If you told me back in January that one of my favourite matches from my Japan trip would involve Masanobu Fuchi, I’d probably believe you. Watching Fuchi wrestle in two or three old man tags throughout the last couple of years has brought a lot of joy. The matches aren’t anything to write home about, but hearing Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone ring out in the venue while the junior heavyweight legend makes his way to the ring puts smiles on faces.

Beginning his career in 1974, just two years after the company was formed, Fuchi has seen it all. He has wrestled with legends of the business such as the Four Pillars of Heaven, Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta and many more. He was one of the two wrestlers alongside Toshiaki Kawada who stayed in All Japan after the exodus in 2000. He holds the record for the most Junior Heavyweight Title reign at five, and in his third reign held that title for 1309 days, another record for the longest reign. All up he held the title a combined 2443 days, easily clearing the wrestler in second place, Yoshinari Ogawa, by over 1000 days. His in ring achievements aren’t to be forgotten anytime soon.

Back when I was in Japan at the beginning of the year, my wrestling journey was supposed to end on the 4th January with a TJPW show but just like in wrestling, plans change.  

So, on the 14th I dragged my non-wrestling fan Dad back to Korakuen Hall for the fourth and final time of the trip for Masanobu Fuchi’s 50th anniversary and 70th birthday celebration. 

Walking out of the elevators on the 5th floor we were greeted with walls filled with posters for the show, one for every wrestler with a message for the birthday boy. The Saito brothers sticking to their characters with Rei writing ‘DOOM YOU!!!’ and Jun writing ‘Happy Doom You’.  

The vibes were a lot more upbeat than the other two All Japan shows of the year. Gone was the shadow of NXT and Charlie Dempsey and Kento Miyahara was smiling brightly greeting the fan club members, while in the foyer Suwama was holding a signing. The tension of those previous shows and online rumours felt long gone as 1258 fans made their way to their seats and the start of the show.

Before the show officially got underway Fuchi made his way to the ring dressed in the new blue All Japan tracksuit. A video played that showed Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, Genichiro Tenryu and Masahiro Chono all congratulating him, while in the ring Atsushi Onita and Great Kojika presented flowers. Fuchi took the mic, said his thanks to those who sent congratulations videos, while telling the fans he had worried if they would make their way to Korakuen with only his face on the poster for the show. He admitted he was nervous for the first time in a decade but would do his best and give 100% of his heart.

From there it was a regular All Japan show. Junior action kicked off the show, Kuroshio TOKYO Japan running up and down through the crowd and the Saito brothers, Jun and Rei, dominating the tag team scene with another successful defence. But the last two matches were what the people came to see. Going into the show Fuchi didn’t have an opponent, instead it would be decided by a battle royal. After the first two wrestlers were revealed, every minute another one would make their way out. Yuma Anzai and Ryuki Honda were out first followed by Hideki Suzuki, Yuma Aoyagi, Shotaro Ashino, Kento Miyahara, Minoru Suzuki and finally Suwama. 

And if you’re wondering how Kento fits his entrance into only one minute, he doesn’t. 

It came down to Kento and Anzai. One of these men would face Fuchi. As they were going at it in the ring Yuma Aoyagi was sitting amongst the fans cheering for Anzai, while Ashino was standing off to the side with referee Kyohei Wada, both watching the match. With one final jumping knee, Anzai got the win and secured the main event match.

But there was no time to rest for the super rookie. As the referee held up his hand, Danger Zone started playing and Fuchi made his way to the ring for his first singles match since 2017. With Kento in Fuchi’s corner and Honda in Anzai’s, Wada rang the bell and the match began.

For the next 21 minutes and 5 seconds Fuchi and Anzai put on a main event that delighted the whole of Korakuen Hall and people watching the live stream at home. Fuchi brought all the hits. A couple of stalling scoop slams, backdrops, dropkicks, not-so-secret closed fist punches, standing surfboard and a facelock. Fuchi made no secret at all he was tired throughout the match, while Anzai experienced something he never had before. The crowd booed him. The future ace of All Japan was the villain in the match. Meanwhile Kento who was on the outside was like an excited toddler, not able to stand still, all while leading chant after chant for Fuchi.

In the end, one jumping knee followed by a Misawa-like facelock was all Fuchi could take and he had to tap out, ending the match.

With some help from Ryo Inoue and Kento, Fuchi made it up to his knees but he made the rise back to his feet by himself. He eventually took the mic to address the crowd. Reminiscing on Giant Baba’s 60th anniversary match, Fuchi thought he was jealous of him wrestling to that age. But here Fuchi is 26 years later, wrestling into his 70’s. 

Fuchi turned to Anzai now, noting that the way he submitted him was just like how Misawa submitted Jumbo Tsuruta. And if being compared to those All Japan legends wasn’t enough, Fuchi then gifted Anzai Misawa’s facelock to use as his own. 

When it came to the wrestling part of our trip I hardly told my Dad anything about it. I gave him a one minute explanation on All Japan and their issues, like the 2000 exodus and working with WWE, but other than that nothing. I was curious to hear his impression of the wrestling and wrestlers. But my curiosity was at an all time high with what he would think about watching a 70 year old wrestle.

My Dad, who watched most of the match through a camera lens, was very impressed that, especially at his age, Fuchi could still go. At times throughout the match he was laughing, but in amazement. Watching Fuchi lift up Anzai and slamming him down had us both captivated. All up he thought the respect and honour they showed Fuchi was very well done. 

I was a bit worried about letting my Dad into the world of my obsession, but I shouldn’t have been. For something he’s not a fan of, for him to talk about it in a positive light made me very happy. I know he is never going to be a die hard fan, watch a full tournament, or jump on my podcast to talk wrestling but he has respect for it and that’s good enough for me. And the fact that he never learnt the wrestler’s names but gave Kento the most fitting nickname, ‘golden boy’, made me that much happier.

For me, watching Fuchi and Anzai pose in the ring with Wada holding their hands high was a surreal moment, witnessing the literal past and present sharing the ring in the historic Korakuen Hall. I’ve seen Kento Miyahara take on lifetime rival Katsuhiko Nakajima, watched Dan Tamura win his first singles title, felt goosebumps as Kazuchia Okada and Kenny Omega stared each other down months after their six-star match, but nothing made me feel the way that this match did. I can see Dan winning another title, or long time rivals face-to-face again, but Fuchi vs Anzai will be a once in a lifetime thing. 

Fuchi only had two more appearances in All Japan for the rest of 2024, and only one was an actual match. He competed alongside the Saitos in a six man tag for Wada’s 50th anniversary. He also appeared at the end of Suwama’s 20th anniversary match to present him with flowers.

Anzai, on the other hand, went on to have a record breaking year. He took over Kento’s reign as youngest Triple Crown Champion when he defeated Nakajima for the title. He led All Japan into a new era with the young generation at the forefront. 

This match is not going to make anyone’s match of year nominations and this article isn’t trying to sway you to believe it is one. But one random Sunday in January made me love professional wrestling that little bit more.

Poster photos by me. All other photos taken by my Dad, who will never be a wrestling fan but respects it.