How AEW Booked Jun Akiyama For This Week's Rampage

Japanese wrestling legend Jun Akiyama debuts for All Elite Wrestling this week, teaming with DDT rostermate Konosuke Takeshita to face Eddie Kingston and Ortiz on Rampage.

The bout takes place in Newark, New Jersey live on Friday. As well as being Takeshita's AEW comeback match following a breakout summer spell, it is a version of Kingston's dream match, as Eddie has long sought to face Akiyama.

Dave Meltzer writes in the Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online Daily Update that the bout is a product of mutual interest. When Kingston said he wanted to face Akiyama, whom he is a huge fan of, Jun responded in kind. Thus, AEW put the contest together in conjunction with Takeshita's return.

Kingston has expressed his desire to face Akiyama several times. Last year, he told Fanbyte's Joseph Anthony Montecillo the following:-

“That man is a legend. Should be treated as such and spoken of as such. I would chop him, smack him, hit him, suplex him just like he would to me. And we would fight and it would be great because I just like fighting in that ring. I know I would learn something from him in the King’s Road style.”

Akiyama then told Monthly Puroresu:-

"I’m just glad to say that there are many people who still want to wrestle me even at this age. I’d want to go against Eddie Kingston."

Often referred to as All Japan Pro Wrestling's 'Fifth Pillar', the 53-year-old came up under Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, and Akira Taue, never quite capturing that quartet's level of era-defining stardom, but becoming a legendary figure himself. The former GHC Heavyweight and Triple Crown Champion currently plies his trade in DDT, with whom AEW seemingly enjoys friendly relations following Takeshita's successful United States excursion.

Whether or not Tony Khan and AEW will pull the trigger on an Akiyama vs. Kingston singles match remains to be seen. Fingers crossed for Eddie.