Omega Defeats Hayashi, V3 For AJPW Jr. Title

February 3, 2012

AJPW “40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR EXCITE SERIES 2012”, 03/02/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,100 Fans – Super No Vacancy

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kenny Omega (c) defeated Kaz Hayashi with the One-Winged Angel (21:55).
*V3 for Kenny Omega.

Kenny Omega scored another career defining victory over one of the best Jr. Heavyweight wrestlers in the world today in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Omega made his third defence of the AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Title by defeating former champion Kaz Hayashi in the semi-main event of today’s show in Korakuen Hall. Hayashi has one of the more outstanding title reigns in puroresu with his most recent title run lasting 17 defences. However, Omega was not intimidated and was more concerned with living up to his claims of being the “cool champion” All Japan needs right now. The One-Winged Angel crushed Hayashi’s chance of winning back the title and Kenny celebrated his win with his cornerman Michael Nakazawa.

After the match, Kenny was confronted by two other AJPW wrestlers KAI and Shuji Kondo. Both of them appealed for title shots. Omega refused KAI on the basis that he defeated him twice already this year, the second time for the title itself. Before Kenny could respond to Shuji’s challenge, Nakazawa blindsided KAI with a chairshot. Omega then said he wanted his next title defence to take place in DDT and left it at that.

When interviewed backstage, Kenny said it was tough to be on the same level as Hayashi but he is now above him and has nothing left to prove. However, he still wants to earn the big money he gets by being the champion. Plus he cherishes his friends and family, friends like Nakazawa. His immediate plans are to now go home so he can eat curry and chocolate croissants.

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Full Card For “PINK KNEEL KICK VOL.1”

February 3, 2012

DDT “PINK KNEEL KICK VOL.1”, 03/03/2012
Tokorozawa Civic Gymnasium

1. Takao Soma Vs Shota
2. Shuji Ishikawa Vs Hoshitango
3. Danshoku Dino, Makoto Oishi & Tanomusaku Toba Vs Masa Takanashi, Daisuke Sasaki & Michael Nakazawa
4. Antonio Honda Vs Hiroshi Fukuda
5. Sanshiro Takagi Vs Yasu Urano
6. Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie Vs HARASHIMA & KUDO

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Union With BJW, DDT With BJW Too

February 2, 2012

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2012”, 19/02/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. School System Vs Dissidents: Sanshiro Takagi, Takao Soma, Shiro Koshinaka & Masashi Aoyagi Vs X, X, X & X
2. Special Tag Match: Kenny Omega & KUDO Vs El Generico & HARASHIMA
3. KO-D Tag Team Title: Yasu Urano & Yuji Hino (c) Vs Makoto Oishi & Masao Inoue
4. KO-D Openweight Title: Danshoku Dino (c) Vs Antonio Honda

Several names have been added to this event. They are Daisuke Sasaki (not sure if this effects his trip to Mexico), Hikaru Sato, Hiroshi Fukuda, Akito, Hikari Minami, Tsukasa Fujimoto and Sexxxy Eddy.

DDT/BJW “TBA”, 20/03/2012
Hakata Star Lane

Union isn’t the only brand holding a joint show with Big Japan during March. DDT will be joining in the fun too with a show in Hakata Star Lane produced by both Antonio Honda & Jaki Numazawa.

BJW/UNION “TBA”, 29/03/2012
Shinjuku FACE

1. Fluorescent Lighttubes Death Match: Isami Kodaka Vs Yuko Miyamoto

The first match of the BJW/Union show has been announced. The current co-holders of the BJW Tag Team Championship will battle each other in a Fluorescent Lighttubes Death Match. This will be the first time a death match will be held in Shinjuku FACE. Union had to got through a lot of negotiations with the building’s owners to allow the match to happen. They came to a compromise that only lighttubes will be used in the match and not the more extreme items Big Japan is associated with.

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2012 Contract Renewels

February 1, 2012

Every year, the end of January brings along the annual contract renewals for DDT and Union. This year had nothing earth-shattering taking place, like the 2009 period where Michael Nakazawa’s attempt to re-sign his contract involved Danshoku Dino assaulting him and his wife in their home, then Nakazawa escaping in a car that exploded when it was switched on.

The following is the list of wrestlers who renewed their contract for the year.

Dramatic Dream Team

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

Union

Shuji Ishikawa, Seiya Morohashi (aka Big Rude), Isami Kodaka, Cherry, Ken Ohka, Hiro Tsumaki and Hiroshi Fukuda.

Only one person turned down his contract renewal, Union’s Shinichiro Tominaga. Unfortunately the promising rookie was never able to return to the ring after fracturing his right forearm last June. He thanked the fans for cheering him on during his brief time in Union.

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Union February Cards

January 31, 2012

UNION “FORTUNE DEMONS 2012”, 10/02/2012
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Hiroshi Fukuda (w/ Rumi Kazama) Vs Rion Mizuki
2. New Sanshiro Takagi & Big Rude Vs Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Cherry
3. Mio Shirai Vs Sexxxy Eddy
4. Ken Ohka Vs El Generico
5. Shuji Ishikawa & Shigehiro Irie Vs Kengo Ohka & Madoka
6. BJW Tag Team Title: Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto (c) Vs Kazuki Hashimoto & Takumi Tsukamoto

New Sanshiro Takagi seems to be a big admirer of his own muscles, so he and Big Rude should get along just fine.

UNION “UNION PRO WRESTLING IN OSAKA”, 12/02/2012
Osaka Minami Move On Arena

1. Special Battle Royal: HARU Vs Agu Matsunaga Vs Yuki Tanaka Vs Hideki Shiota
2. Cherry Vs Maki Narumiya
3. New Sanshiro Takagi & Big Rude Vs Kengo Ohka & Madoka
4. Ken Ohka & Mio Shirai Vs Black Buffalo & Tigers Mask
5. Shuji Ishikawa & Shigehiro Irie Vs El Generico & Hiroshi Fukuda
6. DDT Extreme Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Sexxxy Eddy

Maki Narumiya is from Ice Ribbon and will almost have a full year of experience under her belt by the time her match with Cherry takes place. Meanwhile I predict Cherry will use the match as an opportunity to claim she is younger than everyone from Ice Ribbon, including the teens.

The Special Battle Royal so far features wrestlers from around the Osaka indie wrestling scene. Union is hoping to discover some fresh talent to add to their shows and this match could create some opportunities for the wrestlers involved.

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Dino Vs Honda, Dream Gaijin Trio, Sanshiro’s Cult Of Personality

January 31, 2012

DDT “NON-FIX 2.4”, 04/02/2012
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. KUDO Vs DJ Nira
2. Makoto Oishi & Akito Vs Shota & Rion Mizuki
3. Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie Vs Yasu Urano & Keita Yano
4. Sanshiro Takagi & Takao Soma Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Michael Nakazawa
5. Kenny Omega & Masa Takanashi Vs HARASHIMA & Hayato “Jr” Fujita
6. Danshoku Dino Vs Antonio Honda

Danshoku Dino is already preparing for new challenges justs days after becoming the new KO-D Openweight Champion. He already had his first defence lined up for 19/2 in Korakuen Hall as his close friend and rival Antonio Honda called for the first title shot. In a rare booking decision, DDT has set up two non-title matches between Dino and Honda in Shin-Kiba and Nagoya before their Korakuen match takes place. Both matches will have stipulations that will be decided by DDT General Manager Tsurumi Amon at the shows. The matches will feel very special to Dino, Honda and Amon due to their time spent together in the now defunct MUSCLE sub-brand.

Meanwhile, “NON-FIX 2.4” will see Hayato “Jr” Fujita of Michinoku Pro fame make his first ever appearance for DDT. His partner on the night is HARASHIMA, who is looking for a shot at Kenny Omega and his AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Title. However, it could be Fujita who could wriggle his way into title contention if everything goes his way during the match.

DDT “TRULY ULTRA SUPER BAZOOKA!”, 11/02/2012
Nagoya Arsenal Hall

1. Michael Nakazawa Vs DJ Nira
2. Sanshiro Takagi & Takao Soma Vs Kengo Takai & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
3. HARASHIMA & Mr. #6 Vs Masa Takanashi & Shota
4. Kenny Omega, El Generico & Sexxxy Eddy Vs KUDO, Makoto Oishi & Akito
5. Danshoku Dino Vs Antonio Honda
6. KO-D Tag Team Title: Yasu Urano & Yuji Hino (c) Vs Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie

DDT is advertising a “Dream Gaijin Trio” coming together in the form of Kenny Omega, El Generico & Sexxxy Eddy. This matches comes just over one week before Omega and Generico find themselves on opposite sides of a big Tag Team match.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2012”, 19/02/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. School System Vs Dissidents: Sanshiro Takagi, Takao Soma, Shiro Koshinaka & Masashi Aoyagi Vs X, X, X & X
2. Special Tag Match: Kenny Omega & KUDO Vs El Generico & HARASHIMA
3. KO-D Tag Team Title: Yasu Urano & Yuji Hino (c) Vs Makoto Oishi & Masao Inoue
4. KO-D Openweight Title: Danshoku Dino (c) Vs Antonio Honda

For those who have followed DDT for years, you would know that Sanshiro Takagi is a huge WWE fan. He loves to emulate his favourite Superstars and many of his ideas over the years have been inspired by what goes on in the WWE ring every Monday and Friday night. So, can you guess the inspiration for his latest scheme? Judging by the photo above, of course you can.

So far this year, Takagi has commented on DDT recently becoming stagnant and a little bit boring. He blames Tsurumi Amon for letting this happen while being in charge of looking over the shows. So his solution to this problem is to form a dissident group to cause some chaos and annoy Amon into doing a better job. Takagi already brought Takao Soma into the group and recently revealed that Shiro Koshinaka & Masashi Aoyagi would be coming over to help him out. Tsurumi’s response is to find his own disciplined group of wrestlers to stop Takagi.This will lead to an 8-Man Tag Team mach at Korakuen Hall to see who will win the battle between chaos and good behaviour.

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A.YAZAWA To The Rescue, Omega Vs Generico (Sort Of), Pink Kneel Kick

January 27, 2012

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2012”, 29/01/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Gorgeous Matsuno & Rion Mizuki Vs DJ Nira & Shota
1. Sanshiro Takagi & Takao Soma Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Hoshitango
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Masa Takanashi & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Hikaru Sato & Michael Nakazawa Vs Shigehiro Irie & Poison JULIE Sawada
3. Yasu Urano, A.YAZAWA & Keita Yano Vs Makoto Oishi, Akito & Hiroshi Fukuda (w/ Hikari Minami)
4. Keisuke Ishii Vs Yuji Hino
5. Kenny Omega Vs HARASHIMA
6. KO-D Openweight Title: KUDO (c) Vs Danshoku Dino

Antonio Honda has been suddenly struck with a chronic illness and had to be taken off this weekend’s show. Luckily, A.YAZAWA will be coming in to take his place. YAZAWA will bring his experience in Rock & Roll Death Matches to aid Crying Wolf with their match against Homoiro Clover Z.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2012”, 19/02/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special Tag Match: Kenny Omega & X Vs El Generico & X

Kenny Omega and El Generico finally cross paths in Japan but it will be in a Tag Team match.

DDT “PINK KNEEL KICK VOL.1”, 03/03/2012
Tokorozawa Civic Gymnasium

1. Sanshiro Takagi Vs Yasu Urano
2. Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie Vs HARASHIMA & KUDO

Keisuke Ishii begins the first in a series of self-produced wrestling shows after his debut attempt from last year turned out to be a success.

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Night, Night. Don’t Let The Dino Bite

January 23, 2012

NJPW/CMLL “NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2012”, 21/01/12
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,950 Fans – Super No Vacancy

TAKA Michinoku & Taichi defeated Danshoku Dino & Maximo when Taichi pinned Taichi with a Horizontal Cradle (8:04).

One year after teaming together, Danshoku Dino returned to New Japan to team up with the pink mohawked Luchador Maximo once again for the New Japan & CMLL co-production of “FANTASTICA MANIA”. Before their match with TAKA Michinoku & Taichi even began, Dino tried to kiss Milano Collection AT at the commentator’s table. Milano avoided Dino by dragging another commentator in his place for the kiss. Even though Dino and Maximo got along fabulously and recieved chants of “Maxi-Dino” from the fans, their efforts could not defeat TAKA & Taichi. Dino & Maximo let bygones be bygones and both kissed the referee at the same time after the match. Dino then chased Taichi into the locker room.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2012”, 29/01/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Gorgeous Matsuno & Rion Mizuki Vs DJ Nira & Shota
1. Sanshiro Takagi & Takao Soma Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Hoshitango
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Masa Takanashi & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Hikaru Sato & Michael Nakazawa Vs Shigehiro Irie & Poison JULIE Sawada
3. Yasu Urano, Antonio Honda & Keita Yano Vs Makoto Oishi, Akito & Hiroshi Fukuda (w/ Hikari Minami)
4. Keisuke Ishii Vs Yuji Hino
5. Kenny Omega Vs HARASHIMA
6. KO-D Openweight Title: KUDO (c) Vs Danshoku Dino

Danshoku Dino last held the KO-D Openweight Title in 2005. It was his only KO-D Title reign and since then he has had around six shots at the belt. KUDO will break the record for most KO-D Title defences if he defeats Dino.

DDT “TRULY ULTRA SUPER BAZOOKA!”, 11/02/2012
Nagoya Arsenal Hall

1. KO-D Tag Team Title: Yasu Urano & Yuji Hino (c) Vs Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie

The former champs get their rematch with Crying Wolf. Unsurprisingly, no one has been able to match the strength of Yuji Hino so far. Will Keisuke Ishii have discovered a fatal flaw to exploit after his Korakuen Hall match with Hino?

UNION “UNION PRO WRESTLING IN OSAKA”, 12/02/2012
Osaka Minami Move On Arena

1. Ken Ohka & Mio Shirai Vs Black Buffalo & Tigers Mask
2. Shuji Ishikawa & Shigehiro Irie Vs El Generico & Hiroshi Fukuda
3. DDT Extreme Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Sexxxy Eddy

Mio Shirai & Ken Ohka sent out a challenge to face any team for this show. Black Buffalo & Tigers Mask from Osaka Pro answered the call.

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DKP: 2011 ProWres Paradise Annual

January 19, 2012

I have a big treat in store for everyone today courtesy of the kind folks from the Dr. Keith Presents radio show over at F4WOnline. Dean Knickerbocker and Alan Counihan have created a pro wrestling annual that looks back on the Japanese, American and European scenes throughout 2011. The 99-page annual is filled with analysis of many of the major Japanese promotions and American indy feds, articles on some of the most notable breakthrough names over the last 12 months and also some fun puzzles to enjoy. Plus there are roundtable discussions on the most memorable moments in both America and Japan, the latter featuring yours truly. For those of you who grew up with the Beano, Dandy and Shoot Annuals, this is just the downloadable book for you.

The PDF file can be downloaded here.

23/01/12 Edit: Link updated yet again.

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Posted by JamieOD

Union Vs Big Japan, Kazuki Hirata Injured

January 18, 2012

DDT “IN CHIBA 2012”, 22/01/2012
Chiba Port Arena

1. Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie Vs Hikaru Sato & Michael Nakazawa
2. HARASHIMA & Ryuichi Sekine Vs Antonio Honda & Keita Yano
3. Sanshiro Takagi Vs Takao Soma
4. Lottery Bonus Match! Angel Vs Devil Showdown!: DJ Nira Vs Jaki Numawzawa
5. Danshoku Dino, KUDO & Makoto Oishi Vs Kenny Omega, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Shota
6. KO-D Tag Team Title: Yasu Urano & Yuji Hino (c) Vs Masa Takanashi & Daisuke Sasaki

Add another name to the injured list. Kazuki Hirata has suffered damage to his ACL and will miss the Chiba Port Arena show and it is not known how long he will be out of action for. Shota will replace him in the semi-main event.

UNION “FORTUNE DEMONS 2012”, 10/02/2012
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Mio Shirai Vs Sexxxy Eddy
2. Ken Ohka Vs El Generico
3. Shuji Ishikawa & Shigehiro Irie Vs Kengo Ohka & Madoka
4. BJW Tag Team Title: Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto (c) Vs Kazuki Hashimoto & Takumi Tsukamoto

The main event for the Union 10/2 show in Shin-Kiba will be something for fans of Big Japan Wrestling to look forward to. Isami Kodaka has invited his tag team partner Yuko Miyamoto over to Union to defend their BJW Tag Team Championship against Kazuki Hashimoto & Takumi Tsukamoto. Isami is currently a double champion. He recently won the DDT Extreme Title and has held the BJW Tag Title with Miyamoto since May 2011.

The Union and Big Japan crossover does not stop there. Union announced that they will be hosting a joint show with Big Japan at Shinjuku FACE on 29th March. At the press conference where the news was announced, Ken Ohka said the Union Vs Big Japan rivalry will be a lot like the New Japan Pro Wrestling Vs UWF International feud from 1995. Meanwhile, Yuko Miyamoto said he wanted to have a DDT Extreme Title match with his friend Isami sometime in the future. There was also a mention of Cherry taking on a female Death Match Champion named Toka Kobayashi. Hmmm, that name sounds familiar…

The show will also have the debut match of New Sanshiro Takagi. The original Sanshiro Takagi has seen his workload for both DDT and Union in 2012 become too much to handle, so he has brought along Keizo Matsuda of IWA Japan to literally take his place in Union for the time being. This is not the first time Matsuda has portrayed a duplicate. He was formerly Fake HG in HUSTLE.

UNION “UNION PRO WRESTLING IN OSAKA”, 12/02/2012
Osaka Minami Move On Arena

1. Ken Ohka & Mio Shirai Vs X & X
2. Shuji Ishikawa & Shigehiro Irie Vs El Generico & Hiroshi Fukuda
3. DDT Extreme Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Sexxxy Eddy

Union will hold its next show two days later and will feature Isami Kodaka defending the DDT Extreme Championship in the main event. His opponent is Canada’s answer for Glenn Quagmire, Sexxxy Eddy in a rematch from their Sexy Diva bout from August 2011.

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