Editor’s Note: Jack Talos first reached out to Slamwrestling.net months ago and informed us he would be doing a tour for the All-Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. After taking some time off, he returns for more adventures in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Per Talos’ request, certain names have been changed to protect their anonymity. Plus, who are we to argue with a seven-foot giant?
By Jack Talos – For Slam! Wrestling
Second Tour- Day One and Two: Back on Mission
After being away for two months in the U.S., returning to Japan carries a weight all its own. Two months of different streets, routines, and faces, and suddenly everything familiar here is waiting. The anticipation isn’t just about the match, or even the reunion with Ayabe — it’s about stepping back into a world that has been waiting for you to return and feeling the shift in your own mindset as you prepare to do it all over again.
By the time the plane touches down, the air is sharp and heavy, and the rhythm of the city below pulls you back into motion. There is a sense of stepping into a routine you’ve been away from, but this time it feels controlled. You’re aware of what’s coming, and you know what is expected of you. That changes the way every step feels — purposeful, measured, ready.
Ayabe was waiting at the airport with our president, Fukuda, and our old friend Hiroki. We didn’t make a scene — just a solid hug and a few words before heading out. We grabbed some food nearby, talked through the time we’d been apart, and caught up on the road. Nothing fancy, just quiet conversation and a shared understanding of what we had ahead. That’s all it takes to reset.
Then we took a van back to the dojo, watching Tokyo pass by; the lights, the streets, the vending machines glowing like small stars. The longer you’ve been away, the more these details hit you — the flow of traffic, the neon reflections on wet pavement, the way people move through the city like it has its own pulse.
The next day was spent moving slowly, preparing everything for the match that evening, and ensuring that everything was in the right place. Your boots are clean, your gear is pressed, and you’re making sure everything is in order. Two months away can change your perspective, making you appreciate the small things again and sharpening the focus you already have.
Walking into Korakuen Hall that evening was like stepping back into something familiar and sharp at once. The smell of the canvas, the quiet hum of the building before the crowd comes alive — it hits differently when you’ve been gone. Every footstep across the floor, every rope under your hand, feels calibrated. Being back with Ayabe felt natural. We went out, handled business, and came away with the win. That’s what shows on paper, but what matters is landing back in the rhythm, knowing you belong here again.
After the match, I rode back to the dojo with some of the other boys. We grabbed a light bite, kept it casual, and let the night wind down. There wasn’t much talking, just the quiet of the city outside the windows and the relief of being done for the night. Back at the dojo, I unpacked, showered, and called it a night.
It felt good to be back, but now the mission is clear: win the World’s Strongest Tag Determination League, then go after the World Tag Team Titles.
Everything from here points straight to that goal.
