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!

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Posted by JamieOD

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Omega, Nakazawa & Sato Enter AJPW Tag League

March 11, 2012

Kenny Omega and Michael Nakazawa will be competing in their first tournament together as a tag team when All Japan Pro Wrestling holds the 2012 Junior Tag League next month. Omega & Nakazawa will be one of six teams competing in the round robin and will certainly be targeted by everyone else. Kenny has been constantly rubbing the All Japan roster the wrong way with his cocky behaviour while holding the AJPW Jr. Heayweight Championship. Meanwhile Nakazawa has been acting the nuisance towards Kenny’s challengers, doing what he can to disrupt their momentum in the lead up to fighting Omega.

Hikaru Sato will also be competing in the tournament teaming with All Japan native Hiroshi Yamato. Nakazawa and Sato recently reformed their Do Hentai Dan tag team in DDT but they have gone on separate journeys in All Japan. Who knows what will happen when they inevitably cross paths in the Tag League. The tournament will take place from 1st April to 14th April with the match list revealed once the final teams are announced.

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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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Omega In AJPW: Here Comes A New Challenger!

January 6, 2012

AJPW, 03/02/2012
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kenny Omega (c) Vs Kaz Hayashi

Kenny Omega has a big name in place for his third defence of the AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Title next month. In fact it is the man who holds the most successful Jr. Title reign in All Japan history, Kaz Hayashi! Both champion and challenger met at a press conference where the match was announced for the 2nd February event in Korakuen Hall. Omega was accompanied by Michael Nakazawa but was able to spend a lot of time speaking in Japanese by himself. Kenny explained that Nakazawa was there to make sure no one was taking advantage of him as champion and to protect him from any unprofessional behaviour by the All Japan wrestlers. Kenny also tried to rile up Hayashi by saying the people in charge of All Japan love him because he is a “cool champion”. So much so that Kenny believes they secretly want him to beat Kaz.

“Everybody wants a cool champion,” says Kenny. “Let’s just look at the matches in general. Everyone has to agree that my matches… are always, ALWAYS, not sometimes, the best match not just in All Japan. These are the best Junior matches in all of Japan.”

Some big claims by Omega and he’s ready to back them up when he faces Hayashi next month.

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Kenny Omega Clears AJPW Arcade Mode

October 23, 2011

AJPW “PRO-WRESTLING LOVE IN RYOGOKU VOL. 13”, 23/10/2011
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
8,500 Fans

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kenny Omega defeated KAI (c) with the Croyt’s Wrath (20:43).
*KAI fails in V3. Kenny Omega becomes the 31st AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Champion!

A few months back, around the time Kota Ibushi was the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion for New Japan Pro Wrestling, his tag team partner Kenny Omega decided that his goal for 2011 was to go over to All Japan Pro Wrestling and win their Jr. Heavyweight belt. Today he achieved that goal in Sumo Hall, an arena where success had previously eluded him. Kenny defeated the champion KAI after hitting him with the Croyt’s Wrath twice, once from the top rope. Kenny now aims to be the cool champion that All Japan is currently lacking. He already has his first challenger lined up. Minoru has stepped up to grab the first title shot and is someone that Kenny lost to during the AJPW Jr. Heavyweight League that took place just last month. However, Kenny’s response to the challenge was he wanted the title match to take place in DDT.

Several DDT wrestlers attended the show to be in Kenny’s corner for the match. Kota Ibushi, Keisuke Ishii and Michael Nakazawa were there to show support. Also some of them might have also gone along so they could meet the Momoiro Clover Z pop group who were performing during the show.

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Results Round Up

October 18, 2010

There was some DDT involvement in several wrestling promotions during the weekend.

NOAH “AUTUMN NAVIGATION 2010 ~ 4TH NTV CUP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG LEAGUE”, 15/10/2010
Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji
1,300 Fans – Super No Vacancy

NTV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League – Block B: Dick Togo & Yasu Urano [2] besiegen Yoshinari Ogawa & Kotaro Suzuki [0] when Urano pinned Ogawa with the Backdrop Cutback-Cradle (12:24).

The main one took place over in Pro Wrestling NOAH where Dick Togo & Yasu Urano are teaming up for the NTV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League. They are already off to a good start with Urano using his new Backdrop Cutback-Cradle finisher to pin Yoshinari Ogawa to win their first match and top their group.

ZERO1/Ikuto Hidaka, Kohei Sato & KAMIKAZE Produce “DRUNK NIGHT”, 15/10/2010
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

Regional Heavyweight Title, 4 Way Decision Match: Tengu Kaiser defeated I Am Fuck´n Goddam Chono (Sanshiro Takagi), Minoru Fujita & Lingerie Muto when Kaiser pinned Muto with a Small Package (8:42).

Meanwhile over in ZERO1, Sanshiro Takagi morphed into his Masahiro Chono inspired alter ego, I Am Fuck´n Goddam Chono to take part in an odd 4 Way match for the Regional Heavyweight Title. Also in the match was Lingerie Muto, aka Munenori Sawa, who was eventually pinned to lose the match.

BJW “BJ SPIKEOUT SERIES”, 17/10/2010
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,576 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

BJW Death Match Heavyweight Title, Fluorescent Lighttubes, Glass Board & 49,205 Thumbtacks Death Match: Ryuji Ito (c) defeated Shuji Ishikawa with the Dragon Splash through Lighttubes (20:13).
*V2 for Ito.

Finally, the UNION side was in Big Japan for Shuji Ishikawa challenging Ryuji Ito for the BJW Deathmatch Title. Ito came out on top in what was surely a violent match.

Note: Normally I won’t be reporting on Shuji Ishikawa and Isami Kodaka wrestling in Big Japan unless it turns out to be a really important match such as this.

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