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ALL JAPAN TAG CHAMPIONS ENTER NWA CROCKETT CUP 2026

The NWA announced the following:

APJW WORLD TAG CHAMPS ENTER 2026 NWA CROCKETT CUP

National Wrestling Alliance Welcomes All Japan Pro Wrestling Champions Titans of Calamity to the Crockett Cup's 40th Anniversary Celebration April 4 in Forney, TX 

The National Wrestling Alliance today announces All Japan Pro Wrestling World Tag Team Champions The Titans of Calamity, winners of the AJPW Real World Tag Team League 2025, have entered the 2026 NWA Crockett Cup. Tickets to the Crockett Cup are on sale  now at NWALiveEvents.com.

Ren Ayabe and Talos captured the AJPW World Tag Team Titles earlier this year in Tokyo. Now The Titans of Calamity head to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex April 4 to compete at the storied NWA tag team tournament’s 40th anniversary. 

“This is an incredible announcement; I’m so proud to bring it to you,” said NWA President and Owner William Patrick Corgan in a video released today via NWA’s official social media accounts. “Thanks to All Japan Pro Wrestling for making us part of your world.”

The imposing duo of Ayabe and Talos has already proven their skill in tournaments. Together they went 4-1 to take the AJPW Real World Tag Team League 2025, placing them among Japan’s tag team elite. 

Past winners of this prestigious Japanese round-robin tournament include pairings like former NWA Worlds Champions Terry and Dory Funk, Jr. It’s also been won by a string of  former NWA World Tag Team Champions including “Dr. Death” Steve Williams and “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy, Williams and Mike Rotundo, and The Dudleys.

After dominating AJPW, Talos and Ayabe now look to replicate their success in the National Wrestling Alliance. They have their opportunity April 4 at the 2026 Crockett Cup.

Talos is no stranger to the NWA. With Daisy Kill, the 310-lb., seven-foot-tall monster is a two-time NWA United States Tag Team Champion. At 6’7”, the equally massive Ayabe makes his debut for pro wrestling’s most legendary brand when the NWA returns to The OC Theatre in Forney, TX. 

Brackets for the 2026 NWA Crockett Cup, named for promoter Jim Crockett, Sr. and first won in 1986 by the legendary Road Warriors, were established prior to The Titans of Calamity entering. NWA World Tag Team Champions The Immortals (Odinson & Kratos), claimed the No. 1 Seed — but the addition of the APJW World Tag Team Champions now calls this into question.

Per Corgan, The Titans of Calamity enter the tournament as alternates vying for the No. 16 “Wild Card” seed. If successful, the NWA President says, they then move into the tournament to “work their way all the way up the ladder.”

Other teams already announced include nine-time World Tag Team Champs The Good Brothers (“Machine Gun” Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows), former WWE World Tag Team Champs The Colóns (Primo & Epíco), NWA United States Tag Team Champions The SlimeBallz, The Wrestling Machines (NWA National Champion Mondo & NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Slade with Aron Stevens), 2024 Crockett Cup Winners The Southern Six (Alex Taylor and Kerry Morton), NWA New Mexico Tag Team Champions The Country Gentlemen (with Col. Joe Cazana), NWA Chicago Tag Team Champions The Hardway, former NWA Worlds Champion Thom Latimer and 400 lb., 6’9” Puerto Rican giant El Dragón Nihan, and more.

How Ayabe and Talos’ late entry impacts the 2026 Crockett Cup is yet to be determined, but it will play out April 4 in Forney, TX. What is certain is APJW’s Titans could spell calamity for every team involved.

Tickets to the 2026 NWA Crockett Cup are on sale now: NWALiveEvents.com

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