Yuya Aoki Scores Massive Win Over AJPW World Jr Champ Dan Tamura as the Zennichi Jr. Festival Kicks Off

By: Lewis Carlan

The All Japan Pro-Wrestling Zennichi Jr. Festival tournament got underway on Aug. 9th as the promotion presented SUMMER ACTION WARS 2026 at Korakuen Hall. There were 1,368 fans on hand for the start of the tournament.

The AJPW Zennichi Jr. Festival started with a big surprise as the opening bout saw the AJPW World Jr Heavyweight Champion Dan Tamura face off against Yuya Aoki in a B Block match-up.

The fans were expecting a competitive start to the tournament and they weren’t disappointed. Aoki and Tamura fought hard in an attempt to earn their first two points of the festival.

In a result most fans did not see coming, Aoki defeated the AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Tamura after landing his patented Kesagiri Chop and secured his first two points.

Now with the victory, even if he doesn’t win the tournament, Aoki had earned the right to challenge for AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Championship at some point during the course of the year.

Here are the post-match backstage comments from Yuya Aoki:

“We did it! I got a win over Dan Tamura in the Junior Festival opener. I’m incredibly happy about this win. And it’s a huge one. All Japan Pro-Wrestling, and all you other promotions out there! Try to stop Yuya Aoki!” (English translation via Deepl.com)

In other Zennichi Jr. Festival action, Rising HAYATO defeated Leon de Oro and Seiki Yoshioka got by MUSASHI.

Here are the full results for the AJPW Zennichi Jr. Festival tournament on Aug. 9 courtesy of purolove.com:

• Zennichi Jr. Festival – Block B: Yuya Aoki [2] defeated Dan Tamura [0] (11:05) with a Kesagiri Chop.
• Zennichi Jr. Festival – Block B: “Mr. Saito” Naruki Doi [2] defeated Shota Kofuji [0] (3:49) with a Crab Hold.
• Jun Saito, Rei Saito, Hideki Suzuki & Ryuki Honda defeated Yuma Aoyagi, Shotaro Ashino, Ren Ayabe & Kuma Arashi (7:55) after Honda’s Final Vent against Aoyagi.
• Zennichi Jr. Festival – Block A: Seigo Tachibana [2] defeated Yasutaka Yano [0] (10:14) with the Yankee Hammer.
• Zennichi Jr. Festival – Block B: Masaaki Mochizuki [2] defeated Hokuto Omori [0](10:34) with the twister.
• Triple Crown Skirmish: Kento Miyahara & Suwama defeated Go Shiozaki & Yuma Anzai (14:00) after Miyahara’s blackout against Anzai.
• Zennichi Jr. Festival – Block A: Rising HAYATO [2] defeated Leon de Oro [0] (11:38) by pinfall.
• Zennichi Jr. Festival – Block A: Seiki Yoshioka [2] defeated MUSASHI [0] (20:21) with the crash driver.

Here are the updated tournament Block standings courtesy of purolove.com:

BLOCK A

• Rising HAYATO [2]
• Seiki Yoshioka [2]
• Seigo Tachibana [2]
• MUSASHI [0]
• Yasutaka Yano [0]
• Leon de Oro [0]

BLOCK B

• Masaaki Mochizuki [2]
• ”Mr. Saito” Naruki Doi [2]
• Yuya Aoki [2]
• Dan Tamura [0]
• Hokuto Omori [0]
• Shota Kofuji [0]