9 Satoshi Kojima Matches AEW Fans Should Watch

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.

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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.

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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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• Hiroshi Tanahashi
• satoshi kojima
• NJPW
• AEW

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