Champion's Carnival

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The Champion's Carnival is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by All Japan Pro Wrestling, established in 1973. Originally a single-elimination tournament, the Champion's Carnival is currently held as a round-robin, with a victory worth 2 points, a time limit draw worth 1 and a loss, double countout or double disqualification worth 0. All matches have a 30-minute time limit. Since 1991, the winner of the tournament, assuming they do not already hold it, receives a shot at the AJPW Triple Crown Championship.

The tournament was not held beginning in 1983 as AJPW was faltering behind New Japan Pro Wrestling, which emphasized junior heavyweight wrestling and its star Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama as a strong draw alongside Antonio Inoki's own quasi-martial arts heavyweight battles. After Genichiro Tenryu left All Japan in 1990, however, the tournament was brought back as a means of providing stronger challenges to the top star remaining, Jumbo Tsuruta. The tour from March to April, however, maintained the "Champion's Carnival" name even without a tournament.

Contents

[edit] Results

[edit] List of winners

[edit] 1973

The inaugural Champion's Carnival in 1973 was a 15-man single-elimination tournament, held from March 17 to April 21. Giant Baba, as a result of his position as PWF Heavyweight Champion, was given a bye to the quarterfinals.


  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Curtis Iaukea Pin  
 Thunder Sugiyama 11:40  
   Curtis Iaukea Pin  
     Moose Morowski 12:27  
 Moose Morowski Pin
 Motoshi Okuma 12:17  
   Curtis Iaukea Pin  
   Giant Baba 11:49  
 Calypso Hurricane Pin  
 Mammoth Suzuki 13:41  
   Calypso Hurricane Pin
     Giant Baba 18:45  
 
   
   Giant Baba Pin1
   Mark Lewin 19:20
 Mashio Koma Sub  
 Mark Lewin 17:31  
   Mark Lewin Pin
     Hiro Matsuda 21:55  
 Hiro Matsuda Sub
 Antonio Pugliese 16:07  
   Mark Lewin Pin
   The Destroyer 20:44  
 The Destroyer Sub  
 Mad Russian 20:48  
   The Destroyer Sub
     Baron Scicluna 19:22  
 Samson Kutsuwada Pin
 Baron Scicluna 14:49  

1This was a two out of three falls match, which Baba won 2-1, with all three falls being decided via pinfall.

[edit] 1974

The 1974 Champion's Carnival, held from April 13 to May 14, was another 15-man single-elimination tournament, with the PWF Heavyweight Champion, Giant Baba, being granted another bye to the quarterfinals.


  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Joe Soto Pin  
 Jumbo Tsuruta 10:28  
   Jumbo Tsuruta  
     BYE  
 Abdullah the Butcher NC
 The Destroyer 4:10  
   Jumbo Tsuruta Ref  
   Mr. Wrestling 28:32  
 Mammoth Suzuki Pin  
 Mr. Wrestling 14:50  
   Mr. Wrestling Pin
     Thunder Sugiyama 14:17  
 Thunder Sugiyama Pin
 Sailor White 12:04  
   Mr. Wrestling Pin1
   Giant Baba 14:20
 Curtis Iaukea Pin  
 Mashio Koma 5:08  
   Curtis Iaukea Pin
     Giant Baba 4:48  
 
   
   Giant Baba Pin
   Mark Lewin 17:28  
 Mark Lewin Pin  
 Akihisa Takachiho 14:50  
   Mark Lewin Pin
     Samson Kutsuwada 16:24  
 Rufus R. Jones Pin
 Samson Kutsuwada 14:15  

1This was a two out of three falls match, which Baba won 2-1, with all three falls being decided via pinfall.

[edit] 1975

The 1975 Champion's Carnival, held from April 5 to May 3, strayed slightly from the previous formula; it featured the usual single-elimination tournament, but one in which the four finalists would advance to a round-robin, the two top scorers of which would face off in the finals to decide the champion. Mr. Wrestling & Samson Kutsuwada received byes to the second round. Points awarded for the round-robin portion were 1 for a win, and 0 for a loss or draw.

[edit] Single-elimination brackets

  First round Second round League1 Finals
                                     
 Giant Baba CO  
 Mark Lewin 13:33  
   Giant Baba Pin  
     Killer Kowalski 26:39  
 The Great Kojika Pin
 Killer Kowalski 13:42  
   Giant Baba  
   Mr. Wrestling  
   
   
   Samson Kutsuwada Pin
     Mr. Wrestling 8:49  
 
   
   Giant Baba Pin2
   Gene Kiniski 18:39
 The Destroyer Sub  
 Steve Keirn 11:18  
   The Destroyer Pin
     Akihisa Takachiho 15:28  
 Mike George Pin
 Akihisa Takachiho 9:52  
   The Destroyer
   Gene Kiniski  
 Bob Orton, Jr. Pin  
 Jumbo Tsuruta 13:01  
   Jumbo Tsuruta Pin
     Gene Kiniski 21:25  
 Gene Kiniski Pin
 Motoshi Okuma 8:45  

1For detailed results, see below.
2This was a two out of three falls match, which Baba won 2-1, with all three falls being decided via pinfall.

[edit] Round-robin results

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Giant Baba 3
Gene Kiniski 2
The Destroyer 1
Mr. Wrestling 0
Results Giant Baba The Destroyer Gene Kiniski Mr. Wrestling
Giant Baba X Baba Baba Baba
The Destroyer Baba X Kiniski Destroyer
Gene Kiniski Baba Kiniski X Kiniski
Mr. Wrestling Baba Destroyer Kiniski X

[edit] 1976

The 1976 Champion's Carnival, held from April 2 to May 8, was a 14-man round-robin tournament, in which the two top scorers would advance to the final match to decide the champion. It introduced the modern round-robin points system, featuring two points for a victory, one for draws, and zero for a loss.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Abdullah the Butcher 18
Giant Baba 18
Mario Milano 17
Jumbo Tsuruta 17
Kintaro Oki 17
The Destroyer 16
Curtis Iaukea 16
The Beast 9
Samson Kutsuwada 9
The Great Kojika 7
Buddy Wolf 6
Motoshi Okuma 6
Larry Lane 4
Larry Sharpe 0
Final
Abdullah the Butcher d. Giant Baba (9:53)

[edit] 1977

The 1977 Champion's Carnival, held from April 8 to May 16, was identical in format to the previous year, but with 15 entrants instead of 14. As a result of a tie for second place, there was also a semifinal playoff between Giant Baba and Abdullah the Butcher.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Jumbo Tsuruta 21
Giant Baba 20
Abdullah the Butcher 20
Kintaro Ohki 18
The Destroyer 17
Super Destroyer 16
Bull Ramos 16
Akihisi Takachiho 12
Samson Kutsuwada 11
The Great Kojika 10
Motosi Okuma 9
J.J. Dillon 6
Bill White 4
Jose Gonzales 2
Red Wolf 0
  Semifinal     Final
                 
    1  Jumbo Tsuruta Pin
  3  Abdullah the Butcher DQ     2  Giant Baba 10:39
  2  Giant Baba 9:15  

[edit] 1978

The 1978 Champion's Carnival was another round-robin tournament featuring 15 entrants, held from March 4 to April 7.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Abdullah the Butcher 25
Giant Baba 24
Jumbo Tsuruta 22
Kintaro Ohki 20
Kim Duk 17
The Destroyer 16
Don Leo Jonathan 16
Curtis Iaukea 16
Black Terror 12
Ted DiBiase 10
Motoshi Okuma 4
The Great Kojika 4
Rocky Hata 4
Luke Graham 2
Frank Morell 0
Final
Giant Baba d. Abdullah the Butcher (11:59)

[edit] 1979

The 1979 Champion's Carnival was a 16-man league, held from March 3 to April 6.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Abdullah the Butcher 24
Jumbo Tsuruta 24
Giant Baba 23
The Destroyer 22
Dick Slater 21
Kintaro Ohki 18
Dos Caras 18
Tor Kamata 16
Mario Milano 10
Takashi Ishikawa 8
Rocky Hata 6
The Great Kojika 6
Motoshi Okuma 6
Billy Francis 4
Don Milano 2
Big Red 0
Final
Abdullah the Butcher d. Jumbo Tsuruta (2:11)

[edit] 1980

The 1980 Champion's Carnival was a 13-man tournament, held from March 28 to May 1.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Dick Slater 19
Jumbo Tsuruta 19
Abdullah the Butcher 18
Terry Funk 18
Giant Baba 17
Tiger Toguchi 15
Ted DiBiase 12
Rey Candy 8
The Mysterious Assassin 6
Rocky Hata 4
The Great Kojika 4
Motoshi Okuma 2
Carl Fergie 0
Final
Jumbo Tsuruta d. Dick Slater (23:45)

[edit] 1981

The 1981 Champion's Carnival was a 14-man tournament held from March 27 to April 23. There was an additional semifinal playoff between Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta as the result of a second place tie.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Bruiser Brody 20
Giant Baba 19
Jumbo Tsuruta 19
Abdullah the Butcher 18
Jack Brisco 18
Tiger Toguchi 17
Tim Brooks 12
The Avenger 10
Takashi Ishikawa 8
Prince Tonga 6
Rocky Hata 6
The Great Kojika 6
Motoshi Okuma 4
Wayne Ferris 3
  Semifinal     Final
                 
    1  Bruiser Brody Pin
  2  Giant Baba     2  Giant Baba
  3  Jumbo Tsuruta  

[edit] 1982

The 1982 Champion's Carnival was an 18-man tournament, which, unlike previous years, featured no final; the man with the most points at the end of the league would be the winner. It was held from March 19 to April 16.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Giant Baba 29
Bruiser Brody 28
Jumbo Tsuruta 28
Genichiro Tenryu 26
Billy Robinson 25
Mongolian Stomper 20
Alexis Smirnoff 18
Buck Robley 16
Mighty Inoue 11
Rocky Hata 10
Prince Tonga 10
Motoshi Okuma 10
Akio Sato 10
Takashi Ishikawa 9
The Great Kojika 8
Bill Howard 2
Ashura Hara 0

[edit] 1991

The 1991 Champion's Carnival introduced the modern "dual-block" system, with seven wrestlers in two separate leagues, and the winners of each facing off in the final. It was held from March 23 to April 16. With his victory, Jumbo Tsuruta became the first man to not lose a single match in a round-robin style Champion's Carnival.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Stan Hansen 12 Jumbo Tsuruta 12
Mitsuharu Misawa 10 Dan Spivey 10
Dynamite Kid 8 Toshiaki Kawada 8
Kenta Kobashi 6 Akira Taue 6
Doug Furnas 4 Dan Kroffat 4
Texas Terminator 2 Johnny Smith 2
Johnny Ace 0 Cactus Jack 0
Final
Jumbo Tsuruta (B) d. Stan Hansen (A) (12:53)

[edit] 1992

The 1992 Champion's Carnival was another two-block round-robin tournament, this time with 10 wrestlers in each block. It was held from March 20 to April 17. Stan Hansen repeated Jumbo Tsuruta's feat the previous year, winning every match he participated in.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Mitsuharu Misawa 17 Stan Hansen 18
Jumbo Tsuruta 16 Steve Williams 15
Terry Gordy 15 Toshiaki Kawada 12
Johnny Ace 14 Dan Spivey 12
Masanobu Fuchi 10 Kenta Kobashi 11
Doug Furnas 8 Akira Taue 8
Giant Kamala 6 Dan Kroffat 8
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi 4 Yoshinari Ogawa 4
Master Blaster 2 David Isley 2
Joel Deaton 0 Billy Black 0
Final
Stan Hansen (B) d. Mitsuharu Misawa (A) (20:06)

[edit] 1993

The 1993 Champion's Carnival returned to the single-block round-robin format, this time with 13 men. It was held from March 25 to April 21.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Stan Hansen 20
Mitsuharu Misawa 20
Terry Gordy 19
Steve Williams 19
Toshiaki Kawada 18
Akira Taue 17
Kenta Kobashi 12
Davey Boy Smith 8
Johnny Ace 8
The Patriot 7
Dan Kroffat 4
Doug Furnas 4
Jun Akiyama 0
Final
Stan Hansen d. Mitsuharu Misawa (20:26)

[edit] 1994

The 1994 Champion's Carnival was another single-block round-robin tournament, featuring 12 men. It was held from March 19 to April 16.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Toshiaki Kawada 19
Steve Williams 19
Stan Hansen 18
Kenta Kobashi 17
Akira Taue 17
Johnny Ace 11
Jun Akiyama 9
John Nord 6
The Eagle 4
Johnny Smith 4
Mitsuharu Misawa 4
Doug Furnas 4
Final
Toshiaki Kawada d. Steve Williams (25:48)
Results Johnny
Ace		 Jun
Akiyama		 The
Eagle		 Doug
Furnas		 Stan
Hansen		 Toshiaki
Kawada		 Kenta
Kobashi		 Mitsuharu
Misawa		 John
Nord		 Johnny
Smith		 Akira
Taue		 Steve
Williams
Johnny
Ace		 X Draw
(30:00)		 Ace
(15:11)		 Ace
(14:41)		 Hansen
(11:53)		 Kawada
(15:47)		 Kobashi
(21:22)		 Ace
(Forf)		 Ace
(15:01)		 Ace
(14:00)		 Taue
(12:06)		 Williams
(14:33)
Jun
Akiyama		 Draw
(30:00)		 X Akiyama
(12:27)		 Akiyama
(12:26)		 Hansen
(11:49)		 Kawada
(11:25)		 Kobashi
(14:40)		 Misawa
(13:57)		 Akiyama
(8:00)		 Akiyama
(15:11)		 Taue
(11:50)		 Williams
(12:26)
The
Eagle		 Ace
(15:11)		 Akiyama
(12:27)		 X Eagle
(11:12)		 Hansen
(6:21)		 Kawada
(12:30)		 Kobashi
(12:17)		 Eagle
(Forf)		 Nord
(11:17)		 Smith
(17:01)		 Taue
(10:35)		 Williams
(4:13)
Doug
Furnas		 Ace
(14:41)		 Akiyama
(12:26)		 Eagle
(11:12)		 X Hansen
(16:24)		 Kawada
(10:25)		 Kobashi
(15:25)		 Misawa
(12:15)		 Furnas
(12:05)		 Furnas
(14:28)		 Taue
(12:29)		 Williams
(14:38)
Stan
Hansen		 Hansen
(11:53)		 Hansen
(11:49)		 Hansen
(6:21)		 Hansen
(16:24)		 X Hansen
(19:39)		 Kobashi
(26:55)		 Hansen
(Forf)		 Hansen
(9:03)		 Hansen
(8:12)		 Taue
(17:31)		 Hansen
(16:35)
Toshiaki
Kawada		 Kawada
(15:47)		 Kawada
(11:25)		 Kawada
(12:30)		 Kawada
(10:25)		 Hansen
(19:39)		 X Kawada
(23:06)		 Kawada
(Forf)		 Kawada
(10:02)		 Kawada
(9:31)		 Kawada
(20:20)		 Draw
(30:00)
Kenta
Kobashi		 Kobashi
(21:22)		 Kobashi
(14:40)		 Kobashi
(12:17)		 Kobashi
(15:25)		 Kobashi
(26:55)		 Kawada
(23:06)		 X Kobashi
(Forf)		 Kobashi
(11:41)		 Kobashi
(16:45)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(22:10)
Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Ace
(Forf)		 Misawa
(13:57)		 Eagle
(Forf)		 Misawa
(12:15)		 Hansen
(Forf)		 Kawada
(Forf)		 Kobashi
(Forf)		 X Nord
(Forf)		 Smith
(Forf)		 Taue
(Forf)		 Williams
(Forf)
John
Nord		 Ace
(15:01)		 Akiyama
(8:00)		 Nord
(11:17)		 Furnas
(12:05)		 Hansen
(9:03)		 Kawada
(10:02)		 Kobashi
(11:41)		 Nord
(Forf)		 X Nord
(7:29)		 Taue
(10:34)		 Williams
(10:16)
Johnny
Smith		 Ace
(14:00)		 Akiyama
(15:11)		 Smith
(17:01)		 Furnas
(14:28)		 Hansen
(8:12)		 Kawada
(9:31)		 Kobashi
(16:45)		 Smith
(Forf)		 Nord
(7:29)		 X Taue
(11:53)		 Williams
(12:32)
Akira
Taue		 Taue
(12:06)		 Taue
(11:50)		 Taue
(10:35)		 Taue
(12:29)		 Taue
(17:31)		 Kawada
(20:20)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Taue
(Forf)		 Taue
(10:34)		 Taue
(11:53)		 X Williams
(15:17)
Steve
Williams		 Williams
(14:33)		 Williams
(12:26)		 Williams
(4:13)		 Williams
(14:38)		 Hansen
(16:35)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(22:10)		 Williams
(Forf)		 Williams
(10:16)		 Williams
(12:32)		 Williams
(15:17)		 X

[edit] 1995

The 1995 Champion's Carnival contained 11 men, and was held from March 21 to April 15.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Mitsuharu Misawa 17
Akira Taue 17
Toshiaki Kawada 16
Stan Hansen 16
Kenta Kobashi 13
Johnny Ace 11
Jun Akiyama 6
Doug Furnas 6
Dan Spivey 4
Dan Kroffat 4
Takao Omori 0
Final
Mitsuharu Misawa d. Akira Taue (27:03)
Results Johnny
Ace		 Jun
Akiyama		 Doug
Furnas		 Stan
Hansen		 Toshiaki
Kawada		 Kenta
Kobashi		 Dan
Kroffat		 Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Takao
Omori		 Dan
Spivey		 Akira
Taue
Johnny
Ace		 X Ace
(11:48)		 Ace
(13:49)		 Hansen
(15:17)		 Kawada
(19:22)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Ace
(10:49)		 Misawa
(19:03)		 Ace
(12:35)		 Ace
(9:33)		 Taue
(14:56)
Jun
Akiyama		 Ace
(11:48)		 X Akiyama
(12:26)		 Hansen
(10:46)		 Kawada
(15:20)		 Kobashi
(18:14)		 Kroffat
(14:32)		 Misawa
(12:28)		 Akiyama
(13:41)		 Akiyama
(8:12)		 Taue
(10:26)
Doug
Furnas		 Ace
(13:49)		 Akiyama
(12:26)		 X Hansen
(5:23)		 Kawada
(11:37)		 Kobashi
(14:48)		 Furnas
(12:14)		 Misawa
(11:25)		 Furnas
(9:18)		 Furnas
(9:38)		 Taue
(10:19)
Stan
Hansen		 Hansen
(15:17)		 Hansen
(10:46)		 Hansen
(5:23)		 X Kawada
(21:04)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Hansen
(8:50)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Hansen
(4:22)		 Hansen
(6:58)		 Hansen
(16:04)
Toshiaki
Kawada		 Kawada
(19:22)		 Kawada
(15:20)		 Kawada
(11:37)		 Kawada
(21:04)		 X Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(10:16)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(11:49)		 Kawada
(14:55)		 Taue
(23:51)
Kenta
Kobashi		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kobashi
(18:14)		 Kobashi
(14:48)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 X Kobashi
(15:14)		 Misawa
(22:31)		 Kobashi
(14:46)		 Kobashi
(5:57)		 Taue
(25:22)
Dan
Kroffat		 Ace
(10:49)		 Kroffat
(14:32)		 Furnas
(12:14)		 Hansen
(8:50)		 Kawada
(10:16)		 Kobashi
(15:14)		 X Misawa
(12:01)		 Kroffat
(12:27)		 Spivey
(4:17)		 Taue
(10:24)
Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Misawa
(19:03)		 Misawa
(12:28)		 Misawa
(11:25)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(22:31)		 Misawa
(12:01)		 X Misawa
(11:26)		 Misawa
(8:42)		 Draw
(30:00)
Takao
Omori		 Ace
(12:35)		 Akiyama
(13:41)		 Furnas
(9:18)		 Hansen
(4:22)		 Kawada
(11:49)		 Kobashi
(14:46)		 Kroffat
(12:27)		 Misawa
(11:26)		 X Spivey
(11:41)		 Taue
(8:40)
Dan
Spivey		 Ace
(9:33)		 Akiyama
(8:12)		 Furnas
(9:38)		 Hansen
(6:58)		 Kawada
(14:55)		 Kobashi
(5:57)		 Spivey
(4:17)		 Misawa
(8:42)		 Spivey
(11:41)		 X Taue
(9:00)
Akira
Taue		 Taue
(14:56)		 Taue
(10:26)		 Taue
(10:19)		 Hansen
(16:04)		 Taue
(23:51)		 Taue
(25:22)		 Taue
(10:24)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Taue
(8:40)		 Taue
(9:00)		 X

[edit] 1996

The 1996 Champion's Carnival contained 12 men, and was held from March 22 to April 20. It contained the longest decisive match in the tournament's history, with Toshiaki Kawada defeating Kenta Kobashi in 29:38, just 22 seconds shy of the time limit.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Akira Taue 17
Steve Williams 17
Stan Hansen 16
Kenta Kobashi 16
Mitsuharu Misawa 16
Toshiaki Kawada 15
Gary Albright 12
Johnny Ace 10
The Patriot 6
Jun Akiyama 5
Takao Omori 2
Tamon Honda 1
Final
Akira Taue d. Steve Williams (21:41)
Results Johnny
Ace		 Jun
Akiyama		 Gary
Albright		 Stan
Hansen		 Tamon
Honda		 Toshiaki
Kawada		 Kenta
Kobashi		 Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Takao
Omori		 The
Patriot		 Akira
Taue		 Steve
Williams
Johnny
Ace		 X Ace
(16:18)		 Ace
(30:00)		 Hansen
(10:04)		 Ace
(12:31)		 Kawada
(21:54)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Ace
(13:43)		 Patriot
(14:24)		 Taue
(19:42)		 Williams
(18:14)
Jun
Akiyama		 Ace
(16:18)		 X Albright
(8:19)		 Hansen
(7:02)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(1:45)		 Kobashi
(18:34)		 Misawa
(17:56)		 Akiyama
(3:15)		 Akiyama
(14:05)		 Taue
(13:26)		 Williams
(8:15)
Gary
Albright		 Draw
(30:00)		 Albright
(8:19)		 X Hansen
(11:26)		 Albright
(8:26)		 Albright
(17:38)		 Kobashi
(14:09)		 Misawa
(18:14)		 Albright
(6:56)		 Albright
(10:49)		 Taue
(15:15)		 Draw
(30:00)
Stan
Hansen		 Hansen
(10:04)		 Hansen
(7:02)		 Hansen
(11:26)		 X Hansen
(4:59)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kobashi
(22:15)		 Hansen
(17:31)		 Hansen
(5:15)		 Hansen
(12:44)		 Taue
(15:08)		 Draw
(30:00)
Tamon
Honda		 Ace
(12:31)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Albright
(8:26)		 Hansen
(4:59)		 X Kawada
(9:30)		 Kobashi
(16:31)		 Misawa
(10:10)		 Omori
(14:16)		 Patriot
(10:04)		 Taue
(10:40)		 Williams
(4:57)
Toshiaki
Kawada		 Kawada
(21:54)		 Kawada
(1:45)		 Albright
(17:38)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(9:30)		 X Kawada
(29:38)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(7:19)		 Kawada
(7:51)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(17:30)
Kenta
Kobashi		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kobashi
(18:34)		 Kobashi
(14:09)		 Kobashi
(22:15)		 Kobashi
(16:31)		 Kawada
(29:38)		 X Misawa
(24:07)		 Kobashi
(14:29)		 Kobashi
(18:07)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kobashi
(27:53)
Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(17:56)		 Misawa
(18:14)		 Hansen
(17:31)		 Misawa
(10:10)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(24:07)		 X Misawa
(10:23)		 Misawa
(14:42)		 Misawa
(18:18)		 Williams
(19:59)
Takao
Omori		 Ace
(13:43)		 Akiyama
(3:15)		 Albright
(6:56)		 Hansen
(5:15)		 Omori
(14:16)		 Kawada
(7:19)		 Kobashi
(14:29)		 Misawa
(10:23)		 X Patriot
(11:34)		 Taue
(8:55)		 Williams
(6:34)
The
Patriot		 Patriot
(14:24)		 Akiyama
(14:05)		 Albright
(10:49)		 Hansen
(12:44)		 Patriot
(10:04)		 Kawada
(7:51)		 Kobashi
(18:07)		 Misawa
(14:42)		 Patriot
(11:34)		 X Taue
(15:38)		 Williams
(16:07)
Akira
Taue		 Taue
(19:42)		 Taue
(13:26)		 Taue
(15:15)		 Taue
(15:08)		 Taue
(10:40)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(18:18)		 Taue
(8:55)		 Taue
(15:38)		 X Draw
(30:00)
Steve
Williams		 Williams
(18:14)		 Williams
(8:15)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(4:57)		 Williams
(17:30)		 Kobashi
(27:53)		 Williams
(19:59)		 Williams
(6:34)		 Williams
(16:07)		 Draw
(30:00)		 X

[edit] 1997

The 1997 Champion's Carnival contained 13 men, and was held from March 22 to April 19. Due to a three-way tie for first place between Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa, a one-night round-robin playoff was contested among them, with the winner claiming the tournament.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Toshiaki Kawada 19
Kenta Kobashi 19
Mitsuharu Misawa 19
Stan Hansen 18
Akira Taue 18
Steve Williams 18
Gary Albright 12
Johnny Ace 10
Jun Akiyama 9
Giant Kimala 6
Tamon Honda 4
Takao Omori 4
Jun Izumida 0
Final
Kenta Kobashi dr. Mitsuharu Misawa (30:00)
Toshiaki Kawada d. Mitsuharu Misawa (6:09)
Toshiaki Kawada d. Kenta Kobashi (21:27)
Results Johnny
Ace		 Jun
Akiyama		 Gary
Albright		 Stan
Hansen		 Tamon
Honda		 Jun
Izumida		 Toshiaki
Kawada		 Giant
Kimala		 Kenta
Kobashi		 Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Takao
Omori		 Akira
Taue		 Steve
Williams
Johnny
Ace		 X Akiyama
(2:29)		 Ace
(11:17)		 Hansen
(14:08)		 Ace
(14:52)		 Ace
(Forf)		 Kawada
(22:37)		 Ace
(14:19)		 Kobashi
(16:39)		 Misawa
(26:27)		 Ace
(18:23)		 Taue
(16:38)		 Williams
(20:44)
Jun
Akiyama		 Akiyama
(2:29)		 X Albright
(6:50)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Akiyama
(14:46)		 Akiyama
(Forf)		 Kawada
(17:16)		 Kimala
(12:39)		 Kobashi
(20:13)		 Misawa
(20:33)		 Akiyama
(11:25)		 Taue
(11:25)		 Williams
(14:12)
Gary
Albright		 Ace
(11:17)		 Albright
(6:50)		 X Hansen
(9:47)		 Albright
(8:08)		 Albright
(Forf)		 Kawada
(7:27)		 Albright
(6:51)		 Kobashi
(12:39)		 Misawa
(13:06)		 Albright
(4:58)		 Taue
(8:18)		 Albright
(11:21)
Stan
Hansen		 Hansen
(14:08)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Hansen
(9:47)		 X Hansen
(8:05)		 Hansen
(Forf)		 Hansen
(10:45)		 Hansen
(7:17)		 Kobashi
(19:51)		 Misawa
(17:59)		 Hansen
(10:18)		 Hansen
(15:06)		 Draw
(30:00)
Tamon
Honda		 Ace
(14:52)		 Akiyama
(14:46)		 Albright
(8:08)		 Hansen
(8:05)		 X Honda
(Forf)		 Kawada
(7:32)		 Kimala
(10:09)		 Kobashi
(13:00)		 Misawa
(10:15)		 Honda
(13:38)		 Taue
(9:45)		 Williams
(8:45)
Jun
Izumida		 Ace
(Forf)		 Akiyama
(Forf)		 Albright
(Forf)		 Hansen
(Forf)		 Honda
(Forf)		 X Kawada
(Forf)		 Kimala
(Forf)		 Kobashi
(Forf)		 Misawa
(Forf)		 Omori
(Forf)		 Taue
(Forf)		 Williams
(Forf)
Toshiaki
Kawada		 Kawada
(22:37)		 Kawada
(17:16)		 Kawada
(7:27)		 Hansen
(10:45)		 Kawada
(7:32)		 Kawada
(Forf)		 X Kawada
(7:07)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(9:38)		 Kawada
(14:17)		 Draw
(30:00)
Giant
Kimala		 Ace
(14:19)		 Kimala
(12:39)		 Albright
(6:51)		 Hansen
(7:17)		 Kimala
(10:09)		 Kimala
(Forf)		 Kawada
(7:07)		 X Kobashi
(13:23)		 Misawa
(9:48)		 Omori
(12:38)		 Taue
(6:50)		 Williams
(9:43)
Kenta
Kobashi		 Kobashi
(16:39)		 Kobashi
(20:13)		 Kobashi
(12:39)		 Kobashi
(19:51)		 Kobashi
(13:00)		 Kobashi
(Forf)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kobashi
(13:23)		 X Kobashi
(24:09)		 Kobashi
(13:53)		 Taue
(21:22)		 Williams
(23:50)
Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Misawa
(26:27)		 Misawa
(20:33)		 Misawa
(13:06)		 Misawa
(17:59)		 Misawa
(10:15)		 Misawa
(Forf)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(9:48)		 Kobashi
(24:09)		 X Misawa
(12:53)		 Misawa
(12:14)		 Williams
(18:21)
Takao
Omori		 Ace
(18:23)		 Akiyama
(11:25)		 Albright
(4:58)		 Hansen
(10:18)		 Honda
(13:38)		 Omori
(Forf)		 Kawada
(9:38)		 Omori
(12:38)		 Kobashi
(13:53)		 Misawa
(12:53)		 X Taue
(8:31)		 Williams
(16:27)
Akira
Taue		 Taue
(16:38)		 Taue
(11:25)		 Taue
(8:18)		 Hansen
(15:06)		 Taue
(9:45)		 Taue
(Forf)		 Kawada
(14:17)		 Taue
(6:50)		 Taue
(21:22)		 Misawa
(12:14)		 Taue
(8:31)		 X Taue
(18:30)
Steve
Williams		 Williams
(20:44)		 Williams
(14:12)		 Albright
(11:21)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(8:45)		 Williams
(Forf)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(9:43)		 Williams
(23:50)		 Williams
(18:21)		 Williams
(16:27)		 Taue
(18:30)		 X

[edit] 1998

The 1998 Champion's Carnival also contained 13 men, and was held from March 21 to April 18.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Mitsuharu Misawa 19
Jun Akiyama 19
Kenta Kobashi 18
Toshiaki Kawada 18
Stan Hansen 17
Steve Williams 17
Johnny Ace 14
Gary Albright 12
Akira Taue 8
Takao Omori 6
Giant Kimala 4
Wolf Hawkfield 4
Jun Izumida 0
Final
Mitsuharu Misawa d. Jun Akiyama (22:05)
Results Ace Akiyama Albright Hansen Haw. Izumida Kawada Kimala Kobashi Misawa Omori Taue Williams
Ace X Akiyama
(11:13)		 Ace
(9:48)		 Hansen
(10:18)		 Ace
(12:57)		 Ace
(10:56)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Ace
(10:54)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(16:48)		 Ace
(10:41)		 Ace
(8:09)		 Williams
(10:14)
Akiyama Akiyama
(11:13)		 X Akiyama
(6:02)		 Akiyama
(15:01)		 Akiyama
(12:42)		 Akiyama
(17:10)		 Kawada
(18:01)		 Akiyama
(10:43)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Akiyama
(17:41)		 Akiyama
(Forf)		 Draw
(30:00)
Albright Ace
(9:48)		 Akiyama
(6:02)		 X Hansen
(10:54)		 Albright
(10:38)		 Albright
(12:17)		 Kawada
(9:17)		 Albright
(8:48)		 Albright
(13:58)		 Misawa
(12:35)		 Albright
(8:42)		 Albright
(Forf)		 Williams
(10:04)
Hansen Hansen
(10:18)		 Akiyama
(15:01)		 Hansen
(10:54)		 X Hansen
(8:00)		 Hansen
(7:22)		 Kawada
(17:50)		 Hansen
(4:10)		 Kobashi
(19:32)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Hansen
(10:52)		 Hansen
(6:13)		 Hansen
(18:58)
Haw. Ace
(12:57)		 Akiyama
(12:42)		 Albright
(10:38)		 Hansen
(8:00)		 X Hawkfield
(12:00)		 Kawada
(12:05)		 Kimala
(11:34)		 Kobashi
(9:09)		 Misawa
(10:50)		 Hawkfield
(12:04)		 Taue
(6:23)		 Williams
(15:19)
Izumida Ace
(10:56)		 Akiyama
(17:10)		 Albright
(12:17)		 Hansen
(7:22)		 Hawkfield
(12:00)		 X Kawada
(3:59)		 Kimala
(11:23)		 Kobashi
(12:29)		 Misawa
(11:34)		 Omori
(12:03)		 Taue
(5:46)		 Williams
(9:41)
Kawada Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(18:01)		 Kawada
(9:17)		 Kawada
(17:50)		 Kawada
(12:05)		 Kawada
(3:59)		 X Kawada
(4:05)		 Kobashi
(11:34)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kawada
(11:52)		 Kawada
(9:17)		 Williams
(16:29)
Kimala Ace
(10:54)		 Akiyama
(10:43)		 Albright
(8:48)		 Hansen
(4:10)		 Kimala
(11:34)		 Kimala
(11:23)		 Kawada
(4:05)		 X Kobashi
(12:35)		 Misawa
(7:22)		 Omori
(12:44)		 Taue
(9:41)		 Williams
(11:50)
Kobashi Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Albright
(13:58)		 Kobashi
(19:32)		 Kobashi
(9:09)		 Kobashi
(12:29)		 Kobashi
(11:34)		 Kobashi
(12:35)		 X Misawa
(25:00)		 Kobashi
(12:42)		 Kobashi
(Forf)		 Kobashi
(20:06)
Misawa Misawa
(16:48)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(12:35)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(10:50)		 Misawa
(11:34)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(7:22)		 Misawa
(25:00)		 X Misawa
(13:56)		 Taue
(15:39)		 Misawa
(18:22)
Omori Ace
(10:41)		 Akiyama
(17:41)		 Albright
(8:42)		 Hansen
(10:52)		 Hawkfield
(12:04)		 Omori
(12:03)		 Kawada
(11:52)		 Omori
(12:44)		 Kobashi
(12:42)		 Misawa
(13:56)		 X Omori
(Forf)		 Williams
(16:26)
Taue Ace
(8:09)		 Akiyama
(Forf)		 Albright
(Forf)		 Hansen
(6:13)		 Taue
(6:23)		 Taue
(5:46)		 Kawada
(9:17)		 Taue
(9:41)		 Kobashi
(Forf)		 Taue
(15:39)		 Omori
(Forf)		 X Williams
(12:44)
Williams Williams
(10:14)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(10:04)		 Hansen
(18:58)		 Williams
(15:19)		 Williams
(9:41)		 Williams
(16:29)		 Williams
(11:50)		 Kobashi
(20:06)		 Misawa
(18:22)		 Williams
(16:26)		 Williams
(12:44)		 X

[edit] 1999

The 1999 Champion's Carnival was a 10-man tournament, held from March 26 to April 16. The eventual winner, Vader, became the first man since the tournament's creation to win in his first attempt.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Kenta Kobashi 16
Vader 15
Mitsuharu Misawa 14
Jun Akiyama 11
Akira Taue 11
Johnny Ace 9
Gary Albright 8
Yoshihiro Takayama 3
Jinsei Shinzaki 2
Takao Omori 1
Final
Vader d. Kenta Kobashi (19:11)
Results Johnny
Ace		 Jun
Akiyama		 Gary
Albright		 Kenta
Kobashi		 Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Takao
Omori		 Jinsei
Shinzaki		 Yoshihiro
Takayama		 Akira
Taue		 Vader
Johnny
Ace		 X Ace
(10:23)		 Albright
(7:33)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(12:24)		 Ace
(13:58)		 Ace
(12:47)		 Ace
(8:31)		 Taue
(11:58)		 Vader
(9:19)
Jun
Akiyama		 Ace
(10:23)		 X Akiyama
(8:11)		 Kobashi
(24:37)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Akiyama
(22:03)		 Akiyama
(18:19)		 Akiyama
(9:12)		 Akiyama
(12:48)		 Vader
(9:22)
Gary
Albright		 Albright
(7:33)		 Akiyama
(8:11)		 X Kobashi
(12:25)		 Misawa
(10:37)		 Albright
(9:27)		 Albright
(12:36)		 Albright
(7:19)		 Taue
(9:44)		 Vader
(7:23)
Kenta
Kobashi		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kobashi
(24:37)		 Kobashi
(12:25)		 X Kobashi
(24:15)		 Kobashi
(17:14)		 Kobashi
(16:20)		 Kobashi
(11:52)		 Kobashi
(17:06)		 Draw
(30:00)
Mitsuharu
Misawa		 Misawa
(12:24)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(10:37)		 Kobashi
(24:15)		 X Misawa
(12:16)		 Misawa
(16:54)		 Misawa
(12:47)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(10:52)
Takao
Omori		 Ace
(13:58)		 Akiyama
(22:03)		 Albright
(9:27)		 Kobashi
(17:14)		 Misawa
(12:16)		 X Shinzaki
(19:35)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Taue
(15:36)		 Vader
(2:10)
Jinsei
Shinzaki		 Ace
(12:47)		 Akiyama
(18:19)		 Albright
(12:36)		 Kobashi
(16:20)		 Misawa
(16:54)		 Shinzaki
(19:35)		 X Takayama
(15:12)		 Taue
(10:53)		 Vader
(12:40)
Yoshihiro
Takayama		 Ace
(8:31)		 Akiyama
(9:12)		 Albright
(7:19)		 Kobashi
(11:52)		 Misawa
(12:47)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Takayama
(15:12)		 X Taue
(11:00)		 Vader
(5:23)
Akira
Taue		 Taue
(11:58)		 Akiyama
(12:48)		 Taue
(9:44)		 Kobashi
(17:06)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Taue
(15:36)		 Taue
(10:53)		 Taue
(11:00)		 X Vader
(7:41)
Vader Vader
(9:19)		 Vader
(9:22)		 Vader
(7:23)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Misawa
(10:52)		 Vader
(2:10)		 Vader
(12:40)		 Vader
(5:23)		 Vader
(7:41)		 X

[edit] 2000

The 2000 Champion's Carnival was a 16-man single-elimination tournament, the first to strictly use such a format since 1974, and was held from March 24 to April 15. It was the last Carnival before nearly all of AJPW's roster, including Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama, Mitsuharu Misawa and Akira Taue, left to form Pro Wrestling NOAH, making it the first and only Carnival win for Kenta Kobashi. It also featured the shortest match in the tournament's history, with Takao Omori defeating Jun Akiyama in seven seconds in the first round.

  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Tamon Honda Pin  
 Johnny Smith 15:12  
   Johnny Smith Sub  
 
   Kenta Kobashi 17:43  
 Johnny Ace Pin
 Kenta Kobashi 20:56  
   Kenta Kobashi Pin  
   Mitsuharu Misawa 26:08  
 Yoshihiro Takayama Pin  
 Vader 6:04  
   Vader Sub
 
   Mitsuharu Misawa 11:31  
 Toshiaki Kawada Pin
 Mitsuharu Misawa 15:35  
   Kenta Kobashi Pin
   Takao Omori 25:12
 Mike Barton Pin  
 Masao Inoue 14:17  
   Mike Barton Pin
 
   Takao Omori 15:55  
 Jun Akiyama Pin
 Takao Omori 0:07  
   Takao Omori Pin
   Steve Williams 10:33  
 Akira Taue Pin  
 Steve Williams 17:15  
   Steve Williams Forf
 
   Jun Izumida  
 Wolf Hawkfield Pin
 Jun Izumida 13:02  

[edit] 2001

The 2001 Champion's Carnival returned to the round-robin format, with 10 men competing; it was held from March 23 to April 11. The winner, Genichiro Tenryu, made his first appearance in the tournament since 1982. This was also the last Carnival to use a single-block round-robin system, as all subsequent tournaments have used the dual-block formula.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Genichiro Tenryu 15
Taiyō Kea 15
Toshiaki Kawada 14
Mike Barton 13
Steve Williams 13
Yoshiaki Fujiwara 7
Johnny Smith 7
George Hines 2
Mitsuya Nagai 2
Jim Steele 2
Final
Genichiro Tenryu d. Taiyō Kea (17:08)
Results Mike
Barton		 Yoshiaki
Fujiwara		 George
Hines		 Toshiaki
Kawada		 Taiyō
Kea		 Mitsuya
Nagai		 Johnny
Smith		 Jim
Steele		 Genichiro
Tenryu		 Steve
Williams
Mike
Barton		 X Barton
(14:02)		 Barton
(17:13)		 Barton
(16:12)		 Kea
(13:17)		 Barton
(12:48)		 Barton
(19:01)		 Barton
(15:07)		 Tenryu
(11:17)		 Draw
(30:00)
Yoshiaki
Fujiwara		 Barton
(14:02)		 X Fujiwara
(10:34)		 Kawada
(12:11)		 Kea
(7:57)		 Fujiwara
(10:31)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Fujiwara
(9:06)		 Tenryu
(5:23)		 Williams
(7:15)
George
Hines		 Barton
(17:13)		 Fujiwara
(10:34)		 X Kawada
(2:24)		 Kea
(14:41)		 Hines
(11:56)		 Smith
(17:25)		 Steele
(14:36)		 Tenryu
(4:38)		 Williams
(14:08)
Toshiaki
Kawada		 Barton
(16:12)		 Kawada
(12:11)		 Kawada
(2:24)		 X Kawada
(20:59)		 Kawada
(11:50)		 Kawada
(22:39)		 Kawada
(9:46)		 Kawada
(8:17)		 Williams
(16:59)
Taiyō
Kea		 Kea
(13:17)		 Kea
(7:57)		 Kea
(14:41)		 Kawada
(20:59)		 X Kea
(16:15)		 Kea
(20:18)		 Kea
(14:46)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Kea
(18:35)
Mitsuya
Nagai		 Barton
(12:48)		 Fujiwara
(10:31)		 Hines
(11:56)		 Kawada
(11:50)		 Kea
(16:15)		 X Smith
(14:00)		 Nagai
(9:12)		 Tenryu
(3:08)		 Williams
(4:13)
Johnny
Smith		 Barton
(19:01)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Smith
(17:25)		 Kawada
(22:39)		 Kea
(20:18)		 Smith
(14:00)		 X Smith
(16:05)		 Tenryu
(5:51)		 Williams
(12:24)
Jim
Steele		 Barton
(15:07)		 Fujiwara
(9:06)		 Steele
(14:36)		 Kawada
(9:46)		 Kea
(14:46)		 Nagai
(9:12)		 Smith
(16:05)		 X Tenryu
(4:45)		 Williams
(12:44)
Genichiro
Tenryu		 Tenryu
(11:17)		 Tenryu
(5:23)		 Tenryu
(4:38)		 Kawada
(8:17)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Tenryu
(3:08)		 Tenryu
(5:51)		 Tenryu
(4:45)		 X Tenryu
(10:28)
Steve
Williams		 Draw
(30:00)		 Williams
(7:15)		 Williams
(14:08)		 Williams
(16:59)		 Kea
(18:35)		 Williams
(4:13)		 Williams
(12:24)		 Williams
(12:44)		 Tenryu
(10:28)		 X

[edit] 2002

The 2002 Champion's Carnival, held from March 23 to April 10, re-introduced the dual-block round-robin format used in 1991 and 1992, this time with 7 men in each block; the top two scorers in each would advance to a four-man tournament, with Block A's first place finalist facing Block B's runner-up, and vice versa, and the winners wrestling in the final. Ironically, both block winners, Satoshi Kojima and Genichiro Tenryu, were eliminated in the semifinals.

The winner, Keiji Mutoh, became the first man in history to win both the Champion's Carnival and the G1 Climax, as well as the second man (after Vader) to win the Carnival in his first appearance.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Satoshi Kojima 11 Genichiro Tenryu 12
Mike Barton 10 Keiji Mutoh 8
Jim Steele 6 Taiyō Kea 7
Mitsuya Nagai 6 Steve Williams 7
Yoji Anjo 5 Mike Rotundo 3
Toshiaki Kawada 2 George Hines 3
Arashi 2 Nobutaka Araya 2
Block A Anjo Arashi Barton Kawada Kojima Nagai Steele
Anjo X Anjo (9:45) Barton (13:49) Kojima (18:25) Anjo (Forf) Draw (30:00) Steele (14:07)
Arashi Anjo (9:45) X Barton (9:55) Kawada (3:20) Kojima (13:05) Nagai (10:56) Arashi (11:10)
Barton Barton (13:49) Barton (9:55) X Barton (Forf) Draw (30:00) Draw (30:00) Barton (16:51)
Kawada Anjo (Forf) Kawada (3:20) Barton (Forf) X Kojima (Forf) Nagai (Forf) Steele (Forf)
Kojima Kojima (18:25) Kojima (13:05) Draw (30:00) Kojima (Forf) X Kojima (18:06) Kojima (17:00)
Nagai Draw (30:00) Nagai (10:56) Draw (30:00) Nagai (Forf) Kojima (18:06) X Steele (11:56)
Steele Steele (14:07) Arashi (11:10) Barton (16:51) Steele (Forf) Kojima (17:00) Steele (11:56) X
Block B Araya Hines Kea Muto Rotundo Tenryu Williams
Araya X Hines (16:15) Kea (15:27) Mutoh (5:13) Araya (9:19) Tenryu (7:05) Williams (5:11)
Hines Hines (16:15) X Kea (14:18) Mutoh (8:26) Rotundo (11:23) Tenryu (6:54) Draw (30:00)
Kea Kea (15:27) Kea (14:18) X Mutoh (24:04) Draw (30:00) Tenryu (15:17) Kea (13:54)
Mutoh Mutoh (5:13) Mutoh (8:26) Mutoh (24:04) X Mutoh (13:09) Tenryu (14:15) Williams (15:16)
Rotundo Araya (9:19) Rotundo (11:23) Draw (30:00) Mutoh (13:09) X Tenryu (2:09) Williams (10:28)
Tenryu Tenryu (7:05) Tenryu (6:54) Tenryu (15:17) Tenryu (14:15) Tenryu (2:09) X Tenryu (6:32)
Williams Williams (5:11) Draw (30:00) Kea (13:54) Williams (15:16) Williams (10:28) Tenryu (6:32) X
  Semifinals Finals
                 
A1  Satoshi Kojima Sub  
B2  Keiji Mutoh 15:46  
    B2  Keiji Mutoh Pin
  A2  Mike Barton 9:50
B1  Genichiro Tenryu Pin
A2  Mike Barton 5:38  

[edit] 2003

The 2003 Champion's Carnival was a 10-man single-elimination tournament, held from March 22 to March 28. Keiji Mutoh, Satoshi Kojima, George Hines, Johnny Smith, Arashi and Nobutaka Araya received byes to the quarterfinals, leaving Yoji Anjo, Gigantes, The Gladiator and Big John Tenta to fight in the first round.


  First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Yoji Anjo Pin  
 Gigantes 9:18  
   Gigantes Pin  
     Satoshi Kojima 16:23  
 
   
   Satoshi Kojima Pin  
   George Hines 16:16  
   
   
   George Hines Pin
     Johnny Smith 25:02  
 
   
   Satoshi Kojima Pin
   Arashi 16:30
 The Gladiator Pin  
 Big John Tenta 13:04  
   Big John Tenta Pin
     Keiji Muto 12:21  
 
   
   Keiji Mutoh Pin
   Arashi 18:03  
   
   
   Arashi Pin
     Nobutaka Araya 12:34  
 

[edit] 2004

The 2004 Champion's Carnival was a round-robin tournament, featuring five men in each block. It was held from April 10 to April 20.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Kensuke Sasaki 7 Takao Omori 7
Keiji Mutoh 5 Satoshi Kojima 5
Jamal 4 Taiyō Kea 4
Kaz Hayashi 2 Toshiaki Kawada 2
Arashi 2 Nobutaka Araya 2
Block A Arashi Kaz Hayashi Jamal Keiji Mutoh Kensuke Sasaki
Arashi X Hayashi (9:27) Arashi (11:13) Mutoh (10:34) Sasaki (5:41)
Kaz Hayashi Hayashi (9:27) X Jamal (10:56) Mutoh (13:31) Sasaki (14:41)
Jamal Arashi (11:13) Jamal (10:56) X Jamal (16:56) Sasaki (13:17)
Keiji Mutoh Mutoh (10:34) Mutoh (13:31) Jamal (16:56) X Draw (30:00)
Kensuke Sasaki Sasaki (5:41) Sasaki (14:41) Sasaki (13:17) Draw (30:00) X
Block B Nobutaka Araya Toshiaki Kawada Taiyō Kea Satoshi Kojima Takao Omori
Nobutaka Araya X Kawada (4:02) Kea (7:16) Araya (17:55) Omori (12:22)
Toshiaki Kawada Kawada (4:02) X Kea (Forf) Kojima (Forf) Omori (Forf)
Taiyō Kea Kea (7:16) Kea (Forf) X Kojima (18:44) Omori (14:02)
Satoshi Kojima Araya (17:55) Kojima (Forf) Kojima (18:44) X Draw (30:00)
Takao Omori Omori (12:22) Omori (Forf) Omori (14:02) Draw (30:00) X
  Semifinals Finals
                 
A1  Kensuke Sasaki Pin  
B2  Satoshi Kojima 16:51  
    A1  Kensuke Sasaki Pin
  A2  Keiji Mutoh 15:33
B1  Takao Omori Pin
A2  Keiji Mutoh 11:09  

[edit] 2005

The 2005 Champion's Carnival was identical to that of 2004, but with six men in each block instead of five. It was held from April 9 to April 20. In a situation similar to the 2002 tournament, neither block winner, Toshiaki Kawada or Satoshi Kojima, were able to make it to the finals, instead losing to runners-up Jamal and, the eventual winner, Kensuke Sasaki.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Satoshi Kojima 7 Toshiaki Kawada 7
Kensuke Sasaki 6 Jamal 6
Taiyō Kea 5 Chuck Palumbo 5
Arashi 4 Keiji Mutoh 5
Giant Bernard 4 Buchanan 5
Shuji Kondo 2 Kohei Suwama 2
Block A Arashi Giant Bernard Taiyō Kea Satoshi Kojima Shuji Kondo Kensuke Sasaki
Arashi X Arashi (2:38) Kea (4:01) Kojima (15:09) Kondo (10:33) Arashi (7:11)
Giant Bernard Arashi (2:38) X DCO (10:51) Kojima (8:56) Bernard (3:20) Bernard (7:50)
Taiyō Kea Kea (4:01) DCO (10:51) X Draw (30:00) Kea (10:34) Sasaki (21:01)
Satoshi Kojima Kojima (15:09) Kojima (8:56) Draw (30:00) X Kojima (15:44) Sasaki (29:29)
Shuji Kondo Kondo (10:33) Bernard (3:20) Kea (10:34) Kojima (15:44) X Sasaki (14:29)
Kensuke Sasaki Arashi (7:11) Bernard (7:50) Sasaki (21:01) Sasaki (29:29) Sasaki (14:29) X
Block B Buchanan Jamal Toshiaki Kawada Keiji Mutoh Chuck Palumbo Kohei Suwama
Buchanan X Buchanan (8:50) Kawada (7:06) Mutoh (9:13) Draw (30:00) Buchanan (8:34)
Jamal Buchanan (8:50) X Jamal (17:31) Mutoh (13:14) Jamal (14:27) Jamal (6:08)
Toshiaki Kawada Kawada (7:06) Jamal (17:31) X Draw (30:00) Kawada (9:32) Kawada (3:36)
Keiji Mutoh Mutoh (9:13) Mutoh (13:14) Draw (30:00) X Palumbo (14:39) Suwama (13:09)
Chuck Palumbo Draw (30:00) Jamal (14:27) Kawada (9:32) Palumbo (14:39) X Palumbo (9:18)
Kohei Suwama Buchanan (8:34) Jamal (6:08) Kawada (3:36) Suwama (13:09) Palumbo (9:18) X
  Semifinals Finals
                 
A1  Satoshi Kojima Pin  
B2  Jamal 16:22  
    B2  Jamal Pin
  A2  Kensuke Sasaki 17:32
B1  Toshiaki Kawada Pin
A2  Kensuke Sasaki 19:11  

[edit] 2006

The 2006 Champion's Carnival was another 12-man, two-block round-robin tournament, held from April 7 to April 20.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Kohei Suwama 7 Minoru Suzuki 9
Taiyō Kea 6 Satoshi Kojima 8
Kensuke Sasaki 5 D'Lo Brown 5
Keiji Mutoh 5 Arashi 4
Yutaka Yoshie 5 Matt Morgan 2
Buchanan 2 Katsuhiko Nakajima 2
Block A Buchanan Taiyō Kea Keiji Mutoh Kensuke Sasaki Kohei Suwama Yutaka Yoshie
Buchanan X Kea (12:53) Buchanan (11:54) Sasaki (12:20) Suwama (17:18) Yoshie (12:10)
Taiyō Kea Kea (12:53) X Draw (30:00) Kea (18:35) Suwama (10:15) Draw (30:00)
Keiji Mutoh Buchanan (11:54) Draw (30:00) X Draw (30:00) Draw (30:00) Mutoh (18:22)
Kensuke Sasaki Sasaki (12:20) Kea (18:35) Draw (30:00) X Suwama (12:28) Sasaki (10:35)
Kohei Suwama Suwama (17:18) Suwama (10:15) Draw (30:00) Suwama (12:28) X Yoshie (16:06)
Yutaka Yoshie Yoshie (12:10) Draw (30:00) Mutoh (18:22) Sasaki (10:35) Yoshie (16:06) X
Block B Arashi D'Lo Brown Satoshi Kojima Matt Morgan Katsuhiko Nakajima Minoru Suzuki
Arashi X Brown (4:28) Kojima (11:36) Arashi (7:46) Arashi (7:18) Suzuki (4:50)
D'Lo Brown Brown (4:28) X Draw (30:00) Brown (7:32) Nakajima (7:10) Suzuki (9:53)
Satoshi Kojima Kojima (11:36) Draw (30:00) X Kojima (10:30) Kojima (9:15) Draw (30:00)
Matt Morgan Arashi (7:46) Brown (7:32) Kojima (10:30) X Morgan (5:46) Suzuki (5:13)
Katsuhiko Nakajima Arashi (7:18) Nakajima (7:10) Kojima (9:15) Morgan (5:46) X Suzuki (8:13)
Minoru Suzuki Suzuki (4:50) Suzuki (9:53) Draw (30:00) Suzuki (5:13) Suzuki (8:13) X
  Semifinals Finals
                 
A1  Kohei Suwama CO  
B2  Satoshi Kojima 15:12  
    A1  Kohei Suwama Pin
  A2  Taiyō Kea 20:21
B1  Minoru Suzuki Pin
A2  Taiyō Kea 11:24  

[edit] 2007

The 2007 Champion's Carnival was a 10-man, two-block round-robin tournament. Its schedule was somewhat unique, having been contested over five straight shows at Korakuen Hall, from March 26 to March 30. It also strayed from the usual formula of the four top scorers advancing to the semifinals; instead, the two block winners simply wrestled in the final to determine the champion. The eventual winner, Keiji Mutoh, became only the second person in history to win the Carnival three times, along with Giant Baba.

Current standings
Block A Block B
Keiji Mutoh 6 Toshiaki Kawada 5
Suwama 5 Satoshi Kojima 4
Kensuke Sasaki 5 TAJIRI 4
Taiyō Kea 4 Minoru Suzuki 3
Touru Owashi 0 RO'Z 2
Block A Taiyō Kea Keiji Mutoh Touru Owashi Kensuke Sasaki Suwama
Taiyō Kea X Mutoh (19:21) Kea (14:24) Draw (30:00) Draw (30:00)
Keiji Mutoh Mutoh (19:21) X Mutoh (17:23) Sasaki (25:37) Mutoh (25:17)
Touru Owashi Kea (14:24) Mutoh (17:23) X Sasaki (5:57) Suwama (10:14)
Kensuke Sasaki Draw (30:00) Sasaki (25:37) Sasaki (5:57) X Suwama (0:16)
Suwama Draw (30:00) Muto (25:17) Suwama (10:14) Suwama (0:16) X
Block B Toshiaki Kawada Satoshi Kojima RO'Z Minoru Suzuki TAJIRI
Toshiaki Kawada X Kawada (15:24) RO'Z (6:15) Draw (30:00) Kawada (14:09)
Satoshi Kojima Kawada (15:24) X Kojima (10:53) Kojima (17:31) DCO (11:58)
RO'Z RO'Z (6:15) Kojima (10:53) X Suzuki (7:24) TAJIRI (5:04)
Minoru Suzuki Draw (30:00) Kojima (17:31) Suzuki (7:24) X TAJIRI (4:17)
TAJIRI Kawada (14:09) DCO (11:58) TAJIRI (5:04) TAJIRI (4:17) X
  Final
       
A1  Keiji Mutoh Pin
B1  Toshiaki Kawada 22:28

[edit] 2008

The 2008 Champion's Carnival was held from April 5 to April 9 over five shows, and featured the following participants.

Current standings
Block A Block B
Hiroshi Tanahashi 6 Suwama 7
Toshiaki Kawada 5 Joe Doering 4
Keiji Mutoh 5 Kensuke Sasaki 4
Satoshi Kojima 4 Minoru Suzuki 4
Taiyō Kea 0 Osamu Nishimura 3
Block A Toshiaki Kawada Taiyō Kea Satoshi Kojima Keiji Mutoh Hiroshi Tanahashi
Toshiaki Kawada X Kawada (13:35) Kojima (15:41) Kawada (10:32) Draw (30:00)
Taiyō Kea Kawada (13:35) X Kojima (14:53) Mutoh (16:41) Tanahashi (20:53)
Satoshi Kojima Kojima (15:41) Kojima (14:53) X Mutoh (17:36) Tanahashi (18:10)
Keiji Mutoh Kawada (10:32) Mutoh (16:41) Mutoh (17:36) X Draw (30:00)
Hiroshi Tanahashi Draw (30:00) Tanahashi (20:53) Tanahashi (18:10) Draw (30:00) X
Block B Joe Doering Osamu Nishimura Kensuke Sasaki Suwama Minoru Suzuki
Joe Doering X Doering (25:20) Sasaki (8:01) Suwama (9:18) Doering (10:55)
Osamu Nishimura Doering (25:20) X Draw (30:00) Suwama (15:13) Nishimura (3:58)
Kensuke Sasaki Sasaki (8:01) Draw (30:00) X Draw (30:00) Suzuki (12:22)
Suwama Suwama (9:18) Suwama (15:13) Draw (30:00) X Suzuki (9:31)
Minoru Suzuki Doering (10:55) Nishimura (3:58) Suzuki (12:22) Suzuki (9:31) X
  Final
       
A1  Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
B1  Suwama 29:49

[edit] Statistics

  • Most cups won: Giant Baba, 7
  • Most cups won by a foreigner: (tie) Abdullah the Butcher and Stan Hansen, 2 each
  • Triple Crown champions who never won the cup: Terry Gordy, Steve Williams, Shinya Hashimoto, and Minoru Suzuki
  • Won both Champion's Carnival and G-1 Climax cups: Keiji Mutoh and Kensuke Sasaki.

[edit] Sources