AJPW's "Giant Launch: Let's Raise a Giant Army!" Tour 6.30 from Differ Ariake
1,567 fans in attendance1. Singles Match, 20 minute time limit: Kakihara Masahito (X) [16:16 Pin- Diving Headbutt] Kikiuchi Tsuyoshi (O)
It was another tough loss for Makihara. He started off with intensity as he pelted Kikucki with slaps and kicks. He got Kikuchi down and tried to work the submission game. Kkikuchi was able to weather the storm and escaped using the ropes. A missed spinning wheel kick by Makihara allowed Kikuchi to take advantage with a nice Nothern Light Release Suplex, a series of Dropkicks and a Ipoonzoei. Kikuchi ogt a 2 count with a Fisherman Buster. He then got Kakihara into the corner and planted him with a Tornado DDT, which he quickly followed up with using the Diving Headbutt for the pin.
2. Tag Match, 30 minute time time limit: Nishimura Osamu and Ishikawa Yuki (X) [17:12 Pin- School Boy] Super Tiger II and Fuchi Masanobu (O)
This was a back and forth contest that saw Nishimura and Ishikawa with the early advantage. Nishimura started off with Fuchi in the collar and elbow where Fuchi was backed into the corner. To show some gamesmanship, Nishimura tapped Fuchi on the chest with bpth hands. When the locked up again, Fuchi got Nishimura to the corner and it was Fuchi’s chance to tap Nishimura’s chest during the clean break. Nishimura got Fuchi down with a side headlock. Fuchi countered with a headscissor. Nishimura then did a handstand, held it for three seconds and broughts his knees to rest on Fuchi’s shins, forcing Fuchi to open up so Nishimura could get his head out.
As both men got up, they went back to the elbow and collar where Nishimura planted Fuchi with a European Uppercut. He then whipped Fuchi off the ropes, hit a drop toe hold and tried a Sickle Hold. Fuchi refused to tap, Nishimura then secured an arm bar, got Fuchi up and made the tag to Ishikawa. Ishikawa twisted the arm, applied a hammerlock and Fuchi ececuted a Snapmare to counter. Fuchi tagged in Super Tiger II. Both men traded slaps and kicks, with Tiger giving Ishikawa a bodyslam. Tiger hit a Senton from the second rope for 2. Tiger applied a Figure Neck Lock and Nishimura made the save.
Super Tiger tried a back body drop, but Ishikawa countered with a DDT for a 2 count. Ishikawa then hit a Release German Suplex and tried an Achilles Hold, but Tiger made it to the ropes. Ishikawa went up to the top and tried a Knee Drop, but Toiger rolled out of the way and made the tag. Fuchi came in and gave Ishikawa a couple of knees to the stomach and followed up with a Back Breaker. He got a 2 count. Ishikawa then gave Fuchi a surprise Back Eblow and connected with an Over the Shoulder Arm Breaker. Nishimura called for the tag but Ishikawa tried an Enzuigiri that missed. When Ishikawa stumbled up, Fuchi caught him with a School Boy for a surprise 3 count.
3. Six Man Tag, 30 minute time limit: Zeus, The Bodyguard and Jun Akiyama (X) [Pin- 27:45 Running Dangerous Kick] Sakuraba Kazushi, Takada Nobuhiko, Kawada Toshiaki (O)
Jun and Sakuraba started off the match. Saku scored a double leg and transitioned to a Cross Armbreaker attempt, but Akiyama fought it off and got to his feet. Sakuraba hit a front kick and connected with a Waterwheel Suplex. Sakuraba tagged in Takada who used more slaps and kicks to back Akiyama into the corner. Takada tried a kick that was caught, and Akiyama gave him a Capture Suplex into the turnbuckles!
Akiyama then hit a Pile driver and dragged Takada out of the corner. He made the cover but Kaada kicked him in the head to break the pin attempt. Zeus and The
Bodyguard stormed in and double teamed Kawada with a nice Double Powerbomb. Takada and Sakuraba gave matching Spinning Back Kicks to Zeus and The Bodyguard, then hit a Double Backdrop on Akiyama. Takada made a cover for the 2.
Order was retored and Zeus and Kawada were tagged in. Zeus stood in the middle of the ring and motioned for Kawada to charge. Kawada tried a shoulder block that Zeus shrugged off. Kawada pointed at the ropes and yelled at Zeus. Zeus came off with a shgoulder tackle that kncoked Kawada back a step. Zeus yelled at Kawada who came off with a Big Boot that knocked Zeus back to the ropes. Zeus came off the ropes with a Lariat that knocked Kawada down. Zeus followed up with a Standing Elbow Drop for 2.
Zeus got Kawada to his feet and threw him in his corner where The Bodyguard was tagged in. The Bodygaurd hit 10 Lariat Strikes and tried a cover but Kawada kicked out. The Bodyguard applied a rear chinlock and held the pressure. Kawada was able to rally, escape and nailed Bodyguard with a series of elbows. Takada was tagged in and he nailed a nice Snap Suplex, kicked The Bodyguard in the head while he was on the ground and tried a Rear Naked Choke. Zeus quickly came in and stomped on Takada, prompting Sakuraba to come in and attack Zeus. Akiyama then came in and hit a Fiserhman’s Suplex on Takada. The Bodyguard tried to make a cover but Referee Joe Higuchi was dealing with clearing the ring. Higuchi jumped in position, but Bodyguard only got 1.
The Bodygaurd then tried a Spinning Back fist, but Takada evaded and hit a Dragon Suplex Hold for 2. Takada tried a High Kick, but The Bodyguard ducked and tried one of his own. Howveer that missed and Takada then tried a Thrust Kick that was caught and turned into an Ankle Lock. The Bodyguard had rudimentary submissions skills though and Takada was able to escape to the ropes. Tags were made as Akiyama and Kawada met nose to nose. Kawada threw a forearm, Akiyama responded. A second forearm, a third, and a fourth. Kawada then came off the ropes with a big kick that sent Akiyama down. Kawada tried a German Suplex Hold for a 2 count. Kawada picked up Akiyama and threw him with a Release German Suplex, but Akiyama got up and charged Kawada with a jumping elbow strike! Kawada bounced off the ropes and hit a Lariat that sent Akiyama down. Akiyama got back to his feet but as wobbly when Kawada came off the ropes with a Running Dangerous kick. Sakuraba and Takada held back Zeus and The Bodyguard as Kawada got the 1-2-3!
4. Special rematch, 30 minute time limit: The Great Nita (X) [Pin- 17:07 Powerbomb] Tenryu Genichiro (O)
Nita tried using the Kusarigama before the match, but Tenryu entered with a chair and both men had a showdown. Referee Wada got them to put away the weapons and the match started. Nita got the eary advantage with a thrust to the throat and connected with a DDT for a quick 2. Tenryu kicked out and Nita got him in a headlock. Tenryu got back to the ropes, pushed Nita off and sent him down with a shoulder tackle. Tenryu tried a jumping elbow from standing position, but Nita rolled out of the way. Nita tried his own elbow drop but Tenryu moved. Nita got up and found himself on the receivng end of a jumping high kick from tenryu. Tenryu then kept Nita down with an armbar as he placed his knee on Nita’s head. Tenryu secured the arm, hauled Nita up and gave him a series of Tumbling Chops. Nita would gets knocked down, Tenryu would haul him back up and chop him down again. After the 5th chop, Tenryu let Nita stay down and connected with a Leg Drop for a 2 count. Tenryu hauled Nota back up who then raked Tenryu’s eyes. Nita kicked Tenryu in the gut a couple of times and hit a Jumping DDT for 2. The Great Nita then threw Tenryu out of the ring as Higuchi began the count. The Great Nita whipped Tenryu into the barricade and then hit Tenryu with a chair. Nita rolled in the ring as Higuchi kept counting. The fans were getting anxious as Tenryu was struggling to get up and Higuchi had reached 8. A bloody Tenryu willed himself up and got in at the last half second prompting cheers from the crowd.
The Great Nita immediately went on the offensive, biting Tenryu while he was down! Nita then dragged Tenryu to the middle of the ring and hit a running elbow for 2. He got Tenryu to his feet and hit a Spinning Back Chop for another 2 count. The Great Nita whipped Tenryu into a corner and tried a running splash but Tentryu got the boot up, Nita was knocked back and Tenryu followed up with a Lariat for 2. Tenryu then booted Nita in the gut and hit a Gutwrench Suplex for another 2 count. With Nita reeling froma series of chops, Tenryu executed the Powerbomb and kept Nita folded while he stood over him, pinning his shoulders with his hands.
5. Special Rematch, 45 minute time limit: The Great Muta (O) [Pin- 39:29 Rounding Body Press] Jumbo Tsuruta (X)
Muta and Tsuruta circled each other for a moment, then Muta dragged his taped fingers along his neck and spit the Green Mist. He and Jumbo and then locked up in a collar and elbow tie up that saw both men not budge at first. The stalemate eluded applaus from the fans, but then the applause turned to cheers as Jumbo started getting the advantage. He backed Muta up against the ropes and delivered a knee to the abdomen. He then grabbed Muta to Irish whip him, but Tsuruta held on and followed Muta to the ropes where he connected with another nee strike. Hen then executed a hip toss that sent Muta down. Muta rolled onto his stomach and slid back out of the ring. He walks around the ring, grabbed a chair, threw it in the ring, which drew the ire of Kyohei Wada, and slid in to take advantage of Jumbo being caufght off guard. However if Jumbo was off guard from the chair, it was for a half-second as he met the charging Muta with a big boot. Tsututa clubbed Muta with forearms and then applied a Bearhug.
Jumbo had the Bearhug locked in tight under Muta’s ribs. Muta looked like he was going limp so Wada checked the arm, it fell once. Wada checked the arm, it fell a scond time, but when Wada checked the third time, it stayed up and Muta executed a bell clapping strike to escape the hold. He came off the ropes and hit a dropkick to the knee of Tsuruta. He then hit a Shining Wizard for a 2 count!
Muta got Jumbo to his feet, whipped him off the ropes and connected with a high dropkick. As Jumbo lay down, Muta bounced off the ropes with furor and connected with the Flashing Elbow. Muta made the cover but only got a 2 count. Muta perched on the top and waited for tsuruta to get up. Tsuruta got up and turned right into a Diving Brain Chop. Muta then swooped in, gathered a leg and hit a Dragon Screw. Muta then rolled Jumbo onto his stomach and applied the Sickle Hold. Tsuruta refused to tap, so Muta kept a Modified Indian Deathlock applied.Tsuruta crawled to the ropes to force a break. As Muta was hauling him up, Jumbo fired off three big forearms to Muta’s torso and executed a Gutwrench suplex. Tsuruta immediately fell due to the work Muta had done on Jumbo’s leg. Muta then applied an Achilles Tendon Hold and wrnched on it. Tsuruta refused to tap however and once again made it to the safety of the ropes. Muta draped the leg over the bottom rope and came down on it. He then dragged Tsuruta to the center and dropped an eblow on the leg and applied a hold. Tsuruta braved the pain and hit Muta in the back of the head with forearms.
Both men got up, but Tsuruta was clearly only able to place weight on one leg. Muta attacked him with kick, but Tsuruta held onto the ropes to maintain his vertical base. Muta then hit a dropkick to the back of the knee that sent Tsuruta down. Tsuruta rolled out of the ring and onto the floor. Kyohei Wada began his count as Muta taunted the fans who booed him. Muta got onto the apron and executed a Double Axe Handle to the outside that put Jumbo down again. Muta rolled into and out of the ring to break the count and he grabbed a chair. He hit Jumbo in the back, and then in the leg. He got back in the ring and seemed content to let Jumbo be counted out. The fans rallied around Jumbo who crawled back in to the applause of the fans.
Muta then grabbed both legs and applied a Texas Cloverleaf! Jumbo was screaming in pain but refused to submit and used his fighting spirit to get to the ropes. Muta released the hold at Wada’s 4 count. He then kicked Tsuruta in the leg as Tsuruta tried to get up, but each time Jumbo fell back, the “Sento Seishin” was feirce and Tsuruta willed himself up until finally he was back on his feet. He limped to the center of the ring and when Muta tried a chop, Jumbo blocked turned Muta around and delivered a brutal, Snap Style Backdrop!
Muta was obviously dazed and rolled out of the ring. He was on one knee and shaking his head. Muta went under the ring. The fans were booing Muta as Tsuruta left the ring and tried looking under the apron. In order to prevent the count out, Tsuruta would check a side, see nothing and roll back into the ring before rolling out another side to check under the apron. Tsuruta had checked 3 sides and then went for the fourth, with his back to the time keeper’s table. Tsuruta poked his head under and violently jerked it out.
As he crawled back into the ring, it became clear his face was green! Muta quickly got in the ring and measured the Shining Wizard! He then hopped up top and quickly came off with a Rounding Body Press for the win!
6. Singles match, 45 minute time limit, 2/3 Falls: The Great Kabuki vs Giant Baba
1st Fall: Kabuki and Baba tied up with Baba turning Kabuki around and planting him with an Atomic Drop. Kabuki got up and charged at Baba who met him with a clothesline. Baba then gave Kabuki a bodyslam, hauled him up, shoved him in the corner and started choking him with a big boot. Baba broke the hold and then delivered a series of side knee strikes into the stomach of Kabuki. Baba then hit a couple of chops and gave Kabuki a biel out of the corner. Kabuki tried to beg off, but Baba came in with more chops, an Irish whip led to a Cobra Twist aka Abdominal Stretch. While Baba had the Cobra Twist applied, he ruthlessly hammered Kabuki’s ribs. He then released the hold, grabbed Kabuki, hit a Side Russian Leg Sweep, picked Kabuki and hit a second Side Russian Leg Sweep for the quick win!
1st Fall: Great Kabuki (X) [Pin- 5:40 Russian Leg Sweep] Giant Baba (O)
2nd Fall: After a 2 minute rest, the second fall began. Baba came out hot again, pummeling Kabuki with chops. Baba tried an Irish whip, but Kabuki held onto the rope and got onto the apron. When Baba charges over, Kabuki grabbed Baba’s head and dropped to the floor causing Baba’s neck to execut fsome for of slingshot hangman! Baba lay on the mat holding his throat while Kabuki stood outside the ring. Kabuki rolled in and applied a blatant choke hold. Joe Higuchi began counting, Kabuki would break the hold at 4 and go right back to the choke. This happened 3 times and then Joe Higuchi began warning Kabuki.
Kabuki picked Baba up and hit a throat thrust that sent Baba to one knee. Kabuki then hit a roundhouse kick to Baba’s chest that sent Giant Baba on his back. Kabuki then applied a chinlock with his knee pressed into the back of Baba’s neck. Kabuki then used one hand for the hold while chopping Baba in the neck with the free hand. Kabuki then transitioned to a Side Headlock, cranked on it and then gave Baba another throat thrust. Kabuki followed up with a clothesline for 2. As Baba was on the mat, Kabuki hit a couple of quick elbows and stomped on Baba. Baba struggled to his feet but Kabuki got on Baba’s back and applied a Sleeper. Baba tried shaking Kabuki off but The Greak Kabuki held onto it. Baba was starting to fade, but he managed to ram Kabuki into the corner and escape. Kabuki wasted no time and immediately hit Baba in the chest with a Thrust Kick. He made the cover…1…2…Baba kicked out!
Kabuki picked Baba back up, hit another vicious cross handed double throat thrust and Baba went down! Kabuki pinned Baba, but used the ropes for leverage, Higuchi didn’t see and Kabuki got the pin to the dismay of the fans!
2nd Fall: The Great Kabuki (O) [11:04 Pin- Throat thrust] Giant Baba (X)
The 3rd fall began with kabuki going back to a blatant choke. After another warning from Higuchi, Kabuki applied a front facelock. Baba was in the hold for a while and was lowered to one knee as Kabuki wrenched away. The fans rallied behind Baba who battled back with shots to the ribs of Kabuki. Baba broke free and connected with a big boot. Kabuki shook it off, charged Baba and found himself on the mat as Baba hit a drop toe hold. Baba picked Kabuki up and hit a Russian Leg Sweep for 2.
Baba then applied a nerve hold but Kabuki escaped it by flailing for the ropes. Baba then whipped Kabuki off the ropes, hit the ropes on the opposite side and nailed Kabuki with a Running Neckbreaker (that resembled a falling clothesline.). As Baba was going to make the cover, The Great Muta came down to ringside from the West Entrance and got on the apron!
Baba didn’t cover Kabuki but headed over to Muta. Muta dropped down to the floor and made a grab at Baba’s leg. Baba shook it off and got out of the ring. Higuchi was yelling at Baba to get in the ring. As Baba was staring down Muta, Kenta Kobashi, Jumbo Tsuruta and Akira Taue charged down and began attacking Muta! Baba got in the ring as Higuchi was admonishing them to leave the ringside area. As Higuchi had his back turned, and Baba was back in with Kabuki, Kabuki spit Dokugiri in Baba’s face! As it seemed that Kabuki would steal the victory, Atsushi Onita ran down from the East Entrance! He slid in the ring, stomped on kabuki’s head, picked him up and planted him with the Fire Thunder Powerbomb! Onita helped a blinded Baba cover Kabuki. Kobashi, Tsuruta and Taue dragged Muta away, Onita slid out the ring and Joe Higuchi entered to see Baba covering Kabuki. Higuchi made the count…1…2…3!
3rd fall: The Great Kabuki (X) [17:30 Pinfall] Giant Baba(O)
The fans were exploding as Baba had his hand raised. Onita got in the ring and helped Baba remove the mist. Baba was dumbfounded as The Great Nita is the alter-ego of Atsushi Onita. Onita extended his hand and Baba warily shook his hand. Onita then dropped to his knees and bowed low before Baba. The fans cheered as Baba bowed respectfully and helped Onita to his feet. The event and the tour ended with Onita raising Baba’s hand in the air.