All Japan Pro Wrestling held their Champion Carnival press conference to introduce this year’s 18-man line-up in Idabashi, Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon, just 650 yards away from Korakuen Hall.
The prestigious round-robin tournament is one of the most famed annual competitions on the Japanese wrestling calendar and its rich history dates back to the inaugural edition in 1973 which was won by AJPW founder Giant Baba.
With seven days to go until the opening night of the 2025 instalment at Korakuen Hall (Wednesday 9 April), the international roster of elite heavyweights was introduced to the media ahead of a grueling tour comprising of 13 Champion Carnival events.
The reigning winner Kento Miyahara, who is gracing the Carnival for the 12th consecutive year, said: “I lost in my challenge for the Triple Crown (29 March v Jun Saito) but giving up is not an option. I will go forward and win the tournament and then take back the Triple Crown.”
Yuma Aoyagi, who made history as the youngest Champion Carnival winner in 2022 at the age of 26, said: “I am ready for the tournament. I will start strong from the opening match on 9 April against Madoka Kikuta of DRAGONGATE.”
Miyahara and Aoyagi, who are the reigning AJPW World Tag Team Champions as ‘Business Tag Team’, are the only previous tournament winners in this year’s competition which is set to be one of the most competitive editions in history.
Triple crown champion Jun Saito is aiming to win the Carnival for the first time in his third attempt.
“I’m looking forward to it myself, but the winner will undoubtedly be the Triple Crown champion Jun Saito,” said the former sumo wrestler.
Former Triple Crown champion Davey Boy Smith Jr, who is taking part for the second year in a row, is tipped to be one of the front-runners in 2025.
“I am very excited to be participating the Champion Carnival 2025. Last year was my first time entering and I think I turned a lot of heads with my performances. This year I’ve only improved my game; I always step up and I’ve only got better.
“The only thing that separates Davey Boy Smith Jr. from first place and that trophy is going to be time,” added the Japan stalwart who is bidding to become the first foreign-born winner since the late Akebono in 2015.
“When the time comes, I’ll show that I love All Japan Pro Wrestling,” the Bulldog Bomb master added.
Smith’s A Block rival Xyon is competing in the tournament for the inaugural time.
The Australia-born former rugby league star, who made 114 appearances in the National Rugby League competition, faced Smith in a tag team match which was the second-generation star’s last match in WWE in 2021.
Xyon, who has represented Samoa and recently turned out for USA in rugby league, joined WWE in 2018 and remained with the company until 2024.
The ex-Canberra Raiders ace said: “I’m very expected for the Champion Carnival 2025, I believe that this year’s edition will be the best in AJPW’s history.”
Xyon pinpointed who he sees as the biggest threats in the competition.
“Hideki Suzuki, I’ve worked with him in WWE, there’s the Saito brothers (Jun and Rei). Of course there’s Kento, I’m very excited to step into the ring with all these warriors. Davey Boy has a rich history in the sport, and I've looked up to him for a few years. We have unfinished business. If I can beat him, it would do wonders for me and boost my confidence. May the best man win.”
Davey Boy and Xyon will clash on 19 April at Sanjo City Public Welfare Hall.
Frenchman Aigle Blanc and Belgian Mike D Vecchio, who are both making their Champion Carnival debuts and are paired together in Block B, are set to arrive in Japan in the coming days.
