All Japan Pro Wrestling launched its Royal Road tournament on September 9 at Stellar Ball in Minato, Japan. The event drew an announced crowd of 775 and featured three first-round tournament bouts, with Timothy Thatcher, Kento Miyahara and Go Shiozaki each moving forward.

The tournament opener portion of the card delivered a notable collection of names from All Japan’s roster and beyond. Thatcher defeated Hideki Suzuki in a meeting between two wrestlers known for physical, technical styles. Miyahara, one of All Japan’s most established headliners, overcame Hyo Ogawa. Shiozaki then defeated Ren Ayabe to secure another place in the next stage of the Royal Road field.

Outside of tournament action, the September 9 card included three multi-man matches featuring prominent All Japan regulars, the HAVOC unit, and several younger competitors. Dan Tamura, Seigo Tachibana and Hokuto Omori earned a win over MUSASHI, Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuya Aoki. HAVOC’s Xyon, Oddyssey and Shotaro Ashino defeated Ryuki Honda, Kumaarashi and Yasutaka Yano. In the other non-tournament contest, Yuma Aoyagi, Yuma Anzai and Shota Kofuji defeated Jun Saito, Rei Saito and Rising HAYATO.

Thatcher survives Hideki Suzuki in the opening round

Timothy Thatcher’s victory over Hideki Suzuki was the first of the three Royal Road tournament results on the show. Both men bring substantial credibility to a tournament setting built around high-level singles competition, and Thatcher’s advancement immediately makes him an important name to watch as the event continues.

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Thatcher has long been associated with a mat-based, punishing approach, while Suzuki is also recognized as a difficult opponent capable of turning a match into a grinding technical struggle. The result puts Thatcher through the first hurdle, but it also removes Suzuki from the tournament at its opening stage.

No additional match details or tournament pairings were announced as part of the available results. What is clear is that Thatcher now joins the advancing side of the bracket after defeating an opponent who represented a significant early test.

Miyahara keeps moving forward

Kento Miyahara defeated Hyo Ogawa in another first-round Royal Road match. For Miyahara, tournament competition is familiar territory. His name is closely connected with All Japan’s modern main-event scene, and any tournament he enters naturally carries expectations of a deep run.

Ogawa faced a formidable challenge in drawing Miyahara in round one, but the result confirms that Miyahara remains alive in the field. The victory gives him an early step toward potentially adding another major tournament accomplishment to his All Japan record.

Miyahara’s presence also gives the Royal Road tournament an immediate centerpiece. With several first-round matches still relevant to the eventual shape of the bracket, his advancement creates the possibility of significant contests later in the tournament without establishing any specific future matchup before it is announced.

Shiozaki defeats Ayabe

Go Shiozaki rounded out the tournament winners on the September 9 card by defeating Ren Ayabe. The result sends Shiozaki into the next round and ends Ayabe’s run before it could build momentum in the tournament.

Ayabe has been a notable figure among All Japan’s newer generation, making the matchup a meaningful opportunity against an accomplished opponent in Shiozaki. Shiozaki’s win, however, reinforces the importance of experience in a tournament environment where a single loss is enough to change the entire landscape.

With Thatcher, Miyahara and Shiozaki all advancing on the opening night of Royal Road action, All Japan has placed three established singles names into the next phase. The field remains open, but the first show established that the tournament will feature major tests from the beginning rather than a slow build toward its biggest encounters.

HAVOC scores a six-man victory

In non-tournament action, HAVOC’s Xyon, Oddyssey and Shotaro Ashino defeated Ryuki Honda, Kumaarashi and Yasutaka Yano. The victory gave HAVOC a successful showing on a card otherwise centered on the Royal Road tournament.

Ashino’s inclusion made the result particularly notable within the All Japan landscape. Alongside Xyon and Oddyssey, he helped HAVOC leave Stellar Ball with a decisive win over a trio that combined Honda’s power, Kumaarashi’s physicality and Yano’s developing presence.

Unit matches can often influence momentum even when they do not directly affect a singles tournament bracket. HAVOC’s win ensures the group remains prominent during a show where the spotlight was largely placed on Thatcher, Miyahara and Shiozaki’s first-round successes.

Aoyagi, Anzai and Kofuji defeat the Saito brothers’ side

Yuma Aoyagi, Yuma Anzai and Shota Kofuji also picked up a six-man tag team victory, defeating Jun Saito, Rei Saito and Rising HAYATO. The match brought together a wide range of All Japan talent, pairing Aoyagi with Anzai and Kofuji against the imposing Saito brothers and their partner.

The win continues a positive night for Aoyagi and Anzai, two wrestlers whose involvement gives the result added weight within All Japan’s current roster. Kofuji completed the winning team, while Jun Saito, Rei Saito and Rising HAYATO were left searching for a response after the loss.

Although the Royal Road tournament was the central attraction, matches such as this one illustrated the depth of the lineup at Stellar Ball. The card did not focus exclusively on the tournament; it also gave several regulars the chance to compete in meaningful multi-man action on the same night.

Tamura, Tachibana and Omori open the show with a win

Dan Tamura, Seigo Tachibana and Hokuto Omori defeated MUSASHI, Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuya Aoki in the remaining six-man tag contest. The result placed Tamura, Tachibana and Omori on the winning side against a team that included the veteran power of Sekimoto as well as MUSASHI and Aoki.

For Tamura, Tachibana and Omori, the victory provided a strong start to the evening. Their opponents represented a varied combination of experience and ability, making the result an important collective success for the All Japan trio.

Sekimoto and Aoki have both been associated with hard-hitting competition, while MUSASHI added another established presence to their side. Even so, Tamura, Tachibana and Omori secured the decision and set the tone before the night shifted toward Royal Road tournament competition.

All Japan Pro Wrestling results — September 9, 2026

  • Dan Tamura, Seigo Tachibana and Hokuto Omori defeated MUSASHI, Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuya Aoki.
  • HAVOC’s Xyon, Oddyssey and Shotaro Ashino defeated Ryuki Honda, Kumaarashi and Yasutaka Yano.
  • Yuma Aoyagi, Yuma Anzai and Shota Kofuji defeated Jun Saito, Rei Saito and Rising HAYATO.
  • Royal Road Tournament, Round One: Timothy Thatcher defeated Hideki Suzuki.
  • Royal Road Tournament, Round One: Kento Miyahara defeated Hyo Ogawa.
  • Royal Road Tournament, Round One: Go Shiozaki defeated Ren Ayabe.

Royal Road field begins to take shape

The September 9 event was an important starting point for All Japan’s Royal Road tournament. Thatcher, Miyahara and Shiozaki each emerged with their tournament hopes intact, while Suzuki, Ogawa and Ayabe were eliminated from this portion of the competition.

There is still much to be decided as Royal Road continues, including which opponents await the first-round winners and which other wrestlers will join them in later stages. The first results nonetheless established an early standard: no opening-round matchup was insignificant, and every victory immediately elevated its winner’s position in the tournament.

For the 775 fans in attendance at Stellar Ball, the show offered both a clear tournament launch and a full supporting card. Thatcher’s advancement, Miyahara’s continued pursuit of another major All Japan achievement, and Shiozaki’s victory over Ayabe are the results that will define the immediate direction of Royal Road following its opening night.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.