All Japan Pro Wrestling’s Jake Lee has vacated the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship after suffering a fractured nose and fractured left orbital medial wall.
Lee was scheduled to attempt his fourth defense of the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Big Japan Pro Wrestling’s Abdullah Kobayashi at All Japan’s show on January 2, 2022, in Korakuen Hall.
But now Kobayashi will now team with Daisuke Sekimoto and Ryuji Ito against Koji Doi, Kuma Arashi and Ryuki Honda.
Lee’s injury occurred during his match against Honda at All Japan’s show on December 26 in Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. Honda will also replace Lee teaming with Hokuto Omori and Yusuke Kodama against Atsuki Aoyagi, Rising HAYATO and GLEAT’s Yu Iizuka at All Japan’s show on January 3, 2022, in Korakuen Hall.
Lee’s first Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship reign ends at 185 days and his entire ascension to the top of All Japan in 2021 was snakebitten in many ways. When he defeated Kento Miyahara to win the Champion Carnival on May 3 in Korakuen Hall, it was without live fans in attendance. His subsequent title match against then-champion SUWAMA was scheduled to take place at All Japan’s show on May 16 in Ota Ward Gymnasium, but the show was postponed with five days notice to June 26 due to the extended state of emergency in Japan because of COVID.
The match never took place after news broke that SUWAMA vacated the title due to testing positive for COVID-19 on June 20 – six days before the rescheduled show.
Lee defeated Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi to win the title in a gauntlet-style series where the first man to win two matches would become the new champion. Now, five days before his scheduled fourth defense of the title, his reign ends due to injury.
Lee made three successful defenses of the title during his reign against Shotaro Ashino at All Japan’s show on July 22 in Korakuen Hall, SUWAMA at All Japan’s show on September 21 in Korakuen Hall and Miyahara at All Japan’s show on October 16 in Ota Ward Gymnasium.
All Japan has not announced a timeline for Lee’s recovery or any plans regarding the vacant Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.
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