Japanese wrestling legend Satoshi Kojima is set to make his AEW debut at All Out this weekend. Wrestling Jon Moxley on an American pay-per-view is a big match for Kojima at this stage in his career but he has had many big matches over the years.
While not as popular a name as the likes of Hiroshi Tanahashi or Kazuchika Okada, Kojima is still one of the best to grace a New Japan ring.
As such, these are the nine Satoshi Kojima matches AEW fans should watch before All Out.
9. Satoshi Kojima vs. Shingo Takagi – NJPW Dominion 2019
Certainly the most recent match on this list, Satoshi Kojima was used as a test for up-and-coming star Shingo Takagi at Dominion 2019.
It had been several years since Kojima was seen as a true main event talent at this time. However, Takagi had just announced his transition to the heavyweight division and Kojima was his first test.
This match is a perfect illustration of where Kojima is at this stage of his career. Definitely not what he once was, but still a formidable foe that should not be taken lightly. Also, he can still put on a hell of a match.
8. Satoshi Kojima vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – NJPW G1 Climax Final 2010
In New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning the G1 Climax is almost as big an accomplishment as winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. With this win, Satoshi Kojima finally managed to do both.
He had been IWGP Champion before, but he had never won the G1 Climax. The only man left in his way by the time he reached the final of G1 Climax 20 was Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi was still on the rise but was certainly among the most talented wrestlers in the world.
However, so was Kojima. Together they had a monumental match to close out New Japan’s annual tournament and one you should certainly track down.
7. Satoshi Kojima vs. Mitsuharu Misawa – AJPW Battle Banquet 2004
Mitsuharu Misawa did not wrestle in All Japan Pro Wrestling many times after the company’s mass exodus in 2000. However, one of his matches with the company was with Satoshi Kojima at Battle Banquet in 2004.
This was a perfect display of the King’s Road style that All Japan had made famous in the 90s. The two absolutely battered each other, waiting until one of them could simply not take any more punishment.
Kojima was on his game, throwing Misawa around and hitting his Lariat for a big nearfall but it was Misawa who came out on top after a monstrous Tiger Driver to the floor and a powerbomb in the ring. The crowd was at a fever pitch by the end in a way only capable of two all-time greats.
6. Satoshi Kojima vs. Genichiru Tenryu – AJPW Excite Series Day 10 2002
5. Satoshi Kojima vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – NJPW Wrestle Kingdom V
Hiroshi Tanahashi has gone on to pass the torch as the face of New Japan Pro Wrestling to Kazuchika Okada, but who did he get the torch from? Satoshi Kojima.
Tanahashi had been IWGP Heavyweight Champion before in his career, but capturing the title in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom V from Kojima was a true passing of the torch moment.
If “main event of Wrestle Kingdom” doesn’t give you reason to go watch it none of my words will. This is another in the long line of superb Wrestle Kingdom main event matches and one of the most significant matches in Kojima’s career.
4. Satoshi Kojima vs. Kazuchika Okada – NJPW Destruction 2013
A few years after his Wrestle Kingdom match with Tanahashi, Satoshi Kojima once again found himself challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. This time, however, his opponent was from the next generation, Kazuchika Okada.
Okada had made his place in New Japan as the best wrestler in the world and more than a formidable champion. At Destruction, Kojima put on an incredible match against wrestling’s greatest prodigy.
There wouldn’t be many main event matches left in Kojima’s singles career but at this stage he proved he could still keep up with the very best in the world.
3. Satoshi Kojima vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan – NJPW New Year Gold Series 2002
If there is any name linked with Satoshi Kojima the most it is Hiroyoshi Tenzan. The two competed as Tencozy, a formidable tag team, for many years but on this night in 2002, they were opponents.
Kojima had left New Japan Pro Wrestling to compete in All Japan Pro Wrestling in the early 2000s but crossed the line for this double championship match. Kojima entered as All Japan’s Triple Crown Champion and challenged Tenzan who was New Japan’s IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
Both men were on top of their game and wrestled one of the best matches of either man’s career. Ultimately it was Kojima who captured the IWGP title for the first time. A huge moment for Kojima and a huge moment for Japanese wrestling.
2. Satoshi Kojima vs. Genichiru Tenryu – AJPW Summer Action Series Day 9 2002
From one of the best matches in Kojima’s career to THE best match in Kojima’s career. Kojima’s rivalry with Genichiru Tenryu is perhaps the best of his career, if not certainly near the top.
If you have to watch one match from this list and are looking to see the best of them all, this is the one to watch. It isn’t necessarily the most significant match of Kojima’s career but it is the best demonstration of his immense talent.
This half-hour clash is an incredible display of heart and the King’s Road style and it will be the best match you will see on many a day.
1. Satoshi Kojima vs. Toshiaki Kawada – AJPW Realise 2005
Toshiaki Kawada often gets overlooked when his name is mentioned in the same conversation as Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi. However, this is terribly unfair to a man who is one of the greats in Japanese wrestling history.
With that in mind, it was Kawada who stood across from Kojima for perhaps the biggest match of Kojima’s career. To this point, Kojima had been wrestling for 14 years but had never been a top champion.
Kawada was in the midst of an incredible run as Triple Crown Champion and put the title on the line against Kojima at Realise. Their battle was fantastic but it culminated with Kojima winning the Triple Crown title for the first time.
A truly special moment in Kojima’s incredible career and one that should be checked out for all of those being introduced to him for the first time.
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