Gorgeous Star Elbow Goes Viral, Kawamatsu Gets A Motivating Call (Or Maybe Not Brother), An Illuminating Street Fight

July 14, 2023

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2023 IN AOMORI”, 15/07/2023
Aomori Hamanasu Hall

1. Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuni
2. 3 Way Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Antonio Honda
3. Special Single Match: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuki Ishida
4. Falls Count Anywhere Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku Vs HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
5. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada
6. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi

This weekend are the last preview matches for Yuji Hino and Chris Brookes against each other before “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”.

Tomorrow will be the first time the main three wrestlers in DAMNATION T.A will be teaming with each other again since KANON came back from injury.

DDT “60TH BIRTHDAY & 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL TOGETHER! ~ GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 16/07/2023
Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena Sub Arena

1. Kazuki Hirata & Yuni Vs Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
2. 4 Way Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yusuke Okada, Toy Kojima & Yuya Koroku
4. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
6. Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda

The story building up for the main event is can Gorgeous Matsuno hit the Gorgeous Star Elbow in front of his hometown audience? Clips of him doing the move have done good numbers on TikTok in the lead-up to the show.

DDT “SOYOKAZE PRO WRESTLING”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Sumida Park Breeze Square

1. Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Hideki Okatani, Toy Kojima & Kazuma Sumi
2. DISASTER BOX Vs Pheromones!: HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno
3. Sumida Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Akito & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Makoto Oishi

Shinichiro Kawamatsu is feeling really motivated for Monday’s match after he got a chance to have a video call with Hulk Hogan this week. Looking through his Twitter I think a dinner he had with Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture set it all up. Kawamatsu wasn’t there to play hide the ball, dude.

Yukio Naya will be at the show to greet the fans.

GANBARE☆PRO “UNDER THE SILVER LAKE 2023”, 06/08/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE

At “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II” we got both new Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Champions as well as the decision over who their first challengers will be. Ground Absolute defend the belts against big Hartley Jackson & little HARUKAZE!

Soma Takao and Shinichiro Tominaga will be on the show.

DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN IZUKOGEN GRANILLUMI”, 02/09/2023
Shizuoka Izu Granpal Park

1. Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima (w/ Shunma Katsumata) Vs X, X & X

Eight years ago DDT held a wrestling show in Izu Granpal Park, an outdoor venue filled with many light-up displays of all kinds. They are finally returning to the place for a Falls Count Anywhere match that will begin in the evening as the sky gets dark. The 37KAMIINA are the first group of wrestlers confirmed to take part.


Princess Cup Undercard, Sakaguchi’s 50th Birthday Coming Up

July 12, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 15/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI Vs Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
2. Kaya Toribami Vs Shino Suzuki
3. Yuki Kamifuku, Mahiro Kiryu & Toga Vs Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Arisu Endo
4. Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe, Suzume & Haruna Neko Vs Shoko Nakajima, Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku
5. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1B: Hyper Misao Vs Moka Miyamoto
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1A: Miyu Yamashita Vs Mizuki

The Tokyo Princess Cup begins this weekend. The plan for the undercard on these shows is to put wrestlers from upcoming tournament matches in preview tag matches. So for example Rika Tatsumi and Raku are on opposite teams in the same match, Suzume and Shoko Nakajima are on opposite teams, so on and so forth. Hikari Noa and Yuki Arai are the exception because Arai isn’t available to wrestle until their tournament match on 22nd July.

DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2023”, 30/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Yukio Sakaguchi 50th Birthday Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Shuji Ishikawa, Thanomsak Toba & Masahiro Takanashi
2. DDT Extreme Title: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs HARASHIMA

Yukio Sakaguchi is turning 50 years old on 26th July! So to celebrate it DDT is putting together a special match for him. Eruption are going to take on a team made up of wrestlers with some sort of connection to him. Shuji Ishikawa has been a rival of his in the past, Thanomsak Toba is a training buddy and Masahiro Takanashi is his little brother equivalent from Shuten-dōji.

Konosuke Takeshita will be on the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GARAFES ~DAIHONMEI!! TOTSUGEKI! SOMERSAULT DROP~”, 30/07/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Hikari Noa & Toga Vs Raku & Moka Miyamoto
2. Miu Watanabe Vs HIMAWARI

Earlier this year Tokyo Joshi Pro held a couple of matches at an idol festival. They are doing it again at the end of this month. The two matches will take place on a mat placed on the concert stage instead of a wrestling ring.

DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN KORAKUEN!!”, 13/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Sanshiro Takagi (c) Vs X
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Sakura Hirota Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
3. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & X

Sakura Hirota is invited to celebrate Saki Akai’s 10th Anniversary. Will she bust out the Akai cosplay again?

While Sanshiro Takagi has been recovering from injury he had been tempting fate on Twitter, talking about how vulnerable he is while as the current Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion. Stuff like asking the wrestlers not to even think about Low Kicking his injured leg when they meet up for example. Nobody has taken advantage of his perdicament and he remains the champion at the moment.


GanPro Is Being Invaded, New TJPW PPV, Kong Vs Sasadango

July 10, 2023

DDT “60TH BIRTHDAY & 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL TOGETHER! ~ GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 16/07/2023
Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena Sub Arena

1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yusuke Okada, Toy Kojima & Yuya Koroku
2. 4 Way Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Kazuki Hirata & Yuni Vs Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
4. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
6. Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda

Originally Yuki Ueno was not booked on this show but his schedule has since opened up. So DDT is throwing him into the 3 Way Match, turning it into a 4 Way.

GANBARE☆PRO “FRENCH CONNECTION 2023”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. YuuRI Vs Riara
2. Tyson Maeguchi Vs Yuki Kanzaki
3. Yumehito Imanari & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE
4. Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Shingo
5. Keisuke Ishii, Mizuki Watase & Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Soma Takao & HIROYA
6. Ken Ohka & Shota Vs Kuma Arashi & Koji Doi

There’s changes to the top end of the card after the events of yesterday. Kuma Arashi showed his true intentions when he betrayed Ken Ohka. The reason he is here in Ganbare☆Pro is not to team with Ohka but to invade the company with his old WRESTLE-1 teammate Koji Doi! The duo known as DoiKuma want to take over GanPro and turn it into a successful company in their own way. Ohka is now teaming with Shota to protect their home promotion from this invasion.

HIROYA is from Gamshara Pro Wrestling in Kyushu, or GamPro for short.

DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN HANDMADE IN JAPAN FES 2023”, 22/07/2023
Tokyo Big Sight West Hall 1 & 2

1. Falls Count Anywhere 4 Way Match: HARASHIMA Vs MAO Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi

Summer means it’s time for the annual Falls Count Anywhere match at the Handmade In Japan Festival. Who knows if any of the spectators will be inspired to become pro wrestlers themselves someday.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW MIDSUMMER ATHLETIC AMUSEMENT PARK PRO WRESTLING”, 27/07/2023
??? Athletic Amusement Park

1. Red Team Vs White Team: X Vs X

Contestants: Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi, Hyper Misao, Yuki Aino, Yuki Kamifuku, Nao Kakuta, Hikari Noa, Miu Watanabe, Raku, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Moka Miyamoto, Pom Harajuku, Mahiro Kiryu, Kaya Toribami and Yuki Arai.

At some point recently Tokyo Joshi Pro went out to an athletic amusement park and recorded an entire PPV of outdoor wrestling challenges. 16 wrestlers were split into two teams for a series of matches and challenges with the winning team receiving a luxorious prize.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~SHOKO NAKAJIMA LOCAL TRIUMPH~”, 05/08/2023
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Super Sasadango Machine

Niigata is not just a homecoming show for Shoko Nakajima. One of the locals there is also Super Sasadango Machine. Now the last time Sasadango was in TJPW he was supposed to have a match with Hyper Misao. It all turned out to be a gigantic stunt for Misao to announce her marriage. So, er… is there something Aja Kong wants to tell everybody?

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 12/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs X & X
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X

We haven’t seen the last of NEO Biishiki-gun yet. I mean why would we? They haven’t said anything about going away for good or anything like that. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel decided they want to have a tag match at the penultimate show of the Tokyo Princess Cup.


Tokyo Princess Cup 2023 Brackets

July 10, 2023

The first round draw for this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup took place today at the Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo. 14 of the 16 participants were in attendance with Yuki Arai and Raku both missing due to having other priorities. Arai’s spot in the bracket was already decided in advance because 22nd July is the only date she is available to wrestle on that week.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 15/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1A: Miyu Yamashita Vs Mizuki
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1B: Hyper Misao Vs Moka Miyamoto

The big match of Round 1 is right at the start of the bracket! It’s been well establish that the Princess Cup has been Miyu Yamashita’s Achilles’ heel for her entire career. She has entered every tournament and never won any of them, even during her most dominant periods in Tokyo Joshi Pro. For two of those years Yamashita was eliminated by Mizuki so this drawing sounds like bad luck for her. However Yamashita thinks if she can knock out the current Princess Of Princess Champion in the 1st Round then the odds are good she will finally win this damn tournament for once! Mizuki already has a person in mind she wants to nominate as her next challenger for the Princess Title. That will only be revealed if she wins the Princess Cup because otherwise she will most likely defend against the tournament winner instead. She’ll have to exterminate every monster standing in her way to do it, starting with Yamashita.

Moka Miyamoto hasn’t left a strong impression on Hyper Misao so far based on the few singles matches they’ve had against each other. For that reason Misao does not want to drop her guard and get eliminated in the 1st Round. She also hopes Mizuki will beat Yamashita because she would rather face her in Round 2 instead of the monster Yamashita! Miyamoto told Misao she has gotten stronger since their last match. She will do her best not to fall for any of Misao’s tricks.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 16/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1C: Raku Vs Rika Tatsumi
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1D: Suzume Vs Shoko Nakajima

It’s been a good summer for Rika Tatsumi so far. The International Princess Champion is using this tournament to kick off the second half of the season. She knows Raku will be a tough opponent but nobody is going to stop her from reaching her goal. Tatsumi wants to win the Princess Cup so she will achieve TJPW’s ultimate grand slam!

The bee meets the kaiju in Round 1. Suzume wants to grow as big as Shoko Nakajima is this summer so she needs to be ready to sting any opponent put in front of her. Nakajima is celebrating 10 years as a pro wrestler this summer and she is cherishing the time. She’s aware of how much of a threat Suzume has become so she cannot afford to lose against her junior! She wants fans to keep an eye out for her while she goes on a rampage through the bracket.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1E: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Nao Kakuta
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1F: Yuki Aino Vs Miu Watanabe

Every year when Yuki Kamifuku enters the Princess Cup she talks about how much she hates competing in tournaments and never wants to take part in them. This year however there are a lot of wrestlers from Generation Z taking part so she decided to stop complaining and start taking it seriously. Otherwise she will get annoyed from hearing the younger wrestlers use that excuse against her. Nao Kakuta just pinned Kamifuku at “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23” over the weekend. Her summer has just begun and she wants to make it the hottest summer of her life!

Yuki Aino thinks the block she landed in is fate. She was eliminated by Kakuta in the first round last year and was eliminated by Miu Watanabe the year before. She also has a mutual connection with Kamifuku. She will have to get past this group in order to achieve her goal of reaching at least the semi-finals. Watanabe has faced Aino a lot of times and if she advances would like to meet Kakuta in Round 2 because it would be their first singles match against each other. Watanabe is also last year’s runner up and she pointed out she has reached one round further than the previous year for the last 4 years. She’s been in the final 8, then the final 4 and then the final 2. Does the pattern end with her winning the entire thing?

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 22/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1G: Arisu Endo Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1H: Hikari Noa Vs Yuki Arai

With two Princess Cup appearances already under her belt, Arisu Endo has yet to make it past the opening round. Her first time in the tournament was losing to Mahiro Kiryu too. In fact, Endo has never won a Round 1 match in any tournament she’s entered. The only time she made it to a 2nd Round was by default due to uneven entry numbers. So she definitely wants to win against Kiryu. She has decent odds because Kiryu’s form in the Princess Cup isn’t that good either. The only tournament match she ever won was against… Arisu Endo. Their match happens in the final show of a three day series of events so she aims to raise her spirits at the first two shows in preparation while keeping an eye on what Endo will do.

Ever since Hikari Noa made her debut she’s experienced some bittersweet memories during the summertime. Losing her match at Ota Ward Gymnasium over the weekend is just the latest one for her. She wants to enjoy the rest of the summer and shine brighter to make up for it. Noa’s match against Yuki Arai is a rematch from last year’s 2nd Round. Noa won that only to fall to the eventual tournament winner Yuka Sakazaki in the next round.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 29/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1A Vs Winner Of Match 1B
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1C Vs Winner Of Match 1D
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1E Vs Winner Of Match 1F
4. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1G Vs Winner Of Match 1H

The opening round is in Ryogoku KFC Hall across four shows. Then the remaining rounds move over to Korakuen Hall.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 12/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X

The bracket gets interrupted when it reaches the final four. The semi-final match ups will be decided with a lottery.

NEO Biishiki-gun have decided to attend this this show. They will have a tag team match with opponents to be determined at a later date.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 13/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: X Vs X

Just like last year, Maki Itoh won’t be at the Princess Cup final because she has a booking in another country the same day.


Brookes Returning From Injury, Summer Sun Princess Title Match Comments, Osaka Bay Bang

July 6, 2023

DDT “DDT TANABATA SPECIAL 2023 IN SHINJUKU”, 07/07/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuma Sumi
2. DISASTER BOX Vs BURNING!: HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
3. Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Ilusion Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
4. KANON Debut 4th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: TAKA Michinoku & KANON Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
5. International Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Nick Wayne
6. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Toy Kojima
7. Road To PETER PAN 2023! Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi

Tomorrow sees the return of Chris Brookes to the ring, fully recovered from his injury. Yuji Hino has been taunting him by either comparing this match to Brookes having his debut match or having his retirement match!

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto Vs Juria Nagano
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Hikari Noa
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Aja Kong & Raku Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
7. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Sawyer Wreck
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh

A press conference took place in Shibuya yesterday featuring wrestlers from some of the major matches on the show. Maki Itoh said the only result that can happen in the main event is her winning the Princess Of Princess Title and ending her story with Mizuki that has lasted for so long. Mizuki know she and Itoh are exact opposites to the point where it feels like they are in different worlds. Itoh pointed out she’s never been hit with the Whirling Candy and is not going to let her guard down. Mizuki knows how powerful the Itoh Deluxe is so she thinks she should target Itoh’s hips. However she believes the winner is whoever has the most heart.

For the International Princess Title match, Yuki Aino explained she feels happiest when she is fighting so she wants to win the title and fight even more. She is excited to have a hot fight with Rika Tatsumi that will burst Ota Ward Gymnasium into flames! Tatsumi is taking things in a more calm and cool manner because she does not want to risk burning out before the match begins. The two are close friends in private but that means they know each other’s weaknesses. Tatsumi even said she could take advantage of Aino’s kindness in the ring.

Miyu Yamashita’s request to put the EVE Title on the line against Sawyer Wreck has been agreed to by all parties involved. The contract signing will be held once Wreck is in Japan. The match will be held under Spirit Of EVE Rules which means it will have a 30 minute time limit, there will be no countouts and the referee can end the match if he thinks one of the wrestlers is not showing the will to fight. Sayuri Namba explained those rules and asked Yamashita if she is worried about Wreck taking the match outside the ring where she is most violent? Yamashita does not think that will give Wreck the advantage. She is confident she take fight directly against Wreck’s strong points and take her down with the Skull Kick.

DDT “OSAKA BAY BLUES SPECIAL 2023”, 20/08/2023
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshitatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Soma Takao

While Yukio Sakaguchi waits for his All Asia Tag Team Titles shot to be granted he faces the champions Atsushi Onita & Yoshitatsu in a Current Blast Death Match! Sakaguchi has his Eruption stablemate Hideki Okatani as well as Soma Takao on his team. Onita & Yoshitatsu will be teaming with Toy Kojima for the match.


Ota Ward Title Match Talk, BASARA On The Road Back To Korakuen, Akai’s Rivals Vs Akai’s Classmates

July 4, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto Vs Juria Nagano
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Hikari Noa
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Aja Kong & Raku Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
7. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Sawyer Wreck
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh

Miyu Yamashita was in London this past weekend wrestling in EVE. She successfully defended the EVE Title against “The Unbreakable” Rhio (filling in for Yamashita’s original opponent Emersyn Jayne). After the show Yamashita recorded a video message telling Sawyer Wreck she wants to put the EVE Title on the line for their match at “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”.

GANBARE☆PRO “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II”, 09/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Masahiro Takanashi
2. YuuRI & Tomoka Inaba Vs Takumi Iroha & Mio Momono
3. Riara Vs Sayaka Unagi
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Miyuki Takase
5. Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao Vs Akito, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles Next Challengers Decision Survival 4 Way Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE Vs Minoru Fujita & Daiki Shimomura Vs Tsuyoshi Okada & Yuki Kanzaki
7. Special Single Match: Yumehito Imanari Vs El Lindaman
8. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada
9. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Isami Kodaka

The contracts for the two championship matches have been signed. Isami Kodaka said he wants to win the Spirit Of Ganbare Title so he can keep wrestling in Ganbare☆Pro. He respects Mizuki Watase for carrying GanPro after Ken Ohka’s position on top faded away. Watase said he can win any battle because of the support from the fans. If this match really is about GanPro Vs BASARA then Watase urges the BASARA fans to hurry up and buy tickets to the show.

Last year at the first “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA” there was a match between Shuichiro Katsumura and Minoru Suzuki. GanPro interviewed Takuya Wada as part of the promotion for the match and he went along to watch it. One year later and Wada cannot believe he is now wrestling on the show! Tyson Maeguchi is in a similar mindset because he only won his first match at last year’s show and now he is going into this year’s event as a champion. Meanwhile Hikaru Sato is wondering will the actual Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Title belts ever arrive? He is fine with carrying around the tournament trophies instead because he cannot imagine what Hentai Punch Drunkers would look like wearing championship belts.

There is history that already exists between Yumehito Imanari and El Lindaman. They both entered the 2020 Tenkaichi Jr. Tournament in ZERO1 and faced each other in a couple of tag matches in the same company a year later. Lindaman also invited Imanari to train with him in 2022 while Imanari was the SOG Champion preparing for the title defence against Shigehiro Irie. The two know each other’s feelings and Imanari knew he was destined to wrestle Imanari in a singles match some day. He does not know if there is anybody in wrestling as sincere as Lindaman so he promises to wrestle at 120% for him. Lindaman said the Imanari Vs Irie match changed his perception of pro wrestling and he’s been trying to rediscover it ever since. He does not know if this match with Imanari will give him the answer he’s looking for but it will bring him one step closer.

BASARA “BASARA 224 ~TAKAGARI 18~”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita Vs Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka
2. Takato Nakano Vs Fuminori Abe
3. FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Isami Kodaka Vs Daichi Kazato
5. Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano Vs Ryota Nakatsu & SAGAT

There is one more BASARA show taking place before they return to Korakuen Hall. A few of the matches here builds up to what’s going to happen later in the month.

DDT “SOYOKAZE PRO WRESTLING”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Sumida Park Breeze Square

1. X Vs X
2. X Vs X
3. X Vs X

DDT is holding a free outdoor show at the 14th annual Soyokaze Tsunagu Festival. There will be three matches held with Tetsuya Endo, Danshoku Dieno, HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes and Shinichiro Kawamatsu as the wrestlers advertised so far.

GANBARE☆PRO “MACHIDA KANSAI PRO WRESTLING FESTIVAL”, 22/07/2023
Tokyo Machida GION Stadium

1. Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
2. Cherry & Riara Vs HARUKAZE & Yoshiko Hasegawa
3. Ken Ohka, Seiya Morohashi & HIROYA Vs Keisuke Ishii, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga

GanPro gets to continue CyberFight’s relationship with FC Machida Zelvia. A wrestling ring will be set up outside the stadium on the day of Zelvia’s home game against JEF United Chiba. Matches will be held for free in front of spectators going to see the football match.

BASARA “BASARA 225 ~SENGUNBANBA~”, 23/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Lil’ Kraken & Akira Jo
2. 3 Way Match: Daichi Kazato Vs Gouma Ryu Vs Yasu Urano
3. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Next Challengers 3 Way Match: Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Isami Kodaka Vs SHO
5. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Unification Match: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita (i/c)
6. Union MAX Title & CCW Canadian Heavyweight Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (M/c) Vs SAGAT (C/c)

Ryuichi Sekine accepted Ryota Nakatsu’s request to team up again. What sounded like a one time idea may end up lasting longer though because they are entering a No. 1 Contenders match for the IRON FIST Tag Team Titles. They have to take on two former champion teams Astronauts and Speed Of Sounds at the same time.

I haven’t paid attention to what Akira Jo has been doing since his days in DNA. That was seven years ago? Time sure does fly by.

DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN KORAKUEN!!”, 13/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & X

There are several big matches planned for Saki Akai to celebrate her 10 years in wrestling. This one in August has Akai teaming with two of her most recent important opponents Maya Yukihi and Asuka. She spent 2022 in rivalries with both women in DDT. The other team consists of Takumi Iroha and Rina Yamashita along with a third partner yet to be revealed. Iroha and Yamashita’s connection to Akai is they all debuted in the same year. That might provide a clue as to who the third wrestler is going to be.

DDT “OSAKA BAYS BLUES SPECIAL 2023”, 20/08/2023
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X

Last week Yukio Sakaguchi challenged Atsushi Onita to give him a shot at the All Asia Tag Team Titles. Onita would only agree if it took place in the exploding death match being planned for Osaka on 20th August. Makes sense because the other champion Yoshitatsu is advertised for the show. However the next day everyone found out that Onita broke his wrist during the Hardcore Tag Match after taking a kick from Sakaguchi. He is about to get surgery for the injury and intends not to miss next month’s Osaka show.

Shigehiro Irie, Kotaro Suzuki and Tsutenkakuka will also be on the show.


Damn Injury Bug, SHO Coming To BASARA, Miyu And Shoko 10th Anniversary

June 28, 2023

DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED SPECIAL”, 01/07/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yusuke Okada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, MAO & Antonio Honda
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Saki Akai & Yuya Koroku
4. BURNING Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA & Soma Takao
6. Special Hardcore Tag Match: Atsushi Onita & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
7. International Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne & Takeshi Masada

Two injuries are forcing changes to a few DDT cards in July. Sanshiro Takagi tore his left calf and will be out of action until “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” on 23rd July. Rukiya suffered a cracked sternum over the weekend and has no expected date to return yet.

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 10 ~SPARE MYSELF AND SPARE MY NAME~”, 02/07/2023
Osaka Komikyo Higashinari Civic Center

1. Dosukoi Thank You Vs DDT’s Most Green Boy Combo: Yusuke Okada & Yuki Ishida Vs Kazuma Sumi & Ilusion
2. Pheromones Vs Former Smile Squash Vs Yoga Sumo ~Between Compliance And The Taste Of Pheromones~: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yasu Urano & Soma Takao Vs Toru Owashi & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
3. Diabolical DAMNATION T.A Vs Men With A Thousand Skills: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Tsubasa & Makoto Oishi
4. “Did You Hear That? I Heard That Guy’s A Prick” Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Kuishinbo Kamen Vs Kikutaro & Antonio Honda
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match – Japan-US Young Wrestling Summit!: MAO, Toy Kojima & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne, Kohei Kinoshita & Yuya Koroku
6. Special Tag Match – One Hundred Tales Of Osaka ~Saki Akai, Her Biggest Crisis Before Retirement~: Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Kazuki Hirata & No Name
7. Right Before Ryogoku! Road To KOKUGIKAN Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Hideki Okatani Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Akito
8. Magnitude Kishiwada 30th Anniversary Match ~You Guys Will Know When You See It~: Dick Togo, Magnitude Kishiwada & Black Buffalo Vs Shigehiro Irie, Yuto Kikuchi & Takeshi Masada
9. Special Single Match – WR ~Wrestling & Respect~: Yuki Ueno Vs HUB

Takagi’s injury means he has to pull out of Yukinori Matsui’s big show this weekend. Yuto Kikuchi from Dotonbori Pro is coming in as a last minute replacement for him.

Ilusion replaces Rukiya in the opening match.

DDT “DDT TANABATA SPECIAL 2023 IN SHINJUKU”, 07/07/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuma Sumi
2. Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Ilusion Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
3. DISASTER BOX Vs BURNING!: HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
4. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Toy Kojima
5. KANON Debut 4th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: TAKA Michinoku & KANON Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
6. International Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Nick Wayne
7. Road To PETER PAN 2023! Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi

The aftermath of the KO-D Tag Team Titles match over the weekend sees Toy Kojima looking for revenge against DAMNATION T.A. He is aiming right for the leader by challenging Daisuke Sasaki to a singles match! Does he have something in store because charging straight towards Sasaki and his gang hasn’t worked out for him much lately. There’s only so many chairshots his body can take.

GANBARE☆PRO “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II”, 09/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Masahiro Takanashi
2. YuuRI & Tomoka Inaba Vs Takumi Iroha & Mio Momono
3. Riara Vs Sayaka Unagi
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Miyuki Takase
5. Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao Vs Akito, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles Next Challengers Decision Survival 4 Way Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE Vs Minoru Fujita & Daiki Shimomura Vs Tsuyoshi Okada & Yuki Kanzaki
7. Special Single Match: Yumehito Imanari Vs El Lindaman
8. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada
9. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Isami Kodaka

The announced match order for “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II”.

English commentary for the show on Wrestle Universe will be provided by Chris Brookes and Mr. HAKU.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2023 IN AOMORI”, 15/07/2023
Aomori Hamanasu Hall

1. Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuni
2. 3 Way Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Antonio Honda
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada
4. Special Single Match: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuki Ishida
5. Falls Count Anywhere Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku Vs HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
6. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi

Hideki Okatani has gradually been finding his footing in hardcore matches so he is a suitable replacement for Takagi in the Falls Count Anywhere match.

An upset that saw Yuki Ishida pin Yukio Sakaguchi results in a singles match between the two getting booked. Ishida used his new Dokusoi Hold to score a three count on the veteran. Is Sakaguchi going to be prepared for it the next time?

DDT “60TH BIRTHDAY & 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL TOGETHER! ~ GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 16/07/2023
Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena Sub Arena

1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yusuke Okada, Toy Kojima & Yuya Koroku
2. 3 Way Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Kazuki Hirata & Yuni Vs Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
4. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
6. Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda

This is unexpected. Takagi’s replacement in the Fukushima main event is Danshoku Dieno! Since it is an important match for Gorgeous Matsuno, Dieno is not going to be “Dandy” on the day. Granted there’s not much difference between regular Dieno and Pheromones Dieno but it’s still a nice gesture from the guy.

BASARA “BASARA 225 ~SENGUNBANBA~”, 23/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Isami Kodaka Vs SHO
2. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Unification Match: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita (i/c)
3. Union MAX Title & CCW Canadian Heavyweight Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (M/c) Vs SAGAT (C/c)

A double championship match headlines BASARA’s return to Korakuen Hall next month. SAGAT won the Chouten ~Itadaki~ and challenged Takumi Tsukamoto for the Union MAX Title afterwards. That’s not all because SAGAT also offered to defend the CCW Canadian Heavyweight Title he won from Tsukamoto back in March.

Masato Kamino is fit for return from his knee injury so he & Takato Nakano can go reclaim the IRON FIST Tag Team Titles. They are still technically the champions but Kamino’s injury caused an interim title to be created in his absence. Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita from Sento Minzoku won that prize but would prefer to be acknowledged as the actual champions. That all leads to the unification match happening at Korakuen.

BASARA takes on New Japan when Isami Kodaka faces SHO! Interactions between the two at “ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL 2023” earlier this year weren’t forgotten by either wrestler so the challenge was thrown out for a singles match. Kodaka even told SHO he would be happy to fight under normal rules instead of Hardcore or a death match. His reason for that decision is to prove he does not need to use weapons to beat SHO. Can SHO truthfully say the same given his reputation as a House Of Torture member? A lot of pride is on the line because Kodaka sees himself as a big figure on the independent scene facing the challenge of New Japan head on.

Nothing has been decided on this yet but Ryota Nakatsu said he wants to team with Ryuichi Sekine again on the show. They used to be together in BASARA as Cavalry. However Nakatsu just wants this to be a one time reunion. He is still a member of Sparky, although that unit is about to begin winding down. Nakatsu eventually wants all four members of Sparky to get together again so they can send it off and go their seperate ways. That won’t be happening anytime soon because of Naoki Tanizaki and Akiyori Takizawa’s schedules so that gives Nakatsu the chance to reunite with Sekine in the meantime.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 17/08/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Saki Akai, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo Vs HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki
3. Mizuki Vs Aiger
4. Debut 10th Anniversary Memorial Match: Miyu Yamashita Vs Shoko Nakajima

17th August, 2013 was the date when Miyu Yamashita and Shoko Nakajima had their professional debut match on the pre-show of a DDT Sumo Hall show. They teamed together in a losing effort against the two other first generation TJPW wrestlers Chikage Kiba & KANNA. It’s perfect timing that the next “TJPW INSPIRATION” show is booked on the 10 year anniversary of that match. The main event will be Yamashita against Nakajima one on one for the first time since “GRAND PRINCESS ’22”.

Saki Akai will also be on the show because the 10th anniversary of her own debut pro wrestling match is one day off. Her first DDT bout happened the next day. Now there’s a bit of trivia that will catch people off guard. Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima and Saki Akai all debuted on the same weekend. And Akai debuted AFTER the other two.


A Shingo Is Coming To GanPro, Hirata Makes The Rules Now, Big Bang 2023

June 26, 2023

BASARA “BASARA 223 ~KOO~”, 27/06/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – A Block Final: Daiki Shimomura Vs SAGAT
2. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – B Block Final: Fuminori Abe Vs Ryota Nakatsu
3. Roundabout Pro Wrestling Trial: Shiori Asahi Vs Banana Senga Vs Gouma Ryu
4. Isami Kodaka & Minoru Fujita Vs Daichi Kazato & Tsutomu Oosugi
5. Takumi Tsukamoto, Takato Nakano & Yasu Urano Vs FUMA, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Lil’ Kraken
6. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Final: X Vs X

Tomorrow is the final rounds of the Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023.

DDT “DDT PRO WRESTLING IN SHIROISHI CASTLE”, 08/07/2023
Miyagi Shiroishi Castle Honmaru Square

1. Kazuki Hirata, Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Gorgeous Matsuno
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
3. Shiroishi Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Sakaguchi & Antonio Honda

DDT will be holding a free wrestling show at Shiroishi Castle as part of a local public event. Tetsuya Endo will be in the main event because he is the hometown hero. If there is rainy weather on the day then the show will move over to Shiroishi City Central Public Hall.

GANBARE☆PRO “FRENCH CONNECTION 2023”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. YuuRI Vs Riara
2. Tyson Maeguchi Vs Yuki Kanzaki
3. Yumehito Imanari & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE
4. Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Shingo
5. Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Shota & Munetatsu Nakamura
6. Mizuki Watase & Keisuke Ishii Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Soma Takao

The first Ganbare☆Pro show taking place after “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II” will feature the GanPro debut of Shingo. No not that one. It’s DEEP MMA fighter Shingo Suzuki under his pro wrestling name. His opponent Shinichiro Tominaga has been appointed as GanPro’s gatekeeper for the match.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”, 23/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Takeshi Masada Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Sanshiro Takagi, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Toy Kojima & Rukiya
3. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, Soma Takao & Yoshitomo Shimohigashi
4. 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kotaro Suzuki, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
5. Special Tag Match: Chiitan☆ & Pokotan Vs Andreza Giant Panda & Super Sasadango Machine
6. Special Tag Match ~ Yukio Naya Return Match: HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Jun Akiyama & Shigehiro Irie
7. Special Single Match: TAKA Michinoku Vs MAO
8. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuki Ueno
9. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
10. Mexico Kanko Presents Dramatic Dream Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs El Desperado
11. DDT Universal Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) Vs Matt Cardona (w/ Steph De Lander)
12. KO-D Openweight Title – Good Com Asset Presents: Yuji Hino (c) Vs Chris Brookes

This is the full card for DDT’s return to Sumo Hall although maybe the first three matches will be demoted to pre-show status. The main event now has a sponsor. Konosuke Takeshita’s recent makeover in AEW is being taken to another level because in DDT his name is now fully romanized and written all upper case. I’ll write KONOSUKE TAKESHITA for the results but I’m happy sticking to writing his name the normal way everywhere else. I do however endorse any podcast shouting out his name in all caps every time from this point forward. MAO gets a special match with TAKA Michinoku who has been a big influence for him. It’s a rematch from five years ago too. Yukio Naya returns from injury and his first match back also includes Shigehiro Irie showing up in DDT again.

DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2023”, 30/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. DDT Extreme Title: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs HARASHIMA

For many, many, many years Kazuki Hirata has been fighting as an underdog against wrestlers who are way more powerful than he could ever dream to be. Now that he is the DDT Extreme Champion he gets to make the rules and it makes him want to fight the strongest opponents he knows on a more even playing field. HARASHIMA is his first challenger and he is someone who is very familiar with how the Extreme Title works. No matter what kind of funny stipulations Hirata comes up with, HARASHIMA will be game and ready for them.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 17/08/2022
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Mizuki Vs Aiger

It’s been seven years since Mizuki was last in a match with the haunted joshi wrestler known only as Aiger. The two of them knew each other back in LLPW-X. Another reason the match is happening is because of rumours going around that Aiger will soon be disappearing from the wrestling scene later this year. Reports are speculating it will be happening around the same time Mizuki Endo retires from pro wrestling.

DDT “DDT BIG BANG 2023”, 09/09/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X
2. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuji Hino (c) Vs X

DDT’s next big show after “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” will be the newly announced “DDT BIG BANG 2023” in September. The selling point of the show will be the first exploding death match to take place inside a big indoor Tokyo venue since 2015. I think that is referring to the main event of Naoshi Sano’s self produced Sumo Hall show that happened that year. Atsushi Onita told Sanshiro Takagi he wants to fight Jun Akiyama in the match in order to make it a battle between two former All Japan wrestlers.

The show will also be the date of the next KO-D Openweight Title defence after “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”. So either Yuji Hino or Chris Brookes will be the defending champion on the day.


Homecoming Weekend In TJPW, DDT Extreme 3 Way Dance, DEFY Women’s Title Match

June 23, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR IN SPRING ’23”, 24/06/2023
Kobe Art Center

1. Kaya Toribami Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yuki Arai Vs HIMAWARI
3. Nao Kakuta Vs Toga
4. 3 Way Match: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Hikari Noa Vs Shino Suzuki
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Yuki Aino & Mahiro Kiryu
7. Mizuki, Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh & Moka Miyamoto

This weekend sees the return of Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh from their American tours. But before their local homecoming show takes place on Sunday, first they have to go to Mizuki’s homecoming show in Kobe.

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023”, 25/06/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Toru Owashi & Yuni Vs Akito, Soma Takao, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
1. Special Single Match: Naruki Doi Vs Takeshi Masada
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Yuki Ishida, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
3. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Minoru Fujita
4. International Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Nick Wayne
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
7. DDT Extreme Title – 3 Way Dance: MAO Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko

It’s only fitting that the Survival 3 Way main event is now called the 3 Way Dance. Shunma Katsumata will be in attendance to watch over MAO, Kazuki Hirata and Yoshihiko all fighting for the DDT Extreme Title he had to vacate. He also had to vacate the KO-D Tag Team Titles as well remember but it seems he is only the “special observer” for the main event.

The full card for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” will be revealed at the end of the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto Vs Juria Nagano
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Hikari Noa
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Aja Kong & Raku Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
7. Miyu Yamashita Vs Sawyer Wreck
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh

Earlier this week Vert Vixen sent a video to Tokyo Joshi Pro telling them she wants to put the DEFY Women’s Title on the line in her match against Hikari Noa. The match means a lot to Vixen because when she was a child her father travelled to Japan on business trips and he would come back with gifts and stories for her. She got to tour Japan with TJPW in April where she teamed with Noa twice and together they won both matches. Vixen is so confident she will beat Noa she wants their match to be a title match so she can make her father proud. She previously had a successful title defence against Miyu Yamashita during Yamashita’s US excursion. Noa was touched by Vixen’s idea and accepted the challenge. She wants to win a singles championship and go wrestle overseas again. She warns Vixen that she fought in a death match and became even stronger since the last time they were in the ring together.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO FIGHTING SPIRITS ’23”, 16/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Ami Manase & Marika Kobashi Vs Makoto & Asuka
2. Banny Oikawa Comeback Match: Miyako Matsumoto & Banny Oikawa Vs Cherry & Alex Lee
3. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Riara Vs Sumire Natsu
4. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs SAKI
5. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: YuuRI Vs Misa Kagura

Three important singles matches highlight the next Ganbare☆Joshi card. YuuRI’s grudge match with Misa Kagura was already announced. Yoshiko Hasegawa meets SAKI in the ring again for the first time in three years. A battle between hostesses will take place when Riara takes on Sumire Natsu.

Banny Oikawa’s return to wrestling has her teaming with Miyako Matsumoto. Her entry into GanJo is because of Matsumoto so that makes sense. Alex Lee being on the opposite side is unexpected because she’s been with Matsumoto in her previous appearances here. Cherry is part of the match because she was one of Oikawa’s trainers.

I’ve noticed that all of Ami Manase’s matches so far included Marika Kobashi. They’ve been both opponents and teammates. Their next task together is facing Makoto & Asuka. That pair often teams together as Las Fresa de Egoistas.


Brookes And KANON Returning From Injury This July

June 21, 2023

DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED SPECIAL”, 01/07/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, MAO & Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yusuke Okada & Rukiya
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Saki Akai & Yuya Koroku
4. BURNING Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA & Soma Takao
6. Special Hardcore Tag Match: Atsushi Onita & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
7. International Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne & Takeshi Masada

A preview for the next KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match is happening here when Saki Akai faces two members of the champions Harimao.

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 10 ~SPARE MYSELF AND SPARE MY NAME~”, 02/07/2023
Osaka Komikyo Higashinari Civic Center

1. Dosukoi Thank You Vs DDT’s Most Green Boy Combo: Yusuke Okada & Yuki Ishida Vs Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
2. Pheromones Vs Former Smile Squash Vs Yoga Sumo ~Between Compliance And The Taste Of Pheromones~: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yasu Urano & Soma Takao Vs Toru Owashi & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
3. Diabolical DAMNATION T.A Vs Men With A Thousand Skills: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Tsubasa & Makoto Oishi
4. “Did You Hear That? I Heard That Guy’s A Prick” Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Kuishinbo Kamen Vs Kikutaro & Antonio Honda
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match – Japan-US Young Wrestling Summit!: MAO, Toy Kojima & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne, Kohei Kinoshita & Yuya Koroku
6. Special Tag Match – One Hundred Tales Of Osaka ~Saki Akai, Her Biggest Crisis Before Retirement~: Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Kazuki Hirata & No Name
7. Right Before Ryogoku! Road To KOKUGIKAN Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Hideki Okatani Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Akito
8. Magnitude Kishiwada 30th Anniversary Match ~You Guys Will Know When You See It~: Dick Togo, Magnitude Kishiwada & Black Buffalo Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Shigehiro Irie & Takeshi Masada
9. Special Single Match – WR ~Wrestling & Respect~: Yuki Ueno Vs HUB

This is the full card for Yukinori Matsui’s annual self-produced show.

DDT “DDT TANABATA SPECIAL 2023 IN SHINJUKU”, 07/07/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Rukiya Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
2. BURNING Vs DISASTER BOX!: Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata
3. International Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Nick Wayne
4. KANON Debut 4th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: TAKA Michinoku & KANON Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
5. Road To PETER PAN 2023! Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi

Two important names are coming back from injuries on this show. Chris Brookes and KANON are both returning from dislocated shoulders. Brookes has some catching up to do. He is paying back every wrestler who fought on his behalf against Yuji Hino while he was recovering, starting with his CDK buddy Masahiro Takanashi.

KANON’s big return is for his 4th Anniversary match. His trainer TAKA Michinoku was previously announced and now we know they will be teaming up against Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2023 IN AOMORI”, 15/07/2023
Aomori Hamanasu Hall

1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada
2. Falls Count Anywhere Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku Vs Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi

Kazusada Higuchi in particular was doing the heavy lifting against Ω while Brookes was gone. He deserves at least a beer or a lottery ticket as a thank you.

I think this is DDT’s first show in Hamanasu Hall since 2019. It’s been long enough that they are doing a Falls Count Anywhere match as their way to welcome themselves back into the building.

DDT “60TH BIRTHDAY & 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL TOGETHER! ~ GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 16/07/2023
Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena Sub Arena

1. Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi
2. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
3. Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Antonio Honda

The hometown hero Gorgeous Matsuno gets to team with HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi for his big show.

Last but not least, the final preview match between Hino and Brookes has Takeshi Masada backing up the Englishman like he always does. I can’t be counting out Makoto Oishi either. He’s stuck with Hino through thick and thin for all of this.