3/31 Ishikawa-ken Sangyo Tenjikan 7,000 sellout
Muto & Kea & Honma beat Anjo & Arashi & Hirai when Anjo used an elbow smash on Honma at 15:27.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu (suichoku rakka shiki no brainbuster 7:05) Araya
Williams (Dr. bomb 10:28) Rotundo

3/29 Osaka Shi Cho Taiikukan 1,750 sellout
Tenryu & Anjo & Arashi beat Muto & Hines & Honma when Anjo used an elbow smash on Honma at 15:27.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Kojima (lariat 17:00) Steele
Kea (naminori suplex 15:27) Araya

3/28 Kure Shi Taiikukan 4,300 sellout
Champion Carnival league matches:
Muto (shining wizard 13:09) Rotundo
Nagai (full time draw 30:00) Anjo
Arashi (jumping powerbomb 13:10) Steele

3/27 Okayama Orange Hall 1,850 sellout
Muto & Kojima & Kaz Hayashi beat Nagai & Fuchi & Miyamoto when Hayashi used his WA 4 on Miyamoto at 26:56.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu (lariat 6:32) Williams
Kea (Hawaiian smasher 14:18) Hines
Steele (turbo drop 2 14:07) Anjo

3/26 Toyama Techno Hall 2,200 sellout
Kawada & Okumura & Honma beat Williams & Anjo & Araya when Okumura used a suichoku rakka shiki no brainbuster on Araya at 16:47. The bad news is Kawada injured his knee bad enough that he's out of the carnival and vacating the triple crown. Part of the story of Kawada's career, either they take the triple crown away from him too soon or he gets injured and has to vacate it immediately. Honma & Hosaka signed with AJ, but Tanaka is done here now that he's with ZERO-ONE. The semifinal on the 4/13 Budokan show will be Kojima vs. Kea for a title shot. Muto is replacing Kawada in the main event against Tenryu, which is now a decision match for the titles.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Muto (shining wizard 8:26) Hines
Kea (full time draw 30:00) Rotundo
Nagai (hyper knee 10:56) Arashi

3/24 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,000 sellout
Champion Carnival league matches:
Williams (backdrop hold 15:16) Muto
Kojima (lariat 18:06) Nagai
Barton (powerbomb 13:49) Anjo

3/23 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,000 sellout
Muto & Kea & Kojima beat Williams & Rotundo & Steele when Kojima lariated Steele at 18:16.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu (lariat 2:09) Rotundo
Kawada (stretch plum 3:20) Arashi
Hines (Hines stunner 16:15) Araya

The 2002 Champion Carnival runs from 3/23-4/9 with the semifinals (A1 vs. B2 and vice versa) and final on 4/10 at the Sapporo Tsukisappu Green Dome. A Block has Kawada, Kojima, Nagai, Anjo, Arashi, Barton, & Steele. B Block has Tenryu, Muto, Kea, Araya, Williams, Rotundo, & Hines.

The 4/13 Nippon Budokan show has Kawada defending the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken against Tenryu, Muto & Kea defending the tag titles against the Harris Bros, & Fuchi vs. Kashin in a decision match for the junior title.

2/24 Tokyo Nippon Budokan 16,300 sellout
Kawada won the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken from Muto, pinning him in his powerbomb at 27:37. Kawada is the 28th holder. Kawada joins Hansen as a 4 time holder of the titles, one shy of Misawa's record 5 runs.
Tenryu pinned Kojima at 17:51 following a suichoku rakka shiki no brainbuster.
Kea pinned Nagai at 17:23 with his Hawaiian smasher. Kea is looking to challenge next.
Kashin forced Kazushi Miyamoto to submit to a dobitski udehishigigyakujujigatame at 2:47. Kaz Hayashi did a run in after the match.
Williams & Rotundo defeated Okumura & Honma when Williams pinned Honma at 10:05 following his dangerous backdrop.

The next big show on 1/14 at Kanagawa Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan has Muto & Kea defending the tag titles against Barton & Steele, Hase vs. Kawada, Tenryu vs. Anjo, & the final of the Giant Baba league. Hase vs. Kawada would seem to set Kawada up for his rematch (hopefully this will be more than merely good but I've learned the way to sometimes enjoy Muto is to always expect nothing from him) with Muto as Hase is Muto's partner and he's not going to beat Kawada here (or probably ever).

12/7 Tokyo Nippon Budokan 12,500 (heavily papered)
Keiji Muto & Taiyo Kea won the annual Sekai Saikyo tag league. In the tournament of the four highest finishes, they beat Tenryu & Fuyuki in the first round when Muto used his Frankensteiner on Fuyuki at 14:30. They then beat Kawada & Nagai when Kea used his Hawaiian crusher on Nagai at 16:49. Kawada & Nagai had advanced to the finals by defeating the Harris Brothers when Kawada made Don submit to his stretch plum at 7:05.

The annual Sekai Saikyo tag league will run from from 11/24-12/5 with the final on 12/7 at Tokyo Nippon Budokan. The eight teams are Muto & Kea, Hines & Vampiro, Williams & Rotundo, Anjo & Smith, Kawada & Nagai, Harris Brothers, Tenryu & Fuyuki, Arashi & Kitahara.

Muto wants a rematch with Tenryu's team for the tag titles. He said they barely lost even though he didn't take the match that seriously enough. He didn't get any sleep the night before and was drinking, but next time he'll show them more respect.

9/8 Tokyo Nippon Budokan 12,800
Tenryu & Anjo retained the Sekai Tag Senshuken, defeating Muto & Kea when Tenryu pinned Kea in his northern lights bomb at 20:15. Tenryu broke his right hand in the process, but succeeded in preventing Muto from becoming a five crown king. Although Muto's team lost, no one from New Japan did a job on this show.
Chono & Barton beat Kawada & Nagai when Chono used his kenka kick on Nagai at 17:45. Chono has formed a new group with the foreigners in All Japan. Rotundo & Steele came out during the match and acted as his seconds and Williams watched from the runway. After the match these three shook hands with Chono & Barton to signify their new alliance.
Arashi & Koki Kitahara captured the vacant Asia Tag Senshuken, defeating Araya & Okumura when Arashi pinned Okumura at 17:38. Arashi's team are the 70th champs.
Kido & Tanahashi beat Fuchi & Aijima when Kido made Aijima submit to his wakigatame at 12:23.
Hase & Williams & Rotundo beat Steele & Hines & Vampiro when Hase pinned Hines in his northern lights suplex at 19:09.
Duk & Hosaka defeated Hirai & Naniwa when Duk pinned Naniwa at 11:31 following his tombstone piledriver.
Smith pinned Miyamoto with his British fall at 9:18.

The 9/8 Tokyo Nippon Budokan show has:
Tenryu & Anjo defending the Sekai Tag Senshuken against Muto & Kea
Kawada & Nagai vs. Chono & Barton
Araya & Okumura vs. Arashi & Koki Kitahara for the vacant Asia Tag Senshuken
Fuchi & Aijima vs. Kido & Tanahashi
Hase & Williams & Rotundo vs. Steele & Hines & Vampiro
Hirai & Naniwa vs. Duk & Hosaka
Smith vs. Miyamoto

Terry Gordy was buried in Chattanooga, TN ths morning. Wrestlers in attendance included Doug Gilbert, Buchanan, & his former Freebird partners Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts,

Terry Gordy's girlfriend found him dead in his Tennesse home this morning. Tentatively the cause of death is heart failure. Gordy came to Japan in August of 1983 as the partner of Stan Hansen. He was the type that was made to wrestle in All Japan because he was tall, imposing, and could really work. He would have been the successor to Hansen and possibly the top gaijin of the 90's. I'm much more familiar with Williams great major matches from the mid 90's, but Gordy had been the better of the two and would have been ranked above Williams in that position where he had the opportunity to have classic matches with Misawa, Kawada, & Kobashi for the forseeable future. Unfortunately, he overdosed on drugs in '93. Although he came out of his coma and was eventually able to return to the ring, he was never even close to the same and wound up having to become a hardcore wrestler for IWA Japan. Misawa had met with Gordy a month ago because his son Terry Ray Gordy Jr. is interested in becoming a wrestler. NOAH will give Gordy a 10 count on the 7/18 show.
His highlights in Japan included:
Winning the '88 Sekai Saikyo tag league with Hansen where he likely had his best match defeating Tenryu & Kawada to edge out Tsuruta & Yatsu by a point. At this point the winners of the tournament got the Sekai Tag Senshuken, which made it the second time Hansen & Gordy held those belts.
Winning the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken from Jumbo on 6/5/90, the first of two times he held the belts, making him the youngest wrestler ever to hold the set of titles
Winning the '90 & '91 Sekai Saikyo tag league with Williams
Held the Sekai Tag Senshuken with Williams on 5 different occassions

7/14 Tokyo Nippon Budokan 12,800
Muto made his 1st successful defense of the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken, dropping Williams with his shining wizard at 18:52.
Tenryu & Anjo captured the Sekai Tag Senshuken, defeating Kea & Smith when Anjo used a spinebuster on Smith at 22:58.
Kawada made Araya submit to his stretch plum at 10:50. Even with Muto making his first defense, AJ couldn't draw well because they only have two legit main event draws and it wasn't against one of them. Of course, if Chono was healthy and they could have put together his first match like Kawada like they wanted, things would have been a lot different.
Nagai beat Okumura at 10:09.

The new team of Tenryu & Anjo will challenge Kea & Smith for the Sekai Tag Senshuken on 7/14 at Tokyo Nippon Budokan. This is the semifinal under Muto vs. Williams. Also on the show, Kakihara & Nagai will defend the Asia Tag Senshuken against Araya & Okumura.

6/30 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,000
Kawada & Araya beat Tenryu & Fuchi when Araya pinned Fuchi in his moonsault press at 15:38. Yoji Anjo made an appearance. He's going to debut in All Japan at the 7/14 Budokan show. He's interested in forming a team with Tenryu.
Steve Williams pinned Barton in his backdrop hold at 21:22. Williams will challenge Muto for All Japan's belts on 7/14.
This show completed the 1st year of the "new-born" All Japan.

Kawada wants to have his first singles match with Chono. Chono wants his upcoming match with Muto on 7/20 to be for the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken, so Kawada says he should have to come to All Japan 7/14 Tokyo Nippon Budokan show and beat him to earn the right to challenge for their title.

Masahito Kakihara & Mitsuya Nagai, who are called Team Strongs, will face Fuchi & Fujiwara on 5/20 in a decision match for the Asia Tag Senshuken.

A moral supplementary book about Giant Baba is being published for use in 5th grade. It's the first book about a pro wrestler that will be used in the Japanese school system. The book focuses on all the obstacles and setbacks Baba overcame throughout his life.

4/14 Tokyo Nippon Budokan 15,800 sellout
Muto pinned Kawada at 24:20. AJ got a near full house out of working with NJ even though their guys lost. So long as this leads to Tenryu over Muto in a title match it's more than worthwhile.
Kea & Smith made their 2nd successful defense of the Sekai Tag Senshuken, defeating Tenryu & Duk when Kea used an udehishigi DDT on Duk.
Tenzan & Kojima beat Williams & Hines when Kojima pinned Hines at 14:50 following his lariat.
Fuchi & Fujiwara defeated Kakihara & Nagai when Fuchi made Nagai submit at 7:29.
Barton & Steele beat Shinzaki & Araya when Barton used his high angle powerbomb, which is not called last right (or light), on Araya at 19:37.
Okumura pinned Naniwa at 7:39.

4/11 Sendai Miyagi-ken Sports Center 4,850
Tenryu won the Champion Carnival, pinning Kea at 17:08 following his lariat. I agree with this move. They need Kea to become big, but his push in this tournament was absolutely monster in comparison to anything he'd previously done.
Barton & Steele beat Kawada & Nagai when Steele used his turbo drop 2 on Nagai at 19:57. This I don't agree with. Considering their lack of natives (especially ones under 35) and Nagai's shooter gimmick, his daily jobs are silly. I'm not saying the guy is great, but he has talent and is the kind of guy that can work within All Japan's style since he hits hard. Granted a job to Steele won't kill him, but when you consider he's already paying back the only guy he beat in the Carny...
Williams pinned Araya in his satsujin backdrop at 8:17.
Duk & Fujiwara defeated Kakihara & Aijima when Duk pinned Aijima at 10:57 following his tombstone piledriver.
Smith pinned Okumura following his British fall at 15:02.
Hines pinned Naniwa with his Hines driver at 11:04.

4/10 Akita Kenritsu Taiikukan 2,250
Champion Carnival league matches:
Williams defeated Kawada at 16:59 to keep Kawada out of the final.
Kea pinned Barton at 13:17 following his Hawaiian smasher. Since Kawada lost the following match, Kea earned a spot in tomorrows finals against Tenryu. This is the right move because Kawada is ready to be shelved so why put him in the final over either of the two guys that will be asked to carry the company in his absense.
Fujiwara made Hines submit to a wakigatame at 10:34.
Smith pinned Steele at 16:05 following his British fall.

4/7 Yokkaichi Australian Kinenkan 1,050
Kawada & Fujiwara beat Williams & Hines when Kawada pinned Hines at 13:16 following his enzuigiri.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu pinned Steele at 4:45 following his lariat.
Kea pinned Nagai at 16:15 following his Hawaiian smasher.
Barton pinned Smith with a high angle powerbomb at 19:01.

4/4 Minowa Chomin Taiikukan 1,850
Tenryu & Duk & Araya beat Kea & Smith & Steele when Duk used his tombstone piledriver on Smith at 16:38.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Kawada pinned Nagai at 11:50 following his lariat.
Barton pinned Fujiwara at 14:02 following his Diamond cutter.
Williams pinned Hines at 14:08 with his backdrop.

4/3 Takayama Mount Ace 1,050
Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu pinned Williams at 10:28 following his lariat.
Fujiwara drew Smith 30:00.
Barton pinned Steele at 15:07 following his Diamond cutter.
Hines pinned Nagai at 11:56 with his Hines driver.

Kawada & Fuchi beat Kea & Okumura when Fuchi pinned Okumura at 17:03.

4/1 Ishikawa-ken Sangyo Tenjikan 2,800
Hase & Fujiwara beat Barton & Fuchi when Hase pinned Fuchi in his northern lights suplex hold at 22:14.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu drew Kea 30:00. Kea attacked the left knee with moves like Muto's Dragon screw.
Kawada powerbombed Smith at 22:14.
Williams doctorbombed Nagai at 4:13.
Steele used his turbo drop II on Hines at 14:36.

3/31 Nagaoka Shi Kosei Kaikan 3,550 sellout
Champion Carnival league matches:
Kawada beat Tenryu for the first time in just 8:17, pinning him after a running high kick. Tenryu, of course, attacked Kawada's bad elbow. He was dominating Kawada for the most part, Kawada was even screaming in pain due to Tenryu's udehishigigyakujujigatame. Kawada attacked Tenryu's neck since Tenryu injured it against Fujiwara on 3/27.
Kea got his first singles win over Williams when he turned a Doctorbomb into a huracanrana at 18:35.
Fujiwara made Steele submit to his wakigatame at 9:06.
Smith used his British fall (reverse DDT) on Hines at 17:25.

3/29 Chiba Koen Taiikukan 1,650
Champion Carnival league matches:
Barton upset Kawada with a high angle powerbomb at 16:12. Kawada says a sharp pain runs up his arm every time he throws a chop. Barton further injured (I assume this is a work) Kawada's bad right elbow with an udehishigigyakujujigatame, which led to Kawada's demise.
Kea pinned Steele with his Fujiwara at 7:57.
Smith pinned Nagai at 14:00 following his British fall.

3/27 Kitakami Shi 1,250
Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu pinned Fujiwara at 5:53 following a lariat with his right hand.
Kawada made Steele submit to his stretch plum at 9:46.
Williams pinned Smith with his satsujin backdrop at 12:24.
Barton pinned Nagai with a high angle powerbomb at 12:48.

3/25 Shirakawa Shi ? Kinen Taiikukan 850
Williams & Steele defeated Kawada & Okumura when Steele used his turbo drop II on Okumura at 16:45.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu pinned Smith at 5:51 following his lariat.
Fujiwara made Nagai submit to a 1/2 crab at 10:31.
Kea pinned Hines with his Hawaiian smasher at 14:41.

3/24 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,000 sellout
Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu pinned Barton in his northern lights bomb at just 11:17.
Kawada pinned Hines at 2:24.
Williams pinned Fujiwara at 7:15 following his dangerous backdrop.
Kea pinned Steele with his Hawaiian smasher at 14:46.

3/23 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,000 sellout
Champion Carnival league matches:
Kawada pinned Fujiwara at 12:11 following a running high kick.
Tenryu pinned Nagai in his northern lights bomb at just 3:08.
Kea pinned Smith at 20:18 following his Hawaiian smasher
Williams pinned Steele in his Doctorbomb at 12:44.

The participants in the Champion Carnival are Tenryu, Kawada, Kea, Fujiwara, Nagai, Williams, Barton, Smith, Steele, & Hines. Fuchi is the only notable absense, he's just fighting on the undercards. There aren't any big shows during the league aside from the finals. Tenryu vs. Kawada is on 3/31 in some Nagaoka arena I don't even remember hearing of.
In a bizarre move, the Carnival finals will not be on 4/14 at Tokyo Nippon Budokan. Instead, they are having the finals at the much smaller Sendai Miyagi-ken Taiikukan (holds less than 1/3 what Budokan does) and having show that's totally unrelated to the Carnival, aside from being called Champion Carnival One Night Special, at Budokan. The Budokan show is headlined by the first ever meeting between Kawada & Keiji Muto. It's too bad it took so long for these two to fight that Muto is washed up and Kawada won't be near top form. They are probably only fighting this soon because the AJ vs. NJ program will most likely be dead (Tenryu vs. NJ has been done so many times and Kea or the others vs. NJ isn't much of a draw) by the time Kawada comes back. It's kind of a waste to not have this headline a dome, but this is the best AJ can do unless they want to wait and hope. The probably scenario is that Muto beats Kawada since Kawada won't be wrestling for months after this match due to separated cartilage in his right elbow and that sets Muto up to face Tenryu in a titles match. Also on the show, Kea & Smith will defend the tag titles against Tenryu & Duk (they are being promoted as the 100 year old combination), Williams & Hines face Tenzan & Kojima, Fuchi & Fujiwara take on Kakihara & Nagai, & Shinzaki & Araya wrestle Barton & Steele. Tenzan & Kojima have demanded the card be changed because they don't want to face Hines since he's a weaker opponent than Rotundo.