Editor’s Note: Talos, a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, reached out to Slamwrestling.net recently and informed us he will be doing a tour for the All-Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. Per Talos’ request, certain names have been changed to protect their anonymity. Plus, who are we to argue with a seven-foot giant?
Here is another excerpt of his recent adventures in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Day 26: “A First of Many”
This entire month has felt like a highlight reel, one unforgettable milestone after another. My first match in Japan. My first championship bout against my own teammates. My debut inside the hallowed walls of Korakuen Hall. Even my birthday came and went with its little fire.
But June 24th carved out its own corner of my heart—it was the day I wrestled my first-ever singles match for All Japan Pro Wrestling, and my first solo match in Japan, period.
The morning started like any other show day. I woke up, got myself together, loaded my gear into the van, and hit the road with a couple of the boys. The ride was typical—some laughs, some quiet focus, some nodding off in the backseat. We eventually made our way to Shinkiba 1st Ring, tucked in a gritty corner of Tokyo between a pair of factories. The venue isn’t huge by any stretch, more like a repurposed warehouse turned wrestling haven, but the minute you step inside, it hits you.
It’s built for wrestling.
The walls and ceiling are blacked out, swallowing the light and giving the whole room a deep, almost theatrical intensity. The ring sits in the middle of a tight square of chairs, no more than 300 seats total, if that.
But I swear to you, when showtime hit and the crowd came alive, it felt like 10,000 strong had packed into that little space. Stomping. Clapping. Screaming. Hanging on every breath. What the place lacked in size, it more than made up for in soul.
I was the first match on the card.
One fall. No time limit. But I already knew—I wasn’t going to need long.
Just before the bell, my opponent, Seigo Tachibana, snatched the mic and started barking at me in front of the crowd. He didn’t just want the match—he wanted a stipulation. No chokeslam. No “Ride the Lightning,” as my guy Danny Dealz back in NWA likes to say.
No problem. I agreed. No excuses, no shortcuts.
The bell rang, and we were off.
Now, I never go into deep detail about match play-by-plays in these journal entries. That’s for you to experience with your own eyes—on screen or in person. But I will say this: Seigo might’ve banned the chokeslam, but he still hit the floor like he got struck by thunder: finish or no finish.
I thought I was done for the night, but before I could even start peeling off my tape, I was told I’d be in the main event battle royal. Over-the-top-rope rules. Chaos from the word “go.” It started civil enough, but it didn’t take long before the fight spilled out into every corner of the venue. Trash cans flying, chairs crashing, Takashi playing pretend referee—it was beautiful madness.
And honestly? I don’t think I’ve ever had more pure fun in a ring. It reminded me why we do this. The unpredictability. The rush. The noise. The people. The feeling that anything can happen at any moment.
At the end of the night, when the final bell had rung and the crowd was still buzzing, we all gathered for a moment of silence and support—for one of our own. A young trainee who had suffered a serious injury during my first week in Japan. He’s still recovering, still fighting. And on this night, every fan, every wrestler, every crew member stood together in solidarity and paid tribute to his courage. It was a sobering, heartfelt reminder that behind all the flash and fury of this business lies a very real brotherhood.
I was honored to be part of it.
Related Links and Stories
Daisy Kill and Talos making giant music in the NWA
The True Tall Tales of Talos: Touchdown in Tokyo
The True Tall Tales of Talos: “When the Day Comes Looking for You”
The True Tall Tales of Talos: “A Day in the Fire”
The True Tall Tales of Talos: “The Hall of Thunder”
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