AJPW Champion Carnival B Block Results & Ratings: Part 3

Part 3 of the Champion Carnival B Block coverage! We see Carnival Grandpa (Jun Akiyama) leading the block, and doing it in solid fashion. He doesn’t look like he’s being handed wins, and everyone in this block looks fairly even so far.

Now we get to see if the cream rises to the top, or if this continues to be the more competitive block.

4/12

Jun Akiyama vs Yukata Yoshie

Well we see one of the block leaders, against one of the block basement dwellers.

Akiyama has really turned up his aggression and everything these last two matches. He’s taking larger bumps than I’m accustomed to seeing him take, and a few other spots are more than just knees and exploders.

When all is said and done, Akiyama wins with his signature Wristclutch Exploder. But to be honest, Yoshie is really impressing me. He looked visibly frustrated after the loss, and even though he’s a bigger guy, he’s been putting in really good work.

Winner: Akiyama via Wristclutch Exploder

Rating: *** 1/2

Naomichi Marufuji vs Dylan James

As much as I love Marufuji, this match was hard to swallow.

Dylan James definitely proved he’s not on the same level as Marufuji, and it was glaringly obvious. He took moves sloppy, sold poorly and positioned himself slowly or awkwardly. Marufuji tried his blitz out of the corner and missed the enzuigiri to the back of his head cause James was taking too long selling strikes. So Naomichi was forced to do it again once James was in position.

This was just hard to watch honestly. I’m very happy that James tried to use his size to lean on Marufuji, but, Marufuji’s depth of move knowledge, helped him win this. He’s not NOAH’s Genius for nothing.

Winner: Marufuji via Huricanrana Invertida

Rating: ** 3/4

4/14

Zeus vs Yukata Yoshie

Well Zeus started strong, and needs to get back on track. While poor Yoshie has been putting on progressively better matches, but just not pulling out the win.

As for the match, it was hard hitting, both men traded big blows and it all came down over confidence. Yoshie is not a small man, but Zeus is the former bodybuilder, power wrestler, so he’s not gonna look weak. After a few big suplexes from Zeus, he was riding high on the confidence and went for his Jackhammer.

The Jackhammer got countered, which took all the air out of Zeus’ body. A Warrior style splash off the ropes, followed up by the Diving Splash, gives Yoshie a hard fought first victory.

Winner: Yoshie via Diving Body Splash

Rating: *** 1/4

4/15

Jun Akiyama vs Suwama

Two guys towards the top of the standings, this will either give Jun more space, or help Suwama come back from an early loss.

Now this is where my lack of historical knowledge hurt me. Suwama and Akiyama went at it, like two men who hate each other. Suwama threw the guard rail at Akiyama, they both threw chairs and this was all after about 40 seconds of them just hitting each other over the ropes.

So I’m not sure where this grudge started, but the hatred was palpable. Hell, even at the end of the match it was obvious when referee Wada calls for the stoppage and Suwama doesn’t release right away and continues trying to inflict damage.

Winner: Suwama via Manriki Sleeper (referee stoppage)

Rating: **** 1/4

Current B-Block Standings:

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

So even though he got his first loss, Carnival Grandpa is still putting on the best matches of B Block.  The A Block has more well known quality talent, but Akiyama is over performing and Marufuji still has most of his matches left.