Champion's carnival 2014

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All Japan's biggest tournament of the year is upon us. I've been looking to get more into All Japan so I'll probably start with the carnival as my vantage point.

I decided to nick PWinsider's preview of the competitors for those who don't follow AJPW. So here goes:

BLOCK A:

Akebono - Akebono is the current All Japan Triple Crown Champion and has not lost a singles match in All Japan since last year's Champion Carnival. So far in 2014 he has pinned Miyahara, Shiozaki, and Omori in singles matches and is the favorite to win the tournament.

Kendo Kashin - A name from the past, Kashin is best known for his work in New Japan. Recently he has been wrestling for Antonio Inoki's IGF with some limited success. This will be his first All Japan appearance since he won (and later abandoned) the All Japan World Tag Team Championship back in 2004.

Kento Miyahara - Miyahara trained under Kensuke Sasaki in Diamond Ring before joining All Japan full time in 2013. Still a young wrestler, Miyahara has not picked up any big singles wins but did get a title shot earlier this year and has a lot of potential.

Osamu Nishimura - The veteran wrestler is best known for his work in New Japan and Muga. Nishimura has been wrestling in All Japan as a Freelancer since 2012.

Suwama - The "ace" of All Japan, Suwama has wrestled his entire career in the promotion and is a three time Triple Crown Championship holder. He is the current All Japan World Tag Team Champion with Doering.

Takao Omori - The former All Japan and ZERO1 veteran returned to All Japan in 2011 and has been a regular since. He is a four time All Japan World Tag Team Champion, two time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, and former IWGP Tag Team Champion.


BLOCK B:

Go Shiozaki - The former star of NOAH, Shiozaki officially joined All Japan with Akiyama in 2013. Shiozaki has had seven title reigns and is seen as one of Akebono's biggest competitors for the Triple Crown.

Joe Doering - After a failed stint in FCW, Doering returned to All Japan in 2011. Primarily a tag team wrestler, Doering is the current All Japan World Tag Team Champion with Suwama. In 2013 he challenged for the All Japan Triple Crown but was unsuccessful.

Jun Akiyama - The former ace of NOAH, Akiyama joined All Japan in 2013. Akiyama is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in All Japan, as he is a three time GHC Heavyweight Champion, a former Triple Crown Champion, and has nine tag team championship runs.

KENSO - The leader of Dark KingDom, KENSO has been wrestling regularly in All Japan since 2010. He is best known to American fans as former Smackdown! star Kenzo Suzuki. KENSO is a constant rule breaker that rarely picks up big wins but causes havoc whether he wins or loses.

Yutaka Yoshie - Yoshie is a former star of New Japan and has been a Freelancer since 2006. He started wrestling regularly for All Japan in late 2013, and is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion.

Zeus - A true wild card in the tournament, Zeus has wrestled in Osaka Pro his entire career and only has seven previous matches in All Japan. He had three title runs in Osaka Pro and also won several titles in ZERO1 as well.


Anyone else who watches puro going to give this a watch?
 

Bort

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I've watched the entire tournament last year, there was this dude who ripped and upped all 8 shows from TV and niconico, I hope he does the same this year. I really enjoyed it, but the middle portion was definitely not for casuals, heh.

Btw, it's just "Carnival".
 

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For whoever's interested. Here are the results from the prelude show that ended recently. Off of keepingthespiritalive.

All Japan Pro-Wrestling “Champion Carnival 2014 ~ Eve”, 4/12/2014 [Sat] 17:00 @ Yokohama Radiant Hall in Kanagawa
265 Spectators

(1) Naoya Nomura vs. Ryuji Hijikata
Winner: Hijikata (7:49) with a Face Lock.

(2) SUSHI & Menso~re Oyaji vs. Ultimo Dragon [Toryumon MEXICO] & Osamu Nishimura [Free]
Winner: Nishimura (16:39) with a Figure Four Leg Lock on SUSHI.

(3) Takao Omori & Masao Inoue [Free] vs. Zeus [Free] & Masato Shibata [U-FILE CAMP]
Winner: Zeus (17:08) following a Chokeslam on Inoue.

(4) Akebono & Yutaka Yoshie [Free] vs. KENSO & Mitsuya Nagai [DRADITION]
Winner: Akebono (11:34) with a Running Body Press on Nagai.
~ Akebono stated that he “all right” and that he is healthy. He further added that he will be aiming to be crowned this years Champion Carnival winner.

(5) Jun Akiyama & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Atsushi Aoki & Kendo Kashin [Free]
Winner: Akiyama (11:34) with a counter to a cross armbar on Aoki.
~ Kashin hit Akiyama with a chair.

(6) 6 Man Tag Match: Suwama, Joe Doering & Hikaru Sato [Pancrase MISSION] vs. Go Shiozaki, Kento Miyahara & Kotaro Suzuki
Winner: Miyahara (25:51) with a German Suplex Hold on Hikaru.
 

Bort

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So, Clown, Who's your Favorite for the Carnival this year?

Probably Shiozaki. Shiozaki vs. Suwama is the lock for Finals, but idk... Shiozaki just lost against the Champ Akebono in February, so this is the opportunity to bounce back, and to pick a meaningful win over Suwama. Suwama has yet to get his rematch against Akebono, so it's 50/50 really. I'm leaning towards Shiozaki, though. Nevertheless, it should be a fantastic match, because those two guys actively HATE each other, as evidented in the recent tag:

 

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Watching this match right now actually. ^

The hate is obvious as you said. I am also rooting for/leaning towards Shiozaki, he also needs the win more in a kayfabe way. Suwama is the ace of AJPW. Shiozaki could be a future ace for the company if he stays healthy and loyal.