All Japan Pro Wrestling 10/22/2024 Raising An Army Memorial Series 2024 Day 4

All Japan Pro Wrestling 10/22/2024 Raising An Army Memorial Series 2024 Day 4

Ayano Irie & Kyoka Iwai vs. Marino Saihara & Nagisa Shiotsuki

MS = Marino Saihara, NS = Nagisa Shiotsuki

MS is in the blue and red. NS is in the white and blue. Iwai is in the black and red. Irie is in the black.

MS and her partner get attacked as it starts. NS has her head banged off the buckles and she takes a foot choke with her partner. Iwai and Irie then pose on them. NS takes a facebuster then is hit and choked with an umbrella.

Iwai and NS trade chops. NS dropkicks her for 2. Iwai basemnet dropkicks her. Irie side headlock takeovers NS then NS puts her in a headscissors. Irie crabs her. Irie facekicks NS on the ropes. NS hits chops and codebreakers Irie. MS is tagged in and hits dropkicks. Irie lariats MS and hits facekicks.

Irie russian legsweeps MS for 2. Irie heavenly locks her and it is broken up. Iwai back elbows and dropkicks MS for 2. MS dropkicks her then MS hip throws her. Iwai hits MS with an umbrella and russian legsweeps her. Iwai legdrops her then hits a death valley driver for 2.

NS codebreakers Iwai then MS does like an M. Bison stomp on her. MS hits chest kicks on Iwai and Iwai stunners her. MS germans Iwai and pins her.

Thoughts: It was pretty average and basic. All of these girls are obviously real limited but they didn't botch much. I didn't like the umbrella being used in the ring.

Ryo Inoue vs. Taishin Nagao

This is Taishin Nagao's debut. He's the newest trainee to debut after Ryo Inoue. He's a smaller guy.

They mat wrestle and trade waistlocks. Nagao wristlocks him then Ryo side headlocks him. Ryo takes him over, Nagao headscissors him and they stand off. Ryo shoulders him over then Nagao dropkicks him. Ryo hiptosses him then kicks him in the back.

Nagao hits chest forearms then Ryo chest kicks him over. Ryo kicks Nagao in the back for 2. Ryo crabs him and Nagao ropebreaks. Nagao double boots Ryo out of the corner then slips on a 2nd rope move. Ryo forearms him down.

Nagao 2nd rope dropkicks him. Nagao hits dropkicks then top rope dropkicks him for 2. They trade chest forearms and Nagao cradles him. Nagao rolls up Ryo for 2 then sunset flips him. Ryo back body drops him for 2. Ryo crabs him and really leans back for the submission victory.

Thoughts: Nagao's a lot smaller than Ryo and Ryo isn't exactly Giant Baba. It was your average debut for the most part. Japanese rookies are harder to get a read on because they limit what they can do and they are on average smaller wrestlers. Nagao did okay in his debut. 

Kuroshio TOKYO Japan, MUSASHI & Shotaro Ashino vs. Baka No Jidai (Hikaru Sato & Yuko Miyamoto) & Seiki Yoshioka

Mu = Musashi, SY = Seiki Yoshioka

Mu and SY start us off. SY ducks a lock-up. They trade chops for kicks. Mu step up enzugiri's him then basement dropkicks him. Jiro and SY get on their partners shoulders and fight each other. SY pulls Jiro's jacket off. Jiro gets upset at this and cries about it. Yuko puts the jacket on.

Jiro takes a triple club to the back. Yuko keylocks Jiro.  Sato spike piledrivers Jiro. Jiro gets his jacket and hits Yuko with it. Ashino is tagged in. He hits running euros on Yuko for 2. Ashino karelin's lifts Yuko then Sato. Yuko handspring back elbows Ashino.

SY hits kicks on Ashino then takes a german. SY is swung and thrown by Jiro and Sho. Mu wants to jump onto him from the top but says he's too far over. Jiro and Sho then swing him closer. Mu then complains it's too close.

Mu then stupidly frogsplashes the mat. SY takes a double suplex then Mu gets a 2 count on him. Mu goes for a top rope splash but SY gets his knees up. Mu takes an enzugiri + lariat. SY la mistica drops Mu and la magistrals him to win.

Thoughts: It was a comedy match and nothing else. They just goofed around here.

SY and Mu hug after.

GAORA TV Title Match - Fuminori Abe (c) vs. Seigo Tachibana

Abe hammerlocks him. ST headscissors him and they facekicks each other. They both go up in the stands and run at each other with Abe knocking him over. They get back in and Abe tries a bunch of pin attempts. Abe dragon screws him. Abe corkscrew kicks him and kicks him in the back.

They sit near each other and slap each other. ST blocks a PK. ST atomic drops him and facekicks him out. He then boots the ropes while Abe tries to hold on. ST tope con hilos him.

They fight up top. Abe headbutts him.

ST superplexes him. Abe holds on and suplexes him then ST suplexes him. Abe dropkicks him. Abe backdrops him for 2.  Abe wind-up punches him. Abe then does an octopus to him and ST hits a beachbreak out of it. They try pin attempts and ST elbows him in the back of the head.

They get up and trade forearms. ST running elbows him in the back of the neck and pins him.

Thoughts: Seigo winning was an upset. They fought on 8/17, so we knew what to expect going into this. Sadly, it was more comedy than a straight match and I wasn't a fan of it.

Jiro celebrates with Seigo after. Seigo is given a fake paper belt. Jiro then superkicks Seigo and poses on him with the belt. Seigo goes after him.

Saito Brothers (Jun Saito, Naruki Doi, Rei Saito & Senor Saito) vs. Hokuto-gun (Cyrus, Hartley Jackson, Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi)

Hart and Rei go at it. They go into the ropes then shoulder battle. Hart shoulders him over. Omori tries to slam Rei but Rei falls on him. Doi running swantons Omori then Omori eye rakes him. Kuma gets in. Doi hits chest chops on him then Doi asks Kuma's partners to come in. Doi gets trapped between 3 of his opponents and Kuma double axe handles his back.

Kuma slams and sentons Doi. Kuma eye rakes Senor then sentons him. Hart back elbows Doi. Cy stomps on Doi then butt drops his gut. Doi's leg gets split. Doi eye rakes Kuma then dropkicks him in the knee. Jun comes in and running facekicks Kuma then shoulders him over. Jun suplexes Kuma.

Kuma takes corner attacks from his opponents. Rei splashes him and Jun elbow drops him for 2. Hart and Cy square off with The Bros and trade shots. Cy hits an AA on Rei then Hart legdrops Rei.

Jun running battering rams Hart. Kuma is caught on a double crossbody and Omori dropkicks him over. Kuma slams Jun then takes a double basement dropkick. Omori takes a double chokeslam from The Bros for 2. Rei crossbodies Kuma. Jun jackhammers Omoriu and pins him.

Thoughts: It didn't get enough time. They made it somewhat entertaining with the big men fighting but it was a throwaway otherwise. It seems like a Saito Bros vs Cyrus and Jackson is being made off of this.

Makoto Oishi comes out and has words for The Saito's. He wore a Saito's shirt and had a Saito's towel and seems to be joining them.

Dan Tamura, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Kento Miyahara vs. ELPIDA (Rising HAYATO, Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai)

Yuma and Ken go at it. They trade wristlocks. Ken facekicks him and they stand off. Dan and Rising get in. Rising takes him down then Dan armbars him. Dan hammerlocks him. Rising side headlock takeovers him. Dan is pulled over the top and takes a nice spill out. Rising then does his pose.

Rising tries a leapfrog and is caught then slammed down by Dan. The other wrestlers fight outside. Davey comes in and slams Rising. Rising takes a double shoulder from Ken and Davey.

Ken dropkicks Rising in the knee and the side of the head. Rising dropkicks Ken over. Honda comes in and corner lariats Ken then chokes him on the rope. Honda spinebusters Ken. They trade forearms and Ken pump kicks him. Dan suplexes Honda for 2 then Honda lariats Dan over. Yuma comes in and belly to belly suplexes Dan. Yuma dropkicks Dan then Dan samoan drops Yuma.

Davey comes in and shoulders Yuma over. Davey flying knees Yuma then powerslams him. Yuma flying knees Davey. Davey is sent into the corner by his opponent and takes attacks. Davey then takes a spear from Honda. Dan and Honda trade. They lariat each other over. Rising springboard plancha's Dan and tries to do it to Davey, but nails Yuma instead. Ken pumping knees Yuma. Davey sitout powerbombs Yuma and wins.

Thoughts: They didn't get enough time to do a classic here but what we got was fine. Honda and Dan stiffed each other and they picked Davey's spots well here.

Ryo Inoue comes out and backdrops Yuma after.  Ryo rips up his photo then poses on him. Rising comes to Yuma's aid and fights with Ryo. Ryo sends him out.

Hideki Suzuki & Shuji Kondo vs. Violent Giants (Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama)

SI = Shuji Ishikawa

This is some kind of anniversary match for Suwama. Kondo and Suwama go at it. Kondo side headlocks him. They shoulder battle. Kondo shoulders him over. Suzuki and SI get in. They tie up and SI pushes him down into the mat. Suzuki wristlocks him and SI side headlocks him. Suwama and Suzuki go at it. They trade hard forearms. Suwama throws him out and they fight outside. Suzuki is dropped with a forearm and SI abuses Kondo on the rails. SI is sent into the rails and Suwama pushes Suzuki into the front row. They fight in the seats and Suwama chairs him.

Suwama then chairs the young lion Nagao for trying to break things up. Suzuki and Suwama push each other and Suzuki hits forearms on him. Suzuki grabs onto Suwama in the ring and goes for a sleeper.

Kondo knees Suwama then Suwama boots him out of the corner and shoulders him over. SI puts Kondo on thr 2nd rope then running knees him. SI then double stomps him off the buckles for 2. Kondo suplexes SI.

Suzuky hanging headscissors SI. Suzuki goes for an abdominal stretch on SI but is hiptossed over. Suwama and SI put sleepers on at the same time. They go for stereo powerbombs but take stereo backdrops. Suwama hits chops on both opponents and lariats them over. Suzuki takes lariats on the ropes from both opponents. Suwama belly to belly suplexes Suzuki then SI running knees Suzuki.

Suwama backdrops Suzuki for 2. SI and Suwama lariat each other on accident. Suzuki hits forearms on Suwama then Kondo running lariats Suwama. Various wrestlers then get in the ring for some reason and hit corner attacks on Suwama. Kondo lariats Suwama then Suzuki double underhook suplexes Suwama to win.

Thoughts: It had a slower pace to it and just never really got to the next level. I didn't like the interference at the end as it should have been a DQ. They built up on the usual issues between Suwama and Suzuki in this one.

Suzuki and Kondo give gifts to their opponents after. Masa Fuchi and Wada then give gifts to Suwama. Fuchi and Wada talk on the mic. We then get messages from Tenryu and Mutoh. Suwama then talks on the mic.

Triple Crown Title Match - Yuma Aoyagi (c) vs. Ren Ayabe

They lock up and clean break on the ropes. Ren messes with Yuma on the ropes. Yuma side headlocks him. Yuma dropkicks Ren and Ren back body drops him. They go out and Ren sends Yuma into the post. They trade forearms then Yuma is sent into the rails. Ren then poses on Yuma.

Ren then throws him off the apron onto the floor. Ren lays down inside as he waits for Yuma. Ren irish whips Yuma but Yum's knee gives out. Ren stands on Yuma's gut then pulls on his leg.

Yuma flying back elbows Ren and sends him out off of it. Yuma then does a weird dance in the ring and poses. Yuma sends Ren into the rails outside. Ren is bent over the rail and Yuma legdrops him over the back of the neck. Yuma drives Ren into the rails outside.

Ren hits a corner forearm on Yuma then top rope crossbodies him. Yuma seated guillotines him and Ren ropebreaks. Ren slams Yuma then flying neckbreakers him. Ren corner facekicks Yuma. Ren goes for a hold and Yuma gets out of it.

Yuma sits on the top rope and is dropkicked down to the floor. They fight on the apron and Yuma backdrops him on the apron. They get in and trade forearms. Ren hits a nice dropkick. Yuma germans him. Ren no sells it then Yuma hits a rock bottom. Ren no sells it and suplexes him.

They trade forearms on their knees then get up and trade. Yuma hits euros then takes a knee to the gut. Yuma hits an air raid crash for 2. Yuma hits forearms but Ren just takes them and backs him up in the corner. Ren hits a big forearm then hits a forearm flurry in the corner. Ren pushes the ref away and keeps pounding on him.

Ren corner facekicks him then hits a half-nelson sitout slam for 2. Yuma ddt's him and does a grounded guillotine. Yuma then adds the kimura onto it. Yuma top rope elbow drops him for 2. Yuma does his guillotine + armlock submission again.

They get up on the buckles and fight. Ren facekicks Yuma then Ren does a top rope superplex. Ren does a dragon sleeper + hammerlock and Yuma ropebreaks. Yuma tries to guillotine him but Ren suplexes him to escape it. Ren back body drops Yuma for 2. Yuma rolls Ren up for 2 and backrolls him into a bridge for 2. Reb does a nasty looking dragon suplex.

Ren knees Yuma in the gut then dragon suplexes him for 2.  Ren knees him in the gut then Yuma lariats him over. Yuma spinning high kicks him for 2. Yuma fisherman suplexes him for 2. Yuma twisting fisherman suplexes him and wins it.

Thoughts: It was slower and got a ton of time. They tried but it just wasn't anything great. There was no big story here and there was a decent bit of no selling in this one. Ren is just getting pushed above his skill level and he's got a while to go before he's really ready for these kind of matches.

Yuma talks on the mic after. Davey Boy Smith Jr. comes out. He congratulates him. He says there's a legacy in his family and says he wants to do what Davey Boy Smith, Johnny Smith and Dynamite Kid didn't do, he wants to do. And that's challenging and winning the Triple Crown Title. Yuma says, "OK, no problem". He says he's the champ and agrees to an 11/4 match in Sapporo. Davey says Yuma is looking at the new triple crown champ. They then butt heads and shake hands. Yuma then talks more on the mic to close the show.

Overall thoughts: I'm not as high on AJPW as I was last year. The shows have had a lot of comedy on the lower cards and then a bunch of guys end up getting stuck in midcard tags that don't do them favors. The main events was usually respectable enough but also not quite as great they could be. They tried in the main but it wasn't great. The semi-main was slower and didn't live up to expectations. I didn't like the opening matches and there wasn't a lot else on here. I'd give this one a 5 out of 10 as it was a very average show.