Yamashita Concussed, Survival 3 Way For Universal Title, Big Matches For Supercards This March

January 6, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT WINTER ~KOBE PERFORMANCE~”, 07/01/2023
Kobe Art Center

1. Nao Kakuta Vs HIMAWARI
2. Yuki Kamifuku Vs Kaya Toribami
3. Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa Vs Yuki Aino & Raku
4. Mizuki & Moka Miyamoto Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
5. Yuka Sakazaki & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
6. Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & Pom Harajuku Vs Max The Impaler, Heidi Howitzer & Trish Adora

Some injury news heading into the weekend shows. Miyu Yamashita was diagnosed with a mild concussion coming out of the Ittenyon main event. She was meant to wrestle in London for EVE tomorrow but that trip is now cancelled for safety concerns. EVE will announce their decision on her next appearance as soon as possible. It sounds like she is at least going to remain the EVE Champion for now.

Haruna Neko has a shoulder injury and will be out of action until 19th January.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Wakana Uehara will not have her next wrestling match until after 15th January. However she in the process of adjusting her schedule to become a regular on Tokyo Joshi Pro shows from that point onwards.

DDT “NEW YEAR’S CURRENT EXPLOSION!”, 07/01/2023
Kanagawa Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market

1. Yukio Naya Vs Takeshi Masada
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Saori Anou & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazuki Hirata, Saki Akai & Gota Ihashi
4. Chain Death Match: Chris Brookes Vs Demonio Uno
5. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
6. Harimao Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
7. “Current Blast” Trademark Rights & Position Battle ~ Legend Resurrected! New Year Aerial Time Bomb & Current Blast Bat Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Soma Takao

Here I was thinking the biggest corporate story in wrestling this week would be either DDT taking the trademark for exploding death matches from Atsushi Onita or Toi Kojima unseating Sanshiro Takagi as the president of CyberFight. It all sounds so quiet and peaceful compared to what’s happening in WWE the last 24 hours.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT WINTER ~OKAYAMA PERFORMANCE~”, 08/01/2023
Okayama Convention Center

1. Moka Miyamoto Vs HIMAWARI
2. Mizuki Vs Kaya Toribami
3. Hyper Misao Vs Trish Adora
4. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
5. Miu Watanabe & Suzume Vs Maki Itoh & Mahiro Kiryu
6. Yuka Sakazaki & Arisu Endo Vs Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer
7. Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino Vs Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Kamifuku

The Wasteland War Party are now the team to beat in TJPW. Yuka Sakazaki & Arisu Endo have the unenviable task of being the first opponents for the new Princess Tag Team Champions. Other teams like Kyoraku Kyomei, Free WiFi, Daisy Monkey and Yuki Aino/Raku have warm up matches to take them through the weekend.

Hyper Misao is celebrating her “23rd” birthday by having a match against Trish Adora.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU ~FIRE!~”, 13/01/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Keigo Nakamura Comeback Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Keigo Nakamura
2. MJ Paul & KANON Vs Antonio Honda & Kazuma Sumi
3. MAO & Toi Kojima Vs Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi
4. Shunma Katsumata Pheromones One Day Experience Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Akito, Kazuki Hirata & Yuya Koroku
5. Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Fuminori Abe Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
6. Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya
7. Special Single Match: Kotaro Suzuki Vs Soma Takao
8. DDT Universal Title – Survival 3 Way Match: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Naruki Doi Vs Daisuke Sasaki

A time limit draw has resulted in Naruki Doi and Daisuke Sasaki both getting a DDT Universal Title match against Yuki Ueno. The three of them agreed to do a Survival 3 Way Match, meaning it is elimination rules. Everyone in the match is convinced they can beat the other two in under 60 minutes.

We’re getting a preview for Kazusada Higuchi and Yuji Hino with their buddies Yuki Ishida and Yukio Naya coming along for the ride.

A decade ago Sanshiro Takagi teamed with Munenori Sawa as Hentai Dai Shacho. Now he is forming a new team with Sawa’s protege Fuminori Abe called Bonno Dai Shacho. It’s another path Takagi is taking in 2023 to bring himself back to his peak pro wrestling form.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2023 TOUR IN SENDAI”, 14/01/2023
Sendai City Miyagino Ward Bunka Center

1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (w/ MJ Paul) Vs Yusuke Okada & Keigo Nakamura
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi
3. Jun Akiyama & Toru Owashi Vs Yukio Naya & Takeshi Masada
4. Special Challenge Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuya Koroku
5. Sendai Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toi Kojima Vs HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes & Hideki Okatani
6. Special Single Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs Makoto Oishi
7. Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuji Hino & Akito

Being back in the main event must feel like a breath of fresh air for Akito after the last few months he’s had.

The upcoming KO-D Tag Team Titles match is getting a warm up too with Shunma Katsumata and Makoto Oishi facing off in a singles match.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2023”, 29/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada (c) Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: MAO & Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Yuji Hino

In some ways ShunMao both look up to Oishi & Shiori Asahi. In other ways they just see them as a grandpa tag team. The two wrestlers from Ω are looking to win the KO-D Tag Titles on the same show where Hino wins the KO-D Openweight Title from Higuchi.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’23”, 18/03/2023
Ariake Coliseum

1. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Mizuki

Will Mizuki win the Princess Of Princess Title during the year of the rabbit? The main event of TJPW’s biggest show ever will be The Magical Sugar Rabbits against each other for the first time since November 2020.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2023 ~LONGEST 5 HOUR SPECIAL IN KORAKUEN HISTORY~”, 21/03/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. DDT 26th Anniversary Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Konosuke Takeshita
2. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs X

When Konosuke Takeshita returns to DDT in March it will be for a first time singles match he’s always wanted. He will fight his own boss Sanshiro Takagi!

Samuray Del Sol will be on the show. The luchador formerly known as Kalisto in WWE does not have a match booked yet but showed interest in fighting Yuki Ueno for the Universal Title.


GANBARE☆PRO “ADRENALINE 2023” Results

January 5, 2023

GANBARE☆PRO “ADRENALINE 2023”, 05/01/2023
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
127 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. 1st Young Ganbare Cup: Yumehito Imanari (2) defeated Munetatsu Nakamura (0) with a Crab Hold (8:40).
2. Riko Kawahata defeated YuuRI with the Brazilian Kick (9:26).
3. 1st Young Ganbare Cup: Kentaro Hachisu (2) defeated Yuki Kanzaki (0) with the Chest Hair Niki Clutch (11:18).
4. Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE defeated Yuna Manase & Yoshiko Hasegawa when HARUKAZE submitted Hasegawa with the Haru Ichiban (11:04).
5. New Year Special 8-Man Elimination Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Shigehiro Irie, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga defeated Shuichiro Katsumura, Keisuke Ishii, Shota & Hartley Jackson (17:34).
5a. Shinichiro Tominaga eliminated Keisuke Ishii with a Cradle (2:44).
5b. Shota and Soma Takao eliminated each other by Double Ring Out (9:11).
5c. Hartley Jackson eliminated Ken Ohka with the Jumping Piledriver (9:58).
5d. Hartley Jackson eliminated Shigehiro Irie by Ring Out (11:45).
5e. Shinichiro Tominaga eliminated Shuichiro Katsumura by Ring Out (14:52).
5f. Shinichiro Tominaga eliminated Hartley Jackson by Ring Out (17:34).
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) defeated Tyson Maeguchi by TKO with the Elbow Butt (19:20).
*V1 for Mizuki Watase.

Young Ganbare Cup Standings

1. Kentaro Hachisu (2)
-. Yumehito Imanari (2)
3. Yuki Kanzaki (0)
-. Munetatsu Nakamura (0)

A knockout gives Mizuki Watase his first successful defence of the Spirit Of Ganbare Title. It was a combination of a Brainbuster, Dropkick and the Elbow Butt that left Tyson Maeguchi unable to keep fighting causing the referee to stop the match in the champion’s favour. After the match Watase listed through all of the great wrestling shows that took place this week and Ganbare☆Pro today was one of them. He praised Maeguchi for being a pro wrestler who stands up for himself with the emotion Watase wished he had when he was a kid. It is up to Ganpro’s fans to determine who the No. 1 wrestler in the company is and Watase will aim to be in that spot. He did not nominate his next challenger but Shinichiro Tominaga was suggested by one of the reporters in the post-match interview. Maeguchi was disappointed with losing because he’s been wrestling for over a year and four months now and hasn’t won much. Other fighters have been making fun of him for losing so many matches in that time. He is making it his goal to win a championship before the year ends so he can prove his critics wrong.

The first set of Young Ganbare Cup matches took place on this show. Kentaro Hachisu showed off his “Chest Hair Niki” power by beating Yuki Kanzaki. It was exactly the kind of start to the tournament Hachisu wanted. His goal now is to ride this wave further to boost Ganpro, P.P.P Tokyo and pro wrestling as a whole. Kanzaki thinks he still has a chance to recover from this setback and win the tournament. He wants to show that Ganpro needs him and winning the Young Ganbare Cup will prove that.

Yumehito Imanari is doing his best to convince everyone he is a young lion. He wrestled his match wearing the basic black wrestling gear that rookies tend to be seen in. After he won his match, he explained he was never given the chance to be a young lion style trainee when he became a pro wrestler. He feels like a natural born Hiroyoshi Tenzan so he is using the Young Ganbare Cup to live out his own Kotetsu Yamamoto training experience! He made his own chanko yesterday and is in the middle of developing Latecomer Strong Style wrestling. Munetatsu Nakamura had hoped to win today because Imanari is one of the top wrestlers in Ganpro. With two matches remaining he wants to get good results from here on out.

The show began with two announcements from Michiyoshi Mishima. First, the Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles are in the middle of being created but no other info can be given at this time. And second, Ganpro are adding two dates for Korakuen Hall this year. Their Korakuen shows will be on 5th May and 27th December.


DDT “ALL SEATS ARE 3,000 YEN! DDT NEW YEAR PRO WRESTLING FESTIVAL!” Results

January 5, 2023

DDT “ALL SEATS ARE 3,000 YEN! DDT NEW YEAR PRO WRESTLING FESTIVAL!”, 05/01/2023
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
234 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda defeated Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno when Honda pinned Dieno with the Diving Fist Drop (8:40).
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata and Yukio Naya & Yusuke Okada when Sasaki submitted Hirata with the Crossface Lock (6:20).
3. Yuki Ueno & Yuya Koroku defeated Makoto Oishi & Ilusion when Ueno pinned Ilusion with the Dropkick (12:36).
4. New Year Special Challenge Match I: Tetsuya Endo defeated Hideki Okatani with the Modified Yurikamome (10:11).
5. MAO & Shunma Katsumata defeated Toi Kojima & Kazuma Sumi when Katsumata pinned Kojima after the Super Double Miracle Ecstacy (10:09).
6. New Year Special Challenge Match II: Chris Brookes defeated Takeshi Masada with the House Piano Death (10:21).
7. New Year Special Challenge Match III: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Yuki Ishida with the Buchikamashi (11:03).
8. Emergency Decision Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Yuki Ueno ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).

The fans in attendance was treated to a bonus unadvertised match at the end of the show. After the main event was over Konosuke Takeshita walked out in his wrestling gear. He was only advertised to be on the show as part of a meet and greet. Takeshita said he will be travelling back to America tomorrow, will be competing in the PWG Battle Of Los Angeles tournament this weekend and has a match scheduled against Bryan Danielson in AEW next week. He has a packed week ahead but seeing the sold out crowd DDT got today he knew that it was not enough to just hang around and sign autographs. He won’t be back in DDT until March so before he leaves he wants a singles match against Yuki Ueno! There was some hesitency from Hisaya Imabayashi to let it happen because it is such a big match to do on no notice. Everyone agreed to do the match with a 10 minute time limit.

The match went ahead and lasted the entire 10 minutes with no winner coming out of it. Takeshita said both he and Ueno had gotten stronger since their last match against each other. He even admits that the Takeshita from two years ago would have lost to Ueno today. Before he goes back to the USA, Takeshita has advice to give the younger DDT wrestlers. You don’t have to do your best when you get an opportunity but you have to do your best to get that opportunity. It’s doesn’t matter if it’s the main event, a championship match or somewhere low on the card you have to do your best everywhere. He will do his best in America and will look forward to wrestling in front of a full Korakuen Hall on 21st March. Ueno promised everyone will do their best to make DDT’s future look amazing.

Kazusada Higuchi gave Yuki Ishida plenty of motivation to do his best during and after their match. He told Ishida he may not be ready yet even with momentum behind him. He has to have the same focus he showed today for his matches in the D GENERATIONS CUP. Ishida agreed and promised to win the tournament. He was fired up to fight Higuchi today and is coming out of the match with more confidence. Higuchi said it is up to both of them to make Harimao more exciting while Naomi Yoshimura is injured.

Another young wrestler who’s been appreciating his recent matches against veterans is Takeshi Masada. Although he lost to Chris Brookes today, he is determined to win the D GENERATIONS CUP so he can wrestle in Hollywood. Brookes wished him luck after their match.

The new KO-D Tag Team Champions have some thoughts about their first title defence coming up on 29th January. It will be taking place the day after MAO turns 26 years old. He won’t be afraid of Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi because they are like grandpas to him. All they can do is lecture to the younger wrestlers in the locker room.

Tetsuya Endo has high hopes for Yuya Koroku in the D GENERATIONS CUP. He wants Koroku to win and do his best as a member of BURNING. He is also hoping to see everyone taking part to show a lot of spirit and guts like Hideki Okatani did today. Okatani was frustrated to lose against Endo. He said he doesn’t even care about wrestling in America, he just wants to win the tournament.

Perhaps the biggest underdog going into the D GENERATIONS CUP is Ilusion. He has among the least amount of experience and ring time of the wrestlers entering the tournament. Oishi described the chances of him winning would be like a dramatic dream.

A win for Antonio Honda today has somehow given him all the drive in the world to beat Jun Akiyama for the DDT Extreme Title. He said on 21st January he is going to retire Akiyama because when he takes the belt off him, Akiyama will never want to step into the ring again!

Some of the wrestlers taking part in the exploding death match on 7th January gave their thoughts on the match. Akito likes the trademark versus company role stipulation because he does not want DDT to stay complacent. Soma Takao wants to pin Atsushi Onita so he can be crowned the “Explosion Prince”. He is also worried because he has to work his shift at the Drop Kick Bar shortly after the show ends. Sanshiro Takagi joked that when they win the trademark they can blow up the Drop Kick Bar to celebrate. Shunma Katsumata wants to know if his opponents are serious when they say they are putting their CyberFight management roles on the line. Toi Kojima promised to pin Sanshiro Takagi so he will win the CyberFight presidency. Once that happens he will give everyone in DDT a raise!


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’23” Results

January 4, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’23”, 04/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,111 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. HIMAWARI Debut Match: Yuki Aino defeated HIMAWARI with the Venus DDT (6:05).
2. Wakana Uehara Debut Match: Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano defeated Arisu Endo & Wakana Uehara when Miyamoto submitted Uehara with the Rashomon (9:15).
3. Nao Kakuta, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami defeated Raku, Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko when Kakuta pinned Neko with the Shiden Kai (8:36).
4. New Year Special Match: Shoko Nakajima and Hyper Misao both win when they grabbed the “Hit” (14:53).
5. Princess Of Princess Title Next Challenger Decision Battle Royal: Mizuki defeated Rika Tatsumi, Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku, Hikari Noa and Suzume (16:58).
5a. Yuki Kamifuku eliminated Hikari Noa by Ring Out (4:52).
5b. Maki Itoh eliminated Yuki Kamifuku by Ring Out (6:20).
5c. Mizuki eliminated Rika Tatsumi with an Assisted School Boy (8:02).
5d. Maki Itoh eliminated Suzume with the Itoh Punish (10:40).
5e. Mizuki eliminated Maki Itoh with the Cutie Special (16:58).
6. International Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) defeated Trish Adora with the Tear Drop (10:34).
*V2 for Miu Watanabe.
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer defeated Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) when Max pinned Arai after the Master Blaster (11:29).
*Reiwa AA Cannon fails in V4. The Wasteland War Party becomes the 11th Princess Tag Team Champions!
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita with the Magical Girl Chicken Dude (16:08).
*V2 for Yuka Sakazaki.

On this date three years ago, Yuka Sakazaki successfully defended the Princess Of Princess Title against Miyu Yamashita at the annual 4th January Korakuen Hall show. Three years later and the result repeated itself. Sakazaki had to pull out her most dangerous moves to beat her most dangerous opponent and expect the same to be given to her. She did a Brainbuster outside the ring only for Yamashita to fire back with a German Suplex on the floor. Yamashita also did the Avalanche Attitude Adjustment and hit the Skull Kick clean. Sakazaki kicked out though and also survived the Crash Rabbit Heat aimed at the back of her head. She fought back using the Magical Merry-Go-Round. A strike exchange caused Yamashita’s kick and Sakazaki’s elbow strike to clash with each other. Sakazaki got the upper hand by using a Rolling Elbow, keeping Yamashita down long enough for the Magical Girl Chicken Dude to find its target and end the match.

While Yamashita was being taken out of the ring with Maki Itoh’s help, Sakazaki said she can do the match again. Yamashita responded by bowing and sticking her fist out with a scream before leaving. Sakazaki then thanked everyone for coming to see the show on a busy 4th January. She now has to talk to her next challenger. It’s the other Magical Sugar Rabbit and her closest friend Mizuki! It’s a match that Sakazaki admits she does not want to do. Mizuki said she felt like she was being left behind while watching Sakazaki get stronger. But she spent the last year working hard and gaining confidence in herself. She is emotional about the match but wants to surpass Sakazaki and be the one who wins the Princess Championship from her. Sakazaki accepts her challenge and wants the match to happen at “GRAND PRINCESS ’23” in Ariake Coliseum on 18th March!

A monster team have defeated Reiwa AA Cannon and taken the Princess Tag Team Titles for themselves! Max The Impaler left a big impact when they invaded Tokyo Joshi Pro last year. Their returning presence is now further strengthened with Heidi Howitzer joining along and together The Wasteland War Party can call themselves champions in Japan! The champions found their usual attacks ineffective with Saki Akai’s Triangle Choke not being strong enough along with the Double Rookie Award not being enough to put down the challengers. The most dread filled moment came when Yuki Arai’s Finally kick was caught by Max and the SKE48 idol was blown away with a Lariat. The end came when the War Party joined up and hit a combined body press called the Master Blaster to get the pinfall. There is still hope left for Reiwa AA Cannon. Akai said shen she looked into Arai’s eyes after the match she could see the fire was not gone from her. Arai said she wants to do her best with Akai in the Max Heart Tournament so they can challenge for the titles again. Backstage Howitzer said the result went exactly how she expected. She also thinks the pink belts look good on her & Max. They will look forward to seeing who TJPW throws their way to try and get their championship back.

Things went better for Miu Watanabe in her title defence. She was able to beat Trish Adora to retain the International Princess Title. Adora twisted the champion several ways including with a Cattle Mutilation. But Watanabe powered out of it and found a way to use the Giant Swing. Adora caught a second wind until it was knocked out of her with a Double Sledgehammer strike and the Laserbeam. The Tear Drop came afterwards and Watanabe achieved her second title defence. She was happy to win against a foreign opponent who is unlike anyone she has fought before. As long as she has the championship, she thinks it will be her ticket towards wrestling in America. Now she just has to learn English. Adora praised Watanabe for being a wonderful champion and the better fighter today. She is confident she will return to TJPW someday.

Mizuki earned her No. 1 Contendership by beating five opponents in a mini Rumble. Hikari Noa and Maki Itoh started off slow until Yuki Kamifuku entered the ring. The three of them stopped fighting each other and all ganged up on Rika Tatsumi after she joined the match. That alliance ended when Noa climbed the top rope and was Dropkicked out of the ring by Kamifuku for the first elimination. Tatsumi finally got some help when Mizuki made her way into the fight but again it was a short lived pairing. Kamifuku then turned on Itoh but made the mistake of charging her near the ropes. Itoh made sure that Kamifuku went over the top rope to the floor to knock her out of the match. Suzume was the last entrant and she helped Mizuki and Itoh pin Tatsumi by piling on top of them. Itoh dodged the Ring A Bell from Suzume and trapped her in the Itoh Punish for the next elimination. That left Itoh and Mizuki as the final two. They went back and forth until Mizuki hit Itoh with a Spinning Back Elbow. That allowed her to do the Cutie Special, pinning Itoh and making Mizuki the next in line for a Princess Title shot.

The annual Shoko Nakajima Vs Hyper Misao match is always an oddity but this time it may have gotten its oddest finish yet. Three toy rabbits were left hanging above the ring with a piece of paper included in each of them. Only one of them was the correct rabbit and grabbing that would win the match. The other two included stipulations that would come into effect if either wrestler grabbed them. Nakajima placed a ladder on top of Misao and climbed up to grab a rabbit. She picked the wrong one and the match turned into Rabbit Lumberjack Rules. Several wrestlers came down to the ring wearing rabbit ears and armed with hammers to attack anyone who left the ring. Both Nakajima and Misao felt their wrath. Misao then climbed the ladder but the rabbit she grabbed turned the match into Hardcore rules where dangerous weapons are now allowed. Nakajima brought in a box of kaiju toys and emptied it in the ring. She later paid the price when Misao slammed her on top of the pile of toys. Misao also crashed her Hyper Bike into her outside the ring. Both of them climbed back up the ladder and grabbed the one rabbit left at the same time. Yukinori Matsui couldn’t decide who won the match so instead of calling it a tie he declared both of them the winners! Misao couldn’t understand if that was possible until Nakajima explained they got three cute rabbit toys out of it. Both of them are happy to win their first match of the year before the Max Heart Tournament begins. Too bad they spent the rest of the day being chased after by the Rabbit Lumberjacks.

Raku began her new year leading Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko in the Goodnight Express on their opponents. Harajuku tried to continue that momentum by hitting Mahiro Kiryu 108 times only to lose count, allowing Kiryu to escape. Raku & Harajuku cleared the ring of Kiryu & Kaya Toribami. It was all up to Haruna Neko but victory slipped away from her paws. Nao Kakuta got the win for her team after pinning Neko with the Shiden Kai.

Two wrestlers made their pro debuts on the show. Idol Wakana Uehara had already wrestled before on the Yume Pro Wrestling show last year. She decided to go pro and teamed with Arisu Endo on the 2nd anniversary of Endo’s debut. Uehara used Body Slams, Sleeper Holds and Dropkicks during her time in the ring. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano used double team kicks to get rid of Endo. Miyamoto then put Uehara in the Rashomon to make the rookie give up. Miyamoto praised both of her opponents for their growth while Nagano said Uehara showed great guts. Uehara said she admires Shoko Nakajima the most and hopes to have a high flying battle against her someday.

The other debut was HIMAWARI who took on Yuki Aino in the opener. HIMAWARI repeatedly tried to knock down her opponent with Shoulder Blocks. Her momentum was stopped with a Side Suplex and Aino then finished her off with the Venus DDT. Aino hadn’t seen HIMAWARI train before this match so did not know what to expect from her. But she saw HIMAWARI has passion and enjoyed doing the back and forth Shoulder Blocks with her. HIMAWARI said her debut felt special because it happened at the start of TJPW’s 10th year. She wants to help the company grow from here on out by being a wrestler who makes fans laugh and feel moved.

Five announcements were given out by Sayuri Namba at the beginning of the show. The biggest one is that TJPW will be going to America this Spring! “TJPW LIVE IN LOS ANGELES” will take place at the Globe Theater in LA on 31st March as part of the WrestleCon end of the week’s festivities. Around 12 to 15 women from the roster along with foreign talent will be taking part on the show. TJPW was originally meant to have their US debut in Florida back in 2020 but the trip was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic.

The second biggest announcement was the introduction of a new trainee. Toga is a 19 year old from Kanagawa. She promised to do her best and make her debut in a TJPW ring.

All four members of The Up Up Girls performed a musical number together before the opening match. They announced the unit will be holding another audition for new members this year.

The other two announcements were merchandise related. Miu Watanabe and Suzume are the next two wrestlers to collaborate with Idolmaster Cinderella Girls. Watanabe’s costume will be given to Aya Kirino and Suzume’s costume will be given to Aki Yamato. The other merch announcement is the publication of a TJPW fan book releasing nationwide in Japan on 30th March. Early copies will be available to buy at “GRAND PRINCESS ’23”.


DDT “HATSUYUME 2023” Results

January 3, 2023

DDT “HATSUYUME 2023”, 03/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
759 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi defeated Hideki Okatani & Toi Kojima when Oishi pinned Kojima after the Cactus Flower (8:12).
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Antonio Honda ended in a No Contest (7:13).
3. New Year Special 8-Man Tag Match: Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya defeated Shinshun Pokotan, Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Kazuma Sumi when Hirata pinned Sumi with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (11:59).
4. Alice Tour Presents Special 10-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Kotaro Suzuki, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated Kazusada Higuchi, HARASHIMA, RSP, Soma Takao & Yuki Ishida when Endo pinned Ishida with the Burning Star Press (10:41).
5. Alice Tour Presents Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Cara Noir defeated MJ Paul & KANON when Noir submitted Paul with the Blackout Sleeper (11:49).
6. Special Single Match: Konosuke Takeshita defeated Takeshi Masada with the Zahi (10:02).
7. DDT Universal Title Next Challenger Decision Battle: Naruki Doi Vs Daisuke Sasaki ended in a Time Limit Draw (30:00).
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: MAO & Shunma Katsumata defeated Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi when MAO pinned Takanashi after Oretachi no Mad Max (19:02).
*ShunMao becomes the 76th KO-D Tag Team Champions!

2023 begins with the crowning of new KO-D Tag Team Champions! The belts were vacated by Harimao back in November when Naomi Yoshimura took time off to deal with a herniated disc. The top two teams chosen to fight over the vacant titles were ShunMao and CDK. The match also had relaxed rules for double pinfalls, which is something CDK is used to by wrestling in places like ChocoPro. But MAO & Shunma Katsumata got used to the idea and together delivered a Double Miracle Ecstacy for a nearfall. Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi had their own tricks and double team moves up their sleeve too and almost won several times. Katsumata took out Brookes with a Topé and ShunMao focused on isolating Takanashi, putting him away with the Oretachi no Mad Max to become the new champs!

The two teams were on good terms after the match. MAO said after six years he & Katsumata are finally the KO-D Tag Champions together and there was no better way for them to start the new year that way! While ShunMao was celebrating with the rest of The 37KAMIINA, suddenly Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi entered the ring. They had a new year’s gift for the champions and it is a challenge from Ω. ShunMao agreed and the match will take place on 29th January. It is the same show where Yuji Hino will be fighting for the KO-D Openweight Title so the three of them are aiming to dye DDT’s top championships in Ω’s colours. Backstage Brookes said he is sad CDK lost but their goal as a team is to have fun with pro wrestling. Takanashi is disappointed they aren’t getting to wrestle Oishi & Asahi next.

Nothing could determine a winner between Naruki Doi and Daisuke Sasaki within 30 minutes. Not interference from DAMNATION T.A, not counter interference from Toru Owashi, not the Doi 555 & Bakatare Sliding Kick combo, not the Pedigree & La Mistica Crossface Lock combo, not even the Sasaki Hurricanrana or a School Boy with the cheeky MIKAMI shout out along with it. The match reached its time limit and as a result there is no No. 1 Contender to challenge for the DDT Universal Title on 13th January. Hisaya Imabayashi kept the two in the ring after the match and called the champion Yuki Ueno down to figure out what to do next. Imabayashi suggested doing a 3 Way Match. Ueno liked the idea because he wants to fight Doi and Sasaki but he wants to beat both of them too. So Ueno asked for it to be a Survival 3 Way Match. Doi agreed to it if the match has a 60 minute time limit because he thinks that is enough time for him to beat both Sasaki and Ueno. Sasaki isn’t sure if 60 minutes really is enough but he also accepted the stipulation. He’s certain he can beat Ueno in 3 seconds, it’s just trying to figure out how to beat Doi in 59 minutes and 57 seconds that’s going to be the difficult part.

It will be a few months before Konosuke Takeshita is back in DDT again. His last match here for a while was a win against Takeshi Masada today. Masada pulled out a lot of dazzling kicks at the behest of his opponent to give him his strongest attacks. That was until Takeshita fired back with an Elbow Strike. The Jumping Knee missed its target but Takeshita readjusted himself and caught Masada with a Lariat before pinning him with the Zahi.

After the match Takeshita announced he will return to DDT for “JUDGEMENT 2023” on 21st March where there is a special match he finally wants to do. He has never wrestled a singles match against Sanshiro Takagi! It’s been 15 years since Takeshita first contacted the DDT president about wanting to become a pro wrestler. He’s been able to become one of the best because of him. Takagi was happy to be chosen but unsure he is physically able to do a match at that level. But once Takeshita thought about finding someone better, Takagi lost his temper and gave him a Stunner. He accepts the match after all! He’s going to spend the next three months training until he his no longer Sanshiro Takagi the president but Sanshiro Takagi the pro wrestler!

Ueno had already dealt with DAMNATION T.A earlier in the show with some help from Cara Noir. Together the two were a well oiled team against MJ Paul & KANON. Double Dropkicks, double dives and it all ended with Noir trapping Paul in the Blackout Sleeper with Ueno cutting KANON off from breaking the hold. Noir showed interest in having another match with Ueno in the future but for now he was pleased with getting a prize from the match sponsor Alice Tour for their win today.

Alice Tour also sponsored the 10-Man Tag Match. All active members of BURNING were together in one match for the first time. Poor Yusuke Okada took the brunt of the opposing team’s offence. Soma Takao threw elbows at him, HARASHIMA stomped him in the corner (but not before wishing him a happy new year), RSP & Kazusada Higuchi both flattened him with power moves. Good thing Yuki Ishida messed up his part and ended up getting squashed by RSP’s Swanton Bomb when it was meant for Okada. Jun Akiyama took down RSP with a Lariat and then it was Ishida up taking a train attack from Kotaro Suzuki, Yuya Koroku and the rest of BURNING. Ishida was tough enough to kick out of the Torture Rack Bomb but Tetsuya Endo followed it up with the Burning Star Press to put him away.

Pokotan was in a party mood for the new year and showed up wearing a large Kagami Mochi rice cake on its head. It is said to be good luck if you ever see Pokotan in this state. The wrestlers started to believe it when Pokotan started handing out gift envelopes. It gave an envelope to Yuji Hino just so he would stop attacking it. That led to the other wrestlers all excitedly lining up to receive their own envelopes. Yukinori Matsui got one too. The excitement quickly turned sour once everybody opened their gift just to find a 100 yen coin inside. They all attacked Pokotan, ending with Yukio Naya literally kicking its head off to reveal it is Sanshiro Takagi in the mascot suit! He went on a rampage in the ring until Kazuki Hirata knocked him out. Hirata then put on his glasses and led a big group dance. Unfortunately for him Yukio Sakaguchi did not put on a pair and attacked him instead with Saki Akai joining in. Kazuma Sumi tried to finish Hirata off but the Miracle One Shot Cradle was used out of nowhere and Hirata got away with winning the match.

2023 is the year of the rabbit so Danshoku Dieno wrestled his match wearing rabbit ears. I wish that was the only thing to write about this match. Instead Pheromones had to go out and do their best to cause another incident. When Antonio Honda had Dieno stunned with his latest Gongitsune joke, Yuki Iino was wheeled down to ringside on a cart pushed by Yumehito Imanari and stripped of most of his clothes. The spot was repeated several times with Iino stripping off more and more of his clothing with every appearance. By the fourth time Iino was completely naked using only gift envelopes to hide his shame. That finally caused the match to be called off. Dieno told the fans if they are having a hard time in 2023 then they should look towards Pheromones! Akito will probably have to do just that whether he wants to or not.

Oishi & Asahi were all set up to make their challenge after they beat Hideki Okatani & Toi Kojima in the opening match. Okatani did well to stop the Cactus Flower from being used first time around, causing Kojima to get a nearfall on Oishi. But Asahi broke the pin and was able to do the Cactus Flower with Oishi the second time to get their hands raised.

A lot of announcements and surprises were revealed throughout the show. Samuray Del Sol was announced to appear at “JUDGEMENT 2023” but it turned out he was right there in Korakuen Hall! He came out and chanted “lucha” a lot. Backstage he said the one name that interests him most about DDT is Yuki Ueno so he would like to challenge him for the DDT Universal Title at that show.

Also coming to DDT soon are Kip Sabian & Penelope Ford from AEW. The couple will be in Nagoya on 18th February and Korakuen Hall on 26th February.

Takagi announced his mystery tag partner for his birthday match on 13th January will be Fuminori Abe! Takagi is ready to go over the top in 2023 and wanted his tag partner to be just as crazy. Abe is the disciple of Munenori Sawa who was part of a fond tag team with Takagi over a decade ago. It could be recreated here with Takagi & Abe joining forces. Their tag team name is Bonno Dai Shacho, a reference to Takagi & Sawa being Hentai Dai Shacho.

Two more DDT supercards are added to the schedule, taking place after “JUDGEMENT 2023” in March. “MEGA MAX BUMP 2023” in Yokohama Budokan is happening on 3rd May. “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” in Sumo Hall will be on 23rd July.


Takagi’s Birthday Invitation, Endless Waltz, BURNING Vs Pheromones, Train Pro Wrestling

January 2, 2023

DDT “HATSUYUME 2023”, 03/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi Vs Hideki Okatani & Toi Kojima
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Antonio Honda
3. New Year Special 8-Man Tag Match: Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya Vs Shinshun Pokotan, Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Kazuma Sumi
4. Alice Tour Presents Special 10-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, HARASHIMA, RSP, Soma Takao & Yuki Ishida Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Kotaro Suzuki, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
5. Alice Tour Presents Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Cara Noir Vs MJ Paul & KANON
6. Special Single Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Takeshi Masada
7. DDT Universal Title Next Challenger Decision Battle: Naruki Doi Vs Daisuke Sasaki
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs MAO & Shunma Katsumata

Sanshiro Takagi has a mystery tag team partner lined up for his birthday match on 13th January. He will reveal who it is on this show.

Cheers are allowed for the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’23”, 04/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. HIMAWARI Debut Match: Yuki Aino Vs HIMAWARI
2. Wakana Uehara Debut Match: Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano Vs Arisu Endo & Wakana Uehara
3. Nao Kakuta, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami Vs Raku, Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko
4. New Year Special Match: Shoko Nakajima Vs Hyper Misao
5. Princess Of Princess Title Next Challenger Decision Battle Royal: Rika Tatsumi Vs Mizuki Vs Maki Itoh Vs Yuki Kamifuku Vs Hikari Noa Vs Suzume
6. International Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Trish Adora
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

The 10th official year of Tokyo Joshi Pro begins in two days time!

GANBARE☆PRO “ADRENALINE 2023”, 05/01/2023
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Riko Kawahata Vs YuuRI
2. Yuna Manase & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE
3. New Year Special 8-Man Elimination Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Shigehiro Irie, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Keisuke Ishii, Shota & Hartley Jackson
4. Young Ganbare Cup: Yuki Kanzaki Vs Kentaro Hachisu
5. Young Ganbare Cup: Yumehito Imanari Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Tyson Maeguchi

Now that Shota is back in Japan his focus for now is on singles wrestling. This means there is not going to be a ROMANCE DAWN reunion with Soma Takao happening anytime soon. To prove it, they are on opposite teams for the Elimination Tag Match happening here.

The Ganbare☆Joshi division is rebooting this year. Details for what it entails are still to come but for now the women will continue doing their best. Like YuuRI here taking on the visiting Riko Kawahata. YuuRI is also going over to Ice Ribbon tomorrow as a last minute replacement for a few Actwres girl’Z wrestlers who pulled out all of a sudden. Don’t know what’s going on there.

DDT “NEW YEAR’S CURRENT EXPLOSION!”, 07/01/2023
Kanagawa Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yukio Naya Vs Takeshi Masada
3. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
4. Harimao Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Saori Anou & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazuki Hirata, Saki Akai & Gota Ihashi
6. Chain Death Match: Chris Brookes Vs Demonio Uno
7. “Current Blast” Trademark Rights & Position Battle ~ Legend Resurrected! New Year Aerial Time Bomb & Current Blast Bat Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Soma Takao

The Chris Brookes Vs Demonio Uno bout is now a Chain Death Match.

The show will begin with Atsushi Onita and Shunma Katsumata hosting a explosion themed opening ceremony to bring in the new year.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU ~FIRE!~”, 13/01/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Keigo Nakamura Comeback Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Keigo Nakamura
2. Shunma Katsumata Pheromones One Day Experience Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Akito, Kazuki Hirata & Yuya Koroku
3. Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & X Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
4. Special Single Match: Kotaro Suzuki Vs Soma Takao
5. DDT Universal Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Winner Of 3/1 Decision Match

It’s going to be an Endless Waltz battle between Kotaro Suzuki and Soma Takao. Suzuki is the person who came up with the name Endless Waltz for the constant Las Magistral Cradles he likes to do. He got the name from a Gundam movie.

The show is happening on Takagi’s birthday. He will have already announced who his tag partner is going to be by the time the show takes place.

The supposed one day Katsumata has to join Pheromones is taking place on this day. Pheromones claim he is their “pet” for one month though.

Keigo Nakamura’s return match is throwing him right in there against BURNING.

Naruki Doi will be on the show.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2023 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 21/01/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Yokohama Two Major Singles Match I: Yusuke Okada Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno
2. Yokohama Two Major Singles Match II: Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
3. DDT Extreme Title: Jun Akiyama (c) Vs Antonio Honda

By accident Antonio Honda has found himself challenging Jun Akiyama for the DDT Extreme Title. He was simply trying to get Super Sasadango Machine out of the ring when he stumbled into Akiyama while the champion was waiting for a new challenger to appear.

BURNING and Pheromones have a couple of singles matches happening leading up to their big battle at the end of the month. No way Yuki Iino and Danshoku Dieno will be on their own for these matches.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2023”, 29/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada (c) Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: X & X (c) Vs X & X
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Yuji Hino

In a rematch from the D-Ou Grand Prix draw that happened in November, Kazusada Higuchi and Yuji Hino are facing off again this time with the KO-D Openweight Title on the line. The previous match had a total of 182 chops thrown between the two and still ended without a winner. Admittedly, Hino demanded the match more because he wants to fight Higuchi again rather than because of a desire to win the KO-D Title for a second time.

BURNING defends their newly won KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles against Pheromones. Kotaro Suzuki was told when you come to DDT, a confrontation against Pheromones is inevitable. Tetsuya Endo & Yusuke Okada are already trying to get into their opponent’s heads by telling them what they do is not sexy at all. Koju Takeda will be the wild card because he is the third man on the Pheromones side instead of Yumehito Imanari.

Shinya Aoki, Naruki Doi and Hikaru Machida will all be on the show.

DDT “HAMAMATSU TRAIN PRO WRESTLING”, 19/02/2023
Shizuoka Tenryu Hamanako Railway

1. Hiroshi Yamato Vs X

DDT will be wrestling on a moving train again! A train filled with 47 passengers will depart from Mikkabi Station and travel along the Tenryu Hamanako Railway while wrestlers fight each other inside it. Hiroshi Yamato is the first wrestler to put his name into the hat.


D GENERATIONS CUP

January 2, 2023

The D GENERATIONS CUP is a round robin tournament being put together by DDT for their young wrestlers to compete in. It is the first time DDT is doing a tournament built around youth since the DNA Grand Prix in 2016. The prize for the winner is a spot on DDT’s trip to Hollywood in March. The winner will be booked for both “DDT GOES HOLLYWOOD” on 30th March and “GCW VS DDT” in Los Angeles on 31st March.

Every match in the group stage will have a 15 minute time limit. Wins are worth 2 points, time limit and double knockout draws are worth 1 point and losses, double countouts and no contests are worth 0 points. The winner of both blocks will face each other in the final. Head-To-Head results from the group stage will be used as a tiebreaker. If that is also tied then a sudden death match will take place to decide who goes to the final.

A Block

Hideki Okatani
Yuya Koroku
Kazuma Sumi
Ilusion

B Block

Keigo Nakamura
Toi Kojima
Yuki Ishida
Takeshi Masada

The match schedule has not been determined yet but the tournament will take place on the following shows:

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2023”, 29/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2023 IN OSAKA”, 05/02/2023
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED VOL. 1”, 11/02/2023
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

DDT “HEAT WAVE OVER FLOWERS 2 ~THE WORLD THAT EVERYONE DOES NOT KNOW~”, 14/02/2023
Shinjuku FACE

DDT “FRIENDSHIP, EFFORT, VICTORY IN NAGOYA 2023”, 18/02/2023
Aichi Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2023”, 26/02/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall


Official TJPW Best Matches Of 2022

January 1, 2023

The annual vote for the best matches in Tokyo Joshi Pro was completed over the holidays and the results were announced today. This year TJPW received over 350 votes on Twitter including an increase of responses from fans overseas. Only matches held on TJPW shows and “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022” were eligible for votes. In the end more than 110 matches received votes and two tied for 20th place.

TJPW Best Bouts 2022


1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Miyu Yamashita Vs Miu Watanabe
13th August @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
195 pts


2. Princess Of Princess Title: Shoko Nakajima (c) Vs Yuka Sakazaki
9th October @ Tokyo Dome City Hall
162 pts


3. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Saki Akai & Yuki Arai
9th July @ Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
153 pts


4. Princess Of Princess Title: Shoko Nakajima (c) Vs Rika Tatsumi
9th July @ Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
143 pts


5. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: Yuka Sakazaki Vs Miu Watanabe
14th August @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
119 pts


6. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Mizuki
4th January @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
111 pts


7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe
19th March @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
105 pts


8. Pom Harajuku Vs Max The Impaler
13th August @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
88 pts


9. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima
19th March @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
86 pts


10. Mizuki Vs Arisu Endo
27th November @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
62 pts

11. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
4th September @ Aichi Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall
52 pts

12. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Shoko Nakajima Vs Miu Watanabe
31st August @ Tokyo Otemachi Mitsui Hall
50 pts

13. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Suzume
31st August @ Tokyo Otemachi Mitsui Hall
47 pts

14. Falls Count Anywhere Match: Hyper Misao Vs Sanshiro Takagi
19th March @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
44 pts

15. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Millie McKenzie
27th November @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
38 pts

16. Nodoka Tenma Vs Yuki Aino
19th March @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
35 pts

17. Sakisama, Mei Saint-Michel, Martha & Yukio Saint Laurent Vs Marika Kobashi, Raku, Pom Harajuku & Ram Kaichow
19th March @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
pts

18. Falls Count Anywhere 5 Way Tag Match – Special Rules: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Hyper Misao & Nodoka Tenma Vs Marika Kobashi & Raku Vs Hikari Noa & Yuki Arai
28th February @ WRESTLE UNIVERSE
31 pts

19. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku
27th November @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
30 pts

20. International Princess Title: Maki Itoh (c) Vs Yuki Arai
19th March @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
22 pts

20. Suzume Vs Ryo Mizunami
9th October @ Tokyo Dome City Hall
22 pts

Honorable Mentions

These four matches just missed out on making the Top 20.

22. 2nd “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
11th February @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall

23. Suzume Vs Yuki Arai
11th February @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall

23. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta
3rd May @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall

23. International Princess Title: Alex Windsor (c) Vs Miu Watanabe
9th October @ Tokyo Dome City Hall


DDT Around The World – December 2022

January 1, 2023

It’s all over for Shota’s American adventure. He’s now back in Japan wrestling for Ganbare☆Pro with a fresh pep in his step. For me it’s going to make writing these articles a lot more easier now I’m no longer searching for some of the most obscure wrestling shows on the US indies. Although looking at where the winds are blowing, I’ll have to start learning Asian geography next year.

January has a few eventful things lined up. Getting out worldwide is a priority for DDT this Spring. The yen is weak so any chance to make a lot of American dollars at wrestling shows will be taken. A few DDT wrestlers are going over Stateside. Yuka Sakazaki will be going back too but whether or not it is just for a few AEW matches in unknown right now. Miyu Yamashita has a chance to add more international gold to her collection, Maki Itoh is starting to treat America as a second home and Yuki Kamifuku is beginning to spread her wings more.

———————————————————————–

Videos


Video starts at 45:25 for the match
PWL “PRO WRESTLING LEGACY”, 02/12/2022
Toma Gallery, El Paso, Texas, USA

1. Cosmo Orion Vs Shota


GRAPPLE MAX “GOLD STANDARD”, 03/12/2022
GymKraft, Tampines Street, Singapore

1. Hotshot Wilson Vs Masahiro Takanashi


Video starts at 47:16 for Match #1. Go to 1:39:01 for the Premier Rumble and 1:57:20 for Shota’s entrance
PWF “PREMIER RUMBLE”, 03/12/2022
Houston Premier Arena, Houston, Texas, USA

1. Caine Carter Vs Shota
2. Premier Rumble: Shota enters at #9


Video starts at 55:39 for the match
AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 06/12/2022
Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Aaron Solo


Video starts at 1:12:40 for Match #1. Go to 1:50:06 for Match #2
NEW TEXAS PRO “TEXAS CONTENDERS SERIES 9”, 08/12/2022
Houston Premier Arena, Houston, Texas, USA

1. Shota Vs Shawn Hendrix
2. Mysterious Q Vs Shota


AEW “RAMPAGE”, 09/12/2022
H-E-B Center, Cedar Park, Texas, USA

1. Jon Moxley Vs Konosuke Takeshita


Video starts at 8:35 for the match
GLORY PRO “DECEMBER 2 RIZZMEMBER”, 18/12/2022
South Broadway Athletic Club, St. Louis, USA

1. Shota Vs Ethan Price


Video starts at 10:27 for the match
AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 19/12/2022
Curtis Cullwell Center, Garland, Texas, USA

1. Ethan Page, Matt Hardy, Isiah Kassidy, Dante Martin, Darius Martin & Konosuke Takeshita Vs Sonny Kiss, Slim J, Jeeves Kay, Peter Avalon, Cezar Bononi & Ryan Nemeth


Video starts at 10:08 for the match
AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 26/12/2022
Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Frankie Kazarian

———————————————————————–

Results


PWL “PRO WRESTLING LEGACY”, 02/12/2022
Toma Gallery, El Paso, Texas, USA

1. Shota defeated Cosmo Orion with the Frog Splash (?:??).

Shota had already visited El Paso on his travels but didn’t get to wrestle there until the final weeks of his excursion. It was an emotional match for him. Not only did he win but he did so using his hero Eddie Guerrero’s finisher in Eddie’s hometown. He also gave a speech thanking Eddie after the match for making his dream come true.


GRAPPLE MAX “GOLD STANDARD”, 03/12/2022
GymKraft, Tampines Street, Singapore

1. Masahiro Takanashi defeated Hotshot Wilson with a Cradle (12:27).

The master of roll-ups was at risk of losing to such a move. Hotshot Wilson kept trying to find ways to pin Masahiro Takanashi’s shoulders to the mat, turning to a reliance on using La Magistral Cradle. Takanashi found a way to counter the move, roll on top of Wilson and keep him pinned down to take the victory.


PWF “PREMIER RUMBLE”, 03/12/2022
Houston Premier Arena, Houston, Texas, USA

1. Shota defeated Caine Carter with the Frog Splash (?:??).
2. Premier Rumble: Chris Carter defeated AWOL and Shota by Ring Out (?:??).

The fruits of Shota’s labour was on show with his performance at his last Premier Wrestling Federation event. First he defeated Caine Carter then he entered the 30-Man Premier Rumble at #9. He lasted until the final three and finished in 3rd place (no way am I writing out all 30 entrants for the result).


AEW “RAMPAGE”, 07/12/2022 (Aired 09/12/2022)
H-E-B Center, Cedar Park, Texas, USA

1. Jon Moxley defeated Konosuke Takeshita with the Bully Choke (14:30).

Takeshita’s second crack at Jon Moxley ended much like the first. A well fought match that ended in defeat thanks to the Bully Choke. The one difference this time around is Takeshita did not submit, instead he passed out to the hold.


NEW TEXAS PRO “TEXAS CONTENDERS SERIES 9”, 08/12/2022
Houston Premier Arena, Houston, Texas, USA

1. Shota defeated Shawn Hendrix with a Backstabber (?:??).
2. Shota defeated Mysterious Q with the Gannosuke Clutch (?:??).

Shota’s final appearance in the Houston Premier Arena was probably his most eventful. First he was unexpectedly called out by Shawn Hendrix for eliminating him at the Premier Rumble. Shota wasn’t aware of who Hendrix was because Hendrix wears a mask in PWF but wrestles unmasked in New Texas Pro, so he didn’t recognise him. An impromptu match began and Shota won it in seconds, ending the disupute before it ever really got started.

Perhaps the second match was Shota’s biggest win of his entire stay. Mysterious Q is one of the big boys of the Texas scene and he took Shota for a beating. Shota was able to kick out of everything Q could do to him but he hadn’t a hope of winning. That was until Q was distracted by the entrance music of Rudy Garza. Nothing came of it so Q turned his attention back to Shota. His finisher was then countered into the Gannosuke Clutch giving Shota the upset win! Q figured out that Shota was not on Garza’s side (Garza cheated to beat Shota a month earlier) and congratulated Shota on the win.


APAC “RISE – DAY 1”, 10/12/2022
Spacerubix, Puchong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. APAC Women’s Title Tournament – Round 1: Steph De Lander defeated Maki Itoh (?:??).
2. APAC Women’s Title Tournament – Round 1: Nor “Phoenix” Diana defeated Yuki Kamifuku (?:??).

Both Maki Itoh and Yuki Kamifuku lost their 1st Round matches in the APAC Women’s Title Tournament. I can’t find much info on what happened other than that.


DFW ALL PRO “SEASONS BEATINGS”, 10/12/2022
Haltom Theater, Haltom City, Texas, USA

1. Triple Threat Match: Shota Vs Rook Tyler Vs Eddie Martinez

Shota’s penultimate match of his excursion took place in DFW All Pro against some of the promotion’s alumni Rook Tyler and Eddie Martinez.


DPW “1ST ANNIVERSARY”, 10/12/2022
Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Colby Corino with the Zahi (14:22).

Now we’re cooking! Takeshita came back to Deadlock Pro and had a fight on his hands against Colby Corino. It was a match that got “That shit fucked!” chants after it ended. It was one of Corino’s last matches before news came out that he is WWE bound.


APAC “RISE – DAY 2”, 11/12/2022
Spacerubix, Puchong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. Maki Itoh Vs Yuki Kamifuku

I was able to find out Itoh and Kamifuku had a match against each other on the second day of APAC’s weekend. Other than that I don’t know the result. Nor “Phoenix” Diana beat Steph De Lander in the final to win the championship.


AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 14/12/2022 (Aired 19/12/2022)
Curtis Cullwell Center, Garland, Texas, USA

1. Ethan Page, Matt Hardy, Isiah Kassidy, Dante Martin, Darius Martin & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Sonny Kiss, Slim J, Jeeves Kay, Peter Avalon, Cezar Bononi & Ryan Nemeth when Page pinned Avalon with the Twist Of Fate (7:45).

So Takeshita, The Firm, Top Flight, The Trustbusters and The Wingmen all walk into a bar. Stop me if you heard this one before.


AEW “DARK”, 17/12/2022 (Aired 31/01/2022)
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Angelico with the Zahi (7:39).

This match hasn’t aired yet. Did Angelico get any help from the other members of the Spanish Announce Project? Did the SAT crash the match in an angry shoot? Would Angelico even want Luther & Serpentico to help him in this case?


GLORY PRO “DECEMBER 2 RIZZMEMBER”, 18/12/2022
South Broadway Athletic Club, St. Louis, USA

1. Ethan Price defeated Shota with the Package DDT (?:??).

And he we are at Shota’s final match in America. He couldn’t end it with a win unfortunately. Ethan Price rolled out of a Sunset Flip, hooked Shota in the Fisherman Suplex position and dropped him with a Package DDT to win the match.


AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 21/12/2022 (Aired 26/12/2022)
Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Frankie Kazarian with the German Suplex (5:01).

Takeshita’s biggest win in AEW so far happens here. Beating Frankie Kazarian is a small step up the ladder.


GCW “TIL INFINITY 2022”, 31/12/2022
The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Allie Katch with the I.S.D (11:36).

Hikari Noa is going to be so jealous when she finds out that Itoh got to do death match spots before her. Just like last month Itoh confronted Nick Gage in the middle of the ring to ask him “Where’s my fucking gang at?!?” Then during her match against Allie Katch, Itoh grabbed a pizza slicer and sliced it across Katch’s forehead! If that wasn’t enough, Itoh blased a lighttube over Katch’s head before pinning her with the I.S.D flying DDT.

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Upcoming Appearances


GCW “56 NIGHTS”, 01/01/2023
The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

1. 4 Way Match: Dark Sheik Vs Maki Itoh Vs Billie Starkz Vs Sawyer Wreck

The match will be happening hours after I posted this. Too bad, I’m leaving the result out until next month. Itoh has been in the ring with Dark Sheik and Billie Starkz before. Sawyer Wreck though is a new one and she’s just as bloodthirsty as Itoh if not more.


EVE “EVE 100”, 07/01/2023
229 The Venue, London, England

1. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Lizzy Evo

Yamashita’s new year goal is to become an international Triple Crown holder. If she can win the Princess Of Princess Title from Sakazaki in Tokyo on 4th January then the next step is to defend the EVE Title against Lizzy Evo in London. EVE picked Evo as the next contender because she has beaten multiple former EVE champions including the woman Yamashita dethroned, Alex Windsor.


PWG “BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES 2023”, 07/01/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Battle Of Los Angeles 2023 – Round 1: Michael Oku Vs Konosuke Takeshita

One to scratch off the bucket list. The Battle Of Los Angeles is the premier pro wrestling tournament on the American indies. Simply being included in one is often considered to be a career highlight. Takeshita’s appearance in the 2023 edition was expected and there is excitement brewing over his 1st Round opponent Michael Oku. It will be months before the show will be watched by people who didn’t attend so we all need an ungodly amount of patience to see how he fares. Also fingers cross Sakazaki makes a surprise appearance for a non-tournament match.


WARRIOR “WARRIOR WRESTLING 27”, 21/01/2023
Bendix Arena, South Bend, Indiana, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Zachary Wentz

Takeshita’s debut for Warrior Wrestling has him facing Zachary Wentz of The Rascalz. Strength versus agility will be happening here for sure.


PRESTIGE “VENDETTA”, 21/01/2023
The Glass House, Pomona, California, USA

1. Anything Goes: Shunma Katsumata Vs Sonico
2. Kevin Blackwood Vs MAO
3. ROH Women’s Title: Athena (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

The third and final part of Yamashita’s plan is to take the ROH Women’s Title from Athena in California. Prestige was able to get permission from ROH/AEW/Tony Khan to make the already announced match for the championship.


SPW “CHAMPIONS NEVER YIELD”, 27/01/2023
Foochow Building, Singapore

1. Queen Of Asia Title: Alexis Lee (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku

The Queen Of Asia Title that Alexis Lee currently holds previously belonged to Riho for four years. Lee won it in a 3 Way Match last month and her first defence is against Kamifuku.


SETUP “SETUP EP.11”, 30/01/2023
The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand

1. International Single Match: Matcha Vs TJPW X

The next day a wrestler from TJPW will be at a SETUP show to face Matcha, Thailand’s first female pro wrestler. She is also known online as the fan artist Tapla. Who TJPW is sending over will be decided on short notice because the show is happening during the Max Heart Tournament. They won’t be able to send someone over if they are still in the tournament. Is Kamifuku’s Singapore booking just a coincidence?


DDT “DDT GOES HOLLYWOOD”, 30/03/2023
Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

Latest update with this show is the winner of the D GENERATIONS CUP will be booked for it. So Takeshi Masada still has a chance!


DDT/GCW “GCW VS DDT”, 31/03/2023
Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

Nothing new on this front.