With 2012 coming to a close, Yoshihiko took to the DDT website to reflect over an eventful past 12 months. The doll has now become a part-time wrestler and will start up a regular article on DDT’s website. Yoshihiko’s first article is all about handing out awards to celebrate the accomplishments of DDT and its wrestlers.
Best Match Award: Kota Ibushi Vs Kenny Omega – “BUDOKAN PETER PAN 2012 ~ DDT 15TH ANNIVERSARY” (18/08/2012)
Yoshihiko believes that the best fights should take place at the biggest events and nothing was bigger than this. Kota Ibushi Vs Kenny Omega for the KO-D Openweight Title in the main event of Budokan Hall. Yoshihiko thinks this is a controversial choice and admits it preferred Kota Ibushi Vs Yuji Hino (24/06/2012) and Kota Ibushi Vs El Generico (21/10/2012) when it comes to its own personal favorite matches of the year (for the record it also thought Kota Ibushi Vs DJ Nira (29/07/2012) was exceptional).
MVP Award: Masa Takanashi
Much like the Best Match Award, Yoshihiko does not think the MVP Award means it is for the absolute best wrestler. Yoshihiko saw fit to pick Masa Takanashi because this year he finally became a big player in DDT. Masa winning the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Contract and cashing it in later that same night to beat Sanshiro Takagi in two minutes and become the unlikeliest KO-D Champion ever is one of the most memorable DDT moments in 2012.
Best Event Award: “APRIL FOOL 2012” (01/04/2012)
Despite the Budokan show being the largest milestone DDT has ever reached, Yoshihiko picked the April Korakuen Hall show as the most memorable because of the events leading to Masa Takanashi becoming the KO-D Champion.
Best Faction Award: nWj
new World Japan was short lived yet Yoshihiko believed they made the most impact in DDT this year and had the potential to do even more. One thing for sure is the emergence of the nWJ led to shoot fighter Yukio Sakaguchi becoming a regular in DDT shows and quickly rise up the ranks. Sakaguchi will be one to watch for 2013.
Best Foreigner Award: El Generico
He impressed in 2011 and he dominated in 2012. El Generico won over everybody in DDT and Union with his world class performances. He became so reliable that DDT saw him as the perfect opponent for almost anybody on their roster, whether it was the return match of Kota Ibushi, a crazy brawl with Isami Kodaka or the debut match of a young lion. As the current KO-D Champion, Generico has vanquished Ibushi from title contention and can do the same to Kenny Omega next week. Yoshihiko believes that Generico is not just the best foreigner in DDT, but the best foreign wrestler in the entire Japanese wrestling industry.
Best Rookie Award: Konosuke Takeshita
DDT has high hopes for this kid. It was pretty clear from the beginning when DDT decided to have the 17 year old’s debut match be held at the Budokan against El Generico. Since then he has teamed with DDT’s top talents, quickly established his Touchdown (RKO) finishing move, begun scoring wins and pinned Poison Sawada JULIE in his retirement match. If he avoids the injury curse that has plagued so many DDT rookies in the past, Takeshita might very well become the next breakout star for DDT. Yoshihiko itself wonders if it will cross paths with the rookie in 2013.
Dramatic DDT 