r/ajpw

So wait?! Was NWA not going to tell us that it’s been announced that the NWA sold title is gonna be defend in Japan at Korakuen Hall or did I just miss it? Either way! Here’s the info!

https://www.all-japan.co.jp/news/news/11955/

https://x.com/alljapan\_pw/status/2055903171592237300?s=46

Yuma Anzai is appearing in the famous lifestyle magazine Anan today, which sells about 150.000 copies per issue. The tweet announcing the new issue already has 17000 likes as of now.

In the interview inside the magazine and in a recent post on Twitter it was revealed that Anzai will also play the main role in a new horror action comedy called Kai.

A further announcement about the movie is expected next month.

The tag line on the website reads like this:

A former mixed martial artist, still reeling from defeat and the death of his grandmother, finds himself caught up in a cursed ritual to resurrect the evil god “Kai” at an old farmhouse in the countryside. Faced with the monstrous creatures crawling out of the shrine and the darkness of fanatics, he throws his final punch...

Anzai just finished appearing on the Bachelorette, ending up in the final two, almost trippling his social media followers and seemingly sparking a mini boom for All Japan with 3000 people visiting for the Champion Carnival, where so many people came to his signing event, it was still ongoing three matches into the event.

The Korakuen Hall show next month on 6.18 is also currently sold out a month in advance, with the remaining 400 or so tickets probably to be made available in the coming days.

I’ve noticed something weird lately where people talk about Miyahara like he’s already “the old generation” even though he’s still clearly the centerpiece of the company.

He’s been champion since September, survived another Champion Carnival cycle without feeling overshadowed, and somehow still makes every title match feel important. But I don’t see nearly as much discussion around him compared to younger guys like Anzai or even the Saito brothers.

Maybe it’s because fans got so used to Miyahara carrying AJPW through rougher years that people almost take him for granted now.

Personally I still think he’s the best pure main-event wrestler the company has. The pacing, facial expressions, crowd control, little bursts of comedy before instantly turning serious — he just feels like “AJPW” to me.

Do you guys think fans are unconsciously moving past him because they want the next ace already?

Triple Crown: Kento Miyahara vs Hideki Suzuki

Asia Tag Title: Rising HAYATO, Atsuki Aoyagi vs Champions to be decided

World Junior Title: Seigo Tachibana vs Dan Tamura

To be announced NWA World Heavyweight title match

Tag Match: Go Shiozaki, Yuma Anzai vs Suwama, Yuma Aoyagi

- It was really nice to see Shots Kofuji get what I believe to be his victory in AJPW, pinning Senor Saito in the 6Man Tag Match. I really loved the fire that Kofuji had, jumping Senor before the bell rang and being determined to pin him.

- Saito Brothers will challenge TITANS OF CALAMITY in a match for the Tag Belts. Gotta imagine the Saitos take the belts back here, as I find it unlikely they’d have them lose again. Also, the eyepatch really works for Jun.

- The 8Man Tag Match was everything I hoped for, especially Suwama’s interactions with both Kento and Anzai, trying to beat down the two men who’ve taken his place atop of AJPW. I also really liked Honda being determined to get a piece of Suwama; I’m wondering if it’s leading to a single match or Ryuki trying to get two other guys to challenge EVOLUTION for the GAORA 6MAN Belts (my guess would be that he’d get Kumaarashi and maybe Seigo Tachibana to team with, all being from W-1).

\- OZAWA criticized Anzai for presenting a “serious image” on the show, saying that Anzai showed a lack of wanting to seriously date or win over Rina on the show. OZAWA says that Anzai was more interested in promotion himself and AJPW than devoting himself to the premise of the show and trying to win over Rina.

\- OZAWA says that next The Bachelor Japan season should be wary of putting Anzai on the show, saying that Anzai wouldn’t pick anyone at the end of the show to keep his own image intact.

\- OZAWA says that he himself would be much more proactive, saying that instead of withholding affection, he’d give a rose to every woman on the Bachelor and be willing to start relationships with all of them (lmao).