Wrestlers who challenged for All Japan Championships

Wrestlers who challenged for All Japan Championships
May 14, 2023
By Ryan Porzl

Well, after spending 2021 and 2022 looking back at champions and contenders of many wrestling promotions including WCW, ECW, ROH, Impact, New Japan, and All Japan, we've now reached the conclusion of this journey. Previously, when covering past New Japan champions, I did an article bringing up the big names who challenged for New Japan championships but were unsuccessful. Now, I shall do the same with All Japan. Like New Japan, All Japan has had it's share of prestigious champions as well as interesting names and legends who have competed for their championships. This article will look at the wrestlers who were so close to All Japan gold but yet so very far.

Note: I don't own the picture. I found them on google.

Rob Van Dam

Title(s) Challenged: World Junior Heavyweight Championship (4x) and All Asia Tag Team Championship (2x)

RVD was one of American wrestling's top stars from the late 1990s to early 2010s. Originally trained by the Original Sheik, Van Dam turned pro in 1990 and spent the first several years of his career as a journeyman as he competed for promotions such as South Atlantic Pro Wrestling, the USWA, and WCW. In 1996, he got his big break when he joined ECW where he became one of their most popular stars enjoying two reigns as World Tag Team Champion with Sabu and one legendary reign as World Television Champion where he held it for nearly two years. After ECW shut down, Van Dam has gone back and forth between the WWF/WWE and TNA/Impact Wrestling from 2001-2021 winning three world titles including the WWE, TNA, and the revived ECW World Championship among many other honors. However, before he hit it big. Before he was "Mr. Monday Night", "Mr. Pay-Per-View", and "The Whole Fn' Show", RVD competed for All Japan and was a frequent title contender. His first title match was on June 9, 1995 during All Japan's Super Power Series 1995 tour, Van Dam challenged Dan Kroffat (Phil LaFon) for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. This was Kroffat's fourth defense of his second reign. Van Dam would come up short in 17:10 following an avalanche style reverse DDT.

Only four months later, Van Dam earned a second World Junior Heavyweight Title shot when he took on Yoshinari Ogawa on October 7, 1995 during All Japan's October Giant Series 1995 tour. This was Ogawa's first defense in his first reign. Van Dam would again lose, this time in 16:23 following a backdrop hold.

After two failed attempts at the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, Van Dam tried for another championship when he formed a team with Maunakea Mossman (the future Taiyo Kea) and the two challenged Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori for the All Asia Tag Team Championship on July 7, 1996 during All Japan's Summer Action Series 1996 tour. This was Akiyama and Omori's seventh defense in their first reign. Van Dam and Mossman would lose in 20:22 when Omori pinned Mossman following a diving elbow drop.

Almost exactly one year later, Van Dam again tried for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship when he challenged Tsuyoshi Kikuchi for the championship on October 12, 1996 during All Japan's October Giant Series 1996 tour. This was Kikuchi's second defense in his first reign. Third time wouldn't be the charm as Van Dam lost in 16:20 due to a flying front cradle.

A few months later, Van Dam pursued the All Asia Tag Team Championship once again, this time, with ECW partner Sabu as they challenged Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori for the gold on January 25, 1997 on All Japan's New Year Giant Series 1997 tour. This was Akiyama and Omori's ninth defense in their first reign. In the end, they came up short in 12:26 when Omori pinned Van Dam following a diving kneedrop.

Several months after that, Van Dam tried one last time for a title when he once again challenged for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, this time, against Yoshinari Ogawa on May 21, 1997 during All Japan's Super Power Series 1997 tour. This was Ogawa's first defense in his second reign. In the end, Van Dam came up short again in 9:57 due to the backdrop hold. After his All Japan run, Van Dam would go on to have his famous ECW run which launched his name to the next level. After ECW shut down in 2001, Van Dam returned to All Japan for a tour in early 2001 before his big runs in WWF/WWE and TNA/Impact. As of 2023, Van Dam is still active.

Val Venis (Sean Morgan)

Title(s) Challenged: All Asia Tag Team Championship

A guy like Venis is not someone you expect to have appeared during the Giant Baba era of All Japan though this was before he became "The Big Valbowski". Turning pro in 1994, Venis originally got his early success in promotions such as CMLL in Mexico and WWC in Puerto Rico, capturing championships in both promotions. He eventually became mostly known for his 1998-2009 run in the WWF/WWE where he enjoyed midcard success as an Intercontinental, European, and World Tag Team Champion under the "Val Venis" name where he spent most of it with a porn star gimmick. However, right before his WWF/WWE success, Venis made two tours for All Japan in 1997 under the name "Sean Morgan" with the name being used because his real last name of "Morley" being hard to pronounce in Japanese due to phonetic differences between the letters "L" and "R". During his second tour of All Japan, Venis would earn his only title shot in the promotion after forming a team with Rex King (former WWF wrestler Timothy Well) and they challenged Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori for the All Asia Tag Team Championships on October 1, 1997 during All Japan's October Giant Series 1997 tour. This was Akiyama and Omori's twelfth title defense in their first reign. Venis and King would come up short in 23:39 after Venis was pinned by Omori following an exploder. After the title match, Venis finished the tour before leaving All Japan. He eventually had his WWF/WWE run after that from 1998-2009 as well as a cup of coffee run with New Japan in 2009 and in Impact in 2010 before finishing his career in the indies and retiring in 2019.

2 Cold Scorpio (Scorpio)

Title(s) Challenged: World Junior Heavyweight Championship

Scorpio in Japan is nothing surprising as he's worked the top three but his All Japan run may be his least memorable. Turning pro in 1985, Scorpio spent the first several years as a journeyman before doing time in New Japan as well as working Europe in Mexico. By 1992, he began making a name for himself in the United States and from 1992-1999, worked in the big three including the WWF under his Scorpio name as well as "Flash Funk", in WCW where he held the tag team championship with Marcus Alexander Bagwell, and in ECW which was his biggest run as he held the World Television Title a record four times and the World Tag Team Championship with the Sandman. After his WWF release in 1999, Scorpio made his way back to Japan, this time for All Japan and it didn't take long for him to get a title shot. On August 30, 1999, Scorpio challenged Yoshinari Ogawa for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. This was Ogawa's third defense in his third reign. Scorpio would come up short in 18:31 via a figure four jackknife hold. After the match, Scorpio continued working for All Japan until the summer of 2000 before becoming one of the few foreigners to follow Misawa to NOAH. Scorpio would enjoy success in NOAH from 2000-2005 and had a cup of coffee return to the WWE from 2006-2007. In recent years, Scorpio has been a journeyman working the indies and is still competing as of writing.

Davey Boy Smith

Title(s) Challenged: World Tag Team Championship & All Asia Tag Team Championship (2x)

Smith is, of course, best known for his on and off sixteen year run in the WWF from 1984-2000 where he built himself as perhaps their greatest bridesmaid but never the bride. Prior to his solo run as the British Bulldog, Smith built a career in Stampede Wrestling in Calgary as well as New Japan and All Japan in the Orient. During this time, Smith not only enjoyed singles success but tag team success as well, most notably, as part of the legendary British Bulldogs tag team. After Smith's first WWF run ended in 1988, he returned to Stampede and All Japan. While he would win gold in Stampede, it wouldn't be the same case in All Japan though not for a lack of trying. On May 24, 1989, during All Japan's Super Power Series 1989 tour, Smith teamed with the Dynamite Kid to challenge Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu for the World Tag Team Championship. This was the sixth defense during Tsuruta and Yatsu's fourth reign. In the end, Smith and Dynamite would lose in 16:47 after Smith was pinned by Tsuruta.

Almost exactly a year later, on May 17, 1990, during All Japan's Super Power Series 1990 tour, Smith would get another shot when he teamed with storyline brother Johnny Smith to challenge Tiger Mask II (Mitsuharu Misawa) and Kenta Kobashi for the All Asia Tag Team Championships. It was the first defense of TM/Misawa and Kobashi's first reign. The Smiths would come up short in 17:22 when Misawa beat one of the Smiths. 

Shortly following this, Misawa (who had since unmasked) and Kobashi vacated the belts with Misawa focusing on his singles career. With the titles vacant, the Smiths got another shot at the titles, this time, against Akira Taue and Shinichi Nakano on June 5, 1990 during the same tour. Once again, they lost in 17:49 when Nakano pinned one of the Smiths. Following the last title shot, Smith finished the tour and returned to the WWF. He made one final return to All Japan in 1993 to take part in the 1993 Champion's Carnival.

Mike Rotunda (Mike Rotundo)

Title(s) Challenged: World Tag Team Championship

Mike Rotunda is one of wrestling's more underrated legend with a colorful career. Trained by "the Destroyer" Dick Beyer and turning pro in 1981, Rotunda would mostly make a name for himself in Championship Wrestling from Florida during the early 80s winning many championships while also venturing into Jim Crockett Promotions for the first time and won the NWA Television Championship for the first time. From 1985-2000, Rotunda then had several on and off runs in the WWF and NWA/WCW achieving good success in both as he became a five time WWF World Tag Team Champion as himself and as evil taxman Irwin R. Shyster as well as winning the NWA World Television Championship two more times and the NWA World Tag Team Championship. He would also make trips to All Japan and New Japan during this time. He would also be a member of several memorable stables including the Million Dollar Corporation, nWo, nWo Japan, and Team 2000. After his last WCW run ended in 2000, Rotunda then jumped to All Japan shortly after the Pro Wrestling NOAH exodus and reunited with old Varsity Club teammate "Dr. Death" Steve Williams with the two winning the 2000 Real World Tag League. In 2001, they began to pursue the World Tag Team Championship. On February 24, 2001, during All Japan's Excite Series 2001 Tour, Rotunda and Williams challenged Taiyo Kea and Johnny Smith for the World Tag Team Championship. This was Kea and Smith's first defense of their first reign. In the end, Rotunda and Williams would fall to the champions in 20:22 when Smith pinned Rotunda falling a British Fall. After the match, Rotunda continued working for All Japan for another two years before leaving in January 2003. He eventually jumped to IWA Japan where he finished his career in 2004 though he has made occasional one off appearances. From 2006-2020, he then worked as a road agent/producer for WWE and his sons Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas have since followed him into the business.

The Wall (Gigantes)

Title(s) Challenged: World Tag Team Championship & All Asia Tag Team Championship

The Wall is someone you probably wouldn't expect to compete in All Japan but before he would make his mark in the land of the rising sun before his untimely passing. Wall originally turned pro in 1994 and mostly became known for his 1999-2001 run in WCW as the Wall and Sgt. A-WALL where he had decent success as a title contender for the Hardcore Championship and even got a match with Hulk Hogan. After WCW shutdown and he requested his release from a WWF developmental deal due to personal issues, he began to reinvent himself. He first went to NWA-TNA (Impact) as Malice where he became a member of "Father" James Mitchell's Disciples of the New Church and was a contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. After leaving NWA-TNA, Wall began competing for All Japan throughout 2003 as "Gigantes" and he quickly became a title contender. On February 16, 2003, during All Japan's Excite Series 2003 tour, Wall teamed with Big John Tenta (Earthquake) to challenge Arashi and Nobutaka Araya for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. This was Arashi and Araya's third defense in their first reign. Wall and Tenta would lose in 14:09 after Wall was disqualified.

Several months later, Wall would receive another title shot when he teamed with TAKA Michinoku to challenge Keiji Mutoh and Arashi for the World Tag Team Championship on September 6, 2003 during All Japan's Summer Action Series II 2003 tour. This was Mutoh and Arashi's first defense in their first reign. Once again, Wall would lose when he and Michinoku lost in 18:24 after Arashi pinned Michinoku with shining impact. After the title matches, Wall continued competing for All Japan before he shockingly passed away in Japan on December 6, 2003 at the age of 36.

Manabu Nakanishi

Title(s) Challenged: World Tag Team Championship & All Asia Tag Team Championship

Nakanishi is one of the first of what we will see in this article which is guys mostly known for New Japan making challenges for All Japan belts in the 21st Century. A former Olympian, Nakanishi trained in the New Japan Dojo and turned pro in 1992. After spending years paying his dues, he started climbing the ladder and by the late 90s looked like a future star for New Japan. However, he never reached the heights some thought due to a lack of charisma and Antonio Inoki's Inokism philosophy invading the promotion. Despite remaining loyal to New Japan during his career, he did make trips outside the promotion and All Japan would be a stop as well as a place where he became a title contender. On June 8, 2001, during All Japan's Super Power in Budokan show, Nakanishi teamed with fellow New Japan wrestler Yutaka Yoshie to challenge Taiyo Kea and Johnny Smith for the World Tag Team Championship. This was Kea and Smith's third defense in their first reign. Nakanishi and Yoshie came up short in 18:14 when Kea pinned Yoshie with the Hawaiian smasher.

Nearly 20 years later, Nakanishi would challenge for another championship when he reformed his Wild Child team with Takao Omori as they took on Jun Akiyama and Yuji Nagata for the All Asia Tag Team Championship on March 25, 2018 during All Japan's Dream Power Series 2018 tour. This was Nagata and Akiyama's first defense in their first reign. Nakanishi and Omori came up short in 15:46 after Omori was pinned by Akiyama following a wrist clutch exploder. After this, Nakanishi returned to New Japan and made one last appearance in All Japan in February 2020 before his retirement that same year.

Tatsumi Fujinami

Title(s) Challenged: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship & World Tag Team Championship

Fujinami is one of those guys who's so known for New Japan Pro Wrestling, it's hard to believe he ever challenged for an All Japan title even if the matches were in New Japan rings. Turning pro in Rikidozan's old JWA in 1971, he followed Inoki out when Inoki formed New Japan Pro Wrestling where he spent the first 34 years of his career. After originally finding success as a tag team wrestler with Kengo Kimura and a highly successful junior heavyweight, he later became Inoki's successor as New Japan's ace during the late 1980s to early 1990s. During the later years of his New Japan run, the promotion had a working relationship with All Japan and through here, he challenged for All Japan belts. On October 28, 2001, at New Japan's Fighting Destination in Fukuoka, Fujinami teamed with protege Osamu Nishimura to challenge Keiji Mutoh and Taiyo Kea for the World Tag Team Championship in a title vs. title match (Fujinami and Nishimura were the IWGP Tag Team Champions). This was Mutoh and Kea's first defense in their first reign. In the end, Fujinami and Nishimura came up short in 23:47 when Mutoh pinned Nishimura with the shining wizard.

Shortly after this, Fujinami got one more title shot when he challenged Mutoh for the Triple Crown on December 11, 2001 during New Japan's G1 Tag League 2001 tour. This was Mutoh's fourth defense during his first reign. In the end, Fujinami lost in 15:32 when Mutoh pinned him following a shining wizard. After the loss, Fujinami continued working for New Japan until leaving in 2006. He wouldn't make his official All Japan debut until 2013 and has made a total of three appearances as of writing.

Curt Hennig

Title(s) Challenged: PWF Heavyweight Championship

Curt Hennig is one of those guys that I must ask what can I add that hasn't been mentioned. Hennig was a second generation wrestler as the son of Larry "The Ax" Hennig and turned pro in 1979. After spending time as a journeyman in the early 1980s, he eventually made a name for himself in the AWA as a world champion and world tag team champion before having a big run in the WWF as Mr. Perfect and in WCW under his real name capturing more accolades. Throughout the 1980s, Hennig made several trips to All Japan and to no surprise, this led to a title match. On January 17, 1987, during All Japan's New Year Giant Series 1987 tour, Hennig challenged Riki Choshu for the PWF Heavyweight Championship. This was Choshu's seventh defense in his first reign. Hennig would lose in 8:18 when Choshu won with the lariat. After the loss, Hennig continued making appearances for All Japan until January 1988 before having his big WWF and WCW runs. He eventually made a return in 1990 for the WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit event and then for All Japan's January 2001 Tokyo Dome show.

Nick Bockwinkel

Title(s) Challenged: NWA International Heavyweight Championship (3x) & NWA International Tag Team Championship 

We go from one AWA second generation legend to another. The son of wrestler Warren Bockwinkel, Bockwinkel first started in the 1950s where he spent the first two decades enjoying success in various NWA territories. His peak would come during his last seventeen years of his career when he jumped to the AWA in 1970 enjoying huge success with multiple AWA World Heavyweight and AWA World Tag Team Championship runs. By the late 1970s, Bockwinkel began making appearances for All Japan and to no surprise, began getting championship shots. Bockwinkel's first shot was on February 3, 1982 during All Japan's New Year Giant Series 1982 tour when he teamed with Nikolai Volkoff to challenge Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta for the NWA International Tag Team Championship. This was the twelfth defense for Baba and Tsuruta's fourth reign. In the end, Bockwinkel and Volkoff fell in a two out of three falls first when Tsuruta pinned Volkoff with a cradle in 11:02 and then Tsuruta eventually pinned Volkoff with another cradle in 20:59.

A few years later, Bockwinkel got another title shot when he challenged Jumbo Tsuruta for the NWA International Championship on February 23, 1984 in All Japan's Excite Series 1984 tour in a title vs. title match as Bockwinkel was the defending AWA World Champion. This was Tsuruta's third defense of his first reign. Bockwinkel would lose in 32:00 due to a backdrop suplex which also meant he lost the AWA World Title.

Three days later, Bockwinkel got a rematch against Tsuruta for both the NWA International Championship and the AWA World Championship on February 26, 1984 during the Excite Series 1984 tour. This was Tsuruta's fourth defense of his first reign. Unfortunately for Bockwinkel, he again came up short when he and Tsuruta went to a double count out in 28:09.

Three years later, Bockwinkel got one final chance at the NWA International Championship, once again, going against Tsuruta on September 12, 1987 during All Japan's Summer Action Series II 1987 tour. This was Tsuruta's third defense in his second reign. Bockwinkel would again come up short in 9:47 when Tsuruta pinning him with a flying body attack. After the last title match, Bockwinkel finished the All Japan tour before retiring from full time competition. He spent the next decade appearing for WWF, WCW, and AWA in non wrestling roles while occasionally stepping into the ring from time to time until retiring in 1993.

One Man Gang

Title(s) Challenged: NWA International Tag Team Championship

The Gang could go down as one of wrestling's most underrated big men. Turning pro in 1977, Gang became a successful journeyman during the 1980s appearing and enjoying success in promotions such as Mid-South Wrestling/Universal Wrestling Federation, World Class, Jim Crockett Promotions, and Championship Wrestling from Florida where he had big rivalries and title wins. He became mostly known for his 1987-1990 run in the WWF as One Man Gang and Akeem, The African Dream teaming with The Big Boss Man and having a big feud with The Megapowers. During his travels, Gang made trips to All Japan where he toured several times between 1983-1986 and it be there where he challenged for gold. On November 3, 1983, during All Japan's Giant Series 1983 tour, Gang teamed with Stan Hansen to challenge Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta for the NWA International Tag Team Championship. This was Baba and Tsuruta's first defense during their sixth reign. Gang and Hansen would lose when Tsuruta pinned Gang after Hansen accidentally hit Gang with the lariat at 11:42. After the match, Gang continued popping up in All Japan till 1986, after which he had his big UWF and WWF runs. 

Scott Hall

Title(s) Challenged: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship

Hall is another legend on this list that most people know of his story. Turning pro in 1984, Hall served as a journeyman during his first eight year competing for New Japan, World Wrestling Council, Catch Wrestling Association, AWA, and NWA/WCW achieving decent success. His career eventually exploded first with his four year run in the WWF as Razor Ramon and later as himself in WCW where he was a big part of their success as a co-founder of the nWo. After his WCW firing due to personal issues, he eventually returned to New Japan in 2001 and experienced a small career revival while also making history along the way. On September 23, 2001, during New Japan's G-1 World 2001 tour, Hall challenged Keiji Mutoh for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in what would be the first time the Triple Crown was defended in a New Japan ring. This was Mutoh's second defense during his first reign. Hall would come up short in 15:14 when Mutoh pinned him following the shining wizard. After this match, Hall would leave New Japan for a return to the WWF in 2002 which didn't last long. After his WWF/WWE release, he finished his career as a journeyman before retiring in 2010.

The Great Sasuke

Title(s) Challenged: World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2x)

When you think of all time great junior heavyweights, especially those from the 90s, it's impossible not to include The Great Sasuke. Turning pro in 1990, Sasuke worked in promotions like Universal Pro Wrestling before forming Michinoku Pro Wrestling (North Eastern Wrestling in Japan) in 1993 where he served as a top star. He mostly achieved fame working in other promotions, especially in the 1990s, including New Japan where he held both the IWGP Junior Heavyweight and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships as well as become the inaugural J Crown champion. He also made appearances for the WWF and ECW in America during the late 90s. By the early 2000s, Sasuke then became a challenger for All Japan championships. On September 6, 2003, during All Japan's Summer Action Series II 2003 tour, Sasuke challenged Kendo Kashin for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. This was Kashin's seventh defense during his first reign. Sasuke would come up short in 15:05 when he submitted to Kashin's cross armbreaker.

A year and a half later, Sasuke would get another shot at the World Junior Championship, this time, against former trainee TAKA Michinoku on Feburary 19, 2005 during KAIENTAI Dojo Club-K in Shiwa with Michinoku also defending K-Dojo's STRONGEST-K Championship while Sasuke defended MPW's Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship. This was Michinoku's second defense during his first reign. Sasuke would again come up short when the match first went to a double count out in 17:39 before the match was restarted and Michinoku retained at 8:26. Since the loss, Sasuke has continued his career

Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Title(s) Challenged: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (2x) & World Tag Team Championship

We return to another New Japan guy venturing to All Japan or at least challenging for All Japan gold. Tenzan is best known for his thirty plus year run in New Japan since he turned pro in 1991. Though he has enjoyed success as a four time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, three time G1 Climax winner, and a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, he became mostly successful as a tag team wrestler forming legendary teams with Masahiro Chono and Satoshi Kojima as well as winning over twelve IWGP Tag Team Championships, the NWA World Tag Team Championship, and multiple tag tournaments. Like many New Japan talents in the 2000s, Tenzan would attempt to win a championship from them as well. On December 5, 2004, during All Japan's The Unchained World, Tenzan challenged Toshiaki Kawada for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. This was Kawada's ninth defense in his fifth reign. Tenzan would come up short in 32:21 when Kawada pinned him following a soccer kick.

Two months later, Tenzan would get another shot at the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in an interesting scenario as he would challenge his former partner and the recently crowned champion Satoshi Kojima in a title vs. title match as Tenzan was in his third reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion. The match took place on February 20, 2005 during New Japan's New Year Gold Series 2005 tour. This was Kojima's first defense in his first reign. Tenzan, again, would lose when he was knocked out in 59:49.

Three and a half years later, Tenzan would reunite with Kojima and pursue another championship. On October 11, 2008, during All Japan's Anniversary Tour 2008 tour, they challenged Minoru Suzuki and Taiyo Kea for the World Tag Team Championship. This was Suzuki and Kea's second defense in their first reign. Tenzan and Kojima would fall in 32:17 when Kea pinned Kojima with the TKO34th. After this, Tenzan and Kojima won the Real World Tag League in 2008 before Tenzan returned to New Japan where he competes to this day. He made a return to All Japan this year. 

The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton)

Title(s) Challenged: All Asia Tag Team Championship (5x) & World Junior Heavyweight Championship (Rogers)

The Fantastics were among the many "pretty boy" tag teams that were common in the 1980s. Consisting of wrestlers Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton, the team formed in 1984 and spent most of the 80s and early 90s enjoying success in various southern wrestling promotions such as Mid-South Wrestling/Universal Wrestling Federation, World Class, Continental Wrestling Association, and the NWA winning titles in each. By the late 80s, the team began touring for All Japan and were frequent title contenders for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. On January 3, 1990, during All Japan's New Year Giant Series 1990 tour, The Fantastics challenged Toshiaki Kawada and Samson Fuyuki for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. This was Kawada and Fuyuki's first defense in their third reign. The Fantastics came up short in 16:04 when Fuyuki pinned Rogers with a german suplex hold.

A few months later, after the All Asia Tag Team Championships were vacated, All Japan put together an All Asia Tag Team League with the winners becoming the new champions. On September 7, 1990, during All Japan's Summer Action Series II 1990 tour, they faced Johnny Ace and Kenta Kobashi for the vacant titles. In the end, they lost again in 15:24 when Kobashi pinned Rogers with a moonsault.

One year later, the team got another crack at the titles when they challenged Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat on July 6, 1991, during All Japan's Summer Action Series 1991 tour. This was Furnas and Kroffat's second defense in their third reign. The Fantastics came up short again when Furnas pinned Rogers with a frankensteiner.

A year later, Roger would go for singles gold when he challenged Masanobu Fuchi for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship on May 30, 1992 during All Japan's Super Power Series 1992 tour. This was Fuchi's twelfth defense in his third reign. Rogers would fall to Fuchi in 13:44 when Fuchi defeated him with a modified reverse achilles hold.

In early 1995, the All Asia Tag Team Championships were vacated again and once again, a tournament or league was created with the winners becoming the new champions. Once again, The Fantastics made it to the finals where they faced Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori on January 29, 1995 during All Japan's New Year Giant Series 1995 tour. Once again, The Fantastics lost when Akiyama pinned Fulton with the exploder in 7:40. 

Eight months later, The Fantastics got one final title shot when they challenged Akiyama and Omori for the All Asia Tag Team Championship on September 2, 1995 on Summer Action Series II 1995 tour. This was Akiyama and Omori's third defense in their first reign. The Fantastics came up short again when Omori pinned Fulton with a german suplex hold in 23:33. After this, The Fantastics finished with All Japan and largely began slowing down as a team while working indies and Rogers did some time in ECW. 

Mick Foley

Title(s) Challenged: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship

Foley is another one of those guys that it's probably hard to believe he challenged for All Japan gold but he did. Ironically, despite having toured there early in his career, the title match took place outside the company. Trained by legend Dominic DeNucci in 1983, he eventually earned a cult following in the United States and Japan as a pioneer in hardcore/deathmatch wrestling while eventually having big runs in promotions such as the WWF, WCW, ECW, and IWA: Japan. After initially retiring in 2000, Foley returned to the ring at Wrestlemania XX in 2004 and it wouldn't be long before he started taking other matches, including an interesting one. On May 8, 2004, during HUSTLE's HUSTLE-3, Foley challenged Toshiaki Kawada for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. This was Kawada's fourth defense in his fifth reign. Foley would end up losing when Kawada hit him with a soccer kick at 12:56. The HUSTLE appearance proved to be Foley's last match in Japan as he went back to work for WWE as well as a run in TNA and the indies before retiring for good in 2012.

Samoa Joe (King Joe)

Title(s) Challenged: All Asia Tag Team Championship

Anybody that's been following professional wrestling for at least twenty years knows about the Samoan Submission Machine. Turning pro in 1999, Joe would work in ZERO-ONE as "King Joe" early in his career before making his name in America first for Ring of Honor where he enjoyed a legendary 21 month reign as ROH World Champion and then for TNA as a "TNA Original" where he captured the grand slam. He later enjoyed success in NXT winning their championship three times and the WWE winning the United States Championship two times. As of writing, he's enjoyed success in AEW and a return to ROH winning gold in both. As mentioned, early on in his career, Joe worked in Japan for ZERO-ONE and it would result in another legend challenging for All Japan gold without ever stepping foot in their ring. On August 31, 2003, during ZERO-ONE's Summer Festival 2003 tour, Joe teamed with King Adamo to challenge Kohei Sato and Hirotaka Yokoi for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. This was Sato and Yokoi's second defense in their first reign. Joe and Adamo would lose in 11:56 after Sato pinned Joe with a german suplex hold. The match proved to be Joe's last for ZERO-ONE as he then began focusing on America and his legend would grow from there.

Rosey (RO'Z)

Title(s) Challenged: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship & World Tag Team Championship

Matt "Rosey" Anoa'i is a sad case in wrestling he was a man who had a good career but could've went farther had he gotten in better shape. Worst of all, despite having a good career, he'll also be in the shadow of more famous family members as his father is WWE Hall of Famer Sika while his brother is Roman Reigns which means he'll likely be forever remembered as "Roman Reigns' brother" or something. Trained by his uncle Afa, he turned pro in 1994 where he spent his career as a successful journeyman in Afa's WXW promotion as well as appearances in ECW, FMW, and WWC where he held gold in the latter two promotions. Like most of his family, he became mostly known as a tag team wrestler. His most notable teams were with Jamal (Umaga) as the Island Boyz/Three Minute Warning and The Hurricane where he held the WWE World Tag Team Championship as well as several developmental titles as well. After leaving WWE in 2006, he made his way to All Japan where he changed the spelling of his name and began going by "RO'Z". Despite a short nine month run, he made a name for himself with various big wins as well as a tournament participant and as a title challenger. On October 29, 2006, during All Japan's Shining Series 2006 tour, Rosey challenged Minoru Suzuki for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. This was Suzuki's first defense during his first reign. Rosey would lose in 23:32 after being put out with a sleeper and pinned.

A few months later, Rosey would get another title shot when he teamed with Suwama to take on Taiyo Kea and Toshiaki Kawada for the vacant World Tag Team Championship on February 17, 2007 at Pro Wrestling LOVE in Ryogoku Vol. 2. Rosey and Suwama would fall to Kea and Kawada in 22:31 when Kea pinned Rosey with a cradle. After the second title match, Rosey worked the Champion Carnival before leaving All Japan in March 2007 and pretty much went into semiretired afterwards.

Masahiro Chono

Title(s) Challenged: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship

Chono is the last on this list of New Japan legends challenging for All Japan gold. Trained in the New Japan dojo in 1984, Chono became known as one of the promotion's Three Musketeers alongside Keiji Mutoh and Shinya Hashimoto who dominated New Japan during the 1990s. Most American fans may remember him for his 90s WCW run as the defending NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a New Japan representative, and a member of the nWo while he led the Japanese branch. Though he only won a handful of world titles in his career, Chono mostly made a name and legend for himself in New Japan's yearly G1 Climax tournament, winning it a record five times between 1991-2005. Unlike his other Musketeers, Chono never held the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, though not for a lack of trying. On October 27, 2001, during All Japan's 29th Anniversary show, Chono challenged Keiji Mutoh for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. This was Mutoh's third defense during his first reign. Chono would come up short in 22:52 after being pinned with a frankensteiner. After the loss, Chono returned to New Japan while making here and there appearances in All Japan over the years. After leaving New Japan in 2010, he eventually found his way to All Japan as a wrestler and advisor from 2013-2014.

Barry Windham

Title(s) Challenged: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship

A talent like Barry Windham seemed like a perfect fit for 1980s/1990s All Japan. The son of Blackjack Mulligan, Windham turned pro in 1980 and immediately would find success in Championship Wrestling from Florida winning many championships before making it to the national promotions such as the WWF and NWA where he formed successful teams with Mike Rotunda in the US Express and with Lex Luger while also serving as a member of the Four Horsemen during their critically acclaimed 1988 line up while also challenging for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In 1983 and 1986, Windham would make his first All Japan appearances including teaming with Ron Fuller in the 1983 Real World Tag League tournament but it wouldn't be until leaving the WWF the second time in 1990 that he returned to All Japan and would challenge for a championship. On March 6, 1990, during All Japan's Excite Series 1990 tour. This was Tsuruta's first defense during his second reign. Windham would come up short in 12:39 after Tsuruta hit a backdrop hold. After the match, Windham left All Japan again but made returns in later years, first for the 1997 Real World Tag League as a WWF representative teaming with Blackjack Bradshaw (JBL) in the New Blackjacks and then in 2000 with brother Kendall in the 2000 Real World Tag League. He also later appeared for All Japan's January 2001 Tokyo Dome show.