I know this isnt Socal related but Rev had Muto in his signature on the old board and I thought it was pretty interesting so here is an article I found online:

Written by Alistair Nixon for www.puroresufan.com/njpw

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On April 18th, 1989, a unification match of the "Pacific Wrestling
Federation Heavyweight", "Nation Wrestling Alliance United National" and National Wrestling Alliance International" titles took place. The merging of the three titles created the All Japan Triple Crown title. Over the course of the next decade that title would produce some of the greatest feuds, matches and moments in wrestling history.

The unification of the three titles (PWF Heavyweight, NWA International and NWA United National) came about due to discontent within All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) regarding the amount of titles in the promotion. Not only were there these three heavyweight titles, there were also the World Tag Team Titles (made up of the PWF Heavyweight Tag Team Titles and the NWA International Tag Team Titles, unified the previous year), the AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Title and the All Asia Tag Team Titles. AJPW had recently pulled out of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). This meant the NWA World Title, the championship used as AJPW's top title, would no longer be appearing in AJPW. All Japan therefore needed a replacement. The decision was made to unify the PWF Heavyweight, NWA International & NWA United National titles. As previously stated, the unification match took place on April 18th, 1989. It featured Jumbo Tsuruta putting up his NWA International Title against Stan Hansen's PWF Heavyweight and NWA United National titles. At 17:53, Tenryu became the first All Japan Triple Crown Champion. History had been made.

Tsuruta exchanged the Triple Crown with former tag partner, Genichiro Tenryu, in a series of matches, comprising a feud that has become legendary over time. Tsuruta successfully defended the title against Tenryu, two days after winning it, on 4/20/89, however lost it to Tenryu in a rematch on 6/5/89. Tenryu made two successful defenses, one against Tsuruta's then tag partner Yoshiaki Yatsu, followed by one against Terry Gordy. Tenryu lost the title back to Tsuruta on 10/11/89.

Terry Gordy became the first gaijin to hold the Triple Crown on 6/5/90. Just two days later, he lost the title to Stan Hansen. At time of writing, this remains the shortest Triple Crown reign in history. Gordy would win the Triple Crown back on 7/17, however he fell ill, forcing him to vacate the title, giving Gordy the notorious title of having the two shortest Triple Crown reigns in history. On 7/27, a decision match for the title took place, notable for being Mitsuharu Misawa's first challenge for the Triple Crown. Misawa lost to Stan Hansen. This was Hansen's second Triple Crown reign. Hansen lost the title to Jumbo Tsuruta. Tsuruta held the title for over a year, the longest reign up to that point. He took on challengers such as Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada. Tsuruta lost the title to back to Hansen on 1/28/92. Hansen too faced several "up and comers" as challengers, successfully defending against Misawa, Kawada and Akira Taue. Hansen lost the title to Misawa on 8/22/92, falling to an elbow smash. Misawa would break the record set by Jumbo Tsuruta for the longest Triple Crown reign. He held the title for 23 months, just under two years. It is a record that still stands today.

Misawa faced many challengers during his first reign making a total of seven defenses. He defeated Steve Williams (9/3/93), Stan Hansen (5/21/93 and 10/23/93) and Akira Taue (2/28/93). Perhaps Misawa's greatest challenger was Toshiaki Kawada. It was against he who Misawa made both his first, fourth and final defenses. It was during this reign that the "greatest singles match of all time took place". On 6/3/94, Misawa defended the Triple Crown against Kawada. Misawa won the 35 minute battle after pinning Kawada with a Tiger Driver '91. Misawa lost the title to Steve Williams on 7/28/94 after being hit and pinned with Williams' backdrop driver. The move was one of the deadliest finishers in All Japan up until the later '90s. It was only fitting and natural Misawa's legendary reign ended with such a move.

Williams made only one defense during his reign. He defeated Kenta Kobashi on 9/3/94, after hitting him with two devastating backdrop drivers, followed up by a third backdrop hold for the pin. Williams lost the title in October of '94 to the man who'd previously defeated him in the 1994 Champion Carnival finals; Toshiaki Kawada. Kawada pinned Williams to win his first Triple Crown, following a ganmengiri (jumping high kick). Kawada's reign would go on to be disappointing. He held the title for 5 months, however he made only one defense, a 60 minute draw against Kenta Kobashi. Kawada lost the title to Stan Hansen on 3/4/95. Hansen made no defenses, losing the belt to Misawa in May, 1995. Misawa kept control of the belt for 364 days. During the reign, Misawa defeated Kawada (7/24/95), Akira Taue (9/10/95), tag team partner Kenta Kobashi, and finally gaijin Gary Albright (3/2/96), before losing the title to Taue on 5/24/96 at just 16:05. After eight years with the company, Taue finally held its crown jewel.

Much like his regular tag partner, Toshiaki Kawada, Taue made only one successful defense. Ironically, it was Kawada the defense was made against. Taue pinned him after 17 minutes with the move that had won him the title, his trademark nodowa otoshi. Taue lost the title to first time champion Kenta Kobashi. Kobashi fared better than both Kawada and Taue, making two
defenses. The first was against Hansen (9/5/96), the second against Kawada (10/18/96). In a repeat from their previous Triple Crown match, Kawada and Kobashi went the to a 60 minute draw.

Misawa defeated Kobashi for the title on 7/24/97. Misawa broke another Triple Crown record, making eight defenses. He lost the Triple Crown to Kawada on 5/1/98 in the main event of AJPW's first Tokyo Dome show. It was a result many wished had happened four years ago, the climax of a feud that had spanned a half-decade, a feud that still continues, in spirit, to this day. Kawada made no successful defenses of the championship, losing the championship to Kenta Kobashi on 6/12/98. Kobashi once again made two defenses, against friend, Jun Akiyama, then foe, Akira Taue. Kobashi was once again defeated by Misawa to end a 42 minute war. For the first time, Misawa made no successful Triple Crown defenses. He unexpectedly lost the belt to Toshiaki Kawada on 1/22/99. The match was notable for several reasons. Not only did Kawada defeat Misawa for the Triple Crown, he debuted the infamous "Ganso Bomb" and broke his forearm during the course of the match. The breaking of his forearm forced Kawada to vacate the Triple Crown seven days later. It was the first time the belt had been vacant since 1990, when Terry Gordy was stripped of the title due to illness.

Vader defeated Akira Taue in a decision match for the belt on 3/6/99, to become the 22nd champion. Vader quickly lost the belt to Misawa on 5/2/99. Misawa carried the championship through the summer of '99, defeating Kobashi and Kawada. Vader won the title back in late October '99. Vader destroyed Jun Akiyama in his only defense on 1/27/00. Vader lost the title to Kenta Kobashi on 2/27/00. In the last Triple Crown match before "the split",
Kobashi successfully defended the Triple Crown against Yoshihiro Takayama in the main event of the 5/26/00 Niigata City Gymnasium show.

The All Japan/NOAH split completely changed All Japan. The Triple Crown and World Tag Team Titles were vacated; the company was left in turmoil. On the first day of the October Giant series '00 tour, a single elimination tournament to decide a new Triple Crown champion began. The participants were: Mike Barton, Stan Hansen, Shiro Koshinaka, Toshiaki Kawada, Jinsei Shinzaki, Johnny Smith and Steve Williams. Tenryu and Kawada advanced to the finals after defeating Hansen and Koshinaka, respectively, in the semi finals. The two former tag partners fought an historic match for the title of a broken promotion. Tenryu eventually defeated Kawada with a Northern Lights Bomb at 26:28. It was the first tournament to ever take place for the Triple Crown title. It helped restore credibility that was lost after Kobashi vacated it in June.

Tenryu held the title for seven months, making only one successful defense. Tenryu defeated Taiyo Kea; it was the young star's first Triple Crown match. Tenryu defeated Kea after 19:39. The match represents a large part of the Triple Crown's importance in All Japan; A young wrestler officially breaking
up to the next level by challenging for the Triple Crown. On 6/8/01 history was made. New Japan's Keiji Muto challenged All Japan's Genichiro Tenryu for All Japan's top title; the Triple Crown. After pinning Tenryu with a moonsault press to end the much acclaimed match, Muto became the first outside wrestler to win the Triple Crown. Muto's win opened up an entire new chapter in Triple Crown history. For the first time, Triple Crown matches
were held on New Japan soil, consisting of two New Japan wrestlers. Muto's first defense was against Steve Williams on All Japan's 7/14 Budokan show. His next defense was against Scott Hall on New Japan's "G1 World" tour. The match has been called my many analysts to be the worst Triple Crown match in history. It lowered the "world's most prestigious title" to new depths.
Muto's third defense was against long time rival Masahiro Chono. It was the first and possibly only time an All Japan Nippon Budokan show was headlined by two new Japan wrestlers. Muto defeated Chono after 22 minutes of combat with a Frankensteiner. Muto's fourth defense was against Tatsumi Fujinami on New Japan's 12/11/01 PPV. Fujinami fell to Shining Wizard. At present time, Muto is scheduled to face Toshiaki Kawada in a Triple Crown match on All Japan's 2/24 Nippon Budokan, "Excite Series 2002" tour finale.

The Triple Crown is quite possibly the most prestigious title in the world. Formed out of necessity, it is a staple of puroresu. In the twelve years of its existence, there have only been eleven Triple Crown champions. Each a legend having held a legendary title.