Peatzilla | MP
By: Lewis Carlan
In an addendum to our original interview/article, Talos spoke with Monthly Puroresu once again as we discussed winning the AJPW World Tag Team Titles, his upcoming title match with Kento Miyahara and more!
When Monthly Puroresu last spoke with the seven foot tall AJPW superstar Talos, he was gearing up for a AJPW World Tag Team Title shot with his Titans of Calamity partner Ren Ayabe.
Talos began his 2026 on a positive note as he & Ayabe went on to defeat Xyon & Oddyssey to become the the 103rd AJPW World Tag Team Champions. The Titans of Calamity are scheduled to defend their titles for the first time on Feb. 1st against Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi at Okinawa Nippon Budokan.
Since making his debut in AJPW back on June 1st 2025, Talos has proven that he is a massive force to be reckoned with and has enjoyed enormous success, especially with tag team partner Ren Ayabe. In addition to being the AJPW World Tag Team Champions, Talos & Ayabe won the Real World Tag League 2025 tournament back in Dec. 2025.
On Jan. 25th, Talos has a chance to win more gold as he will face AJPW megastar Kento Miyahara for the prestigious Triple Crown Championship at New Years Wars 2026 in Chiba. Miyahara seemed reluctant as first to accept a challenge from Talos due to the size and strength differentials between the two competitors.
The AJPW Triple Crown Championship match between Miyahara & Talos is official and Talos has an opportunity to become a double champion on Jan. 25th in Chiba.
Here is our new updated interview with Talos. The original Talos interview with Monthly Puroresu follows the addendum.
Monthly Puroresu:
Congratulations on winning the AJPW World Tag Team Championship with Ren Ayabe. How does it feel being a world champion and where do you think the Titans Of Calamity now rank among tag teams in Japan and the World?
Talos:
Thank you and it feels incredible. These are some of the moments that let you know you’re on the right path and that the work you’ve put in paid off and these belts are the physical embodiment of that work. When it comes to where the Titans of Calamity rank—whether that’s in Japan or globally—I’ve never been someone who downplays reality. Ayabe and I are one of the best tag teams in the world, period. On our own, we’re both powerhouses with very different styles. Together, those differences don’t clash—they multiply. That’s what makes us dangerous. That’s what makes us unstoppable.
Monthly Puroresu:
Your first defence comes on Feb 1. How do you rate Hokuto Omori and Kuma Arashi as challengers?
Talos:
How do I rate them? Well I’m not one to overlook any champions here in AJPW because I know the competition they face everyday and I know how tough those two are personally from being their teammate. So as wrestlers and champions I rate them very highly. But when it comes to this match and their chance of victory against The ToC? I’d say they don’t stand a chance.
Monthly Puroresu:
Rei Saito is set to return to action soon and him and his brother Jun have ruled AJPW tag team scene for years. Do you believe the Titans of Calamity must defeat The Saito’s to truly say you are the best tag team in AJPW?
Talos:
Now this is the million dollar question that everyone keeps asking huh? Those two have been absolutely dominant champions here at AJPW both as tag team champions and Jun as a triple crown champion. But to answer your question, as powerful a force as everyone knows me and Ayabe are I do think not only have to beat the Saito brothers but beat them decisively to truly call ourselves the best tag team in AJPW. As they say “to be the best you have to beat the best” and there’s no doubt those two have been the best here…until now.
Monthly Puroresu:
On Jan. 25th, you have a massive opportunity as you face Kento Miyahara for the Triple Crown Championship. Miyahara has seemed to be somewhat afraid of you. Do you believe that’s genuine or do you think he is creating a false sense of security for you?
Talos:
Yeah, it’s definitely the hell of an opportunity to keep building on the success I’ve had in the tag team division. As to Miyahara’s actions I’m always cautious to underestimate a man who’s accomplished the things he has. He’s tough and he’s smart. Even though he may take the cheap shots, let others take the pin meant for him or even running away in this case I have to assume he has a strategy.
Photo Credit: AJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
How do you feel your challenge to Miyahara will be different from his recent past challengers including Yuma Anzai and Go Shiozaki?
Talos:
The short answer? He’s never faced anyone like me and he’ll be the first to tell you that. He’s never had to fight anyone this big, this strong, and this agile. Miyahara doesn’t want to be in that ring with me or any other super heavyweight for that matter. He talks about hitting his “shutdown suplex” when he can’t even get his hands around my torso.
Monthly Puroresu:
With the AJPW Triple Crown Title comes much responsibility and places a massive target on your back. Should you win the title, what kind of champion can we expect you to be?
Talos:
Definitely not the kind that runs out of the ring when a challengers shows up. But in all seriousness I welcome that challenge and will face anyone who thinks they’re man enough to take that belt from me once I have it.
Monthly Puroresu:
In closing, what message do you have for Kento Miyahara?
Talos:
My message to Kento is simple and hasn’t changed since Korakuen Hall. On January 25th at Makuhari Messe I plan to give the people of Japan the champion they deserve and take that belt from you.
ORIGINAL INTERVIEW/ARTICLE:
At seven feet tall and over three hundred pounds, All Japan Pro-Wrestling star Talos is quite an imposing figure inside the squared circle.
Talos made his debut for AJPW back on June 1st at the AJPW Super Power Series 2025 event in Sendai. Joining forces with Hokuto-gun, he teamed with Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi as they defeated Ren Ayabe, Yuma Anzai & Ryuki Honda.
In Aug. 2025, Talos decided to leave Hokuto-gun and formed a powerhouse tag team with Ren Ayabe who he had been feuding with prior. The new tag team called themselves the “Titans of Calamity”.
Talos & Ayabe hit the ground running and proved that they were a tag team force inside the ring as they racked up numerous victories.
The “Titans of Calamity” earned the distinction of being one of the best teams in AJPW and all of pro-wrestling when they won the prestigious AJPW Real World Tag League 2025 tournament on December 10.
They made a huge statement by defeating the current AJPW World Tag Team Champions Xyon & Oddyssey in the finals of the tournament.
On Jan. 2nd, Ayabe & Talos will get their AJPW World Tag Team Championship opportunity when they face Xyon & Oddyssey once again. this time with the titles on the line.
Talos graciously granted Monthly Puroresu an exclusive interview as we discussed various topics including the AJPW Real World Tag League, Ren Ayabe and much more.
Here is our exclusive interview with AJPW star Talos:
Monthly Puroresu:
Congratulations on winning the AJPW Real World Tag League.  Where does this rank among your other championship accomplishments?
Talos:
Thank you! This certainly ranks up near the very top for me. When you talk about something this historic with past winners like Bruiser Brody, Terry Funk, The Dudley Boyz, Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta. You have to try and appreciate what that means. So yeah I’d say it’s pretty high on the list.
Monthly Puroresu:
The Real World Tag League is a tough tournament, did you have to increase your training regiment prior to the tournament?
Talos:
Well wrestling doesn’t really have an offseason so the training never stops but I’d say the best training was being on the Hokkaido Dynamite Tour before the start of the tournament. I think that time and those matches really let me and Ayabe work on our team work and strategy.
Photo Credit: AJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
You and Ren Ayabe defeated the AJPW World Tag Team Champions Xyon & Oddyssey to win the tournament. Your thoughts on the champions and can you and Ayabe beat them again on Jan 2?
Talos:
Absolutely. I know they’re going to come back swinging even harder than this time but we’ve already proven we can beat them and Jan 2nd won’t be any different than the first time.
Image Credit: AJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
Why do you think you and Ayabe make such a dominant team that works so well together?
Talos:
The reality is this, me and Ayabe are the biggest tag team in the world right now and arguably one of the biggest of all time since Andre and Giant Baba. Each of us is a powerhouse on our own and together I don’t think there’s a team on earth that can stop us.
Monthly Puroresu:
Who came up with the name “Titans of Calamity” and is there a story behind it?
Talos:
There is! But I’m gonna let Ayabe-san be the one tell that story!
Monthly Puroresu:
What were the circumstances that led you appearing in AJPW?
Talos:
Well at the time AJPW first approached me I was working with the Billy Corgan and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in the US. They were good enough at the time to allow me to come out here. When I did last May, everything had kind of grown from there.
Monthly Puroresu:
You began your time in AJPW as a member of Hokuto-gun. Why did you decide to leave the unit and join forces with Ayabe?
Talos:
I have a lot of love for Hokuto-gun and every member of that group. They brought me in and gave me a place here in AJPW so I’ll always be grateful for that. But I’m not here to simply make friends and be a part of someone else’s story. I’m here to win championships and make history and I knew after fighting Ayabe that he was a man I could do that with. So I made the decision and returned the shirt.
Photo Credit: AJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
What led to you deciding to pursue a career as a pro wrestler?
Talos:
Man there’s a loaded question! I’ll try to give you the quick version because it’s kind of a long story. So I was a fan in and out of my life but prior to my wrestling career I played professional basketball in a number of places internationally. For the last couple years prior to becoming a wrestler I was working with the World Famous “Harlem Globetrotters”. For the people who don’t know who that is they are technically the oldest basketball team on earth and the best way to think of their games is if wrestling and basketball had a baby. I was the lead villain for the opposing team the “Washington Generals”. We were doing a show in Georgia when The phenomenal one himself AJ Styles came to one of the shows as he’s a big basketball fan. He approached me after the show and offered me a tryout with the WWE which I accepted and went on to get a job there from 2020 to right near the beginning of 2022. It should be noted I was looking at wrestling schools when this happened to start transitioning to becoming a professional wrestler but the universe just has funny timing.
Monthly Puroresu:
Who were some of your influences?
Talos:
As a wrestler? There’s a few but I’d say the biggest 3 are firstly, The Undertaker who absolutely was and is my all time favorite. Second would be Bruiser Brody because I loved the raw emotion it felt like he always brought into the ring. Lastly I would say “Sir” Robbie Brookside. He was my very first wrestling coach and absolutely my biggest inspiration in wrestling.
Photo Credit: AJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
What is your contract situation with AJPW? Are you signed and if not, it that something you would consider?
Talos:
So I’m not really at liberty to discuss that but I will say that I don’t have any plans on being anywhere else for the foreseeable future.
Monthly Puroresu:
You’ve had three singles bouts while in AJPW against Ayabe, Seiki Yoshioka & Seigo Tachibana. Are there any other competitors you’d like to face in a singles bout while in AJPW?
Talos:
Oh there’s plenty of singles matches I’d love to have. Kento Vs. Talos would be one hell of a match or either of the Saito brothers. I’d really to get a little revenge on MUSASHI one of these days and I’d relish the chance to throw Hideki [Suzuki] around a little bit.
Image Credit: AJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
Do you have your eyes on the AJPW Triple Crown Title?
Talos:
Right now, I’m focused on what’s in front of me and that’s the Tag Team championships but, yes. Like I said early I’m here to win championships and make history and being a Triple Crown champion is definitely on that list. But it all happens one step at a time.
Monthly Puroresu:
I’ve always wanted to ask, how does a Talos vs Andre the Giant match play out in your opinion?
Talos:
Oh man! I don’t know how the ring would hold up with all that but it would be one hell of a fight. We’re right around the same height. He’d have the weight but I’d have the speed which is a strange thing for me to say. I don’t know what would have happened but I know I would have paid to watch it.
Monthly Puroresu:
What does the future hold for you and what are some of your goals in 2026?
Talos:
2026 is shaping up to be one hell of a year. First thing is first though and right now all my focus is on the tag belts with Ayabe. After we secure those with a victory on January 2nd I can start looking further out. The Champions Carnival is just around the corner and that might just be the best place to start working towards the Triple Crown.
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Talos for granting us this interview.
Date:
December 23, 2025
