Kento Miyahara Retains AJPW Triple Crown Title At EXCITE SERIES 2026 As Another Champion Emerges As Next Challenger

By: Lewis Carlan

On Feb. 23rd, All Japan Pro-Wrestling held its final event of its EXCITE SERIES 2026 tour at the Ota City General Gymnasium. AJPW announced that the attendance was 2,237 for the event that featured three championship bouts as well as the long awaited return of Rei Saito from injury.

The featured bout was an AJPW Triple Crown Title match-up as Kento Miyahara made his fifth defense of the championship against Jun Saito. Miyahara defeated Saito exactly five months ago on Sept. 23 2025 to enter into his seventh reign as the champion. Saito was looking to capitalize on this opportunity and regain the Triple Crown Championship.

Miyahara has been a dominant champion in his seventh reign as he has successfully defended the title belt four times in four months prior to his defense against Saito. There is no doubt that Miyahara was prepared for a tough battle and that’s exactly what he received from Jun Saito.

Saito threw everything in his arsenal at Miyahara but it just wasn’t enough as the current Triple Crown Champion has been on another level the past few months. Miyahara was able to avoid numerous attempts by Saito of his Psycho Break finisher which most likely would have resulted in a title change.

The match ended at the 27:32 mark after Miyahara was able to connect with his Shutdown Suplex to retain his title and thus ending the hopes of Jun Saito of being a two time Triple Crown Champion.

Photo Credit: AJPW

Following his victory, Miyahara began to address the crowd at the Ota City General Gymnasium when he was confronted by Kuma Arashi. Arashi, who won the Gaora TV Title from Daisuke Sekimoto earlier in the evening, was there to challenge Miyahara for his Triple Crown Title on March 20th at Dream Power Series 2026. The match was seemingly accepted by Miyahara, although the bout has not yet been made official by AJPW.

Photo Credit: AJPW

In the co-featured bout, Ren Ayabe & Talos A.K.A. The Titans of Calamity successfully defended the AJPW World Tag Team titles against Hideki Suzuki & Suwama. This was their second successful defense since winning the titles back on Jan. 2.

After the match, Ayabe and Talos were confronted by Rei Saito who challenged them for the AJPW World Tag Team Titles with his brother Jun. It appears that Ayabe & Talos will face a massive challenge from the two time AJPW Tag Team Champions The Saito Brothers on March 15th at Korakuen Hall.

Photo Credit: AJPW

Here are the full results for AJPW EXCITE SERIES 2026 on Feb. 23rd courtesy of purolove.com:

• Ryuki Honda defeated Hokuto Omori (8:28) with the Final Vent.
• Atsuki Aoyagi, Rising HAYATO & Yuma Anzai defeated Ryo Inoue, Kengo Mashimo  & Fuminori Abe (10:20) after Anzai’s gimlet against Abe.
• GAORA TV Title: Kuma Arashi defeated Daisuke Sekimoto (c) (13:02) with a Diving Senton title change (Failed 1st defense -> 33rd Champion).
• Rei Saito Return Match: Rei Saito, “Mr. Saito” Naruki Doi, Senor Saito & Makoto Oishi defeated Go Shiozaki, Shotaro Ashino, Xyon & Oddyssey (11:41) after Rei’s knuckle against Xyon.
• Zennichi Jr. Tag Festival – Round 1: Dan Tamura & Hikaru Sato defeated Kota Sekifuda  & Toshiyuki Sakuda (15:48) after a cross armbreaker by Sato against Sakuda.
• Zennichi Jr. Tag Festival – Round 1: Seiki Yoshioka & Yuya Susumu defeated MUSASHI & Shota Kofuji (15:52) after Yoshioka’s Niten Ichiryu vs. MUSASHI.
• AJPW World Tag Team Title: Ren Ayabe & Talos (c) defeated Suwama & Hideki Suzuki (16:08) after Ayabe’s Death Roulette against Suzuki (2nd defense).
• Triple Crown: Kento Miyahara (c) defeated Jun Saito (27:32) with a shutdown suplex hold (5th defense).