Latest DDT48 Standings

September 12, 2011

The votes are still coming in thick and fast for the DDT48 Election. Everyone involved has been posting their videos saying why fans of DDT, Union, etc. should be voting for them to win the KO-D Openweight Title shot (or at least appear on the 23rd October show). The video messages will be posted on this site later in the week. Here are the current standings as of 10th September.

1. Hikaru Sato (240 Votes)
2. Kota Ibushi (176 Votes)
3. Danshoku Dino (150 Votes)
4. HARASHIMA (131 Votes)
5. Masa Takanashi (113 Votes)
6. MIKAMI (104 Votes)
7. KUDO (98 Votes)
8. Takao Soma (86 Votes)
9. Yasu Urano (84 Votes)
10. Keisuke Ishii (81 Votes)
– Antonio Honda (81 Votes)
12. Makoto Oishi (66 Votes)
13. Shigehiro Irie (63 Votes)
14. Sanshiro Takagi (56 Votes)
15. Mr. #6 (53 Votes)
16. Kenny Omega (45 Votes)
– Cherry (45 Votes)
18. Kazuki Hirata (44 Votes)
19. YOSHIHIKO (42 Votes)
20. DJ Nira (38 Votes)

Of course, the big story right now is Kota Ibushi’s injured shoulder. It is unknown how long Ibushi will be out for. However, he is still a part of the election and is still eligible for votes. DDT does have backup plans if Ibushi has not recovered by the time the October show takes place. If Ibushi wins the election but cannot compete, he will still win the prize money but the KO-D Title shot will be given to the runner-up. If Ibushi finishes in the top 18 but cannot compete, his spot on the card will be given to the wrestler who finished in 19th place.


Frantic Card Reshuffling, Ibushi’s Replacements

September 12, 2011

DDT “NON-FIX 9.18”, 18/09/2011
Chiba Blue Field

1. 3 Way: Darkside HERO! Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Masa Takanashi
2. Poison JULIE Sawada & Keisuke Ishii Vs MIKAMI & Daisuke Sasaki
3. Yasu Urano Vs Hiro Tonai
4. HARASHIMA Vs HERO!
5. Shigehiro Irie & Takao Soma Vs Yuji Hino & Ryuichi Sekine
6. Danshoku Dino & YOSHIHIKO Vs Antonio Honda & Michael Nakazawa
7. KUDO Vs Makoto Oishi

With Kota Ibushi now out of action for the forseeable future, DDT has a big hole to fill on their cards. Well, desperate times call for desperate measures and DDT went searching for the only man they knew they could rely on to replace Ibushi. Luckily for them, he has accepted their offer and has come to the rescue. YOSHIHIKO will now be replacing Ibushi on the “NON-FIX 9.18” card in Chiba Blue Field. Like I said, desperate times, desperate measures.

DDT “DDT48 Election”, 25/09/2011
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Gorgeous Matsuno Vs YOSHIHIKO
2. Kazuki Hirata Vs Hiro Tsumaki
3. Isami Kodaka Vs Yasu Urano
4. Keisuke Ishii Vs Shigehiro Irie
5. Danshoku Dino & Makoto Oishi Vs El Generico & Hiroya Fukuda
6. DDT Vs Union: KUDO, HARASHIMA & MIKAMI Vs Shuji Ishikawa, Sanshiro Takagi & Kengo Ohka

However, DDT went and found another replacement for Ibushi this time at the “DDT48 Election” show in Korakuen Hall. El Generico comes back to DDT to team with Hiroya Fukuda from Union to fight Danshoku Dino & Makoto Oishi. That’s right, the dream match of Danshoku Dino Vs El Generico will now come true! I mean sure, it’s the kind of dream you get when you eat a lot of cheese at night before going to sleep, but it’s a dream match none the less!

The teams have been chosen for the DDT Vs Union 6-Man Tag Team main event. DDT will be represented by the Caps Lock squad of KUDO, HARASHIMA & MIKAMI. Union has a mix of three seperate factions, Union ace Shuji Ishikawa, Sanshiro Takagi of the TKG48 and Kengo Ohka from the Susan Guard.

Another match to watch out for is Keisuke Ishii Vs Shigehiro Irie. I have become a big fan of both wrestlers over the year. Their matches against each other has lead to an entertaining generation rivalry between the two. Ishii is coming off of a loss to KUDO over the KO-D Openweight Title, but has grown into a confident wrestler who still has a bright future ahead of him. Irie is the lovable big brute of both DDT and Union. With a KO-D Tag Team Title reign and pinfalls over Kota Ibushi and Shuji Ishikawa listed under his recent accomplishments, Irie is quickly climbing the ranks of both brands. He will be looking to avenge his defeat to Ishii at “RYOGOKU PETER PAN 2011”.

There are plenty more matches to come for this show. This is because every wrestler involved in this year’s DDT48 Election (except for Ibushi) will compete and get one last chance to campaign for votes from the fans. In order to fit everyone in, every match except the main event will have a ten minute time limit.

DDT “CAMPING-GROUND PRO-WRESTLING OM”, 26/09/2011
Yamanashi Natureland Om

1. Kazuki Hirata Vs Hiroshi Fukuda
2. 4 Way: HARASHIMA & KUDO Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa Vs Hikaru Sato & Michael Nakazawa Vs Isami Kodaka & Ken Ohka

HARASHIMA will now take Ibushi’s place on the Campsite show.

DDT “PRO WRESTLING FESTIVAL IN SAPPORO”, 10/10/2011
Sapporo Teisen Hall

1. MIKAMI Vs Masa Takanashi
2. KUDO & Hikaru Sato Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa
3. KO-D Tag Team Title Decision Match: Danshoku Dino & Makoto Oishi Vs X & X

The KO-D Tag Team Championship has now been vacated. Danshoku Dino will have a chance to win back the belts with his other Homoiro Clover Z partner Makoto Oishi in Sapporo. Their opponents will be determined in a mini tournament to be held before then.


Kota Ibushi Vacates Titles!

September 12, 2011

Kota Ibushi’s niggling shoulder injury returned to haunt him this week and it has cost him the title he values most. Ibushi dislocated his left shoulder during an indy wrestling event in Osaka yesterday and will be out of action for an undisclosed amount of time. Unfortunately, this means his scheduled IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title defence against KUSHIDA at the 19th September New Japan event at Kobe World Hall. As a result, Ibushi has forfeited the title and is no longer the IWGP Jr. Champion. The title will now be awarded to the winner of KUSHIDA Vs Prince Devitt at that show.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the injury has also forced Ibushi and Danshoku Dino to vacate the KO-D Tag Team Titles they won just last month. This is a major blow at a time when Ibushi was at the peak of success as a DDT pro wrestler.