Katsuhiko Nakajima Wins AJPW Triple Crown Title

Katsuhiko Nakajima has made the biggest splash possible in All Japan Pro Wrestling, having won the historic Triple Crown Championship on his first night back in the promotion.

Nakajima defeated Yuma Aoyagi for the title on the final night of AJPW’s Giant Series tour, lifting the title for the first time after a felling Aoyagi with a Northern Lights Bomb in tribute to mentor Kensuke Sasaki. When it came to celebrate his win, Nakajima found himself staring down a whole host of challengers for his newly won prize, including former six-time champ Kento Miyahara.

Miyahara and Nakajima have a history, with Nakajima having defeated Miyahara in singles competition at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s One Night Dream show in July. The two will go at it on December 31, with the Triple Crown on the line.

For the present though, Nakajima stands atop All Japan, 15 years after his previous run in the company ended. ‘The Mad Wolf’ departed NOAH in October after an 18-year run in the company. Like former NOAH greats Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Akira Taue, Nakajima has held the GHC Heavyweight Championship as well as the Triple Crown, a feat only bettered by Keiji Mutoh, Kensuke Sasaki, Satoshi Kojima, Yoshihiro Takayama, and Yuji Nagata who all lifted the IWGP Heavyweight Championship as well.