Dramatic DDT

DDT “DDT IS COMING TO AMERICA”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh
2. Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda Vs Joey Ryan & Royce Isaacs
3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Saki Akai (c) Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko Vs Kikutaro Vs Colt Cabana Vs Mizuki Watase Vs X
4. Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi
5. 3 Way Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Akito & Ethan Page Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jason Kincaid
6. Weapon Rumble In U.S.A.: MAO Vs Sanshiro Takagi
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Daisuke Sasaki

So you got a ticket for DDT’s first show in America but you’d like some guidance over what to expect. Maybe you’ve only seen the gifs or read about the crazy angles online or by some chance this just happens to be the wrestling show you get to see while in New York and you’re going in blind. Well step on board and welcome to the Dramatic Dream Team! There are many shows at Wrestlemania week this year that is following the trend of wacky, over the top action (thanks Spring Break) but even so, what DDT is offering to everyone at La Boom in Brooklyn will be unlike anything else going on.

When the New York show was announced DDT promised they will be doing an authentic show just like the ones they do in Japan. I can confidently say they are staying true to their word. Even the non-Japanese wrestlers they are using have regularly toured with DDT in Japan in recent years. This is the type of line-up they would put together for their regular monthly shows in Korakuen Hall which is their regular spot for advancing stories, putting together angles and announcing their important events. The card also resembles a “Best Of” theme for the past year of DDT. So for newcomers and fairweather fans you get to see DDT at its most, well, DDT while the hardcore fans will get some rather big rematches to look forward to.

Where Can I Watch It Online?

There are two streaming sites offering the show on iPPV. Both are airing it live and will add it to their Video On Demand services within 24 hours after the show is over. The show will not air live on DDT Universe. The plan is to add the show to the archives later in April but nothing has been confirmed yet.

It is available on FITE for $14.99. FITE is also offering a More Than Mania event bundle with this show included for $69.99.

It is also available on WWN Live for $19.99.

The matches are listed in order as found on DDT’s official website. However that is not a guarantee it will be the official match order on the night.

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh

This is a rematch of Tokyo Joshi Pro’s Korakuen main event from 4th January. Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh are usually friendly to each other but that goes out the window when they face each other in the ring. This is being advertised as a non-title match.

Miyu Yamashita: The ace of Tokyo Joshi since Day 1. The “Pink Striker” has a karate background and is the girl most associated with the TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title. She is the current champion with the most defences under her belt. At one point she was notoriously bad at speaking English but she’s been studying and has apparently improved. Yamashita previously wrestled in America at the 2018 Chikara King Of Trios tournament where she made it to the final as part of the Tokyo Joshi Freedom Fighters.
Moves To Watch Out For: Crash Rabbit Heat (Penalty Kick style Knee Strike), Attitude Adjustment, Modified Cobra Clutch, Brazilian Kick

Maki Itoh: A former singer from the pop group LinQ who turned to pro wrestling when her idol career fell apart. Has a big ego over her cute appearance yet isn’t shy with her opinions of others. When she’s about to punch her opponent in the corner she yells out “Who is the cutest in the world?” and the audience respond with “Ito-chan!” Loves to give the middle fingers to her opponents. Despite her bad attitude during matches, Itoh garnered a big fanbase for her un-idol like behaviour which includes being open about her mental health on social media.
Moves To Watch Out For: Itoh Special (Texas Cloverleaf that was NOT stolen from Hiroshi Tanahashi), Jumping DDT, Flying Big Head (Diving Headbutt), The World’s Most Cutest Knuckle Punch

2. Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda Vs Joey Ryan & Royce Isaacs

Here is the match that can cause the most controversy since it is guaranteed to be filled with very lewd comedy. Joey Ryan is the famous dick wrestler, Danshoku Dieno is the gay wrestling gimmick who was the other half of the viral video that shot Ryan into fame, Royce Isaacs has an ass that can break bones yet create miracles and Antonio Honda has a filthy sense of humour whenever he gets to speak English.

Danshoku Dieno: Dieno is DDT’s most infamous gimmick, starting out as a hyper aggressive gay wrestler who wanted to grope his opponents while fighting them. Maybe it’s refuge in audacity or maybe it’s the grandfather clause from lasting this long but over the years Dieno developed his character and turned it into one of DDT’s most beloved creations. The big question is will Dieno be able to act like himself in New York? He has wrestled in America before and was able to hold himself back a bit when he was in family friendly promotions like Chikara. I reckon at this point the people in the crowd know what they’re getting into and Dieno will be Dieno.
Moves To Watch Out For: Danshoku Driver (Piledriver with the victim’s head stuffed into Dieno’s tights), Lip Lock (a paralysing kiss) Danshoku Nightmare (Dieno pulls down his tights and teabags his opponent)

Antonio Honda: The man of many international backgrounds. He’s been Cuban, he’s been Hawaiian, he’s been Italian, at times he probably wouldn’t feel out of place inside Memphis. But nowadays Honda is the man who loves go talk about a children’s story called Gon, The Little Fox (or Gongitsune depending on the translation). Sometimes accident prone, Honda tells himself the story of Gon to cheer himself up when he gets hurt. This is all so his opponent drops their guard and Honda can poke them in the eyes with “Gon” (imagine the Too Sweet handsign).
Moves To Watch Out For: Diving Fist Drop, Octopus Hold, Bionic Elbow, Gongitsune Eye Pokes

Joey Ryan: Famous dick wrestler Joey Ryan has a busy week ahead of him. He has his own Penis Party happening the day after DDT but he shouldn’t look past this match. If it was up to him he would be called the craziest gaijin in DDT but that is a contested claim. Maybe he can earn that accomplishment and prove all his doubters wrong.
Moves To Watch Out For: YouPorn Plex (Ryan’s penis flips the opponent onto their back), Lollipop Assisted Super Kick

Royce Isaacs: Behold the man with the Miracle Ass! When Isaacs toured with DDT he discovered with Dieno’s help that the strength of his backside was powerful enough to break limbs and pop open even the most jammed of jars. It’s been two years since Isaacs wrestled in a DDT show but he still represented the promotion when he guided Naomi Yoshimura and Rekka around the US indies during their overseas excursions.
Moves To Watch Out For: The Zenith (German Suplex lift into a Uranage), Hush Money (Dragon Suplex lift into a German Suplex)

3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Saki Akai (c) Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko Vs Kikutaro Vs Colt Cabana Vs Mizuki Watase Vs X

The WWF Hardcore Championship taken to it’s most logical extreme. The Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title is always being defended 24/7. If there is a referee or anything resembling a referee nearby then they must officiate what is happening to the champion. Due to the ref’s discretion, pretty much everything is eligible to win the belt. Every wrestler, every person, every living creature, every inanimate object, every concept of existence the human mind can think of, you get the drill.

The current champion going into the show is Saki Akai, a supermodel who became a wrestler thanks to DDT. The physical belt has seen better days so Akai has been fixing it by filling the empty studs with pretty stars and bonbons. Makoto Oishi is a 17 year veteran and usually the butt of the joke during comedy spots. Kazuki Hirata loves to imitate an old gimmick from Dragon Gate called Magnum TOKYO. He wears a special pair of Hirata Go! glasses that forces the room to play the “TOKYO GO!” song for him to dance to. Yoshihiko is the wrestling sex doll. Kikutaro and Colt Cabana are both masters of comedy wrestling. Mizuki Watase wasn’t originally meant to be on this show but he spent his own money to fly over so he could meet up with his buddy Shigehiro Irie.

And then there is the mysterious X. DDT often adds the X label for an unadvertised wrestler to appear in these kinds of Battle Royals. It doesn’t always mean just one extra wrestler, there might be more. I think a few of the wrestlers around for the other shows in La Boom this week could make their appearance in this match even if they have no prior history with DDT. But there are some guesses going around online and it’s fun to talk about them so let’s mention it. Kenny Omega is the popular wish of course. Nobody would be happier to see him show up than me but I doubt it’s happening. Jiro “Ikemen” Kuroshio would be a welcome appearance especially since his entrance is perfect comedy for a Rumble match. My prediction however is someone I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere. I think X will be Chunsuke Nakamura, the Shinsuke Nakamura impersonator! He usually travels to America to see his muse at Wrestlemania and he often works with DDT whenever they want to cash in on Shinsuke’s popularity.

You can never predict what the Iron Man Title can get up to. If it gets unleashed on New York during a wrestling week as busy as this then there will be untold mayhem all over the place!

4. Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi

A tag team match between members of DAMNATION against Shuten-dōji. The DAMNATION side features the No. 2 & No. 3 regular members of the unit Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo. Shuten-dōji will be splitting up later in April so this will be one of Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi’s last matches together as a team.

Soma Takao: A homegrown wrestler who DDT had big hopes for but never reached that potential. Instead he fell in with the rough crowd in DAMNATION. Prefers not to speak much. Usually low blows his opponents en route to victory. He is currently one half of the KO-D Tag Team Champions with Daisuke Sasaki.
Moves To Watch Out For: Gin And Tonic (Axe Guillotine Driver), Official Endless Waltz (countless number of cradled and crucifix pins), Sorarina (Wrist Clutch Inside Cradle), Diving Foot Stomp

Tetsuya Endo: A high flying prodigy and generational rival to Konosuke Takeshita. Endo is in a similar boat to Takao in that he hasn’t quite reached the level of success to match his abilities. Tries to tell everyone he is a rotten person but deep down he is very tidy and carefully follows a diet that gives him one of the best physiques in the company.
Moves To Watch Out For: Shooting Star Press, Spinning Torture Rack Bomb, Tetsuya In The Sky (Spanish Fly), Tetsuya In The Sky With Diamonds (Top Rope Spanish Fly)

Yukio Sakaguchi: A former MMA fighter and son of retired wrestler Seiji Sakaguchi. He switched to pro wrestling in 2012 and has been with DDT for seven years now. Usually a serious figure, he would fight to the death if the situation ever calls for it!
Moves To Watch Out For: God’s Right Knee (Charging right knee strike into the turnbuckle), Purgatory (Double High Kick) Penalty Kick, Cobra Clutch

Masahiro Takanashi: If Shuten-dōji is a family then Takanashi is the little brother who knows the best ways to sneak cans of beer into the home without anyone noticing. Due to his small size, Takanashi has to rely on his smarts and ring presence which can make him a crafty wrestler when he wants to be. Underestimate him at your peril.
Moves To Watch Out For: Takatonic (Yoshitonic), Bacchus (Modified Gannosuke Clutch), Lightning Leg Lariat, Laphroaig (Modified Leg Roll Clutch)

5. 3 Way Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Akito & Ethan Page Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jason Kincaid

A 3 Way tag sprint mixing together a bunch of wrestlers. HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi have been rivals over the KO-D Openweight Title in the past but team together here. Ethan Page had no strong alliance with any unit during his tours in Japan last year but he is being put with Akito from ALL OUT. The only unit being properly represented here is RENEGADES and they don’t really exist in DDT anymore!

HARASHIMA: The backbone of DDT for the last 13 years if not longer. There are others to come from the company who have reach bigger heights in bigger places but HARASHIMA will always be there for DDT. Usually a straightforward wrestler but always up to get involved in the wackier stuff if he has to, HARASHIMA is a jack of all trades. Being the current DDT Extreme Champion should tell you that. If he wins a match, 999 times out of 1000 it is with the Somato.
Moves To Watch Out For: Somato (Double knee strike to a seated opponent), Double Knee Gutbuster, Reverse Frankensteiner, Falcon Arrow

Kazusada Higuchi: A former sumo who was an unbeaten powerhouse in his rookie years. Has since mellowed out and fits in with the sillier side of the roster despite still being difficult to beat. Maybe he can feel a little out of place in that position but hey, you’d rather be with him than against him. I assure you of that.
Moves To Watch Out For: Goten (Canadian Backbreaker into a Choke Slam), Doctor Bomb, Canadian Backbreaker, Oklahoma Stampede

Akito: The “Submission Freak” has an amateur wrestling background and is one of the original members of ALL OUT. Likes to take submission moves and add “perfect” modifications to them.
Moves To Watch Out For: Scorpion Deathlock, Kinniku Big Move (Muscle Buster lift into a Power Bomb), Hanamasa (Lifting Reverse DDT), Perfect Figure Four Leg Lock (Figure Four Leg Lock with Akito grabbing onto both of his opponent’s arms)

Ethan Page: “All Ego” toured with DDT twice in 2018 and is always working a busy schedule around the North American scene. Like with Joey Ryan, Page’s week in New York is filled to the brim with many matches in different places.
Moves To Watch Out For: Spinning Dwayne (Spinning Rock Bottom), Head Shot (Slingshot RKO)

Shigehiro Irie: Returning to DDT for the first time since October 2018. Irie has spent a lot of his time since then wrestling freelance in America and Europe. He will be heading back to Japan soon and will be wrestling on a DDT show there so this isn’t the last we will see of him.
Moves To Watch Out For: Beast Bomber (Lariat), Tazzmission, Final Impact (Arm Trapped Piledriver), Cannonball into corner

Jason Kincaid: Brought into DDT as a “Gift” from Irie, Kincaid has made the company his home away from home. When Irie left DDT and the RENEGADES unit they were a part of split up, Watase stuck around and became friends with Antonio Honda. Now that Irie is back, so is RENEGADES even if it’s just for a day.
Moves To Watch Out For: Philosopher’s Stomp (Diving Double Stomp from the ring post)

6. Weapon Rumble In U.S.A.: MAO Vs Sanshiro Takagi

A rematch of a very crazy DDT stipulation (yes I know Hustle did it before them, shush) from last October’s visit to Sumo Hall. The Weapon Rumble is a Royal Rumble but for weapons! Every time the buzzer goes off a new “weapon” is introduced to the match for the wrestlers to fight over. Just like with the Iron Man Title, anything can constitute as a weapon. Expect a lot of wacky items, unusual mind games and even a cameo or two.

MAO: “Fucked up wrestling for a fucked up world!” That is the motto MAO lives by. The high flyer has taken the mantle as DDT’s new leader of the Falls Count Anywhere match. He established this by beating Takagi in last October’s Weapon Rumble. He won the match but still holds a grudge with Takagi because one of Takagi’s weapons was telling everyone MAO’s phone number. Part of The Moonlight Express tag team, sadly his partner “Speedball” Mike Bailey will not be on the show for visa reasons.
Moves To Watch Out For: Cannonball 450 (450 Splash), Michinoku Driver (I & II), Screw High Kick, Spaceman Plancha

Sanshiro Takagi: The big boss of DDT. I don’t mean he’s the final challenge, I mean he is the company president! That’s right, Sanshiro Takagi is the one ultimately responsible for all this nonsense. He always enters to a remix of “FIRE” by Scooter and encourages the fans to chant along until the song goes “1…2…3. FIRE!” Has a habit of either copying famous wrestlers or dressing up as a Gundam for important matches. Also likes to decided he will retire after every major achievement only to immediately tell everyone he was lying.
Moves To Watch Out For: Sitdown Sunflower/Himawari Bomb (Electric Chair spun into a Sitdown Power Bomb), Stone Cold Stunner, Spicolli Driver (Power Slam lift into a Death Valler Driver)

7. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Daisuke Sasaki

The biggest rematch of them all on the show. This was the main event of DDT’s 22nd Anniversary show in Sumo Hall from February. However this time the roles are reversed. Takeshita is the KO-D Champion and Sasaki is going in as the challenger. The match was originally announced as a non-title bout but last weekend Sasaki demanded the belt be put on the line in New York.

Konosuke Takeshita: The current top dog in DDT, Takeshita is only 23 years old but he has been wrestling for DDT since 2012. The leader of ALL OUT has faced some of the biggest names in Japan when he was a rookie supernova and nowadays he still wants to face the best wrestlers outside of DDT. Some of his influences have rubbed off on him as he built his moveset. He uses Kenny Omega’s knee strikes, added the Chicago Skyline from Colt Cabana and most dangerously of all, on rare occasions he busts out the El Generico Brainbustaaaaahhhhh!!!!! It’s only just recently that Takeshita has opened his horizons and wrestled outside of Japan. He is one to follow during Mania week.
Moves To Watch Out For: German Suplex (includes Deadlift and Cross-Arm variations), Surprise Rose (Wrist Clutch Fisherman Suplex) Fable (Springboard Swanton Bomb onto a seated opponent), V Trigger Knee Strikes

Daisuke Sasaki: The leader of DAMNATION and simply known to his lackeys as “Charisma”. Sasaki is as talented as he is always depressed. He was the previous KO-D Champion until Takeshita won it off him at Sumo Hall in February. Was so down in the dumps over the loss that he considered throwing his entire career away until he won the KO-D Tag Titles with Takao. He better hope Takeshita doesn’t give him the Brainbustaaaaahhhhh!!!!! again because last time they missed the turnbuckle! Also don’t let him know he’ll be staying in the same state as Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae during the week. Sasaki fell in love with LeRae when they teamed together for a tour then his life fell apart when he found out she married Gargano. So if the TakeOver: New York main event gets ruined by a Japanese man dressed in dirty clothes, it will probably be Sasaki.
Moves To Watch Out For: Cross Facelock (includes La Mistica and Gargano Escape variations), Sasaki Hurricanrana, Now Or Never (Power Slam lift twisted into a Reverse DDT), Vietnam Driver II (Reverse Michinoku Driver), Diving Elbow Drop onto a chair

Anything else we should know?

Oh, yes! I almost forgot. Currently in DDT there is something called the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Gauntlet. It is DDT’s version of the Money In The Bank Contract. However there are three of them in existence and they are defended in every match the gauntlet holders are in until they get cashed in for an instant KO-D Title match. Two of the Gauntlet holders are Tetsuya Endo and Yoshihiko, who are both on this show. Will the gauntlet rules be in effect while they are in America? Well if it’s meant to be an authentic DDT event then it should. Maybe we’ll get a surprise title match after the main event!

Is that everything?

No! DDT will be present at several other shows being held in La Boom throughout Mania week. They are tied in with the WWN Live More Than Mania series so if you want to see more of DDT you will find them there. Here is the rundown of DDT related talent appearing on other shows.

EVOLVE “EVOLVE 125”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. Special Attraction Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Curt Stallion
2. EVOLVE Tag Team Titles: Eddie Kingston & Joe Gacy (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita & MAO

There are two shows taking place in La Boom before DDT takes the stage. First up is EVOLVE at noon. Takeshita & MAO are teaming together to go after the EVOLVE Tag Team Championship. The current champions are Eddie Kingston & Joe Gacy, two members of a unit in called The Unwanted. Higuchi has some things lined up for later in the week so for now he gets a warm up match against Curt Stallion.

WXW “AMERIKA IST WUNDERBAR”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. Yuu Vs LuFisto
2. wXw Unified World Title: Bobby Gunns (c) Vs Shigehiro Irie

Next up, Germany’s wXw will run a show in the afternoon. Irie and Yuu are both freelancers now but I want to include their matches here since it felt so good to see and hear what they’ve been up to in Europe the last few months. Irie gets a shot at the wXw Unified World Title when he faces Bobby Gunns, aka the reason why chants are now done to the tune of “Robot Rock” at some European wrestling shows. Meanwhile Yuu faces indy wrestling legend LuFisto.

WWN LIVE “WWN SUPERSHOW 2019 – MERCURY RISING”, 05/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. SHINE Title: Allysin Kay (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
2. WWN Title: JD Drake (c) Vs Kazusada Higuchi
3. The Six Man Tag Team Tradition Continues: AR Fox, Leon Ruff & Adrian Alanis (w/ Ayla) Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao

The entire WWN Live lineup of promotions get together for the annual Mercury Rising supershow. The event likes to hype up their 6-Man Tag Matches and one of them features DAMNATION against The Skulk. Higuchi gets his big match of the week by facing JD Drake for the WWN Championship. Finally Yamashita has challenged Allysin Kay to a match for the SHINE Title.

BLACK LABEL PRO “ADVENTURES IN WRESTLING”, 05/04/2019
White Eagle Hall, New Jersey

1. Jonathan Gresham Vs Shigehiro Irie

The Beast gets to tangle with The Octopus over in Black Label Pro.

WWN LIVE “MORETHANMANIA.COM 2019 WRAP UP PARTY”, 06/04/2019
The Bell House, Brooklyn, New York

1. Falls Count Anywhere Match: Konosuke Takeshita & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Dr. Cube’s Posse

DDT’s week ends in the most wackiest way possible. They get to work with Kaiju Big Battel! At this show, DDT stands for Double Danger Tandems. Takeshita & Takagi are going in together to find the most danger. They are supposedly going to face two kaiju from Dr. Cube’s Posse.

And then that’s it. Unless there are any unadvertised or last minute appearances on other shows, that’s the complete DDT schedule for their trip to New York. Any last questions?

Will the Steiner Brothers be at the DDT show?

No.