AEW’s Mark Davis will face veteran Japanese wrestler Masato Tanaka at the WrestleCon SuperShow, scheduled for April 16 during WrestleMania 42 week in Las Vegas. The bout is set to take place at the Horseshoe and promises a clash between a reigning AEW World Trios Champion and a hardcore wrestling icon.
Background of Masato Tanaka’s Wrestling Career
Masato Tanaka began his professional wrestling career in 1993, gaining international attention largely due to his time in ECW. Known for his intense rivalry with Mike Awesome, Tanaka traded the ECW World Championship title with him in 1999. Their feud culminated in a highly regarded rematch at WWE’s ECW One Night Stand event in 2005. Beyond ECW, Tanaka also battled Awesome multiple times in Japan’s Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW).
Tanaka’s achievements include one reign as ECW World Champion and three ECW World Tag Team Championship reigns — once with Balls Mahoney and twice alongside Tommy Dreamer.
Career Highlights and Current Status of Both Competitors
After over thirty years in the sport, Masato Tanaka remains active, holding prestigious titles such as the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship and the GHC Hardcore Openweight Championship in Pro Wrestling NOAH. Mark Davis, who also has a background in hardcore wrestling, held the HOPE Wrestling 24/7 Hardcore Championship five times in the United Kingdom before gaining international recognition.
Davis is most famous for teaming with Kyle Fletcher, with whom he holds numerous worldwide championships. Currently, Davis is one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions alongside Fletcher and Kazuchika Okada, highlighting his prominence in the wrestling world.
Event Timing and Viewing Information
The WrestleCon SuperShow event begins at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans unable to attend can watch the match live via streaming on Triller TV, offering wide accessibility during the high-profile WrestleMania week.
Importance of the Mark Davis WrestleMania Match
This match represents a meaningful confrontation between two wrestlers with deep ties to hardcore wrestling and different generational legacies. For Tanaka, it is an opportunity to showcase his enduring skills to fans in North America and Japan. For Davis, the bout highlights his evolution from a hardcore wrestling background to one of AEW’s prominent champions. As WrestleMania week draws attention from wrestling enthusiasts worldwide, this contest provides a compelling storyline that blends history and contemporary wrestling excellence.
Another special request bout!@masato_dangan01 came to us saying he wanted the toughest, baddest, angriest man not for a match – but for a FIGHT!
That message was received & accepted!
Mark Davis fights Masato Tanaka 4/16 3pm @ the Wrestlecon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow! pic.twitter.com/ckJcptotQu
— WrestleCon (@wrestlecon) March 10, 2026
