Kojima is competing in the Champion Carnival.
When the field for the 2023 AJPW Champion Carnival tournament was released, there was a mystery slot in both the A and B blocks.
At today’s All Japan show, the mystery A block participant was revealed to be former IWGP Heavyweight, GHC Heavyweight and AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima.
Kojima is joining a block that includes Yuma Aoyagi, Kento Miyahara, Yoshitatsu, Ryuki Honda, T-Hawk, Jun Saito and Cyrus.
AブロックのXは新日本プロレス小島聡選手に決定‼‼
小島聡選手は2003 年優勝
13 年ぶり 10 度目の出場になります詳細→https://t.co/yni4KD6j5y#ajpw #njpw pic.twitter.com/gSNXVwb5e8
— 全日本プロレス/alljapan (@alljapan_pw) March 21, 2023
In February, Kojima wrapped up a run in Pro Wrestling NOAH that included a run with the GHC Heavyweight and Tag Team Titles. He wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling on one of the Fantasticamania cards, the 51st Anniversary show and was part of an undercard match on the New Japan Cup tour.
Kojima last wrestled for All Japan in 2017 and this year is going to be first Champion Carnival since 2010.