Dramatic DDT

This part of the year in puroresu always brings bout the annual contract signing period where the promotions renegotiate the contracts of their signed wrestlers. DDT is no different when it comes to keeping tabs on its talent. January 28th was the final day of negotiations and the results have since been announced.

The DDT wrestlers who have signed new contracts are:

MIKAMI, HARASHIMA, Kota Ibushi, Danshoku Dino, KUDO, Yasu Urano, Masa Takanashi, Michael Nakazawa, Tomomitsu Matsunaga, Keisuke Ishii, Hoshitango, Gota Ihashi, Takao Soma, Rion Mizuki, Kazuki Hirata, Posion Sawada JULIE, Gorgeous Matsuno and Dick Togo.

The Union wrestlers who have signed new contracts are:

Shuji Ishikawa, Isami Kodaka, Ken Ohka, Seiya Morohashi, Cherry, Hiro Tsumaki and Shinichiro Tominaga.

Four wrestlers have declined offers to extend their contracts. They are Tanomusaku Toba, Futoshi Miwa and Yukihiro Abe for DDT aswell as 726 for Union. It’s likely that Toba and Abe will still wrestle part-time for DDT. Those two are still scheduled to compete in the Right To Produce Battle Royal at “SWEET DREAMS!” on Sunday. Miwa rarely wrestles nowadays and 726 had a light schedule with Union anyway so no big losses there. Again it’s possible that they could make some future appearances here and there.

Yusuke Inokuma also did not sign a new contract but in this case it was because he needed to return home to find his driver’s license. He has until February to find his license and sign the new contract.

Three of the wrestlers who signed new contracts are currently out of action with injuries. Masa Takanashi is recovering from his knee injury and is aiming to return in the summer. Poison Sawada JULIE is nursing his right elbow back to full health. Gota Ihashi was last seen in March but hasn’t wrestled since because of ligament damage in both knees.

Dick Togo is sticking with DDT up to his announced retirement. Can he end his career as the KO-D Champion?

Also notice that Michael Nakazawa signed his contract on time this year. The last time he delayed his contract renewal it led to Danshoku Dino assaulting him in his house and his car exploding with him inside it when trying to escape. He finally made it to the arena covered in burn marks while carrying the remains of his contract, only to inadvertently distract Sanshiro Takagi and cause him to lose the DDT Extreme Title to Hoshitango.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS!”, 30/01/2011
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Kazuki Hirata Vs Akito
2. GENTARO & Yasu Urano Vs MIKAMI & Rion Mizuki
3. Right to Produce “Someone’s Produce Show” Battle Royal: Danshoku Dino, Tanomusaku Toba, Michael Nakazawa, DJ Nira, Keisuke Ishii, Hoshitango, Yukihiro Abe, Makoto Oishi
4. Hikaru Sato & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Takao Soma & Tomimitsu Matsunaga
5. DDT Tokyo Beginning of Fight 2011 Special Tag Match: Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega Vs HARASHIMA & KUDO
6. KO-D Openweight Title Unification Match: Dick Togo (c) Vs Antonio Honda (i/c)