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NWA CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENDED IN ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING FOR FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS

The NWA announced:

NWA Worlds Title Successfully Defended in AJPW 

“The Thrillbilly” Silas Mason remains the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion! 

Mason successfully retained the National Wrestling Alliance’s legendary “Ten Pounds of Gold” today (June 18) at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Taking his "Thrill 'Em All Tour" to The Land of the Rising Sun, “Big Daddy Thrill” defeated challenger Shotaro Ashino at All Japan Pro Wrestling’s “Super Power Series 2026.”

One of the fastest-rising stars in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Ashino is a former two-time AJPW World Tag Team Champion. A protege of The Great Muta (Keiji Mutoh) and Kaz Hayashi, he previously held Japan’s Wrestle-1 Championship on two occasions. Despite his accolades, Ashino could not survive Mason's patented "Thrillride" finish.

"He's a tough brother, and we had one helluva fight in front of the great fans of All Japan Pro Wrestling," said Mason of Ashino. 

“But when you challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title, you're not just stepping into the ring for The Ten Pounds of Gold,’” “The Thrillbilly” continued. “You're stepping in there with 'The Biggest Man Who Ever Lived'... You're facing Silas Mason!"

Mason’s victory marks the first Japanese defense of the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title in more than two years. The champion adds Ashino to an already impressive series of successful defenses since capturing the gold from Thom Latimer at NWA 77 last August in Long Island, NY. 

During his reign, Mason has become the first NWA Worlds Champion of the Lightning One Era to put the title on the line in all NWA-recognized territories. To date, he’s logged defenses in 12 states and Japan, defeating the likes of former champion Latimer, Rich Swann, former NWA World Television Champion Bryan Idol, and more.

Mason’s next televised NWA Worlds Title Defense takes place June 20 on NWA POWERRR. “The Thrillbilly” faces the 6’9, 376 lb. “Puerto Rican Man-Monster” El Dragon Nihan this Saturday, 4PM ET on Comet TV. Find Comet in your area, and watch the most recent episode of NWA POWERRR 24/7 on demand, at: CometTV.com/NWA.

“The Thrillbilly” will compete at NWA 78, coming to Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on July 25. Celebrating 78 years of the National Wrestling Alliance, the “Ten Pounds of Gold” is expected to be defended in the Main Event of NWA's biggest event of the year. Tickets to NWA 78 in Philly are on sale now at NWALiveEvents.com. 

For complete details about the National Wrestling Alliance, upcoming NWA Live Events, and more, visit: NationalWrestlingAlliance.com.

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The last NWA title defense in All Japan Pro Wrestling (to the best of my research) would date back to 1989 when Ricky Steamboat defended against Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa)

 

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