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🔥 Osamu Nishimura & Manabu Soya vs. Riki Choshu & Ryuji Takaiwa – AJPW 🔥
✅ Date: March 14, 2009
✅ Venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan (Tokyo, Japan)
✅ Match Type: Tag Team Match
📜 Match Background
📅 March 14, 2009 – AJPW Ryogoku Show.
This match was suddenly set up under the theme of “Mentor & Protégé vs. Mentor & Protégé.”
The Beginning of the Rivalry – Nishimura vs. Takaiwa
Before this match, Osamu Nishimura defended the NKPWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ryuji Takaiwa, successfully retaining the title with his Modified Figure-Four Leglock.
However, after the match, the defeated Takaiwa delivered an unexpected challenge to Nishimura.
💬 “Nishimura-san, think back to your New Japan days. There was someone you absolutely hated, wasn’t there? Well, next time, I’m bringing him with me!”
The name that resurfaced in Nishimura’s mind was none other than his long-time rival, Riki Choshu—a man he didn’t just have a rivalry with, but someone he genuinely despised.
“MUGA” vs. “Revolutionary Warrior”
Nishimura’s MUGA (traditional Japanese technical wrestling) style stood in stark contrast to Choshu’s power brawling style, making it clear that this battle was destined to be a clash of ideologies.
Despite their vastly different wrestling philosophies, AJPW decided that the best way to settle this conflict was through a tag team match.
Thus, after 22 years, Riki Choshu made his return to an All Japan Pro Wrestling ring.
🔥 Team Introductions
👊 Osamu Nishimura & Manabu Soya (Mentor & Protégé Team)
• Nishimura embodies the MUGA style, excelling in submission holds and ground-based technical wrestling.
• Soya, still developing under Nishimura’s mentorship, sought to evolve his own in-ring identity. This match would be a defining moment in his career.
🔥 Riki Choshu & Ryuji Takaiwa (Mentor & Protégé Team)
• Choshu, known as the “Revolutionary Warrior,” is a legend in Japanese wrestling, famous for his aggressive and power-driven offense.
• Takaiwa is a hard-hitting powerhouse, utilizing stiff lariats and devastating suplexes to overwhelm opponents.
• Both men emphasized this match as an “ideological war” and aimed to crush Nishimura’s philosophy of wrestling.
🔥 Match Flow
📃 A high-stakes battle between two mentor-protégé teams! Who will emerge victorious?
• A shocking start immediately sets the tone!
• Nishimura vs. Choshu – A battle of pride and philosophy!
• Manabu Soya fights to prove himself, showcasing his youthful energy and fighting spirit!
• Takaiwa’s relentless offense swings momentum in their favor!
• A dramatic ending leaves the audience in awe…!
💥 Who emerged victorious in this intense clash? Witness this historic moment! 💥
🎥 Watch the legendary tag team match now!
▶ Osamu Nishimura & Manabu Soya vs. Riki Choshu & Ryuji Takaiwa (March 14, 2009)
🏆 Match Result (Click to Reveal) 🏆
Click here to see the match result!
✅ Winners: Riki Choshu & Ryuji Takaiwa (Choshu pinned Soya with a Lariat)
✅ Match Duration: 10 minutes, 13 seconds
🔥 The match ended decisively with Choshu’s devastating Lariat!
At the start, Nishimura intended to face Choshu, but Soya boldly volunteered to start the match.
However, just 10 seconds into the match, Choshu’s signature Lariat floored Soya, leaving the crowd in shock.
Though Soya managed to recover and launch an offense, Choshu’s final Lariat sealed the deal, leading to his team’s victory.
After the match, Nishimura, seething with rage, locked Choshu in a Figure-Four Leglock, refusing to release the hold.
Even after being pulled away by officials, Nishimura grabbed the microphone and, in an uncharacteristic show of raw emotion, delivered a scathing verbal attack on Choshu.
💥 “Choshu! I’ll fight you here in All Japan as many times as it takes! 10 times, 100 times—whatever it takes! Come back anytime, you bastard!” 💥
📊 Match Rating
| 🏆 Category | ⭐ Rating | 🎤 Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Match Drama | ★★★★☆ | A compelling ideological battle between two wrestling styles! |
| Technical Execution | ★★★★☆ | Nishimura’s submission mastery vs. Choshu’s raw power! |
| Crowd Reaction | ★★★★★ | The Ryogoku audience was electrified from start to finish! |
| Finish Impact | ★★★★★ | Choshu’s Lariat delivered a perfect climax to the match! |
➡ 🔥 Overall Rating: 8.5/10 (A match symbolizing generational shifts in Japanese wrestling!) 🔥
💡 Match Significance & Legacy
✅ Riki Choshu returned to an All Japan Pro Wrestling ring after 22 years, making a massive statement.
✅ Manabu Soya’s loss prompted him to reconsider his wrestling style and identity.
✅ This match symbolized the ongoing generational transition in AJPW, where traditional and modern styles clashed.
📝 Conclusion
This was more than just a tag team match—it was an ideological war between contrasting wrestling philosophies.
• Nishimura, the traditionalist, fought with classic technical wrestling but ultimately fell short.
• Soya, despite his youthful enthusiasm, was overpowered by the legendary Choshu.
• After the match, Nishimura displayed rare emotional outbursts, challenging Choshu to return to AJPW anytime.
💥 This match was just the beginning of an intense rivalry yet to unfold! 💥
