MAX-J Global Heroes

While MAX-J uses its domestic citizenry (both native Japanese and any foreign permanent residents of Japan) to promote its domestic product overseas, the brand also seeks to import the best talent from around the world into the Japanese pro-wrestling community as a whole. In this function, MAX-J acts less as its own promotion (though it does, from time to time, promote its own shows) but more as a broker who assists foreign talent to secure bookings in the country.

If you're interested in MAX-J's partner promotions in Japan, click here.

The following fighters are officially sponsored by MAX-J:

Tiger Mask Red
6'2", 250 lbs

A veteran over over a dozen years, Tiger Mask Red is no stranger to Land of the Rising Sun. As a young man, he traveled from Mexico, where he was originally trained, to Japan, with the man who would become his mentor, and father figure, Kenji Morimoto. It would be in Japan that he would perfect his craft in the BATTLE dojo and eventually earn his cherished mask. Since then he has wrestled around the world, having won championships wherever he goes, starting with BATLLE Japan's 2014 Young Lions Cup. No matter what you call him, whether it's by his given name, Eli Buchanan, or as the dark beast of Hotel California, Kalidah, Tiger Mask Red is a force to be reckoned with.

The question of why Tiger Mask Red has chosen to come to Max-J in this form isn't quite clear. In the past he's made it clear he considers Japan "holy land", so perhaps he's chosen to return to his roots in an effort to pay homage to Morimoto and his other trainers, who chose to take him and gave him purpose. To him Japan wasn't just the place he learned how to wrestle, it became a home when no where else felt like one. He speaks the language fluently and will always be linked to Japan through his eldest son, great-nephew to his mentor. Will this bring him into opposition to those who want to make a name for themselves at the expense of his adopted people, or those who seek to "purify" Japan of all "gaijin"? Only time will tell.

Tiger Mask Red's style has changed a deal since he first competed in Japan, largely due to his increased size and past history of leg injuries. Gone are many of the flashier, high risk moves he perfectly from his time in Mexico, although he isn't opposed to pulling out a topé con hilo, or a topé suicida when deemed necessary. Instead, he relies on a more Strong Style offence, featuring stiff chops, neck strikes and kicks, as well as devastating roaring elbow and a lariat clothesline that will nearly take your head off. While TMR still relies on both the German Suplex and Belly-to-Belly Suplex to punish his opponents, he rarely pulls out his trademark Tiger Suplex to finish opponents, opting for the more devastating Tiger Driver '91, usually followed up with a Boyame knee strike to the back of the head to finish his opponents off.

- PMLL Heavyweight Champion (1, current)

- King of Lions Champion (1)

- World Tag Team Champion (1) w/Carl Whitaker)

- Heritage Tag Team Champion (2) (1, w/Jason Cashe; 1, w/Jacob Hammerstein)

- J1 SUMMIT 2024 runner up

Ryan Samuels, also known as "The Midwest Nightmare," is a towering figure in professional wrestling, standing at 6'6" and weighing 320 pounds. Hailing from Tribune, Kansas, Samuels cultivated a persona of a hard-hitting, rule-breaking cowboy, drawing inspiration from real world wrestling legends like Stan Hansen. His career began after he decided to pursue his wrestling dreams post-high school, foregoing college despite a successful run as a football star. This decision led him through the independent wrestling circuits where he honed his craft and built a reputation for his fierce brawling style and unapologetically heelish tactics.

Samuels' career is marked by his preference for chaotic, no-holds-barred match types, where his disregard for rules and penchant for cheating often give him the upper hand. His signature moves include the Midwest Express (Lariat) and Give Them Jessy (Reverse-spin scoop powerslam), which have felled many opponents. Despite his rough and antagonistic demeanor, Samuels has formed alliances, most notably with his cousin and tag team partner "Big Brutus" Boomer Johnson, while also maintaining intense rivalries, such as his ongoing feud with Kanaka Mauna.

Throughout his career, Samuels has appeared in various promotions, including Five Lakes Wrestling and Pollo Road, where his matches and feuds have been highlights of the events. His character as a loud, obnoxious, and hard-drinking fighter has resonated with fans, making him a memorable and enduring presence in the wrestling world. Ryan Samuels' journey through professional wrestling exemplifies the classic tale of a heel who thrives on bending the rules and reveling in the chaos he creates.

- World Tag Team Champion (1) (w/Mack Brody)

- 2023 Masked League Winner

5'10", 190 lbs

In the books of Iron Road and MAXIMUM Japan lore, this man needs no introduction. A three-time King of Lions World’s Heavyweight Champion, the 26-year veteran has also made his name in Japan for his performances in chessboxing exhibition bouts and his kicking power.

A former Muay Thai kickboxer whose resume includes bouts in world-famous Lumpinee Stadium, Troy possesses a lethal arsenal of vicious kicks such as the Rough Divide (step-up axe kick) and the Flashbang (spinning back kick), while his lucharesu wrestling background has also given him some effective tricks such as his famous backslide, and his customized roll-up the Fox Trap (Gannosuke Clutch).

Given his many years of experience, Troy carries an air of experience and expertise, and with it a willingness to take on all comers. Though his career draws closer and closer to its inevitable end, he has some loose ends to tie up before he goes gently into that good night.

- King of Lions Heavyweight Champion (3)

- Heritage Tag Team Champion (1) (w/Bam Markham)

- Japan Chessboxing League Gusuku Bowl winner

AJ Knight
6'1", 235 lbs

Debuting in 2015, AJ Knight is well known for his uncommonly high ring IQ. In spite of being relatively average in size for a Heavyweight, AJ Knight has consistently proven himself to be adaptable and able to use the resources at his disposal to overcome opposition at the highest level. With influences such as Eli Buchanan, "Crippler" Ben Crenshaw, Bastian Krull, and even the legendary Izawa Fujiyama, AJ Knight is a student of the game with an answer for just about everything in the ring. With an arrogant personality and a penchant for stirring the pot, AJ's career has had no shortage of controversy.

AJ's decision to come back to Max Japan was largely motivated by his desire for new challenges. Viewing wrestling as just as much of a mental endeavor as a physical one, AJ enters the Land of the Rising Sun in hopes of being presented unique challenges and opponents to overcome. AJ has made it clear that he is here to be a champion and take his skillset to the next level, evolving further and adding to his near encyclopedic ring IQ

Stylistically AJ could be best described as scientifically rough, applying the fundamentals of classic American style pro wrestling to great effect. He is very grappling focused in his offense, preferring to wear an opponent down on the mat and frustrate them before punishing them with higher impact moves. His offense, while technically sound, is not pretty, and he is known to bend the rules. His moveset favors simple but effective offense foregoing the flashier and more devastating moves which have overtaken the wrestling landscape in favor of reliable offense he can use against anybody. This is best demonstrated by his finishing maneuver Knightfall (Hammerlock DDT) a slightly modified DDT which he has perfected to the point where it's a virtually guaranteed to end a match if hit in the center of the ring. On the mat he favors the use of the Templar Stretch to force a submission (Border City Stretch) or at very least significantly wear down the neck and shoulder of an opponent.

Perhaps his greatest asset in ring however is his counter wrestling ability, being consistently able to avoid his opponents signature offense and turn the momentum around near instantly.

King of Lions Heavyweight Champion (1)

World Tag Team Champion (2) (1, w/Alexander Irvine; 1, w/Billy Danielson)

J1 SUMMIT 2024 3rd Place finish

PMLL Cruiserweight Champion

As Lynx approaches forty, he's arguably the best he's ever been. After kidney cancer brought a halt to his career in the early 2010s, a change in diet, exercise and in-ring style has led to a strong resurgence. His delightful mat technique and pinning combinations are a departure from his early career as a high-risk aerialist, but it's the renewed focus on fundamentals that have made him such an expert coach to anyone willing to sit under his learning tree. Lynx is pretty easy going, but will get riled up and strike hard with over hand chops if the occasion calls for it. His finishers are Chain Lynx (Samson Clutch) and the Old Boy (STF/Abdominal Stretch) but he's had tremendous success with simplicity, namely La Casita (La Magistral).

Notable Accomplishments

World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Tournament Runner Up (w/MEZA)

Claimed to be from an isolated tribe with a pure warrior lineage, SANGRE was trained by Pollo Villano Jr. and sent to Pollo Road after his two year suspension was up - a suspension which saw SANGRE disciplined for repeatedly being disqualified due to excessive punishment (beating on an opponent with no attempts to win the match). Having taken anger management classes and now maskless thanks to Kalidah, SANGRE's quite possibly more dangerous than ever before. He combines the lucha-style quick grappling with technical striking, prioritizing speed and control. Aggressive, methodical, targeting the head and face. His finishing move is the Blood Choke, a chickenwing chokehold.

- PMLL Cruiserweight Champion

- 2024 Cibernetico Winner

He grew up in the Honolulu suburbs around the football field and his internment survivor grandfather's auto shop. After graduating from the University of Hawaii where he played defensive end, he traveled to Japan to try out for the X-League, only to end up in sumo, taking the shikona of Mushigihara. After washing out due to injuries, he ended up in professional wrestling, taking the role of a mysterious foreign monster who only ever shouted "OSU!" The death of his grandfather and subsequent illness of his mother, however, motivated him to drop the silent, brooding monster act, and wrestle as, well, himself.

He is a professional and his fighting style is 80’s King’s Road, before all of the head-drops and super finishers. A physical, up-close style of wrestling influenced by Southern-style wrasslin’. As a former sumotori, Henry will utilize things like palm strikes, throws that showcase his size such as the Biel throw and basic suplexes such as the backdrop, gutwrench, and underhook, and will crowd his opponent as much as possible. His finishers are a uranage and a release Tiger Driver.

- MAX-J Heavyweight Champion

Irvine is an American Martial Artist and Professional Wrestler known for his unrelenting determination and versatile fighting techniques. Before entering the world of professional sports, Irvine served in the Marine Corps, developing exceptional discipline, strength, and resilience. His time in the military made him relentless and unyielding, earning him his “Unnatural” moniker. After his honorable discharge, he brought the same level of intensity to combat sports. Known for his strategic approach and powerful striking, he has competed in various MMA and Kickboxing organizations before transitioning to Professional Wrestling where his career took off. His finishers are the Battle Cry (Running Forearm Smash - often with a sliding variation to a downed opponent), the Flawless Plex(high-arcing Fisherman’s Suplex), and he is well-known for using a punch to the liver to attempt to KO an opponent whose defenses are lacking.

Quickly gaining a fanbase while embracing the role of a heel, he captivates audiences with his ruthless tactics and “thorn in your side” personality. Alexander Irvine continues to push the boundaries of his abilities and rules of the sport, solidifying his legacy as a dynamic and influential athlete in the world of combat sports. In Japan, Irvine embraces the “Strong Style Spirit” of Japan and his preferred method of showboating is using impressive slams and drivers to the delight of the fans. He enjoys a good reputation among the Japanese pro-wrestling establishment for defeating Flex Montana to return to the GPWS Heavyweight title to Japan. Irvine has come a long way from "The American Ace" and "American Strong Style" days in Japan and looks to start a new chapter with MAX-J.

NEXUS is logical, impartial, and highly strategic, focusing purely on efficiency and effectiveness in both life and the ring. They exhibit minimal emotion and approach situations with a machine-like precision, valuing data and results over personal feelings or rivalries. This neutrality makes them a wildcard, respected for their unpredictability and tactical prowess. His ring style is highly strategic and adaptable, relying on a deep analysis of their opponents' moves and weaknesses. They use a combination of high-impact power moves and precise submissions to wear down their opponents. NEXUS often utilizes a methodical pace, adapting to and countering their opponents' strategies. His finishers are the Neural Spike (Brainbuster DDT) and the Data Drain (modified dragon sleeper hold).

The result of a cutting-edge AI experiment designed to dominate the wrestling world by blending human athleticism with artificial intelligence, he was created in Silicon Valley by Dr. Victor Turing. NEXUS was programmed to analyze and exploit every opponent's weakness with precision, making them a formidable force in the ring.