Eruption Wins AJPW Trios Titles, Scramble Bunkhouse Explosion Death Match, Endo’s Return From Injury, Hiromu Coming To DDT

August 30, 2023

Over the weekend Eruption went to an All Japan show at Nagoya to take part in a double championship match. They put the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles on the line against ATM, Takao Omori & Black Menso-re, the defending AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Titles. Eruption won the match to successfully defend their own belts while also becoming the new AJPW 6-Man Tag Champions! Yukio Sakaguchi said the goal was to just defend their own championship. Winning the AJPW titles is just a bonus to him. The result made Saki Akai the first woman in history to win an AJPW championship!

ATM & Black Menso-re challenged Eruption to rematch for both sets of titles on 3rd September. They also said DASH Chisako is going to be the third member of their team. Akai & Hideki Okatani approved of the idea because they both want to wrestle Chisako again. Eruption accepted the challenge and also plan to have their next defence after that take place back in DDT on 9th September.

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

1. Falls Count Anywhere 4 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Saki Akai Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Kazuki Hirata (w/ Shunma Katsumata) Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Shinya Aoki & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yuki “Pretty” Kamifuku

A few changes to the Falls Count Anywhere match due to MAO’s absence. Kazuki Hirata is now teaming with the rest of The 37KAMIINA.

DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED EX”, 03/09/2023
Kanagawa Yokohama Skill Culture Center

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Yukio Naya
2. Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yuni, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
3. Makoto Oishi & Takeshi Masada Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul
4. Special Tag Match: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs Naruki Doi & HARASHIMA
5. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao
6. Yuki Ueno Birthday Commemorative Match ~ Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Toy Kojima
7. Special Single Match: Yuji Hino Vs KANON

This will be the last warm up match for Brookes and Shigehiro Irie before “DDT BIG BANG 2023”.

Naruki Doi is still the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion as far as I know so his upcoming singles match with Hirata is still on track to be a double title bout. That may change when they cross paths here.

Eruption will be missing the show because they are now booked for an All Japan event in Nagaoka on the same day. Eruption will be defending the AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Titles along with the KO-D 6-Man Tag Titles on that show.

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

1. HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Soma Takao Vs Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada
2. Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Ilusion Vs Yuni, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
3. Pheromones Vs Subjugation Final Match! Special Single Match ~ Dissolution Contra Vice President: Yuki “Sexy” Iino (w/ Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno) Vs Akito
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Ram Kaichow
5. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno & MAO
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Minoru Fujita & KANON
7. DDT Extreme Title & Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Kazuki Hirata (E/c) Vs Naruki Doi (I/c)
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Shigehiro Irie
9. First Time In History! Time Difference Scramble Bunkhouse Current Blast 6-Man Tag Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshi Tatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada

The rules have been decided for the main event. It will be a Scramble Bunkhouse Explosion Death Match with wrestlers joining in one after the other. The match will begin with Atsushi Onita against Jun Akiyama with all of the explosive weaponry available for them to use on each other. Akiyama suggested the two of them start and Onita agreed when the weapons were allowed. Then after three minutes the other four wrestlers will enter the match to gradually turn it into a 6-Man Tag Team brawl.

DDT are expecting MAO to be recovered in time to take part in this show.

Some of the lower matches have been changed around to deal with the additional injuries that have taken place over the last week.

DDT “TETSUYA ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH! WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2023 TOUR IN SHIROISHI”, 16/09/2023
Miyagi Shiroishi White Cube

1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
2. Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs MAO & Yoshihiko
3. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Jun Akiyama Vs HARASHIMA & Rukiya
4. Shiroishi Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ BURNING Vs Eruption!: Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okantai

The return of Tetsuya Endo from injury takes place right in his hometown of Shiroishi!

DDT “DRAMATIC EXPLOSION 2023”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Kazuma Sumi Vs Rukiya
2. HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
3. Nagoya Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Tetsuya Endo Vs Shigehiro Irie, Kazusada Higuchi & Shinya Ishida
4. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita & Yoshi Tatsu Vs Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, MAO & Antonio Honda Vs Minoru Suzuki, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai

Next up on Saki Akai’s retirement bucket list is her getting to team up with Minoru Suzuki!

Nagoya is an area that means a lot to Irie. It is also the hometown of Shinya Ishida. So DDT are putting the two of them with Kazusada Higuchi in one of the main matches for DDT’s next visit there.

DDT “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023”, 12/11/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Saki Akai Retirement Match: Saki Akai Vs X

Hiromu Takahashi will be on the show. He wants to choose his opponent so does he have somebody already in mind? Really interesting to see how open New Japan has become towards sending their wrestlers to other companies in Japan lately. It’s one thing to work with all of the different international promotions around the world to spread their brand. Doing it within the Japanese scene as well is something they haven’t been doing for years until just recently.


“~ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL 2023~” Results

March 1, 2023

“LEC PRESENTS JUNIOR DREAM FESTIVAL ~ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL 2023~”, 01/03/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,381 Fans – Super No Vacancy

0. Special Gift Match: YOH, Soma Watanabe & Kazuma Sumi defeated Fuminori Abe, Akira Jumonji & Ryo Hoshino when YOH pinned Jumonji with the DIRECT DRIVE (10:35).
1. Fujita “Jr.” Hayato, AMAKUSA & Hiromu Takahashi defeated YAMATO, HAYATA & Kazuki Hashimoto when Hayato submitted Hashimoto with the K.I.D (8:52).
2. Isami Kodaka & MAO defeated Onryo & SHO when SHO was Disqualified for assaulting the referee (9:43).
3. Ganbare! Shinjiro Otani 10-Man Tag Match: Tatsuhito Takaiwa, TAKA Michinoku, Minoru Tanaka, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Jun Kasai defeated MUSASHI, LEONA, Kota Sekifuda, Shoki Kitamura & Chicharito Shoki when Takaiwa pinned Shoki with the Death Valley Bomb (10:28).
4. Hikaru Sato, Ryusuke Taguchi & Yumehito Imanari defeated The Great Sasuke, Tigers Mask & Batten×Blabla when Sato submitted Blabla with a Cross Armbreaker (7:29).
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Volador Jr. & El Desperado defeated Yuki Ueno & El Lindaman and HANAOKA & DOUKI when Desperado pinned HANAOKA with the Pinche Loco (10:34).
6. Mistico, Gurukun Mask, Billy Ken Kid & Alejandro defeated Dragon Kid, BUSHI, Black Menso~re & Atlantis Jr. when Mistico submitted Menso~re with La Mistica (11:29).
7. Surprise Match: CIMA defeated Kazuki Hirata with the Meteor (7:16).
8. 5 Way Match: Taiji Ishimori defeated Shun Skywalker, Ninja Mack, YO-HEY and Soberano Jr. when Ishimori pinned YO-HEY with the Bloody Cross (9:38).
9. Master Wato defeated Atsuki Aoyagi with the Recientemente II (14:24).

I’m only covering the matches relating to DDT, BASARA and Ganbare☆Pro but the entire event is worth watching. One of the highlights was the unexpected appearance of Kazuki Hirata for a surprise match with CIMA! Given CIMA’s history with people previously associated with the “Tokyo GO!” song, he was in no mood to dance along with Hirata. CIMA grabbed the Hirata GO! glasses to prevent the song from coming back and got boos from the crowd, causing him to sulk. Later in the match Hirata got his glasses back and convinced CIMA to put on his own pair so the two could finally dance together. They shook hands afterwards and CIMA pinned Hirata with the Somato. Backstage CIMA praised the show for bringing the entire Junior Heavyweight wrestling scene together. If there are still barriers keeping these companies apart, he thinks we should get rid of them. Hirata asked if he is invited for this kind of show again then please do not put him in the unadvertised surprise spot.

Yuki Ueno was thrown into a lucha flavored 3 Way Tag Match teaming with El Lindaman. He was in the ring from the start squaring off against both Volador Jr. and DOUKI. But as the match went on Ueno & Lindaman started bickering a little bit while trying to fight off both DOUKI & HANAOKA. Then El Desperado got a few of his opponents out of the ring for Volador to dive onto all of them. HANAOKA stopped Desperado from doing his own dive but ended up taking the Pinche Loco from him instead for the finish. Backstage Lindaman said he does not hate DDT or Ueno, he just got worked up because he wants to beat everybody. Ueno said he had fun both wrestling in this match and from watching all of the others. He believes the strongest pro wrestlers are those who enjoy wrestling and he hopes there will be a second “ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL” in the future.

Yumehito Imanari showed off his more pervy side by wearing a “Virgin Killer” sweater along with Hikaru Sato & Ryusuke Taguchi in their match. Because their costumes were at risk of becoming too revealing, their opponents were careful with how they fought to avoid shocking the audience. Batten×Blabla convinced Imanari to continue the match without the costume while Taguchi and Tigers Mask did some actual wrestling in between. Sato went on to tap out Blabla with a Cross Armbreaker. Afterwards Sato called his team the pinnacle of Japan’s Jr. division! If there are three wrestlers better than Sato, Taguchi & Imanari then send them their way. Sato has had enough of every pro wrestler trying to look cool. They should instead bare it all for the fans!

MAO wants fucked up pro wrestling for a fucked up world. Isami Kodaka wishes “Peace & Fuck” on the world. But the two of them combined still wasn’t as unusual as the combination of SHO & Onryo. SHO ended up using Onryo as a weapon by slamming him on top of MAO. Onryo got his own back by throwing his ectoplasm powder in SHO’s face. Then in an even weirder turn of events, Ram Kaichow got on the top turnbuckle and hit a Diving Cross Body on SHO. The match lost control when SHO got out of the ring, pulled the referee out with him and then started attacking him for the DQ. Kodaka got on the microphone and told SHO if he wants to use weapons so bad they should do a death match against each other! SHO refused and left ringside in a huff. Backstage Kaichow complained about the show only inviting male wrestlers. If another “ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL” happens she wants to wrestle on it!

A bonus pre-show match gave Kazuma Sumi a spot on the card and a chance to share the ring with YOH & Soma Watanabe. Sumi’s main confrontation was with Akira Jumonji but he had interactions with Fuminori Abe & Ryo Hoshino too. He ended up on the winning side thanks to YOH pinned Jumonji with the DIRECT DRIVE. Sumi thanked the organisers for inviting him and said Jr. Heavyweight wrestling is the best!


DDT And TJPW At Keiji Muto’s Retirement Show Results

February 21, 2023

NOAH “KEIJI MUTO GRAND FINAL PRO-WRESTLING “LAST” LOVE~HOLD OUT~”, 21/02/2023
Tokyo Dome
30,096 Fans

0. Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling Offer Match – TJPW Spark: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima & Rika Tatsumi defeated Mizuki, Maki Itoh, Miu Watanabe & Yuki Arai when Sakazaki pinned Arai with the Magical Girl Chicken Dude (11:38).
2. DDT Pro Wrestling Offer Match – Dramatic Dream Future: MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Ueno & Toi Kojima defeated Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada when Ueno pinned Masada with the WR (9:06).

Without a doubt the biggest wrestling show to take place in Japan this year took place today with Keiji Muto retiring at the Tokyo Dome. On the undercard there were matches put together by several companies including DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro. The DDT match presented The 37KAMIINA taking on Tetsuya Endo leading a team of DDT’s future stars in the making. For Endo the match gave him an opportunity to be on the big stage for the first time since the concussion incident at “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022” last June. His Burning Star Press was dodged by MAO but he was able to make up for it by hitting the Sasuke Special into an Overhead Kick later on. Takeshi Masada also stepped up to the plate and brought the fight to Yuki Ueno. That moment was stopped with a German Suplex followed by Ueno’s pinpoint Dropkick. Ueno then got the pin by giving Masada the WR to give The 37KAMIINA the victory.

Backstage Ueno told reporters unfamiliar with The 37KAMIINA that the group loves to have hot matches that transforms arenas into saunas. For Muto’s retirement at the Tokyo Dome they really wanted to have a match as passionate as the occasion. Because of that MAO admitted everybody in the match were feeling nervous. Even if they made the atmosphere even just a little bit more electric he hopes the match helped build the show up towards its massive main event. Toi Kojima had a Konosuke Takeshita shirt with him to represent Takeshita in spirit so in a way all five members of the unit were together at the Tokyo Dome. Shunma Katsumata told everyone to keep doing their best so some day DDT will have their own proper show in the Dome. Endo noted that his team was not a unit at all but everyone got to see how hard they work on a regular basis. Yuya Koroku said the match is a great source of inspiration for his future in wrestling. Hideki Okatani isn’t as positive because he felt he did not give his best effort out there. The experience will fuel him to get better though. Out of all of the wrestlers involved, the match may have left the most impact on Takeshi Masada. The rookie said he will never forget the sight of the ceiling he had to stare at after he lost the match.

The pre-show featured an 8-Woman Tag Match put together by TJPW. Everyone got their own moment in the spotlight in the centre of the ring. Maki Itoh demonstrated her hard head, Miu Watanabe did the Giant Swing, Rika Tatsumi threw some Dragon Screws, Mizuki landed the Whirling Candy, Miyu Yamashita used her Return Crash kick from the corner, Yuki Arai was able to do the Full Nelson Buster and Shoko Nakajima wiped out a group of wrestlers outside with a Topé Suicida. But it was Yuka Sakazaki who brought things to an end by pinning Arai with the Magical Girl Chicken Dude.

Everyone gave their comments backstage after the match. Yamashita said their time out there in the Tokyo Dome came and went in the blink of an eye. She is really happy that TJPW played a part on a day as historic as Muto’s retirement. Sakazaki wanted to thank Muto for allowing them to have the match because it made them love pro wrestling even more. Nakajima now wants TJPW to run the Tokyo Dome themselves and does not think that dream is impossible. Tatsumi agrees and because she wants all of TJPW to be here. Watanabe wants to spread the word and tell everyone how wonderful TJPW is. Mizuki thinks the company will grow even bigger and she will do her best to headline the Dome some day. Itoh was very happy to do the Cutest Knuckle Punch In The World at the Tokyo Dome. Arai was disappointed to lose the match but still called the experience a wonderful time with wonderful wrestlers.


All Star Jr Festival 2023 Announced

January 23, 2023

“LEC PRESENTS JUNIOR DREAM FESTIVAL ~ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL 2023~”, 01/03/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

This is a show that has been years in the making yet I never thought was going to happen. Wrestlers like Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado have said over and over on interviews their desire for there to be an all star show that gathers together the best junior heavyweights from across the Japanese wrestling scene. Meanwhile other junior heavyweights from different promotions keep interacting with each other on social media teasing matches at times when there were no chances of those matches ever happening. Well now it’s finally happening thanks to sponsorship from LEC, a company that seems to have sponsored every notable Japanese wrestling promotion you can think of at some point in the last decade.

The only details announced so far is it will be taking place in Korakuen Hall and will be broadcast as a PPV on NJPW World. 22 different wrestling companies are attached to the show with wrestlers and matches to be announced as soon as they are decided on.

The participating promotions are:

– Dark Pro Wrestling 666
– Osaka Pro Wrestling
– Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling
– Kyushu Pro Wrestling
– New Japan Pro Wrestling
– All Japan Pro Wrestling
– Big Japan Wrestling
– Pancrase MISSION
– Pro Wrestling SECRET BASE
– Pro Wrestling ZERO1
– Pro Wrestling NOAH
– Pro Wrestling BASARA
– Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS
– Michinoku Pro Wrestling
– Ryukyu Dragon Wrestling
– CMLL
– DDT Pro Wrestling
– DRADITION
– DragonGate
– GLEAT
– JUST TAP OUT
– 2AW

We have a lot of choices among DDT, Ganbare☆Pro and BASARA to throw onto the show. Shunma Katsumata, MAO, Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Keisuke Ishii, Shuichiro Katsumura, Shota, Isami Kodaka, Daiki Shimomura, Takato Nakano, the list goes on and on. Not Tetsuya Endo though. He’s been bulking up recently and now weighs over 100kg.

It’s been pointed out online that the show will take place the day after New Japan and CMLL finish up their “FANTASTICA MANIA” tour which explains why CMLL is part of an otherwise Japan only line-up. Also AEW was never going to be a part of this. Even if they could have been, the show is on a Wednesday anyway.


Drift Appears In All Japan, All Asia Title Challenge!

September 11, 2013

drift-ajpw

Team Dream Futures appeared in Korakuen Hall for today’s All Japan show and they came for a reason. Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie and Soma Takao arrived wearing suits and had prepared a written statement. However, Ishii couldn’t hold his tongue for long and gave up trying to be polite. He instead said what he wanted to say all along. Ishii grew up loving All Japan and was even a trainee in their dojo. But he dropped out and ran away. His wrestling career took a different road in DDT where he became friends with Irie and Soma. Together they grew up and Ishii shared with them his dream of winning an All Japan championship. Now they want that dream to come true. Ishii announced he wants to challenge Kotaro Suzuki & Atsushi Aoki for the All Asia Tag Team Titles. Aoki came out and welcomed the challenge but it has not been officially accepted yet. It looks like Ishii and Irie will be the team representing Drift in the potential title match.


Ibushi’s G1 Has Climaxed

August 11, 2013

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 01/08/2013
Act City Hamamatsu
3,200 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

G1 Climax – Block B: Kota Ibushi [2] defeated Toru Yano [0] with the Phoenix Splash (7:32).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 02/08/2013
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,015 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

G1 Climax – Block B: Kota Ibushi [4] defeated Tetsuya Naito with the Phoenix Splash [0] (13:16).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 03/08/2013
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
7,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy

G1 Climax – Block B: Kota Ibushi [6] defeated Karl Anderson [4] with the Phoenix Splash (9:52).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 04/08/2013
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
6,700 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

G1 Climax – Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [4] defeated Kota Ibushi [6] with the Boma Ye (19:18).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 06/08/2013
Ishikawa Industrial Exhibition Hall #3
2,000 Fans – No Vacancy

G1 Climax – Block B: Yuji Nagata [6] defeated Kota Ibushi [6] with the Back Drop Hold (13:49).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 07/08/2013
Sendai Sun Plaza Hall
2,950 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

G1 Climax – Block B: Shelton Benjamin [6] defeated Kota Ibushi [6] with the Paydirt (10:20).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 08/08/2013
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium
5,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy

G1 Climax – Block B: Yujiro Takahashi [8] defeated Kota Ibushi [6] with the Tokyo Pimps (8:45).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 10/08/2013
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
8,200 Fans – No Vacancy

G1 Climax – Block B: Minoru Suzuki [10] defeated Kota Ibushi [6] with the Gotch-Style Piledriver (13:37).

NJPW “G1 CLIMAX 23”, 11/08/2013
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
11,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

G1 Climax – Block B: Kota Ibushi [8] defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan [6] by forfeit.
Special 6 Man Tag Match: Kazushi Sakuraba, Akebono & Kota Ibushi defeated Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI when Sakuraba submitted YOSHI-HASHI with the Sakuraba Lock (13:25).

Kota Ibushi has completed the busiest two weeks of his life and came out of it with a wealth of new opportunities. His first set of matches as a heavyweight in the famous G1 Climax tournament won him plenty of praise as well as a few matches. Ibushi started off as strong as possible, winning his first three matches against Toru Yano, the eventual G1 winner Tetsuya Naito and Karl Anderson. But his run ended there as he lost the next five against Shinsuke Nakamura, Yuji Nagata, Shelton Benjamin, Yujiro Takahashi and Minoru Suzuki. His final match against Hiroyoshi Tenzan was cancelled when Tenzan suffered an injury halfway through the tournament. Instead, Ibushi spent the final night teaming with MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba and Ribera’s favourite son Akebono, forming possibly the weirdest 3-man team in Japan since the days of WAR. And he probably got a future match against Tomohiro Ishii out of it. Ibushi ended the tournament with 8 points and although he didn’t qualify for the final, he proved he can go with some of the best New Japan has to offer. Next up… Kazuchika Okada!


Yuji Okabayashi Wins Right To Challenge Contract

June 15, 2013

yujiokabayashi-righttochallenge

BJW “NIGIWAI THEATRE ~ends of the rainy season~”, 15/06/2013
Yokohama Nigiwaiza

Yuji Okabayashi defeated Kazuki Hirata with the Argentine Backbreaker (8:33).
*Yuji Okabayashi wins Kazuki Hirata’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Contract.

One of the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Contracts has been taken away from DDT again. This time it’s in the hands of its strongest wrestler yet, Yuji Okabayashi from Big Japan. Okabayashi defeated DDT’s contract holder Kazuki Hirata at a Big Japan show held today in Yokohama. Kazuki was overwhelmed by the power of his opponent and the results was no surprise. Yuji wasn’t quite sure what the rules of the contract was, but when it was explained to him he said he would like to challenge Shigehiro Irie for the KO-D Openweight Title someday.


Ibushi Wins IWGP Jr. Title Again

July 29, 2012

NJPW “40TH ANNIVERSARY LAST REBELLION”, 29/07/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,040 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kota Ibushi defeated Low Ki (c) with the Phoenix Splash (19:30).
*Low Ki fails in V2. Kota Ibushi becomes the 64th IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion!

Kota Ibushi returned to New Japan today to challenge Low Ki for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship, the title he had to vacate back in September 2011 after a shoulder injury. With Kenny Omega, Daisuke Sasaki and Michael Nakazawa in his corner, Ibushi fought tooth and nail with Low Ki. The champ dodged Ibushi’s Quebrada outside the ring and later applied an upside down Dragon Sleeper hanging from the top rope. Ibushi recovered and hit the Quebrada a second time. Feet were flying from both wrestlers as their kick heavy offence came into play. Low Ki avoided the Sit Down Last Ride and tried to finish the match with the Phoenix Splash. But Ibushi rolled out of the way and struck Low Ki with the Cartwheel Overhead Kick. Ibushi landed his own Phoenix Splash to pin Low Ki and win the IWGP Jr. Title for the second time. Afterwards, KUSHIDA came out to challenge the new champion.

The big victory continues Ibushi’s path of success since returning from injury. His next big challenge is Kenny Omega at the DDT 15th Anniversary Show in Budokan Hall.


Game Over For Omega’s Title Run

May 27, 2012

AJPW, 27/05/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: KAI defeated Kenny Omega (c) with the Splash Plancha (20:50).
*Kenny Omega fails in V6. KAI becomes the 32nd AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Champion!

Kenny Omega’s reign of terror (or cool if you are on his side) in All Japan’s Jr. Heavyweight division has come to an end. His title run was finally put to an end by KAI in what was Kenny’s sixth defence of the belt. KAI’s rivalry with Omega in All Japan has spread into a small feud with DDT itself after KAI commented that DDT wrestlers are not proper pro wrestlers. But now that he brought the belt back to All Japan on the main event of their show in Korakuen Hall today, he may consider the matter settled and move onto new challenges. As for Omega, who knows what else he has planned for Japan in the near future.


Shuji Ishikawa Goes After Death Match Title

March 26, 2012

Union ace Shuji Ishikawa now has an important title match to look forward to, but this one is taking place outside of DDT and Union. The giant will be returning to Big Japan in May to face Abdullah Kobayashi for the BJW Death Match Championship in Yokohama. This will be the second time that Shuji challenges for the belt. He previously lost to Ryuji Ito in a Fluorescent Lighttubes, Glass Board & 49,205 Thumbtacks Death Match back in October 2010. However, Shuji defeated Abdullah Kobayashi one month earlier in the less impressive sounding 261 Fluorescent Lighttubes Death Match to earn that title shot. That match was the most recent singles bout between the two.