.\u00a0 SUSHI goes off the ropes but KENSO hits a lariat.\u00a0 KENSO picks up SUSHI but SUSHI reverses the vertical suplex into one of his own.\u00a0 SUSHI goes up top and SUSHI hits a diving headbutt for a two count.\u00a0 SUSHI goes off the ropes but KENSO chokes him with his belt.\u00a0 Brainbuster by KENSO, cover, but it gets a two count.\u00a0 KENSO goes up top and slowly hits a diving elbow drop of sorts, picking up the three count.\u00a0 I liked KENSO just taking his sweet time with the elbow drop to make SUSHI look even more like a chump.\u00a0 This match didn\u2019t do a lot for me, just dull lower card filler.\u00a0 Score:\u00a0 3.5<\/span><\/p>\n

Jun Akiyama, Kanemaru, and Ultimo Dragon vs. Kento Miyahara, Suzuki, and Yohei Nakajima<\/strong>
\nAkiyama and Miyahara start off, Miyahara knocks Akiyama out of the ring and they both fail to throw each other in the rail.\u00a0 They return to the ring and tag in Suzuki and Ultimo Dragon.\u00a0 Ultimo Dragon armdrags Suzuki out of the ring but Suzuki gets back in and Kanemaru is tagged in.\u00a0 Suzuki applies a wristlock and tags in Nakajima, and this process continues for a few minutes.\u00a0 Nakajima is isolated finally and everyone takes turns on him.\u00a0 Nakajima gets away from Akiyama with an enzigieri and he tags in Miyahara.\u00a0 Miyahara and Akiyama trade elbows, dropkick to the knee by Miyahara and he hits a dropkick.\u00a0 Jumping elbow by Miyahara in the corner and he hits a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count.\u00a0\u00a0 Miyahara goes off the ropes but Akiyama hits a lariat.\u00a0 Jumping knee by Akiyama but Miyahara hits a big boot.\u00a0 Exploder by Akiyama but Miyahara hits another big boot and both wrestlers fall to the mat.\u00a0 Ultimo Dragon and Suzuki are tagged in and Suzuki hits a handspring elbow strike.\u00a0 Armdrag by Suzuki and he knees Ultimo Dragon in the corner.\u00a0 Ultimo Dragon lands on his feet on a back bodydrop attempt and he hits a headscissors followed by a kick combination.<\/p>\n

Ultimo Dragon tags in Kanemaru, Kanemaru dropkicks Suzuki in the knee and he hits a diving crossbody for a two count.\u00a0 Suzuki and Kanemaru trade elbows until Suzuki hits a backbreaker and tags in Nakajima.\u00a0 Dropkick by Nakajima in the corner and he hits a missile dropkick for a two count.\u00a0 Nakajima goes up top but Kanemaru avoids his dive, drop toehold by Nakajima and Suzuki hits a tiger feint kick.\u00a0 Assisted neckbreaker on Kanemaru and Nakajima comes off the top with a diving footstomp, but the pin attempt is broken up.\u00a0 Superkick by Nakajima but Kanemaru hits a lariat.\u00a0 Lots of weak lariats in this match.\u00a0 Everyone attacks Nakajima in the corner, running knee by Akiyama and Kanemaru hits a diving body press for two.\u00a0 Kanemaru picks up Nakajima but Nakajima sneaks in an inside cradle for a two count.\u00a0 Kanemaru grabs Nakajima and delivers a brainbuster, but Nakajima gets a shoulder up.\u00a0 Touch Out by Kanemaru, and this time he gets the three count.\u00a0 The first half of this match was quite boring but it picked up by the end. Once they got to the ending run it was good, it just took a bit too long to get good.\u00a0 Some solid action though and Nakajima looks like he has potential.\u00a0 Score:\u00a0 5.5<\/span><\/p>\n

Akebono vs. Zeus<\/strong>
\nThis match is part of the Champion Carnival. \u00a0They push each other to start until Akebono hits a shoulderblock.\u00a0 Elbows by Zeus and he tries to pick up Akebono with no success.\u00a0 Akebono shoulderblocks Zeus down again but Zeus avoids the elbow drop.\u00a0 They take it outside the ring and trade strikes, Akebono runs into the ring post and Zeus gets on the apron, hitting a diving lariat that still doesn\u2019t knock over Akebono.\u00a0 Another lariat by Zeus and Akebono sits down in a chair, Zeus sees this as a victory so he returns to the ring.\u00a0 Akebono slowly returns, elbows by Zeus and he jumps on Akebono\u2019s back.\u00a0 Akebono shakes him off and hits a pair of lariats in the corner followed by an elbow drop for two.\u00a0 Akebono picks up Zeus but Zeus hits a back bodydrop.\u00a0 Samoan Drop by Zeus and he covers Akebono, but it only gets a two count.\u00a0 Zeus goes up top and he delivers the diving lariat, but Akebono kicks out of the cover.\u00a0 Zeus grabs Akebono and goes for the Jackhammer, but Akebono blocks it and hits a DDT.\u00a0 Zeus goes off the ropes but Akebono catches him with a swinging side slam.\u00a0 Body press by Akebono, but it only gets two.\u00a0 Akebono picks up Zeus and he plants him with the Yokozuna Impact, getting the three count pinfall. Uh this was as good as it was going to be, calling Akebono limited is generous but he generally works well within his limitations.\u00a0 The journey was all in Zeus knocking over Akebono, never really felt like he was actually going to win.\u00a0 Watchable, which is a compliment.\u00a0 Score:\u00a0 5.0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\" \"\" \"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Suwama vs. Yutaka Yoshie<\/strong>
\nThis match is part of the Champion Carnival.\u00a0 They trade holds and things to start before trying to knock each other off their feet, which Yoshie does first with a lariat.\u00a0 Suwama gets up and they trade elbows, Suwama goes for a suplex but Yoshie blocks it.\u00a0 Chops by Suwama and he hits a jumping elbow drop for two.\u00a0 Back up Suwama goes for a suplex but Yoshie reverses it.\u00a0 Yoshie hits and elbow drop, Suwama gets up and Yoshie hits butt thumps in the corner.\u00a0 They trade elbows again, Suwama goes for a powerbomb but Yoshie back bodydrops out of it and sits on Suwama for a two count.\u00a0 Yoshie stands on Suwama near the ropes and he knees Suwama in the chest.\u00a0 On their feet they trade strikes and Suwama hits a reverse STO.\u00a0 Lariat by Suwama and a hard one sends Yoshie to the mat.\u00a0 Waistlock by Suwama but Yoshie elbows out of it.\u00a0 Suwama applies a sleeper but Yoshie gets into the ropes.\u00a0 Suwama goes off the ropes but Yoshie hits a Lou Thesz Press for a two count.\u00a0\u00a0 Suwama is knocked into the corner and Yoshie delivers the running butt smash.\u00a0 Rolling senton by Yoshie but Suwama kicks out of the cover.\u00a0 Suwama applies a sleeper but Yoshie gets out of it without much issue.\u00a0 Running senton by Yoshie but it gets a two.\u00a0 Yoshie goes up top but Suwama springs up and joins him, hitting a superplex.\u00a0 They both slowly get up and trade elbows, but Suwama delivers a dropkick.\u00a0 Suwama charges Yoshie in the corner and hits a lariat, he goes for a backdrop suplex but Yoshie lands on top of him.\u00a0 Body press by Yoshie but it gets two.\u00a0 Elbows by Yoshie but Suwama ducks one and hits a backdrop suplex.\u00a0 Suwama hits a lariat, cover, but it gets a two count.\u00a0 Suwama picks up Yoshie, he hits another backdrop suplex and this time he gets the three count victory.\u00a0 This was a sound match but it lacked pop.\u00a0 Yoshie to me isn\u2019t big enough to do the \u2018so heavy you can\u2019t pick him up\u2019 stuff, he isn\u2019t much bigger than Suwama and he is shorter so those spots seemed a bit silly.\u00a0 Otherwise not a very exciting match but solid.\u00a0 Score:\u00a0 6.0<\/span><\/p>\n

Go Shiozaki vs. Takao Omori<\/strong>
\nThis match is part of the Champion Carnival.\u00a0 They tie-up to start and they trade shoulderblock attempts until Omori knocks Shiozaki to the mat.\u00a0 They lock knuckles but Omori uppercuts Shiozaki as he jumps off the ropes, sending Shiozaki out of the ring.\u00a0 Omori goes out after him and they trade chops on the floor before returning to the ring.\u00a0 Shiozaki kicks Omori in the arm and he slams Omori\u2019s arm into the apron before hitting a sliding kick to it.\u00a0 Shiozaki applies a keylock and he hits a splash onto Omori\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Shiozaki elbows Omori in the arm but Omori chops him back.\u00a0 Shiozaki throws Omori shoulder-first into the post, Omori goes out of the ring but Shiozaki throws him into the post again.\u00a0 Shiozaki goes for a suplex back in the ring but Omori blocks it, Shiozaki goes off the ropes but Omori clubs him in the chest.\u00a0 Big boot by Omori, he goes off the ropes and hits a neckbreaker for a two count.\u00a0 Omori goes for the Axe Guillotine Driver but Shiozaki blocks it and hits a DDT.\u00a0 Running chop by Shiozaki in the corner and he hits a fisherman buster for a two count. Shiozaki goes off the ropes and hits a jumping shoulderblock, sending Omori out to the apron.\u00a0 Shiozaki dropkicks Omori down to the floor, he goes up top and he hits a plancha suicida of sorts.<\/p>\n

Back in the ring, Shiozaki picks up Omori but Omori hits a full nelson slam.\u00a0 Knee drop by Omori, cover, but it gets a two count.\u00a0 Omori goes up top but Shiozaki hits him and joins him, he falls off but delivers a dropkick.\u00a0 Shiozaki drags Omori back up with him while on the apron but Omori hits a lariat, sending Shiozaki to the floor.\u00a0 Omori lariats Shiozaki back in the ring, he puts him up top and hits an avalanche backdrop suplex.\u00a0 Axe Guillotine Driver by Omori, but Shiozaki gets a shoulder up.\u00a0 Omori goes for a lariat but Shiozaki ducks it and hits a modified Go Flasher.\u00a0 Back up they trade chops and uppercuts, both wrestlers hit lariats, short-range lariat by Shiozaki but Omori kicks out of the pin.\u00a0 Shiozaki picks up Omori but Omori blocks the Go Flasher attempt.\u00a0 Roaring chop by Shiozaki and he gives Omori a second one.\u00a0 Another roaring chop by Shiozaki, cover, but Omori gets a shoulder up.\u00a0 Shiozaki picks up Omori again and goes for roaring lariat but Omori quickly hits an Axe Bomber, picking up the three count!\u00a0 It is odd for a 20 minute match to feel like it ended so suddenly, I know the lariat is Omori\u2019s finisher but it is Shiozaki\u2019s as well and it wasn’t able to get the win just a few moments earlier, usually in the main event it takes more than one strike finisher to get the win.\u00a0 Unusual ending aside it was a good match, I liked the action for the bulk of it.\u00a0 A fitting main event, it felt like a big match, and a good way to kick off the Champion Carnival even though it had its faults.\u00a0 Score:\u00a0 7.0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\" \"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

For a show that wasn\u2019t very long it just didn\u2019t do enough to stand out.\u00a0 There were a few solid matches for sure, the main event was entertaining and Yoshie\/Suwama was fun, but beyond that this show did not have a lot going for it.\u00a0 I hope going forward that All Japan focuses on putting on more complete cards instead of just depending on a couple Champion Carnival matches to carry it as there just wasn\u2019t enough here to recommend.<\/p>\n

Grade: D+\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Akebono vs. Zeus, Suwama vs. Yutaka Yoshie, Go Shiozaki vs. Takao Omori, KENSO vs. SUSHI, Akiyama, Ultimo Dragon, More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":18829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[399,40],"tags":[285,233],"class_list":["post-18828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fsreview","category-reviews","tag-all-japan","tag-puroresu"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18828"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18830,"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18828\/revisions\/18830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crazymax.org\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}