AJPW Champion Carnival B Block Ratings & Results: Part 4

Welcome to Part 4 of the All Japan Pro Wrestling Champion Carnival B block. This has been an interesting mix of younger men trying to prove themselves, freelancers trying to take over a new company, and the old guard proving they aren’t obsolete. There’s been some variety in the matches, and definite variety in how they portray concepts in the Carnival.

Matches have had comedic qualities, but never over the top. This has been a nice display of each participant respecting the prestige of the Carnival. So let’s see what matches we’ve got in this article.

4/16

KAI vs Yukata Yoshie

Yoshie continues to try very hard and capture some fan support (including myself). He moves pretty well for a big guy, he’s just inconsistent depending on his opponent.

KAI showed a lot of fighting spirit, going back and forth with striking and power. When KAI kicks out of a Thesz Press, Yoshie decides to go to the top rope for a big move. Realizing he might die, KAI does everything he can to stop Yoshie from hitting him with a move from the top rope.

Thankfully for KAI, a couple of step up Enzuigiris give him the opportunity to hit the Meteor Impact, and finally get a Carnival win.

Winner: KAI via Meteor Impact

Rating: ***

Dylan James vs Yoshitatsu

There’s not a lot to say about this match in a preview. Yoshi is trying to put together a late surge, and Dylan is trying to save face.

This might be James’ longest match of the Carnival so far, and oddly, it was alright. The two men seem very evenly matched, Yoshi having the speed and experience edge, where James has the power and height advantage. Both men utilize what they are better at, and James looks to have the match won multiple different times.

Numerous lariats can’t put away Yoshitatsu. Yoshi eventually gets the advantage to put Dylan in the Koji Clutch. Even though he doesn’t tap it weakens him enough to set up for the Codebreaker from the corner. That’s two wins in a row, thanks to Jericho’s Codebreaker.

Winner: Tatsu via CBJ (Codebreaker of Jericho)

Rating: *** 1/4

4/18

Dylan James vs KAI

This is definitely not expected to be a clinic. A power guy in James, against KAI who’s been struggling a bit in the Carnival.

This match is basically what we expect. KAI hits a few strikes, James over powers him easily, hits a few big power moves. But when Dylan James goes for his Chokeslam, KAI rolls away, hits him with a kick, followed by a very nice Gannosuke Clutch.

Even though James kicks out right after the 3 and continues to attack KAI, when the referee admonishes him, he just seems surprised it was a pinfall. But when she implores that it was indeed a 3 count, he relents and heads to the back.

Winner: KAI via Gannosuke Clutch

Rating: ** 1/2

Yukata Yoshie vs Naomichi Marufuji

This is one of those matches where Yoshie’s inconsistency hurts him.

We get an actually beautiful comedic struggle match. Where Marufuji goes to try and lift Yoshie many times, but can’t lift the bigger wrestler. When Yoshie goes to do a power move, Marufuji finds ways to counter and flip out of them. So admittedly, this was a very enjoyable first few minutes that showed what both wrestlers can and can’t do.

Then we reach a spot, where Marufuji was supposed to follow Yoshie to the ropes, but Yoshie stops, hits the ropes a second time, and the wheels kind of fall off for a while. Sloppy exchanges, Yoshie not taking Marufuji’s blitz well, and then falling back into the corner early before a kick connects, just makes those couple minutes look bad.

Sloppy match or not, Marufuji wins with the move he innovated, the Shiranui (Sliced Bread).

Winner: Marufuji via Shiranui

Rating: ** 1/4

Jun Akiyama vs Yoshitatsu

Carnival Grandpa, fresh off his first loss to Suwama, now gets a surging Yoshitatsu.

This starts off as one of those weird matches where referee Wada is a little too involved. Akiyama continues his wily veteran ways by rolling in and out of the ring to keep Yoshi chasing, which visibly frustrates the younger wrestler. But Kyohei Wada is also getting sick of the rope-a-dope, so when Akiyama slides back in after Yoshitatsu went out to get him, Yoshi tries to collect his thoughts momentarily, but the referee fast counts him, forcing action to start.

This match is fantastic in the way it’s laid out. Yoshitatsu keeps looking better, more natural and overall seems to be enjoying himself, and it shows in his work. They both exchange momentum and it gets to a point where Tatsu looks like he might pull off a win. But when Yoshitatsu looks to lock in his Koji Clutch, Akiyama very cleverly counters it by cradling the legs, for a cheap, but cunning pinfall.

A harder loss than one may think, since this knocks Yoshitatsu out of being able to win B Block. Reason being, he’s lost to the current top 3 competitors, so if they were to all finish with the same record, Yoshitatsu loses on tiebreakers.

Winner: Akiyama via cradle counter to Koji Clutch

Rating: ***

Current B-Block Standings:

Jun Akiyama: 4-1 (8 Points)
Naomichi Marufuji: 3-0 (6 Points)
Suwama: 3-1 (6 Points)
Zeus: 2-2 (4 Points)
KAI: 2-3 (4 Points)
Yoshitatsu: 2-3 (4 Points)
Dylan James: 2-4 (4 Points)
Yutaka Yoshie: 1-5 (2 Points)

As we see, Suwama still holds a tiebreaker over Akiyama if they were to end with the same record. But the only other man with a clear chance to win, is the currently undefeated Naomichi Marufuji, Zeus has a shot, but he needs to go on a huge run. At the current point, everyone in the bottom 4 are mathematically eliminated from winning the block.