Katsuhiko Nakajima defeats Yuma Aoyagi to become AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion

Nakajima secures the title win.

After formally finishing up with Pro Wrestling NOAH, Katsuhiko Nakajima showed up at the All Japan Pro Wrestling office ahead of the company’s Giant Series tour. He stuck his claim to a shot at Yuma Aoyagi’s Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.

The title match was made official for the final stop on the tour and Nakajima defeated Aoyagi. Outside of the joint shows that NOAH, NJPW and AJPW would present, it was Nakajima’s first match solely under the AJPW banner since 2008. 

After his win, the ring was surrounded by potential challengers but last to come out was six-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, Kento Miyahara. He challenged Nakajima to a match for December 31st. 

When Miyahara lost his title match to Yuma Aoyagi on 10/21, Nakajima showed up afterwards with a bouquet of flowers and threw it at Miyahara’s face. The last time the two went one-on-one was in July at NOAH’s ‘One Night Dream’ show and Nakajima came out victorious. 

About Andrew Thompson 8271 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.